ess 
THE RURAR NEW-YORKER 
there is plant food in that soil for many fruit crops. 
Why add more if the weeds will prevent loss and feed 
the trees? With that theory in mind, Mr. Repp plans 
to use ground limestone instead of fertilizer. One 
action of the lime is to hasten the decay of the weeds 
after they are plowed under and thus make them more 
available. Another action is to set free forms of 
pot-ask so that plants can use it. Thus by using lime 
and basic slag and growing the weeds there is no 
reason why such a soil should not produce fruit crops 
for years. 
FIGHTING WEEDS IN POTATOES. 
The first essential in fighting weeds in any crop is 
to keep ahead of them. Most weeds, when small, are 
very easily killed, but once firmly rooted, a great deal 
of work is necessary to eradicate them. If potatoes 
are to be planted on sod ground, and this is the( 
general practice, the ground should be plowed quite 
early, certainly two weeks before planting, and a 
month is better. I prefer to have the ground plowed 
quite deep and the furrows not turned very flat. If 
the weather is at all dry it is well to roll the furrows 
and harrow them lightly lengthwise within a day or 
two after plowing, to prevent the loss of moisture. 
When rains are very frequent, as was the case this 
Spring, harrowing may be deferred until the plowing 
is finished. Then harrow at frequent intervals until 
planting time. This method gives one a much better 
start over the weeds than when it is plowed, fitted 
and planted within a tew days. I find a riding culti¬ 
vator with a small weeder attachment to be an ex¬ 
cellent tool for keeping the small weeds in subjec¬ 
tion. 1 formerly used a one-horse weeder, but the 
weeder attachment and riding cultivator are more 
effective. If the weather has been rather wet, or'for 
other causes one expects small weeds, especially 
“pigeon grass,” to be very troublesome, it is well to 
follow the planter within three or four days with the 
riding cultivator with disks or plows attached, and 
give the potatoes an additional covering. Three or 
four days later go over them again with the riding 
cultivator and weeder, with the teeth set quite deep, 
and not so close to the ridge as to be in danger of 
tearing up the potatoes. The cultivator will effectu¬ 
ally tear up the middles, while the weeder brushes 
out any small weeds that may have germinated in the 
ridges. I continue the use of the cultivator and 
weeder until the plants are about six inches high, 
when I remove the weeder. While the plants are still 
erect I use the disk to throw up a low fiat ridge, just 
enough to protect the tubers from sunburn and early 
frosts. Then if later cultivation seems desirable, I 
use a walking cultivator with wings attached, culti¬ 
vating as shallow as possible. 
If thistles are present some will come up in- the 
rows, and the most effectual way of disposing of 
them seems to be by pulling. This can be done by 
wearing leather mittens, and is more effective than 
cutting with a hoe. This method will be found ef¬ 
fective in keeping down all ordinary weeds, and but 
very little hard work will be needed to keep the po¬ 
tatoes very clean. Quack grass will of course! re¬ 
quire more vigorous treatment, but this is something 
I have not been obliged to contend with. I find the 
weeder attachment very useful in cultivating corn. 
On heavy soils the weeder should be weighted some¬ 
what, especially if the ground has become packed by 
rains, but on the lighter soils its own weight is suf¬ 
ficient. CHESTER L. MILLS.. 
Allegany Co., N. Y. 
COVER CROPS IN CORN. 
I am anxious to get a cover crop in our orchard to 
prevent the ground frc: washing during the Winter. 
Half of the orchard is planted between the trees with 
corn and the balance we will sow next week in cow peas. 
What would you recoin meud for the best crop to sow on 
this land this Fall? Would it be possible to sow either 
rye or Crimson clover through the corn just after it is 
plowed the last time in July, and would this be nil the 
preparation the ground would need? We had thought of 
cutting some of the cow pea crop for hay. Would you 
suggest that we let those that will be on the hilly side 
of the ground stand as a cover crop and sow Ciunason 
clover or rye in the space around the trees which is not 
needed ? j, jr. i. 
Maryland. 
This is the proper season to consider what a '“cover 
crop” is. The modern theory of orchard culture Is to 
force the most vigorous growth up to about the mid¬ 
dle of July; then to stop wood growth and induce the 
tree to produce .fruit and buds. In order to stimulate 
growth thorough culture is given through June and 
early July. This constant stirring of the soil holds 
moisture and makes plant food available. If it were 
kept up until frost the tree would go into Winter with 
soft, tender wood and suffer serious injury. If in July 
some vigorous crop is started growing in the orchard 
the trees fail to obtain the full supply of plant food. 
