1200 
THE RURAL, NEW-YORKER 
November 30, 
FARMERS’ CLUB 
[ Every Query must be accompanied by the 
name and address of the writer to insure 
attention. Before asking z Question, please see 
whether it is not answerod in our advertising 
columns. Ask only a few questions at one time. 
Put Questions on a separate piece of paper.l 
INSANITY AND FARM LIFE. 
In reply to the statement, “It is the 
country, not the city, that crowds the 
insane asylums,” I think issue may be 
taken with the daily newspaper that 
made this publication. The notion has 
long been prevalent that the loneliness 
of farm life or other conditions sur¬ 
rounding the country dweller are more 
strongly predisposing to insanity than 
city life, but I think experience in our 
institutions for the insane long ago dis¬ 
pelled this idea, at least so far as medi¬ 
cal officers acquainted with the facts are 
concerned. I think it was in 1868 thart 
Dr. John P. Gray, then the superintend¬ 
ent of the New York State Lunatic 
Asylum, in his annual report, first made 
the statement you quote from the daily 
paper, but I doubt if the facts warranted 
it even in that rather remote time. If Dr. 
Gray was correct as regards the Utica 
institution, the condition at Utica was 
doubtless due to the fact that the New 
York State Lunatic Asylum was located 
in a farming region, and necessarily 
drew its patients largely from the coun¬ 
try. In later years 1 think the great 
growth of our cities, with the concen¬ 
tration of population, the vast increase 
in diseases calculated to break down 
both the physical and mental health, 
sharper competition in the struggle for 
existence, together with the larger con¬ 
sumption of alcoholic beverages—these 
things taken together have constituted 
by far the most potent causes, after 
heredity, in the production of insanity. 
CHARLES G. WAGNER. 
Superintendent, Binghamton, N. Y., 
State Hospital. 
Handling Leather Chips. 
H. G. D., Eintncrsville, Pa .—There are 
several shoe factories near here where I 
can get considerable leather chips simply 
for hauling them away. I should like to 
know their value as a fertilizer, i. e., the 
chemical constituents, and market value. 
Also if they should be put on the ground 
directly or worked in the manure in the 
manure pit. 1 got the idea of a manure 
pit from an article you printed some time 
ago in which you quoted Kin it’s book on 
“The Soil” frequently. I shall take poul¬ 
try and pigeon manure, weeds, corn fodder, 
grass and leaves, and leather chips if 
worth while, and with earth and ashes 
hope to make considerable manure. The 
pit will be made of concrete with the sides 
running at least three feet above ground. 
I had intended to have a roof over it, or 
would it assist decomposition to let the 
weather beat on it, since it cannot leach 
away? 
Ans.—T he leather chips may contain 
10 per cent, or more of nitrogen, but it 
is doubtful if you can make it availa¬ 
ble by ordinary means, even when 
ground and roasted. Raw leather is 
only one-fiftieth as available as nitrate 
of soda. When roasted it is one-tenth 
as available as the nitrate,. but when 
dissolved in sulphuric acid it becomes 
about as available as dried fish. We 
would not advise the use of acid on the 
farm but would put the leather into 
that manure pit for six months and 
then use it if possible as a mulch around 
trees. 
Early-Bearing Western Orchards. 
G. B. B., Irwin, O .—In a recent pub¬ 
lication I read of a woman homesteader in 
Washington, and she said at the end of 
the sixth year she gathered her second 
crop of apples. What kind of apples were 
they? Do they really come into bearing 
so much sooner in that State than here, or 
is it a mistake? 
Ans. —It is often a matter of doubt 
to Eastern people that the apple trees 
grown in the Pacific Northwest, and 
especially those grown under irrigation, 
are as early bearing as commonly re¬ 
ported. The conditions of climate and 
nature of the growth produced make 
it entirely possible for an apple tree to 
produce a good sample of fruit, say a 
quarter or a half bushel, in its third 
year after setting out. If the trees are 
properly cared for it is reasonable to ex¬ 
pect returns in the fourth year that will 
go quite a way towards paying the 
orchard expenses of the year. In the 
fifth and sixth years, with proper care, 
the trees will generally bear enough to 
pay the running expenses and give a 
fair net income. This is true with 
nearly all varieties except the Spitzen- 
burg (Esopus) and the Northern Spy, 
which are sometimes later in coming 
into bearing, but this follows their gen¬ 
eral variety characters of somewhat 
later bearing. 
