84 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
January 13, 
HOGS ON RAPE AND ALFALFA. 
The question of producing pork with 
as little expense as possible is one of 
vital importance to the farmer, and 
any information which is founded on 
fact is eagerly sought by all who are 
interested in the matter. Several let¬ 
ters have reached me asking for any 
facts regarding our 1911 experience with 
rape as well as Alfalfa, and whether 
this year’s experience equals our opti¬ 
mistic views as given last season in The 
R. N.-Y, In order to get at the exact 
truth the writer took a little trip the 
other day and visited four men who had 
used the crops the past season, and will 
give their facts and figures. The first 
man had one-half acre of rape and 
about three of Alfalfa. The rape was 
sown as early in the Spring as possible, 
but the Alfalfa comes much earlier. 
Thirty hogs were put into the Alfalfa 
and pastured there until the rape was 
ready, and then they changed as needed. 
These hogs were of different ages, and 
the largest were taken out, usually four 
at a time, put into a small place and fed 
an average of 50 pounds cornmeal apiece 
and then sold. The 30 hogs weighed 
when sold 5,400 pounds, average price 
5Z>, making $297. Cornmeal fed, 1,500 
pounds, costing $22.50, leaving $274.50 
as the value of the pasture. Good, clean 
running water was always handy in the 
pasture. Whey is accounted of little 
value here, but as these hogs were fed 
what was obtained from the milk of 15 
cows it might be well to give credit for 
what it would produce so as to get the 
exact value of the pasture. 
In careful tests at the experiment sta¬ 
tions it is found that on an average 785 
pounds of whey equals 100 pounds of 
grain. Figuring on this basis the whey 
from one cow’s milk would be equal to 
300 pounds of grain, and for the 30 head 
the grain saved would be worth $13.50. 
Taking this from the $274.50 leaves $261 
as the net value of the pasture or an 
even $87 an acre. This man thinks 
everything of rape, but thinks more of 
Alfalfa, for the reason that he does not 
have to sow every Spring, and that .Al¬ 
falfa comes so much earlier in the 
Spring; on the other hand a frost that 
will kill Alfalfa for pasture will not 
damage rape. The next man visited 
kept five hogs on one-third of an acre. 
These hogs averaged 175 pounds when 
taken off the pasture, were fed no grain, 
milk or whey, and did not have running- 
water. At this rate an acre would pro¬ 
vide pasture for 15 hogs, and figuring at 
175 pounds each at 5^ cents per pound 
would make the value of the acre of 
pasture $144.38. This man believes that 
lie can produce that much pork on an 
acre, and is going to try it next year. 
The next man had about a third of 
an acre on which he turned nine pigs 
which he had wintered and kept them 
there till July, when he sold them. After 
these were gone he turned a litter of 
seven in with the dam. These were 
pastured there until sold in the Fall, 
and averaged 200 pounds. These pigs 
had no grain, milk or whey, but all the 
water they wanted. He will put in V/ 
acre next year. The next man visited 
said that he had watched our little patch 
and said he thought he would try the 
stuff, and had fattened three on a little 
piece no bigger than a garden and had 
“fed them next to nuthin’ besides.” Our 
own pasture did not return the money 
value of a year ago because we received 
so much less for the pork by the pound. 
We shall sow much more rape next sea¬ 
son, and have our plans all made to 
fence off a good piece of Alfalfa for 
hogs and sheep. Now I have given the 
plain facts as they were given to me, 
without any reason or desire to over¬ 
draw the picture. c. i. hunt. 
Livingston Co., N. Y. 
Tile to Drain Concrete. 
As to that granary floor you nicntionoCt 
recently, I may probably give you a little 
hint that will be of help to somebody. 1 
am not a farmer, but work hard to'save 
money for a start. Last July I worked for 
a contractor, laying a concrete floor in a 
furniture dealer’s cellar, which he intended 
to use for a storeroom. The house is 
erected on a river bank, the river being 
only 100 feet from it. We dug down to 
the depth where the water was in the 
ground. Then we started the walls, the 
surface of the ground being* four inches 
higher than the bottom of them. All the 
way round, close up to the walls, we laid 
three-inch tiles, ends close together and the 
corners mitred. In the end of the room 
there was put a T-shaped tile in the row, 
its hole in the middle going out to a little 
cistern from which a sewer pipe was laid 
to the river. The tiles were dug down so 
the tops of them was level with the sur¬ 
face. Over it all was spread two inches 
of coarse concrete, and after that one inch 
of finish. The concrete was tamped very 
hard and the finish one part fine sharp 
sand to four parts of cement, was worked 
for a long time, first with floater and later 
with the trowel. When I was down there a 
few days ago I noticed that the floor was 
perfectly dry, and the owner said it had 
been so all the time. One day in a heavy 
rain-storm the water was flowing out of 
the sewer, but did not show on the floor. 
