754 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
■ 
sirup. Alternate the two powders for several 
weeks if necessary. 
HOOTS' FOR KKED. 
J. S. W., Greenhury, lml ,—Is it profitable 
to cultivate roots in Indiana to feed stock, 
and if so, what kinds? 
Ans. —Whether it is profitable to cultivate 
roots, or many other farm crops, in any par¬ 
ticular locality, depends a great deal upon cir¬ 
cumstances. For example, the question might 
be asked: Will it pay to plant the common 
varieties of apples, pears and peaches in In¬ 
diana? In some parts, yes:m others, no; for 
the reason that climatic influences favor it in 
the first places and are against it in t he second. 
Doubtless there are portions of the State where 
the cultivation of roots could be made profit 
able, but there are other portions where the 
summers are too hot and dry to insure the 
best results with roots as a general crop. 
Those who have had experience with both 
claim that the sugar beet will do better than 
turnips, but many believe that silage will be 
found more profitable for feeding stock than 
either. 
SWEET CORN MEAL? 
Morristown , N. J .—Why is it that sweet 
corn is never ground into meal? 
Ans. —Sweet corn-contaius a large quan¬ 
tity of gum and sugar and less starch than 
field corn, consequently it is not ground into 
meal except rarely. It can be ground quite 
easily when quite dry and the mill is sharp so 
as to cut the horny grains. The meal does 
not make light cakes on account of its gummy, 
glutinous character. The grain is most com¬ 
monly cracked, coarsely for cooking as a 
vegetable, which seems to be its most desir¬ 
able and convenient use. No doubt some iu- 
geuious person might prepare it in some novel 
manner for new culinary uses, just as white 
field corn is shaved up into the llaky material 
known ascerealiue, which is a very agreeable 
variety of corn food. 
Miscellaneous.- 
S. E. K., Aztec , N. Me. r.—1. Our soil seems 
to lack something to mature onions. My soil 
is a sandy loam, and has raised two crops of 
corn, the only crops ever raised on it except 
grass. What shall I do to it. to prepare it for 
onions next spring? The only manure I can 
get here is cow-yard and stable manure and 
cottonwooil ashes, 12. Gregory says phos¬ 
phoric acid is one of the essent ials; what kind 
of fertilizer contains it? 3. Is there any 
remedy for the cabbage louse? We can hard¬ 
ly raise cabbage here some seasons on account 
of the pests. 
Ans. —1. Use all the farm manure you can 
afford to use. There is little likelihood of 
using too much for onions. It would have 
been better to apply it earlier and then culti¬ 
vate several times, so as to destroy all weeds. 
2. South Carolina rock dissolved in sulphuric 
acid will give a superphosphate readily avail¬ 
able. Bone flour, rich in phosphate, might 
well be applied at the rate of 1,000 pounds to 
the acre. 3. The kerosene emulsion, so often 
alluded to in these pages, is the best substance 
to kill the lice. 
W. J. It., New Orleans, La,—l wish to 
plant out several thousand Le Coute pear eut- 
tiugs this fall. What is the best fertilizer to 
use, barnyard manure aud wood ashes ex¬ 
cepted? 
Ans.—W e would suggest either of the fol¬ 
lowing: 1st, cottou-seed-hull ashes, amount to 
acre, 200 to 400 pounds; ;2d, kainit, 500 to 1,000 
pounds; 3d, lime two parts, ground bone one 
part, salt one part, kainit two parts, 500 to 
1,000 pounds—if the soil is sandy, but if limy, 
omit the lime. 
J. A. T., Topeka, Kan .—Will seed potatoes 
be high next spring? 
Ans.—Y es. All present indications point 
that way, especially in Kansas. 
P. J. D„ Havana, Cuba .—Dairy Farming, 
by Prof. J. P. Sheldon,price £12, published by 
Cassell, Petter & Galpin, Broadway, N. Y., 
or London, England, will give the desired in 
formation. 
W. W. P. Enytewood, N. ,J .—We hope to 
prepare a series of special articles on willow- 
growing. _ 
DISCUSSION. 
FERTILIZERS FOR POTATOES. 
