IOO 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
February 10, 
FARMERS^ CLUB 
[Every query must be accompanied by 
the name and address of the writer to in¬ 
sure attention. Before asking a question, 
please see whether it is not answered in 
our advertising columns. Ask only a few 
questions at one time. Put questions on a 
separate piece of paper. 1 
Steam for Evaporating Maple Syrup. 
G. T.j Moravia. N. Y.—Can you give me 
any information in regard to boiling maple 
sap with steam? How many feet of pipe, 
and of what size could he tilled with steam 
from a 12-horse boiler? It is claimed that 
a choice grade of syrup cannot be made 
when galvanized pans are used. Would a 
galvanized steam pipe in the syrup affect 
the quality to any extent? 
Ans.—C. T. should have given the 
number of trees he taps, or more explicit¬ 
ly the number of buckets he hangs. How¬ 
ever, the following statement may be of 
some use to him. A 12 horse-power 
boiler will furnish sufficient steam to 
evaporate the sap from 300 or 400 trees. 
For this number of trees he will not 
need more than 4x6 feet of pan surface. 
This pan should be divided into two com¬ 
partments, one of them 2x4 feet, and 
the other one 4x4 feet, with one-inch 
pipes in coil in bottom of pan, and four 
inches apart in the coil. With a good 
injector on his boiler he would be able 
to do good work with such an outfit. 
But with a good hot-water pump he would 
find that he would greatly facilitate his 
work and save a large amount of fuel. 
His pans should be 18 inches in depth. 
One of the most successful steam boiling 
outfits with which 1 am familiar. con» 
sists of a 40 horse-power boiler and hot- 
water pump. This outfit takes care of 
the sap from 1.200 trees, and does it easily, 
with only about two-thirds the amount of 
fuel required by the common methods. 
The sap gatherers have to step pretty 
lively to keep a supply of sap on hand in 
the tank. C. T. need have no fear about 
the quality of his syrup being affected by 
the use of galvanized pans or pipes where 
steam is used as a means of evaporation. 
Where fire comes in contact with the 
boiling pans the use of galvanized iron is 
objectionable. Such material is not so 
sensitive to heat, is harder to keep clean, 
and there is also some danger of zinc 
poisoning if any scorching of the syrup 
occurs. A. R. PHILLIPS. 
Ohio. 
Hotbeds With Fire Heat. 
J. IT. ft., Girard, O. —I am growing my 
own plants in manure hotI>eds. The heat is 
not always satisfactory. What can your 
greenhouse man tell me about fire hotbeds? 
Are they all right? How shall I construct 
one? All I want is good plants. 
Ans. —The many objections and weak 
points in the common manure hotbed 
have led progressive market gardeners to 
try wood and coal heat in beds otherwise 
similarly constructed. The heat is gener¬ 
ated in a simple furnace at the lower end 
of the bed, and distributed by an ordinary 
flue beneath the bed, running the entire 
length, and ending in a chimney at the 
opposite end just on the outside of the 
sash or frame work. Sometimes, to pro¬ 
mote the equal distribution of heat under 
the bed, the flue at a little distance from 
the furnace may be divided in two parallel 
lines of pipe, uniting again before they 
enter the chimney. For better utilization 
of the heat, and for maintaining a more 
even temperature, due allowance should 
be made for an air space above the heat¬ 
ing pipes and below the floor of the hot¬ 
bed. This warm air chamber is perhaps 
the most important part of the structure; 
it retains the heat once generated in the 
furnace for a long time. For some years 
before building our greenhouses we used 
one of these beds, and found them en¬ 
tirely satisfactory for starting egg plants, 
tomato, pepper and sweet potato plants. 
About the best and decidedly the most 
economical way to build one of these fire 
hotbeds is to make an excavation six feet 
wide, which is the length of the regular 
size hotbed sasli; the length should not 
exceed 60 feet, and should be one foot 
deep, assuming that the bed is to be level. 
Now dig a trench in the center of the 
excavation the entire length, slanting from 
the top, which should be four feet wide 
and about two feet at the bottom; this 
trench is to contain the flue pipes, and 
will be three or four feet deep at the 
furnace end, according to the length of 
bed, rising gradually, say one foot to 
every 12 to 15 feet in length, until it enters 
the chimney at the end opposite the fur¬ 
nace. The fireplace may be constructed 
of fire brick, its height is about two feet, 
10 inches of which are the ash pits below 
the grate; its width about 12 inches and 
length of grate 30 inches. The bottom of 
the flue, where it connects the furnace, 
must be somewhat above the level of the 
grate to prevent ashes and cinders from 
stopping the flue. The first 10 feet of the 
flue must be either incased or laid up in 
bricks; the remainder may consist of 
terra cotta or 10-inch tile drain pipe. The 
chimney may be of brick or terra cotta; 
a pit in front of the fireplace to the depth 
of the bottom of the ash pit allowing the 
operator to tend the fire. A solid frame¬ 
work well supported underneath holds the 
floor of plank or boards for the soil and 
the frame for the sash to rest upon. The 
mistake usually made in the construction 
of these hotbeds is right in this frame¬ 
work ; this has to carry considerable 
weight, and being exposed to constant 
dampness is liable to decay very soon un¬ 
less the timber is strong and of good and 
lasting material. As before stated, place 
this floor well above the flue pipes to give 
a free circulation of hot air. If the floor 
is level it will be about two feet six 
inches above the pipes at the furnace end, 
and about three inches at the end near 
the chimney. Now place the usually con¬ 
structed hotbed frames on the flooring, 
bank all sides up with earth, making it 
perfectly tight. Soil should be placed on 
the floor to a depth of eight inches where 
the seeds are to be planted; if flats are 
used for sowing the seed less soil may be 
used. I have given this detailed descrip¬ 
tion not to advise J. H. B. to build exactly 
in the same way, but to make him ac¬ 
quainted with the principles underlying 
the construction of fire hotbeds; minor 
details can be left to the taste and pref¬ 
erence of the builder. I will only add, 
however, that plants can be successfully 
grown in these fire hotbeds, and in locali¬ 
ties where coal is cheap and wood plenti¬ 
ful with less expense than the manure- 
heated beds. T. M. WHITE. 
