Soil  Fertility'  Notes 
tensive  ureas  of  thin  coal,  or  areas  from 
which  the  coal  has  been  entirely  squeezed 
out.  Tbt:  varying  intensity  of  the  pres¬ 
sure  from  place  to  place  has  also  re¬ 
sulted  in  considerable  difference  in  the 
quality  of  the  coal,  which  ranges  from 
anthracite  to  graphite,  containing  mod¬ 
erately  high  ash  to  very  high  ash  and 
usually  showing  a  high  percentage  of 
moisture  when  first  mined. 
The  Rhode  Island  coal  does  not  have 
the  heat  producing  capacity  of  the  or¬ 
dinary  bituminous  coal.  It,  is  slow  to 
ignite,  but  burns  very  rapidly,  and  gives 
off  a  (pi idle  heat  when  started.  At  pres¬ 
ent  it  is  thought,  that  the  best  outlook 
for  this  Rhode  Island  coal  is  in  produc¬ 
tion  of  electric  power  at  the  mines.  This 
may  he  done  through  steam  engines  or 
gas  producing  plants.  Thus  instead  of  go¬ 
ing  to  the  water  powers  for  force  peo¬ 
ple  would  go  to  these  low  producing 
mines  to  utilize  the  coal.  The  figures 
show,  however,  that  there  would  not  he 
financial  success  in  this  until  the  Rhode 
Island  coal  can  be  mined  and  delivered 
to  the  furnace  for  less  than  one-half  the 
wholesale  price  of  other  coals  in  Provi¬ 
dence  and  Boston.  Here  then  is  one  of 
nature’s  assets  which  should  remain  in 
the  ground  until  civilization  grows  up  ro 
Potash  for  Fertilizer 
Can  potash  that  comes  in  small  tin 
cans,  retailing  at  10  cents  per  tin,  be 
used  as  fertilizer?  Please  explain  how 
to  use  it.  H.  D.  K. 
Attleboro,  Mass. 
Such  use  of  potash  would  not  pay  ex¬ 
cept  on  a  very  small  scale.  The  trouble 
is  that  many  of  the  so-called  potash  lyes 
do  not  contain  any  potash  whatever,  but 
are  made  of  soda,  which  would  have  lit¬ 
tle  or  no  value  as  a  fertilizer.  If  you 
are  sure  that  you  can  buy  potash,  as  good 
a  way  as  any  to  use  it  is  to  dissolve  the 
contents  of  the  can  in  water.  Then  take 
a  quantity  of  dry,  sifted  coal  ashes  and 
sprinkle  the  liquid  potash  over  them.  Let 
the  ashes  thoroughly  absorb  this  liquid. 
Then  let  them  dry  again  and  fine  any 
lumps  which  may  form.  These  redried 
ashes  may  then  be  used  the  same  as  any 
other  fertilizer.  The  potash  will  be  found 
distributed  all  through  the  ashes,  so  as 
to  make  an  even  distribution,  It  is  not 
likely,  however,  that  this  would  pay  ex¬ 
cept  for  small  garden  application. 
Composting  Aople  Pomace 
About  three  years  ago  you  printed  an 
article  about  making  a  compost  of  apple 
pomace  and  lime.  NVill  you  advise  as  to 
the  amount  of  lime  to  use  to  each  cubic 
yard  of  pomace  and  should  the  lime  be 
slaked  or  nnslaked?  How  will  the  fertil¬ 
izing  value  of  this  compost  compare  with 
well  rotted  stable  manure?  When  would 
be  the  best  time  to  make  this  compost, 
soon  after  the  pomace  is  made,  or  later? 
Lorain,  O.  H.  sr.  a. 
While  it  is  not  the  general  practice, 
undoubtedly  apple  pomace  can  be  com¬ 
posted  with  lime  without  any  serious  loss 
of  nitrogen,  for  the  pomace  is  usually 
wet  enough  to  absorb  any  ammonia  gas 
that  might  be  formed.  Dr.  I.ipman  of 
the  New  Jersey  Experiment  Station 
states  that  usually  50  pounds  of  lime¬ 
stone  per  ton  of  pomace  is  considered  suf¬ 
ficient.  Slaked  lime  would  be  preferable 
to  nnslaked.  In  fertilizing  constituents 
it  is  about  one-half  the  value  of  stable 
manure.  The  pounds  per  ton  are : 
I’llON. 
Nitrogen.  Acid.  Potash. 
