1897 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
281 
WHAT I SEE AND HEAB. 
The live poultry market has been active because of 
the Hebrew holidays, which require large quantities 
of this class of stock. Still, arrivals have been so 
heavy that there is a large accumulation. This sur¬ 
plus comes largely from the West and South. The 
low price of eggs has, evidently, caused the selling of 
much of the stock. Still, a large part of this stock 
is so poor that it sells very slowly, and then at low 
prices, while prime stock is sought at good prices. 
There is no surplus of this class of stock, and isn’t 
likely to be. 
X X X 
If any one is in doubt as to what becomes of much 
of the poorer quality of produce that comes to this mar¬ 
ket, he should take a walk through the poorer quar¬ 
ters of the city, notably the Italian and Hebrew 
quarter. Apparently, nothing is too poor or too far 
gone to be of value here, and the wonder is that so 
much of the stuff escaped the inspectors of the Board 
of Health. In warm weather, one needs a strong 
stomach to go through these quarters. Much of the 
truck is sold from push carts or street stands, and the 
keepers of many of the latter are women. 
X X X 
Every year, just before Easter, large consignments 
of Easter lilies are received from Bermuda. They are 
cut when but partially opened, and many buds are 
entirely unopened. They are in poor condition as 
compared with the lilies produced here, because of 
the long shipment, but many misguided people buy 
them. Moreover, they are a fraud upon florists and 
the growers of lilies here, for the latter get a large 
part of their bulbs from Bermuda, and these bulbs 
are supposed not to have had the lilies cut from them; 
but many of the growers do cut them, and afterwards 
send us the bulbs. Such an abuse has this become, 
that some of the bulb growers take pains to adver¬ 
tise that no lilies are cut from their beds. 
X X X 
One of the features of the plant and shrub trade in 
New York, is the auction. Selling plants at auction 
is not a new thing by any means, but the course of 
trade seems to be changing. Formerly, this was 
almost entirely a wholesale business, and plants, 
vines, shrubs, bulbs, etc., were offered in large lots 
only ; now they are sold at auction in a retail way, 
even single plants of many kinds being sold, and 
small planters thus have the opportunity of getting 
choice shrubs at low prices. These auction houses 
are much more numerous than formerly. Often at 
these auctions, a planter may buy a single fine shrub 
for a few cents that ordinarily would sell for three 
or four times as much. Fine, large rose bushes sell 
for the regular price of small ones. A list of plants 
sold here would include almost everything that is to 
be found in garden or lawn. f. h. v. 
SAND VETCH AND GIANT SPURRY. 
G. G. T., Little Britain, Conn .—I would like to know about Sand 
vetch. Some catalogues say to sow in the spring, others in the 
fall. Will it do well on naturally wet land with a clay subsoil ? I 
would like information in regard to Giant spurry on the same 
kind of soil. 
Ans. —Sand vetch is naturally adapted to light, 
somewhat sandy soils, where it grows fairly well, and 
seed may be sown either in the spring or fall. It is 
sown at the rate of 1 % bushel per acre. For a soil 
similar to the one described, I would recommend the 
European vetch or tare (Vicia sativa). This makes a 
good growth and is valuable for either a forage crop 
or to plow under. For forage, it may be sown in the 
spring on sandy loam or clay loam soils. It grows 
rapidly and makes valuable feed. Cut when well in 
bloom and cured as clover hay is cured, it makes a 
quality of hay second in value to almost no other. It 
has been used somewhat extensively as a cover crop 
for orchards. Prof. Bailey, in Bulletin 49, Cornell 
University Experiment Station, gives the following 
account of it : 
A half bushel of seed was sown June 16, upon five-eighths acre 
of heavy clay loam. It was sown broadcast upon a freshly pre¬ 
pared surface, and well harrowed in. The seed could have been 
sown later with equally as good effect, no doubt, and the cultiva¬ 
tion of the orchard could have been continued for 10 days or two 
weeks longer. The young trees of pear, plum and apricot have 
made an excellent growth this year among the vetch. The vetch 
started 8omewhat slowly and the seeding seemed to have been 
too thin; but by the middle of September the ground was covered 
thickly. Frost came October 1, but the vetch was not injured, 
and continued to grow until the middle of the month, and re¬ 
mained green still longer. It made a remarkable cover, growing 
knee-high in a dense mat, and everywhere completely covering 
the ground. It began to flower in September, but no seeds ripened 
except upon a few poor spots. Upon light soils, seeds would, 
probably, form freely, but the plant is an annual and is not likely 
to become a weed. The roots do not extend deep. With the 
approach of hard freezing weather, the stalks fell upon the 
ground, where they now lie like a thin, even covering of old hay. 
The stems are soft and can be easily plowed under in spring and 
will soon decompose; and they will not keep the soil wet too late 
in spring, which is an important point upon clay soils. On the 
whole, we are much pleased with the vetch as an orchard plant, 
and shall use it again. 
