246 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
April s 
STONE LIME AND OYSTER-SHELL LIME. 
We have had a number of questions about the relative 
values of lime from burning limestone or oyster shells. 
Some farmers who live near the shore are able to obtain 
the shell lime at a lower figure, but have been told that 
it is not so useful for the soil. From the following notes 
it appears that there is more actual lime in the stone 
lime, but that the shell lime is as good for agricultural 
purposes, provided we use enough of it. We must under¬ 
stand that “slaked lime” means the fresh burned lime 
after it has taken up water. 
Composition of Different Limes. 
Slaked oyster-shell lime has about 59 per cent of 
real lime, 11 per cent less than slaked stone lime, and 
has several per cent of sulphates, chlorides and phos¬ 
phates, which are not usually found in stone lime. 
Chemical analysis reveals no reason why oyster-shell 
lime should not have the same effect, as fertilizer oi 
as amendment, that stone lime has, and I believe it 
has. The choice between them is only one of cost. 
Slaked oyster-shell lime is sold by the bushel, which 
weighs from 47 to 50 pounds. Much of the stone lime 
in market contains large amounts of magnesia, which 
as a rule, is no help and may be a decided injury to 
soils. Therefore, when buying for the purpose of 
liming land, this magnesian limestone should be care¬ 
fully avoided. Limekiln ashes are sometimes a cheap 
source of lime. They vary greatly in composition, 
containing from 26.8 to 62 per cent of lime, or 42 per 
cent on the average, with 1.14 per cent of soluble pot¬ 
ash and .70 per cent of phosphoric acid. They weigh 
about 75 pounds to the bushel, and the price is very 
unsettled, according to the whims of owners of lime¬ 
kilns. They have been sold at $2.25 per ton in bulk 
f. o. b. cars at the kiln. It is also necessary to avoid 
ashes which contain much magnesia. The composi¬ 
tion of these different forms of lime is as follows: 
Slaked 
oyster 
Slaked 
Unslaked 
Lime- 
shell 
stone 
stone 
kiln 
lime. 
lime. 
lime. 
ashes. 
Potash . 
. 0.05 
1.14 
Soda . 
. 0.21 
42.20 
Lime . 
. 59.04 
70.21 
90.60 
Magnesia . 
. 0.36 
0.76 
0.98 
Oxide of iron. 
Silica and sand.... 
. 6.29 
0.42 
0.54 
Coal . 
. 0.79 
4.60 
Carbonic acid . 
. 8.34 
3.56 
Sulphuric acid .... 
. 0.60 
Phosphoric acid .. 
. 0.18 
0.71 
Chlorine . 
. 0.03 
♦ ... 
Water . 
. 22.65 
100.00 
Connecticut Exp. Station. e. h. jenkins. 
Actual Results on Crops. 
There is no doubt but that different limes act dif¬ 
ferently on the same soil and on different soils. When 
we have a nearly pure stone lime there is but little 
difference in its action from that of oyster-shell lime 
when equal quantities, by weight, of these are applied. 
But on the light and sandy soils there seems to be a 
general coincidence of opinion and observation that 
the stone limes which contain an appreciable per¬ 
centage of both magnesia and alumina, or the use of 
so-called alum limes, give much better results than 
oyster-shell lime. This, from a chemical standpoint, 
I believe is due to the fact that these magnesia and 
alum limes act with the sandy soils in the same man¬ 
ner which these chemical elements do in cements. 
That is, they have a greater binding action, and thus 
produce a different physical condition in the soil from 
what the pure limes or the oyster-shell lime would. 
In some experiments which we conducted at this 
place in comparing a pure stone lime with oyster-shell 
lime, both applied so as to furnish the same quantity 
of pure lime, on a light loam sou gave very little dif¬ 
ference in the total yields which were obtained from 
the plots in a rotation of crops covering five years. 
The results obtained were as follows: 
Stone lime. 
Oyster shell. 
Hay, fodder and straw. 
.24,449 
25,642 
Corn and wheat. 
.14,949 
14,194 
Total . 
.39,398 
40,336 
Maryland Exp. Station. 
H. J. PATTERSON. 
LIME, SALT AND SULPHUR FOR THE SAN 
JOSE SCALE. 
