38o 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
May 7, 
The Principle of the Thermostat. 
P. S. S., Cntskill, N. 7.— What are the 
mechanical workings of the bar regulators 
on incubators, that is, what causes the 
valve to open and close when the tempera¬ 
ture is above or below a certain degree of 
heat? I have used the hot-water tank in¬ 
cubator (no lamp) with good success, and 
desire to attach regulator to open valve 
when the water is too hot when put in. I 
simply change water once in 24 hours, and 
ordinarily it will not vary more than two 
or V /2 degrees. I wish the regulator to 
keep temperature down, and do not expect 
to be benefited when the heat is down, only 
desiring the valve to close and stay closed. 
Ans. —The principle of the thermostat 
bar is the unequal expansion and con¬ 
traction of different metals. For in¬ 
stance, rivet two bars, steel and alumi¬ 
num; the one metal expanding more 
under the influence of heat will make a 
curve. By placing these bars rigidly in 
the machine, that is, one end rigid, with 
the aluminum uppermost, the heat act¬ 
ing on the different metals will curve 
the other end of the bar down, and if 
attached to a valve it can be mode to 
raise it. 
Ashes and Fertilizer for Onions. 
J. F. 17., Fulton, N. 7.—I am in the onion 
business, and would like to ask a question 
of much importance to me at present. I 
have good muck soil, and have hitherto 
had excellent results by using one-half ton 
to the acre of the best grade fertilizer I 
could find. This year I wish to use about 
two tons of wood ashes per acre in addi¬ 
tion to same amount of fertilizer. As land 
always overflows in Spring, I feared to 
lose benefit of ashes if sown in Fall. 
Would you advise sowing ashes and fertil¬ 
izer at the same time? Will the one hurt 
the effects of the other? If so, how would 
you advise handling them? 
Ans. —Wood ashes will not usually in¬ 
jure fertilizer if mixed in the soil as 
soon as applied, as the soil absorbs the 
gases, but in a case of this kind,' whore 
such a quantity of ashes are used, I 
would advise sowing the wood ashes on 
first and harrowing in well before ap¬ 
plying the fertilizer, for the reason that 
two tons of wood ashes per acre is a 
very heavy application, and should be 
well mixed with the soil before the fer¬ 
tilizer is applied. The fertilizer may 
then be applied and the ground again 
well harrowed over. This would insure 
a much more even distribution of both 
ashes and fertilizer, and would be less 
liable to injure the germination of the 
seed, and at the same time secure a more 
uniform crop. e- e. b. 
" Downicide ” for Spraying Trees. 
Reader, Olean Co., N. 7.—A local doctor in 
these parts has formulated a preparation 
for spraying fruit trees which bids fair to 
make spraying a simple and easy job. He 
has had good local success. I enclose one 
of his pamphlets. I think it is a good 
thing; it mixes as easily as milk and water. 
What do you think of it? 
Ans. —Our chemist has analyzed the 
spray mixture known as "Downicide.” 
He finds it to be practically an arsenite 
of soda, with about 10 per cent arsenic 
and a little over 20 per cent of soda. It 
seems to be made by dissolving white 
arsenic with caustic soda, probably the 
cheaper and impurer grades on the mar¬ 
ket like the "Bonanza lye.” There is no 
copper in it, and nothing else that has 
fungicidal properties. This arsenite of 
soda will burn foliage unless used very 
dilute, as was demonstrated here last 
Summer with a sample of the mixture. 
One can make a safer and much cheaper 
arsenite of soda by boiling one pound 
of white arsenic with one or two pounds 
of sal soda and using the solution to 
slake two pounds of lime. The arsenite 
of soda should never be used without 
being combined with lime or in Bor¬ 
deaux Mixture. Of course, it is a sim¬ 
ple process to pour a pint of the “Downi¬ 
cide” into a barrel of water, and spray 
it on the trees, but there will be great 
risk of injuring the foliage, and one can 
make a similar preparation for less than 
10 cents a pint, thus saving at least 25 
cents on each pint. In regard to the 
recommendations in the circular adver¬ 
tising this insecticide, it is an interest¬ 
ing and striking fact that every one of 
them discusses results obtained in 1903. 
