495 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
Hope Farm Notes 
Coal Ashes. —This question from 
Connecticut is like many others received. 
You say that coal ashes add no plant food. 
Wood ashes furnish some potash and soda, 
and coal is but preserved wood fibre. It 
should contain about the same salts, though 
the ash appears less soluble, which is partly 
due to clinkers, large and small. I would 
like to know a chemical analysis of soluble 
part of sifted coal ashes. J. l. 
It is hard for most people to believe 
that all ashes are not alike. You take 
sawdust and wheat bran, a Ben Davis and 
a Grimes Golden apple, or two men. You 
know one is better than the other, though 
each pair grew in the same way and on 
much the same food. We know they are 
different—to find out why we go to those 
who know what they contain. Chemists 
tell us that a ton of good wood ashes con¬ 
tains 100 pounds of potash, 40 of phos¬ 
phoric acid and 600 or more of lime. 
When he comes to a ton of hard coal 
ashes he cannot, to save his life, find in 
the ton over three pounds each of potash 
or phosphoric acid. There would be about 
eight pounds each of these elements in 
ashes from soft coal. If woo’d has been 
burned with coal the ashes will have 
greater value, but the coal alone has little 
or no actual plant food. 
But why? As our friend says, coal is 
“preserved wood fibre.” Now, “wood 
fibre” is not equal in value. Take a tree 
growing by the side of a meadow. Cut 
it into sawdust and grind it to a fine pow¬ 
der. It would not feed a horse as would 
the grass or the grain growing in the 
same soil. The “wood fibre” from which 
coal was made was very different from the 
tree growth of to-day, and it was changed 
in the preserving. It is supposed that 
our present coal beds were formerly peat 
or muck swamps. Under the climate 
and conditions which prevailed ages ago 
this peat or muck was derived from very 
different plants from those grown in our 
own time. We know that even now the 
soil of these swamps is very low in potash, 
lime and phosphoric acid. The formation 
of coal was due to a process somewhat 
like distilling with heat, fermentation and 
great pressure. We can easily see how 
this would drive off the nitrogen and get 
rid of the potash and phosphoric acid. 
They are certainly not there now. 
Yet it is true that sifted coal ashes 
sometimes show good results when put 
on the soil. Their chief value is in im¬ 
proving the mechanical condition of. the 
soil. For example, they bind the particles 
of sandy soil together so that it will hold 
moisture better. On heavy clays they 
often open up the soil and let in the air. 
Do not confuse this mechanical effect with 
results from plant-food. 1 he finer parts 
of coal ashes are excellent as absorbents. 
You can keep a box or barrel of them 
handy and pour over them house slops or 
a solution of nitrate of soda. The ashes 
absorb this rich liquid, and when dried 
can be broadcast like a fertilizer. We 
find the “clinkers” excellent for piling 
around trees. 
Plow Notes. —The following note from 
Maryland gives me a chance to explain. 
Some years ago I noticed in. the Hope 
Farm Notes that you were using a reversible 
sulky plow. I have been thinking of order¬ 
ing one, for I do hate a dead-furrow, and I 
like more power than two horses to a plow 
so as to plow deep, but thought I would 
consult you to learn how you liked the plow. 
I noticed recently that you wrote about us¬ 
ing a plow truck, which looks as though you 
had reverted to the walking plow. Was the 
sulky reversible plow not satisfactory ? Will 
sav our fields are large and soil gravelly, 
with some stone. I am a young man, but 
have been reading The It. N.-Y. for a num¬ 
ber of years with interest, especially be¬ 
cause we have been farming very much like 
you on Hope Farm. We used to grow mainly 
potatoes, but find we can make as much and 
do it easier on our gravelly soil by growing 
corn and hay and feeding to stock. We 
devote our hill land to pasture and apple 
trees, using tlie mulch method. We put a 
little mound of coal ashes around some of 
the little trees to prevent mice, and to our 
surprise we have not found a borer in those 
trees in the two years since the ashes were 
applied. This little experience leads me to 
wonder if wood ashes would possibly be as 
good as the potash wash you have been 
using. We are trying a few trees this year 
for experiment, anyhow. H. N. M. 
