1808 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
8o3 
and he made a report in regard to it, 
noting its similarity to Hubbardston, but 
making no statement to the effect that 
it was the Hubbardston. The orchard 
at Farmer Village which had proved so 
successful gave the variety a local name 
there after the owner of that orchard. 
Last year, a barrel of the American 
Blush was sent me from the orchard at 
Farmer Village, and also a barrel of 
Hubbardston from Bergen, N. Y., so 
that I could test the two together. So 
far as I could see, the principal differ¬ 
ence was in the shape of the American 
Blush, which seemed to be a little more 
elongated and not so round as the Hub¬ 
bardston. It is an early Winter apple, 
of high quality, large size ; skin yellow, 
covered on one side with bright crimson. 
The flesh has all the characteristics of 
the Hubbardston. ciias. A. ©keen. 
< HOPE FARM NOTES. 
Sour Land.—We have been testing our soil 
•with blue litmus paper, and the results are quite 
surprising to me. One field that I thought in 
good shape, is so sour that it turns the paper a 
bright red, while another that I was afraid of 
seems to be sweet enough. To those readers who 
do not understand this test, I want to say that 
litmus paper is made from a moss or lichen, and 
has the peculiar quality of turning red when put 
into an acid substance, and turning back to blue 
when put into something that is alkaline—or the 
reverse of acid. Now we test a soil by putting a 
fair sample from any field into a cup, and moist¬ 
ening it just enough to make it stick. Then with 
a knife we open it and put iu a strip of the blue 
litmus paper—pushing thesoil up around it. We 
usually keep it in about half an hour. On pulling 
it out, if the soil is decidedly sour, the paper will 
be red and will stay red when rinsed in pure 
water. If the paper remains blue, it is an indi¬ 
cation that the soil is not sour enough to be in- 
j urious. 
The Object of It.—Suppose the land is sour, 
what difference does it make ? As I understand 
it, sour soil iu which plants try to grow and utilize 
plant food, is about like a sour stomach attempt¬ 
ing to digest food and thus nourish a man. The 
soil, as we now know, is not a dead, inert mass 
of little particles of sand, but is full of life. Little 
forms of life known as bacteria swarm through 
the soil, and it is largely through their action 
that plants are fed and nourished. When you 
come to think of it, all forms of digestion are 
produced by life rather than by death. To me, it 
is a wonderiul thought that, when plant or ani¬ 
mal bodies die, at once these tiny forms of life 
begin their work of making these bodies available 
as food for new plants. It is enough here to say 
that, when the land is too sour, these bacteria 
cannot do their work properly, and of course, 
the plant suffers. Put a child in a close school¬ 
room in which the air is foul, and of course, it 
cannot study, and it is often blamed for what 
is not its fault at all. Sometimes we use manure 
or fertilizer heavily, and do not get anywhere 
near the crop we should. In such cases, the soil 
would, probably, turn the litmus paper red, show¬ 
ing that it is sour, so that the crop, however well 
fed, cannot do its best. 
How to Cure It.—We believe that we must 
sweeten or neutralize these sour fields at Hope 
Farm before we can get the most out of them. 
Lime is the great neutralizer. When the baby 
cries with a sour stomach, we all know how a 
little lime water will help her. So in these acid 
soils where crops are trying to use the manures 
and fertilizers we are applying, a fair dressing 
of lime will, probably, help. We do not expect it 
to act as plant food, but we hope it will put the 
soil in such shape that other plant food will be 
made more useful. I notice that, where we put 
the basic slag last year and where our manure 
has mostly been used, the land is not now so 
sour. The slag contains a good deal of lime, and 
I feel sure that it has helped the ground. Most 
farmers seem to think that manure is sour or 
acid. This is a mistake, for well-rotted manure 
will often sweeten the ground. This is chiefly 
because of the ammonia it contains, for this sub¬ 
stance not only provides food for the plants, but 
it helps to sweeten the soil as well. This, I think, 
is one reason why manure often gives far better 
results than we could expect from a mere state¬ 
ment of its analysis. I think, too, this is an 
argument in favor of rotting manures thoroughly 
before putting them in the ground. 
lleliavior of Plants.—I am quite sure, from 
our tests with the litmus paper, that at least 
half of our soil at Hope Farm needs lime. We 
must remember one thing, however, and that is 
that different crops have different habits of feed¬ 
ing. Lime is very acceptable to such crops as 
cabbage, clover or grain. It has but little effect 
on corn, and I would not use it on potatoes be¬ 
cause it would be likely to increase the scab. 
