132 
7?/>e  RURAL  NEW-YORKER 
February  5,  1916. 
General  Farm  Topics 
Restoring  an  Old  Farm 
I  have  benight  si  farm  of  02 J/j  acres  that 
has  not  been  cultivated  fur  15  years,  and 
the  hay  has  nut  been  cut  for  two  or  three 
years.  The  orchard  has  not  been  trimmed 
for  15  years,  and  is  in  bad  condition. 
What  can  I  do  to  make  this  place  come 
hack  to  a  paying  condition  without  much 
cost  in  money?  The  land  when  last 
cultivated  raised  good  crops  of  corn,  po¬ 
tatoes  and  buckwheat.  The  land  is  sand, 
with  a  mixture  of  clay  and  some  cobble¬ 
stone,  W.  H.  B. 
Corinth,  N.  Y. 
To  bring  a  neglected  farm  back  to  a 
state  of  fertility  without  spending  much 
money,  extra  cultivation  and  green  cover 
crops  must  be  used  in  place  of  pur¬ 
chased  manure  or  fertilizer.  I'll  the 
orchard  cut  out  all  dead  wood  and  some 
of  the  diseased  wood,  but  do  not  dishorn 
or  make  the  tree  too  thin.  Thin  out 
the  water  sprouts  and  branches  where 
growth  is  too  thick,  but  save  sprouts 
to  replace  old  limbs.  Cut  all  trees  back 
to  tile  height  of  20  feet  and  spray  thor¬ 
oughly  for  scale  and  Codling  moth.  Put 
what  manure  you  can  in  the  orchard, 
plow  early  and  grow  either  corn,  pota¬ 
toes  or  beets  for  Winter  feed,  and  keep 
it  well  cultivated.  Sow  a  cover  crop 
of  buckwheat  and  rye  at  last  cultiva¬ 
tion,  or  as  soon  as  crop  is  harvested. 
Choose  one  field  for  pasture,  sow  a 
little  Sweet  clover  on  it  in  February  and 
spend  your  labor  on  the  host  land.  Save 
the  best  bay  for  a  crop  this  year,  and  as 
soon  as  same  is  cut,  plow  and  sow  the 
field  in  rye. 
Plow  tlm  other  fields  and  sow  to  oats 
and  peas  for  hay  to  be  followed  by  Sum¬ 
mer  plowing  and  rye  with  seeding,  or  to 
corn  or  potatoes  or  buckwheat,  depend¬ 
ing.  of  course,  on  the  size  and  nature  of 
the  fields  and  whether  the  land  is  ready 
in  time  for  seeding.  Corn  and  potatoes 
should  be  harvested  promptly,  the  land 
disked  and  rye  harrowed  for  a  cover 
crop. 
Get  a  few  cows  to  eat  the  roughage, 
and  manure  one  field  a  year  heavily  and 
systematically.  It  will  give  better  re¬ 
sults  than  a  thin  dressing  over  the  whole 
farm.  Good  tillage  is  often  as  good  as 
a  fertilizer  and  is  cheaper  in  the  end 
than  poor  tillage  over  a  large  area. 
E.  w.  ir. 
Grain  and  Manure  Problems 
T  have  nine  acres  of  heavy  clay  loam 
that  has  not  been  manured  for  a  good 
many  years,  and  probably  has  never  had 
any  green  manure  crop  turned  under. 
