1899 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
99 
HOPE FARM NOTES. 
Early Chicks.—We started the 100-egg incuba¬ 
tor January 16, with eggs from the Black Minor- 
cas. The second testing showed 71 fertile eggs, 
but many of the germs are weak, and we can’t 
expect a large hatch. We have, also, two P. R. 
hens warming up batches of eggs. A neighbor 
hatched out 71 eggs in a 100-egg incubator, and 
sold the little chicks at 15 cents each for use at 
the poultry show. He knew the incubator com¬ 
panies would want chicks, and so he made a 
bargain with the manufacturers of his incuba¬ 
tor. We are getting our chicks started earlier 
than ever this year. The Winter has been so 
cold and uncomfortable that it is hard to secure 
fertile eggs. The great trouble with us is having 
them chilled in the nest. 
Scarlet Fever.—As I write this, our siege 
seems to be nearly over. It may break out later 
in the other children, but we hope not. Quite 
a number of friends have written us of their 
experience with this disease, and some of the 
stories are pathetic. It makes an anxious time 
when one of the little ones is afflicted with this 
fearful disease, because no one can tell what 
scars will be left from it. There is quite a seri¬ 
ous danger from kidney disease during the last 
stages; in fact, unless this is cared for, it may 
develop into a genuine case of Bright’s disease. 
Doctors tell me of cases where parents did not 
know the children were suffering from scarlet 
fever, until the doctor was called in to attend to 
some kidney trouble. 
Potato Seed.—We call it time now to get the 
potato seed in sight. Early potatoes paid us 
well last year, and we shall put them on most of 
our best land this season. Some farmers say, 
“ Hunt for your money where you lost it.” What 
they mean is—put in the crop that did not pay 
last year. We don’t believe much in that ad¬ 
vice. Where one is raising Crimson clover and 
cow peas year after year, a regular rotation 
doesn’t cut much figure, and we may switch the 
farm quickly into almost any crop that we think 
will pay. We have an idea that early potatoes 
will pay us this year, and we shall plant lots of 
them. June Eating has given us good results 
for the past two years, and we always stick 
close to an old friend. We have ordered seed 
from New York State. 
Plant Food.—We are scraping, up everything 
we can find in the way of plant food. The man¬ 
ure pile is growing, and the Crimson clover is 
thrifty. We shall, also, use about four tons of 
potato fertilizer and, probably, about a ton of 
nitrate of soda. Take our first planting of po¬ 
tatoes for example. The field was in cabbage 
last year. About March 1, we shall cover it with 
well-rotted manure, and let it stand for about 
two weeks. This, we think, will help the soil to 
warm up and get ready for business. As early 
as possible (we hope by March 15), we shall plow 
the field, chop it up with the Cutaway, and 
smooth with the Acme. Then we shall plant in 
drills three feet apart, using the planter without 
the disks behind, and dropping about 1,000 
pounds per acre of fertilizer. We want the drills 
deep and only partly filled so that, if a cold snap 
comes, we can take the cultivator and throw soil 
over the young plants. 
Nitrate of Soda.—This is the most soluble and 
quick-acting form of nitrogen we have. The Held 
where our earliest potatoes are to go is very light 
and open. As it was in cabbage last Fall, we 
could not get it into Crimson clover. That is one 
reason why we use the manure. I think the land 
lacks nitrogen, especially for an early crop. In 
case the potatoes indicate this need, we shall use 
350 pounds of nitrate per acre, scattering it along 
the drills—away from the plants—just before 
cultivating. A pale, sickly color will indicate 
the need of nitrogen. Another field that we have 
rented for two years has had quite a little fer¬ 
tilizer applied to it. This is the last year we ex¬ 
pect to rent it, and we shall use nitrate of soda 
quite heavily—expecting in this way to whip out 
much of the potash and phosphoric acid we have 
used in former years. 
"Why Early Potatoes ?—With equal amounts 
of fertilizer, we have never been able to make 
June Eating yield as many potatoes per acre as 
R. N.-Y. No. 2, Rural Blush or Orphan, yet it pays 
us well. Our local markets are mostly supplied 
from New York with early potatoes, as many of 
our farmers raise late varieties. A very early 
crop will average $1 per bushel, while the late 
crop does well to average 70 cents. There is less 
competition in selling the early crop, and the 
land may be put into late cabbage or seeded to 
Crimson clover or to cow peas. Our land is so 
light that we prefer to use the cow peas and 
Crimson clover after digging, and this crop alter 
the early potatoes greatly helps the land. Where 
one is using Crimson clover, the rotation may be 
greatly shortened, for we all understand how a 
clover sod rests the land, and fits it for any crop. 
