282 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
April 15 
A Batch of Fertilizer Questions. 
A. D. F , Indianola, Iowa.—\. When a large pile 
of horse stable manure has heated until it cools, 
and is all dry and white, is every fertilizing ele¬ 
ment destroyed, particularly the potash ? 2. 
When wood ashes have given up the elements, 
lime, potash, etc., what is the residue ? Is there 
dirt or earth in good ashes ? 3. What is the com¬ 
position of coal ashes ? 4. If a pile of hard wood 
rots and is all preserved in the soil, does it re¬ 
tain the fertilizing elements that would be in the 
ashes if the wood were burned ? 5. A very rich 
piece of ground is left to go to weeds; the weeds 
grow tall and rank, and are all left to decay on 
the place where they grew; have the weeds in 
any way robbed the soil ? Do not all the fertiliz¬ 
ing elements the weeds have taken from the soil 
go back to the soil ? 
Ans.—1 . Stable manure that has been 
firefanged or heated until all the mois¬ 
ture has been driven out of it, loses a 
portion of its nitrogen ; not all of it, but 
a part certainly goes away. Some mis¬ 
leading statements have been made to 
the effect that firefanged manure con¬ 
tains a higher per cent of nitrogen than 
fresh manure. In some cases, that is, 
probably, true, but it is due to the fact 
that a large part of the water has been 
driven away, so that, weight for weight, 
the firefanged manure contains much 
less water, consequently, a higher per 
cent of its other elements. Potash can¬ 
not be lost in this way, that is, by 
evaporation. Potash is a solid, and will 
not, under any ordinary process, take 
the form of a gas and pass into the air, 
which is the way nitrogen is lost. A 
large share of the potash in manure is 
found in the liquids, and it is often lost 
by leaching just as it is taken out of 
wood ashes 
2. In regard to wood ashes, what we 
call an average sample would contain 
not far from 10 per cent of water by 
weight, 5 of potash, a little over IK of 
phosphoric acid, from 30 to 40 of lime, 
something over three per cent of mag¬ 
nesia, a small amount of iron, and the 
rest, what corresponds to ordinary soil, 
chiefly the silicates. When wood ashes 
have given up their lime, their potash 
and their phosphoric acid, they have 
less than one-fifth weight left, which is 
insoluble matter, or sand. 
3. The composition of coal ashes varies 
considerably, chiefly due to the amount 
of wood which is burned with the coal. 
Coal itself has little or no plant food. 
Coal was formed in an age when the 
plants differed in composition from those 
of the present day, and through ages of 
decay and pressure, most of the potash 
and phosphoric acid they did contain, 
has been leached out of them. Coal 
ashes generally contain three times as 
much water as wood ashes. There is 
usually less than one-half of one per 
cent of potash, and about one-third of 
one per cent of phosphoric acid. As a 
rule, there is not enough lime to be 
worth counting. 
4. It is probable that a small part of the 
nitrogen escapes in this way. This form 
of rotting is really a slow combustion, 
much the same as burning, except that 
it is very much slower. A portion of the 
nitrogen is lost when the wood rots, but 
all the phosphoric acid and potash will 
be retained. One feature, however, is 
different; in this slow rotting of the 
wood, various acids are developed and 
left in the soil, which would be injurious 
in case too much wood were rotted in 
this way. Fresh sawdust, for example, 
or even sawdust that has not been fully 
decayed, will sometimes prove injurious 
to soil, because of this acid principle. 
When the wood is burned, however, 
these acids are destroyed. 
5. Practically speaking, they have not 
robbed the soil at all; in fact, it is 
thought that some weeds, like ragweed 
for example, have a peculiar faculty of 
extracting potash from the soil. It is 
thought, although it has not been de¬ 
monstrated, that a crop like ragweed can 
live on insoluble forms of potash, where 
some other cultivated plants could not 
thrive. In rotting, a small part of the 
nitrogen is, probably, given up, but not 
to any great extent. You must re¬ 
member, however, that with most weeds, 
nothing is added to the soil by their 
growth. Unlike clover or cow peas or 
beans, they are unable to take nitrogen 
out of the air. They simply extract 
plant food from the soil, and give the 
greater part of it back when they die. 
As a rule, however, the plant food which 
these weeds take out of the soil, is less 
available after they have died than it 
was before they took it. In other words, 
the chances are that they lock it up into 
combinations which will not feed suc¬ 
ceeding crops as well as would the 
original plant food. 
Use of Bordeaux Mixture. 
Several Subscribers .—Will some farmer tell us 
how to make,strain and pump Bordeaux Mixture? 
How do most farmers buy the copper sulphate ? 
Ans. —Mr. Woodward gave us some 
sensible advice about spraying mixtures 
on page 239. He speaks about stirring 
in each ingredient well when added to 
the water. This can be done admirably 
with the agitator on the pump, provid¬ 
ing you have the right kind of pump. 
