958 
■Ufye RURAL NEW-YORKER 
acre is not profitable, or we may pi-ow only 15 
bushels sown in a cornfield where little extra pre¬ 
paration is needed and make money. A croj) that 
would yield good returns on $30 land would not 
pay on $300 land. We prefer the cheap land which 
with a little extra care but not a burdensome ex¬ 
pense, can be made to yield almost if not quite as 
much as the very dear land. We may cut the cost 
of production in other ways. On large fields use 
large tools and more horses. One driver can use 
four horses'and do twice as much as with two 
horses, or as much as two drivers with two small 
two-horse tools. That is saving the expense of one 
man, and when labor is so scarce and exi)ensive it 
is quite an item. An alert farmer may find many 
ways to increase production and at the same time 
cut down costs. R. e. stephexson. 
The Value of a Currant Bush 
T HM New England States and Vermont aie try¬ 
ing to prevent the spread of the white pine 
Idister rust. This disease does not spread from 
)dne to pine, but lives a part of its life on currant 
or gooseberry busbes. In some localities the fruit 
■ishes are to be destroyed, (and paid for) by the 
State. What is a fair comi)ensatiOn ? Under the 
Vermont law if the agricultural agents and the 
owners do not agree—the selectmen of the town are 
called in to settle. In one case this was done and 
the appraisal put at $2 per bush. Of course, a price 
of this sort would soon end the work, since <»nly a 
small appropriation is available. In the work dene 
in the Hudson Valley the following figures are used 
in caculating any compensation : 
Currants and Gooseberries. 
Fruiting plants of black, white or red veri'dies in a 
good state of cultivation and care four years or over, 
.oOc each plant. (Same on gooseberries. oOc each). 
Fruiting plants of black, white or red varieties in a 
good state of cultivation and care two to four years, 
35c each plant. (Same on gooseberries, 35c each). 
Fruiting plants, riin down, depreciated by age or lack 
of recent care (reference had to plants capable of re¬ 
juvenation), 25c each plant. (Same on gooseberries, 
25c each). 
Good plants, but neglected, unpruned, in sod and un¬ 
cultivated, 10c each. 
Xiirserg stock of Currants. 
1 year, first class, l^/^c each. 
1 year, second class, Ic each. 
2 year first class, 2^ to 3^/^c each. 
2 year, second class, Ic each. 
Stool plantations, 50c each (if fine). 
Stool piantation.s, seconds, 25c each. 
Itoirning and (Smith’s Gooseberries. 
Fir.st cla.s.s, 2 year at 5c each. 
First class. 1 year at 3c each. 
English varieties at 12c each. 
In Vermont the curi'ant crop is a very small 
thing compared with the pine industry, while in the 
Hudson Valley the exact reverse of this is true, and 
ii currant bush in the valley ought to be worth more 
than in a Vermont garden. 
Book-keeping and Poultry 
Record of a Kansas Flock 
I N regard to poultry profits and poultry book¬ 
keeping, I have kept poultry for 10 years and 
have kept an account all the time. They have al¬ 
ways iiaid a profit, but never a large one. I buy 
most feed at retail. What I raise I charge up at re¬ 
tail prices. A poultry account for a month or two 
is of no vahie. Poultry accounts can also be easily 
juggled so as to be misleading. 
At first I charged C per cent, interest on invest¬ 
ment and 10 per cent depreciation on henhouses. I 
have already ‘‘charge<l off” one henhouse, which is 
still as good as new. Now, to simplify accounts I 
just charge them with all expen.ses, feed, .supplies, 
I’epairs, etc., when incun’ed, and credit them with 
eggs and fowls sold. 
For the last two years I have sold hatching eggs, 
hut only credit the flock with market price for the 
eggs. I keep a separate accoiuit with the hatching 
egg business, charging this account with advertising 
etc. I do not charge the flock for labor of feeding 
as we consider the eggs and poultry used just about 
{•ays for it. I hire the houses cleaned, and charge 
it up, give no credit for manures. 
In 1913 we had 92 hens on January 1. In the first 
six months of the year the feed cos't $.53.S0. Eg.gs 
sold for $109.33. In 1914 we had lOG hens. In six 
months feed cost $120.63. Eggs brought $198.21. 
In 1917 I had 148 hens. Feed for six months, 
$231.62. Eggs sold for $336.25. 
As before .stated, the eggs all figtired at the 
price paid by storekeepers here, though I sold some 
higher. 
You will note that in 1913 the eggs sold for 103 
per cent, more than feed, cost; in 1914 64 per cent., 
and in 1917. 45 per cent. While we make more 
money, in dollars, we make a less per cent, of profit. 
A year's account is of more value than six months, 
but cannot give it for 1917. ii. l. miller 
Kan.'^as. 
