1899 
Making Vinegar. 
A. G.J., Westfield, N. Y .—What is the proper 
method of making vinegar ? I have a barrel of 
cider which is two years old, but has no mother 
in it, neither is it very sour. What shall I do 
with it ? 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
97 
Ans.—Y ou do not state where you have 
kept the barrel of vinegar during the 
two years, hut the fact that it hasn’t 
formed mother, indicates that one or all 
of the following unfavorable conditions 
have been present: Too low and even a 
temperature ; having been made of poor, 
early, unripe apples; watered in the 
making, or the barrel kept full and un¬ 
disturbed. Any one of these would tend 
to cause the conditions of which you 
speak. Poor, early fruit is by far the 
most common cause of failure. Some 
kinds of apples contain so small an 
amount of saccharine matter that they 
will not make vinegar. Wait until freez¬ 
ing weather is over. Then draw it off in a 
clean barrel. Paint the barrels a dark 
color, roll out in the sun and elevate the 
full one enough to have the other below 
it. Make a gimlet hole in one end small 
enough so that it just drips into the 
barrel below, then put half in each 
barrel. Tack a fine wire net over the 
bungs, and keep in a warm place. Shake 
or stir them thoroughly, the oftener 
the better. If not improved in a short 
time, I would consider it worthless. 
M. L. B. 
Greenhouse With Stone Wall. 
./. M. II., Sturgis, S. D .—I am building a hot¬ 
house with a stone wall on the north, which holds 
up a gravel bank. Would it be best to cover this 
wall on the Inside with boards and paper, or can 
I use the bare wall without covering 1 
Ans. —The best way to finish the in¬ 
side of a stone wall in a greenhouse is by 
means of a coat of cement plaster three- 
eighths to one-half inch in thickness. 
Rosendale or Mannheimer cement will 
answer, and should be mixed in the pro¬ 
portion of one part of cement to four 
parts of sand, and thoroughly rubbed 
down when on the wall, with a plasterer’s 
float and plenty of water. Do not allow 
the plaster to dry too rapidly, or it may 
crack ; but if sprinkled with water and 
rubbed down several times in the first 
36 hours, it will make a good job and 
last for 20 years, at least, w. h. taplin. 
Making a Hotbed. 
E. S, Worthington, 0.—How shall I make a 
hotbed, and what time should it be planted in 
central Ohio ? 
Ans. —To make a stationary hotbed, 
dig a pit about 2% feet deep, board up 
the sides and ends to about one foot 
above ground at the back, and three 
inches above in front. The width and 
length vary according to the number or 
size of the sashes to be used, slides being 
placed across as in the case of the cold 
frame, that the sashes may be moved to 
give air. Into this pit, place leaves or 
coarse litter to the depth of one foot, 
and fermenting stable manure to the 
depth of 1% foot, this being trodden 
down quite firmly, and then covered with 
from three to six inches of soil. Be sure 
that the manure is trodden in firmly at 
the sides and corners, or it will sink un¬ 
evenly. The manure is usually too 
coarse, and it gives too rank a heat when 
it first comes from the stables ; it should 
be thrown in a pile and worked over sev¬ 
eral times before using. The bed should 
stand two or three days after making, be¬ 
fore planting, to allow the strong heat 
to subside. 
Another style, generally called a mov¬ 
able hotbed, is made by excavating 
foot deep, and two feet larger, in length 
and width, than the size of sashes. One 
foot of leaves or litter and one foot of 
heating manure are placed in this pit, 
the manure being pressed lightly down, 
but not tramped hard. Plank frames 
are placed on this, one foot from either 
end, and one foot from back and front; 
three inches of soil should be put over 
the manure, and the sashes put on. The 
sides and ends are then banked with 
coarse manure. The object in making 
the pit larger than the frame is that it 
may all sink evenly. Select a sheltered, 
warm position for the hgtbed, and one 
that is naturally well drained. The time 
of planting varies according to the sea 
son, and the crops desired. We do not 
think E. S. would be able to use his hot¬ 
bed before March. 
How to Grow Mushrooms. 
J. E. G., New Monmouth, N. J .—How are mush¬ 
rooms grown ? 
Ans —Mushrooms are grown in caves, 
cellars, under greenhouse benches, and 
in warm buildings, from which the light 
is excluded, not that darkness is a neces 
sity, but because a more equable tempera¬ 
ture may be maintained under such cir¬ 
cumstances. With us, they are a Winter 
crop, requiring attention from Septem¬ 
ber to April or May. They are grown in 
beds of manure, which may be prepared 
any time from September to February. 
