THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
February 2.", 
148 
NOTES FROM THE RURAL GROUNDS 
A Pipe Tale. —The experimental green¬ 
house on the Rural Grounds is a small 
structure, 1G by 24 feet inside dimensions, 
attached to the south side of a dwell¬ 
ing, and heated by a hot-water system that 
does duty for both buildings. It was built 
in 1804, at about the period steel was 
being generally substituted for iron in 
the manufacture of pipes, nails and wire. 
1 he old style wrought or soft iron pipes, 
while not as lasting as the thicker ones, 
made of cast iron, were very durable and 
resistant to corrosion. They were placed 
under greenhouse benches, exposed to 
constant drip and moisture, and were ex¬ 
pected to last during the life of the 
building, while the question of durability 
was never raised in regard to the cast 
pipes—they would outlast the owner and 
become a matter of inheritance if not dis¬ 
posed of before as second-hand material. 
Our architect advised four-inch cast pipes 
under the benches, but as they are put 
together with solid packed or rust joints 
so as to be difficult of removal in the event 
of future building changes we compro¬ 
mised on a complete system for dwelling 
and greenhouse of two-inch and smaller 
size pipe, with the usual screw joints and 
unions. The result as far as maintain¬ 
ing the needed temperatures has been 
quite satisfactory, but steel pipe was sup¬ 
plied instead of the expected wrought 
iron, and has been a great disappointment 
as regards durability. At the end of two 
years the pipes were deeply pitted and 
corroded. Each year since rust has flaked 
off in crusts thicker than ordinary blotting 
paper, although portions have repeatedly 
been scraped bright and painted with iron 
oxide and oil. In 1903, nine years after 
installment, the first leak appeared, and 
now, after repairing sundry leaks and re¬ 
newing sections, we must discard the 
whole under-bench system, as it is every¬ 
where reduced by outside corrosion fo 
little more than the thickness or rather 
thinness of ordinary sheet iron. All the 
elbows, tees and fittings, being made of 
cast metal, are as sound as when put in 
place, scarcely discolored with rust—re¬ 
taining perfectly the paint where applied, 
and apparently good for 20 years to come. 
The corrosion we find on section is en¬ 
tirely on the outside. The pipes were con¬ 
stantly filled with water throughout the 
year, except for an occasional short ab¬ 
sence in Winter, when it was necessary 
to drain them, and are little more than 
tarnished on the interior surface. Where 
entirely protected from exterior moisture, 
as in the dwelling, they are perfectly 
sound, and will last indefinitely. Some 
odd lengths of this pipe were stored in 
an ordinary dry cellar, but rusted in 
three years so as to be worthless. Sec¬ 
tions of the two-inch size used for posts 
and tree protectors, set three feet deep in 
the soil, rusted through in five years. As 
regards durability when exposed to con¬ 
tinual moisture, the steel pipe is scarce¬ 
ly as lasting as hemlock lumber, and can¬ 
not be compared to pine or cypress when 
exposed to exactly the same conditions. 
When re-piping this little greenhouse we 
shall use cast four-inch pipes new or old, 
if they can be had. 
Worthless but not Cheap.— Years ago 
we were told that one of the overshadow¬ 
ing benefits of high duties on foreign com¬ 
modities would be to keep out the “cheap 
and nasty” manufactures of other coun¬ 
tries. Our “infant” steel industry got 
its “protection” along with the rest, and 
has thriven to such extent that it sells 
its products abroad, when customers can 
be secured, at lower prices than are ex¬ 
acted from home buyers. There has been 
no cheapening to consumers, but the sub¬ 
stitution of Bessemer steel for iron has 
so degraded the quality of fence wire, 
nails and pipes that they are practically 
worthless as far as durability under ex¬ 
posure to moisture is concerned. Shingles 
begin to blow off the new roof in three or 
four years, and the steel wire nails are 
found to be rusted to mere threads. The 
old cut iron nails usually lasted longer 
than the shingles. Steel fence wire scarce¬ 
ly endures as many months as the old 
iron product did years, especially when 
it is galvanized by the modern quick-wip¬ 
ing process. The perishable nature of 
steel pipes has been demonstrated by the 
costly experience of thousands of green¬ 
house builders who scarcely know where 
to buy good material to replace their 
rust-eaten and leaky systems. It is claimed 
that one or two factories are permitted 
by the trust to supply guaranteed iron 
pipe to insistent customers at double the 
price of the usual steel article, but the pos¬ 
sibility of the ordinary buyer getting any¬ 
thing reliable in the way of iron pipes or 
tubes is carefully kept; in the background 
by dealers and sales agents. If similar 
privileges should graciously be granted 
users of nails and fence wire at any prac¬ 
tical cost we should all be duly grateful. 
