1901 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
339 
FEEDING MUSCLE-MAKERS INTO PLANTS. 
Ifs Practical Application in Feeding Grass Lands. 
The recent publication of an article in The R. N -Y. 
on the above general topic has led to a number of in¬ 
quiries regarding its practical application in increas¬ 
ing the amount and value of the hay crop. The great 
lack in the leading forage crops of New England 
farms is protein. Such fodders as corn, oats and our 
common grasses are rich in starchy materials, known 
to chemists as carbohydrates, but are deficient in pro¬ 
tein. The protein is especially useful in milk produc¬ 
tion, and in building up muscle in the growing ani¬ 
mal, while the starchy part of the food is useful 
mainly for the production of heat. There are three 
methods by which the infiuence of this lack of pro¬ 
tein in our crops may be partially counteracted; first 
by growth and feeding of more clover, peas. Alfalfa, 
vetch and Soy beans, all of which are relatively rich 
in protein; second by the purchase and use of such 
grain feeds as cotton seed, linseed and gluten; and 
third by increasing the proportion of protein in our 
common grasses, corn and oat fodders by the proper 
use of fertilizers. The first of these methods has been 
practiced to a limited extent, and should be more 
generally adopted. The second method is more com¬ 
mon, but adds greatly to the cost of keeping the herd. 
The third method is practicable, but has received lit¬ 
tle consideration until within a few years. In the use 
of fertilizers the three Important ingredients are ni¬ 
trogen, phosphoric acid and potash. The last two are 
commonly known as the mineral ingredients of fer¬ 
tilizers. Whether we use stable manure, fish, blood, 
tankage, nitrate of soda, or sulphate of ammonia, 
they are all valuable for the nitrogen and the mineral 
ingredients they contain. It is a commonly-observed 
fact that the materials supplying considerable nitro¬ 
gen, like stable manures, blood or nitrate of soda, 
greatly promote the yields and the growth of grasses, 
corn and oat fodder. But this is only one advantage 
from their use. The nitrogen of the fertilizer also 
tends to increase the nitrogen of the crop beyond 
what would be brought about by the increase in 
yield. That is, the rro/iorlion of nitrogen in the com¬ 
position of the plant is increased. 
The nitrogen in plants represents nearly a fixed 
part of an organic compound called protein. All pro¬ 
tein compounds contain approximately 16 per cent of 
nitrogen, or 6’A parts of the whole. If, by the use of 
liberal quantities of nitrogen in the fertilizer, we in¬ 
crease the nitrogen in the crop one-half of one per 
cent we increase the protein 614 times that amount, 
or 3.1 per cent. The effect of nitrogen on the yield 
and feeding value of hay is very well illustrated in an 
experiment by the Storrs (Conn.) Station, which cov¬ 
ered a period of three years. In this experiment ni¬ 
trate of soda and sulphate of ammonia were used as 
sources of nitrogen, but on different plots. The re¬ 
sults from these two sources of nitrogen were quite 
similar, and the figures have been averaged in the fol¬ 
lowing table, which gives absolute and relative 
yields per acre: 
Lbs. 
per 
acre 
No fertilizer . 
Dissolved bone black.... 320 
Muriate of potash. 100 
Mineral fertilizer . 480 
Nitrate of soda, 160 lbs. 25 
Mineral fertilizer . 480 
Nitrate of soda, 320 lbs. 50 
Mineral fertilizer . 480 
Nitrate of soda, 480 lbs. 75 
Dry sub- 
Pro- 
stance 
tein 
per 
per 
Relative 
acre. 
acre. 
yields. 
1,675 
121 
0.7 
0.6 
2,368 
195 
1.0 
1.0 
3,240 
248 
i.’4 
i'.3 
4,202 
366 
i.h 
i'.9 
4,458 
432 
i'.9 
2.2 
The dry substance as here used means the total 
amount of food constituents exclusive of water, while 
the yields of protein were obtained by multiplying 
the dry substance by the per cent of protein in the 
crop from each plot. In the column headed “relative 
yields” it will be noticed that the yield of protein on 
plots that received over 25 pounds of nitrogen per 
acre increased relatively faster than the dry sub¬ 
stance. This means that the percentage of nitrogen 
and of protein increased when more nitrogen was 
used in the fertilizer. The presence of some clover 
on all the plots obscured, somewhat, the effects of the 
nitrogen on the mixed grasses. In some other ex¬ 
periments on pure species of grasses the effects of 
nitrogen in increasing the protein were even greater 
than on the mixed grasses with some clover. The 
average percentage of protein for six distinct kinds 
of grasses, where only mineral fertilizers were used, 
'vas 7.4 per cent; where 25 pounds of nitrogen (equal 
to 160 pounds of nitrate of soda) were used with the 
mineral fertilizers, there was 8.6 per cent of protein; 
and where 75 pounds of nitrogen (equal to 480 pounds 
of nitrate of soda) were used, there was 11.6 per cent 
of protein. 
