i89o 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
757 
SOME RECENT BULLETINS. 
Wisconsin Farmers’ Institutes.—As The R. N.-Y. has 
frequently stated, the Wisconsin farmers’ institutes are, 
perhaps, the best of any held in the country. Superinten¬ 
dent W. H. Morrison has published a volume of 352 pages, 
containing a verbatim report of the closing institute of 
three days. All branches of farming are treated in a 
bright, pithy way—just such a way as will make farmers 
think. The book can be obtained from Mr. Morrison at 
Madison, Wis., and costs 30 cents, being well worth it. 
People have frequently asked how these farmers’ institutes 
were ever started. In this volume Mr. C. E. Estabrook, 
who, as a member of the Wisconsin Legislature,framed the 
law providing for these meetings, gives the following 
interesting account of the starting: 
“Inthe early part of October, 1884, I listened to a short 
address by the late Hon. Hiram Smith to the farmers of 
Manitowoc County, on the grounds of the Industrial Asso¬ 
ciation near the city of Manitowoc. The address was very 
practical, and one which any person of common intel¬ 
ligence could readily understand; and at the same time it 
was replete with information of the most valuable kind to 
the persons to whom it was addressed. It was in fact the 
summing up of years of valuable experience and study, 
and was being given under the most adverse circumstances, 
amid the noise and confusion of the fair ground. The first 
thought that occurred to me was, what a pity that the 
valuable experience of a successful life should be given 
out in such an unsatisfactory manner, and that no effort 
should be made to preserve the knowledge thus gained; 
that in a few short years, at most, the speaker would 
be no more, and that the result of 40 years of earnest labor 
and success would then be lost. It then occurred to me 
that I would endeavor to get up a meeting of farmers of 
our county at some future time and invite Mr. Smith to 
address them under more favorable conditions. I had not 
considered this proposition long until it occurred to me 
that if such a meeting would be advantageous to the 
farmers of Manitowoc County it would be advantageous 
to the farmers of other counties in the State as well, and 
that if such a work should be undertaken it should be ex¬ 
tended throughout the State. To do this required some 
organization; thus one idea led to another until the whole 
as it became a law was distinctly outlined in my mind.” 
Effects of the Arsenites on Plants.— This is the 
title of an excellent bulletin issued by the Arkansas Ex¬ 
periment Station. All who have made use of the arsenites 
in spraying plants or trees must have noticed that the 
different poisons have different effects upon the foliage. 
We have been repeatedly told that London-purple is far 
more injurious than Paris-green. Again, we are told that 
peach trees are especially susceptible to injury from spray¬ 
ing, while cherry foliage seems far better able to resist 
such injury. With these facts in mind, the Arkansas Sta¬ 
tion has undertaken experiments which promise to throw 
considerable light on the matter. At the present time, 
Paris-green and London-purple may be considered about 
the only arsenites in use. White arsenic has been used 
somewhat; but it is claimed that this insecticide injures 
the foliage, and it is also condemned on the ground that it 
too closely resembles sugar and flour. But this white ar¬ 
senic is very cheap, and the Arkansas Station finds that it 
produces less injury to foliage than any other form of ar¬ 
senic. The white arsenic, however, is not so uniform in its 
action as the other forms of the poison, Paris-green being 
by far the most uniform. 
An interesting test was made to see if different varieties 
of grapes vary in their susceptibility to injury—whether, 
in fact, it will pay to make different solutions for spraying 
vineyards in which are different varieties. It was found 
that varieties vary considerably in their power to resist 
injury, while practically there is no difference between 
classes of grapes. It is also shown that young, tender 
foliage is less injured than older leaves. This is opposed to 
popular belief, but in accord with the observations of men 
like Prof. A. J. Cook and Prof. Bailey. Again, it is shown 
that the under side of the leaf is more susceptible to the in¬ 
jurious effects of the poison than the upper, while an applica¬ 
tion to both sides is more injurious than one to either side 
alone. The peach alone gives a contrary result. As to the 
rapidity with which the effect of the poison is seen, it may 
be said that white arsenic injured the leaves at once, while 
London-purple was almost as active, Paris-green being 
much slower than the others. Young leaves are most 
quickly affected, and the under side of the leaf shows the 
injury soonest. Prof. Woodworth, who conducted the ex¬ 
periments, comes to the following conclusions: “ Where 
the plant is easily injured, and the choice is between Paris- 
green and London-purple, Paris-green is better in every 
particular. Spraying with the arsenites has become a 
recognized part of the culture of some plants. With such 
plants varieties could be produced by selection to which 
strong poisoning would do no injury. When, as is often 
the case, it would be as effectual, it should be remembered 
that a light spraying from above is the safest. Plants can 
be sprayed with equal or more safety when the leaves are 
young than later in the season.” 
