740 
July 23, 
FARMERS’ CLUB 
[If very query must be accompanied by the name 
and adores* 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.] 
LITTLE ALFALFA SERMONS 
No. I. 
A Woman Makes It Grow. 
Only once in many years has The 
R. N.-Y. appeared to me to overdo a 
subject. The topic was Alfalfa and 
I about decided to discontinue the 
paper because of so much harping on 
this subject. However, I thought it 
over and finally decided the preparation 
necessary would be no damage to the 
land and I would try the art of raising 
it. 'Lite result was that I would like 
to fill the paper with the most eloquent 
Alfalfa stories possible, in order to in¬ 
duce every farmer to make a trial of 
raising it, and “if at first you don’t suc¬ 
ceed, try, try again,” would be my ad¬ 
vice to all real farmers. I do not con¬ 
sider professional men who own farms 
to be our real farmers; those who get 
right down to hard work and have 
ideas and sound sense along with their 
willingness and ability to work are 
the farmers I wish to have plenty of 
Alfalfa hay in their barns. One piece 
I sowed June 7, 1909, and it was a dry 
Summer, too. That year I cut it three 
times, putting two cuttings in barn and 
leaving last on the field. It was grazed 
early this Spring by a horse and was cut 
the 21st of this June. Where not grazed 
it was three feet high, averaging 2]/ 2 
feet. In nine days after cutting a 
growth of one foot was made. This 
sowing was on land which had raised 
corn two years in succession, with no 
fertilizer except barnyard manure 
plowed in the first year of corn. One 
man who saw it before it was cut spread 
out his hands in almost a blessing and 
exclaimed, “Well, now this is a revela¬ 
tion. I’ll bet this can’t be beat in 
Franklin County; no, not in the whole 
State.” He had driven 20 miles that 
day to get inoculating soil for starting 
a piece on his own farm. This piece 
should have been cut the first week 
in June, but was delayed on account of 
rain. This piece was inoculated with 
Sweet clover soil. This year, June 3, I 
sowed one acre, inoculating seed and 
soil with culture obtained from Wash¬ 
ington. On the places left uninoculated 
I am unable as yet to find the nodules, 
while on the inoculated they are abund¬ 
ant and the whole acre is excellent. I 
did all the work except the plowing, 
riding the harrow to be sure it was 
properly harrowed. It needs careful 
work in all the details of preparing the 
seed bed. I have made it grow on top 
of weeds and smothered knot grass. Let 
the good work of The R. N.-Y. go on 
in all its lines. One farmer said lately, 
“I must take that paper for its Alfalfa 
news,” and one in my vicinity has begun 
a trial raising of it, and others are 
talking about trying it. I have taken 
time to write this, but I ought to be 
hoeing in my corn. I feel grateful to 
think your Alfalfa notes were the means 
of my beginning to raise it. The thing 
that astonishes me most is the wonder¬ 
ful growth it makes after mowing. One 
foot in nine days after cutting. 
Vermont. carrie t. meigs. 
VALUE OF THOROUGH CULTIVATION. 
The front page article in The R. N.-Y. 
for July 2, by Prof. King, “Principles 
and Practice of the Earth Mulches,” is 
referred to editorially in the same is¬ 
sue as being as “timely” as planting rose 
bushes in December. Not having had 
a good soaking rain since the big snow 
left us early in Spring, and only an oc¬ 
casional very light shower during all 
this time since, any advice pertaining to 
saving soil moisture does seem to us, in 
this part of Ohio, very timely; in fact, 
any practical hint how to make cabbage 
plants grow set out in dust as dry as 
the desert of Sahara, or keep those al¬ 
ready set “agrowing” would appear to 
us very timely. I do not know whether 
Prof. King has worked out this prob- 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
lem of conserving soil moisture in the 
field, or whether it is only a scientific 
theory of a learned man. Whatever it 
is, it fully agrees with the practice 1 
have followed for several years. This 
is especially true when he cautions 
against cultivation after the soil mulch 
is thoroughly established and partially 
dried out, and filled to the very surface 
with a great amount of fine feeding 
roots. Much more harm is done by 
destroying this root system than is 
gained by the loss of a little moisture. 
