1907. 
THE PLANT FOOD IN ASHES. 
Every year we are asked to give the 
fertilizing values of various waste sub¬ 
stances. From a recent report of the 
Connecticut Experiment Station we group 
the following tables: 
Pounds In One Ton. 
Phosphoric 
Potash 
Wood ashes (14 samples) 85 
Aejd 
20 
Lime 
000 
Got ton hull ashes... 
Lime kiln ashes. 
...400 
.. . 20 
100 
17 
400 
Brick kiln ashes. . . . 
. .. 40 
36 
800 
Tobacco stalk ashes. 
...700 
100 
The lime kiln ashes were scraped up 
around where the lime is burned, and 
thus contain lime, sand and the ashes 
from the fuel. Much the same is true of 
the ashes from the brick kiln. These 
contain clay and ashes from the wood 
used in burning the bricks. The Yan¬ 
kees are hunting for all sorts of fertility. 
A tobacco warehouse burned, and sam¬ 
ples from the ruins showed over one per 
cent of potash and nearly one of phos¬ 
phoric acid. These figures show the 
great fertilizing value of tobacco ash. 
Other analyses printed in this excellent 
report will interest farmers. Here are 
a few: 
Phosphoric 
Nitrogen Acid Potash 
Pittsburg tankage.4<> 38 10 
Peat and sewage. 5 3 0 
Tobacco stems. 30 0 108 
Spent hops. 15 4 17 
Pigeon manure. 51 20 17 
We are often asked about spent hops. 
They seem to contain more nitrogen than 
ordinary stable manure, but less potash 
and phosphoric acid. We understand 
that the “peat and sewage” was muck or 
peat used for filtering sewage from a town 
or private house. It has but little value. 
The Connecticut people use all sorts of 
things for fertilizing. Even at the pres¬ 
ent high price of cotton-seed meal for 
feeding purposes the tobacco growers of 
Connecticut use $ 50,000 worth of it each 
year on their tobacco. They have found 
that this cotton-seed meal gives a high 
and peculiar quality to the leaf. Cas¬ 
tor pomace is also used. This is ground 
residue of castor beans and is quite useful 
for plant feeding. Linseed meal is also 
useful for tobacco. In a few cases caustic 
potash has been used on tobacco by dis¬ 
solving the potash in water and sprinkling 
it over the ground. The danger in using 
this is that many brands of lye or “pot¬ 
ash” contain no potash, but caustic soda, 
which will not take the place of potash. 
This Connecticut report also gives fig¬ 
ures to show what we can buy in mixed 
fertilizers. A number of special fertil¬ 
izer mixtures were sampled. It was 
found that at retail prices $30 would buy 
the following: 
Pounds Pounds Pounds 
Phosphoric 
Nitrogen Acid Potash 
In the best. 69 170 143 
In those of medium qual¬ 
ity . 47 174 ' 112 
In the least valuable. .. 32 174 66 
There are farmers who think it pays to 
buy the cheapest brands of fertilizers. 
We see from these figures how they fool 
themselves. 
WESTERN NEW YORK HORTICUL¬ 
TURAL SOCIETY. 
The meeting of the Western New York 
Horticultural Society bold in Rochester Jan¬ 
uary 23-24 was probably the largest meet¬ 
ing in its^ history: between 800 and 900 
members paid their annual fee before the 
close of its sessions. San Josfi scale was 
the all-absorbing topic, and many thought 
that the large attendance was because of a 
dpsire on the part of growers to find out 
about the scale, how to control it, etc. 
I)r. Lk II. Bailey, Cornell College of Agri¬ 
culture gave an address upon “The prime 
elements of failure in orcharding.” Dr. J. 
H. Funk, of Pennsylvania, was to give an 
address on peach culture; owing to illness 
he was unable to attend and sent a copy 
of his address to be read. This was most 
carefully prepared and will furnish most 
interesting reading in the society’s report. 
The list of varieties he recommended was 
made up almost wholly of peaches of the 
North China type to which Elberta belongs. 
Prof. M. V. Slingerland of Cornell gave a 
most interesting address, illustrated with 
lantern slides; pictures were shown of Al¬ 
bert Wood's orchard at Carlton, N. Y., and 
the conditions where a miscible oil spray 
was applied as follows: Three applica¬ 
tions, twice in Fall of 1905 and once in 
Spring of 1906; strength used, one part of 
miscible oil to 15 parts of water. Appli¬ 
cations were successful in destroying scale, 
as no live scale were found on treated trees 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
GOOD 
127 
the past season. Trees treated were five or 
six-year-old pears. 
