1409 . 
753 
Cutting Sprouts in August. 
O. C. P., Warrenton, Mo .—Last year 
some time I saw an item about cutting 
sprouts in August, and I forget what days 
it was advised to cut them so they would 
not sprout again. Would you give me the 
dates, as I have a lot to cut? 
Axs.—There is no particular day in 
August for this cutting. The idea is 
to cut the sprouts while the tree or 
shrub is exhausted. During the Sum¬ 
mer the trees make growth from the 
roots. In August this growth usually 
stops. The sprouts harden their wood 
for Winter. The roots are then feeble, 
and if left alone will prepare for Win¬ 
ter by storing up more food and energy 
for another season. If the sprouts are 
cut off at this time the root starts a 
new and feeble growth instead of pre¬ 
paring for Winter. It exhausts its 
strength and will often die before 
Spring. That is the theory of it. The 
time will depend upon the locality some¬ 
what, but when growth is ended for 
the Summer is the time to strike. 
Questions About Nitrate of Soda. 
II. B. C., Guilford, N. Y .—Is nitrate of 
soda injurious to the soil? If not, would 
you advise the use for hay on run-down 
meadows of a hill farm, and how much 
per acre would be necessary to use for 
good results? About how many years is 
it effective? Is a top-dressing necessary? 
I have understood nitrate of soda took the 
strength of the soil. Is this so? When is 
the best time for it to be applied to get the 
best results the first year? IIow should 
it be put on the land? 
Axs.—Many farmers do not seem to 
understand that nitrate of soda contains 
only one element of plant food (nitro¬ 
gen), and that in the most soluble form. 
The nitrogen in dried blood, bone, tank¬ 
age or similar forms, will not feed 
plants until these substances have de¬ 
cayed. but the nitrate gives up its ni¬ 
trogen at once. It is not injurious to 
the soil, but one of the best forms of 
nitrogen to use on the hay crops in 
Spring. We would not advise over 150 
pounds per acre. It will not usually 
“last” over one season. Bone or blood 
may continue to decay and give up ni¬ 
trogen for two or three years, but the 
nitrate is dissolved at once, and if the 
soil is not well covered with some living 
crop there will be a loss. “Top-dress¬ 
ing” means applying manure or fertil¬ 
izer to the sod without plowing. On 
old meadows you cannot hope to get 
good crops unless you feed the grass. 
You cannot feed it with nitrate of 
soda alone, because that gives nothing 
but nitrogen. You must add potash 
and phosphoric acid to the nitrogen if 
you expect good crops. Sometimes 
when nitrate is used alone on a poor 
soil the plants are driven to an extra 
growth, so that they take more potash 
and phosphoric acid than they other¬ 
wise would. To that extent the 
“strength is taken from the soil.” 
Tenants or market gardeners know that 
by using nitrate alone on the last years 
of their lease they get fair crops, but 
leave the soil poor, because they force 
it to give up potash and phosphoric acid. 
A man on his own farm should never 
think of doing this, but should use 
the three elements of plant food to¬ 
gether. Spring is the best time to use 
nitrate. It is available at once, and 
will start the grass in cold, wet weather 
when other forms of nitrogen would not 
make a showing. You can broadcast it 
over the sod. An ordinary dressing of 
it will occupy about as much space 
as a bushel of wheat. Be sure the 
lumps are crushed before you spread 
if. Far better mix with potash and 
phosphoric acid. If you use it alone 
you can mix with three or four times 
its bulk of dry soil and then broadcast 
by hand. 
WANT TO KNOW. 
Destroying Elder Boshes. —Can you 
ton us of any method for getting rid of 
elder bushes? Our farm has many old 
stone walls on it, and the bushes get in 
under the stones and are a nuisance in 
every way. 
Rochester, N. Y. c. i. 
THE: RUR.A.I> NEW-YORKER 
Good Potato Culture. —The farmer 
who considers three times cultivating 
and once spraying rather more than 
enough for potatoes ought to realize 
what there is behind the “champion” 
potato crops we read about. On July 
8 Mr. T. E. Martin thus described 
his situation: 
“The field potatoes are looking well and 
apparently doing the same right in the 
face of dry weather. The potatoes on 
four different clay spots in our field are 
just nicely up. To-day our month man 
BRAZILIAN FLOUR CORN. Fig. 433. 
See Ruralisms, Page 751. 
will complete the eighth cultivation of 
the field. Last night he said the Planet, 
Jr., riding pivot-wheel double-row cul¬ 
tivator discounted ’mobiles for dust. 
Potatoes are 12 to 15 inches high. We 
have made three applications, 26 bar¬ 
rels of Bordeaux and used 49 pounds 
green, which has completely discour¬ 
aged the potato slugs. Green does not 
seem to act as it used to—quick like.” 
When we consider this date and real¬ 
ize the worst is yet to come, we see 
something of what it means to grow a 
big crop of potatoes. 
Holds a Big Load Safely, 
Easily and Without Bruising— 
and Won’t Break Your Back 
If you have never used the True Temper Vegetable Scoop Fork you don’t as yet know how much 
backache, time and labor can be saved in handling your crop. It’s a tool that means money to YOU. It i3 
made with flat, blunt ends so that it handles vegetables and fruits without bruising them. It handles corn with¬ 
out the points sticking jnto the cob. When it picks up a load it screens out all dirt or snow—think of this 
convenience, especially in handling com that has a fall of snow on top of it. 
