464 
July 7 
Farmers’ Club. 
[Every query must be accompanied by the 
name and address of the writer to insure atten¬ 
tion. Before asking a question, please see 
whether it is not answered in our advertising 
columns. Ask only a few questions at one time. 
Put questions on a separate piece of paper.] 
NITRATE OF SODA IN MEADOWS. 
Used After Haying. 
W. W. C., South Wales, N. Y.— Is it safe to 
use nitrate of soda on a new meadow to 
encourage a second crop? We have cut 
a big crop of hay on new seeding, which 
followed wheat. I have on hand about 300 
pounds of nitrate and would like your ad¬ 
vice about using it. We raise mostly corn 
for our dairy, and only a few acres of hay. 
This meadow was very heavily top-dressed 
with manure last Summer and Fall, imme¬ 
diately following wheat harvest. 
If the moisture conditions favor, I 
think the application of 75 or 100 pounds 
of nitrate of soda per acre advisable; if 
drought prevails it would not be wise. 
The potash and phosphoric acid should 
have been put into the soil or used as a 
topdressing earlier in the season. Super¬ 
phosphate might be used in small quan¬ 
tities, say of 50 pounds per acre, to ad¬ 
vantage. Our practice here is to apply 
one-half of the nitrate very early in the 
season, and one-half after the first mow¬ 
ing, upon our meadows. 
Rhode Island. a. a. brigiiam. 
Of Doubtful Value. 
Undoubtedly we have a short hay crop 
in the land. I have no doubt that the 
use of nitrates would bring an improved 
yield of second-crop grass. The pro¬ 
priety of producing a second crop of hay 
I should question. I should ask myself 
what would be the effect upon succeed¬ 
ing crops. You can largely increase the 
yield or grass by the use of nitrates. I 
have never done so except upon the first 
mowing of the season and should hesi¬ 
tate to use nitrates on the second crop; 
such application is one-sided, and by 
stimulating increased and quick growth, 
it must be accomplished at the sacrifice 
of phosphoric acid and potash, and tend 
to impoverishment of the soil. The ap¬ 
plication of a complete grass manure on 
the second crop would be too slow to 
give the desired results, unless we had 
an unusual quantity of rain. We usual¬ 
ly apply from 100 to 150 pounds of ni¬ 
trates per acre in the Spring on mowing 
ground; no doubt it would pay if we had 
sufficient rain to treat second crop with 
nitrates, 100 to 150 pounds per acre. 
New Jersey. d. c. lewis. 
Must Have Water. 
New fields, 'if fertilized properly, will 
give good results if you have plenty of 
water, but if it is continued dry weather 
there is no power on earth that I know 
of that will make a good second crop. 
One-third bone, one-third muriate of 
potash, and one-third nitrate of soda 
will give the best results, so far as I 
know, that can be obtained for second 
crop. That is, provided there is plenty 
of water, but I do not believe that fields 
that are pretty well run out can produce 
a second crop with any kind of fertilizer 
that I know of. This fertilizer wants to 
be well and carefully mixed together and 
sown evenly, and if put upon a new field 
of grass where it has not run out, Tim¬ 
othy, Red-top, Orchard grass or clover, 
in fact, on any of the newly-seeded land 
this preparation would give fair results; 
but if it should continue dry it will not 
pay. GEORGE M. CLARK. 
Connecticut. 
A Balanced Fertilizer. 
We have not experimented with the 
application or fertilizers to meadows 
after the first crop of hay has been re¬ 
moved. I can see no good reason why 
the application would not be quite as 
serviceable as the first cut, provided 
there was sufficient moisture to cause a 
continuous growth. That is, of course, 
always to be taken into account whether 
applied early or late. I should not hesi¬ 
tate to urge the use, therefore, of quick- 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
acting fertilizers, and ihink that it will 
pay to do so. I should recommend ni¬ 
trate of soda as the source of nitrogen, 
both because of its solubility, which per¬ 
mits of its ready penetration to the 
roots, and because of its immediate 
availability. We have found it a good 
practice to use with the nitrate, small 
quantities oi potash and phosphoric 
acid. A formula, therefore, made up of 
nitrate of soda, 100 pounds; acid phos¬ 
phate, 75 pounds, and muriate of potash, 
25 pounds, and applied at the rate of 200 
to 300 pounds per acre, makes a very 
excellent top-dressing. This would bet¬ 
ter be sown broadcast, as because no or¬ 
ganic matter is present it would be like¬ 
ly to become sticky in passing through a 
machine. I should recommend, also, 
that the application be not made until 
after the grass hais made a start from 
the stubble, and then preferably just be¬ 
fore or after a rain, applying when the 
grass is dry. e. b. voorhees. 