Two  years  ago  these  nine  acres  produced 
less  than  200  bushels  of  ear  corn  (the 
drought,  of  course,  somewhat  reducing 
the  normal  yield  lhat  year).  Last  year 
I  tilled  the  ground  carefully,  and  raised, 
cut  and  thrashed  between  150  and  175 
bushels  of  oil  Is  (sown  broadcast).  Since 
removing  the  oats  1  have  lot  the  ground 
lie  idle,  it  now  being  covered  with  a 
growth  of  Summer  grass.  The  land  is 
fairly  well  drained,  with  a  slope  to  tin- 
north.  In  my  poultry  business  I  can  well 
utilize  either  barley  or  buckwheat  grain 
(and  straw),  using  considerably  more  of 
the  barley  than  buckwheat.  Would  it  be 
possible  to  sow  an  early  green  manuie 
crop  to  turn  under  in  the  Summer,  and 
then  plant  and  take  off  a  crop  of  buck¬ 
wheat  before  wheat  planting  lime?  When, 
what  grain,  and  what  quantity,  would  he 
best  to  plant  for  the  green  manure  crop, 
in  such  a  ease?  Or.  would  it  bo  better  to 
try  to  got  a  crop  of  barley  off  by  mid¬ 
summer.  and  then  put  on  the  green  ma¬ 
nure  crop  to  be  tinned  under  before 
planting  of  the  wheal?  (T  should  prefer 
to  obtain  a  crop  of  barley,  rather  than 
buckwheat,  if  possible).  Will  barley 
grow  and  thrive  in  such  heavy  soil,  and 
in  this  climate?  Ones  buckwheat  “roll” 
the  soil,  or  docs  it  “open  up”  heavy  soil 
of  this  character?  Also  let  me  know  how 
I  can  keep  my  manure  pile  from  heating 
badly,  burning  the  inside  of  the  pile  and 
turning  both  the  manure  and  straw 
chalky  white.  c.  N,  p. 
Penning! do,  X.  .T. 
By  sowing  Spring  rye  or  oats  you 
might  get  a  fair  growth  to  plow  under 
for  buckwheat,  but  by  so  doing  you  would 
have  to  take  chances  on  having  enough 
moisture  in  midsummer  to  enable  you  to 
plow.  There  would  be  very  little  time  be¬ 
tween  crops  to  wait  for  a  rain.  Then, 
too.  there  might  he  some  difficulty  in  get¬ 
ting  in  wheal  immediately  after  hack- 
wheat.  If  conditions  were  right  it  could 
be  done,  but  it  would  necessitate  quick 
plowing  and  fitting  to  have  things  run 
smoothly.  I  have  had  no  experience  with 
barley  and  have  never  seen  it  growing  in 
this  section  of  the  State.  The  Experi¬ 
ment  Station  at  New  Brunswick,  N.  .T„ 
might  give  you  some  information  as  to  its 
suitability  for  your  soil.  If  barley  could 
be  harvested  by  July  1  and  cow  peas 
planted  immediately  there  would  be  time 
for  a  fair  growth  before  wheat  is  planted. 
It  would  lie  hard  to  say  which  plan  offers 
the  greater  chance  for  success.  Personal¬ 
ly  if  I  wanted  to  he  sure  of  getting  a  good 
green  crop  to  plow  underhand  considered 
this  of  greater  value  than  a  Summer 
grain  crop  I  would  plant  cow  peas  as 
early  as  possible,  and  eliminate  both  bar¬ 
ley  and  buckwheat.  Buckwheat  is  a 
great  feeder  and  takes  considerable  fertil¬ 
ity  from  the  soil,  but  it  is  about  the  best 
crop  going  for  smothering  out  wild 
growth  and  mellowing  up  a  heavy  soil. 
In  order  to  keep  manure  from  heating 
we  find  it  best  to  put  it  in  a  fiat  pile  and 
keep  it  well  packed  down.  During  a  dry 
time  it  often  pays  to  turn  the  hose  on  it 
to  moisten  it.  If  piled  loosely  the  air  is 
hound  to  get  in  and  cause  heating.  Ma¬ 
nure  thrown  in  a  barnyard  where  the 
animals  are  continually  trending  it  down, 
seldom  heats.  The  ideal  way  would  he  to 
have  a  cement  pit.  where  the  manure  could 
be  stored,  and  where  there  would  be 
plenty  of  liquid  manure  to  keep  it  moist. 
TRUCKKK  JR. 
Drill  for  the  Back-to-the-Lander. 
Four  years  ago  I  rented  about  two 
acres  adjoining  where  I  live.  One  acre 
was  one  mat  of  quack  roots  and  oue  acre 
was  mostly  covered  with  willows,  and 
water  stood  ou  it  till  July  some  years. 
It  was  a  tough  proposition.  My  neigh¬ 
bors  laughed  at  me.  As  fast  as  I  could, 
nights  and  mornings,  I  cleaned  ’  it  up. 
