©4 
THE RURAL NKW-VORKER 
January 17, 
FEEDING YOUNG FISH. 
I have lately put in my lisli pond a lot 
of young erappie. The pond contains a 
considerable amount of moss and other 
vegetable matter, but as I do not know 
what kind of food the young fish subsist 
on, I would like to know whether it 
would be necessary to feed them or not. 
If so, what kind of food should I give 
them ? N. J. 
Cuba, Mo. 
In their natural state the food of 
erappie consists of crawfish, minnows, 
frogs, tadpoles, worms and mussels, while 
the young feed on insects and other 
minute forms of life found in the water. 
Ordinarily a pond one-half acre to one 
acre in area will furnish a sufficient 
amount of food for several thousand 
erappie. If there is an absence of na¬ 
tural food in the pond the fish can be fed 
on finely chopped beef liver, hog plucks 
and mush made of a low grade of flour. 
The mush should be given in a paste and 
the meat in its raw state in the propor¬ 
tion of one part of meat to three parts 
mush. E. LESTER JONES, 
Acting United States Commissioner. 
CONSTRUCTIVE GRANGE WORK. 
The lecturer of the Massachusetts 
State Grange, Mrs. George S. Ladd, is 
planning some constructive work for the 
Subordinate Granges of the State for the 
present year. So important does this 
work seem to be that I would like to 
have Granges in all States consider the 
lines of work marked out by Mrs. Ladd, 
and of their own accord, adopt such of 
her suggestions as may be of local ap¬ 
plication. 
First is the improvement of the farm¬ 
ers’ homes. The lecturer argues that im¬ 
provement in the home enhances our re¬ 
spect for it and for ourselves, and its at¬ 
tractiveness will have something to do 
with retaining the boys and girls. The 
State Grange offers a week’s trip to 
Washington. D. C., to the farmer’s wife 
who shall show in a written report to 
the executive committee of the State 
Grange, the most helpful way of man¬ 
aging the farm home as to comfort, con¬ 
venience. economy and pleasure, with a 
statement as to the way the results were 
obtained. 
Second, increasing the attendance and 
support of the church. This is a new 
idea to most Grange workers, but is an 
important consideration, nevertheless. 
The church and the Grange can and 
should work together. Massachusetts 
Granges will set apart one Sunday as 
Church Rally Day, with a view to in¬ 
creasing the attendance of Grange mem¬ 
bers at church, and for the Granges show¬ 
ing the largest per cent, of church at¬ 
tendance according to membership during 
the year, certain valuable prizes are to 
be awarded. 
Third, there will be an effort to in¬ 
crease the efficiency of the rural schools. 
A bill will be introduced in the Legis¬ 
lature this Winter for State aid for the 
teaching of the practical arts in the pub¬ 
lic schools in the small towns of less 
than $1,000,000 valuation. There are 110 
such towns in Massachusetts. The 
Granges of this State will be asked to 
support the bill. 
Fourth, the local development of agri¬ 
culture. One or two meetings will be 
held early in the year, which will be 
devoted to the discussion of the agricul¬ 
ture of the locality, as to best crops to 
raise, best seed, fertilizer, method of 
cultivation and the marketing of the 
crops. To stimulate an interest in this 
work among the young people the State 
Grange offers to the young man and the 
young woman, under 18 years of age, 
each a week’s trip to Washington. The 
young man is to show by results, in a 
written report, what can be done taking 
into consideration location, cultivation 
and selection of crops from a half-acre 
of land. The work and management of 
operations must be done by the compet¬ 
itor, and he must keep an itemized ac¬ 
count of all expenses and state results at¬ 
tained. The young woman must “do 
likewise” with poultry, fruit, flowers, 
bees, or any other line of farm work she 
may select. 
The fifth endeavor must be to increase 
attendance on Grange meetings, for 
which two valuable prizes are offered, 
and the sixth is to make a study of the 
State’s possibilities and resources with 
“Massachusetts Quality” as the motto 
and the standard by which every Grange 
endeavor is to be measured. 
Here is an outline of some constructive 
work which, as said before, should bring 
results. The inactive Grange is likely 
soon to be in the dormant class. The 
Grange that serves its community best 
serves itself best, and proves that it has 
a reason for being. j. \v. harrow. 
BLASTING FOR DRAINAGE. 
