-4 
January 3, 
THE RURAL! NEW-YORKER 
PIPING A GREENHOUSE.: 
Diagram gives plan of our greenhouses. 
We have a hot-water boiler 1,050 feet ra¬ 
diation. House No. 1 is to be used for 
lettuce, with radishes for a catch crop; 
house No. 2 to be used for mushrooms. 
What size pipe, how many feet, and how 
should the pipe be arranged? We have 
always used the old system of heating. 
Our place is near Washington, D. C. 
Syracuse, N. Y. o. M. 
Greenhouse is 20 feet wide, one end; 
10 feet wide at opposite end, 5 feet 6 
inches high at eaves, 10 feet 0 inches 
ridge; temperature to be 50 degrees in¬ 
side, zero outside. Mushroom house 24 
feet 7 inches wide, 7 feet eaves, 14 feet 
ridge, 5S feet long. Heater apparently 
located in angle at end of houses. Heater 
having 1.050 square feet radiation should 
have 4 feet flow and 4 feet return open¬ 
ings. Assuming mushroom house is con¬ 
structed as such houses usually are, to 
give best results, with double sides and 
roof, packed with about 6 inches to 8 
inches sawdust between, about 150 square 
feet radiation would be required. To ob- 
/O 
/o 
so 
s 
I — |^ ‘• - AS 
N 
PIPING GREENHOUSE. Fig. 6. 
tain this either 252 feet 2-inch pipe, 315 
feet l^-inch, or 345 feet 114-inch P'P e 
would be necessary. Either size pipe 
could be used to good advantage. My 
preference for so short a house would be 
3.*4-inch, using six lines, three Hows and 
three returns, placed at bottom of walks, 
so as not to dry off surface of the beds, 
as it is desirable to keep heating surfaces 
as far away from mushroom beds as pos¬ 
sible. 
The greenhouse should have 14 lines of 
114-inch pipe at wide end, and 10 should 
be carried through to narrow end, using 
half flows and half returns. The flows 
should be slightly higher than the returns, 
and run up hill to far end of house, which 
end should he at least six inches higher 
than at boiler. Give returns same fall 
toward boiler, or more if possible. An 
expansion tank of eight-gallon capacity 
should be placed 10 feet if possible above 
boiler, and each flow pipe at far end of 
house must have an air-cock so the sys¬ 
tem can be kept clear of air. Connect ex¬ 
pansion tank to return pipe at boiler. Be 
careful to have all flow pipes continually 
ascending and all returns continually de¬ 
scending. Top of boiler should be several 
feet lower than flow pipes in mushroom 
house if possible. elmer j. weaver. 
QUESTIONS ABOUT ASPARAGUS. 
In Spring, just as soon as the ground is 
ready for working, I sow broadcast 
through a fertilizer distributor a ton and 
a quarter (2,500 pounds) of fertilizer of 
the following analysis: Nitrogen, equal 
to ammonia, 4 to 5%; available phos¬ 
phoric acid, 6 to 8% ; total phosphoric 
acid, 7 to 10%; potash, actual, 10 to 
11%. I do not put any other fertilizer 
or manure on land during year. Do you 
think I am making a mistake iii putting 
on all the fertilizer at once, or shall I 
reserve some until I have done cutting for 
the season? Some around here use kainit 
after cutting for two or three weeks; do 
you think it pays? Some time ago you 
mentioned that lime killed out chickweed 
and also improved asparagus land. How 
much lime to the acre should be used, and 
what kind (crushed stone or air-slaked)? 
Could fertilizer be diminished or entirely 
eliminated the Spring that lime is put on? 
Concord, Mass. j. n. 
I should not put on 2,500 pounds of 
any ready mixed fertilizer. If this amount 
was applied to an acre, should apply 
1,500 pounds in the Spring and remainder 
late in June. Kainit has proved of value 
on sandy lands, but should not apply on 
heavy soils. Most farmers would be bet¬ 
ter off if they mixed their own chemicals. 
Lime helps asparagus very much; use 
2,000 pounds to the acre, and harrow in 
in the Spring. Air-slaked lime is good to 
use. If marl or limestone is used more 
will be necessary. Marble dust can be 
purchased and laid down in Concord for 
.$3 per ton, and if this is ground fine 
enough should give good results. I should 
not use quite so much fertilizer when lime 
is applied. Asparagus needs, about 1G0 
pounds of available nitrogen, 230 pounds 
of potash and 325 pounds of phosphoric 
acid. Chemicals will be the cheapest 
form to get the above plant food. If no 
manure has been used perhaps it would 
be well to apply five or six tons of manure 
to got the humus necessary. Muriate of 
potash is best to use. Bone, acid phos- j 
phate or slag may be used for the phos- 1 
phoric acid, and nitrate of soda for the j 
nitrogen. Cover crops will soon be used 
in the culture of asparagus, thus increas¬ 
ing with very little cost the vegetable 
matter and humus in the soil, and giving 
large quantities of nitrogen, thereby sav¬ 
ing the purchase of the costly nitrate of j 
soda. In growing asparagus first get the 
best rust-resistant stock, mix your own 
chemicals, grow cover crops before and 
after the asparagus is set, and one will 
be surprised at the results. C. J. 
