832 
'i'HCIS reUKAIv NEVV-VORKliK 
June 20, 
FARMERS’ CLUB 
[ Every query must be accompanied by the 
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attention. Before asking a question, please seo 
whether it is not answered in our advertising 
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Put questions on a separate pieeo of napor.] 
Growing a Crop of Mulch Material. 
W IIAT can be planted for mulching 
after picking strawberries from a 
bed made last year, occupying an 
acre, but a very poor stand? Material is 
to be cut and used on an adjoining half 
acre of berries set out this season. After 
cutting this material, what should be 
planted that would build up the soil and 
put it in condition for berries again in 
a year? j. e. it. 
Franklin Co., Ohio. 
Here is a plan which has been success¬ 
fully carried out by a number of Eastern 
growers. As soon after picking as possi¬ 
ble plow the ground, turning the straw¬ 
berry vines and weeds completely under. 
Them make a heavy seeding of Japanese 
Barnyard millet, after litting the ground 
thoroughly. We should use 30 pounds of 
seed to the acre. If the soil is not in the 
best of condition, a small quantity of 
fertilizer will pay with the millet seed. 
This millet, when properly grown in a 
fair season, makes excellent mulching 
material. The stems are large and coarse, 
and protect the berries better than ordin¬ 
ary straw, and a heavy seeding of the 
millet will smother out most of the weeds 
and give clean mulching material. This 
can be cut just before the seeds form in 
the millet, and stacked ready for use at 
mulching the strawberries. As soon as 
possible after cutting the millet, work 
up the land again and sow to rye. If 
this can be done around the first of Sep¬ 
tember, add 15 pounds of the seed of 
Hairy vetch to the rye. If cutting the 
millet is delayed longer than that, we 
would not advise sowing the vetch so 
late, but would add to the rye half a 
bushel of barley, and 1% pounds of 
Dwarf Essex rape seed. The barley will 
make a considerable Fall growth along 
with the rape. They will be killed out 
through the Winter and afford a pro¬ 
tection for the rye, which will come on 
and give a good growth in the Spring. 
Then by plowing under this rye when 
about two feet high, and packing the 
ground down hard, you will have a very 
good preparation for another crop of 
strawberries. 
Why the Hired Man Left. 
COULDN’T learn anything where 
X I was at work, is the reason I 
quit.” That was what a hired man told 
me a few days ago, and after he had 
explained, I was satisfied that he had sen¬ 
sible reasons for leaving the farmer. The 
young man told his story, and a good 
many of us should take notice, or the 
help problem will become more unsolv- 
able each year. 
“I read what I could,” said the young 
man. “I observed and inquired, and in 
spite of having had the opportunity of 
going to school only three or four years 
at the most, I made the best of my 
meagre opportunities. I tried to pick 
good places as I shifted from pillar to 
post. I worked at several good places. 
I learned many things, but I learned 
much more by reading, and in this the 
last place which I left would have proved 
a handicap to my progress. I am inter¬ 
ested in purebred stock, and the farmer 
for whom I worked was disinterested, he 
want to put in their time, who don’t 
care to got ahead, and with these it 
makes little difference whether or not 
they accomplish results just so they pull 
across the cash from the boss. These are 
the fellows who will work for a boss of 
that sort until doomsday, and then rent 
a farm and go on the same old way. I 
flatter myself that by reading I have 
learned a mighty lot and I consider that 
I have the privilege of choosing my em¬ 
ployer, and this is as sacred right of my 
own as the boss has in discriminating in 
the matter of hiring help.” 
I found that this young man has a re¬ 
markable store of good sensible informa¬ 
tion about farm work, and I would match 
him his fund of knowledge against that 
of many farmers twice his age. When 
he tells me that it pays the hired man to 
choose his boss I think he was right. 
w. j. 
Farm Woman Wants a Job. 
I AM an American woman and wish 
to learn more general farming. Poul¬ 
try I understand, but the use of up- 
to-date machinery and the raising of 
general crops I do not. I am a thorough 
housekeeper, taught school a few years 
ago, and understand buying in large 
quantities. Considering what I know, 
can I get a position on a good general 
farm? I own a small place, but do not 
feel that I can handle it. unless I know 
something more than raising chickens. 