Average  horse  mini  lire..  10  S  10 
Average  apple  pomace.  .0  2  4 
It  is  often  used  for  fertilizing  pur¬ 
poses.  Mr.  r.  Forster,  New  Jersey,  has 
used  it  in  heavy  applications  on  poor 
sandy  land  with  very  good  results  in 
growing  field  corn — no  lime  or  other  fer¬ 
tilizing  material  being  added.  However, 
he  has  only  used  it  two  years;  continued 
ip  _■  may  result  in  the  need  of  lime.  On 
heavy  laud  the  pomace  without  lime  was 
injurious.  In  regard  to  the  time  of  com¬ 
posting  with  lime  perhaps  other  R.  N.-Y. 
readers  can  give  some  information  from 
experience.  Analyses  are  given  to  show 
how  pomace  may  vary  : 
Water.  N.  Phos.  P. 
I.  S.  Dawes  &  Son. 81.8%  0.25%  0.07%  0.10% 
N.  ,1.  ('liter  Vinegar 
Works  . 08.0  0.32  0.12  0.20 
The  general  practice  in  the  use  of 
pomace  appears  to  be  the  feeding  of  it 
to  cows.  A  Vermont  bulletin  (No.  137) 
recommends  it  for  this  purpose.  To 
quote  this  bulletin:  “It  should  be  fed 
lightly  at  first  until  the  cows  get  accus¬ 
tomed  to  it ;  then  as  high  as  35  pounds 
daily  may  be  fed  without  harming  the 
cow  or  depleting  the  poeketboolc."  This 
usage  seems  to  be  the  most  economical, 
for  the  resulting  manure  can  be  applied 
with  the  same  effect  as  any  manure. 
(To  Say  Nothing  of  10  Others  Almost  as  Important) 
THE  Bean  Power  Sprayer  offers  you  vitally  valuable  advantages 
over  other  sprayers.  When  buying  a  sprayer  you  want  to  be  sure 
you  are  making  an  investment  nf  permanent  value — that  you  are 
getting  a  machine  that  will  do  what  other-,  cannot  do  and  w  ill  save 
time  and  make  money  for  you  for  year'  to  come. 
That  is  just  what  you  do  get  in  the  Bean  Power  Sprayer.  Note  these  ten 
special  features  (most  of  them  possessed  by  no  other 
f - - >»  sprayer),  and  consider  what  they  will  save  and  earn 
■■■  -c,  for  you  during  one  season. 
Cover  Crop  in  Orchard ;  Burning  Over 
Grass 
1.  I  am  planning  to  cultivate  m.v  or¬ 
chard  from  April  to  July,  then  sow  cover 
crop  of  Dwarf  Essex  rape.  What  can  I 
add  that  will  hold  through  the  Winter? 
I  would  like  to  use  clover,  as  I  want  to 
plant  potatoes  the  next  Spring,  but  fear 
my  soil  is  not  ready,  as  it  has  not  been 
cultivated  for  many  years.  I  limed  it 
Ibis  Summer,  one  ton  to  acre.  2.  Do 
you  advise  burning  over  grass  land  in 
early  Spring  where  there  is  a  heavy  sec- 
oud  growth  left  over?  I  want  to  top- 
dress  with  chemical  fertilizers, 
Massachusetts.  E.  G.  G. 
1.  Rye  i*  tin1  old  gtaml-liy  in  such 
eases.  It  is  tough  and  will  grow  almost 
anywhere — making  a  fair  Spring  growth 
to  plow  under.  We  add  a  few  pounds  of 
Alsike  clover  under  such  conditions  as 
you  mention.  Ir  makes  a  growth  which 
more  than  pays  tor  seed  and  labor.  2. 
The  heavy  second  growth  on  the  meadow 
interferes  with  the  mower  knives  and  fur¬ 
nishes  a  nesting  place  for  vermin.  On 
the  other  hand,  it  holds  the  snow  and 
moisture  for  the  young  grass.  Burning 
leaves  a  pinch  of  available  plant  food  for 
(hi-  new  growth.  If  very  heavy  we  should 
burn  the  old  grass  off 
JOHN  bean  x 
Inventor  of  ihn 
•«n  power  5pr  tyer  -«■  M.  'W'  ^  — - 
and  Ka^ic  Pump  *  *  * 
1.  B_>an  Patented  Automatic  Pressure  6.  Bean  Refiller  -Fills  200-gallon  tank 
Regulator  -Maintains  any  desired  pres-  in 5  minutes.  Xot  a  movable  part. 
sure  w  hether  nozzles  are  open  or  closed. 