This I proved last Fall in a lot of grow¬ 
ing cauliflowers. We had here a soil 
mulch as perfect as it could be. We 
had stopped the cultivation, and were 
just beginning to cut a few heads when 
a light shower of rain fell, followed by 
a hot sun which formed a crust. Know¬ 
ing how partial this plant is to mois¬ 
ture, especially during the flowering sea¬ 
son, I determined to start the cultivator 
and break the crust. I went as shallow 
as possible, but when turned at the end 
of the first row 1 found big bunches of 
roots on the cultivator teeth. I stopped 
at once, and I had almost ruined that 
row. I wanted, however, that crust 
broken and did so by using what 1 
termed my dry-weather cultivator. It 
is a device of my own, constructed of 
plank like a plank drag in the shape of 
the letter A, just wide enough to go be¬ 
tween the rows, with cultivator handles 
attached. This is really the tool to use 
after once a soil mulch is established ; 
it breaks a light crust. A good soil 
mulch in dry weather has other impor¬ 
tant and beneficial features besides the 
saving of moisture. Some one has said 
that cultivation is manure. While I do 
not claim that cultivation adds any ma¬ 
nure or plant food to the soil, yet it is a 
key that unlocks the stores of plant 
food already in the soil for the use of 
the crops, not only the one you are cul¬ 
tivating, but for following crops as well, 
a fact that has been very effectually 
demonstrated in a field of oats I have 
now growing. This Held we plowed 
early a year ago last Spring in lands 
about two rods wide. The field is 38 
rods long, running east and west. After 
fitting it well we planted it to truck in 
part as follows: Two lands to early 
cabbage, two lands to early tomatoes, one 
land to late cauliflower, three lands to 
sweet corn, two lands we cut in two in the 
middle and sowed the east end of it to 
onions, the west end to early radish 
followed later by turnips. The onions, 
radish and early cabbage were planted 
at once and cultivation began right after 
except the radish plot. These were 
sown broadcast; the same was true with 
turnips that followed. The other lands 
were worked until planting time-; sweet 
corn May 15, tomatoes June 1, and late 
cauliflower July 1. About the sweet 
corn plot I must mention that one and 
one-half land was planted in rows V/ 2 
feet apart, the remainder in rows 27 
inches. This I wanted for cow feed. 
The season was dry and cultivation was 
thorough until each crop was harvested 
except the fodder corn. This received 
but two cultivations. The rows were 
too close together; the result was a very 
light crop. The same was true with the 
radish, and the turnips that followed 
were a failure; it was too dry. The 
other crops were first-class, never had 
anything better. 
This field, after crops were removed, 
lay bare over Winter, and was plowed 
early and sown to oats and seeded to 
Red clover. It is proper to state that 
this field is uniformly of the same tex¬ 
ture, as nearly the same in fertility as it 
is possible for a field of this size to be. 
The treatment was the same throughout. 
Now stands out prominently the land 
that was planted to cauliflower where 
the cultivation was kept up until the first 
of October; here the oats are of black- 
green color eight inches higher than any¬ 
where else in the field, better stooled out, 
with larger leaves and immense heads. 
Next in order is the onion plot, then 
comes the one and one-half land sweet 
corn plot where cultivation was kept up 
until August 25; next the tomato plot, 
where cultivation ceased July lf>; and 
last the early cabbage, where cultivation 
was discontinued June 25. The one and 
one-half land of fodder corn, as well as 
the radish plot that received no cultiva¬ 
tion, stand out very pale green, 20 inches 
shorter than the best, and 14 inches 
shorter than the next best not stooled 
out, with very short and insignificant 
heads. What makes this experiment so 
valuable is the fact that this difference 
is shown up to very row of each plot. 
Neighbors who looked the field over es¬ 
timate that the uncultivated plots will 
produce half the straw and one-third of 
oats of the other plots. I have never put 
a question to a man that was answered 
so convincingly as this field answered 
my question—does cultivation pay? 
Ohio. J. H. BOLLINGER. 
When you write advertisers mention The 
R. N.-Y. and you'll get a quick reply and 
“a square deal.” See guarantee page 8 . 
PURITY OF FERTILIZER MATERIALS. 
