630 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
ing Bordeaux nozzles for as many rows. This pat¬ 
tern of nozzle is provided with a little lever, by 
which the nozzle is degorged or closed and the 
outer nozzles are operated by a two-foot flat stick, 
without leaving machine or stopping. Nozzles are 
forward of wheels and directed ahead, except two 
central ones which spray backward, under machine 
on account of horses’ legs. With nozzles thus dis¬ 
posed, they are ever in full view, without “rubber¬ 
ing,” and consequent danger of contracting the “lim¬ 
ber neck.” Ends of rows are covered and on sidling 
ground nozzles are always on center of rows. Oper¬ 
ator can get off at rear, walk up to nozzles from 
behind to adjust them for width, or up and down 
without stopping. With nozzles behind and directed 
backward on sidling ground, if sprayer slews, they 
are between the rows, also if operator went up from 
rear to adjust nozzles a life preserver or diving 
suit would be acceptable, and if a stop is made the 
solution settles. Tank is over and a trifle back of 
axle, seat is on tank, therefore machine is always 
in balance, whether full or empty, operator light 
or heavy, off or on seat. 
METHODS OE OPERATION—Care is taken to 
go reverse' ways at each spraying, with nozzles 
directed into center of rows and down at a 45° 
angle. About middle of July, before rows meet, 
all nozzles are swung to the left 45° and down at 
same angle, and field sprayed twice opposite direc¬ 
tions. Then all nozzles arc rightward swung to an 
angle of 45°, and down the same and a double re¬ 
verse application made. Next all nozzles are set 
straight, but down at 45° and reverse applications. 
This plan requires three double or six single oppo¬ 
site applications to complete the cycle and gives 
the operator the important advantage of getting at 
the potato plant—attacking the enemy from six dif¬ 
ferent positions or angles, thereby forcing the cop¬ 
per plating on to every part of the potato plant from 
top to bottom. “Flank an enemy and he is at your 
mercy.” When two or more nozzles per row are 
used, about the same results may be expected. 
ENEMIES OF THE CROP.—Bordeaux is simply 
a protection, like an insurance, not a cure, there¬ 
fore only pure chemicals should be used, freshly 
and properly put together, thoroughly mixed by 
pumping from and to tank, applied in opposite di¬ 
rections. under high pressure, liberally, vigorously 
and on time. “No use locking the stable door after 
horse is stolen.” The blight is like a thief that com- 
eth in the night. We know not the day nor the 
hour, therefore that film of Bordeaux, which pro¬ 
vides immunity against the attacks of the various 
potato diseases should be there on duty before the 
field is captured and surrenders unconditionally to 
the foes of potato growing. Scientific men say there 
are 61,000 recognized forms of fungi, mildews, etc. 
Less than ten of these seriously prey on the potato 
crop, therefore the potato grower is mighty for¬ 
tunate, especially so since the discovery of Bor¬ 
deaux, which will large’y prevent the ravages of 
several of these diseases. The blight is a parasitic 
plant, like some people who prefer to live from the 
labors of others. Early and thorough applications 
of Bordeaux are advisable, because the central and 
lower parts of the potato plant can be effectually 
reached, and countless numbers of insect pests will 
promptly leave at an early date for more favorable 
pasturage and congenial environment. Every rup¬ 
ture of a potato plant, by insect or otherwise, is 
like a raw sore, an alluring place for disease germs, 
which more readily take root, establish homes and 
at once become disease centers. These in turn, by 
various agencies may spread destruction to other 
parts of the field. The flea beetles are causing in¬ 
calculable damage and are one of the real un¬ 
solved problems, probably the gravest and most seri¬ 
ous one of the day in potato growing. 
TIME OF SPRAYING.—Our potato planting is 
usually completed by May 12. First application 
was made June 23, 1908, and a fine crop of young 
Colorado Potato beetles was present. Last applica¬ 
tion was September 4. After middle of July, for 
five weeks, during the maximum growth, 125 to 150 
gallons of Bordeaux are applied weekly. Even if 
no rain falls, the dews dilute the Bordeaux, then, 
too, there is new growth to be protected. We are 
firm believers in frequent and light applications. 
An acre of good potatoes at maximum growth may 
have two, three or more acres of vine and leaf 
area, therefore the necessity of timely, liberal and 
thorough applications is apparent. Spraying is 
never postponed on account of threatening rain, 
except ground is too wet; however, it is very de¬ 
sirable that the Bordeaux dry before rains or dews 
interfere. How much Bordeaux per acre? This the 
individual and locality must determine. One lo¬ 
cality may present altogether different conditions 
and problems from another, such as good or poor 
air drainage, high or low elevation or a moist, 
foggy atmosphere, each of which must be solved in 
order to apply Bordeaux intelligently and profitably. 