In connection with this subject it 
would be well to state that the trees are 
in effect forced in their growth by the 
warm climate and well adapted soils, 
and while they bear earlier it is reason¬ 
able to expect that they will not be so 
long lived nor so productive in old age 
as the trees grown under conditions 
which produce a slower development. 
If Eastern apple orchards are handled 
according to modern methods they need 
not be so tardy in bearing. Too fre¬ 
quently the Eastern orchard is partly 
or wholly neglected in its early stages, 
whereas most Western orchards are 
carefully tended from the day they are 
set out. This naturally will have some 
effect upon earliness of bearing. It has 
always seemed to me to be as much the 
man and his methods as it is climate 
in the matter of early bearing and pro¬ 
ductiveness. W. G. BRIERLEY. 
Grafting Wax. 
Please give a recipe for grafting wax? 
Wakeman, O. R. b. 
A standard grafting wax calls for resin, 
four parts by weight, beeswax, two parts 
by weight, tallow, rendered, one part by 
weight. Melt all carefully together, but 
do not let it boil. Pour the hot liquid 
quickly into a pail of cold water, and 
with greased hands flatten the wax under 
the water so that it will cool evenly. Let 
it get cold and tough, but not brittle; then 
remove from the water and pull like taffy 
until it is ductile and fine in grain. If 
lumpy remelt and pull again. Make into 
balls or small skeins and put away in a 
cool place. When wanted soften with heat 
of hand or in hot water. This is an excel¬ 
lent wax for all purposes; it may be 
made softer by using a little more tallow, 
or tougher by a rather larger proportion 
of beeswax. 
One of our readers who found the above 
too stiff for best results with him, prefers 
the following: One pound each of bees¬ 
wax, resin and tallow. Melt the tallow first 
chip the beeswax fine and add as soon as 
the tallow is well softened. Add the resin 
in fine lumps last, and cook slowly until 
the resin is entirely dissolved. Then pour 
into a pail of cold water and work as 
described. This costs a little more than 
the first recipe, owing to the higher pro¬ 
portion of beeswax. 
Another recipe calls for four pounds 
resin, half pint boiled linseed oil, half 
pound beeswax. Boil over slow fire 2 Vj 
hours, then pour into water to cool, and 
work with greased hands. Prof. W. F. 
Massey says that after using all sorts of 
grafting wax he has found that the old- 
fashioned mixture of clay and cow dung, 
well wrapped with cotton cloth strips, is 
the surest covering for ordinary cleft¬ 
grafting. 
NOVA SCOTIA FRUIT COMPANIES. 
Consul-General Ragsdale of Halifax has 
investigated the business of selling Nova 
Scotia fruit, and has sent the following 
report:— 
“About three years ago the fruit grow¬ 
ers of Nova Scotia found that they were 
hampered in many ways in disposing of 
their crops. Up to that time all ship¬ 
ments to Europe were made through 
agents, commission merchants and specu¬ 
lators here, who in turn consigned to deal¬ 
ers in London and Liverpool. In this way 
the expenses far exceeded the profits. Again, 
there was no system exercised in sorting 
or packing; consequently much inferior 
fruit found its way to the European mar¬ 
kets, resulting in further loss and dis¬ 
credit. 
“To overcome these difficulties cooper¬ 
ative associations were organized at the 
towns of Berwick, Wolfville and Kingston, 
but without success. Last year there was 
a combination of growers under a central 
association without corporate powers that 
did fairly well, handling some 400,000 bar¬ 
rels, but the form of this association did 
not afford the relief hoped for. 
