!'J(>7. 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
i9 
THE PRICE OF MILK . 
Relative Returns for Good Qualify. 
Let us be fair. A young farmer came to me at a 
recent institute and said: “Your institutes do us little 
good because we arc held tightly in the grasp of the 
milk trust; we have to do whatever we are told.” I 
must say I did not like to hear this, because it came 
from a businesslike, progressive man, keeping good 
cows, and feeding them full rations. I know this man 
will read these notes, and so I want to do him justice, 
lie is not alone, but is one of a large class who firmly 
believe they are being ground flown by a cruel mon¬ 
opoly. Is it possible to picture the real situation? 
Men as a rule, both when they write and talk, fail to 
take into consideration every point of view. The 
Hordern Company is as a rule the target. They are pay¬ 
ing now $1.70 to $1.75 per 100 pounds. This man is 
making milk from Holstein cows. They are of the 
sort that give around 36 pounds a day with their first 
calf at two years old. Now every dairyman knows that 
such cows do not give very high-grade milk, and that 
it will not manufacture and return the prices men¬ 
tioned above. Probably 3.5 per cent fat would be a 
fair average, and very much Holstein milk is even 
lower in fact. Now 3.5 per cent milk at $1.75, his price, 
is just 50 cents per pound butter fat. Why, that is as 
much as the average price obtained for certified milk! 
Let us figure: five per cent milk at five cents per quart 
is 17 cents per pound butter fat. Of course the certified 
milk producer gels as much in the Summer when this 
man gets less, but just figure what it costs to produce 
certified milk at that season of the year. From the 
best information 1 can get, the high prices paid for 
milk delivered in cans are as profitable as the produc¬ 
tion of certified. The Borden people 
are rigid in the list of feeds, and it 
seems to me foolishly so. After a care¬ 
ful canvass of the effect of the feeds 
now commonly fed, if they arc used and 
not abused, milk of the very finest 
quality can be produced. We have only 
to study the feeds from which certified 
milk is produced to prove the state¬ 
ment. If milk was injured by feeding 
silage it would not hold its flavor for 
two weeks. In justice to all concerned, 
1 suppose the real truth of the matter 
lies in the fact that not all silage is 
good silage. Made from immature 
corn, without drying out the surplus 
water or as one finds a case here and 
there of whole corn silage, it seems 
open to criticism. On the other hand, 
there is no doubt that producers who 
are restricted overestimate their handi¬ 
cap. Human nature resents restric¬ 
tions, and we feel we must do those 
things we arc told not to do. 
Producers must not lose sight of the 
fact that Borden prices have been, dur¬ 
ing the past 10 years, the very highest 
prices paid, excepting here and there 
a creamery receiving very high-grade 
milk, and so arranged that every por¬ 
tion of the milk was utilized and returned in the check. 
It is commonly understood that every purchaser of 
milk and co-operative creamery has been and is now 
hustling to make for their patrons Borden prices. We 
know that unless they do the milk leaves them and 
goes to Bordens. We can, l think, safely say that there 
is a better chance for the smaller institution to compete 
than formerly. There is a demand for every form of 
milk product, and it makes but little difference who 
has it in hand. Each year also increases the number 
of milk plants equipped with tools and manager for 
milk disposition through a variety of sources. My ob¬ 
servation, taken for what it is worth, would indicate 
that the most complaint comes from those who arc, all 
things considered, the most favored. We are not 
always willing or able to trace the cause of our trouble 
to the real source. Dairymen in old milk-selling sec¬ 
tions have forgotten the troubles of former years, when 
they were responsible for both production and sale. 
No one could be blamed for faulty goods or a low 
price. The only person against whom we could speak 
was the more fortunate neighbor who was said to be 
lucky. Again, many dairy farmers arc in the trans¬ 
portation business instead of the dairy business; 
that is, the greater part of the nutrition grows 
elsewhere than upon the farm. If the owner 
makes it profitable where the acreage is small 
and manures are carefully saved and large crops grown 
it is perfectly legitimate, but many a man does not do 
so, and his feed bills are altogether out of proportion 
to his milk checks, and the farm does not increase in 
fertility or plant growth. This man also places the 
cause of his trouble against the milk trust, so-called, 
because it is the easiest thing to do. Tf every farmer 
would get the other man’s point of view before com¬ 
plaining against him, lie would have less to say, and 
if we would or could closely analyse the whole econ¬ 
omic situation as it surrounds us wc should often find 
our troubles deeper seated and nearer home than we 
arc now willing to admit. H. E. cook. 
