1897 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
693 
an interesting way, and avail themselves of such 
materials as are most readily found. Where moss is 
abundant, the nests are entirely constructed of this 
material, and an instance is mentioned in which a 
female, founding a colony in the grass near a stable, 
collected a quantity of the bundles of horse-hair 
accumulated from currying the horses, and composed 
her nest entirely of this substance. In another in¬ 
stance, a female took possession of the nest of a 
robin, built high up on a porch. 
About the middle of summer, the queen deposits 
eggs, from which hatch small females and males. 
These small females are supposed to lay only male 
eggs. It is said that all the eggs laid by the founder 
queen after the last of July produce only the large 
females or queens, which, after impregnation by the 
males, seek suitable places for hibernation, while all 
of the other inhabitants of the nest, including the old 
queen, perish on the approach of cold weather. 
The number of bumblebees to be found in a colony 
varies greatly with the different kinds. A nest of 
one species examined at the end of August, contained 
only five females and 20 workers, while the nest of 
another species, examined at the same time, contained 
35 females, 20 males, and 160 workers. 
That the bumblebees are the principal actors in the 
fertilization of the Red clover blossoms is a well- 
established fact. It is also evident that the raising of 
clover for seed is not nearly so successful a crop in 
many localities as it used to be. But that this seem¬ 
ing “decline of the Red clover ” as E. Y. R. G. calls it, 
is due to a lessening of the numbers of the bumble¬ 
bees, does not necessarily follow, and may well be 
considered an open question. In the modern practice 
of farming, where there is a frequent rotation of 
crops, and where modern tools are used, it is, doubt¬ 
less, true that there are, as many farmers assert, not 
nearly so many bumblebees’ nests in the meadows as 
there used to be. But there are other equally suitable 
places for nesting along roadsides, in stumps, etc., 
and it seems to me, and I think others must agree 
with me when they give it a second thought, that we 
see just as many bumblebees poking their hairy 
noses into blossoms of all sorts in the spring and 
summer as we used to when there were more of their 
nests in the meadows. In short, I doubt if there are 
noticeably fewer bumblebees now than there used to 
be in our grandfathers’ day. 
But why can not we raise clover seed as we used to ? 
I do not believe it is from the lack of enough bumblebee 
noses to go around into all the flowers, but there is no 
doubt that the lessening of this crop for seed is 
largely due to the work of a minute insect which 
works in the flower’s seeds, known as the Clover-seed 
midge; and there is, also, another insect known as 
the Clover-root borer, which is known to have been 
responsible for the ruination of the clover crop over 
large sections of a State in a single year. This Clover- 
root borer wrought serious destruction to the clover 
crops all over New York State several years ago, and 
finally caused the abandonment of the growing of 
this crop for seed in most parts of our State. Now, 
this insect is moving westward, and the farmers of 
Michigan and other neighboring States are suffering 
from its ravages, while it is not nearly so numerous 
in our New York clover fields ; and at present, some 
of our farmers are beginning to grow the crop for 
seed again. In short, I believe it is not yet an assured 
fact that the seeming lack of fruitfulness of the Red 
clover is due to a scarcity of bumblebees. 
If it should prove true that there are fewer of these 
clumsy rovers than formerly, then the question of 
how we can propagate them would become one worth 
deliberating upon. If the bumblebees could be made 
as useful, or as profitable rather, as the honeybee or 
the silkworm, I presume a method would soon be de¬ 
vised for propagating them on an extensive scale ; but 
I know of no case where insects have been grown for 
any other purposes. This question of the propaga¬ 
tion of many of our insects for the purpose of in¬ 
creasing those that are our friends, like the lady¬ 
birds, etc., is a fascinating one to speculate upon ; 
but when one comes to put the extremes to a practical 
test, it will be found almost impossible to improve 
upon Mother Nature’s methods, m. y. slin&bbland 
Buckwheat Middlings and Gluten Feed. t 
A. S, Candor, N. Y —Which is the cheaper grain for cows, 
buckwheat middlings at $11 per ton, or Buffalo gluten meal at 
$14, to be fed in combination with wheat bran and oil meal ? The 
coarse feed consists of dry corn fodder and Timothy hay. 
Ans. —The gluten feeds vary more or less in their 
composition, but considering average samples, the 
buckwheat middlings at $11 are decidedly cheaper. 
Buckwheat middlings of good quality, as usually 
bought near the buckwheat mills, are often the cheap¬ 
est source of protein or muscle-makers that a dairy¬ 
man can buy. They are constipating, however, and 
are excellent to feed with ensilage. If fed with dry fod¬ 
der and Timothy, we should use two parts each of bran 
and buckwheat middlings and one part linseed meal. 
The Farmers’ Club. 
[Every query must be accompanied by the name and address of 
the writer to insure 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.l 
Different Ripening of Red Raspberries 
M. U., Norwalk, O.— What is the comparative time of ripening 
of the raspberries, Cuthbert, Loudon and Miller, grown in the 
same vicinity ? The Cuthbert is the standard of excellence in 
this section, and it is necessary to know the comparative worth 
of other varieties. 
