Alia 
THE KUKAL NEW-YORKER 
November 18 , 
FARMERS’ CLUB 
[ Every query must 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. 
Pu' questions on a separate piece of paper.] 
Transplanting Wild Blackberries. 
E. V. H., Brownstown, Ind .—I am going 
to set out a patch of blackberries to cul¬ 
tivate ; Would wild berries from choice 
patch in old field do as well under cultiva¬ 
tion as the kinds taken from cultivated 
plots? 
Ans. —We do not recommend this 
practice; better plant good varieties of 
cultivated plants. A Connecticut reader 
who tried this told us several years ago 
that under cultivation the wild briers 
gave a lot of fruit, but of inferior size 
and quality. A California experimenter 
wrote us that he had transplanted many 
briers from his orchard in the hope of 
getting a natural cross of Mammoth 
Black - and Logan or Phenomenal, but 
had never succeeded. An Ohio corre¬ 
spondent says that he has secured some 
good plants in this way. But it must 
be remembered that such plantings are 
experimental; for an assured crop of 
uniform fruit, cultivated sorts must be 
used. 
Making Mushroom Spawn. 
.7. B. /?., Baltimore, Md.—l have learned 
to grow mushrooms successfully in Winter, 
but cannot make my own spawn. Can 
you help me? I should like to be able to 
put it up in brick form such as can be 
found at seed stores. 
Ans. —Mushroom spawn, or myce¬ 
lium, shows in the form of numerous 
line white threads ramifying in the 
ground in which mushrooms are grown. 
It will keep for a long time in a cool 
dry place, but dryness is essential. The 
bricks in which English spawn is incor- 
.porated are a mixture of horse manure, 
cow manure and loam, which Is thor¬ 
oughly mixed and moistened until like 
mortar. This is spread out until it be¬ 
gins to dry, when it is cut into bricks. 
While the brick is still moist a hole 
the size of a walnut is made in it, and 
fresh mycelium from a place where 
mushrooms are growing is inserted. 
The brick is then placed in a mild hot¬ 
bed or otherwise under cover, where 
with proper conditions the spawn 
spreads all through it, until the brick 
has a grayish cloudy look. It is then 
dried and stored. What is called “vir¬ 
gin spawn,’’ however, is made by in¬ 
oculating the material of which the 
bricks are made with the spores from 
the gills of ripe mushrooms. It is be¬ 
lieved by expert growers that the con¬ 
tinuous use of mycelium tends in time 
to cause smaller crops and thin-fleshed 
mushrooms. Everyone who has grown 
mushrooms under the benches of a 
greenhouse has had experience with 
volunteer mushrooms of extra quality 
which appear occasionally, doubtless 
from spores. Our own experience has 
been confined to purchased commercial 
spawn, but if we were making it we 
would try both mycelium and spores, 
permitting some exceptionally fine speci¬ 
mens to ripen. Of course the brick in¬ 
oculated with spores should be treated 
like the other to encourage growth of 
mycelium before drying. 
cannot be mined economically. When 
Congress meets the subject will be 
brought up. It has long been known 
that there are stores of potash in this 
country. Certain rocks contain from 
five to 12 per cent, or more, but it has 
been found too expensive to make it 
available. The green sand marls in 
New Jersey show from four to six per 
cent and w'ere formerly used freely. On 
the Pacific coast are several lakes the 
waters of which contain potash in so¬ 
lution. One of those, Owens Lake, near 
Los Angeles, is estimated to contain 
8 .000.000 tons of potash in its waters, 
but this material could not be eco¬ 
nomically taken out. The most prom¬ 
ising source is the salt mines scattered 
over the West. We have little doubt 
that before many years potash will be 
found underlying the layers of salt. 
Analysis of Fertilizer. 
W, M. W., Veto York .—Would you tell 
me the analysis of one ton phosphate 
(Thomas) and one ton of kainit mixed 
with one ton of hen manure? Please in¬ 
form me if this mixture is as good as 
commercial fertilizer, which analyzes 2-8- 
i«. 
