190 ?. 
557 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
CAUSES 0F (4 CLOVER SICKNESS 
O. M., Ilopedale, Mass .—What is your opin¬ 
ion on the question of “clover sickness,” its 
cause and means of prevention? How often 
should clover occur In the rotation of crops? 
R. N.-Y.—We have heard two sorts of 
reasons given for “clover sickness.” By 
this is meant a general failure of clover 
to thrive after growing successfully for 
some years. One reason is that the soil 
is out of order. Applications of lime or 
wood ashes often “bring in” clover so it 
is argued that land becomes sour so that 
the bacteria which work upon clover do 
not thrive. Another argument is that 
some soils are lacking in available potash. 
We have also heard it claimed that the 
clover roots open the soil too much and 
that a change of crop is needed in order 
to compact the soil once more. The other 
reason is based upon the new theory of 
bacterial action. It is said that Red clover 
requires a special bacteria. After some 
years of cultivation in rich soils these 
bacteria become too feeble to do the work. 
By introducing stronger bacteria, either 
in soil from another field' or by inoculat¬ 
ing the seed, the remedy is found. We 
have heard of cases where this was suc¬ 
cessfully tried. 
Lime Often Causes It. 
I do not believe there is any one cause 
for the disease known as “clover sick¬ 
ness.” Time was when if a cow was out 
of order for any reason whatever, she 
had hollow horn, and the remedy was to 
split the end of her tail. If the soil gets 
out of condition for any reason whatever 
so that clover does not grow, then we 
call it clover sickness. The most common 
cause of clover sickness is probably de¬ 
ficiency of lime in the soil. On many 
farms where clover has been a shy grow¬ 
er I have found that by a liberal use of 
hard-wood ashes, the difficulty has been 
overcome and the clover sickness re¬ 
moved. Frequently by continued crop¬ 
ping the soil becomes deficient in humus 
and in available plant food, and clover 
will not thrive under these conditions. 
Clover is not a crop for run-down soils, 
but it is a crop which thrives only when 
well fed and well cared for. Inoculation 
of the soil may sometimes be necessary 
in a country where clover has not been 
grown. It is doubtful if there is a farm 
in New England where inoculation would 
be necessary in order to secure a growth 
of clover. As a practical means, then, of 
overcoming clover sickness I would rec¬ 
ommend a general improving of soil con¬ 
ditions, the use of ashes and of farm ma¬ 
nures, possibly of lime, if the soil is 
strongly acid, underdrainage if the soil is 
wet, and it is my opinion that there are 
but few soils which will not respond if 
given this treatment. L. A. Clinton. 
Connecticut Experiment Station. 
Opinions From a Clover Country. 
I have had no personal experience with 
what is known as clover sickness, and 
hence my suggestions would be of little 
value. While in Europe 15 years ago I 
had a long talk with Sir John B. Lawes, 
who admitted that notwithstanding his 
long experience he was utterly at sea. 
He found it impossible to grow clover 
except in rotation on any part of his farm, 
with the exception of one part of his 
lawn, which had been an old garden, 
heavily manured, for a great many years. 
On this he grew Mammoth clover year 
after year with only an occasional re¬ 
sowing. I talked with Professor Wallace, 
of Edinburg University, at the same time, 
and he attributed the failure of clover to 
eel worms. I found in Ireland that it 
was not possible to grow common Red 
clover except in a six or seven-year rota¬ 
tion, but that there was no difficulty in 
growing Alsike. When the acid soil the¬ 
ory came up I looked upon it as a prob¬ 
able solution of the question. Two years 
ago I visited my old home in Westmore¬ 
land County, Pa., where in my boyhood 
days Red clover grew luxuriantly every¬ 
where. I was very much surprised to 
find very little of it except on dairy farms 
where steer feeding was practiced, or 
the land heavily manured in some way; 
while I found Alsike the common clover 
grown almost everywhere. I inquired as 
to the practice of the farmers, and they 
told me that they sowed the seed half and 
half, but the Red clover did not seem to 
thrive. I came through western Penn¬ 
sylvania and Ohio by daylight, and found 
the same condition of things as far west 
as Mansfield, with the exception of a strip 
of very rich bottom land near Wooster. 
