9 2 4 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
December 31, 
FARMERS’ CLUB 
[Every query must be accompanied by 
the name and address of the writer to in¬ 
sure attention. Before asking a question, 
please see whether it is not answered in 
our advertising columns. Ask only a few 
questions at one time. Put questions on a 
separate piece of paper.] 
What Riled the Rhubarb? 
Reader (No Address ).—I planted rhubarb 
in the Fall of 1902. It -was planted in 
ground that had been heavily manured and 
used as a garden for eight years. When 
planted a liberal supply of bone meal, phos¬ 
phate and nitrate of soda was used. In the 
Spring of 1904 the plants were late in coming 
up, many of them small, and the color was 
a dull green instead of red. It has been sug¬ 
gested that the plants may have been injured 
by the severe Winter of 1903-1904, which 
caused them to start late. Can any form of 
fertilizer be suggested that would be likely 
to improve the color? 
I do not think the plants will need any 
fertilizer, but when it comes next time 
think it will be the right color. The 
plants may have had too much fertilizer. 
I have seen such cases before. Better let 
it alone. w. w. rawson. 
Massachusetts. 
I am of the opinion that the severe 
weather of last Winter had much to do 
with the failure of the rhubarb roots to 
throw up normal sized and colored stalks. 
The roots having been set but one year 
were not well established, and perhaps 
were thrown near or at the surface of the 
ground by the action of the Spring frosts. 
It may be, however, that the liberal appli¬ 
cation of commercial fertilizer to the al¬ 
ready heavily manured soil had an in¬ 
jurious effect on the roots, especially if the 
nitrate of soda was used without great 
care. In either case, whether the injury 
was due to severe weather or to the fer¬ 
tilizers, the roots should recover, giving a 
normal yield within two years. 
C. E. HUNN. 
In an experience of over half a century 
I have never known rhubarb where the 
color of its stalks was affected by manure, 
no matter of what kind or how strong it 
was. No plant will stand strong manure 
as will rhubarb. I have used on it the 
strongest, applied with an unsparing hand, 
and never staggered it; on the contrary, 
leaves measuring four feet each way and 
stalks which when trimmed weighed 
pounds each were the result. Your corre¬ 
spondent does not state whether he 
planted seed or plant divisions; if the 
former then he has no cause to expect a 
second edition of the parent plant, as in 
my experience seed always sports, and we 
have no more reason to expect the parent 
plant to be duplicated than we have when 
planting the seed of any apple tree. I 
know there is one variety now on the 
market that is said to duplicate itself, but 
seeing is believing. Rhubarb is as hardy 
as wrought nails, and I have no doubt 
that when fully developed your corre¬ 
spondent’s plants (if from divisions) will 
bear every ancestral mark. 
Massachusetts. j. j. h. Gregory. 
Spraying Clean Trees. 
There is no scale on the young and old 
trees; would you advise spraying this Spring? 
York, I*a. J. w. 
Yes, if we had facilities for spraying we 
would go over the trees carefully. Even if 
there are no scales the spraying will kill other 
insects, and also destroy many disease germs. 
Refuse Beans. 
Can you give the address of any one having 
refuse beans for sale? J. o. h. 
Transfer, Pa. 
They are hard to buy at a fair price. In 
most places where beans are grown and sorted 
the refuse and the vines are fed to sheep. The 
demand for them is good, and there is little 
"need for shipping. 
Mink Raising. 
Can you give any information about mink 
raising? lias it ever been carried on with 
any degree of success? Are there any “rnink- 
eries” in successful operation in this country 
or the United States, and where are they if 
there are any? 1 would be extremely grate¬ 
ful for any information you may be able to 
give me; I think I saw something of this 
sort in Tiie R. N.-Y. some time ago, but un¬ 
fortunately I do not keep my back numbers. 
Ivnowlton, Canada. s. k. f. 
We do not know of any “minkeries,” and 
do not believe it will pay to attempt to breed 
wild animals in captivity. You probably re¬ 
fer to an article on skunk farming. Some 
years ago a man at Lima, N. Y’., undertook to 
raise skunks “under cultivation”—that is, in 
a fenced field. We printed his story before 
he met with losses, and the reputation haunts 
us still. The “skunk farm” was a failure. 