Pictures of Gypsy moth and larva, also 
Brown-tail moth and larva, were shown, 
with orchard and woodland pictures show¬ 
ing the destructiveness of these pests and 
methods of combating them. Prof. Slinger¬ 
land also told of damage already done in 
Massachusetts, how irapidly they spread, 
etc., and said that preparations should be 
made to eomliat them upon their entrance 
in this State. O. G. Bishop, Pontiac, Mich., 
gave two talks. “Fifteen Minutes with a 
Mank’et Garddner,” and “Quality is the 
Thing in Small Fruits.” In his vegetable 
talk he gave his system of marketing di¬ 
rect to the retailer, also his plan to grow 
as far as possible only first-class stock, 
which he never had any trouble in sell¬ 
ing. often contracting entire crops before 
harvesting. Ills first talk emphasized the 
value of selection, in improving known vari¬ 
eties of fruit and vegetables, giving as an 
example his process of selection as he ap¬ 
plied it to the Cuthbert raspberry, whereby 
he had by selecting plants with a tendency 
tjoward type in mind, propagating tfrom 
these, selecting the plants each year for 
propagating purposes most nearly conform¬ 
ing to the type in mind. lie had changed 
his plants from tall, non-branching canes to 
shrubby, many branched canes, which when 
properly pruned needed no staking and were 
so fruitful that in height of season one 
could hardly see the leaves because of the 
amount of fruit. 
Dr. Jordan, of New York State Experi¬ 
ment Station, Geneva, N. Y., in a concise, 
crisp and straightforward way, set before 
the Society the needs of the Experiment 
Station the coming year. These were, first, 
an auditorium or assembly room in which 
agricultural, dairy, breeding and horticul¬ 
tural associations might meet with the Ex¬ 
periment Station staff. Also several new 
houses for homes of members of Station 
staff. Dr. Jordan said that good men were 
scarce and hard to keep. Prof. P. J. Par¬ 
rott. entomologist of New York Experiment 
Station, gave a practical illustrated address 
on desti active insects of 1906. San .Tost! 
scale was one of the most destructive and 
was given due attention. I.ime-sulphur 
boiled washes were recommended generally; 
formula. 15 pounds sulphur, 20 pounds lime, 
to 50 gallons of water, and boiled one hour. 
One application thoroughly applied should 
hold scale in check on pear, plum, prune and 
peach trees, also smaller apple trees. If 
this did not prove entirely successful on 
the higher apple trees it was recommended 
to try a supplemental spraying after the 
application of lime-sulphur and just before 
the buds burst. The oil should be applied 
lightly through a fine nozzle covering small 
twigs, branches and fruit, spurs as much as 
possible, and stop before oil runs or drips. 
One application of soluble oil at strength 
recommended by manufacturers had not 
proved as effective as lime-sulphur wash. 
Prof. Parrott advised that if only one ap¬ 
plication of soluble oil was to be made It 
should not be used at a more dilute strength 
than one part of oil to 10 or 12 parts of 
water. Interesting slides were shown of var¬ 
ious kinds of apple and pear leaf-mites, with 
leaves injured by them. These pests are 
proving quite serious in some sections and 
will be studied and watched with interest in 
the future. b. d. v. b. 
ML. 
pKiJ 
tilth l‘|- > ' 
1 
RY5 
SEEDS 
have stood the test for over 50 years, 
and are still in the lead. Their absolute 
certainty of growth, their uncommonly 
large yields of delicious vegetables and 
beautiful flowers, make them the most 
reliable and the most popular every¬ 
where. Sold by all dealers. 1907 
Seed Annual free on request. 
D. M. FERRY & CO.. 
Detroit, Mich. 
H. E. FISKE 
SEED CO. 
12 and 13 
Faneuil Hall 
Square, 
Boston, Mass. 
Highest Grade Seeds 
thoroughly tested and of known vitality. Write 
for a copy of our new catalogue, which contains 
a complete list of highest grade Flower aud 
Vegetable Seeds, Poultry Supplies aud 
Sundries. 
