JS99 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
157 
Farmers’ Club. 
[Every query must be accompanied by the 
name and address of the writer to insure atten¬ 
tion. Before asking a question, please see 
whether it is not answered in our advertising 
columns. Ask only a few questions at one time. 
.Put questions on a separate piece of pa pc ] 
Awn less Brome Grass. 
J. M. B., Cory, hid. —1. How early and how 
late in Spring can Awnless Brome grass be sown 
alone? Can it be cut the same year if sown in 
Spring? 2 Can copper carbonate be used in 
place of Bordeaux Mixture for all purposes, es¬ 
pecially blight on potatoes, pears and apples ? 
Ans. —1. We should say Awnless 
Brome grass could be sown at almost any 
time, unless the soil is too dry. It would 
not give a heavy cutting the same year 
that it was sown. 2. No, we think not. 
The carbonate of copper may be used 
for mildews, for instance ; but for black 
rot of the grape, and fungous diseases of 
the potato, pear and apple, we would 
prefer the Bordeaux Mixture. 
Lime for Sour Soil. 
P. L. B , Dresden, 0— How can we treat a field 
to destroy the Red sorrel that now covers it? The 
land is sandy loam, of average fertility, has been 
sown to grass and clover twice, but no grass 
can live with the sorrel. Last Spring, I plowed, 
and sowed Canada peas and oats together, one 
bushel of peas and 1*4 bushel of oats put in with 
a grain drill. They came up nicely, the peas 
grew about six inches high and died. What do 
you think was the cause ? In August, we went 
over the field with a Cutaway harrow, lapping 
one-half, then sowed clover seed, then rolled with 
a heavy roller. The clover can not be seen, but 
the sorrel is thick. 
Apts —The soil,- evidently, needs lime. 
While not a sure indication of an acid 
soil, sorrel usually grows in it. Clover 
and peas usually fail in sour soils, and 
in many cases, after a thorough liming, 
these crops succeed. On such soil, we 
would use air-slaked lime, 1,500 pounds 
or more per acre broadcasted after plow¬ 
ing or chopped with the Cutaway, and 
worked in with a tooth harrow. We 
would use lime before corn, small grain 
or grass, but not before potatoes. 
The Value of “ Phosphate Powders.” 
W.A.F, Hamilton, Ontario.— What about the 
Albert Thomas Phosphate Powders? They are 
guaranteed 17 to 20 per cent phosphoric acid. 
The price is about $27 a ton. The claim is made 
that, by using this powder without using any 
clover seed, a very heavy crop of clover will be 
produced. 
Ans. —These phosphate po vders are 
really finely ground slag, which results 
from adding lime to melted iron ore in 
order to take out the phosphorus. This 
phosphorus, uniting with the lime and 
iron, is thus purified. At 17 per cent 
guaranteed, this powder will contain 340 
pounds of phosphoric acid, which would 
be worth, as compared with dissolved 
phosphate rock, not over $15 at most. 
Our experience with this slag is that it 
contains considerable lime, and on damp 
or sour soils, often gives the results that 
are observed from wood ashes. The 
claim that this powder will bring in 
clover seed is, probably, based on such 
observations. Clover seed will usually 
fail to germinate or thrive in sour soils. 
The lime in the phosphate powder may 
neutralize the soil, and thus cause the 
seeds to sprout. That is the only way 
ip which it can “bring in a crop of 
clover ”, and a very much cheaper sam¬ 
ple of lime would do the same thing. 
Do Angleworms Injure Soil? 
I. G. D., Wilsoncro/t, Ont .— I have about six 
acres of clay loam, clay subsoil, underdrained 
six years ago. Since draining, it has had one 
crop of corn, one of peas, two of wheat, was 
seeded with clover, and a crop of hay was cut the 
same year; in 1897, two crops of hay were cut, 32 
tons in all. Last Summer, 14 tons of hay and a 
crop of seed were secured. Only a small strip 
along one side of the field has had manure since 
the land was cleared 10 years ago. It was all 
plowed last Fall to be sown to barley in the 
Spring. When plowing, I found it literally alive 
with earth worms. About three-fourths acre was 
plowed last Spring and planted to potatoes and 
mangels. It grew a good crop, but the worms, by 
their action on the clay, had so run the earth 
together that it was a difficult matter digging 
potatoes. I have no particular objection to the 
worms if they did not make the soil tough and 
sticky. How would one get rid of them, and keep 
the land in good shape ? 
Ans —It is doubtful whether the trou¬ 
ble was due to the angleworms. I can¬ 
not find any account of an angleworm 
having caused any such trouble with the 
soil. Prof. Roberts tells me it is more 
likely, in fact is quite probable, that the 
trouble arises from certain conditions, 
either of excessive rainfall or certain 
mechanical manipulations of the soil, 
which caused it to pack, and thus force 
the worms to come nearer the surface 
where they were more readily seen 
Hence, it is doubtful whether there were 
any more than the usual number of 
angleworms in the soil. S mply certain 
conditions caused them to show them¬ 
selves nearer the surface. 
