6 48 
THE RUKAE NEW-YORKER 
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. 1 
KEEP THEM AT HOME! 
The following members of the New York 
Senate voted against Governor Hughes in 
1 is efforts to remove the Superintendent 
of Insurance. Some of them have done so 
twice—others are backsliders. All have 
proved unworthy in a fair test. All are in 
districts where the votes of farmers can 
defeat them. It should be the duty of 
every farmer to blacklist them and keep 
them away from Albany. Vote them out! 
.TOTIIAM I’. ALLDS.Norwich, N. Y. 
S. PERCY HOOKER.He Roy, N. Y. 
.JOHN RAINES .Canandaigua, N. Y. 
SANFORD W. SMITH_Chatham, N. Y. 
HORACE WHITE .Syracuse, N. Y. 
l.EN.T, M. WILCOX.Auburn, N. Y. 
JOSEPH ACKROYD .Utica, N. Y. 
PRANK M>. BOYCE. . East Schodack, N. Y. 
FRANCIS II. GATES. .Chittenango, N. Y. 
WM. W. WEMPLE_Schenectady, N. Y. 
WM. T. O’NEII.St. Regis Falls, N. Y. 
OWEN CASSIDY .Watkins, N. Y. 
TALKS WITH WHEAT GROWERS. 
A Chemical Farmer’s Views. 
Mr. D. C. Lewis, of Middlesex 
County, N. J., follows what we call 
' chemicals and clover” farming. He 
grows wheat, hay, potatoes and corn. 
The wheat, some of the hay and pota¬ 
toes are sold and the corn, or most of 
it, fed to dairy cows. The farm ma¬ 
nure is put on the sod after the sec¬ 
ond year’s cutting and plowed under for 
corn. We have been asking Mr. Lewis 
some questions about scedingiliand fer¬ 
tilizing wheat. 
What crop does wheat follow in your 
rotation ? 
It comes after potatoes. 
How do you prepare the ground? If 
the potatoes have been kept clean of 
weeds and dug with a potato digger 
very little further preparation is needed. 
We harrow to clear off the trash, then 
spring-tooth to work up the soil, and 
then smooth with a light harrow. This 
gives a fine, shallow working just suf¬ 
ficient to drill in the seed and cover it. 
What about fertilizers? 
We fertilize the potatoes with 1,200 
pounds per acre of a complete fertilizer 
analyzing 4^2 per cent ammonia, nine 
per cent phosphoric acid and seven per 
cent of potash. We add to this 100 
pounds of sulphate of potash per acre. 
Unless there is a heavv crop of potatoes 
tliis ought to provide for the wheat crop. 
You would not use much nitrogen on 
the wheat in the Fall then ? 
Not after potatoes, but the grass 
which is to stand two years must be 
considered. For an ideal treatment we 
should use 400 pounds per acre of a fer¬ 
tilizer containing 3 y 2 per cent ammonia, 
13 per cent phosphoric acid and three 
per cent potash. 
You evidently do not believe in low- 
grade fertilizers with one per cent or 
less of ammonia. 
Not at all. That is not only the^ most 
expensive way to buy nitrogen, but the 
surest way to get the poorest and most 
unavailable forms. 
About what proportion of the nitro¬ 
gen in this wheat fertilizer is soluble? 
About one-third of it is from nitrates. 
The remainder is in organic forms 
which are used by wheat or grass as 
they become available. I figure, there¬ 
fore that the season’s application for 
potatoes and wheat means 52 pounds 
ammonia, 160 phosphoric acid and 146 
pounds potash per acre. We continue 
to use fertilizer in this way because with 
ore rotation after another all crops con¬ 
tinue to respond in yield and the farm 
grows more and more productive. 
Fertilizing Value of Charcoal. 
It. F. D., Sharon, Conn .—I see no men¬ 
tion ns to the value of charcoal as a fer¬ 
tilizer. Would you give the analysis of 
fresh burned charcoal? I have noticed wild 
berries grow rank In old coal pits. How 
would charcoal do to top-dress grass and 
clover? 
Ans. —There is very little actual plant 
food in charcoal. The extra growth of 
the berries near the pits might be due to 
several things. The action of heat or 
fire in the soil often makes it more pro¬ 
ductive ; a heavy coat of coal or coal 
dust may act like a mulch to shade the 
land or there may have been so much 
coal burned there that a considerable 
amount of potash and phosphoric acid 
is left. When wood in burned the ni¬ 
trogen is driven off. 1 he ash contains 
lime, phosphoric acid and potash. The 
ash from a ton of charcoal would not 
make a large amount, and not much 
more than five per cent, of it would be 
potash. Thus the direct plant feeding 
value of charcoal would not be great. 
