THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
766 
1913. 
labor in hop and grape sections. 
I have heard that there is quite a 
demand for unskilled labor in the hop- 
yards during picking time. I would like 
to know if such is the case, and if so 
what the pay is. Does it include keep? 
What is the usual time such labor is 
in most demand? I also hear that the 
same conditions apply to the grape dis¬ 
trict to a lesser extent. How do con¬ 
ditions here compare with the hop sec¬ 
tion from the worker’s point of view? 
As I expect to have considerable time 
on my hands this coming Fall I would 
iike to know what the opportunities are 
for such work, as I want to keep busy 
as much as possible. r. w. k. 
Rutherford, N. J. 
There is always opportunity for good 
workers to aid in the harvesting of the 
grape crop in the “Chautauqua Belt.” 
The work is very agreeable and health¬ 
ful, judging from my early observations 
much more so than in the hop harvest. 
One of the great difficulties for some 
j ears back has been good reliable workers 
at this harvest. Transients are readily 
obtainable, but as a rule they stay iu 
one place only a day or two and then 
the “wanderlust” seizes them and away 
they go. The season lasts from four to 
six weeks, and begins about the middle 
of September. It is often possible to 
lengthen this time somewhat by working 
at a second or third place after the pick¬ 
ing is finished at the place of beginning, 
when one may find employment at other 
farms nearby. Many city people from 
distant points find the work of grape 
picking a congenial and recreative em¬ 
ployment. Many have come to the same 
vineyards each year for several years, 
and continue to do so. The wages paid 
vary somewhat. Some are paid $1 per 
day and board, with no lost time on 
account of rain, etc. Some $1,115 per 
day with board, but lose time for rainy 
days, while some experienced men pickers 
who live at home are paid $1.75 per day, 
but these are also expected to assist in 
the heavier work. All things considered 
work at the vineyard harvest is plentiful 
and profitable. F. E. G. 
Alfalfa a Long-lived Crop. 
Last August we seeded one acre to 
Alfalfa (about the third field in the 
neighborhood) and it caught and win¬ 
tered, I think, very well. It is now 
(,uite free from weeds and stands about 
a foot high. I have been advised, after 
cutting once or twice to plow it up and 
resow, as the ground is now well inocu¬ 
lated, and the seed sown this Summer 
will catch and grow better than that 
already growing. Do you think that will 
hi> better than to let (ho present crop 
stand and top-dress this Winter? As 
this is just a test plot to see what it 
will do on our soil and to convince the 
skeptical old folks that it will grow and 
pay for the trouble of starting it, I 
am quite interested in making this plot 
a success. j. h. d. 
Bloomingrove, N. Y. 
We should not think of plowing this 
acre of Alfalfa. Let it stand, top-dress it 
and give it a good chance. It would not 
pay to plow and reseed if it is now doing 
well. A part of any test of Alfalfa is 
its endurance. See how long you can 
make it grow profitably. Alfalfa is in¬ 
tended for a long-lived crop and should 
be left as long as it will pay. 
Dissolving Copper Sulphate. 
I have been watching for an inquiry 
about how to dissolve copper sulphate. 
How is it done? c. w. w. 
Johnson City, Teuu. 
Fill a barrel or tub nearly full of 
water. Put the copper sulphate in a 
coarse bag and hang it so it will be im¬ 
mersed in the water. Leave it there un¬ 
til dissolved. 
The Laror Problem. —The labor ques¬ 
tion seems to be a diflieult one. I ex¬ 
pected to have a student from an agricul- 
Uiral school, but he decided to work at 
! ome in the city instead of on a farm. 
1 also passed by a couple of fellows whom 
1 did not consider hardly tit to take into 
the home with three small boys, so I am 
tr J'hig to do the work of two men. Of 
course I cannot do it properly, but by 
careful planning and long hours I man- 
to accomplish something. It seems 
: . ls if pusley,” red-root and “pussy-grass” 
.Hist he in waiting to catch a 
'■mn heels over head in haying, then 
spring up and try to choke out his gar- 
• len. i am iu hopes that the time will 
come when I can solve this help problem, 
and have a little more time when it is 
not necessary to be in the field. IIow- 
:'nt l 'ir It s,H ' ms as it nearly all the decent, 
• IU ' hgent young men are going to the 
C. L. M. 
I lllmore, N. Y. 