This scab is a “ skin disease ” caused by little 
bacteria which develop and grow in the soil. Like 
the useful bacteria which form the life in the 
soil, these scab germs increase and develop 
when the oil is sweetened. It is better, there¬ 
fore, to use the lime on some crop like grain or 
grass, where it may help without doing any harm. 
Strawberries like a neutral soil, neither sour nor 
very alkaline. I think this explains why one man 
told me that wood ashes were the best thing out 
for strawberries, while another good grower 
claimed that they hurt his crop. Both were right. 
In one case, the land was sour, and a good deal 
of acid phosphate had been used. The lime in 
the ashes sweetened the soil, and thus helped the 
strawberries. In the other case, large quantities 
of manure had been used, and the soil was, prob¬ 
ably, doing about as well as it could. The lime 
iu the ashes made it, if anything, too alkaline, 
and thus did more harm than good. A farmer 
with few acres must figure on all these things if 
he wants to make his land do its best. 
Eating Coiv Peas.—We like a di3h of cow peas 
now and then. When boiled soft with a piece of 
pork, the cow peas make very strong food. Some 
people think the taste is somewhat rank, but I do 
not object to it. In Maryland, last week, I spoke 
of eating the black cow peas, and friends down 
there were surprised to think we did so. They 
eat the spotted or brown pea, but the black ones 
are too much for even the black people. A quart 
or so of co w peas or culled beans putin the cooker 
with the turnips and cabbage will give a taste 
to the whole mess and please the pigs. 
The Pig Department is prospering. We have 
12 good shotes, and they are doing well. Billy 
Berkshire sold at seven cents a pound, and 
brought us $11 83. He cost us $2, and'to save my 
life, I can’t figure that his grain cost $2 more. 
The balance represents wastes from kitchen and 
farm. Our present 12 shotes do not cost us 10 
cents a day for grain food. We cut the rape and 
feed it to them, and boil up the turnips, cabbage 
and small potatoes into a mash which is thick¬ 
ened with bran. They also get sweet corn nub¬ 
bins and the swill from the house. The only cash 
outlay is for the bran. If we had portable fences 
so as to turn the pigs out on the rape and Crim¬ 
son clover, they would do better yet. As it is, 
tney are growing like weeds. As I have planned 
it, they will last about as long as the cabbage 
aDd turnips hold out. I do not think it will pay 
to feed hogs in this country where we must buy 
all the grain or raise the corn. The western hog 
growers can do it much cheaper than we can. 
Our chance is in turning the wastes of the farm 
into pork, or in growing such crops as rape, 
clover or sorghum, and letting the hogs eat them 
down iu the field. In this way, I think we can 
raise lean pigs that will dress from 100 to 125 
pounds, at a good profit. In our country, the 
butchers like a pig of about that weight. The 
western hogs are usually too heavy for them. I 
calculate that a Spring pig cap run on the Crim¬ 
son clover and rape until the early peas are 
picked, and the ground seeded to rape, millet or 
sorghum. They can be turned into this crop so 
that late cabbage may be set on the ground they 
used for pasture up to J uly 15. With a fair ration 
of grain, 1 feel sure that they will make a good 
growth. We are thinking of having a couple of 
our shotes roasted for a barbecue when the 
farmers’ institute is held at our place about the 
middle of December. h. w. o. 
FORCING PIEPLANT IN THE DARK. 
In The R. N.-Y. of October 29, page 736, was a 
communication from J. E. M., of Detroit, Mich., 
in reference to the growing of pieplant in the 
cellar. I would be glad to know the method used 
for this work, and what are the conditions neces¬ 
sary for success. What time of the year, in this 
section, would it be proper to begin operations, 
and when would the plant likely be ready for use? 
Nashville, Tenn. a. c. s. 
Any house cellar, root cellar or shed 
with loose dirt floor, which can be made 
absolutely ligbt and frost-proof, will 
answer nicely. If cement or other hard 
floor is used, supply loose earth sufficient 
to fill up the spaces underneath and be¬ 
tween the roots. This will be all the 
preparation necessary for the forcing 
place. Tne space required will depend, 
on the amount grown, each root occupy¬ 
ing, on the average, about one square 
foot, with occasional narrow passage¬ 
ways for convenience in picking. 