The  low  place  where  the  willows  were  I 
had  plowed  in  lands,  deepening  the  dead 
furrows  and  running  a  ditch  to  a  city 
open  drain  which  runs  through  the  place. 
The  first  two  years  were  hard  digging,  hut 
I  had  fair  crops.  This  year  I  had  58 
bushels  of  potatoes,  25  bushels  each  of 
beets,  carrots,  turnips  and  mangels,  five 
bushels  of  onions;  COO  heads  of  celery,  50 
tomato  plants,  which  bore  well,  sweet 
corn  and  string  beans  all  we  could  use, 
and  my  neighbors  and  the  street-car  men 
had  the  privilege  to  help  themselves,  be¬ 
sides  I  picked  80  bushels  of  cars  off 
about  om-t bird  of  what  I  bad.  I  have 
•enough  corn  fodder  to  winter  my  two 
cows,  1 00  pumpkins.  500  cabbages,  100 
cauliflowers,  six  separate  lots  of  garden 
peas,  radishes,  lettuce,  green  onions, 
small  beets,  Summer  savory,  etc.,  all  we 
could  use.  I  had  1.800  tomato  plants  in 
my  hotbeds,  which  I  sold,  and  a  large  cold 
frame  of  cabbage  plants.  Besides  1  raised 
a  large  quantify  of  lettuce  for  my  chicks. 
I  had  plenty  of  stable  manure  as  I 
have  two  cows,  and  the  droppings  from 
the  hens.  1  did  most  of  the  work  myself 
mornings  and  nights,  and  my  vacations. 
I  dug  all  of  my  potatoes  this  year  with  a 
lantern  and  a  good  share  of  the  other 
work.  This  is  to  show  what  a  man  can 
do  if  he  tries.  1  have  not  lost  a  day’s 
time  in  the  four  years  where  I  am  em¬ 
ployed.  I  have  bought  and  will  take  pos¬ 
session  of  a  farm  March  1.  If  I  can  do 
as  well  according  1  ought  to  make  it  pay. 
St.  Lawrence  Go.,  X.  Y.  s.  it.  R. 
R.  X.-Y. — This  is  a  course  of  study  in 
back-to-the-landing  which  may  he  rec¬ 
ommended  to  all.  This  man  knows  wluit 
it  means  to  fit  a  piece  of  land  and  grow 
a  crop.  The  chances  arc  that  his  new 
farm  will  be  developed  to  profit  in  the 
same  patient  way.  It  is  the  only  way 
for  the  baek-to-the-hmder  without  capital. 
Looking  for  Potash 
When  it  comes  to  hunting  for  Ameri¬ 
can  potash  supplies  the  Geological  Sur¬ 
vey  finds  plenty  of  them  hut  not  in  avail¬ 
able  form.  About  two  miles  northeast 
of  Superior,  Wyoming;  are  the  Leouite 
Ilills.  These  are  made  up  largely  of 
volcanic  rock,  and  they  have  long  been 
known  to  contain  considerable  potash. 
It  has  now  been  estimated  that  these 
hills  contain  more  than  oue  hundred  and 
jiiio  ty-sevcn  million  tons  of  potash,  none 
of  it.  however,  for  agricultural  purposes. 
Some  day  a  process  may  be  found  for 
utilizing  this  potash  at  reasonable  cost. 
At  present  however,  it  is  only  a  future 
prospect. 
JAPAN  DREAM 
Youngest  Bearing  Peach 
on  Record 
Bears  younger,  yields  more  frtiit 
than  any  peach  ever  discovered. 
Fruit  a  beautiful  red,  fine  flavor, 
delightful  aroma,  freestone.  The 
housewife's  favorite  for  canning. 
Ripens  in  July  when  good  peaches 
are  scarce.  Brings  top  prices.  Pays 
quicker  profits  than  any  other  peach. 
You  can  count  on  a  crop  15  months 
after  planting.  Bears  loaded  every 
favorable  year.  Has  no  equal  among 
early  peaches.  The  wonder  of  all  who 
grow  it.  Read,  what  these  planters 
say. 
Here's  the  Proof 
"Peck  of  peaches  second  year."— J.  M. 
