1902 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
753 
EVERYBODY'S GARDEN. 
I have some Chinese Winter radishes, but 
there is no demand for them. Can they be 
kept in Winter, and how? w. h. s. 
Manchester, la. 
If you have scarlet or white Chinese 
varieties there should be demand for 
them, especially in a town as large as 
Manchester. It may be, however, that, 
like some other commodities, they may 
require some effort in introducing. The 
Chinese varieties are desirable, and good 
authorities tell us that Winter radishes 
as a whole, are not nearly so much_ cul¬ 
tivated in this country as their merits 
really deserve. Very many of our choic¬ 
est garden vegetables have had their up¬ 
hill race before their desirable qualities 
were known, and radishes, I think, are 
no exception. If you have a quantity of 
them, I think it would pay to expend 
some effort in bringing their merits be¬ 
fore the people, and next year they 
would find more ready sale. I speak of 
this because they are heavy yielders, and 
easy of culture, as they have few insect 
enemies. Also, they have large sale in 
many places. Now as to your question 
and the “how” of keeping them. Most 
varieties of Winter sorts are about as 
easily kept as any other vegetables. 
Take those that you desire to handle 
during the Winter and pack them in 
damp sand in the cellar or some easily 
accessible place. They should be pulled 
before danger of freezing, and they will 
keep fresh and crisp thus stored. If you 
desire to carry any portion through the 
Winter pit them as you would potatoes. 
Dig a shallow pit either round or oblong 
and pile the radishes on the bottom 
without any straw or litter underneath. 
Make the heaps conical or wedge shape, 
nnd cover with clean straw, and earth to 
shed the water. When severe cold 
weather comes, cover with manure to 
keep safely from the frost. 
Will some of the readers of The R. N.-Y. 
tell when cefery should be taken up, and 
how prepared for cold storage? 
Stamford, Conn. r. h. w. 
The celery will stand considerable 
frost, but should be taken up before dan¬ 
ger of the stalks freezing. Not knowing 
anything of your storage facilities it 
would be difficult to give other than gen¬ 
eral directions for preparing the clumps 
for storage. If by cold storage you mean 
the term as applied to fruits, etc., I 
know of no such practice in storing cel¬ 
ery, and think the ordinary methods 
would be preferable. It is quite an ad¬ 
vantage to keep the temperature in such 
condition that while not too warm it will 
yet be warm enough so that the blanch¬ 
ing will to some extent go on while in 
storage. If you will refer to page 689, 
issue of October 11, I think you will find 
the ordinary methods of storage suffi¬ 
ciently described to help you out. Sev¬ 
eral different ways are described and 
you will not find it difficult to select the 
one best suited to your personal require¬ 
ments. 
In storing celery in the cellar, how much 
space will be required for 500 clumps? 
Bloomington, Ind. g. h. t. 
In storing in the cellar to blanch, 
which you doubtless desire to do, you 
will need to use a dark corner. Then it 
will not require close packing together 
unless your space is limited. Set tne 
roots upright in the box or on cellar bot¬ 
tom, and pack in sand or garden soil; 
but do not cover higher than the crowns. 
The clumps will require three to five 
square inches of space each. Divide the 
number of square inches in a square foot 
(144) and the result will be the number 
of clumps per square foot. Your whole 
number of clumps divided by this latter 
result will give you the number of square 
feet required. 
Ginseng Problems.— Considerable in¬ 
terest is developing along the line of 
ginseng culture and no doubt many are 
considering the subject to greater or less 
extent. Questions come to me some¬ 
times regarding it, and it may be that 
without personal experience in its cul¬ 
ture I would prove merely a “blind 
guide” to lead others into the ditch. 
After a considerable study of the sub¬ 
ject I believe that some suggestions will 
be entirely safe to follow, and some 
prophecies as to the future of the mat¬ 
ter will be pretty sure of fulfillment. 