Some Western New York Hens 
H ere is the result we have obtained from 48 
hens for the first six months of 1917. All 
were pullets, except two breeds, 20 Brown Leghorns 
and 28 Rhode Island Reds: 
Total 
eggs laid 
.Ian nary . 173 
February . 307 
March . 852 
April . 9.30 
May . 813 
June .610 
Total.3,715 
G ost 
Sold 
Loss 
$5.69 
$4.56 
.$1.33 
I’rofit 
6..39 
7.27 
.88 
4.50 
20..30 
15.80 
6.30 
11..37 
5.07 
5.04 
17.03 
11.99 
2.70 
14.28 
11.58 
$.30.62 
74.81 
$44.19 
Tlie above is only a table of those that were sold 
from the total number laid, not including those for 
home consumption amt for incubating. Below is a, 
table showing actual value and profit of the total 
number of eggs laid at the prices then paid in 
Rochester and vicinity; 
January .... 
February .... 
March. 
April. 
May . 
June. 
Eggs 
No. of 
laid 
dozens 
37.3 
about 
14 
.307 
about 
26 
852 
71 
930 
77 
81.3 
about 
68 
640 
about 
5.3 
Profit 
and 
Cost Value Pleasure 
$5.69 $5.88 $ .19 
6..39 10.92 4.53 
4.50 24.85 20.35 
6.30 23.25 16.95 
5.04 27.20 22.16 
2.70 21.20 18.50 
Total_3,71.5) 309.5 $.30.62 .$113.30 $82.68 
In the cost I included grain that we raised on the 
farm and rated it according to the various prices 
paid. If the rains continue it looks as though poul¬ 
try, stock and grain, were the only things we can 
fall back on. The conditions just at pre.sent are 
very gloomy for the Western New York farmer. We 
are simply deluged. Oliver w. lawton. 
Monroe Co., N. Y. 
Record of 800 Hens 
C S. (JREENE'S advice to W. I.. B., on page 870, 
• is interesting and practical. Perhaps some 
actual figures would add to W. L. B.’s accumulation 
of hen lore. For years my net profits have ranged 
between $1.50 and $2 per hen pei’ year. I winter 800 
Leghorns, renewing 500 of them with fresh juillets 
every Fall. Here are the figures in round numbers 
for 1914, based on prices of grain in this locality: 
Wheat, $1.90 per 100 lbs., and corn $1.30 per 100 lbs.: 
Received for eggs from 800 hens..$2,024.00 
Received for hens and broilers. 709.(K) 
$2,733.00 
Paid for feed, crates, etc. 1,.3<S6.00 
Net profit for year's labor.$1,347.00 
Profit per hen, $1.66. 
Figures for 1917, with wheat $.3.80 and corn $3.90. 
An advance of 250 per cent, on the half-and-half 
mixture would show as follows: 
Eggs sold, 40 per cent, advance..$2..S.33.60 
Hens and broilers sold, 25 per cent, advance. . 8.86.25 
.$3.719.,85 
Paid for feed, crates, etc. 3,465.00 
Net profit for year’s labor. $254.85 
It is up to W. L. B. to decide whether or not he 
wants to work 365 days for $254, and at the end of 
the year charge off that amount to depreciation. Let 
us hope that while the wheat pit patriots are bleed¬ 
ing the dear public the Germans are not bleeding 
any of their sons. 6. ii. s. 
New York. 
Fitting an Old Meadow 
We would like your opinion about the best way to 
treat a meadow that we are just cutting to hay, so 
that we may have it in good cultivation for planting 
next Spring. Our idea has been to plow up the old 
sod. make certain plantings for cover crops, which in 
turn will be plowed under in the Spring of 191,8. 
New York. j. m. t. 
T he object of such culture is to break up the 
old sod, destroy white grubs if possilile, and 
fill the soil with organic matter, ready for next 
year's cropping. Two simple plans can be followed. 
Plow the sod as soon after the hay is off as pos- 
silde. Chop it up thoroughly with a disk or cut¬ 
away harrow, going first one way and then another. 
Then one plan would be to broadcast a combination 
of buckwheat, rye and Alsike clover. We should 
use 11/^ bushel of buckwheat, three pecks of rye, and 
four pounds of Al.sfike to the acre. Sow the grain 
together and cover reasonably deep. Then seed the 
Alsike and brush it lightly in. That’s all you need 
to do until next Spring. The buckwheat will come 
up fir.st, and make a lively growth until fro.st. Then 
August 11, 1917. 
it wHl die and fall on the ground, and the rye will 
grow up through it. The buckwheat will protect 
the soil through the Winter, and in tlie Spring 
there will be a good growth of rye and clover to 
plow under. In a dry season the rye ivill be back¬ 
ward. and some of it will fail. With plenty of 
moisture, all three crops will thrive. The other 
Ilian is to plo.v and hari'ow in the same way, and 
then drill Soy beans or cow peas 2% to three feet 
apart. Soy beans would on the whole be better. 