In California and neighboring States a lime, salt, 
and sulphur wash or spray is extensively used upon 
truit trees infested with scale insects, and there it 
proves to be a very effective application. The formula 
used is: 
Unslaked lime . 40 pounds 
Sulphur .20 pounds 
Stock salt . 15 pounds 
Water, to make. 60 gallons 
The directions for making the wash are: Place 10 
pounds of lime and 20 pounds of sulphur in a boiler 
with 20 gallons of water, and boil over a brisk fire 
for not less than one hour and a half, or until the 
sulphur is thoroughly dissolved. When this takes 
place, the mixture will be of an amber color. Next 
place in a cask 30 pounds of unslaked lime, pouring 
over it enough hot water thoroughly to slake it; and 
while it is boiling, add to the lime and sulphur in the 
boiler, and cook for half an hour longer, when the 
necessary amount of water to make the 60 gallons 
should be added. 
Several years ago this wash was tested in a small 
way in the Eastern States against the San Jose scale 
and the results were very disappointing, it proving 
much less effective than in California. Recently, 
however, extensive experiments under more favorable 
conditions have given better results, so that some are 
recommending this spray in preference to any other 
for this pest. The fact that the mixture is cheap and 
can be applied with perfect safety upon such tender 
trees as the peach is decidedly in its favor, but as 
the directions show it is a laborious task to make the 
mixture, and it must be applied hot and with much 
force to drive it into cracks and crevices. It will cost 
more to make and apply this mixture than it will to 
use a 25-per-cent crude petroleum mechanical emulsion 
with water, and unless there is a period of two weeks 
of dry weather following the application, it will scale 
off under the ordinary rainy conditions prevailing in 
the Eastern States. Under favorable conditions, it 
will probably prove just as effectual as a spray of oil 
or soap against the San Jose scale, and the element 
of possible injury to the trees will be overcome, so 
that 1 would advise those having peach trees infested 
with this scale to give the lime, salt and sulphur 
wash a thorough test. But I think that upon most of 
the other fruit trees, I would prefer to use 25 per cent 
of crude petroleum or a solution of two pounds of 
whale-oil soap in one gallon of water. Any of these 
applications should be made just before the buds 
begin to swell, or very soon now. Probably many 
careful experiments will be made with lime, salt and 
suiphur this season by various experiment stations in 
the East, so that next year we shall have more defi¬ 
nite data regarding its use and effectiveness in the 
East. At present, I prefer to recommend crude petro¬ 
leum, as 1 find it is just as effective and cheaper in 
the end, and if intelligently used there is very little 
danger of injuring the plants. It is possible, however, 
that the lime, salt and sulphur wash can have its 
sticking qualities improved by the addition of some 
other cheap material, so that it may be made just as 
effective in the East as it is in California. 
M. V. SLINGERLAND. 
WINTER PEARS: A NEGLECTED FRUIT. 
It is well said that Summer is conspicuous for its 
variety of fruits, and Winter for its paucity of them. 
Many strive to have a supply of Winter apples, but 
few people in comparison as yet enjoy good Winter 
pears, notwithstanding they are as easy to grow as the 
Summer and Fall kinds. The list contains several 
good varieties; some of them keep as readily as 
apples. I have been growing them for several years, 
and had on January 24 some fine specimens of Anjou 
in my cellar. They are considered by those who sam¬ 
ple them from day to day as most delicious. It is one 
of our finest Winter pears. The fruit is large, has a 
smooth and clear lemon yellow skin when ripe; but¬ 
tery and melting, with sprightly vinous flavor. In 
good soil and under fair cultivation the tree is vigor¬ 
ous in growth and profuse in bearing. In the last- 
named respect it seems to be, one year with another, 
even more reliable than most apples. The only weak 
point of the Anjou that I know is that the large fruit 
is liable to be injured by the storms which occur 
early in Autumn. This is somewhat avoided if the 
orchard is properly located and provided with neces¬ 
sary shelter. Of the nine varieties of Summer and 
Winter pears fruiting on my place, none gives more 
universal satisfaction than Anjou. 
