1899 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
59 
HOPE FARM NOTES. 
A White January.—The ground has been well 
covered with snow since Christmas. The sleigh¬ 
ing has gone, but the fields are well covered. 
This is good for the strawberries, which were 
well mulched about December 1. The Crimson 
clover is alive and green down under the snow, 
and is in better condition than last year’s crop 
at this time of the year. It is quite remarkable 
how rapidly the snow melts on the strips through 
the farm where cow pea vines were left to rot 
down. These vines are now black and partly 
decayed. From a distance, it looks as though 
there was a thick coat of manure on the surface. 
This dark color enables the soil to absorb more 
heat, and the snow goes q uicker from these strips. 
Early Planting.—If snow is “ the poor man’s 
manure ”, is not this early melting a bad thing ? 
Is It not an argument in favor of plowing under 
these dead vines in the Fall ? Perhaps so, but 
there is another side to it. The warmer the land 
the earlier we can plant in the Spring. On our 
light, leaeliy soils, it pays to get the earliest po¬ 
tatoes in as soon as the ground is warm We 
have two light fields where we hope to plant po¬ 
tatoes the latter part of March. Judging from 
present appearances, the strips now covered 
with half-rotted cow pea vines will be fit to 
plant nearly a week earlier than the bare strips 
beside them. On one small field, we shall put a 
thick coat of manure, early in March, expecting 
that this will warm up the soil and help prepare 
it for early planting. Early potatoes pay us bet¬ 
ter than the late crop. 
Good Manure.—We shall have twice as much 
manure as we had last year. Fertilizers, hunnis 
and hogs are responsible for this. In 1897, crops 
were light in stem, tuber and grain; but the 
ground was left in the Fall covered with rye, cow 
peas and Crimson clover. All of this save the 
rye was plowed under last year, and about the 
same amount of fertilizers used as in 1897. Crops 
were more than doubled, especially the stalks 
and cow pea vines. We are also using great 
quantities of bog hay, leaves and planer shav¬ 
ings for bedding. The pigs work this all over 
after it is thrown out of the barn, and as the 
pens get full, we haul and pile it in the fields 
where it is to be used with the hen manure 
mixed with it. Besides all this, the farm is cov¬ 
ered again with rye, cow pea vines or clover. 
The groirnd is in fair shape now to produce good 
crops—better shape, I think, than it has been be¬ 
fore in 15 years. The pigs must have full credit 
for the fine quality of our manure this year. 
They have nearly made their living on what the 
other stock wasted, and greatly improved the 
manure. These western farmers may afford to 
keep a lazy hog, but we must get some work out 
of him. Rooting manure enables him to make 
lean meat out of cabbage and turnips! 
Poultry and Prices.—In the first 14 days of 
January, our hens laid 309 eggs. During these 
days of 1898, we got 45 eggs. According to the 
standard set by the experts, we ought to get 
about twice as many eggs as we do. It’s sad to 
relate, but it seems to take a good many years 
to become an “ expert.” The amateur can make 
a spurt (and so can his hens), but it’s only 
through trouble that he is enabled to write “ ex ” 
in the proper place. Our hens are paying a fair 
profit, though, and we can’t complain. Eggs 
still sell “ eight for a quarter” with us, and pig 
pork is now worth 6*4 cents. Will $50 invested in 
hens pay larger interest than $50 in little pigs ? 
With this year’s experience, I would vote for the 
pigs for our farm, though there are lots of sides 
to the question. It costs more to house the hens 
and to care for them, and they are more liable to 
die or become crippled. The pig will take care 
of himself if you give him a chance, and he will 
stand lots of abuse. The humble record of Billy 
Berkshire and his brothers last year has con¬ 
vinced me that the hog is a gentleman who fully 
understands his business. 
The Scarlet Fever patients are making good 
progress, and we hope that the end is in sight. 
We sometimes wish the little Bud were as nearly 
over the disease as the Scions are. At the first 
attack, we got the best medical advice we could 
gather. Small daily doses of phosphate of soda 
are good for the little ones, and plenty of fruit 
and liquid food. It is a mistake to give them 
food that might cause constipation—though this 
is always true. We have been careful to sterilize 
their throats, using an atomizer for the purpose. 
