THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
23i 
1!)03 
SPRAYING FOR POTATO BLIGHT. 
Good Results in a Trying Season. 
A WIDESPREAD TROUBLE—During last season 
the Potato blight was unusually severe in New York 
State. The vines were attacked somewhat earlier 
than usual, and on account of favorable weather con¬ 
ditions the fungus developed rapidly, killing the vines 
long before the growing season was past. Full de¬ 
scription of this blight may be found in experiment 
station bulletins. In late August and early Septem¬ 
ber scarcely a green field of potatoes could be found 
unless the vines had been sprayed with Bordeaux 
Mixture. Although the fact is not new that this fungi¬ 
cide will lessen the amount of blight, very few grow¬ 
ers were prepared to spray their fields, and could do 
nothing towards heading off this disease. Those vines 
that were sprayed kept green several weeks longer 
than tho.se unsprayed, and gave larger yields than 
they would otherwise have done. In order to show 
how in some sections farmers may check this disease 
at small cost, it may be of interest briefly to describe 
the method used the past season at Oakfield, N. Y., 
on the Armstrong farm worked by Wilbur Brayley. 
A 2G-acre field of potatoes was sprayed three times 
with Bordeaux Mixture at a cost considerably below 
the usual estimate. Adjacent to the potato field is a 
wood lot through which runs a small brook near the 
fence separating the fields. An iron pipe was laid 
from the potato field, under the fence into the water. 
To the upper end was attached an upright pipe to 
which was fastened an ordinary cistern pump. The 
water was pumped into barrels as needed, thus avoid¬ 
ing the expense of hauling water. The outfit was 
moved along as the work progressed. 
MAKING THE BORDEAUX MIXTURE.—A stock 
solution of blue vitriol was made by dissolving 100 
pounds in 50 gallons (one barrel) of water, so that 
each gallon contained two pounds of the poi.son. A 
stock solution of lime was also made by 
slaking enough fresh lime to fill a large 
tub, care being taken to keep the lime 
covered with water after it was pre¬ 
pared. By this method the blue vitriol 
and lime were ready for use at any time. 
Two gallons of the stock solution of 
blue vitriol were poured into a barrel 
which was then pumped half full of 
water. A pailful of lime was then di¬ 
luted with about 25 gallons of water, so 
that both the lime and the blue vitriol 
were diluted before being combined. In 
this way a mixture is made that will 
stay in suspension longer than when the 
lime is added before being thinned. The 
proper amount of lime was determined 
by the ferro-cyanide of potassium test. 
The mixture was strained into the 
spiayer to remove particles likely to 
clog the nozzles. 
THE SPRAYER.—The accompanying 
illustration. Fig. 87, shows the two- 
horse sprayer. This is a homemade af¬ 
fair put together by J. S. Armstrong and Mr. Brayiey. 
The 50-gallon barrel is mounted on a platform set on 
an old potato digger that had outgrown its useful¬ 
ness. The spray pump is fastened to the top of the 
barrel, and is connected with the wheel as shown at 
the right, so that no hand pumping is required. From 
the pump the Bordeaux Mixture is forced through the 
horizontal pipe at the rear, discharging through six 
Vermorel nozzles, two for each row of potatoes. The 
safety valve is also shown so arranged that when the 
pressure becomes too great the discharge is into the 
barrel, thus helping to agitate the mixture. As there 
was no pressure gauge it is impossible to give the ex¬ 
act. pressure used, but it was estimated to be from 70 
to 80 pounds. Two men did all the work, one driving 
the sprayer while the other made the Bordeaux Mix¬ 
ture. Wit.h the conveniences already described the 
entire 2G acres were sprayed in one and one-half day. 
