1903 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
223 
Events of the Week. 
DOM15STIC.—Three passenger trains of the Rock Island 
system, which arrived at El Paso, Tex., March 5, were 
tied up in the snow nearly 100 hours on the plains 30 miles 
from Santa Rosa, N. Mex., and 500 persons on bpard suf¬ 
fered intensely for food for 24 hours before the snow 
plows and relief train arrived. The locomotives were Im¬ 
bedded in drifts 15 feet deep. The fires of one locomotive 
were extinguished and the cars of that train were with¬ 
out heat or light. The passengers of the others were not 
subjected to that discomfort, but the food supply of all 
became short a day before the snowbound people were 
rescued. . . . March 8 there was an increase in the dis¬ 
order at Waterbury, Conn., resulting from the street-car 
strike. One policeman was killed, one non-union man shot 
and beaten and another severely injured. Citizens arc 
organizing an anti-boycott movement against strikers. 
. . Six persons wore burned to death and one was 
fatally injured as the result of a fire March 8 in a small 
hotel at Leiter, a mining town near Elkins, W. Va. Sev¬ 
eral persons escaped with minor Injuries by Jumping from 
a second story window. . . . Fourteen people were kill¬ 
ed and 45 injured by an explosion of oil near Clean, N. Y., 
March 9. A freight train on the Erie, made up principal¬ 
ly of tank cars filled with oil, broke in two north of the 
city. The two sections of the train came together with 
a crash and one of the oil tanks was demolished. Fire 
broke out almost instantly and the sky was lighted up 
for miles. A large number of people left Clean for the 
scene of the fire. While they were lined up along the 
tracks a terrific explosion occurred. The flames com¬ 
municated quickly with the other tank cars and a second 
and third explosion followed in rapid succession. Sheets 
of flames shot out in all directions. Scores of persons 
were caught within the zone of the Are and enveloped in 
flames. Men and boys ran screaming down the tracks 
with their clothing a mass of flames. Cthers fell where 
they stood, overcome by the awful heat. . . . The 
steamer Karamania, from Naples, which reached New 
York March 10, reported six deaths during the passage, 
supposed to be due to noxious gases, but the health au¬ 
thorities suspected Asiatic cholera, and quarantined the 
vessel. . . . March 11 the flood situation was serious 
throughout the Mississippi, Ohio and Missouri valleys; 
in many sections the water was higher than it has been 
since 1884. The flood is likely to be of long duration, as 
there is a great deal of snow to melt. . . . Fire broke 
out March 10 on Victoria dock, on the east side of the 
Willamette River and north of the railroad bridge, Port¬ 
land, Ore., and burned fiercely for two hours, destroying 
property of an estimated value of $600,000. 
ADMINISTRATION.—The War Department has sent 
notice to Governors of States that it is prepared to sup¬ 
ply them upon demand and according to their legal al¬ 
lowances, with “riot cartridges.” This is new ammuni¬ 
tion prepared by the experts of the Ordnance Bureau, to 
enable oflicers of the law and soldiers to repel rioters with 
the least possible loss of life to the “innocent spectator.” 
The shell is like that used in the army rifle, but, instead 
of the long nickel-plated and steel-clad bullet, two balls 
are placed in the mouth. The design was apparently to 
secure something of greater range than buckshot, yet 
not dangerous to persons at a distance. The cartridges 
have sufticient accuracy for effective use at 200 yards. . 
. . . Representative Livingston, of Georgia, the senior 
Democratic member of the House Committee on Appro¬ 
priations. is preparing a review of the appropriations 
made by the P'ifty-seventh Congress and a statement in 
which he will contend that the total amount of money 
directly appropriated and authorized to be expended by 
t^je present Congp'ess foots up two billions of dollars. He 
includes in his total the authorized cost of the Panama 
Canal, the public buildings authorized, and all other au¬ 
thority to contract for expenditures, in some cases cov¬ 
ering several years. . . . The President ordered an ex¬ 
tra session of the Senate, which convened March 5. Much 
opposition to the Cuban reciprocity treaty has developed. 
FARM AND GARDEN.—Prof. John Hamilton has re¬ 
signed as Secretary of the Pennsylvania State Depart¬ 
ment of Agriculture, and Hon. N. B. Critchfleld has been 
appointed Secretary in his place. 