RESULTS OF THE WORK.—According to 
carefully conducted tests the past season the central 
row of a three-row check (not sprayed) yielded 
at the rate of 137 bushels potatoes per acre. 
Sprayed potatoes adjoining, where 1,427 gallons of 
Bordeaux were applied per acre, yielded 240 bushels 
of better stock—an increase of 103 bushels by spray¬ 
ing, and the total cost was $13 per acre. Some may 
say this is excessive, hut a further test was made. 
Two separate rows were double-sprayed, or 2,854 
gallons of Bordeaux were applied, and the yield 
in each case was 278 bushels per acre. The spray¬ 
ing cost double, or $26 per acre. The increase was 
38 bushels, which cost $13. This paid, too, from 
a satisfaction and business standpoint, yet a long 
and slow way to the millionaire’s level. Figuring 
our annual 18 acres at 103 bushels per acre increase 
from spraying, at 60 cents per bushel, less cost of 
spraying, a net profit of $878.40 would be realized. 
Does it pay? For several years similar tests and 
results have been made and realized. “Go thou you 
and do likewise.” “Make thou the most of thy op¬ 
portunities and thou shalt be the equal of the rich. ’ 
All tests were fair and impartial. We are after 
truth and the facts are as stated. 
Monroe Co., N. Y. t. e. martin. 
R. N.-Y.—Mr. Martin tells us that there was 
very little or no blight last year, but that tip burn 
was very prevalent. We understand, however, that 
he sprays with Bordeaux in any event as an insur¬ 
ance—and he does it thoroughly. 
RESULTS OF FERTILIZER EXPOSURES. 
We have had several questions much like the fol¬ 
lowing : 
Has the exposure of the methods of fertiliser 
companies had any effect in improving the quality 
of their goods? J. h. s. 
We think it has. Last year we gave the record of 
the Smith Fertilizer Company at the Indiana Sta¬ 
tion. It would be hard to think of a worse show¬ 
ing. Out of 47 brands tested at the Indiana Station 
in 1907 44 were reported below the guarantee. The 
last report of samples analyzed in 1908 has just 
come. From the various concerns operated by the 
Smith Company 53 samples were taken. Of these 25 
were up to the guarantee in every particular, while 
28 were not. Most of these 28 were short in one 
ingredient, and over in another, so that the money 
value was equal to the guarantee. This would in¬ 
dicate that the Smith Company tried at any cost 
of money and care to obtain a better record at the 
station. The Indiana report gives a summary of 
results of seven years’ inspection. From it we 
take the following figures, showing how the Smith 
Company’s branches stand: 
Equal to 
No. of Guarantee in Equal in 
Samples. 
Every Par- 
Value. 
ticular. 
Abott & Martin Co. . 
_ 70 
31 
42 
Chicago Fertilizer Co, 
. 07 
17 
40 
Hardv racking Co.... 
.... 78 
22 
51 
Ohio Farmers’ Co.... 
. . . . 101 
27 
00 
Smith Company . 
1 
1 
Total . 
323 
98 
194 
Thus it appears that 
(luring the 
past seven years 
nearly 40 per cent of the fertilizers sold hy these 
concerns in Indiana were below guarantee. And 
this includes the improved showing made last year. 
Up to 1908, judging from this record, almost half 
these fertilizers were more or less below guarantee. 
Of the 225 samples not fully equal to guarantee, 117 
were below to the extent of 20 per cent of one or 
more ingredient. We can realize what this would 
mean if all fertilizers sold in the State were as bad. 
During the year 102,309 tons were bought at a cost 
of $2,457,406. There is no getting away from the 
fact that these Smith fertilizers were very poor up 
to this year—for the station records show it. They 
are apparently better this year, and Indiana farmers 
are reaping the benefit of the exposure to which this 
concern has been subjected. 
We notice that the Smith Company is selling un¬ 
der different names a fertilizer guaranteed to con¬ 
tain in one ton eight pounds of nitrogen, 50 of pot¬ 
ash and 160 of phosphoric acid. You could get all 
this plant food in 50 pounds of nitrate of soda, 110 
muriate of potash, and 1,200 acid phosphate. Prob¬ 
ably 300 pounds of this would be considered a good 
application for wheat. This would mean less than 
20 ounces of nitrogen scattered over an entire acre, 
or about as much as is in one bushel of wheat. 
The chances are that this nitrogen would not be 
available anyway, even if there were more of it. No 
farmer should ever try that kind of a fertilizer. In 
May 22, 
75 pounds of good clover hay he will find more ni¬ 
trogen than in the 300 pounds of such a fertilizer 
used on wheat. It is in just such low-grade mixtures 
that manufacturers find it easiest to work off leather, 
dried peat and other forms of nitrogen which arc 
practically worthless for farm crops. 
SWEET CLOVER AS PASTURAGE. 
