THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
37 
189'!’ 
to provide soiling food and fodder excellent in qual¬ 
ity. Second, to save the labor of thrashing and grind¬ 
ing. And, third, to secure the consumption of all 
the straw on account of its palatqbility. Again I say, 
farmers, try this crop ! It may mean much to you. 
Peas bring nitrogen to the soil from the air. A crop 
of peas may be taken from the soil, and it will be 
richer in nitrogen after the removal of the crop than 
before it was grown. That is a cheaper way of get¬ 
ting nitrogen than buying it from the manufacturer 
of fertilizers. 
As a food for horses, one-third peas would be better 
than one-half. Peas are not commonly fed to horses 
because of their dearness as compared with oats, 
and because of the greater labor of grinding them 
when fed whole, owing to their hardness. 
How Hens are Fed at Cornell. 
II. W. II., Rochester, N. Y .— With wheat at $28 per ton, bran at 
$8, middlings at $12, corn at $12 (costs five cents per bushel for 
cracking), corn meal at $14, oats at $12.50, meat meal at $40, 
clover hay at $13, cabbage at $10, oyster shells at $15, grit at $20, 
straw at $7 for litter, will some expert poultrymen, those that 
get 50 per cent of eggs in November, December and January, 
compound a ration that will produce those results at a profit, 
with eggs at 30 cents per dozen ? The hens are P. Rocks hatched 
the last week in March, in April and May, 1896; W. Wyandottes 
hatched in April and May, and Brown Leghorns hatched in 
May and June. 
Ans. —Though I cannot guarantee a ration to give 
a profit or the results asked for, the following ration 
is the one we use, and it is very satisfactory : Morn¬ 
ing feed : one bushel oat meal, one bushel corn meal, 
one bushel middlings, two bushels bran. This mix¬ 
ture is put in the feed trough, and no more used than 
the hens will eat up clean. At midday, the follow¬ 
ing mixture is thrown around the house in the litter, 
and the fowls made to scratch for it: two bushels’ 
wheat, one bushel oats, 1% bushel cracked corn. The 
object in scattering this feed on the litter of the floor, 
is to give the hens exercise, and the more they can be 
made to hunt for the grain, the better. In addition 
to the grain fed, have constantly in the house a 
supply of fresh ground or cut bone and a plentiful 
amount of fine road dust. The hens have access at 
all times to mangels or turnips. If you have cab¬ 
bages, let the fowls have what they will eat of them. 
Some green succulent food during the winter is a 
great help. Clover hay or clover chaff is relished 
and may be put in frames or used partly for litter. 
Oyster shells and a liberal supply of fresh water com¬ 
plete the ration ; a warm house is provided, and the 
returns in eggs are perfectly satisfactory. 
X.. A. CLINTON. 
Killing Ticks on Cattle. 
B. , Kansas. —I would like to know why cattle that are to be 
shipped from a tick-infested region, might not be thoroughly 
cleansed, by smearing them once a week, for three weeks, with 
soap and salt ? That will cleanse from lice, why not from ticks. 
Ans. —I would not like to use the soap and salt for 
the purpose mentioned above, for a number of reasons. 
Strictly pure soap is rather costly. To be efficient, 
the soap ought to be left on for some time. Ordinary 
soap, unless again removed with water, has a tend¬ 
ency to produce disease of the skin. No matter how 
effective while wet, if a single hair be missed, 
you may and you may not skip quite a number of the 
infinitesimally small young ticks. When you are 
through, even though all the ticks be killed, what 
good will it do any one for shipping purposes ?' The 
quarantine laws do not permit shipping cattle from 
tick-infested regions to where ticks do not have their 
natural habitat, except during certain months, and 
then, as far as I am aware, no questions with regard to 
ticks are asked. A mixture of kerosene, lard and 
sulphur makes short work of all ticks touched there¬ 
by. Sulphur mixed with the salt given to cattle 
makes their skins an undesirable abiding place for 
ticks. The majority of them are too fastidious to 
feast on cattle whose perspiration is flavored with 
brimstone. Concert of action, necessitating legislation 
coupled with severe penalties for violation thereof, is 
the only thing that will ever rid us of this pest. One 
can’t well keep his own fields clean when his neigh¬ 
bor’s fields are foul. It has now been scientifically 
demonstrated that, “no ticks no Texas fever,” and it 
seems to be equally plain that, no cattle no ticks. In 
other words, if everybody were compelled to keep his 
cattle free from ticks, these parasites could be readily 
exterminated. j. c. senger. 
