368 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
May 24 
GOOD MEWS FOR FARMERS. 
The fixation of the free nitrogen of the 
air on a commercial scale 
at last accomplished 
All who have read the book published 
by Sir Walter Crookes entitled “The 
Wheat Problem,” will remember that he 
startled the world by the prediction that 
in 30 years the supply of nitrogen in 
the only available form, Chili saltpeter, 
would be exhausted and that by 1950 the 
wheat-eating nations would be starv¬ 
ing for bread. He says the present con¬ 
sumption of wheat is 2,070,000,000 bush¬ 
els; that in 30 years it will require 3,- 
600,000,000 bushels, and as the supply 
of nitrogen will be gone, this amount of 
wheat cannot be grown, as to produce 
it at least 12,000,000 tons of Chili salt¬ 
peter will be required to double the 
present yield per acre. 
Now, every schoolboy knows that 
four-fifths of the air by weight is pure 
uncombined nitrogen; that so far as 
animals are concerned the only use of 
this nitrogen is to act as a diffuser of 
the oxygen so as to make it safe to 
breathe. The writer has long believed 
that the use of nitrogen to dilute the 
oxygen was no accident; that the time 
would come when a process would be 
devised by which this nitrogen could be 
put into such form that it could be used 
to manure the lJfnd, and he has so stated 
many times at farmers’ institutes. In 
1785 Priestley saw that every lightning 
discharge produced a chemical change 
and that an artificial discharge of elec¬ 
tricity did the same. This started inves¬ 
tigation. Ever since the matter has been 
under investigation and no other prob¬ 
lem has been more persistently under 
experiment than doing commercially 
what Priestley did in his laboratory in 
1785. In 1899 Chas. S. Bradley and D. R. 
Lovejoy took up the study of this prob¬ 
lem. Their experiments quickly showed 
that sparks were of very little effect, and 
so they looked for some other form of 
electrical energy to be more effective. 
After long and costly experiment they 
found that a high-voltage direct current 
made to arc in a particular way in a 
closed chamber, would produce a union 
of the nitrogen and oxygen and convert 
the same into nitrogen trioxide with a 
large yield. They came to Niagara Falls 
and installed an experimental plant 
which has produced astonishing results. 
It consists of a closed chamber into 
which is forced dry cold air, which is 
made to pass about electric arcs of small 
current and high electro-motive force 
constantly discharging. Here the chem¬ 
ical change takes place; the result is a 
brownish-red gaseous substance—true 
oxide of nitrogen. It is found that by 
leading this into absorption chambers 
it will at once unite with whatever sub¬ 
stance is desired. With water it will 
form nitric acid, with caustic potash, 
saltpeter; with caustic soda, Chili salt¬ 
peter, etc., etc. So satisfactory have 
been the results that a company has 
been chartered, and an extensive plant 
is to be erected at Niagara Falls. 
The importance of making nitric acid 
direct from the air can be appreciated 
when it is remembered that more than 
1,000,000 tons of nitric acid are now used 
every year, and that this is at present 
made by treating natural nitrates with 
sulphuric acid. But it is now confi¬ 
dently expected that by this new process 
it can be made sufficiently cheap to be 
used by the farmer in manuring his 
crops. That Americans have succeeded 
in this great achievement is a source of 
pride to us as a nation. The scope of 
this invention can hardly be conceived 
at this time. What is now known Is 
that the great atmospheric belt has been 
added to the raw material from which 
man is to produce something so essential 
to human existence and prosperity. A 
commercial invention of more import¬ 
ance can hardly be produced, and the 
farmer is to be congratulated that one 
of its most important results will inure 
to his benefit. j. s. woodward. 
EVERYBODY’S GARDEN. 
The Children’s Garden. —Some of 
the suggestions for the children’s garden 
given previously, will be too hard for the 
little folks, so, while we shall ask very 
thorough work of the older girls and 
boys, and expect a careful account of ex¬ 
penses and receipts, we shall let the 
little gardeners off pretty easy. Do not 
get too much ground, for the work will 
seem very hard sometimes. The weeds 
will grow and the sun will be awfully 
hot at times, and you will just have to 
imagine yourself a whole army gone 
out to fight the enemy. In this way 
you can often make play out of real 
work, only do not altogether forget that 
it is work, and that you have a real ob¬ 
ject in view. A small piece of ground 
well cared for will be far more profitable 
than a large piece neglected, so take only 
what you can work in the very best way, 
and see just how much you can accom¬ 
plish. Measure the ground and know 
just how much you have, and you can 
also tell what the seed costs and just 
how much you sell. Below is a list of 
the easiest vegetables to raise, from 
which you can choose what you like best. 
