220 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
March 25 
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 paper.] 
Fertilizers for Light and Heavy Soils 
W. II II O, Ocean Hide, N. Y. - Wbat i 9 the dif¬ 
ference in fertilizers for light or heavy soils, the 
different elements as to quantity ? 
Ans. —Heavy or clay soils are usually 
richer in potash. They usually contain 
more organic matter, and are thus richer 
in nitrogen. On light, open soils, the or¬ 
ganic matter “ burns out ” more rapidly. 
No general rule can be giv» n, but usually, 
a fertilizer for a light soil should con¬ 
tain more nitrogen and potash. We 
would also prefer more of the nitrogen 
in an organic form. 
Fertilizing Value of Leather. 
H. ./. N.. Frankfort, Ky — Bss sawdust of sole 
leather any chemical value to the soil for grape 
vines and fruit trees, besides its value as mulch ? 
Ans. —Such leather contains between 
six and seven per cent of nitrogen, or 
nearly half as much as nitrate of soda. 
It is so slow in its action, however, that 
it has little value for fruit. Reckoned 
on the basis of its availability, if the 
nitrogen in the nitrate were worth 16 
cents a pound, that in the leather would 
be worth less than two cents. Even as 
a mulch, it is not safe to use too much of 
the leather. 
A Fertilizer for Oats. 
II. F. //., West Falmouth, Me. —I wish to start a 
rotation of oats and peas, clover and corn, using 
all my barn manure on corn. My land is a clay 
loam, but badly run otit. What shall I use for 
commercial fertilizer this Spring on the oats and 
peas seeded with clover ? Will it be possible to 
get good results from potash and phosphoric acid 
alone ? 
Ans. —Oats require soluble nitrogen—■ 
the element, probably, most lacking in 
such sfils in early Spring. Nitrate of 
soda always makes a showing with oats 
on such land. Potash and phosphoric 
acid alone will not be likely to give the 
best results. You may use one of the 
regular small-grain fertilizers or a mix¬ 
ture of one part by weight of nitrate of 
soda, three parts of dissolved phosphate 
rock, and one of muriate of potash. 
Fertilizers m a Clover Rotation. 
M. S. L , Bose, N. Y .— If I follow a rotation of 
barley, wheat and clover, clover to be cut once, 
and the aftergrowth pastured off or allowed to 
go back on the land, then the land plowed again, 
will I increase or decrease the fertility of my 
land ? The soil is a dark loam with clay subsoil. 
Ans. —With two crops of grain sold 
from the farm, you will slowly decrease 
its fertility. In most clover sections, the 
first mineral to fail is phosphoric acid. 
In northern Ohio, it is thought by many 
that the use of phosphates on wheat is 
the keynote of success. We would use a 
fair dressing of phosphoric acid and pot¬ 
ash on the wheat. This will mean more 
and firmer grain and more clover. In a 
rotation of this sort, we would, also, use 
lime at least once in five years. 
" Quality ” and Potash Salts. 
VK II L., Winterset, la. —I wish to try the effect 
of some form of potash as a fertilizer, and am 
puzzled by statements about the effects of potash 
on various crops. I wish to apply the potash 
first to strawberries, but on account of danger 
from insects, I find it best to plow strawberries 
under as soon as the second crop is taken, and 
sow heavily with buckwheat, or Summer fallow 
and plant to potatoes the next Spring. The 
muriate would seem to be the form to use on 
strawberries, but the potato crop would suffer. 
I also wanted to use something on asparagus. 
Would it be proper to use sulphate on it ? Could 
sulphate be advantageously used on strawber¬ 
ries ? How long would the injurious effects of 
muriate continue ? 
Ans. —Muriate of potash contains con¬ 
siderable common salt, which is chemi¬ 
cally muriate of soda. The chlorine with 
the potash and salt retards the forma¬ 
tion of starch in the crop. With pota¬ 
toes, this would mean less starch or a 
“soggy” potato, with sugar beets, it 
means less sugar. Some growers apply 
the muriate a few months before plant¬ 
ing the crop, and have little trouble, as 
most of the injurious chlorine is leached 
out before the crop is put in. There is 
no objection to using muriate when set¬ 
ting out the strawberries. Some grow¬ 
ers who use a fertilizer close to the fruit¬ 
ing season, prefer the sulphate, as they 
say it gives a better flavor. For crops 
sold in the general market, we would 
as soon use muriate. For asparagus, 
muriate is better than sulphate, as salt 
often proves very useful to that crop. 
