1005 . 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
201 
LIME FOR ALFALFA. 
Numerous unsuccessful attempts have 
been made in central New Jersey to se¬ 
cure a profitable growth of this wonder¬ 
ful forage plant. The seed germinates 
promptly, and often a quick growth of the 
plant follows, to be smothered by weeds, 
or to turn yellow and dwindle away. No 
more persistent experimenter is known 
than John P. Nelson, a New York com¬ 
mission dealer in cattle, sheep, etc., who 
owns a farm in Monmouth County, on 
which he has spent $1,500 in experiment¬ 
ing with Alfalfa. After repeated failures 
on the farm he abandoned field experi¬ 
ments, and resorted to a garden plot, where 
he could watch the plants and study 
them more closely. Here he learned two 
things which perhaps constitute the key 
to success. Liming the small piece of 
ground heavily, he changed the time of 
sowing to July. A growth of 72 inches 
resulted, and Mr. Nelson thought he saw 
the way clear to a farm crop of this 
desirable fodder. He sowed in August, 
1902, a field of 2L? acres, after heavily 
liming it, using 30 pounds of seed to the 
acre; and the next Spring added 400 
pounds of bone dust. In 1903 he made 
light cuttings and in 1904 cut over 13 
tons, weiehed when ready for the barn. 
A later growth of 20 inches was left un¬ 
cut, probably equal to 2 V 2 tons. There 
was no attempt to inoculate the soil with 
the bacteria which are said to enable the 
plant to draw nitrogen from the air, 
and this experiment teaches nothing as to 
the advantages or disadvantages of such 
inoculation. Mr. Nelson plowed 10 acres 
of corn ground last Spring, and sowed 
15 bushels of cow peas. These he plowed 
under in August, and added five tons of 
lime. He then sowed the field with Al¬ 
falfa, scattering over the surface a ton 
of soil from Alfalfa fields in Onondaga 
County, New York. On this field there 
is a good stand of Alfalfa and a few 
weeds. The soil has become inoculated 
with the Alfalfa bacteria, and if such in¬ 
oculation materially adds to the producing 
power of the field, Mr. Nelson may look 
in 1906 for a hundred tons of cured Al¬ 
falfa hay from this 10-acre field. 
w. w. S. 
When to Trim Old Apple Trees. 
IF. W. C., Terre Haute, I ml. —What, is 
the best time of year to trim an old bearing 
orchard of apples that has never been 
trimmed much since planted, and to what 
extent should the trees be trimmed? 
A ns. —We should trim the orchard 
rLht now. As to how much trimming 
it will stand no one could tell exactly 
without seeing the orchard. If there are 
any limbs dead or partly dead cut them 
off below the dead wood. Cut out the 
branches that cross or interfere. In some 
old orchards many limbs start back 
toward the center of the tree, and then 
curve about. Cut so as to open the head 
of the tree. Remove some of these curv¬ 
ing limbs and trim out where several 
limbs start together. Study the tree— 
look it all over before you begin, and 
then cut with a view to opening the head 
to. as to let more sun in. Paint the 
stubs of limbs as you cut. 
Fertilizer for an Apple Orchard. 
O. P., Lyndinville, N. Y .—IIow much ni¬ 
trogen, phosphoric acid and potash does one 
ton of apples take from the soil? I wish to 
mix a fertilizer corresponding to the plant 
food removed. 
Ans. —A ton of apples will take from 
the soil a little over 2H> pounds of nitro¬ 
gen, nearly four pounds of potash, and 
less than one pound of phosphoric acid. 
You cannot safely figure from this that 
fertilizer in this proportion should be 
used. The tree must make a growth 
both above and below ground, and also 
provision must be made for the leaves, 
which drop and are often blown away. 
