224 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
March 26 
HOPE FARM NOTES. 
Last week, I gave the record of our 
hens for February. They laid 743 eggs 
at a cost of $9.18 and are now fairly on 
the right side of the ledger. The warm 
weather has started them in for a good 
March record, but as every other hen in 
the country seems to have started, too, 
the price is going down. Our local gro¬ 
cer sells 15 for a quarter now, but we 
have been able to get, at least 25 cents a 
dozen up to date. As things are going 
now, we could make a little profit at 15 
cents a dozen. 
X t X 
Or it black Business birds have closed 
The Crimson clover is coming up smil¬ 
ing. The last few bright days have 
started it wonderfully. I shall not feel 
sure of it for a month yet, but thus far, 
it has done better than I expected. On 
March 9, the boys started to put on the 
chemicals. We use basic slag for phos¬ 
phoric acid, and muriate of potash. The 
muriate had been kept over Winter in a 
damp place, and was caked hard. The 
slag was as fine and powdery as it was 
last Summer. We used 1,600 pounds of 
slag and 400 pounds of muriate on about 
four acres of clover which we want for 
early sweet corn. We just broadcast the 
fertilizer from the wagon. The best way 
to do it on a small scale is to mix the fer- 
their full year s record. We bought 10 
hens one year ago. Three have died, 
and their places have been filled with 
three of the best of their pullets. Here 
is their record : 
No. Eggs. No. Hens. Average. 
March. 121 10 12.1 
April. 175 10 17.5 
May. 163 10 16.3 
June. 151 10 15.1 
July. 114 9 12.6 
August. 52 8 6.7 
September. 19 8 2.4 
October. 42 7 6. 
November. 17 8 2.1 
December. 31 8 3.8 
January...._ 30 8 3.7 
February. 84 If) 8.4 
999 106.7 
It seems too bad that the hens could 
not have laid, at least one more egg. and 
thus made it an even 1.000. I am satis¬ 
fied that they laid over 40 in September, 
but we were moving them around so 
that some eggs were lost. These hens 
were moved four times during the year, 
and had very ordinary care up to Octo¬ 
ber. According to most of the poultry 
authorities, this record doesn’t amount 
to much. The 200-egg fellows may laugh 
at it, but it is the truth, at least. It has 
cost us $6.83 to feed these hens and the 
rooster one year, which makes the eggs 
cost a little over three-fifths of a cent 
each. If sold at the “ going ” prices, the 
eggs would have brought $18.98. As it 
is, we sold and used $8.40 worth of eggs, 
and $9.85 worth of young roosters, and 
now have 33 black pullets that’are worth 
$1 apiece to us. Here is one year’s ac¬ 
count with the original 10 black hens : 
Dr. 
10 hens at 75 cents. $7.50 
One rooster. 1.00 
Cost of feeding. 6.83 
Feeding all chickens. 16.08 
- $31.41 
Or. 
Seven old hens at 60 cents. $4.20 
Eggs sold. 8.40 
Young roosters. 9.85 
33 pullets at $1. 33.00 
- $55.45 
We don’t know how other folks figure 
the hen business, but this seems fair 
enough to us. We call the hens worth 
less than they were a year ago, and we 
have lost three hens and the old rooster. 
If this statement is not fair, we want 
some expert to tell its what is. Those 
pullets certainly have an earning value 
of $1 apiece. Even if we had to sell 
them at 50 cents each, the old hens 
would pay a good profit. But for that 
attack of roup, we could make a much 
better showing. We are well enough 
satisfied with those old hens to try to 
hatch 600 of their daughters and grand¬ 
daughters this Spring ! 
X X t 
We followed the usual bad practice of 
keeping a lot of vegetables in the cellar at 
Hope Farm—cabbage, turnips, etc. They 
began to smell badly this Spring, and 
we made up our minds to clean the whole 
place out early. After cleaning up the 
vegetables, the Madame burned a pound 
of sulphur down there, with all the doors 
and windows shut. Whew ! but the air 
was blue! There is no telling how it did 
sweeten the place up. No germs can live 
in such a smoke. I am sure that it is a 
good thing to sulphur such cellars at 
least twice a year. I would like to shut 
up the whole house and put a saucer of 
bisulphide of carbon in every room. The 
old house is full of rats and mice, and 
mighty few of them would be left alive 
after a good dose of the bisulphide. They 
would be left dead in the walls and holes, 
though, and there are times when a dead 
rat is stronger than a live one. 
tilizer with rich soil and thus get more 
bulk for good spreading. 