Some years ago I bought a land side 
walking plow. This has a reversible mold 
board. You plow across the field, turn 
around, swing over your mold board and 
come back in the same furrows, thus 
throwing all the same way. I found this 
plow a little heavier to pull than the ordi¬ 
nary walking plow, and it does not turn 
the furrows as well. I sold it and bought 
a reversible sulky. As most people 
know, this runs on wheels with two plows 
which can be raised out of the ground 
when needed. You plow across the field 
turning the furrow to the right, then 
raise that plow, turn around and lower 
the other and back in the same furrow. I 
found this a great implement. I would 
rather work three horses on it. When 
we planted our orchards all over the hills 
I sold this plow, as I did not expect to 
plow much more. Now I wish I had it 
back. We now use a walking steel beam 
plow with the trucks, which we find use¬ 
ful. I doubt from my experience if there 
is enough lye in the wood ashes to do the 
peach borer any harm. I think the mound 
you speak of helps by compelling the 
moth to lay her eggs higher up on the 
trunk. Her instinct is to lay the egg 
close to the ground, where the insect has 
a much better chance to get in his deadly 
work. When hatched higher on the tree 
he has a smaller chance for his life. You 
interfere with the instinct of either a moth 
or a man and you will interfere with 
the best plans they are capable of making. 
“The Child Crop.” —The following let¬ 
ter from Rhode Island is a big idea from 
a small State: 
The recent letter from the Hope Farm 
man, telling of the dissatisfaction his stories 
gave to some practical people, leads me to 
write a word of appreciation of your atti¬ 
tude towards the little folks and the home. 
As you say. The R. N.-Y. is truly a home 
paper and I trust it will never become less 
so. I, unfortunately, have no children, but 
I feel that they are the most Important crop 
that our land can raise, and no amount of 
time or trouble should be spared to make the 
crop a worthy one. The story of the man 
who thrashed his wife for giving milk to the 
baby when there was not more than the pup 
needed, for as he said, a baby can get along 
somehow, but a dog had fo be carefully 
treated when young, or it would not amount 
to anything, is too truly the attitude of 
many otherwise good men, who will take 
any amount of trouble to improve their 
coin crop or tlteir pigs, but expect their chil¬ 
dren to grow into good men and women 
without attention. Take all the space you 
want for the crop of humanity, and when 
you hear complaints, remember that the 
kickers are usually in evidence, while only a 
very few of those who approve will let you 
know it. 
Some men certainly do love a dog. As 
for the child crop I do not know what 
more I can say to express my sentiments 
than to add that some people spoil the 
crop by kindness. We met a woman the 
other day who confessed that she could 
not get her children to do any work or 
useful thing. Nice citizens they will 
make! How can a child appreciate its 
home unless it can feel that some little 
part of that home is due to its own labor 
and self-denial? 
Gasoline in Incubators. —It is a little 
late for incubators now, although we are 
running ours still. I print the following 
note from Illinois: 
I see that you have been having trouble 
with the lamp of your incubator. I want to 
tell you how to remedy that trouble, which 
I can best do bv telling what I did, having 
had the same trouble, as have many others 
from what I hear and read. There is a 
brooder made in Cleveland, Ohio, called the 
suspension brooder, which is heated with a 
small gasoline burner. I ordered one of 
these burners and fitted it to the incubator, 
and it works perfectly. One tank full of 
gasoline will make a steady heat for over two 
days, with no variation in temperature ex¬ 
cept what may be caused by surrounding con¬ 
ditions. With a gasoline burner there Is no 
possibility of a smoky flame and clioked-up 
flues. Why makers of incubators have not 
adopted gasoline for heating I cannot under¬ 
stand: it is far safer In an incubator than an 
oil lamp when handled properly. 
E. A. RIEHL. 
We tried every way to make the old 
heater work, but without success. We 
bought a new heater, fitted it to the incu¬ 
bator and started again. It puffed awhile 
and then settled down to business, and is 
now presiding over the destinies of 300 
eggs. This gasoline talk sounds right. 
More Apple Pie. —I regard an in¬ 
creased interest in apple eating as one of 
the most hopeful signs of modern civili¬ 
zation. There may have been hearty 
apple eaters who get drunk, commit mur¬ 
der or otherwise extinguish themselves, 
but I haven’t their names at hand. I 
believe in raw and baked apples, but some 
people, I admit, can put a crust on a 
pie that seems almost like a new halo 
around the apple. We . mentioned the 
failing some unhaltered pies have of let¬ 
ting the juice run away in the oven— 
on page 109. At once men and women 
began to send in remarks on pie making- 
some of which are printed here. Here is 
one from a pie maker of 60 years’ ex¬ 
perience. Think of the good citizenship 
her pies are responsible for: 
To the woman from Massachusetts who 
wants to learn how to make apple pies so 
the juice will not run out in the oven : Se¬ 
lect rather deep pie plates, put In the under 
crust and trim close to edge of plate. In ar¬ 
ranging apples In pie leave a small vacant 
place. In center, add sugar, spice and sift a 
little flour over to thicken the juice. Wet 
the edge of under crust with cold water, 
then put on the top crust and press firmly 
together the two crusts around edge of plate 
before trimming off. Cut a slit in center 
of top crust, an Inch or more long. Bake 
In a moderately heated oven and your pie 
will be all right. This plan is good for 
berry pies, which are even more liable to 
leak their juice in the oven. The juice bub¬ 
bles and bolls in the little central cavity, 
and the steam escapes through the opening 
above, whereas if It was confined it would 
seek to escape at the weakest place around 
the edge. I should not think the children 
would like the three layers of crust around 
the edge in Aunt Jennie’s pies. Ask her to 
trv my plan, and get a crust which the 
children will eat up clean. From a Yankee 
housewife who has made pies for 60 years. 
