342 
MAY 44 
the South and West are of that sort. At 
Terre Haute one other variety is considerably 
grown for the home market and shipping 
short distances, it being too tender to go far. 
It is the Dark-skin Icing, the best melon in 
quality grown, in my estimation. Its exceed¬ 
ingly crisp, tender flesh and sweet and deli¬ 
cate flavor make a delicious refreshment on a 
hot August day, one that seemiugly could 
never be improved on. 
Cultivation is done on a large scale, the 
patches being from five up to 40 acres, and 
the method involves no more labor than fora 
corn crop. Soil that will bring a fair crop of 
corn—say 50 bushels to the acre—will make a 
fair crop of melons. If this is not available, 
light manuring is resorted to, and about the 
first of May planting is begun in hills from 
eight to nine feet distant each way. Often 
full or partial replanting is required so that a 
start is not got until the last of the month. 
.The hills are only slightly elevated on this 
sandy soil,and I have known some who plant¬ 
ed in the furrow, counting that the crumbling 
of the soil fills up about the plant and aids 
materially in bothering the striped bug. Good 
seed frequently fails in cold, wet seasons, and 
with cut-worms and striped bugs it is no easy 
ta«k to secure a stand. When this is secured 
the cultivation is as easy as that of corn— 
simply a constant ftirring of the soil, which 
is left in a level condition, so that the cost, 
when the crop is ready for pulling, is only a 
trifle more than it would have been for the 
same area of corn. 
ft is only a few years since that the supply 
of Nutmeg melons was very limited. It grew r 
with the demand, or perhaps an increasing 
supply created a demand, until now it is an 
extensive crop. They are grown also as field 
crops, and the cultivation differs from that of 
water-melons only in their being planted closer 
—say five to six feet apart. Of late, however, 
there is a difference in starting the plants. 
What was done on a small scale is now done 
on a large one—that is, the seed is started in 
hot-beds. In the first part of April seeds are 
planted in square quart fruit-boxes and placed 
in the hot-bed. Two of the most vigorous 
plants are allowed to grow, and about the 
time when seeds are usually planted in the 
open ground, these are transplanted to the 
field, the cut of a knife taking off the box and 
leaving the roots undisturbed. That this in¬ 
volves labor when done for the 10 or 20 acres 
is evident, but that it pays is proven, for the 
earliest returns are much the greatest. 
As to varieties, the Hackensack has been 
most grown, including the Terre Haute Nut 
meg, a sub-variety of that sort, much larger, 
sweeter and more productive, but not so regu¬ 
lar in shape. The Extra Early Hackensack 
is now taking the place of the regular Hack, 
ensack. The past season that new melon, the 
Osage, has been also largely grown. This is 
a variety with a deep green skin, not lobed as 
the Nutmegs, and with an orange or salmon 
flesh, very thick meat of sweet and delicious 
flavor. Here is another instance of a melon 
taking the lead before the seed was offered by 
seedsmen. It was the leading melon in 
Chicago in 1887, as well as during last year, 
bringing 50 to 100 per cent, more than other 
melons. 
Profits a few years ago were large, water¬ 
melons bringing from $50 to $100 per acre, 
and nutmegs up to $150; but these figures 
have dwindled owing to the over supply and 
especially to the shipments from the South. 
By the time the Indiana melons come in, the 
market has been full of Southern melons for 
a month, and no longer can fancy prices be 
got for the earliest ones. If we add to this, 
as was the case during last season, a cool sum¬ 
mer, the price drops below a paying rate and 
melons are unprofitable. Probaoly, taking a 
series of years, this has been and will be as 
profitable as ordinary farm crops or more so. 
iaxm 0ronxinw$. 
COST OF ENSILAGE MACHINERY. 
Subscriber, Westfield, Mass.— What 
do the power and machinery needed to fill a 
silo cost? 
Ans. —Here are estimates given us by some 
of the farmers who attended the recent En¬ 
silage Congress, at Cleveland, Ohio. 
FROM F. C. CURTIS. 