The Golden Queen Raspberry. 
J. t*. H., Livermore Center, Me.—Is there such a variety 
as the Golden Queen Raspberry? I have half a dozen plants 
which I got from Mr. Lovett, Little Silver, N. J., in the 
spring of 1888. They fruited this season and every one 
bore a small red berry inferior to the wild kinds that grow 
by the road side. 
Ans.— The Golden Queen is either a sport or seedling of 
he Cuthbert. It is a splendid berry, in all ways like its 
parent except it is not so firm. Mr. Lovett is the introducer, 
and the red variety was, no doubt, sent by mistake, which 
upon notification he would gladly rectify. 
The Farmers Club. 
ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. 
[Every query must be accompanied by the name and address 
of the writer to insure attention. Before asking a question, please 
see if it is not answered in our advertising columns. Ask only 
a few questions at one time. Put questions on a separate piece 
of paper.] 
FISH FOR A FERTILIZER. 
L. G. Y., Orient, L I .—This fall fish scrap is selling 
lower than ever before—at $20 per ton—and will analyze 
about 10 per cent, of ammonia and seven per cent, of phos¬ 
phoric acid. Muriate of potash is worth $42 per ton, guar¬ 
anteed 50 to 55 per cent, of actual potash. Standard 
brands of potato fertilizers, by the best makers, sell at 
from $35 to $40 per ton. One of my neighbors proposes to 
use 1)4 ton of fish scrap, 500 pounds of muriate of potash, 
and 1,800 pounds of potato fertilizer. Is the potash strong 
enough to be the right proportion ? I wish to put on all I 
can without wasting anything. 
Add Dissolved Bone Black. 
The mixture above suggested would have the following 
analysis if the constituents are up to the guarantee : 
Nitrogen. Phosphoric Acid. Potash, 
lbs. lbs. lbs. lbs. 
8,0U0 Fish scrap. 300 210 — 
500 Muriate of potash. — — 250 
1,800 Potato fertilizer. 45 180 99 
5,SCO 345 390 349 
100 would contain.percent. 7 1-8 6J^ 
The cost of this mixture per ton would be. $28.86 
I do not understand from the questions what this is to 
be used for (potatoes.—E ds.), but for all ordinary crops it 
is too rfch in nitrogen. For forcing some kinds of 
market garden crops this amount of nitrogen might be 
of use; but for all standard crops it would induce too 
rank a growth of the vines, leaves, stalks, etc.; in other 
words, if tubers, grains or seeds are the objects desired, 
the nitrogen is too great in amount; while the proportion 
of potash is very well suited to most plants, as is that of 
phosphoric acid. Now, to reduce the relative proportion 
of nitrogen, it is evident that the cost per ton will be in¬ 
creased, since the crude materials containing potash and 
phosphoric acid cost from $30 to $40 per ton ; but the 
resulting fertilizer would most likely be much more effi¬ 
cient so far as crop producing is concerned. I would, 
therefore, add to the foregoing mixture the following :— 
lbs. 
5,300 Mixture, as above_ 
2,00 Dissolved bone black 
2iO Muriate of potash.... 
Nitrogen. Phosphoric Acid. Potash. 
lbs. 
lbs. 
lbs. 
399 
349 
_ _ 
820 
— 
— 
iuo 
7,500 
315 710 449 
100 would contain ...percent. 4.6 9.5 
6 
One ton of dissolved bone-black will cost in New York, 
about $25, and the cost would thus be as follows : 
8,000 lbs. fish scrap.. $30.00 
700 " muriate potash. 14 70 
l.MX) “ potato fertilizer.-. 36.00 
2,000 “ dissolved bone-black. 80.00 
7,500 $110,70 
2,000 “ would cost. $29.52 
This fertilizer would be well balanced and there would 
be no excessive proportion of nitrogen. G. H. whitcher. 