Ans —The Miller ripens first, and the Cuthbert and 
Loudon at the same time, the last through a longer 
period than the Cuthbert. 
Potash for the Peach. 
C. B. A., West Carlisle, 0.— How many pounds of high-grade 
sulphate of potash must be used around peach trees to paint the 
peach ? At what time of year should it be used, and how ? Would 
it do to scatter it over the top of clover around the peach tree ? 
What is the price per ton in New York ? Can one buy the chemi¬ 
cals and profitably mix his own fertilizer ? 
Ans —We would use at least six pounds of the pot¬ 
ash to each tree. It can be applied at any time. If 
the land is in Crimson clover, we would use it at once, 
scattering it over the ground around the tree about 
as far out as the branches extend. It will be safe on 
fairly level land, to put it on the clover sod at any 
time during the fall. The price of sulphate will 
average about $48 per ton. When using simple mix¬ 
tures for fruit or grain, where only two or three in¬ 
gredients are used, we would certainly do our own 
mixing. The more complicated mixtures for potatoes 
or vegetables may be made at home, but the average 
hired man is not a safe hand to mix them. He is not 
careful enough, and will get the proportions wrong 
unless you watch him. 
Care of Seed Potato Balls. 
W. E. W., Michigan.— What is the best method of curing and ex¬ 
tracting seeds from potato balls ? 
Ans. —Our preference is to crush the fruit while 
green, and let it dry. Then break it up into small 
particles and sow in pots or boxes the same as though 
these particles were clean seeds. 
Evergreens for a Windbreak. 
B. E. O., Baiting Ilollow, L. I., N. Y.—l wish to start a wind¬ 
break for my orchard and residence. The residence is on a hill 
of 250 to 300 feet elevation, and 800 to 1,000 feet from Long Island 
Sound. The orchard of 20 acres of apples, peaches and plums, 
is on the north slope of this hill, running to gullies or bluffs. The 
soil varies from sandy loam to blown sand, with loam subsoil. 
It has quite an exposure from the north. What kind of ever¬ 
greens should I use. How many rows shall I set, and where ? 
Ans. —Our choice of evergreens for the windbreak 
would be White pine in single or double row, as you 
prefer. Of course, the double row would be more 
effective. We would plant the trees of the first row 
not less than 20 feet apart, and those of the second 
row the same distance apart, and 20 feet from the 
others, alternating. As to the size, it is merely a 
matter of first cost. Trees two feet high would, 
probably, cost you 25 cents each, while little seedlings 
which may be safely shipped by mail would not cost 
you more than, one-fifth of that amount, and in the 
course of three or four years would be just as large 
and vigorous as those of the larger size. We would 
plant them on the north and northwest portion of the 
orchard. 
Sawdust for Bedding. 
A. C. O., Monterey, Ohio. —Will green sawdust, used as bedding 
for horses, spoil the manure for any crop ? 
Ans. —Green sawdust applied directly to the land 
often causes injury. The reason is that the sawdust 
contains too much acid. Manure contains ammonia 
which neutralizes or “ sweetens” the sawdust. When 
such sawdust is used for bedding, and well mixed 
with the urine and solids for several months, it will 
be safe to use it on many soils. 
How to Keep Vineless Sweet Potatoes. 
W. (f. D., Belleville. 0. —While you are discussing novelties, I 
want to say a good word for one. The New Hardy Bush or vine¬ 
less sweet potato which I have tried this year, more than pleases 
me. We cannot raise the Jersey, here, and yams we do not like, 
but this new kind is as easily grown as the yams, and the quality 
is excellent. The introducer says they may be kept “ as easily as 
Irish potatoes ”, but I can hardly suppose “as easily ” means 
Just the same as Irish potatoes. I wish some one who knows 
would tell me just how best to keep a half peck, more or less, 
till spring to start sprouts from. May I safely keep them in an 
ordinary potato cellar, or should they be kept in some warmer 
place ? 
Ans. —The Vineless sweet potato will keep well if 
given the attention that any other sweet potato re- " 
quires. To keep sweet potatoes successfully, requires 
a moderately dry atmosphere and a temperature from 
50 to 70 F. A temperature much below 45 degrees for 
any length of time, would be likely to result disas¬ 
trously. An ordinary potato cellar requires the tem¬ 
perature to be kept too low to be an ideal place for 
sweet potatoes. If I had a few potatoes, as you sug¬ 
gest, and wished to keep them, I would use a good- 
sized box or barrel, stratify the tubers with perfectly 
dry sand or chaff, and put them in some warm room 
in the dwelling where the above conditions could be 
secured. If no such place could be found, then I 
would set the barrel or box in the potato cellar. Being 
thus stratified would, at least, keep them from sudden 
changes of temperature, even in the cellar, which 
would be no little advantage to them. w. T. simpson. 
Arkansas. 
Eradicating Horse Nettle. 
J. C. B. (No address ).—How can I kill Horse nettle? Will any 
animal eat it ? 
Ans. —No, animals will noteat the pernicious weed. 
Nothing but grubbing out the roots, and cultivation 
will kill it. 
Various Poultry Questions. 
