264 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
April 9 
THE R. N.-Y.’S BIG FLOWER-POT PO¬ 
TATO EXPERIMENT. 
The plot is 33 x 16% feet, bounded on 
all sides by 12-inch hemlock boards. 
These are sunk perpendicularly into the 
soil so as to leave but one inch above the 
surface. This was deemed desirable for 
two reasons: First, the entire field is 
and always has been infested with moles. 
Traps are some protection, to be sure, 
but the moles oftentimes do much dam¬ 
age before they can be caught. The moles 
may burrow beneath these boards, and 
thus enter the inclosure. But we have 
often noticed that they prefer to burrow 
around a solid obstruction rather than 
under it. Second, in case of heavy rains, 
the boards will, in a measure, prevent 
water from running into parts of the in¬ 
closure from the soil outside of it. What 
we want is that all portions of the 
“Flower-pot” shall be alike as to the 
color and texture of the soil, and distri¬ 
bution of plant food. 
It has been spaded a foot deep so often 
and the parts so thoroughly mixed that, 
in so far as the eye can detect, there is 
already perfect uniformity. But it is 
< iefe f 
Fig. 114. 
our purpose to continue to intermingle 
the parts now and again until the day of 
planting. Without this perfect uniform¬ 
ity of the soil, our experiment could not 
prove all that we hope to prove by it. 
The soil of the plot is naturally thin and 
unproductive, and it has never been 
manured, to the best of our knowledge 
and belief, founded upon 25 years of res¬ 
idence near it, and the statements of 
the oldest inhabitants. 
We shall apply at the rate of 1,280 pounds 
of high-grade potato fertilizer per acre, or 
16 pounds to the plot. This will be raked 
in not until after the potatoes are 
planted, so as to insure a more even dis¬ 
tribution of the fertilizer than could be 
insured if the trenches were dug and the 
potatoes planted after the fertilizer was 
sown. There will be five rows three feet 
apart running lengthwise of the plot, 
and the distance between the outside 
rows and the board inclosure will be 2% 
feet each—making in all 16% feet as 
shown in the diagram, Fig. 114. The 
pieces will be placed, by actual measure, 
one foot apart, and there will be 30 pieces 
to every row, leaving 1 % foot of space at 
either end. Just how large the pieces 
will be has not yet been decided. We 
may conclude to jilant whole tubers of 
medium size. It is intended to plant as 
nearly as may be the same number of 
eyes and the same weight of seed. Just 
here, it will be seen, a difficulty presents 
itself, viz., that the same sized tubers of 
different varieties differ so widely as to 
the number of eyes. When, however, 
we can not have both number of eyes 
and weight of seed the same, we shall 
plant the same weight of tuber. 
It appears that the present March is a 
temperature breaker—the average being 
somewhat higher than that of any other 
on record. A s we write (March 21) Weep¬ 
ing willows, looked at from a distance, 
are a mass of green. Spiraeas, Mock 
oranges, ornamental quinces, barber¬ 
ries, lilacs, Japan Kerrias, bush honey¬ 
suckle, etc., are leafing out, and For- 
sythias (Golden bell) are in partial 
bloom ; the buds of peaches and plums 
are swelling. In 1882, which was a for¬ 
ward spring, Cornus mas was in bloom 
April 10. This year, it was in bloom 
March 17. Generally we have more or 
less severe frosts between this date and 
the middle of April which would, should 
they occur this season, inevitably de¬ 
stroy the fruit buds of peaches and plums. 
Crimson clover, as has been said, was 
sown on six different plots at the Rural 
Grounds—among strawberries, grapes, 
blackberries, raspberries and roses. At 
this time, all the plots are beautifully 
green, and the clover strong and vigor- 
(Continued on next page .) 
Vegetables 
can be raised at a profit, and 
the yield enlarged, if properly 
fertilized. Most fertilizers do 
do not contain enough 
Potash. 
Vegetables need plenty ofpot 
ash — at least io% — besides 
the phosphoric acid and nitro 
gen. 
Write for our books which tell all about 
fertilizers. They are free. 
GERMAN KALI WORKS, 
93 Nassau St.. New York 
{20 PHOSPHATE FOR POTATOES AND CORN 
8old to farmers direct. We have no agents. Send 
for Circular. Low prices for car-load lots. 
YORK CHEMICAL WORK8, YORK, PA. 
P — Highest Grades at lowest prices, 
remiizers HUBBARD &CO., Baltimore, Md 
*17 PEK TON. 
Potash 
to 
Guarantee 
A Fertilizer and Insecticide 
Combined. 
H. A. STOOTHOFF. 
315 Madison Ave.. New York 
Star Potato Special. 
HIGH GRADE. 
Ammonia, 114 per cent. 
Available Phosphoric Acid, 5 per cent 
Potash, K20, 7 per cent. 
Only $21 per ton delivered. We sell direct to the 
consumer. 
PHELPSIFERTILIZER COMPANY, Phelps, N.Y, 
oooe 
Profits 
of Farming 
Gardening and Fruit Culture 
depend upon Good Crops and 
they in turn upon Good Fer¬ 
tilizers. The uniformly best 
fertilizer for all Crops and all 
soils is made by 
THE CLEVELAND DRYER CO., 
CLEVELAND, O. 
Materials supplied /or “Home Mixing.” 
A RUBBER. 
ST. JACOBS 
FOR 
SORENESS AND STIFFNESS. 
OIL 
It cures fn 
two or three 
vigorous rubs. 
DIBBLE’S SEED POTATOES 
Nearly all kinds, and “lots of them.” NORTHERN GROWN. Pure, and stock is uniformly free from 
blight, rot or other disease, therefore healthy and vigorous. Catalogue on application. 