Root Galls on Peach Roots. 
C. II. S. J., Tifton, Oa .— Last winter, among a lot of nursery 
stock I ordered—peach and plum trees—I found a few trees 
affected with so-called root or crown galls. All affected trees 
were destroyed. I now find that the disease has developed upon 
many of the trees planted at that time, and I desire information 
regarding its history and treatment. What is the prognosis for 
trees so affected, as to longevity, future productiveness, etc. 
Ans. —An illustrated, detailed discussion of these 
root-galls was given in The R. N.-Y. for June 6, 1896, 
and in Bulletin 39, just issued from the Texas Experi¬ 
ment Station (College Station, Tex.), there is also a 
brief account of this mysterious affection. Several 
theories have been proposed to account for it, but 
none of them is based on careful experiments. Several 
experiment stations, as well as the Government at 
Washington, are now at work on the galls, and we 
may get some definite knowledge in a few years more. 
Some peach trees are so weakened as to become 
worthless in a few years, while others may revive and 
become paying plants. Not knowing the cause of the 
disease, we cannot explain how the correspondent’s 
remaining trees became affected after he had de¬ 
stroyed all diseased ones. Too little is known about 
these root-galls to enable one to write very intelli¬ 
gently about them. m. v. slingekland. 
Those Homemade Nebraska Windmills. 
E. R., Whitehall, III.—I saw in The R. N.-Y. of December 5, a 
description of a homemade windmill for pumping water. What 
is the size of wheel ? I wish to try one and see how it will work 
in Illinois. 
Ans. —We usually make our wheels eight feet in 
diameter ; that is, we use four 2x2-inch hard wood 
pieces eight feet long, and they cross on the axle, so 
that the fans are four feet long, and we make them 
four feet wide, so that the fan is square. We use 
one-half-inch lumber to cover the fans. Lapsiding 
does very well. The box is made enough larger than 
the wheel, so that there is no danger of striking with 
the fans. We use a wire extending from the extrem¬ 
ity of one fan to the next to brace the wheel. If 
there should be trees or buildings near to interfere, 
the box may be set on posts as high as you choose. 
Mine is eight feet to the top of the box. 
Nebraska. e. o. boabdman. 
What Ails the Plum Orchard. 
E. O. K., Truro, N. /S'.— Cau you explain the cause of my plum 
trees dropping their foliage very early in the season ? I have a 
young plum orchard of 2,000 trees, planted in the spring of 1893. 
I have given clean culture and liberal fertilizing, and the trees 
have made fine growth each year—from three to five feet of new 
wood each season—and last year a good many commenced fruit¬ 
ing, but for some reason unknown to me, they dropped their 
leaves about September 1, before the fruit was fully grown or 
ripe. For fertilizer, I applied at the rate of 500 pounds fine 
ground bone, and 300 pounds muriate of potash to the acre, with 
a light dressing of common salt. The soil is a good, sandy loam 
and dry. 
Ans. —It is impossible to say with certainty the 
exact cause of the dropping of the plum leaves, with¬ 
out seeing the orchard, or at least, some of the af¬ 
fected leaves from it in season. However, it is almost 
certain that it is the result of some fungous disease. 
