1912. 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKEEj 
■431 
AN EXPERIMENT WITH “HUMUS.” 
This father and son are not farmers, 
possibly could squeeze in as agrono¬ 
mists, but that’s the limit. Down on 
a one-quarter-acre piece on the place in 
Amagansett, Long Island, last April, we 
planted 37 rows of Carman No. 2 seed 
potatoes. The seed was treated with 
formalin, and cut two eyes to a piece 
and planted in hills. A good coating 
of manure had been plowed under the 
previous Fall, and then seeded down 
to rye, which was plowed under green 
when about 30 inches high. The ground 
was only fairly harrowed, not as well 
worked as we had hoped and instructed 
it should be. By advice of Farmer Ful¬ 
lerton, we bought a ton of “humus,” 
and right here is the motive that 
prompts the writing of this letter. The 
planting made a total of 37 rows. In 
the first 24 rows we used only humus, 
a full stove shovel to each hill and 
planted seed right in it. In the next 
six rows we used half of this quantity 
of humus, plus a good handful of a 
standard potato fertilizer. In the last 
seven rows same quantity of the same 
chemical fertilizer only. The potatoes 
were sprayed every 10 days for bugs, 
during June and July, with Paris green 
and Bordeaux; in August and early 
September with Bordeaux only, against 
blight. The drought was complete, no 
rain until August. Where we used 
humus in the larger quantity, could see 
little effect of drought; vines full and 
vigorous, splendid color. Where ferti¬ 
lizer and less humus was used, the dif¬ 
ference was noticeable in the growth 
of vines. Where only fertilizer was 
used the appearance was so markedly 
different, that city friends noted it and 
one asked, “Are these your late pota¬ 
toes?” The results made this a signifi¬ 
cant comment. This condition held 
true until rain fell in August, then the 
vines planted in fertilizer fairly jumped 
in their growing, covering the ground 
and making a tangle, hard to distin¬ 
guish rows at all. But it was too late, 
as the results of the digging shows. 
The one-quarter acre netted 52 bushels, 
44 bushels of fine potatoes, six bushels 
of seconds and two bushels of culls. 
Divided as follows: From the 24 rows, 
humus only, we picked 38 bushels, one- 
half bushel seconds and no culls; from 
six rows humus and fertilizer, nine 
bushels, two bushels seconds and one- 
half bushel culls, and from the seven 
rows of fertilizer only five bushels. 
Long Island. aborn & aborn. 
R. N.-Y.—We understand this “hu¬ 
mus” to be a good sample of dry 
swamp muck or a similar material taken 
from a deposit in a low place. Evi¬ 
dently the chief trouble was from 
drought—no moisture io make the 
fertilizer available. We first want to 
know how that rye was handled. “Only 
fairly harrowed” probably means that 
the rye was turned under and not 
packed down hard. If that is so we 
think the results from the “humus” are 
easily accounted for. When we first 
began turning rye under, the results 
were disappointing. In a dry time the 
crops stood still or dried up. Investi¬ 
gation showed that the rye did not 
decay in the dry soil. The hollow 
straw let in the air and the soil was as 
dry as powder. Here seemed to be the 
chief trouble. We began rolling or 
packing the land after plowing rye 
under and obtained much better results. 
When the rye was turned under and 
the soil only harrowed lightly, the rye 
lay like a sponge just below the sur¬ 
face giving free access to the air— 
thus not only permitting the soil to dry 
out but preventing the rise of water 
from below. Of course no crop could 
endure these conditions in a very dry 
time and make a growth. When the 
soil was packed hard after plowing the 
rye was crushed into a compact mat. 
This not only held water better than 
the loose, open rye, but also let water 
pass up through it. Naturally the 
crops had a better chance. Many of 
the complaints made about rye as a 
green manure are caused by plowing it 
under and leaving it loose. In the 
case mentioned we can easily see how 
the potatoes planted in this open soil 
with fertilizer could not get any water. 
The shovelful of the “humus” put in 
the hill naturally helped hold the 
water by packing around the seed. To 
a less extent coal ashes or rotten saw¬ 
dust would have done the same thing 
at much less cost, and a farm compost 
made from refuse on the farm would 
have done even better. If the rye had 
been packed down hard there would 
have been much less difference. 
Burning Oyster Shells; Soy Bean Hay. 
