344 
THE KURAb NEW-YORKER 
THE WORLD’S POTATO RECORD. 
We are interested in champions— 
though not a candidate for any cham¬ 
pionship honors. We have named cows 
and hens and poultry pickers or potato 
diggers and corn buskers. Now comes 
a clamor for the world’s potato record. 
The English Mark Lane Express gives 
the report of a potato contest conducted 
by a horticultural society. Competitors 
each received one pound of seed, each 
containing nine tubers of equal size and 
of the same variety. In this contest an 
Irish variety known as “Colleen” was 
selected. Mr. P. H. Fay, secretary of 
the horticultural society gives the fol¬ 
lowing report: 
Fifty-one entries were received, and in 
order that all should start fair the seed 
was distributed in sealed hags. Competitors 
were allowed to cut their tubers into as 
many sets as they pleased (the winner 
of the first prize cut ills into 44 sets), 
and in every case the seed was cut and 
planted, and the crops raised and weighed 
under the supervision of members of the 
committee. Some extraordinary results 
were obtained, the first prize lot weighing 
no less than 231 % pounds of sound tubers, 
of which about 220 pounds were ware, the 
second 161 pounds, while the average of 
the heaviest 27 lots was 91 pounds and 
the lowest 56 pounds. That quality was 
not sacrificed for weight was shown by 
the fact that the heaviest crop also won 
first prize for quality, and the third heaviest 
(115% pounds) second prize. The crop of 
231% pounds from one pound of seed po¬ 
tatoes, grown (without any glass) under 
ordinary conditions, is believed to he a 
world’s record. 
Thus the seed potatoes averaged less 
than two ounces and were cut to about 
five pieces—evidently to single eyes. Fig¬ 
uring from such records is wild guess¬ 
ing, but this heaviest yield means over 
live pounds of crop for each seed piece. 
In rows three feet apart and seed pieces 
15 inches there would be 11,616 seed 
pieces per acre. If-each piece lived up 
to this record it would mean 58,080 
pounds per acre, or less than 1,000 bush¬ 
els. This is less than has been raised on 
measured acres in this country. By put¬ 
ting the rows and the seed pieces closer 
together we could figure out a larger 
possible yield, but it’s all like the fa¬ 
mous hen problem:—“If 10 hens paid a 
profit of $3 each all you have to do is 
keep 5,000 hens and pocket $15,000!” 
DITCHING BY MACHINE PLOW. 
J. M. B., Cory, Jnd. —Will readers who 
have used the Cyclone ditching machine 
give their experience in using it? How 
many horses does it need to run success¬ 
fully? IIow many rods of ditch can be 
dug on an average per day? How much 
does it cost per rod? Does the machine 
leave the ditch so that much hand work is 
needed to finish it? 
Ans.—T he machine is mounted on 
three wheels. At the rear arc two large 
steel wheels, about 10 feet apart; either 
side of ditch, with a wooden wheel, 
perhaps 15 feet ahead, which runs in 
the ditch and guides the machine auto¬ 
matically as it is hauled forward. The 
operator sits on a seat near the rear 
and directly over ditch and in full view 
of all operations, and adjusts the ma¬ 
chine by means of levers and hand 
wheel. Machine is well built and 
strong. The wearing parts are cheaply 
and easily replaced. After digging over 
11 miles of drains one farmer said his 
machine was good for 100 miles more. 
The ditcher cuts a trench eight or nine 
inches wide and any depth down to 30 
inches deep. To keep drains straight 
it is well to mark them out ahead with 
a turning plow. 
While six horses abreast (two three- 
horse teams or a strong 14-foot cvcncr 
with a team on each end of same, and 
ditch between teams) can handle the 
machine, eight or 10 horses can w.ornp- 
lish much more for proporth r ',-s. 
Some use a traction engir . '■ c trac¬ 
tion engines have been . sed w.ih satis¬ 
factory results. The horc'mower and 
character of soil, stony, hard, soft or 
favorable, regulates the depth of cut 
each time over ditch, two to 12 inches 
being taken out at a passage. The dis¬ 
tance dug in 10 hours depends entirely 
on efficiency, power and soil conditions. 
Stones are annoying. The operator and 
drivers, or men following for this pur¬ 
pose, should promptly remove interfer¬ 
ing stones. In one instance the writer 
knows the rate of one mile of 30-inch 
deep drain was dug by eight horses in a 
10-hour day on steep ground, digging 
down hill and returning empty. Much 
time is consumed in turning around at 
ends and in getting lined and squared 
up for a new start on a drain. Long 
drains and few outlets obviate this. 