When  nozzles  are  shul  off  the  spray  liquid  7.  Eccentric*  Instead  of  Cranks  Much 
simply  goes  hack  into  the  tank,  without  more  durable,  give  less  friction  W  ear 
being-  pul  under  pressure  and  the  engine  is  distributed  over  14-inch  surface, 
runs  free.  Saves  h,  the  gasoline  and  wear 
and  tear  on  the  machine.  8.  Bean  Rocking  Bolster  —  Permits 
2.  Bean  Patented  Threadless  Ball  wheel  on  cither  axle  to  be  in  rut  or  gutter 
Valves,  with  reversible  seats  Can  be  while  other  wheel  is  on  high  ground  with 
opened  up  entirely,  every  part  removed,  ointippingsprayerorspringmgtheframe. 
in  less  than  2  minutes.  \nd  ■(  it  hunt  low-  _  _  _  _ 
crimr  the  pressure,  r vithout  stopping  the  Engine  and  Pump  Direct  Gear  Con- 
engine,  without  drawing  the  liquid  out  of  nected  Avoids  slipping  belts  and  saves 
the  pump.  /P#  or  power.  Pump  and  engine  bolted 
,  „  ,  .  ,  r.  ,.  ,  ...  direct  to  steel  frame,  making  outfit  much 
3.  Porcelain  -  Lined  Cylinders  I  nin-  more  rigid.  Frame  bolted  direct  to  axle 
a  1  lC  :>*}ray  hquid.  Will  outlast  eliminating  holsters  and  reach  Ipcroh1. 
the  pump.  '  ancj  savjn(I  g  inches  ia  height  and  150 
4.  Only  Pump  Without  Stuffing  Box—  pounds  dead  weight. 
Cup-shaped  moulded  plunger  hugs  Cyl¬ 
inder  tightly, and  does  away  with  trouble-  10.  Interchangeable  and  Complete- 
some  stuffing  box.  All  parts  of  each  size  of  Bean  Power 
5.  Underneath  Suction—  Sttvis  power-  Sprayer  are  interchangeable  with  any 
Bean  2-cylinder  sprayer  throws  as  much  other  size. 
liquid  as  average  3-cylinder  sprayer. 
Flushes  clogged  valves  instantly  by  grav-  Regular  outfit  is  complete  with  truck 
it> — impossible  with  overhead  suction.  hose  rods  and  all  extras,  and  is  shipped 
Tank  can  be  emptied  in  a  tew  seconds.  set  up  ready  for  immediate  use. 
Novo  Engines  on  All  Bean  Outfits 
Almost  too  well  known  to  require  description.  Self  contained,  light  weight,  water 
cooled,  frost  proof,  four-cyle  type,  with  hit-and-miss  governor.  Jump  spark  igni¬ 
tion.  No  delicate  parts.  Simple,  durable,  efficient. 
It  is  impossible  to  fully  explain  the  valuable,  exclusive  features  of  the  Bean  Power 
Sprayer  in  this  limited  space.  Our  fully  illustrated  catalog  Xo.  30  explains  them  in 
detail  and  10  others  almost  as,  important. 
Full  Line  of  Sprayers 
Be  sure  you  are  properly  equipped  for  this  year's  spraying.  We  manufacture  a 
complete  line  of  power  and  hand  sprayers  as  well  as  nozzles,  hose  and. all  accessories. 
Send  for  free  catalog  and  name  of  Bean  agent  in  your  neighborhood. 
I!SK"&S‘  BEAN  SPRAY  PUMP  COMPANY  i 
Originators  of  first  high  pressure  spray  pump.  Established  1 884 
Sales  Representatives  Throughout  the  United  States 
Value  of  Phosphate  Rock 
Referring  to  .vour  comments  on  ground 
rock  phosphate,  will  say  it  seems  that 
Alfalfa  will  get  such  phosphate  better 
than  grain  crops.  I  put  in  two  pieces  of 
Alfalfa  on  common  Michigan  sandy  hind, 
both  well  manured  and  limed,  one  with 
1000  pounds  phosphate  rock  to  the  aero, 
the  other  without.  The  pieces  of  laud 
join.  The  one  with  phosphate  rock  pro¬ 
duced  over  40  tons  to  the  acre  in  eight 
years,  the  other  hardly  one-third  as  much. 
The  scientists  tell  us  that  native  grasses 
will  get  and  use  the  so-called  insoluble 
potash  in  our  soils,  and  I  guess  Alfalfa 
will  also  do  it.  It  seems  there  are  30.000 
to  -10,000  pounds  of  the  insoluble  potash 
in  the  plowed  soil  of  an  acre,  at  five  cents 
a  pound  $1,500  to  $2,000  per  acre;  also 
that  some  sandy  soils  have  more  of  the 
potash  than  s<  m  '  clay  soils. 
Oceana  Co.,  Mich.  s.  K.  ktssell. 