At the lower part of our strawberry 
field, the water has stood a good deal 
this Winter, and has washed through 
the manure and other mulch. We expect 
to get 12 or 15 good loads of that soil to 
put on the lighter parts of the farm, or 
to mix with the fertilizer before spread¬ 
ing. Then we shall bring back an equal 
number of loads of light sand to take its 
place. In the same way, we hope to 
scrape off the upper three inches in the 
chicken yards, and bring back the light¬ 
est soil on the farm to replace it. If I 
could do it conveniently, I would tear up 
the barn floor under the horses and cow, 
and take out six inches of the top soil— 
replacing it with sand. When I was a 
boy, there was a thin, good-for-nothing 
farm in the neighborhood—too poor for 
full-grown weeds. Last year, I went 
back and found it a perfect garden for 
fertility. It is James Rankin’s duck 
farm. The duck yards have been scraped 
out and carried to the lighter fields, and 
sand brought back. This carried on year 
after year has wonderfully improved the 
farm. 
X t X 
Wk have all the manure out on the 
clover fields. We had a double object in 
view. We wanted to get the manure all 
out before other work pressed, and I 
have an idea that the manure will save 
some of the smaller Crimson clover that 
might otherwise be thrown out by frost. 
Manure saves the strawberries—it may 
save the clover. We have, also, burned 
old fence rows and other places where 
dead weeds and grass have accumulated. 
I see lots of fence rows grown up to 
briers and weeds. Burn them out. What 
else are they good for? Fire will make 
things lively for such deadheads. 
H. w. c. 
STAR PATTERN 
BILLINGS 
Planter and Fertilizer 
Is the latest, and it drops 
at twelve different dis' 
For CORN, 
BEANS, PEAS 
and 
BEET SEED 
If you want them, we fur¬ 
nish Marker and Trip At¬ 
tachment for rowing both 
ways. Send for Circulars. 
made enivbv fltttCS PlOW GO. Boston and new Vortu 
The Spangler Corn Planter. 
Is the most perfect Corn Dropper in the world. With 
or without fertilizer attachment. Write for circulars 
and prices of Planters and Grain Drills. We can 
SAVE YOU MONEY. Address 
SPANGLER MEG. CO., York, Pa. 
Weight 
150 lbs. 
Corn Pianter and 
Fertiiizer Distributer 
Plants/tefcf or ensilage Com, Peas, Beans, 
Sugar Beets or Stork Beets in hills, drills or 
checks. It marks out the drill, drops the seed, covers 
It with earth, deposits the fertilizer, covers the seed 
and rolls and compacts the earth—all at one operation. 
Distributes all kinds of fertilizers, eommerdal or 
home matte, t vet or dry, coarse or fine, evenly 
in any desired quantity per acre. Drops seed from 6 to 
45 Inches apart. Will distribute from 60 to 450 lbs. of 
fertilizer per acre. Strong, thtr able, lasting and 
easy draft. Write for circulars and testimonials. 
The Belcher & Taylor Am f. Co. 
Box 75 Chicopee Falla. Mamm. 
They stop work, cost money, give pain. 
Sprains and Bruises 
It costs little to cure IoA|| It saves time, 
them right away with vdl/UUS V^lla money, misery. 
DIBBLE’S SEED POTATOES. 
Northern-Grown, Pure and Absolutely Free from Blight or Rot. All the new and standard kinds and 
enough of them on band at this writing to plant 5,000 acres, at the lowest possiblesprice consistent with 
highest quality of stock. Wholesale Catalogue on application 
EDWAKI) F. DIBBLE, Wholesale Seed Grower, Honeoye Falls, X. Y. 
Grow “Big Crops” 
by planting our Seed 
Potatoes— Bovee, Sir 
Walter Raleigh and 14 
other varieties. Darke 
County Early Mam¬ 
moth field corn, Mort¬ 
gage Lifter and 
Michigan Wonder 
Oats. Garden Seeds. 
Catalogue Free. 
GEO. W. MACE, 
Box C. Greenville. O. 
Clift AD DECT cccn THU HESTSTRAINS 
wUUAli" DILI. I OCE.il Send for circular to 
August Rfilker & Sons, 52 I>ey Street, New York. 
BLACK KNOT 
Scab, Leaf Itllght, Codling Moth, j 
fSealy Bark, Cureullo, Fungoid., etc. 1 
may all be killed or eradicated by spraying r 
witnthe various cniul.loni* and arsenous [ 
poisons. SPRAY it on with one of our? 
