1910. 
THE RURAL. NEW-YORKER 
1051 
CORN, BEANS AND POTATOES. 
I planted my corn all right and the Spring 
being very cold and wet I planted Yellow- 
eye beans between the hills. 1 also put in a 
few hills of potatoes. No one expected a 
crop of corn this year, as it was no more 
than a foot high July 4, when it ought to 
be in tassel. Along the latter part of 
August came a nice little frost and killed 
my beans and cut the corn so it was about 
ruined. I let it stand until a few days 
ago, and husked out about 30 bushels of 
fair corn, some of it good for seed ; about 
10 bushels nice potatoes, * and two bushels 
nice beans. I have not felt like getting 
five figures on this deal. In this vicinity 
farmers have had an extra good corn year: 
potatoes are rotting badly, few grafted 
apples, but plenty of the cider kind. 
Vermont. P. II. 
R. N.-Y. — This is one of the fields 
which was selected for finding the cost 
of a crop. One thing is sure about these 
New England farmers—they get all that 
is possible out of failure, and if part of 
the crop is beans they are safe. 
Concrete For Roofing. 
At one time we heard much about using 
concrete for. roofing. The concrete was 
made solid, or put on over old shingles. 
Are such roofs still made? Have they 
proved practical? 
The number of these roofs being used 
is increasing, owing to the fact that 
knowledge of cement and the ways in 
which to use it is becoming more and 
more widespread. The usual difficulty 
is found to be due to poor workmanship 
almost entirely, also to the fact that the 
rafters supporting the roof were not stiff 
or strong enough to support the dead 
weight of the concrete, thus causing the 
roof to crack. We have built several 
silos using concrete roofs, making the 
slab about three inches thick, and have 
had perfect results. Our method is to 
build a scaffolding of rafters and cover 
this with a heavy material such as stiff 
building paper and then trowel on a 
stiff mortar, embedding in it heavy wire 
mesh. We were very careful in selecting 
our aggregates and in proportioning con¬ 
crete, and have secured a perfectly 
watertight roof. r. h. w. 
NEW PLANT IMMIGRANTS. 
The bulletins of foreign plant introduc¬ 
tions, issued by the United States Depart¬ 
ment of Agriculture, contain much that is 
curious and interesting Among recent is¬ 
sues'.wo find a note from the American 
consul at Aden, Arabia, who sends khat 
plants and a detailed description of the 
cultivation and uses of the plant. Khat 
(Catha edulis) is grown extensively in two 
localities, the Yemen and near llairar in 
Abyssinia. It is in universal us< among 
all classes of Arabs, who say that life and 
hard work would be unendurable in their 
country without it. Among the poorer 
classes sometimes as much as half the daily 
wage is spent for khat, and even among 
the better classes as much as one-fourth 
of the income. The leaves are always 
chewed. It is never brewed or made into 
a beverage. The flavor of the leaves is 
slightly sweetish and decidedly acid, not 
unlike the flavor of rose petals. It lias the 
effect of stimulating nerve and brain cells. 
The gloomiest man becomes cheerful under 
its influence and the fatigued man. strug¬ 
gling with heavy, loads, finds his muscles 
stronger and his nervous energy under bet¬ 
ter control. The novice who takes an over¬ 
dose may show symptoms similar to those 
of a man intoxicated with whiskey. Karon 
von Mueller says the loaves of this shrub 
are used to make a tea, and compares this 
stimulant with Erythroxylon coca of 
South America, from which we get various 
medical preparations. 
An agricultural explorer, writing from 
Merv, Turkestan, tells of the cultivation 
of cotton and Alfalfa there, at the edge 
of tlie desert. In the desert around Merv 
there are ten of thousands of acres of land 
covered with camel’s thorn (Alha 0 i camelo- 
rum). Its small, pinkish-purple flowers 
give color to the landscape as the heath 
in northwest Europe does. This plant is 
very useful, being used as food lor the 
camels, mown and used for fuel and as a 
sandbiuder. It grows in pure, sterile sand, 
and being leguminous, enriches the soil. 
There are many canals around Merv, some 
of them said to be 3,000 years old. Large 
new canals are being dug, and it is hoped 
to bring much of the desert under culti¬ 
vation. Pine apricots, quinces, pears and 
melons are grown in Turkestan and the 
department expects to introduce somo of 
the best, also Khiva Alfalfa. 
A persimmon from Calcutta, India, 
(Diospyros peregrina), which is to he dis¬ 
tributed later, is thus described: A beau¬ 
tiful small evergreen tree with dark green 
foliage and long, shining leaves, produces 
a found fruit as big as a med’um-slzed 
apple, of rather poor quality, which is 
eaten by the natives. The loaves are also 
eaten as a vegetable. The fruit is largely 
used in tanning, and the juice of the un¬ 
ripe fruit is used in medicine as an 
astringent. Ainslie mentions that the car¬ 
penters of the Malabar coast use the juice 
of the fruit as a substitute for glue. The 
principal use of the wood is in the con¬ 
struction of boat bottoms. 