Samples of this vetch, including four to six inches of the roots, 
gave the following fertilizer analysis: 
Original substance. Dry substance. 
Per cent. Per cent. 
Phosphoric acid (PiOs).116 .70 
Nitrogen .65 5.10 
Potash (K a O).475 2 28 
Water.79.15 
Compared with clover, the fertilizer value is high. The follow¬ 
ing are summaries of several analyses of Red clover: 
Dry substance. 
Per cent. 
Nitrogen.2.05 
Phosphoric acid.66 
Potash.2.24 
Giant spurry grows well on sandy soils, and this is 
its strong point. It will grow where most other 
plants will not. When sown on rich soils there is 
danger of its becoming a troublesome weed. The 
plant has little to recommend it as a hay or a forage 
plant. It is not well liked by stock. When plowed 
under on sandy soils, it increases the humus and is 
used mainly for that purpose. l. a. c. 
BUSINESS BITS 
Thk Binghamton Carriage and Cycle Company, Box B, Bing¬ 
hamton, N. Y., have such confidence in their Parlor City bicycle 
and Gold Coin top buggy, that they will ship either subject to 
approval, and pay freight both ways in case they are not satis¬ 
factory and as represented. You can have a catalogue which 
fully describes the goods for the asking. 
Thk Kemp manure spreader, made by Kemp & Burpee Mfg. 
Company, Syracuse, N. Y., has an attachment which puts 
manure in rows or drills as fast as a team can walk. The 
manure is fined and broken up, and thrown into two rows at once 
as the team passes on. This means relief from a hard job, and 
the machine does the work far better than the hired man would 
do it. 
Thk Goodhue windmill is manufactured by the Appleton Mfg. 
Company, Batavia, Ill., in several sizes for pumping and power, 
and either direct or back-geared stroke. They mount their mills 
on either three or four-cornered steel towers of any desired 
height, thoroughly braced with properly placed steel cross rods. 
Fall information about these machines will be found in their 
catalogue, which they will send upon request. 
Do not get mixed up on the milk coolers at Cortland, N. Y. The 
Champion cooler is made by a responsible firm, and will be found 
all right and as they represent it. Advertising a Milk Route, is 
the title of a little book they have published that will interest any 
one who has a cow. It is sent free, of course simply because the 
firm want to tell of the advantages and benefits of cooling and 
aerating milk, but the information is no less valuable on that 
account. Champion Milk Cooler Company, 39 Railroad Street, 
Cortland, N. Y., is the address. 
The manure spreader has made a heavy job light, for it enables 
you to sit on a comfortable seat and let the horses spread for you. 
The Stevens fertilizer sower, made by the Belcher & Taylor Agri¬ 
cultural Tool Company, Chicopee Falls, Mass., offers the same 
help to the fertilizer farmer. It will broadcast from 200 to 4,000 
pounds per acre, leaving the fertilizer in an even strip five feet 
eight inches wide, or, if you desire, will drop only in the drills. A 
smaller size is made for hand use on lawns. This hand machine 
can be used for covering icy walks or roads with coal ashes. 
Such a machine has long been needed. 
Thk Granite State Evaporator Company, Temple Court, New 
York City, have made a departure in the methods of selling their 
feed cooker and water heater that will interest many readers. It 
will be found in their advertisement on page 286. There are few, 
if any, farms where the cooker could not be used to advantage, 
and under this method of payment, they ought almost to pay for 
themselves from month to mouth, so that when the payments are 
all made the account would be even and a cooker ahead. If it 
strikes you favorably you need not hesitate, as the company is 
all right, and guarantees the cooker. 
The Field Force Pump Company, Lockport, N. Y., were among 
the very first manufacturers of spraying pumps for fighting 
insects, and they have kept right up to the requirements and im¬ 
provements from year to year. They make a very complete line, 
from the simplest hand sprayer to the most complete machine 
for horse-power, and though they have been advertising in The 
R.N.-Y. every year from the beginning,we have yet to hear of the 
first complaint of either their goods or their methods of treating 
customers. Their catalogue gives illustrations of their different 
makes of pumps, nozzles and machines, and you may h ave it for 
the asking. 
We now import 
Wood Ashes 
Direct from Canada, collected by 
our own employees, in the hardwood dis¬ 
tricts, test them , and ship them out under 
our own guarantee of strength and 
purity. When you buy wood ashes or any 
other fertilizer, take Prof. Johnson’s ad¬ 
vice, and deal only with concerns of known 
responsibility. Our twenty-five years in 
business, our ample capital and facilities, 
combine to make our guarantee of value. 
Our Bowker’s 
Bone and Wood-Ash Fertilizer 
at $25 per ton, is an excellent combination. 
Write for particulars. 
E201A/lf ITD fertilizer 
Dw WW WCI\ COMPANY, 
43 Chatham Street, Boston. 
WHEAT 
Will probably bring good prices 
next Fall—now for a big crop. 