NOVELTY 81 force * 1 " PUMPS 
They meet all the requisites at a low cost. Sample $1.50 [ 
f Agents wanted. Confidential terms and “Results of Spray- [ 
ing” Free. The Berger Mfg. Co., Dep’t K, Canton, * 
LEGGETT’S hr,',?, r WHALE-OIL SOAP 
For Washing and Spraying Trees. 
Destroys San Jos 6 Scale and the like. 
Our Brand indorsed by authorities. 
Obtainable of dealers or write 
LEGGETT & BROTHER, 
301 Pearl Street, New York. 
WITH THE 
EMPIRE KING 
or Garfield Knapsack 
Perfect agitators—no scorching of foliage 
—no leather valves. 14 styles spray pumps. 
Catalogue free. Agents wanted. 
FIELD FOECE PUMP CO., 13Harket St., Lockport, I.Y. 
’with our new 
Kerosene Sprayers 
is simple. Kerosene Emulsion made 
while pumping. Rend for photo, of 
ourNgw PEERLESS ORCHARD 
SPRAYER, with BORDEAUX 
NOZZLE, the WORLD’S BEST. 
THE DEMINQ CO. SALEM, 0. 
West*!! Ag’ts Henlon & Hubbell, Chicago 1 
You Must Fight 
Insects and Fungi if you 
ever expect to grow any 
more good fruit. For 
economy, reliability and 
durability the 
“ ECLIPSE” 
spraying outfits are positively the 
latest and best implements on 
the market. Send for catalogue. 
MORRILL & M0RLEY, 
Benton Harbor, Mich. 
FARLEY’S SEED POTATOES. 
Are raised especially for seed on the finest potato 
land in western New York. Free from scab and rot 
and true to name. Carman No. 3, Livingston’s 
Banner, Chas. Downing, and several others. The 
Robert Morris, one of my seedlings, that I offer for 
the first time, and alsoentire lots of seedlings. Price 
list free. Address E. D. FARLEY, Le Roy, N. Y. 
POTATOES. 
Bovee and Early Michigan 
Second-crop for seed. 50 cents per peck, f. o. b. 
•J. A. REAGAN, Reagan’s Station, Tenn. 
rj^TAT/>pQ We challenge the 
tT I I Cm world to show finer 
kept seed than comes from our special storage. We 
have the Carmans and other popular varieties. Val¬ 
uable information in our catalogue. Write for it. 
J. H. PALM, Lexington, Ohio. 
QaoiI Dntotnoc that are c,ean ’ healthy 
Wvvtl rUldlUvO and vigorous. Best kinds 
at moderate prices. Our free list explains. Bovee, 
White Beauty, Thoroughbred Early Norther, etc. 
Write E. MANCHESTER &aONS.WestWinsted.Conn 
C ARMAN No. 3 GA .00 
SEED POTATOES. ^^Tperbbl 
Sir Walter Raleigh and Early Rovee $6 per bbl. All 
bbls. 4 bu. 25 varieties at lowest prices. Wholesale 
catalogue free. GEO. A. BONNELL, Waterloo, N. Y 
P OTATO FARM, SMITH’S, Manchester, N. Y., grows 
seed potatoes catalogued by best seedsmen. Cir¬ 
cular. Saves $ $ experimenting (with poor ones) 
Capr| Pntatnpc 1 wil1 offer t0 n >y 
'JI U ta lUvo patrons pure stock, 
best quality. No disease. Yield. 250 bushels per 
acre. Circular free. D. M. TEETER, Bellville, Ohio. 
SEED POTATOES. 
Northern grown, Carmans, Rurals, Thoroughbreds. 
Ohios and Enormous. Write us. 
•FRASER BROS., Vernon, Wis. 
Choice Seed Potatoes 
by the bushel, barrel or car-load, including the best 
new and standurd varieties; prices right. Write for 
catalogue. THE C. C. BRAWLEY SEED AND 
IMPLEMENT CO., New Madison, Ohio. 
Dovee Potatoes 
.—Genuine stock, $2 per 
bu.; $5 per bbl. Great 
Divide, Sir William, Wise, Carman No. 3 and Maggie 
Murphy, at farmers’ prices. Maple Syrup. Send for 
free price list. J. M. FLUKE, Box 32, Nankin, O. 
Bovee and Sir Walter Raleigh Seed 
I OImIUvS Potatoes (from Henderson seed), 94 
bushels from the bushel, 325 bushels to the acre. Quick 
orders take this fine stock for $5 per barrel of 
four bushels: Carman No. 1 and 3, $3 per barrel 
of four bushels. Large size, smooth, healthy, vig¬ 
orous stock. 