A disease broke out among the skunks and 
killed most of them, and the farm was de¬ 
clared a nuisance. All other attempts at 
“skunk farming” have failed and always will 
fail. 
Land Plaster. 
Tell me what is land plaster? G. J. n. 
Cloverdale, Cal. 
Land plaster, also called gypsum, is sul¬ 
phate of lime. When plaster is burned so as 
to drive away the water we have plaster of 
Paris. By mixing this with water we have 
a hard crust or substance which when ground 
up would be land plaster. It was once con¬ 
sidered very valuable for use in the stable or 
in manure, but is now less used for this pur¬ 
pose. It furnishes lime and acts in most 
soils as a solvent to make plant food more 
available. 
Inoculating Soil. 
Will Alfalfa seed sown on a two-year-old 
meadow grow? If so, at what time should it 
be sown? j. w. 
Youngstown, O. 
Under the most favorable conditions it 
might start, but this is not the way to sow 
Alfalfa. It cannot be handled like Red clover 
seed. We would not attempt it. You should 
fit the soil as carefully as possible, and be 
sure that the seed is covered. Thus far we 
have obtained best results with seed sown in 
August. 
Fish on New York Farms. 
I have a mountain stream I want to stock 
with Speckled trout. Can you tell me where 
the State hatchery is located? h. a. c. 
Acra, N. Y r . 
Write to the Forest Fish and Game Com¬ 
mission at Albany, N. Y., and state your 
wants. They will send you blanks to be 
filled out. They can tell, on receiving the 
blank back, whether or not the fish asked for 
are suited to the water, and whether or not 
the water has been previously stocked by the 
State. Last season they sent over 80,000 
trout into this county on 44 applications. 
Hauling Out Manure. 
I haul manure daily from 120 horses, grain 
fed, and lots of straw and hay in manure. 
Shall I scatter it over ground during Winter 
or put it in small piles? w. w. 
Woods Cross, Utah. 
If the soil is level and the surface wash 
is not too great, we would spread the manure 
as it is hauled out. On rough land with 
rapid surface drainage we would dump in 
small piles and spread in the Spring. It is 
a question of surface washing. 
Cotton-Seed Meal for Fertilizer. 
Could I buy cotton-seed meal from the 
South in small quantities (ton lots) for 
less than $28 per ton. 43 per cent protein in 
Pittsburg? What is its value for fertilizer 
to be used in home-mixed goods? c. s. L. 
Gibsonia, Pa. 
It is doubtful whether you can buy cotton¬ 
seed meal direct, from the South to advantage. 
The production is largely in the hands of a 
large corporation, which regulates prices. As 
to its value for fertilizer at $ 2 £ per ton, the 
Connecticut Experiment Station figures that 
nitrogen in nitrate of soda cost, last year 
on the average, about 16 cents a pound. In 
cotton-seed meal the average cost of nitrogen 
was about 16)4 cents. The meal makes a 
good “filler" or material to mix with other 
chemicals. 
Alfalfa on Meadow. 
I read in your paper and in other agri¬ 
cultural journals of putting soil inoculated 
with Alfalfa bacteria on soil where Alfalfa is 
to be sown, but no writer says anything about 
the quantity. Will you advise the amount of 
inoculated soil to be sown on one acre of new 
Alfalfa? a. g. w. 
Broome Co., N. Y. 
The average amount of soil used is about 
300 pounds per acre; that is, when the soil 
is taken from an Alfalfa field. If we were 
to use the cultures from Washington again 
we should get them in solution and sprinkle 
the liquid over 330 or 400 pounds of good 
soil, and scatter this over an acre. 
Care of Strawberry Plants. 
I have been in the habit of cultivating and 
weeding my strawberry patch in the Spring 
as well as during the Summer. I am now 
told that the vines should not be disturbed 
in Spring. Will you inform me whether it 
would be best to leave weeding until after 
fruit is picked? e. p. w. 
York, Pa. 
The majority of strawberry growers do 
more or less hoeing or cultivating in Spring, 
where the plants are in rows or hills. Light 
cultivation does the plants little or no harm, 
and is necessary on most soils to keep down 
the weeds. Our own plan is to cultivate or 
hoe as little as possible in Spring. AVe 
mulch quite heavily in Winter, and pull the 
mulch away from the plants in early Spring. 
