THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
604 
IMPROVING POOR LAND IN MARYLAND. 
The Quickest and Easiest Way. 
[The following essay by J. E. Patton 
was awarded a prize by the Dorchester 
Pomona Grange. It is a compact state¬ 
ment of how to improve land in the Mid¬ 
dle South. Much the same principles 
may be followed at the North by substi¬ 
tuting rye, vetch, turnips and Soy beans.] 
The quickest and at the same time the 
most economical way to improve poor 
land is through the use of legumes. Ma¬ 
nure will help of course, but manure, 
like lime, should be used to help the 
legume. Clover and cow peas are the 
two great servants to be commanded in 
land building. If the land is too poor 
to grow clover, begin with cow peas. 
Other important points are proper drain¬ 
age and deep plowing. Always go down 
to the subsoil, and after the first plow¬ 
ing turn up a little of the subsoil at each 
plowing, until the soil is of the desired 
depth (which you will never get too 
deep). Test land each year for acidity 
of soil, and if lime is needed apply at 
rate of 500 pounds to the acre after land 
is in good cultivation, then drag before 
seeding or planting the crop. A fourth 
point is thorough preparation of seed 
bed, and proper cultivation of growing 
crops; a fifth, rotation of crops. 
Rotate crops as follows : First year seed 
the land to an early variety of cow peas, 
using 200 pounds acid phosphate and 40 
pounds muriate of potash to the acre. 
In August double-disk the cow peas, then 
plow under and after the land is in 
proper condition and with a well-packed 
seed bed, seed to Crimson clover after 
a rain. Unquestionably wait for the 
rain, but keep the drag going at fre¬ 
quent intervals while waiting. 
Second year top-dress the clover in 
February if the weather is favorable, 
with 300 pounds rock and kainit, equal 
parts, and just as clover begins to head 
out, plow under; then plant to corn, 
seeding Crimson clover in last working. 
Third year, top-dress clover at usual 
time with S00 pounds rock and kainit, 
equal parts, plow under clover and plant 
tomatoes. Seed Scarlet clover in last 
working. 
Fourth year, top-dress clover as usual 
with 300 pounds rock and kainit, cut 
clover at proper time for hay, then plant 
land to corn, seeding clover in last work¬ 
ing. From this time on use the three 
year rotation, as mentioned in second, 
third and fourth years. 
Tomato vines in hay are objectionable 
and it will be necessary to rake the clo¬ 
ver field during freezing weather which 
will remove the majority of the vines. In 
this process of soil building there is just 
one cardinal point; put the fertilizer or 
manures always on the soil-building crop. 
But for the land’s sake seed legumes 
wherever and whenever possible. Leg¬ 
umes, legumes, first, last and always. 
THE CONCRETE MIXER. 
I note on page 250 what Mr. Weaver 
says about mixing concrete. He admits 
that a mixer should be of sufficient size ; 
to handle a one-bag batch at one time, 
and then goes on and describes a mixer 
which is about half large enough for that, 
and which he claims is satisfactory. Why 
not construct a mixer large enough to 
take a one-bag batch at one time? All 
right, but do it different from what I 
did. I built one almost identically like 
the one Mr. Weaver describes except 
mine was twice the capacity and nearly 
four feet long. As the cost is a painful 
recollection for a poor man I will try to 
forget it. Probably my mechanical abil¬ 
ity was not quite up to Mr. Weaver’s. 
This mixer was sent to the junk heap 
because we could not get an even distri¬ 
bution of cement without taking a great 
deal of time. Several different men tried 
it besides myself, but we all had about 
the same results. If more cement than 
should be landed in one end or middle 
it staid there, though it mixed evenly 
with aggregate at that particular spot. 
The result was that each batch was a 
streaked mixture ranging from lean to 
rich. This might answer for underground 
foundations, but would not do at all for 
thin reenforced walls. Well, why not 
increase the diameter and decrease the 
length of a similar mixer? I have not 
tried this personally, but would judge 
two feet would be the limit in length 
permissible to insure uniform mixing. 
This would bring machine opening up 
quite a bit from the ground, and would 
make filling too slow. It would prob¬ 
ably affect its stability also. Why tie 
up $15 to $30 in a mixer when the effi¬ 
ciency of a gang of men is not materially 
increased by so doing? Let each man 
think out for himself, on his own job. 
each act and motion that has to be gone 
through to mix a batch of concrete, both 
by hand and with machine, and estimate 
the time required for each, and probably 
in most cases it will be six of one and 
half dozen of the other. I know nothing 
about the large commercial mixers but 
as for homemade affairs, give me a 
square pointed shovel and a “sweat- 
board.” MAURICE E. KENT. 
Rhode Island. 
Use of Fish-pots in Maryland. 
Can the law stop me from fishing with 
fish-pot or wing like on my own private 
land, where water flows only after big 
rains? At other times there is no water 
there. I find by Chapter 255 of 1910. it 
is unlawful to have fish-pots in any 
waters o the State; penalty not less 
than $25 nor more than $100 for each 
offense. j. k. e. 
Greensboro, Md. 
The following reply is made by State 
Game Warden Curley: 
I do not know of any exception to the 
law prohibiting fish-pots. Of course the 
law is only applicable to rivers and 
streams, and if your inquirer does not 
set them in the same, but simply in a ! 
natural water course when it rains, I 
suppose it would not come within the i 
provisions of the law, but I cannot im¬ 
agine that there would be any fish in 
such a place. 
TOMMY 
t op, what is the difference 
between a luxury and a necessity?” Tom¬ 
my’s Pop: “Merely getting used to it. 
my son.”—Winnipeg Telegram. 
Direct from 
Factory 
to 
Oser 
2 H-P, $34.90 
4 H-P, 69.76 
6 H-P, 99.35 
8 H-P, 139.65 
11 H-P, 208.90 
20 H-P, 389.50 
Other Sires up to 40 H-P, 
Proportionally Low. 
WITTE Engines 
Kerosene, Gasoline and Gas 
„ .. ay <_ _ _ 0 
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Shows my liberal selling plans with 
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full address for my prompt reply. 
Ed. H. Witte, Witte Iron Wks. Co. 
1898 Oakland Ave., Kansas City, Mo. 
March 28, 
The concrete road has been demonstrated 
without a peer for country highways. And 
the concrete culvert is the best yet found. 
But care should be taken to select cement which will 
go farthest for the money. Watch how often the man 
who thoroughly understands concrete selects Atlas 
Portland Cement. He appreciates that value is not 
always price. Ask your dealer for Atlas. 
TILE DRAINED LAND IS MORE PRODUCTIVE SSHES 
creases the value. Acres of swampy land reclaimed and made fertile. 
Jackson's Round Drain Tile meets every requirement. We also make Sewer 
I’ipe, Red and Fire Krick, Chimney Tops, Encaustic Side Walk Tile, etc. Write 
for what you want and prices. JOHN H. JACKSON, g<j Third Ave., Albany, N X. 
No More 
Battery Troubles 
a —or expense, either, when you 
own a Lattson Frost King Engine. 
WSr New Sumter Gear Driven Magneto built 
into the engine entirely eliminates batteries, 
their expense and troubles. 
LAUSON FROST KING 
ii-.’nK.iitir/-:il 
i 
C-31 
Galloway Engines 
Are Sold on 30 Days 
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The 
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[V 
William Galloway, 
President 
Horse Portables 
Made in 5-6-7 14 
10 ami 15 H. P. Sizes 