A. L. C., Catonsville, Mo.— In the Rural 
of October 22 the editor asks; “How much 
of a triveu fertilizer can you use profitably on 
your crops—potatoes for example? How 
many farmers know or have taken pains to 
fiud out?” Last year I measured off one acre 
of my potato ground and applied one-half ton 
of Mapes’s special potato manure. The whole 
field had a top-dressing of barn-yard manure 
and all of it, excluding the measured acre, 
had S. C. dissolved phosphate broadcast— 
about 300 pounds per acre. The result was 
not satisfactory in any respect; while the po¬ 
tatoes were better on the Mapes’s part of the 
field, they were not enough so to warrant a 
repetition of the experiment. It was a bad 
season for potatoes and I thought the succeed¬ 
ing crop of wheat would show the benefit of 
the Mapes’s left in the soil, but it did not 
make the least, difference. Then I was sure 
that the grass following the wheat would get 
the benefit, but no, the part under it makes 
no sign of having received any different treat¬ 
ment from that, given to the rest of the field, 
Adjoining the Mapes’s manured acre of pota¬ 
toes was au acre of maugels. This ground 
was treated like the potato field and instead 
of tbe Mapes’s fertilizer it had a dressing of 
ashes, K, C. phosphate and hen manure broad¬ 
casted after the taangel seed was sown. The 
maugels were only a fair crop, but the grass 
shows to n line whore they grew, being much 
better than on any other part Of the field. 
The wheat showed no difference; it was also a 
bad wheat year. Ashes are considered a spec¬ 
ially good fertilizer for potatoes. This year 
on part of my potato field I applied hard 
wood unleached ashes in very large quantity; 
but could see no improvement over the yield 
on the part not ashed. What would the 
Rural advise me to try next year? My plan 
is to put on all the manure I can make and 
tbeu give a good dressing of raw bone meal or 
dissolved bone. 
R. N.-Y.—This is a queer case. Does it not 
appear that your land stands in need of .phos¬ 
phoric acid more than of potash? We would 
advise that n heavy dressing of raw bone flour 
be given a part of an acre. It. is possible that 
the complete fertilizer failed to show the next 
season because the nitrogen had passed through 
the soil. A dressing of nitrate of soda, sul¬ 
phate of ammonia or blood might have made 
a great difference. The inadequate effects of 
the fertilizers might have been due to the 
“ bad season.” But we fear we are unable to 
throw r auy light upon the subject and can 
only advise that the main constituents of fer¬ 
tilizers be used on trial plots separately aud in 
combination. 
J. H. G., Queens Co.,N. Y.—Has not the fact 
been overlooked that what one farmer gains 
by the tax on oleomargarine another farmer 
loses? If the price of dairy products is in¬ 
creased, the price of beef cattle lias been cor¬ 
respondingly decreased. Is it not true that 
the average farmer takes iu quite as much 
money from the sale of fatted cattle as from 
that of dairy products? Proportionately fann¬ 
ers consume more dairy products than any 
other class. They sell their fatted cattle and 
consume their butter and milk. There are 
certainly two sides to this question, and 1 am 
surprised at the unanimity of the agricultural 
press in championing the dairy interests ns 
agaiust the producers of l'ut cattle. The re¬ 
sults would seem to indicate that the tax on 
oleomargarine has resulted in an enoituous 
loss to the farmers at large, without a propor¬ 
tionate benefit to the dairymen. It would 
seem as though the poorer classes instead of 
substituting butter for oleo, had abandoned 
very largely the use of both. 
R. N.-Y.—This is one of tbe favorite argu¬ 
ments of the “oleo” men. They al ways ignore 
the real issue. The fight was made against 
oleomargarine because dealers were selling it 
for butter. It was a dishonest, rascally game 
of substituting an article costing a few cents 
per pound for another costing twice as much. 
If a majority of the people in this country 
want oleomargarine, no power can prevent 
their having it, eventually, but they will have 
it at its real value and not at butter prices. 
It is a sharp dodge on the part of “ oleo” men 
to attempt to array the beef-producers agaiust 
the dairymen, but it will not work. 
RURAL SPECIAL REPORTS. 
Arkansas. 
Fayetteville, Washington Co., October 
22.—The fair at Rogers, Benton Co., wus a 
success. About $500 in premiums were of¬ 
fered, and $350 in premiums were awarded. 
There were over 50 exhibitors and about 1,000 
plates of apples were shown,besides vegetables 
and other farm products. Peaches were con¬ 
fined to a few October varieties. Pears were 
almost missing. Weather splendid. The 
Shannon Pippin was there in all its splendor, 
but it is losing ground as it is a spare bearer. 
The fruits eliciting moat attention were the 
Mammoth Black Twig which originated here, 
and I>ids fair to rival the Winesap in bearing, 
the Shannon in size and Limber Twig iu keep¬ 
ing. The Kentucky Streak, Mammoth Pip¬ 
pin, Maiden’s Blush, Northern Spy, Pa. Cider, 
llambo, Red Winter Sweet, and Willow 
Twig are all doing well here. The Rome 
Beauty threatens to beat the Shannon, as it 
is now more popular and is a bettei bearer. 