While some varieties are preferable to 
others, any variety, so far as we have 
tested, will succeed, always provided that 
the roots are strong and thrifty ; they 
should be not less than two to three 
years old. Turn out the roots with a 
flower spade allowing all the earth 
possible to adhere ; let them freeze, (the 
more solid the better) before disturbing 
further. As soon as frozen, remove to 
the cellar; set the roots as closely to¬ 
gether as possible, with occasional pas¬ 
sage-ways, and work the soil well up 
under and between them; sufficient soil 
may be used entirely to cover the crowns, 
or they may be left exposed. 
The labor of growing essentially ends 
here, and the time of maturing will, of 
course, depend upon the temperature, 
varying from four to six weeks, but may 
be hastened by using lamps, oil or gaso¬ 
line stove. Light from the lamps or 
from stoves will do no harm; but day¬ 
light, even in small rays, must not be 
permitted for any length of time, else 
the shoots will all turn and grow toward 
the light, and become crooked and dis¬ 
colored. While a steady degree of heat 
above the normal temperature of the 
cellar is preferable, and will, of course, 
hasten maturing, changes of tempera¬ 
ture, as the fire going entirely out and 
remaining so for a time, will do no harm. 
An occasional watering with tepid water, 
especially toward the latter part of the 
season, will be beneficial, and if strong, 
thrifty roots have been used, the season 
will continue up into April or perhaps 
May. 
The profits of growing ought to be 
satisfactory, as one cellar which I visited 
last Winter, 36x54 feet in size, gave a 
return of $144. This was a portion of 
the house cellar, and was not an exces¬ 
sive yield compared to other cellars. 
J. E. MOUSE. 
Is the baby too thin? 
Does be increase too slow¬ 
ly in weight? 
Are you in constant fear 
he will be ill? 
Then give him more flesh. 
Give him more power to 
resist disease. He certainly 
needs a fat-forming food. 
Scott’s Emulsion is just 
that food. It will make the 
baby plump; increase the 
weight; bring color to the 
cheeks, and prosperity to the 
whole body. Thin children 
take to it as naturally as they 
do to their milk. 
50 c. and $ 1 . 00 , all druggists. 
SCOTT & BOWNE, Chemists, New York. 
Farm Wagon for Only #19.95. 
In order to introduce their Low Metal Wheels 
with Wide Tires, the Empire Manufacturing 
Company, Quincy, 111., have placed upon the 
market a Farmer’s Handy Wagon, sold at the 
low price of $19 95. The wagon is only 25 inches 
high, fitted with 24 and 30-inch wheels with four- 
inch tire. 
This wagon is made of best material through¬ 
out, and really costs but a trifle more than a set 
of new wheels and fully guaranteed for one year. 
Catalogue giving a full description, will be 
mailed upon application by the Empire Manufac¬ 
turing Company, Quincy, Ill , who also will fur¬ 
nish metal wheels at low prices made any size 
and width of tire to fit any axle. 
We are the largest Cf ppl 
manufacturers of.. ^ LCCI 
Truck Wheels 
for farm wagons in America 
Send for Catalogue 
Havana Metal Wheel Co., Havana, III. 
FRAZER <££L 
BEST IN THE WORLD. 
It* wearing qualities are unsurpassed, actually 
outlasting three *oxes of any other brand. Not 
affected by heat. PT GET THE GENUINE. 
FOR SALE BY DEALERS GENERALLY. 
JUST LIKE TAFFY.... 
A soft steel wire will 
draw out under heavy 
strain. Plenty of 
“give" but no “take” 
is its chief feature. 
Hard Spring 
Steel Wire la 
the only atufi 
to put In fence. 
You will find It 
In tho Lamb. 
LAMB WIRE FENCE CO. 
Adrlaa, Mich. 
GRINDING MILLS. 
Before purchasing a mill lor 
grinding FEED or M h A L, or any¬ 
thing that can be ground on a 
mill, write us for catalogue and 
discounts. Address 
SPROUT, WALDRON 
& CO., 
Muncy. l‘a., Manuf’rs 
of French Burr Mills, 
Crushers, and fu Mine 
Flour Mill Machinery 
iA Profitable Business 
ON A LIMITED CAPITAL. 