The idea is that all water coming in under 
the walls will go in the tiles before it can 
come out under the concrete. a. s. 
Grayling, Mich. 
FARM CONDITIONS AND PRICES. 
Hay, No. 1, $23 per ton; straw, un¬ 
thrashed rye, $17 to $19 per ton. Potatoes 
mostly all out of market and price steady 
at $1 per bushel. Wheat, 90 cents per 
bushel, oats, 55 cents; clover hay, $20 per 
ton ; Alfalfa," baled, $22 to $27 per ton. 
Alfalfa, corn, oats and molasses, ground and 
mixed for horse feed, $35 per ton, retail. 
Alfalfa and molasses ground and mixed cow 
feed, $33.50 per ton, retail. Pork, seven to 
8% cents per pound; calves, veal, seven to 
eight cents per pound; cows, fresh, $35 to 
$05 ; strippers, $25 to $35. Milk, very few 
farmers make milk, but those who do, get 
in Summer four cents. Winter, 4% cents. 
Most of the best farms in Monmouth and 
Middlesex counties are devoted to raising 
potatoes and no doubt 75 per cent were sold 
through the Farmers’ Exchange, headquar¬ 
ters at Freehold, and I think average price 
for season was $2.44 per barrel against last 
year's average price of $1.35. The ship¬ 
ments of potatoes alone through the Ex¬ 
change was more than 420,000 barrels; be¬ 
sides the Exchange buys seed potatoes from 
Maine and New York for the members to 
the amount of 27,000 barrels for the plant¬ 
ing of 1911, and no doubt will exceed that 
amount for the coming year. Monmouth 
and Middlesex counties are among the great¬ 
est potato growers of the State, and in 
fact since the discovery that the land here 
is especially adapted to the growing of 
that tuber, land has doubled and trebled in 
value in the last 10 years. Farms that 
were sold 10 years ago for $4,000 to $5,000 
to-day will bring $12,000 to $20,000. and 
even at that price pay up in five years. 
One farmer told me that his crop averaged 
above 120 barrels per acre and I believe on 
the best land they will even exceed that. 
The Exchange also sells all farm products 
and manufactures fertilizer for its mem¬ 
bers. 4-8-10; goods costing, delivered at our 
station, $30.50 per ton. r. h. d. 
Englishtown, N. J. 
Silage is comparatively new with us and 
so far as I know none has ever been sold 
near here. Manure is never sold here ; goes 
with the land usually. Livery stables get 
a small sum yearly for their output, say 
75 cents to $1 per horse. Timothy hay is 
worth from $18 to $20 per ton in barn, 
purchaser to haul away. We ship in baled 
Alfalfa at same price. Oats are quoted 
at about 48 cents here. We have to ship 
in oats, as farmers do not raise enough. 
No manures are used here except stable 
manure, and a few people are just begin¬ 
ning to try commercial fertilizers. I shipped 
in the first car of raw ground phosphate 
rock recently. We raise much clover. This 
is a dairy country now. not much doing 
here except in cows and heifers. Chicago 
market is near and governs prices except 
for good milkers, which sell from $30 to 
$100. I was recently offered $400 for four 
of my grade Holstein cows, but didn't sell. 
Milk is sold here in various ways; some 
sell cream only, some whole milk. Price 
varies with the test and between this cream¬ 
ery and that. October, November and De¬ 
cember prices run for 3.0 milk from $1.15 
to $1.40 per 100 pounds, skim-milk re¬ 
turned to farm. At points near here where 
they are able to contract their milk they 
are receiving practically Borden prices, but 
our big condensing plant is running light 
this Winter, shipping some milk and cream. 
Borden seems to be too much for them. 
Horses are high, right good teams bring 
$500, ordinary, $300. Chicago market gov¬ 
erns. We are near Chicago and Milwaukee 
and prices are near those in city on most 
farm produce. Corn in shock sold last 
Fall at $20 to $30 per acre; hay and fodder 
being unusually high. Pigs bring prices 
which demand $6 for fat hogs. Potatoes 
bring Chicago wholesale price. No surplus 
here. Our big crops are milk, pigs and 
barley; some horses raised, and good heif¬ 
ers. Way back from railroad eight to 10 
miles they raise more beef cattle. 
Delavan, Wis. d. e. l. b. 