They stop making wood and, following their nature, 
start in to harden or mature what they have made. 
Such a crop is a “cover crop.” Mr. Repp simply stops 
cultivating and lets the weeds grow. Others think 
they do better by sowing seeds of regular farm crops 
such as rye, vetch, clover or turnips. Not only does 
this cover crop hold back the tree growth, but when 
plowed under it adds to the soil. Another most use¬ 
ful thing the cover crop does is to save the soluble 
nitrates in the soil. When organic matter deca3^s in 
the soil nitrates are formed. These are the soluble 
forms of nitrogen. Should there be a living crop with 
its roots all through the soil these nitrates are used by 
that crop. Should the ground be left bare these val¬ 
uable nitrates will be washed out of the soil and lost. 
Weeds answer the purpose well, except that they are 
killed by frost, while the formation of nitrates goes 
on more or less until the ground is frozen. That 
is one reason why xye and clover pay better than 
weeds. They live through Winter, their long roots 
filling the soil. Right now is the time for a farmer 
or fruit grower to determine not to let his soil lie 
bare through the Winter, but always to sow some 
cover crop. 
Our experience is in Northern New Jersey. We 
have found rye the best basis for a combination of 
seedsl We gave up Crimson clover alone, as it spring- 
kills five times out of seven. When seeded with rye 
it does better. Rye and Hairy vetch is a good combi¬ 
nation, and a pound to the acre of Cow-horn turnips 
added to the rye and vetch will add much organic mat¬ 
ter. One trouble with the turnips is that they rot in 
Winter and during a mild spell give off a fearful 
odor. In Maryland Crimson clover will live, and we 
should usq 12 pounds Crimson clover and half a bushel 
of rye to the acre. Sow all over the field at the last 
cultivation and then run the cultivator as wide open 
as you can. Except in a very dry time such a cover 
crop will sprout in the corn and make a good growth 
through the Fall. No other preparation is needed. 
If the cow peas are drilled and cultivated the cover 
crop can be worked in just as it is in the corn. The 
cover crop seed can be seeded around the trees, and 
if the season is moist you can broadcast Crimson 
clover seed right among the broadcast cow-pea vines. 
Sow, if possible, while the ground is muddy. We have 
done this in August and had a fair “catch,” so that 
when the cow peas were killed by frost a fair stand 
of the clover came on. 
SENSIBLE ADVICE ABOUT SUMMER 
BOARDERS. 
In answer to Ohio Subscriber’s questions on the 
Summer boarder I will give ®ny experience, as I have 
•often wished to when I have read the discussions in 
The R. N.-Y. 
In 1907 we found ourselves at the end of that mem¬ 
orable year of flood and famine with our potato crop 
sojourning under two feet of water, our tobacco 
failed to pay even for the sorting, fertilizer bills in 
arrears and a newly purchased farm on our hands 
heavily. mortgaged. We had known hard times and 
pinch before, but this was a crisis. Something had 
to be done. We had a fine old house, a beautiful 
yard, good garden, chickens, plenty of milk and 
cream, ice, berries, <etc_ etc. One day in the Spring 
as I sat in gloon^ meditation, newspaper in hand, my 
eyes fell on an advertisement, ‘Wanted, board, five 
adults and three children.” I had never taken a 
boarder in my life, the reports from others not cal¬ 
culated to fill one with enthusiasm, but back of that 
loomed the bills and the mortgage, and in the fore¬ 
ground lay the flat family purse. I answered the 
advertisement. The “five adults and three children” 
came and stayed through the Summer and for three 
successive Summers we had similar parties with very 
satisfactory results. 
Now in regard to the requirements for success let 
me give you a few points from my experience. Meet 
your boarders fairly, frankly and politely, but remem¬ 
ber always that “familiarity breeds contempt.” Do not 
try to play the hostess too much. It makes me ache 
when I read about some -overworked farmer’s wife 
trying to <entertain Summer boarders, who generally 
do not wish to be entertained. Have a good business 
arrangement regarding pay from the first Remem¬ 
ber wise old Ben Franklin’s “First make a bargain.” 
I told my boarders frankly that I should expect my 
money at the end of each week. It is much easier 
to say this before they come than after. I gave 
them the freedom of the house barring the kitchen. 
