4 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
January 5 
Farmers’ Club. 
[Eyery query must be accompanied by the 
name and address of the writer to insure atten¬ 
tion. 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.] 
Windmills for Electric Power. 
C. T. H., Maine.—Is it practicable to use a 
windmill to develop electric power through 
a dynamo to run, say, a flve-horse-power 
motor, or would the first cost be prohib¬ 
itive? 
Ans. —While a considerable number of 
attempts have been made to utilize wind 
power in developing electricity for light¬ 
ing purposes nothing reaiiy satisfactory 
has yet been secured. The windmill as 
a motor is so unsteady, and it is idle so 
frequently that it is always necessary 
to use storage batteries in connection 
with the windmill. The storage bat¬ 
teries are themselves expensive, and it 
is very difficult to govern the windmill 
so as to get a sufficiently uniform rate 
of motion economically to charge a 
storage battery. It is necessary that 
the motion be quite uniform while this 
work is being done, and governors must 
be used to slow down the speed of the 
windmill when it is running too high, 
and in this way a large amount of the 
effective wind is lost and cannot be util¬ 
ized in charging the battery. 
[Prof.] F. 11. KING. 
Picking Potatoes by Machinery. 
I)., Mass.—Is there any machine known to 
you for picking potatoes? I mean after 
they have laid on the ground long enough 
to dry. I know that sometimes they are 
sacked from diggers of the Hoover pat¬ 
tern, but it Is desirable that they be al¬ 
lowed to dry somewhat before being piled 
together. It seems strange to me that we 
should have machinery for doing all the 
work about this crop except picking them 
up, even to cutting the seed, and that’s 
an easy job, a sitting-down Job, a regular 
lazy man’s job, compared with that back¬ 
breaking, man-killing, drive-the-boy-off- 
the-farm job of picking up the crop. It 
doesn’t seem creditable that we should 
continue to gather the millions of bushels 
of potatoes that we grow every year In 
this fashion. Here Is a demand. Who will 
supply a machine to do the work? 
Ans. —We expect that the human 
hand will have a monopoly of picking 
potatoes and milking cows for a good 
many years to come. We have heard 
of only one case where potatoes were 
picked up by machinery and that was 
reported last year. The Hoover digger 
was hauled by a traction engine. Behind 
the digger was a wide float or stone 
boat, and the potatoes were delivered 
upon it from the digger. This would 
not work at all on our own farm. After 
all, it is the Anger and thumb and wrist 
movement that gives the small farmer 
every chance in potato growing and 
dairying. If it could all be done by 
steam or horse-power, where would the 
hand-worker be? 
Late Cabbage in Iowa. 
J. K., Vresco, Iowa.—We have two large 
towns nearby where we could sell cabbage 
at 10 cents per head if kept until February 
or March. I Intend to follow plans for 
storage given in The R. N.-Y. a few weeks 
ago. I would like to know what time to 
set out plants to have good solid heads, 
which will not burst. That Is the greatest 
difficulty with us, especially In a wet Fall. 
Ans. —We annually grow about four 
acres of cabbage for market, but always 
sell in October and November and let 
the buyer do the keeping. We could 
keep it if necessary though, but as we 
can always get four cents per head from 
the fleld we don’t need to. We plant the 
seed in the rows where it is to stand, 
drilling it in rows three feet apart; and, 
of course, much thicker than we will 
need the plants to stand. For Surehead 
and Flat Dutch we plant the seed May 
25 to 30, and thin out to a stand three 
weeks later. Very little trouble about 
bursting. That is caused by planting 
too early, or using too early varieties. 
We use horse manure the year previous; 
never have used fertilizers. They are 
unknown here. Varieties, Surehead or 
good strain of Flat Dutch. 
Towa. JIRNRY FIELD. 
The Value of Wool Waste. 
V. 8. B., 8o. Hingham, Mass.—What Is the 
value, or what are the fertilizing proper¬ 
ties, of the waste from wool-scouring estab¬ 
lishments? There is such a place 1% mile 
from me, where they sell the waste at 
per load; that is, all two horses can draw. 