I visited Mr. Carpenter’s Short-horn 
farm near Mansfield, and found that he 
grew both Red clover and Alfalfa suc¬ 
cessfully on lands kept rich by a constant 
application of manure. This has some¬ 
what shaken my faith in the theory that 
the bacteria which enable clover to obtain 
nitrogen from the air cannot thrive in an 
acid soil. If those lands in Pennsylvania 
refuse to grow clover because of acidity, 
why should Alsike clover thrive where 
the Red refuses to grow ? I do not believe 
that we have as yet got hold of 
the bottom facts. In Iowa clover will 
grow on almost any kind of soil, pro¬ 
vided the seed is germinable and it has 
the proper amount of heat and moisture. 
I think the time will come, however, when 
we can grow clover only in rotation, as 
in Europe. On my own farms I haye 
never had any difficulty in growing it. 
For 10 or 12 years I grew it in connec¬ 
tion with Timothy and Orchard grass as 
a meadow; and there are Blue grass pas¬ 
tures in which Blue grass and White 
clover have thrived together for 40 years. 
Iowa. HENRY WALLACE. 
RUST IN A HOT WATER BOILER. 
During our many years’ experience we 
have found that by thoroughly covering 
the surface with linseed oil, the heater 
will be protected from rust, and be in 
good condition again in the Fall, when 
readv to fire up. Of course, where cel¬ 
lars are dry such care is not required. 
DETROIT HEATING AND LIGHTING CO. 
If this heater be left full of water dur¬ 
ing the Summer there will be very small 
likelihood of any rust forming, as oxida¬ 
tion takes place slowly when the surfaces 
are covered with water. We have always 
advised the filling up of steam or hot 
water heater with water during the Sum¬ 
mer to prevent rust. This will cause 
more or less sweating of the boiler during 
this time, but if a small fire is kindled 
occasionally it will have a tendency to 
keep the boiler in very excellent condition. 
We know of no preparation to put on the 
inside of a boiler for stopping of rust. 
KEWANEE BOILER COMPANY. 
WANT TO KNOW. 
Finding Water With Divining Rod — 
,’hat is the success and accuracy of finding 
ater with a crotch stick? Will some one 
ho has experience reply? A- d. c. 
Painting Sii.o With Coal Tar. —I would 
ke to hear the experience of those (if there 
•e sucli) who have painted the inside of their 
Ios with coal tar? It is claimed to he a 
reat preservative and I do not douht that it 
ould benefit the silo, but the question with 
,e is whether it will taint the fodder or not. 
Of »n fPon/I P'A "NI T T A• *T • T. 
A Heating Problem. —I am soon to build 
a new farmhouse and want advice. I want 
some of the modern improvements and am 
cramped for means, so must save at all points. 
Will those who know tell me how to furnish 
heat and water in the cheapest successful 
wav? 1 can arrange for bath room and 
closet in cellar, but have no steam for heat; 
would have to elevate water to tank on tower 
or in garret, or have air pressure from ce - 
lar. Which is most satisfactory? Water will 
have to be pumped from well; it is plentiful, 
25 feet or less below surface. All farmhouses 
in this section have open fireplaces or heat¬ 
ers. Pine wood is worth $3 per cord In 
eight-foot lengths; soft coal $7.50 per ton, 
and hard coal $8.25 per ton. Heaters are 
not liked by those who can have open fires. 
There are no hot-water or steam heaters and 
It might involve a lot of trouble and ex- 
pense to install either of them, as no plumb- 
ers are accessible. s - 
North Carolina. 
Concrete Fence Posts. —We are about to 
erect a wire fence 200 rods in one pull on a 
square, and would like your advice as to the 
best kind of corner posts, stone, cement or 
concrete, and what size and what depth In 
ground to stand the strain without moving. 
Good gravel, sand or stone are all close at 
hand. What would be the probable cost of 
such posts by doing the work ourselves, our 
work, not contract?. Q- a. c. 
Water Pipes. —I had seven years’ experi¬ 
ence with iron pipe for water on a Hudson 
River farm ; almost constant annoyance from 
rust. I had more than a quarter of a mile 
of it coated with tar. I had iron pipe in the 
city fill up almost solid with rust, so that 
water could hardly be forced through it. Much 
of the liability to rust in piping, wire fencing 
and nails is due to the fact that the metal 
used is steel instead of iron. I wouldn’t put 
shingles on with wire nails if the nails were 
given me. Steel boilers for kitchen ranges 
can be bought much cheaper than iron ones. 