Ihe practical application of this is that the lib 
use of nitrate of soda, or other quick-acting sourc 
nitiogen, on meadows, will greatly increase the j 
and the feeding value of hay. How much nitrogei 
feitilizers we can afford to use depends on the v 
of hay and the price of nitrogen. It must be rem 
bered that mineral fertilizers are essentiai in addi¬ 
tion to nitrogen, unless the land is to be plowed and 
manured after fertilizing one year. Nitrate of soda 
alone will give a large increase in crop for one, and 
sometimes two years, but as soon as the supply of 
minerals is seriously reduced the yields fall off rapid¬ 
ly. Dissolved South Carolina or Florida rock phos¬ 
phate, at the rate of 300 pounds per acre, with 1.50 
pounds of muriate of potash, will supply a fair pro¬ 
portion of the mineral ingredients. Of late years 
nitrate of soda has been the most economical com¬ 
mercial source of nitrogen for grass. I believe that 
from 150 to 300 pounds per acre of this will pay on 
meadows where the manure supply of the farm is not 
sufficient for all crops. The liberal use of stable ma¬ 
nure will have much the same effect as commercial 
nitrogen, however, and should be utilized to the full¬ 
est extent possible. Quick-acting materials, like ni¬ 
trate of soda, or sulphate of ammonia should not be 
applied until the grass has become well started in 
growth in the Spring. If large applications are to be 
made, it would be advisable to apply at two dates, 
from three to four weeks apart. c. s. imieets. 
EVERYBOOrS GARDEN. 
With a little forethought and labor many dwellers 
on small city or village lots might enjoy the luxury 
of small fruits and crisp tender vegetables of their 
own growing, and at the same time beautify otherwise 
unsightly buildings and areas. The illustration. “A 
Barn Garden,” Fig. 138, offers suggestions for this 
work. In this instance Lima beans, tall-growing to¬ 
matoes, cucumbers, nasturtiums and garden peas were 
))lanted on south side, just far enough out to escape 
drip from the eaves, and trained to the wall. Every¬ 
thing grew finely, and the yield was very satisfactory; 
from nine hills of Lima beans we used 28 quarts, 
worth four cents per quart, sold one-half bushel for 
75 cents, and saved a quantity of seed. Two tomato 
vines yielded nearly a bushel of ripe fruits and a 
A MICHIGAN BARN GARDEN. Fia. 138. 
quantity of green ones for pickles. From two cucum¬ 
ber vines we had all we cared to use for slicing. The 
peas furnished but one mess for eating, and were then 
pulled up to give more room to the fine Caprice nas¬ 
turtium, from whose vines we picked numberless 
bouquets, and whose leaves and blossoms furnished 
a dainty addition to many salads and garnishes. For 
Lima beans no better place than the south and east 
sides of such buildings can be found. Make the soil 
rich and mellow, and when the apple trees are in 
bloom plant the beans (eyes down) about one inch 
deep and 12 inches apart. Use coarse wool twine for 
the vines to climb, which they will do as readily as 
does a morning glory. Early Siebert and King of 
the Garden are our favorite varieties. Grapevines 
and even peach trees can be trained to such a wall, 
by proper pruning, and securing the branches by nail¬ 
ing strips of leather over them. 
Eight or 10 roots of rhubarb, a Spring luxury, will 
furnish an ordinary family an abundant supply. 
Linnaeus is best for early use, though not as large as 
Victoria or Mammoth. An aspai’agus bed 3x6 feet will 
yield several dollars’ worth each season if properly 
cared for, and will last for 20 years. Anyone who has 
tested the difference between home-grown salads and 
those purchased from the grocery or market will glad¬ 
ly give time and space to grow a few rows of lettuce, 
endive, chicory, dandelion, mtistard, parsley and cress. 
Several of these are useful as greens, and for gar¬ 
nishes. Raspberries, red and black; blackberries, 
currants and gooseberry bushes can be set close to 
the tight board fences which ordinarily enclose city 
lots, and if pruned and cared for, yield rich harvests, 
as well as hide the ugliness of the fence. Caring for 
the fruits and vegetables will keep the boys and girls 
off the street, and give them an interest in the home 
and a love for Mother Nature as nothing else can. 
TIMELY SEEDS FOR MAY.—Below is given an 
alphabetical list of vegetable seeds which are timely 
in most localities for sowing or planting in May, viz., 
asparagus, beans, beets, cabbage, cauliflower, celery. 
corn, cress, carrot, cucumber, endive, lettuce, melon, 
onion, peas, parsiey, parsnip, potatoes, radish, spin¬ 
ach, salsify, turnip and tomato. Many of these varie¬ 
ties may be sown or planted up to the middle or last 
of June. Some of the more tender sorts, as Lima 
beans, melon, cucumber and squash, may be advanced 
considerably ahead of their regular season by starting 
in shallow pans or boxes placed in sunny windows. 
