1909. 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
195 
THE FARMER’S SHARE. 
More Sugar-Beet Figures. 
I am glad to see you training your 
guns on the beet sugar graft; hope you 
will be able to cut out that dollar a ton 
that the tax-payers of the State are 
swindled out of. Minnesota passed the 
same bounty law, and their courts at 
once declared it “class legislation,” so 
they lost no money on that job. In 
1906, the Lyons company had over 300 
acres raised for them in this territory, 
since then not a beet. I endorse all 
Mr. Fessenden says in regard to their 
agents, and will add that, in my opinion, 
with very little trouble they could or¬ 
ganize an “Ananias Club” of their own 
that would make the original roll his 
bones over to see how they did it. Mr. 
Fessenden thinks he was an “easy 
mark.” Well, there are others. I raised 
six crops for them and send you one 
of my contracts and statements from 
the company, you can figure out how 
much of the farmer’s share I got for 
six years’ work. I learned tbat each 
year they found a new way of getting 
a little more of it, but they had not got 
to docking a man for what he could not 
raise. Their president writes you that 
they “lost 75 acres in 1906 on account 
of weather.” One of their agents told 
me they were “short of help,” and from 
what I know of the circumstances at the 
time will say I believe the agent told 
the truth for once. I have no doubt 
that if there had been no frost or snow 
through November and December they 
could have got their beets all out, but 
we are not looking for Summer weather 
that time of year in this section. On 
September 20 that year their agent told 
me they had plenty of help engaged 
and notified me to have my beets plowed 
ready for pulling October 20, as they 
wanted them then “without fail.” I 
was ready at the time, and it was almost 
a month later when their gang showed 
up. When they did come they went 
over my piece in a hurry; 95 hours 
for one man, for which I paid them 
$28. After they had gone I got more 
help, went right over their work and 
threw out over five tons of beets they 
had left in the ground. This cost me 
$3 more. I gave them my note for 
$28, dated July 9, for hoeing and weed¬ 
ing done by Italian women, girls and 
children, and paid for at the rate of 
22 cents per hour for that kind of help. 
On December 7 I had over $80 worth 
of beets delivered,. They charged me 
a little over a dollar for interest, not 
much, but it is the way the “farmer” 
is “touched” on everything. I think the 
biggest loss and the one the company 
thinks the most of is in shrinkage. When 
done pulling I took a beet weighing 4 y 2 
pounds and laid it aside. The day I 
finished drawing, December 29, it 
weighed 2Jd pounds. Figure it out. 
j. W. DOWNEY. 
Livingston Co., N. Y. 
R. N.-Y.—Mr. Downey sends us his 
records for five years. This is a copy 
of the 1907 statement. 
By 100,494 pounds beets de¬ 
livered to January 1. $251.24 
To seed .", 
. $1.80 
To Interest .. 
To cash advanced . 
. 1.02 
. 56.00 
To check . 
Use of land, $0. 
Plowing, fitting and 
sr. . . 
. 192.42 
sowing, 
. 95 no 
Cultivating six times, 50 
cents'. iono 
Seed . 
. 7.20 
Iloeing, second time 
Fertilizer . 
. 12.00 
. 10.00 
Harvesting . 
. 9.00 
Drawing . 
. 40.00 
Total expenses .. 
$198.02 
Credit . 
In 1905 lie grew 
four acres, which. 
with labor out, netted him $18.10. In 
1903 2 T /< acres netted him $24.52, and in 
1904 five acres gave a loss of $64.48. 
“Pa, daughter writes that she is on 
the scrub team at college.” “On the 
scrub team, eh? That’s good. Tell 
her to try fer the dish-washing team, 
too.”—Louisville Courier-Journal. 
HOME MIXING FERTILIZERS. 
Every year we have calls for home 
mixtures of chemicals from farmers 
who grow various crops. We give be¬ 
low a number of such mixtures worked 
out in a Vermont community where 
dairying and gardening are the main 
lines of farming. Vermont people may 
be bashful in telling the public about 
their State, but when it comes to figur¬ 
ing on a dollar they are quite the re¬ 
verse. It is all well enough to figure 
how little a farmer gets out of what he 
sells, but even more important to show 
what he saves by close buying. 
You will see that the “valuation” of 
these home mixtures exceeds the cost, 
but you should understand just what 
this “valuation” means. The chemists 
of the experiment stations in New Eng¬ 
land, New York and New Jersey take 
the average trade values of nitrogen, 
potash and phosphoric acid as sold in 
chemicals at retail. They go over the 
market figures and thus find what retail 
buyers had to pay for the chemicals. 