With two four-horse teams abreast (on 
a longer cvener) worth $12, an operator 
at $2 and $10 allowed for depreciation 
of machine, totaling $24 per day, cutting 
one mile, the digging would cost 7 l /i 
cents per rod. Some claim to do the 
trenching for half this cost. Even if 
but one-half mile of drain was dug the 
total cost would still be but 15 cents 
per rod, or approximately only one-half 
the cost of all hand digging. For farm¬ 
ers of limited area and means the com¬ 
bining of forces with a neighbor is 
often advantageous to both, including 
the locality. With a machine to com¬ 
mand, the drainage work can go forth 
regularly, as it should when the inclina¬ 
tion and opportunity offers, independent 
more or less of the extra, inferior help 
problem which seriously handicaps the 
farmer the country over. Every good 
machine which can be placed between 
the man and the work should be heartily 
welcomed. 
When the slope (fall) of the land is 
gradual, say six inches to two feet fall 
per 100 feet, the machine will do first- 
class grading, without regrading by 
hand. If skillful, the operator soon 
learns the art, and a nice machine grade 
results. Machine leaves a round groove 
at the bottom of ditch in which cither 
round, hexagonal or octagonal tile lie 
well. Sometimes quite a lot of fine dirt 
(crumbs) falls back into ditch. A 
double end four-inch tile scoop is an 
excellent hand tool for cleaning up the 
bottom. Only good hard burned tile 
should be used for shallow drains, 
where frost reaches tile. Sound and 
look through every tile before laying it. 
If not up to the standard, reject it. 
Joint tile close and prime with top soil, 
as it is more porous usually than the 
subsoil. For grades less than six inches 
fall per 100 feet some kind of a leveling 
device should be used. Mains and sub- 
mains should be dug, laid and closed 
before lateral work commences. After 
tile are laid and primed the ditch can 
be backfilled with a reversible turning 
plow and team. For meadow lands a 
road scraper (four-wheel machine) is 
very satisfactory for backfilling drains. 
Drainage is one of the great primal and 
fundamental considerations in agricul¬ 
ture. It is a permanent improvement 
and investment and should be done 
right, so it will stay right for all time. 
T. E. MARTIN. 
An Employer’s Liability Law. 
Y. F., Connecticut .—I am a young man 
just beginning to get ahead on a large 
farm; am going largely on borrowed capi¬ 
tal. I of cojurse depend largely on hired 
help and most of the time employ several 
men. I am very particular to keep every¬ 
thing in first-class order, and also to in¬ 
struct my men to be most careful about 
not having accidents happen to themselves 
or others in any way. M.v general reputation 
in the community is that I am more careful 
than is necessary. Should a man in my 
position insure himself in some good gen¬ 
eral liability insurance company against 
damage suits that may come nowadays in 
case of accident, or should he taken his 
chances? 
Ans. —That is a question for indi¬ 
vidual decision. In a State where there 
is a strict employers’ liabilities law such 
insurance would be a fair risk. We 
know of one case in New Jersey where 
an Italian workman injured his eye in 
breaking stones while working for a 
farmer. This man was properly treated, 
but left the hospital before he should, 
hurt the eye again and may lose it. He 
has sued the farmer for heavy damages. 
Every farmer in New Jersey who em¬ 
ploys labor takes considerable risk, for 
the liabilities law is very strict. We have 
never insured against damage suits, but 
it is about as fair a proposition as in¬ 
suring live stock. 
No Intelligent^ 
Person To-day 
doubts the superiority of 
SCOTT’S EMULSION 
for colds , bronchitis , 
throat or lung troubles. 
It overcomes these troubles 
and purifies the blood to 
resist a relapse. 
Scott’s Emulsion is a 
powerful pure-food-tonic 
free from stimulants or 
J opiates of any sort. 
Don’t Accept the Substitutes 
Scott & Bowne, Bloomfield, N. J. 
I I Scott 
y_ 
IDE 
JL=J! 
12-132 
I ‘ *1 
Ctnnp’c Snvhpnn«—Pedigreed Calico Corn and 
oione S aoyDeans Mammoth Ensilage Corn. 
Fill Granary and Silo with balanced rations. Don’t 
buy protein. Grow it. Illustrated cataloguo free. 
WM. McD. STONE, Soybeau ami Corn Specialist, Atwater, 0. 
Highbred Seed Corn For Sale 
We have a few bushels of highbred seed corn This 
corn has been selected forearlluess uml yield under 
the direction of tho Plant-Breeding Department of 
Cornell University for live years. The original 
seed was from Funk’s SKl-day Yellow Dent. East 
year it yielded us 108 bushels of shelled corn per acre 
Price, per bushel, of 70 lbs. ol Ears. 54.00 
Price, per bushel, ol Shelled Corn. 3.00 
BHOA1) BROOK FARM, BEDFORD HILLS, N. Y. 
March 8, 
When you write advertisers mention The 
It. N.-Y. and you’ll get a quick reply and a 
“square deal." Sec guarantee editorial page. 
