T10 
THE RURAL NEW'-^’OKKEH 
May 10, 
FARMERS’ CLUB 
{Every Query must lie accompanied by the 
name and address of the writer to insure 
attention. Before asking a question, please see 
whether it is not answered in our advertising 
columns. Ask only a 'ew questions at one time. 
Put questions on a separate piece of naoer.] 
The Mushroom of the Fields. 
The common mushroom, Agaricus cam- 
pesti-is, so generally grown for market 
in cellars and caves may be found, usu¬ 
ally in October, growing in old pastures 
in large numbers. Fig. 292 shows 
how these mushrooms look at the right 
stage for eating. They have a creamy 
white, smooth cap, a white, smooth stem, 
excepting for a slight ring where the cap 
breaks loose as the mushroom expands, 
and pinkish or brown gills. The gills 
produce the spores, which are brown in 
this case, and the flesh of both stem and 
cap is white. There is no cup at base 
of stem, nor warts on the cap, and the 
stem is not bulbous nor scaly. This 
mushroom is thus described so that in 
gathering them in the field no mistake 
need be made, and ODe of the poisonous 
Amanitas picked instead. The Agaricus 
oampestris usually appears in the Fall, 
and in the open fields. Nothing need be 
said about the preparation of mushrooms 
for the table nor of their culture in cel¬ 
lars, which most people know about. The 
picture shows the mushrooms at about 
one-half natural size and at an immature 
stage; when ripe ready to shed the spores 
the mushrooms are nearly flat on top, are 
much darker and have a dry appearance. 
The spores fall to the ground, are car¬ 
ried about by wind and water, and pro¬ 
duce the mycelium or spawn which in 
turn again produces a mushroom. 
Ohio. W. E. DUCK WALL. 
Mixing Ashes and Hen Manure. 
As you stand for the open mind, per¬ 
mit me to disagree with you in agricul¬ 
tural practice. Because going over the 
ground twice doubles the toil, I mix ashes 
and fine hen manure and immediately 
sow them. The material lies so thin 
upon the ground, especially if harrowed 
in. that there is no chance for any active 
chemical union, with loss of nitrogen. I 
think I have proved this time and again, 
and think the job is done better, and the 
surface covered more evenly when the 
mixture is well combined beforehand. 
Maine. s. r. 
We have often stated that if the ashes 
and hen manure are immediately worked 
underground after mixing no particular 
harm will result. To mix fresh manure 
with ashes or to use the ashes on the 
manure as we do plaster or road dust 
is about the worst farm practice one can 
mention. We know dozens of farmers 
who did both things and gave as their 
authority just such statements as are 
made above. When we come to analyze 
such statements we find that there was 
no advice to mix ashes and leave the 
manure to expel its ammonia, but these 
farmers did not analyze and did not stop 
to reason out the difference. In such 
cases we think it wiser to print positive 
advice one way or the other, and let 
the farmer reason out the shades of dif¬ 
ference. 
Fighting the Strawberry Weevil. 
What about spraying strawberries to 
drive away the weevil in blossom time? 
Browns Mills, N. J. s. J. s. 
As the larvae feed upon the pollen of 
the buds of staminate varieties, the stam- 
inate varieties are most injured, and in¬ 
jury may be avoided by growing as few 
rows of staminate varieties as are neces¬ 
sary for fertilizing the rest of the bed. 
Indeed, the very early staminate varie¬ 
ties might be used as a trap crop for at¬ 
tracting the weevils, which might be de¬ 
stroyed by covering the rows with straw 
and burning, or possibly by spraying with 
arsenicals. By planting rows of early 
varieties which flower freely and produce 
an abundance of pollen near woods and 
fence-rows where the beetles have hibern¬ 
ated and appear first, they might be ef¬ 
fectively trapped, and then destroyed. 
Although the larvae cannot be reached 
with any insecticide, the beetles feed 
more or less on the buds and foliage, and 
further experiments should be made in 
spraying for them with arsenicals. In 
A iew of the recent success in the use of 
arsenate of lead against the plum cur- 
eulio, w r e would suggest the thorough 
spraying of badly infested beds with ar¬ 
senate of lead three to five pounds per 
barrel, applying it with an under-spray 
nozzle so as thoroughly to cover every bit 
of foliage. This should be applied as 
soon as the buds commence to form, and 
probably a week later, before they blos¬ 
som, as it is then that the beetles are 
feeding. Spraying at that season can do 
no possible harm to the berries, and to 
spray after the buds are injured is use¬ 
less. The destruction of all trash and 
rubbish in and around the fields during 
the Winter will destroy some of the hi¬ 
bernating weevils, and it will be well to 
avoid mulching the beds where the beetle 
is troublesome, if the mulch is not ab¬ 
solutely necessary, as it furnishes them 
the best hibernating quarters. J. T. II. 
