640 
<rHED RURAL NEW-YORKER 
May 7, 
FARMERS’ CLUB 
[Every query must be accompanied by the name 
and address of the writer to insure attention. Be¬ 
fore asking a question, please see whether it is not 
answered in our advertising columns. Ask only 
a few questions at one time. Put questions on a 
separate piece of paper.] 
THE COST OF A CROP. 
We have already received figures 
from a number of farmers, showing 
what it costs to put a crop into the 
ground. Here are a few statements to 
show how the records are started: 
No. 1—A Corn Crop in Long Island. 
This is a field of four acres grown 
by Chas. B. Foster. Here follows a 
statement of the cost of labor and ma¬ 
nure up to April 25: 
27 tons car manure at.91.85 $40.05 
HO tons yard manure at..... 2.00 00.00 
H2 hours handling car manure .40 12>0 
HO hours handling yd. manure .40 14.40 
10 hours plowing .40 0.40 
2 hours rolling .40 .80 
Total . $144.35 
That means an average cost of $38.12 
per acre before a kernel of corn is 
planted. Very likely that will frighten 
some of our corn growers, but we are 
after the facts, ifo matter who is fright¬ 
ened. You will see that Mr. Foster 
charges 20 cents an hour for his time, 
and 10 cents extra for each horse em¬ 
ployed. We shall give the story of the 
crop through the season until we know 
the exact cost of labor and seed. We 
have the figures for Mr. Foster's po¬ 
tato crop also—to be given later. Will 
the people who buy his crop pay him 
the wages here figured? 
No. 2—Cost of a Pea Crop. 
In accordance with your request, I 
am sending you the bill against my pea 
crop. It looks pretty large to me now, 
and there are still to be charged against 
it the pro rata share of the general ex¬ 
penses of running the farm, which can¬ 
not be charged against any special crop. 
And its share of interest on investment, 
taxes, insurance, etc. I find that to 
keep accurate account of things would 
require a more intricate system than 
my brain is able to evolve, so I keep 
it as near as I can. and on January 1 
add all outside expenses together, di¬ 
vide it by the number of acres and 
charge the result up against each acre. 
Here is the bill: 
Peas, 1910, 2 5/12 acres. 
To labor, 57.5 hours man and team 
at .40 $23.00 
To seed. 10 bushels at $2.50 per bu. 25.oO 
To fertilizer at $3f> per ton. 15.37 
By seed remaining in drill and sold 
‘to neighbor .35 
$63.02 
Orleans Co., N. Y. j. b. Johnson. 
R. X.-Y.—Yes, it looks a little large, 
but probably you never figured the cost 
of labor before in this way. We shall 
now want the cost of harvesting the 
crop and then what it sells for. 
No. 3—The Cost of Potatoes. 
I notice the request for help to deter¬ 
mine the cost of raising crops. I have 
two acres plowed which I shall plant 
in potatoes. If the figures will be of 
any use to you, will gladly send them 
every two weeks, as you suggest. The 
expense to date is as follows: 
Plowing, two days . $8.00 
Harrowing, one day . 4.00 
$12.00 
Litchfield Co., Conn. j. s. gunn. 
R. N.-Y.—By all means send us the 
figures everj' two weeks through the 
season. We would like to know the 
dates on which the work was done, 
and the time spent on it. We expect to 
"keep records here, and can compare tlje 
different statements through the sea¬ 
son. Let us also know the kind of soil. 
LocrsT for Shade. —I notice on page 
490 an article on planting trees along 
country roads, naming several varieties, 
the writer giving preference to the Cali¬ 
fornia Black walnut. I have for several 
vears planted a number of ordinary locust 
trees along the roadsides of my farm, and 
find them very desirable for that purpose, 
as thev grow very rapidly, are tall, not 
verv bushv. making the best of fuel tiihber, 
and cast* but little shade on the farm 
land adjoining. Does anyone know of any 
objection to the locust? - j. r. p. 
Old Chatham, N. Y. 
Sweet Clover in the North. 
Reader, Nova Scotia .—What can be said 
about Sweet clover as a cover crop for this 
latitude? We would like it for sowing in 
orchards and other places. When should 
it be seeded? 
Ans. —To find a hardy legume for a 
Winter cover crop in the cold North has 
been the wish of many progressive 
farmers. Far northern readers of The 
R. N.-Y. are asking whether Sweet 
clover may not be used successfully in 
this way, as cow peas and Crimson 
clover are used in warmer climates. 