New Jersey Exp. Station. 
Try the Experiment. 
I do not think that it would pay to ex¬ 
pend much on a meadow that would not 
cut two or more tons per acre. My own 
judgment with nitrate is that from mid¬ 
summer on, it does not have as good 
effect as when applied in the Spring, 
when the soil is mbist and cool. I think 
the hot Summer sun has a tendency to 
absorb it more, unless we have a good 
deal of rain, and even then, I think a 
balanced ration better. From a meadow 
under ordinary circumstances it would 
seem to me that the amount expended 
would grow more weight in dry matter 
from other crops than could be got in 
that way, except under very favorable 
conditions. Taking Mr. Clark’s rule as a 
basis, 300 pounds at $30 would be $4.50; 
100 pounds nitrate would be about the 
same. Some of those who wish to know 
just what to do, should put the above on 
an acre side by side, under the same 
conditions, and note the results. Soil 
and climatic conditions vary so much, 
that I don’t think any general rule can 
be laid down by which anyone can be 
governed; a practical test has more 
value than any written opinion. 
Connecticut. dennis fenn. 
Learning About Evaporators. 
J. C. C., Napoli, N. Y— Will you give me 
a plan for an evaporator? I wish to build 
one large enough to keep two persons busy, 
a sort of two-woman power; also how to 
bleach the fruit with sulphur. 
Ans. —If one wish to learn about evap¬ 
orators he should make a visit to Wayne 
County, N. Y., and study the industry 
there. Wayne County may be called the 
headquarters for fruit evaporation. L. 
R. Rogers, Williamson, N. Y., could, 
probably, give advice which would be of 
value, as he is an experienced evaporator 
man. Fig. 152 shows an evaporator 
house known as the Topping portable 
evaporator. This evaporator is manu¬ 
factured at Marion, N. Y., and can be 
obtained in four sizes, ranging in capac¬ 
ity from five to 20 bushels per day. 
From the manufacturers full directions 
may be obtained for bleaching, etc. 
L. A. C. 
White Mel Hot or Sweet Clover. 
T. J. B., Whiteford, ild.— Can you give us 
any information in regard to habits, etc., of 
White Melilot clover? Would it thrive in 
corn sown about July 10 at last working of 
corn? I have heard that it will grow five 
feet high and the roots three feet in the 
soil. I think it is grown largely in Illinois. 
Ans. —Melilotus alba. White melilot, 
or Sweet clover is a rank grower, and 
thrives by the roadside on the hardest 
and most forbidding soils. It seems to 
flourish where most, if not all other 
clovers, would entirely fail. It is not 
relished by stock, owing, probably, to its 
pungent odor, which gives it the name 
Sweet clover. We have recently dug 
specimens by the roadside, where the 
ground was so hard that a pick was 
uecessary to loosen it. The roots go 
straight down for several feet; we were 
unable to get all the root because of the 
difficulty in digging. The specimen we 
dug was between five and six feet high. 
We would not recommend sowing the 
seed of this plant in corn. There is dan¬ 
ger that it may become a very obnoxious 
weed. If che corn ground is very poor, 
then it would be better to sow turnip 
seed or Dwarf Essex rape seed. These 
plants will furnish a large amount of 
material to plow under, and will bring 
the land into such condition that a stand 
of common Red or Crimson clover can 
be obtained. The use of rape and turnips 
is very rapidly increasing in central New 
York, and with good results. The only 
practical use we know for the Sweet 
clover is for bees. It is planted some¬ 
what extensively for a honey plant, and 
is very persistent when it once takes 
possession of the land. l. a. Clinton. 