Dry Earth Vault. 
Can you or any of your readers tell 
me if it is possible to build a fairly sani¬ 
tary privy, for use for four or five months 
in the Summer? I can not put in bath 
room and septic tank until water system 
is put in, and in the meantime I would 
like to build the next best thing. 
New York. f. n. it. 
The ordinary country privy need not 
be unsanitary if properly built and cared 
for. For convenience, particularly for 
that of the women of the household, it 
should adjoin some rear room of the 
house, usually the woodshed, and it 
should be built with a tight vault which 
flies cannot enter. Aside from the pos¬ 
sibility of polluting nearby wells, usually 
a rather remote possibility, the danger 
from a privy vault lies in the entrance 
of flies which later visit the house and 
leave some of the filth sticking to their 
legs and feet upon human food. A tight 
plank box on skids to which a horse may 
be hitched facilitates the removal of the 
contents of the privy at necessary inter¬ 
vals, and a box or barrel of road dust 
or dry loam kept where a little can be 
thrown frequently over the contents of 
the vault will keep them dry and inof¬ 
fensive. There are few better deodor¬ 
izers than dry loam and the natural in¬ 
stinct which some animals display in 
covering their excreta with it may, per¬ 
haps. indicate Nature’s desire that it 
should be used for this purpose. 
M. B. D. 
Orchard on Low Land. 
I sot out an orchard three years ago 
this Spring, plowing under an old sod, 
which in the low places was moss grown. 
Part of the field is high and part low, 
soil dark in color but sandy, water set¬ 
tles in the low places. I set the field to 
Wealthy apples, filling with currants and 
gooseberries. The latter nearly all died 
within a year. The trees are all alive 
but have made practically no growth 
and currants the same. Last Spring I 
set black raspberries where the goose¬ 
berries died. What does the soil need? 
I have several barrels of droppings from 
the henhouse, and that is all, as what 
fertilizer I have from the barnyard I 
wish to use in a young cherry orchard 
where I intend to put corn. G. w. N. 
Michigan. 
It is very evident that at least the 
lower part of the ground set to orchard is 
too low for any of the fruits planted on 
it. My advice is to put it to meadow, 
especially Red-top grass and Alsike clo¬ 
ver, and plant the fruits desired on high¬ 
er land. Ground that moss grows on is 
almost sure to be unsuitable for ordin- j 
ary fruits, and the fact that water j 
stands on it is very good evidence of its I 
unsuitability. If it is practicable to ! 
drain the land it might be made fit for j 
orchard trees and bush fruits. Even in 
that case it may be sour, and need an 
application of lime to “sweeten” it. 
H. E. VAN DEMAN. 
Lime on Corn Ground. 
1. We have a piece of land that was 
planted last year to potatoes and this 
year we wish to plant it to corn and also 
break up land adjoining it for corn. 
Next Spring we shall probably sow grass 
seed with oats on it. Would it be bet¬ 
ter to apply lime this year or next? And 
would you advise sowing Winter rye 
when the last cultivation is given the 
corn? Our land is a light sandy soil 
and quickly runs out. Cows have the 
run of the field for several weeks in the 
Fall, so would tread down and eat off 
whatever was sown in the corn. 2. Do 
you ever sow Canada field peas with oats 
when you sow grass seed? 3. Would 
acid phosphate sprinkled on horse ma¬ 
nure be likely to injure pigs in any way 
where they are on the manure? a. s. 
York Co., Maine. 
mr -- — 
On the land where potatoes were 
grown last year we should plant corn 
without lime. On sod ground we would 
use the lime this year. On open ground 
we would hold the lime until grass seed¬ 
ing. Corn does not respond to lime as 
grass does, and we would rather use it 
when the seed is put in. On sod ground, 
however, the lime will help break up the 
sod, and make it more available. We 
have some cases reported where grass 
seed put in with oats and peas made a 
fair stand, when the conditions were 
right. Generally, however, the oats and 
peas make such a rank, heavy growth 
that they are likely to smother out the \ 
young grass. In such quantities as we 
SEASONABLE 
FARM SEEDS 
COW PEAS SOY BEANS 
The best varieties for hay and silage. 
Millets, Buckwheat, Dwarf Essex 
Rape, etc.—all the best varieties. 