Dr. Jenkins estimated that in 390 baskets 
of peaches there were 20 pounds of nitro¬ 
gen, 22 of potash and 4 of phosphoric 
acid. The composition of apples is not 
much different. Prof. Roberts, of Cor¬ 
nell, estimated that an acre of old apple 
trees made four tons of leaves, contain¬ 
ing 33 pounds of nitrogen, 13 of phos¬ 
phoric acid and 40 of potash. It would 
be hardly possible to tell how much plant 
food would be necessary to make the sea¬ 
son’s growth of wood, but the amount 
will be considerable, and a large quan¬ 
tity of lime is needed. All this shows 
that we cannot depend on the weight of 
fruit removed from the orchard as a sure 
indication of the fertilizer needs. Prof. 
Voorhees has suggested a mixture of 
equal parts each of ground bone, acid 
phosphate and muriate of potash—800 
pounds or more of the mixture per acre, 
and in case the trees do not look thrifty, 
he advises the use of 150 pounds nitrate 
of soda in addition. Where an orchard 
is in sod we would use a mixture of 
three parts acid phosphate to one of muri¬ 
ate of potash, with nitrate of soda added 
as the trees seemed to need it. The in¬ 
dications would be a lack of green color 
and thrift. It is necessary to supply lime 
to most old orchards. That is why wood 
ashes, give such good results. 
Ci. raring Oak Land. — I see in late copies 
of The It. N.-Y. several articles about clear¬ 
ing land of oak “grubs" or small trees, and as 
we have in this part of Michigan a great 
deal of this work to do, I think our way is 
about the best and most expeditious. For all 
such trees not more than two or 2 V> inches 
in diameter. 1 hitch a stout log chain to 
them (two or three feet from the ground); 
bitch or a team of 1.400-pound horses, give 
them a hint of what is wanted, and the 
tree usually comes out with a jerk. Of 
course there are a good many of these trees 
so large that a team cannot pull them out. 
and for them I use a large set of tackle 
blocks, anchor to the root of some stout tree 
or stump, hitch the horses to the rope, and 
unless the tree is more than four or five 
inches through it can lie readily pulled. Last 
Spring I wanted to take out a few apple 
trees seven or eight inches thick (of the Hen 
Davis variety), and with the tackle blocks I 
nulled them out root and branch. My blocks 
are 10-inch size, two wheels in one block, 
one in the other, and I have 100 feet of 
one-inch manila rope, which is strong enough 
for any strain 1 have yet put on it. Cost 
of outfit. $5.82. E. H. 
Stanton, Mich. 
For the land's sake, use Bowker’s Fer¬ 
tilizers. They enrich the earth.— Adv. 
BUY DIRECT FROM FACTORY, BE8T 
MIXED PAINTS 
At WHOLESALE PRICES, Delivered FREE 
For Houses, Barns, Roofs, all colors, and SAVE Dealers 
profits. In use 61 years. Officially Endorsed by the 
urange. Low prices will surprise you. Write for Samples. 
0. W. 1NQERS0LL. 24H Plymouth St.. Brooklyn, N. Y. 
goingtobuya HARROW 
Want Best for least Cash. 
\A/£tnake that kind. 
,ff LPAV KKKK.HT.Cat 
free. Write for price. 
“ G.H. POUNDER, Nu. 
17 Ft. Atkinson, WU. 
noil I with single and double 
wheel cultivator. Send 
for illustrated catalogue and prices. , . 
.BACON MFG. CO., Pontiac, Mich. 
Famous Brinly No. 0 
Subsoil Plow . 
Sent freight prepaid with an extra 
point for $*5, except to places where we 
have agents. Has proven a success for 30 
years. Used with one horse behind turning 
plow. Insures larger crops. Unbreakable stan¬ 
dard. Mole-shape point makes it pull light. 
Manufactured by 
BRINLY-HAKDY CO.. 253 Main St., 
Established 1830. Louisville, Ky. 
Aspinwall Machinery 
Insures Paying 
Potato Crops. 
In use all over the world. 