We are now located in 
our new store, occupy¬ 
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at 12 and 13 Faneuil 
Hall Scruare. Our 
facilities for hand¬ 
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orders are the best. 
A practical experi¬ 
ence of 25 years en¬ 
ables us to offer only 
A BIG GARDEN 
The year of 1906 was one of prodigal plenty on our 
^ seed farms. Never before did vege- ^ 
. table and farm seeds return such 
r enormous yields. 
Now we wish to gain 200,000 new 
customers thisyearandheneeoller 
for 12c postpaid 
1 pkg. Garden City Beet • • lOe 
1 “ Earliest Klpe Cabbage • lOe 
1 11 F.arl’t Emerald Cucumber 15a 
1 u La Crosse Market Lettuce 15« 
1 41 13 Day Radish ... 10a 
1 u Blue Blood luma to - • 15a 
1 “ Juiey Turnip . - - - 10a 
1000 kernels gloriously beauti¬ 
ful flower seeda .... ■ 15a 
ToUl $ 1.00 
Allforl2c postpaid in orderto intro¬ 
duce our warranted seeds, and if you 
will send 16c we will add one package 
of Berliner Earliest Cauliflower, to¬ 
gether with our mammoth plant, 
nursery stock, vegetable and farm 
seed and tool catalog. 
This catalog is mailed free to all 
intending purchasers. Write to-day. 
JOHN A. SALZER SEED CO., 
La Crosse, Wit. 
CHEAP 
GROWH 
BEST „ 
ever 
A wonderful big catalog BTDEIT 
|(Full of engravings of every ■ ntu 
variety, with prices lower than other 
dealers’. Oldest reliable seed grower 
in America. No old seed. All fresh. 
They will grow or will refund money. 
Big' Lot Extra Packages Free with Every Order. 
Send yours and your neighbor’s address. 
R. H. SHUMWAY, Rockford, Illinois. 
ASPARAGUS ROOTS. The 
Most Profitable Crop grown. 
Seven of the best varieties. 
Our 100-page “Seed Buyer’s Guide’’ free to those 
who mention Thk Kurai. New-Yorker. MOORE 
& SIMON, Seed-Growers, Philadelphia, Pa. 
DIBBLE’S FARM SEEDS 
raised on our 1000 acre Seed Farms in the Genesee 
Valley and sold direct to you. 
Crrn DflTATHCQ 30 kinds including standard 
OLLLl lU I A I Deo sorts and all the new varie¬ 
ties of actual merit. Don’t experiment. Don’t be 
misled. The results obtained by testing 825 varieties 
on Mass. Trial Grounds are given in our catalog, 
errn n I TP- Twentieth Century. Goiden Har- 
OLLU UAluvest, Swedish Select, all with a 
record of over 100 bus. per acre with Held culture, 
flrrn nnnil— Dibble’s Mammoth Yellow Flint 
OLLU uUllIl record 243 bus. from 1 peck seed, 400 
bus. raised on 2 acres, Improved Learning and 80 Day 
Dent, earliest Dent corn in cultivation. 
ALFALFA, CLOVER & GRASS SEEDS-,?. 0 /,; 
obtainable, same as we use on our own Seed B’arms. 
Handsome Illustrated Catalog and liberal samples 
FREE. EDWARD E. DIBBLE, Seedgrower, 
Honeoye Falls, New York. 
FIELDS SEED CORN 
Sold ear or shelled. All 
graded, tested, proven—then 
guaranteed. No better at 
any price. Test it in your 
sprouting box. If you don’t 
like it -fare it back. You’ll 
get your money back double 
quick. “Guaranteed-pure” 
Clover seed. Garden seeds 
that will really grow. Cata¬ 
logue and samples free. 
HENRY FIELD, SEEDSMAN, 
BOX 26 , SHEMHDOXH, IOWA. 
A Tuber 
We offer to our 
customers with* 
h out charge a 
L If k ■ potato which re- 
I Ilk k cently sold in 
England for $i ,246 a single tuber. 
OUR CATALOG 
Ourcatalog (FREE) contains many 
varieties of vegetables which we 
were first to introduce. Of these we 
endeavor to keep a pure stock. All 
ourseed is tested. Plain 
E’atcoovJ^ instructionsaregiven 
?SEHDVW° r cultivation. 