Ans.—A ssuming that the phosphate 
and hen manure are average samples 
and that the hen manure is dry and fine, 
you would have the following: 
Nitrogen Pbos. acid Potash 
3 ton phosphate ... 360 
1 ton kainit . 
1 ton hen manure...40 34 
250 
20 
That means 13 pounds nitrogen, 130 
pounds phosphoric acid and 100 pounds 
potash per ton. Of course this is too 
low in nitrogen. It is a poor mixture 
anyway. The phosphate contains about 
800 pounds of lime which, when mixed 
with the manure, will act to drive off 
ammonia. The kainit when mixed with 
the phosphate will probably form 
chloride of lime, a soluble form, which 
will wash out of the soil. 
A Cement Water Trough. 
How many barrels of water will a cistern 
hold 3 0 foot deep. 3 0 feet diameter? Will 
to hold 200 gallons, and is hrick better 
than concrete to build it with? What 
is the best way to make a concrete water¬ 
ing trough ? How much material should 1 
use? Would woven wire do for reinforce¬ 
ment? H. b. D. 
Darlington, Pa. 
The mathematical part of this question 
was turned over to my wife, who claims 
to be something of a scholar, and she re¬ 
ports the cistern will hold' 187% gallons, 
not quite 200. as you estimate, but near 
enough to answer the requirements. I pro- [ 
sumo. As to material, if you are not 
pretty handy with tools I would lay it up I 
with brick, using a good cement mortar; 
then plaster it inside and on the outside 
also ff you can stand the expense. It is 
quite a problem to make a nice round form 
of that size in order to build entirely of 
concrete, but by using brick it can be built 
much easier. I think, and taking all tilings 
in consideration I could hardly tell which 
would be the cheaper way. to build concrete 
alone or brick laid in cement, but if built 
circular I think brick will prove more satis¬ 
factory. 
As to the best way to build a concrete 
watering trough. I prefer a trough longer 
than it is wide, making it considerably 
wider at top than at bottom; first, be¬ 
cause the inside form can be removed eas¬ 
ily. and second, if allowed to freeze, the 
pressure is not so direct, and is not so 
liable to break. The woven wire is first- 
class for reinforcement, but cannot be used 
so well unless the trough is built on per¬ 
pendicular lines, but barb wire will an¬ 
swer the purpose all right if used pretty 
freely, especially around the corners. As 
to the amount of material T could not tell 
without knowing how large you intended 
to build the trough. You will have to 
make your form the required size for the 
amount of stock you wish to water: then 
mix your cement, one of cement and two 
or three of sand, and fill it up. being care¬ 
ful to tamp it down well along the sides of 
the form, and If you do the work all your¬ 
self or by ordinary labor it will surprise 
you how cheap such little jobs can be done. 
w. A. B. 
Deposits of American Potash. 
C. D. A., Connecticut. —Will you verify 
the note about potash deposits in the West 
and publish all that is available on the 
.subject? “Rich potash deposits, said to 
contain more than enough of this substance 
to supply the needs of the United States, 
have been located in the West by scientists 
of the department of agriculture.” 
Ans. —The U. S. Geological Survey 
reports that parties are at work in the 
arid West drilling for potash. There 
are great deposits of salt in that region, 
and it is hoped that potash will be found 
under this salt. Secretary Wilson claims 
(hat the potash has actually been found, 
but it may be in such condition that it 
Apples for Northern New York. 
Tell me of a succession of varieties of 
apples, Russian or others, commencing with 
Red Astrachan, which would be likely to 
do well in the Adirondack country about 
32 miles back from Tgikc Champlain at an 
elevation of from 000 to 3.000 feet. I hive 
planted different kinds, but only those of 
the Russian varieties have lived c. e. f. 