In theory there seems to be no reason 
why good Sweet clover seed should 
fail to germinate in late Summer or 
Fall, but there have been quite a number 
of reports from different parts of the 
country that the seed when so sown 
did not start until the following Spring. 
Mr. Wing, whose article on page 332 
tells, about all that is known about 
Sweet clover, attributes this slowness 
to poor seed. Others say the drought 
was the cause. We believe there have 
been no careful trials to determine how 
late in Summer Sweet clover seed will 
germinate. Those interested should 
make sure of good seed and sow a lit¬ 
tle in different months, July, August, 
September. vermonter. 
THE OUTLOOK IN CENTRAL MAINE. 
There is another side to the potato ques¬ 
tion. The Aroostook potato growers, op¬ 
erating in new land and in a cool climate, 
have made fortunes and have sold out 
many of them, and bought farms in central 
Maine. They ridiculed our methods of 
farming as “ S i 0 w,” and at last so leavened 
the whole lump that there was last year 
the first general movement to “go and do 
something.” And the whole country was 
covered with potatoes. There is no greater 
gamble, and it is pretty well understood. 
It is very doubtful if what now might be 
called a fair price, in view of the great 
crop, would have been taken by the farm¬ 
ers until the last moment, when, of course, 
it was too late. The potato market has 
had a way of going up suddenly at the 
close of the season often, and those who 
had the nerve to hold have made money. 
This year for good reasons things didn't 
work that way. I have seen hay down to 
$5, which is as bad as 20 -cent potatoes, 
but hay can be held, and shortly a change 
in conditions sent it up to a paying, if 
not a highly profitable crop. Close ob¬ 
servers note a great change in methods 
here, and wonder what the end will be. 
Two seasons of severe drought have so 
shortened the hay crop that most of t'.c 
stock seems to have been sold. The very 
high pripe of veals has sent them to mar¬ 
ket, so that there is not only a shortage 
of cows, but a greater in prospect. Large 
pastures, which ordinarily are full of stock, 
are empty this season. Owing to high 
prices, even pigs were not raised, and 
the high prices of pork sent about every¬ 
thing available to the slaughter house This 
is a hay country, and when we raise nor¬ 
mal crops again there will be little stock 
to feed it to, and we shall keep more 
low prices. So the potato grower need 
not worry; his neighbor raising other 
crops is likely soon to share his troubles 
equally severe. G. s. r. 
Kennebec Co., Me. 
How to Keep Hens for Profit: by C. 
S. Valentine; 29S pages: illustrated; Mac¬ 
millan Company, New York. This is an 
interesting and useful work, written by an 
experienced poultry raiser. The various 
breeds, incubation, feeds, modern ways of 
housing, accidents and methods of handling 
diseases are some of the subjects discussed. 
Price $1.50 net. For sale by The Rural 
New-Yorker. 
Practical Farming : by John McLennan ; 
298 pages; illustrated; Macmillan Com¬ 
pany, New York. Mr. McLennan is an 
experienced farmer, and at present super¬ 
intendent of farms at the Alfred (N. Y.) 
State School of Agriculture. The hook is 
divided into two parts, part one discuss¬ 
ing the soil, tillage, fertilization, drainage, 
grains and grasses, root crops, rotations, 
and other general farm topics. The sec¬ 
ond part treats of animal husbandry, and 
is the most concise and practical state¬ 
ment of this subject we have seen. One 
chapter is devoted to the farm orchard. 
For sale by Tiie Rural New-Yorker ; 
price $1.50 net. 
The Study of Corn ; by Vernon M. 
Shoesmith : 96 pages : many illustrations: 
published by Orange Judd Company. This 
work is intended as a guide to the farmer 
in the study of corn by breeding and se¬ 
lection. and is well worth a place in the 
farm library. Price 50 cents net; for sale 
by The Rural New-Yorker. 
Questions and Answers on Better- 
Making; by Chas. A. Publaw. 
Questions and Answers on Milk and 
Mit.k Testing ; by ("has. A. Publow and 
Hugh C. Troy. Published by Orange, Judd 
Company. These two excellent handbooks 
of less than 100 pages each have been 
prepared for the purpose of giving the 
essentials of dairy practice in condensed 
form. For sale by The Rural New-York¬ 
er ; price of each 50 cents net. 