FARM ENGINEERING. 
Plan of Barnyard Waterworks. 
My water system is by gravity; it 
comes some 4,500 feet through %-inch 
iron pipe, half or more filled with rust, 
has lain many years, gives some-trouble by 
bursting at different points. Below is a 
diagram of same looking at it from the 
side; with the number of feet of eleva¬ 
tion obtained by a carpenter’s level two 
feet long. There is fully this amount of 
elevation. The old pipe furnishes plenty 
of water for all stock but gives no pres¬ 
sure, which we would like to have for 
washing wagons, etc. Would 1 %-inch 
pipe at upper end, where most fall is, 
with %-inch outlet give more pressure 
than the same size all through? When 
the system was first put in it is said 
to have raised the water 22 feet high; 
by that you see my estimation is low. 
In diagram, A represents reservoir; from 
A to B, a distance of about BOO feet I 
estimate about 10-foot fall, from B to 
(’. 900 feet, two-foot fall; from C to 1 ), 
BOO feet, eight-foot fall. From D to E, 
depends upon the strength and weight 
of the bridge, but also on tne char¬ 
acter of the soil on which it rests. It 
is much better to get it too large and be 
prepared for emergencies, such as tho 
possibility of sometime having to move 
a house over the bridge, than to get it 
too small. A safe rule to go by is to 
make the design “massive,” that is, de¬ 
cide upon how large the foundation walls 
should be to look well with the rest of 
the bridge, and then make them one and 
a half times as large or twice as large. 
R. p. c. 
Power for Hydraulic Pressure. 
I desire information about a hydraulic 
press. We have a brook 400 feet from 
buildings. The fall is so gradual we 
cannot build a dam but could get a 
three or four-foot fall by laying a pipe 
in the brook 400 feet. Would the fric¬ 
tion kill the power in B0 to B5 feet rise? 
Massachusetts. c. P. A. 
If you can get three or four feet fall in 
400 feet length, you can surely work 
a hydraulic ram to elevate the water 
30 or 35 feet, if that is what you desire 
A Reservoir | 
B 
300 ft. 
Bar nyard trough 
900 ft. 
From 
•> 
I \ 
/J 
B 
C 
£ 
to 
B 
C 
D 
D 
/0 
Z 
8 
4 
feet fa// 
~P/etc e for topping here Bor pasture 
PLAN FOR WATER SUPPLY. Fig. 205. 
3,000 feet; it is about four feet lower at 
D than at E, as a break at I) lets all the 
water out. yr. 
Any increase in the size of the pipe at 
the upper end will decrease the loss of 
pressure, due to the friction iu the pipe, 
and surely result iu greater pressure at 
the outlet. This increase iu pressure 
will be greater the longer you make the 
larger-sized pipe. You should make every 
effort to clean out the old %-inch pipe. 
Take it piece by piece, commencing at 
the reservoir end, when you put in the 
large pipe. It will be well worth the 
time and trouble. Any poor piece may 
be replaced by a good piece from the 
section which is removed to make room 
for the large pipe. Sharp curves and 
bends in the pipe decrease the pressure 
a great deal. If there is a valve at D 
that will decrease the pressure. 
_ R. P. C. 
Building a Concrete Bridge, 
Iu building a cement bridge 20 feet 
long, 12 feet wide, eight feet from rock to 
bottom of bridge, how much reinforce¬ 
ment should be used, and size? The 
concrete will be made up with creek 
gravel and sand, limestone and Hint, 
llow large a screen should be used, one 
inch or larger? I low thick should the 
foundation walls be? r. j. 
Tennessee. 