TREES 
DWARF 
APPLE 
We have made a specialty of Dwarf 
Apple Trees for four years, and now 
offer 25 varieties. No other nursery 
can offer such wide selection. First 
quality stock at wholesale prices — 
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leading varietiesof Apple, Pear, Plum, 
Cherry and Peach trees, Crape Vines, 
Small Fruits and Ornamental Stock. 
SEND FOR FREE CATALOG 
Full of information and " beautifully 
illustrated. Send now for bargain price 
lists while stock is complete. 
W. L. McKAY, Prop. Van Dusen Nurseries 
Box A, GENEVA, N. Y. 
Large Yields From Your — — 
("l j, j-fl Thi8 is tho title of a book by Adolph 
v -*“ Kruhm for a number of years with 
W. Atlee Burpee, tho seedsman of Philadelphia 
This valuablo book will bo given you PT#>e 
with a 6 months’ trial subscription to tho 
Veoetahle Grower for only twenty-fivo cents 
The paper is published monthly. It. is of great hene- 
llt to every vegetable grower. Whether you cultivate 
a thousand acres or oidy a kitchen garden. It will 
help you. Send stani|>sor coin. 
The Veactahle Grower. 3346 Boyce Bldo., Chicano, 111. 
C hoice Strawberry Plants — Columbia, Omn, CommoiiwtaHh 
Cticsnpcake, llefcn-Davls, Longfellow, Kendall, Sample, Iter- 
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F RUIT »nd Grain Parma cheap In Southern Ohio, $(ir.O to }l J.000 
write your wanta. C. M. Blackburn, It. D. No. 1, Otway O. 
OATS 
—Swedish Select, Siberian and Bin 4. Also SEED 
CORN and GRASS SEED. Samples and circular 
free. Keid Hurt, Melrose, Ohio 
FOR SALE-SEED C0RN-&Tri l ™& 
bushel. Four Orange <’o. farms. Inquire owner 
1IAKKY VAIL, iSew Milford, Orango Oo., N. Y 
r A , Cola —Cow Pens, $2.50 bushel. 8eod Buck 
r VI OdlC wheat., 85e. bush. Crimson Clover Seed 
$4.50 hush. Red Clover Seed, *11 and $12 bush 
Onion Sots, $2 bush. JOSEPH E. HOLLAND, Milford, Del 
WONDERFUL EVERBEARING WHITE 
STRAWBERRY. FULL OF BLOOM 
RIPE STRAWBER RIES ALL SUMMER 
AND LATE FALL- catalogue free. 
Transplanted Vegetable Plants 
Wc grow plants for the largest market gardeners: 
for the man who plants for profit. A fair trial will 
convince you that our plants produce better crops, 
two to four weeks earlier than local or Southern 
products. Write for price list. 
GUY ltd. HUTTON, - OONYNGIIAM, PA. 
Strawberry Plants"^ ^ riHtios - Lr>w rrice3 
loguo free. 
orthern grown. Cata- 
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tatoes, Glover, Timothy and GARDEN SEE0S. Sample* 
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Onion Seed, Onion Sets, Seed Potatoes 
Everything in Vegetable and Flower Seeds. Write 
for catalog. 
J. AUG. DRAKE, Seedsman, Chester, New Jersey 
QpD SEEDS 
ryt BEST IN THE WORLD 
^ Pries* Below All Others 
I will give a lot of new 
sorts free with every order I 
fill. Buy and test. Return if 
’not O. K.—money refunded. 
Big Catalog FREE 
Over 700 illustrations of vege¬ 
tables and flowers. Send youra 
_ . and your neighbors’addresses, 
S HUM WAY, Rockford, Illinoir 
ABOUt f'THE COST REDUCEr-Zy-eeloo/F/e^S TURPY 
TREES 
This booklet will savt money for you. It tells i 
about our LAKESHORE GROWN Nursery Stock 
Hardy—Early Bearing GuaranteedJ LAKESHORE NURSERIES, Box 1 lO, Girard, Pm 
Dibble’s Farm Seeds 
are northern grown from carefully selected stock seed and are the best obtain¬ 
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and the silo, pedigree stock, germination test showing 95-99%. Alfalfa, 
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Address. EDWARD F. DIBBLE, Seedgrower, Box B, Honeoye Falls, N. Y. 
From Our Farms to Yours«—»^ 
Buy direct from Harris who raises them and can 
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varieties of POTATOES, OATS and CORIM, 
as well as the best VEGETABLE SEEDS of all 
kinds at wholesale prices. Catalog Free— it’s worth 
having. Ask for Market Gardeners 
wholesale price list if you grow for market. 
Joseph Harris Co . Box66 Coldwater. N.Y 
HARRIS 
SEEDS 
The Right Seeds 
TO USE ARE THE BEST YOU CAN GET 
