1896 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
289 
compare this composting of muckjwith the effect of 
cooking in making indigestible foods fit for the tabic. 
Manure contains more of nitrogen than of either pot¬ 
ash or phosphoric acid, so that, when the two are 
mixed, the mixture is still a poor one for fruit. Un¬ 
leached wood ashes and fine bone will help the mix¬ 
ture greatly. For every ton of the compost, use 100 
pounds of wood ashes and 30 pounds of bone. Put a 
load of muck and manure together in a flat pile, and 
scatter the ashes and bone over it, then another load, 
and so on as you build it up. Twice during the sea¬ 
son, fork the piles over, beginning at one end and 
throwing the compost back so that an entirely new 
pile will be made. You will not need lime, as the 
ashes contain enough of that substance. 
Rape and Crimson Clover with Oats. 
C. M., Chalfont, Pa .—Is Dwarf Essex rape a good plant for 
green manuring, and will it grow when sown with oats? Will it 
survive our winters? Will Crimson clover, when sown with oats, 
grow to a sufficient size to plow under in the fall for green ma¬ 
nure, so as to pay for the inconvenience in drying the oats, and 
will it be a financial success? I have four acres of Crimson 
clover sown in the corn field. Last fall, a prettier covering could 
be seen on no field for miles around. This spring it looks very 
brown and dead. Are the winters here too severe for it ? Is 
spring or fall the proper time to sow it, so as to reap any benefit 
from it for green manuring ? 
Ans. —VVe do not believe that it will pay to sow 
rape with the oats, neither do we advise the sowing 
of Crimson clover. If you are after a crop of grain, 
the Crimson clover will not amount to anything. We 
would prefer to use Red clover with the oats, though 
much depends on the crop that will follow in the fall. 
The chances are that your Crimson clover will revive 
with warm weather, and grow so fast that it will 
astonish you. In any event, the fall and winter 
growth more than paid for seed and labor. Late July 
or early August is the best time to sow Crimson clover. 
If it can have water enough, it will be reasonably sure 
to make growth enough to carry it through the winter. 
Miss Red Clover and Tim Timothy. 
F. E. I)., Delhi , N. Y .—I have 25 acres of red slate soil, which I 
wish to seed this spring, for a permanent meadow. What kinds 
of grasses should I sow ? Would it be advisable to sow peas with 
the oats ? The field has had a light coat of rich stable manure 
this winter. 
Ans. —For such land, there is no better grass than 
Timothy. Sow not less than six quarts per acre, and 
one quart of Alsike clover seed. While this variety 
of clover does not benefit the land so much as Red 
clover, yet it cures light colored, does not ripen so 
quickly, and buyers do not object to a small amount 
of it in hay. If the hay be fed on the farm, the clover 
will improve the quality of it. As much Timothy can 
be secured with clover as without it. In a few years, 
the meadow will lack nitrogen, and the clover, as it 
dies out, will furnish it. Permanent meadows are 
usually neglected, and as grasses require an abund¬ 
ance of nitrogen, and can secure none of it directly or 
indirectly from the atmosphere, pains should be taken 
to supply it. When the clover dies, it leaves the 
ground permeated with openings which admit the air 
into the soil and assist in forming a reservoir for the 
storage of water. While bringing to the surface addi¬ 
tional stores of nitrogen, clover also brings from the 
subsoil mineral matter and digests or prepares it for 
the more exacting grasses; therefore, it is well to 
keep a little clover constantly growing in association 
with the grasses, even though a little seed has to be 
sown every other year and harrowed in early in the 
spring. Peas should not be sown with the oats, as 
they will shade the ground too much, and the oats 
should not be sown as thickly as usual. Give the 
grass a little chance for moisture and sunlight. 
Room on the Roost; Cutting Fodder. 
W.J., Fredon, N. •/.—1. What amount of roosting space—in 
length—does an ordinary sized chicken require, and what dis¬ 
tance apart should roosts be ? I am building a poultry house, 
and wish to allow room enough. 2. In The R. N.-Y. some time 
ago, it was remarked that corn fodder would not make sore 
mouths in stock, if cut a few inches long. What length was men¬ 
tioned, and has it been tested often ? 
Ans. —1. It depends upon the “ ordinary size” of 
the chicken. For the smaller breeds, one foot in 
length of roost for each, is plenty ; larger- breeds re¬ 
quire more. The same with the distance between the 
roosts ; 1% foot is about right, or, possibly, a little 
more for the larger breeds. They should not be so 
close as to be crowded uncomfortably. In-some houses, 
pegs are placed in the roosts at proper distances 
apart, so that the hens will not crowd, as they are 
forced to roost between the pegs. 2. We know of a 
case where stalks were cut into four-inch lengths, 
and were then well eaten. The cow was able to work 
a piece of this size in her mouth without chewing on 
the sharp edges. 
