March 20, 
ered and carried in half bushel baskets to the potato 
sorter, a machine operated by hand, which shakes off 
the dirt from the vegetable and separates the small 
tubers from the big ones as they roll into the sacks. 
A first-class picker can gather 100 sacks a day from 
a good crop. For a day’s work he receives $2 and 
board. Sometimes the workers are paid four cents a 
sack without board. By the latter arrangement 
■ ■■ - 
COALS OF FI BE FROM THE ENGINE HEAD. Fig. 118 
speedy pickers have been known to earn $5 a day. 
Many of the farmers contract the digging of their 
entire crop, paying an average of six cents a sack, 
which includes the expense of feeding the potato 
crew as well as that of digging, picking, sorting, etc. 
Usually the sacked potatoes are hauled direct from 
the field to market, but sometimes they are placed 
in potato cellars, called “dug-outs,” to await a higher 
market price. The dug-out is excavated to a depth 
of six or eight feet in the ground to insure safety 
from freezing, and is covered with a dirt roof, 
through which small wooden pipes extend for ven¬ 
tilating purposes. Many of the dug-outs are as large 
as barns, and quite pretentious in appearance. They 
are often built on the side of a hill with a southern 
exposure. The horses and their wagons are driven 
in one door and their loads piled away and exit made 
at the opposite door. Some of the dug-outs store 
from 20,000 to 25,000 sacks of potatoes at a time. 
We understand that in some places growers have 
begun to use fertilizer—first phosphoric acid and 
then potash—in connection with the Alfalfa. After 
years of irrigation the soil has become naturally 
moister and so to some extent has the climate. The 
“potato belt” is a great country, and it has made a 
marvelous development. Something of the same sort 
could be done in any section if farmers could find 
the crop best suited to their soil and then produce it 
uniformly and as well as it could possibly be grown 
and handled. There must be co-operation and uniform 
labor. The system of irrigation at Greeley makes all 
men depend upon water and the methods of conserv¬ 
ing and handling it in an orderly way teach people to 
work together. There is the true farm spirit back 
of it also. People believe in potatoes. There is an 
annual “potato bake” in Greeley which calls a crowd. 
A PERMANENT TIMOTHY MEADOW. 
I have come into possession orf a four-acre lot that I wish 
to get in heavy Timothy as soon as 1 can, and with least 
expense. Soil is gravel with sandy subsoil, three-fourths up¬ 
land, the remainder rather low : has not been plowed for 
eight or 10 years, but mowed only two years ago. Sod not 
very heavy but rather woolly with some weeds, and quite 
poor. If I plowed it and sowed corn on it, using about 500 
pounds of chemical fertilizer rich in potash to an acre; 
cut the corn down when tops show and plowed this corn 
in for humus, could I seed it down to Timothy next 
Fall successfully, and would I be able to cut next year? 
Her haps there would be a better way no more expensive, 
as I shall have to hire all plowing and labor and buy a 
ton of fertilizer, pay taxes, etc. I wish to get it in good 
Timothy with as little expense as possible before I get it 
paying something. j. v. c* 
Rockland Co., N. Y. 
You cannot expect to get that lot into a good 
Timothy meadow without spending some money and 
doing a lot of work. Several things will be necessary 
—a soil full of organic matter, lime, fertilizer, 
thorough tillage and heavy seeding. We would not 
sow corn. It will cost too much to plant, cultivate 
and cut it. Besides, the corn adds no plant food 
and fills the soil with a green, sour mass just 
before grass seeding. We should sow Canada peas 
and oats, plowing the peas under and harrowing in 
the oats. Use the fertilizer as you intended for 
corn. About the middle of July the oats and peas 
will be ready. Plow them under before the peas 
are ripe. It may be necessary to cut the crop; let 
it wilt and rake into the furrows as plowed. This 
crop plowed under in hot weather will be likely to 
sour the soil, and it will be necessary to use at least 
one ton of lime per acre. We should broadcast the 
lime right after plowing, then harrow it in and 
then roll the field thoroughly. The object of this 
is to pack that organic matter dowi> hard; other¬ 
wise the soil will dry out so that in case of a drought 
you could not expect to fit the land for grass. 
From this time until September the field should be 
well harrowed each week and better twice a week. 