The exact figures can be ascertained from 
houses that furnish plumbers’ supplies. Steel 
boilers are not as durable as the others. 
I would use heavy lead pipe for the farm 
and allow the water to run freely if possible. 
If it is lime water there is no danger from 
lead poisoning. In nine-tenths of all city 
homes the plumbing or piping is lead and we 
do not hear of any poisoning, though I con¬ 
fess that I always think of the possible dan¬ 
ger and try to let the water run some. How 
would it do to go back to the old-fashioned 
bored logs? They would last for generations 
and we would drink fearlessly. j. y. p. 
REMEMBER WADSWORTH. 
The following members of the New 
York Senate voted against Governor 
Hughes in his efforts to remove the Su¬ 
perintendent of Insurance. They repre¬ 
sent agricultural counties, where farmers 
are in a majority. Every one of them 
merits defeat, and should be plowed un¬ 
der by the votes of farmers. Send them 
to the political graveyard at the first op¬ 
portunity : 
J0THAM P. ALLDS, . 
ALBERT T. FANCHER, 
S. P. FRANCH0T, . . 
S. PERCY HOOKER, . 
JOHN RAINES, . . . 
SANFORD W. SMITH, 
WM. J. TULLY, . . 
HORACE WHITE, . . 
BENJ. M. WILCOX, . 
JOSEPH ACKR0YD . 
FRANK M. BOYCE, . 
. . Norwich, N. Y. 
. Salamanca, N. Y. 
Niagara Falls, N. Y, 
. . . LeRoy, N. Y. 
Canandaigua, N. Y. 
. . Chatham, N. Y. 
. . Corning, N. Y, 
. . Syracuse, N. Y, 
. . Auburn, N. Y. 
. . . Utica, N. Y. 
East Schodack, N. Y. 
CRAIN DRILL 
The YORK FORCE FEEI> DRILL combines 
lightness with strength. Most complete drill made. No 
complex gearing to get out ol order. Boxes are close to 
ground. Easily Fully 
regulates Guaranteed 
quantity 
of seed 
or fer¬ 
tilizer. 
AWARD¬ 
ED GOLD 
MEDAL 
St. Louis 
World's 
Fair. 
Weight, 
Only 700 lbs. 
Agents Wanted. 
Write for catalogue, 
THE HENCH & D ROM GOLD CO. 
Mfrs., York, I*a. BADK ALSO WITH DISC 
HORSE POWERS 
THRASHERS Wood 
and CLEANERS Sawa 
One & two-horse Thrashing Outfits. Level pilTTCDQ 
Tread, Perfect Governor, Feed & Ensilage UU I I LilO 
Write for catalogue 
ELLIS KEYSTONE AGR’L WORKS, Pottstown, Pa, 
ui^n DRILLING & 
IV 611 PROSPECTING MACHINES. 
Fastest drillers known. Great money earners I 
LOOMIS MACHINE CO..TIFFIN;, OHIO. 
RTF T Y DRILLING 
TT l/LLmachines 
Over 70 sizes and styles, for drilling either deep or 
shallow wells in any kind of soil or rock. Mounted on 
wheelsoron sills. With engines or horse powers. Strong, 
simple and durable. Any mechanic can operate them 
easily. Send for catalog. 
WILLIAMS BROS.. Ithaca. N. Y. 
SMALL THRESHERS 
bors^ Thresh 
and clean perfectly. No waiting or feeding big crows. 
Silos. Cutters. Powers, Manure Spreaders. Catalog freo. 
HARDER MFC. COMPANY. Box 1 1, Coblesklll. N. Y. 
Live 
Harness 
Don’t allow your 
harness to dry up 
and die. Once 
thishappensit can 
never be remedied. 
Save the harness, save 
expense, prevent accidents by using 
EUREKA 
Harness 
Nourishes the leather and keeps it 
soft and strong. Preserves the grain- 
fibre. Makes leather proof against all 
weathers. Gives best tanner’s finish. 