M. V. SLINGERLAND. 
Sugar in Corn Roots. 
G. S P., Winslow, Me. —While working with me 
in a field some time ago, my son called my atten¬ 
tion to the sweetness of the brace-root tips of 
the corn. It was very immature, no sugar 
was apparent in the stalks, and the ears had 
hardly begun to form; yet the tips of these brace- 
roots, which stood out like blunt spines, and were 
seeking the earth, were so full of sugar as to 
seem intensely (I cannot describe it by any other 
name) sweet. May it not be possible that sugar 
acting as a solvent, or in some at present un¬ 
known way, helps the plant ? I have noticed it 
since, many times, yet have never observed ex¬ 
actly when the roots began to show sweetness 
Is this new, or has it been observed and investi¬ 
gated before ? 
Ans. —The corn plant is naturally sac¬ 
charine, and is sometimes used for the 
commercial production of sugar. The 
sugar in these aerial roots has no func¬ 
tion whatever in the assimilation of 
plant food. It is simply the elaborated 
material out of wh’ch new tissue is 
made. In common with other growing 
points, there may, perhaps, be a slight 
accumulation of sugar at the tips of 
these brace-roots, but it could not be 
considered in any way as a reserve sup¬ 
ply of plant food, for such a deposition 
would be starch, not sugar. It is more 
probable that these root tips are in real¬ 
ity but little sweeter than the stalk, for 
the sweetness of the latter is largely dis¬ 
guised by the bitter taste of chlorophyll 
and other substances not so common in 
the root. True root hairs do secrete c r- 
tain acids which have a solvent action 
on the soil elements of plant food, but 
sugar certainly has not the power. This 
is an interesting observation to the 
scientist, but has no direct bearing on 
the prob’emof feeding the plant, s. w. F 
Use Fresh Bordeaux Mixture. 
G. H. W., Orlando, Fla.—I see that Prof. S. A. 
Beach says not to use Bordeaux Mixture which 
has been made over 48 hours. This is new to me. 
I would be pleased to know his reasons for such 
an assertion. I have used Bordeaux Mixture 
for nine years, and used it when it was several 
months old, with as good results as when first 
made. To be sure, the mixture must be kept in 
a closed barrel, and well stirred when taken out. 
If the Bordeaux is properly made at first, and 
then kept from the air, it is as good in this cli¬ 
mate months after it is prepared as when first 
made. 
Ans. —The reason why I advocate the 
preparation of fresh Bordeaux Mixture 
is because it stays in suspension better, 
and adheres better to the surface than 
does Bordeaux Mixture which has been 
allowed to stand a day or more. When 
dilute milk of lime is added to the solu¬ 
tion of copper sulphate, an apparently 
gelatinous precipitate of copper hydrox¬ 
ide forms at once. If the copper sul¬ 
phate solution is also dilute, as it should 
be, the precipitate remains in suspension 
for a considerable time, and settles very 
slowly. Sulphate of lime is formed at 
the same time with the copper hydroxide. 
According to Swingle, it at first appears 
as fine granules or small crystals. After 
standing for a few days, the copper 
hydroxide, instead of being in the gela¬ 
tinous condition, has formed crystals, 
which settle very rapidly after the liquid 
is stirred. Meanwhile the sulphate of 
lime often develops more and larger 
crystals than it has in the freshly-pre¬ 
pared mixture. One great advantage 
which Bordeaux Mixture has over many 
other fungicides is its strongly adhesive 
properties. Since these disappear to a 
great extent when the mixture is allowed 
to stand for several days, and are never 
so effective as they are in the fresh mix¬ 
ture, it is best to prepare the mixture 
fresh each time it is used, s A, beach. 
Here is the Record 
ECLIPSE 
Spray Pump 
1S92 to 1899 — We have 
i won first, place at nearly 
every Gov’t Experiment Station 
in United States. 
1896— Won Canadian Gov’t con¬ 
test. 1898—Won gold medal at co¬ 
lonial contest. Cape Town, South 
.Africa; also State fruit growers' 
i'r contest of Colorado and Califor- 
_ -nia. We have beaten every good 
ty- . ^ pun, pin the world, and have never 
-* been beaten. This proves our 
claim that the Eclipse is the best and cheapest 
pump in the world. Send for Catalogue. 
MORRILL 4 M OR LEY, Benton Harbor. Mich. 
ALL BRASS 
$17 outfit for $6 exp. paid. 
Wifi spray a 10 acre orchard per day. 
75,000 in use. Satisfaction guaranteed or Money 
refunded Illd. catalogue free Agfa. make from S3 
to S15 per day. New iinpi ovements for ’00. 
Free Trial, p. c. LEWIS MFG. CO., Catsklll, N.Y. 
The' 
han¬ 
diest 
sprayer 
in the 
world. Its 
small size, 
simplicity, 
effectiveness 
make it the fa¬ 
vorite for house 
plants, green¬ 
houses, flower gar¬ 
dens and poultry 
houses. Sprays 
trees 12 feet high. 
