1901 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
549 
drilling fertilizer with wheat. 
Has it been your experience that drilling 
fertilizers in with the seed has had any 
injurious effect on grain? We have reports 
that where superphosphates are used in 
this way, especially in very dry weather, 
the grain fails to sprout well. 
With the ordinary amount (200 to 300 
pounds per acre) of commercial ferti¬ 
lizers added for wheat, there is very lit¬ 
tle danger due to the application of the 
fertilizer in the drill at time of seeding. 
Wheat fertilizers do not usually contain 
large percentages of potash or other 
salts, the substances that are commonly 
injurious to young grain. In our own 
practice, we use the drill in applying 
fertilizers, not only for wheat, but for 
other drilled crops, as oats and peas, 
millets, Kaffir corn, cow peas, etc., and 
use very considerably larger amounts of 
superphosphate and potash than are ap¬ 
plied by the average farmer, and have 
yet to find any serious difficulty. Where 
the purpose is to bring up poor land, 
and heavier applications are made, then 
I should recommend that part of the fer¬ 
tilizer be applied broadcast. 
N. J. Exp. Station, e. b. vooriiees. 
I have always had a theory that a 
heavy application of fertilizer on grain 
would be better sown broadcast and har¬ 
rowed in, but last Fall I had my faith 
in that theory shaken. With an old 
drill I undertook to drill about 400 
pounds to the acre with the seed, but 
two of the spouts ran about three times 
as much fertilizer as they should, and I 
fully expected it to injure the seed, but 
as we could not stop it we went on that 
way. When the wheat came up those 
drills immediately grew away ahead of 
the others, and still showed a great ad¬ 
vantage when the wheat started in the 
Spring. I think they probably lost their 
lead later, as the neighboring rows dis¬ 
covered the storehouse; at least I no¬ 
ticed no difference after the wheat had 
reached a good size. With a cheap acid 
phosphate I should feel shy of using it 
heavily in a drill, but I cannot say any¬ 
thing positively about it from experi¬ 
ence, as I have never used any such. 
THO.UAS B. HUNT. 
Hunterdon Co., N. J. 
FLAX STRAW FOR CATTLE. 
One of our readers in Illinois says that 
he sowed flaxseed with his oats this year 
and, on account of the dry-weather, the 
flax did better than the oats, so that the 
stand was about half and half. He cut 
this combination and made hay of it, and 
is feeding it out to his cows. The increase 
in milk is satisfactory, but some of his 
neighbors say that the flax will cause 
abortion in the cows. Is it not safe to 
feed flax hay or straw In this way, or Is it 
likely to cause trouble with the cows? 
The question as to results will hinge 
on the proportions of the flax and straw, 
and on the amount of the same fed daily. 
Also on the degree of the advancement 
in ripeness when the crop was cut. If 
the quantity of flaxseed fed is excessive 
it will eventually cloy the appetites of 
the cows and may tend to produce but¬ 
ter overmuch oily. If the proportion of 
the flax straw fed is large, and if, more¬ 
over, it was pretty ripe when cut, then 
there may be some danger that the fiber 
of the same will impact in the stomach 
and cause trouble. If the crop was cut 
a little underripe, and if fed in modera¬ 
tion, the presence of the flax should be 
altogether helpful. I see no reason why 
feeding flax should cause abortion any 
further than through some derange¬ 
ment of the system brought about by 
feeding it excessively or improperly. 
[Prof.] TIIOS. SHAW. 
St. Anthony Park, Minn. 
It is true that the opinion that flax¬ 
seed will produce abortion in cows or 
other farm stock is quite prevalent. 
Some cases of this kind have been at¬ 
tributed to the use of flax straw con¬ 
taining only a small amount of the seed. 