While the Champlain country is an ideal 
place to grow many varieties' of apples I 
fear your elevation is rather too high for 
best results; yet if you can grow Red 
Astrachan. you should be able to grow those 
named below. First let me question the 
wisdom of planting the Astrachan for com¬ 
mercial purposes—except for a home trade 
—so far from market as you are. It is a 
poor shipper, and goes down very quickly 
after it has the size and color desirable 
to have it sell well. Then, too, you would 
not get it in market until other later sorts 
from farther south would be in abundant 
supply to compete with it. If you want 
cuiiiiiiFmai ugipies 1 would »me 
ing the Astrachan with the Alexander. It 
is a Russian apple and more hardy than the 
former. It is a good seller, and a fair 
shipper. The less said about its quality 
the better. For home use, shun it as you 
would a pestilence. Then the Duchess' of 
Oldenburg, also a Russian variety, very 
hardy, an early and abundant bearer, a 
good market sort, and of excellent quality. 
Not the best shipper when fully ripe, never¬ 
theless many of them are exported with 
profit. Then the Wealthv. not a Russian, 
but particularly hardy, and one of the few 
kinds which adapts itself to a wide range. 
It was originated in Minnesota about 3 800. 
It also is an early and annual bearer when 
well eared for, good quality, and beautiful 
in appearance, a better shipper than anv 
heretofore named. When the trees are 
lully grown, they are inclined to overbear 
and should be thinned. The McIntosh is 
another hardy variety, and adapts itself to 
a wider range than the Fameuse, which is 
at its best in the Champlain Valiev. It is 
in!./^ as * ood ln flavor as the latter, much 
laiger and more showy. For quality it is 
an< V to-day is selling at about 
« ,.hL b n tter SST barrel - It originated from 
K SN,lnf: in 0ntaMo - Canada, and 
Propagated about 3 870. It ripens 
fni >^V lnC \f n,y and requires most care¬ 
ful handling, because of the delicate texture 
or its skin. It is no apple for the careless 
man. In many places in your valley the 
K. I. Greening does well; although it is 
not counted as hardy as the Baldwin I 
have seen ,l flourish far north of the lat- 
ter s latitude. Last but by no means 
least, the Northern Spy, an apple that does 
best at a high altitude and on rather heavy 
soils The trees are late in coming into 
bearing, but in their proper locality they 
bear heavily fruit of the finest kind. It is 
one of the best sellers on the market, and 
always in demand. The area over which it 
can be successfully grown is limited, there¬ 
fore I advise your planting it. All the 
foregoing is based on the assumption that 
yon are where apples can be grown at all. 
There is a limit; but if anv will thrive 
those mentioned should. I would look up 
like situations and ascertain how apples 
grow there before setting heavily. 1 
EDWARD VAX ALSTYNE. 
a PP^s are never bought in the or- 
ner 1 nh ' 1 ho pri< ‘ ( ' n,ns from 25 cents 
per 3 00 pounds at opening of season to 25 
cents later and if scarce sometimes going 
to 40 cents in November. These prices 
f - ,°- b - or delivered at the mills, the 
mills m all cases standing car charges 
where apples are too far to be hauled by 
Team. \v here one wants apples made into 
cider for vinegar or other purposes, the 
mill gives six gallons of cider for every 3 00 
pounds of apples brought, and charge 3 % 
cent per gallon for making same. w n 
Ivinderhook, N. Y. 
Beginnings in Agriculture, by Albert , 
Russell Mann. This book is designed for i 
the purpose of introducing the study of ' 
agriculture into the seventh and eighth 
grades of elementary schools. It is in¬ 
tended to cover two years of study, and in 
eludes discussions of soil, plants’and ani¬ 
mals. as well as the farmer in his relation 
to the community. The scope of the book 
is wide, and its presentation of subjects 
concise and interesting. It is well worth 
the consideration of rural school boards. 
