1903 
597 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
EVERYBODY'S GARDEN. 
Nitrate of Soda.—I have a two-horse 
watering cart which we use to wet crushed 
stone in road building, and have abundant 
water supply handy to most fields. Would 
it be practical to use nitrate of soda solu¬ 
tion and apply to grass field with this 
wagon? Would nitrate injure the mechan¬ 
ism of sprinklers on wagon? What are 
proportions for solution? h. h. m. 
Peapack. N. J. 
I think there is no valid reason why 
the watering cart would not be just the 
thing with which to apply the nitrate 
solution. I have used it extensively both 
in sprayer and in sprinkler with entire 
success. My attention was first called 
to the use of the solution a few years 
ago by a friend who had practiced the 
plan considerably, and I found the ap¬ 
plication in that form to be safer, more 
uniform in results and easier to apply 
than in the raw or crystal state. Since 
using it thus I have used it very little 
in the old way. Certainly anyone hav¬ 
ing the hand or cart sprayers can use it 
thus, and I believe a trial of it would 
pretty thoroughly wean the user from 
broadcasting or sprinkling it on. 1 
hardly think there would be any danger 
of injury to the sprinkler. Like salt, 
the nitrate will induce rust on iron or 
tin, but I think there would be no dan¬ 
ger of corrosion. Running clear water 
through after using would, I think, pre¬ 
vent any particular injury. The strength 
depends upon the nature of the plants. 
Upon the vine plants, as melon, cucum¬ 
ber, squash, etc., I have found an ounce 
to two gallons of water safe and very 
useful. Beans, peas, etc., will stand a 
like amount. Upon grass, if used in 
Spring before growth had started much, 
1% ounce to the gallon, or perhaps a lit¬ 
tle more will be all right. I would pre¬ 
fer, however, to go on the safe side and 
make two applications, rather than use 
too much at once. Knowing the capacity 
of your sprinkler and the area that you 
can cover with it when filled, you could 
estimate pretty closely. Grass land 
would stand from 150 to 200 pounds per 
acre safely if broadcast, and the amount 
could thus be easily estimated. 
J’l.ANTS AND Nitrate Solution. —From 
your article on page 533 one would get the 
impression that you put the soda solution 
on to the plants. I can hardly think you 
could do that unless your solution was 
very weak. How' much soda do you use 
to the gallon of water, and how often do 
you apply it? h. r. 
Worcester, Mass. 
Ten or 12 years ago I had a patch of 
bush Lima beans upon which I was 
counting considerably, but they began 
rusting badly, and I was at sea as to 
what to do. I had read somewhere that 
saltpeter and water (I think an ounce 
to two gallons) was excellent for plants. 
I have been much inclined to experi¬ 
ments, and some have cost me dearly, 
but I tried the saltpeter and water, and 
either that or something else gave very 
gratifying results. A second application 
in 10 days or two weeks entirely check¬ 
ed the rust, and the vines matured 
very fair crop. From that 1 got to using 
it considerably, but later on substituted 
nitrate of soda, as it is much cheaper. 1 
have dabbled with the nitrate consider¬ 
ably in later years, and often to my sor¬ 
row. 1 am not now the end of the 
law of knowledge by any means, but 
experience in its use has taught me some 
things about it, and I am very certain 
that it is safe practice to make haste 
slowly in its use. 1 prefer the solution 
wherever possible to use rather than the 
crystal form. I may have omitted to 
state the proportions used in the article 
referred to, which I should not have 
done, for it will burn if used too strong. 
I have found an ounce of the nitrate to 
two gallons of water entirely safe for 
all vegetables or vines. Cucumber or 
muskmelon vines will probably stand 
less than other kinds, but for them tb 
above quantity is all right. To-day, 
have been using it stronger than that 
(probably an ounce to the gallon), on 
newly-planted celery. I use it upon 
beans, peas, sweet peas and vines of all 
kinds, either sprinkled or sprayed upon 
the vines or poured around the roots. 
As to the frequency of applying, 1 use 
it sometimes at intervals of 10 days oi 
two weeks, and sometimes only once 
during the season. More than once is 
usually beneficial, especially if weather 
is warm and dry. In fact, I use it when¬ 
ever the plants are not doing what I 
think they ought to do. 
Rhubarb Query.— This past Spring I 
sowed a lot of rhubarb seed. It came up 
all right and is looking fine, with large 
leaves. What must I do with It this Pall? 
Efimwood. Mass. i. c. N. 