R.  N.-Y. — Of  course  we  kmnv  that 
plants  of  any  sort  must  have  the  phos¬ 
phoric  acid  in  available  form  before  they 
can  absorb  and  use  it.  The  chemists 
have  worked  out  tests  by  which  they  can 
tell  when  phosphates  are  “available.”  and 
most  Eastern  farmers  buy  them  on  the 
basis  of  that  test.  What  we  want  is 
proof  that  the  raw  phosphates  respond  to 
that  chemical  test  and  give  us  available 
phosphoric  acid. 
Sav  e’s  one-  HHI 
third  tlie  lab- 
One  'HB 
can  e  a  s  i  1  > 
maintain  1201l>s. 
pressure  for  two 
only  two  valves  wk 
and  but  one  plunger.  'So 
Porcelain  lined  C>  1-  '  'w 
inders,  ball  valves, and 
all  materials  same  as  w5|v 
in  Bean  Bower  Sprayer. 
Bean  Barrel  Pump 
Built  in  three  sizes.  No.  70 
and  No.  fit)  with  porcelain  'Sfk 
iined  cylinder.  The  cheaper 
one.  No.  50  with  brass  cylinders.  ^ 
All  with  ball  valves,  splendid  x 
agitators  and  large  air  chambers. 
Bean  High  Pressure 
Spray  Hose 
Made  especially  to  withstand  high 
pressure  and  corrosive  and  oily  spray 
materials.  Saves  annoyance,  lasts 
longer,  much  more  economical.  Fit¬ 
tings  that  can’t  blow  out. 
The  Bean  Line  is  Com¬ 
plete  —  Everything 
for  Spraying  * 
Coal  Deposits  in  Rhode  Island 
Few  people  would  think  of  Rhode 
Island  as  a  coal  producing  Slate,  yet  it 
was  known  as  early  as  1760  that  there 
were  deposits  of  coal  in  that  section. 
No  attempts  thus  far  at  utilizing  it. 
have  mot  with  success,  as  the  coal  beds 
are  difficult  to  mine,  and  the  coal  does 
not  burn  successfully.  The  United 
States  Geological  Survey  gives  the  fol¬ 
lowing  explanation  to  show  why  this 
coal  does  not  make  good  fuel. 
The  coal  beds  and  associated  rocks  of 
this  area  have  been  subjected  to  intense 
hut  izi  hi  (til  pressure  that,  has  not  only  af¬ 
fected  the  internal  structure  of  the  coal, 
but  has  compressed  the  beds  and  other 
rocks  into  great,  folds.  The  coal,  which 
is  relatively  soft,  has  yielded  more  than 
the  surrounding  rocks,  so  that  the  beds 
have  lost  their  original  regularity,  and 
now  occur  in  pockets,  irregular  in  size 
a  ml  shape,  separated  by  more  or  less  ox- 
Engubh  Efim  li.TzKit* — The  English 
farmers  are  reported  as  using  this  Fall 
larger  quantities  of  phosphatie  manures, 
such  us  acid  phosphate  and  basic  slag. 
The  potash  question  is  as  hard  in  Eng¬ 
land  as  it  is  here,  .and  there  is  little  or 
no  potash  to  be  obtained.  A  consid¬ 
erable  acreage  of  old  pasture  hind  has 
been  plowed  up  and  seeded  to  wheat  in 
order  to  help  trot  the  English  grain  sup¬ 
ply.  and  in  order  to  push  those  grain 
crops  along  the  phosphates  have  been 
freely  used.  The  English  farmers  ap¬ 
parently  think  that  the  extra  use  of  phos¬ 
phates,  especially  on  their  heavier  soil, 
will  indirectly  make  up  partly  for  the 
shortage  in  potash.  The  use  of  lime  also 
seems  to  be  increasing  on  tile  other  side. 
The  cost  of  all  forms  of  fertilizer  has  in¬ 
creased  in  England.  Most  of  the  phos¬ 
phates  are  imported  either  from  this 
country  or  from  North  Africa,  or  the  L’a- 
cifie  Islands,  and  the  increased  cost  of 
freight  is  largely  responsible  for  this  in¬ 
crease  in  price. 
JP  BEAN 
WV  SPRAY 
tjf  PUMP  CO. 
Lansing.  Mich. 
228  W.  Julian  St. 
m?  San  Jose,  Cal. 
jT 
y  Gentlemen: 
Please  send  me  your  new 
complete  catalog  No.  30. 
lave . acres  of. . . . 
Hand  Pumps 
Power  Sprayers 
Accessories. 
Grand  Prize  ^ 
Winner,  San 
Francisco 
Li  Exposi-  A 
BA  tion  ,jf 
I  am  interested 
Name 