“To remedy the defect a special act was 
passed by the Dominion Parliament per¬ 
mitting the organization of what is now 
known as the United Fruit Companies 
(Ltd.), with a capitalization of $5,000, 
since increased to $11,000, the par value 
of the shares being $50 each. Under the 
rule each member must have one share and 
not more than five. 
“The fruit of each member is gathered 
by himself, and after sorting is taken to 
the warehouses of the association, of which 
there are five. Here the fruit is resorted 
and properly packed under the direct su¬ 
pervision of the general manager, and the 
discarded fruit is taken away by the 
grower and consigned to the drier or vine¬ 
gar factories. For the services of packing 
the grower is charged five cents per bar¬ 
rel. In this way all fruit exported will be 
of the highest standard and will command 
the highest prices. In packing, color as 
well as size and quality is strictly ob¬ 
served, as the European market demands 
fruit of high color only. It is for this 
reason that the Rhode Island Greening and 
other apples of like color are in little de¬ 
mand on the Continent. All the fruit of 
the members is shipped by the association. 
“The organization aims not only to 
handle the fruit of its members but also 
to assist them in the purchase of their 
principal supplies, such as barrels, boxes, 
farming implements, twine, seed, nursery 
stock, fertilizers and, in fact, all the neces¬ 
sary appliances for fruit growing. Last 
year growers were compelled to pay very 
high prices for barrels, as much as 40 
cents per barrel in some instances. This 
year the members are paying 23 to 28 
cents for barrels and about 16 cents for 
boxes holding one bushel. Very few boxes 
are used however. Later on the associa¬ 
tion expects to make its own barrels and 
boxes and at a less price than is now 
paid. The particular aims of the associa¬ 
tion. however, are to do away with the 
speculator and commission merchants at 
this end, to economize in packing expenses 
and to insure the shipment of fruit of the 
highest standard and the receipt of com¬ 
mensurate prices. The manager of the 
association receives for his services $4,000 
per annum, out of which sum, however, he 
is expected to pay wages of the men em¬ 
ployed in packing. Some 600,000 barrels 
of fruit will pe handled by the United 
Fruit Companies during the present sea¬ 
son.” 
Lime and White Grubs. 
Will oyster shell lime applied on the 
land broadcast prevent the ravage of the 
white grub? C. B. C. 
Pennsylvania. 
No. As we have often pointed out. the 
grubs work too deep in the soil for chem¬ 
icals to affect them. Thorough culture 
for two seasons or digging out by pigs are 
the best methods, and both take some time. 
Bones for Fertilizer. 
I have a good many bones from my 
slaughter yard. How can I turn them into 
fertilizer without too much cost? 
Hartford, Mich. w. J. c. 
If you have a large supply of bones it 
will pay to put up a steaming vat and 
grinder.' We assume that you have steam 
power. Get a strong vat of wood or 
metal with a steam coil inside. Put in the 
bones and cook -them under pressure. Then 
break them reasonably fine and put them 
through a bone mill. If this is not pos¬ 
sible pack the bones in layers of wood 
ashes and keep the mass wet. In about 
three months all except the harder leg 
bones will be soft enough to smash with 
a hammer. 
When you write advertisers mention The 
R. N.-Y. and you’ll get a quick reply and a 
"square deal.” See guarantee editorial page. 
Fruit Trees 
that thrive and pay 
In our extensive nurseries all the con 
ditions of soil, climate and expert 
care combine to produce hardy, disease- 
free fruit trees and plants that thrive 
and bear profitable crops. 
Our Catalog explains how we protect 
you against nursery carelessness and 
subsequent loss—how we give such care 
to every detail of budding, grading and 
packing that the highest grade stock is 
assured. We have a 30 years' record for 
Quality trees and honest dealing. Scores 
of the largest, most successful growers 
(names on request) buy our trees year 
after year. Ask us to send you our free 
Catalog. It's unusually complete, practical and filled 
with helpful information for fruit growers. 
BARNES BROS. NURSERY CO., Box 8, Yalesville. Conn. 
