1906. 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
285 
Two Questions About Fertilizers. 
A. C., Springfield, L. I .—Most of the farm 
land on the west end of Long Island is now 
owned by speculators who let it from year 
to year, hence it has been treated with only 
chemical fertilizers during several years past, 
and will not now with these, produce a pay¬ 
ing crop; farmers must put on nitrate of soda 
during the growing season. What is wrong? 
Are the “complete fertilizers’’ not up to 
standard, or is the theory of chemicals as 
plant food erroneous? The farmers who have 
leases, or own their land, are beginning to 
use manure, and during the growing season, 
soda. The other farmers would like to go 
on, and are willing to buy chemicals in bulk, 
but do not know how to do the mixing. The 
second question is, would it do to mix the 
chemicals with short or fine manure? Ten. 
12 and 15 years ago these farmers could 
point to bumper crops from the use of 800 
to 1,000 pounds of fertilizer per acre, but 
now they get poor crops on the same land 
with double the amount of fertilizer, and 
costing 50 per cent more per ton. If any 
fertilizer man has an article that will pro¬ 
duce the old-time crops here—even at $50 
per ton—there is a fortune waiting for him. 
This is no idle challenge, for there are hon¬ 
est. industrious farmers about here who owe 
hundreds of dollars for fertilizers and are 
willing to do almost anything to pay their 
debts. Chemicals, when used intelligently, 
and by those who understand their use, with 
other fertilizers, may not do much harm, 
but used entirely, and by ignorant people, 
they have produced a bad condition of the 
land and the finances of the farmers. 
Ans. —We have visited a number of 
farms on Long Island where for some 
years fertilizers have been the only source 
of plant food—aside from the small 
amount of manure made from work horses 
and a few cows. These farms are in good 
condition—the soil being more productive 
than ever before. On most of these farms 
a rotation is followed, containing grain 
and grass—the sod and stubble affording 
considerable vegetable matter. The con¬ 
tinued use of large quantities of acid phos¬ 
phate on light soil will in time make such 
land unproductive. Bene is a much better 
source of phosphoric acid on such land. 
.Manure helps in such cases, not only by 
supplying vegetable matter, but being al¬ 
kaline, it overcomes the sourness, part of 
which is due to the acid phosphate. All 
kinds of chemicals do not give such re¬ 
sults, as is proved by farms in South 
Jersey where, year after year, chemicals 
alone are used without manure or even 
green crops. These soils are light in 
character and they produce abundant crops. 
Heavier soils, or those containing some 
clay, will “cake’’ and become hard and 
sticky unless well supplied with manure 
or bulky green crops. Such soils are often 
helped by an application of lime—a ton 
or more to the acre. 1 he lime not only 
sweetens the soil, but opens it and makes 
it more friable. We should lime these 
soils, use less acid phosphate, and if pos¬ 
sible put part of them into crops like cow 
peas and rye to be plowed under. The 
short manure would without doubt help. 
Melons on Light Soil 
I. IF. A., Smithville, A 7 . J .—I have here a 
farm of light, shallow sandy soil, which has 
never had much fertilizer of any kind, and 
which burns very badly in a dry season. I 
am using green crops turned under to pro¬ 
duce more humus, and raising chiefly sweet 
potatoes, peas, beans, etc. This year I wish 
to try watermelons and cantaloupes; some 
suggest should do well here. I tried a few 
with the result that the muskmelons when 
ripe instead of being netted or ribbed as 
should be were as smooth-skinned as a 
banana and were mealy and insipid in taste. 
I used well-rotted manure in hills, and pro¬ 
ceeded as directed for culture. Can you tell 
me how to obviate this? Also, can some 
of your readers who have had success in 
raising watermelons on similar land, tell their 
methods. Do you recommend Spring sowing 
of vetch (Vicia villosa) on such land for 
early pasture and to turn under for fertilizer? 
