1167 
191.1. 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
LIMA BEANS DO NOT SET. 
My Lima beans do not appear to set 
well. The soil is moderately rich, the 
vines grow well, but not too rank and 
have plenty of blossoms, but the pods 
are few. They usually set one to four 
pods to a stem of blossoms, sometimes 
five or six and some stems, though not a 
great many, set none at all. The soil 
varies from a moderately rich sandy loam 
to a moderately rich clay. The beans 
that set fill out well. I keep the ends 
of the laterals pinched off. Can there be 
some element of plant food lacking that 
makes them fail to set well, or are the 
bees not working on them well enough? 
New York. H. N. 
Your Lima beans seem to be doing 
as well as the average. This is one crop 
that will not produce seed for every 
bloom on the plant, and it is no doubt 
well that this is the case. Being per¬ 
petual in their nature, the small root sys¬ 
tem would not be sufficient to supply the 
vines with food and water, if each blos¬ 
som would set and mature a pod. but 
would soon become exhausted and die 
from over-production. Sometimes cli¬ 
matic conditions have much to do with 
the making of the crop. If the atmos¬ 
phere is dry and warm the number of 
pods will be greater than if the weather 
is wet or much foggy weather prevails, 
but under the most favorable conditions 
a large per cent of the blossoms will not 
produce pods. Nature seems to have de¬ 
signed it so. I have examined many 
lama bean blossoms under a good micro¬ 
scope in an effort to find a physical cause 
why any should fail to produce pods, but 
so far have been unable to find any; 
every blossom examined seemed to be 
perfect in its physical make-up, both 
stamens and pistils seemed to be perfect. 
These examinations were in most cases 
made when the weather conditions were 
most favorable to the beans. I was 
therefore forced to the conclusion that 
nature never designed that every blossom 
should produce a pod of beans. 
The bees have no part in the polleniza- 
tion of beans, as the reproductive organs 
are so constructed that bees nor any 
other pollen-gathering insect can reach 
them. When the wings of the bloom are 
removed from the stamens and pistil, it 
will be seen that the stamens or male or¬ 
gans of the flower are attached to hair¬ 
like ligaments about one-half inch in 
length. These ligaments are curled 
around the stigma, bringing the stamens 
in so close contact with it that none is 
visible until the twisted hair-like liga¬ 
ments are separated from the stigma and 
partially unfolded and straightened out. 
This explains why cross-pollenization 
with other sorts so very rarely takes 
place naturally. If it were not for this 
peculiar construction of the blooms, it 
would be impossible to grow more than 
one variety in the garden without a large 
percentage of cross-fertilization. Every¬ 
one knows what will happen if two or 
more varieties of corn are grown in close 
proximity to each other, also cabbage, let¬ 
tuce, radishes, etc., for seed. There 
would probably be such a mixture in the 
next generation that the identity of the 
parents would hardly be recognizable, 
but happily this is not true of beans, 
and many varieties of Limas or any other 
kinds may be grown side by side without 
danger of cross-pollenization. Each va¬ 
riety must depend upon self-pollenization 
for the reproduction of its kind. Each 
bloom must perform this function for it¬ 
self, as no outside agency can in any way 
assist. K. 
New Method of Curing Fish. 
With meat prices rising more and more 
people look to fish and eggs for their sup¬ 
ply of animal food. The ocean contains 
an inexhaustible supply of fish, but for 
profitable fishing vessels must often sail 
far from market and either make quick 
return with a small cargo or have some 
method of preserving the fish. Either 
ice or salt must be carried for the pur¬ 
pose, and this adds greatly to the ex¬ 
pense. U. S. Consul Lamb, of Nova 
Scotia, describes a new method of pre¬ 
serving fish for shipment without the use 
of ice, salt, pickle or chemicals. The 
process is described as follows: 
The fish are dumped into a tank hold¬ 
ing sea water which has been filtered 
through four cylinder-like tanks contain- 
>ng willow charcoal and screens to re¬ 
move the noxious gases and foreign sub¬ 
stances. Next, brown sugar is placed in 
• no tank holding the fish to serve as a 
germicide for such organisms as may be 
active at freezing temperature. Then by 
refrigeration the temperature is lowered 
to 10 degrees C. below zero, during which 
time 16.1 per cent salt is added to pre¬ 
vent ice formation and to assist the for¬ 
mation of a thin protective coating over 
the fish themselves. Having allowed the 
fish to remain in this treatment for two 
hours they are ready for shipment, re¬ 
moved from the tank, and placed in the 
package or barrel to await transportation 
to market. This process is based upon 
the theory that putrefaction of fish is 
first caused by bone taint, due to the fact 
that in the old methods of curing fish the 
specific or animal heat is partially left 
within the fish. The new method which 
has been introduced here acts as a pre¬ 
ventive to bone taint, completely remov¬ 
ing the specific or animal heat from the 
fish to be cured. 
