1895 
T 
nurseryman could afford to have the facts made pub¬ 
lic that his business was conducted in such a manner 
that such a mistake was possible. Still, there is no 
doubt that it was a mistake. On the other hand, F. C. 
B. will have an uneven orchard. To fill the vacancies, 
he must dig new holes and set other trees at much 
greater cost for the labor than to set the same num¬ 
ber of trees when planting the orchard. It seems to 
me that a fair settlement for both parties would be for 
the nurseryman to assume the entire expense of re¬ 
placing the seedling trees with those true to name. 
H. E. VanDeman Would Take Trees and $5. 
A easy way to come to a fair conclusion as to the 
merits of the case, is for the buyer and nurseryman 
each to imagine himself in the other’s place. As a 
matter of fact, I have been in both positions, and can 
speak from experience, on both sides. The nursery 
firm selling the 800 trees is not charged with inten¬ 
tional wrong, but with the bad results of inexpert or 
careless workmen in sprouting or digging the trees in 
the nursery. Doubtless, more skillful help should be 
employed, at least in the final sorting. If the planter 
and his workmen had been more skillful or vigilant, 
the seedlings would never have been planted, although 
they were in no sense culpable. 
If the mistake had not been discovered until bear- 
ing age, the damage would, indeed, have been con¬ 
siderable ; but as only one year is lost on less than 
seven per cent of the trees, and being peach trees, which 
are in nearly all sections not likely to bear regularly, 
the damage is not serious. The claim of 859 damages 
seems far too much, for the loss in time of fruiting is 
not likely to be that much. This claim is, perhaps, 
nearly or more than equal to the price paid for the 
800 trees. As the nursery firm offers to deliver 59 
good trees without any cost, I would accept them, 
and not ask for more than $5 extra to pay for hunting 
out and replacing the seedlings. The nurserymen 
show a willingness to make good the trees as soon as 
apprised of the mistake ; but they deserve to suffer at 
least a little for allowing it to have occurred. There 
might be cases, such as where the trees were wanted 
to grow for budding stock or for experiment, in which 
81 per tree would be far too little damage to claim 
after waiting for years and the possible dissemina¬ 
tion of wrong varieties. 
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HEATING WATER BY GASOLINE. 
I am unable to find a tank heater in which gasoline may be 
used as fuel. My tank is close to my barn—windmill inside—and 
I dare not use fuel like wood or cobs, and coal is very expensive. 
It is on the prairie where the winds are high. So far as I know, 
no tank heater now made can be adapted to the use of gasoline; 
but I believe many could be sold to persons situated as I am. 
Michigan. e. w. a. 
Do Not Need It in Colorado. 
I am unable to learn of a tank heater made for the 
special purpose mentioned, but I think that some of 
the companies handling gasoline-heated bath tubs, 
could easily arrange for heating water in a small 
tank with an inlet for cold, and an outlet for warm 
water. Or one might hire his tank built, and, by 
using an ordinary gasoline stove, with a single 
burner, attain the desired result. As to the advisa¬ 
bility of heating water for stock, I think that it may 
be done with profit in the Eastern and Middle States 
in connection with dairies where Jersey or Guernsey 
cows are kept. I think that it would not be economi¬ 
cal in this State or this portion of the West, from the 
fact that we have so very few cloudy days during 
winter, and that with reasonable protection from 
winds, the sunshine may be relied upon to warm the 
animals after drinking. We consider this cheaper and 
more healthful than artificial heat. f. l. watkous. 
Colorado Agricultural College. 
Result of Fair Trials. 
I am not acquainted with a gasoline water heater 
for stock on farms. Further than this, the extremely 
volatile and explosive character of gasoline, in my 
judgment, makes it very unsafe to use about farm 
buildings by hired help. I think, also, that insurance 
agencies would demand a higher rate were it so used. 
The H2tna Automatic heater, manufactured by the 
Vermont Farm Machine Co., Bellows Falls, Vt., uses 
kerosene oil instead of gasoline, which is much safer. 
The two extended trials on the influence of warm 
HE RURAL NEW-YORKE 
and cold water for milch cows, conducted during two 
consecutive winters, led to the following results : 
“ With butter at 20 cents per pound, skim-milk at 
25 cents per 100 pounds, corn fodder at 85 per ton, and 
the cost of warming water 120 days for 40 cows, 815, 
the average profit on 40 cows was 810,21.” 
Stated in another way, it required 1.47 pound of 
solid food for one pound of milk on cold water, and 
1.41 pound of solid food for one pound of milk on 
warm water. Stated in still another way, the cows, 
during the two trials, gave, on the average, .61 pound 
per head per day more milk on warm than on cold 
water, where the average daily yield per cow was 
18.38 pounds. Since water at 32 degrees was com¬ 
pared with water at 70 degrees, and since it is not 
necessary to give stock water in winter colder than 
40 degrees when no heat is used, it is my conviction 
that, with warm shelter, the heating of water for 
stock can hardly be said to yield a material profit. 
