784 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
November 28 
feel capable to assist my successor, because I do not 
know how to run an office in the interest of poli¬ 
tics. It has been run entirely on business principles, 
assisted by both Democrats and Republicans, and it is 
an honor to the trade that politics have been unknown 
to them.” 
SOME SWEET POTATO EXPERIMENTS. 
TIIE GREAT NEED OF POTASH. 
One of the enthusiastic and successful farmers in 
Kent County, Delaware, is Mr. .T. W. Killen, who has 
attracted attention for some years past by his dis¬ 
plays of fruit and vegetables at the State Fair. Mr. 
Killen is a young man, and only a few years ago took 
hold of a piece of very light, sandy land that ap¬ 
peared to the ordinary eye to be barren and forbid¬ 
ding on account of its apparent “leacliy ” character. 
But the land has improved, and Mr. Killen is prosper¬ 
ing. He is not only testing a great many varieties 
of fruits, vegetables, and nut trees, as well as origin¬ 
ating some of value, but has made some experiments 
in the use of fertilizers, and in spraying for peach rot. 
The latter work has been conducted under the direc¬ 
tion of the Delaware Experiment Station. 
This year, 10 plots of one-tenth acre each were de¬ 
voted to experiments with fertilizers on sweet pota¬ 
toes. The land had been in corn for two years. The 
field was first marked off in rows three feet apart; 
the fertilizers were applied nearly broadcast, except 
the nitrate of soda which was applied at different 
times, evenly distributed. Then two shallow furrows 
were tvirned towards the row, and later, the re¬ 
mainder of the ground was plowed by turning two 
other furrows towards every row. Cultivation dur¬ 
ing the season was thorough and frequent. The fol¬ 
lowing table shows the results • 
o 
5 
1 
1A 
2 
2 A 
3 
3A 
4 
4 A 
5 
5A 
Application. 
Notliinpr. 
200 lbs. lime. 
j 00 lbs. acid phosphate, i 
i 20 lbs. nitrate soda. ( 
i 00 lbs. acid phosphate. ) 
< 20 lbs. nitrate soda. 
I 200 lbs. lime. | 
( 00 lbs. acid phosphate. 
- 20 lbs. nitrate soda. 
/ 12 lbs. muriate potash. \ 
f 00 lbs. acid phosphate. "I 
] 20 lbs. nitrate soda. 
‘ 12 lbs. muriate potash, f 
(.200 lbs. lime, 
i 60 lbs. .acid phosphate. ) 
- 20 lbs. nitrate soda. V 
f 24 lbs. muriate potash, i 
f 00 lbs. acid phosphate, i 
] 20 lbs. nitrate soda, 
j 24 lbs. muriate potash, f 
[200 lbs. lime. 
J Same as 4 with 24 lbs. j 
- sulphate potash substi- - 
I tuted for muriate. j 
j Same as 5 with 200 lbs. / 
| lime. ( 
Yield in Lbs. per Plot. 
Yield, 
B Acre 
1st Size 
2d Size 
Culls. 
Bu 
Lbs 
409 
503 y s 
654 
246*4 
219 % 
244 Y, 
124 
194*4 
130 Vi 
129 
152 
171 
55 
56*3 
30 
857 
241 
127 
204 
10 
1,341 
172 
91 
267 
20 
1,43854 
176 
73*4 
00 
20 
1,564 
255 
62 
308 
30 
1,588*4 
229*4 
50*4 
311 
25 
1,246 
182*4 
61*4 
248 
20 
1,309 
165 
97 
261 
50 
It will be noticed that the effect of the lime 
decreased as the quantity of complete fertilizer was 
increased. Where the acid phosphate and nitrate of 
soda were applied, there was a decided increase by 
the use of lime. No doubt the lime made potash 
available by its action upon the soil, for, of course, 
the crop is limited by the smallest proportionate 
amount of any one of the necessary elements of plant 
food. 
Analyses of sweet potatoes show that a large 
amount of potash is necessary to produce a crop. We 
know that the application of excessive amounts of 
certain fertilizers is not only beneficial but, indeed, 
profitable upon certain crops. I do not know just 
what combination is best for sweet potatoes, but 
evidently, potash is a prime requisite. The average 
fertilizer on the market does not contain more than 
two to three per cent of potash. Many brands con¬ 
tain none at all, and the average amount in those on 
sale in Delaware this summer, according to the 
analyses published by the State Chemist, is less than 
two per cent. Leaving out bone and the various 
brands of acid phosphate and taking only the “com¬ 
plete” fertilizers, the average content of potash is 
only 2 y 2 per cent. For sweet potatoes, the average 
Delaware farmer does not apply more than 400 or 500 
pounds per acre. Mr. Killen applied to plot three 
fertilizers amounting to the rate of 920 pounds per 
acre, and containing nine per cent of phosphoric 
acid, 3 % per cent of nitrogen and 6% per cent of 
potash, with results that must be considered satis¬ 
factory. 
