108 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
February 29, 
FARMERS’ CLUB 
[Every query must be accompanied by the name 
and address of the writer to insure attention. Be- 
foro asking a question, please see whether it is not 
answered in our advertising columns. Ask only 
a few questions at one time. Put questions on a 
separate piece of paper.] 
WOOD ASHES AND STRAWBERRIES. 
G. E. ,/., Ghcsivold, Del .—Are wood 
ashes good for strawberries? When must I 
put them on and how many bushels to the 
acre? 
Ans. —We do not use wood ashes on 
strawberries. We think the lime in the 
^shes neutralizes the soil too much. Our 
experience is that strawberries like cran¬ 
berries do best on an acid soil. On ordi¬ 
nary soil the strawberries would need 
nitrogen, which the ashes do not fur¬ 
nish. A ton of ashes contains 100 
pounds of potash, 35 of phosphoric acid 
and 600 of lime. Unless you can buy 
ashes very cheap it will pay better to use 
other fertilizer and put the lime on small 
grain or grass. If we were to use ashes 
at all on strawberries we would use them 
the year before planting on some crop 
that could be plowed under. 
A. K. J., Eric Go., N. Y .—Why do you 
condemn ashes for fertilizer on strawber¬ 
ries? We have used ashes on strawberries 
with very good results, in fact we consider 
it the best of anything we ever used. 
Ans. —This is answered above—be¬ 
cause with us the lime in the ashes 
sweetens the soil too much. We think 
success with ashes on strawberries can 
be traced down to some peculiar char¬ 
acter of the soil or # some particular var¬ 
iety. We would like to have experience 
in this regard. 
R. E. G., Alabama .—In answering my 
Inquiry as to the value of ashes on page 
65 the Hope Farm man said he would use 
the ashes on any crops except potatoes and 
strawberries. Now as these two particular 
crops are my main money crops I am In¬ 
terested to know why he excepts them. Is 
it on account of the lime? I try to pre¬ 
cede these crops with a crop of cow peas, 
Could I not use the ashes on the peas and 
get the benefit of the potash on the straw¬ 
berries and sweet potatoes? I Inclose a 
page taken from a southern nurseryman’s 
catalogue, where ashes in large quantities 
are recommended for large crops of straw¬ 
berries. 
Ans. —Yes, the objection to the wood 
ashes on potatoes is the lime. This will 
increase the liability to potato scab. We 
consider this fully demonstrated by care¬ 
ful experiment. It would be an excel¬ 
lent plan to use the ashes on the cow 
peas. They would increase the crop of 
peas and the potatoes following would 
not suffer from the lime as would be 
the case if the ashes were directly ap¬ 
plied to them. In our answer we spoke 
of using the ashes on the Crimson clover. 
The best place- for them is on such crops 
or on grain. We know that in many 
places ashes are used on berries. Usu¬ 
ally we think you will find that heavy 
green manure crops are plowed under 
before the berries are planted, thus mak¬ 
ing the soil unusually sour. At the Maine 
Experiment Station varying quantities of 
lime were used on potatoes. Where 1,000 
pounds of lime to the acre were used 
there was 49 per cent of scab; with 500 
pounds 27 per cent, and with no lime 
only 10 per cent. 
Fertility Questions. 
8. D. II., Ashvillc, Pa.—I have three- 
quarters of an acre lot that was in corn- 
fodder last year, and I was thinking about 
putting it in oats and peas this year, cut¬ 
ting it green for cow feed. This lot is 
clay and had a two-year sod on it and about 
six tons of manure, 25 bushels of lime and 
planted (between the corn where I could 
with a hand planter) with cow peas, which 
were not very good as they were planted 
too late and did not grow over 15 to 18 
inches high until the frost killed them. 
