1900 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
8i7 
Hand-Power Hay Presses. 
Header, Vermont. —I have about 15 tons of 
hay for sale yearly, and can sell it to better 
advantage baled than any other way. I 
do not wish to invest in a horse-power 
baler. I can get a hand press for ?42. It 
costs $2 per ton to hire hay pressed by 
horse power, and they will not set up for 
such a small amount as I have. I can sell 
it to advantage baled and not otherwise. 
Do you think it will do the business? 
Ans. —We have not had personal ex¬ 
perience with a hand hay press. We 
have heard of them, and understand that 
they do fair work. It looks like small 
business to attempt to compete with 
steam or horse-power in this way, yet 
there may be cases wnere a small lot of 
hay could be handled to advantage by 
me ordinary farm labor. If any of our 
readers have tried the hand presses we 
would like to have their experience. 
Cooking Soda as Fertilizer. 
O. E. R., Wells River, Vt.—I have a lot of 
cooking soda that was damaged by dirt in 
a railroad wreck. What is its fertilizing 
value, and how does it compare with nitrate 
of soda? How should it be applied to the 
land? Does heating damage it? Some was 
in car when burned? 
Ans. —There is nothing in the cooking 
soda (bicarbonate) that will make it 
compare in fertilizing value with ni¬ 
trate. The cooking soda consists of 
water, carbonic acid and soda. The wa¬ 
ter and the carbonic acid are free—no 
one would think of paying money for 
them. It has been claimed that soda 
will take the place of potash in fertil¬ 
izers, but this has not been demon¬ 
strated. It is true that a few experi¬ 
ments show that crops have really been 
increased where soda was used. This is 
explained when we consider that soda, 
like lime, is an alkali—that is, the re¬ 
verse of an acid. When used on some 
very sour soils it would be likely to 
“sweeten” them and thus give the plants 
a better chance to grow and develop. 
This would not prove that soda is a 
plant food as necessary in fertilizers as 
potash or phosphoric acid. Nitrate of 
soda is valuable because it contains ni¬ 
trogen. The soda in it is not considered 
in figuring its value. There is no place 
where the cooking soda will pay as a 
fertilizer except on sour land about as 
you would use lime. 
Lime or Plaster for Grass. 
T. F. K., Westchester Co., N. 7.—Which is 
the better, plaster or lime for grass? We 
used to sow plaster every Spring, as did all 
the farmers in this section, and had plenty 
of grass, but of late years the grass seems 
to be running out. 
Ans. —Lime. We would not use plas¬ 
ter except in the manure pile or stables. 
The old plan of using it broadcast has 
been about given up since its action has 
been better understood. Plaster is sul¬ 
phate of lime or calcium. What we call 
lime” is the carbonate. The chief use 
for plaster is to “fix” or hold the am¬ 
monia. This it does by “breaking up.” 
The sulphur unites with the ammonia 
to form a sulphate and the lime becomes 
a carbonate. The best place for plaster 
is in the barn or yard where ammonia 
would be likely to escape. The action 
of the lime is different. It unites with 
the acids in the soil to neutralize or 
“sweeten” them. Plaster does this to a 
slight extent if at all. A good motto 
is therefore—plaster for the stable, lime 
for the field. Very likely your grass 
lands are sour. In that case lime would 
help them. 
Bordeaux Mixture on a Small Scale. 
F. C. C., Sandy Creek, Me.— The R. N.-Y. 
has had lots of information regarding 
power sprayers for those who have a 
large acreage of potatoes, but the average 
farmer, who only plants one-half to one 
acre, what is he to use? The atomizer is 
too slow and tiresome; in fact, a failure. 
Is the knapsack the only thing? It is 
heavy. I have puzzled a good deal over 
this problem. 
Ans. —Quite strong power is needed to 
apply the lime-Bordeaux Mixture prop¬ 
erly. We hope that the churn sprayer 
made by Leggett & Bro. will throw this 
mixture evenly. This sprayer is oper¬ 
ated by the force of compressed air, 
which is driven in by means of a small 
air pump. We have used the soda-Bor- 
deaux with satisfaction. In this, con¬ 
centrated lye is used instead of lime. 
There is no sediment and it sprays much 
more readily than the lime mixture. It 
is just as effective, so far as we can see, 
except that it does not stick to the 
leaves quite so well. We feel sure that 
this soda-Bordeaux will help solve the 
problem for those who do not have 
acreage enough to pay them to invest 
in an expensive pump. We have used 
the dry Bordeaux successfully. The ob¬ 
jections to the powder are that it does 
not stick well in rainy weather, and can¬ 
not be put on accurately when the wind 
is blowing. 
Treatment of Raspberries. 
D. L. O., Ashfield, Mass.— For several years 
I have been trying to raise a few rasp¬ 
berries. I have the Cuthbert and the Lou¬ 
don. The Cuthbert winterkills badly some 
years, but otherwise is very satisfactory. 