“BLACK’S QUALITY” 
FRUIT TREES 
NONE BETTER 
None Give Better Returns when They Fruit 
Buy Direct From the Nursery 
Old Stories About “ Muck.” 
Is muck the wet soil that is found in 
swampy places like meadows, and how 
valuable is it as a fertilizer? How would 
you handle it to get the best results from 
its use? Would it pay to make a heap 
of it and lime by making alternate layers 
of it and lime? How long should it lie 
in this state before use as a fertilizer and 
how much would you use to the acre for 
corn? w. w. s. 
Carlisle, Pa. 
We have probably answered this 50 
times, but still the questions come up. 
When we speak of “muck” we refer to the 
black soil or peat found In swamps or 
low places. The dictionaries give among 
other definitions “anything filthy or vile," 
but we refer to this black soil or peat. It 
varies greatly in composition and value— 
from half as’much as manure to four times 
as much. It is usually very sour, so that 
the plant food which it contains is not 
available until it has been sweetened or 
fermented. Muck is valuable chiefly for 
Its nitrogen. It usually contains very 
little of either potash or phosphoric acid. 
Therefore the rational plan for treating 
muck is to dry and ferment it and add the 
elements of plant food which it lacks. This 
could be done by scattering liberal quanti¬ 
ties of wood ashes over the muck as it is 
drawn from the swamp, since the ashes 
contain lime, potash and phosphoric acid. 
Or we could use basic slag and potash 
with the muck. The usual plan is to haul 
the muck out to dry ground and dump 
into long, narrow piles. As each load of 
muck is dumped enough lime to whiten it 
thoroughly is scattered over—200 pounds 
for each load or more will pay. First 
comes a layer of muck, then lime, then 
more muck, and so on. This pile is left 
about three months and then forked over 
and left again. It will crumble up fine 
and if the muck Is of more than average 
quality it will be, after fermented, about 
equal to average stable manure. The pot¬ 
ash and phosphoric add can be mixed 
through the pile or used separately iu hill 
or drill. 
Burning Chinch Bugs. —The Missouri 
Station advises farmers to fight chinch 
hugs with fire : “Between now and Decem¬ 
ber 1 all meadows, pastures, roads, waste 
lands and other fields, which are heavily 
overgrown, should be carefully examined 
for the hibernating chinch bugs. Those 
fields near wheat and cornfields which were 
infested last Summer should be examined 
with special care. Tim insects hide deep 
down in clumps of grass, under leaves and 
rubbish, and in many cases their presence 
can be detected from the disagreeable odor 
of the crushed bugs, even before one finds 
them in their hiding places. Wherever 
they are found the fields should be burned 
over immediately and carefully, so that 
every possible shelter will be destroyed. 
The wind should not be too strong, so that 
the heat will penetrate down into the 
clumps of grass and make a clean job. 
Farmers should cooperate in burning over 
all public highways and railroad rights-of- 
way in the infested regions. With careful, 
systematic burning of all harboring places 
iu the Fall, a large per cent of the mil¬ 
lions of hibernating bugs will be killed by 
the heat directly, and many more left ex¬ 
posed to the Winter.” 
and save agent’s discounts and middleman’s 
profits. When you buy our trees you get a 
Dollar*s Worth of Trees 
for every one Jiundred cents you remit to us. 
PEaCH and APPLE TREES 
a specialty. CATALOGUE FREE 
JOS. H. BLACK. SON & CO. 
HIGHTSTOWN. N. J. 
S Apples 8c., Cherries 4c. 
Our free bulletin tells you nil about 
the nursery business. Est. I8?s. 
King Bros. Nurseries, Dansville. N.Y. 
@ 
TREES, PLANTS and VINES. 
Beat Money Values. Catalog free. 
SPRING HILL NURSERIES. 
Box 48 Tippecanoe City, Ohio 
First-Class FRUIT TREES 
FOR FALL 1*1,ANTING. Propagated from 
trees of known merit. True to name. No scale. 
SAMUEL FRASER, Box C. Geneseo, N. Y. 
