786 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
November 23 
SOME FERTILIZER EXPERIMENTS. 
P A.RT II. 
So for many years this farming went 
on—chiefly acid farming ; viz., the addi¬ 
tion of organic manures like fish and sea 
weed with inadequate tillage and little 
use of alkaline manures or those which 
would neutralize or “sweeten” the sour¬ 
ness in the soil. Then, for many years 
before 1891, the land remained in grass 
and weeds, until considerable moss had 
grown on it. This is the condition of a 
great many New England fields to-day. 
When plowed and well manured, they 
will often give fair yields of corn or rye; 
but other crops often fail with the same 
treatment, and it has been noticed that 
it is next to impossible to secure a good 
catch of clover or Timothy on such fields. 
Tt is also noticed that, as a rule, stable 
manure gives better results on these 
fields than fertilizers that contain much 
a cid. Stable manure, like lime, is alkaline 
in its action. This fact in regard to 
clover is so marked, that you will find 
many New England farmers who insist 
that clover will not grow on their farms. 
So it was, and, in fact, is to-day in Rhode 
Island. It was one of the first things 
noticed on that typical field at the ex¬ 
periment station. It soon become evi¬ 
dent that, with a complete fertilizer, 
that soil would produce fair crops of 
corn or potatoes, but they could not get 
a crop of clover started, no matter how 
much potash was used. The clover crop 
was a very important one, for they had 
set out to show Rhode Island farmers 
the benefit of using a good rotation of 
crops, and a rotation that did not include 
clover would be like the play of Macbeth 
with Lady Macbeth and the witches left 
out. Clover and chemicals were to be 
the basis of the new agriculture they 
wanted to teach, and the chemicals alone 
would not bring the clover in. It is 
comparatively easy on some soils to plow 
under a sod, plant corn, use fertilizers 
heavily, grow potatoes the next year, 
and then swing into wheat, clover and 
grass to plow under again for corn. 
That rotation is both scientific and suc¬ 
cessful where it can be carried out; but 
here was a case where clover would not 
grow, and that upset the whole thing. 
The problem was to find why the clover 
did not grow, and remove the difficulty. 
It was evident that adding plant food to 
the soil did not provide a remedy. 
Potash is generally considered the key 
to clover. So it is when the soil is right; 
but applications of muriate, sulphate or 
kainit failed to start it on that acid soil. 
At the same time, it was common report 
that clover generally “came in” after 
wood ashes. Why was that ? What is 
there about the potash in wood ashes 
that was superior to that in other forms? 
IPas it the potash that did all the work? 
A ton of wood ashes contains 1,200 
pounds of lime. Gradually Prof. Wheeler 
became convinced that the soil was so 
full of acid that the characteristic bac¬ 
teria, that of clover, could not work in 
it. The lime changed this acid condi¬ 
tion so that the plants were able to 
thrive and grow. You might compare 
it to a man with a sour and acid stom¬ 
ach. No use feeding him on meat and 
other strong food. A dose of charcoal 
or magnesia or something to absorb and 
neutralize that gas, will put the stomach 
to rights, and prepare it for the work of 
digestion. So it was with that acid soil. 
It needed medicine before it could give 
good returns for plant food. That 
medicine was lime. 
Prof Wheeler has shown by his results, 
that this conclusion was sound. Now, 
why are certain soils acid, and how are 
we to [distinguish them ? The soil in 
question is a mellow, sandy loam, level 
but reasonably well drained. It is a 
popular belief that very acid soils are 
found only in low places where more or 
less water stands. It will be hard to 
make some farmers believe that dry up¬ 
land fields ever become so sour that 
clover >vill not grow on them ; yet it is 
true, as the farmer may easily prove to 
his own satisfaction, by applying a sim¬ 
ple test which we shall give later on. 
Prof. Wheeler believed from the start 
that many of the soils of New England 
are derived from granite or other rocks, 
which are lacking in bases. Those who 
went through the Primer Science of soils 
will we think, understand what that 
means. There are really two different 
sorts of granite ; one contains but little 
lime, and soils that are derived from it, 
are more likely to become sour than 
those from rocks that contain more lime. 
We can readily understand how this is, 
when we remember that lime is the 
great sweetener or neutralizer of nature. 