White Botman flint maize is a coin from 
South Bechuanaland, Africa, to be dis¬ 
tributed later. It comes from a very dry 
region of shallow limestone soil, cold and 
dry in Winter. It was thought this might 
be adapted to the extreme southwest of 
our corn belt. 
SHORT STORIES. 
Canada Peas in Garden. 
What shall I do with a portion of the 
garden sown with Canada peas which have 
made but little growth, owiug to the pro¬ 
tracted drought, though they are growing 
since the recent rains? e. p. 
Maryland. 
We should plow under the Canada peas 
and sow rye early in November. 
Two or Three-Horse Plow. 
Will a two-liorse disk plow followed by 
a subsoiling plow, give me the same re¬ 
sults as a three-horse disk plow? 
James River, Va. t. w. c. 
From choice in our heavy laud we would 
rather have the smaller disk and the sub¬ 
soiling. The larger disk will cover the 
ground faster, but the subsoiler wortes 
deeper without throwing up so much of the 
under soil. 
The Rye Crop. 
A friend of mine, born on a farm, 
raised on a farm, and farmed it most of 
his life, sowed rye over half a garden to 
give hens for Winter. He was greati.v 
surprised to find that rye had such a mass 
of roots, and when the garden was plowed 
in Spring, turning under the rye that was 
left, niet with another surprise iu finding 
much better the half garden worked where 
the rye grew than the other half. This 
Fall, as soon as any part of the garden 
was bare, in went rye; and yet how many 
farmers don't sow cover crops. E. w. p. 
I*. N.-Y.—What a mistake a farmer 
makes by letting cultivated ground be bare 
through the Winter. 
EXPERIENCE WITH A SIPHON. 
J. F. V.'s answer to W. T. K.’s inquiries 
about siphoning water from well (page 
984), is not full enough to cover all points 
necessary to successful working of plant. 
W. T. K. will find that air will gather in 
pipe in Spring and Summer when water 
is growing warmer in passing through pipe, 
and unless provision is made for removing 
the air the flow of water will lessen or 
stop altogether. 1 have used a similar 
arrangement for supplying my home with 
water for the past 30 years, but my sup¬ 
ply is more distant and has more elevation. 
I siphon from a well 25 feet deep, layiDg 
the pipe down some six feet at the well. 
At the lowest point near my building 1 put 
in a waste-off, and when air in pipe slack¬ 
ens flow, I open waste-off and let water 
run free until it runs solid, free from air, 
then close waste-off. Unless W. T. K.’s 
well is unusually well supplied with water 
he will find it necessary to close outlet at 
barn except a very small stream to keep 
water moving in pipe, so as to prevent 
freezing at exposed points. I should recom¬ 
mend a %-ineh or % -inch pipe so water 
would not he iu pipe so long. Let the 
pipe be continuous from well to waste-off 
in barn, or the last place where water is 
to be used, and tap the pipe for use wher¬ 
ever desired; then tin: supply will always 
be fresh. My supply pine is %-ineb, but 
I should prefer one somewhat larger, hut 
not over %-ineh. To start flow in siphon, 
use a force pump at lower end, and fill 
the pipe. Sink pipe at well as much as 
convenient to decrease the lift, as the less 
the lift the less the trouble from air col¬ 
lecting iu pipe. MONROE MORSE. 
PARAFFIN LINED CISTERNS. 
Several questions have been received 
asking how cement or concrete tanks can 
be lined so as to bold liquids properly. 
The Colorado Experiment Station gives tin' 
following as the result of its investigation : 
“First, thoroughly clean the cistern. 
Then apply two coats of cement, in water. 
These coats may be applied on successive 
days. After the second coat has sot lor 
at least 24 hours, the paraffin coat may 
be applied as follows: Heat the paraffin 
to a temperature slightly above the melting 
point, by means of a little gasoline stove. 
Now apply a thin coat of paraffin by 
means of a cloth or paint brush. The 
coating should be well rubbed before it 
starts to solidify, but it should not be dis¬ 
turbed after the solidification has started. 
The bottom of the cistern should be coated 
last. The workman should work from a 
suspended platform while finishing the 
coating of the bottom, as the coating is 
injured by bruises, such as the heels of 
shoes or the bottom of a ladder are .likely 
to cause. A small paraffin lined cement 
cistern has been tested by the Colorado 
Agricultural College, and the results are 
all that could be hoped for. from the 
standpoint of the vinegar, which was made 
in the cistern.’’ 
When you write advertisers mention The 
R. N.-Y. and you’ll get a quick reply and 
“a square deal.” See guarantee page 12. 
Send for a Sample 
of this Roofing 
It is different from all 
others—just what you want 
for your roofs. One man 
can lay it easily. Costs 
little—always tough and 
elastic—a perfect roof 
protection. 
