1014 . 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
623 
Soaking Seed Potatoes for Scab. 
I am advised to soak my seed in a 
solution of one pint formalin to 30 gal¬ 
lons of water for two hours. Will not 
this break off or injure the sprouts? 
Soaking will break off many of these 
sprouts and the solution will injure their 
vitality a little; planting either by hand 
or in the planter will also break off 
more or less of the buds, but they usually 
sprout again and give a fair plant. Seed 
potatoes should not be permitted to make 
long thin sprouts, which are produced 
usually in warm and dark cellars. The 
seed potatoes ought to be spread out in 
some dry sunny place at least two weeks 
before planting. This place should be 
where the potatoes can be protected from 
frost. Thus exposed the tubers will make 
short heavy sprouts containing far more 
vitality thau the long thin sprouts 
formed in the dark. These heavy sprouts 
will not be injured by the soaking, but 
this soaking may well be done a week 
or more before planting. 
A farm paper states that this work 
may be hastened by piling the potatoes 
on the barn floor, sprinkling the solu¬ 
tion over them and covering with a 
blanket. 
We have not tided this plan of piling 
potatoes on the barn floor. This is the 
method followed after treating oats for 
smut. The oats are put in a pile and 
well soaked down. Then cover with 
blankets or sacks for two hours and 
spread out to dry. The oats absorb a 
large quantity of moisture and enough of 
the gas formed with them to cover the 
work and go through the pile and kill 
the germs of disease. The potatoes being 
very much larger when thus piled up 
would not, of course, absorb as much of 
the liquid, and we should doubt if enough 
of the gas would be formed under these 
conditions to destroy the scab germ. We 
should prefer the old plan of soaking, al¬ 
though it takes more time. 
What about using sulphur? Is it fully 
equal to the formalin solution? 
In our experience powdered sulphur in 
a dried form is not equal to the formula 
solution for destroying the scab germ. 
It does unquestionably kill some of these 
germs. Its chief value seems to be for 
preserving the cut pieces in the ground. 
It also makes something of an acid con¬ 
dition in the soil around the seed pieces, 
and this helps to prevent the work of the 
germ. We think it wise to use the pow¬ 
dered sulphur even when the seed has 
been properly soaked. We put such seed 
into peach baskets, scattering about two 
handfuls of powdered sulphur over the 
seed as it is put into the basket. The 
basket is well shaken down two or three 
times. A quantity of the sulphur is 
dropped out at this shaking upon a 
paper placed under the basket, so that 
it may be saved for further use. We 
think this sulphuring in combination 
with the soaking of the seed will pay. 
Potato Blight in Winter. 
The New York (Geneva) Experiment 
Station has tested the theory that the 
fungus causing potato blight does not 
winter over in the soil. 
To test the liability to such transmis¬ 
sion, the Station Botanist has carried on 
careful tests in two seasons; and finds 
no evidence that the fungus can survive 
the Winter in the field, in central New 
York, at least. In each of the tests, soil 
from a field of diseased potato plants 
was thoroughly mixed, in boxes, with 
broken, rotten tubers and pieces of 
blighted stems; and the boxes were ex¬ 
posed to the weather during early Win¬ 
ter. Later the boxes were brought into 
the forcing house, a sound potato tuber 
was planted in each and conditions made 
as favorable as possible for growth of 
plants and development of the disease. 
In spite of warmth, abundant moisture, 
both in the soil and in the air and 
luxuriant, succulent growth of the plants, 
not a sign of blighting appeared, even 
when the plants were grown in a spe¬ 
cial glass chamber and thoroughly wet¬ 
ted daily with water drained from some 
of the soil mixed with diseased material, 
or were painted with a thin mud made 
from such soil. The results, being nega¬ 
tive, do not prove that the late-blight 
fungus cannot remain alive over Winter 
* in the soil, but they make such persist¬ 
ence appear highly improbable. 
It would seem unnecessary, then, to 
change the location of the potato crop to 
avoid this disease; especially as we know 
that thorough spraying will control both 
blight and rot and will increase the crop 
enough, taking one year with another, to 
make this a highly profitable regular 
practice in potato growing. The spray¬ 
ing of late potatoes should never be neg¬ 
lected. 
Sulphur and Iron Pyrites as a Fertilizer. 
Some recent experiments in France 
throw some light on this subject. Based 
upon the fact that sulphur is known to 
aid nitrification by entering into the 
chemical reactions that take place when 
organic and amrnoniacal fertilizers are 
applied to the soil, these experimenters 
planned two series of tests. In one ser¬ 
ies nitrate of soda was used as the source 
of nitrogen, and in the other series dried 
blood was applied in such quantity as 
to furnish an equal amount of nitrogen 
as the nitrate carried. Two methods of 
application of the sulphur and pyrites 
were employed in each series. One meth¬ 
od was to apply the sulphur to the sur¬ 
face of the soil at the rate of 50 and 
100 pounds per acre, and the other was 
to mix it thoroughly with the soil at 
the same rates per acre. The results all 
along the line of the nitrate of soda ser¬ 
ies with wheat and beans showed only a 
variation of from two to four per cent, 
increase or decrease in yield. But quite 
different were the yields in the dried 
blood series. Both wheat and beaus yield¬ 
ed better when the sulphur was thor¬ 
oughly mixed with the soil than when 
applied on the surface only. The larger 
application of 100 pounds per acre 
showed much higher yields than the 50 
pounds application all through the ex¬ 
periment. 