Just think of the time and reams of paper 
consumed in 60 years by the funnel method. 
Then comes a good cook from Con¬ 
necticut : 
I notice a request for a plan to keep Juic” 
pies from running over in the oven. Take 
a strip of cloth an inch wide, and wet It 
In cold water, and lay it around the edge 
of the pie so that the edge of the pie will 
be In the middle of the strip of cloth and let 
the ends lap an inch or two. I have never 
known a pie to run through the cloth though 
It will sometimes burst through the crust 
above the cloth and run over, but this is 
very seldom. l. m. w. 
The same plan is suggested by a woman 
in Michigan, who two years ago asked 
how to make fried pies, since her hus¬ 
band remarked about those his mother 
used to make. Then comes a man from 
Maine with a suggestion that makes my 
mouth water. I will add that several 
other experts have told me how they 
make fine pies—all except the brains and 
experience which go under the crust: 
Please ask Mrs. “IT. G.” to try making 
apple pies in a deep dish with only an upper 
crust. Just slice the apples and lay them 
in the dish, but do not use any under crust. 
I wish you would try it. 
All Sorts.—A discussion of this 
weather, with a full expression of opin¬ 
ion is not permitted in polite society. It 
is still raining with us, and between show¬ 
ers, a cold, dry wind is blowing. The 
strawberries made a fine growth, and 
made a wonderful bloom, but there they 
have stopped with practically no develop¬ 
ment of berry. The tomatoes—but say, 
what’s the use? Let’s look at the other 
side. The apple trees are splendid. I 
use that word only upon special occa¬ 
sions—since an orator in Mississippi once 
made a speech at me and alluded to my 
“splendid services to humanity.” I knew 
more about the truth of those services 
than he did. Every young tree we planted 
this year has started. We never had.finer 
potatoes—and there I stop. I notice a 
strange thing in the meadows thi.s year. 
Where they were not top-dressed with 
manure or fertilizer the clover stands 
nearly three times as high as the Tim¬ 
othy. It is very remarkable how the 
clover stands up from the ground. Where- 
ever we have used manure or fertilizer 
the grass has jumped nearly up to the 
clover. I look upon this as proof of two 
claims about nitrogen. The clover is 
evidently able to get it during this cold 
season, while the grass cannot touch it. 
Where we have supplied soluble nitro¬ 
gen the grass has quickly found it. Thus 
a cold, wet season like this one seems to 
be the ideal time for using nitrate of soda 
on grass. No matter how much moisture, 
the grass cannot develop without solub.e 
nitrogen, and in a cold soil the grass can- 
not obtain it as the clover does. This 
year apparently the clover can feed itself 
better than the Alfalfa. . . .1 get all 
sorts of questions, but now and then there 
comes a “corker.” A man wants to know 
what he shall do when he is offered a 
drink of liquor out of a bottle. A neigh¬ 
bor sometimes pulls a flask out of his 
pocket and says: “Have something on 
me!” This man doesn’t drink—but what 
shail he do? Now, I don’t want to break 
up any old-established habits and customs, 
but I know very well what I would do 
under the circumstances. If I found a 
bottle of liquor on the farm .1 would at 
once smash it against the rock in the barn¬ 
yard. That article is contraband of war 
on Hope Farm. If a man offered me a 
drink out of a bottle I would measure 
with my finger at least two good inches 
of the stuff.' If he thought that was about 
right for me I should say: “Here’s to your 
health 1” and proceed to pour it rieht on 
the ground. Then I would return his bot- 
te with many thanks. Tt would certainly 
be quite to liis “health” to have the good 
old earth have a share 1 . I suggest this 
practice for general adoption, h. w. c. 
SEEDING FLAX WITH OATS. 