It is left between the rows or hills, and is 
made thick enough to shade the ground. If 
weeds appear they are pulled by hand or with 
a narrow hoe. In this way the strawberry 
roots are disturbed but little, while the 
mulch in an average season keeps the ground 
moist and cool. 
Cement on a Flat Tin Roof. 
I have a flat tin roof that causes trouble 
when snow falls and lies upon it. Would it 
be practical to spread a coat of Portland ce¬ 
ment and sand, say three-fourths or one inch 
thick, all over it, and thus make a solid job? 
The frame of the house is capable of carry¬ 
ing the weight, but what effect would frost 
have on it, and what proportion of cement to 
sand would be right for this purpose? 
Chester, N. ,T. e. e. h. 
We would like experience from those who 
have tried this. The experts at the Depart¬ 
ment of Agriculture think the plan would fail. 
If the roof has been painted they do not 
think the cement will stick to it closely. Un¬ 
less some arrangement is made to prevent the 
action of heat and cold it will break the con¬ 
nection between the tin and the cement and 
crack the latter. This is theory—has anyone 
practical experience to offer? 
Farm Papers. —The wife of the writer 
frequently carries a bundle of magazines 
to a nearby hospital. The last time they 
were received the matron said: “In the 
last bundle from your place there were 
some agricultural papers, and you don’t 
know how I enjoyed them. The night 
they came I sat down and had a feast 
with them.” This shows how much peo¬ 
ple who do not live upon the farm think 
of the farm and farm topics. The writer 
has often been surprised to find in town 
and city homes a farm paper, and to find 
it was more thoroughly read than any¬ 
thing else in the home. There are many 
city people who look with longing eyes 
toward a farm they some day hope to 
own. 
Felt Boots. —The man who invented 
felt boots is as much entitled to a medal 
from Congress as many who have received 
it. The stiff, hard, cold leather boot so 
many of us remember, that was so hard 
to pull on in the morning and equally as 
hard to pull off at night. We recall 
stamping our feet, kicking our toes against 
a board, anything to get our feet warm. 
The felt boot has changed all this, even 
the bootjack is no longer found. Felt 
boots keep the feet warm and dry, the felt 
absorbing the perspiration that makes the 
rubber boot so cold, clammy and un¬ 
healthy. We well remember how large, 
homely and clumsy the first pair that we 
ever saw looked, but now all over the 
cold regions they are almost the only foot¬ 
gear worn bv the man who is outdoors 
much in the Winter. They have added 
much to the comfort of all outdoor work¬ 
men, and especially to those who are 
obliged to stand in the snow all day, 
formerly with cold and often wet feet 
which are now dry and comfortable. The 
felt should be separated from the over each 
night in order that th'e moisture ab¬ 
sorbed by the felt through the day may 
dry out. There are several varieties of 
felts, the knit and pressed felt being 
most largely used. The knit boot will be 
found much the more durable. H. g. m. 
For the land’s sake, use Bowker’s Fer¬ 
tilizers. They enrich the earth.— Adv. 
FRUIT TREES. 
A Large Assortment of the Finest Quality 
of Fruit, Shade and Ornamental Trees, 
at very Low Prices. We make a Specialty 
of dealing Direct with the Farmers. 
Write for Price List. 
CALL’S NURSERIES, Perry, O. 
Peach Trees and Strawberry Plants. 
We have them by the 100,000, together with general 
line of nursery stock Prices low; quality best. ■ 
Write for new 1805 Catalogue. 
Chattanooga Nurseries, Chattanooga, Tenn, 
TUC linnCRM WAY - Wonderful Crops of Straw- 
fiL muucnn I»nl berries: how to retain the 
old beds. KKV1TT PLANT FARM, Athenia,N. J. 
BABY RAMBLER ROSE 
An Everblooming Dwarf Crimson Rambler, 
Other novelties as well as a general list of nursery 
stock. Illustrated descriptive catalogue FREE. 
JOS. H. BLACK, SON & CO., Higlitstown, N.J. 
YOU MUST 
SPRAY 
IF YOU WISH 
COOP FRUIT 
WHY DON’T YOU USE A MACHINE 
WHICH WILL SAVE YOU 
One-third of your material, 
One-half of your time, 
One-half of your labor, 
Do the work far better, 
Keep your help contented, 
and received the Gold Medal 
at the St. Louis Exposition ? 
