1895 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
487 
tom, the festuca is wanting in them near the top. It 
is earlier than Timothy and, therefore, will be ready 
rfor the mower nearly or quite as soon as the clovers. 
It is more inclined to make a second growth than 
Timothy, and in every way gives promise of being a 
(great addition to our cultivated grasses. 
'Good seed that is not moldy, is somewhat difficult 
tto get in large quantities. Fortunately, this is one of 
'the seeds which may be easily and cheaply harvested 
•on the farm after a beginning has been made. The 
•seeds are light, weighingonly 14 pounds to the bushel. 
They may be easily gathered now or in a few days, 
Iby pulling off the heads and placing them in large 
•■sacks swung around the shoulder. They would have 
U© be spread out and cured, either in the barn or on 
*the grass before they were put away ; or a more ex¬ 
peditious way would be to top with a knife, grasping 
a number of heads at once. The grass could then be 
mowed later without serious inconvenience. It is so 
prolific in seed that a few hours’ work would procure 
all that an ordinary farmer would require. Of course, 
for market purposes, the method of procuring seed 
would be the mower and thrasher. The following 
analysis is taken from the Massachusetts Agricultural 
Experiment Station Report, 1894: 
Muscle- 
Fat- 
Makers. 
Fat. 
Formers. 
Fiber. 
Festuca pratensis (Hudson). 
... 6.76 
1.87 
46.31 
36.93 
Timothy hay. 
... 8.66 
2.22 
51.34 
32.9 
Orchard grass. 
... 9.43 
2.91 
46.16 
34.89 
The analysis of Festuca pratensis (Hudson) which 
is probably the variety referred to, indicates that it is 
not so rich in protein and fat as Timothy or Orchard 
grass. But few analyses have been made of this 
grass. When it comes to be grown on rich soil, and 
when we have a larger number of analyses to average, 
it may show that it is nearly as good a hay grass as 
those now cultivated. Then, too, some account must 
always be taken of the palatability of the different 
bays. Those which are coarse, as Orchard grass is likely 
to be, are not relished as well as the finer grasses ; 
bence the cowand the chemist do not always agree. 
Four pounds of Festuca, and two quarts of Timothy 
;seed per acre, should be sowed in the early fall, and 
two quarts of Medium and one quart of Alsike clover 
per acre in early spring. This will furnish enough 
plants if the ground has been put in good condition, 
to insure a fine quality of hay. The amount of seed 
recommended would give about 180 plants to the 
square foot. Perhaps not more than one-tenth of the 
seeds sown on ground ordinarily fitted, ever produce 
strong, vigorous plants. Until we learn to prepare 
the soil better, we must continue to throw away grass 
seed if a good stand is secured. The Festuca, being 
light, cannot be sown with the Timothy to advantage. 
The two clovers can be mixed and sowed together. 
Cornell Experiment Station. i. i>. Roberts. 
Some Notes By Dr. W. J. Beal. 
The dry weather for just about one year from this 
date, in many portions of our country, will set many 
persons to thinking as to what it will be best to do to 
improve the meadows and pastures. Red clover is cut 
off, not only by cold and drought, but in many por¬ 
tions by the Clover-root borer and several other kinds 
of insects. Although clover and Timothy have been 
nearly all that have been sown for meadow and pas¬ 
ture in a large area of the North, this ought not to 
have been the case. Every crop—or every kind of 
plant used for a crop—is subject to some enemies by 
way of insects and fungi. Insects sweep off the 
clover, leaving the Timothy alone in the estimation 
of many. Something takes one plant and leaves 
another. With this in view, it is usually unsafe to 
rely on any one thing very long. It would be safer 
to sow four to six, or more, kinds of grasses or clovers 
for meadows or pastures in most places ; then, if some 
suffered from any cause, the others might not suffer. 
Besides this, it seems to be slowly filtering into the 
minds of some farmers, that four to six or more forage 
plants occupying the same ground at the same time, 
if well selected, will yield much more in bulk and 
nutriment, than any one or two of the number. This 
has been proved, over and over, many times. 
Were we sure of very dry weather like that of the 
past year in the regions referred to, we should hardly 
expect to find anything to exceed Alfalfa ; but with 
damp weather in autumn and spring, such as we 
usually have, June grass will soon run it out. 