Fighting the Red Spider. 
M. P. G., Paonia, Colorado.— Will you give 
me some Information on the Red mite oi 
Red spider? I enclose a specimen in a box. 
I would like to know what to spray with, 
and when to spray? 
Ans. —Tlhe pieces of bark sent were 
nearly covered with the minute red eggs 
of the Brown mite (Bryobia pratensis), 
sometimes also called the Clover mite, 
or Red spider. It is sometimes a serious 
pest in the Far West, and especially so 
on pear trees in Colorado, although it 
may also attack badly the cherry, apple 
and plum. As a result of the attacks of 
the mite the foliage of the tree becomes 
bleached and sickly in appearance. Ex¬ 
periments in Colorado have shown that 
the eggs can be killed by an application 
of a spray of whale-oil soap, in the pro¬ 
portion of one pound dissolved in four 
gallons of water, or kerosene emulsion 
diluted so that the kerosene will be one- 
eighth of the mixture proved equally 
effective. The same applications in one- 
half these strengths will kill the mites 
after they hatch. The eggs hatch dur¬ 
ing May in Colorado. It is best to treat 
the trees before the eggs hatch, using 
the stronger mixtures mentioned above. 
M. V. SLINGERLAND. 
Hillside Slide for Fruit. 
J. E. L. (No Address). —Has anyone seen 
a practical and cheap incline to let fruit 
in crates down from hillside to road at 
foot of hill of perhaps 300 feet height? 
Ans. —We have seen a slide used for 
the purpose of letting crates, etc., down 
a steep hill. The slide is constructed 
much like the old-time stone boat. 
Planks are sawed or bent so they will 
act as runners, and then several planks 
are joined by means of cross plates on 
the upper side. The team is hitched to 
this boat, and it slides readily down a 
heavy grade. The front wheels of a 
wagon may be taken with the axle and 
bolster. Poles may be placed so that 
one end shall rest on the bolster and the 
other end on the ground. In coming 
down hill tne wheels come ahead, and 
the elevation given to the front end of 
the poles will keep them nearly on the 
level. Cross pieces properly arranged 
will enable one to set many crates on 
such an affair, and they may be safely 
brought to the foot of the hill. It would 
be too expensive and bothersome to at¬ 
tempt to have a car and track. Prob¬ 
ably the stone-boat arrangement will be 
most satisfactory. L - a. c. 
Insects on Roses. 
P. M. B., Rushford, N. Y— I wish you would 
print in The R. N.-Y. a remedy for the 
white flies which infest our rose bushes to 
such an extent that at night they rise and 
hover over the bushes like a white cloud, 
and are nearly destroying the Ramblers. 
I have used Paris-green stronger than I 
would for potatoes, and they thrive on it. 
Ans.— This pest is very annoying. 
Kerosene emulsion or the vaporized 
kerosene and water sprayed on the un¬ 
derside of the leaves will drive many of 
them away and kill others. The little 
Dew-ey sprayer will work well on the 
smaller bu shes. _ 
The Engineering Magazine says that the 
Mount Blanc Observatory is connected 
with the Grands-Mulets by telegraph, the 
naked wires of which are allowed to lie 
directly upon the surface of the glacier 
without insulation. The wires are of or¬ 
dinary galvanized iron, and the results 
show that the insulation is almost com¬ 
plete, even though they come in contact 
with an occasional rock. 
Beautiful Strawberries in 1901 
We can furnish you with 
pot-grown Strawberry Plants 
that will bear a full crop of 
fruit next year. Celery and 
Cabbage Plants. Full line of 
Fruit and Ornamental Stock. 
Write atonceforourSummer 
and Autumn catalogue. It 
explains all. Fruit packages 
of all kinds for sale at low 
prices. T. .1. DWYER & SON, 
Orange County Nurseries. Box 1. Cornwall, N. Y. 