It is probable, however, that much of 
this fear is not well grounded. A feed¬ 
ing experiment was conducted at this 
Station to determine first, the relative 
nuti'itive value of flaxseed and oil meal, 
and second, the effect of using a liberal 
allowance of ground flaxseed. Ten cows 
were used in the experiment. Five of 
them were fed ground flaxseed in addi¬ 
tion to corn and corn fodder. They 
were put on to the ration gradually, and 
the flaxseed increased until at the end 
of about 60 days they were getting eight 
pounds per head daily. No injurious re¬ 
sults whatever could be attributed to 
the flaxseed. The flaxseed was ground. 
Whether or not the results would be the 
same on unground flaxseed I cannot say. 
It is not likely that digestion would be 
as complete with the unground seed. I 
know of no data concerning the use of 
the kind of product mentioned in the 
inquiry, but judging from the results of 
the experiment referred to, I would not 
anticipate any injury provided it is fed 
in moderate quantities, and cows are put 
on to it very gradually, c. e. cubtiss. 
Iowa Exp. Station. 
EVERYBODY'S GARDEN. 
Things to Remembek. —It requires as 
much soil fertility to grow a worse than 
useless crop of weeds as it does to grow 
a useful crop of vegetables. The weeds 
that are growing here and there, either 
in the crops or elsewhere, are robbers, 
simply robbing the soil, and heaping up 
wrath for the gardener in the future. It 
is far easier to destroy one weed this 
year than a thousand of its offspring 
next year. 
CovEu Chops. —As in most localities, 
but few crops will be put in during Au¬ 
gust, it is a convenient time to look 
ahead to the work of the Winter and 
early Spring. Of necessity much of the 
ground will not carry any crop of vege¬ 
tables at least, through the Winter, and 
it is wise so to arrange that the ground 
may be provided with cover crops. The 
cost of the seed is but a small item, and 
the condition of the land will be so 
much bettered by the protection of a 
cover crop through the Winter that it is 
very poor economy to leave the ground 
uncovered. The cost of seed for oats, 
rye, turnips or rape would not exceed $1 
per acre, and will be returned many 
times in the destruction of weeds, gath¬ 
ering of nitrogen, and preventing the 
wash and exposure of the ground dur¬ 
ing the Winter. It is, of course, argued 
b> many that Fall plowing of the ground 
is advantageous in destroying the worms 
and insects, but I prefer the cover crops, 
trusting to the lime, ashes and salt for 
the insects. There is nothing which will 
so effectually hold the chickweed in 
check as a heavy cover or smother crop. 
That is a Winter growing weed, and will 
be very little affected by Fall plowing 
unless done very late in the season. 
While any or all of the above-mentioned 
crops are good used as cover crops, cir¬ 
cumstances will, of course, have to de¬ 
termine which is most available. Oats 
will do well on the earlier vacated 
ground, but, of course, should be sown 
so as to give the largest possible growth 
before killed by the heavy frosts. Rye 
may follow the late sweet corn or any 
other crop which will permit working 
the seed thoroughly into the ground. 
Turnips may be advantageously sown 
any time during August right in the 
standing corn, and many will mature 
sufficiently before danger of freezing to 
sell or feed to the stock. Rape will 
make growth until late in the Fall, and 
may be drilled in among almost all the 
late crops. The benefits from these 
crops will amply justify the small ex¬ 
pense of lalxir and seed, and the small 
garden will be benefited in the same 
proportion as larger areas. 
Pboitt in the Ton.—By this I mean 
that the profit in any crop is whatever 
i.s left over and above the actual expense 
of producing it, and it follows that the 
heavier the top above the cost line, the 
larger will be the profit. In these days 
of unmerciful competition it is useless 
to expect or look for success in medi¬ 
ocrity, either .hi quantity or quality. The 
profits are always found in the maxi¬ 
mum, and not in the average or mini¬ 
mum crop. The only hope then is to 
strive for the very best results both in 
quality and quantity. Fancy vegetables 
tastily put up, will always sell even in 
the face of an oversupply. True, some 
dealers as well as many private custom¬ 
ers are unwilling to pay the price of 
painstaking on the part of the producer, 
but there are plenty who are willing to 
do so, and those are the customers to 
hunt up and stay by when found. I 
have found it not at all difficult to sell 
to certain classes of grocers and private 
customers also, at double the prices my 
neighbors were realizing in the open 
market. Of course, the stock had to be 
gilt-edge, but one can afford to make it 
that for double prices. Excellence then, 
in quantity, quality and prices obtained 
are the essentials to profitable returns 
for labor bestowed. 