The demand on the part of purchasers 
of fertilizer materials that the goods 
shall be free from adulteration and in 
every way as guaranteed, coupled with 
the energetic work of the State experi¬ 
ment stations, has resulted in a great 
improvement in the quality of fertilizer 
materials offered in our markets. Very 
rarely indeed do we encounter any seri¬ 
ous cases of adulteration of the ordinary 
Baled 
73 tons in 10 hrs. 
That’s a great record; but the’ 
‘Ann Arbor" is a great press. Does 
most work—does it easier—is faster, 
safer and costs least to run. $3.26 was 
average repair cost for 1909. Let us 
submit positive proof of superiority. 
Send for Free Baler's Book 2 
Gives more practical hay press information A 
in one minute than you set from any others 
boot in a day. Also set out free 
k souvenir pin. Address Box 412^ 
Ann Arbor Machine Co. 
Ann Arbor, Mich.. 
forms of agricultural chemicals. 
However, the superior qualities of 
Thomas Phosphate Powder (Basic Slag 
Phosphate) for use in the fertilization 
of fruits of all sorts, grass, clover, Al¬ 
falfa and forage and cereal crops in gen¬ 
eral, apparently have led to the offering 
on the market of several so-called “Basic 
Slags” of more or less doubtful origin 
and of more or less uncertain composi¬ 
tion. 
The possibility and danger of the adul¬ 
teration of Thomas Phosphate Powder 
(Basic Slag Phosphate) is clearly point¬ 
ed out by Dr. Harvey W. Wiley, chief 
chemist United States Department of 
Agriculture, in his treatise on the “Prin¬ 
ciples and Practice of Agricultural Analy¬ 
sis.” Dr. Wiley says: “The high agri¬ 
cultural value of phosphatic slags has 
led to their adulteration and even to the 
substitution of other bodies. If we had 
only to consider the adulteration of basic 
slag with mineral phosphates, that is, 
tricalcium phosphate, the problem would 
be an easy one; but when we add to this 
the fact that iron and aluminum phos¬ 
phates arc employed in the adulteration, 
and that artificial slags may be so used, 
the question becomes more involved.” 
The Coe-Mortimer Company, of New 
York City, wishes to point out to buyers 
that they are special representatives of 
the largest producers of Genuine Thomas 
Phosphate Powder in the world, and that 
offers of so-called “Basic Slag” or 
Thomas Phosphate Powder from others 
should be regarded with much caution. 
The Coe-Mortimer Company recently 
have requested their foreign correspond¬ 
ents to investigate certain offerings of 
so-called “Basic Slag” and the following 
extract from a letter of June 29, 1910, 
from the United Thomas Phosphate 
Works, London, England, (the largest 
producers in the world), is significant: 
“Such* offers must be received with 
caution. We have come arross ship¬ 
ments made from Antwerp to Scotland 
at much lower prices than we are get¬ 
ting in this country. Wc have had sam¬ 
ples taken and analyzed by the Aberdeen 
University and they report that instead 
of 38 per cent tribasic phosphate of lime 
(17.40 per cent phosphoric acid) the 
goods contained only a little above 33 
per cent, the solubility was about 00 per 
cent only, and last but not least, it was 
not a pure Basic Slag, but apparently a 
mixture of Basic Slag and Belgian or 
Algerian phosphates. 
“You will readily admit that results 
from the application of such a mixture 
must be very disappointing, and in pur¬ 
chasing Basic Slag from Belgian sup¬ 
pliers, great care has to be exercised and 
the most absolute guarantees of purity 
insisted upon, and no payment should 
be made before these guarantees have 
been verified.” 
This confirms the fact that all buyers 
who appreciate the peculiar merits of 
Thomas Phosphate Powder and who are 
desirous of obtaining the genuine and 
unadulterated material should place 
their orders with the Coe-Mortimer 
Company, of New York City.—Adv. 
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The Waterloo Boy is not a city dude. 
He is not clothed in scarlet, but he is 
dressed in a hickory shirt and overalls. 
He is plain, honest “Abraham Linc¬ 
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Old Honesty itself—as dependable as 
Old Faithful. 
Guaranteed for Five long Years. 
