768 
June 9, 1917. 
Handling Alfalfa Hay 
Ry the time this i-oaches oui* readers 
many of them will he cutting the first 
crop* of Alfalfa, or making preparations 
for clover cutting. Most of ns agree that 
early cutting <tf these crops is best. We 
g('t a finer quality., and especially with 
Alfalfa, if the weather prove right, we 
may expect more in following cuttings 
if we get the first crop off in time. 
There has 'been some discussion about 
the best time to cut Alfalfa. The t)hio 
Experiment Station, after considerable 
study, gives the following rule, which we 
think is a good one to follow. In the 
case of bad weather it is not of course 
possible to carry out any rule of this 
sort exactly but the advice here given is 
sound. 
“When the new shoots of Alfalfa at 
fhe crown of the plant are from one to 
two inches high, the crop is ready to be 
<‘ut for hay. The common rule that the 
crop must not be cut until a tenth is in 
bloom does not always bold, these ex¬ 
perts claim, for often the small shoots at 
the base of the plant get so large before 
this period of bloom that they are injured 
at harvest. I'rompt cutting aids the sec¬ 
ond crop, and the quality of the hay de¬ 
clines when it stands too long before cut¬ 
ting. When the cutter bar is adjuste<l 
so that about two inches of stubble is 
left, the .young shoots will m)t be appre¬ 
ciably injured.” 
We must remember that good Alfalfa 
hay is nearly equal to Avheat bran in 
feeding value. When such hay is properly 
cured and chopped or crushed fine it will 
probably give at least 90% of the result 
obtained from bran feeding when fed in 
connection with silage. A good part of 
the value of this hay may be lost in the 
curing. The leaves contain the best part 
of it, and the first principle in curing any 
of the broad-leaf plants should be an ef¬ 
fort to save these leaves properly. We 
must remember that the plant sweats or 
throws off its moisture most easily 
through these leaves. If the leaves are 
I'xjiosed to hot sunshine at once tbe.v wilt 
or dry rapidly, and lose their power to 
throw off this moisture. In that case 
the plant must dry through the stem, and 
this can only be done properly jn hot 
windy weather. The object in curing Al¬ 
falfa and clover, therefore, is to keep the 
leav“f> alive as long as possible, so that 
fhe plant may throw off this moisture in 
fhe most natural way. This is best done 
by curing the hay in the shade, away 
from the direct rays of the sun. It is 
lietter to cure Alfalfa or clover in the 
bunch or cock, or at any rate in the 
windrow. The use of hay caps for Al¬ 
falfa will serve a double purpose. They 
not only shod the rain or dew, but they 
keep the sun away from the hay, and 
thus enable it to .sweat and throw_ off 
its moisture most easily and rapidly. 
When the Alfalfa hay is exposed to the 
rain, .so that it is .soaked again and again, 
it may lose h.alf of its actual feeding 
value, and more than that of its manurial 
value. , 
As this year starts in we are liable 
to have wet or showery weather right 
through the hay harvest, and this will 
be the .season wdien hay caps will_ be of 
more than ordinary use. Our pictures 
show' the Alfalfa harvest in full swing. 
This crop is working freely into many 
pai'ts of Virginia, and we see in the first 
page picture how the planters in that 
f^tate may push the harvest. As soon as 
the crop is ripe there will be every avail¬ 
able team on to the mowers to cut the 
crop dow'n rapidly. Then before it can 
fully dry out in the sun it is raked up 
and bu lehed, and then kept under cover 
indoors for two days or more. This gets 
the moisture out of it, keeps it bright in 
color and full in quality. All sorts of 
devices are still used for putting the Al¬ 
falfa under cover. Three of them are 
shown on jiage 767. The hay loader 
works well on many situations but a 
good many farmers still prefer to pitch 
much bv hand and the horse fork showm 
at Fig.'.lOO is one of the greatest back 
savers on the farm. 
Boston Produce Markets 
OLD POTATOES FIRM AND HIGTIER. 
The strength of the old potato situa¬ 
tion is the feature of the market, and 
dealers hold out little hope of abundant 
supply until the first of July. A. F. 
Ileald, quoting w'holesale at $7 for 2-bu. 
bag, remarks: “There is a good demand 
and not much stock in sight. The Maine 
supply seems practically cleaned up and 
we do not expect much more of it after 
.iune 10. The Norfolk crop will not be 
here in quantity until early .Tuly or the 
last of June anyway. The heavy ship¬ 
ments come now' from North Carolina, 
and there has been no surplus of new po¬ 
tatoes at any time.” R. E. McLatchey 
(piotes carloads in bulk at $.‘1.40 per bushel 
and reports good buying from flie West as 
underlying the strength of the market. 