Be sure to select in part, at least, what 
your own family will use considerable 
of. and you will be certain then to have 
a home market for part of your crop. 
You will find careful directions in the 
all-season’s garden for planting and cul¬ 
tivating nearly everything given in this 
list, so after selecting what you wish 
to raise in your garden, it will be easy 
to see just how to plant and care for it. 
Vegetables for Children’s Garden. 
—These may include beans, Green Pod, 
Butter, Wax and bush Dimas; beets, 
New Cardinal and Swiss Chard (for 
greens); popcorn, Monarch White Rice; 
Nest-egg gourds, (cultivate the same as 
cucumbers); muskmelons, Maule’s Su¬ 
perior and Dong Island Beauty; water¬ 
melons, Fordhook Early and Sweet¬ 
heart; onion sets (the little folks would 
better grow onions from the sets rather 
than the seeds); dwarf peas, Sur¬ 
prise and Nott’s Excelsior; pie pump¬ 
kins, Japanese and Winter Luxury; 
radishes, Earliest Scarlet and Earliest 
White French Breakfast; herbs, laven¬ 
der and sage. Select what you like and 
do your best, and a little later we will 
tell how to put them up for market. 
A Cheap Trellis. —The diagram 
shows construction of the best and 
cheapest trellis we have ever used for 
sweet peas. Posts are of 2x4-inch 
stuff, each eight feet long, set two feet 
in the ground and 16 feet apart. Nar¬ 
row boards (1x2 in.) are nailed to top 
and bottom of posts after setting. Small 
wire nails are driven part way in, six 
inches apart the entire length of the 
boards. The work is easier done if nails 
are driven in before nailing boards to 
posts. Let the nails in top strip slant 
upward and those in bottom one slant 
B C fiG 
TRELLIS FOR SWEET PEAS. FlO. 143. 
downward, to prevent the slipping of 
netting from nails. Nail top strip or, 
first; measure down on post driving in 
nails every six inches; then nail on bot¬ 
tom. strip. Have a ball of gardener’s 
bunching twine (cost 5 cents); tie end of 
twine to nail at left upper corner; cross 
diagonally to li; wind twine once 
around nail, and go to U; then to I), 
etc. Draw the twine snug, always wind 
once around each nail. Fill the entire 
frame, ending at E, tie the twine very 
securely, and break off; this is the warp. 
For the filling, tie end of twine to nail 
marked F, cross to G, then to H, then to 
I. etc. Weave the filling into the warp 
by passing the ball alternately over and 
under the threads of warp. Peas do bet¬ 
ter on a trellis of this kind than on 
brush, or wire netting. We have no 
difficulty in coaxing them to climb to the 
top or beyond; the vines never burn on 
this trellis as they will on a wire one, 
during the heated term. When the frost 
puts them out of business, cut the strings 
loose at the four corners of frame, pull 
the vines, and the entire mass of vines 
and twine can be slipped off tne frame 
in two minutes, and carried away to be 
burned on the rubbish heap. Anyone 
who has tried to clear the old vines from 
wire netting will appreciate this easier 
way of disposing of them. 
Michigan. j. e. morse. 
Peaches for Georgia. 
li. W. //., Calhoun, Go.— I would like in¬ 
formation about the Frances and Chairs 
peaches. T want a good peach ripening 
about 10 days later than the Elberta. Do 
you think either of the above would be a 
better peach for the South than the Emma? 
Ans.—F rances begins to ripen just as 
Elberta is gone and is a peach of excel¬ 
lent market qualities. It is large, yel¬ 
low, well covered with red, of good 
flavor and a true freestone. The Chairs 
is a little later and much like the Fran¬ 
ces in every respect. Both are well 
worthy of being extensively planted, as 
they have been sufficiently tested to 
warrant it. Emma is well spoken of by 
some of the Georgia peach growers and 
by others it is condemned. It ripens 
about with those just mentioned. From 
what I have seen of these three kinds I 
would prefer the first two. ir. e. v. d. 
Vegetable Plants 
DELIVERED AT YOUR ADDRESS. 