It is claimed that this leaves the fish 
in perfect condition. It is purposed to 
erect plants along the coast of Nova 
Scotia where fish can be preserved in 
this way. 
GREENHOUSE CONSTRUCTION. 
I intend building a small greenhouse 
this Fall, and come to you for a little 
advice. Location is slightly northeast to 
southwest and could set it in an embank¬ 
ment .10 feet high. I am living on a 
southeast slope and am situated where 
the cold winds do not strike me; always 
sunny and warmer here than on the open 
farther out. I thought of making it 
20x16 feet and a three-quarter slope, 
which would give me more warmth from 
the sun in the morning, but in the after¬ 
noon the hill shades the sun from it by 
three to 3.30 or about there, always about 
a half hour sooner than in the open. I 
bought the glass and got 10x14 and 408 
pieces. Would a four-foot wall, inside, 
be too high? Would you run the con¬ 
crete up to the plate where the sashes 
rest on? r. d. h. 
Mt. Penn, Pa. 
The three-quarter span house is, all 
things considered, the best type for gen¬ 
eral purposes. The long span should 
face the south or southeast, as it is de¬ 
sirable to get as many hours’ sunlight 
as possible each day. In the Winter, 
when the days are short, the sun lies 
much south of the meridian, and if the 
house is situated so the long span faces 
the east or west, much of the sunlight 
will be lost, and the efficiency of the 
house will be correspondingly reduced. 
Sixteen feet wide inside will be found 
very satisfactory, as it admits of three 
benches or tables, one on either side and 
obe in the middle. The south wall should 
be four feet and the rear wall eight 
feet high. This should be substantially 
constructed; as a rule too little atten¬ 
tion is given to the construction of the 
walls. Their durability should not only 
be secured, but the probable heaving by 
frost, and the lateral pressure of the roof 
should be taken into account, and care¬ 
fully guarded against. The foundation 
for a greenhouse, like any other build¬ 
ing, is of the greatest importance, for 
upon its construction depends the life of 
the house. If the foundation is not sub¬ 
stantially constructed, the house will not 
long remain in a satisfactory condition. 
Greenhouse walls are constructed of 
grout, wood, stone or brick, or a combi¬ 
nation of these materials, but perhaps the 
most satisfactory is the grout wall. It is 
strong, durable, water and airtight. For 
a house not over 18 feet wide and walls 
not over eight feet high, a wall of grout 
12 inches thick will answer. This should 
rest on an 18-inch footing course of the 
same material sunk below the frost line. 
As before mentioned, it is very desir¬ 
able to have the slope of the roof ar¬ 
ranged to entrap as much as possible of 
light and heat from the sun during the 
short days of Winter, and taking every¬ 
thing else into consideration, the south 
pitch of the roof should slope about four 
feet for every six feet in width of the 
house. With the supports for the ridge¬ 
pole set at a distance of six feet from 
the outside of the north wall, the bottom 
of the ridge should be about 12 feet from 
the ground level, or eight feet higher 
than the top of the south wall. This 
will require a sash-bar about 13% feet in 
length for south and a little over seven 
feet for the north slope of the roof. When 
it is desired a row of 10x12 glass under 
the plate on the south wall, is easily ar¬ 
ranged for at time of construction of the 
wall; this will require an extra plate two 
inches thick and should be clear cypress. 
Allowing 16 inches for the plates and 
glass, would require the concrete wall to 
be two feet eight inches in height on the 
inside, and the thickness, of the wall can 
be reduced to nine or 10 inches. Sash 
bars, rafters and plates should be clear 
cypress, and if the walls are properly 
constructed and wood kept well painted, 
the house should last 20 years or more. 
K. 
ion 
T HE marvelous assortment of legumes with the numerous 
species of grasses grown in the Southeastern States 
(that portion east of the Mississippi and south of the 
Potomac and Ohio rivers) offer the dairyman, cattle, hog 
and sheep raiser and the horse breeder greater opportuni¬ 
ties than any section of America. 
For Winter Grazing Southern Farmers have alfalfa, oats, bar¬ 
ley, the vetches, crimson and burr clover, Canada peas, rye, rescue 
grass and rape. While supplying excellent pasturage these plants 
are greatly benefiting the soil by storing atmospheric nitrogen. 
For Summer Forage Southern Farmers have alfalfa, cowpeas, soy 
beans, sorghum, German millet, Lespedeza, sweet potato vines, pea¬ 
nuts, beggarweed,crab grass and many other legumes with practically 
every variety of grasses and the most prolific corn yields in America. 