The Use of a Weeder. 
It. B , Farminr/dale. III .— By what process of rea¬ 
soning do the so-called “ we°ders ” discriminate 
between a useful plant and useless weed—ex¬ 
terminating the former, and encouraging the 
latter ? 
Ans. —In our experience, the weeder 
always roots up some of the useful plants 
like corn or potatoes. This is a good 
thing, for few of us have the courage to 
go through and thin out our crops prop¬ 
erly. Of every crop except grass, we 
raise too many plants to the square foot. 
We run over corn and potatoes with the 
weeder before the crops are up. This 
disposes of many small weeds, and the 
“ useful plants ” get a start. When pota¬ 
toes are about two inches high, we use 
the weeder again lengthwise of the rows 
and then across. The weeds are then 
mostly small and with feeble roots. 
They pull out much more easily than 
the potatoes or corn. By working in 
this way, you can plan to use the weeder 
when the useful plants have a better 
hold on the ground than the weeds. The 
weeder does no more “ reasoning” than 
a finger on a man’s hand. When prop¬ 
erly used, it is an excellent tool. 
Cow Peas for Wheat Fertilizing. 
P. 1). M., Grapeville, Pa .— If I sow or plant cow 
peas about the middle of May, will it do to plow 
them under and sow to wheat about September 
1, or will it be an injury to the soil? Will Can¬ 
ada field peas be as good for green manuring as 
the cow pea, if planted early and turned under 
just before ripening? If not, why not? How 
would the Soy bean compare with the cow pea 
for the same purpose ? I have a field on a hill¬ 
side, the soil is light, sandy and poor; it pro¬ 
duced about 60 bushels of ear corn per acre In 
1898 I want to grow something on it to turn un¬ 
der in the Fall for wheat, when I expect to seed 
it down to clover. 
Ans —We would use the southern cow 
peas. Do not sow until the ground is 
warm enough—say 10 days after corn 
planting. We think it will give a larger 
growth for turning under than the Can¬ 
ada field pea. With us, the Soy bean 
has not proved equal to the cow pea, al¬ 
though others speak highly of it. The 
Early Black cow pea will ripen early 
and drop its leaves so that, early in Sep¬ 
tember, it may be plowed under if de¬ 
sired ; but we would use lime before 
sowing the wheat. There is some dan¬ 
ger of souring the ground by plowing in 
the green vines during hot weather, and 
it is much safer to use 1,200 pounds or 
more of lime per acre. We would rather 
use the cow peas at some place in the ro¬ 
tation where they could lie on the ground 
all Winter. When plowed under for 
wheat, we would certainly use lime. 
"Peace Hath 
Her Victories 
No less renowned than war,” said Milton, 
and now, in the Spring, is the time to get a 
peaceful victory over the impurities which 
have been accumulating in the blood during 
winter’s hearty eating. The banner of peace 
is borne aloft by Hood’s Sarsaparilla. It is 
America’s Greatest Spring Medicine. 
Seed Oats. —Early White Michigan. 
Clean and bright. 50 cents per bushel, f. o. b.; bags 
included A H. GOODKICH, Oakwood, N. Y. 
DUE Bill FREE 
To wt new customers to test my seedi 
I will mail my handsome ostslofae 
ind beautifully illustrated, and a 10a. 
^FFn_ 
W B J B J MW r ^°G®* new customers to test my seeds 
I will mail my handsome ofttslofae 
for 1899, lithographed and beautifully illustrated, and a 10a. 
Dn© Bill, «x>d for 10c. worth of seeds for trial, absolutely 
nree. It is full of bargains. All the Best Seeds. Bulba. 
Plants, Roses, new Fruits, Farm Seeds, Potatoes, 
etc.* st lowest prices. Ten Great Novelties offered without 
I p»y *50. FOR A NAME for each. Don’t buy 
four stock until you see this new catalogue. Several varieties shown 
n colors. Great inducements for orders this year. Fou will be 
inrprised at my bargain offers. Send your address on Postal to-day. 
Tell your friends to send too. Old customers will receive a copy. 