Lime and manure was spread on the sod 
and plowed about nine inches deep. To 
sow the peas on as you advise and plow 
under I could not go as deep as I did last, 
for it would cover the peas too deep, and 
to plow live inches for the peas I could 
not turn up the sod which I thought would 
be the best thing to do. I shall have the 
manure this Spring from one cow and 35 
chickens to put on this. I am going to 
tell you how I am handling this manure 
and I want you to toil me if it is a good 
or bad way, and how I should do it to get 
the best results. I always have put our 
coal (soft) ashes under the roosts, as they 
are so good to absorb the moisture, and this 
Winter I have been taking these ashes and 
put them behind the cow to take up the 
liquid that some people let run away. Will 
this way destroy the value of the chicken 
droppings, or add anything to the cow 
manure? If you think this would be too 
much nitrogen for the peas (as some of the 
corn was 12 feet high with ears on 12 
Inches long when cut 78 days from plant¬ 
ing), what crop can I put in it so that I 
can get it off to get it in condition for the 
first of August, as I want to try Alfalfa? 
I sowed some Alfalfa seed in strips of 
about 10x40 feet last Fall, and it came up 
thick as it could stand without inoculation 
of any kind. I sowed this so if it grew 
I could use it to inoculate this other piece 
with it. What would you do if in my 
place? I am going to get one of those liquor 
notices printed and post up in the most 
conspicuous place I have. 
Ans. —If you want to plow deep 
enough to bring the old sod to the sur¬ 
face you can do so, and then either plow 
the peas in with a smaller plow or put 
them under with a harrow weighted 
down. The oats could go in with a 
light harrow or brush. We should not 
plow the old sod up. Clear coal ashes 
are good to put under the roosts, but if 
you are burning much wood in the stoves 
the wood ashes contain lime and potash, 
which will set free some ammonia. Coal 
ashes contain little if any lime, and are 
safe to use as absorbents. The ashes used 
back of the cow are of course mixed 
with the cow manure. We would use 
the manure for the oats and peas. That 
is a “hog crop”—that is, requires a large 
amount of food. Japanese millet would 
grow well on that soil, but the oats and 
peas will be better. We would soak the 
, oats in formalin and water before seed¬ 
ing to kill the smut. 
Starting Blue Grass. 
A. J. K., Hamburg, III .—I have two 
acres with 18 or 20 poach trees, and want 
to get it to Blue grass, and to have bens 
run on it, I expect to plow as early as pos¬ 
sible, and what if anything would you sow 
with the Blue grass? 
Ans. —Here in Central Illinois Blue 
grass is about the worst “weed” we have 
to contend with. It is especially trouble¬ 
some to the small fruit grower, and in 
spite of all one can do it will take the 
raspberry or blackberry patch in three 
or four years. In this case, however, it 
is desired to hasten the matter as much 
as possible. If the ground was in some 
crop last year, I would not plow at all, 
but simply level, if need be, with a har¬ 
row and drag, and then in March sow 
on some Blue grass seed mixed with 
light seeding of clover. The Blue grass 
will not show much, however, till the 
second season, and it is of course pos¬ 
sible to injure such seeding by letting too 
many hens run on it while the grass is 
small. o. j. b. 
Plant Lice on Peas. 
B. G. 8., Bayport, N. Y. —After my peas 
commenced bearing last Spring a colony of 
lice made their appearance. I tried spray¬ 
ing with tobacco water, but it did not seem 
to do much good, so that out of four 
plantings I was able to pick from the first 
only. I planted all four within 10 days 
of each other, only they ran from early to 
late. Are the lice likely to appear on the 
same ground again, and what will destroy 
them. Quite a number of people were both¬ 
ered with them this past year but they were 
the first that ever attacked my crops. 
Ans. —No one can foretell whether 
most insect pests will reappear in injuri¬ 
ous numbers the following season, as so 
much depends upon weather and other 
conditions over which man has no con¬ 
trol. Doubtless the tobacco water used 
by the correspondent was not strong 
enough, as it should kill all the lice that 
are hit by it. It is possible also that 
the spraying was not specially directed 
against the bodies of the lice. Each 
louse must be thoroughly hit with the 
spray to kill it. Other good insecticides 
for plant lice are whale-oil or any trood 
laundry soap, dissolved at the rate of 
one pound in four or five gallons of 
water, or kerosene emulsion made ac¬ 
cording to the standard formula and di¬ 
luted with six or eight parts of water 
should prove very effective. As the lice 
multiply so rapidly it is usually necessary 
to repeat the application in a few days. 
With thorough work and proper aiming 
of the spray so as to hit the lice there 
hould be no trouble in controlling them. 