The argument that these degraded and 
worthless articles are supplied to meet 
the demand for low-priced goods is sim¬ 
ply clap-trap designed to mislead the un¬ 
thinking. There is no considerable de¬ 
mand for worthless goods at any price, and 
steel manufactures are now anything but 
cheap to the consumer, though they may 
cost little to make as compared with iron. 
Practical men in all occupations, especially 
farmers, desire first of all good quality 
and reasonable durability in their metal 
purchases, and are willing to pay fair 
prices to secure them. The steel trust 
is not unique in its methods of monopoliz¬ 
ing trade and forcing low-grade products 
on consumers at inordinate profit to itself, 
but as the greatest of all manufacturing 
combinations, making articles of vital need 
to civilization, it should be held to strict¬ 
er account than at present. As the qual¬ 
ities of metal goods are not obvious to 
the ordinary buyer there should be some 
way to exact a guarantee as to their value 
for special purposes. Steel pipes and nails 
are strong and may do good service if 
kept dry, but are now proved of little 
durability, if much exposed co moisture. 
Steel fence wire, unless very much better 
galvanized than most of the stuff now 
sold, is in reality valueless—not worth the 
trouble of putting up. Fence wires must 
necessarily be exposed to the weather, and 
cannot be taken in the house to avoid rain 
or dew. 
Keeping Greenhouse Pipe Out of the 
Wet. —Although the extreme perishability 
of steel pipe when exposed to wet has not 
been demonstrated until v<?ry lately, ob¬ 
serving glasshouse owners have for years 
been worried over the unlooked-for rapid 
corrosion of their installments, and have 
had recourse to oiling, painting and other 
futile expedients. In many new struc¬ 
tures care has been taken to run the pipes 
as far as possible where they will be ex¬ 
posed to light and escape drip, but this 
can only be done in a limited way. In the 
usual steam or water heating with small 
pipes much of the radiating surface must 
necessarily be placed out of the way under 
benches and stages, where it is exposed to 
constant drip and moisture. There is very 
little corrosion during Winter, when the 
pipes are heated, as the surface is dry 
most of the time, but during the months 
firing is not needed they are constantly 
wet with drip or condensation. In the 
economical management of glasshouses, 
a succession of crops must be kept grow¬ 
ing all the time, and the conditions for 
the corrosion of perishable metals by 
moisture are thus constant during the 
Summer months. Galvanized pipes cost 
too much to be practical, and, in fact, 
the present output of galvanized steel 
pipe is likely to prove quite as inferior pro¬ 
portionally as the black article in general 
use. If pipes in the drier portions of 
the greenhouse are kept painted with 
iron oxide or the best white lead and 
oil they may endure well, but after the 
first hard-rolled surface of the pipe is 
rusted off it is useless to apply paint, if in 
a damp place—it will be thrown off on a 
crust of rust in a very brief time. The 
reliable old-style cast pipe is now quite 
scarce, and cannot be readily purchased 
new. Small quantities may occasionally 
be had from dealers in second-hand ma¬ 
terial or when an old-fashioned glasshouse 
is dismantled. As it was nearly always 
used in the bulky four-inch size, it is 
not practicable for large modern green¬ 
houses, but can often be used in small 
amateur building to good advantage. What 
is wanted is good iron pipe in the small 
standard sizes, at reasonable prices. 
w. v. F. 