Is Salt a Fertilizer ? 
J. W.H ., Conyngham, Pa .— Many-farmers recommend salt for 
oats, potatoes, cabbage and corn, using about one-quarter salt 
and three-quarters good fertilizer. Which would be the best way 
to apply, if used at all—broadcast before planting, or drill with 
planter ? 
Ans.— Our plan would always be to broadcast the 
salt and harrow it in. We do not consider it of much 
value as a direct fertilizer, but, like lime, often useful 
for its chemical effects on the soil. 
Bone, Potash, and Coal Ashes. 
O.E. L. (No address.)— Would you recommend ground bone and 
muriate of potash as a good combination for a general fertilizer 
on a market garden ? In what proportion and amount per acre 
shall I use them to obtain the best results ? Can I use the above 
as a top-dressing in spring on strawberries and asparagus safely, 
and are’three parts bone and one potash about right for these 
crops ? I can get coal ashes for the hauling. To what shall I 
apply them to get satisfaction and value ? 
Ans. —The bone does not give nitrogen in as soluble 
a form as is needed for quick-growing vegetables. For 
strawberries, the mixture given will answer, but for 
vegetables we would add to each 100 pounds of bone 
and potash, 10 pounds nitrate of soda. We would 
also like to add 15 pounds of acid phosphate or dis¬ 
solved bone black. There is but little actual fertility 
in coal ashes. They will help the mechanical texture 
of open soils, and are useful around currants or on 
other fruits where a mulch is needed. 
Quality and Quantity of Milk. 
IF. T. D., Devizes, Ontario, Can.—l. What is the highest per cent 
of fat found in milk as taken from the cow ? 2. What per cent of 
fat should be found in the milk of a good dairy cow? 3. What 
breed of cattle gives the greatest quantity of milk ? Do the Hol- 
steins give a greater quantity than the Ayrshires ? 
Ans. — 1 . The highest of which we have heard, is 
about eight per cent. 2. A good dairy cow should 
give from four to five per cent of fat in her milk. 3. 
Probably as a breed, the Holsteins will give more 
milk, though there is a great difference in families or 
strains of all breeds. Some families of Ayrshires, for 
example, have been so carefully bred and selected for 
milk production, that they may excel Holsteins that 
have not been so carefully bred. While cattle are 
divided into breeds according to general appearance 
and characteristics, it must always be remembered 
that individuals of the same breed may differ widely. 
To Cleanse Maple Syrup. 
C. G., East Springfield, Pa. —How can I cleanse maple syrup of 
that fine dirt which the strainer will not take out? 
Ans. —The sediment inferred to is maleate of lime, 
commonly called sugar sand, which is always found 
more or less in maple sap after boiling. To remove 
it, the hot syrup should be strained through a closely 
woven flannel cloth into a settling can or tank, and 
drawn off, after standing 24 hours, by means of a 
faucet a little above the bottom- of the can. If it is 
desirable to can the syrup while hot—and some of 
our best sugar-makers prefer this method—then the 
syrup should be again filtered through a felt strainer, 
which takes out practically all the sediment. Funnel- 
shaped felt strainers may be bought of any dealer in 
maple-sugar-makers’ supplies. Great care should be 
taken to change the strainers frequently, and wash 
them thoroughly. c . w. scabff. 
Color of Egg Shell and Flavor of Egg. 
H. T.Brad/ord, Vt. —Are the contents of the dark brown eggs 
very much richer than those of the white eggs of the Leghorns ? 
Are not the white eggs quoted in the New York markets as high 
as, or higher than the browns ? If so, why ? 
Ans. —There is little or no chemical difference be¬ 
tween dark and white eggs. Some breeders would 
like to have us believe that there is a characteristic 
difference in the contents of Brahma and Leghorn 
eggs—just as there is in the butter from Jerseys and 
Holsteins. They have not been able to prove it, how¬ 
ever. The fat globules in Jersey milk are consider¬ 
ably lai-ger than those in Holstein milk. They rise 
quicker, and are naturally of a darker color. Differ¬ 
ences in color or flavor of the contents of eggs seem 
to be due more to season and feed than to breed. 
The New York market demands a pure white shell, 
and the Boston market demands dark brown shells, 
so that no real argument can be based on the color. 
Everything of the Best at Right Prices for Or* 
\ chard. Vineyard, Lawn, Park, Street, Carden 
and Greenhouse, Rarest New, Choicest Old. 
Elegant 168 page catalogue free. Send for It before buying. Half saved 
by dealing direct. Try It. Seeds, Plants, Bulbs, Small Trees, etc., sent 
a . , , , by mail to any office in the U. S. postpaid. Larger by express or freight. 
Safe arrival and satisfaction guaranteed. 42nd Year. J 000 Acres. 29 Greenhouse*. 
THE STORRS & HARRISON C0«, Box 300 Pain8sville« G. 