I have used a 160-ton silo three seasons, 
and filled it the last two years with ma¬ 
chinery the list prices of which are,for a four- 
horse power with all extras, $75; plain, $60; a 
Smalley No. 12 cutter with iron jack, $85; car¬ 
rier 14 feet or under, $25 A good two-horse 
tread power—$120—would do the work aboutas 
well, costing a little more for belting, and as 
no jack would be required this rig would cost 
but little more than the four-horse down 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
power. It will cut a ton of large Southern 
corn in about 20 minutes. I use two truck 
(low) wagons with 16 feet hay racks. One man 
cuts in the field; one man is with the team 
and one aids in loading. Tbis one aids in cut¬ 
ting when not loading. The cutting machine 
is placed on a strong table about as high as 
the wagon rigging, alongside of which the 
load is drawn. The horses are taken off and 
attached to the other wagon for another load 
which is brought in, soon after the other load 
has been run through the cutter, by two men, 
who run the unloaded wagon out of tbe way, 
and oil up ready for the next load. We aver¬ 
age two loads of about a ion each in one hour. 
The machinery named is from the Smalley 
Works, Manitowoc, Wisconsin. 
FROM E. J. SMALLEY. 
The cost will depend very much upon the 
size and hight of the silo. In a general wav, 
the size of the machine is measured by the 
capacity of the silo. A man putting up from 
50 to 100 tons would not require as large or 
expensive a machine as the man who puts in 
from 300 to COO tons. Then again, the hight 
determines the length of tbe carrier so one can 
readily see that it is impossible to determine 
tbe cost till the manufacturer i3 posted on the 
hight and capacity of the silo to be built or 
that has already been built. For instance, I 
have just sent home orders for three No. 14 
cutters for Genesee County, New York. 
J. C. Walker’s carrier is 24 feet long; W. W. 
Britt’s carrier is 16 feet long; N. H. Green’s 
carrier is 46 feet long. Smith Sanburn of 
Orleans County has just sent in an order for 
a carrier 24 feet long, while Ora Lee of the 
same county has given an order for one SO 
feet long. 
Then again different parties have pref¬ 
erences for differ*nt powers. While some, 
especially the Germans, prefer a sweep or 
lever power, others will purchase only a 
tread power because in stormy weather they 
can cut their dry fodder in their barns. In 
Northern Wisconsin dry fodder cutting is 
looked upon as of as much importance as 
building silos and feeding from them, and in 
Manitowoc County every man having more 
than 20 acres of land has a power and cutter 
at his barn and cufs all his feed for horses 
and cattle, and all those having silos feed dry 
fodder once a day. Many who have silos 
mix one-fifth of dry cut fodder with the 
silage, claiming the cut dry fodder absorbs 
all the acidity in tbe silage. 
Niagara County, N. Y. 
FROM J. H. BRECK. 
I use 18 horse steam power with a boiler of 
large capacity that was put in my barn when 
I used to steam feed. 1 have used several 
cutters but now I use the Silver & Deming 
Manufacturing Company’s 24 inch cutter 
made at Salem, Ohio. It is a very strong, 
powerful machine with which I have cut two 
tons of fodder in 13 minutes with no extra 
hurry. One can use tread powers, sweep 
powers or steam. I cut one year with steamer 
for a thrashing machine, the owner furnish¬ 
ing a man to run it. A second-hand engine 
and boiler can be bougnt for from $150 to 
$500—say $250 to $300 for a good one. Buy a 
cutter with a large throat. Such a one is the 
cheapest in the long run, because when one 
starts to fill a silo or silos with the produce of 
10 to 20 acres of corn that will average 20 
tons per acre and more, he will find that a 
cutter that will cut a large amount in a short 
time is what he wants. My engine and boiler 
cost $400, cutter and carrier $160. 
Cuyahoga County, Ohio. 
FROM M. C. DANFORTH. 
I use a No.ll A Ross cutter made at Spring- 
field, Ohio, and the power is a small grinding 
power and mill combined called the Victor 
made at Canton, Ohio. It is easily worked 
by two horses. I cut last season three large 
loads estimated at 3,000 to 3,500 pounds each 
in 40 minutes. 1 attempt to fill my silos with 
ordinary farm help. We go in the field and 
cut and haul three or four loads to the ma¬ 
chine, then cut it into the silo. We cut from 10 
to 15 loads per day. My cutter was listed at 
$45; the power at $60. They were bought 
several years ago. The same goods ought to 
cost less now. 
Summit County, Onio. 
FROM L. R. FOSTER. 