New Hampshire Experiment Station. 
Use More Phosphoric Acid. 
One and one half ton of fish scrap, containing 10 per 
cent, of ammonia (8.24 per cent of nitrogen), and seven per 
cent, of phosphoric acid, when mixed with 500 pounds of 
muriate of potash, containing 50 to 55 per cent, of potas¬ 
sium oxide, would produce a fertilizer containing:— 
247.2 pounds of nitrogen, 
210.0 pounds of phosphoric acid, and 
2i0.0 pounds of potash, 
or seven per cent, of nitrogen, six per cent, of phosphoric 
acid, and 7.1 per cent, of potassium oxide. I would recom¬ 
mend an increase in available phosphoric acid and of 
potassium oxide, to better economize the more costly 
nitrogen, and suggest the following formula:— 
Nitrogen,. 4 to 5 per cent. 
Phosphoric acid. 7 to 8 per cent, and 
Potassium oxide, from. 10 to 12 per cent.. 
or 3,000 pounds of fish scrap (10 per cent, ammonia), 1,000 
pounds of dissolved bone-black (15 to 16 per cent, phos¬ 
phoric acid), and 1,000 pounds of muriate of potash. The 
so called standard brands of potato fertilizers of manu¬ 
facturers range so widely in composition that each has to 
be judged by its special merits. [dr.] c. a. goessmann. 
Massachusetts Experiment Station. 
Cheap Source of Nitrogen. 
Fish scrap containing 10 per cent, of ammonia and seven 
per cent, of phosphoric acid, that can be bought for $20 per 
ton, is very cheap and well worthy the attention of the 
farmer, since it furnishes one of the best forms of organic 
nitrogen. Allowing six cents per pound for the phosphoric 
acid, the nitrogen would cost but seven cents per pound— 
less than half the cost of the same element derived from 
equally reliable sources. One and one half ton of fish 
scrap and 500 pounds of muriate of potash, testing 52.50 
per cent, of actual potash, if evenly mixed, contain about 
8)4 percent, of ammonia, 6)4 per cent, of phosphoric acid 
and 7)4 per cent, of actual potash, and would cost at the 
prices given, $23.14 per ton. Although the nitrogen can 
be procured so cheaply, the relative proportion of that ele¬ 
ment in the mixture would seem to be too great for 
economical use. A standard brand of potato fertilizer is 
rather an indefinite term, since what may be called stand¬ 
ard brands ol the different manufacturers vary widely 
both in amount and relative proportion of the nitrogen, 
phosphoric acid and potash contained in them. Assuming 
the standard brand to contain four per cent, of ammonia, 
seven per cent, of available phosphoric acid and 10 per cent, 
of actual potash, and to sell for $35 per ton, the cost per 
pound of the elements furnished would be 18 cents for 
nitrogen, nine cents for phosphoric acid and five cents for 
potash. An addition of 1,800 pounds of such a brand to the 
above mixture would result in only slightly changing the 
relative proportions of the elements; in reducing the per¬ 
centage of both the expensive nitrogen and phosphoric 
acid, and would increase the cost per ton of the mixture to 
$27.18. The greatest economy in the use of fish scrap 
would doubtless be secured in buying phosphoric acid and 
potash only. A mixture of 1,800 pounds of fish scrap, 600 
pounds of bone-black superphosphate and 600 poundsof the 
muriate of potash would contain six per cent, of ammonia, 
7)4 per cent, of phosphoric acid and 10 per cent, of potash ; 
it would correspond very closely to the best brands of 
potato fertilizers, and at the rates given for scrap and 
potash and at $22 50 per ton for bone black, it would cost 
only $24.90 per ton. and, other conditions being equal, should 
produce quite as good results as the manufactured brands. 
New Jersey Experiment Station. E. B. voorhees. 
Growing Mushrooms in a Greenhouse. 
J. J. T., Charles River Village, Mass — I am building 
a small greenhouse, 14 by 21 feet. I want to raise mush¬ 
rooms under the benches : 1. Can they be raised in rich 
soil without horse manure ? As the manure is for bottom 
heat, can’t that be furnished in another way ? 2. Can 
they be raised in boxes so that they can be carried around 
easily so that there will be no risk of destroying the ce¬ 
mented floor ? 3. Would the heat of a greenhouse in which 
lettuces, roses, etc., are grown be too great for them ? 