I&WLPJ- J- H- GREGORY & SON. 
Marblehead, Mass. 
THAT DO NOT DISAPPOINT 
LIVINGSTON’S 
OHIO YELLOW GLOBE 
A small necked, very round, bright yellow sort, and 
INDIANA SILVER SKIN, a magnificent set-growing 
strain, are our two great onion specialties. 
We grow the seed from selected bulbs. All of our 
onion seeds are of the “TRUE BLUE" quality. Write 
for prices, stating quantity. 
Ask for 1907 Catalogue, which tells all about them 
and hundreds of other garden, farm and flower 6eeds 
and plants. It is sent Freo. 
THE LIVINGSTON SEED CO., 
“Famous for Tomatoes” 
Box 111, COLUMBUS, OHIO. 
Seed 
\Book 
FOR 1907 
contains 6 3 
Specialties in 
Vegetab les, 
69 in Flowers, 
besides every- 
thing else 
good, old or 
new.worth 
growing. 
You need it. 
It is free to 
all sending me 
their address 
on a postal. 
Wm. Henry Maule W!%$£g! 
OATS 
Sensation—123 bu. per aero. It’s a win¬ 
ner. Also Seed Corn. Samples and cata¬ 
logue free. Theo. Burt Sc Sons,Melrose,Ohio 
errno 
r P II _% Sold on The Ford Plan, which guar- 
L, L U antees satisfaction and saves you 
” ■ ^ ^ money on every purchase. Our cat¬ 
alog tells about it, gives descriptions and low price, on 
Best varieties. Garden, Flower and Field Seeds, Potatoes, 
Bulbs, Trees, Snrubs and Small Fruit Plants. Contains 
lots of testi moni als from our customers. It’s free. 
FORD SEED CO., Dept.«4Ravenna. Ohio. 
CQACQ CCCn Seed Oats and Seed Corn, All 
UllAdO OCCU kinds of Clover, Timothy, Biue 
Grass, Red Top, Orchard Grass and Oil Meal, old 
process, Prices and samples on application. 
U. J. COVER, Mt. Gilead, Ohio. 
A BSOLUTELY the best 
^ there are—unequalled 
for purity and germination 
and no more expensive 
than others. 
If you have not already 
received our Catalogue 
send for it now. It costs 
you nothing. 
J. M. THORBURN & CO. 
33 Barclay Street, 
Through to 38 Park Place, 
NEW YORK. 
Established 1802. 
BUY SEEDS FROM E THE GROWER 
You will not only get Better Seeds, but will get them Cheaper. 
HARRIS’ SEEDS Grown at M0RET0N FARM (250 Aoras) 
are sold only direct to the planter at prices as low as dealers have to pay. We raise 
VEGETABLE SEEDS, SEED POTATOES, and improved FARM SEEDS. Ask for Cata¬ 
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JOSEPH HARRIS COMPANY, Moreton Farm, COLDWATER, N. Y. 
BURPEE'S! 
arm Annual for 1907 
been enlarged to 200 Pages, —it is better than 
ever before, AND WELL deserves its position as 
“THE LEADING AMERICAN SEED CATALOG” 
Besides our famous Specialties we now exclusively introduce some most Important Novelties in¬ 
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W. ATLEE BURPEE & CO., Seed Growers, PHILADELPHIA, PA. 
SEED REASON. LET US SHOW YOU! 
We KNOW we could sell you allyour seeds if we could meet you face to face. We could show 
you the enormous difference between our expenses and that of the city seedsman, and how YOV 
get the benefit of that saving; how we make our own low prices as we belong to no combination or 
association for keeping prices up. We repeat, if we could meet you here we could show you why 
we save you about one-half of your seed money, and you would know that our present big business 
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To show you our Honest Seeds in Honest packets, we will send 
X. B. Turnip Beet E. J. Wakefield J V ft WOUTII OF WARRANTED! f\ (U.C. Parsnip PrUe Head Lettuea 
Boeky Ford Muskmelon VEGETABLE SEEDS, I - Long Orange Carrot 
fratkeetk 8quaehBoiy ham K’dlak ( 10 PEGS. FOR ..... » ( 8 tone Tomato 3weetGermauTarml|» 
FORREST SEED COMPANY, BOX 34, CORTLAND, NEW YORK. 