MORE ABOUT COVER CROPS. 
Under the caption “Cover Crops in 
Kansas,” you refer to me, page 1301, as 
“opposing the cover-crop plan.” You 
quote from a Kansas paper a story of 
potato growers in the Kansas River A'al- 
ley who sow turnips after their early 
potatoes ami. plow them under in the Fall 
for green manure. You continue, “This 
may mean a combination of cover crop 
and Fall plowing.” That is exactly what 
it is, and it is a combination that has 
done much toward putting the Kaw Val¬ 
ley on the map as a potato-growing dis¬ 
trict. Let us go back to the beginning: 
“Hope Farm Notes” proposed the Winter 
cover crop as an all-around good thing. 
I moved to amend, page 120(1, by “except¬ 
ing the average grain and stock farm,” 
on the ground that a Winter cover crop 
would prevent such farmers from plowing 
in the Fall, preparatory to their Spring 
seeding and planting. The argument in 
favor of Fall plowing had recently been 
ably stated in your columns by II. E. 
Mern. I referred to his articles rather 
than restate the argument. 
My opposition to the cover crop runs to 
only one variety of it, viz., the Winter 
cover crop; and that for only one class 
of farmers, viz., the “broadcast farmers,” 
whose Spring work is their heavy work, 
and who, as a rule, haven’t teams enough 
or help enough to both plow and plant 
their large acreages in a thorough man¬ 
ner in the short interval that comes 
“north of the Ohio,” between the frost 
and mud of Spring and the traditional 
sign for planting to be done—“the hick¬ 
ory leaf as big as a rabbit’s ear.” For 
fruit and truck farms, like Hope Farm, 
the cover crop has a wider use. 
Those Kansas potato men you mention 
—of whom I am one—furnish a case in 
point. The potato crop in the “bottoms” 
of the Kansas River is increasing every 
year. Between Topeka and Kansas City 
there were probably 15,000 acres of po¬ 
tatoes harvested last year. Preparation 
has been made for a much larger planting 
next year—in round numbers, perhaps 
20.000 acres. Practically every acre of 
that prospective potato “patch” is now 
plowed and waiting for the disk-harrows 
to start, as soon as the soil is dry enough 
next Spring. Cow peas, Soy beans, rye, 
oats and turnips have all been tried to 
follow potatoes, when dug—ordinarily by 
August 1. Turnips are the favorite fol¬ 
low crop. But whatever the follow crops 
may be, all are turned under before it 
freezes up. The Kansas custom is to 
double-disk this Fall plowing as soon as 
the ground is fit in the Spring, which will 
be ordinarily several days earlier than it 
would do to plow, and then planting 
begins. Anything that would postpone 
the planting until the land could be 
plowed would be regarded as a calamity. 
EDWIN TAYLOR. 
Kansas. 
Up in Alaska there used to be a dis¬ 
trict attorney who was long on native 
oratory but short on education. Once, 
while prosecuting a big case, coming to 
the finish of his argument, he leaned 
across the rail and made this plea : “All 
I asts of you, gentlemen of the jury, is 
that you now retire and mete out justice 
as she deserves to be met!”—Toronto 
Saturday Night. 
My 1914 
Tree-Book 
FREE 
To Fruit- 
Growers 
This book con¬ 
tains 120 pages, is 
beautifully illus¬ 
trated, describes 
the cream of the 
most profitableva- 
Trr-, 1 . „ w rieties for home 
W I! Aincrica t 'fl rk ' and orchard Pbmt- 
Foremoat Nurseryman , R tells why 
William P. Stark 
trees thrive to sneli remnrkablo perfection and 
produce such profitable crops: why they arc pre¬ 
ferred by the most successful fruit-growers. 
The Great “ J. H. Hale” Peach 
The marvel of horticulture —M to % larger than 
Elberta, perfect freestone, solid yet tender flesh, 
smooth skin, a peach practically without fuzz, 
stands shipment like apples, round ami large for 
preserving, hardiest in the bud, longest fruiting 
season. Eager buyers more than cleaned out en- 
tirostoek lustspring. Order early for full planting. 
Buy Direct—Save Half 
No agents, no middlemen—weshare profits with 
you, and sell yon better trees, doubly guaranteed 
true to name. Sturdy. Ozark Mountain-grown 
apple, pear, peach, plum, berriesnnd ornamentals. 
Small orders got special attention. Writ© today. 
William P.^ Stark Nurseries 
Station F 2 Stark City, Mo. 
FRUIT 
r a 
SUM, THEM ns oar representative in yonr territory. 
You are sure to be unusually successful because tlie 
quality and reliabilltyof our t rees bring repeat orders 
and make satisfied customers. We have been in 
business 31 years and stand back of you in a practical, 
helpful way. Write today for Local Representative 
Plan—part time or whole time. Ask for- Plan A. 
lU'Y THEM direct from u* if you prefer. Prices 
are right; we protect you against nursery careless¬ 
ness and subsequent Toss. Scores of the largest, 
most successful growers buy our trees year after 
year. Write for valuable Catalog. 
