1904 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
327 
Exposure of Fertilizer. 
F. 8. M., Boston, Mass .—I have quite a 
lot of fertilizer which is several years old, 
and has been hidden away in bags in a 
barn. It has been exposed more or less to 
the air. Has its value been destroyed? 
Ans. —Probably not worth mentioning 
unless it has been soaked or leached 
with water. The air alone will not hurt 
the fertilizer. If you open a bag that 
has even been exposed to the damp for 
a long time you will find that only the 
outer crust of the fertilizer has been 
affected. The inside will still be dry. 
Soiling Crops. 
F. B. P., Otisville, N. Y.—l would like your 
advice about a piece of ground, a dry, 
sandy loam, heavily manured with stable 
manure for corn last year. We would like 
to put in some crop that would yield a 
large amount of fodder for milch cows and 
that would admit of seeding down to grass 
to good advantage. We are thinking of 
either oats, to be cut green, or millet. 
Which would you advise? 
Ans. —We would use oats and peas a3 
often described in The R. N.-Y. We 
would use a heavy seeding of grass and 
cut the oats and peas early. 
Logs In a Drain. 
J. J. P., Tilton, N. H.—l have a piece of 
wet land which is very rich soil. I can 
plant it to advantage. What is the best 
material to use in the drain? Would logs 
decay where there is lots of water, and 
they are away from the air? I have heard 
of this method, yet never tried it. 
Ans.— The most satisfactory drain is 
made of tile. We would use it if pos¬ 
sible. A stone drain with three flat 
stones at the bottom arranged so as to 
leave an open channel and smaller 
stones put on top does fairly well. 
Boards or slabs last a reasonable time. 
We have had no experience with logs, 
and would like to hear from readers 
about them. 
Starting Potatoes Early. 
A. S K., Fort Wayne, Ind.— Does it pay to 
plant potatoes in the Spring so early that 
they are liable to be cut by the frost, or 
is it better to wait until all danger of 
frost is past? Do you think it advisable 
to lay them in a greenhouse and start the 
sprouts before planting? 
Ans.— Planting potatoes before danger 
of frost is over is simply a matter of 
risk that every grower should solve for 
himself. It is very good practice to 
“green” seed potatoes by exposing them 
to sunlight in a warm place before plant¬ 
ing. The sprouts grow thick and stocky, 
and are much better able to endure cold 
than if spindled up in the dark, and 
come up more vigorously than if the 
potato is dormant when planted. 
The Life of Steel Footing. 
B. B. B., Brooklyn, N. Y.-How long does 
steel roofing last? How often does it need 
painting? Does it protect against lighting? 
Does it make a water-tight roof? How 
much wood do you need under it for sup¬ 
port? What is its first cost, and also last- 
ing quality as compared with cheap 
shingles and with first-grade shingles? 
Ans.— A roof of steel sheeting, plain, 
crimped or corrugated, if painted every 
two or three years will last longer 
than any wood roof, but is not desir¬ 
able on account of the care and expense 
of maintaining it. There is already too 
much to look after around the farm and 
buildings, without putting on roofs that 
must be painted every few years. Such 
jobs are apt to get neglected, and rust 
will have destroyed the roof before one 
is aware. Galvanized roofing costs 
more than the painted, but is not much 
superior to the latter. The galvanism 
which is put on roofing and fence wire 
nowadays is very poor, and does not 
keep the rust away for more than five 
to six years. Taking everything in con¬ 
sideration, the painted kind is prefer¬ 
able. Steel roofing weighs 75 pounds per 
square (100 square feet), and does not 
require any heavier rafters than shin¬ 
gles, but requires more lumber for 
sheathing. The sheathing will cost $2 
per square as against 75 cents for lath 
for shingles. The points in favor of 
steel roofing are its tightness so long as 
rust does not eat holes in it, and its fire¬ 
proof qualities. Whether a steel roof is 
lightning proof or not is largely a mat¬ 
ter of theory, but it is said that there is 
no instance of a metal roofed building 
having been struck by lightning. Paint¬ 
ed steel roofing costs $3.50 per square, 
equal to shingles at $13.50 per 1,000. 
Galvanized costs $5 per square, equal to 
shingles at $19 per 1,000. A very good 
grade of shingles can be bought for the 
first figures, and the very best at the 
latter. The cheapest kind of a shingle 
roof would last as long as a metal roof 
unless the latter was kept painted. One 
may find opportunities for buying steel 
roofing at less figures than I have 
named, and it may be economical to use 
it, but in a general way I think that 
shingles are to be preferred, unless 
where the pitch is so small that they 
cannot be used, and in that case I use 
some kind of felt roofing, which can be 
bought at a much lower price than eith¬ 
er steel or shingles. ohmt davis. 
