1912. 
RURAI) NEW-YORKER 
'/tJ5 
THE USE OF GROUND PHOSPHATE ROCK. MAKING CONCENTRATED LIME-SULPHUR. 
LAYING A CONCRETE FLOOR. 
I have a large orchard under my care, and we use lime- 
sulphur solution for the first two sprayings, one just before 
the bloom opens, and again just after the petals drop. 
1 wish to manufacture my own lime-sulphur, and also 
enough to supply my neighbors. Will you inform me how 
to make this solution to test 32° or 33° on the hydrometer 
free from sediment? I made some of the lime-sulphur 
solution last year with steam, but it did not test over 
27° or 28° on the hydrometer. I used 50 pounds lime, 
100 pounds sulphur to 50 gallons water and if I should 
put this solution on th e market the people would object to 
it because it would not test 32° or 33°. Please give me 
all the information possible relative to this subject. 
Virginia. • r. d. w. 
As the questioner simply asks how to make the mix- 
STAYMAN’S WINESAP—A LONG KEEPER. Fig. 325. 
What do you think of the proposition advanced for 
using ground phosphate rock in mixing with manures dur¬ 
ing the Winter season when they are being accumulated? 
What is your estimate of the value of such phosphate 
used in that way as compared with nitrate of soda, acid 
phosphate and potash at market prices which are about 
?50 a ton here for the soda and potash and $16 for the 
16 per cent phosphate? s. x. D. 
Connecticut. 
The plan to use ground phosphate rock to preserve 
and reinforce manure is sound, and there is much 
evidence from the various experiment stations in its 
favor. Director Thorne, of the Ohio Station, in a 
series of tests, used 40 pounds per ton of manure, 
of both treated and untreated rock phosphate, 
applying at the rate of eight tons of manure 
per acre, which means 320 pounds of the phos¬ 
phate per acre. It was found that the untreated 
rock and the acidulated rock had nearly equal 
value, though the advantage of yield was with 
the acid phosphate and the low cost in favor 
of the untreated rock. Ground rock phosphate 
cannot well be compared with nitrates or pot¬ 
ash, but in comparison with other forms of 
phosphates, cost for cost, when applied with 
manure or on soils where there is an abundance 
of decaying vegetable matter, it makes a good 
showing and gives a. profit over cost twice as 
great as acid phosphate when used at the same 
rate per acre. Many dairymen are using ground 
rock as a manure preservative with good re¬ 
sults, and there is the fertilizing value besides. 
Under usual conditions the application of 
ground rock alone to the fields cannot be rec¬ 
ommended. However, where one and two tons 
per acre was applied on fields where heavy sods 
had been plowed under good results were se¬ 
cured at moderate cost, but in this case some 
of the yield was due to the calcium contained 
in the ground rock, 70 or 80 per cent, in most 
samples. The inquirer does not state what sort of 
soil he desires to use his manure upon; if it needs 
potash the manure, if well protected, should supply 
this element in sufficient quantities, but if the soil is 
alluvial or peaty some potash salts may be added to 
the manure along with ground rock if desired, or put 
on when the crop is planted. 
I wish to point out the difference between calcium 
and lime, lime being calcium carbonate or a salt of 
the metal calcium. Calcium carbonate is the lime as 
found in limestone and used as a corrector of soil 
acidity, but calcium united with phosphoric acid con¬ 
stituting untreated rock phosphate has no such power 
until broken down by action of plants or soil; there¬ 
fore we cannot attach much importance to the cal¬ 
cium content of any of 
the phosphates. The 
value of the calcium in 
ground phosphate rock 
is of course secondary, 
but was quite apparent 
in the results on plots at 
the Ohio Station that 
needed lime, so we must 
give ground rock some 
credit as a soil corrector 
as well as a soil builder, 
even if the corrective ac¬ 
tion is indirect and slow. 
Thus it is to be seen 
that ground -phosphate 
rock may serve three 
purposes: It is a rich 
carrier of phosphate in 
a slowly available form; 
it is an excellent ma¬ 
nure preservative, and 
because of its calcium 
and lime content will 
correct soil acidity to 
some extent. On many 
fields in Ohio rich in 
vegetable matter ground 
rock phosphate at the rate of 600 or 8uu pounds per cial manufacturers are using, and I believe most of 
acre has given good results when broadcast, and on them are. After the solution is made by boiling with 
their Alfalfa land the Wing Brothers have applied live steam, the clear liquid is drawn off (in various 
much larger amounts with satisfactory returns, but ways) in vats or tanks, and is then evaporated down 
the use of ground rock with manure seems to give with dry coils, which simply means the steam passes 
best results at present. w. e. duckwall. through or circulates through the coils of pipe located 
Ohio. in the tank, but does not escape into the liquid. It is 
surprising how little evaporation is necessary to raise 
NEW ENGLAND BEEF.—The picture above shows the test to the desired amount. The principle is the 
a string of white faces in New Hampshire. These same as the making of maple syrup, worked out in 
I have often read in The R. N.-Y. articles on lay¬ 
ing cement floors and walls. I have gleaned as much 
information as I can from the same, and I think it is 
good and practical. But I have never in my travels 
or reading found where one has tried my method of 
making a cement floor. First I insist on having a 
good solid soil or foundation to work on. If the soil 
is loose pound it down with a big, heavy hammer, 
and do it well. Then come on with your stones, size 
depending on the space to be filled, laying by hand, 
with points up and faces down on the soil, so as to 
give them a good bearing. No flat stones to be used 
in shallow fillings; if the stones are not too 
large do not fill in the angular spaces with small 
stones, as this would prevent the concrete from 
working in solid around each stone. Let the 
points of the stones come up very near to where 
the top of the floor is to be, say half an inch. 