G. F. F., Bound Brook, N. J. —1. I would 
like to know how to burn oyster shells 
with stumps and brush, how long it takes 
and how to slake them. I have no kiln. 
2. Would Soy beans make a good hay for 
pigs? How near are they like Alfalfa to 
feed for hay ? 
Ans. —1. Until very recently oyster 
shells have been used commonly on our 
farms as a source of lime, and are still 
reckoned as the purest form in which 
the lime can be obtained. While con¬ 
siderable land was still in timber, shells 
were hauled home on the back load from 
town, for as much as 10 to 15 miles and 
even more. The brush and odds and 
ends of timber were used in burning. 
Each farmer burned his own shells, as a 
rule, starting out by making a layer of 
brush and timber on the ground, on top 
of which the first layer of shells was 
dumped. Then another layer of wood, 
followed by another layer of shells, until 
his supply was laid in. The brush 
should be piled closely enough to pre¬ 
vent the shells from sifting through. 
Sometimes less care is taken, the pile of 
brush being built up first and the shells 
dumped on it. During burning consid¬ 
erable increase in bulk takes place, a 
four-horse load of 75 bushels swelling 
to about 125 bushels. The lime after 
burning can be handled in any manner 
to suit the farmer, slaking in fairly large 
piles or where labor is scarce, it can be 
hauled directly on to the field and 
dumped in half bushel piles to slake, 
nine paces apart where a ton to the acre 
is to be applied. I believe that to get 
your lime in the form of oyster shells is 
worth quite a little extra trouble in 
hauling and burning. Your line of farm¬ 
ing and wood supply will determine that. 
Our people used to pay $1 for a four- 
horse load at the wharves, and haul it on 
the back load as much as 15 miles, 
reckoning themselves well paid at that. 
2. Flogs will eat the beans readily, but 
do not seem to relish the Soy bean hay. 
Like cow peas, they are rich in protein, 
but with hogs, particularly,.will not take 
the place of well-cured Alfalfa. Where 
I could get Alfalfa to stand I would not 
try to substitute Soy beans. r. b. 
When you write advertisers mention The 
I t. N.-Y. and you'll get a quick reply and a 
“square deal.” See guarantee editorial page. 
NO WORDS WASTED 
A Swift Transformation Briefly Described. 
About fo r d, the following brief but 
emphatic letter from a Georgia woman 
goes straight to the point and is con¬ 
vincing. 
“My frequent attacks of indigestion 
and palpitation of the heart culminated 
in a sudden and desperate illness, from 
which I arose enfeebled in mind and 
body. The doctor advised me to live on 
cereals, but none of them agreed with 
me until I tried Grape-Nuts food and 
Postum. 
“The more I used of them the more I 
felt convinced that they were just what 
I needed, and in a short time they 
made a different woman of me. My 
stomach and heart troubles disappeared 
as if by magic, and my mind was re¬ 
stored and is as clear as it ever was. 
“I gained flesh and strength so rap¬ 
idly that my friends were astonished. 
Postum and Grape-Nuts have benefited 
me so greatly that I am glad to bear 
this testimony.” Name given by Post¬ 
um Co., Battle Creek, Mich 
“There’s a reason,” and it is explained 
in the little book, “The Road to Well- 
ville,” in pkgs. 
Ever read the above letter ? A new one 
appears from time to time. They are genu- 
ne, true, and full of human interest. 
nr. 
! Thousands Running! 
Year-In-and-Year-Out 
Long Test of Use Proves Satisfaction, 
Low Cost of Up-Keep and Fuel Economy 
Since first introduced, the Fuller & Johnson Farm 
Pump Engine has been making good on every claim we make. 
It has been through the test of severe winters—and hottest days of sum¬ 
mers. Its low cost of up-keep and economy of fuel have amazed the engine 
world. In comparative work tests with other pumping engines it has 
always come out ahead. In all this time the little demand for repair 
parts has been remarkable. You get the minimum of repair expense 
when you buy this high quality engine. 
The Fuller & Johnson 
Farm Pump Engine 
It stands for service, convenience, quality and completeness 
Fits Any 
Pump 
and 
Makes 
It Hump! 
Pat’d in the United 
States, Canada and 
other foreign coun¬ 
tries. Other patents 
applied for. 
The engine clamps direct to the 
pump. No belts to slip or break or catch clothing. 
No clumsy walking-beam nor “pump jack” needed. 