Bolton.  Indiana. 
"Two  busliels  per  tree  third  year." — 
Sam  Goddard,  Oklahoma. 
"1G0  peaches  from  one  tree  second 
year." — J.  R.  Smith.  Missouri. 
"Bore  first  year,  perfectly  hardy  here." 
—Frank  Quinn,  Iowa. 
"Over  two  busliels  per  tree,  third  year." 
— A.  M.  WlUys.  Massachusetts. 
"Eighteen  inch  tree  full  of  blossoms." 
—It.  W.  Knight,  Arkansas. 
Send  lor  Free  Orchard  Book 
Tells  fill  nliout  these  amusing  quick 
paying  peaches,  and  many  other  new  and 
better  paying  Strains  of  fruit,  lixplatns  a 
wonderful,  yet  simple  and  effective  meth¬ 
od  that  will  help  you  grow  more  and  bet¬ 
ter  fruit  of  all  kinds.  Illnutmtos  nnd  de¬ 
scribes  best  varieties  fruits,  berries.  etc. 
Lowest  prices  direct  to  planter.  Send  a 
postal  today  for  your  Free  copy. 
WINFIELD  NURSERIES 
501  PINE  STREET.  WINFIELD,  KANSAS 
Free  Fruit  BooK 
Every  farmer  and  fruit  grow¬ 
er  should  have  a  copy.  Learn 
what  JVorfAerit  grown  trees 
will  do  in  your  orchard.  Back¬ 
ed  by  37  years  experience  and 
guaranteed.  Send  for  this 
1916  Orchard  Catalog 
of  our  own-grown  tipple,  peach,  pear,  plum, 
cherry  and  quince  trees.  Also  small  fruits, 
ornamental?,  and  shrubs.  All  Well-rooted, 
clean  and  thrifty.  Large,  firm  texture,  hardy, 
and  vigorous.  Explains  our  Service  depart¬ 
ment.  Gives  planting  directions, 
plans  for  farm  or  suburban  garden, 
|NI61  eic.  Write  for  yuur  copy  to-day. 
King  Brothers  Nurseries 
7  Cak  Street,  Dansville,  New  York 
Buy  Trees  Direct 
We  cut  out  the  Agents  and  give  you  HI*  Discount- 
from  Agents'  Prices.  You  save  almost  inilf  the  ordi¬ 
nary  cost.  All  our  stock,  including  hedgings,  roses, 
Iruit  and  ornamental  trees, shrubs  mid  small  fruit 
trees,  is  healthy,  productive  and  fully  pedigreed. 
You  take  no  transportation  chances,  because  we 
Guarantee  delivery  in  perfect  Condition  and  pay  nil 
freight  or  express  eh  urges  to  your  station*  Not  a 
single  dissatisfied  customer  last  year. 
This  Pear  is  a  Sure  Profit-Puller 
Known  as  the  Beurre  Bose  or  Thanksgiv¬ 
ing  Bear,  und  proves  to  ho  a  sore  buy. 
When  cuid-storagod  unlll  the  holiday 
season,  this  variety  frequently  sells  as 
high  as  $8.50  a  barrel. 
Write  today  for  FREE  book  that’s 
chock-full  of  helpful  Information. 
WM.  P.  RUPERT  &  SON. 
Box  20,  Seneca,  N.  Y. 
^  You  can  depend  upon  the^ 
quality  of  our  to  trees  give 
abundant  yields  of  quality 
fruit.  Our  2,500  acres— "the 
world 'alnrgest.  nurseries’  ’arcUm 
reault  of  25  years  close  intention 
to  quality  U3  wt-U  aa  to  quantity. 
“IHarrison  Quality 
fa  known  to  thousands  of  fruit 
gro  were, lurg- -and amall, in  every 
Btetion.  ForLltlwe  have  millions 
of  apple,  millions  Of  peaeli.  near 
and  cherry  t  rees.  Thousands  of 
other  frud.  trees,  plants,  ever¬ 
greens,  blooming  shrubs,  etc. 
Prices  consistent  with  quality. 