Ansenical poison was mixed with the Bordeaux Mix¬ 
ture so that treatment for both the Potato bugs and 
the blight was given at one operation. The total 
amount of blue vitriol used in the three sprayings 
was 280 pounds, so that nearly a barrel of the mix¬ 
ture was used per acre. While the amount of blue 
vitriol and the quantity of Bordeaux Mixture were 
slightly less than is usually recommended, excellent 
results were obtained. The vines remained green sev¬ 
eral weeks longer than did the unsprayed fields near¬ 
by. Unfortunately no check rows were left, so that it 
is impossible to determine accurately the increased 
yield on this particular field. Neighboring unsprayed 
fields, however, gave yields varying from 25 bushels 
to 100 bushels per acre. The sprayed field yielded 122 
bushels per acre. Comparing this yield with the 100- 
bushel yield, the gain would be 22 bushels per acre, 
or 572 bushels for the entire field. At 50 cents per 
bushel the increase would mean $286. A fairer com¬ 
parison, however, would be to take an average of 90 
bushels, which would give a gain of 832 bushels or 
$416. From this sum should be deducted cost of ma¬ 
terial and labor. Early in August the writer saw the 
sprayer at work in the field. If the first and second 
sprayings had been given slightly earlier there would 
have been less damage done by the Potato bugs, and 
the yield would have been greater, for it was ob¬ 
served that many hills were severely injured before 
the poison got in its work. This emphasizes the im¬ 
portance of promptness and thoroughness. The poison 
should be applied as soon as the eggs begin to hatch, 
if not before. Like the canker worms and the tent 
caterpillars it is much easier to destroy the Potato 
bugs while they are small. o. m. taylou. 
Geneva, N. Y. 
THE SKILLED LABORER OR THE FARMER. 
Several months ago there appeared in The R. N.-Y. 
a letter, tlie writer of which commented upon the 
frequency of the appearance in the daily papers of ad¬ 
vertisements for skilled laborers, such as bricklayers 
and painters, at $3 per day of eight hours’ work. He 
drew the comparison between the long hours and 
small pay of the farmer and the shorter hours and 
larger remuneration of the skilled laborer. If I re¬ 
member correctly he asked this question: “How many 
farmers make as much as $3 per day?’’ and he an¬ 
swered the question with “Not many.” In closing his 
letter he tried to show that the farmer is a very hard- 
worked, pocrly paid, poverty-stricken object for pity; 
while the skilled laborer with his $3 per day was 
treading that rosy thoroughfare called, in the very 
expressive city language, “Easy Street.” I am neither 
a farmer nor a bricklayer, but I am a skilled laborer, 
and I have been among farmers a great deal and am, 
I think, in a fair position to ])resent both sides for 
comparison. 
Is the skilled laborer at $3 per day better off, or as 
well off, as his rural brother? I think not, and I will 
try to prove my opinion correct. I think it was one 
of the professors at Cornell who said a farmer could 
live as well as, or better on $500 per year than a city 
man could on $1,000. 1 believe this is true. If the 
farmer knows his business he will get most of his 
living out of the farm and cheaply, too. That living 
is, or should be, the very best in the land; if it isn’t 
it is his own fault. It is not to be compared with the 
living the city man buys with his supposed surplus 
$500. I know very well that for every dollar the 
farmer gets he must give sweat enough to float it. He 
never has a dollar that hasn’t a dozen demands upon 
it. But let us look at the bricklayer, as he has been 
particularized, and see how much he really does re¬ 
ceive and what demands are upon it. 
First, let us remember that he, like his rural broth¬ 
er, works out of doors. Wlien it rains he cannot work 
at all, but the farmer can find plenty to do in Ms* 
buildings. Let us also remember that there are many 
rainy days during the year. When it is cold enough 
to freeze mortar the bricklayer cannot work. He 
loses many days between jobs, and also while wait¬ 
ing for the carpenters to catch up with him, or the 
Ironworkers to get ahead far enough to be out of llis 
way. No work, no pay. When we make all deduc¬ 
tions we find his $936 has shrunk below the farmer’s 
$500. His cost of living is high. Rent is high if he 
lives in a congenial neighborhood. He has coal to 
buy, an expensive item, while the farmer usually 
burns wood that can be had for the cutting or little 
more. His social environments are usually inferior 
to those of the average farmer. His temptations, and 
those of his family, are greater. Strong, clean, manly 
neighbors are not apt to be very plentiful to serve as 
examples of right living for his children. Taking all 
into consideration you will, I think, agree with me 
that the farmer has a decided advantage, notwith¬ 
standing his small apparent income. 
OTFAS. A. OKOATMAN. 
PRUNING THE KIEFFER PEAR. 