Ans. —New land is always preferable 
for growing good muskmelons and it will 
to some extent reduce the danger from in¬ 
sects and diseases. It is also very impor¬ 
tant that the seed be of good quality; they 
should be saved from melons that are of 
good flavor and the specimens should be 
fully developed and healthy. A great 
many growers are of the opinion that the 
Havor of melons is affected by planting 
seed from fruits that were grown near or 
in adjoining fields of cucumbers, squash 
and pumpkins. Of this I am not sure, but 
where cucumbers and muskmelons are 
grown close together I would not use the 
seed of either of them, for it is reason¬ 
able to believe the seed would to some 
extent be affected. Of late years however, 
the Melon blight has affected the quality 
of the cantaloupe more than all other 
causes combined. This disease makes its 
appearance about the first of August, and 
from the very first contact the flavor and 
quality of the melons are destroyed and 
the fruit never matures. About the 
only remedy for this disease with which 
I am acquainted is a weak solution of 
Bordeaux Mixture. The cultivation of 
the watermelon is in all respects sim¬ 
ilar to that of the muskmelon, ex¬ 
cept that being a larger and stronger- 
growing plant, it requires planting at 
greater distances apart. The hills should 
not be less than eight feet apart each 
way. It delights in light sandy soil, and 
will not grow satisfactorily on heavy, clay¬ 
ey lands. The best results are always ob¬ 
tained by a liberal use of stable manure; 
at least two forkfuls to each hill. Firm 
this well by the use of the feet, cover the 
compost with two inches of soil; use seed 
freely and cover to a depth of one inch. 
Thin them out gradually to a stand of two 
strong plants to each hill; cultivate thor¬ 
oughly until the vines meet in the rows. 
Keep the soil free from weeds. Winter 
vetch, Vicia villosa, is recommended for 
Fall sowing with rye, which serves as a 
support. It is perfectly hardy in all parts 
of the country, remaining green all Win¬ 
ter ; can be harvested or plowed under. 
Sow one bushel per acre together with 
one-half bushel of rye. Spring vetch or 
tares is sometimes grown with oats sown 
in Spring while ground is cool and moist. 
T. M. WHITE. 
Tools for Cultivating Orchard. 
B. C. B., KampviUe, III .—My land is in 
apple trees, one to four years planted, and 
I wish to know the experience and advice 
of The It. N.-Y. “family” who have used 
the Cutaway disk and the solid disk for 
cultivating trees and preparing land for 
clover, cow peas, etc. Which is the 
better? Is there another tool better suited 
for the purpose? Could either be used 
successfully in breaking up land (clayey 
loam) and preparing seed bed that was in 
peas or clover last year? The land is very 
rolling, and on the roughest parts I am 
trying the sod method and the growth is 
very satisfactory. The hired man “species” 
being almost extinct, and 4,000 trees to care 
for, make a change of methods necessary. 
Ans. —Our choice for such work is the 
Cutaway, unless there are too many stones. 
When weighted down and power enough 
to haul it the Cutaway will tear up the 
soil properly for grass seeding. 
Cohn fob Green Manure. —Have any of 
The It. N. -Y. readers had any experience 
in sowing corn to plow under as a fertilizer, 
and what were the results? I sowed three 
acres last year, and most farmers think it 
will sour the ground and make it unfit for 
crops without lime. I would like to hear 
from some one as to the value of green corn 
as a fertilizer. e. w. 
Tunnelton, Pa. 
THE 
MAYFLOWER 
MANURE SPREADER 
EASY TO OPERATE 
The construction is so simple and durable that it never gives 
any trouble. Tho driver completely controls the feed from his 
seat without stopping the machine. Wrought steel wheels 
with wide tires. Can be turned in its own length. 
EASY TO LOAD 
The wagon is built very low and can be loaded quickly and 
easily. 
EASY TO BUY 
The enormous saving In time and labor, its superiority over 
others, make it an investment that pays for itself in a short 
The price is so reaso-able that yon can hardly afford 
be without it. Booklet free upon request, describing tho 
Spreader and giving prices. 
I9PLB9BNT CO., Cortland, N. T. 
Success- 
There’s Hard Work 
at this End 
of a Spreader 
Here’s the business end. 
It shows where the troubles lie with most 
spreaders. 
See the solid steel brace from beater’s end 
to the axle. That gives it the most solidly 
seated beater made. 
Then note the drive chain. There could 
not be a more direct application of power 
from wheel to beater. 
And that’s all important. "We learned by 
experience to do away with the gear drive; 
that power must be applied direct; that the 
steel pin chain beats anything else for trans¬ 
mitting power from wheel. 
Harpoon teeth (new feature) cut all straw 
and keep beater ends clean. 