Will you Inform me as to the value of Sweqt clover 
as pasturage for cows, young cattle and for fattening 
steers? a. m. a. 
Boar l.ake. Pa. 
Though quite a lot of Sweet clover grows here, at 
present it is mostly along the roadsides, so that we 
do not get much value out of it for pasture. How¬ 
ever, it is well known by the farmers here that when 
stock are occasionally pastured on the roads they 
greedily eat the Sweet clover, even when quite large. 
I do not think it will pay to make a pasture exclu¬ 
sively of this clover, for it requires conditions quite 
similar to those under which Alfalfa will thrive. It 
is a biennial, dies, root and all, after ripening seed, 
and though the seed will live in or on the soil for 
years and grow under suitable conditions, yet because 
of its biennial character, pasturing would certainly 
kill it out in two or three seasons. Perhaps the roots 
would live in the soil and grow continuously if kept 
pastured down so as not to go to seed, but not so 
closely that the plants would be killed out. Some 
recent observation of some patches here seem to 
confirm this view of the matter, and if such be the 
case this plant will pay well as a pasture plant where 
Alfalfa is not a profitable crop. Like Alfalfa, Sweet 
clover needs drainage and lime, and soils rich in phos¬ 
phates and potash. In food value it compares well 
with Alfalfa, according to the few analyses that have 
been made. The bacteria that inhabit the root nodules 
of Sweet clover and Alfalfa are identical, or at least 
are capable of living on either kind of plant, and 
for this reason Sweet clover is a good plant to pre¬ 
cede Alfalfa, to insure the proper inoculation of the 
soil. We wish that more of this clover were in our 
fields, pasture fields especially, and anywhere else 
where it will do us more good than on the roadsides. 
The seed may be sown in August or February, and 
may get start enough to be pastured or cut for hay 
the following Summer. There is getting to be a 
better understanding of Sweet clover; it is no longer 
regarded by farmers as a pestiferous weed, to be 
fought and exterminated at any cost, but is regarded 
now as a friend, and the danger is that we may ex¬ 
pect too much from it. I am informed that it is 
used for both hay and pasture in some of the South¬ 
ern States, and, if any of The R. N.-Y. readers there 
have had experience with it as a field crop, will they 
tell us what they think of this clover? 
Highland Co., O. w. e. duckwall. 
VALUE OF CEMENT WATER PIPES. 
Noticing the query from St. Petersburg, Fla., 
about making cement pipe for irrigation, it seems 
to me the question is well answered on page 214. 
by M. A. E.. of West Wrentham, Mass. No frost 
to trouble in Florida. Just dig a trench with a nar¬ 
row ditching spade so that the finished pipe will be 
below the plow, take a rubber hose 50 feet long, 
more or less, make a bottom of cement in the 
trench, lay in the rubber hose, fill in the top with 
cement, and when hardened sufficiently to support 
the top pull the hose forward over another bottom, 
and fill in another top. I need not repeat about 
laterals. If pipes three or four inches in diam¬ 
eter are required, get an o'd rubber fire hose from 
the nearest large town instead of a garden hose; 
then use the latter for laterals. Surely nothing can 
beat that plan for a sandy country like that, with 
the sand out of the trench you dig to mix with the 
cement. Large aqueducts are now made to carry 
water under pressure with cement, only it is rein¬ 
forced with metal to save the greater volume of 
cement if it were not used. It almost makes me 
wish I had a Florida farm in which to do that 
work. EDWARD R. TAYI.OR. 
New York. 
R. N.-Y.—For the benefit of new subscribers or 
those who have mislaid the paper we repeat the di¬ 
rections given on page 214. 
A Mr. Lang laid a concrete continuous pipe from spring 
to house and barn. lie hollowed out the earth at bottom 
of a live-foot ditch, and put in concrete enough to form 
bottom of pipe, and laid on a rubber hose. Measure 
should be at least 114. better two inches on the outside, 
and then put on more concrete, so as to form at least 
throe inches over rubber hose, thus leaving even thick¬ 
ness of three inches all around the rubber hose. Then 
further on laid some more concrete as above at bottom 
of ditch, and after the concrete over rubber hose was hard 
enough to hold its shape he pulled the hose along and 
laid on more concrete. This he kept on doing till he got 
to the house. You will see that he had a concrete pipe 
that was all one piece and below the frost. There would 
be no rust in the pipe, nor leaks. Our 500 feet of iron 
pipe troubles so much that I think it best to put down 
the Lang concrete pipe. If one wants to tap main pipe 
at any place on the route, put in a brhss pipe with two 
flanges running both ways lengthways of concrete pipe 
so one could use a Stilson wrench to couple on a pipe 
for carrying water wherever you wish. I do not think it 
would cos* over five cents per rod for the laying of the 
concrete pipe. 