FITTING SOD GROUND FOR CABBAGE. 
My most profitable crops are cabbage and early potatoes, 
followed by clover or grass. Itow can I best lit sod for 
cabbage to' lie set June 20? Shall I plow Ilia sod ulxuit 
October I, sow to rye and top-dress in Kail or Spring, 
turning under in late Spring, or leave sod until Spring? 
If so, when shell I turn It, and will It pay to •‘cross-plow” 
before setting cabbage? (inn I grow any catch crop with 
or after cabbage that will benefit early potatoes the next 
Spring, and when In the rotation can I use rock and potash 
to advantage? I always seed down after early potatoes, 
and cut four and onc-llftli tons Timothy and Red-Top from 
an acre this season, which I wish to set to cabbage again 
next year. kkadkk. 
l’ehnsylvunla. 
Top-dress sod for cabbage during Winter and early 
Spring, finish planting by May 20, cross-plow with 
roller, Cutaway harrow, cultivator, etc., getting the soil 
firmed to promote capillarity, and working in the rock 
and potash at the same time. Cabbage planted June 
20 will mature too late for any catch crop in Middle 
States before planting potatoes in April, m. gakrahan. 
The questions relate to conditions that arc not often 
met by us directly, as it is seldom that we have sod 
to deal with. Wc can venture to say, however, that 
wc would in the case stated leave the sod until May. 
If stable manure is available, give a moderate coat be¬ 
fore plowing. If not, the land should do very well 
without it. Plow under the sod and work thoroughly, 
but not deep enough to throw out the sod. Before 
setting the cabbage, apply broadcast about 1,500 
pounds per acre of high-grade fertilizer, and work in 
thoroughly. When nearly ready to set, apply about 
500 pounds per acre under the row with a drill that 
will thoroughly mix it with the soil and set the plants 
over it, after a rain if practicable. If the cabbage 
will permit, rye can be sown and cultivated in, which 
would be of benefit to the potatoes following. 
Long Island. l . H. haelock. 
Plow the sod as soon after cutting as can be done, 
sowing to Crimson clover, and plowing the clover 
under just as it comes into Head. You get a large 
amount of humus with nitrogen and ammonia from 
the plant. It will always pay to put the soil in a fine 
condition for cabbage plants. Potash is a strong stim¬ 
ulant for the cabbage plant. The cabbage would ma¬ 
ture so late that it would benefit the ground. For 
early potatoes the next Spring, spinach could be sown, 
as it lives through the Winter and would help the 
soil; lots of humus or mold is one of the greatest 
factors for the earl potato. H. j. siioemakkr. 
Questions like the above arc hard to answer, or even 
offer suggestions on. 1 believe that different locations, 
different soils, and condition of soils, would call for 
different modes of procedure. For example, I believe 
that stiff clays cannot be bandied the same as loams 
or more sandy soils, neither would I think that soils 
that arc flat and have the natural water level near the 
surface, even though the texture and composition is 
practically the same, are like those more favorably 
located, and with natural drainage; hence one can only 
speak in a general way. Were this my individual 
case and my soil showed no acidity, I sec no rational 
reason for plowing a good sod in the Fall and seeding 
to rye. The rye adds nothing to the soil except a 
small amount of humus and what plant food it gathers 
from the soil. Would not the grass crop now occu¬ 
pying the ground do quite as much if let stand till 
Spring, say fore part of May, before plowing down? 
Rye on soils of a loose texture that is let . stand for 
much growth in Spring before plowing under has a 
bad effect in dry seasons; it is a plant that draws large 
quantities of water from the soil, even though it is 
quite small. I have found it very hard after plowing 
down a stiff rye sod to get it sufficiently firm to receive 
the capillary waters, particularly when rainfall was light. 
On the other hand, if my soil showed acidity J would 
plow early in the Fall or late Summer, fallow for a 
few weeks and then sow oats. This crop 1 find more 
satisfactory than rye. It makes a rank growth at once, 
lives in this latitude till January, then gradually dies. 
