24o 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
April 6 
find the runway at the point of entrance to the 
grounds, as it may be somewhat deeply placed; but 
when located, that is the place to put the trap. If 
you are in doubt, depress the soil on all the ridges 
near the borders, and set the trap on the first one 
raised. If the mole plague be serious, a furrow may 
be run about the borders of the area to be protected, 
and the crossing points will be easily detected. 
When the location is decided on, the runway should 
be opened for five or six inches, its direction deter¬ 
mined and filled up, moderately firm, with adjacent 
soil level to the surface. Then set the trap solidly 
over it with the trigger-plate not closer than half an 
inch to the soil. Draw up the points and spring the 
arm several times so that they easily penetrate to their 
full depth. Moles are supposed to be very acute in 
hearing, and will lie quiet at the least disturbance ; 
but when not frightened, are very energetic workers 
and seem in a chronic state of hurry and impatience 
at any obstruction in their path. They, therefore, 
are likely to heave up the compacted earth with great 
vigor and thus spring the trap. The advantage of 
not placing the trigger in immediate contact, is thus 
apparent, as then the trap is liable to spring at the 
first motion of the earth before his moleship is within 
reach of the prongs. This seems a small matter, but 
it makes just the difference between success and 
failure. Fairfax. 
HOME MIXING OF FERTILIZER. 
WHEN ANI) HOW IT MAY BE PRACTICED. 
One of the greatest drawbacks to success in agricul¬ 
ture is the lack of business principles in farm opera¬ 
tions. Buying at wholesale, and when prices are at 
their lowest ebb, should be more commonly practiced. 
This applies especially to the purchase of seeds, feed¬ 
ing stuffs and fertilizers. A study of the fertilizer 
market shows that a saving of 10 to 25 per cent may 
be made in the purchase of fertilizing materials by 
buying at wholesale and taking advantage of low 
markets. In the home mixing of fertilizers there is 
a great chance for saving, while there are no diffi¬ 
culties in the use of these mixtures under any con¬ 
ditions where manufactured brands are used. A com¬ 
mon ai-gument against home mixing is that the 
mechanical condition of the fertilizers will not be 
equal to that of commercial brands. This need not be 
so, for by the use of a screen, home mixtures may be 
made fine enough to use in any planter. Some care, 
however, should be taken that there be a sufficient 
proportion of well-dried materials like blood, tankage 
or fine ground bone, to make the mixture dry enough 
so that it will not hold together when pressed within 
the hand. Where much nitrate of soda is used the 
mixing thould be done but a few days before wanted 
for use, as the nitrate has a tendency to absorb 
moisture. 
The advantages of home mixing may be summarized 
as follows : 1, a considerable saving from the prices 
of commercial brands may be made by buying the 
chemicals ; 2, the mixture can be suited to the crop to 
be grown ; 3, the peculiarities of particular soils may 
be considered in preparing the mixtures ; 4, a saving 
in freight by using concentrated materials. There is 
no more reason why our farmers should ask to have 
their fertilizers mixed for them than that they should 
ask to have the grain for their stock mixed before 
purchase. 
The farmer should study the needs of his crop and 
the deficiencies of his soil to the same extent that he 
studies the needs of his farm animals. All will admit 
that the question of the rational use of fertilizers is 
a complex one ; but it is no more intricate than the 
one of feeding farm animals ; constant personal study 
and experimenting are the surest ways to succeed with 
either question. As far as possible, fertilizers should 
be used to supplement the stable manures. Except in 
some special cases, their use in this way is more eco¬ 
nomical than if used alone. The fact that good stable 
manure supplies considerable nitrogen (the most ex¬ 
pensive of all the fertilizing ingredients), should point 
out the need of economizing on this particular element 
where both stable manure and fertilizers are to be 
used. 
In preparing home mixtures, it is important to con¬ 
sider, first, that nitrogen, phosphoric acid and potash 
in available forms are the only ingredients that we 
need to consider in the preparation of fertilizers. 
Lime is often needed, but all mixtures containing 
phosphates will also supply some lime, while if heavy 
liming is thought advisable, air-slaked lime is prob¬ 
ably the best material to use. 
A large amount of experimenting in Connecticut 
and some other New England States, has shown that 
heavy, clayey soils are naturally deficient in phosphoric 
acid, while, light, sandy to loam soils are lacking in 
potash. I believe this fact to be worthy of considera¬ 
tion in mixing fertilizers for use in those States, but 
I would recommend and advise farmers to study their 
own soils by special soil tests with fertilizers. 
There is a tendency among most farmers to use ferti¬ 
lizers too sparingly. I would advise the use of 1,000 to 
1.500 pounds per acre, while some farmers might find 
greater profits in the use of even larger amounts. I 
append a few mixtures that may prove valuable, or 
that may be modified to suit local conditions : 
No. 1 .—For Corn, with Stable Manure. 