As the Scions began to “ peel ”, they were well 
smeared with vaseline. This lessens the irrita¬ 
tion, and also keeps the scales from spreading. 
The shut-ins have kept good-natured through 
the siege. The Madame, I find, has been reread¬ 
ing Lea Miserables for solace, an old edition that 
belonged to her father. The Christian is another 
book that our shut-ins have absorbed. There are 
worse things in life than acting as scarlet fever 
outcast and shut-in, but they are, happily, not 
numerous enough to go around! 
Shut-in Hens.—I notice a discussion among 
poultrymen as to whether hens should run out¬ 
doors. Some men say that they would not let a 
hen put her foot on the cold mud, or eat a bite of 
snow. Our hens are free to run out every day 
that the sun shines. We leave the little doors 
open, and they are free to pass in or out. I ob¬ 
serve that hens are not alike in this. The Blacks, 
on the whole, certainly stay outside more than 
the Whites, but there are individuals that, ap¬ 
parently, never go out. I notice that, when they 
are shut in for a few days, they feel dumpy, 
and laze about without laying. Some hens will 
go out every day in the year, if they have a 
chance. Others will never go out of their own 
accord from December till March. I think that 
when we shut them up tight (in our latitude, at 
least), we discourage about as many hens as we 
would if we drove them all out each day. I would, 
therefore, give them the option of running out If 
they like, or staying in a warm place. A hen may 
be trusted to take care of herself during the day. 
She is a fool at night. h. w. c. 
FRUIT QUERIES ANSWERED. 
Fertilizer for Peach Orchard. 
J. B. P., Huntingdon , Pa.—How much potash 
should I give a young peach orchard set last 
Spring? What quality do you advise using? I 
have 4,000 trees set on 25 acres. 
Ans. —We would not apply potash 
alone to the peach orchard, but use 
phosphoric acid along with it. The 
cheapest and best form in which to apply 
potash is muriate. If 200 pounds of 
muriate of potash and 500 pounds dis¬ 
solved phosphate rock per acre are put 
on, it will be about right. 
Best Apples for New York Market. 
Several Subscribers.— What are the best varieties 
of apples for the fancy markets in New York 
City? 
Ans. —We suppose by best is meant 
those that will sell for highest prices. 
These vary from year to year. Some¬ 
times it is a matter of scarcity. In a 
year when Baldwins and other red apples 
are very plentiful, Greenings may sell 
for higher prices than any others, if the 
latter happen to be scarce. Or the re¬ 
verse may be true. Generally speaking, 
fancy red table sorts bring highest prices. 
York Imperial is a high-priced sort, 
though it is not yet familiar in this mar¬ 
ket. Spitzenberg is a first-rate variety 
if well grown and ripened. Tompkins 
County King and Northern Spy are 
usually high priced, but they are such 
shy bearers in some localities that they 
would prove unprofitable, even at high 
prices. Fameuse sells for good prices. 
Something must be taken into account 
besides the prices for which apples or 
other fruits sell. No matter if a certain 
variety does bring a high price, if it 
yields poorly, it might prove more un¬ 
profitable than a variety that sells for a 
much lower price, but which yields 
heavily. 
Fertilizing Bush Fruits. 
A. R. B., Dexter , Me.— The R. N.-Y. has sug¬ 
gested 200 pounds of potash, 400 pounds of super¬ 
phosphate, and 150 pounds of nitrate of soda for 
use on small fruit. What do I understand by 
phosphate ? For my fruit patch of currants, 
gooseberries and raspberries, I applied last Fall, 
at the rate of 1,600 pounds to the acre as follows: 
800 pounds fine ground bone, 400 pounds acid 
phosphate, 400 pounds muriate of potash. I like 
to apply in the Fall so that it will be ready in 
Spring early. Do you think I would get larger 
fruit if I should apply, in the Spring, nitrate of 
soda and superphosphate, as you term it ? I 
wish to grow as good fruit as can be grown, but 
I have no money to throw away. Would you 
advise using bone, acid phosphate and muriate 
of potash year after year ? I can get old or 
rather, newly-boiled bones, but have no way to 
grind them. Is there any way to utilize them ? 