Squash, melon and cucumber vines being very deli¬ 
cate and liable to injury are most safely handled in 
berry boxes. Enough seed should be sown in each 
box to make sure of a good stand after transplanting 
and becoming established in the ground. The boxes 
should be moved occasionally to prevent any roots 
that might grow out of the boxes getfng started in 
the soil outside. When ready for transplanting, soak 
the boxes thoroughly, and with a sharp knife remove 
the bottom, and plant the entire box below the sur¬ 
face of the ground. Thus handled the plants will re¬ 
ceive no check, and the time gained in maturing the 
crop will many times repay the extra labor. The very 
small, slow-germlnating seeds, as celery, parsley, etc., 
are most safely handled in shallow boxes of any de¬ 
sired depth. Broadcast or sow in drills, cover lightly 
with fine soil, and cover the boxes with burlap or 
other coarse cloth until well established. Rich soil 
and plenty of moisture are indispensable, and boxes 
should be somewhat sheltered from too hot sun. 
Lima beans can hardly be omitted either from the 
home or market garden; being particularly liable to 
injury from late frosts or even cold, wet weather, 
they should, for first early, be started as above. The 
bush varieties are growing very popular, both as to 
quality and yield, and will in a great measure super¬ 
sede the pole varieties, especially where space is an 
object. Burpee’s Willow Leaf, Wood’s Prolific, Bur¬ 
pee’s Quarter Century and Dreer’s Wonder are all de¬ 
sirable varieties of bush Limas, and are named in 
order of their season. The pole or climbing varie¬ 
ties, the chief dependence of the market gardeners, 
are trained in various ways, on poles or trellises; the 
latest and best way is to set posts of 2x4 lumber 12 
feet apart and eight feet high; lx3-inch boards are 
nailed from post to post at top, and lx2-lnch strips 
at the bottom. Coarse wool or binder twine is cut in 
three-yard lengths and tied at both top and bottom 
boards, 12 or 16 inches apart. Not more than two 
vines should be allowed for each string, and the vines 
will need no assistance in climbing to the top; the 
leaders should then be cut or pinched out to throw 
the strength of the vine into the maturing of the pods. 
Rows four feet apart are sufficient for horse cultiva¬ 
tion, and good crops are often grown three feet apart 
or less. Well-enriched ground with shallow but 
thorough tillage, is necessary to ensure good results. 
Michigan. j. e. morse. 
WHITEWASHm WITH SPRAY PUMPS. 
I have recently seen a new factory building on the 
east side of New York City whitewashed from top to 
bottom, ceiling and walls, by a spray pump. The 
wash was made in the usual way, about as thick as 
cream, and strained through a fine sieve into an open 
barrel. The pump was single-acting, so constructed 
that it drew in a small amount of air with the wash 
at every stroke, and discharged it into a tank hold¬ 
ing about 20 gallons. To this tank a long hose was 
connected and discharged through a one-half-inch 
pipe about 10 feet long. Two kinds of nozzles were 
used. One was an ordinary stop-cock, one-quarter- 
inch size, with one side sawed off near the plug and 
a slot cut down to it, so that when partly open the 
wash was thrown against one side oi the slot, and 
discharged in a fan-shaped spray. The other was a 
brass plug screwed into the end of the one-half-inch 
pipe; two smali holes were drilled through this plug 
at an angle, and over the top was screwed a cap with 
one hole in the center the size of one drilled in the 
plug under. Both of the nozzles threw the same 
shape of spray and one was as good as the other as 
far as I could see. A pressure of 60 to 80 pounds was 
used on the tank. A large colored man was the mo¬ 
tive power, and the machine used a barrel of wash in 
from 30 to 40 minutes. The work was well done, and 
a large amount of surface quickly covered, but I 
tnink that the machine is too wasteful for painting, 
except the cheapest kind, as a lot of the spray does 
not hit where intended, and is lost. As T am much 
interested in spraying I noted the working of this 
machine, and have since tried both of these nozzles 
on fruit trees; they are of no use except for high 
pressure, say above 40 pounds, as it takes consider¬ 
able force to make the stream spray and not dribble. 
Rutherford, N. J. y. w. l. 
The rye stand throughout Columbia County, N. Y.. 
is very fine, with every prospect of a large crop. New 
seeding is looking well. We are just having a copious 
rain, and all we want now is more warm weather. No 
wheat of any account is raised in this county. 
Spencertown, N. Y. - q. w. h. 