We use an Eclipse No. 2. By removing 
the pin which works the plunger, the 
agitator alone can be worked, and the 
water can be made fairly to boil with a 
few strokes of the handle. As we add 
each ingredient, I keep my man work¬ 
ing the agitator for all it is worth, and 
the result is that we have a first-class 
spraying mixture, and are never trou¬ 
bled with any settlings, or clogging of 
the nozzles. 
Everything is strained that goes in. 
We have tried several different ways to 
strain, and find the best arrangement is 
an old wooden pail or bucket with the 
bottom knocked out, and brass or cop¬ 
per wire (not too fine) tacked on. A hole 
is sawed in the top of the spraying tub to 
fit the pail, so that it will set about half 
way in. This is also much handier to 
pour into than a mere hole in the barrel. 
A word about prices. Some sprayers 
will open their eyes when they come to 
inquire for blue vitriol this Spring. It 
has formerly cost us about five cents per 
pound retail. I asked for prices this sea¬ 
son, and one druggist quoted it at seven 
and another eight cents per pound in less 
than barrel lots. Farmers belonging to 
Grange organizations can buy it much 
cheaper by clubbing together, and send¬ 
ing to some wholesale house. We were 
able to buy it in the original package at 
4K cents,and in less quantity at five cents 
per pound, 1898 stock, probably. Paris- 
green cost us 15 cents. The increased 
cost of copper sulphate this year is, 
probably, due to a rise in the price of 
copper, all metals being higher. The 
bugs are increasing, and spraying ex¬ 
penses ditto, but “ we propose to fight it 
out on this line if it takes all Summer. 
Farmer, N. Y. w. A. b. 
Stable Manure For Potatoes. 
G. H., Clare, Mich .—Will coarse horse manure 
produce scab on potatoes, if applied freely this 
Spring before plowing ? The soil is a clay loam. 
Ans. —The general experience seems 
to be that fresh manure applied in the 
Spring is likely to increase the amount 
of scab on potatoes. We do not believe 
that scab fungus is often introduced in 
the manure. The manure is alkaline 
and of course, as in the use of lime, it af¬ 
fects the soil so as to favor the growth 
of the scab fungus. In ground where 
you have had no scab, the manure would 
not be likely to cause it. 
BUY "DIRECT FROM FACTORY,” BES1 
MIXED PAINTS 
At TmOLESA LE PRICES, Delivered FREE 
Por Houses, Barns, Roofs, all colors, and SAVE Dealer! 
profits. In use 54 years. Endorsed by Orange 4 Farmers’ 
Alliance. Low prices will surprise you. Write for Sample* 
9. W. 1NGERS0LL, 246 Plymouth St., Brooklyn, N. 
your trees, plants 
and vines with the 
EMPIRE KING 
or 
Garfield Knapsack 
Sprayers. Perfect agitators; furnish a 
fine, continuous perfect spray. They 
have no leather or rubber valves or 
packing. Will not scorch the foliage. 
We make 16 styles of spray pomps. Send 
for free catalogue. Agents wanted. 
FIELD FORCE PUMP CO., 
2 Market Street, Lockport, N. Y. 
j * ***** * ********* * i * > * s !AAAA 
THE PUMP TRUST. 
Was formed Febru¬ 
ary, ’99, and prices 
advanced, but the 
“ECLIPSE,” is not in it. 
No advance on our prices, 
but still the best and 
cheapest ever offered. 
Send for Catalogue. 
MORRILL & MORLEY. 
Benton Harbor, Mich 
with our new patent 
Kerosene Sprayers^ 
k Is simple indeed. Kerosene emulsion 
made while pumping. 12 varieties 
| sprayers, Bordeaux and Vennorel 
Nozzles, the “World’s Best.” 
THEDEMINGCO., SALEM, 0. 
Western Agents, Hennion & Hubbell. 
Chicago. Catalogue and formulas free. 
BULL-STRONG 
The ordinary fence Is not 
The ordinary fence is not 
good enough. It takes some¬ 
thing more than ordinary. 
Our Duplex Automatic 
Machine makes 100 varieties 
of fence at the rate of 60 rods 
per day. That brings the 
cost of a first class farm fence 
to only 18c. per rod. 19c. for 
poultry fence; 16c. fora rab- 
Oit-proof fence—excellent for 
HORSE-HIGH, 
nurseries and orchards, and 
12c. fora good hog fence. We 
sell you plain, coiled spring 
and barbed ■wire direct at 
wholesale prices. Don’! buy 
wire or fencing until you get 
our free catalogue. We wili 
save you money on all orders. 
KiTSELMAN BROS. 
Box 1U6, It Idgevllle, Ind. 
PIG-TIGHt 
It’s a match 
for the most 
brcechy Bull. 
LAST WEEK 
we told you there was something In the coll of 
The I’sige. As the mercury rises watch the fence 
and see about It. Does it sag? 
PAGE WOVEN WIRE FENCE CO., ADRIAN, MICH. 
EXPENSE OF REPAIRS. 
The repairs of an inferior 
article soon make it cost 
more than the lirst price of a 
article. When you buy 
PITTSBIRG 
WOVEN WIRE FENCE 
you stopallrepair. Itdoesn’t 
need repairs. It is strong, 
and lusts Indefln- 
ewant an agent in 
your locality. First order 
township agency. 