Drought-resisting kinds will usually be found in dry 
countries. No one yet has seeds of these—not even at 
“ fancy prices even though they had, people would 
venture slowly. in very dry countries grasses grow 
in bunches, or make very small growth, because there 
is not moisture enough to feed a closer growth. If 
there were plenty of moisture in the arid regions, the 
bunches would come nearer and nearer to each other. 
The United States Department of Agriculture had 
several very reasonable appropriations for sustaining 
experiments on this very subject, i. e., to learn what 
grasses and other forage plants were best for arid 
regions or dry seasons. Write for the reports. 
Michigan Agricultural College. 
TWO HANDY CONTRIVANCES. 
A Gate Spring. —A few years ago, I saw a descrip¬ 
tion of a spring for a gate ; I made one and applied it 
to my gate, and it has given such good satisfaction 
that I send a drawing of it for The R. N.-Y.—see Fig. 
154. Take an old horse-rake tooth or a new one may 
be procured from a dealer in farm machinery, heat 
the ends in the stove if not near a blacksmith shop ; 
bend about three inches of one end back to go into 
the post on which the gate hangs, and bend the other 
end into the form of a hook. Fasten a rope or small 
chain to the gate about six inches from the back side 
—or further away if a stronger spring is needed—and 
A CHEAP GATE SPRING. Fio. 154. 
attach it to the hook on the spring. If at any time 
you wish to have the gate stay open, unhook the rope 
from the spring. j. ridi.ey. 
An Earth Closet. —There is one matter that 
needs reforming about country homes, and that is 
the water-closet arrangements. The closet in the 
majority of such homes is a positive and unmitigated 
nuisance. A safe substitute is shown at Fig. 155, and 
is identical in design with one upon my own prem¬ 
ises. It is a dry-earth closet, and consists of a seat 
with two covers, the upper one whole, the other being 
the seat proper. Both are hinged so as to be raised. 
Exactly under the opening of the seat, is a large gal¬ 
vanized iron pail, one of a pair used for this purpose. 
The pail is considerably larger at the top than the 
opening in the seat, and comes up close to the latter ; 
in fact, the seat cover fits down almost upon the rim, 
but should not quite touch the pail. Beside the pail, 
is a high box filled with dry loam, road dust or sifted 
coal ashes, with a tin scoop lying on top. A card is 
tacked in a conspicuous place which says upon it, 
“ Please raise the seat and -put dry earth in the pail 
before leaving the closet.” A ventilating tube may 
pass up from this box-like seat and out through the 
roof. A ventilator should also be put in the ceiling 
of the closet. With such an arrangement, the pail being 
carried to the stable manure pit and emptied twice a 
week, there will be no bad odors, or contamination of 
the ground or well, and no resulting sickness, which 
very often is meanly laid to Providence. A system of 
drainage with water for flushing out a water closet, 
is not practicable on the majority of farms ; but there 
is not a farmer in this broad country so poor that he 
cannot afford an earth closet of the kind described. 
_WEBB DONNELL. 
WHAT SAY? 
Wild Cherry Poisoning.— On June 29, a neighbor 
cut and threw over into the pasture, a few wild cherry 
bushes ; five cows out of the 15 head in the field were 
dead the next morning. That the wild cherry was 
poisonous, was news to many ot us, but I have since 
heard of many previous cases of the same kind. 
Wales Center, N. Y. d. j. h. 
R. N.-Y.—Who can add any testimony? 
Clearing a Swamp.— I would esteem it a favor if 
The R. N.-Y. could obtain and publish the experience 
of a few practical men, who have cleared an alder 
swamp—muck soil. What tools were used ? How were 
they used ? What was approximate cost, etc. ? N. N, 
R. N.-Y.—Who can help us in this line ? 
A STRAWBERRY TALK. 
HOW SOME OF THE NEWER VARIETIES BEHAVE. 
