«6« 
<THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
August 26. 
FARMERS’ CLUB 
[ Every query must be accompanied by the 
name and address of the writer to insure 
attention. Before ashing 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 Rat-Proof Corncrib. 
cr 
I have read the directions of W. E. 
Duckwall, on page 798, how to build a 
corncrib that will be rat-proof, in an¬ 
swer to the inquiry of A. D. J., of 
Sandy Hook, Conn. I have a rat-proof 
corncrib that is neither elevated nor has 
it flaring sides. I converted an ordin¬ 
ary building erected for another purpose 
into a corncrib by removing the siding 
from the sides and nailing on slats in 
the usual manner. I covered the sides 
with a galvanized woven wire having 
a half-inch mesh, commonly known as 
pigeon wire. The floor in the building 
was poor. This I covered completely 
with the pigeon wire, laying a new floor 
of a cheap grade of one and one-fourth 
inch spruce flooring on the top of the 
wire. To give the corn all the air pos¬ 
sible, I keep all the windows open, and 
these I have also covered with the wire. 
The building has now been used three 
years for the storage of corn in this 
manner,' and although my premises are 
infested with rats, not one has found an 
entrance to the corn. As the building 
was in need of a new floor, the only ad¬ 
ditional expense was the cost of the 
wire, about $15, which was fully paid 
for in one year’s protection. 1 raise the 
12-row Dutton corn, and it preserves 
perfectly in this crib. J. n. L. 
Chatham Center, N. Y. 
Killing “Paint Brush” by Feeding. 
I note on page 752 I). R. B. inquires 
about hawkweed, or as it is commonly 
called hereabouts paint brush. You tell 
him to destroy with salt. Salt will do 
the trick, but if his conditions are; 
similar to conditions hereabouts the 
hawkweed will reoccupy the ground 
as soon as the effects of the salt passes 
away, it apparently being impossible 
to bring back grasses in place of this 
thrifty plant, unless there is consider¬ 
able humus and available plant food 
present. For the last 10 years I have 
been making a practice of hauling 
manure made during the Summer sea¬ 
son on to the pasture and applying on 
the spots most infested with paint brush. 
The results have been very gratifying. 
The manure will not completely eradi¬ 
cate the evil, yet it does enable grass 
and clover to come back. The first 
year the cattle will not eat down the 
manured spots, and the grasses go to 
seed, which produces a splendid stand 
the next year. I have not found it 
necessary to sow any grass seed; ap¬ 
parently there was enough in the manure 
and ground. My pasture was in some 
places completely occupied by paint 
brush. These spots I treated first, and 
there is hardly any paint brush in them 
yet. When I have been able to go com¬ 
pletely over the whole pasture 1 intend 
to recommence on these spots and 
gradually go over it again. 
F. E. MEEHAN. 
St. Lawrence Co., N. Y. 
This note was referred to Prof. H. E. 
Cook, head of the agricultural school at 
Canton, who says: 
“My experience with hawkweed has 
been about like this. It grows very 
largely because the fertility, that is 
available fertility, has been so reduced 
that the grasses will not make a crop 
strong enough to cover the ground. I 
do not think, however, that fertility 
will always be a saving grace. To illus¬ 
trate, if large patches of hawkweed are 
located near what is otherwise good 
land they stand as a constant menace to 
this adjacent territory, and may at such 
time seed on good land. I know that 
applications of manure will encourage 
the growth of grasses far more than it 
will the hawkweed. I am sure also that 
the use of stable manure is a much more 
effective means of increasing grass 
growth and reducing hawkweed growth 
than chemicals, because the stable 
manure prevents close grazing, while 
ihe chemicals do not, and close grazing 
is responsible to a very great extent for 
weeds and inferior pastures. The grass 
plants cannot stand close grazing and 
do their best. There is no mulch nor 
shade, and when the dry time comes the 
plants are so reduced in vitality that 
they never fully recover, and so by the 
very law of the fitness of things and 
adjustment to environment only the 
plant survives which can live under 
those conditions, and it happens that 
the plants which do survive produce 
very small amount of forage. I think 
the use of salt is a fake. Of course 
enough salt will kill hawkweed, but it is 
impracticable. Whether one should 
seek to recover these pastures by plac¬ 
ing them in the rotation or by improv¬ 
ing them as pastures I think is purely 
a local question, that is, a human ques¬ 
tion, and can only be determined and 
settled by the owner. Whether he has 
facilities for plowing and cultivating, 
or not, whether the land is rough or 
smooth and these dozen and one factors 
which enter into the intelligent solution 
of any problem.” 
