304 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
May 20, 
FARMERS’ CLUB 
[ Every query rrmst be accompanied by the 
name and address of the writer to insure 
attention. Before 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 pieee of paper.] 
CHEMICALS FOR TOP-DRESSING. 
G. D. C.j Plainville, Conn .—Will you 
state the proper proportion to combine ni¬ 
trate of soda, acid phosphate and sulphate 
of potash, to give same analysis as the 
following top-dresser? Ammonia six to 
seven per cent., phosphoric acid six to eight 
per cent, soluble potash seven to eight per 
cent. 
Ans.—L et us remember that “am¬ 
monia” is a combination of nitrogen 
and hydrogen. In a pound of “ammonia” 
there are 13 1-5 oz. of nitrogen, or 82.5 
per cent. You are guaranteed 120 
pounds of ammonia in that fertilizer. 
This means about 100 pounds of nitro¬ 
gen. Nitrate of socfa contains 16 per 
cent, of nitrogen. You need 625 pounds 
to give you this amount. The analysis 
calls for 120 pounds of phosphoric acid. 
A good sample of acid phosphate gives 
14 per cent. Thus you need 850 pounds 
of this; of potash 140 pounds are guar¬ 
anteed in the ton. Sulphate of potash 
contains 50 per cent of potash and 300 
pounds will fill the bill. Thus with 
1775 pounds of these chemicals you can 
supply the plant food in the lowest 
guarantee of this fertilizer. We should 
make a complete ton as follows: 700 
pounds of nitrate of soda, 350 sulphate 
of potash and 950 pounds acid phosphate. 
. This may not be fully equal to the “top 
dresser,” because the latter may contain 
. sulphate of ammonia and ground bone 
in addition to the other chemicals. 
CROP NOTES. 
Our season lias been very late and bloom 
very much injured. We had a very cold 
snap March 15 that killed a good many of 
the apple buds, but we have a tine prospect 
for a crop of apples in this section. 
Virginia. SAMUEL s. gueruaxt. 
Growing weather has struck Southern 
Michigan, and the promise of <a good har¬ 
vest seems bright. Prospect good for fruit, 
although fruit is not properly cared for in 
this part r. C; a. 
Coldwater, Mich. 
Apples and small fruit promise full crop, 
peaches about 10 per cent, of crop, not 
enough fruit grown for local markets. Few 
people spraying; most every one setting 
trees. j. e. c. 
Walkersville, W. Va. 
April was one solid downpour of rain. 
May opens up with much promise, and 
everything is being rapidly worked up. I 
ate ripe peaches this year on April 29, the 
earliest 1 ever ate them. I have a huge 
pecan crop this year. s. h. James. 
Louisiana. > 
Early blooming apples were nearly all 
killed here March 14 with a temperature of 
7°, but late bloomers like Rome Beauty are 
all right yet. They are three weeks later 
than last year in blooming, and a week 
later than I ever saw them. u. t. cox. 
Lawrence Co., Ohio. 
What’s the matter with Catawba Island, 
O. ? Millions of peach buds and not a 
single cold rain, peach trees in full bloom 
and the weather ideal for fertilizing. Prom¬ 
ise big for a rousing peach crop this season. 
Our island of 3,500 acres is largely set to 
peaches, though pears, cherries, plums and 
apples have a share in fruit production. 
We are not the largest fruit section in the 
world, but we can't be beaten in the quality 
and beauty of our Elbertas, Smocks and 
Balways. j. w. g. 
Catawba Island, O. 
William Wilson, of Orleans Co., N. Y., was 
using a two-horse rake to gather up the 
brush in his orchard. When I asked him 
about it he said that his hired man wanted 
to go and see his “best girl,” and wanting 
to help him out he thought he’d see if he 
could improve on the hand method of gath¬ 
ering up the brush, so he tried the rake. 
Finding it worked line, he took the guard 
rods out of back and also had the man go 
ahead and trim out the big wood and throw 
It between the rows. lie then came along 
and when the rake was full he would drive 
up to the fire, dump it with the hand lever 
and kept one man busy throwing it on the 
lire. lie had cleaned up as much in one day 
this way as would ordinarily have taken 
three or four. E. e. l. 
The promise was good for fruit but the 
weather is very dry, and things do not look 
as well as they should. Then the hard 
freezes of the past week have burned the 
foliage on almost all kinds of fruit, and 
I have found damage to some blossoms; to 
what extent this will eventually prove I 
do not know. However, the conditions to 
my mind are not ideal for a bumper crop 
of anything this year, but would not be 
surprised if conditions improve and we have 
a good average crop of many things. Rye 
is the poorest I have ever seen, with grats, 
oats, etc., very backward; few potatoes 
planted yet or corn ground ready, although 
I expect to plant both next week, beginning 
to-morrow, May 8. Small fruits have win¬ 
tered poorer than common. w. H. 