New Jersey. mbs. a. j. ic. 
It ought to be easy for such a woman 
to obtain a position, provided she is will¬ 
ing to do some housework. Most farmers 
seem to object to taking helpers except 
at a strict basis of hired service. When 
“learning how” is part of it, the farmer 
is more likely to think that he ought to 
be paid rather than that he should pay 
the laborer. In the case of this woman 
there should be little trouble in her secur¬ 
ing a place on a first-class farm. 
Septic Tanks. 
W ILL you give me some information 
in regard to septic tanks for sew¬ 
age disposal? Are the metal tanks 
satisfactory? On a large place (three 
acres) would it be all right to discharge 
the effluent on to surface 30 or 40 feet 
away from tank, 50 or 60 feet from 
house, without nitrification bed? 
Wellesley, Mass. F. rc. b. 
I know of no reason save lack of dur¬ 
ability why metal septic tanks should not 
be satisfactory; the advantages of con¬ 
crete are such, however, that I should 
prefer it. Surface discharge from a sep¬ 
tic tank would be more or less offensive 
near a dwelling and it would be far bet¬ 
ter to dispose of the effluent through 
drain tile laid a few inches beneath the 
surface. Such tile may be laid deep 
enough to plow over and the land is not 
kept from other use, while all sewage 
is out of sight. it. u. D. 
Slippery Concrete. 
I N putting down a cement floor in my 
barn, my contractor, contrary to in¬ 
structions, made it too smooth, and in 
consequence it has become slippery and 
dangerous for our horses “the stalls are 
planked). Do you happen to know of an 
inexpensive method of roughing the ce¬ 
ment floor? ii. E. T. 
New York. 
A concrete floor that is made, or has 
become, too smooth for safety may be 
roughened by suitable tools that are made 
for that purpose; a hammer similar to 
a stone cutter’s hammer, but with a cor¬ 
rugated face, being commonly used. I 
know of no easier method, of accomplish- 
quired by society to protect itself against 
incompetent practitioners. No one may 
practise without it, but no one is com¬ 
pelled to practise if lie possesses it. The 
present tendency in legislation is to dis¬ 
criminate against regularly licensed phy¬ 
sicians by permitting the adherents of 
various irregular cults to practise medi¬ 
cine without requiring of them the same 
preparation for the work that is required 
of physicians of the established schools. 
M. B. D. 
Drying Peas and Siring Beans. 
I WISH to try drying some peas and 
string beans this season. What is the 
best way? At what stage should the 
peas be picked? >Should they be sun- 
dried in the pods, or shelled before dry¬ 
ing? Can string beans be improved by 
picking just before pods begin to dry. on 
the same principle of curing hay? That 
is to say, would it be practical to pick 
the pods while in the mature, but still 
green stage, and shell them after drying 
in sun on trays; or would it be best to 
let them dry up on vines? Above for 
food, not for seed ; the object sought be¬ 
ing the dried beans, not pods. j. c. 
Robinsville, N. J. 
The drying or dehydrating of peas and : 
string beans is a comparatively new in- ' 
dustry with the processes that have come ! 
into being in the last few years. Tho ; 
method of preparation is applicable to 1 
all fruits and vegetables. Both peas and 
string beans should be dehydrated while 
in the young, tender stage. A tough, 
fibrous vegetable before drying is the 
same tough vegetable when processed. 
The peas are always shelled. The strings 
are taken from the beans. Aged stock 
does not make nearly so satisfactory 
dried product. 
The peas and beans or other vegetable 
when prepared are placed in sanitary cab¬ 
inets, where they are subjected to a warm, 
dry air, in which they are dried, the tem¬ 
perature never exceeding 160 degrees 
Fahrenheit. The vegetables are dis- j 
tributed on trays in the cabinets and the 
average heat should be 140 degrees for j 
three hours when they are finished. Dur- 1 
ing the dehydrating process the cell struc- j 
tures and the food values remain undis¬ 
turbed. Upon soaking them in cold 
water for a short time, they return to a 
perfectly fresh green condition. A ma¬ 
chine has been devised that enables the 
operator to do quicker work with less 
heat by the employment of moving air 
within the cabinet. The air in the mu- J 
chine is standardized by a pre-cooling and 
then heating system, so as to secure a 
continuity of operation regardless of at¬ 
mospheric conditions, the capacity of the 
machine being maintained at all times. 