The scoop shape of this Fork holds a large load and carries it safely and easily. You can handle a large 
load in the Vegetable Scoop Fork with less labor and backache than you can a small load on a shovel, wooden 
scoop, wire scoop or any other fork made. The perfect balanced “hang" is responsible for this. Besides its 
profitable use for handling vegetables and fruits, you will find it the most useful Fork on your farm for dozen.,of 
other purposes, such as handling lime and coal, gathering stones in the field, cleaning up the barn yard, etc., etc. 
The True Temper Vegetable Scoop Fork 
comes in eight tine size for scooping into barrels or sacks and in ten tine size for general use; also in twelve tines 
for special work. It is highest quality throughout—a tool that will last a life time—one you can be proud of. 
It bears the True Temper trade mark—the sign of tested and approved quality, placed there by the largest 
makers of farm and garden hand tools in the world. 
If you don’t find the True Temper Vegetable Scoop Fork at any of your dealers, write us direct. We 
will make it our business to see you are supplied with the genuine. 
American Fork & Hoe Co. 
Executive Offices, ' 
Cleveland, 
Rubber 
ROOFING 
We are practical roofing men. You can depend on our statements 
and knowledge of roofing. Don’t let our lower prices scare you. 
We invite most rigid examination of B-B Roofing beside any other 
roofing made. Our sales have grown—doubled and tripled by 
repeat orders from satisfied users and their friends for several 
years. Why pay more? We save you half. Keep the cash 
Savings yourself. Why pay it to dealers? 
o _ _ 0f1r * When you buy Breese Bros. Rubber 
D i rDrc Roofing you are protected for years to 
+>8tnpiO r net come. Our guarantee is absolute. We 
stand ready to make good on every claim. 
We pay the freight to all points East of the West lines of 
Minnesota, Iowa and Missouri and North of the South line of 
Tennessee. If you live beyond, we pay it that far. Take advan¬ 
tage of this opportunity and send in your order or ask for free 
samples and book at once. Delay may cost you money. 
THE BREESE BROS. COMPANY, Roofing Dept. /I, Cincinnati, Ohio 
Promptest Delivery - 
(Quicker than Dealers Get) 
Lowest Direct Factory Prices 
Freight Prepaid on 100 lbs. or More 
35-lb. Roll-108 Sq. Ft.—1-Ply—$ 1.3S 
45-lb. Roll—108 Sq. Ft—2-Ply— 1.85 
55-Ib. Roll-108 Sq. Ft.—3-Ply— 2.25 
GRAYS 
Practical, dura¬ 
ble and econ- 
omical ina- 
?chinery. Write 
for illustrated 
catalogue 
showing cuts and descriptions of our full line. 
A. W. GRAY’S SONS, 51 South St., Middletown Springs. Vt. 
THRESHERS, GASOLINE ENGINES, 
HORSE POWERS, ENSILAGE CUTTERS, 
and WOOD SAWS. Highest Grade. 
• ^ 
Farmers 
ELLIS 
CHAMPION 
THRESHERS 
are equally well suited to threshermen 
and grain growers desirous of doing their 
own work. Herewith is shown Ellis Cham¬ 
pion No. 8 complete with stacker, tailings 
elevator and grain bagger; operated by gasoline, 
steam or tread power. No clogging of straw in these 
threshers. Made in different sizes to meet all needs. 
We also make Tread and Sweep Horse-Power, circular 
and drag saws, ensilage cutters, corn shellers, etc. Send 
for catalog gi ving full information about these machines. 
Do Your Own Threshing! 
You can save the cost of a rig 
in a few years besides doing the 
conveni¬ 
ent time 
ELLIS KEYSTONE AGRICULTURAL WORKS, - Pottsiown , Pa. 
A Lot of Work for Almost Nothing 
Pumping, Spraying, Feed Grinding, Silo Filling, Lighting, 
Separating, Churning, Sawing, Etc. 
can be done most economically with one of our 
Jacobson Gas or Gasoline Engines 
and our superior outfits. Easy and cheap to 
run. Write us for particulars. If you live 
within 200 miles and mean to buy one, our 
expert will call on you free of charge. 
Water Supply Systems for Country Homes 
W, D. DUNNING, Gas Engine Dept., 
325 W. Water St., SYRACUSE, N. Y. 
The t “ BOSS” POTATO 
side 
Has nev¬ 
er been 
beaten in 
trials. 
We can 
furnish 
t estimo- 
nials, on 
r e quest, 
from all parts 
of tho country. 
Write for cat¬ 
alog,prices,&e. 
This Ma¬ 
chine is 
not a new 
thing, but 
Vl a q bppii 
thoroughly tested in all 
kinds of soil, and under all 
conditions, and pronounced 
—as its name implies—the ItOSS OK 
ALL DIGGERS, and to-day is in uso 
by the best potato raisers in the coun¬ 
try. it weighs about 500 pounds, and 
is easily handled by TWO HOUSES. 
It is so adjusted that tho operator can 
dig every row and deliver them on one 
of the field, making them easy to pick up. It 
will dig an uneven surface, and on side hill as well 
as on tho level, making a complete separation of the 
tubers from the soil and the weeds. It is made 
strong, durable, will do good work on stony ground. 
E. R. ALLEN FOUNDRY CO., Corning, N. Y. 
