©62 
THE RURAL HEW- r ORKER 
December 12, 
FARMERS’ CLUB 
[Every query must be accompanied by the name 
and address of the writer to insure attention. Be¬ 
fore 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.] 
A SMALL SEEDSMAN’S TROUBLES. 
On page 898 I notice some criticism 
because the seedsmen as a rule use a 
“disclaimer” on their seed packages. I 
have been raising and selling garden, 
flower and field seeds in a small way 
for about 20 years. From the first 
start until now I have raised my own 
seed as far as possible, so as to be sure 
of knowing that each variety would be 
pure and true to name, besides test¬ 
ing each variety as to germination be¬ 
fore it left my hands. In testing seeds 
of all sorts I plant in soil—the only 
reliable test—and count the plants after 
they are up. I do not count the seeds 
that are merely sprouted. 
In spite of all my carefulness during 
these last 20 years I have had some 
unpleasant experiences with a few of 
my customers, perhaps about half a 
dozen cases. Owing to my small trade 
I have not had any serious misunder¬ 
standings with anybody, but I can eas¬ 
ily imagine what the large seed con¬ 
cerns may run up against in the absence 
of a “disclaimer.” Here is one of my 
cases: In May, 1906, I had a fine lot of 
seed corn of a choice variety which I 
sold to farmers in quantities of one 
or two bushels. The shelled corn was 
kept in sacks containing two bushels 
each, in a dry room. A sample from 
each hag (taken from top, center and 
from the bottom), was tested just be¬ 
fore being sold, and found to be very 
strong, and nearly perfect in germinat¬ 
ing qualities. In June, that year, after 
the close of the seed-selling season, we 
removed to our present location in an¬ 
other State. Last year, a friend resid¬ 
ing at our old home place who was look¬ 
ing after our outstanding accounts, 
notified me that one of my customers 
who had bought two bushels of that 
seed corn refused to pay his hill be¬ 
cause, as he claimed, the seed corn 
did not grow, and that he had to get 
other seed corn for replanting. On in¬ 
quiry from all the others that had 
bought from the same lot of seed I 
gained the information that each and all 
of them were highly pleased with the 
seed, one of the customers stating that 
he had a better stand that year than 
he ever had before. I was advised to 
bring suit against the delinquent pur¬ 
chaser, as he was considered “tricky,” 
but I dropped the matter. 
Another of the less pleasant occur¬ 
rences was when a lady called and com¬ 
plained that her peas did not “come 
up.” I was somewhat “taken aback” at 
her statement, as I knew that each seed 
of that lot of peas would grow. I 
asked the lady how she planted her peas, 
whereupon she told me that she soaked 
them in water over night and then 
planted as usual. The ground was very 
dry at the time, and I presume that the 
soaked peas were sour before she 
planted them. I refilled her previous 
order from the same lot of peas, with 
the admonition that she leave out the 
soaking process, and I would guarantee 
that her peas would “come up” and 
flourish. C. N. G. 
Michigan. _ 
Growing Mulch For Strawberries. 
My experience in growing mulch in 
the strawberry bed has been confined to 
the oats. Sown about mid-September 
at the last cultivation, it makes consid¬ 
erable growth, and has some value in 
protecting plants from early freezes and 
in preventing washing of soil on rolling 
land. However, by mid-winter after 
the sap has been frozen and dried out 
of the succulent oat stems there is but 
very little mulch in evidence. Some 
seasons the oats are protected by 
snows, and some plants live over and 
start out in the Spring with full vigor, 
causing the grower considerable trou¬ 
ble to eradicate. Buckwheat would not 
do here, as we find it necessary to cul¬ 
tivate late to keep alleys free from 
plants and weeds. I would say grow 
your mulch elsewhere than in the 
strawberry bed; apply part of it in the 
paths early in Fall, remainder over the 
plants when hard freezes begin. 
New Jersey. J. e. kuhns. 
Chemicals With Manure. 
O. B. G., Germantown, Pa .—What sort of 
fertilizer would you advise for a family gar¬ 
den where a person has access to all the 
hen manure he wants and can buy horse 
manure also? Would the same do for 
grapes, raspberries, blackberries and straw¬ 
berries? 
Ans. —The manure will supply about 
all the nitrogen you need—but you will 
need potash and phosphoric acid. A 
mixture of two parts by weight of fine 
ground bone and one part sulphate of 
potash will go well with the manure. 
We should use at the rate of 600 pounds 
per acre of this mixture with the ma¬ 
nure. The same will do for the small 
fruit. 
Seeding Alfalfa on Sod. 
R. G. B., Somerset, Mass .—Could Alfalfa 
be sown on sod land in the Spring, soon 
after it is plowed? Could it be fed to 
milch cows, cut green same as rye and 
barley? Is it considered of more value to 
make milk than the other green feeds? 
Ans. —You can sow the Alfalfa in 
that way, but you will not see much of 
it a year after. The chances are that 
the grass and weeds in the old sod will 
smother out the young Alfalfa plants. 
We would not think of seeding this 
crop except on thoroughly prepared 
ground—the sod killed out by culture. 