Dark Forced Rhubarb. —In “A Win¬ 
ter Job,” page 419, the profits of Winter 
rhubarb were to some extent discussed. 
This, however, was from the commer¬ 
cial standpoint, and in no sense was 
adapting the work to the everyday 
wants of the family. Now briefly, let 
us see what it is from the standpoint of 
a home supply. If the general reports 
of the fruit outlook are at all reliable 
then the apple supply, especially of Win¬ 
ter sorts, will be very short, and high 
prices will inevitably rule. No Winter- 
grown vegetable yet produced will so 
nearly supply the place of apples as will 
the dark-forced rhubarb. I make the 
distinction “dark-forced” for the reason 
that rhubarb grown under glass can 
from no point of view ever compare with 
that grown in the dark. Growing it 
under glass will, everything considered, 
be more costly than forcing it in the 
dark. It can be so easily and cheaply 
grown, either in large or small quanti¬ 
ties that in the home the shortage of 
apples may be largely compensated for, 
and growing for the market will be all 
the more remunerative if high prices 
rule the apple market. From now on, 
give the rhubarb plants thorough culti¬ 
vation and a liberal supply of manure 
to invigorate the plants as much as pos¬ 
sible. Late in the Fall dig out the roots 
and leave them until thoroughly frozen. 
Exposure will not injure them, so they 
may be safely left as turned out until 
they freeze entirely through, when they 
may be set into the forcing place and 
grown fast or slow, just according to 
the degree of heat supplied. Any place 
will answer for forcing in small quan¬ 
tities. A corner of the cellar, a vacant 
storeroom or shed, or even a large box 
may be utilized. If the soil adheres 
well to the roots when brought in, they 
may be set close together with no soil 
placed below them or between the 
clumps. If well loaded with soil when 
set in they will grow nicely with little 
or no watering. I mention this fact for 
the reason that many might not have 
available room other than a storeroom 
or a large box placed in the kitchen 
even, and in this case watering to any 
great extent might be objectionable. As 
before remarked, it will grow in any 
place where the light is excluded and 
sufficient heat supplied to cause growth. 
This so simplifies the work that every 
family may be supplied the entire Win¬ 
ter through, as a very few roots will fur¬ 
nish a constant supply for an ordinary 
family. It is believed that trying in a 
small way will induce many to go into 
larger operations and ere long find 
profitable Winter work. j. e. morse. 
Michigan. 
strong potted strawberry 01 
PLANTS, early and late, sent safely ^1 
anywhere postpaid for One Dollar 
A. B. KATKAMIBR, Macedon. N Y. 
Beautiful Strawberries in 1902 
We can furnish you with 
pot-grown Strawberry Plants 
that will bear a full crop of 
fruit next year. Celery and 
Cabbage Plants. Full line of 
Fruit and Ornamental Stock. 
Write at once for our Summer 
and Autumn catalogue. It 
explains all. Fruit packages 
of all kinds for sale at low 
prices. T. J. DWYER * SON, 
Orange County Nurseries, Box 1, Cornwall, N. Y. 
DREER’S 
^ Pot-Grown 
I Strawberry Plant^ 
planted this .Summer will produce a full 
‘T’b I'crries ne.xt June. Our Mid- 
. just out an'l mailed 
free, oilers plants of the l)est and new- 
varieties. Also Cabbage, Cuull- 
flower. Celery, and other season- 
■ able plants and seeds. Write 
for a copy. 
HKXHY A. DRERR, 
rhIUdelphU, Pa. 