Any man can make a good living 1 
Drilling Wells 
for his neighbors. They are ( 
better and cheaper than the ( 
dug wells. The 
STAR 
1 Drilling Machine 
is the strongest, fastest and the best designed 1 
in the world. Write for our illustrated cata- 1 
logue. IT is FREE. 
Star Drilling Machine Co., Akron, 0. j 
(S THE STANDAR D 
STfAMPUMPS AIR LIFTS, iM , 
GASOLINE ENGINES 
WRITE FOR CIRCULAR EH 
THE AMERICAN WELL WORKS 
AURORA ILL - CHICAGO - DALLAS.TEX 
DRILLING 
Machines 
Over 70 sixes and styles, for drilling either deep or 
shallow wells In any kind of soil or rock. Mounted 
on wheels or on sills. With engines or horse powers. 
Strong, simple and durable. Any mechanic can 
operate them easily. Bend for catalog. 
WILLIAMS BROS., Ithaca, N. Y. 
;eps him in. 
ieps others out. 
HORSE-HIGH 
With our Duplex Automatic 
Fence M aehlncyou can make 
100 styles of fence at the rate 
of 00 rods a day. Every rod of 
it will possess tho threo lead¬ 
ing attributes made promi¬ 
nent in this ad. Makes a per¬ 
fect general purpose fence at 
18c.perrod- Poultry fence 19c. 
per rod. Rabbit-proof fence 
BULL-STRONG 
for nurseries, orchards, etc., 
lCc. per rod, and a good hog 
fence for 12c. per rod. Plain, 
coiled spring and barbed wire 
to farmers at wholesale price. 
Get our free catalogue before 
buying wire or fencing. 
K1TSELMAN BROS., 
Ridgeville, Ind. 
TIGHT 
■A 
AAA 
A 
A A A 
eta 
STEEL P 
CKET LAWN FENCE, 
Field and Hog Fence with or without bottom cable 
barbed. M. M. S. Poultry Fencing. Lawn and 
Farm Steel Gates and Posts. 
UNION FENCE CO. OcKalb, Ill. 
We Shall Watch 
the foreign markets, although we have not yet 
fully supplied American farmers. Busy every 
minute, but glad to hear from you. 
PAGE WOVEN WIREEENCE CO., ADRIAN. MICH. 
Lika a Bull Dog. 
That’s the way this lock and 
fence stay grips the wire and 
hangs on. It’s “a fence stay 
that will stay.” No twisting, 
straining or breaking of 
wires; no shaking loose or 
slipping. Makes the most 
rigid, strongest, most dur¬ 
able fenoe that can be made 
ont of wire. Only tool required Is a 
hammer. It’s Just as easy as nailing 
plokets. Cheapest fence on earth, 
tif p u, S SIT APCtITC In every locality. JExclu- 
Wfc WAN I AutM I ft Blve territory to the right 
men. Heeding Is done, the corn will soon be husked and 
you will have time to take up a good proposition, 
write to-day for catalogue and sample—free. 
CHANDLEE FENCE CO., 11 S. Howard St., Baltimore, Md. 
Machine $10 
TO BUILD THE STRONGEST 
AND BEST WIRE FENCE. 
OO 16 to 24 Gents per Rod. 
•2 No farm rights, royalties or 
patent stays to buy. AGENTS 
CJ WANTED. Write for circular. 
The Bowen Cable Stay Fence Co. 
NORWALK, OHIO, U.S.A 
Remember that Bowker’s Animal 
Meal is sold only in yellow bags and 
yellow packages. The original; richest 
in protein.— Adto. 
our AGRICULTURAL DRAIN 
lows that 
Every mail of experience knows 
; is tile drained may be worked weeka 
Make an Earlv Season 
IWSHHE7 kin WVUUVIl land that is tile drained may I 
^ in advance of that whioh is undrained. We make all kinds of tile and 
lower Pipe, Red Pressed Brick, Fire Brick, Chimney 
-’- -- *••-*- Walks, etc. Write for what 
Third Ave., Albany, N.Y. 
Tops, Flues, Encaustic Side 
you want. JOHN H. JACKSON 