One lining enough 
for acre of plants. 
Made of heavy copper; 
15 Inches long. Wear for 
20 years. 
Regular price 8*2.00. FI rat 
purchaser la each district gets 
reduced price 81.60 (c.xpress 
prepaid). Also agency for full 
line of sprayers. Send for onenow. 
FIELD FORCE PUMP CO., 
2 Market St., I.ockport, N.Y. 
Write for 
catalogue 
LEGGETT’S B WHALE-OIL SOAP 
For Washing and Spraying Trees. De¬ 
stroys ail insect life on bark, San Jos6 
Scaleand the like. OurBrand indorsed 
by authorities. Obtainable of dealers 
or write. 
LEGGETT & BROTHER, 
301 Pearl Street, New York. 
Vegetable Plants. 
Make money by raising early vegetables. Our 
plants are guaranteed to be of good size, and to be 
grown from extra selected seeds. The largest estab¬ 
lishment in the United States devoted exclusively 
to the raising of vegetable plants. The prices quoted 
below are for transplanted, well-hardened plants. 
PerlOO. I’erM. 
Cabbage plants ready March 15.$0.41) $3.00 
Tomato plants ready May 1.10 3.00 
Celeiy plants ready March 15.40 3.00 
Pepper plants ready May 1.40 3.00 
Eggplant plants ready May 1.50 4.00 
We raise all of the leading varieties. Stamp for 
catalogue. Cash must accompany all orders. 
.T. E. HUTTON, Conyngham, Pa. 
Rhubarb Roots 
Whole Roots, one and two year, $3 and $1 per 100. 
ASPARAGUS, three varieties, $3 per l.uuo. 
PEACH TREKS, leading varieties $4 &$0 per 100. 
FRANK SAWYER, Norwalk, Ohio. 
ftQ’ SEEDS ARE RELIABLE 
POTATOES ure our specialty. 
We have an Immense stock and pricesaro way down. Also 
Seed Corn, Out. anil Barley with a full lino of Garden Seeds. 
Catalogue FREE. L. L. OLDS, Drawer 0, Clinton, Wis. 
DA#a#AOe —Karly 0hio > Hose, Hebron, Market, 
r UIdlUBS Boveo, Irish Cobbler, Good News, 
Quaker City, Six Weeks, Carman, 85 kinds, for seed. 
C. W. FOBD & CO., Fishers, Ont. Co., N. Y. 
HOW TO SEND COINS IN LETTERS. 
Send us 3 cents in stamps. We return you a new 
penny in sealed envelope, teaching you how to avoid 
registering letters, buying money orders, etc. No 
mucilage, no coin books. 
L J. FARMER, Nurseryman, Pulaski, N. Y. 
VIRfim SEED CORN—For ensilage grows larg- 
llilulllln est Fodder known. Send forFree Sample 
and Price. S. MARTIN & CO., Batesville. Va. 
PPSPH TDCUC—Best kinds. Prices right. Edwin 
1 Lrlvll lilLLO Allen A Son, New Brunswick, N.J. 
ILLUSTRATED 
CATALOGUE. 
Choice Evergreens, Shrubs, Fruit and other 
Trees. Roses. Water Lilies, etc. Prices low. We 
also lay out grounds when desired. 
E. S. PETERSON & SONS, Montrose. N. Y. 
" with onr npw patent 
Kerosene Sprayers' 
is simple indeed. Kerosene emulsion 
made while pumping. 1‘2 varieties 
sprayers, Bordeaux and Vermorel 
Nozzles, the “World’s Best.” 
THE DEMING CO., SALEM, 0. 
Western Agenta, Hennion <fc ilubbell. 
Chicago. Catalogue and formulas free. 
Quick Fertilizer. 
There is nothing in the American 
market to-day that acts so quickly 
and surely as a fertilizer as 
NITRATE OE SODA. 
Apply to the surface in the spring. 
A small quantity does the work. 
Watch the crops closely, and when 
they look sick or make slow growth 
apply the remedy promptly. Book, 
“ Food for Plants,'” tells all about it. 
John A. Myers, 12 O John St., New 
York, will send you free copy on re¬ 
quest. Nitrate for sale by 
BALFOUR, WILLIAMSON & CO. 
27 William Street, New York. 
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. 
OERMAN KALI WORKS, 
33 Nutau St., New York. 
WE SAVE FARMERS 40 PER CENT, fertilizers 
We sell you direct—actually pay you saleman’s expenses and agent’s profit. Write for 
free samples and book. The Scientific Fertiliser Co., Pittsburg, Pa. 
JADOO FIBRE " 0 
JADOO LIQUID 
ARE INVALUABLE TO THE GROWERS OF 
Vegetables, Fruit, Plants ° r Flowers 
SEND EOR CATALOGUE AND PRICES. 
For Sale by all prominent Seedsmen, and by 
THE AMERICAN JADOO COMPANY, 
815 Fairmount Avenue, Philadelphia, Pa. 