Connecticut Homological Society. —The 
fifteenth annual meeting of this Society was 
announced for February 7-8, at Unity Hall, 
Hartford. Organized for the advancement of 
the science of pomology and the development 
of fruit culture, both for home supply and 
market, the society invites the cordial co¬ 
operation and support of every citizen of 
Connecticut, and would urge all who are in¬ 
terested in the dissemination of the latest 
and best horitcultural knowledge to attend 
this meeting. A fine programme has been ar¬ 
ranged. Officers: President, J. C. Eddy, 
Simsbury; vice-president, .T. H. Putnam, 
Litchfield; secretary, II. C. C. Miles, Milford; 
treasurer, Orrin Gilbert, Middletown. 
When you write advertisers mention The 
It. N.-Y. and you’ll get a quick reply and 
“a square deal." See guarantee 
Wood’s Seeds. 
Alfalfa Seed 
INOCULATED 
Read?' For Sowing. 
Inoculation makes it possible 
to grow Alfalfa where it could not 
be grown before. 
It supplies the bacteria neces¬ 
sary for the best growth and de¬ 
velopment of this valuable crop. 
Alfalfa once well established 
lasts for years, yielding large and 
continuous cuttings of the best 
and most nutritious hay. Price of 
seed quoted on request. 
Wood’s 1906 Seed Book tells 
all about Inoculated Seeds, both 
for the Garden and Farm. Mailed 
free. Write for it. 
T.W. Wool! & Sons, Seedsmen, 
RICHMOND, • VIRGINIA. 
Wt, can also supply Inoculated Garden 
Peas, Snap Beans, Clovers, Cow 
Peas, etc. Write for prices. 
F OR SALE—Cow Peas, $1.50 Bushel; Crimsen 
Clover Seed, $5.60 per Bushel; 2d Growth Seed 
Potatoes, $3.50 Bag; Seed Sweet Potatoes. 
J. E. HOI,LAND, Milford, Delaware. 
SECOND CROP SEED POTATOES. 
Mature earlier, stand drought better, yield more large 
potatoes than any other 6eed. Catalogue free. 
ALF. A. WHITTINGTON. Marion Station, Md. 
Potatoes—Bovee, Carman. Cobbler.Coin.Hebron.Ohio, 
Ko«e, Kaleiph, Triumph, 6 wk«., 85 kinds. C. W. Ford, Fishers,N.Y 
Dibble’s Seed Corn 
FILLS THE CRIBS AND SILOS. 
Mammoth Flint, 80 Day Dent, Improved Learning 
matures 90-100 davs, beats Jack Frost. 
Customers say “460 bushels from 2 Acres,” 
30 Tons Ensilage per Acre.” Catalog and 
samples FREE. 
EDWARD P. DIBBLE, Seedgrower, 
Box C, HONEOYE FALLS, NEW YORK. 
Famous 
for Tomatoes 
^EED 
MNNML 
**1906 
__ should be in the 
hands of every farmer and gardener who 
wants only the best. It is a handsome 
book of 104 PAGES, fully illustrated, 
with beautiful colored covers, and con¬ 
tains truthful descriptions of 
LIVINGSTON’S 5 SEEDS 
The Best That Can Be Grown. 
We list none but fresh seeds of the best 
known varieties, as well as NOVELTIES 
of unusual merit, at reasonable prices. 
Drop us a postal for it today. 
THE LIVINGSTON SEED COMPANY 
Box 121 COLUMBUS, OHIO 
New White Mexican 
Sugar Corn 
Its delicious flavor alone 
insures high prices, but it is 
besides one of the earliest 
varieties and extremely 
productive. 
As sweet and tender as the celebrated 
old Black Mexican Sugar Corn. Very 
early and of good size. 
10c. pkt.; 25c. pt.; 40c. qt. 
Garden and Farm Manual Free 
tells about many other choice money-making vege¬ 
tables and is illustrated from actual photographs. 