In the dried blood series with 100 
pounds of sulphur applied on the surface, 
the yield of wheat increased 21 per cent, 
and when that amount was mixed with 
the soil the increase was 30 per cent. 
With beans the increases were 30 and 
GO per cent, respectively. Twice as much 
of the pyrites was applied as in the case 
of the pure sulphur. With an applica¬ 
tion of 200 pounds of pyrites per acre 
in the dried blood the wheat yield in¬ 
creased 20 per cent, in case of surface 
application, and 41 per cent, in case of 
a thorough mixture, while the yield of 
beans increased 25 and 52 per cent, re¬ 
spectively. These results indicate that 
sulphur and iron pyrites (a compound 
of sulphur and iron) may be used as fer¬ 
tilizer ingredients under certain condi¬ 
tions. g. M. T. 
Postage Package for Boiled Cider. 
Where can I buy packages in which to 
ship boiled cider by parcel post? The boiled 
cider is thick (soft jelly) but will re¬ 
quire a tight package. Common jugs 
might do by packing them in a wooden 
box, but it makes the package pretty 
heavy. I do not think it safe to put it 
into tin cans; the acid would eat the 
cans and spoil the cider. Probably 
aluminum would cost too much. Glass 
of course is all right; cans, jars or bot¬ 
tles, and I am told that they are shipped 
by parcel post, but I don’t know how 
they are packed. Perhaps there may be 
wooden kegs that are all right for the 
purpose? I wish to ship from one quart 
to three gallons. (Anything less than 50 
pounds, package and all). Can you 
give me information that will help me 
out in this matter? d. j. c. 
Randolph, Vt. 
This was forwarded to the scientific 
assistant who has charge of the work of 
investigating suitable packages for farm 
products at Washington. He says: 
I am without experience in that line. 
Wooden kegs properly made would per¬ 
haps serve the purpose quite well for the 
larger quantities within the weight limit 
of 50 pounds. For smaller quantities a 
metal container, something like those 
used for maple syrup, might answer the 
purpose. These would need to be en¬ 
closed within a wooden box or a cor¬ 
rugated-pasteboard container of at least 
two thicknesses. A metal container l 
would have to be sanitary-enameled or 
lacquered on the inside to prevent the 
action of the acid in the cider on the 
metal. A person desiring to work up a 
business of this kind should consult his 
local postmaster to ascertain what kind 
of container he would admit to the mails 
and how it should be packed. The dan¬ 
ger of leakage from puncture or other 
cause is considerable, and I do not know 
whether the postal authorities will sanc¬ 
tion any kind of container for liquids 
other than those specified in the parcel- 
post regulations, with which the inquirer 
can familiarize himself by inquiry of his 
local postmaster. lewis b. floiib. 
De Lawd made de mule ter give us a 
example of stubbo’nness, likewise ter 
show us how foolish it is ter be alius 
kickin’ because you happen ter have de 
heels.—Atlanta Constitution. 
If the average Farmer is as shrewd 
a merchant as he is said to be—and we know 
he is—the fact explains why so many 
Mitchell cars are in daily use on the farm , 
It is because the Mitchell is a 
sturdy and lasting proposition and may be 
maintained with maximum economy that the farmer 
finds it suited to his needs. When he buys it he re¬ 
alizes that he has made an investment which pays 
big dividends in efficiency* 
The car that does the most work, 
lasts the longest and can be kept up with 
the least expense for repairs, is the car that the Business 
Farmer needs and this we declare to be the Mitchell 
because years of experience have proved it definitely. 
The purpose of this advertise- 
ment is to request you Business Farmers to 
go at once to the nearest Mitchell dealer, examine 
the car carefully, take a ride in it and drive it yourself 
so as to get the personal feel and the personal touch. 
If it proves its merit it is the car you want. That’s 
the only vcay to buy an automobile and the only 
real way to sell one. 
Equipment of All the Mitchell Models That is Included in the List Prices s 
Electric self-starter and generator—electric lights—electric horn—electric mag. 
nctic exploring, lamp—speedometer—Tungsten valves—mohair top and dust 
cover Jiffy quick-action side curtains—quick-action rain vision wind-shield_ 
demountable rims with one extra—double extra tire carriers—Bair bow 
holders license plate bracket—pump, jack and complete set of tools. 
Prices F. O. B. Racine 
Racine, Vis. U. S. A. 
Hardwood Ashes 
Itest Fertilizer in I'se. 
GEORGE STEVENS, Peterborough, Out. 
ROOFING 
—95 CENTS HOLT,— 108 Feet, 
Nails. Cement RUBBER ROOFING 
CO., 5 Cortlandt St., New York 
HORSE HEAD 
Best and cheapest way to get phosphorus—buy puU 
verized raw phosphate. It will put strength in your 
soil. It will put money in your pocket. Write for 
price, your R. R. station. 
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54 Hunt St.. Harvard, Ill. 
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f 
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