Standard Varieties. List on Application. 
Doz. 
50 
100 
Cabb.-ige. 
$0.20 
$0.50 
$0.75 
Cauliflower. 
.25 
.75 
1.00 
Egg Plant—New York Purple 
.40 
1.25 
1.75 
Pepper. 
.35 
1.00 
1.50 
Sweet Potato. 
.20 
..VI 
1.00 
Tomato. 
.75 
1 25 
Lettuce. 
.20 
.50 
.75 
Celery. 
.20 
MO 
.75 
Write for prices—1,000, 10,000. 
■VAUGHAN’S SEED STORE, 
84 and 80 Randolph Street, CHICAGO; 
or 14 Barclay Street, NEW YORK. 
Vegetable Plants. 
Asparagus—Conover's Colossal, very strong. JO; 
Celery, White Plume, transplanted, $2; Horseradish 
Sets, $1.50 per 1,000 and up. Send 5 cents for sample 
of above. Rhubarb, strong seedlings and divided 
old clumps, $3 per 100; *25 per 1,000. Cash. LUDWIG 
MOSBA?K, 8500 Anthony Avenue, South Chicago 111. 
Sweet Potato Plants 
By Mail. 
100 
By Express. 
100 1.000 
Jersey Yellow. 
. $0 fiO 
$0.30 
$1 50 
Jersev Red and Big Stem. 
.60 
.30 
1 75 
Pierson and Up-River. 
.60 
.30 
2.00 
Vineland Bush. 
.75 
.50 
3 50 
200 plants by mail. $1. Cash with order. 
FRANK S. NEWCOMB, Vineland, N.J. 
RFANQ White Crystal Field Beans, 50 bushels 
DCnild per acre, nice size; were weevil-proof 
last year; tested beside others ruined. Thousands 
of acres were ruined last year as wheat has been’ 
Sample, 6c.; pint, 20c.: quart. 40c. mailed; peck, $1; 
bushel. $3; live or more, $2.50. Choice Carman'. 
Raleigh and White Giant. $3 per barrel. Write tA 
once. S. J. Smith’s Potato Farm, Manchester, N. V. 
Grown on landspeciallyadapt- 
ed to them; sown thin, each 
plant is strong, stocky and well rooted. Prices: 
White Plume, 500, 76c.; 1,000,$1 25; 5,000, $5. Golden 
Self-Blanching, 500. $1; 1,000, $1.50; 5 000. $0.25; Giant 
Paschal and Pink Plume, 500, $1.26; 1.0UO, $1.75; 5,000, 
$7.50. Circular free. 
WILSON BROS., Tecuinseh, Midi. 
For Sal© 
-500 bushels Early Black Cow 
Peas at $1.76 per bu.; 600 bush¬ 
els Delaware-grown Crimson Clover Seed at $3 per 
bu.; 500 bushels second-growth Seed Potatoes at $3.30 
bbl.; or $1.10 per bu. J. E. HOLLAND, Milford, Del. 
Sugar Beets for Stock. 
10 cents per pound for ICO pounds or over; 15 cents 
in less quantities. Rare chance to get Hoernlng's 
Improved Klein Wanzelben Seed for growing sugar 
beets for sugar factories or stock feed. WOLVERINE 
SUGAR CO , Benton Harbor, Mich. 
Sweet Potato Plants 
Jersey Yellow, $1.25 per 1,000; Early Golden and 
Improved Nansemond, $1.50 per 1.000. Ten per cent 
discount on 20,000 or more. Plants ready now. 
JOHN CASAZZA, Vineland, N. J. 
C elery and Cabbage Plants. $1 per 1,000 
riiuson Clover Seed, $4 per bushel. 
SLAYMAKKR & SON, Dover, Del. 
1,000,000 Tomato Plantsfor the canuer; 
500,000 Late Cabbage and other plants. Catalogue 
free. CALEB BOGGS & SON, Cheswold,Del. 
Potted Strawberry Plants, Juiy I. 
T. C. KEVITT, Athenia, N. J. 
QtraUfhomOC~ For earl * est an< l best plant Lady 
Oil OnlJCI 1100 Norwood. For best plant Success. 
I also grow for sale Nick Ohmer, Gandy, Sample and 
Excelsior. AH plants from 1901 beds. 
M. W. JENKINS, Dover, Del. 
rilUll Elf ill UllnlUll Prices low. All sizes. 