Send for it. You can’t possibly have the best success 
unless you plant the latest and best varieties. 
JOHNSON & STOKES, 21 V>hn°ade ! lphia. St - 
Seedsmen to the Money-Makers." 
Long’s WhiteTartar Oats 
This is the best oats we have ever raised. It has 
averaged over loo bush, per acre on our farm for 
two years. Magnificent large heads and big stiff 
straw. Pure seed at a low price. Ask for catalogue 
and wholesale price list of seeds. JOSEPH HARRIS 
CO., Seed Growers, Ooldwater, N. Y. 
FOR 1906 
contains 152 
large pages 
full from cov¬ 
er to cover of 
il lustrations 
and descrip¬ 
tions of the 
best and new¬ 
est things 
known in 
horticulture. 
No market 
gardener, far¬ 
mer, or any¬ 
one interested 
in flowers can 
afford to be without this book, which 
will be sent free to all sending me their 
address on a postal. 
WM. HENRY MAULE 
1713 Filbert St. Philadelphia, Pa. 
GLADIOLI 
THE BEST IN THE WORLD 
Groff’s Hybrids (Genuine), and other high 
grade Strains. Winners of the GRAND 
PRIZE World’s Fair St. Louis, 1904. 
Write for illustrated catalogue. 
ARTHUR COWEE 
Meadowvale Farm, Berlin, N.Y. 
7 DAHLIAS 75c 
Most Beautiful and Popular Flower 
We mail 7 very choice varieties for 75c. All field- 
grown roots—worth twice as much as rooted cut¬ 
tings. This is a big bargain. Our catalog of best 
varieties of Seeds, Bulbs and Nursery Stock free. 
Ford Seed Co., Dept. 24, Ravenna, Ohio 
THIS IS THE YEAR 
To PLANT THAT ORCHARD. 
We have large supply of all the leading varieties in 
Apple Trees, Greening, Sutton Beauty, Rot. 
Russet, Ren Davis, &<•., also Plum, Cherry, 
and other fruit trees. Our trees are beauties, prices 
right, too. Large surplus of Asparagus Roots. 
Catalogue tells how to plant for profit. 
BARNES BROS. NURSERY CO. 
Box 8, 'Yalesville, Conn. 
DON’T 
PAY AGENT’S PRICES - 
FOR YOUR TREES, 
They’re nearly double. I have no agents. With my 
catalog in hand you can buy direct at wholesale prices just as well as if 
you were present in person. So when you buy Wood’s trees your money 
all goes into trees, not into expenses and commissions. And anybody who 
ever bought trees or vines from my Woodlawn Nurseries knows there’s 
nothing better grown. Everything in Small Fruits, Apples, Peaches, Pears, 
etc. My stock of hardy, field grown bushes ought to interest every lover of 
roses. Special prices on an extra fine lot of Jonathan and Ben Davis 
Apples and Concord Grapes this spring. Catalog free. Write for it. 
Wholesale 
Grower, 
Allen L. Wood, 
Rochester, N. Y. 
WAUKEGAN NURSERIES 
Evergreen and Ornamental Trees 
Fruit Trees, Shade Trees, 
Shrubs, Vines, Roses, Etc. 
WHOLESALE AND RETAIL 
R. DOUGLAS’ SONS, 
WAUKEGAN, ILL. 
There Are Two Kinds of Trees: Safe Trees 
and the Other Kind. 
Rogers Trees Are Safe Trees. 
OUR NEW THEE BREEDER WILL TELL YOU WHY. 
ROGERS ON THE HILL, Dansville, N. Y. 
TRADE MARK. 
SEEDS 
THEILM ANN’S—Tue beedmeu—carry a full line of Garden 
and Field Seeds. Onion Seed a specialty. Write to-day for 
their catalog and Special Prices. 
THE THEILM ANN SEED CO., - Erie, Pa. 
ISBELLS 
SEEDS, PRODUCE THE BEST VEGETABLES and CROPS GROWN 
Admiral Togo wonderful new bean, resists rust and blight, $4.75 bn. 
Earlibell Tomato earlier than Earliana. Better Quality 50c. oz. 
Monarch of Earlies, earliest, tenderest, finest pea grown, $3.25 per bu. 
<0 
ho 
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= CO ^ 
>>U1 o 
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S §= -S 
O- 11 - CO 
WTHaneng^nyonMo 
furnish better Onion Seed 
than our Extra Select 
StockjJJOcjeMb^jp, 
Guaranteed 
Our Northern Grown 
SEED POTATOES are 
Fancy Choice stock. Price 
$2^50jej_bai^jj£^ 
Complete line, including many new varieties of Hardy, Vigorous 
Michigan Grown Extra Reoleaned Farm Seeds, Northern 
Grown, Carefully Tested. Sure to Grow are ISBELL’S 
All the above Mentioned and 25 New Varieties of Choice Vegetables, 
an( f described in our Beautiful IOO Page Catalog. 
Write PosDdSrmlay! Address S.M.ISBELl & Co„Dapt.R, 
SEEDS 
J aclison, 
MIOZX. 