I use the Tornado cutter manufactured at 
Canton, Ohio. I think it is the best machine 
for cutting corn fodder, especially silage. 
The power I use for cutting dry fodder in 
winter is the Buckeye four-horse power, which 
costs $45. I hired a man and engine last year 
to fill our pits; for pits uot more than 16 to 18 
feet deep, the power is sufficient. My pits are 
25 feet deep. My elevator is 30 by 25 feet. 
So I used more power. My machinery cost 
$160. The cost will be regulated by the 
amount of carriers used. 1 have 55 feet, the 
price is 50 cents per foot. 
Summit County, Ohio. 
FROM G E. RICE. 
I have a two horse tread power made at Al¬ 
bany, N. Y. which cost $180. I used a No. 14, 
A Ross cutter with a 20-foot carrier: cost $100 
It costs about 50 to 75 cents per ton of 50 cubic 
feet to take the corn from the field and put it 
in the silo. One set of machinery will answer 
for four neighbors as well as for one. Before 
I bought my tread power I hired a portable 
engine and man at $3 per day. There are 
many good cutters in the market, the Ohio, 
made by Silver & Deming, Salem, Ohio, 
is first-class. 
Trumbull County, Ohio. 
FROM O. T. BANTES. 
I have a No. 14 Ross cutter made at Spring- 
field, Ohio. This and a 22-foot carrier cost 
$100 nearly two years ago. My silo is nearly 
16 feet high. By placing the cutter on a plat¬ 
form about two feet high, it will deliver the 
feed into the door of the gable. For power I 
have a sweep made by the Forest City Ma¬ 
chine Works, at a cost of $50. The power is 
not sufficient to run the cutter to its full 
capacity. We run through about 15 tons per 
day with two horses on the sweep. The 
cutter has a capacity of 25 or 30 tons per day. 
I would not advise any one to invest in sweep 
power. I think a two-horse tread would furn¬ 
ish nearly double the power, but it would cost 
more if purchased new. 
Cuyahoga County, Ohio. 
FROM HENRY TALCOTT. 
I always hire a man with a traction en¬ 
gine used with a thrashing machine at $4.00 
per day, and use a No. 12 Tornado feed 
cutter that cost $40; a 24-foot carrier that 
cost $32. The cutter cuts and splits the larg¬ 
est stalks into little fine shreds, and stock 
will eat every particle. I never saw such per¬ 
fect work with any other machine, and it cuts 
different lengths. The same firm makes 
larger and smaller sizes—Nos. 8, 10, 12, 15, 
and 18. I can cut 40 tons per day. 
Ashtabula County, Ohio. 
FROM NEWTON RICE. 
I have used an engine and horse power 
both sweep and tread; but I much prefer the 
two-horse tread power,made at Garrettsville, 
Ohio: cost about $100. A No. 14 Ross cutter 
made at Springfield, Ohio, can cut with this 
rig 80 to 40 tons per day one inch long. There 
is a considerable difference in different makes 
of tread powers as to the amount of power 
one can get from them. It is very important 
to have the pulleys on the power and cutter 
of the right sizoso as to get the most power 
from them. I cut silage for 12}£ cents per 
ton for my nei ihbors, they putting the corn 
on the table. The cutter and belting cost me 
$65. 
Portage County, Ohio. 
FROM W. A. WHEELER. 
I use the Smalley cutter No. 12, No. 14 
would do better. For power I used an eight- 
horse engine: I paid $2 per day. It cost me 
35 cents per ton to draw, cut, and fill the corn 
into the silo. The Ross cutter is a good 
machine; so is the Ohio, manufactured at 
Salem, Ohio. An eight-horse sweep power 
would do good work, but tread powers are too 
slow. 
Lake County, Ohio. 
FROM W. H. STRONG. 
I use a three-horse power Shipman coal oil 
engine. I use crude oil, which has to be 
warmed to work well. The engine cost $300. 
It runs a No. 13 Ross cutter with a 20 foot 
elevator. This cutter cost $78. In filling my 
silo we averaged 18 tons per day. Cut one- 
half inch lengths. 
Lucas County, Ohio. 
FROM S. A. REED. 
After using both steam and horse-power, I 
would not adviseany one to use a horse-power 
if an engine can be hired for a reasonable rate, 
which is $3 to $4 per day, with one man. 