Sattsf’S'-lior.  guaranteed.  Write 
us  your  needs.  Lie  sure  to  send 
for  cnir  1916  Eru-t  Guide— with 
colored  plates  and  spraying 
gtlkl*.  Write  today, 
_  HARRISONS’  NURSERIES  ^ 
■  Box  14  Berlin,  Md.  S 
FRUIT  TREES 
( nir  immense  stock  of  TREES  enables  us  to  sell  at  less 
than  one-half  agents  prices. 
FRESH  DOG,  FREIGHT  or  EXPRESS  PAID 
W>-  grow  all  leading  varieties  of  Apples,  I’ears,  Plums, 
Phi  nics,  I’eiielies.  Berry  plants,  Asparagus  Slid  Orna¬ 
mental  t..  1 1 IXH  p  il's,  the  great  dessert  apple,  is  one 
of  our  specialties,  have  grown  it  lor  years  in  our  orchard 
and  propagating  huds  were  taken  from  hearing  trees. 
Our  OATAI.Og IjE  describes  every  thing,  Send  for  it 
today,  it  is  free. 
L’AMOKEAIX  NURSERY  CO.,  Schoharie,  N.  Y. 
FRUIT  TREES 
at  Half-Price 
VFe  eetl  best  quality  fruit  tire*,  shrubs  and  plants 
at  one-half  the  nursery  oj'ttiit’H  price — and  pay  the 
freight*  All  stork  is  northern  grown*  hardy  and 
healthy.  A 1 1  order**  guaranteed. 
GET  THIS  FREE  HOOK  NOW 
Tells  ilia  what  you  want  to  know  about  selecting,  plant¬ 
ing  and  growing  all  nursery  stock.  Contains  a 
big  lig  of  unequalled  bargains.  Pnn’t  buy  until 
you’ve  read  this  book.  Send  poatul  today. 
vS\7<x»V,\v  RICH  LAND  NURSERIES 
wu 
232 
Rochester,  N.Y. 
Holu 
*°Gr0to 
r/tU/T 
HITWlll  fruits,  ft 
Freight  PAID 
npi  #  *■  tn  tr 
wlmt  to  TfUnt  in  your  locality,  how  to 
pljutt,  trim  mid  spray.  Fine  for  reference  or 
htudy,  o«xrrttj«n  ami  pictures  our  iinmenae 
Block  of  Apfii*'*i,  rfiMrrteN,  PaaclirM,  Peara, 
All  “Wood  Quality’*  Ml  oak.  Alto  our  IMk  rtock 
of  ornamental  It  eon,  xliruk*  And  plants.  11 V  yrJl  tlfrecl  only — <zf 
about  half  afftnts' prfctn.  Writ «  today— return  mall britigr It. 
WOODLAWN  NURSERIES 
Allen  L.  Wood.  931  Garaon  Ave., Rochester,  N.Y. 
DWARF  APPLE  TREES 
DWARF  PEAR  TREES 
DWARF  PLUM  TREES 
DWARF  CHERRY  TREES 
DWARF  PEACH  TREES 
Catalogue  Free 
THE  VAN  DUSEN  NURSERIES 
W.  L.  McKAY,  Prop.  Box  R,  Geneva,  N.  Y. 
Trees 
As  Certified  Growers  lor  25 
years  our  guarantee  means 
Honest  Trees,  at  halt  agents’ 
prices.  Handsome  catalog  tree 
Wm,  J.  Reilly  Nurseries 
63  Ossian  St..  Dansville.  N.  Y. 
20  ELBERTA  PEACH  TREES 
1-year  2  to 3  feet.  FOR  $1.00  by  parcel  post, 
prepaid.  Satisfaction  guaranteed.  Order  at 
once  and  write  for  prices  on  full  line  of  Nur¬ 
sery  Stock,  sold  direct  to  planter  at  prices  that 
arc  right.  Varieties  true  to  name. 
NEW  HAVEN  NURSERIES 
Box  25  New  Haven,  Missouri 
/ALL  KINDS 
ALL  SIZES 
ALL  PRICES 
TREES] 
Come  to  the  Nursery 
or  send  for 
CATALOG . 