Then give thorough culture with a horse cultivator 
until about the middle of September. Then seed the 
rye and the Alsike right amongst the Soj' beans 
and cultivate the seed in. Frost will kill the beans 
or peas, and the rye and clover will come on. This 
jilan requires more work in the cultivating, but it 
will tear up the old sod to better advantage, and 
do more towards killing out w’hite grubs and other 
insects. Either plan will add a large amount of 
organic matter to the soil. If corn or vegetable 
crop.s, except potatoes, are to be planted next year, 
we should u.se lime after plowing under the crop. 
If potatoes are to be planted we should not use 
lime. 
The Wheat Crop of New York 
Before we talk too much about increasing the 
wheat acreage in New York State we ought to 'un¬ 
derstand where the pre.sent crop is located. The 
following table, taken from the Agricultural De¬ 
partment census report shows how the last wheat 
crop was distributed by counties: 
County 
Bushels 
County 
Bushels 
1 Monroe . 
1,012,984 
30 
Albany . 
22.467 
2 Ontario . 
694.305 
31 
Franklin . . . 
21,568 
3 Niagara . 
673,088 
32 
Tioga . 
18,847 
4 Genesee . 
037,279 
33 
Clinton . 
17,782 
5 Orleans . 
0.35,197 
34 
Oswego . 
16,107 
6 Livingston . . . 
556,421 
35 
Nassau. 
13,052 
7 Cayuga . 
498,626 
36 
Schoharie ... 
12.888 
8 Wayne. 
407,070 
37 
Cattaraugus . 
12.627 
9 Erie . 
420,447 
38 
Wa.shington. . 
9,694 
10 Seneca . 
388,675 
39 
Greene .. 
9.2.54 
11 Wyoming . . . . 
318,720 
40 
Cortland .... 
8.0.36 
12 Yates . 
293,605 
41 
Columbia .... 
7,509 
13 Onondaga .... 
259,866 
42 
Otsego . 
6,373 
14 Steuben . 
109,177 
43 
Chenango ... 
5,943 
15 Tompkins . . . 
159.260 
44 
Bi'oome . 
5.589 
16 Saratoga .... 
140,683 
45 
Westchester . 
^ 5.424 
17 Schuyler .... 
80,890 
46 
Schenectady . 
5,027 
18 Suffolk . 
06,492 
47 
Warren . 
4.858 
19 Madison. 
.39,8.35 
48 
Rensselaer ... 
4,710 
20 Oneida . 
38,573 
49 
Herkimer .... 
4..318 
21 Dutchess .... 
33,770 
50 
Essex . 
3.84 1 
22 Chemung . . . . 
29,808 
51 
Fulton . 
2..331 
23 Allegany . . . . 
29,802 
52 
Delaware .... 
2.052 
24 Orange. 
28.204 
53 
Lewis. 
1.9.57 
25 Ulster. 
27,909 
54 
Sullivan. 
1.6.50 
26 Montgomery . 
27,106 
55 
Rockland .... 
1,455 
27 .lefferson .. . . 
25,881 
56 
Putnam . 
1,107 
28 Chautauqua . . 
25.523 
57 
Hamilton .... 
95 
29 St. Lawrence. 
23,055 
Thus 36 counties, mostly located through the cen¬ 
ter of the State, produced about 90 per cent, of tin* 
crop. :Most of the suitable wheat land lies in this 
.same territory and most of the proposed increase 
would naturally be made on farms now producing 
wheat. A table of rj’e production next week will 
show that the rougher fruit and dairy sections seem 
better suited to rye production. There may well be 
a big increase of rye see<ling in the dairy and fim't 
districts, but most of the ivheat increase will nat¬ 
urally be in the natural wheat growing .sections. 
The farmers in this .section are the best advisers 
in this matter, and we go to them. Here is one: 
A Conservative Wheat Grower 
At the Syracuse conference the dairymen were op¬ 
posed to plowing up old pastures. We are all anxious, 
in these serious times, to grow all the foodstuffs possi¬ 
ble. But I think every farmer knows his personal con¬ 
dition better than the man who sits in his office and 
knows the farming game only on paper. You a.sked ir.o 
three (juestions. I will try to answer them in order. 
1. The farmers in our section know that wheat sown 
on any sod exc<‘pt a clover sod, cannot be expected to 
grow more than 40 or 50 per cent, of a crop, therefo:-e 
not a good scheme to follow. 
2. I think most farmers plan to sow all the wheat 
they can prepai-e the land for and get it sown in sea.son. 
The extremely wet June has caused very late planting 
of beans and since wheat follows the beans, some who 
intended to sow more wheat may be obliged to let it 
go without sowing. 
3. It would not be practical or even possible for me 
to double my acreage in wheat this year on this farm. 
I would have to plow where I have wheat now. I paid 
$14 per bushel for clover seed and have an exception¬ 
ally fine seeding for hay next .year. With 50 acres of 
fruit on my farm here at home I should consider it a 
gi-eat handicap to plant more than 25 acres of wl c t 
this Fall. ir. E. wellm.’.::. 
Orleans Go., N. Y. 