In Spring I have a coat of partially decayed vegetable 
matter to plow tinder that I believe gives me belter 
results than rye. I am also of the opinion that where 
one is located so as to be able to plow during late 
December acid soils heavy in texture can be materially 
helped by pi >wing late and let weather in the rough all 
Winter. I have seen good results from occasional prac¬ 
tices of this kind. For reasons already given I would 
plow this about May 1, top-dress with whatever animal 
manures I proposed using, and work into the soil with 
disk or Cutaway harrow; follow up this barrowing 
at intervals of a week or Hi days till nearly time to set 
plants. These repeated harrowings will obviate all 
necessity for cross-plowing. It will loosen and fine 
the surface, causing the sod to rot more quickly and 
prepare an ideal bed for the young plants. Cabbage is 
a gross feeder, hence it requires a soil rich in humus 
and all the elements of plant food, and I believe the 
conditions can be met, nearly, if not quite as well, by 
Spring plowing of a sod, and liberal applications of 
manures and concentrated fertilizers and proper prepa¬ 
ration of the soil. I am of the belief that catch crops 
cannot be successfully grown among late or Winter 
cabbage. Cabbage is usually planted quite close, hence 
it shades the whole surface, and would 
naturally crowd out most any young 
plant. Where the crop is harvested early 
enough something may be sown to ad¬ 
vantage. In preparing a field for cabbage 
I believe it to be a good plan to broad¬ 
cast it after plowing with say 40 bushels 
lime; this is helpful in more ways than 
one, but mainly to guard against club- 
root. As to rock and potash in the 
rotation, I believe that can be used both 
with cabbage and also with the following 
potato crop to good advantage. Cabbage 
uses phosphoric acid quite largely, also 
some potash. The potato crop uses 
potash largely, with a lesser amount ot 
phosphoric acid. I would therefore use 
acid phosphate with some potash liber¬ 
ally on the cabbage ground as soon as 
plowed, working it well in with the 
repeated harrowings. I would also use 
potash with a lesser amount of acid 
phosphate with the potato crop This 
mixture can just as well be made in a 
complete fertilizer containing nitrogen¬ 
ous material, and apply it a part broad¬ 
cast, the remainder in the row or drill. 
With this or a similar method on soil 
that has produced and is capable of 
producing four and one-fifth tons 
Timothy and Rcdtop hay on one acre, I think no one 
ought to fear what the result will be, provided the 
manager himself knows pnd does his part. 
New Jersey. c. c. hulsart. 
Unless the soil is loose and sandy, a condition which 
might prevent the prompt decay of the sod in a dry 
season, more would be lost than gained by plowing in 
October and sowing to rye. Probably the best plan 
would be to plow up the sod as late as possible in the 
Fall, running the plow just deep enough to have it 
turn nicely; then as soon as dry enough in the Spring, 
harrow to conserve moisture, repeating this after each 
rain until near the time to plant. Having the surface 
in a fine condition to a depth of several inches, plow 
again, running as deep as the soil will permit, and 
work down thoroughly with roller and harrow before 
the fresh surface has time to dry out. Possibly not 
much would be lost by postponing the first plowing 
until early Spring. This should give us an almost ideal 
preparation. The sod will be decayed enough and yet 
not too much; all the moisture possible will be retained, 
and the soil being thoroughly pulverized clear through, 
will be in shape to bring up the moisture from the 
subsoil beneath. Not much can be done by way of 
catch crops after late cabbage. It is hardly advisable 
to sow anything until the crop is off, and then it will 
be quite late; still rye sown very thickly would make 
considerable root development, and that doubtless would 
be well worth while in maintaining a desirable me¬ 
chanical condition of the soil for the next crop. Fer¬ 
tilizers can be used to advantage with both the cabbage 
and potatoes, but if only one application for the rota¬ 
tion is intended, it should follow the second plowing, 
and before planting the cabbage, as this crop is the 
heaviest feeder. A dressing of one to one and a half 
ton of lime per acre, applied in the Fall after plowing, 
or early in the Spring, would be of decided advantage 
to the cabbage, but might possibly predispose the fol¬ 
lowing crop of potatoes to scab. In many localities, 
considering labor involved, a stand of grass that would 
insure between four and five tons of first-class hay per 
acre, would be as valuable as the crop by which it is 
to be displaced. H. L, HARTMAN. 