Geo. M. Clark, the grass man, used a Cutaway har¬ 
row for this work, tearing up the soil and. opening 
it. His object was to kill out all weed life. He 
did not, however, plow under a crop as we would 
in this case, and it would not be the best practice 
to use a digging harrow. We should use an Acme 
or spike-tooth and aim to keep the organic matter 
THIS RURAL NEW-YORKER 
packed down hard and the upper three inches fine 
and open. Early in September, if possible at the 
time of a light rain, we would sow at least 10 
quarts each of Timothy and Red-top seed per acre. 
Be sure to get an even seeding—better make two 
seedings; one each way. Cover with a light harrow 
and roll. Use another ton of fertilizer at this time 
and add 100 pounds nitrate of soda per acre in 
the Spring. You will then have grass for years, 
provided you are willing to fertilize it regularly. 
On such a soil, and started in this way, a grass 
crop is like a herd of good cows—ready to turn 
large quantities of feed into money. Near large 
towns in the East natural grass land handled in 
this way will pay great dividends on its value. 
HOW LOCOMOTIVES SCATTER FIRE. 
I was much- interested in the way you handled that 
celebrated cattle case. I wish to call your atten¬ 
tion to a matter far more important, and concerning 
more people than the cattle case. It is this: The 
law as it now is in regard to recovery of damages 
caused by fire from passing locomotives, no matter 
how many witnesses you can produce as to train, 
time and place, you cannot recover unless you can 
prove the engine defective. Let me illustrate: On 
September 23, 1904, my tenant house was burned. 
I had three witnesses who saw the house from three 
different directions; saw the train pass, saw it was 
working hard, saw the house afire immediately after 
train passed; have other record and some cinders I 
have picked up in my field. Fig. 118 shows what can 
go through 3-16 inch mesh. This eviden e would 
not be allowed, and I was non-suited on. the ground 
that I could not prove the engine defective. If you 
could see the engine in the night as I do, coals as 
big as eggs shooting 30 feet and higher, and sec 
the fires that are caused in dry time, you would 
like help from* some source. I never expect a 
penny and I don’t think I shall carry it up; no use 
under the present law. I an> not die only one in 
the same circumstances; thousands are in the same 
boat, yet they remain silent. I have assurance from 
the Governor that he would favor legislation that 
A FOUR-HORSE CULTIVATOR. Fig. 119. 
would change the present condition; it is a glowing 
shame, but what can we expect under the present 
political conditions? The lawmakers are responsible. 
It is the ring that nominates them, not the people. 
Give us direct nominations. jas. a. Clements. 
Onondaga Co., N. Y. 
R. N.-Y.—The picture at Fig. 118 shows the 
exact size of cinders which Mr. Clements picked up 
in his field near the buildings. There is small chance 
to save property when glowing coals of this size are 
blown over the land. We have faith to believe 
that with the right kind of direct primary nomina¬ 
tions the farmers would blow red-hot coals among 
the politicians. The railroads should be compelled 
to use fire screens in their engines! 
BEAN GROWING IN MICHIGAN. 
I notice on page 102 that F. M. B. asks several 
questions in regard to the growing of beans. There 
are a great many beans grown in this State, and 
in this section they are the chief money crop, taking 
the place that wheat formerly held. The soil here 
is mostly clay loam, with some sand, and excellent 
crops are produced, even without the aid of com¬ 
mercial fertilizers. The variety most commonly grown 
is the common field or pea bean, the smallest variety, 
of the white beans. Within the past few years, how¬ 
ever, more and more of the red kidney have been 
grown; not an account of its superior producing qual¬ 
ities, for although it is a larger bean, it does not seem 
to give more bushels to the acre, but the price has 
usually been much higher than that paid for the pea 
bean. Last year, however, the matter was reversed, 
and the kidney took second place. The red kidney 
has one advantage over the white bean, especially 
during a wet harvest: it does not show rust so easily. 
There is always a market for good beans, and the 
price is usually better than a dollar, and at present 
they are bringing $2.10. 
For growing a crop of beans the soil is prepared 
the same as for corn, but they wiff not stand as much 
cold as corn does, and in this section thev are planted 
from May 20 to June 10. I doubt if there is a 
bean planter in the county, and thousands of acres 
are grown here.. The eleven-hoe grain drill is used 
exclusively, planting three rows at once, so the rows 
are 28 inches apart. The amount of seed used is 
about half a bushel or a little more, depending on 
the size of the beans, the aim being to have a bean 
every two or three inches apart in the row. Should 
a heavy rain come before the plants appear it is a 
good plan to go over the field with the weeder to 
break the crust. If there is a good stand the weeder 
can be used after the plants are up, and but few will 
be broken. The ordinary two-horse riding cultivator 
is the only tool used to cultivate with, and it is best 
to have shields on to prevent the young plants from 
being buried while they are small. Frequent cultiva¬ 
tion is desirable, as the plant responds well to good 
care. Do not cultivate when the plant is wet with 
dew or rain. Keep the cultivator going ti’l the plants 
cover the ground. 