The Exhibits at New York Fairs. 
As the State of New York pays 80 per 
cent of the premium money given out at 
the various exhibitions, it seems but right 
that it should say something about how 
the money should be spent. We suppose 
of course that those in charge of the de¬ 
partment look over our lists and know 
something about the prizes given, but as 
we understand it the State help is for 
the promotion of better live stock, grains, 
vegetables, fruits, etc. Do they look over 
the prize lists and realize how many dol¬ 
lars go to pay for embroidery, art relics, 
etc., for which no entry fee is paid? The 
live stock men are required to pay entry 
fees, transportation expenses, hay and fet'd 
bills, staud the chances of injury to ani¬ 
mals through handling, etc., and receive in 
cases of good luck very little over ex¬ 
penses. Now if faneywork such as hand- 
painted hair receivers, erocheted shawls, 
and embroidered laundry bags are of 
enough importance to provide a place for 
on our fair grounds and hire night watch¬ 
men to look after, let those who enter them 
and carry off good money pay the entry 
fee of 10 per cent of iirst money, the same 
as the man who enters the cattle, hogs, 
sheep and poultry. The domestic hall ex¬ 
hibits are brought in by trunkfuls, prob¬ 
ably carried by the railroads as baggage. 
It costs each society money for entry- 
clerks to enter them, girls to care for 
them, expert judges to judge them, and of 
course they must have a good waterproof 
building and night watch. If any are 
lost the society is holden for damages. On 
the other hand, the live stock men care for 
their stock, pay for their feed, hay, etc., 
also carting same, unless delivered free, 
which is the case with many. They have 
to board their help, and in the case of 
cattle it takes more or less if they get 
good care. Cattle shown at the fairs show 
a shrinkage in supply of milk by being 
shipped from one place to another, and 
being of a nervous temperament have to 
be well fed to keep in good showing con¬ 
dition. 
Expenses of town and county fairs are 
on the increase. Ivook over the books and 
see if much useless stuff cannot be cut 
out and give place to that which is of use 
to mankind; if we need the art needle¬ 
work, etc., which beautifies our homes let 
those who enter hand over the entry fee. 
An exhibitor who expects $10 or $20 in 
prizes will not hesitate to pay 10 per cent 
to enter, if the association makes it neces¬ 
sary. This money will help the society 
holding the exhibition to pay the expenses. 
Let us consider the matter and act accord¬ 
ingly. _ H. M. L. 
Crops in Western New York. 
I took a trolley ride from Rochester to 
Fulton, and you may he interested in what 
I saw. Oats nearly all out and housed. 
Dry weather cut into fine prospect of fiye 
or * six weeks ago badly. Yield will be 
below average. Beans, large acreage, look 
ing very T well as a rule. Usually free from 
weeds. So far as 1 could see no evidence 
of rust. Pastures good, at least they are 
green, although they looked as though 
they were fed closely. Corn looks badly 
iu many places. Some fields are good, but 
ou the average they are below par. If the 
crop averages GO per cent of a full yield 
1 shall be surprised. Potatoes, the poorest 
outlook 1 have seen in nearly 20 years. 
There is not one good looking field be¬ 
tween Rochester and Fulton. The stand 
is poor, the vines are weak and spindling, 
blight or dry weather has turned many 
lots brown, bugs have had their innings. 
To say the crop will be 50 per cent of 
the 1910 crop is giving the crop the bene¬ 
fit of the doubt. A few days ago I talked 
witli a farmer living near Rochester in the 
potato section. He told of one field on a 
very good farm where the potatoes are 
just coming up. Said his own early pota¬ 
toes were just beginning to dig. about a 
month behind other years, are about two 
inches in diameter and two to four in a 
hill. They have been soiling at $1.60 per 
bushel on the public market here this 
week. If imported potatoes don’t come in 
this Winter the farmer will get from GO 
cents to $ 1 . What will the poor people 
in eities pay who buy one-quarter peck at 
a time? 1 suppose the report of enormous 
crops iu Michigan, Maine. Pennsylvania 
and other potato-growing States will be 
made by the commission men and buyers, 
but don’t you for one minute believe the 
crop is enormous in western New York. It 
is not one-half a good average, crop. 
C. I. 
“For the Land’s Sake, use Bowker’s 
Fertilizers; they enrich the earth and 
those who till it.”— Adv. 