The 
Geo.  A.  Sweet 
Nursery  Company, 
lEilftblUhrd  1809) 
Maple  Street, 
Dansville, 
N.  Y. 
Peach  Trees,  2c.-1  yr.  small  q?S,rp(,S 
Delicious  Apple.  8o.,  1  aud  2  years.  Semi  for  Prices. 
(Bridocville  Nurseries)  Wyer  &  Son«i,  Bridaevilli:.  Del. 
illions  of  trees  &  plants 
.-H'  ’'Wholesale  Prices.  Direct,  from  grower.cGuaranteed 
quality.  Apple  tk  poach  troop.  Asparagus,  unoseber- 
riip.berrvphintH,  privet  hedging.  New  catalog  ready 
'  .THE  WESTMINSTER  NURSERY, ‘Box  129,  Westminster, Md. 
SMALL  FRUIT  PLANTS 
Guaranteed  in  every  way.  Prices  reason¬ 
able.  Fine,  large,  healthy  plants.  Guar¬ 
anteed  to  be  true  to  name  and  to  reach  you 
in  good  growing  condition.  If  you  want  to 
get  our  bargains  write  at  once  for  catalog. 
KEITH  BROS.  NURSERY, 
BOX  1 02 
SAWYER,  MICH. 
BOSE  PEAR  TREES 
Winners  in  small 
nr  1  urge  orch¬ 
ards;  trees  hardy, 
fruit  good  size,  handsome,  sells  readily.  Uur  Fruit 
Tree  Book  tolls  more— write  for  free  eopy. 
SflMUfl  fRASFR  NURSERY,  Inc.,  126  Main  St..  Cenesco,  N.Y. 
850.000 
CRAPE-VINES 
69  varieties.  Also  Small  Fruits,  Trees,  etc.  Best  rooted  stock. 
Genuine,  cheap.  2  sample  vines  mailed  for  10c 
tive  catalog  free. 
ample  vines  mailed  for  10c  Descrip- 
LEWI3  ROESCH,  Box  t,  Fredonia,  N.  K 
GRAPE  VINES 
Gooseberries  and  Currants.  Best  varieties 
and  finest  grade  of  stock.  Guaranteed  true. 
Prepared  to  meet  the  demands  of  large  and 
small  growers  and  country  estates.  Largest 
growers  of  grape  vines  and  small  fruits  in 
the  country. 
X.  a.  HUBBARD  C0„  Box  34,  Fredonla,  New  York 
Send  foi 
FREE 
BOOK 
SP  EVERGREENS 
Best  for  windbreaks,  hedges  and  lawn  planting, ' 
Protect  garden,  buildings,  crops  ami  stock.  Keep 
house  aud  barn  warmer.  Save  fuel— cava  feed— 
save  money. 
HILL’S  EVERGREENS  CROW 
because  they  are  hardy,  double  transplanted  and 
root  pruned.  Fine  fibrous  feeding  roots.  You  can 
now  have  a  beautiful  evergreen  windbreak, hedge 
-helterheit  or  screen  of  guaranteed  quality  at  very 
low  cost.  Ask  for  fro*  Evergreen  Book 
and  59  Croat  Bargain  Shoot.  Avoid  disap¬ 
pointment-plant  Hill’s  Evergreens— famous  for 
over  half  a  century.  We  ship  every  where.  Safo 
delivery  guaranteed.  Fifty  million  evergreens  on 
hand.  Write  to 
D.  Hill  Nursery  Co.,  Dundee,  III. 
[Box  2127  Evergreen  Specialists  , 
■Fresh  Dug  FRUIT  TREES  at  Wholesale* 
Do  you  want  t**  buy  some  of  the  finest  Dansville  nursery  shook  you  ever  saw,  Apple,  Peaches,  Pears,  Plums, 
Cherries,  Small  Fruits  oi  Ornamentals— Dug  and  shipped  to  order— hexed  and  packed  free.  Sold  at  Grower’s 
prices  direct  to  you  with  only  one  handling — no  order  is  too  snuiU  to  receive  my  personal  attention  and  care 
—Send  for  my  free  catalog  and  you  will  s-  e  why  it's  to  your  advantage  to  buy  from 
THOS.  E.  SHEERIN.  NURSERYMAN.  21  Main  St..  Dansville.  N.  Y. 