The KielTer pear is a very upright grower, and so 
vigorous when on congenial stocks that nurserymen 
usually head the young trees too high for best or¬ 
chard results. Fig. 85 gives two views of an average 
nursery tree after reaching the fruiting age. If the 
main branches had been started at half the present 
height from the ground the tree could carry its load 
more easily‘and the crop be more conveniently gath¬ 
ered. Finding the trees in this condition, however, 
it is well not to allow them to spindle up more rap¬ 
idly than is needed for fair development. The above 
specimen has been close-pruned, especially at the top, 
for the past three years, allowing the branches to 
gain an average of about eight inches yearly, cutting 
always to a good outside bud. The result is shown 
in the strong development of fruit spurs on the main 
branches, whereby this little tree is enabled to carry 
a load of pears probably exceeding its own weight 
without splitting or serious distortion. There is much 
to be learned as to the best methods of growing this 
valuable cooking pear, and this example is given as 
one way to secure a good quantity of large fiaiits 
without overloading the trees. Fig. 85 shows the tree 
before and after it is freshly pruned for the coming 
season. w. v. e. 
LABOR PROBLEM CHANGES FARMING. 
My farm contains 280 acres, of which 110 are in 
timber and low ground pasture and 25 in orchard and 
small fruics. I have been practicing, as far as pos¬ 
sible, a three-crop rotation with the plow land, wheat, 
clover and corn, and have buildings, teams and tools 
for this system. It has been difficult for years to get 
farm help in this section, and now it seems almost 
imi)05sible and like many others who begin to feel 
the weight of years and the need of rest, I am much 
discouraged by the outlook. The inquiry is not for 
good help or cheap help, but for any 
help at all. My large silo was not filled 
last Fall because I could not get help, 
though a large village is iy 2 mile away. 
Two dollars for common labor and $4 
for man and team are offered by the 
railroads, and in Battle Creek and other 
cities nearby. My son and myself need 
to give all our attention to the orchard 
and garden, with much extra heip at 
times. I have one man by the year in 
tenant house, but have failed to find a 
single man to live with me and help. 
One neighbor with 275 acres only keeps 
one man, another with 100 acres is com¬ 
pelled to do his work alone. This condi¬ 
tion is serious, and we are looking for 
some way out. A drover who has a 
large farm tells me that he is seeding 
all his land and will keep no man, but 
will buy cattle in Chicago in the Spring, 
feed grain and follow with hogs and 
sell in the Fall. He figures out a profit 
with relief from the help question. My 
land is strong and rich, unusually good grass land, 
with abundant water. Can you or your readers give 
us any information of use in such an emergency? Is 
this system practiced anywhere in the Central or 
Eastern States successfully? s. w. gibson. 
Michigan. 
R. N.-Y.—We call for testimony from those who are 
similarly situated. There are many of them. This 
man states their case well. They are mostly in sec¬ 
tions where mixed farming prevails and where there 
is no great uniformity of crops or varieties. In sec¬ 
tions where special farming or fruit growing is car¬ 
ried on there seems, to be less trouble. Men who like 
to do this special work congregate in these sections 
somewhat as workmen do in factory towns. The 
theory of seeding down natural grass lands and pas¬ 
turing stock on it—without even cutting any grass— 
appears to be sound under the circumstances. The 
very men who will attempt tiiis would probably have 
said 15 years ago that the practice is a wasteful one— 
a return to old-fashioned methods. Yet the scarcity 
of farm help has changed their views. We invite dis¬ 
cussion of this problem—with actual experience if 
possible. 
VALUE OF AN APPLE TREE.—A few days ago an 
adjuster for a traction company todk a strip 50x350 
feet across the back end of my place, and adjoining a 
railroad. On about one-third of it were 13 apple trees 
set 13 years ago, taken care of and in good bearing, for 
their age and size. After agreeing for the land, he 
allowed me $25 apiece for the trees, which occupied 
less than half of the strip, making the trees come to 
a little more than the whole strip of land. All of my 
trees are set 16 feet apart each way. For the first 
eight years I raised corn, potatoes and all other crops 
in between, setting currant, gooseberry and blackcaps 
between trees. I kept the branches out of the way ou 
two sides, and they have room yet, but north and 
south I keep a space of three feet between by trim¬ 
ming a little every Winter. It would bankrupt me to 
have them twice that far apart and raise nothing be¬ 
tween. My apples pay fairly well, especially the 
early ones. h. j. h. 
Marion Co., Iiid. 
A RHUBARB FORCING HOUSE. Fir,. 88. 
See Everybody’s <iardeii, Page 