He’s just the boy for you. Don’t you 
want to adopt him? He is a good 
business proposition. We pledge you 
good service, high quality, low prices. 
Write today for 
Particulars 
WATERLOO 
GASOLINE 
CO. 
184 West 
3 rd Avenue 
JACOBSON 
SELF-CONTAINED ENGINE WITH AUTOMATIC DRAINING 
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No 1'rcezliiB No Overheating 
No I.urge Water Tank 
The Agency is available in some sections and 
valuable in all. 
JACOBSON MACHINE MEG. CO. 
Ill Irvine Street 
Warren.Pa. 
$50 TO $300 SAVED 
We are manufacturers, not merchants. Save dealers, 
jobbers and catalog house profit. I’ll save you from 
850 to 8100 on my High Grade Standard Gasoline 
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lower than dealers or jobbers have to pay for ^ 
similar engines in carload lots for spotcasb. ^ 
iiiui vnginvu “ --- - — - , 
GALLOW A Y 
Price anti quality speak for themselves 
and you *.rc to be the sole judge. 
Sell your poorest horse and buy a 
B-H.-P. only$119.BO 
latumgrlk 
Direct 
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Days* Free 
Trial. Satisfac¬ 
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back. Write lorspcc- 
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you pay me is tor raw 
.material, labor and 
one small profit. Send tor 
my big BOOK FREE. 
Wm. Galloway. Pres. ^ 
Wm. tlalloway Co. 
606 timlluwuy Station 
Waterloo, Iowa 
NATURAL Ground PHOSPHATE 
Add 50 to 100 % 
to the productive 
capacity of your 
manure by apply¬ 
ing only 20 c 
worth, to each ton 
THE RELIABLE 
LAND 
BUILD 
ER 
of manure. 
Write for fret Booklet 
telling all about it. 
Increase your 
crop yields SO to 
75% by applying 
S1.25 worth per 
acre to the soil 
direct. Leading 
.. gricultural Experi¬ 
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ibis, as our free Book¬ 
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MTPLEASANT 
THE FARMERS GROUND ROCK PHOSPHATE CO.tlnnessee,. 
MONTKOSS METAL SHINGLES 
Endorsed by all iinert) over 21 years. Fire 
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Catalog free. Moutross €«., t'auideu, A. J, 
For Best EXTENSION LADDER “ r,',?r c0 ’ 
■ aii v t PiiTl’l'P 1 A Mill THnirhiinit < N. Y. 
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. 
ALFALFA 
at $ 40.00 per acre annul 
pie and instructions _ _ _ 
GRAIN AND GRASS SEED 
Northern Grown and of strongest vitality. Wo invite you to 
got Government Testa on our samples. "They will Interest you 
U. S. govt, tests show that 
the grain analyzes richer than 
linseed meal and the hay nearly a* nutritious aa 
Alfalfa; will grow on poor Roil—and improve 1 %. 
Well worth a fair trial. Write for Catalog No. 23 
WING SEED CO., Box 3*3 MECHAN1CSBURG, OHIO 
SOY BEANS 
IABBAGE, CELERY. SWEET POTATOES, TOMATOES, BRUS- 
J SELS SPROUTS AND CELERIAC, best variety flu e pl ants 
1 per 1,000; 10,000 for*7.50. J. C. SCHMIDT, BRISTOL,PA 
IABBAGE PLANTS-Premium Flat Dutch, Larue Am. Drum- 
j head 15c per 100; *1.00 nor 1000; 5000 for $-1.50; 
0,000 for $8.00. B. PERKY, Cool Spring, Del. 
)NE QUART OF STRAWBERRIES I°e e a a ^ 
LEVITT'S SYSTEM. Send for my Mid-Summer 
latalog-ue. T. C. KEVITT, AthenU, N. J. 
ALFALFA SOIL FOR INOCULATION 
E. T. GILL, Haddon Farms, Iladdonfiold, N. J. 
Apple and Peach Trees Free Catalogue 
SALESMEN WANTED 
Mitchell’s Nursery, Beverly, Ohio 
ari rny — best varieties. Fun count 
UULCn I of heavily rooted, stocky plants. 
H. A. TODI), Doylestowii, Henna. 