A marvelous pam killer 
Pratts Veterinary Liniment. 
Made by Pratt Food Co., Phila. Over 30 years old. 
wm mm 
PISOS CURE FOR 
. 
■ (/) 
NU 
CURES WHERE ALL ELSE FAILS 
ol 
Best Cough Syrup. Tastes Good. 
■ in 
Use in time. Sold by druggists. 
Hi 
l<M 
C/)| 
■ 
CONSUMPTION 
■ 
DON’T LET THE 
SAN JOSE SCALE 
DESTROY YOUR TREES. SPRAY WITH 
LIME, SULPHUR AND SALT WASH 
AND BE SURE TO USE 
BERGEN PORT 
SUBLIMED FLOWERS OF SULPHUR. 
This brand is prepared especially for 
Spraying purposes: insist on having it. 
Ask your dealer, or write to 
T. & S. C. WHITE CO., 
2.8 Burling Slip, New York. 
SALIMENE 
KILLS SAN JOSE SCALE 
Write for circulars and testimonials. 
DRY OR LIQUID FORM. 
Monmouth Chemical Works. Shrewsbury, N. J. 
U. S. STANDARD. CAUSTIC POTASH 
WHALE-OIL SO AH. 
A positive destroyer of San Jose Scale. The OWEN 
QDQAVIIJft CDAD for Power Sprayers. OtherOr- 
ornAMnU or An, Chard Necessities. Write for 
catalogue and prices. W.H.OWEN, Port Clinton, O. 
Brass Sprayers Last Longest 
And Are The Cheapest To Buy. 
Price $3.50 and upward. Make your labor and invest¬ 
ment earn a good profit by destroying the insect pests and 
plant diseases which cause so much loss. These sprayers 
may also be used for applying- whitewash and cold water 
paints, spreading disinfectants, cleaning wagons, curing 
surface diseases on cattle, chickens, and many other 
purposes. Sprayer* may be returned at our expense if 
they are found defective. Send for catalogue. 
DAYTON 8UPPLV CO., Payton, Ohio. 
HARDIE 
Spray 
Pump 
I use 
aa Hardie 
“1 don't uY 
.DO YOU WANT PERFECT FRUIT ? 
Fruit Trees properly sprayed pay bigger 
profits than anything else on the farm. 
Write today for our free I took on Spraying, 
which gives all the newest and best formulas 
and tells how the successful fruit growers 
make big money. 
HOOK-HARDIE CO. 
Hi Mechanic St. Hudson, Mich. I 
USE NITRO-CULTURE 
Culture Is a natural plant food, gathering germs 
among plant roots, nourishes, invigorates, leeos the 
plants, doubles the yield, makes poor soil rich. Free 
Catalogue. 
ARTHUR J. COLLINS, Moorestown, N. J. 
No Smoke House. Smoke meat with 
KRAUSER’S LIQUID EXTRACT OF SMOKE. 
Madefrom hickory wood.Oivesdeliciousflavor. 
Cheaper, cleaner than old way. Send for cir¬ 
cular. E. Kramer & Bro., Milton, Pa. 
Positive, Comparative, Superlative 
“ I have used one of your Fish Brand 
Slickers for five years and now want 
a new one, also one for a friend. I 
would not be without one for twice 
the cost. They are just as far ahead 
of a common coat as a common one 
is ahead of nothing.” 
(NAME ON APPLICATION) 
Be sure you don't get one ofthe com- 
mon kind — this is the aMVFD'O 
mark of excellence. 
A. J. TOWER CO. 
BOSTON, U. S. A. 
r t3H BRtfP 
TOWER CANADIAN CO., LIMITED 
TORONTO, CANADA 
Makers of Wet Weather Clothing and Hats 
862 
containing plenty of Potash. All 
vegetables require a fertilizer con¬ 
taining at least to per cent, actual 
Potash 
Without Potash no fertilizer is com¬ 
plete, and failure will follow its use. 