Then they figure from their analyses 
how much nitrogen, potash and phos¬ 
phoric acid a given fertilizer contains 
and multiply the number of pounds by 
this average retail price. That gives the 
“valuatioll.’ , iYou will notice that in 
these home mixed fertilizers this valua¬ 
tion exceeds the cost—which means that 
through buying co-operatively in large 
lots these farmers got the chemicals be¬ 
low the average. In these figures ni¬ 
trate of soda is figured at $50 per ton, 
raw bone at $26, tankage at $28, 
muriate of potash $44 and acid phos¬ 
phate $16. Of course you must under¬ 
stand that the cost of mixing and of 
freight must be added to these figures. 
For Potatoes and Spring Seeding with Grain. 
Nitro- 
Phos. 
gen 
Acid 
Potash 
I.bs. 
Lbs. 
Lbs. 
Cost 
250 lbs. Nit. soda . . . 
37.5 
• . • • 
.... 
$0.25 
f 500 lbs. Raw bone . . 
20. 
115 
• • • . 
6.50 
400 lbs. Tankage . . . 
21.2 
50 
.... 
5.60 
400 lbs. Mur. potash . 
.... 
.... 
200 
8.80 
450 lbs. Acid phos. . . 
.... 
03 
.... 
3.00 
2000 lbs. 
. .. 
.... 
.... 
78.7 
234 
200 
$30.75 
3.9* 
11.7* 
10* 
The station valuation of this fertilizer on tho basis 
of 1908 prices is $33.80. 
Plant food 
for the dollar 
invested, $1.10. 
Silage Corn, 
La s'i) Un manured. 
Nit ro- 
Plios. 
gou 
Acid 
Potash 
Lbs. 
Lbs. 
Lbs- 
Cost 
200 lbs. Nit. soda . . . 
30. 
.... 
.... 
$5.00 
000 lbs. Tankage .... 
31.8 
84 
.... 
8.40 
000 lbs. Raw bone . . 
24. 
138 
.... 
7.80 
200 lbs. Acid phos. . . 
28 
• • • • 
1.60 
400 lbs. Mur. potash . 
.... 
.... 
200 
8.00 
85.8 
250 
200 
$31.60 
4.2* 
12.5* 
10* 
Station valuation based on 1908 prices. Plant food 
for the dollar invested, basis of Station valuation, 
$1.13. 
Corn Where Early Maturity is Desired. 
Nitro- 
Phos. 
Son 
Acid 
Potash 
Lbs. 
Lbs. 
Lbs. 
Post 
200 lbs. Nit. soda . - . 
30. 
$5.00 
500 lbs. Tankage . . . . 
26.5 
70 
7.00 
300 lbs. Haw bone . . . 
12. 
69 
3.90 
600 lbs. Acid phos. . . . 
84 
4.80 
400 lbs. Mur. potash . 
.... 
.... 
200 
8.80 
68.5 
223 
200 
$29.50 
3.4* 
11.1* 
10* 
Station valuation based on 1908 prices $31.70. 
Plant 
food for the dollar, basis Station variation, $1.07. 
Corn on Manured Land, or for Fall Seeding. 
Nitro- 
Plios. 
gen 
Acid 
Potash 
Lbs. 
Lbs. 
Lbs. 
Cost 
800 lbs. Steamed bone 
20. 
200 
$10.00 
800 lbs. Tankage . , . . 
42.4 
1:2 
11.20 
400 lbs. Mur. acid . . . 
.... 
... 
200 
8.80 
62.4 
312 
200 
$30.00 
3.1* 
15 6* 
10* 
Station valuation based on 1908 prices $33.81. Plant 
food for the dollar invested, basis Station valuation, 
$ 1 . 12 . 
For Topdressing Grassland in Early Spring, 
Nitro- Phos. 
1000 lbs. Nit. soda . . . 
sen 
Lbs. 
150 
Acid 
Lbs. 
Potash 
Lbs. 
Cost 
$25.00 
|700 lbs. Acid plios. . . 
98 
5.60 
C30Q lbs. Mur. potash . 
.... 
150 
6.60 
150 
98 
150 
.$37.20 
7.5 * 4.9* 7.5* 
F Station valuation based on 1908 prices $39.02. Plant 
food for the dollar invested, basis Station valuation, 
$1.05. 