Ans. —1. Yes, mushrooms may be grown in the green¬ 
house in loam alone, but it will be with much uncertainty. 
Horse manure is not used for its heat-giving property 
only; on the contrary, its chief mission is to furnish genial 
conditions and proper food for the development of the 
mycelium or mushroom plant. 2. Yes, they can be raised 
in boxes of almost any size; but this is not a good plan. 
A mushroom bed, when properly made, will not destroy 
a cemented floor in any way, or litter up the place. 3. 
The heat of a lettuce-house in winter should run about 
from 45 to 50 degrees : that of a rose-house, from 55 to 60 
degrees; in such a temperature mushrooms can be raised 
very well. 
A Herd of Good Milkers. 
H. L., Brooklyn, N. Y. —What kind of cows would be 
best for milk on a Connecticut farm, which I have just 
bought ? 
Ans. —If you are to supply milk to the city dealers you 
should keep Holstein-Friesians or Ayrshires. If your farm 
is rough and hilly the Ayrshires will be better, as they are 
lighter and more active than the Holsteins. If you are to 
make butter or want rich milk, we would advise you by 
all means to keep Jerseys. It will cost too much to buy 
full blooded cattle to begin with. For all practical pur¬ 
poses a good grade is as good as a thoroughbred. A good 
way to get your herd will be to buy the best cows you can 
find on the farms about you. Then buy a good bull of 
either of the breeds mentioned above and cross him on your 
cows, raising the heifer calves. When these heifers grow 
up get another good bull and breed him to them. By 
following out this plan carefully, you will, In time, get 
together a herd of excellent cattle. 
MISCELLANEOUS. 
J. A. J., Mineral Spa, N. Y.— 1. Whatshould be the treat¬ 
ment of a young dog that sucks eggs? 2. My barn-yard is 
a little low and wet. Shall I fill it in with gravel, slate, 
sand, or small stones ? 
Ans.— 1. There is no remedy that we know of. It is 
next to Impossible to break the bad habit. 2. A barn-yard 
should be as tight as a cistern. You should try to retain 
the liquids—not to drain them away. Coarse material like 
the sand and stones, would make it easy to drain the place; 
but a good deal of the valuable liquid manure would go 
away with the useless water. It would be better if you 
could keep the place dry by the use of stalks, coarse hay, 
straw, leaves or other material that would absorb the 
water, rot and make good manure. The yard might better 
be dug or scraped down to “ hardpan ” or even cemented 
over the worst part. 
An Old Subscriber, Saybrook, Conn.— What is the best 
fertilizer for pears and grapes to produce fruit rather than 
wood. 
Ans. —Use plenty of muriate of potash and bone or sub¬ 
stitute wood ashes for the muriate, using a smaller pro¬ 
portion of bone. The bone will give (probably) all the nitro¬ 
gen needed. 
C. T. S., Swanton, Md. —1. When terracing a vineyard 
with stone, should the wall be midway between the rows 
so that the cultivator can pass on each side, or close above 
a row to give more heat ? 2. What will prevent the heav¬ 
ing of the ground in freezing from throwing the wall down ? 
Ans. —1. Close above a row, that is, within six or eight 
inches of the trellis. The vines will receive more protec¬ 
tion from winds and the fruit will receive the benefit of 
the radiation of heat from the wall. 2. Lay the founda¬ 
tion below the frost line. 
C. T. S., Swanton, Md. — A magazine called the 
Nationalist is published at Boston, Mass. Its aim is to 
teach the principles advocated by Mr. Bellamy in “Looking 
Backward.” 
“ Pa-pose ” (no address). —Is there any way of sweeten¬ 
ing hard cider ? 
Ans —No. 
N. H. T., Jamesport, N. Y.— Will potatoes raised on 
sandy land “ run out” so as not to be fit for seed ? I have 
some No. 2 Rural New Yorkers raised on such land; would 
it be safe to plant them, or should I get some raised on 
heavy land ? 
ANS.—We are not aware that potatoes will “run out” 
on sandy land any sooner than on clay soil. We do not be¬ 
lieve they would run out on either if properly selected 
from season to season. We should use the No. 2 seed. 