The Winesap is one of the best and holds its 
own in the market. The White Winter Pear- 
main does well here aud is unexcelled for qual¬ 
ity aud as n. late keeper. The display of need¬ 
ling apples was good aud among them were 
many promising kinds. Great good has been 
done liy the fair, aud much enthusiasm has 
been aroused; but there is much yet to be done 
as fruit growing is just in its infancy. Great 
credit is due to the Northwestern Arkausas 
Horticultural Society under whose auspices 
the fair was held. The eutire exhibit was 
taken t o Kausas Pity, The largest part of the 
Arkansas fruit exhibit at Boston was grown 
in Washington and Benton counties. It is 
generally kuown that the fruit was exhibited 
at t^e expense of the Iron Mountain Railroad 
as an advertisement of its lands, and ns 
most of it, wan collected 200 miles from those 
lauds and on the line of a rival railroad, it is 
not likely that we shall get much credit. The 
collectors also are naturally iudisposed to 
make a public declaration as to where it was 
grown, for obvious reasons. A. w. 
Colorado, 
Greeley, Weld Co., Oct. 25.—In the vicin¬ 
ity of Greeley this year the potato yield is 
simply immense. All estimates agree that 
the product will aggregate nearly, if not 
quite, 1,000 cars, and the quality seems almost 
perfect. Many car-loads are now being 
shipped to the Eastern States at figures en¬ 
tirely satisfactory to our growers. The varie¬ 
ties are mostly Rose Seedling, Early Rose, 
Mammoth Pearl and Snowflake. Iu size 
many of the potatoes are prodigious. Four 
pounds are not considered unusual and our 
city papers lust week reported two that ex¬ 
ceeded five and one-half pounds in weight, 
aud one that tipped “ the scales' 1 at six pounds 
and, one ounce, when dug. Docs not this 
raise tbe record? The yield of corn in this 
section is better, on an average, than ever 
known before. The crop of Alfalfa is also 
quite large and the other crops from fair to 
medium. On the whole, the outlook for farm¬ 
ers and gardeners iu this portion of Colorado, 
is far from discouraging. a. e. g. 
Idaho. 
Horse-shoe Bend, Bois Co. Oct., 22.—I 
am glad to say that the R. N.-Y. continues to 
improve. The “cartoons” are a power for 
good, and will livelong after the papers are 
destroyed. 
Tin* Pond corn did very well. I am pleased 
with it. It is not quite as early as the Angel- 
of-Midnight. The Extra Early Orange squash 
is as good as anything the R. N.-Y, has seut 
out. My family was sorry we did not have 
enough for winter use. The Northern Pedi¬ 
gree sweet corn was a week earlier than any 
sweet com iu our district. Though a low- 
growing kind, the curs arc sweet and of the 
best quality. Cleveland's Improved Valen¬ 
tine Bean, w hile very curly and fairly pro¬ 
ductive, is a few days later than the Golden 
Wax. The C. 1. Valentine is very rich and 
of the best quality. J shall grow all these 
seeds another year for further testings aud 
shall plant, others near by for comparison. 
The Garden Treasures were started in a hot¬ 
bed. I thought I was not sowing the seed too 
thick; but when they came up they were so 
thick I could scarcely separate them without 
injury. The flowers that followed I They were 
a constant pleasure the whole summer. A few 
will not, bloom ’till next year. It pays to 
give good care to the Rural Garden Treas¬ 
ures. Before 1 was aware of their presence 
the round-headed apple borers destroyed 
$150 w’orth of apple and other trees. 1 found 
from three to ten in three-year-old apple trees. 
I shall try the R. N.-Y. lime mixture another 
year. The trees were completely girdled. 
A. L. 
Michigan, 
Glenn, Allegan Co., October 24.—Our 
fruit season is ubout at an end. Seasonable 
rains began about August 20, which partially 
averted the effects of the long drought. All 
crops of grain are half short; vegetables 
arc also half a crop. The apple crop is 
good, but it is feared they are not going to 
keep very well; they are over-ripe. The peach 
crop was the largest and finest ever grown 
iu this vicinity. Brices ruled low owing to the 
crop ripening tw r o or three weeks in advance 
of the usual season. The indications for the 
next year’s crop are good; the fruit wood is 
going into winter ripe. Grapes did nothing 
for us this year; they were marketed too 
early. N. e. e. 
Orion, Oakland Co., October 24. —Crops are 
quite poor in these parts this year owing to 
the drought, which lasted about 90 days. Po¬ 
tatoes will average about o5 bushels; oats 
about, 23; wheat, 10 to 12; corn, not half a com¬ 
mon crop; buckwheat, a good average crop. 
Onions a failure. w. h. b. 
New York, 
Carlton, Orleans Co., October 25.—We had 
a very dry summer. Small fruits were a 
light crop. Wheat about au average. Barley 
a fair crop, but light in weight, Beans, a 
good crop, and they are selling at $2 per 
bushel. We have a large apple crop. Win¬ 
ter apples bring $1,75 per bushel. Corn a 
good crop, but not much raised here. In spite 
of the dry weather this has been a good sea¬ 
son for farmers—good crops and fair prices. 