Wisconsin Agricultural Ex. Station. F. H. king. 
What to Do for an “ Alkali” Soil. 
F. W. F., Wellington, III. —My farm has the appearance of being 
very rich soil; it is an extremely black, sandy loam similar to a 
large proportion of Illinois soil. But there are spots where corn 
will not grow more than knee or waist-high ; the leaves turn red, 
and the roots are very short; such places are usually the richest, 
apparently. I have had no experience with such soil. It is said 
by those residing in the vicinity, to be “alkali soil,” and they say 
that stable manure will help it. Alkali, as I understand it, is 
potash, and this being the case, the land has an excess of it. It 
produces Timothy four or five feet high, good buckwheat and 
oats, in fact I never saw such Timothy. It grows rank if sowed 
in the fall, and makes a good crop of hay the following year 
What I wish to know is, What will neutralize this excess of pot¬ 
ash, if potash it be ? Is there any commercial fertilizer that will 
do it ? 
Ans. —“Alkali” is a name given to a class of sub¬ 
stances that have certain well-defined characteristics, 
such as uniting with fats to form soap and neutraliz¬ 
ing acids. Potash, soda and ammonia are all “ alka¬ 
lies.” The trouble in an “alkali” soil is not due to an 
excess of potash, but to the presence of too much soda 
in a harmful form. The remedies are to get the soda 
out of the soil by flooding or draining, or to change it 
into such a form that it will not be harmful to 
plants. These spots might, perhaps, be helped by 
drainage; but unless water can be washed through 
them, there is not much hope from this. The best 
way is to change the form of the soda. This can be 
done by broadcasting plaster or gypsum at the rate of 
700 pounds per acre, and harrowing or cultivating it 
well in on these spots. 
What Form of Phosphoric Acid ? 
S. M. I., Jackson, Mich..— On page 600 of The R. N.-Y., in speak¬ 
ing of the use of fertilizers on swamp land, you say: “ For fertiliz¬ 
ers, use muriate of potash and some form of phosphoric acid like 
fine bone or slag that has not been dissolved or ‘cut.’ ” Why do you 
think that phosphoric acid in some form like fine bone or slag, is 
better than bone black ? We compound our own fertilizer, and 
have made quite a study of it for marsh or swamp land, and we 
are very much interested in this mixture. We have an idea from 
what information we have been able to obtain, that bone black 
would be better than phosphoric acid in some form of steamed 
bone or fine ground bone. It is more soluble, and one will get 
more benefit the first season. We would like an answer as to why 
you think the uncut bone should be used instead of the cut bone, 
or bone black. 
Ans. —If you could have read the Primer Science 
articles on “Wood Ashes and Bone” that were printed 
last spring, we think that this explanation would be 
clearer. The phosphoric acid in “cut” or dissolved 
bone black is much more expensive than that in other 
forms. While a small quantity of this dissolved acid 
is useful in providing plant food early in the season, 
we think that it is a mistake to use it all in that form. 
This is particularly true on soils that contain iron and 
other minerals, for the dissolved acid is likely to form 
new chemical combinations with these substances, 
and thus lose much of its value by being locked up in 
insoluble forms. We, therefore, recommend the use 
of fine bone whenever it can be obtained at reason¬ 
able prices. On damp soils, slag phosphate has given 
considerable satisfaction on such crops as grass and 
grain. In the case mentioned, it was not likely that 
vegetables would thrive on the raw and sour land. 
Hay would probably be the best crop to start with, 
and dissolved bone black is too costly for that crop. 
What Ails These Hens ? 
E. P., Cortland, N. Y. —Can you tell me what ails my hens ? I 
have lost quite a number of R. C. W. Leghorns two years old, and 
last week a nice pullet about five months old died. The first I 
notice, one is a little droopy, moves slowly, the comb is faded and 
there is a pinched, unnatural look about the face. On examina¬ 
tion, she is poor, and the skin all over her body, instead of being 
yellow, is purple. The hens usually live but a few days after I 
first notice that anything ails them, and keep drooping more and 
more till I find them dead. 
Ans.— The indications given are incomplete, as they 
may apply to several diseases. The gradual loss of 
flesh, and wasting away, indicate some form of roup, 
a term used to apply to consumption, bronchitis, etc., 
and the consumption may be due to an inherent ten¬ 
dency thereto. There is no remedy in such cases. No 
method of management, feeding etc., are given, and 
R. 697 
it may be possible that, during the warm weather, 
lice may be one of the troubles. 
Indigestion of Grain-Fed Hens. 
C. P. iY., Wayland, N. Y. —Last winter, I had 53 hens, nearly all 
pullets. They laid well all winter, but since spring I have lost 14. 