Early Sweet Corn.—The same is true of sweet 
corn on our light and warm sand. Last year, 
we made money on our Crosby sweet corn, while 
much of the Evergreen barely paid expenses. 
The Crosby came in during July when there was 
little corn in the market. The season was cold 
and wet, and farmers on heavy soil lost much of 
their seed. We planted early on our light sand, 
and the crop went right along and reached the 
market ahead. The later Evergreen all came in 
a bunch. We planted too much Evergreen last 
year. We don’t intend to hunt for our money in 
late corn again, but to put it where we might 
have made it last year—in earlier varieties. I 
believe in suiting your crops to your farm, and 
here again comes in the value of a crop like 
Crimson clover, for, with that growing on the 
ground, you are safe to jump in any crop you 
like. I would feel safer to follow corn with corn, 
or potatoes with potatoes, with a good crop of 
Crimson clover In between, than to follow with¬ 
out change, with only manure or fertilizer for 
connecting links. 
Reducing Hones.—Former tenants left a good 
many bones on Hope Farm. They certainly had 
made no bones about taking all the character 
out of the soil, and they worked some of their own 
bones out. Among other things, they buried 
several old horses in a sterile back lot. Some of 
these old skeletons were turned out by the Cuta¬ 
way. These old dry bones are of no value to our 
crops. They might break up in time to serve the 
Bud’s grandchildren, but we want them for this 
year. On a large farm, I think it w r ould pay to 
own a grinder and steamer to crush such bones, 
but these fixtures are out of the question on our 
little place. We are packing these bones in wood 
ashes, in barrels. We put first a six-inch layer 
of bones, then four inches of wood ashes, then 
more bones, and so on to the top. We pour the 
slops from the house over this, and hope, by the 
middle of April, to have those old horses so that 
they will help pull our crops into shape. When 
Nature locks nitrogen and phosphoric acid into a 
bone, it’s a job for man to unlock them. We must 
have soluble plant food at Hope Farm. h. w. c. 
HORTICULTURAL CONUNDRUMS. 
Propagating Blackcaps. 
C. H. W., Ulster County, N. 7 .—In The R. N.-Y. 
L. J. Farmer says that blackcaps root only from 
the tips, or are supposed to. I find no mention of 
propagating raspberries from the tips in any of 
my works on fruits. As I wish to increase my 
stock, I have layered some in the old way; will 
they propagate in that way, or must I bury the 
tips ? 
Ans. —Some of the black raspberry 
varieties may be propagated by cuttings. 
Make the cuttings in late Summer, and 
place them in a propagating house 
Green-wood cuttings may be rooted in 
the same way. It is true, as Mr. Farmer 
implies, that it is best to propagate 
blackcaps from the tips. They may, 
also, be propagated by layers. A foot or 
more of the cane may be covered with 
soil; in the early Fall, roots will grow 
from almost every part of it, and these 
may be separated so that each bud may 
grow and become an individual plant. 
Best Grapes and Pears. 
8. C. P., Tazewell County, Fa.—What are the 
best and leading varieties of grapes, each in its 
season ? What do you think of the Nectar (or 
Black Delaware) and Campbell’s Early ? Will 
you mention the best pears in their season ? 
Ans. —White grapes : Niagara, Lady, 
Green Mountain or Winchell, Diamond 
Black: Campbell’s Early is the finest 
early black grape we have tried. It is 
in all respects as good as Concord, better 
in some respects, and much earlier. Nec¬ 
tar is a rather small black grape, pro 
ductive, and of excellent quality. 
Moore’s Early and Eaton are of the 
largest size, and refreshing in quality. 
Pears : Margaret (ripens last of August), 
Clapp’s Favorite, Bartlett. Autumn: 
Angoulgme, Bose, Seckel, Sheldon. Late: 
Anjou, Dana’s Hovey, Lawrence. 
I was taken with a harsh, dry Cough. I grew stead¬ 
ily worse. My neighbors thought I was going into 
that dreadful disease, consumption. A friend recom¬ 
mended Jayne’s Expectorant, which I tried, and in 
less than ten days 1 was cured.—(Mrs.) W. A.GROVE, 
Sterling Centre, Maine, October 31, 1895. 