Ans. —We referred to a fertilizer for 
strawberries which, we think, require 
more soluble nitrogen in the Spring than 
bush fruits. By “ phosphate,” we mean 
a substance containing no fertilizing ele¬ 
ment except phosphoric acid. Dissolved 
phosphate rock or bone black is a true 
super phosphate. These contain phos¬ 
phoric acid in a soluble form. Many of 
the so-called “ superphosphates ” on the 
market contain tankage or dried fish 
and kainit mixed with the dissolved rock. 
We do not mean these mixtures. We 
doubt whether it would pay you to add 
nitrate of soda in the Spring to the bush 
fruits. The plants themselves can give 
the only final answer. Try it on a row 
or two. Too much nitrate often makes 
the fruit soft. Yes, we would use this 
mixture year after year, if it give good 
results. One of the hardest things in 
the fertilizer business is to “ reduce ” 
bones. Powerful crushers and grinders 
are needed, even after the bones have 
been steamed under high pressure. Sul¬ 
phuric acid can be used, but we do not 
advise it on the farm. A slow and not 
very satisfactory way is to pack the 
bones in layers of unleached wood ashes, 
and keep the whole mass moist. In about 
two months, the bones may be crushed 
into coarse pieces. 
MICA 
AXLE 
CREASE 
The best slippery 
stuff for 
wear &nd tear on wagons and carriages. It saves 
horseflesh Your dealer sells it. Get come. 
FRAZER „££. 
BEST IN THE WORLD. 
Its wearing qualities are unsurpassed, actually 
outlasting three boxes of any other brand. Not 
affected by heat. IW GET THE GENUINE. 
FOR SALE BY DEALERS GENERALLY. 
Two Wagons atOne Price. 
It is a matter of great convenience and a sav¬ 
ing of labor for a farmer to have a low, handy 
wagon. They save more than half the labor of 
loading in hauling manure, hay, grain, corn fod¬ 
der, wood, stones, etc. The man who already 
has a wagon may have one of 
these low handy wagons at the 
small additional cost for a set 
of wheels. These Electric Steel 
Wheels, with either direct or 
stagger spokes, with broad¬ 
faced tire, are made to fit any 
axle. You can convert your 
old wagon to a low, handy 
wagon in a few moment’s time. 
You thus virtually have two 
wagons at one price Write to 
the Electric Wheel Co., Box 88, 
Quincy, Ill., for their catalogue; which fully ex¬ 
plains about these and their Electric Handy 
Wagons, Electric Feed Cookers, etc. 
The Farmers HANDY WAGON 
Company, ^ 777TTTTTmmm 
SAGINAW, Mich. I 
are makers oi 
Low-Down 
Wide-Tire 
TRUCKS. 4„o 
METAL 
WHEELS tor 
Old Farm Wagons, and 
All-Steel Trucks. 
Clroulart Fr*». 
Our 1898 business was 
twice that ot 1897—we 
' build more than all others 
/ combined, 10 styles. Steel 
wheel wagons at $18. 
FARMERS, 
FEEDERS, 
RANCHERS, 
And All Other Men 
are appreciating the 
Charter Gasoline Engine, 
Stationaries, Portables. Engines anti Pumps. 
Proof, by addressing 
Charter Gas Engine Co., Box 26, Sterling, III. 
DRILLING 
Machines 
Over 70 sizes and styles, for drilling either deep or 
■hallow wells In any kind of soil or rock. Mounted 
on wheels or on sills. With engines or horse power*. 
Strong, simple and durable. Any mechanic can 
operate them easily. Send for catalog. 
WILLIAMS BROS., Ithaca, N. Y. 
, Galvan¬ 
ized 
1 Steel 
Self-olllng, 
Best Governed. 