Columbia Co., N. Y. 
The past month has been quite backward, 
except on the 28th and 29th, when we were 
treated to Summer heat, as the mercury 
touched 80° in the shade. It was quite a 
test for man and beast. Plowing has been 
going on for about eight or 10 days. Quite 
a good many have sown their oats. Wheat 
is looking fine, the best for years, thick 
on the ground and good color. New seed¬ 
ing has come through finely, and the rain 
the last few days and warm weather is mak¬ 
ing it jump. Everybody is busy with the 
orchard trimming and especially so in spray¬ 
ing. There is a large amount of lime-sul¬ 
phur being used on apple trees. Several 
new spraying outfits have been sold here. 
Wheat has gone up to 80 cents; oats 35, 
potatoes 25, wool 15 to 18; veal six cents 
per pound; young pigs $0 per pair. Out¬ 
look for fruit good, apricots in bloom. 
Canandaigua, N. Y. e. t. b. 
The Ohio Department of Agriculture in 
its May report states among other reports 
that the wheat crop is encouraging. Area 
is greater and growing condition better than 
one year ago. On April 1 condition of wheat 
was estimated at 84 per cent compared with 
an average. During the past month it has 
gained three per cent, its condition being 
now estimated at 87 per cent. On the cor¬ 
responding date one year ago condition was 
estimated at 85 per cent. The acreage of 
clover is estimated at 91 per cent compared 
with the area seeded last year. Fruit pros¬ 
pects are estimated at 91 per cent compared 
with a normal yield. The following report 
on fruit is furnished by the Nursery and 
Orchard Division of this department: “In-, 
spectors’ observation shows that throughout 
Southeastern Ohio and river counties east 
of Scioto, apple orchards on hill land have a 
very light setting of fruit buds, undoubtedly 
due to drouth of July and August of preced¬ 
ing year. In Central and Southeastern Ohio, 
where apples were a total failure last year, 
promises are for a full crop. Frost has de¬ 
stroyed about 80 per cent of peach buds, 
early blooming pear, plum and cherry, 
throughout Central and Southern Ohio. All 
kinds of fruit in Northern and Eastern Ohio 
in good condition and no injury reported.” 
GOVERNMENT CROP REPORT. 
At the beginning of May there were 31,- 
307.000 acres in Winter wheat in this 
country, about nine per cent of last Fall's 
sowing having been abandoned. The aver¬ 
age condition of the crop is 86.1 per cent. 
The average condition of meadow lands on 
May 1 was 84.7, compared with 89.8 on 
May 1, 1910, and a 10-year average on 
May 1 of 89.4. Stocks of hay on farms 
is estimated at 7,546,000 tons (12.4 per 
cent of crop) against 7.275.000 tons 
(11.2%) on May 1, 1910. The average 
condition of pastures on May 1 was 81.3, 
compared with 89.3 on May 1, 1910, and a 
10-year average on May 1 of 87.4. Of 
Spring plowing 71% was completed up to 
May 1, compared with 80.3% on May 1. 
1910, and a 10-year average on May 1 of 
67.2. Of Spring planting 60.0% was com¬ 
pleted up to May 1, compared with 65.0% 
and 51.9% on May 1, 1910 and 1909, re¬ 
spectively. 
A NEW AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
A number of the residents of Mbrris- 
towu and Bernardsville, N. .1., among whom 
were Wm. B. Blackwell, Walter l 3 . Bliss, 
John Clallin, G. G. Frelinghuysen, Geo. W. 
Jenkins, R. V. Lindabury, D. II. McAlpin, 
Franklin Murphy, Jos. W. Ogden, R. H. 
Thomas, Arthur Whitney and others, who 
have become deeply interested in agricul¬ 
tural life, met in New York in February 
past and organized a farmers’ club, re¬ 
stricted to the farmers of northern New 
Jersey, called the North Jersey Society for 
the Promotion of Agriculture. This society 
has established an office in the city of New 
York, and has placed the same in charge 
of John II. Voorhees, who is to be the man¬ 
aging secretary of the society. This office 
will be a bureau of information to which 
the members of the society may resort in 
time of need, and will also be a purchasing 
agency for general farm supplies. Co-op¬ 
eration among agriculturists, especially in 
the purchase of farm supplies, has become 
so popular and successful in Great Britain 
and in the more advanced agricultural com¬ 
munities in this country, that the members 
feel assured it will succeed and prove sat¬ 
isfactory in North Jersey. Through this 
co-operative scheme it is believed that 
members will save many times over their 
annual dues, besides getting what they pay 
for and knowing what they get. In addi¬ 
tion to the foregoing the society will ar¬ 
range for meetings of its members in the 
city in Winter and in the country in the 
Summer season, to the farming community 
in general. 