F. B. MILLS, Seedsman, Box 79, Rose Hill, N.Y 
B 
URPEE’S 
Seeds Grow 
and are always the 
BEST THAT GROW! 
As proved by thousands of trials at 
our famous Kordhook Farms, —tne 
largest Trial Grounds in America. 
B 
URPEE’S 
Farm Annual 
for 1899—mailed FREE to all 
A handsome new book of 176 pages,—tells 
the plain truth about Seeds, including rare 
Novelties which cannot he had elsewhere. 
Beautiful colored plates and hundreds of illus¬ 
trations from nature. Gives practical informa¬ 
tion of real value to all who would raise Ihe 
choicest Vegetables and most beautiful Flowers. 
Write a postal card TO-DAY ! 
w. ATLEE BURPEE & CO., Philadelphia 
ESTABLISHED 1802 
Our 1899 Catalogue is now ready, 
and will be mailed free on applica¬ 
tion. It contains a larger assortment 
of Seeds, and more information about 
them and their culture, than any 
other Seed Annual published. We 
have been for the past 98 years the 
leading Seed House of America. 
J.M.THORBURN&CO. 
(Late of IS John Street) 
36 C0RTIANDT STREET. NEW YORK 
J will find no better [_ 
variety in the world 
than the Scarlet 
Conical Radish de¬ 
scribed on page 5 of our 1899 Year 
Book for Gardeners. The best book 
for practical llower and vegetable 
growers published. Tells all about 
the famous 
Arlington Tested Seeds 
A' 80 contains full particu- 
r flh'lyO iX lars of the great comps- 
tition for seed growers. 
Over *500.10 in gold for 
_ _ gardeners. Write for it 
tested /J+J t 0 - da y- 
W. W. RflWSON & CO., 
'12-13 Faneuil Hall Square, 
Boston, Mass. 
Seeds! Seeds! 
75th Anniversary Catalogue of 
Vegetable, Farm and Flower Seeds, 
Is now ready, and mailed free to all applicants. 
BRIDGEMAN’S SEED WAREHOUSE, 
37 Bast 19th 8 t., New York City. 
ESTABLISHED 1850. 
Try Batchelor’s Seeds. 
Everything for the Garden and Farm. Catalogue 
of Vegetable Farm and Flower Seeds mailed free 
to all applicants. Our Seeds are all first-class, 
no old seed. 
BATCHELOR’S SEED STORE, Utica^N. Y. e * 
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. PerM. 
Cabbage plants ready March 15.10.40 $3.00 
Tomato plants ready May 1.40 3.00 
Celery 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. 
J. E. HUTTON, Conyngham, Pa. 
Forerunner of a new race of Melons. 
Everyone can raise them. For homo garden or for 
market. Of delicious quality; no blight, no failure. 
Its rich salmon ilesh is phenomenally thick and always 
the same. Frio seed# and small rarity. A rampant 
grower, prolific bearer and excellent keeper. Wo 
are determined to make this Melon GItOAV IN 
EVERY GARDEN IN AMERICA. Wo 
have the right thing and are going to push it. 
Harr Melon ft and lots of' them! The most delicious of all 
table delicacies. If you have failed to raise Musk- 
melons plant. tliis AND NO OTHERS. Many 
Melons fail in the kitchen garden either in growth or 
quality; not so with this . * 
Packet. 10 cts.; 3 for 25 cts.; 2 oz. 50ots., postpaid. 
With every order for 3 packets (25 cts.), we send gratis 
one packet of the famous ROCKY FORD Melon. 
jf 7IZf) in cash premiums 
1 § t/ \J for growing this Melon 
We duplicate every premium won by the Paul Rose at every 
State and County Fair inthe United States in 1899. 
Particulars with every order . 
0^7=* Start your garden with 
Vaughan’s Three Earliest Vegetables: 
Special r 1 Pkt. 20-Day Radish, tender 1 Vnr nnlv 
tor this ■; 1 Pkt. All-Season’s Lettuce.extra . •* 
Alt. only. 11 Pkt. Vaughan's Earliest Tomato J -i-U cls - 
Our 1899 catalogue, A Mirror of American Horticulture, 
EKKK with every order. It contains the largest variety 
and ••Best Flower Seeds In America.” 