500 pounds fine bone and tankage. 
1.200 pounds South Carolina acid phosphate. 
300 pounds muriate of potash. 
Equal to nitrogen 1 1 / 2 per cent, available phosphoric acid 10 to 
11 per cent, potash 7J4 per cent. 
No. 2.— For Corn without Manure. 
300 pounds ammonite or fine dried blood. 
300 pounds nitrate of soda. 
1,150 pounds South Carolina acid phosphate. 
250 pounds muriate of potash. 
Equal to nitrogen 4 per cent, available phosphoric acid 9 to 10 
per cent, potash 6)4 per cent. 
No. 3. 
800 pounds fine bone meal. 
600 pounds dissolved bone black. 
300 pounds nitrate of soda. 
300 pounds muriate of potash. 
Equal to nitrogen 3*4 per cent, available phosphoric acid 9 to 
10 per cent, potash 7'/a cent. 
No. 4 .—For Potatoes when Used Alone. 
300 pounds ammonite or fine dried blood. 
300 pounds nitrate of soda. 
1,000 pounds South Carolina acid phosphate. 
2(0 pounds muriate of potash. 
200 pounds high-grade sulphate of potash. 
Equal to nitrogen 4 per cent, available phosphoric acid 7 per 
cent, potash 10 per cent. 
No. 5 .—For Oats or Grass when Used Alone. 
200 pounds ammonite or fine dried blood. 
400 pounds nitrate of soda. 
1,000 pounds South Carolina acid phosphate. 
400 pounds muriate of potash. 
Equal to nitrogen 4 *4 per cent, available phosphoric acid 7 per 
cent, potash 10 per cent. 
Storrs Agricultural College. c. 8. phelps. 
SOME NOTES ON JAPAN PLUMS. 
WHEN AND WHERE ARE THEY HARDY ? 
Are They Curcui.io-Proof ?—I have fruited Abund¬ 
ance, Burbank and Satsuma, the latter two. four 
seasons. My original grafts have never failed on 
account of curculio, to bear a full crop without any 
protection whatever. They are situated away from 
other bearing trees in a small henyard. The Burbank 
failed to bear any fruit last year, from the buds 
winterkilling; 20 degrees below zero was too much 
for this tree. Other trees of Burbank upon higher 
ground, made a small bloom, although the fruits set 
quite scattering, and the crescent marks were in 
evidence that they had not been overlooked. Few 
plums dropped, and the trees bore a light crop of 
very fine fruit. A Bradshaw under the same circum¬ 
stances, could not be depended upon to mature a 
plum. Satsumas in the same orchard, white with 
blossoms, were in a number of cases badly injuied 
and failed to bear a satisfactory crop. The little 
Turk, for some reason, paid particular attention to 
that variety this season ; many plums dropped, while 
others would ripen with from five to ten crescent 
marks disfiguring the fruit. J ust above these were 
Lombard plums as free from spot or blemish as we 
could wish. The Burbanks were of good quality, and 
on account of the very dry season, were fair keepers, 
there being but little rot. The quality of Satsuma 
was not so good ; some specimens were tough and 
stringy ; others, when thoroughly ripe, fair eating. 
But the curculio is not the only question to consider 
in plum culture. A man in a situation subject to late 
spring frosts, who planted only Japans, might have no 
plums for the curculio to injure, as they blossom very 
early ; in fact, too early to be sure of a crop every 
year in many locations. One other question not yet 
decided, Will Japan trees live as long and be as hardy 
as our standard kinds ? I think not. But the fruit 
buds of Burbank will stand a number of degrees more 
of cold than the peach. h. o. mead. 
Worcester County, Mass. 
Bloom Too Early for West Virginia. —In 1888, 
we purchased two trees of the Abundance, for trial. 
They arrived in good shape, and we gave them a fav¬ 
ored placed in the orchard. They have made a fine 
growth since, and are a third larger than the common 
varieties set at the same time. In the spring of 1892, 
they had a fine bloom, setting a good crop, which 
were about the size of cherries when caught by the 
late freeze. Nearty all dropped off: ; some which had 
been frosted only on one cheek, matured the remain¬ 
ing uninjured part, making them very lop-sided and 
ill shaped. There were eight in all which ripened. In 
1893, there was a splendid bloom, and, judging - from 
the appearance, we thought that we would have a fine 
crop. But, alas ! they had put forth their petals too 
soon, and old “ Jack ” claimed them. Owing to the 
favorable appearances they had presented, we were 
contemplating setting an orchard of Japanese varie¬ 
ties ; but with such bright prospects blighted by the 
same cause, we decided to give them further trial be¬ 
fore setting them largely. We procured Ogon, Simonii 
and Japan, for further experiment. In 1894, a few 
warm days in March forced the buds out about two 
weeks before the usual blooming time for the com¬ 
mon varieties. Just as the buds on the latter were 
bursting, there was a severe freeze, which killed all 
on both Japan and common varieties ; much of the 
previous year’s growth of wood on the Abundance was 
also killed. The same spring, we purchased some 
Burbanks, and will test them. From the experience 
we have had with the Japan varieties, we would not 
set them very extensively until they had been tested 
thoroughly iD the neighborhood. If they did not 
bloom too early, to be caught by the late frosts, we 
would set extensively, for they will come into bearing 
sooner than the common varieties. t. s. c. a son. 