Every farmer should have our valuable books 
on fertilization—they are not advertising 
matter booming any special fertilizer, but 
books of authoritative information that means 
large profits to the farmers. Sent free for the 
asking. 
GERMAN KALI WORKS 
98 Nassau Street, 
New York. 
AUTO-POP, 
AUTO-SPRAY. 
Great cleaning attachment on per¬ 
fect compressed air sprayer. Note 
how easy—cleans nozzle every time 
used, saves half the mixture. Brass 
pump, 4 gal. tank. 12 pi anger strokes 
•ompreeBes air to spray \\ aero. Wo manu¬ 
facture the largest lino in America of high 
erode hand and power sprayer*. Catalog free. 
Write us ifyou wantagency. 
E. C. BROWN & CO. t 
268 State St., Rochester, We V. 
—THE— 
Deming Knapsack Sprayer 
leads everything of its kind. 5 gal. cop¬ 
per tank, brass pump, bronze bull 
valves, mechanical agitator. Easily 
carried. Pumprightorlelthand. Knap¬ 
sack and Bucket Sprayer combined. 
We make 20 styles sprayers. Write for Catalog. 
THE DEMINC CO., Salem, O. 
Henion Sc Ifubbell, West’n Agts., Chicago. 
I 
C KYD AV ORCHARrfl 
jPrCMI Monarch 
tfV p ■ Automatic Compressed Air 
Sprayer. Nohsnd labor—has agitator and brushes for 
Polosslnggtrsiners. Ourfreebook tells about It. "No swindled feeling” 
I Ifyou buy our pumps. We also make the Empire King, Car- 
field Knapsack and othera. 
| FIELD FORCE PUMP CO. 2 1 1 th St. Elmira, N.Y. 
The Perfection Sprayer 
Sprays Everything— Trees, potatoes, etc. Fur¬ 
nished complete with Cart and Barrel. Combined 
hand and horse power. Don’t buy until you get my 
catalogue, FREE. 
Thomas Feppler, Box 45, Illghtstown, N. 
Rippley’s Sprayers 
Fine Brass Pumps. Guarantee! strongest and 
best 4 and 5 gal. Compressed Air Sprayers on .5** f* 
market. Spray 25 ft. trees, potatoes, vines, etc. N 
Tested 601bs. pressure, 2safety valves. In2 sizes. ff , ' ! U 
4 or 6 Cal. Calv. *5. 4 Col. Copper, S7. yf K 
6 Cal. Copper, S3.00. 1 )1 
Catalog of lustyles free. Mail orders direct. ItUCar 
RIPPLEY HDW. CO., Mfrs.. Box 223, Grafton, III. I 
Ilenr, F. MltohollCo., Phil.. P... KMt«rn A-entl. \WTqZ [ 
INDRUROID 
ROOFING 
Requires no Coating or 
Paint. 
Acid and Alkali Proof. 
.Elastic and Pliable 
Always. 
Strong and Tough. 
Absolutely Water Proof. 
Climatic Changes Do Not 
Affect It. 
Practically Fire Proof. 
Can Be Used on Steep or 
Flat Surfaces. 
Any Work man Can Put 
It On. 
No Odor. 
Will Not Shrink or Crack. 
Light in Weight. 
Does Not Taint Water. 
Write for sample s. prices and 
v>» circulars. 
H. F. WATSON CO. 
ERIE. PA. v 
Chicago, Boston. 
Mention R. N.-Y. r 
READY FOR SHIPMENT 
H TT B BiYRD 7 S 
“Black Diamond" 
FERTILIZERS 
There is always a rush in the Fertilizer Business during March and April. 
Order early and avoid it. 
THE ROGERS & HUBBARD CO., 
Middletown, Connecticut. 
