1908. 
289 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
A Silo of Cement Blocks. 
J. W., Oakville. Canada .—On page 134 
you print a valuable item from John A. 
Ogden, Wisconsin. I should be glad to 
learn the dimensions of the cement blocks 
used, as I purpose building two cement 
silos. 
Ans.—M y cement block silo was con¬ 
structed of blocks 24 inches long, eight 
inches thick and 12 inches wide. Each 
block contained open spaces for dead 
air and an open dove-tail shaped space 
at each end, that were filled with cement 
after being laid, thus doing away with 
the necessity of using anything else to 
bind with. The blocks were made for 
24 to form a complete circle that meas¬ 
ures 14 feet in diameter inside, diagram 
showing a block. A very thin coat of 
cement is used between each layer, and 
it is better to dampen the blocks well 
before laying than to lay them dry, for 
two reasons—it will take less cement 
and make a neater job. In building 
mine the workmen constructed a sub¬ 
stantial staging on the inside of the cir¬ 
cle, and after the blocks were laid, com¬ 
menced at the top and put on a smooth 
coat of cement mortar, taking down the 
staging as they proceeded downward. I 
believe it is an everlasting silo. It cer¬ 
tainly looks fine, and has thus far be¬ 
haved well. It cost me more than an¬ 
other one would if I were to build 
again. I had the blocks made at a fac¬ 
tory where they do cement work, and, 
of course, paid for the labor of high- 
priced men. They can be made on the 
farm by any man capable of mixing 
sand and cement evenly together, and if 
one does not care to invest in a machine 
to mould the blocks, he can make a 
mould out of boards. A little practice 
will make him proficient and his blocks 
will make just as good a silo as the 
bought ones. I hired masons at $4 a 
day to build mine, and if they had an¬ 
other job in sight their speed did not 
indicate it while working for me. I be¬ 
lieve an ordinarily handy man about a 
farm is capable of building one without 
the aid of a mason. There is no ques¬ 
tion in my mind but what the cement 
block or concrete silo is the one that 
will give the farmers the best satisfac¬ 
tion, and while it may cost more in the 
start, will be the cheapest in the end, be¬ 
cause permanent. john a. ogden. 
Notes on Cow Peas. 
T. K., Kirkwood, Mo .—What do you 
think is the best way to plant cow peas— 
in drill far enough apart to work once or 
twice, or to sow broadcast? Would you 
bow any other crop with the peas or not? 
If I drill so as to work, would it be ad¬ 
visable to drill in Kaffir corn with it? If 
I sow early would I get two cuttings? If 
1 sow in drill so as to work could I seed to 
clover or grass in the Fall, without plow¬ 
ing again? This crop is to be grown on 
rented ground. One field will produce 40 
bushels of com to the acre. I can have 
this field for $4 an acre when I plant corn; 
what ought it to be worth for cow peas? 
The other field I can have for nothing, 
but it only brings 10 bushels of corn to 
the acre. Which would be the better offer, 
to pay $4 for the good ground or take the 
poorer for nothing? IIow many seeds does 
it take to the acre? 
• 
Ans. —In answering questions about 
cow peas we can only make general 
statements about our own experience 
and ask readers to give local advice. If 
we were sure of time and team to do 
tbe work we would drill and cultivate. 
This gives a good working of the soil 
and gives a better chance for seeding 
after the peas. There is usually a 
heavier crop when broadcast, but the 
vines are not matured so well. Of 
course broadcasting is easier and 
quicker. If the soil is strong and the 
season right we can drill sorghum or 
Kaffir with the peas and get a fair crop. 
If cut early 5 smaller second crop fol¬ 
lows. We have seeded to Crimson 
clover ancl Cow-horn turnips in drilled 
cow peas and had a good crop, but have 
no experience with Red clover and 
grass. We would take the stronger land 
and pay rent for it. If for a long term 
of years we would take the poorer land 
and bring it into better condition with 
cow peas, clover and chemicals. It 
might not pay a renter to do this for a 
few years only, but experiments made 
on the poor soil of southern New Jer¬ 
sey demonstrate beyond doubt that such 
soils can be greatly improved. As to 
varieties of cow peas the following note 
is sent us from Arkansas: 
On page 169 G. R„ East Granby, Conn., 
asksi advice concerning cow peas; what 
variety, and how much to sow. I have had 
quite a number of varieties growing, and 
we believe a variety that will grow in a 
shorter season than does the Wonderful 
would be better adapted to G. R.’s locality. 