OUR OFFER: 
We 
Make 
You 
the 
Judge 
of Our 
Roofing 
pAROID is sold 
by proof, not 
promises. Let us 
show you a PAR¬ 
OID Roof — near 
When yon gee PAR¬ 
OID on your build¬ 
ing, if you are not 
gatisfied tell us and 
we will gend yon a 
check for the full 
cogt of the roofing 
and the cost of lay¬ 
ing it. Back of it all, 
if any BIRD NE- 
PONSET PRODUCT 
ever fails because of 
defective manufac¬ 
ture we will replace 
it. if a broader guar¬ 
antee than this could 
be made we would 
make it. 
you—that has been 
on for years, that 
has stood all kinds 
of weather. Judge 
by the roof itself. 
Judge by what the 
owner says. 
Roof your build¬ 
ings with PAR¬ 
OID, PROSLATE 
or NEPONSET 
RED ROPE 
ROOFING accord¬ 
ing to the nature of the structure, then 
give your verdict. 
If you find, years after, that exposure to the 
weather brings out some defect in manufacture, 
say so, and we will replace any such article. 
We make the offer because our experience 
has taught us how to make a roofing that will 
look right at the start and wear right to the end. 
Everything connected with BIRD NEPON 
SET PRODUCTS we make ourselves—the 
felt, the saturation, the coating, and even the 
rust-propf cap and nails. 
Are You Building or Repairing? 
Our BuildingCounsel Department is prepared 
to give you valuable free advice and sugges¬ 
tions regarding any work you have in hand. 
This incurs no obligation on your part and 
may save you many dollars. 
If your dealer does not carry BIRD NEPON¬ 
SET PRODUCTS write us. 
F. W. BIRD & SON U795 
Main Mills & Gen.Offices.’ 52 Neponset St.. E.Walpole. Mass. 
New York Chicago Washington Portland, Ore. if an Franoisoo 
Canadian Mills and Offices: Hamilton, Ontario 
Winnipeg Montreal St. John 
Huston Wire & Fence Splicer 
The only one that works like a rat¬ 
chet without a spring. Tics knot all 
from one side of the fence, as 
shown in cut. Made of malleable 
iron, will last a lifetime, will splice 
close v. ires at bottom as easily as 
top wires. Top of cut shows wires 
ready to tie, second wire shows 
knot half done. Bottom wireshows 
knot complete. On receipt of 30 
cents in stamps or coins will send 
by mail to any address in the U. S. 
Money back if not satisfactory. 
Agents wanted. 
I. G. HUSTON, Carey, Ohio. 
Patented November 9, 1909 
DCCIf CCDitKl lls pleasures and profits, is tho 
DCLfiCCrinU theme of that excellent and hand¬ 
somely illustrated magazine, GLEANINGS I.N REE 
CULTURE. We send it for six months on trial for 
twenty-live cents, and also send free a iM-page book 
on bees and our bee supply catalog to all who name this 
paper. TJIE A. L ROUT CO., Bex 65, Medina. Ohio. 
_ AGAINST CUTWORMS 
EC are our Plant Protectors. Cheap and sure, also 
O best PLANT BOX ever made, all last for years. 
|J- Circular, sample Box and Protector for 2c. stamp. 
Address, L. G. TTJTTLE & CO..Wallingford,Conn. 
T he best Norwood strawberry 
PLANTS. R. E. POND, Camden, N. Y. 
sllable money-making vari- 
ies ouiy $2.51) per 1000. New 
S. A.'Virdiu, Hartly, Del. 
ONE QUART OF STRAWBERRIES 
KEVITT'S SYSTEM. Send for my Mid-Summer 
Catalogue. T. C. KEYITT, Athcnla, X. J. 
Strawberry Plants £ 
1910 illus. catalog Free. 
Strawberry Plants for Sale 
Belts, Sample and Scofield, $2.50 per M. L. A. 
MARTIN, Supt. for E. Griffin, Highland, N. Y. 
STRAWBERRY PLANTS. 
.Millions of them—Aroma. Klondyke, Thompsons, 
Gandy, &c. Send $2.50 for 1,000 plants. 
JOHN LIGHTFOOT, Dept. 30, Chattanooga, Tenn. 
V EGETABLE PLANTS—( 'ahbage Plants, $1 per 1,000. 
Tomatoes, Sweet Potatoes. Peppers ami Kp/rplanis, $2 per 
1,000. Cttuiiliowei ,$2.f»0 per 1,000. J. C. SCHMIDT, Bristol, Pa. 
TJ' r . r> Co l** - Hall’s Evergreen Honeysuckle; 
* v3C*lC strong roots. 50c. doz.; $3 per 100; 
$20 per 1000. W. T. FLEMING, Walden, X. Y. 
FRENCH MELONS 
Choice Seed taken from sweet, palatable, ripe 
melons. Packet to plant 100 hills. $1.00. 