Mr. Voorhees has now taken up his du¬ 
ties as managing secretary and is gather¬ 
ing books and bulletins to compose a library 
on agricultural subjects to be used as a 
reference library by the members of the 
society. He is also endeavoring to secure 
information along lines which will aid in 
the purchase of seeds, fertilizers and ma¬ 
chinery by means of catalogues, pamphlets, 
etc., from the various firms and brokers. 
CINDERS RUSTING FENCING. 
I have a galvanized wire yard which I 
keep my chickens in that has been in use 
for several years. I live close to a rolling 
mill, and tliev burn coal. They filled my 
back yard with, the cinders and had my 
fence covered for a long time. Now about 
three strands are under the cinders; it has 
not rusted any yet. w. F. K. 
Wellsyille, O. 
On page 464 a subscriber asks about coal 
cinders rusting or rotting galvanized iron 
fence wire. The writer has seen the effects 
of cinders and does not hesitate to say that 
they will cause fence to rust in a very short 
time, under certain condition. The specific 
case with which I am familiar was one in 
which a dealer had a store room with a 
cinder bottom, upon which was laid boards, 
just enough to keep the fence from the cin¬ 
ders. When the rolls of fencing were re¬ 
moved the part where there was no board 
to protect it was very badly rusted, al¬ 
though it did not come in direct contact 
with the cinder floor. It naturally follows 
that this fence was not as good as if it 
had not been rusted in these places, as it 
was no stronger than the weakest point. 
This fence had not been in the house for 
any great length of time, yet the galvaniz¬ 
ing was all gone where not protected by the 
boards. As to whether cinders would affect 
galvanizing in the open air I do not know, 
but I do know that it did in the above 
mentioned store house. f. m. l. 
Norwalk, O. 
“For the Land’s Sake, use Bowker’s 
Fertilizers; they enrich the earth and 
those who till it.”— Adv. 
The i "BOSS” POT A TO DIGGER 
Has nev¬ 
er been 
beaten 
in trials. 
We can 
f n r n ish 
testimo¬ 
nials, on 
request, 
from all 
parts 
of the 
country. 
Write for cata¬ 
log, prices, &c. 
This machine is not a new tiling, 1 ut lias been thorough¬ 
ly tested in all kinds of soil, and under all conditions, 
and pronounced —as its name implies—tho EOSS OF 
ALL DIGGERS, 
ind today 
is in use 
1. y the 
best 
potato 
raisers in 
the country. It weighs about 500 
pounds, and is easily hand led by 
TWO HORSES. It is so adjusted that 
the operator can dig every row and 
deliver them on one side of the field, 
making them easy to pick up. It 
will dig an uneven surface, and on side hill as well 
as on the 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. 
Farmers 
ELUS 
CHAMPION 
THRESHERS 
are equally well suited to tlireshenneu 
and grain growers desirous of doing their 
own work. Herewith is shown Ellis Cham¬ 
pion No. S£ complete with st; 
elevator and grain bagger; open 
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 giving full information about these machines. 
ELLIS KEYSTONE AGRICULTURAL WORKS , 
Do Your Own Threshing! 
You can save the cost of a rig 
in a few years besides doing the 
conveni¬ 
ent time 
Poitstown t Pa, 
FRUIT FARMS vs. GOLD MINES 
500,000 New StoneTomato Plants For Sale 
From selected seed that'•grow the big crops ready 
June tne First. $1.00 per 1000; 5000 for $4,00. 
CELERY. CABGAGE, RUBY KING PEPPER, CAULIFLOWER and 
SWEET POTATO PLANTS in their season. 
Send for our tun Catalog 
If you want 50,000 or 100,000 Tomato Plants we can 
supply you with extra fine plants. ROMANCE SEED 8 
PLANT FARM, CALEB BOGGS 8 SON, CHESW0LD, DEL. 
OLYMPIC NATURE NURSERY 
Rhododendrons, Madronas,Oregon Grapes, Huckle¬ 
berries and other wild shrubs, plants and flowers. 
By mail, 10 for 50 cents, 24 for SI.00 postpaid. 
Money hack if not satisfied. 
JOEI, SHOMAKKK, Nellita, "Washington. 
The Dowden Potato Digger Is a machine yon can 
absolutely depend on to do its work well all the time. 
Combining simplicity with great digging capacity— 
you can save the price of a digger in a short time by 
getting all the potatoes and eliminating repair hills to 
a minimum. 
Catalog free. It tells ail about the digger—how It is 
made and what it will do. Can be operated by a boy. 
Dowden Mfg. Co., 1122 Elm St., Prairie City, Iowa 
I N WESTERN MICHIGAN fruit farms 
can be paid for out of profits in four 
years. Here many fruit growers are 
earning SCO to 100 per cent on valuations 
of $500 an acre. These are strong statements 
but we are prepared to back them up with 
facts and figures that will convince you. 