First then, there is a steady and grow¬ 
ing foreign demand for the product. The 
Chinese demand is not merely the result 
of a passing fad, but is rather the out¬ 
growth of a well established necessity 
that has grown with the years. Second, 
the supply which has hitherto been 
chiefly the wild product, is practically 
exhausted, and from its slow habit of 
growth it will require years to bring the 
supply of cultivated roots up to even the 
present demand. It is then perfectly 
safe to say that for years to come there 
will be ample market for all that can be 
produced. The glowing accounts by ad¬ 
vertisers of the roots and seeds must, 
however, be taken with a grain or two 
of salt, as they merely give the results 
of sales on paper without deducting the 
costs which result in the practical work. 
It is well to remember that three to five 
years are required to get established be¬ 
fore one dollar of return can be realized. 
This is true also in the orchard work, 
and hence need not be a barrier, as the 
profits are no doubt very great when 
once the business is established. It re¬ 
quires very little space to operate, and 
for this reason many very small gar¬ 
dens may be turned to very profitable 
account after a few years of waiting and 
watching. I believe that many of The 
R. N.-Y. readers in village and suburban 
homes might engage in the work as a 
side line for a time and reap ample re¬ 
wards after a little. Favorable condi¬ 
tions can be made in almost any garden, 
and with a determination to work and 
wait patiently for a time the harvest will 
pretty surely come. j. e. morse. 
Michigan. * 
SOME FERTILIZER PROBLEMS. 
Lime and Chemicals in the Greenhouse 
We have used lime in soil that we 
have grown roses in for several years in 
succession with good results, but have 
never used lime with our new soil that 
we change every year. We always 
spread a thin coat broadcast and rake it 
in. We have also used considerable 
■wood ashes in our soil for the growing 
of our carnations and think we have 
seen an improvement in our plants 
where used. We have always used it as 
a top-dressing, but care should be taken 
not to use it too strong. We like to 
scatter it in, about one inch deep. We 
have also experimented with bone meal, 
but could never see enough improvement 
on plants where it was used to pay for 
the investment. w. w. coles. 
Indiana. 
Personally I have not used many 
chemicals in soil for greenhouse plants. 
Lime is good if soil is adhesive, or if it 
contains plenty of vegetable fiber. Forty 
pounds per ton is a fair dose, and it is 
best to mix it with soil six months or 
one year before using it for plants. 
Wood ashes I have found beneficial on 
light soils. Our rich loam here does not 
seem to require it. Where needed 50 
pounds per ton or more may be used. 
Fine ground bone meal at the rate of 40 
to 50 pounds per ton is a good fertilizer, 
and, like the lime, it is better to mix it 
with the soil several months before 
using. One of the very best and quick¬ 
est fertilizers for house plants is hen ma¬ 
nure. I prefer to keep it dry, then run it 
through a sieve and mix it through the 
soil at the rate of 60 to 75 pounds per 
ton. It can be used shortly after mix¬ 
ing and its action is quick. It seems to 
help foliage and color of plants. 
ANTOINE WINTZER. 
Chester Co., Pa. 
Wood Soil and Manures. 
Reader.— 1. What is the value of wood 
soil and will it pay to haul and put it 
around apple trees if good quality and con¬ 
venient? 2. What is the comparative value 
of sheep and cattle droppings as an orchard 
fertilizer? 
Ans. —1. Much depends on the soil and 
kind of timber of the wood. According 
to Veile, a rich wood soil contains from 
10 to 15 per cent of humus or vegetable 
matter; from 16 to 22 per cent of nitro¬ 
gen; from 0.45 to 0.89 per cent phos¬ 
phoric acid; and from 0.66 to 1.23 per 
cent of potash. With either of these it 
will certainly pay to haul large quanti¬ 
ties of such soil and spread about the 
trees. This soil should not be piled 
about the body of the trees but spread 
as far as top extends in all directions. 
2. There is no manure made on the farm 
with the exception of hen droppings that 
is at all comparable with that of sheep. 
According to the averages of many an¬ 
alyses the manure of sheep and cattle 
contains as follows per ton: 
Nitrogen. Phos. acid. Potash. 
Cow, fres’h. 6.8 3.2 8. 