It is impossible to answer this letter 
fully without, more information as to the 
design of the bridge. The size and 
amount of steel reinforcing depends al¬ 
together upon the load which is likely to 
go on the bridge. Usually the steel is 
designed strong enough to withstand all 
tension loads and the concrete takes all 
compression. Then again, a number of 
%-inch bars of steel would usually do 
better than a much smaller number of 
one-inch bars, and sometimes, iu a small 
structure such as this, a little smaller 
size of bars would give satisfaction pro¬ 
vided they are very freely used. The 
proportions for a good mixture of con¬ 
crete are one part of Portland cement, 
three volumes of sand, and six volumes 
of gravel and broken stone mixed in 
equal proportions. The sand should be 
clean and coarse, not fine. It should be 
free from clay, etc. The broken stone 
should not be screened to uniform 
ns a mixture of graduated sizes is 
much better. The stone should 
screened, however, to remove the dust. 
The maximum size of the pieces is not 
so very important. Perhaps 1% or two 
inches would be as large as it is best 
to have the stone. Mix the sand and 
cement thoroughly while dry, add the 
proper amount of water and then the 
whole mass should be worked over thor¬ 
oughly. Then sprinkle the brokeu stone 
and gravel and add it while wet, but 
being careful not to add any water which 
may be held in the stone heap. The cou- 
crote is then turned over and over long 
and thoroughly. It is possible to more 
than double the strength of concrete by 
thorough mixing. The concrete should 
appear too dry until the very last of the 
mixing, as it grows wetter all the time. 
If seemingly wet enough at the start, 
it will certainly be too wet when the 
mixing has been accomplished. In dump¬ 
ing the concrete into the form be very 
careful not to let it fall from any great 
distance, as to do so separates the in¬ 
gredients and spoils the effe ; of good 
mixing. After a layer of c 'incut has 
been put in ^ace it should be tamped 
or pounded down, but not too vigorously 
nor too long, or the broken stone will 
go to the bottom, and, too, the “set” 
of the cement will be •disturbed. The 
size of the foundation walls not only 
size, 
very 
be 
to do. The size of the ram depends 
altogether on the amount of water you 
wish to elevate in an hour. You do 
not state that, but let us assume you 
want 250 gallons an hour. You will need 
a ram with a 3%-inch pipe intake and 
about 1 %-inch delivery pipe. The ram 
will require about 75 gallons of water 
per minute to operate it satisfactorily. 
__ b. p. c. 
Frost-proof Storehouse. 
I would like some advice in regard to 
making a storehouse frost-proof. I have 
a building 30 feet square and 10 feet 
high inside, built for storing cabbage; 
has a six-inch air space, and building is 
covered with a good roofing paper on roof 
and sides, sided up with good matched 
lumber inside and out. This building 
is not frost-proof; cabbage will freeze 
when near zero weather. Will another 
air space of two inches make it frost¬ 
proof or shall I have to make another S- 
inch space and fill it out with sawdust? 
Do you think an air space of two inches 
more will keep this building from freezing 
when below zero? c. A. S. 
Ransomville, N. Y. 
The six-inch air space between walls 
of matched boards covered with good 
roofing paper should be sufficient to give 
you a frost-proof storehouse. It is, of 
course, essential that no air can get 
into that six-inch space. That is, it 
must be absolutely dead air in that space, 
and no way for air to get in or out. 
The only reason for the use of sawdust 
is to be sure that the air is “dead” in 
the space—that is, to be sure that there 
is no circulation of air in the six-inch 
space. If the air space is air-tight 
there is no need of sawdust and, in fact, 
it is not desirable. Be sure also that 
there is no chance for the cold air to 
get into the storehouse underneath the 
walls. A slight leak of cold air at 
the floor will cause freezing. All ven¬ 
tilation should be at the top, and that 
must be kept closed after the first few 
days the vegetables are in place. The 
ventilation must be kept up until anv 
“sweating” is over with if you have roots 
in the house. Then close the ventilators 
and keep them closed all Winter. Do 
not open them on warm days. n. p. c. 
Volume of Waterflow. 
What is the flow per minute of water 
through a %-inch pipe 1,000 feet long 
and 109 feet head? n. l. p. 