Safe and Sure. Jayne’s Painless Sanative Pills.— 
Adv. 
BUY "DIRECT FROM FAOTORY,” BEST 
MIXED PAINT5 
At WHOLESALE PRICKS, Delivered FREE 
For douses, Barns, Roofs, all colors, and SAVE Dealers 
profits. In use 54 years. Endorsed by Orange & Farmers’ 
Alliance. Low prices will surprise you. Write for Samples. 
0. W. INGERSOLL. 846 Plymouth St., Brooklyn, N. Y. 
Write at once for our Free Illustrated 
Catalogues for anything required for the 
Home, Farm or Factory-- ^ 
Chicago House Wrecking Co., 
West 35th & Iron Sts., CHICAGO. 
Th© largest mall order depot In the world for Merchandise bought 
at Sheriffs’, ltecelvers’, Assignees’ and Manufacturers’ Salts. 
YOUR WOOD 
SAWS DOWN 
TREES 
With a FOLDING SAWING MACHINE. 9 CORDS by ONE MAN in 
10 hour!,. Send for FREE illus. catalogue allowing latest Improve¬ 
ments and testimonials from thousands. First order secures agency. 
Folding Sawing Mach. Co., 64 S. Clinton St., K 26, Chicago. 
MICA 
AXLE 
CREASE 
_The best slippery 
stuff for saving 
wear and tear on wagons and carriages It saves 
hone flesh Your dealer sells It. Get rome. 
AXLE 
GREASE. 
FRAZER 
BEST IN THE WORLD. 
Its wearing qualities are unsurpassed, actually 
outlasting three boxes of any other brand. Not 
affected by heat, tr GET THE GENUINE. 
FOR SALK BY DEALERS GENERALLY. 
YOUR 
WAGON 
WHEELS 
may need new rings, 
new spoken or new 
tires. These repairs 
have to be made every 
little while with wood- 
enwheels. Stop all this 
expense for ail time 
by buying a set of our 
ELECTRIC 
Steel Wheels 
They are made with direct or ntnjcgered oval 
apokea, broad tirca, any height, and to lit 
any wagon. They can't rot, go to Hpokeaand 
need no tiro netting last indefinitely. There 
is only one thing better, and that is an 
ELECTRIC HANDY WAGON. 
Our free-illustrated catalogue tells ail about 
both and gives prices. Send for it. 
ELECTRIC WHEEL CO. Box 88, Quincy, III. 
Cracker Jack Sack Holders. 
Justtho thing for farmers, grain 
and feed dealers. Saves time. 
Holds fast any sack without wear¬ 
ing or tearing it. Agents and Im¬ 
plement men wanted to sell them. 
Write for prices, etc. 
BOOTH BROS., 
2 N; Water St., llatavla, Ill. 
Built for 
SERVICE and 
DURABILITY 
Put together on 
RIGHT PRINCIPLES 
and furnished at a 
RIGHT PRICE. 
Made from the Best 
Quality Galvanized 
HARD STEEL 
WIRE 
in large sizes. 
Write the 
LAMB FENCE GO. 
Adrian, Mich. 
Factory-Made, Complete In the Roll. 
Make Yourself Glad 
By buying the Frost Fence. Made from 
coiled spring wire, heavy hard spring stays, 
firmly united at crossings by the Frost 
Wedge Lock. It will protect your property 
while you sleep. Adopted by the leading rail¬ 
road Companies. Write for our illustrated catalogue. 
THE FROST WIRE FENCE CO., CLEVELAND, OHIO. 
Like a Bull,Dog. 
That’s the way this lock and 
fence stay grips the wire and 
hangs on. It’s “u fence stay 
thnt will stny.” No twist¬ 
ing, straining or breaking 
.of wires; no shaking loose or 
rslipping. M tikes the most 
'rigid, strongest, most dur¬ 
able fence that can be made 
out of wire. Any kind o wire may be 
. . . used. It can be built with a hammer. 
It’s just ns easy as nailing pickets. The cheapest 
COOD wire fence made, 
\n r ini sit APCIITC Responsible and reliable 
nt n Hli I ftuLnlO. men only. Exclusive ter¬ 
ritory given to the right men. Write to-day for terms 
and territory. Catalogue and Sample FREE. 
CHANDLEE PENCE CO., II S. Howard St., Baltimore, Md. 
No. 
Hurd 
Steel 
[ADAM 
THE FENCE MAN! 