They dump around for some time, and have a discharge of what 
I call the white of an egg. Last week, I opened two and found 
two bunches of coagulated yolk as large as my fist. What is the 
trouble ? 
Ans. —The cause is probably indigestion, due to 
feeding grain excessively during the warm season. 
The fowls had no incentive to seek their food, and 
thus do not take necessary exercise. Where the hens 
have a run on a field, they secure an abundance of 
food in the shape of insects, grass, seeds, etc., and to 
feed them simply throws them out of condition, as 
they will follow the attendant for food instead of 
seeking it, the result being indigestion, enlarged 
liver, and other ailments due to overfeeding and im¬ 
purity of the blood. The inquiry should have been 
accompanied by the mode of management, feeding, etc. 
A Leak in the Teat. 
A. B. S., Garfield, Ind .—How can I prevent a cow losing her 
milk? She milks so very easily that the milk runs out of the 
teats. She is a very valuable cow, and I do not like to sell her 
if I can prevent her losing her milk. 
Ans. —When the cow is dry, scarify the ends of 
the teats with a sharp knife, so as to make a consid¬ 
erable sore around the opening. In healing, it will 
partially, or, perhaps, entirely close the opening. In 
the latter case, make a small opening in the center 
with a smooth knitting needle, when the cow again 
comes fresh. f. l. k. 
What about Land Plaster ? 
If. li. W., Cape Girardeau, Mo.— Can land plaster be used to any 
advantage for nursery stock ? How should it be applied, and how 
often ? I can get it for $13.50 per ton ; the land in some parts of 
the nursery, is thin on account of heavy rains washing it. 
Ans. —It would take too much space to answer this 
question in full at this time. We have some articles 
on “Sour Soils” coming, in which we hope to discuss 
fully land plaster and all useful combinations of 
lime. We wish to say briefly now, that we would not 
pay 813 per ton for land plaster to be used on nursery 
stock. We would put the money into good wood 
ashes or bone and muriate of potash, and use these 
substances in the nursery. 
Shall We Cut Dry Corn Fodder ? 
II. W. J., Cambridge, 0 .—1. Is there any special danger in feed¬ 
ing corn fodder cut to one-half inch lengths ? An instance was 
given in The R. N.-Y. where the experiment was unsatisfactory 
owing to slivers getting in the gums of the stock. 2. Will this 
cut fodder, run into the mow and packed moderately, heat suffi¬ 
ciently to injure if not cut for six or eight weeks after being cut 
in the field ? 
Ans. —Our own experience in cutting dry corn fod¬ 
der, has not been satisfactory, unless the cut pieces 
are steamed and moistened before feeding. The pieces 
of dry butts are sure to have sharp edges that make 
the cattle’s mouths sore. By steaming or wetting 
with hot water, much of this trouble is prevented. 
For a small herd, this steaming by pouring hot water 
over the cut stalks, is not so much bother ; but for a 
large herd, it is hardly practicable. A friend of ours 
cut the stalks into pieces about nine inches long. The 
cows chewed these pieces pretty well, and seemed to 
get more from the stalks than when they were fed 
whole. If field corn is well cured and fully dried 
out, we think that it can be cut up and stored in the 
mow. Even if the stalks are fed whole, we would 
run the refuse through the cutter. The cut stalks will 
make better bedding, and save time in handling the 
manure. 
The Troublesome Harlequin Bug. 
J. B., Franklin, Tenn .—Has any remedy been found for the 
Harlequin bug ? It seems to be as formidable a pest to the mar¬ 
ket gardener as the chinch bug is to the farmer. 
Ans. —There seems to be, as yet, no more practicable 
or successful method of combating this very serious 
pest after it once gets at work on the cabbage plant, 
than the somewhat laborious, but nevertheless effec¬ 
tual method of hand picking. Kerosene emulsion 
may kill the young bugs if they can be well wet with 
it. Begin early in the season, so as to get as many of 
the old bugs that have hibernated, before they begin 
egg laying ; gather all egg clusters seen. A preventive 
method was tried with good results in Mississippi re¬ 
cently. It was found that when the bugs come out 
from their winter quarters, early in the spring, they 
attacked first any cruciferous or mustard-like weeds 
growing about, and the first brood of the pest often 
developed on these weeds, or, perhaps, on radishes 
that might be up at the time. The bugs were hand¬ 
picked from these weeds, or the weeds were sprayed 
with kerosene oil, thus killing both bugs and weeds. 
If but few of the mustard-like weeds grow near by, 
then trap the bugs with an early crop of radishes 
sown for the purpose, and capture or kill the bugs on 
this crop before the cabbage crop is out. These are 
the latest suggestions regarding remedies for this 
truly formidable pest. m. y. b. 