In western New York, where the ma¬ 
terial was used, it is well known that al¬ 
most any old apple tree, whether it had 
ever been cultivated or sprayed or not, 
bore a good crop of comparatively per¬ 
fect apples. M. V. SLLNGERLAND. 
The Conservative Farmer.—T he Texas 
Farm and Ranch prints the following: “The 
farming class has always constituted the con¬ 
servative element In our National make-up. 
Why is the farmer conservative? First, be¬ 
cause as a land owner he is always certain of 
work and of subsistence for self and his loved 
ones whatever cataclysm, political or financial, 
may appear. Again, the farmer is a man of 
family, and an employer with the Interests 
of the citizen resting squarely upon his broad 
shoulders. Besides this, the farmers, as* a 
class, especially in the southern country, are 
religiously inclined. Every mental habit of 
the farmer is marked by conservatism of his 
religious creed. He has unbounded faith In 
the eternal fitness of things. He therefore 
lacks the inspiration to destroy which markB 
the nihilist. He can never desire the revolu¬ 
tionary method of the extreme socialist, but 
stands firmly planted upon the faithful soil 
from which by intelligent care, he derives not 
only a living, but a safe store laid by for the 
rainy day that comes with old age.” 
Si CARMAN STRAWBERRY PICKER 
and get highest price Tor 
your fruit. No brilsing.no 
caps pull oft. ot sof uni¬ 
form length. Picksone-third 
faster than by hand and 
vines are not Injured. In¬ 
vented by a grower of 40 years experience and thor¬ 
oughly tested by him and others before it was placed 
on the market. Send for circular, or enclose *1 amt 
receive Picker postpaid. Special price to agents and 
for large orders. ISAAC CABMAN, Box 120, Station 
W, Brooklyn. N.Y. 
rpCCO and PLANTS at xvno'esale Prices. 
1 PiLLu Cat. Free. Reliance Nurserv. Geneva. N V 
D , L Large size, 3c each. Trees kept dormant 
rvuCn I fees in good shipping condition till May 20. 
Circular Iree R. S. Johnston, Box 4, Stookley ,l)el. 
PURE TESTED SEEDS 
(ALL, PER BUSHEL). 
Medium Clover. $7.50; Mammoth Clover, $7.50. Al- 
sike Clover, $6.50; Alfalfa, $9; Crimson, $3.50; Tim¬ 
othy, $1.75; Fancy Blue Grass, $1.25: Orchard Grass, 
$1.75; Redtop, $1.20: Spring Rye. $1.25; Spring Wheat, 
$1.40; Seed Outs, 75c.; German Millet, $1.10; Hunga¬ 
rian, $1.25; Spelt. $1; Kaffir Corn, 90c.; Cow Peas. 
$1.76; Soja Beans, $2; Seed Barley, 85c.; Learning 
Corn, $1.25; Pride Corn, $1.25. 
Write for our Seed and Poultry Supply Catalogue. 
PUADICC C c A III 220-224 James Street. 
uHAnLto ri oAULj Syracuse, n.y. 
Corn 
must have a sufficient supply of 
Potash 
ff yon cannot secure from your Seedsman, 
GROFF’S HYBRID GLADIOLI 
[GENUINE] 
In their several sections, write me and I will mall my 
1904 lUustrated catalogue In which I offer the high¬ 
est quality which can be secured In the world at 
prices which are much below the value furnished 
ARTHUR COWEE, GLADIOLUS SPECIALIST, 
Meadowvale Farm, Berlin, N. Y. 
SFFfl MTS 
f. o. b. 
Bright re-cleaned Welcome, 
Lincoln, and Swedish. 65j. 
UASTLAWN GARDEN.!, Casadaga, N. Y. 
C OAV PEAS —Crimson Clover Seed. Pamphlet, 
ail about culture, free. Extra fine seed cheap. 
Box 61, MILFORD NURSERIES, Milford, Del. 
VEGETABLE PLANTS. 