As these diseases often begin very early in the year, 
and the germs lie dormant in the leaves, etc., it would 
be well to rake up all trash, leaves and mummified 
fruit as soon as dry, and burn them clean. Then spray 
the trees with Bordeaux Mixture just before they 
start their buds into growth in the spring. Spray 
again just after the fruit has set. If any signs of spots 
on the leaves or sickly leaves appear, it would be best 
to spray with the ammoniacal solution of copper, made 
according to the regular formula. If the trouble is 
fungus, there is a big stock of the spores in the or¬ 
chard ready for the next growing season. 
H. E. VAN DEMAN. 
The Hybrid Tomatoes ; Pruning the Vines. 
W. II. /S'., Olympia, Wash. —1. How cau I get some of the seed of 
the hybrid tomatoes shown at Figs. 255 and 256 1 I think that I 
have a tine piece of ground for tomatoes; it slopes to the south¬ 
west. I would like some instructions as to how to care for them. 
I wish to get them ripened as early as possible, as we are 
bothered with early frosts sometimes. 2. How about pruning 
them ? How far along is the plant when you prune ? 
Ans. —1. We select only enough seed of one hybrid 
tomato for plants the next season. They are not at 
all fixed, and we do not care to distribute the seed. 
One must plant tomato seed under glass or cold 
frames if he would secure early fruit. 2. Pruning 
tomato vines will not induce earlier fruitage. 
Apples On Pear Stocks. 
0. N. G., Santa Barbara County, Cal.— Are apples a success 
grafted on pear stocks ? I have several hundred nice young pear 
trees of the Keiffer and other varieties, that I wish were apple 
trees. 
Ans. —No, apples will not thrive on pear stocks. 
Fertilizing Strawberries Through a Mulch. 
R. G. T., West Brownsville, Pa.—I have about two acres of 
strawberries, set last spring, to which I would like to apply some 
muriate of potash and S. C. rock, if it be practicable to do so. 
The plants are in matted rows,so that it would be extremely tedious 
to apply directly around them. But after giving the bed a heavy 
mulch of straw, can I broadcast the fertilizer on top of this, allow¬ 
ing it to filter through, without danger of burning or in any way 
injuring the plants ? 
Ans. —We do not think that the potash and rock 
broadcasted as proposed would do the slightest harm. 
We would, however, prefer bone flour to the rock. 
What Value in Coal Ashes ? 
M. 0. yv., Toledo, 0 .—What do you say about the use of fine, 
clean, sifted ashes of anthracite coal as applied to small and 
other fruit of all kinds, rose bushes and other plants ? What is 
the best mode of using, and when ? 
Ans. —Such ashes will have only a mechanical effect. 
There isn’t any plant food in them. We do not be¬ 
lieve that plants of any kind will be materially bene¬ 
fited by their use, except as they may serve to change 
the texture of the soil. 
Fertilizing Arbor Vitce Hedge. 
R. 8. L., Washington, D. C .— 1. I have 650 lineal feet of arbor 
vitie hedge, but of irregular growths. Where the ground is thin 
and poor, the shrubs are about four feet high, while on other 
spots, they are six and seven feet. Is it safe for me to topdress 
the poor places ? I am told that stable manure should be spar¬ 
ingly used near pines, yet my experience shows them as thriving 
on rich ground as deciduous trees. 2. I wish to extend my hedges 
600 feet next spring. Is it prudent to topdress on the intended 
line now, it being rather poor ground ? 3. Which makes the better 
hedge, Norway spruce or arbor vibe ? 
Ans. —1. Yes, it is quite safe for you to topdress the 
soil with manure, and an addition of muriate of pot¬ 
ash and bone flour would, no doubt, be still more 
helpful. 2. Yes, it would be prudent and judicious to 
topdress now. 3. Arbor vitae. 
An Old Canadian Pasture Field. 
J. B., Flesherton, Ont .— Will it pay to buy unleached ashes at 
six cents per bushel to apply on an old pasture that is too stony 
and rough to pay for breaking ? The grass on it at present, is 
mostly June grass. Can it be reseeded with other grasses and 
clover without breaking ? There are a great number of earth 
worms in the field in places. Part of the field is high and dry, 
and part is low and damp, but not springy. What seeds would 
you advise sowing, and when ? 