Alfalfa lands, the finest in America, lV/TAlUi..,,. grows luxuriantly and cuts 
xxiiaild are found in the Black Soil IVieiUOLUS 2 to X rmns rarh sonsnn 
Belt of Alabama and Mississippi, and in 
numerous sections of Virginia, Kentucky, 
Tennessee, the Carolinas and Georgia. 
The yields run 4 to 6 tons annually, selling 
locally from $15 to $25 a ton, the demand 
far exceeding the supply. 
Pnmcon planted with corn “* 
VM1II1SOH VMOVer makes a rapid Rod driver Pl ante( l fa September 
growth through the fall, furnishes good win- ucu VMUVcr makes rapid growth 
ter grazing and cuts 2 tons per acre. Asa and cuts about 2 tons in both May 
2 to 3 crops each season. 
The roots grow very deep, and leave the 
soil in fine condition. 
X/otohoc the hairy or winter varieties 
V ciLUCi) planed i n the fall with oats 
make excellent winter grazing and give a 
good hay crop in the spring. 
green manure crop it is excellent. 
r nwnpa c yield heavily, make excellent 
v-uwpcds hay and grazing and a great 
soil builder. Planted between corn they 
yield 2 to 3 tons of hay per acre. Weil 
cured they make excellent feed for horses 
and mules without the need of grain. 
and September and again the following 
spring. 
P„_ nn #-e of the Spanish variety thrive 
1 CcUlUlb orl light sandy limed soil. 
Pulled for hay the nuts adhere to the 
stems and are excellent for fattening pork, 
being very rich in protein. 
Southern Land the Cheapest 
in America 
Federal statistics show farm lands in the nine Southern Railway 
ta tes to average about one-half the price of lands elsewhere in America. 
Unimproved lands, capable of large production or those partially 
improved but a few miles from railroads, are for sale at $10 to $20 
an acre. Improved, highly productive farms with good build¬ 
ings, near prosperous towns, good schools, churches, highways 
and other conveniences are selling from $25 to $50 an acre. 
TVmn^rnhir^ As shown b V the U - S - 
l emperaiure \\eather Bureau, the 
temperature in the South does not run 
higher and the Summers are more equable 
with fewer heat prostrations than Western 
and Northern states. The nights are usu¬ 
ally cool. The Gulf and Atlantic breezes 
temper the climate for many miles inland, 
in many sections the mountain air makes 
the temperature agreeable. 
The Southern Railway 
through their Land and Industrial Department will be pleased to aid you 
in finding a farm home. We have no land to sell, but we will refer you to 
reliable parties with whom you can personally make your arrangements. 
FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE ?S 0 SSV d oS v 5, c e°SS 
blanks, which obligates you in no way whatsoever, and mail to 
M. V. RICHARDS, Land and Industrial Agent 
Room 87, Washington, D. C. 
Send me free the “Southern Field’’ magazine. Alfalfa Booklet and farm sale [lists. I am 
Interested in subjects checked and state of_ ; __ 
□ General Farming □ Dairying □ Poultry □ Fruit □ Truck 
Name_ Address '-■ -* w 
IVTarlc aIcT herapidlygrowingSouthern ^ 
i vial Nets cities are constantly demanding 
larger quantities of farm produce. The great 
markets of the North and West are but 10 
to 40 hours distant. The completion of 
the Panama Canal will mean greater South¬ 
ern activity. If you wish a farm at a 
minimum investment with wonderful pro¬ 
ducing possibilities in the “ Home Land of 
the Nation ’’ let us assist you. 
Mobile & Ohio Railroad and 
Georgia Southern & Florida Ry. 
We now make a full line of both Steel-Wheel 
and Wood-Wheel Farm Trucks, and shall be 
pleased to furnish you our free catalogof same. 
On account of the ease with which work can 
be done with these trucks, they are fast com- 
i insr into general use. Let us have youi In¬ 
quiry for prices. 
HAVANA IU-TAI. WHEEL CO., Box 17, HAVANA, ILL. 
Grinds More Feed i ^ 
Per Gallon Gas 
. Jan’t 
lughout. 
I S 
9 li 
I mg ]- - 
I grain, hay, seeds, screenings or 
I snap corn, wet,dry or oily. Cat 
| clog—force feed thro ' 
I 
li 
Letz Self Sharpening Silent Butir 
Try it for ten days — if it don’t Paa/ 1 Mill 
grind finer, faster, cheaperthan X V V U 111X1 a. 
other mills send it back at our expense. Write to¬ 
day for details, stating H.P. of your engine. 
Leix Mfg. Co., 213 East Road, Crown Point, Ind., 