I have used some in haphazard way, 
planted fleld corn with it on light sandy 
soil; stable manure on part of fleld gave 
equal results at greater cost. There seems 
to be a good deal of wool flber, much of 
what is probably alkali soil from far west¬ 
ern regions. There is a strong smell of 
sheep; It is heavy, and heats quickly. As 
it comes from their dusting machine it is 
fine and dry, but the pile is exposed to the 
weather, and becomes lumpy and greasy. 
I do not send sample, as I suppose the 
stuff is well known by those who answer 
such questions as this. 
Ans. —Such waste varies greatly in 
value. There may be all the way from 
one to 10 per cent of nitrogen in it. At 
$1 per load it will pay. It is valuable 
chiefly for its nitrogen, which is very 
slow or unavailable until the waste is 
rotted. It has not been found good 
practice, we think, to plow the waste 
directly into the soil. It would be better 
to mix it with the manure, use it to 
absorb the liquids in the stable, or as a 
mulch for trees or bush fruits. It does 
not make good bedding, as it sticks to 
the cattle and is not clean. For use be¬ 
hind the cows as an absorbent it does 
well. When mixed with horse manure 
it is slowly rotted and becomes more 
available. We would certainly haul all 
we could get at the price named, but 
would not expect it to take the place of 
fertilizers or manure the flrst year. It 
must be rotted before the nitrogen will 
be ready for use. 
Great Need of Phosphoric Acid. 
Q. H. M., Bradenville, Pa.—Why do you 
advise using more phosphoric acid than 
I'Otash in a fertilizer when there Is more 
potash in the ashes of crops? 
Ans. —This question is an important 
one, and has received a great deal of 
consideration at the hands of experi¬ 
menters. The chief arguments used to 
show that phosphoric acid should be ap¬ 
plied in greater quantities than potash 
in a commercial fertilizer are that on 
the average, soils contain more potash 
than phosphoric acid. In fact, most 
soils contain sufficient potash to supply 
the needed requirements of maximum 
crops for very long periods, and when 
cultivation, proper tillage and manage¬ 
ment are used, this element may be read¬ 
ily extracted. In general farm practice, 
where grain and stock are sold, a larger 
proportion of phosphoric acid is taken 
from the farm than of potash, because 
the phosphoric acid is located riiiefly in 
the grain, while the potash is chiefly lo¬ 
cated in the straw, which is usually re¬ 
tained and returned to the farm. In the 
growing of animals, too, more phos¬ 
phoric acid is retained from the food 
than of potash. Phosphoric acid being 
the chief constituent of the bone, and 
potash being required in the animal body 
in very small amounts, hence in the 
selling of stock, phosphoric acid is the 
only mineral element largely removed. 
It has also been shown that phosphoric 
acid is much more essential in the early 
life of the plant than the potash. In the 
early growth of the various crops, phos¬ 
phoric acid needs to be absorbed in much 
greater quantities, if maximum growth 
and uniform development are attained. 
For root crops, an abundance of “avail¬ 
able” phosphoric acid will cause a 
greater development of root flbers, 
which will enable the plant to gather 
more readily the other food required. 
Or, in other words, phosphoric acid is 
particularly essential in hastening the 
growth of young plants. Experiments 
have shown that with the exception of 
light sandy soils and peculiar forma¬ 
tions, defleient in feldspathic compounds, 
phosphatic manures are much more ef¬ 
fective than potassic, probably for the 
reason just given. It is my judgment 
that, for general farming, the phosphoric 
acid should exceed the potash, but for 
certain other lines, particularly market 
gardeqing, fruit growing, etc,, the pot¬ 
ash should be used in larger quantities 
than Is supplied by the average fertil¬ 
izer, or that there should be a closer re¬ 
lation between the phosphoric acid and 
potash. That there is a tendency In this 
direction is shown by the composition of 
the average commercial fertilizer, which 
is much richer in potash than formerly. 
E. B. YOORHEES. 
N. J. Exp. station. 
When you write advertisers mention The R. N.-Y., 
and you will Ret a quick reply and “ a square deal." 
See our guarantee Sth page. 
For the land’s sake, use Bowker’s Fer¬ 
tilizers. They enrich the earth .—Adv 
1901 Catalogue 
of Trees and Plants free. 