‘I'hey expect the short sujqjly to continue 
until the new' crop and meanwhile there 
is possibility of decided shortage of sup- 
)>lies during the latter half of .Tune. 
VEGKTARLES IN LIGHT ST'PPLY. 
Prices have held up well in most lines. 
Native asparagus, although a light crop 
so far, is coming more freely and the 
price is down to W per box of three 
dozen. New Jersey asparagus, which 
comes in larger bunches, sells at .$2 per 
dozen. Native beet greens arc .$T.2.5 per 
RURAL NEW-YORKER 
box. Choice cucumbers are .$5 to .$6 per 
box and No. 2, Jj!.'! to .$4. Hothouse toma¬ 
toes, 20e per lb.; radhshes, .$1.50 iier box ; 
spinach, .$1 to .$1.25; lettuce. .$1 to .$1.25; 
parsley, ,$2; kale. 25c. Field beans are 
a little easier on the stopping of Govern¬ 
ment buying for the present and the re¬ 
ported unloading of rather large stocks 
held in a speculative way. Reading hold¬ 
ers are reported alarmed over the Gov¬ 
ernment attitude toward holding of food¬ 
stuffs in excess of ti-ade demands, and 
they have quietly offered large quantities 
for sale. But the market is by no means 
weak, although it averages a shade lower. 
Reading dealers quote .$9.75 to .$10 for 
hand-picked pea l>eans: ,$8.50 to •$•'^.7.5 for 
yellow' eyes; .$8.50 to $9 for red kidneys, 
and .$7.50 to .$7.75 for horticultural. 
MODERATE RECEIPT.S OF RITTER—CHEESE 
LOWER. 
The delay of the full grass season 
caused light shipments and poor quality 
later than usual, and at times supply has 
seemed rather short. Considerable quan¬ 
tities have been withdra from the 
market for cold forage. Only a small 
proportion of arrivals grade as extra. 
Ilox and pnut butter is relatively ip full 
supply, but commands the usual premium 
over the tub buttex*. I. H. Ballou explains 
the shortage as in pai't due to heavy stor¬ 
ing when the butter was at its lowest, 
then cold weather came reducing the new 
supply and permitting the market to ad¬ 
vance. “Storage is ahead of last year at 
the corresponding time,” he continued, 
“and the mai'ket became bare of current 
supplies. It is just coming along again, 
but the market for ci'eamei'y extra is still 
43 to 431/42, up 3c from the low point. 
There is not much full grass butter yet. 
Weeds taste in the shipments now arriv¬ 
ing, and Western butter shows poor grass 
pasture. Many of the strong flavored 
plants start early and cow’s will grab 
anything when first turned to pasture. 
There is now some good butter coming. 
Thex'e was a break of 3c in cheese follow¬ 
ing corresponding w'cakness in the coun¬ 
try markets which fell off to 23c and our 
market is based on that figure, although 
many dealers ask more for supplies al¬ 
ready on hand. The Government stopped 
buying and gave the market a chance^ to 
sag off, but considerable cheese is being 
shipped right along for export. Some 
goes from Boston and Portland, but the 
heaviest amounts from New York and 
Montreal; 7,700 boxes w'eni on one 
steamer recently from New York. Can¬ 
ada, instead of shipping to us, needs all 
its make of dairy products for expoi*t and 
is taking some of our cheese besides. The 
])resent decline is no more than due, 
as cheese has been relatively higher than 
butter. A jirice of 26e would correspond 
to 52c for butter, since a quai't of milk 
makes twice as much cheese as butter. 
But now the tw'O products are nearer to¬ 
gether.” 
EGGS AROX’T STEADY. 
Conditions show little change in the 
egg market. Receipts are somewhat un¬ 
der those of last year at this time, but 
are fairly adequate to the demand. So 
much cold w'cather prolcmged the storage 
season. Present supplies are well cleaned 
up and pi'ices remain fii'm. Strictly near¬ 
by hennery eggs are 41c; Eastiwii extras 
3Sc to 4Ck?, and prime Western firsts, 
37%C to 38c. 
Dt'LL TRADE IN POULTRY. 
Rive and dressed pox.ltry in vei-y mod¬ 
erate supply, but demand light. Dressed 
fowls are hard to sell . bove 27c, even if 
large and choice, and nearby shippers -will 
get more out of tLeir stock by shipping 
fowls alive with the market at 24c to 25c 
live weight. Old roosters are 1.5c to IGc 
live weight. Not many dressed broilers 
are coming, and the market holds at close 
to 40c. Western cold storage broilers 
continue to hold the market down, selling 
at 25c or lower. A few live broilers are 
being received, but they are mostly thin 
and poor as yet,_but bring 3.3c for live if 
good. Duck raisers find present condi¬ 
tions very severe and several large ones 
in New England are reported selling out. 