The harvester used has two long blades or shares, 
much like a plow share, only longer, and is set to 
run just below the surface to cut off the roots. The 
machine throws two rows together, and several men, 
three or four, follow the puller with forks, and throw 
several rows together. Some of the plants will be 
missed by the puller, and these are pulled by hand 
and thrown into the row. Unless the soil is very 
dry, and the weather settled and pleasant no more 
beans should be pulled in a day than can be forked 
over, for if the pods lie in contact with damp soil 
for several hours the beans will rust, and rusty beans 
are not marketable. The beans are left in the rows 
ti'l dry enough to stack, or put in the barn, though 
they are sometimes drawn from the field to the 
machine. In drawing the beans must be handled with 
care as they are apt to shell a good deal. It is ad¬ 
visable to have a tight rack. The team is driven 
between two rows, and two men pitch on; there is no 
one on the load. The beans are thrashed with a 
regular bean thrasher, made especially for the work, 
though if such machine is not obtainable, I presume 
the regular grain thrasher could be arranged to do 
the work. The yield is from 10 bushels, in a poor 
year on poor soil, to 30 or even more, in a good year 
on good soil that has been well cu!tivatc # d. Taken 
one year with another the bean crop is a very sat¬ 
isfactory one. Sheep and cattle are fond of the 
pods and straw and do well on them, and any beans 
that may be left in the straw are not wasted. The 
cull beans are also fed to sheep, or cooked and mixed 
with bran they make excellent hog fee^l. A. L. 
PLANTING APPLE TREES ON ROADSIDES. 
In regard to setting apple trees on the roadside I 
think that anyone seeing the 70 that I have growing 
would say emphatically as I do, ycj. There are con¬ 
ditions that would not make it advisable. If a farmer 
sets them out and expects to grow apples for his 
home use, and not give them any care, he might 
better set something else that would be hardier 
and make a shade, and leave the apple trees with 
the nurseryman. I set my trees with the idea of 
making a shade along the highway, and at the 
same time getting something out of them to pay 
for their care, and they are doing both. They were 
set about four feet on the inside of the fence, 
and mostly along an old stone wall. I have lately 
removed the wall, and when I want a fence tie a 
wire netting to the trees. I made two mistakes with 
these trees; I set them too close together, and did 
not head them high enough for the roadside. I think 
the tendency now is to head our trees too low. 
The Lord never intended that we shou’d grow our 
tree fruits on the ground; it is all right for 
pumpkins and cucumbers. Air drainage is getting 
to be a very important factor with the fruit growers. 
I would not advise setting along the railroad, es¬ 
pecially if I lived where the people were members 
of the Apple Consumers’ League. I do not think 
they should need spraying there. t. h. k. 
Trumansburg, N. J. 
R. N.-Y.—And yet you would not care to live 
where no one belonged to the League. 
If the land is suitable for apples, and they can 
be tilled and sprayed, it will pay so to set. The 
roots will feed over the borders, and a nice crop 
of fruit can be obtained from land that otherwise 
would yield nothing. I have a couple'of neighbors 
who have a good deal of highway, and have trees 
so set that bring in many a check. If setting both sides 
of the road, set at an angle, not opposite each other. 
If trees are where they cannot be cared for, it will 
never pay to set them in this day and generation. 
CUTTING POTATO SEED IN COLORADO. Fig. 120. 
Don’t set varieties so good as unduly to attract the 
passer-by; Ben Davis is all right. e. van alstyne. 
I would much rather plant an orchard in a block 
by itself. The chances are if planted along a high¬ 
way it would be neglected, especially in spraying, 
and insects are more troublesome in such plantings. 
Also, the cold winds of Winter and dry ones of 
Summer will affect trees more planted in this way. 
If the particular highway is protected from cold 
winds, and if. each Tee will be given the attention 
it demands, one. id have, success planting thus. 
Onondaga Co., N. Y grant g. hitchings. 