M. ./., Marshfield, Oreg.—\. How long after a rooster is mated 
with a hen, before her eggs are fecundated ? 2. After taking 
away the rooster, how long will the hen lay fertile eggs ? 
Ans —1. The time varies, but is generally con¬ 
sidered to be but a few days, probably not more than 
three or four, possibly longer in some instances. 2. 
The time varies in this, also, but, usually, the eggs 
may be considered fertile for from one to two weeks. 
The eggs from a turkey hen are usually considered 
fertile till she has finished laying her clutch. 
Slaughter House Refuse and Lime. 
W. U. II., Missouri Valley, Mo .—What is the best way to utilize 
slaughter house refuse ? Would it do to let it lie and rot? How 
long before it would lose its strength ? I can draw three loads of 
manure from town a day, that weigh 1*4 ton each. What would 
I need with the manure to make a complete fertilizer ? Can one 
afford to pay 10 cents a bushel for lime to apply to land ? 
Ans. —One way to handle such refuse is to spread 
it out under a shed where it will be dry, and keep it 
well mixed and covered with plaster. Do not use lime 
for this purpose. The plaster will dry it out so that 
you can crush or grind it when needed. Another good 
plan is to mix this refuse with manure as you 
make up your compost heap. Scatter it over as you 
build up the heap. For every load of such ma¬ 
nure, we would scatter in 25 pounds of muriate of 
potash and 40 pounds of dissolved phosphate rock. 
Let it ferment and heat through the winter, adding 
enough water to keep it from fire-fanging. During the 
winter, it will pay to fork the heap over, at least 
twice. Such manure will not sour the land. The truth 
is that good stable manure is not acid. On some soils, 
manure will have much the same effect as lime. “Blue 
litmus paper ” is ordinary blotting paper colored with 
litmus extract. A fair sample of the soil is taken and 
moistened with water. Then the paper is pushed 
down into the damp soil. If there be too much acid 
present, the paper will turn red. You may experi¬ 
ment by dipping the paper in vinegar. It will turn 
red. Then dip it in water which contains cooking 
soda, or in lime water, and it will turn blue again. If 
soil is quite sour, lime at 10 cents a bushel is profitable. 
The Value of Manure from Ensilage. 
N. 1). 3 ., East Randolph, N. Y. —What are the comparative 
values of manures from cattle when fed ensilage and hay, and 
other farm feeds ? 
Ans —The value of the manure from cattle will 
depend upon the age of the animal, and whether milk 
is being produced, or the animal is being fattened. 
From young growing stock, the manure has less value 
than from mature stock. Cows giving milk produce 
manure of less value than fattening animals. Cows 
in milk and young growing animals produce a manure 
which contains from 50 to 75 per cent of the fertiliz¬ 
ing value of the food consumed. Cows which are 
neither giving milk nor increasing in weight, will 
return nearly all, probably 90 to 95 per cent of the 
fertilizing value of the food. The value of the manure 
produced is dependent more upon the kind of food of 
the animal than upon any other one condition. The 
following table shows the relative fertilizing value 
of some of the more common foods : 
Value of 
nitrogen in 
2,000 Ids. 
Cotton-seed meal... $21.20 
Linseed meal. 16.50 
Wheat bran. 8.00 
Clover hay. 6.20 
Timothy hay. 3 75 
Corn ensilage. 0.85 
Oats. 6.20 
Corn meal. 4.75 
Turnips. 0.55 
From the table given 
matter for the feeder to c 
value of the manure proc 
Value of 
Value of 
Total fertil’g 
boa. acid 
potasb in 
value of 
2,000 lbs. 
2,000 Iba. 
2,000 lbs. 
$3.00 
$1.80 
$26.00 
1.80 
1.40 
19.70 
2.90 
1.60 
12.50 
0.40 
2.20 
8.80 
0.55 
0 90 
5.20 
0.10 
0.35 
1.30 
0 80 
0.60 
7.60 
0 60 
0.40 
5.75 
C.10 
0.40 
1.05 
above, 
it will 
be an easy 
le approximately the 
It will be seen that 
the concentrated foods give a much more valuable 
manure than such coarse food as ensilage and roots ; 
that one ton of clover hay returns more value in the 
manue than does Timothy hay. 
The value of the manure produced in 24 hours by 
18 Jersey cows at the Cornell Experiment Station was 
found as follows. The regular winter rations for a 
day were mixed hay, 114 pounds; maize ensilage, 
893 pounds; mangels, 186 pounds ; mixed food, 154 
pounds. The mixed food was composed of 12 parts of 
wheat bran, nine parts of cotton-seed meal, three 
parts of maize meal, and one part of malt sprouts by 
weight. The amount of fertilizing elements recovered 
in the 24 hours was : Nitrogen, 7 35 pounds ; phos¬ 
phoric acid, 5.01 pounds; potash, 7.40 pounds. Esti¬ 
mating the nitrogen as worth 15 cents per pouDd, 
phospnoric acid seven cents, and potash 43^ cents, 
the value of the total amount recovered in the excre¬ 
ment was $1.78 per day, or about 10 cents for each 
animal fed. l. a. clinton. 