Acknowledged 
to be the most 
powerful and 
durable made. 
Wo have every- 
thlngthe farmer i 
needs in this Una 
Towers, 
Tanks and 
Pumps, 
Gutters, Grinders, 
Shelters, etc. 
OMPtNic'MILLS 
Catalogue, full of valuable points, free. 
Appleton Mfg . Co. 
BATAVIA, ILL. 
DOWER and 
TUMr 
i 27 Fargo St. 
A MAN SAVED 
BY USINC A FOLDINC SAWING MACHINE. 
One nmn cun Haw morn RUNS RASY 
Mo 
BaekMhe «M welKh0 
only 41^^ 
lbs. 
il33 
wood with it than two 
in any other way and 
do It easier. 9 CORDS 
IN 10 HOURS. Saws 
any wood on any 
ground. Haws trees 
down. Catalog free. 
First order secures agency, 
Folding Sawing Mach. Co. 64 S. Clinton St. RM 26, Chicago, 
Cider Machinery.—Send for catalogue to Boomer A 
Bosohert Press Co., 118 West Water 8t., Syracuse, N. Y 
The Spangler Corn Planter. 
The Most Perfect Corn 
Dropper in the World. 
With or Without Fertilizer Attachment. Write for 
circulars and prices of Planters and Grain Drills. 
We can SAVE YOU MONEY. Address 
SPANGLER MFG. CO , York, Pa. 
SEEDER 
Is simple, strong and durable, 
sows all kinds of seeds per¬ 
fectly even, saves X labor, % 
ot seed, sent on trial, (sold 
cheap), price and circulars 
free. Address Champion 
Seeder Co., Urbnnu, I ml. 
Beats the windiest weather. The hopper la so close to the ground that 
the wind can not blow the seed away. Must sow even. Sows all 
Clovers, Alfalfa, all kinds of Grass Seeds, Timothy, Bed Top and 
Flax. Special hopper for Wheat, Outs, Burley and Rye. 
Sows 20 to 40 acres per day. Write for free catalogue and price list. 
0. E. THOMPSON & SONS, 17 River St., Ypsilantl, Mich. 
Maple Evaporators. 
MOST DlIRA RLE, MOS1 ECONOMICAL, 
CHEAPEST. Manufactured by 
McLANE & SCHANK, Linesvilie, Pa. 
The WIARD WEEDER 
The Teeth are 
Adjustable 
so they can be 
set straight or 
to slant to the 
row. The coil 
spring produces 
a vibrating mo- \ \\\\\\\\\VA^~‘ 71 /, ft. Wide, 
tion which re- \ \\ \ \ U '-V-*-. „ ' x „ (lt 
suits in perfect \ UV- uml nla ' 
tillage. It cult! V- *- Weighs 95 lbs. 
vatesall the ground—the row as well as between the 
row. It leaves the land perfectly level, kills all weeds, 
preserves the natural soil moisture and promotes a rap¬ 
id, healthy growth. They are of special advantage in 
working all so-called hoed crops. Of equal value in 
‘•brushing” In grass and clover seed. For sale by dealers. 
Our free circulars explain their advantages more fully. 
THE WIARD PLOW CO. Batavia, Ms Y m 
The Foundation 
of Good Agriculture is Good Plowing. 
The “cut and cover” principle will not suffice in this progressive age. 
Good plowing presupposes the use of a good plow. One with a perfect 
mouldboard —just the right curvature to place the furrow in the best 
position for the admission of light, air and moisture; one that cuts a furrow 
slice of even depth and even width— both prime requisites to good 
plowing; one that applies the draft exactly at the center, which makes a 
plow run easy; one having all wearing parts perfectly chilled, meaning 
long wear and no corrosion; one that is economic of repairs. 
All these points and many others are covered perfectly by the 
Oliver Chilled Plows. Sold by every Oliver Agent everywhere. 
Descriptive matter upon application. 
The Oliver Chilled Plow Works, 
SOUTH BEND, INDIANA, U. S. A. 
“OLIVER.” “40.” 
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54 