M. V. SL1NGEKLAND. 
Thomas Phosphate Powder 
(BASIC SLAG PHOSPHATE) 
The Best as well as the Cheapest Source of Phos¬ 
phoric Acid and Lime, for Grass, Clover 
and Pastures. 
Unequalled for Fruit Trees, Cabbages, Beets and 
all Leguminous Crops. 
BASIC SLAG PHOSPHATE does not revert or go back to insoluble forms. 
BASIC SLAG PHOSPHATE is not washed out of the soil by heavy rains. 
It sweetens sour soils and makes them productive. 
It is very available. The plants can use it all. 
It makes high colored fruit and healthy foliage. 
It permanently enriches the land. 
It drills perfectly. 
T HE PRICE IS LOW . 
MR. MONROE MORSE, of Medway, Mass., one of the best known and 
most successful fanners in the State of Massachusetts, in the American 
Cultivator, date of November 16, 1907, writes as follows :— “The cheapest 
way to supply lime to the soil is to use Basic Slag (Thomas Phosphate 
Powder) as a source of phosphoric acid for the fertilizers. Slag ( Thomas 
Phosphate Powder) carries from 30 to 50 per cent, of lime, and the value 
of the phosphoric acid it carries will cover its whole cost.” 
Says Bulletin 68 of the Maryland Experiment Station (pages 28 and 29:) 
“SLAG PHOSPHATE produced A GREATER YIELD and at LESS COST 
than the average of the soluble phosphoric acid plots and hone meal plots.” 
This test included THREE CORN CROPS, ONE WHEAT CROP and ONE 
GRASS CROP. 
MR. H. W. COLLING WOOD ( Editor The Rukal New-Yobker ) says : 
“All that I put on in the way of fertilizer is IRON SLAG (BASIC SLAG) 
crushed up into a powder. And if you could see how those TREES HAVE 1M= 
PROVED YOU WOULD BE AStONISHED.”— (Address before the Massa¬ 
chusetts Fruit Growers’ Association, “The Care of Apple Orchards,” 
March 9, 1905.) 
Our Booklet, “A Remarkable Fertilizer, Thomas Phos¬ 
phate Powder and its Uses,” is sent FREE if you mention 
The Rural New-Y'orker. 
WE SHIP FROM NEW YORK AND BOSTON. 
THE COE = MORTIMER COMPANY, 
Special Importers of Thomas Phosphate Powder, 
Nitrate of Soda and Potash Salts. 
Sole United States Agents for Genuine Peruvian Guano, Haiiufacturers 
of the Famous E. Frank Coe & Peruvian Brands, Headquarters 
for all Fertilizer flaterials. 
24=26 STONE STREET 
NEW YORK CITY 
FREE 
Booklet on CATALPA TREES 
Let me tell you about, the 150 acres 
I am growing for Telephone Poles. 
This wood takes the place of Ash and Hickory for Car- 
rlage-makers’ uses. Beats fanning Two to One. 
11. O. ROGERS, Box 11, Meehaniesburg, Ohio 
TREES 
Genesee Valley Grown. 150 
Acres. Established 180!). 
Never have had San .lose 
Scale. " Not the cheapest, 
but the best.” Catalog free. 
Geo. A, Sweet Nursery Co., panffifilg'N.Y. 
NATIVE EVERGREENS 
Balsam Fir, Arbor Vitao, American Spruce. 
White Pine and Hemlock, 0 to 12 ins., $5 per 
1,000: 5,000 for $20. Also Transplanted Evergreens. 
Write for Price List. THE JAMES A. ROOT 
NURSERIES, Skaneateles, N. Y. 
STRAWBERRY PLANTS. 
If you would set the berft send me your 
address. 202 varieties lifted. 
GEO. R. SCHAUBER, Box R., Balldon Lake. N. Y. 
A VERITABLE GOLD MINE 
43,500 quarts STRAWBERRIES grown on one 
acre, my system. Send for catalogue. 
K KYITT'S PLANT FARM, Athenia, N. J. 
“PRIDE OF MICHIGAN” 
CHOICE WHITE.SEED OATS 
A new variety grown exclusively for us in the 
* * banner Oat producing county of tho State. An 
early hardy Oat adapted to light or heavy soil. 