THE BARNES BROS. NURSERY CO. 
BOX 8, :: :: YALESVILLE, CONN. 
Apples .and peaches are now paying 
enormous profits. Start your orchard 
this year by planting the highest 
grade stock. Our apple and peach 
trees have no superiors. Every one is 
vigorous, true to name, and free from 
defects. Yet our prices are much 
lower. Note these prices for Spring 
1914 only on best stock: 
Apple Trees, 100 for $12 
Peach Trees, 100 for $ 8 
We sell direct to you and save you 
agents’ profits. All shipments are care¬ 
fully packed and 
promptly shipped. 
'Sene) for 
This BOOK 
OUR 74-"ANNUAL CATALOG 
Describes the most com¬ 
plete nursery stock in 
America. Send for copy today 
ELLWANGER & BARRY 
MT. HOPE NURSERIES 
Box 212 ROCHESTER, N.Y. 
ELLWANGER. 
6. BARRY 
GVAUEUC 
MOUNT HOPE 
NURSERIES 
imiuaHM 
ROCHESTER. N.Y 
TREES 
HALF AGENTS’ PRICES. 
We have no agents—we sell direct to you. Our 
prices one-half agents' prices. Why? because we 
save you the agents’ profits. That’s dollars in your 
pocket, Mr. Fruit Grower. 
All our trees are absolutely the finest stock. If any 
tree is not true to name and healthy, we replace 
it. Apple, Poach, Pear, Plum, Cherry, Quince, 
Shade and OrnamentnlTrees; shrubs, berrybushes 
and plants—all at money saving prices. 
We pay freight 
Otircatalogue is brimful of prac¬ 
tical, valuable information—how 
to plant and care for all kinds 
of fruit trees. It will pay you 
to get It—absolutely free. Write 
today. 
WM. P. RUPERT & SON, 
Box 20. Seneca, N. Y. 
KINGS 
FRUIT TREE BULLETIN 
tells you the whole story of the 
. . nursery business in Western New 
lork. its a gold mine of information about buying, planting nnd 
for free copy now. 
1878 
growing tree«. Please let us show you. Write 
KING BROS. NURSERIES, Dansville, N. Y. Est. 
APPLE Trees, 2-yr., 5 to 7 ft. ffl 5120.00 per l.OOO. 
Pay enough to get the best, but no more. Thousands of Apple, Pear, Cherry, Plum, Peach and 
Quince Trees to be disposed of now at wholesale prices. 
10 Peach trees, 4 to 5 ft., for ... §0.98 
6 Pear “ 5 to 6 ft., for ... 1 .08 
6 Cherry trees, 5 to 6 ft., lor . . $1.18 
30 Apple ** 5 to 6 ft., for , , 4.20 
Many other special bargains. Also small fruits,Ornamentals,Shrubs,Roses,etc. All freshdug. Hardy 
Western New York grown. Guaranteed true to name and free from scale. Write today for free catalog 
and save money. Estab. 1879. L. W. HALL & CO. ,508 Cutler Bldg., ROCHESTER, N. Y. We Prepay Froight 
r 
Know Before You Plant That Your Trees 
and Shrubs Will Bloom as You Expect 
Shrewd people buy merchandise from established houses—houses that will be in 
business when they need service. Why should not a planter buy his Trees, Shrubs, 
Vines, Roses, Bulbs and Seeds with the same precaution? How disappointing it is, 
when your trees or shrubs have leaved out, to find something 
you did not order — something you do not want. 
Have you ever had this experience? Don’t take 
any risk when ordering. Buy direct of the pro¬ 
ducer and at first cost. We have a reputation at 
stake. Have been in business 60 years and 
c expect to continue indefinitely. You always 
know where to find us. 46 greenhouses. 
acres 0 J. 92 . p . age FR F F Write for it today. It’s 
s - Catalog lilt t interesting and valuable. 
THE STORRS & HARRISON CO., Box 299, PAINESVILLE, OHIO 
! M 
r-x 
it! 
:«■ 
m if 
At Half Price 
Deal with us and save half. 
How is it done? We deal 
direct only—no agents, no 
canvassers. Our catalog is 
our salesman; you pocket 
the agent’s profit. There’s no 
nursery like Green’s for value. 
Big Supply of 
Apple and Peach Trees 
Bartlett Pears 
Our trees are all clean, healthy and hardy—northern 
grown. 35 years’ reputation as sure growers. That 
guarantees you satisfaction. Largest and best 
stocked nursery in the country. 
‘Thirty Years with Fruits and Flowers,” or 
C. A. Green’s Book on Canning Fruit. Tell us 
which you would prefer. We ’ll send it free. 
Our free catalog is brimful of practical informa¬ 
tion on fruit cultivation — a necessity for every 
fruit grower. Write us today. 
GREEN’S NURSERY COMPANY, 22 Wall Street, Rochester, N. Y. 
fr e e ; 