A soil, as we know, is ground up rock, 
and when the original rock contains 
little or no lime, and is kept in grass for 
a considerable time, it is easy to see that 
the acids will accumulate and grow 
stronger—in other words, we shall have 
“sour” lands. Roots and leaves and 
other organic matter, as they decay in 
such soils, form acid compounds, and 
unless something be done to neutralize 
these acids, clover cannot grow and 
thrive. In a soil containing a fair amount 
of carbonate of lime, such an acid con¬ 
dition would not be possible. 
In Rrittany and Limousin in France, 
the soil like that in parts of New Eng¬ 
land is derived from granite containing 
mica and not hornblende—in other 
words, with little original lime. For 
centuries these sections were in a mis¬ 
erable condition. Clover could not be 
grown, and many other crops failed con¬ 
tinuously. A new railroad made it pos¬ 
sible to introduce lime into this country. 
From the date of its regular use, the 
growing of clover became possible, and 
the agriculture of that country was 
brought up to a high standard. The 
theory of that experience is that the 
lime “sweetened” the land, and thus 
made it possible for the clover bacteria 
to thrive and develop. The Rhode Island 
experiments give us the practical results 
that prove two important things : 
1. Certain upland soils, even those dry 
and well drained, may be too sour to 
grow clover. This sourness may be due 
to the facts that the original rock from 
which the soils were formed contained 
little or no lime. 
2. The cure for such soils is to add 
lime in the proper manner—not as a 
direct plant food, but rather as soil med¬ 
icine—if we may use that term ? 
How are we to know when a soil is 
lime sick ? We shall give a simple test 
next week. 
Live Stock Matters. 
FORKFULS OF FACTS. 
Ducks and Drakes ; A Prolific Tur¬ 
key. —1. How many Pekin ducks should 
be allowed to a drake? 2. What is a fair 
average number of eggs for them to lay? 
One of my neighbors has a turkey that, 
since spring, has laid over 200 eggs and 
is still at it. Isn’t that something 
unusual ? Most of the eggs were set, 
but very few hatched. A. w. b. 
Thomaston, Me. 
R. N.-Y.—1. From 0 to 12, according 
to condition and weather. In warmer 
weather, a larger number may be 
allowed. 2. The number of eggs varies 
largely the same as with hens. Mr. 
Hallock, whose farm has been described 
in The R. N.-Y., says that his 1,000 or 
1,200 ducks average about 135 each per 
year. We believe this to be above the 
average, but some claim a still higher 
number. That turkey certainly made a 
good record, if, indeed, she didn’t break 
it. Let’s hear from any one who can 
show a better record. 
Cutting and Soaking Corn Stalks.— 
What is the feeding value of corn stalks 
cut when the corn was fully ripened ? 
Are they nutritious enough to pay to 
get the cows to eat them by cutting, 
soaking in water and sprinkling with 
ground feed ? The cows eat all the 
leaves, husks and part of the stalks, 
leaving the coarse, hard part. 
St. Albans, Vt. c. T. M. 
R. N.-Y.—By analysis the different 
parts of the corn plant will compare as 
follows : 
Muscle- 
Fat- 
Pure 
makers. 
formers. 
fat. 
Grain (flint). .. 
... 10/ 2 
70 
5 
Husk.. 
... 2 Vt 
28 
0.7 
Leaves. 
6 
36 
U4 
Stalks. 
2 
17 
Yt 
As to whether there is profit in cutting 
and soaking the stalks, will depend on 
various things Generally speaking, it 
will not pay to hire a man to do it. With 
a small dairy where one does his own 
work and is short of good hay, we think 
that it will pay. If one has power of 
any sort to run the cutter, we know that 
it will pay to chop every mouthful of 
feed that is given the cows. 
Justice to the Jersey. —I do not think 
that The R. N.-Y. is fair to the Jersey 
in the article on page 709. That the 
Guernseys are a good breed, no one 
denies ; but is that any reason for mak¬ 
ing unfavorable comparisons with the 
Jerseys and no other breed, when the 
facts are that a large percentage of the 
patrons of The R. N.-Y. are interested 
in Jerseys, either full blood or grades ? 
The comparisons made are so far from 
the facts, as to mislead the uninformed 
and disgust those that know. The time 
of the English fancier has long since 
(Continued on next page). 
IfttaUancw gUvcvtij&injb 
In writing to advertisers, please always mention 
The Rural New-Yorker. 
not fat 
Cod-liver oil is not simply 
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than that. Otherwise 
cream would answer as well. 