With some of the older methods of evap¬ 
oration requiring high heat pressures the 
cell structures arc broken down and the ■ 
vapor carries off much of the food value. 1 
At Webster, N. Y„ this new process has 
reached quite a commercial development. | 
Pumpkins, corn, and a wide variety of 
the products of the garden and orchard 
can be thus treated by the new system. 
Season before last, during the plethora 
of onions, tons of the tear makers were 
dehydrated for use in the U. S. Navy. 
A. H. P. 
Exploding Dynamite With Battery. 
—Have any of your readers had any ex¬ 
perience in exploding dynamite with a 
battery box from a gasoline engine? I 
wish to blast out some short ditches 
where it is necessary to fire a number of 
shots at once, but do not want to go to 
the expense of a blasting machine. They 
cost from $12 to $17. g. ii. s. 
LEGGETT’S DUSTERS 
UP-TO-DATE BUG KILLER 
NO WATER TO HAUL 
LE6GETTS, THE CHAMPION 
.CHAMPION 1 or 
LITTLE CIANT 
Dusts one or two rows 
of potatoes, tomatoes 
or tobacco as fast as 
you walk. 
THE BEETLE 
Potato Duster (Horso Power) dusts four 
rows. Save time, labor and crops. Ask your 
dealer for them. Send us postal to-dav for 
free booklets. 
LEGGETT & BRO- 301 Pearl St. NewYork 
FRUIT 
AND VEGETABLE 
BASKETS 
OF ALL DESCRIPTIONS 
Writo for free catalogue and price list. Buy direct 
from tho Manufacturer and save money. 
WEBSTER BASKET CO. 
Box 14 ... Webster, Monroe Co., N. Y. 
Apple Barrels 
— Car lots or less. Prompt 
shipment. ROliICKT 
GILLIES, Medina, N Y. 
BINDER TWINE 
8kc Its Want farmer agents. 
Circular and sample free. 
Thco. Hurt .V Sons, Melrose,Ohio 
STRAWBERRY PLANTS 
For July, August, September Planting, Runner and Pei- 
Grown. Catalog Free. Harry L. Squires, Remsenburo, N Y 
S VV EET POTATO.TOMATO, CELERY, EGG, PEPPER am! 
CABBAGE PLANTS. List Free. C. BECKER. Vineland. N.J 
PLANTS - SWEET -? 0TflT A-- S, - 50 _ ner J.000 CAULI 
List free. 
FLOWER, S2,per 1,000. CABBAGE. Si per 1 0U0 
W S. FORI) & SON, Hartly, Delaware 
Tomato, Cabbage, Pepper & Celery Plants 
Good quality at lowest prices. C. E. FIELD, Sewell, N. J. 
Pahhacro Plante - n " varieties, l.ooo. $1; io,nno,$s.r>0: 
OaJJUdgG rldlllo (ino, 30c.; 300,$!. postpaid ) Plant, 
catalog free. GLICK'S PLANT FARMS, Smoketawn, Pa 
THOUSANDS OF PLANT$-jTl P «;« 
per M. Cabbage $1.00 per M. Order from thisad, 
or send for free list. PENROSE PLANT & 
TRUCK FARM, W. P. Drake, Dover, Del. 
VEGETABLE PLANTS 
CELERY, CABBAGE, CAULIFLOWER, TOMATO. PEPPER. EGG 
PLANTS. .Special Prices on Large Lots. Catalogue 
Free. 1IAKKY L. SQUIRMS, Remneiibiirg, N, Y. 