Now put your one part cement to three parts 
good sand, and all the fine gravel from the size 
of hickory nut to an egg that it will take nicely, 
and that should be about six or seven parts. 
Do not forget to mix it well, and this is hard 
work. Wheel this out over the stones on a 
plank, spread evenly with a rake, working it 
thoroughly between the stones. If good material 
is used and well mixed, now comes the life of 
your floor, that is in the pounding. 
Have a pounder weighing about 50 pounds, 
with a straight, upright handle, so two men can 
stand face to face and pound this soft concrete 
so solid you can wheel a wheelbarrow of con¬ 
crete over it and scarcely see the print of the 
wheel. This pounding will pack it so it will be 
an inch below the top again. This may work a 
few stones out of the concrete; if they are in 
the way sweep them off. Then mix your finish¬ 
ing coat by taking one part cement, two parts 
ture test 32 degrees or 33 degrees, I am supposing sand, and as much fine gravel the size of peas and 
he has most of the necessary equipment. There is no beans as it will take nicely. Make this quite wet, 
secret process of making. The only economical way pound and straighten edge as before, but don't put on 
is to make a low testing mixture, draw off the clear too much concrete, as this ought not to settle much, if 
liquid and evaporate it down. As I have pointed out • the first pounding was thorough. 
before in these columns, the * most economical mix- Now decide as to the kind of finish you want. First 
ture and the one containing the least sediment, is made use a large wooden trowel to get it even, then smooth 
by using the formula worked out by Dr. Van Slyke with a trowel until it is perfect. By using different 
and Prof. Parrott of the Geneva Experiment Station, tools at different times as it dries you may have "from 
The formula is 80 pounds sulphur, 40 pounds stone a gloss finish to a beaded one, with the hard, round, 
lime, and water enough to make 50 gallons, flhe rea- white stones as a wearing surface, and what will 
son it is the best to use is that a larger per cent of the 
lime and sulphur go into solution, hence a higher rela¬ 
tive test, and a lower relative amount of sediment. 
This is the formula that I know some of the commer- 
wear longer than that? As soon as it dries enough 
to prevent sticking cover with old carpet, bags or 
sawdust. Keep this wetted down for a few days so 
it will not dry quickly and become brittle. You will 
be surprised how much 
floor a few bags of 
cement will make. Now 
let the skeptical o 1 d 
mason who would use 
twice that amount of 
cement and three times 
that depth of concrete 
help tear out some of 
this work as I have had 
to do, and you can smile 
safely when you show 
him a piece of concrete 
with the hard gravel 
split in two instead of 
pulling out of the ce¬ 
ment. You will not have 
the flaking off of the last 
coat, as it is welded to¬ 
gether in one solid piece. 
P. A. D. 
A STRING OF NEW HAMPSHIRE HEREFORD CATTLE. Fig. 326. 
STAYMAN’S WINE- 
SAP.— The picture at 
Fig. 325 is not printed 
because this is “a new 
and promising variety,” 
for it is well known to 
cattle do not give much milk, but are great beef pro¬ 
ducers. The time is surely coming when beef pro¬ 
duction in New England will be a great industry. 
Alfalfa, the silo and beef blood will do it. 
different ways. I will simply add that no one can 
afford to make high testing lime-sulphur at the pres¬ 
ent time in any other way. Its commercial use shows 
the efficiency and economy of the above formula, w. H. 
most apple growers. Its “novelty” is as a late keeper. 
Mr. Levi Bell, of Rockland Co., N. Y., brought in the 
specimen pictured the middle of June. It had been 
kept in an ordinary house cellar, and was still firm 
and plump—of good quality. Most lists of fruit omit 
Stayman for the Atlantic coast north of Trenton, 
N. J., but Mr. Bell regards it as a very profitable va¬ 
riety for his section. It is highly regarded in south¬ 
ern New Jersey, Virginia, Delaware and Pennsylvania. 
Beach, in the “Apples of New York,” says, in speak¬ 
ing of Geneva, N. Y., “As tested at this station the 
tree is moderately vigorous, comes into bearing young 
and is a reliable cropper, alternating heavy with light 
crops, but the fruit does not develop properly here in 
size and color.” 