Indruroid 
Roofing 
is weather and water proof. 
Never cracks or deteriorates. 
L\ght in weight, suitable for 
all buildings, in any climate. 
Send for a tree sample and 
descriptive circular. You will 
be surprised—pleased at how 
little cost and trouble you can 
buy and lay a perfect roof. 
H. F. WATSON CO. 
Erie, Pa. 
Chicago Boston 
ROOF NOW 
QUALITY HIGH 
PRICES 
LOW 
Don't delay your roofing* 
We bought material when 
prices were low. That's why you 
get same high quality Excell Metal 
y Roofing at rock-bottom factory prices. 
Send name for figures. See how much 
you save. Then test the sample and note 
the high quality. Excell Roofing Is mado of 
Genuine Open Hearth Steel or Iron, full weight, 
full gauge. A style for every size and shape 
V building and satisfaction guaranteed on every 
W purchase. Don’t pay till you see what you 
f ____ _eet. We take all risk. 
v .LLa Excel 1 Roofing must 
i sell Itself to you. Don’t 
i delay—send yourname 
,.on a postal now for new 
■ low prices, sample and 
big Book—Free. 
The United Factories Co., 
Dept.3iR.Cleveland Ohio. 
9 CORDS IN IOHOURS 
— SAWS DOWN 
TREKS 
BY ONE MAN. It’s KINO OF THE WOODS. Saves money and 
backache. Send for FREE catalog No.RW showing low price 
and testimonials from thousands. First order gets agency. 
Folding Sawing Mach. Co. 158 E. Harrison St., Chicago,M. 
Unload Your Work 
on the 
Farm Pump Engine 
Oman’s and Man’s Greatest Work-Saver 
Thousands of thoughtless farmers and farmers’ wives are doing the work of 
engines. Pumping water for stock and running all sorts of machines by muscle- 
power. Burning up human energy instead of cheap gasoline. It’s the most 
expensive mistake you can make to become a mere machine. Don't do it! A 
small investment will now secure the famous Farm Pump Engine—the sen¬ 
sational little wonder that almost runs the farm. The most remarkable pumper 
that ever worked on a well. An engine that will be your “right-hand man” 
next to nothing a day! One with power todriveall light machin¬ 
ery—adaptable to scores of uses—complete in itself and always 
ready for action. Throw your burdens of drudgery upon 
this powerful engine. Take life as easy as you can. 
Every farmer owes it to the vows he took at the 
altar to protect his wife from the killing tasks that 
rob women of youth, health and beauty. This won¬ 
derful engine will help your wife by running the 
cream separator, the washing machine and wringer, 
the churn and other household and dairy 
machines in addition to 
pumping water. For 
doing woman’s work 
alone, it is worth many 
times its cost. 
But the engijne is 
equally useful to men. 
It pumps an abundance 
of water for stock and 
domestic uses and runs the numerous light machines 
that are used around the barn. It saws wood, runs 
thefeed grinder, the fanning mill, the milking machine, 
the grindstone, the ditch pump, the sprayer, etc., etc. 
FULLER & JOHNSON 
Farm Pump Engine 
Simple, Complete and Perfect 
This engine is a complete and perfect Portable Power 
Plant. Fits any pump. Needs no belts, arms, jacks, 
walking beams, anchor posts or special platform. 
It is air-cooled. Self-oiling. Important working 
parts housed in 
metal case. Chil¬ 
dren can run it 
safely and suc¬ 
cessfully. Easily 
moved any¬ 
where. Has 
special pulley for 
__ running all hand- 
power machines. 
By attaching a piece of common pipe for extra 
air chamber, it will throw a sixty-foot stream, 
giving splendid fire protection. As well built as a 
automobile engine. Costs less than a windmill. 
Does work that no windmill can do. 
Let the Engine Help on Your Fall and Winter Work 
Now is the time to order one of these Farm Pump Engines. It will do a tremendous amount of 
work for you th.is Fall and Winter. When the weather is too stormy for outdoor work you can put in 
your time doing all kinds of inside work. 
The Farm Pump Engine is known all over the world as Woman’s and Man’s Greatest Work-Saver. 
It works all the year ’round, indoors or out, rain or shine, in hottest summer or coldest winter. You in¬ 
vest hundreds of dollars in machines that are used only a few weeks every year. Here’s a machine that 
will pay daily dividends on the small investment required to own it. 
Send a Postal for Great Free Engine Book 
Ask for our interesting Free Book and name of nearest dealer who has this grand little Work- 
Saver on exhibition. If interested in large engines ask for catalog of Fuller & Johnson Double-Effici¬ 
ency Engines. Let us hear from you by first mail for you need the engine right now. 
Fuller & Johnson Manufacturing Co. 
11 Rowley Street 
(Established 1840 ) Madison, Wisconsin 
