1895 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
471 
tion on a hillside. The pipe from the ram to the pond, 
was of three-inch iron. Next year this pond will be 
stocked with fish and the water allowed to run in at 
the surface, to disseminate air and prevent its becom¬ 
ing' stagnant. When water is needed for irrigation, 
it is taken direct from the ram and from the pond at 
the same time, and when not being drawn from the 
pond for irrigating purposes, the water from the ram 
is forced through the same line of pipe to the pond. 
Midway between the ram and the pond, a T -shaped 
connection is made of two-inch iron pipe, which ex¬ 
tends to the strawberry beds. All of the three-inch 
and a great portion of the two-inch pipe, is laid under 
the ground, so as not to interfere with plowing or 
cultivation. Stop-cocks are arranged at convenient 
points. The proprietor of Hopbrook Farm paid $500 
for the ram, bought the iron pipe in the open market, 
and secured 350 feet of condemned fire hose at 15 cents 
per foot. The hose is readily moved about the straw¬ 
berry fields. A large-sized sprinkler is used, being 
laid on an inclined board with a few feet of hose so 
as to be four feet from the surface and to sprinkle 
thoroughly in the desired direction. 
Knowing of the great success attending this system 
of artificial irrigation during the dry season of last 
year, the Storrs Experiment Station has undertaken 
to ascertain the relative profits between natural fruit¬ 
ing and fruiting under this system. A student of 
Storrs College was detailed to see that the work was 
properly performed. Twenty-one plots, each 115 feet 
long and about two feet wide, parallel and nearly 
level, were used. As a result of the experiment, 
which lasted from Monday, June 17, to Saturday, .June 
22 , inclusive, 128 pounds of fruit were picked from an 
irrigated plot of three rows, and 112 pounds from 
another. Two similar plots of three rows each (not 
irrigated) yielded 51 and 50 pounds respectively of 
fruit. Previous to June 17, the plots had been picked 
twice, and the dry ones showed rather the most ber¬ 
ries. Three waterings were made during the week 
of plots 1 and 3. The plan below shows how the plots 
lay, and the pounds of fruit picked from them each 
day for the week June 17 to 22 : 
Plot No. 1 
Plot No. 2 
Plot No. 3 
Plot No 4 
, - A v 
,-■*>-^ 
/-A- - 
Row No. 1 
2 3 4 5 
6 7 8 9 10 
11 12 13 14 15 
10 17 18 19 20 2! 
Yield lbn. 
Water. 
No water. 
Water. 
No water. 
June 17. .. 
.... 28 
20 
34 
25 
18... 
.... 19 
8 
18 
5 
19... 
.... 19 
6 
23 
7 
20... 
.... 28 
4 
10 
4 
21... 
.... 22 
3 
14 
4 
22... 
.... 12 
4 
7 
5 
Total. 
.... 128 
51 
112 
50 
The watered berries, after the first picking, were 
worth three cents per quart more than the others, 
besides an increased yield of about 125 per cent. 
They wex’e larger, brighter and more attractive ber¬ 
ries, such as are in constant demand at city stores. 
The one feature regretted by the proprietor is that 
the berries were not watered early enough. Next 
season, watering will be begun in early June, and 
four waterings made during the picking season. 
Another experiment of no little interest, was the 
raising of four hills of squashes, three irrigated, the 
other left to Nature’s care. The three grew large, 
thrifty, stocky-growing plants; the one small, puny 
ones, struggling for existence. 
Mr. J. C. Eddy, the proprietor, is very enthusiastic 
whenever irrigation is up for discussion. And why 
should he not be ? During the week of the experi¬ 
ment, Connecticut Valley cities were flooded with 
small, dried, inferior berries, which were retailed at 
from 10 to 14 cents per box. Mr. Eddy’s berries 
were large and fine, and numerous telegrams for 
“more” all along his shipping line, demonstrated 
the utility, practicability and profit of irrigation, c. Y. 
THE SHRINKAGE OF CORN. 
In 1893, the McCormick Farmers’ Club, of Mechau- 
icsbuxg, Pa., adopted a resolution request ng the 
members to endeavor to ascertain, by actual and 
careful test, the extent to which corn would shrink 
in weight from, say, November 1 to February 1. and 
from the latter date to June 1, or from husking time 
to those dates. Ten members of the club undertook 
the test, and their report showed that between the 
two first dates, the shrinkage amounted to 8>£ per 
cent, and between the two latter dates 7% per cent, 
or from husking time to June 1, the loss was Hi 
per cent. Each farmer had taken two bushels of corn 
ears, keeping them separate, and weighing each 
bushel on the first of each month, from November 1 
to June 1, inclusive. The different weights were 
then given to a special committee, which computed 
the average loss, as given above. 