Makes Woven Wire 
Fence that “Stands 
Up." Cannot Sag. 
Get hisnewcatalogne. Ii 
. tells all about The Best 
A Farm Fence Made. . 
} W. J. ADAM, Jol 
Alexis, Illinois. 
I never feel so good as when I am selling a 
neighbor Page fence, as I know from experience! 
am doing him a favor. CHARLIE STRONG." 
PAGE WOVEN WIRE FENCE CO., ADRIAN, MICH. 
$8h $15 MACHINE 
to weave your own fence of 
Colled Hard Steel 
Spring Wire, 
52 inches high, at 
25 Cts. per Rod. 
820 buys wire for 100 
rod fence. Agents 
Wanted.Catalogua Fre«. 
CARTER 
WireFenrrMaeh.t'o. 
Box 23 M t..Sterling,O, 
The McFarland Fence Machine, $6. 
Builds fence that beats them all for Cheapness, 
Strength and Durability; 10 to 18c. a rod. Cir¬ 
culars free. McFAKLAND CO., Portland, Ind. 
M. N. S. POULTRY FENCING 
is thoroughly interwoven but has long horizontal wires, 
which classes it as 
A FENCE, NOT A NETTING. 
Like a fence, it can be properly stretched and erected with 
few posts and without top and bottom rails. Has cable selv¬ 
age and a cable running through the fence every foot. 
EacH roll contains the famous M. M. S. trade mark. 
None other genuine. 
We are manufacturers also of the following famous fences: 
CABLED FIELD AND HOG FENCE 
with or without lower cable barbed. All horizontal 
lines are cables. 
STEEL WEB PICKET FENCE grtSs* 
ZX7T7 V Z V 
zsxs 
zszs 
7TT^ 
parks, cemeteries, etc. Steel gates, posts, etc. 
Everything 
Iff! 
the best of its kind. 
DE KALB FENCE CO., 315 High St., DE KALB, ILL 
Z&S3 3 V* *2* 
1 
Zg?; 
Pat. July 21,18%. Pat. July 6, 1897. 
BALL 
BEARING. All steel 
Disc Harrow, with or with¬ 
out center disc; discs 16 and 
20 in., 8 sizes. Our improv¬ 
ed 12-16 disc, $15. 99. Pay 
double, you put no betu-r. 
$24.50 
to 28.80 
this check row Planter; 
drops in hills and drills; 
best made. Catalogue tel Is 
why. Single row corn, 
bean and garden planter 
does 1-’ A. h day. $9.80 
fertilizer if wanted. Hand 
pianter, 59c. Broadcast 
seeder $1,garden drill 80c, 
$7 \ IO 
for steel lever harrow; 
cuts 10 ft; 60 teeth, ‘2 sec¬ 
tions ; also 3 & 4 sections. 
buys a 2-horse plow, turns 
furrow 14 m. Shipped 
on trial without 
any money, 
$255 
Buys this Steel Beam 
Cultivator, plain, with 5 
steel reversible shovels, 
spreads to 33 in. A 2-h 
Cultivator, made of best 
material, Steel Wheels, 
and all complete $10.95. 
Hiding cultivator $16.99. 
Doubleshovel plow $1.60. 
Largest line of cultivators 
ever offered. 
$ 6.00 
for this Single Harness. 
Cut from No. 1 oak-tanned 
leather; 1 in. traces. Re¬ 
tail price, $12; our price 
$tf—a bargain. Double 
team harness, [J^-in. traces, 
D v.99. Ail kiudsharness. 
i.mime, juu K* ^ 11 ' urvwi. v-td— - j — — — — j • - Miiuaipirness, 
Send for our FREE 320-Page Spring Agricultural Catalog. Marvfn Smith C*., 55-57-59 N. Jefferson St., 1116 , Chicago 
lia 
Si 
is 1 
1 
CUSTOMER WRITES: 
I was much gratified a few days ago when renewing the floor slats 
in the stalls of my stable, to find that the planking underneath 
which had been coated with your P & B Paint, prior to the placing 
of the slats, nearly five years ago, was in perfect condition. It is 
the most successful coating of this kind I have ever used.” 
The above is one of many letters received testifying 
to the durability as well as to the acid, alkali and 
waterproof qualities of 
P & B PRESERVATIVE PAINT 
It is of great value for preserving all wood and metal 
however exposed. 
THE STANDARD RAINT OOMRANY, 
Sole Manufacturers, 
81-83 Jolm Street, New York. 