Free Box of Samples 
sent to your station, eharg-es prepaid. 
All sizes, 2 inches to 20 inches, delivered. 
Prices quoted on request. 
THE E. BIGLOW CO., 
BOX C 
NEW LONDON, OHIO 
MORE 
POTATOES 
PER ACRE 
Do you want to in¬ 
crease your potato crop 
10 to 57 bushel* per 
acre and thereby in¬ 
crease your profits $5 
to $57 per acre? . 
The Iron Age Planter 
is the one machine with which an absolutely per¬ 
fect stand can be obtained. At the Maine 
Experiment Station the yield where the Iron Age 
wa« used was 57 bushels per acre more than where its com¬ 
petitor planted. It makes no misses, no doublet, in¬ 
jures no seed. 
In Idaho, Herbert Lambing, an Iowa Agricultural College 
Graduate, has gained attention by hi* big crops, due to 
scientific methods. He writes in part ^ * ' rL * ’— A 
means juit one hall my crop this year.’ 
you a perfect stand, a bigger yield 
and more profit. Ask your 
dealer to show you the Iron Age 
Planter,with or without fer¬ 
tilizer attachment. Write 
us for special booklet and 
Mr. Lambing’s complete 
letter. Both will interest 
you. Remember, this 
planter is but one tool in 
our complete line of Iron 
Age farm and garden implements. You should know them all. 
BATEMAN M’F’G CO., Box 1026, Grenloch, N. J. 
The Iron Aga 
Let it secure for 
- -T* 
/-V<? r r ^ M 
?&*■ 
There is a difference between fruit 
growing and forestry 
yet most of the directions for fruit growing are directions 
for producing rapid wood growth only. 
This means coming into bearing late and irregular bearing on 
account of lack of enough available mineral plant fcod to raise a 
crop of fruit and to set strong fruit buds in the same season. 
POTASH 
Two years before the trees are expected to come into bearing the 
annual application of minerals should begin, using 50 to 100 
pounds Muriate of Potash and 100 to 200 pounds of bone, acid 
phosphate or basic slag per acre. 
Potash improves the flavor, shipping quality and keeping 
power as well as the yield oi fruits. 
Write us for Potash prices and for free books with 
formulas and directions. 
m 
GERMAN KALI WORKS. Inc. 
Continental Building, Baltimore 
Monadnock Block, Chicago 
Whitney Central Bank Building 
New Orleans 
POTASH 
PAYS 
New Wheels 
for the Old Wagon 
Letusfit yourold wagon with“Electric” 
steel wheels and make it strong and 
good as new. Another wagcn life 
and a real handy wagon just by 
buying wheels. Broad tires, never 
any resetting, no drying apart, rat¬ 
tling or coming loose. Free book gives 
particulars and shows how it pays big 
to fit up old wagons with the long-life 
Electric Steel Wheels. Write for copy. 
ELECTRIC WHEEL CO., BOX 48 QUINCY, ILL. 
s Electric 
$ 3 , 000,000 
Will be saved this winter to the 
15,000 users of Indiana Silos. Are 
you getting your share? There 
is another winter coming. Our 
best salesmen are the 15,000 
Indiana Silos now in use. 
SILO PROFITS 
Written by over two hundred of the best breeder*, 
feeders and farmers In the world. "Tells how they 
greatly Increased their profits." 0S~ Write for this 
valuable book and our new catalog now—FREE. 
Licensed under Harder Patent No. 627.732. 
INDIANA SILO COMPANY 
The largest manufacturers of Silos In the world. 
Address nearest factory: 
318 Union Bldg., Anderson, Indiana 
“ Indiana Bldg. Dea Moines, Iowa 
“ Silo Bldg. Kansas City, Mo. 
^^^jgHJOO(LA£enti^wantedeverjjvhere^^^^^^^ 
™ [ ROSS SILO 
The value of ensilage for dairy or 
cattle feeding is known to all. To get 
results care must be taken in selecting 
a silo. The ROSS HILO is absolutely 
guaranteed to produce the right kind 
of ensilage. Why? Because it 
IS THOROUGHLY MANUFACTURED 
and has feature* that are important 
and found on the Ross Silo only. 
Profit by our experience and build a 
ROSS SILO. Catalog explains all. 
Agents Wanted 
The £• W. Koss'Co.tEst. 1850) 
Box 13 8PUINGV1ELD, OHIO 
New York Buys 
15 Unadilla Silos 
( Investigate and you will reach the 
same conclusion as the New York 
Legislators who bought 15 Una- 
dlllas for state institutions. The 
silo that gives highest quality of 
silage—that is tho important thing 
for you to know. Also has superior 
construction, is easiest in handling 
silage, and ahead in all points. 