The charcoal has great ability to absorb 
gases and moisture. It also gives a 
dark co’or to soils, thus enabling them 
to absorb heat and hold it. Charcoal, 
when enough of it is used, acts as a 
mulch. Its good effect will usually be 
traced to one of these causes and not to 
a supply of plant food. 
Whitewashing Tar Paper Roofs. 
F. F. It., Few York .—Will whitewash¬ 
ing tar paper roofs work any Injury to the 
roof (paper). We have some sheds roofed 
with tar roofing that heat up so badly 
we can hardly use them. I fancy we 
would have some relief if whitewashed. 
Ans. — r have not had any experience 
in whitewashing tarred felt roofs. It 
will probably make a shade difference, 
and only a shade difference in regard to 
the heat. The whitewashing, however, 
will not last very long where it is ex¬ 
posed to the sun and rain, and nothing 
in the way of change of roof will prob¬ 
ably make a great difference in the heat. 
If there is any way that your inquirer 
can form what is known as a clear story, 
that should give him great relief. If 
his shed is low and not much room for 
a clear story, he could probably get con- 
siderab’e relief by making one that 
would be only the depth or height of the 
width of his rafters, by taking building 
paper and nailing it up under the raft¬ 
ers. This would form a thin clear story, 
but I think it would give him consid¬ 
erable relief. If he had room to put in 
light joists and nail his bui'ding paper 
on them two or three feet below the 
roof, he would get very great relief. 
J. e. p. 
Preparing for Alfalfa. 
O. T. II., Watchung, N. J. —I have nn 
acre on which I want to seed Alfalfa next 
Spring. It is now in potatoes and is very 
poor soil. How shall I treat it to have 
the best chances of success? Will it be 
a good plan to seed to Crimson ciover as 
soon as the potatoes are out, and turn 
tiie clover under in the Spring? When 
ought the lime to be applied? Snould 
manure be spread now before seeding the 
clover, or would it be better to apply the 
manure on the sod next Spring? ITo\v 
soon in the Spring must, the Alfalfa be 
put In? 
Ans. —This is what we usually do on 
our own farm: If the potatoes are 
early, dig before August 15, work up the 
soil and sow Crimson clover and Cow- 
horn turnips. In the Spring plow the 
clover under and put lime in the furrows, 
harrowing it well into the ground, i hen 
drill in Cow peas. In late July or early 
August plow the Cow-pea vines under. 
Then spread your manure, having it 
well rotted and fine, and harrow it thor¬ 
oughly in. Then, if possible, just before 
a gentle shower, sow 20 pounds of Al¬ 
falfa seed per acre and cover it lightly. 
We think August seeding better than 
Spring. Use western grown seed if pos¬ 
sible. 
Tbeatmknt foii Bean Antiiracnose. —We 
have never tried soaking our bean seed 
with formaldehyde or any other drugs. We 
have used Bordeaux Mixture to some ex¬ 
tent, and in some cases it lias seemed to 
do a good deal of good : in others, we were 
unable to discover any beneficial results. 
New York. n. is. kkenjsy & son. 
August 15, 
When you write advertisers mention The 
R. N.-Y. and you'll get a quick reply and 
“a square deal.” See guarantee, page 8. 
Whirlwind 
Combined Shredders, 
Cutters and Silo Fillers 
Guaranteed to do better and faster shred¬ 
ding than any other machines made. Get 
one and use it for a shredder now and 
next season have the most perfect silo- 
filling rig made—already for business. 
Four Sizes to select from—requiring 
from 4 to 12 Horse Power. Write today 
for free catalogue and prices. Address 
Wilder-Strong Implement Co., Monroe, Mich, 
CHAMPION SSWr^IS 
Has features 
no other 
press has. 
Let ns tell 
you what they 
are. Write na 
for special 
terms and 
prices. 
FAMOUS MFC. CO., 55 Chicago Aire.. EAST CHICAGO, IH0, 
Read His Letter 
Read of the economy 
and profit in this farm¬ 
er’s potato-digging,— 
how he gets every 
potato in the field,— 
how he avoids loss from 
scarred and crushed 
potatoes,—how he has 
made the work easy 
and fast. 
It Tells You 
how the 
Acme Hand Digger 
ATTACHMENT 
proved out under bard, practical actual field use: 
Potato Implement Co., Traverse City, Mich. 
GentlemenTwo years ago I bought one of 
your Acme Hand Potato Diggers and after 
giving It a short trial lathe Held, my sons, 
who were digging the potatoes, were so 
leased with the Acme Digger that I now 
ave live In use on tny farm. 
The Acme Is just thedlgger we needed. Un¬ 
like the machine diggers It digs clean, gets 
every potato In every hill, doesn’t scar the 
etock, and Is not bothered by the vines. The 
men work easily, yet quickly, and don’t get so 
tired as with ordinary fork or hook digging. 