The following year it was decided to repeat this 
test, with the difference that instead of the double 
bushel of ears, each member undertaking the test 
was carefully to weigh out 70 pounds of ears at husk¬ 
ing time, preferably November 1, and then weigh the 
same corn again on February 1 and .June 1. Four¬ 
teen farmers, members of the club, undertook this 
test, and their report showed that the shrinkage be¬ 
tween the first dates named was 7 6-10 per cent, and 
between the latter dates, 8 9-10 per cent, or a total 
shrinkage by weight from husking time, November 1, 
to Jxxne 1, of 16 % per cent. This expexdment tended 
to verify the results of the former tests, and both 
created much iixterest among the farmers of Cumber- 
land and Dauphin Coxxnties, which lie mostly in the 
magnificent and fertile Cumbexdand Valley where 
the notable farms of the McCormick estate are lo¬ 
cated. The conclusion arrived at by the clxxb, based 
xxpoxx these tests, was that it would be as well to ac¬ 
cept 40 cents per bushel for corn at hxxsking time, as 
50 cents on June 1, or thereaboxits. A. A. k. 
Malvern, Pa. 
THOMAS J. EDGE. 
Last spring, the Pennsylvania Legislating passed a 
bill creating a State Department of Agriculture, and 
recently Goveimor Hastings appointed Thomas J. 
Edge as the first State Secretary of Agi-icultxire. Mr. 
Edge was the “ logical candidate,” since for the past 
18 years, he has been secretai’y of the old Board of 
Agriculture. He, thex-efoi-e, brings to the work a ripe 
experience and full knowledge of the agricultui-e of 
Pennsylvania. Mr. Edge was born in 1838, and has 
always resided in Pennsylvania. He is a practical 
farmer, and has always taken an interest in ex¬ 
periment work, and in agricultural organizations. 
He has condxxcted farxnei’s’ institutes in his State in a 
vei’y acceptable manner. Among other duties, these 
are oxitlinexl in the bill establishing the department: 
It shall be the duty of the Secretary to obtain and publish in¬ 
formation respecting the extent and condition of forest lands in 
this State, to make and carry out rules and regulations for the 
enforcement of all laws designed to protect forests from tires and 
from all illegal depredations and destruction, and report the 
same annually to the Governor, and as far as practicable, to give 
THOMAS J. EDGE. FlO. 148. 
information and advice respecting the best methods of preserving 
woodlands and starting new plantations. He shall also, as far 
as practicable, procure statistics of the amount of timber cut dur¬ 
ing each year, the purpose for which it is used, and the amountof 
timber land thus cleared as compared with the amount of land 
newly brought under, timber cultivation, and shall, in general, 
adopt such measures as in his judgment may be desirable and 
effective for the preservation and increase of the timber lands of 
this State, and shall have direct charge and control of the man¬ 
agement of all forest lands belonging to the Commonwealth, s\ib- 
ject to the provisions of law relative thereto. The said Secretary 
shall be and hereby is charged with the administration of all 
laws designed to prevent fraud or adulteration in the preparation, 
manufacture or sale of articles of food, the inspection, sale or 
transportation of the agricultural products or imitations thereof, 
and all laws relating to diseases of domestic animals, and to the 
manufacture and inspection of commercial fertilizers. 
The new Pennsylvania law against the sale of adul¬ 
terated food, is strong. “Food” is held to include 
“ all articles used for food or drink by man, whether 
simple, mixed, or compound.” The following defini¬ 
tion of “ adulterated food” is given : 
An article shall be deemed to be adulterated within the mean¬ 
ing of this act (a) In the case of food. 1. If any substance or 
substances have been mixed with it so as to lower or depreciate 
or injuriously affect its quality, strength or purity. 2. If any in¬ 
ferior or cheaper substance or substances have been substituted 
wholly or in part for it. 3. If any valuable or necessary con¬ 
stituent or ingredient has been wholly or in part abstracted from 
it. 4. If it is an imitation of or is sold under the name of another 
article. 5. If it consists wholly or in part of a deceased, decom¬ 
posed, putrid, infected, tainted or rotten animal or vegetable sub¬ 
stance or article whether manufactured or not—or in the case of 
milk if it is the produce of a diseased animal. 6. If it is coated, 
polished or powdered, whereby damage or inferiority is con¬ 
cealed, or if by any means it is made to appear better or of 
greater value than it really is. 7. If it contains any added sub¬ 
stance or ingredient which is poisonous or injurious to health. 
Provided , That the provisions of this act shall not apply to 
mixtures or compounds recognized as ordinary articles of food, if 
each and every package sold or offered for sale be distinctly 
labeled as mixtures or compounds and are not injurious to health. 
A good likeness of Mr. Edge is shown at Fig. 148. 
The II. N.-Y. wishes him sueeess in his enlarged field 
of work. 
HOW TO RAISE CHEAP SH0TES. 