'REES 
FRUIT AND ORNAMENTAL. 
SMALL FRUITS, GRAPES, SHRUBS, R05BS. 
EVERGREENS, HARDY PLANTS, 
Garge«£and choicest collection* In America. 
NEW CATALOGUE, 
beautifully Illustrated, free to regular customer#, 
to others 10c for postage. 
ELLWANCER & BARRY, 
HOUNT HOPE NURSERIES, Rochester, R. F. 
T r©BS 
\wjsuir and ornamental. GEO. A. SWEET NURSERY C0„ Dansville, N. Y, 15] 
GRAPES, ROSES, SHRUBS. 
SMALL FRUITS AND EVERGREENS. 
Staple Sorts and new kinds cheap. Send for New 
Illustrated Catalogue, mailed free on application. 
SURPLUS 
CHESTNUT TREES 
AND 
GRAFTING WOOD. 
Paragon, Parry’s Giant, Alpha, Reliance, and all others. 
Apples, Pears and Cherries at one-half rates. Champion Quince and Japan 
Plums at still less. Bismarck aud Starr Apples. Rocky Mountain Cherry, all 
sizes. Send for special rates. 
PARRY’S]POMONA^NURSERIES,[Parry, N. J. 
Pear, Apple, Plum 
Cherry and Peach Trees 
We have a large block growing on rented land. The 
lease expires this spring. The stock must be sold 
without regard to cost of raising. Have fixed the 
lowest prices ever quoted. THE TREES ARE FINE. 
This is, no doubt, the best opportunity offered plant¬ 
ers during the past 25 years. WHITING NURSERY 
CO., Roxbury, Mass. Nurseries at Geneva, N. Y. 
PEACH TREES 
By the 100,1,000 or In car lots. 
Michel’s Early (earli¬ 
est), Gandy’s Prize 
„ - (latest), Tlmbrell, 
Marshall and Greenville. Trees and plants, all kinds. 
Write for prices. None lower. 
N. P. BROOKS, Lakewood (Nurseries), N. J. 
-ujr llau iWi x,uuu ur 1 
Strawberry Plants 
TREES GROW SLEEP,° U 
before you know it your reward 
comes m fruit & shade. Begin NOW 
by writing for our low prices. 
Flower City Nursery Co., 27 Crescent Ave., 
ROCHESTER, N. Y. 
Remember we pay the freight. 
200 varieties. Also Grupei«,SmallFrult«,etcrcest root¬ 
ed stock. Genuine, cheap. 2 samplecurrants mailed for 
10c. Dose, price list free. LEWIS ltOESClI, Fredonla, N. Y. 
Peach, Pear and Plum 
Trees of the best quality at the lowest prices ever 
offered. Send your list for prices and be convinced. 
VVe mean to sell. Our stock is genuine. None better. 
HENRY LETTS & SON, Youngstown, N. Y. 
EVERGREENS. 
Largestatock In Amei* 
lea, including 
Colorado Blue Spruce 
and Douglas Spruce 
* of Colorado. 
Also Ornamental, 
Shade and Forest Trees, 
Tree Seeds, Etc. ~ 
B. DOUGLAS*SONS, 
Waukegan. Hi. 
Surplus of Peach Trees, Cheap 
Also, Apple, Pear, Plum, Cherry and Nut Trees. 
RIDGELY Chestnut; STAYMAN Apple and MILLER 
Raspberry. STRAWBERRY PLANTS by the million, 
from young beds only, and of the best quality 
Write now for prices. 
CHAS. WRIGHT, Seaford, Del. 
GRAPE VINES — 
Moore’s Early and Wyoming Red. Special 
prices while they last. 
EUGENE WILLETT & SON, North Collins, N Y. 
WANTED. 
PEACII TREES: 2,000 Crosby; 2,000 Elberta. Also, 
Satsuma Plums. State sizes and wholesale prices. 
Give prices of other surplus. 
HIGHLAND NURSERY CO., Rochester, N. Y. 
PEROR 
The Latest and V /T“The only" 
i Largest Yellow ||L H Freestone PEACH 
Freestone PEACH. Ripening with Amsden. 
Send 10c. for catalog describing the plates of 3new fruits and one 
.---wonderful Mercer Cherry and receive Emperor Peach June bud, postpaid. 
JOS. H. BLACK, SON & CO., Village Nurseries, HIGHTSTOWN, N. J. 
IUMPH 
The only Yellow 
Ask Your Dealer For It. 
Agents Wanted. 
Write for 
Circulars. 
Patented 
- Dec. 21, 1886 
Recommended by 
John Gould, T. B. 
Terry, J. S. Wood¬ 
ward, Theo. Louis, W. I. 
Chamberlain, Waldo F. 
Brown, and every user. 
The UNIVERSAL WEEPER CO., bostSIS 