On page 1375 “J. F. McF., Indiana,” 
asks help in the matter of “two-thirds of 
a 20-acre field covered with muck.” The 
cause is water held in suspension by a 
clay bottom; the depression is always 
bowl-shaped, holding the water as a bowl 
holds water, and the bottom is always 
clay. Surface cultivation, without drain¬ 
age through this bottom, is simply a 
waste of time and material, and does 
not do the slightest good; the bottom of 
this bowl must first be broken through, 
and the water let off into the lower earth 
below. This can be done most effectively 
and at least cost with dynamite—explod¬ 
ing properly balanced charges of dyna¬ 
mite, at right depths; and if properly 
done, the conditions will never occur 
again. After drainage is secured, and 
proper elements now wanting in the soil 
supplied (potash, phosphate and lime) he 
will get results and have reclaimed a 
waste field. Bumper crops have been 
produced first season after reclamation, 
many times paying the cost. It. S. J. B. 
It. N.-Y.—We understand that the field 
has been drained so that it can be plowed 
and worked. Lime and potash are cer¬ 
tainly needed from the description. 
MAINE POTATO SHIPMENTS. 
From July 1 to December 1 the Maine 
Central Railroad transported to the 
various markets from Central Maine 
3,229 cars of potatoes, as compared with 
2,S50 cars for a corresponding period 
last season. During this same time the 
Bangor and Aroostook Railroad delivered 
to the Maine Central at Northern Maine 
Junction 9,722 cars, as compared with 
5,984 cars in 1912. From the Canadian 
Pacific the Maine Central received 3,390 
cars, as compared with 1,392 cars in 
1912. This makes a grand total of 1(5,- 
341 cars for the five months in 1913, as 
compared with a total of 10,228 cars in 
1912. Figuring on a basis of 050 bushels 
for each car lot, the total number of 
bushels would be 10,621,650 for 1913 
and 6,648,200 for 1912, a difference in 
favor of 1913 of 3,973,450 bushels. The 
transportations over the Maine Central 
lines are not yet available for December, 
but the reports from the B. & A. would 
indicate that this road has delivered to 
the Maine Central 1,600,000 during De¬ 
cember, which makes the total shipments 
12,225,650 bushels now reported. 
There are no figures available showing 
the percentage of New Brunswick stock 
in the foregoing shipments. However, 
New Brunswick growers have been cart¬ 
ing over the border all the season, and 
since the hearing in Washington on the 
18th of December up to the time when 
the embargo was placed upon Canadian 
stock there was a general rush to market 
every barrel that could be sold. The 
shipments of Maine potatoes to the mar¬ 
kets in 1913 will no doubt break all 
records and will probably be the largest 
for some years to come. While there is 
a feeling that the embargo on foreign 
stock will be permanent on all countries 
where the tubers are diseased, there is 
a feeling that countries where they can 
give a clean bill of health will be large 
shippers to the United States and for 
this reason the American grower will not 
increase his acreage. 
One of the results of the most re¬ 
markable hearing in Washington on the 
18th of December before the Federal 
Board of Horticulture was the bringing 
out of the fact that potato diseases have 
been increasing during the last 10 years. 
This has awakened the Maine grower to 
action, and steps are being taken to safe¬ 
guard the potato industry, and so far as 
possible eliminate disease. On January 
15 the various local organizations con¬ 
nected with the Farmers’ Union of Maine 
will hold a meeting at Presque Isle for 
the purpose of discussing the potato 
situation. It is proposed to organize the 
farmers all over the country, and bring 
about a method of planting and general 
field inspection by experts that will re; 
duce disease to the minimum. Relative 
to the seed situation, it is proposed that 
in addition to eliminating disease the 
same care be given to growing seed true 
to name, and a system of shipping that 
will assure the seed being kept pure and 
properly graded. 
On January 28-29 there will be a 
State-wide potato meeting called “Maine’s 
Potato Day.” at City Hall, Bangor. 
There will be representatives from all 
over the State, and a large gathering is 
now assured. Speakers from, out of the 
State, among them Prof. Orton of the 
Federal Horticultural Board, and many 
speakers from within the State will be 
on the program, and it is expected that 
the discussion will be of great value to 
all concerned. c. E. E. 
Wheat and Increase the Yield 
From Three to Eight Bushels per Acre 
Many farmers report increased yields of Winter Wheat from 4 to 
8 bushels per acre by the use of the Superior Alfalfa and Grass 
Seed Drill. 
Not only did these farmers increase their yields of wheat AT NO 
COST WHATEVER, but THEY SAVED HALF THE CLOVER 
SEED and got better stands of clover than when broadcasting. 