Largo transplanted plants of Cabbage, Tomato. 
Celery, Egg Plant, Pepper and Cauliflower. WrlM 
for Price List. 
J. E. HUTTON k SON, Conyngham, P a> 
VEGETABLE PLANTS. 
Wakefield and Early Summer Cabbage, $1 50 per 
thousand; transplanted,$3 00 per thousand. Danish 
Snowball Cauliflower, transplanted, $5.00 per thous¬ 
and. Poppers. Egg-plants. Tomato and other Vege¬ 
table plants. Have also a few thousand Pansies and 
Bedding Plants. Cash with order. Price list mailed 
free. Sample mailed for 5c. in stamps. Tel 105. 
LUDVIG MOSBA5K, Onarga, 111, 
in order to develop into a crop. 
No amount of Phosphoric 
Acid or Nitrogen can compen¬ 
sate for a lack of potash in 
fertilizers [for 
grain and all 
other crops]. 
We shall be glad 
to send free to any 
farmer ourlittlebook 
which contains valu¬ 
able i n for in a t ion 
about soil culture. 
GERHAN KALI WORKS, 
93 Nassau St., New York. 
SWEET POTATO PUNTS Jersey Yellow, jersey 
R"d Big Stem, Pierson. Vineland Bush, and other 
varieties. C. M. HARRISON, Vineland N. J. 
Formerly F. S. Newcomb. 
rnn Oil C— Crimson Clover Seed, $4 per bushel: 
rUn OALl Cow Peas,$1.75 and $2 per bushel; Seed 
Sweet Potatoes, $1 per bushel. 
J. E. HOLLAND, Milford, Dei. 
len Mary and Sample Strawberry 
Plants at $2.00 per 1,000. 
KKVITT’S PLANT FARMS, Athentn. N 3 
nennu Ask for our 22nd Annual Catalogue. 
BERRY CLIMAX, the wonderful new _arly 
■**■■*■* 1 Strawberry, with many other kinds 
HI ANTQ fully described. Good varieties as low 
* *»HI11 w asU.&OM. Slayn>akcr&Son,Dover,Del. 
ONION SEED—Southport Globo 
MEEKER’S SMOOTHING HARROW 
Send for prices and catalogue. 
t'2E C. O. JELL1FF MFG. CO.. Southport, Conn. 
HORSERADISH SETS WANTED. 
Several thousand, 10 to 12 inches long preferred; 6 to 
8 and 8 to 10 Inches will bo accepted. Please mail 
sample,state price perl.OUOand qmntity available, 
to LUDVIG MOSBAKK, Onarga. Ill. 
Woodview Nurseries. 
Apples, 6 — 13c.; Peach, 2 — 8 c.; Cherry, Plum, 
Pear low. Study our free catalogue. Address, 
Box 8 , Mt. Holly Springs, Pa. 
BEST TREATMENT. BEST GRADING. BEST PACKING. 
BEST TREES. BEST PIUCES. BEST BUY FROM US. 
E lberta Peach 
The i>erfect freestone.® Very 
large and fine. Golden yellow, faint¬ 
ly striped with red. Fruit deliciously 
flavored. Ifarly August. Tree hand¬ 
some and most prolific. Fine market 
variety.All choice kinds.Catalog free. 
Harrison’s Nurseries,Bx29,Berlin,Md. 
HOYT’S TREES 
have a reputation of more than 50 years back of 
them. Our nurseries are the largest in New England. 
More than 600 acres of strong, rugged soil planted 
to everything that Is best in Fruit Trees, Shade 
Trees, Plants and Ornamental Stock. All 
stock guaranteed healthy and true to name. 
Full Catalogue Free. 
THE STEPHEN HOYT’S SONS COMPANY, 
NEW CANAAN, CONN. 
50,000 Peach Trees 
Fine healthy stock in all the leading 
varieties. Write for prices to-day. 
Dwyer’s Spring Catalogue gives full 
information about fruit and ornamental 
trees, small fruits, vines, etc. Mailed 
free on request. 
T. J. Dwyer’s book on hardy trees, plants and 
vines, 50 cents. Sent free with spring orders. 