Nicholas Ohmer, the veteran Ohio horticulturist, died 
at his home near Dayton, on Friday, February 27, aged 80 
years. He was born in France, coming to this countrj' 
when quite young with his parents. He, in partnership 
with his father, conducted a confectionery business, lat¬ 
terly turning his attention to horticultural pursuits, es¬ 
pecially the cultivation of small fruits, particularly straw¬ 
berries. He was the originator of the barrel system of 
growing the latter fruit. He was president of the Mont¬ 
gomery County Horticultural Society, president of the 
Montgomery County Farmers’ Club, and vice-president 
of the Ohio State Horticultural Society. Mr. Ohmer was 
also active in conducting county and State fairs, having 
been connected with such enterprises, exclusively to pro¬ 
mote Interest in the various lines of agriculture and horti¬ 
culture, for more than a quarter of a century. A widow 
and eight children survive him. 
Apiil 16 there will be iicld at the Oliio State University 
at Columbus a sheep shearing festival. There will be 
some she.aring contests, and exhibitions of shearing done 
with tjommon hand shears, and the shearing machine. 
This festival has received the official approval of the Ohio 
State Wool Grov/ers’ Association. It will take place, even 
though the weather is unpleasant, as accommodations 
will be provided under shelter. 
Secretary Wilson promulgated March 9 an order putting 
a quarantine on the State of New Hampshire on account 
of foot-and-mouth disease. This order prohibits the ship¬ 
ment of cattle, sheep or other ruminants or swine from 
or across New Hampshire into other States or foreign 
countiles. It also prohibits the shipment from that State 
of hides, skins, hair, wool, horns or hoofs of ruminants 
or swine. This order is issued because of a report re¬ 
ceived from the Chief Inspector of the Bureau of Animar 
industry at Boston stating that a number of animals had 
been shipped from New Hampshire to Massachusetts 
whicli were found affected with foot-and-mouth disease. 
BUSINESS BITS. 
Thk Geo. Ertel Co., Quincy, Ill., shipped 1,500 incubators 
in a single day, thus breaking the record of any previous 
day by 300 machines. This speaks well for the popularity 
and growing demand for Victor incubators. 
Thk Improved Wasson swing stanchion has many points 
in its favor; the cow has the greatest freedom possible 
and it prevents any possibility of a strain in getting up 
or lying down. The manufacturers show their own faith 
in it by allowing 30 days’ trial. Write for particulars to 
S. C. Swift. Sec’y, Cuba, N. Y. 
PkKUAi’s no one article of wearing apparel causes so 
much misery as shoes, and this is why a real easy com¬ 
fortable shoe seems such a luxury. Such is the “Crumbs 
of Comfort” slice sold by B. B. Chase, Port Jervis, N. 
Y. No more trouble with corns or tender feet if you wear 
these shoes. They are inexpensive and made for both 
sexes. Send for circular and testimonial. 
Among the incubators of the first rank that have stood 
the test of progressive poultrymen is the Pineland, manu¬ 
factured by the Pineland Incubator & Brooder Co., 
Jamesburg, N. J. The 1903 catalogue is concise and to • 
the point, and gives all the information you need to know 
about incubators and brooders. This company also makes 
the famous Fidelity Food for poultry and young chicks. 
Address as above. 
Send for latest pamphlets (1901), entitled 
Strawberries, Strawberry Plants, Small Fruits, Asparagus, Cabbages, Potatoes 
and General Truck Crops for Market. 
Tlie thinnest, lightest poor soils brought up into good condition with large profits from the start. Experience in some cases 
of 25 years and over. Some Extracts from “Fertilizer Farming Up to Date,” “Rural New-Yorker,” etc., 
l)y II. W. Col ling wood. Editor of “The Rural New-Yorker”. 
'I’wo of the largest and most successful growers of asparagus, potatoes, cabbages, over 100 acres each, also of strawberries, one 
over lOO acres, another over 200 acres, 1902, also orange groves, over 300 acres. Growers of truck of all kinds, cauliflowers, 
cucumbers, beans, green, egg plants, as specialties, have used the Mapes Manures almost exclusively for some twenty years, and their 
purchase for this year larger than ever before. 