Kaffir Corn in New York State. 
F. C. N., West Monroe, N. Y.—Can Kaffir 
com be grown successfully In this part of 
the State? I have a clay loam soil in good 
condition and will fertilize well. I want it 
for green feed during late Summer and 
Fall. 
Ans. —Yes, we have grown large crops 
of Kaffir corn in northern New Jer¬ 
sey. It will grow where the other sor¬ 
ghums grow but it is very doubtful if 
your find it any better than corn. 
Nobody 
can know every¬ 
thing-. To become expert 
means to specialize. We are spe¬ 
cialists In producing the best flower 
and vegetable seeds. In 62 years wo 
have become experts. Sow Ferry’s 
Seeds and reap the results of our care. 
For sale everywhere. Read our 1909 
catalogue and profit by our experience. 
Sent free on request Address 
D. M. FERRY & CO., DETROIT. MlCH, 
Test My Seed Corn 
This year I grow 10,000 bushels of corn. . 
For years I have boon selecting for a more 
g roliflc crop—for full sized, perfect ears. I 
ept at it until I succeeded. That’s why 11 
g rew this year’s big crop. It is the 
nest type of corn I ever saw and . 
I have selected the best of it for ] 
seed. I guarantee it. I will re¬ 
fund your money if you do not find 
it satisfactory. Send us your or- 
I ders now—before it is all sold. An 
1 order means a full corn crib for | 
you next fall. 
My new oats and seed potatoes 
are the same high grade. Cata- 
you are 
will send 
inter- 
you a | 
logue free, 
ested in fruit, 
nice plant—free. 
W. N. SCARFF, 
Dept. O * New Carlisle, Ohio. 
iND 90JA DEANS- 
Prolific Seed Corn, Burl Oats. Millet# Etc. X 
Write for FREE Bulletin No. 21 
EED CO., • HICKORY. H* C- 
DOUBLE iP OAT CROP 
“REGENERATED” 
SWEDISH SELECT PEDIGREE OATS 
have Produced (Season 1908) 75 Bushels 
to the Acre of Grain that Welffhs 48 Lbs. to 
the Bushel and by far the heaviest yields ever 
recorded in the U. S. Every sale is made under 
a Guarantee which Binds. Inspection permitted 
before you pay. Seed is absolutely pure, exactly 
like those samples we exhibited at State Flairs 
of Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois and 
Missouri: also at National Corn Exposition, 
Illinois State Corn Exposition and Royal Ameri¬ 
can Horse Show, and pronounced by leading 
agriculturists as the best oat seen in America. 
Weight per stroke bushel, 48 to 52 pounds. 
Read What These Growers Say of 
Their Comparative Results 
Westfield, N. Y.—Albert J. Culver: Regener¬ 
ated Select Oats were 4 inches taller and week 
earlier than ordinary oats. Yield was 53 bushels 
to acre, testing 45 pounds to bushel. 
Monroeville, O.— George C. Peadon: Regener¬ 
ated Swedish Select went 80 bushels per acre 
against 60 bushels of our com mon oats. 
Montezuma, O. — Frank A. Sclnvietermann: 
Regenerated Swedish Select were one week 
earlier and yielded 65 bushels per acre against 
50 bushels of my o ther oats. 
Grand Rapids, Mich.—John B. Martin: My 
yield was 51 bushels per acre of Regenerated 
Swedish Select. Other oats 24 bushels per acre. 
Write for Reports of Growers In 1908, 
also free sample and Catalog T. 
THE GART0N SEED CO., 177 Illinois St., CHICAGO 
For 10c 
^LIVINGSTON’S New Orchid-Flowered 
Giant Sweet Peas are unsurpassed. 
Wo will send 5 packets, 
each a distinct and beau¬ 
tiful color. 
Our superb seod and rose cata- 
, -loguo rewritten and enlarged to 
130 pagos, lavishly illustrated with beautiful 
r photo-engravings and colorod plates. A complete 
catalogue of seeds, bulbs, roses, hardy shrubs, plants, 
| small fruits, trees, etc. Send for it to-day. 
THE LIVINGSTON SEED CO. 
| Famous for Tomatwa. 57 High St., Columbus, Ohio 
Most complete annual we 
ever offered. It’s free. Your 
request on a postal card 
. gets It. We still continue our 
custom of listing 
Nothing but the Tried Varieties 
Our customers have confidence in ua 
and we want more customers and 
their confidence. 
