1896 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
223 
THE FARMERS' CLUB. 
(CONTINUED.) 
NORTH OR SOUTH FOR STRAWBERRY PLANTS 
s there any difference in the vigor of northern or southern-grown 
strawberry plants ? Three years ago, I received plants from Ohio 
and New York which grew vigorously and made many plants; 
last spring I set fine-looking plants of the same varieties from 
Maryland, and they made few sickly-looking plants. A. o. w. 
Pennsylvania. 
The Matter Well Considered. 
So far as I have observed, there is no uniform 
difference in the vigor of strawberry plants from the 
North or the South, and I imagine that the differences 
which A. G. W. has observed, are those which are 
merely incidental to the soil or the treatment which 
his particular plants happened to receive. There is 
considerable difference in the habits of plants grown 
North and South, but so far as the mere vigor of 
strawberry plants is concerned, I do not believe that 
there is much difference. L. h. bailey. 
New York. 
We plant both northern and southern-grown straw¬ 
berry plants each year, but have never found that the 
northern-grown plants were any more vigorous than 
those grown in the South. The season was, probably, 
the cause of the poor growth of plants. Strawberry 
plants made little growth last season, except those 
that were frequently cultivated so as to conserve the 
moisture of the soil. It is possible that the plants 
from Maryland were infested with the root aphides, 
and they caused the sickly growth. In the fall of 
1894, I examined one plantation of 12 acres, that had 
been set with the intention of selling the plants, but 
which was attacked by the root aphis, and so poor a 
growth of plants had been made, that none was sold 
from the entire plantation the past season. 
Delaware. m. h. beckwith. 
The growth and size of plants depend very much 
upon the character of the soil upon which they are 
grown. I have always had the best plants when 
grown upon a deep, clay loam, well fertilized, where 
the roots can obtain plenty of moisture, and attain 
that vigor and vitality that insures their growth 
when transplanted. This condition I have never seen 
upon light, sandy soils. I have received from the 
South, 1,000 plants in a package that would hold 
only 700 of those grown upon the clay soil, and last 
spring I received from North Carolina 5,000 plants in 
a barrel .in which I could get but 2,000 plants of my 
own growing upon clay soil. Soil conditions and care¬ 
ful cultivation are, therefore, the factors in plant 
production, and the vitality of the plants depends 
upon these wherever they may be grown 
New York. Walter f. taber. 
I think that there is no difference in the vigor of 
strawberry plants, grown in the North or in the 
South. There is, however, great difference in the 
vigor of strawberry plants that are grown in the 
North as well as those grown in the South. Plants 
from beds that have been set but one year, if the 
weather was favorable the previous fall, are well- 
rooted and vigorous, whether grown in the North or 
South. Careless handling, when taking up, exposure 
of the plants to sunshine and drying winds, will 
seriously injure the best plants, and greatly impair 
their vigor. Unscrupulous dealers frequently sell 
plants taken from bearing fields or beds. These are 
never so vigorous, although they may look healthy 
and strong. It is not fair to compare the results of 
plants set in different seasons. The time A. G. W. 
set his plants three years ago, may have been favor¬ 
able to their early start and rapid growth; while, last 
spring, the conditions may have been essentially 
different. If possible, I choose to procure plants near 
home, see them taken up, and be sure that they have 
no unnecessary exposure before they are set. These 
conditions, which are of the first importance, are only 
to be assumed from the reputation for care, that the 
grower of plants can present. I have found that not all 
successful fruit growers are reliable shippers of plants. 
New York. w. d. barns. 
Milk from Ensilage Is All Right. 
D. II., Almond, W. Y. —1. We are sending milk to New York in this 
vicinity, through a milk company. Nearly all the farmers are 
feeding ensilage. The company complains that the milk is strong 
of the ensilage, and has cut the price one-half cent per quart, 
claiming that it is the best it can do. Do you know of such com¬ 
plaints against silos in the city ? If so, what shall we do ? We 
must use our silos; we cannot raise enough hay to keep our stock, 
and we wish to ship the milk or cream. The company claims 
that it cannot sell ensilage cream. 2. Will it pay to buy an incu¬ 
bator for raising chickens ? Are these machines practical for a 
beginner in the poultry business 1 Which kind is best—hot¬ 
air, hot-water, or steam ? What brooders are best ? 