A NEW SCHEME F O K RAISING F E EDIKS, 
We have a good demand for sliotes weighing from 75 to 125 
pounds, to follow cattle in the fall; they are usually worth a little 
more than the market price for fat hogs. To supply this stock, 
my idea is to have my sows farrow about April I, then let them 
run on clover, with a light grain feed, until September 1. 1. How 
many sows, with litters of, say, seven pigs, could I raise to the 
acre on good pasture V 2. Would corn cut green from July 4, be 
good to supplement the pasture, or would it*be better to feed a 
slop of oats, barley or shorts ? I have very little, milk. 3. Clover 
being uncertain, in case of failure, would spring sown rye be a 
good substitute, and could it be depended on until fall if kept fed 
down? Is there anything better? k. p. x>. a. 
Cerro Gordo County, Iowa. 
A Kansas Man’s Opinion. 
While I am fully satisfied that the cheapest poidc 
can he made on grass under favorable conditions, my 
land is too high-priced to warrant ample pasture for 
all my hogs. My orchards afford shade and exercise, 
and some pastux’e ; but every green thing is cleaned 
up before the end of the growing season. I can only 
guess that, as clover grows here, an aci’e would carry 
till September 1, three sows with litters of seven far¬ 
rowed April 1, “ with a light grain feed.” A slop of 
oats, barley or shorts is better than green corn fodder 
to supplement clover pasture. Clover is itself a very 
succulent feed, and is likely to keep pigs ovei'-loose 
in the bowels, if they have to get their living chiefly 
from it. Coi’n fodder as early as .July 4, is even worse 
in this respect, and at the same time less nutritious 
than clover. What pigs need oxx pasture, with their 
small stomachs, is some highly-coucenti’ated food. 
Shorts is the mainstay here. It is doubtless some¬ 
what inferior to oats for growing animals, and in Iowa 
l’elative valxxes may justify the oats. I have had no 
experience with barley, and 1 woxxld not be at all sur 
prised if coi-n should px-ove superior to any of these, 
with clover pasture. Sweet corn, well eared and past 
the milk stage, can be had from .Jxxly 4 to September, 
by planting a succession, and would do vex*y well in¬ 
stead of the slop. It woxxld doubtless be cheaper if 
the pastxxre is not sufficient to furnish all the green 
stuff the hogs will take. I know of nothing better 
than rye to sow after one knows that he has failed 
with clover. It will require seasonable rains to last 
all summer, and it will not stanxl the tramping so well. 
With x-ye, and almost equally so with clover, there 
will be a large gain in having several fields, or a mov¬ 
able fence so as to pastxxre only a portion at a time. 
Kansas. ii. b. cowles. 
A Good Point about Feeding Clover. 
As pigs increase in age, they will eat more, and as 
the clover increases in age after Jxxne, it furnishes 
less feed. Suckling pigs do better by following the 
sow on short Blxxe grass pastui’e. They get drenched 
and chilled in the wet clover, and look as forlorn as 
they feel. After pigs have attained the age of about 
four months, and have been accustomed to run on 
grass, so as to distend their stomachs, they do well oxx 
clover. If enoxigh stock be pxxt on to keep the clover 
short, through May, there will be a larger per cent of 
tender growth, that will be suited to the pigs. An 
acre thus treated, should carry three sows and twenty 
pigs until July, provided the clover be supplemented 
with mill feed. 
In an average season, the clover supplemented with a 
slop of shorts, will give enough gi-een food to keep the 
pigs in thrifty condition. If one has a Blue gi’ass 
pasture to turn on occasionally to give the clover a 
chance to freshen up, he may risk 50 per cent more 
pigs than on clover alone. 
Rye woxxld need to be kept down to prevent it get¬ 
ting woody. One might sow sparingly of rye, and 
with it sow a peck or*more of Italian Rye grass, and 
get a good cheap addition to the rye. Peas would 
help out the clover better than rye or gi'een coi'n, 
during July and August. One may safely start with 
pigs enough to keep the clover down, and then sup¬ 
plement with shorts, Italian Rye grass, axxd peas as the 
growth of pigs advances and growth of clover declines. 
Ohio. L. N. BONHAM. 
Sort Out the Sows. 
May 1 is early enough for sows to farrow. There is 
too great loss in earlier pigs. Our sows are all aboxit 
one year old at that time. Five pigs is an average 
litter, and we would just as soon have four. We sort 
our sows, and do not allow inferior ones to breed. 
We allow our bx-ood sows a good deal of range, on 
fall rye and on wheat and oats ; they do not hurt l’ye 
or wheat, and they seem to do oats good xintil they 
begin to head. We never ring hogs or pigs. We feed 
little or no grain in spring until they farrow, and 
then feed slop, light at fii’st, twice a day, inci-easing 
gi-adually until the pigs are two weeks old, when 
they get all they will eat xxp cleaix, and no more ; 
then they should not run in the grain longer. We 
usually let them run until they ax'e likely to root up 
young corn, when we shut them in the feed lot, where 
if we are feeding steers, we do not pay much atten¬ 
tion to the sows ; otherwise we continue as above. 