Thousands of users for over a 
quarter of a century, all en¬ 
thusiastic. With our machines 
seed is quickly cut to best ad¬ 
vantage. Planting, Fertiliz¬ 
ing, Covering, all one oper¬ 
ation; any depth, any width of 
row. (Corn, pea, bean and en¬ 
silage attachment provided.) 
Digging and sorting made 
easy, pleasant work. 
I Send for beautiful. Illustrated 
free catalog, giving valuable In- 
| formation regarding economical 
handling of crop. 
ASPINWALL MFC. CO., D«pt. K 
27 Sabin St., Jackson, Mich. 
PARSONS’ “LOW-DOWN ’’ WAGONS 
Are GOOD for the man with a BAD 
BACK, 
and not 
BAD 
for the 
man 
with a 
GOOD 
back 
Write for 
Catalogue 
PARSONS "LOW-DOWN" WAGON WORKS, Earlville.N.Y 
The Holmes Adjust - only 
able Trimming Saw $3.00 
The only practical trimming tool on the mar¬ 
ket. No more climbing trees. Works from the 
ground. Can be adjusted at any angle for light 
or heavy 
work. Cuts 
with the 
drawing 
m o t i o n, 
conse¬ 
quently 
avoids all 
kinking of 
saw. Will 
pay for it- 
s e 1f in 
three days. 
Shipped to 
any ad¬ 
dress on 
receipt of 
price, after 
March 2, 1905. Patent applied for. Address C. 
T. HOLMES, 419 Pearl Street, Burlington, Vt. 
A Valuable New Potato 
“Harris Snowball” 
This new seedling has been thoroughly tested 
for the past three years When blight and rot has 
been almost universal in this state, and it has 
never been affected with either of these diseases. 
Last season it yielded 334 bushels per acre 
without fertilizer or spraying, where other kinds 
were failures on account of blight. Why lose 
100 bushels per acre from effects of blight and a 
large percentage from rot, when this “blight 
proof” variety can be had at a very moderate 
price ? Full description in our catalc gue. 
We are extensively engaged in Seed Growing 
and we offer the best seeds at lowest prices. 
It will pay you to see our catalogue. It con¬ 
tains lots ot good new things. No charge for it. 
JOSEPH HARRIS COMPANY 
Seed Growers, Coldwater, N. Y. 
Crosby Early Sweet Corn- 
a pure strain for seed, in quantities from one 
to two hundred bushels for Immediate delivery 
at $2 50 per bushel f. o. b. express or freight. 
Cash with order. 
RIVERSIDE FARM 
Nashua - New Hampshire 
VEGETABLE PLANTS 
Large transplanted plants of Cabbage, Ce'ery, 
Tomato, Pepper, Egg Plant, Cauliflower and Let¬ 
tuce for the man that plants for profit. 
Our Cabbage Plants are transplanted in De¬ 
cember and are grown in a cool temperature all 
winter; they will head earlier than any other 
plants. Write for Price Lise. 
J. E. HUTTON & SON, Conyngham, Pa. 
I nnn nnn asparagus roots—T he 
jHUUyUUv Most Profitable Crop grown. 
Seven of the best varieties described in our 100-p»ge 
Catalogue. It Is FKKE to those who mention Rural 
New-Yorker. MOORE & SIMON, 
Seed Growers, Philadelphia, Pa. 
ASPARAGUS I RHUBARB ROOTS 
Large, Healthy Stock, Leading Varieties. Prices 
reasonable. H. D. CULIN, Mt. Holly, N. J. 
PEDIGREED PEACH TREES . - 
New Fruits and Berries—Low Prices, 
Everything for the Fruit Grower. Catalog FREE 
LINDS LEY’S NUR8ERIE -, Whitehouse, N. «J. 
BUY PRESIDENT STRAWBERRY PLANTS 
of the Originator. Send for circular. 
THOMAS R. HUNT, Lambertville. N. J. 