Sheep, fresh.16.6 4.8 14.4 
By this it will be seen that sheep ma¬ 
nure is 244 per cent richer in nitrogen, 
150 per cent richer in phosphoric acid, 
and 180 per cent richer in potash than 
cattle manure. But we must remember 
that the manure of all stock is rich, very 
much in proportion to the richness of 
the food given. No animal fed on straw 
alone or on simply grass alone can pro¬ 
duce a manure containing any more 
plant food than was in the food eaten. 
So if we would have manure for our or¬ 
chards we must furnish the animals 
which we expect to make said manure 
with foods rich in the elements desired. 
Sheep manure, however, has another ad¬ 
vantage over cow manure. It i3 much 
finer and of course more quickly avail¬ 
able to the plants to which it is applied. 
J. S. WOODWARD. 
South Carolina Rock for Corn. 
J. SI. J., Greensboro, Md.— What per cent of 
Insoluble phosphoric acid should the ground 
rock run before being treated with the 
acid? I used it last year on my corn; mix¬ 
ed some potash and tankage with it and 
it did well. 
Ans. —As most readers know, by 
“rock” is meant the phosphate rock 
mined in Florida, South Carolina and 
other States. This is ground into a fine 
powder, in which form it is known as 
“floats.” In order to make the phos¬ 
phoric acid in this powder available for 
most plants it is “cut” or dissolved by 
mixing with it sulphuric acid. This 
changes the phosphate so that it will 
dissolve in water and feed the plants. 
The floats or ground phosphate contains 
from 25 to 40 per cent of phosphoric 
acid. The acid phosphate, after being 
cut by the acid, will average about 15 
per cent. Why should there be less in 
the acid phosphate? Because it is a 
mixture of the “floats” and the acid, the 
increased weight of the latter reducing 
the proportion of the latter. Now and 
then reports are made of experiments 
which indicate good results from using 
the raw “floats” as a fertilizer. In sour, 
damp soils, or where there is a large 
amount of organic matter, these raw 
phosphates may for a year or so give 
fair results but the conclusion of the 
best informed farmers and scientists is 
that the acid phosphate is cheaper in 
the end. A few plants, like buckwheat 
and turnips, are able to use the raw rock 
to fair advantage and will grow a good 
crop on it. By using the floats on these 
crops and plowing them under we may 
then grow crops which count not directly 
use the floats. 
For the land’s sake, use Bowker’s Fer¬ 
tilizers. They enrich the earth.— Adv. 
LadiesMackintoslifKE 
i Simply send us your name, not one 
cent of money , wo will send you 24 of 
“THE BEST”skirt supporters. Holds 
the skirt tip—the waist down. 
Nothing to sew on. Gives the 
stunning “dip effect” to stout 
or slim women. You can sell the 
supporters in an hour’s time 
among your friends at 25 cents 
apiece. Send us tho money col¬ 
lected, and we will send you the 
same day this beautiful ladles’ 
double-breasted, single-cap mack¬ 
intosh, made from neat brown and 
black checked, carefully vulcan¬ 
ized, close woven, doublo texture, 
mackintosh cloth. Cape is made 
with inlaid velvet collar, skirt is 
full width, lined throughout with 
i fancy plaid lining. We also give 
^numerous other valuable and use- 
Lful presents for Introducing "THE 
iT” skirt supporter. Write to-day for free book. 
: Smith Novelty Co., 1107 Broadway, Toledo, O. 
To January 1 , £ew subscribers to The 
J 7 R. N.-Y. will now get the 
1904, for $1. paper from the time sub- 
7 ‘v • seriptions are r e c e i v e d 
until January 1, 1904. If you will send us a club 
of four subscriptions, new or renewal, with $4, 
we will advance your own subscription one year 
free. 
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. 
BALANCED RATION 
FOR READERS OF 
The Rurai New-Yorker 
HOARD’S DAIRYMAN, the leading Dairy 
authority of this country. Brim full every week 
of the best thoughts and expressions of practical 
men. It covers the field of dairying thoroughly, 
handling the whole ground of dairy work from 
the field to the cow and market; treating upon 
every question of interest in the dairy. Invaluable 
to every farmer who desires to be successful with 
his cows. 