Vaughan’s Seed Store, 
NEW YORK. H Barclay St. CHICAGO. 84-86 Randolph St- 
BEST SEEDS ON EARTH ! 1 
DIRECT FROM GROWER TO PLANTER. 
From Saginaw Valley Seed Gardena. 
Michigan Northern Grown Seed Potatoes, 
Vegetable. Flower and Field Seeds. Every- 1 
thing in Seeds at lowest prices 
To Introduce my superior Northern 
Grown Seeds everywhere, I will give sway, 
Absolutely Free as Premiums 
1,000,000 Packets of 
Vegetable and Flower Seeds i 
1 grow. 
HARRY N. HAMMOND, 
Seedsman, 
Box 12. Flfleld, Mich. 
FORMERLY. DECATUR. 
CENTS and 5 Names 
ofMarketGardeners 
or Reliable Farmers 
Will be accepted as paymeut In full 
for the following ten packets of PURE* 
TESTED and TRUE TO NAME 
SEEDS* 1 pkg Yellow Globe Danvers 
Onioii8;l pkgBuistPrize Belle Tomatoes; 1 pkg Early White 
Box Radish; 1 pkg Late Flat Dutch Cabbage; 1 pkg Bed Top 
White Globe Turnips; 1 pkg Early Dark Blood Turnips; 1 
pkg TrocaderoCabbage; 1 pkg Early Morning Star Pea;l pkg 
DixieWatermellon; 1 pkg Sweet Peas,Mixed Kr’chBeauties. 
The Above 10 Packages Worth $1.00 
receipt 
of 8 two cent stamps and names of £> farmers or gardeners. 
C. E. CARPENTER, Box HOI, Indianapolis, Ind. 
will be mailed postage prepaid to any address upon 
5 f 
Cabbage Seed. 
Solid Emperor or Hollander, our importation from 
original grower in Denmark. Also limited stock of 
same strain, our own American grown. Oz., 20 cents 
impound, 75 cents, by mail. 
FRED. P. BURR & CO., Middletown, Conn. 
Rhubarb Roots 
Whole Roots, one and two year, $3 and $4 per 100. 
ASPARAGUS, three varieties, $3 per 1,000. 
PEACH TREKS, leading varieties, $4 &$6 per 100. 
FRANK SAWYER, Norwalk, Ohio. 
RAPE 
IS THE BEST FORAGE PLANT. 
It f urnishessucculent food from 
May to December. No equal for 
summer and autumn SHEEP 
Equally good for cattle, calves and 
pigs. Beats cloverand alfalfa by scientific test. 
Grows 20 to 40 Tons Green Feed to Acre 
—no green food approaches it for fattening. Salzer’s 
Dwarf Essex, best. 100 lb» $7.00; 101 bn. 81; 15 to 99 lbs. 
R cents per lb.; for less than 100 lbs. add 25cts. cartage it 
sent by freight. Send 5 cents for pamphlet on Rapa 
Seed Dep. Amer’n Sheep Breeder, 124 Michigan St. Chicago. 
SORGHUM SEED 
in new sacks, $'.25 per bu.; two bu., $2.40; four bu. or 
more, $1.10 per bu. Will give double the tons of feed 
than any other crop. B. H. BROWN, Oxford. Ohio. 
Q nr J *%*■*-» OATS, and all other 
OUUU wUril. farm seeds. Send for 
catalogue. ZACH 7 DAVIS, Delaware, Ohio 
VlRflVT/f SEED CORN—For ensilage grows larg- 
illlulilin est Fodder known. Send for Free Sample 
and Price. S. MARTIN & CO., Batesville. Va. 
Thirty-Eight Tons 
EXCELLENT QUALITY OF ENSILAGE per 
acre, actual weignt. Cost of seed only $1. Book 
telling all about it mailed free. ROS3 BROTHERS, 
No. 102 Front Street, Worcester, Mass. 
SEED BARLEY. 
Barley barely pays unless you raise the right kind. 
Chevalier Barley, from my own original importation, 
thoroughly acclimated, under good conditions, will 
weigh 55 pounds to the bushel, and yield from 60 to 80 
bushels to the acre. Try it. Price, $4 per bushel; cash 
with order,or sent C. O. D. Correspondence promptly 
attended to. A. B. SCHMOLLK, Carlton Station, N.Y 