[editorial CORRESPONDENCE. [ 
A first-rate place to observe the behavior of the 
newer strawberries, is on the grounds of T. J. Dwyer, 
of Cornwall, N. Y. Mr. Dwyer is a very careful man 
who has grown up in the nursery business, and 
acquired good judgment in noting the desirable quali¬ 
ties of any new fruit. It must be a good variety-, 
indeed, that will get a word of praise from him after 
fair evidence of what it can do. One of his own seed 
lings which at first gave promise of filling a desired 
place, has since shown that it has no special merit as 
compared with others, and so it will “come out.” 
That is the true spirit for nurserymen to show, and 
there would be fewer disappointments in fruit culture 
if “novelties” were more generally tested before being 
“ boomed.” Mr. Dwyer’s soil ranges from a hard clay 
to an open loam—most of it heavy rather than light. 
His opinions of varieties are based on their eltavior 
on different soils. 
The first thing one is likely to observe about this 
place is that every inch of space is occupied by some 
useful plant. The “ double cropping” system is car- 
riedout to perfection. Even fence corners and spaces 
around bushes, are utilized to start cabbage plants. 
Along the fence in front of the place, over 100 differ¬ 
ent varieties of bushes, shrubs and vines are to be 
seen, while sweet corn, cabbage and cauliflower are 
put into every vacant nook. Of course this means 
lots of manure and skillful culture, but both are forth¬ 
coming, anil the result is a great object lesson for 
those who are interested in working the soil to its 
fullest capacity. That is to be the end of most East¬ 
ern farming if we are not mistaken. 
One chief object of this visit was to see how Tira- 
brell and Marshall behave this year. As It. N.-Y. 
readers know, Timbrell was originated in the neigh¬ 
borhood of Orange County. The Marshall has been 
praised in some places, while in others it has failed. 
Mr. Dwyer has had these berries from the first. He 
grows them on a variety of soils, and in connection 
with his nursery business, he has a large berry trade. 
Ilis opinion, therefore, should carry some weight. 
His Timbrells were at their best about June 22. 
The fruit was very large and sweet. They were very 
productive, notwithstanding the severe drought. 
They are very valuable in prolonging the season for 
fruit, and can be recommended without any reserve 
for the home fruit garden. The general. market will 
never accept this berry at its real worth, for its poor 
color is against it. Mr. Dwyer says that he picked 
many berries, while the variety was at its best, which 
had but little if any more color than the Lenig’s 
White. 
“I believe that to be one of the Timbrell’s parents,” 
said Mr. Dwyer. 
“ But don’t you sell the Timbrells in your local 
market?” 
“ Yes, I have educated our market to use them, and 
those who will give the variety a fair trial accept it 
willingly. I fear, however, that where it is not in¬ 
troduced in this way, the dealers will discriminate 
against it. ” 
“Now what about the Marshall? Last year you 
thought well of it ” 
“ I could not fruit it fully last year, but this year it 
has shown what it can do. It is a grand berry ! On 
June 22, we were still picking them—after 25 days of 
fruiting. I shall plant it largely. With me it is 
large, of fine color and excellent flavor. As it grows 
here, it is about an ‘ ideal berry.’ ” 
“ Of all the sorts on your place, what variety do you 
select for your own eating ? ” 
“Marshall—though if I had a patch of Timbrells 
nearer the house, it might be an even thing between 
them some days.” 
“ What three varieties will give a good succession ? ” 
“ Van Deman, Marshall and Timbrell. That is a 
fine trio of berries. The Marshall will pollenize 
Timbrell.” 
“ What about Parker Earle ?” 
“ A fine berry—one of the best. It is a strong, vig¬ 
orous grower, sets a great many berries, and with 
plenty of food and moisture will develop them.” 
“ What about some of the other varieties on your 
grounds ? ” 
“ Well, Mary is too sour, though a fine, large berry. 
Gandy is a fine variety, but not productive enough 
with me. If Gandy were only a sure and heavy bearer, 
there would be few other varieties grown. Greenville 
is a good one. Brandywine is a strong and vigorous 
grower, but I cannot yet tell about its fruit. Banquet 
looks as though it had a fine flavor, and that’s about 
all there is remarkable about it. Bubach improves 
on acquaintance with me. Haverland and Cumber¬ 
land Triumph are still first-rate for market varieties.” 
Mr. Dwyer uses large quantities of stable manure 
and fertilizers, and also sows clover whenever pos¬ 
sible. On his heavy land, the clover crop is very use- 