GREAT NORTHERN SEED OATS, early, 10 bush¬ 
els, 40 cents per bushel, new bags, free. Address 
NORMAN NELSON, Laney, Shawano Co., Wis. 
Choice Seed Potatoes. 
Guaranteed true to name and pure. Sir Walter 
Raleigh and Early Bovee (from Henderson stock), $5 
per barrel, $2 per bushel. Uncle Sam and Adiron¬ 
dack. $3.25 per barrel; $1.25 per bushel. Carman No. 1, 
Carman No. 3 and Early Ohio, $3 per barrel. Other 
standard varieties. Cash with order. Reference: 
Bank of Holland Patent, N. Y. F. H. THOMSON, 
Fairview Farm, Holland Patent. N. Y. 
POTATOES FOR SEED. 
fl EL EL I “Vineland Fancy’’ and 
other kinds. Also, Strawberry Plants, &c. Write 
now for prices. Frank S. Newcomb, Vineland,N.J. 
American Banner Oats. 
Great Yielder, stiff straw; bu., 49c. Iowa Silver Mine 
Corn, bu., $1. ZACKtDAVlS.lDelaware, Ohio. 
cu.t in two 
AN OVER STOCK 
The Lenox Sprayer Co. 
Of Pittsfield, Mass. ARE ENTIRELY OVERSTOCKED. 
5000 SPRAYERS OIY 11 V > I > must 
unloaded immediately, it is our regular $4.00 lenox knapsack 
AYER. It will be sold if ordered right away at $2. The former price just cut in two. 
be 
SPRAYER 
all, trees of good heij 
It i* the Standard sprayer on the market. No doubt readers 
of tills paper are all familiar with this Sprayer and the Lenox Sprayer 
Co. All our agents have nice homes, all paid for from selling The 
LENOXt iSOOO of these Sprayers were made up since the close 
of last season and must be turned into money quick, and will now bo 
sold at $2 apiece. The world will never see a Lenox Sprayer for $2 
again after this 5000 aie gone, and we will never be caught again hav¬ 
ing 5000 Sprayers on hand all at one time. This Sprayer fits the back 
perfectly, nas an agitator, swinging like a pendulum in a clock. Keepi 
the Paris Green or Bordeaux stirred. Spray is controlled in the hand. 
Press your thumb on the bulb and you get your spray; stop tho pres¬ 
sure and vou stop the spray; valve in the bulb and tne nozzle does it 
ht can be reached and uniformlv sprayed, not one drop wasted and quick- 
one «. 
|LENOX 
OMKCYIOW* 
mxrr vr a* 
GALLON CANA 
HAL VM awo QU ARTS, 
I MAMUTACTUftCQSV 
THE LENOX SFRAYtt CO. 
PfTTSntLX). MAM. 
ght can be reached and uniformlv spraye< 
er than to rig a barrel pump on a wagon. TEX A.C1CES can be done in half the time and 
better work. A misty spray. Smooth potatoes, free from grub, means a better price than com-'- 
mon. IT WILL BE useless to write and ask questions, or wholesale prices, or price to 
agents. Letters of questions and without remittances, will receive no attention. We explain everything here. 
A.I1 Our wholesale price lists have been thrown away. One Price, take one or a thousand. You can I 
sell wherever you please. Show a man the work of the Sprayer and be will not let you take it out of the house. 
Send $2 and get one. If you want a dozen it is 82 each, fifty or a hundred or a thousand it is §2 each. You can | 
sell wagon loads of them and get 81 apiece. We have sold thousands of them at $4, and we would now were we 
not over-stocked. We want to make a clean sweep of the 5000 Sprayers on 
hand. One to Six we send by express, larger lots by freight. 
We halve about 500 gallon cans of the United States Standard Bor¬ 
deaux; each can makes 50 gallons Spraying Solution, regular price $1 a 
can. Cut it in two, 50c. per can, or a dozen. You Mill never make 
it as good yourself. It takes a manufacturer to produce an article of man- 
_ ufaccure right. Ask publisher of this paper if we are reliable; ask our 
^ banks, Express Co., postmaster. We have been twenty-three years in busi¬ 
ness. No personal checks will be accepted, cost too much to collect. Always 
remit by Post Office or Express Money Order. The above Cut Price* Good for JJO day* 
sell them or not, so don’t delay vour order. The Lenox Sprayer Co., 30 ’ 
nCXlBlE BOTTOM. 
„ r ~ only, whether we I 
WestSt., Pittsfield, Mass. 