When he added to plot four 12 pounds of muriate 
of potash—equal to 120 pounds per acre—he had 1,040 
pounds per acre of a mixture that contained eight per 
cent of phosphoric acid, 3 per cent of nitrogen and 
11X per cent of potash. This addition was made at a 
cost of about §2.50 per acre, and resulted in giving an 
additional yield of 41 bushels per acre. Further com¬ 
ment seems superfluous. wesley webb. 
Dover, Del. 
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piece of paper.] 
Forcing Asparagus in Winter. 
./. E. S., Columbus, JV. J.—l have a hotbed heated by hot water 
pipes, and can keep it fairly warm. Could I force asparagus in 
it this fall and winter, before wanting it for plants in the 
spring? 
Ans. —Asparagus is easy to force, but it is now 
much grown in Florida for the northern market, 
shipping well ; consequently it does not pay for forc¬ 
ing after February. To prepare it for this purpose, 
it is grown in rows, planted shallow. When three or 
four years old, the rows are laid bare on either side 
with a plow, the roots plowed out, and the clumps 
stored in a shed or pit with a covering of leaves, so 
that they may be easily taken out when needed for 
successive crops. The hotbed heated by hot water 
pipes (which is, practically, a heated frame or pit), is 
an excellent place. It also does well under green¬ 
house benches. It is sensitive to heat, and soon starts 
in a temperature of 00 to 70 degrees. This, however, 
is regarded by the large growers as a wasteful 
method, as the roots never recover fully from the 
violent handling. The method practiced in the vicin¬ 
ity of Philadelphia is to place sashes over the roots, 
in the open ground, without disturbing them. A 
warm, sunny situation is selected. Three rows of 
asparagus are placed two feet apart. They are well 
cultivated in summer and heavily manured in late 
autumn. When the roots are three years old, they 
are forced. Lines of boards are set up on their edges 
on either side of the bed, and eight-foot sashes laid 
across them, thus making a cold frame. The warmth 
conserved by the glass hastens growth, and an early 
crop is secured. In summer the sashes are removed, 
so that the plant regains vigor under outdoor condi¬ 
tions. The roots are never disturbed. The expense 
of this process being light, it is usually quite profit¬ 
able, even in competition with southern stock. 
The Scurfy Bark-Lice on Apples. 
M. M. /!., West Fair view. Pa .—What is tlie matter with the in¬ 
closed Baldwin apple twig? What is the remedy ? I have 1,000 
four-year-old trees which are more or less affected, the Baldwin 
especially so, and a few have been killed by the disease. 
ANSWERED BY M. V. SLINGERLAND. 
The white scales, scarcely one-eighth inch in length, 
closely adhering to the bark of the branch sent, are 
commonly known as the Scurfy Bark-lice. They re¬ 
semble a small fish scale adhering to the bark. At 
this time, or in the winter, most of the scales, or 
rather, the insects that secreted them, are dead. But 
if M. M. B will carefully lift some of the scales with 
a pin or knife, and examine the spot closely with a 
small microscope or pocket lens (an instrument that 
every fruit grower ought to own), he will find many 
minute, purplish eggs just underneath the white 
scale. The body of the mother insect, which secreted 
the scale, will be found all shriveled up at one end of 
the scale. She has fulfilled her destiny, and her scale 
affords a winter home for her progeny. 
In early spring, usually in May, the eggs hatch out 
minute, purplish lice which crawl from under the 
scale and scatter over the tree. When a suitable 
place is found, they insert their little beaks in the 
bark and there remain, sucking the juices of the tree. 
They never move after once establishing themselves. 
The white scale soon begins to be secreted, and by 
midsummer, they render the insect quite conspicuous. 
Hundreds of them often occur on a small branch. 
All parts of the trunk and branches may be infested, 
and the thousands of little beaks pumping out the 
life-blood of the tree, may seriously weaken, and 
cause the death of the affected portion. 
Although this scale is widely distributed and quite 
common, it is not often reported as killing the tx-ees 
it infests. In short, it is not considered a very serious 
insect pest. Of course, when very numerous, it must 
greatly weaken a tree, and should, therefore, be 
checked as soon as possible. Its scale-like covering 
under which the insect lives, renders it hard to reach 
with insecticides. Poisonous applications would, of 
course, have no effect, as the insect sucks and does 
not bite its food. I would advise brushing off, with 
a stiff wire brush, all the scales practicable in the fall 
or winter; and early in the spring, as soon as the 
young lice are seen crawling about the tree, spray 
thoroughly with kerosene emulsion diluted with from 
five to eight parts of water. The young lice will 
begin to appear in May, and for a few days, will be 
unprotected by scales ; they are thus easily l-eached 
by the spray, and the emulsion^is death to evei’y one 
it hits. Spray thoroughly and in time. Probably a 
good washing of the bai’k of the tree with whale-oil 
soap, one pound to a gallon or two of water, in the 
fall, winter or early spring, would also kill the eggs 
under the scales. 