T. C. KBVITT, Athenla. N. J. 
TpCEC and Plants at Wholesale Prices. Cat.free 
IIICEO Reliance Nurseky, b. 10 , Geneva,N.Y 
For Sale' 
k— 1.000 bu. Clover Seed @ $6 to $7 per 
bu.; 500 bu. Crimson Clover Seed @ 
15 per bu.; 2,000 bu. Cow Peas @ 11.26 to $ 1.75 per bu. 
J. E. HOLLAND, Milford, Del. 
with the first 100 clreulars. Bovee, Cobbler, 
00 Fortune and others. Oats and B. P. Rocks. 
Smith’s Potato Farm, Box B, Manchester,N. Y. 
Fruit and Ornamental Trees, Bulbs 
and Roses. Send for illustrated catalogue. 
WILLIAM O. SNYDER, Minersvllle, Pa. 
York Imperial and Ben Davis Apple 
Trees, 4 to 5 feet. Send for my catalogue of fresh- 
dug trees. W. C. Bryant, Nurseryman, Dansville.N.Y 
Y ork imperial, peach, 
KIEFFEK. You get what you order. 
WOODVIEW NURSERIES, B. 100 , Uriah, Pa 
GINSENB 
$ 10 . in planto produce $4,069.10}o 10 
yeare, Book telBod^bow to grow lt,4e» 
LakesIdeGInseng Gardens ,Amber,N.Y. 
pOR SALE —200 lbs. of Giant Argenteull Asparagus 
Seed. This variety of asparagus is the earliest, 
largest and most prolific asparagus grown on the 
American continent. Price, 11 per lb. Address 
WM. C. GERATY, Youngs Island, 8 . C. 
400,000 
STANDARD PEAR TREES. 
First-class, 6 to 7 feet, 14 c. each; 5 
to 6 feet, 12 o.; 4 to 5 feet. lOc.; 3 !^^ 
to 4 feet, 8 c. Boxing and packing free. Secure var¬ 
ieties now. paY in Spring. Catalogue Free to all. 
Sheerln ’8 Wholesale Nurseries, Dansvilie, N.Y. 
C AULIFLOWER SEED 
High grade Danish seed by mall, direct from the 
grower In Denmark, to your address, postpaid. 
Danish Snowball,X ^ 1 os. 11.50 lib. 118.00 
Dwarf Erfurt..... X OS. 66o i oz. (1.85 1 lb. (22.00 
KARL KOLLE. 840 E. Fullerton At. Oblcaro. Til. 
!!G STRAWBERRIES. 
B ! 
1 wftnt 200,000 people to eend for the 0oesi plant eatnlogoe 
ever published of strawberriet, raspberries^ blackberries, 
Ane fnilt or noTeltles, eurreaU, grapes, Ae# 16 years In the bus¬ 
iness. The most complete strawberry nursery in America. Send fox 
catalogue today. Address, 
D. BRANDT, 80x4^7, BREMEN. OHIO. 
o 
4 
I 
a 
4 
Better Sure 
than Sorry 
Buy the seeds that have been lure every 
year for more than 40 years. Many seed 
buyers have been torry they did not get 
Gregory’s Seeds 
No one was ever sorry ho bought them. 
Our three guarantees 
a make you sure. New 
catalogue free. 
. J. J. H. Gregory & Son 
^ ^tbciAF^^^Marblehetd, Mass. 
9 
9 
9 
9 
crop 
can be 
grown 
without 
Potash. 
Supply 
enough Pot¬ 
ash and your 
profits will be 
large; without 
Potash your 
crop will be 
“scrubby. 
Our books, telling about composition of fertilizers 
best adapted for all crops, are free to all farmers. 
GER.MAN KALI WORKS, 
93 Nassau St., New York. 
a'GRAPEVINES 
100 Varletles. Also Small Frnitii, Trees, Ac. Best root¬ 
ed stock.Genuine, cheap. 9 sample vines mailed for lOr. 
Daeoripti .'e price-list free. LKWISBOKSCH, gredonla. N.t. 
Ceo. S. Josselyn 
Fkkdonia, N. Y. 
INTRODUCER OF 
Campbell’s Plnrly .The best Grape. 
JoHsel-yil ..The best Gooseberry, 
Fay ..The l)est Currant. 
Large list of GrapeVines and Small 
Fruit Plants. Catalogue free. 
Seeds! Seeds! 