“Are you still making visits to your 
dentist?” “No.” “How’s that?” “Oh, 
nothing, only I ran out of teeth.”—De¬ 
troit Free Press. 
For the land’s sake, use Bowker’s Fer¬ 
tilizers. They enrich the earth.— Adv. 
If you cannot secure from your Seedsman, 
GROFF’S HYBRID GLADIOLI 
[GENUINE] 
In their several sections, write me and I will mail my 
1904 illustrated catalogue in which I offer the high¬ 
est quality which can be secured In the world at 
prices which are much belo w the value furnished 
ARTHUR COWEE, GLADIOLUS SPECIALIST, 
Meadowvale Farm, Berlin, N. Y. 
Strawberry Plants 
"•w fiKn. n .'fiOLViN. ('res 
15 Best Varieties. 
_ __ Price list Kree. 
GKO. H.^COLVIN. Crest Farm, Dalton.Pa. 
CUCUMBER SEED 
About 100 lbs. DONG GKEEN JERSEY, $1 50 per lb. 
KDWABD K1GG, Jr., Seedsman, 
Burlington. N J. 
CHD CAI C—Lot of Light Cumberland Tips. Sample 
rUn OnLL for postage. P. SUTTON, Exeter, Pa. 
SAVE MONEY ON 
FRUIT PLANTS 
WE HAVE A SURPLUS OF 
STRAWBERRY and RED 
RASPBERRY PLANTS 
AT SPECIAL LOW PRICES. 
Remember 4 we Guarantee 
Satisfaction . 
Write for Catalogue and send list for 
discount. Do it now. 
0, A. E, BALDWIN, SS£ Bridgeman, Mich 
TELEPHONE APPARATUS 
OWN TOUR OWN TELEPHONE LINE. 
Our telephones are powerful, loud- 
talking and absolutely guaranteed. 
OUR PRICES ARE RIGHT. 
Telephones that work on any line. 
Large Catalog No. 9 Free. 
CONNECTICUT TELE. & ELEC. CO., 
Meriden, Conn., U. S. A. 
TELEPHONES 
For Farmers’ Lines. 
Organize an exchange in your 
community. Full particulars fur¬ 
nished. Catalogue free. 
THE NORTH ELECTRIC CO., 
152 St. Clair Street, 
C. N. 301. CLEVELAND, O. 
TO 
USSBSKRte 
cross ■ 
vssSfsi 
rsSife 
Circulars 
sent Free. 
Rural mail Box. 
RUTdl Mail ^ Iany newrou * es "ill E° Ip this year. We 
•want name and address of every man who 
sends 1 n a petition. _ 
We will send a DU A TI1CC us full information. 
BOND STEEL POST CO., ADRIAN, MICH. 
Sau) mills 
The DoLoach Patent Variable Friction Feed Saw Mill 
with 4 h. p. cuts 2,000 feet pet clay. All sizes and prices to suit. 
Shingle Mills, Edgers. Trimmers, Planers. Corn and Buhr 
Mills, Water Wheels, Lath Mills, Wood Saws and Hay Presses. 
Our handsome new catalogue will interest you. 
DeLoach Mill Mtg Co., Box 900, Atlanta, Ca. ^ 
114 Libortj St., New York, N. Y. 614Third St., St. Louie, Mo. 
FROST 
BEST 
CHEAPEST 
instead of five. The weight, strength and lasting 
qualities of the Frost Fence compared with light 
weight, woven wire fabric, is 3 to 6 times as great. 
Does It pay to build a new fence every 6 years? 
Catalogue free THE FROST WIRE FENCE CO., 
Cleveland, Ohio. 
WIRE-SI.40 Per IOO Lbs. 
Smooth galvanized wire, put up 100 
lbs. to a bale, lengths running up to 
250ft. No. 14 guoge, per 100 lbs. *1.40. 
Write for prices on other gauges. 
Fence staples, per 100 lbs.. *2.00. Wire 
I nails, mixedin a keg, per lOOlbs.,*1.60. 
1 Barbed wire, per 100lbs., *2.35. Poultry 
ne ttlng, stee 1 fence .etc., at 1 ow prices^ 
Ask for Catalogue No. E, 61 — 
on merchandise of all kinds from 
Sheriffs’ and Receivers’ sales. 
CHICAGO HOUSE WRECKING CO., West 85th Sc Iron Sts.,Chicago 
SAN JOSE SCALE 
Use tlxo Best Sulplnxr. 
BERGEN PORT 
FLOWERS 
of SULPHUR 
IN LIME, SULPHUR, AND SALT WASH. 