For Sale—GOLD COIN SEED WHEAT 
('lean, plump, productive. $1.25 a bushel in new 
bags. C. R. MELLEN, Geneva, New York. 
CDIIIT TDCCC and plants of all kinds at 
iVlUl I I need Reasonable Prices. Send 
for Price List. BASIL PERRY, D. 18, Cool Spring, Del 
AN 
OTTO 
ENGINE 
ON THE 
FARM 
Will give you the same satisfaction as has 
been derived by over 100,000 Otto owners 
now using them for every conceivable 
power purpose. 
Here is a one-horse-power rig that you 
can depend upon. It won’t go back on you 
in the middle of the job. Water cooled ; sight- 
feed oilers; high-grade material and work¬ 
manship throughout. Let it save your back. 
It will operate the small machinery 24 hours 
a day if required. 
We ought to know how. Been at it 
forty-five years. 
The OTTO has been awarded 475 medals 
and diplomas since the first one in 1867 . 
Such endorsement from the mechanical 
experts of the world is one proof of merit. 
Write at once for full description. Our 
prices are right. OTTO engines have al 
ways proved to be the cheapest in the end. 
Be sure to look over the OTTO line at 
the Fairs this Fall. 
7 You will find our exhibit at Syracuse, 
Trenton, Allentown, Reading, Williams 
Grove, Hagerstown, etc. 
THE 0TT0 GAS ENGINE WORKS 
3304 WALNUT STREET 
PHILADELPHIA, PA. 
Make Your 
Loading Easy 
Out out the backache*, strains and raptures by 
using low Empire Steel Wheels for your farm 
hauling. You can put on a bigger load. Half the 
work. Half the time. Save your team. Don’t 
cut up your fields. 
EMPIRE LOW 
STEEL WHEELS 
cost only one-hal f as much as wood¬ 
en wheels. They save you tire cut¬ 
ting and repair expense. Yoj can 
change yonr wooden wheels for your 
Empire Steel Wheels any time in5minute*. 
Send for free catalog showing wheels and 
low-priced Empire Bandy Wagons. 
Empire Mfg. Co.. Box 96M Quincy, III. 
APPLE BARRELS “{A rt LOTS OR 
or Hoops. 
ESS. Also Heads 
ROBT. GILLIES. Medina, N. Y. 
W E SELL FARMS in Oceana, best Comity in U. S. 
Fruit, Alfalfa. Grain.Vegetables, Stock, Poul¬ 
try. J. D. S. HANSON & SON, Hart, Mich. 
IRfl FarmQ KOK SAUC FHKAP, in fertile 
IJU rdllliO Delaware Valley. New catalogue 
and map free. Horace (l Rekdjcr, Nfltvtown, Pa. 
New York State Farms “i Jj 
the State. Catalog free to parties intending to buy. 
NORTHERN REALTY CO., Syracuse, New York. 
CADM? Circular free. Dept. 151, 1,elands’ 
I ntllilO Karin Agency, 31 Milk St., Boston 
FAR ^Al F- If yon want the best farms for tbe 
1 Ull OnLL money, send for our large free catalog. 
H A LL’S FA RM AGENCY, Owego, Tioga Co., N.Y. 
APPI E TRFF^—All kinds Trees and Plants. 
"* rr , *■ 1 l,Lt v Prices reasonable. Salesmen 
Wanted. Mitchell’s Nursery, Beverly, Ohio 
2000 Acres in Nurseries— 10 Valuable Farms For Sale, 
- Harrison’s Nurseries, Berlin, Md. 
CATALOG FREE 
MEYER & 
SON, 
Bridgeville, Del. 
Dpnrh ELBERTA 
r'eacn The Besl 
Strawberry {“° R 
Hyacinths, Darwin and other 
Tulips, Narcissus and Crocus, 
Easter Lilies and hardy Japan 
and Native Lilies. English, 
Spanish and Japan Iris. Freesias, 
Calochortus and Trilliums, and all 
other Native and Foreign Bulbs 
and Roots in endless variety. 
The La rgest Assortment in America 
CATALOGUE NOW READY 
Mailed free for the asking 
J. M. THORBURN & CO. 
33 Barclay Street Dept. Y New York 
TDCCC f Gy tbe Millions. A complete line 
I r.r.il 1 at wholesale prices. Large supply 
* • of peach trees and Privet Hedging. 