Mangel Wurzels and Sugar Beets for stock 
feeding. 
Write for prices on any Farm Seeds desired, 
also ask for free Alfalfa Leaflet. 
have advised it would be safe enough to 
use the acid phosphate in the manure. 
There would be no injury to the pigs. 
Fertilizer Bluff from Oregon. 
A fertilizer is being sold here at the 
rate of $2 per ton that has the follow¬ 
ing guarantee printed on the bag: “Ni¬ 
trogen 7 x /\ ; phosphoric acid available 
5%; phosphoric acid. total, 12% ; 
potash 6%. Derived from whale guano, 
ground whale bone and sulphate of pot¬ 
ash.” Isn’t that about the average of 
any good ^fertilizer? The manufacturers 
claim a 25-pound bag of this is equal to 
seven tons of the best stable manure. 
Roseburg, Ore. s. D. e. 
Such a fertilizer would contain 140 
pounds of nitrogen, 100 of available phos¬ 
phoric acid and 120 of potash. On the 
Atlantic coast 250 pounds sulphate of 
potash would give the potash, 250 pounds 
sulphate of ammonia and 600 pounds ni¬ 
trate of soda would give more than the 
nitrogen and 200 pounds fine hone and 
400 of acid phosphate would give more 
phosphoric acid. Thus the 1700 pounds 
of chemicals would give more plant food 
at less than one quarter the cost. The 
claim that a 25 pound bag of this fertil¬ 
izer is equal to seven tons of manure is 
nonsense; a ton of good manure contains 
10 pounds of nitrogen, 12 of potash and 
six of phosphoric acid, while 25 pounds 
of this mixture will contain less than two 
pounds of nitrogen, less than two of phos¬ 
phoric acid and not much more of potash. 
This fertilizer agent can show an analy- I 
sis of 200 per cent. wind. 
“For the Land’s Sake, use Bowker’s 
Fertilizers; they enrich the earth and 
those who till it .”—A dr. 
FRUIT 
AND VEGETABLE 
BASKETS 
OF ALL DESCRIPTIONS 
Write for free catalogue and price list. liny direct 
from the .Manufacturer and save money. 
WEBSTER BASKET CO. 
Box 14 ... Webster, Monroe Co., N. Y. 
HAY CAPS 
Stack, wagon and implement covers: 
waterproof or plain canvas. Plant bed 
cloth, tents, etc. Circulars, samples. 
HENRY DERBY 
453 Y, St. Paul’s Ave., Jersey City, N. J. 
Cabbage Beets, Kohl Rabi & Celery Plants 
$1.00 per l.OOO; $8.f>0 per 10,000. Tomato 
ami Sweet Potato Plants, $1.50 per 1,000. 
Cauliflower, Egg Plants, Peppers, $2.50 
per l.OOO. All Plants ready for field. Semi 
for List. J. C. SCHMIDT, UltlSTOL, PA. 
N.i' . C. . —Hemlock, American Spruce, 
Native Evergreens Arbor Vitae, White Pino, Bal¬ 
sam Fir, 6 to 12 inches, $5.60 per 1,000 : 5,000 for $25, f.o.b. 
Also transplanted evergreens. Write for price list. 
The Jumej A. Root Nurseries, Sknnonlolos, N. Y, 
10,000 Plum Farmer Black Caps 
Extra fine lot of Plants, of best commercial Berry 
grown. Free from all disease. Prices low for A-l 
stock. I ranklyn A. Tuber. Poughkeepsie, New York 
STRAWBERRY PLANTS 
CABBAGE, TOMATO, SWEET POTATO, 
CAULIFLOWER. CELERY, ASPARAGUS, 
RHUBARB, PEPPER, BEET, LETTUCE. EGG 
PLANTS, GRAPE VINES, FRUIT TREES. 
Earliest, Latest, Largest, Most Productive Varieties. 
First Class Stock, Well Packed and Promptly Shipped 
at Reasonable Prices. Catalogue Free. 
Harry L. Squires, Remsenburg, N. Y. 
HENRY A. DREER 
714-716 Chestnut Street, Phila. 
Pa. 
Wood*s Seeds 
Soja Beans 
THE COMING FORAGE AND 
SOIL-IMPROVING CROP. 
Farmers everywhere are enthusiastic 
in their praise. Contains more oil, milk 
and fat-producing qualities than any 
other forage crop; at the same, are one 
of the surest-cropping and largest-yield¬ 
ing crops grown. 