The Loudon bears very heavily and never 
winterkills, but it grows only about one- 
third the bearing wood each year for the 
next year’s crop. Some hills almost die 
out entirely. What Is the best remedy for 
the trouble, and do other growers have the 
same difficulty with this variety? 
Ans. —We would think that the Lou¬ 
don bears too heavily to produce many 
fruiting canes for the next season. The 
production of fruit and new canes goes 
on at the same time, and the root and 
foliage systems are not always able to 
meet the double demand. We would 
prune closer in the Spring and reduce 
the bearing canes to one or two for each 
plant, until they regain their original 
strength. Of course, they should receive 
good cultivation and the necessary fer¬ 
tilization. Overbearing will kill any 
plant in time, but we have never heard 
that the Loudon raspberry was special¬ 
ly subject to the trouble, though it is a 
most reliable cropper. 
Bone and Potash for Orchards. 
C. J. L., New Baltimore Sta., N. 7.—Can you 
tell me how best to use ground bone and 
potash in an orchard? First, I presume it 
would be best, or less work, to put them 
on separately, without mixing. I am think¬ 
ing of trying the plan of E. I. L., page 782. 
I have a young orchard set 25 years bear¬ 
ing well, but has only been fertilized with 
stable manure and thoroughly sprayed and 
cultivated. Fruit this season was fair, but 
undersized, on account of dry weather. 
Should the bone and potash be spread 
evenly over the ground, or only under the 
trees? The orchard I speak of is Baldwin, 
Ben Davis and Pomeroy, the latter variety 
being one of the best for this section, both 
for bearing and selling, trees being very 
hardy. We have trees of this variety 
which must be at least 100 years old, as the 
orchard was in bearing when my father 
came on this place between 10 and 80 years 
ago, and they are sure bearers every other 
year yet. 
Ans. —We should use three parts of 
ground bone to one of muriate of pot¬ 
ash. It is not necessary to mix them, 
although it is harder to get an even dis¬ 
tribution of a small quantity. Find how 
many trees you have on an acre, and 
thus find how many pounds to a tree, 
and see how much bulk t. pound makes. 
Then you can tell how thick to spread 
the fertilizer. Do not put the fertilizer 
close up to the tree trunks. We would 
not put it within six feet of large trees. 
The best feeding roots are under ihe 
outer spread of the branches, or between 
the trees where the sun strikes the 
ground. Most of the fertilizer should be 
evenly spread there. 
SHORT BITS OF TALK. 
We have a young pig that has had 
quite a cough all Summer; do pigs have 
consumption? If so, is it safe to eat 
this one? 
All domestic animals have consump¬ 
tion—the horse and hog least of all. 
Slaughter the hog and examine its lungs. 
If many small, cheesy bunches are found 
do not eat the flesh. Meat that is thor¬ 
oughly cooked would not be dangerous. 
* * * 
My driving mare hurt her hock joint. 
A swelling formed—size of a hen’s egg. 
Part is hard and part soft. What shall 
I do? 
Dr. Kilborne says: “Blister with the 
biniodide oi mercury ointment (cerate of 
cantharides ointment one ounce, binio¬ 
dide of mercury one dram, mix); repeat 
two or three times, if necessary, at in¬ 
tervals of three or four weeks. If the 
blistering fails to remove the swelling, 
have it fired.” 
* * * 
Is it possible to plant corn in drill 
about six inches by four feet July 1, and 
cut before frost, not having any nub¬ 
bins? 
With us in New Jersey it would be 
possible, but not probable. The sea¬ 
sons are too short to produce a fair crop 
of grain. We planted early sweet corn 
the first week in July and got a few 
ears. Fodder corn sown thickly in drills 
by July 1 will make a fine crop of stalks. 
* * * 
Does The R. N.-Y. believe that plow¬ 
ing in green crops will reduce the scab 
on potatoes? 
Yes. Experiments seem to show it. 
The scab germs will not grow well in an 
acid soil. 
* * * 
Would it be practical to feed silage all 
the year round? 
The experts say yes—but we have 
never found one who really does it. 
Many feed silage in August when pas¬ 
tures are short, but green grass or soil¬ 
ing crops seem better in iheir season. 
* * * 
Do you advise a farmer to mix his own 
supply of baking powder? 
No. It looks easy to mix cream of 
tartar and bicarbonate of soda, but it is 
really hard to make a perfect mixture. 
Your biscuits are likely to fall just when 
you expect them to rise. 
* * * 
Is there any automatic gate that will 
actually work when you want it to? 
We do not know of any. Who does? 
Most of those we have seen balk or sulk 
just when you want to show them off to 
your friends. 
For the land's sake, use Bowker’s Fer¬ 
tilizers. They enrich the earth— Adv. 