* T. J. DWYER & CO., 
Orange County Nurseries, Cornwall, N. Y. 
GRAPE 
VINES I 
STARK GRAPE NURSERIES are In the heart of the famou» Chautauqua 
Grape Belt, which produces the finest vines grown in the U. S. We have 
an immense stock of all leading sorts; quality perfect; prices low as those ol 
any reputable grower. Send us your orders— one vine or a car load. A com- 
lete line of fruit trees, small CTini/ PORTLAND, N. Y. 
ruits, etc. Price List free. O 1 /V IY IV DRU O Louisiana. Mo. 
Crimson Glover 
In sowing this valuable clover it is impor¬ 
tant that American seed is used. tie 
supply genuine Delaware seed only. Our 
special circular describing uses of Crimson 
Clover is mailed free. HENRY A. DREER, 714 Chestnut St., Philadelphia, Pa. 
PLANT NORTHERN MICHIGAN GROWN 
SEED POTATOES 
and increase your yield. Grown on the famous hills on South Shore of Lake Superior, in N. Latitude 46.32, 
W. Longitude 87.26. Elevation above sea level 822 ft. Where the best Potatoes, Cupper, Iron, Pine 
and Hardwood Lumber in the world are produced. 
We do not offer a hundred kinds, but the three best White varieties. All wonderfully productive and 
good keepers. Warranted pure and true to name. 
Early Michigan, the best Early Potatoes $1.75 bu. I Carman, No. 3, very productive.$1.50 
Uncle Sam, Late, out-yields them all.... 150 “ I Pecks of any kind.75c. 
Shipping facilities good by Rail or Water; Four Railroads. 
H. BLEMHUBER & SON, Specialists, - - MARQUETTE, MICH. 
TREES 
SS Pei 100 
APPLE, PEAR, CHERRY and PEACH, healthy, true to name 
and fumigated. All kinds of trees and plants at low whole¬ 
sale prices. Don’t buy until you get our catalogue, which is free, or send list o' 
wants for special prices. Address RELIANCE NURSERY, Box lu, Geneva. N V 
ENSILAGE CORN 
from the prairie country. It Is better than Eastern 
seed, as it is used to wind, and does not blow down. 
Grows eight to ten feet high, very leafy, and early 
enough tj mature well anywhere south of Albany. 
Selected seed, either White or Yellow, guaranteed to 
grow, & 1.25 per bushel. New Sacks free. Freight 
rate is about 50 cents per hundred to Rochester or 
Buffalo. HENRY FIELD, Seedsman, 
Box 26, Shenandoah, Iowa. 
Go to the natural home of good corn for your seed. 
UR CORN 
mAnt. fn rrn of 
yielded at the rate of 203 bushels 
va> wwaaaa of ears per acre at the experi¬ 
ment farm of the U. 8 . Dept, of Agriculture, 
ces: TALIAFERRO (yellow), or COLLINGWOOD 
xed),bu.of ears by freight or express $ 1 . 00 ; packet 
mall, postpaid, 15c; 2 packets, (one of each), 25c. 
R_ CROSBY Sl SON. Catonsville, Md. 
0RN 
nnd K£ 
Fanners interested in Early 8 -Rowed Yel¬ 
low & White Flint. Test 95; description 
_ a"nd"samples free (Potatoes all sold). Send to 
'2 i axffT’W P.O Shnrt.svi 1 lft. N. V. 
BEST ON EARTH. 
Manufactured by THE ROGERS & HUBBARD CO., Middletown, Conn. 
“ Hubbard’s Fertilizers for 1904,” sent free to any address. 
ARE 
THE 
Get Prices on our THREE RIVERS, MICHIGAN Grown 
PLANTS 
Central Mich * 
Nursery Branch 
THREE RIVERS, 
MICHIGAN. 
Largest Acreage of Small Fruit P’ants In Southern Michigan.^Plants Best and Prices Lowest. 
J AnnRFSS CORRESPONDENCE TO MAIN OFFICE, KALAMAZOO, MICH, 