Ans. —We would expect better results by giving a 
good dressing of barnyard manure. The hard-wood 
ashes are good, and would, no doubt, help the pasture 
if manure be also used. We would give the top¬ 
dressing of manure this winter or early spring, and 
apply the ashes in the autumn. If the manure can¬ 
not be obtained now, apply the ashes in early spring 
and the manure in the fall. Never apply both at 
once, as the potash in the ashes will set free the 
ammonia contained in the manure, and much is lost. 
We would have little faith in sowing any seed on 
such a pasture except White clover. If this be sown 
very early in spring, and a top-dressing of manure 
given, it may succeed. June grass is likely to run out 
other grasses if all have an equal start. Now that the 
June grass has possession, there is little chance for 
the other sorts except the one referred to above. 
Nitrate of Soda in Manure Liquor. 
F. A, Oscola Mills, Mich. —I have a cesspool of liquid from the 
cow stalls. Will an addition of nitrate of soda make it richer ? 
Ans. —Yes ; but it is, probably, rich enough for 
ordinary gardening. We would not advise you to add 
nitrate to it for use on ordinary crops. 
Crab Apple; Handling Seed Potatoes. 
J. II., Salisbury, Mass.— 1. Is the new seedling apple by Mr. C. C. 
Gray a real Crab, or only a beautiful little apple with excellent 
flavor ? 2. Does not the exposure of a seed potato for several 
weeks to strong sunlight and air, necessarily diminish its vigor? 
3. What is the best form for a gooseberry bush, tne tree or bush 
form ? 
Ans. —1. It seems to us to be a true Crab, and a per¬ 
fect beauty at that. 2. Yes ; it does. Any growth 
of the eye of a potato is made at the cost of the vigor 
of the seed piece. The advantage of placing seed 
pieces in the sun is that the eyes make a shorter, 
stubbier growth. 3. Bush form. 
Growing Second-Crop Potatoes. 
F. P., Jeffersonville, Ind.— What is the best method of produc¬ 
ing the second-crop potato ? I have been unable to get early 
potatoes, gro jvn the same year, to grow. 
Ans. —The second crop is grown from the potatoes 
of the second crop of the previous year, the same as 
used for the first crop, and not from potatoes grown 
early the same year. These are called second-crop, be¬ 
cause they are often grown on land from which an 
early crop has been dug. In Kentucky where, prob¬ 
ably, the best second-crop potatoes are produced, 
this crop is planted in July, and sometimes as late 
as early in August. When planted so late, they are 
frequently cut down by frost before mature, but 
these immature potatoes are said to be the best for 
seed, although quite small. The ground must be 
very fertile. 
Powdered Sulphur for Potato Scab. 
J. II., Salisbury, Mass. - To treat potato scab and rot with 
powdered sulphur successfully, how much would you apply to a 
hill, or a pound to how many hills ? If applied directly to the 
potato, will it do harm ? 
Ans. —It may be said that the experiments for the 
past two years lead to the opinion that the most profit¬ 
able amount to use is about 300 pounds per acre. The 
freshly-cut seed may be rolled in the sulphur, and the 
rest sprinkled in the open row. If fertilizer be added 
in the row, the sulphur may be added at the same 
time. The point is to get the sulphur evenly scat¬ 
tered through that portion of the soil where the new 
potatoes are to form. Experiments show that no 
harm comes to the cut seed when sulphur is placed in 
contact with it, provided that young, tender sprouts 
are not already formed. Sweet potato growers are 
using sulphur to check the soil rot, and the fungicide 
is scattered in the open row with a fertilizer drill 
before the plants are set. It may be said that the 
experiments show that the good effects of the sulphur 
hold over in the soil, and the second crop of potatoes 
is as clean as the first. bvtron d. halsted. 
New Jersey Experiment Station. 
