1901 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
295 
GALVANIZIMG A LOAFER FIELD. 
One of the most serious problems on 
our own farm is—what shall be done with 
the loafer fields? By a “loafer field” we 
mean one that formerly helped support 
the family—producing crops that were 
a credit to the farm—but for some rea¬ 
son has fallen out of service. Nature 
takes hold of these loafers when man 
abandons them, and covers them first 
with weeds, then briers, and finally 
with trees. When we came to the farm 
we found at least half of it “loafing” in 
this way. It was necessary to turn that 
loaf into a bread-earning capacity, for 
there was not enough smooth land to 
produce needed crops. Besides this, we 
knew well that fields are like men. The 
longer they loaf the further does nature 
carry them back toward the point where 
they are of little value to civilization. 
We started at once to bring those fields 
into cultivation. On most of them we 
tried what we may call the slow-and- 
sure process. We know it is slow and 
we think it is sure. This consists in 
roughly plowing the ground in the 
Spring and sowing cow peas. We pre¬ 
fer to use with the peas a dressing of 
fertilizer low in nitrogen but high in 
potash and phosphoric acid. The peas 
are plowed in, and the following year 
peas can be sown again, or corn plant¬ 
ed with a fair amount of corn fertilizer. 
This fertilizer will be necessary on such 
soil to give a fair crop. 
Some human loafers are put back into 
useful wor]' and habits by this slow 
method, but we probably all know of 
cases where they have been seized by 
some sudden ambition or powerful mo¬ 
tive, which lent them energy and sent 
them at once into useful work. Was 
there any way to galvanize those loafer 
fields, and make them produce food at 
once without waiting for the slow pro¬ 
cess of green manuring? We decided to 
find out, so we took one field containing 
about 2% acres for an experiment. It 
was a poor light loam—stony and over¬ 
grown with brush and briers. It was at 
the back of the farm, and most old farm¬ 
ers in the neighborhood considered it 
unfit for cultivation. This field was 
plowed in May, but instead of sowing 
cow peas, as was done in the other, we 
broadcast about 500 pounds per acre of 
the Mapes corn fertilizer. This was har¬ 
rowed in with the Acme, the ground 
marked and planted with Rural Thor¬ 
oughbred fiint corn. This variety does 
not give a heavy yield of grain, but is 
the best for silage or fodder that I know. 
The corn was well cultivated and grew 
rapidly. By September 1 it stood, in 
parts of the field, over 12 feet high—the 
most remarkable tribute to the value of 
a high-grade corn fertilizer that can 
well be imagined. 
On the north is a field that had not 
been touched. It was simply a tangled 
mass of briers, cedars and birch. At the 
south a neighbor’s field was in corn, 
without fertilizer. This field had beeh 
well tilled; but the stalks would barely 
average shoulder high! At the east is 
one of the loafer fields which is under¬ 
going the “slow-and-sure” treatment. A 
few hills of corn planted here were but 
little over waist high, with mere nub¬ 
bins in the way of ears. In the midst 
of these poor surroundings stood the 
green forest of fertilized corn so thick 
and tall that a man on horseback riding 
into It would be lost from sight! We 
have no platform scales, and could not 
measure the yield from this field. The 
stalks, after husking, were run through 
the St. Albans shredder, giving a rough- 
age which we consider nearly equal to 
Timothy hay for Winter feeding. We 
fed no hay at all until March 1, when 
oat hay was ready. This “loafer field,” 
under the galvanic infiuence of the corn 
fertilizer, gave us shredded fodder 
enough to provide roughage for all our 
stock for 50 days! Left to itself it would 
not have fed one rabbit for 10 days. 
Without the fertilizer it would not pro¬ 
duce corn enough to pay for the cultiva¬ 
tion. Any farmer who has stock to feed 
while hay is worth $15 or more per ton, 
will realize the profit in “galvanizing” a 
loafer field so that it will leave the hay¬ 
mow free to pay taxes and interest. 
This Spring we are following the corn 
with oats—using more fertilizer. Will 
this plan of handling abandoned land 
pay better in the end than the slower 
way of breeding up the soil with green 
manures? I cannot answer that until the 
cow-pea fields have been cropped, but 
that is not all the story. There are 
times when we must start at once and 
make such back fields produce a crop 
from the very start. The soil is in about 
the condition which doctors term “sus¬ 
pended animation,” and galvanic treat¬ 
ment pays in such cases when you must 
have results. I know I obtained such 
results at a profit. It was the corn fer¬ 
tilizer that induced that loafer field to 
pull off its coat and walk down to the 
barn with its load of fodder, h. w. c. 
A Practical Dairyman. 