Ans. —1. We showed this letter to several of the 
leading milk dealers of this city, and asked them what 
they thought of it. They all gave substantially the 
same replies. The answer of one includes the others. 
He said : “The best milk we get is made from ensi¬ 
lage—good ensilage, of course, as we wouldn’t expect 
to get good milk from poor ensilage any more than 
we would expect to get good milk from any feed of 
poor quality. I don’t believe that this company can 
distinguish between the milk made from ensilage, and 
that made from other feed. The farmers can’t get 
along without feeding ensilage. They must use it or 
go out of the business. The reduction in price on 
any such ground, is ridiculous. It is simply a mighty 
poor excuse. If the milk was not good, the reduction 
in price wouldn’t make it any better, would it ? The 
company’s claims are nonsense, so far as the use of 
good ensilage is concerned.” Which all agrees with 
our own ideas, but, of course, we were glad to have 
them confirmed by others who are right in the busi¬ 
ness of handling milk and cream. 
2. Will it pay a farmer to buy a self-binder, or a 
horse-rake ? It all depends upon the farmer and the 
work he has to do. It wouldn’t pay some. Some might 
do their harvesting in the primitive ways of our fore¬ 
fathers. It won’t pay some to invest in incubators 
and brooders. But no poultryman who is doing a 
business of any dimensions, especially in market poul¬ 
try, would think of doing without these aids. The 
best kinds, other things being equal, are those which 
receive the most intelligent care. There are cheap 
machines on the market, and it is unreasonable to 
expect these to equal the more expensive machines. 
They all require intelligent attention and care to do 
good work. The Prairie State, Pineland, Monitor, and 
others, are all good machines, and are doing practical, 
satisfactory work on hundreds of poultry farms 
throughout the country. 
A Succession of Fodder Crops. 
Several Subscribers, Connecticut .—What Is the earliest crop we 
can sow to provide green fodder for cattle ? What will make a 
succession through the season ? 
Ans. —The following fodder schedule was adopted 
by Mr. E. C. Birge of Southport, in 1892. It shows 
where the different crops were sown and cut, and how 
they followed in the succession: 
Seed 
Fodder. Per Acre. Sown. Cut. 
1 Rye.2 bushels....Sep. 1, ’91.May 14-30, ’92. 
2 Clover.j ^ler*grain.(April2, ’91 ....June 1-10, ’92. 
3 Pasture only.June 10-21, ’92. 
4 ° ats . (2 bushels.! Anrll 1 ’92 
* Peas. (1*4 bushel.(April l, 92. 
° ats .t - 2 bU8hels . I- A„..ii q .92 .j u iy 8-18, ’92. 
.June 21, to July 7 
Peas.(1*4 bushel..'.’!!!! (-Aprils, 
6 Evergr’n cornPl. 3 ft.x3. 5 ker.April 20, ’92.July 19. 
7 Ensilage corn.Oct. 8, silo closed 
8 peaL ey :'.:;:: \\ ESS?.*:::[ Au ^- 13 > ,92 --- oct - 9-20, -92. 
Cured corn I 
9 fodder and >.Oct. 21-Nov. 13. 
rye pasture. ) 
10 Ensilage. 
For example, rye sown September 1, gave green 
food May 14, and so on through-the season. By means 
of this system, 24 full-sized cattle are carried on 29 
acres. That is, all the coarse fodder for them is 
grown at home. The green fodder is cut and fed, and 
if any of it is left before the next crop is ready, it is 
cut and cured for hay. The ensilage corn and some of 
the clover, are put into the silo. Notice how the 
barley and peas sown August 13, gave timely fodder 
in the fall. 
EARLY CUT GRASS FOR COWS. 
A BALANCED RATION WITHOUT GRAIN. 
At nearly every farmers’ institute held in Vermont 
for several years past, more or less has been said about 
the value of early-cut hay as a perfect dairy food. 