^ItRVAr,, 
WAURPROoi 
RUBEROID 
ROOF/JVC 
will protect your chickens and 
other poultry from draughts 
and dampness, keeping them 
warm, dry and healthy. Cover 
the roofs and sides of the poul¬ 
try houses with it. Easily put 
on. Only a hammer and nails 
necessary. It is proof against 
weather, water, heat, cold, ver¬ 
min alkalies, adds, gases, etc. 
Made of FELT, without tar or 
paper. Tasteless and odorless. 
Heaves rain water sweet and 
clean. Write for samples and 
nrlfos 
THE STANDARD PAINT 
COMPANY, 
83-85 John St., New York. 
•'IW'.aRHaWV 
Women as Well as Men 
Are Made Miserable by 
Kidney Trouble. 
Kidney trouble preys upon the mind, dis¬ 
courages and lessens ambition; beauty, vigor 
and cheerfulness soon 
disappear when the kid¬ 
neys are out of order 
or diseased. 
Kidney trouble has 
become so prevalent 
that it is not uncommon 
for a child to be born 
afflicted with weak kid¬ 
neys. If the child urin¬ 
ates too often, if the 
urine scalds the flesh or if, when the child 
reaches an age when it should be able to 
control the passage, it is yet afflicted with 
bed-wetting, depend upon it, the cause of 
the difficulty is kidney trouble, and the first 
step should be towards the treatment of 
these important organs. This unpleasant 
trouble is due to a diseased condition of the 
kidneys and bladder and not to a habit as 
most people suppose. 
Women as well as men are made mis¬ 
erable with kidney and bladder trouble, 
and both need the same great remedy. 
The mild and the immediate effect of 
Swamp=Root is soon realized. It is sold 
by druggists, in fifty- 
cent and one dollar. 
sizes. You may have a j 
sample bottle by mail 
free, also pamphlet tell- Home of Swamp-Root, 
ing all about it, including many of the 
thousands of testimonial letters received 
from sufferers cured. In writing Dr. Kilmer 
& Co., Binghamton, N. Y., be sure and 
mention this paper. 
FARMERS. 
We have a small Gasoline Engine 
with power enough to saw Wood, 
Pump Water, run your Ensilage Cut¬ 
ter, grind Feed, run Churn Separator, 
etc., and it can be bought for 1146.25. 
We also make larger sizes up to 20 
II. P.; we sell you direct, and save 
you from $25 to $100 on an Engine 
R.N. Dirigo Eng. Wks., Portland,Me 
THE MIETZ & WEISS 
Kerosene Engines 
Cheapest and Safest 
Power known. For 
Pumping water, grinding 
corn, separating cream, 
sawing wood, and all power 
purposes. Send for Catalog. 
A. MIETZ, 
128 Mott Street. New York 
GASOLINE ENGINES. 
Our Specialty: Small Engines, 
1, 2, 3 and 5 H. P., for farmers, 
and stock men. Power and 
efficiency guaranteed. Write 
for our catalogue, stating your 
needs. 
Bates & Edmonds MotorCo,, 
Box 3133, Lansing, Mich. 
Designed expressly for Farmers, Thrashers, Well- 
Drillers. Simple, Strong, Durable—Absolutely Safe 
Mention this paper. Manufactured by The Bing¬ 
hamton Gas Engine Co., Binghamton, N. Y 
FOR RELIABLE FERTILIZERS SUSJSS 
Fertilizer Co., Rossfarm, Juniata County, Pa. 
PnfofnpQ—Bovee. Carman, Cobbler, E. Harvest, 
I UUUUto Ohio, Queen, Bose, King. Green Mountain, 
Honeoye Mammoth Prolific. Stump the World, Quaker 
City. 85 kinds. C. W. FORD & CO., Fishers, N. Y. 
California Privet Hedgr&*TL p Si'." 
for 10 cents. 
T. C. KEV1TT. Athenia, N. J. 
Y ork imperial, peach, 
KIEFFER. You get what you order. 
WOODVIEW NURSERIES, B. 100, Uriah, Pa 
K TREES SUCCEED WHERE 
Largest Nursery. OTHERS FAIL. 
Fruit Book Free . Result of 76 years’ experience. 
STARK BROS., Louisiana, Mo.; Dansville, N.Y. 
For $2, I will send by express or freight, i Alpha, i Parry’s 
Giant, i Early Reliance and i Paragon chestnut tree grafted, 
worth $3.25. Full line of Nursery Stock. Certificate. 
ARTHUR J. COLLINS Moorestown, Burlington County, N. J 
THE STORKS A HARRISON CO., PAINESVILLE, OHIO. 
Leading American Nurserymen, offer one of the Hoot Complete Assortment# of 
FRUIT AND ORNAMENTAL TREES, SHRUBS, ROSES, BULBS, ETC. 
4T Yearn. 44 Greenhou.cn. 1000 Acren. Oorrenpondenee Solicited. Catalog Free. 