Published by the Macmillan Company, New 
York; 343 pages, 3 78 illustrations; price, 
postpaid, 90 cents. 
“For the Land’s Sake, use Bowker’s 
Fertilizers; they enrich the earth and 
those who till it.”— Adv. 
Peach and Apple Trees 
For fall or spring planting. Prices right; stock 
right. MYER & SON, llridgeville, Delaware 
SALESMEN WANTED S.?M RE r&E! 
STEgga? sy- 
“Howto Growand MarketFruit” 
Tells the Whole Story in One Volume ; gives Lifetime Exper¬ 
ience of Practical Growers. 2,000 Acres in Nursery Stock. 
Laroe Stock of Peach and Apple Trees, 
Write for catalog and how to get the book free. 
HARRISON NURSERIES , Berlin , IHd. 
LET US REFER YOU TO A 
DEYO USER NEAR YOU 
A/fOST of our sales of DEYO POWER 
SPRAYERS are made by our cus¬ 
tomers. Our guarantee is to replace any 
part which wears out or is broken within 
one year, no matter what it is or how it 
happens. 
Write to-day for Bulletin 4-C 
DEYO-MACEY ENGINE CO. 
BINGHAMTON, N. Y. 
r, 
OU have dollars that 
never “sprout.” Are 
'O' 1 going to leave them 
IO and rot ! They are 
in your fruit trees 
vines and gardens. Give 
them a chance, and the 
dollars will sprout, and 
grow, and bear dollars. 
How ? By spraying. 
With the IRON AGE 
BARREL SPRAYER 
yon can kill injurious 
insects and fungi, and 
make your trees and 
ardens hear abundant¬ 
ly. All working parts 
outside, except the 
agitator. High pressure 
pump. Parts with which 
chemicals come in con¬ 
tact are brass. Valves are bronze ball. 
This practical Sprayer is only one of a com¬ 
plete line of orchard, garden and field tools. 
Write to-day for Booklets. 
[BATEMAN MFG. CO., Box 102-S, GRENLOCH, N. J. 
■Fruit Trees- 
That Thrive and Bear 
Thrifty, vigorous trees; trees with lots of good 
roots and firm, mature wood—these are the kind of 
trees that we grow. They begin bearing early and 
they continue to bear abundantly for years. 
At our nurseries the soil and climate are just 
right to produce trees that are hardy and reliable. 
Our success and experience of 25 years is your 
guarantee that everything in our stock has been 
carefully selected and thoroughly tested. All kinds 
of fruit trees—apple, peach, pear, cherry, etc. 
Write for our latest Catalog. It’s free! 
Barnes Bros. Nursery Co. 
^ Box 8, Yalesville, Conn. ^ 
PLANT 
FRUIT 
TREES 
THIS 
FALL 
You can save a season by planting this 
Fall, I have a choice stock of Apple, 
Pear, Peach anil Plum trees—all vari¬ 
eties. A Iso California Privet. Prompt 
shipments. Lowest prices. Have somo 
special offerings in Jersey Red Pigs. 
Quick growers. Prolific and profitable. 
Satisfaction guaranteed. Sond today 
for free catalog. 
ARTHUR J. COLLINS 
Box R Moorestown, N. J. 
FRUIT TREES 
We are ready to take orders for 
FALL DELIVER V for 
BLACK’S QUALITY TREES 
Send for Booklet 
JOS. H. BLACK. SON & CO., HIGHTSTOWN, N. J. 
APPLE SEEDLINGS 
ALL 
GRADES 
I Both American and French Grown ) ORDER 
Straight or Branched Roots 
NOW 
APPLE GRAFTS 
Piece or Whole Roots 
Long List of Varieties. Ask for Prices 
ALSO A GENERAL LINE OF NURSERY STOCK 
= ADDRESS 
Shenandoah Nurseries 
D. S. LAKE, Prop. 
SHENANDOAH . . . PAGE COUNTY, IOWA 