TOMATO Dl A HTQ —thousands and thousands 
I UmH IU rLHniO of Tomato Plants to $1 per 
1,000. 10.000 or more, 90c. per 1.000. Also Cabbage, 
Flat Dutch Surohend, Danish Baiihead, $1 per 1,000; 
10,000 or more. 90c. per 1000. Celery, very best—Gold¬ 
en self-blanching. Also White Plume. Wo ran fill 
your orders quick. ROMANCE SKKD AN1) 
PLANT FARM, Caleb Booos & Son, Cheswnld, Delaware 
CANVAS COVERS 
k—wagons, hay stacks, 
machinery, porches. 
Roofing, waterproof 
duck, and heavy canvas for all purposes at whole¬ 
sale prices. 10-oz. wagon covers 7hj x 12 feet. 
$11.00 prepaid. Write for prices, stating size required. 
W. W STANLEY, 50 CHURCH STREET, NEW YORK CITY 
TEN BOOKS WORTH BUYING 
Landscape Gardening, Parsons.2.00 
Lawn Making, Barron. 1.10 
Agriculture and Chemistry. Storer. 5.00 
Fertilizers and Crops, Van Slyke.... 2.60 
Weeds of Farm and Garden, l’auimel 1.50 
Book of Wheat. Doudliiiger. 2.00 
Successful Fruit Culture. -Maynard.. 1.00 
Irrigation and Drainage. King.... 1.50 
Study of Corn, Shoesniitli.50 
The Soil, King. 1.50 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
333 W. 30th St., New York City 
was absolutely ignorant about breeds, the 
selection of a sire, the judging of a dairy 
cow, and of feeds and feeding. He fed 
hay all Winter, and aimed to have the 
cows come fresh on June grass pasture. 
I tried to talk silo to him for the com¬ 
ing corn crop, but he seemed well sup¬ 
plied with those old arguments that were 
passed around in the country store a 
dozen years ago opposing the ‘cyclone 
catcher.’ lie said it didn’t pay to feed 
his cows, lie declared his barn was as 
handy as any in the neighborhood. I dis¬ 
agreed with him on this point. The sta¬ 
bles were divided by hay bays, hay was 
hauled from stacks in the field to the 
barn and then carried in for feeding, In 
fact I had no chance to learn, I had to 
do chores until late at night, and my 
time for reading was cut down to just the 
few moments at bedtime in which I was 
able just to keep my eyes open. Every¬ 
thing was against me, and I gave notice 
that I would quit. I did it. There are 
a good many young fellows who just 
ing the desired result. M. b. d. 
Refusal of Medical Services. 
D OES a doctor who refuses to go to a 
sick person tit night, have a right 
to practice his profession I sent a 
rig for him and would have taken him to 
the house and back, but he said, “he did 
not go out tit night.” I asked him if some 
one were dying if he would not go. hut he 
Cut me short with a “good-bye.” It is 
surely an odd thing if a doctor can hang 
out his sign and practice but just go 
when he feels like it. J. n. s. 
New York. 
A physician is under no legal obliga¬ 
tion to attend a patient whom he does not 
desire to attend, though, having once 
undertaken to care for a sick person, he 
may not break an implied contract for 
tht> necessary services by deserting the 
case without giving ample opportunity 
for a substitute to be obtained. A physi¬ 
cian's license to practice medicine is not 
in the nature of a granted privilege, by 
virtue of which, society is entitled to his 
services; it is rather a restriction, re¬ 
THE SALISBURY & BRACKETT 
Platform Folding Hay Rack and Wagon Body 
DON’T FAIL TO 
SEND TODAY 
FOR 
DESCRIPTIVE 
BOOKLET 
TELLING MORE 
ABOUT THIS 
WAGON BODY 
AS A u 
STOCK 
RACK 
Increases the usefulness 
and capacity of your 
farm wagon. It is a com¬ 
bination of strength and 
simplicity and is easily 
convertible into un ideal 
wagon for almost any 
purpose. Some of its 
uses are shown in the as a 
illustrations. WAGON 
BODY 
Its capacity as a wagon box is from 22 
to 24 barrels ; or in bulk, 75 bushels. 
As a stock rack its width allows of 
druwing nearly double the usual num¬ 
ber of calves or sheep. 
JOHN MURPHY 
Holley, N. Y. 
AS A 
HAY 
RACK 