I gave them good clean comfortable rooms, plainly 
furnished, with good beds. I never picked flowers 
for their rooms, I had no time, but held myself 
always in readiness to remove the old faded bouquets 
which they so much enjoyed gathering and promptly 
forgot. My table was liberally but not extravagantly 
set. There was always good food and plenty of it 
July 6. 
of my own cooking. I did not depend on uncooked 
cereals unless they were called for. You will find 
well-cooked rolled oats with plenty of fresh cream a 
very popular breakfast dish. Don’t be saving on 
your own labor when it comes to the cooking; savory 
meats, fresh vegetables, flaky berry pies, homemade 
ginger snaps and crullers, are infinitely more satis¬ 
fying to the Summer boarder than bouquets or socia¬ 
bility. (At least this was my experience). You 
can easily learn your boarders’ tastes by watching. 
Don’t try to have too many dishes; have few and 
good and always have some hot dish for lunch, or 
supper if you have dinner at noon. 
We never eat at the same table with our boarders. 
Our large kitchen accommodated our own family and 
hired help (my son facetiously nicknamed this table 
the “chain gang”). I did the cooking with the help 
of my daughter, who also waited on table. We had 
eight or nine in our own family and the eight board¬ 
ers. I hired one green girl and some of the time sent 
out the washing. Don’t try to take Summer boarders 
unless you are willing to give up your time to it as 
you would to any other occupation by which you 
earn money. You must be willing to cook and be a 
good cook. You can relegate sweeping and care of 
rooms to others, but “the hand of the mistress must 
be on the frj^-pan.” 
No woman with many young children to care for, 
little chickens to rear, or social duties to occupy her, 
shoulcf take Summer boarders. This combination 
spells failure every time unless she be extraordinarily 
strong and capable. We were frail people, but hard 
as we worked, my daughter and I never missed our 
afternoon nap and bath and change of clothes before 
supper, but we made no calls in boarder season. The 
Summer boarder is a wise creature. He knows 
when he is comfortable every time. He knows a good 
room, a good bed and good food. An occasional 
drive would doubtless be a treat and increase your 
popularity. We never did it, as the horses were al¬ 
ways too busy, and good long walks are so beneficial 
to Summer boarders. 
There are plenty of pitfalls and annoyances and one 
often loses one’s temper, but it soon blows over if 
you retire to the kitchen and keep quiet. I have 
always regretted not having kept a book account, 
but I kept the house going through the Summer, fed 
the family and paid the help, so that the money from 
the farm crops paid off the mortgage at the end of 
the third year. That’s all I know, and during the 
third year I had over 50 applications that I could 
not take. At that time I gave it up, as the necessity 
was removed. In looking back over it I often say 
it was the first time in my 20 years’ experience on a 
farm that I could go to town and shop with money 
in my pocket that I had a right to use. 
No woman need be afraid of talcing boarders if she 
is willing to work and give her time to it as if she 
were working for some one else. I know of nothing 
that yields a quicker or better return on a farm than 
Summer boarders. I have hesitated to give prices, 
as times have so changed in the last 10 years, but 
beware of asking too much and giving too little. Wc 
never asked large prices. I would gladly give details 
to anyone who is interested. I think I could fill a 
volume with my three years’ experience, but no 
one can lay down hard and fast rules for anyone 
else, as so much depends on 3'our location, your house, 
yourself, and the class of boarders you happen to 
come up with. Every one must learn mostly from her 
own experience. But on the whole my experience 
was pleasant enough, so that I have often thought I 
would like to try it again. b. l. m. 
Connecticut. 
This student labor question has more sides to it 
than a political discussion. Since there are all sorts 
of students and all sorts of farmers, human nature 
must be considered. We are glad to give the students 
every favorable argument. Here is one: 
Having read the letter of Senator H. M. Dunlap and 
your comments on “College Boys as Farm Help,” it ap¬ 
pears that there has been some very adverse criticism. 
Thp writer did not have a college training and will prob¬ 
ably regret it all his days. The Senator’s cynical remark 
was no doubt intended to be humorous when in his sen 
fence he says, “011 account of his education.” Having 
had charge of men for many years, it is from experience 
that I draw my conclusions. Last year out of 30 men 
we had three college men, all city chaps at that. They 
were often awkward, hut not more difficult to teach than 
the average illiterate farmhand, and they never had to 
be taught but the once. They were the most popular and 
democratic fellows in the crowd. We have two this year, 
and up to the present time last year’s experience is being 
repeated. The “rah, rah boys” please me both in work 
and spirit. waltkk c. black. 
We are glad of it! Good for the college boys. But 
make them prove their value by actual service with¬ 
out considering the fact that they are students. All 
the more credit to them if they can come out of the 
class room and show some class with spade and hoe. 
This discussion is a good thing for the college boys 
on the theory that the more you polish a good thing 
the brighter it grows! 