Peach and Apple Trees 
For fall or spring planting. Prices right; stock 
right. MYER & SON, Bridgeville, Delaware 
Alfalfa Hay 
THE WONDKIlFUIi, MILK-PRODUCING FKED. 
BRIDGE 8 SOUTER, Pioneer Shippers, Canastota, N. Y. 
APPLE BARRELS—Car Lots or Less 
ROUT. GILLIES MEDINA, N. Y. 
GREAT CROP RESULTS 
"Personally I believe your High Grade Potato 
has NO equal ; half a ton to the aero has given me 
more potatoes and better stock than three-fourths 
ton of same analysis of any other make used,” said 
of Martin’s by an expert New York Potato Grower. 
(Name furnished on application.) Martin Fertili¬ 
zers lead in Crop Production and Soil Enrichment. 
Manufactured chiefly of materials from our own 
slaughterhouses and stockyards. Quality and me¬ 
chanical condition guaianteed. Responsible agents 
wanted. I) It. MARTIN CO., 706 Fenn 
ltuildiug, Pittsburgh, Pa, 
BUY AN ICE PLOW 
and save the ice crop. Cut your ico 
(juick and cheap with my double- 
row Ice Plow. It equals 20 
men with saws. Pays for 
itself in 1 day. Also Tools. 
Ask for catalog and prices. 
>VM. H. FRAY, Verbank, N. Y. 
G-Horsepowet Sawing 
° uifit $1 95 
You Can Earn $111 a Day With This Ria 
CohI is Hunrco and high. SAW W0OI> uuu sell it while the 
demand is good and price high. If you have no wood, saw wood 
for other people, and make $10.00 a day. Saw tables, $14.50. 
24in. circular saw* $4.50. 26in. $5.25. 6 II. P. gasoline engines 
$125.00. Catologue Ryfree. Palmer Bros., Cos Cob, Conn. 
Prices vary considerably at this time 
of the year. Good cows bring from $70 
to $100; milk, from 40 to 42 cents per 8 Vi 
quart cans. Butter is not made in this 
vicinity. Poultry, live, 12 to 16 cents, 
dressed, 20 to 27 cents per pound. Eggs 
40 cents per dozen. Hay is selling for $25 
per ton. Apples from $2 to $3 per barrel. 
Peaches have brought from $1.25 to $1.50 
per 16 quart baskets. Pears, $2 per bushel. 
Potatoes, 75 cents per bushel. Toma¬ 
toes have been as low as 30 cents per 
bushel. Turnips, white-egg and purple-top, 
60 to 75 cents per bushel. Rutabaga, $1 
to $1.25 per barrel. Carrots are selling 
for about 50 to 60 cents per bushel. 
Auburn, Mass. m. m. p. 
Free Box of Samples 
sent to your station charges prepaid. All 
sizes, 2 inches to 20 inches. Delivered 
prices quoted on request. 
THE E. BIGL0W CO., New London, 0 
Chatham Mill 
Grain Grader and Cleaner 
Loaned free for 30 days—no money CD FIT B 
down—freight prepaid—cash or credit, y tw I 
It grades, cleans and separates wheat, oats, I AAIU 
corn, barley, flux,clover, timothy, etc. Takes ■ 
cockle, wild outs, tamo oats, smut, etc., from seed wheat; any mix¬ 
ture from flax. Sorts corn for drop plunter. Rids clover of buck- 
horn. Takes out ull dust, dirt, chaff and noxious weeds from timo¬ 
thy. Removes foul weed Reed und all the damaged, shrunken, 
cracked or feeble kerne Is from any grain. Handles up to 80 bushels 
per hour. Gas power or hand power. Easiest running mill on earth. 
Over 250.000 in use in U. S. and Canada. Postal brings low-price- 
buy-on-time proposition and latest Catalog. I will loan 500 
machines, “first come, first served.” Write today If you want 
to be one of the lucky 500. Ask for Booklet 43. (39) 
THE MANSON CAMPBELL COMPANY, Detroit, Kansas 
Cash 
or On Time 
City, 
Minneapolis 