FINE NURSERY STOCK 
Grown In the famous Delaware fruit laud. Free from 
disease; true to name. Fruit Trees, Berry 
Flants, Asparagus Roots. Try our prices on 
two-year Klefter Pears. DOVER NURSBRIBB, 
E. U. ATKINSON, Dover. Del. 
SUCCEED WHERE 
Largest Nursery. OTHERS FAIL. 
Boo* Free. Result of 76 years' experience. 
The Best 
Method in 
the World 
for planting Apple Trees, and our 
new price-list free. Every planter 
should have this METHOD, and 
our prices. They are both Inter 
estlng and helpful to hi m. 
lOO.OCO APPLE; 300,000 PEACH; 40,000 YORK IM¬ 
PERIAL la money-maker In spite of what they say), 
and thousands of other trees. 
WOODVIKW NCKSERIES. Box 100. Uriah. Pa. 
pCI CRY Cabbage Plants only II per 1,000. 
VILLLII I 100 Strawberry Plants In pots for II. 
Crimson Clover Seed of our own growing. Catalogue 
free. SLAYMAKKR & SON. Dover, Del. 
PCI CDV Dl spindling ones 
UkLCIII I Lllll I 0 and not raised by Irri¬ 
gation method—$1.50 per thousand. CLOVER SEED 
—Choice, clean Crimson or Scarlet of my own raising, 
$4 per bu.; sacks free. J. C. ELLIS, Mlilsboro, Del. 
S EED WHEAT—Rudy, Harvest King, Am. Bronze, 
&c. High yielders; clean and graded. Farmers’ 
prices. Send for samples. A. H. Hoffman, Bamford, Pa 
S p r n lAf IIC* A Fultz, Poole, Mealy, etc. AU 
I graded, reclemued and free from 
weeds, dirt, etc. Sure growera, big yielders. New Mammoth 
White Rye and new crop Timothy tor fall sowing. Prompt 
ahipmenie. Write for prices, etc. Q, C. SHEPARD CO., MtdiM, 0. 
CRIMSON CLOVER SEED^'.'Toi,"".d;. 
R. S. JOHNSTON, Box 100, Stockley, Del. 
Home-Grown Crimson Clover Seed. 
Choice Japanese Buckwheat. Seed Wheat and Win¬ 
ter Oats. J. B. HOLLAND, Milford, Del, 
Delaware Crimson Clover Seed 
Send for sample and prices. I am not a dealer, but 
offer only choice seed of my own growing. 
B. H. VAN DYKE, Dover, Del. 
CVADflR ATOP “The Granger” for fruits and vege 
Lvliruttliiun tables. *3, »5, »8. Circular 
EASTERN MFG. CO., 26T South 5th St.. Phlla., Pa. 
FENCE WIRE AT WHOLESALE 
Send for price-list and free catalog of Wire Fences & 
Supplies. W. H. MASON & CO., Leesburg, Ohio. 
ZSJRJEt IN’ IT- 
— 
In our new factory, manufacturing the heaviest 
and strongest fence on the market. One rod of the 
Frost Fence is worth three of the best woven wire 
made. Write us for catalogue. 
THE FROST WIRE FENCE CO., 
Lake Street, near Marquette. Cleveland, Ohio. 
DON’T EXPECT 
fAGE Fence results unless you use The PAGE. 
PAGE VVOVE.N WIRE EENCECO., ADRIAN,MICH. 
Cypripediulii Spectabile 
(WHITE LADY SLIPPER). 
Having secured an unlimited stock 
of this, the tlnest of all American Ter¬ 
restrial Orchids, we are offering It at 
low rates for advance orders for Sep¬ 
tember and October shipment. Our 
foreign correspondents will be particu¬ 
larly pleased to be able to secure at a 
low rate a stock of this rare and beau¬ 
tiful orchid. Write for prices and for 
our Summer List of rare American 
Uu.bs and Plants now ready. 
HARLAN P. KELSEY, 
Tremont Building, 
BOSTON, MASS. 
Proprietor Highlands Nursery 
Hardy American Plants, 
In the North Carolina Mountains 