EDWARD F. DIBBLE, Wholesale Seed Grower, Honeoye Falls, N. Y. 
ZW Over l,ooo acres under actual cultivation, 
Seeds! Seeds! 
74th Annual Priced Catalogue of 
VEGETABLE, FARM AND FLOWER SEEDS, 
is now ready and mailed FREE to all applicants. 
BRIDGEMAN’S SEED WAREHOUSE, 
37 East 19th. Street, New York City. 
Vegetable Plants Cheap. 
Cabbage and Celery Plants. Allot' the leading varie¬ 
ties reaay April 1. Price, 60 cents per 100; $4 perM. 
Tomato. Mango. Pepper and Egg plants, ready May 1. 
Price. 50 cents per 100; $4 per M. The above are all 
line, large, transplanted plants, well hardened and 
true to name. Address J. E. Hutton, Conyngham, Pa. 
CADI V AlinCC Earliest Potato in Kxist- 
CABIL I fill U CO ence. Without a fault. To 
prove it I will make this proposition: I will guaran¬ 
tee to pay back 50 cents on each package of three 
pounds at $1. if after testing. 1st, It is not earlier; 
2nd, Averages larger; 3d, More productive than Early 
Ohio, or fails on either point. Early Andes ripened 
at Michigan Experiment Station in 29 days less time 
than Bovee. It is best quality. Seven pages of 
proof in circular. HENRY C. MARSH. Muneie, Ind. 
SEED POTATOES. 
Choice selected varieties; strictly first-class stock. 
Sir Walter Raleigh, Mr. Carman’s latest and best, $4 
per barrel; Early Bovee Seedling, earliest of all and 
a great cropper. $4 per barrel; Early Michigan, Early 
Thoroughbred, Uncle Sam, Wise Seedling, rose tinged, 
heavy cropper, linest quality, and Carman No. 3, best 
shipping potato every introduced, $3 per barrel, guar¬ 
anteed true to name, three-bushel barrels. Lincoln 
Oats, $1.50, three-bushel hags, f. o. b. 
C. W. BURNETT, Lyons, N. Y., Box 59. 
Grow “Big Crops” 
by planting our Seed 
Potatoes— Bovee, Sir 
Walter Raleigh and 14 
other varieties. Darke 
County Early Mam¬ 
moth Held corn, Mort¬ 
gage Lifter and 
Michigan Wonder 
Oats. Garden Seeds. 
Catalogue Free. 
GEO. W. MACE, 
Box C. Greenville, O. 
Choice Seed Potatoes. 
Guaranteed true to name and pure. 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 
C ARMAN No. 3 CtA -00 
SEED POTATOES. ^T'per bbl 
Sir Walter Raleigh and Early Bovee $(i per bbl. All 
hbls. 4 bu. 25 varieties at lowest prices. Wholesale 
catalogue free. GEO. A. BONNELL. Waterloo, N. Y 
SEED POTATOES. 
Northern grown. Carmans, Rurals, Thoroughbreds, 
Ohios and Enormous. Write us. 
FRASER BROS., Vernon, Wis. 
SEED POTATOES. 
Get our potato list before you place your order. It 
describes and illustrates the great new potato White 
Beauty. You will want to grow it, because it’s the 
perfect potato. Moderate prices. Choice varieties. 
Clean, vigorous seed. “ Hope Farm " will plant over 
25 bushels of our seed. We are after your order if 
vou want choice seed. 
E. MANCHESTER & SONS. West Winsted, Conn. 
C,, J n-,-,-CarmanNo.land Carman 
dCCU rOTcUOCS No. 3, Itrst class and free 
from disease (Thorburn stock). Bushel, $1; live 
bushels, 90 cents; 10 bushels 80 cents per bushel. Sacks 
bushel. HENRY MEISSNER, Leighton, la. 
nnwrr True, 20c. lb.; 3 lbs.00c. Six Turner, Cuth- 
DU V LL bert or Gold Queen Raspberry with each 
3 lb. order. C. A. SHERWOOD, Whitehall, Wis. 
Choice Seed Potatoes 
by the bushel, barrel or ear-ioad, including the best 
new and standard varieties; prices right. Write for 
catalogue. THE C. C. BRAWLEY SEED AND 
IMPLEMENT CO.. New Madison, Ohio. 
Dawuaa DaIaIaam - G enuine stock, $2 per 
H0V66 Potatoes 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 Seed Potatoes. 
Genuine stock, grown from Henderson seed, price 
$5 per bbhl. Carman No. 3, grown from selected seed. 
$3 per bbl. tail hbls. 4 bu.) Large, healthy, vigorous 
seed. Norman Nelson, Laney, Shawano Co., Wis. 
BETTER THAN A COLD MINE 
Is a good, fertile, productive farm, and you can make yours such by the liberal 
application of our Fertilizers. 
Dissolved Bone and Potash 
Is one of the best Fertilizers made for all Spring crops. Write us for circulars, 
prices, etc. Good Agents Wanted in unoccupied territory. 
THE WESTERN UNION CHEMICAL CO., Summit Street, Cleveland, Ohio. 
POTATOES^ 
TRUCK j 
CORN ! 
OATS | 
High-Grade BONE FERTILIZERS are best, most per¬ 
manent and cheapest. Our goods are especially adapted to 
spring crops. Special brands for potatoes, corn and oats, 
supplying plant food available for immediate use, and leaving 
something for future grass crops. None better or cheaper. 
I. P. THOMAS & SON CO., 