Terms and circulars free. 
if (sburg Woven Wire Fence Co- 
Penn. Av., Pittsburg, Pa. 
LEGGETT’S ANCHOR BRAND WHALE OIL SOAP 
FOR SPRAYINC TREES. Destroys 
all Insectllfe on bark, San Jos6 Scale and 
the like. Indorsed by authorities. 
Write for prices. Our Spray Calendar 
sent free. 
Leggett & Brother, 301 Pearl Street, N.Y. 
Like a Bull Dog. 
That’s the way this lock anc 
fence stay grips the wire and 
hangs on. It’s “a fence stay 
that will stay.” No twist 
lug, straining or breaking 
.of wires; no shaking loose oi 
rslipping. Makes the most 
t rigid, strongest, most dur- 
,i°‘J IM able fence that can be made 
bV* i ff ■ °nt of wire. Any kind o wire may be 
Bteel y ^ used. It can be built with a hammer. 
It’s just as easy as nailing pickets. The cheapest 
COOD wire fence made. . ,, 
in r \1IAUT A PCIITC Responsible and reliable 
WE WAIl I AUEIVIOi men only. Exclusive ter 
rltory given to the right men. Write to-day for termt 
and territory. Catalogue and Sample FREE. 
:HANDLEE FENCE CO., Il S. Howard St., Baltimore, Md 
WHAT 
,W0ULD YOU DO 
5 if a man offered you an 
vj outfit-clothes, shoes 
*3 and hat—for S>» cts. I 
B You would look them 
- over carefully, that’s 
what we want you to 
do with cheap fences. 
LAMB WIRE FFNCE CO. 
Adrian, Mich. 
Machine $6 
that weaves the above 
fence and many other 
styles. Write for cat. 
McFarland Fence MachineCo., Portland, Ind.. U.S.A. 
STRONGEST FENCE MADE. 
BULL-STRONG AND CHICKEN-TIGHT. 
Our prices will surprise you for we sell direct to the 
Farmers at wholesale. If you are wanting anything in 
the Fence line, don’t fail to write for our Free catalog. 
COILED SPRINC FENCE CO., 
Box 24. Winchester, Indiana, U. S. A. 
FENCE Like DEWEY 
leads’em all and can’t be beat. Will protect your 
farm like DEWEY has MANILA. COILED SP1UNC 
WIRE, HEAVY HARD 8 P BING STAYS, and 
WEDGE-LOCKS are a great combination. Write for 
illustrated catalogue showing FENCE and ST EE I, 
FARM GATES. 
The Frost Wire Fence Co., 
CLEVELAND. OHIO. 
WIRE 
FENCING 
c 
a 
a 
a 
Knrh line wire helps sup¬ 
port every other line wire. 
Absolutely takes care of top 
and bottom wires. No ex¬ 
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the pound. Write for cir¬ 
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a 
a 
a 
CORRUGATED STIFF 
STEEL STAYS, MADE 
FROM 1-4 IN. GALV. 
STEEL RODS, WITH 
LOCKS ATTACHED. 
] 
GLOBE FENCE GO., 
CANANDAIGUA, N.Y. 
51 an ii fad u rer* of SI IfT Steel 
Stays and Steel (Jutes. 
write: ror 
5AMPL.E STAY 
AND FULL PARTICULARS ABOUT OUR 
$10 MACHINE 
Wholesale price where we have 
no Agent. Agency for nothing. 
Bowen Cable Stay Fence Co. 
Box 1 Norwalk, 0., U.S.A. 
1.000 SAMPLES FREE 
= of our new Success Fence Ratchet 
which tightens any wire fence. Grips 
automatically as wire Is wound on. 
No holes to bore in posts; attaches 
midway of the fence. We will mall you a sample 
free If you will send us 10 cents to cover postage 
only. Circulars free. 
W. H. MASON & CO., Box 67, LEESBURG, Ohio. 
P s1'.!!’ MAKE your fence 
in various styles, costing 
from 10 to 20 cents per rod, 
with the most durable and 
easiest operated machine 
on the market. Exclusive 
sale in counties given a 
reliable hustling man. 
This is an exceptional op¬ 
portunity. Write for circulars & full particulars to the 
WILLMARTH FENCE MACHINE CO.. Detroit. Mich 
WIRE FENCE A FAILURE 
(When the Pomts Give Out.) 
Brick houses are not built on wooden blocks. No 
matter what style of wire fence you build, 
Use Durable Posts• 
We can give you valuable information on the use of 
Bteel for this purpose. 
BONO STEEL POST CO., Adrian, Mich. 
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. 
TVt largest mall order depot in the world for Merchandise oongks 
at d*Ari*V, BeeeWert’, Assignees’ sad Manufacturers’ Sals*. 
More plants. Finer crop. 
Larger crop. Earlier crop. 
Less weeding. 
That’s wliat Jadoo Fibre’ll do for you. 
We’ve a book you ought to send for—free. 
The American Jadoo Company, 
815 Fairmount Avenue, Philadelphia, Pa 