Wood’s 1914 Descriptive Catalog 
gives full descriptions and information 
about all the best varieties of 
Soja Beans, Cow Peas, 
Velvet Beans, Sorghums, 
Ensilage Corn, Millets, 
and all other Seasonable Seeds. 
Write for Wood's Descriptive 
Catalog and prices of any seeds in 
which you are interested. 
T. W. WOOD & SONS. 
Seedsmen, - Richmond, Va. 
Millions of Sweet Potato rT 
barb Roots. Price list free. M. N. BORGO,Vineland, N J. 
SEED POTATOES 
Best of the leading main crop varieties. Fourteen 
years’ experience growing healthy Potatoes, espe¬ 
cially for seed. Prices reasonable. Send for list. 
HOMKK H. HOWE - WELLSBORO, Pa. 
WEEDLESS ALFALFA 
We are trying- with all our might to 
furnish absolutely pure Alfalfa seed, 
with all blasted and immature grains 
removed. All other field seeds, Soy 
Beans, I r etch, Street Clover , etc. Write 
for samples and booklet telling “How to 
Know Good Seed.” 
0. M. SCOTT & SON., 480 Main St., Marysville, 0. 
—None equals the 
GREY CROWDER 
The greatest Hay 
COW PEAS 
producer ami soil enriehei—To introduce, $2 50 bn". 
Bags tree. The WILSON SOY BEANS $2.60 bu CRIMSON 
or SCARLET CLOVER, $3.75 bu. Money Order. Certified 
chocks to. LAYTCN S LAYTON, Inc., GEORGETOWN, DEL. 
100.000 1-YEAR ALFALFA ROOTS FOR TRANSPLANTING 
Sure success, Early Wisconsin grown seed corn. 
Silver King (White), Golden Glow, Number 12, 
Inoculating Alfalfa Soil. VAN LOON, La Crosse, Wis. 
SWEETCLOVER $EEDt.!S,"S.t:?<S 
and circular how to 
grow it, sent on request. E. Barton, Box 29. Falmouth, Ky. 
• A .J A _ Im P- Early Learning, Reid's Yellow Dent ami 
(5660 \Lh 0FET White Cap. 1912rrop. Perfect termination. ,2 
bu. Catalog free.Theo. Hurt A Sons,Melrose,O. 
CTRAWBUHRY PJ.ANTS-Gunranteedtrue-to- 
** name. Best varieties at reasonable prices. Cata¬ 
logue Free- E. W. JOHNSON 8 BR0-, Salisbury, Marylaud 
American’s for 
$2.50 per 100- 
Strawberries—Everbearers~ 
Francis for $2.75 per 100— all you want, postpaid, by 
Parcel Post—Try the new thing in Strawberries. 
ALLEGAN NURSERY, Allegan, Michigan 
STRAWBERRY PLANTS 
Loading Varieties at $2.00 per 1 OOO. Stock guar¬ 
anteed first class and true to name. Ituy your 
plants from the largest shipping point of this 
Fruit in the Country. 
1-Year-Old California Privot Hodge at $12.00 per 
1 OOO. 600 at 1000 rate. Stock heavy rooted and 
well branched. 
Prompt Shipments Catalogue Free 
BUNTINC'S NURSERIES 
G.E.BUNTING & SONS, SELBYVILLE, DELAWARE 
Fine Peas and Beans 
on Poor, Sandy Soil 
99 
A user of Ferguson’s Nitrogen bacteria (name on request) writes with enthusiasm of ids excellent crop 
under very unfavorable conditions. “The Nodules were large and full,” lie says, "and 1 am satisfied the 
land is very much improved.” _ . 
Ferguson’s 
NITROGEN BACTERIA 
used to inoculate the seeds of legumes—peas, beans, alfalfa, clover, vetch—almost invariably gives wonder 
ful results—bigger, better crops. It does more than that: it 
Enriches the Soil for Future Crops 
Nitrogen, the food that plants must have, is the thing most likely to be lacking in the soil. Ferguson's 
Bacteria make use of the great supply of Nitrogen in the air, storing it upon the roots of the plants in such 
quantities that the crop cunnot use it all and a big surplus is left for the future. The same bottle contains all 
the varieties of Bacteria required for inoculation of any legume. 
Quarter-acre quantity, 60c.; 1 acre, $2; 5 acres, $9. I.et us explain why you need Nitrogen Bacteria 
and why Ferguson's is best. Write for special booklet N—Free- We want agents—a very liberal offer. 
HOMEWOOD NITROGEN CO., 51 Liberty Street, New York City 