Because some medicine or 
food makes you fat is no 
reason why it is as good as 
cod-liver oil. This oil has a 
number of most peculiar 
and valuable agents united 
with it. Neither these 
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united as they are found 
only in the pure cod-liver 
oil. 
Scott's Emulsion of Cod- 
liver Oil, with hypophos- 
phites, contains the whole 
oil. The hypophosphites 
are tonics to the nervous 
system. Its use is when 
there is a tendency to con¬ 
sumption, loss of flesh, 
cough or cold and in the 
wasting diseases of early 
life. 
I THE KINQ CURE OVER ALL FOR 
T RHEUMATISM, 
t KTEUR.ALOIA, 
X SCIATICA is 
Vacuum 
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May as well know it. Get a can at a 
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use enough to find out; if you don’t 
like it, take the can back and get the 
whole of your money. 
Sold only in cans, to make sure of fair dealing 
everywhere—handy cans. Best oil for farm ma¬ 
chinery al<=o. if you can’t find it, write to 
VACUL'M OIL COMPANY, Rochester, N.Y. 
BEFORE 
BUYING 
a NEW 
HARNESS 
Send 2-centstamp for 80-page Illus¬ 
trated Catalogue of Custom Hand¬ 
made Oak Leather Harness, sold 
direct to consumers at wholesale 
prices. Why not buy from first 
hands and save the middleman’s 
profit. You can buy by mail as 
well as though here in person. 
Making to order a specialty. 
KUH) A CO., .No. lOChnrrh St., Onogo, N.Y 
HORSE BLANKETS 
ARE THE STRONGEST. 
Awarded highest nri/.e at World’b Fair. 
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The Rest 5/A is the 
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IHany Have Worn 1G Years. 
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Sold by all dealers. 
Write us for 5/A Hook. 
WM. AYRES & SONS, Philadelphia. 
iXL TANK HEATER 
For Warming Water in Stock Tanks 
WILL SAVE DOUBLE ITS H 
COST IN ONE SEA 
It is made of the best quality 
cast in one piece. No sheet- 
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and cause leak. It is perma¬ 
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A Sinn 11 hoy can easily 
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IXL Feed Grinders, 
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Send for Free Catalogue. 
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i 15 Water St., BATAVIA, ILL. 
COOK Your FEED and SAVE 
Half the Cost—with the 
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PURINTON’S 
AGRICULTURAL BOILER 
Stands at the head of all articles for 
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Des Moines. Iowa. 
-- 
, 
Own 
Et* \ ML Ple&<semf 1 '$i.<i 
^tock Farm Iff 
—1439 acres at Colony, /fM/ll 
Eastern Kansas. I want 1 / 1 '3 
to sell it because I can’t iIJMf 
tend to it. Cheap enough \m(vi 1,1 
to suit you. Illustrated f'll Vi 
booklet describing it free. ]J 1 11 
J. B. LEWIS, MAl 
301 Congress St. Boston, Mass. ’||||(| 
l 
| 
1 
- 
Productive Farm 
to rent, on shares, or cash. Near Albany; over 200 
acres. Horses, wagons and implements on place. 
Especially adapted to hay, corn, cabbage and pota¬ 
toes Special market for products at advanced prices 
Only No. 1 party with sufficient money to work place 
advantageously need apply. Possession any time 
before April 1. Apply to 
MURPHY, LLOYD & BOYD. Attorneys, 
No. Ill Broadway. New York. 
Tfl FYPHAWRP -Have one ° f the best stock 
IU LAUIIMI1UL farms in Michigan, but am 
unable to give it attention. Will exchange for small 
place of about five acres in good locality within 100 
miles of New York. This is a splendid chance for a 
young pushing man. Any difference in price can re¬ 
main at low rate of interest. Address 
D. A. BECKWITH, 280 Broadway, New York. 
IF YOU WANT 
a good, safe, seven per cent 
investment, secured by first 
mortgage on an improved 
farm worth three times amount loaned, write to 
Willis A. White. 289 First Ave. N., Minneapolis, Minn 
Horses, Cattle, Sheep and Swine. 
Geo. W. Curtis, M. S. A. Origin, History, 
Improvement, Description, Characteristics, 
Merits, Objections, Adaptability South, etc. 
of each of the Different Breeds, with Hints on 
Selection, Care and Management. Methods of 
practical breeders of the United States and 
Canada. Superbly illustrated. About 100 full 
page cuts. Cloth, $2. 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER New Yoke. 