T. cfo S. O. WHITE COMPANY, 
BERGEN PORT SULPHUR WORKS, 
No. 28 BURJjIlXrGr SLIP, KTEW 
we SHIP on APPROVAL 
without a cent deposit and allow 10 
DAYS FREE TRIAL on every 
bicycle. Any wheel not satisfactory 
returned at our expense. 
Highest Grade dfO.75 4 n 17 
1904 Models O * 
Coaster Brakes. Hedgethorne puncture 
, proof tires and best equipment. 
1902 & 1903 Models (ft "T df 1 Q 
l Best Makes 
J 500 Second -Hand Wheel * 
I All makes & Models <£ O 
Igoodasnew V« IO 'P ° 
I Great Factory Clearing Sale at 
[half factory cost. 
[EARN A BICYCLE taking orders 
from sample wheel furnished by us. 
Our agents make large profits. Write 
) nl once tor catalogues and our special offer. 
AUTOMOBILES, TIRES, Sewing Ma¬ 
chines. Sundries, etc., half usual prices. 
*EAD OYOLE OO., Dept. 175 C Chicago 
DtDDV RACVCTC Less than factory prices for 
DLIIIII DAOiVlIO immediate orders. 
CHARLES I. ALLEN, Terryvllle, Conn. 
LAWN FENCE 
Original designs, strong and 
beautifully built. Ask for our 
Special FREE Catalog which 
will save you money. ^ 
CYCLONE FENCE CO. 
Holly, Mich. 
Waukeean. Ill. Cleveland O 
tl 1 
— 
— 
□ 
m 
r*"* 
in 
~ 1 
0 
J 
i"*! 
*"73 
_ 
fca 
£ 
_ 
_ 
p 
c 
_ 
5 
1 
; 
p= 
— 
i — 
n- 
~ — 
• 
1 1 
n 
£ 
sjj 
se 
b=W=4=q 
fs 
£ 
= 
E 
== 
YOU CAN CLIMB OVER 
sit upon, or fall a tree across a Page Fence and not 
deform or damage It. It’s made differently. 
PAGE WOVEN WIRE FENCE CO., Adrian, Michigan. 
WIRE FENCE 
^Before you buy WIRE FENCE write us 
for information that will save you from 30 
to SO per cent. We tell it FREE. 
KITSELMAN BROS. Box 88, Muncie, Ind. 
THE HESSLER IS THE BEST. 
Price, 
$1 EACH. 
Discount Dozen 
Lots. 
Simple, Durable, 
Economical. 
Round, Strong, 
heavy. 
Lowest i n price, 
highest In quali¬ 
ty. Asamplebest 
evidence. Reap¬ 
proved Jan. 25th, 
i9 0 3. Orders 
promptly shipped. We sell direct to the farmer. 
H. E. HESSLER CO.. Factory No. 8. Syracuse N. v 
A Never Failing Water Supply, 
with absolute safety, at small cost may be had by using tha 
Improved Rider Hot Air Pumping Engine and 
Improved Ericsson Hot Air Pumping Engine. 
Built by us for more than 30 years and sold in every country In the world. Exclu¬ 
sively intended for pumpirg water. May be run by any ignorant boy or woman. 
So well built that their d ability is yet to be determined, engines which were sold 
30 years ago being still i* - active service. 
Send stamp for “C4" Catalogue to nearest office. 
rider-ericsson ENGINE CO., 
35 Warren St., New York. 239 Franklin St., Boston. 
40 Dearborn St., Chicago. 692 Craig St., Montreal, V. Q. 
40 North "lb St., Fhllailelpl 1.. 22 1’ltt St., Sydney, N. S. U . 
Tsuleute-Rey 71, Havana, Cuba. 
WALTER A. WOOD 
There are several pretty good kinds of har¬ 
vesting machines. Any of them will do fairly 
well with an average crop and when everything 
is plain sailing. But when your grain is down 
and tangled or your grass is wet and heavy or 
your ground is soft or rough, or something else 
is wrong—as it often is—then is when a Walter 
A. Wood machine is a friend in need. If you 
want a machine that will take you through the 
tight places, do more work with less attention 
and cost less for repairs than any other, you 
want a Walter A. Wood. 
Grain and Corn Binders 1 and 2 Horse Mowers 
Reapers Rakes Tedders Knife Grinders 
You should have the new Walter A. Wood illustrated catalog. 
It’s 1 ree and puts you up-to-date on harvesting machines Ask 
our nearest agent or write direct (mentioning this paper; to 
WALTER A. WOOD M. & R. M. 
COMPANY, HOOS1CK FALLS, N. Y. 