If mushrooms are grown in a cellar, it 
must have a dry floor, and a uniform 
and mild temperature. The beds may 
be 14 inches deep. If the cellar is heated, 
beds may be built on shelves also ; these 
may be 8 to 10 inches deep. The material 
of the beds, fresh horse manure, is thrown 
into a heap, wetted if at all dry, and al¬ 
lowed to heat. When it begins to steam, 
it is turned, shaken up and tramped firm 
again. If very dry, it must be wetted 
again, the turning, shaking and tramp 
ing being repeated until the heat does 
not rise above 130 degrees. Sometimes 
one-quarter the bulk of loam is added to 
the manure, to prevent burning. The 
beds are either made entirely of the pre¬ 
pared manure, or one-half the depth of 
fresh hot manure, tramped very firmly, 
with prepared manure on top, all being 
packed very firmly. The bed is then 
cased in hay or straw, until the tempera¬ 
ture falls to 90 degrees, when it is 
spawned. 
The spawn comes in bricks or flakes, 
the former being English, the latter 
French. It is broken into bits two or 
three inches square, and inserted, firmly 
covered, two or three inches, being about 
12 x 9 inches apart in the bed. The bed 
is then covered with straw or mats, and 
left for about nine days, when the cover¬ 
ing is removed, and a smooth mulch of 
fine loam, two inches deep, put all over 
the bed. A temperature of 55 to 60 de 
grees is best, and if dry, the walls and 
ground may be sprinkled, but not the 
beds. We would not recommend an at¬ 
tempt to grow mushrooms in the Sum 
mer. Farmers’ Bulletin No. 53, issued 
by the United States Department of 
Agriculture, gives a complete account of 
this crop. 
Reports from Dawson City, in the Klondike, 
show that, in June, hay was selling: at 81,200 a 
ton, with ground feed at 81 a pound. Horsemen, 
however, were willing to pay these prices, for 
one man owning three horses was taking in over 
8200 a day in the trucking business. 
There is a right chimney for 
every lamp. The Index gives 
you its Number. 
Your dealer should have it. 
JVTUfc and OOKne Lily 
Or Crinum Fimbriatulum 
is one of the grandest and 
most profuse flowering 
bulbs of all the great 
Amaryllis Family, and 
as easy to grow as an on¬ 
ion. 1 lowers bell-shaped, 
in immense umbels, very 
large, showy and delici¬ 
ously fragrant ; each 3 to 
4 inches across ; a spark¬ 
ling white, striped with 
carmine. Fine blooming- 
size bulbs wrapped m 
long strands of lovely 
Hpanlsh Moss, sent 
postpaid to any address 
for only 20 cents each (wi 11 
cost you @1 or more each 
from Northern Florists). 
Our ClAXT COMBI. 
NATION PAY8IKS, all 
_ _ the distinct known strains 
merged into one grand mixture. Nothing else like 
it. Seeds 10c. per pkt. Or Tor only 23c. we will 
send both Clly bulb and seeds postpaid. All ap¬ 
plicants will receive FRKK a cony of our catalogue of 
Rare Florida Flower* and Fruits. Address 
THE JESSAMINE GARDENS, JESSAMINE, FLORIDA. 
TWO CENT STAMPS 
WILL BRING 3 PACKAGES 
Sweet Peas, or 8 packages Pansy Seed, 
or 1 package each of Aster, Mignonette, 
and Sweet Peas, or 8 packages choice 
Vegetable Seeds. Wo do this TO ADVER¬ 
TISE OUR SEEDS and gain new customers. 
The stamps pay postage and packing, only, 
WE GIVE YOU THE SEEDS and ask you to show 
them to your friends. CATALOGUE FREE 
with every order, also free for the asking. 
THE PAGE SEED CO., Dept. E, Greene, Chenango Co. N.Y. 
Potash. 
NOUGH of it must be 
contained in fertilizers, 
otherwise failure will surely 
result. See that it is there. 
Our books tell all about 
fertilizers. They are sent 
free to all farmers applying 
for them. 
GERMAN KALI WORKS, 
93 Nassau St., New York. 
M 
i 
m 
Pm 
COPYRIGHT. 
jaaa s 
BY 
PURE WHITE, DOUBLE, AND BLOOMS PROFUSELY FROM JULY TO JANUARY. 