If you are growing it for forcing pur¬ 
poses, it ought to stand at least one year 
longer, and better two years. Cover the 
rows with manure (not too deeply, but a 
pretty good supply) late in the Fall. If 
it has not been transplanted, do that in 
the Spring, into rows at least 3x4 feet 
apart. If already thus handled, of course 
that will not be necessary. Whether for 
forcing or field growing, pick very spar¬ 
ingly next year, and better not at all, 
except the seed stalks; keep them pull¬ 
ed out so no seed will mature. Seedling 
varieties often show a very strong ten¬ 
dency to go to seed. Watch it next year 
and if the tendency is too strong, then 
the following Spring divide the roots up 
so that they contain but one eye or 
crown to the root, and transplant again. 
Generally speaking, it requires no par¬ 
ticular care during Winter except to 
mulch well with manure in the Fall and 
spade in the following Spring. 
Michigan. j. e. morse. 
Lime and Clover Seeding. 
C. O. L., Gibsonia, Pa.—Tour articles on 
lime suit our locality pretty well. Hay has 
been the main crop; hauled It to Allegheny 
and Pittsburg until the farms are not 
growing much any more; fertilizer or no fer¬ 
tilizer, clover would not catch; 1,500 to 2,000 
pounds of lime slaked on the poorest 
ground brings the clover. 
Ans.—I t has often been observed that 
lime will start clover on poor soils. In 
some cases where clover seedings have 
repeatedly failed an application of lime 
has started the seed already in the soil 
and given a fine stand of clover. Two 
reasons are given for this. The lime sets 
free or makes available a small amount 
of plant food in the soil. It also neu¬ 
tralizes or sweetens the soil. The bac¬ 
teria which work on the clover roots do 
not thrive when the soil is sour. The 
lime fits the soil so that they do work 
and thus clover grows where It could 
not before lime was used. If this clover 
were plowed under, or fed to stock and 
put back as manure the soil would slow¬ 
ly improve and produce better crops, 
but if the hay is cut and sold it will be 
impossible to keep up the crops without 
using fertilizers or manure. We have 
found that it pays well to feed the hay 
crop. The cow pea is superior to clover 
because it wfll make a good growth on 
soil so poor that clover would not grow. 
Lime does not help the cow pea as it 
does clover. 
Pan-American Strawberry. 
A. T. B., Plainfield, N. J .—Knowing that 
you have the Pan-American strawberry 
under test I wish you would tell us what 
you think of It. Is it a humbug or a suc¬ 
cess? 
Ans.—Y es, I have the Pan-American 
strawberry growing in my city lot here 
in Washington. The plants were set 
last April and have grown well, but 
have made very few young plants. In¬ 
deed, this is one of its peculiarities. It 
is simply a sport from the Bismarck 
strawberry by bud variation that origi¬ 
nated in New York. Young as the 
plants were last Spring they began to 
bloom soon after being set and I pinched 
off every one. After the regular bloom¬ 
ing period was past the plants showed 
no signs of blooming again until about 
the first of July, when they began to 
throw up fruit stems. These were al¬ 
lowed to develop and yesterday I gath¬ 
ered the first berries. They were of 
good size and well colored and fiavored. ! 
From present indications there will be 
fruit from this time until frost. The 
Pan-American is a true Fall-bearing 
strawberry, and there is no humbug 
about it. For the more Southern States, 
where the frost would not kill the blos¬ 
soms and prevent fruiting in November, 
and later, I believe it would be a very 
profitable variety, because berries could 
be depended upon for the fancy market 
in early Winter, when they would bring 
a good price. There is no reason why 
it would not be suitable for any place 
where strawberries in the Fall were de¬ 
sired. In California and the Pacific 
coast generally it would be the very 
thing. The plants bear very heavily. 
Pinching off the early bloom buds is 
very important, that the plants may be 
able to prepare for a good crop in the 
Fall and early Winter. r. e, v. d. 
When you write advertisers mention The 
R. N.-Y. and you will get a quick reply and 
“a square deal.” See our guarantee 8th page. 
THISTLE-INE 
Oak Orove, Mich., July 'J, ’03 
The IJndgren Chemical Co." 
Grand Kapids, Mich. 
Gentlemen: The more I 
use Thistle-ine the better! like 
It, and I believe it will in time 
be as necessary an article on 
the farm for spraying noxious 
vegetable growths as Paris 
Green is for spraying potatoes. 
Used Thistle-ine an Milkweed 
last week, and was delighted 
with results. Yourstruly. 
W. O. Richards. 
One thorough spraying with •* Thistle- 
ine ” settles it. Guaranteed. 5 lb. can 
makes 5 gallons of the liquid, $2.00 Free 
booklet tell all about it. 
THE LINDGREN CHEMICAL CO. 
8 S. Ionia St. Grand Rapids, Mich. 
GINSENG 
Seeds and Roots. Prices low. 
60 cent book on Culture and 
- Profits of Ginseng, frkk. 