Boston Co&ch Axle Oil 
smoothes the way to good wheel- 
action. Better and cheaper than 
castor oil. Will not gum or corrode. 
Lightens the load—eases the road. 
Sold everywhere—All Sizes. 
MADE BY 
STANDARD OIL COMPANY 
Incorporated 
Great Binder Twine Offer. 
If you have any use for binder twine this 
season, don’t fail to write us and get our great 
binder twine offer before buying elsewhere. 
We have binder twine stored in warehouses in 
various parts of the country, so we can get the 
twine to you in j ust a day or two after we receive 
your order. We have a special price and a most 
extraordinary binder twine offer we want you to 
be sure to receive before you buy a pound of 
twine. 
Write us a postal card or letter and simply 
say, ” Mail me your binder twine offer,” and our 
great twine offer will be sent you by mail, post¬ 
paid, at once, together with a price quotation 
that will mean a great saving, protection and 
assurance to you. 
Address, SEARS, ROEBUCK & CO.. Chicago. 
DURABLE 
WEATHER-PROOF 
FIRE-RESISTING 
OUTLASTS METAL AND SHINCLES, 
COSTS LESS 
CONTAINS NO TAR. . 
PAPER OR RUBBER ^ 
WILL NOT 
CRACK. 
MELT OR 
ROT 
aP 
r or 
a 
The 
genuine 
original 
prepared 
iling has 
♦ roofing 
ne name 
RUBEROID 
stamped on under side 
every lour feet 
,<?- WRITE FOR PRICE8 ANO SAMPLES 
v” - 
TheStandard PalntCompany 
jT 100 WILLIAM ST., NEW YORK 
Branches: Chicago, St. Louis, Philadelphia, 
Boston, Atlanta 
COVERED WITH 
Carey's Roofing 
p Barn on 
Charles Lexow’s Farnl 
Mitchell, Illinois. 
The CAREY Idea: ONE Roof is Enough 
D ON’T YOU THINK one roof ought to be enough for any building? 
Charles Lexow, of Mitchell, Ills., recently became a convert to this 
Carey Idea. In 20 years or so, doubtless he will pay the sort of tribute to 
Carey’s Roofing that H. L. Bonta, of Harrodsburg, Mercer Co., Ky., does, 
when he wrote us, April 23rd last:— “Some 15 or 18 years ago, I bought Carey's 
Roofing to cover a large bam. The Roofing is still doing good service.” 
CAREY’S 
FLEXIBLE 
CEMENT 
ROOFING 
is fire-resisting, wind and waterproof; will not Rot, Rust, Melt, Break or Dry Out. It is 
equally adapted to flat or steep surfaces; is easily laid on new buildings or over leaky 
shingles or metal roofs, with but knife and hammer as tools. 
CAREY’S ROOFING- is composed of the highest grade of woolen felt of our own manu¬ 
facture, strong East Indian burlap and our own highly tempered asphalt cementcompound, 
all compressed into compact, always flexible sheets. The Carey Patent Lap covers and 
permanently protects nail-heads. 
Sold and shipped direct from our warehouses, conveniently 
— “ ‘ HOOF-BOOK—both FILES'. 
located. Write for Sample and our 
THE PHILIP CAREY MFG. CO., 42 Wayne 
Avenue, CINCINNATI, O. 
TT»IOa 
YOUR BUILDINGS,! 
w i i h 1 
SeaGreenl 
PurpleSlatei 
^ 
Lamta Formver—Mo Painting—Mo Repairs—Mo Exnenme 
Affords spark and fire protection and pure cistern water. Reduces 
insurance rates. The only roofing known that will outwear any 
building. Costs little more than shortlived roofing 
Write today for our free book, “ROOFS.” 
} AMERICAN SEA GREEN SLATE CO., Box 10 GRANVILLE, N. Y. 
“VERMONT” 
In time of need “ The Vermont” Gasoline Engines 
are always ready. They need no adjustment. 3 to 
16 horse power, mounted or stationary, for farm, 
factory and shop use. Write for catalogue E.G., 
describing the most reliable engine made. 
STODDARD MANUFACTURING GO., Rutland, Vt. 
We have a few new Fairbanks Engines 
at a bargain. Ask for description. 