NITRATE OF SODA 
Applied in the Spring, 50 to 100 
pounds per acre—will greatly in¬ 
crease the yield. It can be ob¬ 
tained of any enterprising fer¬ 
tilizer dealer. 
Please ask for pamphlet with full instruc¬ 
tions for using NITRATE on Wheat and 
other crops and instructions for MIXING 
FERTILIZERS at home. Address 
S, M. HARRIS, Moreton Farm(P.0,)N,Y. 
Corn 
Is a vigorous feeder and re¬ 
sponds well to liberal fertiliza¬ 
tion. On corn lands the yield 
increases and the soil improves 
if properly treated with fer¬ 
tilizers containing not under 
1% actual 
Potash. 
A trial of this plan costs but 
little and is sure to lead to 
Farmers, 
Gardeners and 
Fruit Growers 
To economize should freely use the time 
tested reliable brands of FERTILIZERS 
we manufacture. The goods increase 
quantity and improve quality of Grain, 
Grass, Vegetables and Fruit, and make 
healthy Trees , Vines and Shrubs. 
Brands for all soils and all crops. 
X3tT Some prefer making their own “ home 
mixings ” for such we always keep in stock the 
Chemicals and crude materials required. 
THE CLEVELAND DRYER CO., 
No. 130 Summit Street, Cleveland, Ohio. 
MANURE VALUE 
depends very largely upon its being 
properly pulverized and evenly spread. 
This can be done quicker, cheaper and with 
more certainly of good results with the 
KEMP SPREADER 
than by any means known. Spreads tuiy kind of 
manure better than it can be done by nand. It 
saves all waste from 44 bunchy spreading,” makes the 
manure go farther. 16 YEARS on the MARKET. 
Lar^ent and oldest makers of Manure Spreaders 
in the world. Send for 189? CATALOGUE—FREE. 
KEMP & BURPEE MFG.C0 
• Syracuse, N. Y. 
profitable culture. 
All about Potash—the results of its use by actual ex¬ 
periment on the best farms in the United States—is 
told in a little book which we publish and will gladly 
mail free to any farmer in America who will write for it. 
GERMAN KALI WORKS, 
93 Nassau St., New York. 
SAVE MONEY! 
DIRECT SALES TO FARMERS /; 
** Economy is the Road to Wealth.” 
T'hen—Why not economize ? Pave your way by i 
, cash dealings, aud save from $10 to $12 per ton on i 
i your fertilizers. Per ton . 1 
Pure Raw Bone Meal, ... 
Scientific Corn and Grain Fertilizer, 16 
“ Potato Fertilizer, 25 
“ Bone and Meat, - - 18 
; FOB SAMPLES AND BOOK WHITE 
THE SCIENTIFIC FERTILIZER CO., 
P. O. Box 1017. PITTSBURGH. PA 
pAr ^ala“ 0ne Leggett Paii 8 Green Gun, 1896 
I Ul wfllv pattern, used one season; all com¬ 
plete. Price, $5, C. O. 1). Address 
E. LINDEN BERG, Dubuque, la. 
$20 PHOSPHATE FOB POTATOES AND CORN 
8 old to farmers direct. We have no agents. Send 
for Circular, bow prices for car-load lota. 
YOKE CHEMICAL WORKS, York, Pa. 
CURRANTS. 
I have yet a few thousand No. 1 one-year Cherry, 
Victoria and I ay Currant Plants. Will take $10 per M 
while they last. W. A. FREED, Homewood, Pa. 
Surplus StoDk Cheap. 
25.000 Brandywine Strawberry; 10.000 Souhegan 
Blackcap. Write for prices to WALTER F. TABER, 
basevlew Fruit Farm, Poughkeepsie, N. Y. 
Strawberry Plants for Sale. 
Evans, Champion of England. King’s Worthy. 
1‘onderosia Perfection. Salzer E irllest, 50 plants, 
35c.; 100. 00c.; 500. $2.50. Edith. Salzei Late. 
Mastodon, 100. $1: Seek-no-Further. Bouncer, 100 60c : 
000, $1.75. JAMES LIPP1NCOTT JK., Mt Holly, N J. 
FARMERS’ FEJfCE. 
tanners, send for circu¬ 
lar & testimonials of best 
& cheapest fence on earth 
Weaver & outfit, $3: Wire 
Stretchers, per 100. Ants 
w’t’d Writeto-day BoxA 
T. J. Andre, Wauseon. (>. 
1 jaag-y- ' 
FIELD’S SPRING TENSION RATCHETS 
can be applied at any point equalizing tbeBtrhln and 
keep your fence wires tight and in uniform tension. 
Agents wanted everywhere. Circular and terms on 
application. G. W. FIELD, borth Branch, N. J 
THE WHEELER EVCNER. 
Something New 
Prevents galling your 
horses during the 
spring plowing. 
Draft is always even on both tugs. Sold on trial. 
First order secures one at agents' price. 
ROSS BROTHERS, 162 Front St., Worcester, Mass. 