Hon Does the Silo Benefit a Corn Stalk ? Is Ensilage Better 
Than Dry Fodder and Grain ? 
I). C., Delavan, Wis. —Why does the corn crop make better re¬ 
turns fed as ensilage than as stover and corn meal ? Is is because 
of damage through weathering, or lessened digestibility, or 
actual loss in chemical value ? Should corn be planted thicker 
for ensilage than otherwise ? 
ANSWERED BY JOHN GOULD, OF OHIO. 
Some things are hard to understand, though brought 
to our attention almost daily. If 100 pounds of lawn 
clippings be fed to a cow, it is a full ration, and upon 
it she will do her very best; but if the same grass be 
dried into hay and fed to her, it is from the start a 
starvation ration, and the milk yield shrinks to next 
to nothing. Good pasture grass is in itself about a 
perfect balanced ration, but as soon as it has been 
made into hay, it has to be balanced up with bran or 
oil meal. In the drying, it has become a fuel supply, 
rather than a complete ration, and with this disad¬ 
vantage—about one-half of the actual weight of the 
hay has become indigestible fiber, and is only make¬ 
weight and of no nourishing or digestible value. 
Every one holds that maturing corn, cut green and 
fed to the cows, is of great value as a food, and is 
eagerly eaten, but the moment it is dried into fodder, 
and the corn made into meal, all the doctors tell us 
that it is one-sided, and a large part has become 
woody, fibrous and indigestible, and we must feed 
five to ten pounds a day of bran, or some other highly 
nitrogenous meal, to give the cows a full supply of 
nourishment. 
Now we begin to see why a succulent ration is bet¬ 
ter than the same plant dried. True, the chemist 
says that the juice of a plant or fruit is nothing but 
water, but dried turnips and spring water are alto¬ 
gether a different food for sheep from fresh-pulled 
turnips ; or that in drying plants, nothing is lost in 
the drying, as solids cannot escape in the steam, but 
this question once came up at an institute, and the 
professor was astounded by an old farmer who asked 
what they put with the steam to make whisky. Corn 
fodder does lose largely by the weathering in the 
field, but much more by the simple act of drying. It 
is affirmed by the “books” that the corn plant, in 
drying, loses fully 20 per cent of its food value by 
converting food elements into woody matter, and the 
escape of material not explained, and the weathering 
which follows, tells largely, also. The Pennsylvania 
Station found that, as between feeding the corn plant 
green, and dry, including the waste of the latter as 
usually found in the barn, there was over 37 per cent 
of loss. Edward Van Alstyne, of New York, in a re¬ 
cent letter, puts the waste of the corn fodder of his 
locality at 70 per cent of the crop, aside from the corn 
ears. 
The loss of the silo in the process of “ heating up ” 
is now computed, one year with another, with mature 
corn and a well-built silo, at 15 per cent. With the 
silo, there is a dispatch and completeness of work and 
subsequent handiness of feeding, that is nowhere 
equaled. As a rule, corn can be cut and put into the 
silo for about the same outlay that would be encoun¬ 
tered in hiring the corn husked ; with the silo, there 
is no husking, cribbing, going to mill, and tolling the 
grist, and “ estimating the weight ” of the miller’s 
hogs. With the silo, one operation completes the 
job, and there is a winter’s ease and comfort in store 
for the man who has his corn in the silo, but the woes 
of the man without one, are many. In no trial, as 
between the silo and dry fodder, has the corn from 
the field shock or fodder rick anywhere equaled the 
ensilage, and in any reported case where the com¬ 
parative tests have anywhere approached each other, 
it has been where the fodder has been wilted only in 
the field, and then cured in sheds or racks, a thing 
which it would be perfectly impossible for a farmer 
to put into practice with his 10 to 20 acres of corn. 
Cattle thrive on ensilage like summer feeding, and 
present the same sleek appearance of summer and 
grass. So far as stover and corn meal are concerned, 
it is found by repeated trials, that cattle do much 
better, and on less food, to run the unhusked corn 
through a cutter, cutting into half-inch lengths, than 
to separate the corn from the fodder and grind into 
meal, again to unite them in the manger, a matter 
confirmed by Prof. Henry, of Wisconsin. 
I should say plant about twice as thick for ensilage 
as for field corn. We put a kernel each six inches in 
the drill for ensilage, and pi’epare the ground so well 
before planting, that inch-deep cultivation is ample 
afterwards. Where there is no root cutting, we get a 
wealth of ears on our Virginia corn, and maturity 
early enough to escape the, about this time, fall 
frosts. We plant three feet six inches apart in the 
rows, and yearly send to Albemarle County, Va., to 
get their common field corn seed. We find that here 