I know from my own experience that the 
Acme Digger does better, easier and cheaper 
work than any other digger I have seen, and 
the best recommendation I can give anyone 
Is that I continue to use It on my own farm. 
I am .yours truly, 
F. LAUTNER, Leelanau County. 
Send $1.00 Today. Let the Acme 
Attachment prove itself to you. Let it 
prove that your dollar is better that. $100 in¬ 
vestment in other diggers—that it will dig 
potatoes better and more economically—that 
it is the digger you have been waiting for. 
Sent prepaid, by express. Money returned if 
you had rather have it than keep the digger. 
Pamphlet and Potato Book free on request. 
Send now. Address Box 525, 
Potato Implement Co., Traverse City, Mich. 
Our Bulb Catalogue 
Handsomely illustrated with full and 
reliable cultural directions, and con¬ 
taining the largest assortment of high 
class Bulbs in America, is now ready, 
and will be Mailed Free on application. 
A Postal is sufficient. 
J. M. THORBURN & CO., 
33 Barclay St., thro’ to 38 Park Place, 
NEW YORK. 
Peach 
Baskets 
2, 4,6, 8, 10, 12, 14 and 
16-quart sizes. 
Peach Covers 
Wooden, Burlap and 
Cotton. 
Berry, Peach and 
Grape Crates, etc. 
Write for FRICKS and CATALOGUE. 
COLES&COMPANY 
lOO & 111 Warren Street, New York. 
ESTABLISHED 1884. 
ALFALFA 
Northern grown, fully 90 per cent pure, guaranteed 
free from Dodder and Trefoil. All Government 
tested. To-day’s reduced price only $11.75 per bush. 
Write for catalog on farm and field seeds, and free 
instructions on growing Alfalfa. 
J. E. WING & BROS SEED CO., Box 223, Mechanlcsburg, Ohio. 
APPLE barrels: 
—Car Lots or I,ess. 
Prompt shipment. 
Gillies, Medina, N. Y. 
CEKD WHEAT yields 30 to 45 bus. per acre. Red 
bearded or smooth, pure, clean, cheap, Sold on 
a plain guarantee. Write to-day for valuable book¬ 
let No. 14. WillisR. Knox, Intercourse, Fa. 
F OR SALE— Crimson Clover Seed, $3 to $3.50 lju., 
Medium Red Clover Seed, $11.50 to $12.50 bu., Cow 
Horn Turnip Seed, 30c. lb. Jowph li. Holland,Milford,l*el. 
XHK ENORMOUS YIELD of 50.000 quarts of 
A Strawberries now growing by my system ou 
one acre. Send for CHART. 
KEVITT’S PLANT FARM, Atlienia, N. J. 
RED WAVE-A New Wheat Wonder 
Also the famous SILVER QUEEN, and all lead¬ 
ing sorts. Write to-day for price list No. 28, and 
free sample of the best wheats on earth. 
Maplewood Stock Farm, Allegan, Mick. 
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 $1 each, 
or for club of 7 ten weeks trials at 10 
cents each. 
The Rural New-Yorker, New York 
JONES’ “RED WAVE,” with heads 5 to 6 inches 
" 1 long, hard red grain and 
smooth chaff, yields immense crops. ‘SILVER 
SHEAF” LONGBERRY RED, very large red wheat, 
bearded and as hardy as rye and can be sown very late. 
Write us for description, free samples and price. JOSEPH HARRIS CO,, Coldwater, N. Y. 
Dwyer’s Pot Grown Strawberry Plants 
Strong, healthy plants from selected stock of choicest fruiting varieties sure to give 
satisfaction and PRODUCE A FULL CROP IN 1909. 
We also have a full line of Fruits and Ornamental Trees, Plants, Vines,etc., ior 
Fall Planting. We do Landscape Gardening in all its branches. Catalog tree. 
T. J. DWYER & CO., P. O. Box I, Cornwall, New York. 
CRIMSON CLOVER 
The great soil improver. Valuable 
also for early green food, grazing and 
hay crop. Special circular free; also 
sample and price of seed on request. 
HENRY A. DREER, 
714 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, Pa. 
n’t Neglect 
II Spraying 
66 
Fall Spraying 
is Best. 
Ye guarantee it to kill San Jose Scale and all soft-bodied sucking insects. It also contains fungicidal properties, 
atest Effectiveness. Least Expense and Labor. Endorsed by Leading Horticulturists, Fruit Growers and Experiment Stations. 
Write us to-day for Booklet N, with full particulars, and FREE Sample. 
. <3r. Pratt Company, 
■Yv/r-r>» rrhft-mii 
k rv Phnrr h StrAPt 
■TVT^-M-r CJitV 