Reference was frequently made to an old Scotchman 
named Amasa Scott, living in the town of Craftsbury, 
in northern Vermont, who has made a practice of 
feeding his dairy cows nothing but early-cut hay, or 
grass, at all times of the year, getting in return, more 
butter than any of his neighbors who feed ensilage or 
concentrated mill feeds. 
I recently looked this matter up, and I was agree¬ 
ably surprised at the results of Mr. Scott’s method of 
feeding. He has a small farm, and keeps but few 
cows, feeding them in the stable all the year ’round. 
In summer, their only feed is freshly-cut grass, and 
in the winter, 8 to 10 pounds of hay to each cow, 
morning, noon and night, and three quarts of cut 
potatoes, or other roots, morning and evening. He 
keeps his meadow in good heart by frequent applica¬ 
tions of barnyard manure, and cuts his first crop of 
hay from June 1 to 10, followed by another cutting 
the last of July, and a third crop the last of Septem¬ 
ber. Each cutting is short, tender grass, and looks 
almost as green now as when cut. 
As to the results, Mr. Scott’s cows are not thorough¬ 
breds, but are good grade Short-horns, Jerseys and 
other crosses, yet of good capacity, and dairy form. 
For many years past he has averaged over 500 pounds 
of butter per cow as shown by bis daily records, 
which he has kept with great care. One of his cows, 
a large, fleshy animal weighing about 1,000 pounds, 
has been giving milk 26 months continuously. The 
first 12 months, she produced 647 pounds of butter ; 
then, as a farrow, 478 pounds the next 12 months, and 
75 pounds in the two months of the third year, mak¬ 
ing in all 1,200 pounds of butter in 26 months. 
Mr. Scott has not only demonstrated that early-cut 
hay is a perfect and economical ration for dairy cows, 
but for fattening animals as well. Some years ago, 
he fattened a pair of steers that, as two-year-olds, 
weighed a trifle over 1,300 pounds each. Mr. Scott is 
now past 86 years of age, has lived in Craftsbury over 
40 years, and says that in all that time, he has never 
bought any grain or meal of any kind for his cows. 
Several members of the State Board of Agriculture 
have visited him at various times, and they all vouch 
for the accuracy of his statements, and the business¬ 
like way he has of managing his little farm. Mr. 
Scott further says that any farmer can increase his 
butter production at less cost for feed, if he will but 
follow the same course of treatment that his cows 
get; also that when he buys a cow from a neighbor, 
it takes him a year or two to bring her up to her best 
production. His experience has been an object lesson 
and a help to many of our Vermont farmers, and while 
his method of feeding may not be practical for every 
one to adopt, yet there seems to be more virtue in 
early-cut hay than most farmers are aware of. 
c. w. SCARFF. 
BUSINESS BITS. 
Canned meat for poultry is put up by the Hollis Dressed Meat 
and Wool Company, 20 North Street, Boston, Mass. It is fresh 
meat cooked, ground and sealed, so that it will keep indefinitely 
until opened. 
Mrs. S. G. Tremain, Hill View Farm, Lake George, N. Y., is 
offering her bull, Pedro’s Meridale Pogis, for sale, as his dam 
has dropped a full brother. Hill View Farm has only the best 
blood ; and this bull is one of rare breeding. 
A representative of The R. N.-Y. who recently visited the Mt. 
Airy Park Farm, reports having seen a fine herd of Ayrshires, also 
some good Holsteins, and Dorset Horn rams. B. Luther Shimer, 
Bethlehem, Pa., is the proprietor. Some of the stock is for sale. 
The green-bone cutters made by Webster & Hannurn, Caze- 
novia, N. Y., have an automatic feed that allows the operator to 
use either hand in turning the hand-power machines. They are 
warranted not to clog with clean meat. They also have power 
machines, and satisfaction is guaranteed or money back. 
We have had several inquiries recently for small butter pack¬ 
ages for shipping butter to private customers. We refer these to 
the Record Mfg. Co., Ill Main Street, Conneaut, O. They make air¬ 
tight, sealed packages that are just the thing for this trade, and, 
in fact, for any trade. They are made in nice sizes. They will 
send fuller particulars on request. 