A. F. BERGER, R. D. No. 3, Bridgeport, Conn. 
450,000 Stone TomatoS?^,1;T„'d 
throughout June. 750,000 Sweet Potato plants, 
ready May 5th. Pepper, Celery and Cabbage plants 
in their season. Send for price list to-day, 
CALEB BoGGS & SON, Cheswold, Del. 
CALIFORNIA PRIVET 
Two-year, 2 to 3 ft., 18 to 24 inches, and 12 to 18 
inches, at low prices. Finest stock you ever saw. 
P E A C H K S 
All sold for this Spring. A fine stock for next year. 
A S P A K A G U S 
Two-year No. 1, finest kind, at $4 00 per 1,000. 
All other kinds of Nursery Stock. 
JOS. H. BLACK, SON & CO., • . Hightstown, N. J. 
Wood’s Virginia 
Ensilage Dorn. 
Superior both 
in growth and 
nutritive qual¬ 
ities. Our En¬ 
silage Corn has a- 
chieved a big rep¬ 
utation wherever 
planted. 
We are headquarters for all Farm Seeds, 
Cow Peas, Sorghums, Millets, Crimson 
Clover, etc- Prices quoted on request. 
Write for prices and Wood's Crop Special, 
giving interesting information about Farm 
Seeds. Mailed free on request. 
T. W. WOOD & SONS, 
SEEDSMEN, • . RICHMOND, VA. 
HARRISON’S NURSERIES 
have been built up by quality trees from a small 
beginning to the largest nursery in America—more 
than 2000 acres devoted to growing trees, plants, 
vines and ornamental stock. Buy of a responsible 
grower and get what you pay for. Address 
HARRISON’S NURSERIES, 
Box 421, Berlin, Md. 
Cherry Trees, S7 per 100; Apples, Pears.Peaches,Plums 
and Quinces at wholesale prices. Gov't inspected 
stock. Send for oitr free catalog on Fruits & Orna¬ 
mentals. Ontario Nursery Co., Box21, Geneva, N A , 
ALFALFA 
All Northern Grown and 
guaranteed to be 99 per cent 
pure. Should produce hay 
at $ 40.00 per acre annually. Write for Free Sam¬ 
ple and instructions on growing. 
GRAIN AND GRASS SEED 
Northern Grown and of strongest vitality. We invite you to 
get Government Tests on our samples. Send for Cat.No. 23 
WING SEED CO.; Box 223 MechaniCsburg, Ohio 
Grass 
Seeds. 
FOR ALL KINDS OF 
Clover and Field Seeds, 
ALSO A FULL I.IXE OF 
Garden Seeds and 
Implements, 
Write this Old Reliable 
House. 
Catalogue Free and Price List of Grass and Field 
Seeds mailed you on application. 
THE HENRY PHILIPPS SUED AND IMPLEMENT CJ., 
Toledo, Ohio. 
HANDY BINDER 
JUST the thing for preserving files of 
” The Rural New-Yorker. Durable 
and cheap. Sent postpaid for 25 cents. 
<Ihe RURAL NEW-YORKER, - 
409 Pearl Street, New York City. 
Strawberry Plants Tbat Grow 
Largest stock of thrifty young plants in the New England States. I have been selling plants tme to name for 40 
years. All the new and standard varieties. Descriptive catalogue sent tree. C. S. PRATT, READING, MASS 
FRUIT TREES AND PLANTS. 
It has been our specialty for years to grow the best stock for commercial planters. Our 
experience at your service. Our free catalog is full of valuable “pointers” for you. If 
you are interested in anything in Fruit or Ornamental Stock it will pay you to write us early. 
BARNES BROS. NURSERY CO., Box 8, YALESVILLE, COHN. 
Dibble's Seed Corn 
Best Varieties for tlie Silo for the Middle States 
Eighty Pa y Yellow Pent 
Earliest large growing Dent we have ever grown. Bushel, 8*2 ; two bushel bag, S3 : ten 
bushels or over $1.40 per bushel, bags free. 
Pibble’s Improved Learnin g 
Matures with us ten days to two weeks earlier than the other big Dent kinds. Enormously 
productive. Bushel, $2 ; two bushel hag, $3 ; ten bushels or over, $1.35 per bushel, 
hags free. „ , ^ 
Customers report germination tests varying from 90£-1004. Send your orders. Prompt 
shipment and your money back if you want it. Samples and catalog free. 
EDWARD F. DIBBLE, Seedgrower, Honeoye Falls, N. Y. 
LAST CALL 