About a month ago H. G. M. had an ar¬ 
ticle on weighing the grain ration, and 
on page 216 someone suggests that prob¬ 
ably H. G. M. was a “book farmer,” and 
that he would know more If he got up at 
four o’clock in the morning to milk, and 
then carted the milk to the cars or a 
creamery. I would like to say that H. G. 
M., with his father, Edward Manchester, 
and his brother, George E. Manchester, 
who is secretary of the Connecticut Dairy¬ 
men’s Association, compose a firm of as 
hustling dairymen as it is easy to find 
in our S^ate. A year ago last Winter I 
spent one night at their place. 1 got there 
at sundown, one of the coldest nights of 
the Winter. G. E. M. was in the creamery. 
The milking of about 40 cows was going 
on, the “Safe” engine and separator were 
running. G. E. M. was putting up a 
special order for brick ice cream. He is 
the butter maker. H. G. M. and his father 
have charge of the cows and the feeding 
and milking, with several helpers, and H. 
G. M. peddles the skim-milk in the morn¬ 
ing. The next morning the mercury was 
minus eight degrees, and H. G. M. was 
up before five o’clock, at least, milking. 
Instead of his usual peddling that morn¬ 
ing he was off by train at seven o’clock 
to speak at an institute In another county. 
I understand that this firm has increased 
its herd to about 100 cows since a year ago, 
and anyone wishing to study a business 
dairy will be instructed by a trip to Win- 
sted. But the correspondent above referred 
to should not be entirely condemned for 
his supposition. We have so many cases of 
muscular paralysis arising from book edu¬ 
cation that the btisiness farmer looks 
askance at the applicant for a Job who 
has been through a college as H. G. M. 
has. E. C. BIRQE. 
Connecticut._ 
I FEED about a peck of malt sprouts a 
dfty to a cow. I feed them dry. A cow 
will eat them dry after she gets used to 
them, as well as soaked. I think the rea¬ 
son so many are used is because there Is 
no bad effect from them like corn feed. 
Most dairymen In this part of the country 
feed them. I would say 50 carloads are 
used every year at this station. M. M. 
Monroe, N, Y. 
Sharpies “Tubular” 
FARM 
Cream Separators 
The Wonder of the New Century. Greatest 
slep ever made in advanced Cream 
Separator construction. 
Superior as the Sharpies S^ara- 
tors have always been, these Tubu¬ 
lar machines are far ahead and 
completely distance every competi¬ 
tor. They are worth double the money 
beeause guaranteed under usual condi¬ 
tions to produce enough more butter 
than the best competing separator to 
pay fully six per cent interest on the 
whole first cost of the 
machine. 
We absolntely warrant 
It and give free trial to 
prove it. 
Our factory is run¬ 
ning double turn, one 
gang all day and one 
all night, forthe dairy, 
man who sees this ma¬ 
chine buys it. 
In addition to yielding 
more butter It !• very light 
running. A 600 lbs per 
hour Tubular turns as „ , 
easily as a previousSOO 11 w il 
lbs per hour machine 
No disksto bother 
with and get out 
of order, no com¬ 
plications. Washed 4 
in two minutes.Top 
of milk vat waist high. 
Highest award—Gold medal and spec- 
lal Knights decoration at Paris Exposi¬ 
tion. Valuable book “Business Dairying 
andcatalogNo 163,free. 
Sharpies Co„ P. M. Sharpies, 
C hicag o, Ills,_ West Chester, Pa. 
All lukiBMi, Old or BOW, to made plUblo and oaay—will look 
aad woar loBcor—br tbo of 
Eureka Harness Oil 
The finest preservative for leather ever dlaoovered. Bavoo 
many times Its cost by Improved appearance and intho oosi 
of repairs. Sold everywhere In cans—all sizes. 
UU» by BT AlTD ARD OUi OO. 
BREED’S 
Universal Weeder 
is the best weeder ever made for all con¬ 
ditions of soil. For killing weeds and pul¬ 
verizing the soil it has no equal. 7 feet 6 
inches wide, permanent tooth, and best of 
material and workmanship. Former price, 
$ 8 ; we will send it direct to farmers for W 
f.o.b., Boston. No agents. You get the bene¬ 
fit. Order at once. The supply Is limited. 
UNIVERSAL WEEDER CO.,' 
32 S. Market Street, Bostom, Mass. 
Excellent for 
“hrnahlng” In 
clover and 
grass seeds. 
weeds, quack grass, etc. 
TM BELCHER A 
Eclipse Weeder 
f. ■ Adopts an Entirely New Principle li Weedirt. 
The teeth are adjustable so that those coming Imme¬ 
diately over the plants In the row may pradually be 
raised as the plants increase in size. I means that 
this weeder may be used long^fter the utility of all 
other Weeders has ceased. Has 39 cll tempered 
spring teeth, all adjustable to be raised or lowered, 
to stand straight, or slant to or from the plants. 