The Superior Alfalfa and Grass Seed Drill puts all the seed In the ground at 
an even depth. Dlsc9 cultivate the wheat at the same time. The angle of 
the discs is so slight that the wheat is not injured. 
The Superior Force Feed Accurately Sows Crimson and Red Clover, White 
Clover, Alsikc, Alfalfa, Clover and Timothy mixed, Timothy alone. Red Top Fancy, 
Blue Grass, Millet, Flax and all other Grasses in widest range of quantities. 
If you are going to sow Clover In your Winter Wheat, the Superior Alfalfa 
and Grass Seed Drill will show you a gala of about FOUR DOLLARS 
PER ACRE. 
This Drill is invaluable in rejuvenating old Alfalfa Fields, Pastures and 
Meadows. 
SEND FOR THE SUPERIOR ALFALFA DRILL FOLDER 
Go to your local dealer and ask to see the Superior Alfalfa and Grass Seed Drill, 
bold under the strongest warranty. You run no risk in purenasing. 
THE AMERICAN SEEDING-MACHINE C0.,lnc. 
SPRINGFIELD. OHIO 
Send for 
Catalog — 
FREE 
F*otato Planter 
Profitable for the large or small grower. Plants 
f iotatoes at lowest possible cost. One man operates 
t. Opens the furrow—drops the seed any distance 
or depth required—puts on fertilizer (if wanted)— 
covers up—marlts the next row. Accurate, auto¬ 
matic and dependable. Sold with or without Fer¬ 
tilizer Attachment. 
Here’s why you should select the Eureka Potato 
Planter:—Furrow Opening Plow is directly under 
the axle—that means uniform depth at all t 
The seed drops in sight of driver. 
Steel and malleable construction 
makes long life and few repairs. 
Made in three sizes—for one 
or two rows. 
We nlsomakethe Eureka Mulchcr and 
Seeder. Shipped from brunch near you. 
EUREKA MOWER CO., aox mo.utich.n.v. 
times. 
Pert<3+o Profits/ 
depend largely on how the crop Is planted. 
Every skipped hill Is a loss In time, fertilizer 
and soil. Every double wastes valuable seed. 
It means $5 to $50 per acre extra profit if all hills 
are planted, one piece in each. That Is why 
u 
ms ACE 
100 Per Cent 
Planters 
often pay for themselves In one season on small 
acreage. They also plant straight, at right depth, 12 
to 24 inches apart. New angle steel frame and 
steel seed hopper. With or 
without fertilizer distrib¬ 
utor. Ask your dealer to 
I show you this Planter and 
■ write us for booklet/ *100 
Per Cent Potato Plant- 
• ’and copy of Iron Age 
Farm and Garden News. 
BATEMAN M’F’O 00. 
Box 1025 Grenloch, N. J, 
Fireproof Your Farm Buildings by Using 
ROOFING 
A POlsLO Roofi ngand Siding Prod ucts are h i ghest qual I tv, full wei glit, 
easily applied, reasonable in cost and durable. Hol'd l»v weight. 
Made from the well known Apollo Best Bloom Galvanized Sheets, 
and sold by leading dealers everywhere. Write to-day for our free 
booklet “Better Buildings,” containing plans and full information. 
AMERICAN SHEET AND TIN PLATE COMPANY, Frick Bldg., Pittsburgh, Pa. 
Forkner Orchard 
Cultivator 
Does more work with less draft and leaves a 
better surface mulch than any other cultivator made 
It Works Right Up To Your Trees 
Cultivating the entire surface beneath low branches 
without disturbing boughs or fruit. Write for cata¬ 
logue and free book "Modern Orchard Tillage.” 
VlGHT DRAFT HARROW CO., 812 Nevada Street, Marshalltown, low? 
This Engine Harrow Has Made Good 
SEND FOR BOOK 
“The Soil and 
Intensive 
Tillage ’* 
If you want an engine harrow that has re¬ 
peatedly withstood abuse far greater than what you 
are likely ever to give it, and one which does unsur- 
passedly good work in every respect, then the 
Double Action Engine Harrow 
is the one for you to buy. Ask the 
Cutaway dealer in your town to show you a 
Cutaway (Clark) harrow. If we have no dealer 
there, write direct to us for catalog. Don’t accept a substitute. 
THE CUTAWAY HARROW COMPANY, 839 Main St„ HIGGANUM, CONNECTICUT 
Mater of the original Clark Disk harrows and flows 