Mmi 
f"" DREER’S 
j|' Pot=Grown 
Strawberry Plants' 
nn planted this Summer will produce a full 
^ crop of berries next June. Our Mid¬ 
summer catalogue, just out. and mailed 
free, offers plants of the best and new- 
est varieties. The “GladstoneJ’ 
iSS® finest berry known. Early, large, 
and delicious flavor. Price,76cts.^ 
per dozen ; $5.00 per hundred. ^ 
HENRY A. UREER, 
Philadelphia, Pa. 
JAPANESE BUCKWHEATSSSKW 
sample; most productive variety. Price, $1 per bushel, 
bags free JEROME B. RICE SEED CO., 
Cambridge Valley Seed Gardens, Cambridge, N. Y . 
c 
RIMSON 
Do 
CLOVE 
not be deceived in buying 
cheap foreign seed. 
We are Headquarters for pure Delaware Seed. 
New crop. Write for prices. 
II. L. HOL.ME8, Seedsman, Harrisburg, Pa. 
R 
400,000 Premium Flat Dutch Cabbage 
Plants, $1 per 1,000 ; 5,000 for 14; 10.000 for $7.50; 
Pepper and Egg Plants, 30 cents per 100. 
CALEB BOGGS, Cheswold, Del. 
CABBAGE PLANTS Si pj iSS. 
Fottler's Brunswick, Winnigstadt and Red Rock. 
E. J. HULL, Olyphant, Pa. 
Plants 
Tomato, Celery, Cabbage, Pepper, 
etc. CHKAV IN LARGE LOTS. 
J. S. LINTH1CUM, Woodwardville. Md 
'Cl EDV Dl A MTC—strong field grown in eight 
jCLCn I ILnlllu varieties in any quantity, 
extra selected stocky plants. $1.50 per 1.000 cash. 
CELERY AND CABBAGE PLANTS FDR SALE. 
Leading varieties, carefully packed with moss in 
baskets, and delivered bore at Express Office; 250 
plants for 60c.; 500 for 00c.; 1,000 for $1 50. Special 
price on quantltiesover6,l00. Cash with order. Celery 
plan's ready July 1. Early Cabbage plants ready now 
WOODLAND FARM, Canastota. Madison Co., N.Y 
CELERY PLANTS 
rown by the acre on land especially adapted to 
lem. With our system of growing and Irrigating, 
lc h plant is strong and stocky, with a large mass of 
brous roots. We ship safely to all parts of the 
nlted States and Canada. Varieties: White Plume, 
olden Self-Blanching and Golden Heart. 
5(10. 75c.! 1.000. $1.2.i; 5,000. $5. 
| AH A W" Wi #1 We are Headquarters for 
RlPlfrtNh Seed & Plants. 
| 1 Valuable book about it, telling how togrow thousandaof 
dollarsworth, what used for and who Ugrowingtt.Sent for 10e 
AMERICAN QINSENQ GARDENS, ROSE HILL, New York. 
best by test-74 YEARS. We nAV CASf 
WANT MORE Salesmen 1 r\ ■ WEEKLY 
Stark Nursery, Louisiaua, Mo; Dansville, S.i. 
0 
Peach Trees 
10 Apple, Plum or Pear 
80c.; 10 Dwarf Pear 60c. 
10 Quince 75c.; 10 Grape, 
Gooseberry or Currant 
Write Quickly. C. NURSERY AND ORCHARD 
Charleston. W. Va. 
50c. 
Suds. Buds. Buds. 
PEACHES: 153 varieties, including Admiral 
nvey and Victor PLUMS: Over 200 varieties, 
ids cut by experienced help from Nursery Stock, 
ell grown, clean and healthy. 
Write for prices to-day. 
HARRISON’S NURSERIES, 
For $ 2 , I will send by express or freight, i Alpha, i Parry s 
jiant, i Early Reliance and i Paragon chestnut tree grafted, 
vorth $^.2S. Full line of Nursery Stock Certificate. 
^ ARTHUR J. COLLINS, Moorestown, Burlington County, N. J. 