The poultry department of Gov. Morton’s Ellerslie Stock Farm, 
has 10 Pineland incubators of 300-egg capacity each. These have 
been put in since the fire which destroyed the plant two years ago. 
Mr. Seely, the poultry manager, thinks the Pineland easier to man¬ 
age than some others that he used before the fire. The Pineland is 
made by the Pineland Incubator and Brooder Company, James- 
burg, N. J. 
We have used the P. & B. Compound as a tonic and food for 
horses and cattle, with excellent results. Sometimes, the most 
carefully balanced rations will fail to supply the small amounts 
of certain elements needed to keep an animal in perfect health. 
A small dose of P. & B. Compound will quickly make up this de¬ 
ficiency. It is entirely safe to feed this tonic. Sold by W. A. 
Seward, 207 Broadway, New York. 
The Universal weeder and cultivator was invented in a rough 
country; yet it does its best work on smooth land. Its use is to 
cultivate the soil on the surface* breaking up the crust, killing 
weeds and conserving moisture for the plant by preventing evap¬ 
oration. This weeder was tried on the Rural Grounds before it 
was put on the market, and The R. N.-Y. was the first paper to 
call attention to its advantages. Where the ground is suitable, 
there is no other implement to take the place of the weeder. It is 
made by the Universal Weeder Company, Boston, Mass. 
When they were discussing cheap potatoes last fall, did you 
notice how many of the growers claimed to save money by using 
an automatic potato planter ? That was one great item in cutting 
down the cost of a bushel. The Aspinwall planter is an old, re¬ 
liable machine that may be praised in the highest terms. It 
plows a furrow, picks up and drops the seed, scatters fertilizer 
over it, fills up the furrow, and, if desired, throws a ridge of earth 
over it. All this is done by the labor of two horses, and with 
proper conditions, 10 acres are covered in a day. For further 
particulars, write to the Aspinwall Mfg. Co., Jackson, Mich. 
They also make a potato cutter. 
There is no reason under the sun why farm implements, as well 
as farm buildings, should not be kept constantly protected from 
the weather by a good coat of paint. There is every reason why 
they should have this protection. The saving that might be made 
on farm tools alone by paint, would pay the taxes on most farms 
from year to year. There can be little excuse for neglecting this 
work now, since ready-mixed paints can be procured so easily 
and cheaply. O. W. Ingersoll, 246 Plymouth Street, Brooklyn, N. 
Y., makes a business of manufacturing and furnishing ready- 
mixed paints of any color desired. He sells direct to purchasers, 
and delivers it free of charge, so there are no dealers’ profits and 
no express charges. Better send and get his book, “ Every Man 
His Own Painter,” which will be sent free. Afterwards, you can 
order the paint you need to cover every implement on the farm. 
Webster’s International Dictionary.— In 1783, over 113 years 
ago, the first attempt was made by Noah Webster to prepare an 
American book “for facilitating the acquisition of our vernacular 
tongue” and for presenting a standard for pronunciation. This 
was followed by other books until, finally, Dr. Webster published 
his “ American Dictionary,” which became at once the standard 
dictionary of the English language. There is growth and de¬ 
velopment in a language, as well as in everything else, and during 
the past 100 years, many new words and new shades of definition 
—not to speak of new methods of spelling—have been drafted 
into the service of the English tongue. The old Webster’s Diction¬ 
ary has fully kept pace with this growth, and to-day, the “ Inter¬ 
national,” or unabridged edition, is generally regarded as the 
highest authority for spelling and pronunciation. Years ago, 
when a young man, Noah Webster went about among printing 
offices urging compositors to change the spelling of such words 
as “ centre.” He started a great spelling reform in this way, and 
it is but natural that newspaper men of our day should go to the 
same authority for their spelling. The International Dictionary is 
a marvellous collection of fact and information. It is used as the 
standard in The R. N.-Y. office. The latest edition reflects great 
credit upon the publishers, G. & C. Merriam, Springfield, Mass. 