We have no land for sale ! Our business is 
simply to tell about this last 
“ LAND OF OPPORTUNITY ” 
with the climate, the soil, the location, the 
transportation facilities, and the 
“ FRUIT WITH FLAVOR ” 
that makes it the best of all regions in which to live and prosper. 
Good fruit lands can still be bought for from $20 an acre up; improved land 
costs from $35 an acre up, bearing orchards from $100 to $500 an acre. 
Our 48-page, beautifully illustrated art magazine, 
giving detailed information, FREE. Send for it! 
Excursions into Western Michigan on all lines the first and third Tuesdays of each month. COME! 
WESTERN MICHIGAN DEVELOPMENT BUREAU 
1004 State Bank Building, Traverse City, Michigan 
DON’T neglect to find out about 
The Acre-Aii-Hour Sifter, 
the new invention. Applies dry Bor¬ 
deaux, Cement, Lime, Plaster or 
Screened Ashes with Paris Green to 
Potatoes, Cucumbers, Currants, etc., 
as fast as a man can walk. Covers 
instantly and perfectly plant 3 ft. in 
diameter ; one man can treat an acre 
in one to two hours. Best implement 
for the busiuess ever invented. Sam¬ 
ple by express, 7*»c. Prepaid by mail 
only, buyer’s risk, $1. Splendid In. 
(lumiient to agents ACRE-A>'-HOUR 
SIFTER CO., Po ugli keep si e, N\ Y. 
Protect Your Corn from Crows ! 
Stanley’s 
Crow Repellent 
will insure full protection of corn from crows and 
other birds and save expense and loss of replanting. 
$1.00 per can delivered nearest Express office. 
THEO. A. STANLEY, New Britain. Ct. 
HARRISON’S NURSERIES 
has been built up by finality trees from a small 
beginning to the largest nursery in America—more 
than 2,000 acres devoted to crowing trees, plants, 
vines and ornamental stock. Buy of a responsible 
grower and get what you pay for. Address 
HARRISON’S NURSERIES 
Ten Valuable Farms For Sale. BOX 421, Berlin, Md. 
_PRIVET HEDGING- 
-SPECIAL 2 YEAR . . . 
12 to 18 in. ® $1.25 per 100.$10.00 per 1000 
18 to 24 in. to $1.50 per 100.*1:5.00 per 1000 
This is all well branched 
TERMS - - CASH WITH ORDER 
JOS. H. BLACK. SON 8 CO.. HIGHTSTOWN, N. J. 
CAR C A I C—Cow Peas, $2 50 to $3.00 bushel; 
rUll «HLl Crimson Clover Seed, $8.50bushel: 
Black-Eyed Peas. $3.00 bushel. 
JOSEPH E. HOLLAND 
Milford. Del. 
PI ARIT^— Cabbage—Early Jersey, Chn'leston, Wakefield, $1 
I LAN I 0 p«rl,000. Karlin tin, emcees*, Chalk** Jewel, 
Bouny Best, and Freedom, $2 per J.ouu. J. LUCAS, Ashland,Yal 
Dewdrop Everbearing Strawberry 
Largest in the World. Bears I irst Season. Free 
circular. H. F. JDEAV, Albion, Midi. 
Ciu( 1 d| Pnfatn Plante only $2.00 per 1000, special 
OWcei ruifliu ridlllb prices on 5000 lots. Price 
list free. W. S. FORD & SON, Hartly, Del. 
S TRAWBERRY PLANTS—New and old varieties. Send 
for new Iilus. Catalogue for 1911. Prices from 
$1.50 per 1,000 up. DAVID RODWAY, Hartly, Dei. 
C A11 HA UK PLANTS of all kinds, $1 per 1000; Tomato and Sweet 
Potato Plants. $1.00 per 1000; Caulitlow'er ami Peppers, $2.00 
per 1000. I’lancs ready for field. J. O. Schmidt, Bristol, P«. 
rnn C A I C—900.000 Sweet Potato Plants. Tomato 
lUll OMLCaiul Cabbage Plants. Send today for 
catalogue. Fine plants. M. N. BORGO, Vineland, N. J. 
SALESMEN WANTED 1 A N]It V' I. A N TS S 
Free orrtfit. Commission paid weekly. Write for 
terms. PERRY NURSERIES,Rochester, New York 
T 1 
iHE FARMERS’ NATIONAL BANK of Union 
City, Michigan, located at Union City, in the 
State of Michigan, is closing its affairs. Ail note 
holders and other creditors of the association are 
therefore hereby notified to present the notes a-., 
other claims for payment. p, t >t T v. t t 
Dated April 28* 1911. D ‘ D - BUEL L, 1 * est. 
Potato Digging Time Coming 
—Buy a Dowden Digger Now 