The Westminster Nursery, Westminster, Maryland 
JONES SEED WHEAT 
Pure and Well Cleaned. “St. Louis Grand Prize” and 
“Red Wave.” Two of the best yielding and fly re¬ 
sisting wheats grown. Send for samples and prices 
to J. N. McPHERSON, Pine View Farm, Scottsviile. N. Y 
Alfalfa Clover 
Should be sown during August and Sep¬ 
tember. We offer high grade seed and 
will send you sample and prices on re¬ 
quest. 
Crimson Clover 
the groat soil improver; also oarlv green 
food, graz-ng and hay. Stw.ialeireula'-, 
sample anti price of seed ou request. 
Winter Vetch 
(Vicia Villosa 
Valuable as a winter cover crop and for 
green manure. Extremely burdy. Write 
for price. _ 
Dreer’s Autumn Catalog 
Ready early in September and mailed free to 
all applicants: offers Seeds, Plants and liu.bs 
for Fall planting. Write for a copy. 
HENRY A. DREER 
PHILADELPHIA, PA 
Seed Wheat and Bye 
ST. LOUIS’ PRIZE, RED WAVE mu> LEIP’S 
PROLIFIC WHEAT 
NEW PITCUS RYE A Very Superior New Variety 
Hairy Vetch, Alfalfa and Grass Seeds of highest 
grade at right prices. Pleaso ask for price i.st. 
JOSEPH HARRIS COr, C0LDWA N T |£ yo «k 
C 
DOUBLE YOUR INCOME 
>1 
Alfalfa makes Milk, Beef and Pork at low 
cost For dean seed, pulverized lime and 
inoculated soil, address: 
D. O. KiLUFT’MA.lNr 
35 IV. Phcta. St. r York, Pa. 
SEED WHEAT. TIMOTHY AND CRASS SEEDS 
TIMOTHY SEED an< ! ;ilsl ''°- both ne\> crop, 
llmuini OkCU . im j without n singe weed. 
Also allalfa, vetcli and crimson clover 
O. M. Scott & Son, 1U0 Main st., Marysville. Ohio. 
GOOD SEED WHEAT-SrU'StrN 1 ;, 
that bring results—35 to 48 bushels per acre. Red 
Wave, Gypsy, White Fultz. Improved Poole. Har¬ 
vest King, Rudy, Winter King and Red Wonder 
Ask for our Special Wheat Circular; it’s free. 
MACE & MANSFIELD, Greenville, Ohio 
Tnrro Ft,H FALL PLANTING. We 
nrr \ have the finest stands of pear, plum. 
I ||1_|_0 cherry ever grown in the Upper 
Genesee Valley. Write us today. 
KING BKOS. NURSERIES, Hnnsvilte, N.Y. 
FRUIT TREES 
We are ready to take orders for Fall Delivery 
for BLACK’S QUALITY TREES. 
. . . Send for Booklet . . . 
JOS. H. BLACK, SON & CO . HIGHTSTOWN, N. J. 
I will give 
scale Is my patented 
steel frame 6 Ton Pitlesa 
Scale. Full particulars by asking 
“JONES, he pays the freight,’* 
this Scale 
free to the subscriber to this 
paper who will send 
me before Oct. 1st. 
1911, the best short 
article on “Why 
should every farmer 
have a scale.” The 
20 Tee St., 
Binghamton, N. Y- 
HAVE YOU 
CONQUERED 
SAN JOSE SCALE ? 
We guarantee it can be done with "Scalecide” for less money, with less effort, and more effectively than with Lime-Sulfur 
or anything else. Scalecide may be mixed anywhere, iu any kind of a tank or barrel that is clean. “Scalecide” does 
not corrode the pumps or clog the nozzle; consequently the pumps work very much easier, with less labor wear and tear 
Scalecide will not injure the most delicate skin, ~~ A -- 1 -' 
or injury. “Scalecide” 
Australia, because experiei 
use of “Scalecide.” and i 
will bring you by re tun 
booklet^ scalecide the x ree-rsaver. n your dealer cannot suppljr ocuieciue we win oeuver it, to any 
in tnej. nited States east of the .Mississippi and north,of the Ohio rivers on receipt, of price : 50-gal. hbls 
New York City. 
hi .; —- -.v—r,..— ...no rivers on receipt, of price : 50-gal hills $25 00 • 30-gal. 
bbls., $16.00 : 10-gal. cans, $0.75 ; 5-gal. cans, $3.75. Address : B. G. Pratt Co., 50 Church‘street. k 