Stirs, fines and pulverizes all the top soil and lulls all 
Adjustable Shafts—fit any horse. Send at once for special wuder eirculcrs, Jce. 
TAYLOR A. T. CO.. Boil'76 • CHICOPEE FALLS, MASS. 
^iSar*! 
It Stands the'Storms 
better than any wind mill ever Invented. This i.s not only true because 
of the unusually well constructed and thoroughly trussed and braced 
angle steel tower, but because of the great strength of the mill itself. 
It has a way of adapting itself to severe shifting winds. 
The Satinson Wind Mill 
becauseoflta many points of superiority, sprung into popular favor Immediately 
upon its Introduction,and is now the recognized leader among machinery o f this 
class. The powerful Double Gear with center line draft, long Interchangeable 
Boxe.,freedom from all torsion and overhanging strain, makeit the strongest 
in the world. Don’t bay until yon investigate this mill. Samson Art Catalog free, 
STOVER MFCs CO.. 502 River St.. Freeport, Ills. 
Htt 
~ OAf^ir - 
-• 
Even Little Hogs 
don’t often go through Page Hog Fences. They 
are spaced to catch ’ em. Try our 9 bar 30 inch. 
PAGE WOVEN WIllE FENCE CO., AUBIA.N, MICH. 
IDER 
MACHINERY 
I Best and cheapest. 
Send for catalogue. 
BOOMER A BOSCHERT 
PRESS CO.. 
Water Street, 
BYSACDSE, N. V. 
SPECIAL PRICES 
TrIaL Ci^uaranteedo JDo^lc 
and Oomblnation Beam 
OSGOOD lot GeatrsISG 
Catalog Free.' Write now. BINGHAMTON.N.Y. 
JONES HE PAYS THE FREIGHT. 
JONES OF BINGHAMTON, N. Y. 
WELL 
DRILLING 
Machines 
Over 70 sizes and ttyles, for drilling either deep or 
shallow wells in any kind of soil or rook. Mounted 
on wheels or on sills. With engines or horse powers. 
Strong, simple and durable. Any meohanlo can 
operate them easily. Send for oatalog. 
WUXIAMS BROS., Itbaca, XT. Y. 
Wc ate the largest manu- 
factwrers of Steel Wheels 
and Truck Wagons in the 
World. Write for Catalogue. 
Havana (III.) Metal Wheel Co. 
OI’OP’ THE <3r:El..ilVSS’ 
That unsightly sign will not be neededlf yon have the 
HARTMAN STEEL ROD LAWN FENCE. 
Kwp« on OTorythlng but muBolne uid r.ln. Best for Lawn., ^hoola, 
ChurcbM, Cemetoriea, etc. Steel Post* and Gates. Catalogn. frae. 
UAUTHAN MFC. CO., Box 19 .Ellwood City, Pa. 
Or Boom 70 , O'Broadway, New York City. 
IDP' YOTJ 
to buy a fence that will last a lifetime, buy the 
FROS'r, containing twice the strength of woven wire 
fences. Heavy Hard Spring Wire,,and large size 
uprights. Send for catalogue. L 
THK FROST WIRE FENCE CO., Cleveland. O. 
r—r 
I p—r—r 
r—r—r 
AMERICAN 
FIELD AND HOG FENCE 
FULLY GUARANTEED. 
Rest steel wires heavily galvanized. Strong, 
economical, efficient, durable. Local agents 
everywhere. If no agent in your town write 
to the makers. 
American Steel & Wire Co.. Chicago or New York. 
REBUILT 
:hi 
UNLIMITED SUPPLIES 
BARGAIN PRICE.S 
Bought at Sheriffs’ Sale- 5,000 squares 
BRAND NEW STEEL ROOFING. Sheets come 
in assorted sizes only. We sell it either Flat, 
Corrugated or “V” Crimped, complete with 
paint and nails. Per 100 Square Feet £ | ^ C 
We have higher grades also. 4 / a « y 
ROPE OF ALL KINDS, 
Wire, Manila, Flax, Tow, 
Sisal, Ac. Write for prices. 
IRON PIPE in all sizes at 
sa'-ing of GO per cent. 
A million feet of Brand New and Second 
Hand RUBBER, LEATHER and COTTON 
S’TITCHED BELTING, bought at various 
Sales. We guarantee to save you from 26 to 
60 per cent. We have a lob in 
ENDLESS THRASHER BELTS. 
A» R» FAU IlLUSmATEO UTALOCUC N9 57 
CHICAGO HOUSE WRECKINC CO. 
WC3T 352 B IRON ST5, CHICAGO. 