FRESH MEAT SEIXING WELL. 
Veal is perhaps the only relative bar¬ 
gain in the market, but the supply cannot 
be called large. Western beef shoA\'n no 
special change w'ith 17c the top pi-ice, 
and Western young cow beef selling 
around 15c. flaid T. IT. Wheeler «& Co.: 
“Veals range all the way from l‘2c to 21c, 
and the low grade ones sell readily be- 
cau.se the markets are glad to get hold of 
anything in the meat line that they can 
advertise at a reasonable price. Veal must 
l>e fancy to bring 21e, weighing 100 to 
120 lbs., and w'ell covered with fat. Veal 
that is too heavy is apt to be grass fed 
and the flesh cuts red. The choice veal 
is milk fed, quickly grown and of about 
the W'cight stated, but we have sold even 
the Western veal as high as 18c. Rambs 
arc in light supply. Eastei-n Spring or 
hothouse lambs range from .$8 to $12, 
chiefly according to weight, but $10 may 
be called the general price. Fancy lambs 
must weigh around 30 lbs., and be well 
covered to bring $12, which is 40c a lb. 
This morning an old buck sheep of the 
grade that used to sell for about 6c, sold 
at 18c. Western 8p-ing lambs sell from 
25c to 28c. Country dressed hogs are un¬ 
changed around 19 cents.” g. b. f. 
“For the Rand’s Rake, use Bowker’s 
Fertilizers; they enrich the earth and 
those who till it.”— Adv. 
QUALITY KEPT UP 
wliere Quality and Satis¬ 
faction are first essentials— 
there you wil) find 
hallmark 
SHIRTS 
Men who dress well, know that every 
HALLMARK is ''Standard in Quality, 
Fabric and Workmanship”—exclusive 
and distinctive in pattern — Fade- 
E roof Colors, of course. Full fashioned 
ody. French or laundered cuffs. 
At your dealers at the price you 
like to pay. 
HALL, HARTWELL & CO.. Troy, N. Y. 
Makerm of SUDEWELL Collara 
Ellis Champion Thresher 
Cut shows EUia Champion No. 2 complete with 
wind stacker, tailing elevator and grain bag. 
Can be operated by either steam or gasoline 
engine. Made in four sizes and various styles. 
We also make ensilage cutter, corn sheliers. 
etc. Send for our catalogue today and learn all 
about our line of threshers and other machinery. 
Ellis Keystone Agricultural Works 
Pottstown, Pa. 
rUMASE 
Farm, Garden and Orchard Tools 
Answer the farmer’s big questions: 
How can I grow more crops with 
least expense? How can I cultivate 
more acres and have cleaner fields} 
IRON 
will help you do this. Has pivot wheels and gangs 
with parallel motion. Adjustable to any width 
of row. Every tooth can be raised, lowered or turned 
to right or left. Lever 
adjusts balance of frame 
to weight of driver. 
Light, strong and com¬ 
pact—the latest and best 
of ridingcultivatora. Wo 
make a complete line of 
potato nachmery.garden 
tools, etc. Write us to¬ 
day for free booklet. 
Bateman M’f'gCo.,Box 2J), .Grenloch,N.J. 
No More Singing Spindles 
Mica Axle Grease ends squeaking, 
friction-bound axles and hot-boxes. 
Makes it easier for the horse and 
less expensive for the owner. The 
finely ground mica fills spindle 
crevices and makes a perfect bear¬ 
ing surface. 
MICA 
AXLE GREASE 
Eureka Harness Oil prevents cracking and 
breaking, makes leather soft and pliable. 
STANDARD OIL GO. of NEW YORK 
Principal OfRces 
New York Bolialo Albany Boston 
[ 
When you write advertisers mention 
The Rural New-Yorker and you'll get 
a quick reply and a “square deal.” See 
guarantee editorial page. 
IThis Warranted 
full sized hardwood and Steel 
Dumping Horse Cart 
$19.25 
freight prepaid to any Sta¬ 
tion East of Mississippi 
River. Full particulars 
on application. 
HOBSON & CO. 
Box 47 Easton, Pa. 
WEEDS! WEEDS! WEEDS! 
(And Why Yon Have No Cause to Fear Them) 
The Isbell Weeder Hoe 
pulls weeds Instead of cutting thorn. The 
teeth pierce and pulverize the 
._cth pierce and pulverize the soil better 
than any straight bladed hoe, with less than half the time and 
febw* 4-foot Mndle. $1.00. postpaid, in U. S. 
SIDNEY rVI. ISBELL, Box 10, JACKSON, MICH. 