Holliday’s Cove, W. Va. 
A Nurseryman’s Opinion. —We have received three 
or four letters the past week, saying that the writers 
had noticed in Tiie R. N.-Y. that the Japan plums are 
not hardy. We think that people are a little misled 
on this, as we have received more letters from cold 
sections of the country, saying that their plums have 
stood the winter all right, even this year, than we 
have had saying that they had heard that they were 
not hardy. We think part of the cause of the scare is 
that the trees that have been winterkilled, are those 
that were planted last fall, as the Japan plums grow 
so late in the season, it is necessary, in planting in 
the fall, to strip the trees, and take them up before 
they are done growing. We know this to be the cause, 
as it is characteristic of the American people that 
when they want a thing, they want it all over, and 
they must have the trees, whether they have ripened 
or not. The result is that the trees are dug while 
they are still growing, and they are not in condition 
to stand the winter. We have had letters from Wis¬ 
consin, Michigan, and other States in the West, also 
from Maine, and even from Canada, stating that the 
Japan plums were hardy there. While we are not 
sufficiently interested in selling Japan plums to the 
disadvantage of the purchaser, we think the scare is 
not founded on sufficient facts to warrant the discon¬ 
tinuance of the planting of the trees. We are not 
writing this merely to try to “ blow our horn ” or to 
increase the sale of the trees, as all we have will be 
sold anyhow, and the prospects are that we will not 
have nearly enough to fill our orders. But we thought 
best to mention the matter, as there is no paper in 
the country so well situated to make or mar the repu¬ 
tation of the fruit, as The R. N.-Y. isaacc. Rogers. 
A VETERAN POTATO GROWER TALKS. 
HOW THEY DO IT IN TIOGA COUNTY, N. Y. 
Soil the First Consideration. 
Within the past 15 years, I have raised over 30,000 
bushels of potatoes, on one farm, and the farm is in 
much better condition to-day, than when I commenced 
raising potatoes. There are four things to be con¬ 
sidered in growing potatoes : soil, seed, cultivation 
and marketing. We must not only have good soil, but 
the right kind, to grow potatoes ; not all soil is suit¬ 
able for potatoes, even if it is fertile. Soil that will 
grow big corn or wheat, may not grow potatoes. Each 
farmer must know his soil. 
Having good potato soil, the potatoes must have 
food. It is just as essential to feed potatoes as it is a 
calf ; you can better afford to starve your calf than 
you can your potatoes. Clover sod on loam land is 
the best; you will get more benefit from the sod if 
plowed in the fall, and it will stand drought better. If 
barnyard manure is used, it is better to put it on the 
ground, after plowing, during the winter. 
I prefer to plant early ; early planting, as a rule, 
gives the best results. When ready to plant, put on a 
spring-tooth harrow and give the ground a thorough 
harrowing, and then harrow it again. Harrowing is 
very essential. When I do not have sufficient sod 
land, I plant after corn, and use a liberal amount of 
fertilizer, say, 600 pounds per acre. 1 mark mj r ground 
with a wheel furrower, two rows at a time, five inches 
deep, and usually plant in hills, three feet eacti way. 
Much care should be taken to select good seed, not 
only good to yield, but good to eat; this is what they 
are for. 
The Seed and the Culture. 
Large or medium-sized potatoes are better to plant: 
if we plant small potatoes, year after year, they will 
degenerate. If we were as careful in selecting our 
seed potatoes as we are our seed corn, we would not 
hear so much about potatoes running out. Poor seed 
and poor soil are what run out potatoes. I cut my 
potatoes, so as to have two eyes on a piece ; some kinds 
require more seed to keep them from growing too 
large. Plant one piece in a hill, drop the potato in the 
furrow, and if fertilizer is used, drop this on the side 
of the furrow, opposite the potato ; when covered, 
this will mix with the soil and fall over the potato. 
Using the same machine to cover that I mark with, 
the potatoes are covered five or six inches deep. Soon 
after planting, I go over the ground with a smoothing 
harrow, 12 feet wide with 72 teeth, and just as they 
are coming through the ground I go over them again 
with a harrow. After this, I go through them once a 
week with a cultivator, usually twice each way. 
The more severe the drought, the more frequently 