A postal with your name and address will bring 
you our catalogue. 
NIAGARA SPRAYER CO., 
39-41 Perry Street, Buffalo, N. Y. 
With the 
ORCHARD 
Monarch 
, Automatic Compressed Air 
-jr— Sprayer. Nohand labor—has agitator and brushes for 
r oleanlns Strainers. Our free book tel Is about it. “No swindled feeling” 
■ Ifyou buy our pumps. Wo »lsom.ko tho Emplro .Kino. Car- 
■ Gold Knapsack and others. 
| FIELD FORCE PUMP CO. 2 11 th St. Elmira. N.Y. 
SALIMENE 
KILLS SAN JOSE SCALE 
Write for circulars and testimonials. 
DRY OR LIQUID FORM. 
Monmouth Chemical Works. Shrewsbury, N. J. 
HYDRATED LIME 
To mix with KEROSENE. Sure Death to 
SAN JOSE SCALE. For Few Trees or Large 
Orchards. Free circular explains. 
ARTHUR J. COLLINS, Moores town, N.J. 
A n n ft \M for scale with the 4V A L L A C K 
\rK A W SPRAYERS. No expense for power 
ilM ■ Wallace Machy. Co., Champaign, Ill. 
It FRUIT BOOK 
shows in NATURAL COLORS and 
accurately describes 216 varieties of 
fruit. Send for our liberal terms of distri- 
’ bution to planters.— Stark Bro’s, Louisiana, Mo. 
DOTA TOES.—Bliss, Cobbler, Harvest, Hustler, 
1 Ohio. Rose, Longfellow. C. W. Ford, Fishers, N.Y. 
DREER’S 
Catalog 
of Tools 
and 
Poultry Supplies mailed free— 
lull list of Spraying Outfits, 
also Incubators and Brooders. 
HENRY A. DREER, 714 Chestnut St., Phila. 
BERCKMAN5 «> 
AUGUSTA GA 
WEST MICHIGAM WEES 
axe ‘•bred for bearing.” That’s why we 
cut all buds from the best fruited, bearing 
trees. It also irsures stock true to name and 
variety. Ox er three million trees—913 acres. 
AH new and standard varieties of Apple, 
l’each. Pear, Plum, Quince, etc. Also orna¬ 
mental trees and shrubs. We sell direct lit 
holesnlci prices. Illustrated catalogue free. 
WEST MICHIGAN NURSERIES, 
Box 54, Benton Harbor, Mleh. 
RAY PEACH 
New to the market but very choice. 
Fully tested, 16 years a record bearer. 
Stock limited. Order early. Every 
fine variety in our matchless peach cli¬ 
mate. Fine new catalog. Write for it. 
Harrison’s Nurseries.Box 29, Berlin, Md 
PEACH TREES 
A full line of varie¬ 
ties, new and old 
APPLE TREES, 
Summer, Autumn and Winter Varieties. 
QUINCE TREES sire scarce, 
but we have them. Get our FRKK descriptive Cata¬ 
logue. JOS H BLACK SON & CO. .Higlitstown. N. J. 
TDCCQ $5 PER 100. FREIGHT PAID. 
il ll Lei name and Fumigated. All kinds of tr 
® ^ Catalogue free, RF.I.TAN41E NIJRS 
Apples. Pear, Plum, Cherry, Peach and 
Carolina Poplars. Healthy, true to 
trees and plants at low wholesale prices. 
RELIANCE NURSERY, Box XO, Geneva, New York. 
nr 1 nil TDECC Grand lot, grown on the bank of lak ; Erl- twomilwj 
HrBliSI I nfr J. from any peach orchards, free from b-..-/re and all 
1 l ‘" WM other diseases. Large stock of Pear, Plum, Cherry 
Apple, etc. Immense supply of small fruits, headquarter* for 
Ornamental Trees, Shrubs, Plants, Seeds. 
40 acre* hardy Koaen. 44 green-houses of Palms, Ficus. Ferns, Roses, 
Geraniums, etc. Mail size postpaid. Direct deal saves money, try us. Valua¬ 
ble catalogue free. 5l6t year. 1000 acres. 
THE STORRS & HARRISON CO., 
Painesville, Ohio* 