Some weeks ago a question was asked about 
seeding oats with flax for a forage crop: 
I have not tried sowing flax with oats, but 
have made extensive experiments in sowing 
it with wheat, and I would expect the results 
to lie similar. The results of sowing flax 
mixed with wheat give reasonably good yiuUls 
for a combined crop, although not quite so 
good on the average as when the two crops 
were seeded separately in similar acreage 
for comparison. We found that the flax had 
a little shorter growing season than the 
wheat, and usually seeded it a week to 10 
days later bv cross-drilling the flax about the 
time the wheat was coming through the 
ground.. T believe that the same method will 
give you similar returns by sowing it mixed 
■with oats. My experience leads me to believe 
that the plan is not practicable. 
N. Dakota Station. J. h. siiepperd. 
Durable Harness^ 
Your harness will always 
look well and wear well, 
and will give double service 
if treated with 
Prevents rotting. Gives a glossy 
black finish Makes leather 
soft, strong and durable. 
BOSTON COACH AXLE OIL 
is the best axle lubricant. Will 
not gum or corrode. Superior 
to castor oil and more ecnomi- 
cal. Sold everywhere-eli 
sixes. 
Made by STANDARD OIL CQU 
Incorporated 1 
WHAT DO YOU SAY? 
Several hundred thousand farmers say that 
the best investment they ever made was 
when they bought an 
Electric Ha Wagon 
Low wheels, wide tires; easy work, light draft. 
We’11 sell you a set of the best steel wheels 
made for your old wagon. Spoke united with 
hub, guaranteed not to break nor work loose. 
Send for our catalogue and save money. 
ELECTRIC WHEEL CO.. Box 88. Quincy,III. 
Try it Two\mrs 
Our Guarantee that this Buggy will stay , 
right for that time is backed by a cash bond L 
of $25,000. Your money back if it is not all wel 
claim for it. 
Try an 
Ander- 
ton 
30 Days 
With your ' 
Money in 
Your 
Pocket 
"Anderton” Top Buggy. 
Write today for our plan and 140-page, illustrated I 
catalog. The “Anderton" line includes Buggies, I 
Surreys, Stanhopes, Driving Wagons, Pony Vehicles 1 
Carts, Harness, etc. 
The Anderton Manufacturing Co., 
19 Third St.. Cincinnati. Ohio. 
WITH GROOVED TIRES 
4 in. widej The Groove protectg 
the heads of spokes from wear, 
which makes wheel good and 
strong till tire is worn out. We 
make plain tire wheels in other 
widths. We make wheels to (it 
any thimble skein or straight 
steel axle. Getour free catalog 
of Steel Wheels and Low Down 
Handy Wagons. 
HAVANA METAL WHEEL CO.. 
Box 17 .'. Havana, HI. 
WE’LL PAY THE FREIGHT 
and send 4 Buggy Wheel*, Steel Tire# on - $?.?(» 
With Kubber Tire*, $ 14.20. I mfg. wheels % io4in. 
tread. Top Buggies $28.75; Harness $4.90. Write for 
catlog. Learn how to buy direct. Kepnlr Wheel*, $5.00. 
Wagon Umbrella FREE. \V.K*liOO15,CinciRnatl f 0. 
THE “RELIANCE” HAY PRESS 
while cheaper than any 
other machine of its class, 
is absolutely reliable, very 
substantial, easiest of all 
hay presses to operate:made 
to last a lifetime. 12 sizes. 
Manufactured only by 
HOBSON & CO. 
EASTON, PA. 
You will be convinced that you can carry your 
Savings account to the best possible advantage 
with the Industrial Savings and Loan Co. of New 
York City if you will answer tiieir ad. on Page 4U8 
and get the information they offer to send.— Adv. 
BALES'YSK HAY 
•^frequently 18 and 20 tons. Such wonderful re¬ 
cords are possible because our Gem Full Circle 
Steel Baler has a 30 inch feed opening, making it 
easy to charge and quick rebounding plunger al- 
lowingtwo charges to each circle of team. The 
| patent power-head with its 9 inch trip lever arms 
enables us to realize the greatest baling pressure 
I ever produced in a similar machine. Wo will 
save you $25 or more in tirst cost and much more 
every year in repairs and because of greater ca- 
I pacify. Drop us a postal for prices and a 
[ free copy of f ,-:-' our “Haler Book.” 
|AA NAT r« 
! 1 
(r^ERTEL v ^S>'Co., Quincy, Ill v ' 
bought a 
BALING PRESS 
and found it 
was not the best you could have bought for the money, you would be 
sorry. Our presses have taken so many first prizes, including 
St. Louis World’s Fair GRAND PRIZE, that they are called 
WHITMAN’S “WORLD’S STANDARD” 
Ought you not to know why they are so superior before you buy 
a press? Let us send you our catalog of Presses and other superior 
Agricultural Machinery. WHITMAN AGRICULTURAL CO., St. Louis 