STRAWBERRY PLANTS 
Jessie. Splendid, Clyde, Barton's Eclipse, Sample, 
Nettle. Write for price. J. K. LOSEE, Elnora. N. Y. 
50,000 Columbian Raspberry Plants 
at the following prices: $3 per 500; $5 per 1,000. All 
No. 1 Plants. 
J. K. Mickelsen, Oaks Corners. N. Y. 
LONG ISLAND CABBAGE SEED,-Spring, 
Summer, Fall, Winter. Catalog and Sample Free. 
Four 10c. FRANCIS BRILL, Hempstead, N. Y. 
and other fruit trees at wholesale 
prices. Circular free. 
R,S. JOHNSTON, Box 4, Stockley,Del. 
DHTlTnCC grown especially for SEED. 15 
“U I J) | UCO varieties, price right, list free. 
GEO. H. COLVIN, Crest Farm, Dalton, Pa. 
IRISH COBBLER SEED POTATOES $3.00 per 
1 barrel. JOHN HERR SHENK, Lancaster, Pa. 
UdII'g Imnrm/ort Secoud-Crop Potatoes the beat SEED 
ndl! b UfCvl everywhere. 45 varieties of Strawberry 
plants good as grow. Asparagus Roots, Seed Corn, etc. Descrip¬ 
tive Catalogue FREE. J. W. HALL, Marlon Station, Md. 
P OTATOES-Blush.Bovee, Carman, Harvest.fi Weeks, 
Ohio, Reliance, 85kinds. C. W. Ford, Fishers, N.Y. 
EST FRUIT PAPER 
for 3 month*. Stamps or silver. 
NATIONAL FRUIT GROWER, 
St. Joseph, Michigan. 
SEED SOWERSES 
and up. Booklet with Calendar free. 
SEEDER MFG. CO.. Box 4, Homer, Mich. 
91% nnn If liun Earliest. Largest, Brightest 
tbOollUU nlHU New Red Raspberry. Finest 
catalog. W. N. SOAKFF, NEW CARLISLE. OIII* 
STRAWBERRY PLANTS 
—— 1 41041 and nn. C:i talocr Free. 
50 varieties 
at SI per 
1,000 and up. Catalog Free. 
R. E. ALLEN, Paw Paw, Mich. 
PRATT’S ANTI-SCALE PETROLEUM 
Mixes instantly with water and stays mixed. No 
boiling. No heating. We will deliver free on board 
R. R. in this city, a 10 gallon can, enough to prepare 
200 gallons of Spray with the simple addition of 
water, for $0.00, or in bids., 50 cents per gal. 
B. G. PRATT CO., 29 Broadway, New York City 
LAND ROLLER 
Get catalogue of 1, 2, 3 & 4 horse 
Tread Powers, Sweep 
Powers, Grain Separ 
tors, Hand and Power 
Corn Shellers, Grind¬ 
ing Mill, Corn Plant¬ 
ers, Cultivators, Steam 
and Gasoline Engines, 
3 to 25 horse, mounted or stationery, etc. 
STEEIj 
drums 
I. 
FRAME 
T1IE MESSIN G Eli MEG. CO., Taturoy, Pa. 
CUTAWAY TOOLS FOR LARGE HAY CROPS. 
Clark's Reversible Busli & Bog Plow, cuts a track 4 ft. wide. 1 ft. deep. Will plow a new 
cut forest. His Double-Action Cutaway Harrow keeps the land 
true, moves 18,000 tons of earth, cuts 30 acres per day. His Rev. 
Disk Plow cuts a furrow5 to 10 in. deep, in.wide 
All these machines will kill witch- 
grass, wild mmtard,charlock,hard¬ 
back sunflower, milkweed, thistle 
oranv foul plant. Send for clr’lars. II 
CUTAWAY HAKROY7 CO., 
Higganum, Conn., U. S. A. 