A great Novelty. Spring-set plants of this marvelous Chrysanthemum 
begin blooming by July and continue in great profusion until New Year’s 
or later. Flowers of good size, Chinese type, double, ami snow-white in 
color. Perfectly hardy In the open ground, and may be grown as a gar¬ 
den or pot plant with equal satisfaction. Plants bushy, 20 inches high. 
No variety can equal It In profusion. Mr. S. F. Duncan, Ohio, the 
originator, says that the plants in his garden have always begun bloom¬ 
ing by July 4th and are perfectly hardy any winter without protection. 
In pots It seems to bloom at all times of year, furnishing an abundance 
of magnificent white flowers Price of strong plants by mail, guaran¬ 
teed to arrive In good order, 25c. each ; 3 for »Oc.; 'S'for $ 1 . 00 . 
13 GREAT NOVELTIES for (50 cts. t Evcrbloomlng 
Cbrys’m, 1 New Everbloom’g C’ulln, 1 KudbcckluGolden Glow, 4 Giant 
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In 70 days), Mayflower Verbena (color anil fragrance like Trailing Ar¬ 
butus), Giant Rainbow Leaved Coleus (Grand), Japanese Chrysnn- 
themnm Aster. Perpetual Blooming Carnation and 
THE MAYFLOWER Monthly Magazine for a year; illustrated— 
colored plate each month —devoted to Flowers andGardenlng. Worth 
82.00 but for trial all the 12 Novelties, Magazine, and Catalogue, postpaid, 
for SO ets. Order at once; this offer may not appear again. 
Oint GREAT CATALOG! 1 E of Flower and Vegetable Seeds, 
If u lbs. Plants and Rare New Fruits; profusely Illustrated; Magniileent 
Large Colored Plates; 144 pages; FRKK to any who expect to order. 
JOHN LEWIS CHILDS, Floral Park, N. Y. 
POTATOES: 
TRUCK 
CORN 
OATS 
High-Grade BONE FERTILIZERS are best, most per¬ 
manent and cheapest. Our goods are especially adapted to 
spring crops. Special brands for potatoes, corn and oats, 
supplying plant food available for immediate use, and leaving 
something for future grass crops. None better or cheaper. 
I. P. THOMAS & SON GO., 2 P s iSi , iISD D E e ipKYA! • 
Write Macbeth Pittsburgh Pa 
Three favorite ~ 
and most- POPULAR^ 
DIRECT SUES TO FARMERS .KELTS 
Oar Entire Production goes Direct from Factory to Farm. 
Analysis. PhosAcid. Ammonia. Actual Potash. 
^tolO-* 2 to 3 •• 2 to 3“ $ itoo PC ‘‘ t0n - 
IIS "* 1 : =*. 55 : 868 ; es s 
Blood with Potash ... 9 to 10“ 4 to 5 “ 8 to 9“ 2100 “ 
Write for sample and book. _ WALKER, STRATMAN & CO., Herr’s Island, Pittsburg, Pa. 
SweaV feaS 
, 4 Pa.Y\sie.5tt.uak 
fAa-sYwcVivxYtvs 
A BARGAIN OFFER 
Made to introduce our Flower Seeds < 
—that grow —to new customers. Over 60< 
varieties of Eckford’s best named varieties 1 
Sweet Peas. All the largest flower- 1 
mg and giant varieties of Pansies that 
can be secured in Germany, France and 
England, and the justly celebrated hybrid 
Nasturtiums, embracing all the choic¬ 
est colors in the new climbing varieties. 
For Only 6 Cents ill stamps, and the 
address of two friends who grow flowers, 
we will send one full size packet each of the 
Sweet Peas, Pansies and Nasturtiums, post 
paid, to any address, including free copy 
of the most artistic catalogue published, 
devoted exclusively to Flower Seeds. 
S. Y. HAINES & CO., 
Boston Block, . MINNEAPOLIS, MINN. 
JADOO FIBRE*™ 
JADOO LIQUID 
ARE INVALUABLE TO THE GROWERS OF 
Vegetables, Fruit, Plants 0 **Flowers 
SEND EOR CATALOGUE AND PRICES. 
For Sale by all prominent Seedsmen, and by 
THE AMERICAN JADOO COMPANY, 
815 Fairmownt Avenue, Philadelphia, Pa, 