While the Wonderful makes a large amount 
of forage, having produced at the Arkansas 
Experiment Station as much as 8,000 
pounds of hay per acre, yet it requires a 
long season to mature, and as the season 
in New England is rather far north for the 
successful growth of late sorts, I fear the 
Wonderful would not do much for the en¬ 
quirer, either as a hay producer or a soil 
improved. The cow pea, as I have ob¬ 
served by the nodules on its roots, will do 
its best later in its growth, near its matur¬ 
ity, and then for hay when cut too early 
will be so sappy that it is difficult to cure 
properly. I would, were I to plant in G. 
R.’s locality, sow Warren’s Early (matured 
at Missouri Experiment Station in 65 aays) 
or Early Black (matured in 71 days.) 
Whippoorwill (matured 75 days.) Then 
the planting can be delayed until ground is 
sufficiently warm. I have lost whole sow¬ 
ings by sowing too early, as I did not get 
any stand and was compelled to plant 
over, and as the seed is high in price, this 
is of importance. Then again I find that 
the best results are obtained by drilling 
the seed . It then may be worked once or 
twice with a weeder. At the Missouri Sta¬ 
tion cow peas sown with a wheat drill at 
the rate of 1% bushel per acre, produced 
nearly two tons of hay per acre, while ad¬ 
jacent plots broadcast and harrowed in 
were not worth cutting. In same report 
we find that plots drilled at the rate' of 
one bushel per acre, not cultivated, yielded 
3340 pounds of hay; plots drilled 1)4 
bushel, not cultivated, 3480 pounds of hay; 
plot, one peck per acre, rows 18 inches 
apart, cultivated, 3100 pounds of hay; one- 
half peck per acre, rows 35 inches apart, 
cultivated, 1910 pounds of hay. g. w. 
Sulphur Springs, Ark. 
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ii 
FUMA 
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EDWAKJD li. TAYLOR, Peuu Yan, N. Y. 
Thomas Phosphate Powder 
(BASIC SLAG PHOSPHATE) 
The Best Phosphate for Top Dressing Grass, Clover 
and Pastures; unequaled for Fruit Trees, 
Cabbages, Beets, and all Leguminous Crops. 
Availability of Phosphoric Acid 
The Usual Methods of Determining the so-called “Available” 
Phosphoric Acid in Fertilizers (in this country) is based on the 
assumption that the material has been acidulated with Sulphuric Acid. 
Thomas Phosphate Powder is not acidulated. 
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SHOWING THE REAL AMOUNT OF AVAILABLE PHOSPHORIC 
ACID IN THOMAS PHOSPHATE POWDER. 
The experiment Station Chemists recognize this fact and have 
appointed a committee to select a correct method of analysis. 
Every Importation of THOMAS PHOSPHATE POWDER is carefully 
sampled at time of shipment from abroad, and an analysis made by the 
Agricultural Experiment Station at Darmstadt, Germany, the leading' 
Experiment Station of the World. 
REPORTS OF THE DARMSTADT (GERMANY) AGRICULTURAL EXPERI¬ 
MENT STATION ON OUR 1908 IMPORTATIONS OF 
THOMAS PHOSPHATE POWDER. 
From S. S. “KROONLAND,”. 
TOTAL PHOS. 
ACID. 
. 18.08% 
AVAIL. PHOS. 
ACID. 
15.74% 
“ “ “ ST. ANDREW,”. 
. 17.15% 
15.62% 
“ “ “ MANITOU,”. 
. 17.43% 
16.03% * 
“ “ “MENOMINEE,” . 
.18.24% 
15.73% 
Average of the Importations,. 
. 17.725% 
15.78% 
OUR GUARANTEE, 
. 17.00^ 
15.00^ 
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DAIN MFC-CO. OTTUMWA. IA. 
KELLY: 
r DUPLEX 
GRINDING 
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mailed upon request. 
THE O. S. KELLY CO.. 
Box 157 Sqrir.gfield, 1“ 