August seeding is better for your lo¬ 
cality. Green Alfalfa is an excellent 
feed for cattle. 
Free Stable Manure. 
J. F.j Tower, Minn ,—Three miles from 
my farm is a horse-manure pile. Some of 
the manure has been there for throe or four 
years. The manure is mixed with about 
one-third shavings. I can get all the ma¬ 
nure I want out of that pile; I have my 
own team and there is a good road. Will 
it pay to haul the manure to the farm, from 
that pile when I don’t have anything else 
to do? Is the manure worth the work? 
The soil on my farm is sandy loam. 
Ans. —It certainly will pay. If we 
had such a chance we should consider it 
just like picking up money. Such ma¬ 
nure would cost us at least $2.50 per 
ton. Haul all you can of it this Winter, 
and spread at the rate of about eight 
loads per acre. You can put it on the 
grain, or if you have a piece of sod to 
be plowed in Spring use it there. 
Young Trees in Old Orchard. 
A. B. B., Lititz, Pa ,—I have a small 
tract which was once an apple orchard, and 
it still contains a few old trees. A great 
many, however, were cut down from 15 to 
25 years ago. Would you recommend 
planting young trees where the old ones 
once stood? I have always heard this was 
a bad practice, but owing to the length 
of time the old ones have been removed, 
do you think it would make any difference? 
The orchard has always been in sod, but 
has always been heavily fertilized with 
liquid manure and hen manure. 
Ans. —We should not hesitate to plant 
young trees where the old ones stood, 
provided the ground is well worked 
over. You can plant the young trees in 
the sod, but you will give them a bet¬ 
ter start if you plow and fit the ground 
first. If you put them in sod keep a 
space around them well hoed, and pile 
part of the grass around them as a 
mulch. _ 
Another Big Squash.— In reply to 
an inquiry in regard to the “largest 
squash” I can only report as to how far 
we have got along that line here in 
southern Lancaster county, Pa. Last 
Spring a small grandchild of the writer 
wishing to go into the squash industry 
planted and raised from one seed 360 
pounds of the fruit, the largest speci¬ 
men weighing 100 pounds, the next in 
size 84, 74, etc., and the smallest 25 
pounds. That’s all this time. w. b. b. 
Drumore, Pa. 
tv pen you write advertisers mention Tite 
I t. NY. and you’ll get a quick reply and 
“a square deal." See guarantee page 10. 
“Friend” Bulletin. 
Fruit growers who contemplate buying Spray¬ 
ing Outfits for next season will do well to make 
their wants known now to the “FRIEND” 
MFC. CO. of Gasport, N. Y., manufacturers 
of the world’s best Hand and Power Spraying 
Outfits. Their 1909 models show many new 
and attractive features. The “FRIEND” 
family is a large one. There are hundreds of 
“FRIEND” Power Outfits now working 
for up-to-date fruit growers. 
Below are the buyers of 1909 model Power 
Outfits to date. Deliveries are now being 
made. The class of buyers, as shown below, 
speaks well for the “FRIEND.” 
Edward Somers, Arkansas. 
Brigham Bros., New York. 
Clark Allis, New York. 
Manhattan State Hospital, New York. 
David H. Smith, New York. 
J. P. Campbell, Florida, 4 Outfits. 
Geo. W. Duff, New York, 2 Outfits. 
Geo. Stimer, New York. 
Asa Baldwin, New York. 
Jesse See, New York. 
Julius Btidde, New York. 
P. E. Nostrand, Long Island. 
L. B. Walton, Michigan. 
J. B. Wilson, New York, 4 Outfits. 
J. E. Brown, New York. 2 Outfits. 
H. P. Demarest, New York. 
W. S. Hiett, Virginia. 
Edward J. Felts, New York. 
Wilbur H. Grinnell, New York. 
W. P. Herring, New York. 
Wm. H. Outwater, New York. 
Nat! Horticultural Congress, Iowa. 
“FRIEND” MANUFACTURING CO. 
PERFECT POTATO 
- PLANTING I .SAVE 
Every farmer knows the ImportaueeV HIRED 
of proper potato planting. Here’s a*- 
machine that doe.Bit perfectly. Has, 
none of the faults common with com-/ 
mon planters. Opens the furrow 
perfectly, drops the seed 
correctly, covers it uni- ^ , 
forinly, and best of all r0T1 /.. e 
never bruises or A OTod iJbbin.] 
punctures the I Tv 0 planter 
aeed. Sendr 
postal for 
our 1909 
free ' 
Book, 
No MUset 
No Doubles 
NoTroubies 
BATEMAN MFG. CO.. BOX 102P,Grenloch, N. i. 