Send for catalogue and 30 day 
order discount. Agents wanted. 
J 
UNADILLA SILO CO., Box C, Unadilla, N 
DIRIGO SILOS 
are better and more durable than other 
silos because we use higher grade lumber, 
because they are of superior design and we 
furnish a GENUINE wood preservative. 
They cost less because we sell direct and 
save you agents’ profits. SPECIAL DIS¬ 
COUNT for EARLY ORDERS. Post 
card will bring full information. 
STEVENS TANK & TOWER CO. 
AUBURN, MAINE 
M *ni s Prairie Dogs, 
Woodchucks, Gophers, 
and Grain Insects. 
“The wheels of the gods 
grind slow but exceed¬ 
ingly small." So the weevil, but you can stop their 
with “ Fuma Carbon Bisulphide are doing. 
EDWARD R. TAYLOR, Penn Yan, N. Y- 
Harder Silos, recognized an the standard because of their 
convenience, durability, Mtrcngtli and worth. 
Used by U. S. Govt. A silo to suit every purse. Catalog free. 
. HARDER MFG. CO., Box 1 % Coblesklll, N. Y. J 
ECONOMY SILO 
Our simple yet perfect-fitting doors, 
forming air-tight silo, entirely pre¬ 
vent possibility of ensilage spoiling. 
Quick, easy adjustment without 
hammer or wrench. Free access. 
Every silo easy to erect. Seasoned 
white pine or cypress staves. Refined 
iron hoops form easy ladder. 
Write for free catalogue with proof 
of our claims from delighted users. 
ECONOMY SILO A MFC. CO., 
Box 3e-J Frederick, Md. 
aceyssiloHoops 
Will add years to life of your Silo. Made of best gal¬ 
vanized wire strand—seven wires twisted together 
firmly bolted at ends. Ends of best refined iron 
with 16 inch thread and fitted with Hex nut. 
Will prevent shrinkage. As low as 63c. Write for 
circular. I also make finest and cheapest Silos. 
Write for low prices. Elmer B. Lacey, Box20, Union, N.Y. 
WISHER'S ICE TOOLS 
BEST 
G.W.CO. 
MAKE 
VERY 
PROMPT 
SHIPMENTS 
WISNER MFG. CO. 
330 Greenwich St. New York City 
__"£veryffiing for Dairymen Always in Stock" 
FOR MENDING HARNESS 
shoes, tents, awnings, pulley belts, car¬ 
pets. saddles, suit cases, buggy tops, 
dash boards, or any heavy material. 
Stewart’s Automatic 
It takes 
a wax 
thread, 
feeds 
from spool and 
does the work of 
any harness maker . 
machine. It is indis- 
pensable for farmers. 
Agents wanted. Sent prepaid 
for $1.25. Send at onco for 
catalog. SlEWART-SKINNfR CO. 
35 Hermon Street, Worcester. Mass. 
Awl istheonly per¬ 
fect Sewing 
Awl. 
LET US TAN 
YOUR HIDE. 
Cattle or Horse hide. Calf, Dog, Door, 
or any kind of skin with hair or fur on. 
We make them soft, light, odorlesR, 
wind, moth and water proof, and make 
them into coats (for men or women), 
robes, rugs or gloves when so ordered. 
Your fur goods will cost you less than 
to buy them, and be worth more. It 
will certainly pay you to look into it. 
Our illustrated catalog gives a lot of 
information. Tells how to take off and 
care for hides ; how we pay tho freight 
both ways : about our marvelous brush 
dyeing process which is a tremendous 
advantage to the customer, especially 
on horse hides and calf skins; about 
the goods we sell, taxidermy, etc., but 
we never send out this valuable book 
except upon request. If you want a 
copy send in your correct address. 
The Crosby Frisian Fur Company, 
571 Lyell Ave., Rochester, N. Y. 
r OU buy only once in a lifetime if it is a 
’ Green Mountain. ” All woodwork 
below roof is dipped in pure creosote oil preservative. Many 
other points of superiority described in handsome catalog, sent free. Also 
’ask for free booklet in which Prof. Estcn, of Conn. Agricultural College answers such 
questions as, “What is Silage?” “Why is it the best Cow Feed ?” “Why docs it keep 
and not spoil in a good silo ?” Write today for Green Mountain literature. 
CREAMERY PACKAGE MFG. COMPANY 
338 WEST STREET, RUTLAND, VERMONT 