Circulars free. B. L. Ryder Co., Box 420, Phtla., I 
LIME FERTILIZER 
Special preparation giving splendid satisfaction. 
Correspondence solieited THE SNOW FLAKE 
LIME CO., Bowling Green, Ohio. 
Dutton’s 
Improved 
Knife and 
Tool 
Grinder 
$2.50 each 
SAMPSON 
TOBACCO PRESS. 
CLARK'S 
DOUBLE¬ 
ACTION 
Cutaway Harrow will easily move 
15,000 tons of earth one foot In 
a day. * 
Disparene 
CODLING MOTH, 
Canker-worm, Elm Leaf Beetle, 
Tussock Moth, and all leaf-eating 
insects. 
State Entomologist Sanderson of Delaware, 
says : “ Disparene proved very much su¬ 
perior to Paris Green, and destroyed a 
larger percentage of Codling Moth larva; 
than has ever been done before. It re¬ 
mained on the trees all summer in spite of 
very heavy rains.” 
It “ sticks like paint ” and 
never injures the most deli¬ 
cate foliage. 
- $100 
- 8.00 
Enough for 80 Gals. Spray 
“ “ 800 “ “ 
Full directions on every can. 
Order today and ask for our 
CDCC Handbook of Injuri- 
mtt ous Insects and How 
to Destroy Them. 
BOWKER 
43 Chatham St., Boston 
INSECTICIDE 
CO. 
Mr. S. W. Smart, Lake Co., O., says: 
“I have used Bowlcer’s Disparene for 
two years on my vineyard, for the 
Grape-root worm. I think another sea¬ 
son, spraying as I did this year, will 
free them from the beetle. We applied 
Paris-green twice to our potatoes, yet 
the bugs thrived on it. One dose of the 
Disparene finished them. I think it 
more effective and cheaper than Paris- 
green.” 
The Ohio Farmer referring editorially 
to Bowker’s Disparene, says: “We shall 
use Disparene in preference to Paris- 
green hereafter in our orchards for Cod¬ 
ling moth and Tent caterpillar and on 
our potatoes for the bugs, using it in 
Bordeaux Mixture. We expect to save 
far more on the labor than the extra 
cost of material. Paris-green washes off 
in the first heavy rain, but Disparene 
holds fast.” 
A Dry-Sprayer 
No Water or Plaster. 
DUSTS TREE, RUSU 
OR VINE. 
Two rows of potatoes as 
fastas you waik,wideor 
narrowplanti ng. Agents 
wanted. Catalogue and 
spray calendar free. 
Leggett & Brother, 
301 Pearl St., New York. 
Hoyt’s Nurseries 
are the standard for reliability and first- 
class stock. Headquarters for the October 
Purple Plum and Green Mountain Grape. 
Also a full line of Fruit Trees, Forest and 
Ornamental Trees, Shrubs, Small Fruits, 
Roses, Asparagus, etc. 
Send for Free Catalogue. 
STEPHEN HOYT'S SONS 
New Canaan, Conn. 
THE 
Agricultural Exposition 
OF OKTONMDAkCA 
will hold Its 
fiist Annual Spring Fair 
AT 
Kirkwood Park, Syracuse, N. Y., 
June 16, 17, 18, 120, 21, 1002. 
Large Prizes for Horses, Cattle, Sheep, Swine. 
Poultry, etc. Premium List now ready. Entries will 
close June 10. 
TUOS. H. COLEMAN, Sec’y, Syracuse, N. Y. 
CLARK’S SULKY 
Gang Dish 
Plow, 
From 2 to 8 feet. 
For horse or 
Steam Power. 
CUTAWAY HARROW CO., HIGGANUM, CONN. 
SS s R00FING 
is not like othors— It Ik better. It is Fire, Wind and 
Water-Proof, beintr a perfect roof in every way and at 
the same time lias the advantage of being low in price. 
Fits the steepest or flattest roofs. Anybody can lay it. 
A knife and hammer are all the tools necessary. Saves 
you money on either new or old roofing. Sample mid Circulars free. 
THE A F. SWAN CO.. 114 Nassau St., NEW YORK. 
The Name on My Trees Means Something 
IT DOESN’T ALWAYS ON OTHKRB. 
Tree Breeders. ROGERS ONoTHE HILL. Dansville, N.Y. 