Water is on tap—INSTANTLY—when you own 
this wonderful engine. Pumps 270 to2,450gallonsper 
hour, depending on depth of welljand size of cylinder. 
The Fuller & Johnson Farm Pump 
Engine is absolutely complete in itself. Engine and 
jack, etc., in one unit. No “extras” to buy. A few 
cents a day for gasoline gives you oceans of fresh 
water for all your needs on the farm. 
Engine Book Free! write forBie illustrated 
- v ■ Catalog: and name of 
nearest dealer who has the Farm Pump Engrine on exhibi¬ 
tion. Get the original and only successful, high-grade 
pumping: engrine. Manufactured and guaranteed by the 
’makers of the big: "Double-Efficiency” Farm Engrines. If 
interested in largre engrines ask for a Double-Efficiency 
Engrine Catalog:. 
Ai ^ 
(339) 
FULLER & JOHNSON MFG. CO., 32 Rowley St., Madison, Wis. 
BUY A NEW YORK STATE WAGON 
DIRECT FROM FACTORY 
Handy Wagon: Removable 
seats, drop end gate, strong and 
durable. Can’t be duplicated 
anywhere at retail for iess than 
$80.00. 
IF you want the best made at the lowest 
* possible price. We build wagons for ser¬ 
vice—not merely to sell. We are the only N. Y. 
State factory selling direct to user, saving one- 
third of the cost for you. 
Send for One on Approval 
Safe delivery guaranteed—no deposit or references 
required. Our wagon can sell itself or there will 
be no sale. Write today for catalog of 200 styles 
and Wholesale Price List. Harness Catalog 
shows equally big values. Send postal today. 
A No. 1 Runabout: spindle 
seat, easy riding, will last for 
many years. It defies competi¬ 
tion, and retails for $65.00. 
IF* n El 3ES-$5.00 WOOL BLANKETS FOR EARLY ORDERS- 
EE 
With every order fora wagon received before April 15th, we will give absolutely free of charge a hand¬ 
some wool street blanket. This blanket sells at retail everywhere for $5.00. Don’t miss this offer. 
ROCHESTER VEHICLE COMPANY, 360 MAIN STREET, ROCHESTER, NEW YORK 
40,000 Farmers Plant LS a, ° 
WITH THIS MACHINE 
You can handle your crop economically—and properly—by 
using-the Aspinwall planter, the first and best self-operat- 
inrv to I > I a n t i . 1. „ ..._I .1 _, , . . * 
uBiiiK /^puiwaii planter, tne first and best self-operat- i--» 
lng Potato Planter in the world—without an equal anywhere- 
The Aspinwall Potato Planter No. 3 culture^proflt- 
ahlo. OnA mm _IA T>,, 11 A L _ o 1.1-1- - ■ ^ 
.... .■ -— --- — - — ■ — culture pronj- 
ame. One man can run It. Built on honor, of highest prra<ie mate¬ 
rials. Works perfectly under all circumstances. Will handle whole .. 
lnrgo or small. (We also make efficient Spraying Outfits for\\ every purpose. 
AS dre^now Pra ^ CrCataI ° e inc,utilll S valuable formulas.) Send-u name and ad- 
L DOW ASPINWALL MANUFACTURING COMPANY',, 
437 Sabin Street, Jackson, .Hick., U.8.A.—Canadian Factory, Guelph, Ont, 
or cut seed, 
every purpose. 
- - , 7 MI vuuuuiuu * “Viol j , uuvipil, WIIM 
^World’s Oldest and Largest Makers of Potato Machinery, 
Cutters, Planters, Sprayers, Diggers, Sorters 
Of 
You Need These Tools 
The Acme Potato Planter saves furrow¬ 
ing out, back-breaking dropping and 
covering. Plants at even depth, just where 
you wish, and leaves the ground level. 
■ a ii p Corn and Potato 
ACME PLANTERS 
The center hung box of the Acme Corn 
Planter gives it that balance other planters lack. 
Double springs give it sureness and strength. 
Drops a definite number of kernels. Drop 
changed without a screwdriver. 
Book, “The Acme of Potato Profit,” sent Free. 
Also name of nearest dealer. If you are not 
close to a dealer we will ship, prepaid, on 
receipt of price. 
See that your 
7iext planter 
has this 
trade-mark 
Potato Implement 
O-mpany 
front Street, 
Traverse City, 
Mich. 