Both The Rural New-Yorker 
and Hoard’s Dairyman, one 
year, for $1.65. 
Course in Agriculture 
THE GIST OP THE SUBJECT. 
Practical men called in to help. No entrance 
examination. Not expensive. Six 
weeks. Begins November 10. 
Rhode Island College, Kingston, R.l. 
100 Red Cross Currant7S 1 .£ r %‘ 1 y 1,, ’ M ' 
KEVITT’S PLANT FARM, Athonia, N. J. 
President Wilder Currant Plants 
AND 
BACCHUS GRAPE VINES. 
We have a stock of remarkably fine President 
Wilder Currant Plants and Bacchus Grape Vines. 
The President Wilder with us is the most profit¬ 
able market variety and best for home use. The 
Bacchus Grape is now in greater demand than 
any other variety. Correspondence solicited. 
VV. D. DARNS & SON. 
Old Oak Fruit Farm. Middle Hope, N. Y. 
FREE 
E. S. 
Illustrated Catalogue of choice 
Evergreens, Shrubs, Fruit and other 
Trees, Roses, Water Lilies, etc. 
Prices low. Beautify your homes 
at small expense. 
PETERSON & SONS, Box 15, Montrose, N. Y. 
TREE PLANTING IN FALL 
is recommended by horticulturists of highest author¬ 
ity. Tho soil is always in better condition, tho trees 
are dormant and start early in Spring, and any pos¬ 
sible loss on account of unfavorable weather the fol¬ 
lowing season is prevented by Fall planting. My 
catalogue Is free. MARTIN WAHL, Rochester, N. Y. 
Fruit & Ornamental, 
Shrubs, Roses, Bulbs 
and Plants. 
Correspondence eollo- 
ited.Valuable Catalogue free. 
49th year. 44 greenhouses. 1000 aores. 
THE STORRS & HARRISON CO.. 
Painesville, Ohio. 
The T ree of Life 
is one budded upon a branched root seedling, buds 
from hearing treos, dug by our root-protecting treo 
digger. Apple orchards that bear early. Also Small 
Fruits at Wholesale Prices. Pear, Plum, Cherry. 
Everything in Nursery and Greennftugc Culture 
wo furnish true to name. We guarantee safe delivery. 
Send for Catalogue. CENTRAL MICHIGAN 
NURSERIES, Michigan's Leading Nurseries and 
Rose Growers. Kalamazoo, Midi. 
You Will Find 
Our Fruit Trees, Vines, Shrubs, Roses, 
Palms, etc., perfectly healthy, well- 
grown and true to name. 
Send for Catalogue. 
P. J. BERCKMANS CO. (INC.), 
Fruitland Nurseries, 
Established 1856. AUGUSTA, GA. 
YORK IMPERIAL 
APPLE is the favorite wherever 
grown. We have a large stock of 
vigorous trees. Also other favorite 
varieties: Winesap, Gano, Bald¬ 
win, Rome Beauty, etc. Write for 
Catalogue and Prices. 
HARRISON NURSERIES, 
Box 29, Berlin, Mil. 
Trees, Plants and Vines 
That should be planted in October and 
November, are named in our free 
FALL CATALOGUE. Write for it 
to-day. 200 Acres in Fruits and 
Ornamentals. Stock tirst-class; 
prices right. Send us your list of wants 
for estimate. Call at our Nurseries, 
and mako your own selections. 
T. J. DWYER SON, 
Orange County Nurseries, 
Box 1. CORNWALL, N. Y. 
TREES 
ICQ tYOf* 10O—APPLE, PEAR, PLUM and PEACH; healthy, true to name 
" and Fumigated. All kinds of trees und plants at low wholesale 
prices. Don’t buy 
special priee. 
until you get our catalogue, which is free, or send list of wants for 
Address RELIANCE NURSERY, Box 1, Geneva, New York. 
DAPCOC TDEEC ARE different 
ilUutnd I HlEo from others . 
The Tree Breeders. ROGERS ON THE HILL, Dansville, N. Y. 