R 
ilCLIMB IN SAFETY 
Don’t risk your life on a flimxy or home¬ 
made ladder. Write today for circular 
about “Berlin” Wire Trussed Ladders— 
the lightest and strongest ladders made. 
Low priced and long lasting. Ladder 
facts FREE. 
THE BERLIN FRUIT BOX CO. 
^ Berlin Heights, Ohio 
MAKE 
EVERY 
ACRE 
'■^Freedom from Insects on your crops] 
^ means larger yields—Increased prof- 
^its. Spray Melons, Cabbage, Turnips, 
Onions and other vegetables, and 
fruits with Black Leaf 40. Kills 
, Aphis, Thrips, and similar Insects. 
Black I-eaf 4()isused by succe.ss- 
ful growers. Recommended by 
AgricultnralCollcgesand Experi¬ 
ment Stations. Valuable vege¬ 
table booklets FREE. Write 
The Kentucky Tobacco Product Co. 
Incorporated. Oept. M Louisville,Ky. 
Black Leaf46 
% Nicotine 
CRIMSON CLOVER 
The great soil improver and valuable 
for early green food, grazing and hay 
crop. Special circular free, also sample 
and price of seed sent on request. 
Alfalfa 
High-grade American grown seed. 
Write for sample and price of seed, also 
a copy of our Alfalfa Leaflet, free. If 
in need of Farm Seeds of any kind, 
please write to us for prices. 
HENRY A. DREER 
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 
^TOMATO PLANTS^ 
All Leading Varieties. Price, .1,85 per 1000 
CABBAGE PLANTS 
All Leading Varieties. Price, .1,00 per 1000 
Celery Plants, Greenjvarietles,$2.00perl000. Golden 
Self-Blanching and Easy Blanching, $3.00 per 1000. 
Plants are carefully packed in moss and expressed. 
OROL LEDDEN, SEWELL. N. J. 
jAiru«a Orower of Vegetdblo Plant* in New Jereeu 
TRANSPLANTED STRAWBERRY PLANTS 
All leading varieties. Shipped with earth on roots. 
Much bettor than pot-grown plants. Ready in May. 
.Tune and ,Tuly. Price—SI per TOO; $8 per 1,000. Plum 
Farmer. Columbian and other raspberries—$2 per 
100: $15 per 1,000. Snyder and Eldorado blackber¬ 
ries. same price. Can supply most everything for late 
planting, such as grape*, fruit trees, ornamentals 
roses, peonie*. with earth on roots. Complete enta. 
logue free. Address PLUM 1. J. FARMER, Pulaski, N. 
Cabbage and Tomato Plants 
Grown in fleltliroin beet selected seed. •! .76 per 1,000 
by express. Postpaid, 100 —60c.: 300— S1.26t “Oo — $2; 
j,000— $2.76. Special prices In lots. Leading varieties 
of other plants in season. Full count—carefully packed 
—immediate shipment. OAKLIN FARM, Salisbury, N. C. 
VpopHhipPlanH cabbage, early TOMATO, SWEET PO 
legeiaDierianis tato,beets, loo.s.'ic: 300 , 11 . Post- 
p.'iid. tl.fiO per 1,000, not Prepaid. Other I’lants in season. 
Send for Ill. Cat. DAVID KODWAY, Hartly, DeuiwaRE 
Veneloklo PLntc Tomsto, Pepper, Cabbage, Sweet Potl^o, 
VegOlaDic riHniS CaullOuwcra, Beets. Lettuce and Celery, Get 
my prices on plant.s, aent by Parcel Peat prepaid and SMcial 
price on large orders, - C. E. FIELD, Sewell, N.J. 
SWEET POTATO PLANTS 
All the loading varieties. 100—POSTAGE PAID, 36c. 
1,000—BY EXPRESS.$1.60. H. Austin,Felton,Del 
Cabbage, Celery, Beets, Lettucelf'^i'J^ w'.6o‘'?or 
10,000. SWEET POTATOES, PEPPERS— $2 per 1,000. TOMA- 
TOES-All kinds: tl.60 per 1,000. CAULIFLOWER— Beat variety. 
$2.60 per 1,000. Send for Hat. J. C. SCHMIDT, Bristol. Penn*. 
100 Sf. Regis Everbearing RASPBERRY PLANTS 
by Pc-ircel Post. $1. PAUL L. HEGGAN. Waterford, N. J. 
sm-CowPeas-Soy Beans-Scarlet Clover Seed 
JOSEPH E. HOLLAND, Milford, Delaware 
DI<,»lo— Two Million. Danish and Domestic. 
Uabbage riants a S II M E a D, Wllllamson, N. y. 
IF you want books on farming of 
any kind write us and we 
will quote you prices 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER j 
333 West Thirtieth Street. New York 