A large, plump, heavy berry, growing with a stiff 
straw and yielding 75 to 100 bushels per acre under 
fair conditions. The best Oat we haveevor handled. 
Price, bushel - 75c. 
1 to IO bushels - $1.00 per bushel 
10 bushels and over 90c. “ “ 
Bags free—F. O. B. Hudson, Michigan. 
Remit by bank draft, P.O. or Express money order. 
L. FRENSD<ORF & SON, 
HUDSON, - MICHIGAN 
Consult your bank as to our responsibility. 
PEACH TREES— 4 cts. each, Elberta, etc: free 
r catalogue of all kinds of Nursery Stock. Wood¬ 
bine Nurseries, W. A. Allen & Son, Geneva, Ohio. 
CTRAWRPRRV PLANTS—Chipman and Myer, 
O I IlH VV D LIUII two of our best. All the good 
old sorts too. 26t.h annual catalogue free. 
sLAYMA K KK & SON, hover. Del. 
Over Half a Century of Fair Dealing 
lias given our products that prouiinonco 
which merit deserves. Everything of 
the best for Orchard, Vineyard, Lawn, 
Park, Street, burden and Greenhouse. 
Catalogue No. 1, H2 pages, 
-FKEE to purchasers of Fruit 
■andOrnamcntalTroes. Shrubs, 
etc. No. 2.168 pages, FKEE to 
buyers of Seeds, Bulbs, Roses, Palms, 
Ferns, Geraniums and Greenhouse 
Plants in general. Immense stock of 
Ufe Superb and Choice CANNAH, tlio 
queen of bedding plants. Seeds, Bulbs, Roses, Plants, 
etc., by mail, postpaid, safe arrival and satisfaction 
guaranteed; larger by express or freight. Direct deal 
will insure you tho best and save you money. Try it. 
54 years. 12()0 acres, 44 greenhouses. 
THE STORRS & HARRISON CO. 
BOX 167, PAINESVILLE, OHIO. 
450,000 
TREES 
200 varieties. Also Orapes, Small Fruits eie. Best rooted 
stock. Genuine, cheap. 2 sample currants mailed for loc. 
DeSC. price list free. LEWISKOESCU, box. K, FrcUonia, N. X. 
New Canaan Nurseries. 
APPLE and PEACH TREES in largo quan¬ 
tities. All young, thrifty and lioaltliy. Also a 
large stock of Forest, Ornamental and Ever¬ 
green Trees, Shrubs. Roses, Vines, llerries 
and Asparagus. A full assortment of every¬ 
thing in our line. Send for our Illustrated 
Catalogue. Address 
STEPHEN IIOYT’S SONS CO. 
_MEW CANAAN, CONN,_ 
S6.000 APPLES 
You can do as well if you plant York 
y4§r^State trees, which are free from disease. 
If you want the best trees grown, send for 
Woodlawn Nurseries New Catalogue. 
ALLEN L. WOOD, Rochester, N.Y. 
ROGERS TREES “FIT THE LABELS.” 
FRUIT TREES Reliable - Hard y* Trees 
I m. 2 B U ■ m. Baa la Some new features in our 1908 catalog. It is free. 
well- 
grown 
catalog. It is free. 
A diagram, explanatory of the FILLER System, 
employed by western N. Y. planters. A brief history of one of the most remarkable 10-year-old 
apple orchards in Niagara County, showing the product for the past 5 years and its value. 
H. S. WILEY & SON, Drawer 13, Cayuga, N. Y. 
F 
RUIT TREES and SMALL FRUIT Plants 
* " ■ .« ORNAMENTAL TREES, SHRUBS & ROSES. 
Tho largest and best fruit growors in the country say our trees and plants are the best and 
Send for catalog. T. B. West, Maple Bend Nursery, Lock bo» 287 , Perry, 0. 
0TRAWBERRY PLANTS THAT GROW. berry, Blackberry, Currant and Grape 
■ V Plants, and Asparagus Roots in assortment. All stock warranted true to name and of 
'w' grade represented or vour money refunded. Descriptive t'atalogwith "Instructions How to Grow,” 
Free. C. E. WHITTEN’S NURSERIES, Bridgman, (Box 11,) Michigan. 