Can auy Rural reader beat my cucumber 
yield of over 33,000 ou three-eighths of au 
acre? A. w. A. 
Newark, Wayne Co., Oct. 30.—All crops 
have been fairly good with the exception of 
wheat, which was about half a crop. About 
one-fourth of the crop was injured by heavy 
rains, so that it is fit only for feed. Pepper¬ 
mint was largely planted, the yield of oil was 
large; the price is very low, buyers offering 
only $L85 per pound; but very little has been 
sold, n-s farmers are holding for $2. It ws. 
supposed by all iu the spring that apples 
would be a complete failure; but they are a 
large crop, selling at 25 to 30 cents a bushel at 
the evaporators, and for shipping, at $1.(55 to 
$1.85 per barrel. Potatoes are about a usual 
crop in this and Ontario County, In some 
localities dry weather causes a short crop, 
but the average is good. Some are being sold 
at 55 cents for red and (50 cents for white, 
From appearances (5U to (55 cents will buy all 
that will be sold this fall. A great many will 
be stored. Probably a smaller area of w inter 
wheat has been sown iu this county than in 
any year since 1870. Small yield aud low- 
prices have caused farmers to sow less wheat 
and more rye. We have had quite cold wea¬ 
ther already ; thermometer down to 14 degrees. 
Prices for produce: Wheat, 75 to 80 ceuls; 
corn, 50 ceuts; barley, 58 to 70 cents; oats, 
cents, peppermint oil, $1.85; onions, 155 to 55 
cents; potatoes, 55 to (50 cents; butter 23cents; 
eggs, 28 to 25 cents, w. H. k. 
WnHhlngton Territory, 
Maple, Kan Juan Co., October 23.—The 
Rural seeds were planted, but on account of 
the drought (the worst ever known iu the 
Puget Sound region) they did not have a fair 
show. The Pond corn is too late for this 
country, although there is a variety grown 
here that looks much like it. I have sweet 
corn that is much larger, more productive 
and sweeter, and also a kind that is earlier 
than Northern Pedigree. Potatoes are about 
half an average crop. Wheat and oats 90 per 
cent; hay 80 per cent. Fruit of ull kinds not 
over 8U per cent. n. t. 
The Value of Straw- is by no means 
generally realized by farmers. An Ohio town 
gave a bonus of $30,000 to a paper manufac¬ 
turing company to locate there, and the far¬ 
mers are now getting $1.00 for a load as large 
as the wagons can carry: at least a ton. Now- 
let us see what the farmer gives iu exchange 
for this dollar. Tho composition of straw, ac¬ 
cording to Henry Stewart, is ns follows, ia 
2,000 pounds: 
Ash, 
Oat. 
100 
Wheat, 
110 
Rye. 
04 
Hurley. 
140 
Albuminoids 
50 
40 
80 
00 
Carbo-hydrates, 
7(50 
000 
540 
055 
Fat, 
40 
80 
2(5 
28 
Fiber, 
800 
960 
1080 
800 
Value as manure 
$2.90 
$2.03 
82.00 
$2.2(5 
Value for food, 
7.08 
5.88 
5.25 
0.72 
It is quite safe to say- that no other men in 
tho world are so ready to give a dollar’s 
worth for ltl or 18 cents as farmers, and they 
do this when they send a ton of straw to tho 
paper mills instead of feediug it to stock, and 
they get 40 cents for the dollar they would 
get if they would use the straw only n-s 
manure. 
It is not many years ago that the Western 
farm journals pretended, iu the effort to 
please their readers, that it was an evidence 
of what they were pleased to onll “sidewalk 
agriculture.” when the agricultural writers iu 
the East mentioned the value of straw- for 
feeding or manure. And now Western far¬ 
mers arc paying out. their money for fer¬ 
tilizers to restore to their worn lauds the fer¬ 
tility wasted years ago iu the burned straw- 
heaps aud the manure washed away by tho 
streams. 
SHORT STORIES. 
Tiie Pride of the North corn (a yellow dent) 
was tried at the Rural Farm some eight or 
nine years ago—one season before its general 
introduction. Tbe Wisconsin Experiment 
Station has not found any variety superior to 
it wlieu uu early-maturing dent corn is desired. 
Its real name should be Queen of the Prairie, 
that being the name given to it l»y the intro¬ 
ducers, B. K. Bliss & Son, a ’firm not in exis¬ 
tence now. Tho above report condemns “Hen¬ 
derson’s Self-husking corn” because its husks 
are loose. 
The Report agrees with the Rural’s report 