// That’s what you get Derore you pay 
// onecenton a Waterloo Boy Gaso- 
line Engine. We send j’ou the engine 
f fora real 30 days free trial. Let it saw 
the wood, grind the feed, do the pump¬ 
ing, churning and all the time-taking, 
profit-eating jobs. Then if you think you 
can get along without the 
Waterloo Boy 
ship it right back at our expense. Wo take every i 
bit of the money risk off your shoulders, so why / 
shouldn’t you accept our Froo Trial Offer. Mi 
Write to-day for fino catalog and say: “Send MM 
mo your Waterloo Boy for a free trial at MM 
my work.’* wW 
WATERLOO GASOLINE ENGINE CO. // 
184 West ■ gi — _ 
k Third Ave., UnBSBBB 
Waterloo, /Mjtr L 
. Iowa. I jgwA nB t * 1 
p ■■ p* Booklet on CATALPA TREES 
p Kv p p Let me tell you about the 150 acres 
■ ■ » ■■■ lam growing for Telephone Poles. 
This wood takes the place of Ash and Hickory for Car¬ 
riage-makers’ uses. Beats farming Two to One. 
U. C. ROGERS. «ox U, Mechanicsburg, Ohio 
CHAMPION EVAPORATOR. 
For Maple, Sorghum, 
Cider and Fruit 
Jellies. 
CHAMPION 
EVAPORATOR 
€0. HUDSON, 0. 
cata¬ 
log giving 
number of 
trees you 
tap. 
Saves Time , Labor and Fuel; makes tho 
best Syrup; Easy to Operate; Durable . 
fifi 
FUMA 
99 Prairie Dogs, 
Woodchucks, Gophers, 
and Grain Insects. 
“The wheels of the gods 
grind slow but exceed¬ 
ingly small.” So tho weevil, but you can stop their 
e wi"h “ Fuma Carbon Bisulphide ” a ™ SSS 
EDWARD K. TAYLOR, Penn Yan, N. Y. 
Cash Paid far 
Raw Furs 
As New York is the best 
fur market in America, 
we can and do pay high- 
estcash prices for hides of 
Skunks, Minks, ’Coons. 
Muskrats, Opposums, 
Foxes, Badgers. Wolves, 
Beavers, Otter, and all fur-bearing animals. We pay 
express charges. Write for price list. RlliCCUG 
We also pay best prices for UIIIOEIIU 
BELT, BUTLER CO. 145 Greene St. New York 
&2H!gHHr SPRAYER 
is equipped with the famous 
“NEW WAY” Air-Cooled ENGINE 
Fruit of quality 
follows this 
Quality Sprayer. 
Raise the Quality 
—Increase the 
Value ofYour Fruit. 
high grade 
the “NEW 
WAY” is a 
whirl wind. 
Complete 
in every 
detail and 
the engine 
is invalu¬ 
able for 
other 
work. 
WRITE US FOR CATALOG No. 5. 
140 Sheridan Street. 
Why Not Use Hubbard’s 
HE DID-AND WAS SATISFIED. 
Kant Taunton, Mass., Oct. 28, 1908, 
The Rook hr k Hubbard Co., 
Middletown. Conn. 
Gentlemen :—It Is very noticeable, a« well an quite plonn- 
inp, to hear the good reports of Hubbard's Fertilizers 
among our trade and to note the gradual fcaiu In customers, 
some coming to us for Hubbard's Fertilizers who do not 
generally trade with us. This seems to come about through 
seeing crops grow on Hubbard’s at neighbors’ farms. We 
like to Bell Sibbard's Fertilizers because a customer is sure 
to come back for more. Truly yours, 
J. J. O' Connor 
Hubbard’s Fertilizer Almanac for 1009 now 
ready and will he sent free to .ny address. 
THE ROGERS & HUBBARD CO., 
Makers of Hubbard’s Fertilizers. 
Middletown, Conn. 
COOK YOUR FEED and SAVE 
Half the Cost—with the 
PROFIT FARM BOILER 
With Dumping Caldron. Empties 
its kettle in one minute. The simplest 
and best arrangement for cooking 
food forstock. Also make Dairy and 
Laundry Stoves, Water and 
Steam Jacket Kettles, Hog 
Seal dors, Caldrons.etc. lySend 
for particulars and ask for circular J. 
D. R. SPERRY & CO.. Batavia, Ill. 
THE ENORMOUS YIELD of 50.000 quarts of 
* Strawberries now growing l>y my system on 
one acre, Send for CHART. 
KEVITT’S PLANT FARM, Athenia. N. J. 
THE LEVIN PRUNER 
The best pruner. Cuts J^-inch dry 
branch. Quick, clean, easy cut. We 
will send it post paid for club of two 
new yearly subscriptions at SI each, 
or for club of 7 ten weeks trials at 10 
cents each. 
The Rural New-Yorker, New York 
Orange Culture 
in California 
Is especially profitable. The soil of 
that state contains the elements that 
enable orange groves to yield the best 
results. Go to California, buy a 
few acres of fertile land and start an 
Orange Grove for yourself. The 
climate will add years to your life. 
When you go be sure your tickets 
read via 
Union Pacific 
Southern Pacific 
Electric Block Signal Protection— 
The Safe Road to Travel. 
INQUIRE OF 
J. 15. DeFRIEST, G. E. A., 
287 Broadway, Now York, N. Y. 
Send 12 cents postage for l>ook, "The Oveim.ani> 
Route” to the road of a "Thousand Wonders.” 