When buying a cutter.be sure to get one that 
is large enough, as the extra power required 
will not cost ary more than if running a 
small cutter. 1 shall buy a Silver & Deming 
cutter of large size for my use. 
Oberlin, Ohio. 
FROM A. 8. EMERY. 
I have a 10-horse power engine that cost 
$150. My 17 A Ross cutter, with 16 feet 
carrier, cost $132 delivered at station here. 
I would not buy power again as I can hire 
power with man for $2.50 per day, when 
thrashing is over, thus saving care of engine, 
etc. 
Cleveland, Ohio. 
flttaxhel Holts. 
It would be a first-class object-lesson for 
any farmer who contemplates shipping his 
produce to visit the markets of New York, or 
of any other large city, and learn the require¬ 
ments of the markets, best methods of packing, 
manner of selling produce, etc. , 
Many farmers seem to think that commis¬ 
sion merchants are all swindlers. While there 
are undoubtedly some dishonest persons in 
this as well as in all other branches of trade, 
the writer is inclined to the belief, after care¬ 
ful inquiry and observation, that the majority 
are as honest as the rest of mankind. A few 
facts, gathered here and there, may serve to 
illustrate. There are usually two sides to 
every question; these facts are from the com¬ 
mission merchants’ note-books : 
Last fall, a farmer in Michigan shipped to 
a commission merchant here, a car-load of 
apples. They might have been sold for one 
dollar per barrel, but the shipper ordered 
them stored and held for higher prices. This 
was done, the merchant paying the freight 
and storage amounting to about $80. After 
holding the apples until spring, what were 
left brought just $40. The merchant is out 
about $40, besides his own labor. Another 
shipper sent a lot of dried apples which were 
of such poor quality that it was impossible to 
secure an offer for them. Another lot of 
apples were sent when the market was so 
glutted that the price secured tor them was 
just enough to pay for the frieght, commis¬ 
sion and barrels. Another shipper sent on a 
lot of bones, marked “chickens,” which, as a 
matter of course, sold at very unsatisfactory 
prices. 
It is to the interest of the commission mer¬ 
chant to secure the best prices possible. Ship¬ 
pers should be particular to grade and pack 
their goods properly, ship only the best, in 
neat, attractive packages, not ship when the 
market is overstocked, and there will be bet¬ 
ter satisfaction, and less grumbling all 
around. 
RURAL SPECIAL REPORTS. 
New York. 
N ewark, Wayne^County, April 24th. —Since 
April 3d we have had no rain, wheat and 
grass are very much in need of some, wheat is 
looking well, peppermint wintered fairly well; 
about the usual amount will be set this year. 
If there will be any change, more oats and 
less barley will bejput in this spring. Although 
the price of potatoes to-day is but 13 to 18 
cents per bushel, there will be fully as many 
planted as last year. Onions also will have 
about the usual acreage. No prediction can be 
made regarding fruits, as yet. Prices: wheat, 
$1 ; corn 45 cents; oats, 32 cents; peppermint 
oil, $2.15; potatoes, 18 cents; butter, 18 cents; 
eggs, 11 cents. w. h. k. 
Pennsylvania. 
Light Street, Columbia County, April 23. 
—Wheat in this section is somewhat spotted 
from being drowned out in low places. 
Spring has been early and prospects are good 
for fruit; but we have just had frosts that 
made ice, so we cannot tell what effect it will 
have on fruit blooms. Bees are in splendid 
condition. There has been no winter loss and 
all are strong and healthy. H. H. B. 
ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. 
[Every query must be accompanied by* tbe name 
and address of the writer to Insure attention. Before 
asking a question, please see If It Is not answered In 
our advertising columns. Ask only a few questions at 
one time. Put questions on a separate piece of paper. 
RUPTURED STOMACH IN A STALLION. 
J. P. M., Nelson, Ohio .—My Norman-Per- 
cheron stallion appeared well and in good 
health up to the evening of February 12th. 
Next morniug the first indications of sickness 
were noticed when he refused to eat more 
than one-half his feed, which consisted of two 
quarts of corn and oats chopped and two 
quarts of oats given regularly twice a day. 
He appeared dull during the day and still re¬ 
fused to eat or drink. The following morn¬ 
ing he appeared worse. He would lie down 
and then get up, changing from one position 
to another. A dark semi-fluid mixed with 