77tli Annual Priced Catslog:ae of 
Vegetable, Farm and Flower Seeds 
is now ready and mailed free to all applicants. 
BRIDGEMAN’S SEED WAREHOUSE, 
87 East 19th Street, New Fork Olty. 
f,” Orowri by us in a ^ . 
\t*oostooK Co.Waine^ 
Puvity Gua»*anleed f.*? , 
- Hen r.v; Elwell & Co.V 
HO Washington St 
The Seed- 
Potato Man 
grows his own potatoes and guarantees them true 
to iiuinc. Has all standard sorts and tlie very l)est 
of the tested new varieties nt the lowest priees. 
Olds’ Field and Garden Seeds 
areofequfil merit as to purity and quality. Leading 
firm Feeds of best varieties. Also vepetable and Anweraeeds. 
>ViiT not bay seeds dlreet from the growert Catalogue free. 
L. L. OLDS, Drawer C, CLINTON, WIS. 
OnrFriiitTreesGrow 
We have thousands of all the best varieties 
of TUEKS and PLANTS. APPLES 8 cts., 
PEAKS Gets., PEACHES 4 cts., etc. We 
can save .you moitey. Handsome illustrated 
catalogue FHKE. .Send for it to-day. 
HIGHLANIJ NIJKSERY CO., 
l>«*I>t. I>. Koclkestrr, N, Y. 
GOOD FRUIT. 
Among my specialties (which no grower should 
miss) are: Three kinds of Raspberry, two each of 
Blackberry, Currant and Grape, and one each 
of Strawberry and Gooseberry. Better fruits for 
money-making were never known; guaranteed healthy, 
strong-rooted, fresh-dug. My 1901 Catalogue (sent 
/> ee) is the most valuable one issued. 
ALLEN L. WOOD, Wholesale Grower, Rochester, N. Y. 
SEED bTl free 
To got new customers to test my Seeds, I will mill my 1901 
CftUlogue, filled with more Bargralnn than everaud « lOcDue 
liUl go^ for 10c MTortii of Seedn for trial abaolutely 
fVee. All the ItestSeedH, Bulba, Plants, Koaea, Farm 
Seeda, Potutoea aud mauy Xoveltlea at lowest prices. 
Glnaenr, the great money making plant. Gtunt l^rlse To* 
mntoea, 2tothe foot, Pan American Oata, sentou tfree to 
farmers, and two Free Paaaea to Pan American Expo* 
sitlon, Buffalo, N. Y. are offered. 82,635 00 n cash premioma. 
Don’t give your order anti) you see this new catalogue. You*!! 
be Surpriaed at my bargain offers. Send posta ifor catalogue 
to-day. It ta Fit FK to all. Tell your friends to send too. 
F« B. MILLS, Box 79, liosehlll, Onondaga Co., N. Y* 
. ^ Nur.ery and Florl.t’. line. Direct deal with us will Insure you the best and 
save you money. Mail size postpaid, larger by freight or express, safe arrival and satis- 
1000 ac?ei Kg^VeenhoSses. ^ valuable 168 page Catalog for the asking. 47 years. 
_THK XTOKKS a HAKRISON CO.,_Kox: 840 . Palne.vllle, Ohio. 
President McKinley and Governor Roosevelt 
ate Rough Rider Strawberries for their 4 th of July dinners. We sent them each six quarts. What is 
fIS none too good for you. Price of plants, 7.5 cents per dozen; $3 per 
100 , per 1 , 000 . Catalogue free. Address the Introducer, L. J. FARMJEK, Box 30 , Pulaski, N^Y. 
THE^ three 
1 he \ ork Imperiul Apple just 
what you have been looking for 
Large, bright red winter variety 
Satisfies the most eiactmg. Robust 
heavy bearer. 80 others; peaches, pears; 
everything for the orchard and garden. 
Catalouge Free. Send to day. 
HARRISON’S nurseries; 
WINNERS 
OurKtundard Klerfcr PearJ 
Is enormously productive 
iaige fruit, go id seller, ripens laic, 
CribMoii Strawberry, large, 
fine flavor, very prolific. Good ship¬ 
per. Catalogue describes this and 
oO other varieties, ^end f )r it now, 
Box 28, BERLIN, Md. 