Adjustable Pulverizer Rake is an exclusive 
Success feature—makes manure as fine or 
coarse as wanted. 
These are just a few Success features— 
things that go to make up the superiority 
it enjoys over other spreaders. 
The large axle in the Success is another 
ing to remember. Larger than in any 
ther spreader. Experience shows the 
necessity. 
Its frame is second growth white ash. 
Never a set screw to hold parts to shafting. 
It has a force feed which is under per¬ 
fect control. East as wanted, slow as 
wanted, locked going up hill or down, no 
racing of apron. 
These are pointers. 
They are on the Success spreader because 
experience covering nearly 30 years has 
demonstrated that they are essentials. 
Experience should count for something. 
Don’t get the impression that manure 
spreaders are all alike or nearly alike. Don’t 
be misled by a startling advertising head¬ 
line. 
Do a little investigating before you buy. 
Inquire of other users. You will find al¬ 
most as many Success spreaders in use as all 
other makes combined. 
The Success Spreader book tells a truthful 
story and tells it plainly. It will help you. 
Let us send you a copy. 
KEMP & BURPEE MANUFACTURING CO. 
Box 38, Syracuse, N. Y. 
THINGS 
WORTH 
KNOWING 
If you arc going to buy 
A MANURE SPREADER 
N O machine within his reach is capable of 
doing so much for the farmer as the 
modern manure spreader. 
But then it must be a machine with features— 
features of economy and efficiency. 
The I. H. C. Manure Spreader has such feat¬ 
ures. 
Any man of experience knows that a spreader 
only works perfectly when the load is level. 
The I. H. C. Spreader is the only spreader 
with a vibrating rake in front of the beater or 
cylinder which levels every load and any load 
of manure. 
Any man knows that the apron operates bet¬ 
ter when power is applied at both sides. 
The I H. C. spreader apron is driven at both 
sides from both hind wheels. 
This saves all torsion, binding, friction and 
undue strain, and consequently saves break¬ 
ages and results in lighter draft. 
One lever is better than many levers in 
operating any machine. 
The 1. H. C spreader is the only spreader 
which is controlled and operated entirely with 
one lever. 
It has ten different feeds—can be adjusted 
instantly while in motion to spread three to 
thirty loads per acre. 
Large, solid, steel axles front and rear—front 
wheels cut under—turns very short. 
Steel wheels—no rotting or drying out. Broad 
faced tires with turned in flange to keep out 
dirt, mud, etc. Lightest and strongest. 
Provided with traction lugs on rear wheels— 
will work perfectly oil hard, frozen or wet 
ground. 
Made in various sizes to suit all require¬ 
ments. 
The I. H. C- spreader will distribute per¬ 
fectly manure of all kinds—wet, dry. mixed, 
strawy, full of stalks, frozen, caked, etc. 
It may be equipped with special features 
known as lime and drill attachments for dis¬ 
tributing broadcast, or in drills, fine manure, 
commercial fertilizers, lime, ashes, salt, cotton 
seed hulls, land plasters, etc. 
Remember what we haye told you—it is the 
manure spreader with special features which 
all make for success. 
Go to the International Local Agent and 
look it over, get and read the catalogues or 
write for further information. It will pay* 
International Harvester Company of America, 
(Incorporated) 
Chicago, Illinois, U. S. A. 
: Wri-L” 
The 
Father 
of 
all 
Manure 
Spreaders 
20th CENTURY 
MANURE SPREADER 
The first successful spreader made (1875) was studied out and made practical for 
farm money-making by Joseph S. Kemp—the man who supervises ten 
tion of that great machine—T*-- " ' 
ip—the man who supervises the cons 
. , ,, --- -he 80th Century Spreader. The name “Kemp” 
etands for the newest in spreader improvements; it means that all practical 
Ideas that haye been wortfi puttinginto a spreader have been added to the 20th 
Century, until it now stands the King of Manure Spreaders. 31 years of 
manure spreader building have taught us how to make for you a machine 
that s rigid, strong, durable, practical; a money-maker, time-saver, wage- 
cutter. It enhances the value of your farm. Increases your crops, helps 
you make more money, quicker. To-day’sthe day to write for our 
free catalog. It answers your every question. Ask for Book No.A-J 
The J. S. Kemp Manufacturing Co, 
lewark 
There 
IS 
no 
Other 