Send for it. D. BRANDT, 
Box 607, Bremen, Ohio. 
Kaffir and Common Corn.— I have no¬ 
ticed mention of the results of a compari¬ 
son Of a certain variety of Indian com and 
Kaffir corn as to their drought-resisting 
characteristics. It is not my object to 
recommend Kaffir corn for eastern farm¬ 
ers as a crop they should grow, but think 
the true drought-resisting character of 
the Kaffir corn was not brought out or 
noted by the editor. As we see it Kaffir 
corn as a drought-resisting plant differs 
from corn (Indian) in that the Kaffir will 
revive after a drought and come on and 
make a crop, while If Indian corn is once 
injured by drought no amount of rain will 
effect a recovery of the plant and make 
it bring on the ears. At earing time 
Indian corp must have the moisture or 
it will suffer. In just the same way will 
Kaffir suffer, but the tardy rain will bring 
out the Ki^ffir to a full heading. Once the 
time for earing has come and passed with¬ 
out the rain, and you wait for next year 
to get ears on Indian corn. j, b. f. 
Allen Co., Kan. 
For the land’s sake, use Bowker’s Fer¬ 
tilizers. They enrich the earth.— Adv. 
GINSENG FOR SALE. 
American. Also wild roots from Northern Penn¬ 
sylvania. Now is the time to plant. Send for nrlce 
list. RICHARDSON BROS., East Pembroke, N. Y. 
C IN S E N C . 
S1.X selected hardy American seed bearing plants, 
$1: $16 per 100. Package of 76 seeds, $1; $10 per 1,000. 
CAKVElt’.S <}INSENG EAKNI, C'hardon, Ohio 
H. V. Carver and Archie Carver, Proprietors. 
400,000,000 CHINESE 
have used Ginseng for medicinal 
purposes for centuries. Cultiva¬ 
tion has just begun in America. 
Sells to American exporters at 
from *6 to *10 per pound. Immense 
proilts made on roots.yonng plants 
and seeds. Patch of only a few 
yards grows thousands of dollars 
worth. Is not an opiate; cultiva¬ 
tion endorsed by U. S. Govern¬ 
ment. Easy to grow; hardy any¬ 
where in U. 8. and Canada. Im¬ 
mense and constantly increasing 
demand: supply very limited. We 
sell cultivated roots and 
seeds. Investigate this wonder¬ 
ful money-maker. Complete book¬ 
let “Ginseng” and current num¬ 
ber of magazine, “ The Ginseng 
Garden,” for two Zoent stamps to 
help pay postage. 
(TIINKSK-A.'nKRirAN OINSKNil CO. 
Dept. 85 Scranton, PonnaylTanis. 
ANOTHER PROP KNOCKED 
FROM UNOER HIM 
Our “would-be competitor” the DeLaval Separator, in 
his efforts to counteract the fact that the U. S. Separator is 
the better skimmer, has tried various schemes to jirop up 
his trembling frame and waning popularity. 
He used to try the “ Churnability ” bluff, but this prop 
was knocked out long ago ; then he howled about Hushing the 
bowl with hot water, but the U. S. corrugated cups quieted 
him on that; and lately it has been the “cold skimming” 
dodge, whenever he has run up against the U. S., hut alas 
this also lias been knocked from under him, so that now 
about all the prop he has to lean on is that of “ bluff.” 
That readers may fully realize how little ground there .is 
for advocating cold skimming, we give below a portion of an 
article that appeared in the June i8th issue of The Kansas 
Farmer, headed “ Abuse of a Hand Separator,” by Prof. 
Edw. H. Webster, formerly of the Kansas Agricultural 
College and now one of the Government Dairy Inspectors: 
“ Other abuses were in time met with in the tendency of 
agents to follow methods that would be condemned any¬ 
where else. One of the principles of separation understood 
by all creameryrnen, is tliat the warmer the milk the more 
complete the separation. Yet agents will run cold milk 
through just to beat the other fellow. This is wrong for 
various reasons: 
“ In the first place the milk should be skimmed when 
warm in order to get the best separation of the cream. 
“ It should be skimmed when warm in order to give the 
calves and pigs the warm sklmmilk, and 
“ It should be skimmed fresh from the cow in order that 
the cream may be quickly cooled to prevent the development 
of bacteria. 
“ Everything is against cold skimming and in favor of 
warm skimming, and the tendency of these contests is to give 
farmers erroneous ideas in regard to the hand separator.” 
What further evidence is necessary to convince you that 
the DeLaval has to depend on other things than its merits 
to sell its goods ? 
Remember, the U. S. Holds World's Record 
ForTurther particulars as to its merits, write /"or catalogues. 
Vermont Farm Machine Co., Bellows Falls, Vt, 