The flow of water depends on the ma¬ 
terial and condition of the pipe. For 
good, smooth wrought iron pipe, the flow 
under the conditions you name would be 
about one-halt a cubic foot per minute, or 
about four gallons per minute, r. p. c. 
Back to the Land! 
T HAT’S the slogan of success. Now- 
a-days you don’t have to seek the 
city to make good. Every farm locality 
and rural district offers big money mak¬ 
ing opportunities to hustling men. 
Just consider contract ditching. 
Here’s what it offers you : Steady work, 
profits of from $15 to $18 a day, and a 
business that is all your own. The 
only thing you need is a 
BUCKEYE 
TRACTION 
DITCHER 
This machine digs from 100 to 150 
rods of drainage ditches a day, depend¬ 
ing upon the soil. It cuts these ditches 
true to grade and uniform size, and it 
lays the dirt evenly along the sides so 
that back filling can be quickly done. 
That’s what farmers want. They not 
only want their ditches dug accurately 
but they want the work finished as 
quickly as possible. The men who own 
a Buckeye Traction Ditcher find it easy 
to get work enough to keep them busy 9 
to 10 months in the year. 
Get the facts about the contract 
ditching business. Read what other 
men are making with the Buckeye 
Traction Ditcher. What they have 
done you can do. Just drop us 
a card and ask for catalog 3. 
THE BUCKEYE TRACTION DITCHER CO., 
FINDLAY, OHIO 
Run on gasoline, kerosene, distillate, 
any cheap fuel oil. Cost less to run— 
develop more power. Patent throttle 
I gives three engines in one. Many other | 
j exclusive features — guaranteed 10 
1 years—we pay freight—30 days’ fret; 
trial. Send for catalogue today. 
[ EJIIs Englnt Co.,5 Mullot St., Botrolt, Mlolu 
$32 BuysThislV2KP Engine 
Runs for lc aa hour. Uses either gasoline or kerosene^ 
Will drive any machino not requiring more than 2 H. P, 
THE AMERICAN JUNIOR 
Comes complete, ready to run. Mount¬ 
ed on skids. Easily carried about. 
Simple, strong,durable. Cun run- 
teed for life, Send for circular, 
AMERICAN ENGINE CO., 
480 Hoston St., Detroit, Mieh. 
[make BIG PAY DRILLING 
L-*snibs^ WATER WELLS 
Our Free Drillers’Book with 
catalog of Keystone Drills 
tells how. Many sizes; trac¬ 
tion and portable. Easy 
terms. These machine's 
make good anywhere. 
KEYSTONE WATER DRILL CO 
Beaver Fnlls p a . 
for potatoes—4 styles to choose from to suit your 
special conditions. We guarantee them to do the 
work we claim for them. ATI growers know that it p», s 
to use diggers even on five acres—they save much 
valuable time and save all of the crop in good conditiou 
IRON AGE diggers 
Wheels. 32 or 28 Inch, Flevator, 02 or 
20 inches wide Thorough separation 
without Injury to the crop. Best two 
wheel fore truck. Right adjustment 
of plow, shifts in gear from the seat. 
Can be backed .turns short into next row. 
Ask your dealer alxtut them and 
write us tor descriptive booklet. 
BATEMAN 
M’F’G CO. 
Box 102D 
Grenloch, N. J. 
MARLEY 
DUBBER. 
ROOFING 
An inexpensive, durable, asphaltum roofing that defies the most 
! weather. Will shed water and stay in place on any pitch of roof 
Any one "an lay it with a hammer and a paint brush. 
If directions are carefully followed we positively guarantee 10 
years’ wear. Marley has been known to last 20 years by being 
painted at intervals. 
It is absolutely impervious to heat, cold, gases and mildew. 
Won’t impart taste to water. Furnished in 3 thicknesses. 
Send for Booklet 
If you don’t know where to buy Marley, write 
C. S. GARRETT 
22 S. Marshall Street 
SON Corp. 
PHILADELPHIA. PA. 