Josephine de Malines, a pear ripening through the 
months of January and February, is a prominent va¬ 
riety of first quality, and should be more extensively 
grown. The quality of this pear, however, improves 
as the tree advances in age. Winter Nelis and Clair- 
geau are also favorites. Barry and Dorset I have not 
fruited, but I observe they are fast coming to the 
front as very late keepers, especially the latter. I ex¬ 
pect to plant quite largely of it in the Spring. My 
method of keeping pears is very simple. We wrap 
each specimen in paper, pack in boxes and store in 
a cool dry place. Handled thus we are able to keep 
most varieties till February or even later. Doubtless 
the Fall kinds can be successfully kept for an indefi¬ 
nite time in a temperature about at the freezing 
point, coming out fair and with little or no shrinkage, 
but they have not had tne natural ripening process, 
and as a consequence lack flavor. No well regulated 
fruit-eating family should be without at least two 
of the sorts 1 have mentioned. We should no longer 
assume that the Bartlett is the only pear, and Sep¬ 
tember the only pear season, but, rather, plant to eat 
and enjoy during the long months of Winter one of 
the richest blessings of life. e. d. brooks. 
“CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES " FROM SEEDS¬ 
MANS MISTAKE. 
I note your inquiry on page 218, as to what should 
be the basis of settlement where party by mistake 
failed to get the seed ordered. I think the best basis 
for settlement would be for the dealer to refund the 
cost and freight. The buyer assumes a share of the 
responsibility when ordering by mail, and should not, 
and, I think, could not, collect conseqnentml dam¬ 
ages. w. P. M. 
Ohio. 
A LAWYER’S OPINION—The law defines the 
scope of responsibility with as much precision as the 
nature of the subject will permit, and lays down a 
universal measure of recompense for civil injury- 
which the sufferer is entitled to receive or recover, 
and the person who is liable is bound to pay, where- 
the injury has been done with no bad motive, for 
which the law subjects him to punishment. This 
universal and cardinal principle is that the person 
injured shall receive a compensation commensurate 
with his loss or injury, and no more, and it is a right 
of the person who is bound to pay this compensation 
not to be compelled to pay more, except it be cost in 
case of suit. Such damages as the cause produced 
naturally but indirectly are called consequential. In 
a case not involving malice, damages may be recov¬ 
ered not merely for the direct consequences, but for 
such indirect results as might reasonably be ex¬ 
pected; or, in other words, for all the natural conse¬ 
quences of the wrongful act. Applying these 
principles and rules of law to a case where 
a seedsman had sold an inferior quality of 
millet seed to a farmer who contracted and 
paid for Scarlet clover seed, ihere was a breach of the 
condition of purchase, for which the farmer is not 
only entitled to recover the purchase price, but also 
consequential damages by reason of the loss of his 
crop, and the value thereof may be proved by plain¬ 
tiff’s evidence and that of his neighbors as to the 
average crop in the neighborhood, the particular sea¬ 
son or seasons he desired the clover to stand for pas¬ 
ture, hay, or to replenish his soil, and as to what ef¬ 
fect the latter may have had upon future crops upon 
the particular land. Such elements of loss may ap¬ 
pear remote, but they are susceptible of sufficient 
proof to sustain a verdict for recovery. r. d. f. 
Indianapolis, Ind. 
A Veteran Fruit-Grower Talks 
Will it pay to try making over the old orchard men¬ 
tioned last week? If the orchard is properly drained 
and is close to place of business, take the chances 
by all means. First, cut out every other row diagon¬ 
ally, and the dead wood from the other trees. Plow 
not over 3 y 2 inches deep, and work with pulverizer 
and spring-tooth harrow up to about July 15, and 
seed with Medium clover and one pound of Strap-leaf 
turnip. The canker-worm is the easiest to kill of all 
insects. Spray early, as the first green shows, and 
again in one week. They start from the top of the 
trees, and should be killed before they are one-quar¬ 
ter of an inch long. Use any good poison with the 
copper sulphate and lime. The soil will be manure 
enough for the first year, but it should be cultivated 
thoroughly. axbert wood. 
Carlton, N. Y. 
SOUTH CAROLINA.—The past Winter has been ex¬ 
tremely cold; in fact, the most severe we have had in 
the past 30 years; consequently crops of all kinds are 
backward. Berries are late; there were none to go for¬ 
ward before April. Asparagus is moving in a very small 
way, and about two weeks late. Cabbage very late, and 
not more than 50 per cent of last year’s acreage. There 
will be no cabbage cut before April 10. A full crop of 
Irish potatoes planted. They are on time, and they are 
just coming through the ground. Beans and cucumbers 
are coming up. w. c. G. 
Young’s Island, S. C. 