“Onondaga” and “Columbia” 
Our Annual tolls all about “Onon¬ 
daga” and “Columbia” brands of 
timothy. The farmer who buys eith¬ 
er is notexperimenting. Wrltefor 
the 1909 Seed Annual today. 
The Batchelor Seed Store, 
48 Lafayette St., Utica, N. 
Free Corn Book 
and Samples Iowa 
Seed Corn 
I want you to see my seed corn 
book—it’s free, and I throw in 
samples of seed corn besides. 
I have been growing seed corn 
for over 20 years, and I proba¬ 
bly sell more seed corn than 
any man In the world, 
yjuimv au A I have learned some 
things about corn, and 
this I have boiled down 
in my seed corn book. 
You can get my 20 years 
experience in 20 minutes, and 
get it a whole lot easier than I 
got It. If you want seed corn 
Ear or Shelled 
write for my corn book and sam- 
1 pies before you buy. It will be 
worth your while. 
I don’t know it all, but I know 
a few things, and when you see 
the samples you will say I know 
good corn. 
We sell all seed corn on ap¬ 
proval and subject to your own 
test. We sell it ear or shelled. 
We test it, grade it, and guar¬ 
antee it, 
HENRY FIELD SEED CO. 
Box 26 , Shenandoah, Iowa. 
P. S. I haven’t got any 
300 bu. per acre corn. 
DSEEDS 
ESTINTHEWORLD 
PRICES BELOW ALL OTHERS 
a lot of new sorts for 
with every order I fill. 
Grand Big Catalog pnrp 
Illustrated with over EllsS 
ZOO engravings of vegetables 
and flowers. Send yours and 
neighbors’ addresses. 
AY, Rockford, Illinois 
LETTUCE 
FOR HEADING IN 
GREENHOUSE OR OUTSIDE 
We have excellent strains of both, grown by a Market Gardener 
for Market Gardeners’ use. Our 1909 catalogue will tell you 
more about the Seeds we have—our prices, etc. We mail it free. 
H. E. FISKE SEED CO., 
12 and 13 F&neuil Hall Square, 
Boston, Mass. 
ffWP 
M, 
When ton years ago we first offered to tho world Salzer’s Billion Dollar 1 iHT 
Grass, meu shook their heads, professors doubted, farmers wondered V J »JA 
whether tho promises we made, 6 to 12 tons hay per acre, could be realized.^ " * k 
Now all doubts are removed, and today the first farmers of America every¬ 
where are planting Salzer’s Billion Dollar Grass to their fullest satisfaction.' 
Seed costs but 60c to 90c per acre and the yield is seldom under 6 to 12 tons of magnifi¬ 
cent hay per acrel 
ALFALFA AND OTHER PURE CLOVER SEED 
Ex.Gov. Hoard of Wisconsin from 30 acres sown to Salzer’s 20th Century Alfalfa Clover har¬ 
vested within 24 weeks after seeding $2500.00 worth of magnificent hay or at the rate 
of over $80.00 per acre. Our 20th Century strains of Alfalfa, Medium, Mammoth Red and 
Alsike clover and grasses are the purest we believe on earth. 
WE ARE HEADQUARTERS FOR AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE SEEDS 
Such as Barley, Corn, Flax, Oats and Wheat especially recommended and introduced by the Agri¬ 
cultural Colleges of Wisconsin, Iowa, North Dakota, Minnesota, bouth Dakota, etc. 
__ _ VEGETABLE SEEDS 
J** ° are the largest growers of vegetable seeds we believe In America, operating over 5000 acres. 
We warrant our seeds to produce the earliest, finest, vegetables grown. Our seeds are money makors. 
Catalog tells why we have the largest Seed Potato trado in tho world- 
one of our cellars holding over 60,000 bushels alone. 
Try our 85 packages earliest vegetable seeds postpaid for 81.00. 
WORTH $10.00 OF ANY MAN’S MONEY 
For 10c in stamps wo mail free of all cost samples of Silver King Barley, yielding 173 bu. per acre; 
Macaroni Wheat, yielding 64 bu. per acre; Billion Dollar Grass; Spoltz, the cereal and hay food wondor, 
together with timothy, clover, grasses, etc., etc,, any ono of which, if it becomes acclimated on your 
farm, will be worth 810.00 of any man’s money to get a start therewith. 
Or, fiend 14c and we add a sample farm seed novelty never soon before by you. 
JOHN A.SALZER SEED CO. LA CROSSE. WIS. 