Send for latest pamphlet, 1903, entitled 
Fertilizer Farming Up to Date. 
(CHEMICALS AND CLOVER, Third Series) 
The Poorest, Light, Sandy Soils Brought Up to High Fertility with PROFIT FROM THE START. 
A review of practical experience covering twenty to twenty-five years on varied soils (from almost pure sand to medium heavy loam) 
without stable manure (only the Mapes Complete Manures used), with profit from the start, and the lands found to be steadily improving 
in fertility and yielding increased profits. These farmers and special crop growers are among the most successful in the country. 
“ FERTILIZER FARMING,” bv H. W. Collingwood, editor of the “ Rural New Yorker.” An account of visits to farms of successful 
truckers, growers of cabbages, cauliflower, potatoes, etc., on Long Island. This pamphlet has received the highest praise of the leading 
agricultural journals. It is thoroughly practical. 
Dr. F. M. Hkxamer, editor of the American Agriculturist, wrote of “ Fertilizer Farming” in 1892 : “The reading of this little book 
is as fascinating as a first-class novel, and yet there is not a particle of fiction or theorizing about it. It is simply a clear statement of 
solid facts. Anyone who will take the trouble to visit the farming districts of Long Island, and will stop at the most thrifty looking 
farms, will find hundreds of farmers who do not hesitate to declare that they owe their good crops and success mainly to the use of Mapes 
fertilizers, and that they would never think of attempting to farm without them.” 
Increase Yield from only 400 lbs. per 
acre Potato Fertilizer. 
Mr. J. S. Van Eaton, Xenia, Ohio, reports—“Season 1902 used 
the Mapes Potato Manure on four acres of potatoes, planting three 
varieties.” Yield in bushels computed per acre : 
Variety No. 1. 
- 199..50 
- 106.30 
Mape.s Potato, 400 lbs. 
No Fertilizer. 
Variety No. 2. 
318.10 
142.05 
Variety No. .'5. 
16.5.00 
1)7.50 
Increase in bushels . 9.5.30 76.00 97.50 
This gives a total increase (on three acres) of 266)4 bushels, or 
ail average of 88)4 bushels per acre. Mv total planting was four 
acres and say increased yield was easily upward 350 bushels. Cost 
of fertilizer with freight, $24 50. Potatoes at digging season were 
Avorth 40c. now 60c. Have sold but few so that Avith no future 
losses I estimate a large profit. 
Apple Orchards. 
A grower writes : “We have 600 trees on the farm in Noav 
Baltimore, N. Y. But three tons of the ‘Mapes Complete Manure, 
10 per cent. Potash,’ Avere used on only about one-half of the trees. 
I he 1,600 barrels of apples we })icked were nearly all from the 
trees that we fertilized ; the other trees had only a few apples on 
them. We spread the fertilizer in a circle of about 20 feet, using 20 
pounds per tree.” 
POTATO YIELDS, SEASON 1902. 
See pamphlets for further details. 
18 acres Potatoes yield 2,200 barrels, equal to 305 bushels per 
acre. 2)4 acres Potatoes yield 925 barrels, equal to 411 bushels per 
acre. Several crops 350 to over 400 bushels per acre on single acres, 
usually one ton Mapes Potato per acre (wheat, Timothy, clover and 
corn follow, making a rotation of some five years). The fertilizer 
is used mainly on the “money” crop, potatoes. 
The grower of the 18 acre piece of potatoes, yield 305 bushels 
per acre, used of the Mapes Manures the past season, 1902 : 
Mapes Potato Manure.200 tons. 
Mapes Cabbage Manure.loo tons. 
Mapes Fruit and Vine Manure for strawberries.'. 55 tons. 
•Mapes Vegetable Manure for string beans. 25 ton.s. 
Another grower used the past season : 
For asparagus (165 aere.s).250 tons. 
For potatoes. 87 tons. 
Foreabbage. 17 tons. 
Shipped, 1901, of cabbage, from seven acres, over 3,500 barrels 
with 1,000 barrels left uncut. 
ALL PAMPULF/rS MAILED FREE BY 
THE MAPES FORMULA AND PERUVIAN GUANO GO., 143 Liberty Street, New York. 
