•888 
‘Ihr RURAL NEW-YORKER 
April 19, 1919 
MANURE IS DEFICIENT IN 
PHOSPHORUS : 
WITH COMMERCIAL FERTILIZERS COSTING MORE 
THAN DOUBLE THE USUAL PRICE, MAKE 
YOUR MANURE GO AS FAR AS POSSIBLE 
BY REINFORCING IT WITH 
BARIUM-PHOSPHATE 
AN ALKALINE FERTILIZER 
ANALYZING 
16% Phosphoric Acid 7% Barium Sulphide 
Barium-Phosphate is a mixture of an alkaline salt of Barium, which 
is soluble in water, and Phosphate of Lime. Added to manure it 
SUPPLIES PHOSPHORUS AT A LOW COST 
A few loads of manure, to each of which a bag of Barium-Phosphate 
has been added, will produce more Corn per acre than three times the amount 
of manure used alone. 
Every farmer knows that so long as he can grow clover, he can grow 
anything else, and the converse is also true, that where clover persistently 
refuses to grow, owing to acid conditions, then other crops must steadily 
deteriorate. 
Barium-Phosphate, in addition to supplying Phosphorus 
Sweetens the Soil 
and INSURES a LUXURIANT GROWTH OF CLOVER 
WITHOUT THE USE OF LIME 
Used with manure, or plowed under with green crops, Barium-Phos¬ 
phate alone, will produce good yields, and build up the fertility of your 
farm. 
To keep animals healthy it is absolutely necessary that the stable should 
be clean and sweet, and free from bad odors. 
Impure air and disease go hand in hand. 
Barium-Phosphate in addition to greatly increasing the effectiveness of 
your manure 
KEEPS THE BARN SWEET AND FREE FROM ODORS 
when dusted in the stalls under the bedding, and scattered in the gutters 
behind the animals. 
WHY NOT GIVE IT A TRIAL 
We urge that you order at least a few tons of this material and give it 
a fair trial. 
We will deliver Barium-Phosphate anywhere in New England, New 
York, Pennsylvania or New Jersey at the following prices: 
Carloads, 15 tons or more 
Less Carloads, 1 ton or more 
$21.50 per ton 
23.50 per ton 
It will pay you to write for our books: 
BARIUM-PHOSPHATE FOR GENERAL FARM CROPS. 
BARIUM-PHOSPHATE FOR MARKET GARDEN CROPS. 
BARIUM-PHOSPHATE IN THE ORCHARD. 
Witherbee, Sherman & Company, Inc. 
2 Rector Street, New York City 
alfalfa 
Jk We specialize in b< 
Guaranteed 
SEED 
best varieties only. 
Hardy grown, registered and pedigreed 
Btrains,. Prices reasonable. Our rigid tests insure 
results. Our policy is to sell only seed of known 
quality. We carry a complete 
line of guaran- teed seeds. 
CD'CT? Complete manual on growing, feeding and 
r IxILILi care of Alfalfa. Worth $ * * to you. Write 
today for your copy, also free samples and Disco catalog. 
Dakota Improved Seed Co., 
879 Lawler St.. Mitchell, S. D. 
INOCULATE 
LEGUMES 
And Double the Crop 
INOCULATING BACTEKIA prepared for Alfalfa. Clover, 
Soys and all Legumes. 
75 cents per acre—6 acres, $3.00 
Send for our LEGUME BOOK—FREE 
THE EGGERT CHEMICAL CO., D -4, CANTON, 0.. 
ARE YOU POSTED FROM A TO Z ? 
GARDEN GUIDE, now in its third edition, tells authori¬ 
tatively just'what to do to produce the best vegeta¬ 
bles, fruits and flowers. 1001 other garden pointers 
eovered. Paper, 75c.; cloth, Sb- postpaid. 
GROW BETTER “Home Fruit Grower," by M. G. Rains, in- 
PBUIT spiring book ever published. Practical 
through its every page. Tells best varieties and how to 
grow them. Paper. $1 ; cloth, $1.50, postpaid. 
A. T. DE LA MARE CO., Inc., 438b, West 37th St., New York 
S I | II |\J The new drought-resistant forage 
U U I v plant. 4-7 tons yield per acre. A 
G n O C great feed for stock. Write for sam- 
JT 9 9 .pies, and growing instructions. 
THE HOLME S-LETHERMAN SEED CO., BoxK. Canton, Ohio 
L°le A Quantity of White Flint Red Glazed Seed Corn 
which won the first premium at the N. Y. State Fair, 1918. 
JAMES D. AUSTIN, Eagle Bridge, N. Y. 
Tomato Plants The Standard canning variety. 
Wanetah Brand 
TAPES 
For All Purposes 
Especially for tieing Aspara¬ 
gus and Celery. Fast colors. 
Every spool contains 1,000 
yards. Sold with money- 
back-guarantee if not satis¬ 
factory in every way. Best 
prices. We can save you 
money. Write for samples 
and prices. 
Yarrington Mills Corporation 
Emerald and E. Arizona Sts. 
PHILADELPHIA, PENN’A 
JONES’ Nut Trees 
Pennsylvania-grown, grafted 
trees are safest, for eastern 
and northern planting. • 
Pecans, Black and English Walnuts 
Send for illustrated catalogue—FREE> 
J. F. JONES, Nut Tree Specialist 
Box It. Lancaster, Penna. 
Frost Prool CABBA6E Plants 
planting, Flat-DHtch and Sure-head, by parcel post, prepaid, 
10U for 5Uc; 500 for J2.00 ; 1 000 for J3.50 - by express 
collect 1,000 for SI.50. W. L. BEAROIN. YlFTON. GA. 
I I „„ Doth Wnkefleki's and Copenhagen 
U3DD3g6 rl3nlS Market 98c. per 1,000. Cir. free. 
Plants Ready May 10. S. A. VJHDIN. Hakti.y, Hki.a wake 
after April lath. All 
varieties. ■ 500, jiost- 
Keady May 26. 
@ 88c. per 1,000. Circular free. Plant* 
B. A. VIItiUN, llartly, Delaware 
SWEET CLOVER SEED 
Prices and circular of information sent on request. 
E. BARTON, Box 29, FALMOUTH, Pendleton Co., Ky. 
Wilson Soy Beans^iftu^lck included 
J. P. KIRKPATRICK, Lexington, Virginia 
CUfCCT OflDU Ceail Early Metropolitan. Sweet. 
dVvCC I IfUnn OB6U tender, richly flavored. 
26c. pt.; 40e. qt.; 4 qts., $1.50. V. B. MOORE, Stratford, Conn 
n jp P--J Golden Buttercup, Golden Bantam, 
OWocTuOrn 0BBU Itosy Morn, Bantam Evergreen, 40c. 
lb., 3 lb*. #1, postpaid. RANSOM FARM, Geneva, Ohio 
Tomato Plantsfor Sale 
paid, $1.50; 1.000, express, collect. $‘~. We special¬ 
ize. THE TIFT PLANT CO., Albany, Georgia 
STRAWBERRY PLANTS 
We have ten of the best kinds selected out of a bun- 
di-ed—Early, M id season and I jnte. A Iso CABBAGE. CEL 
ERY TOMATO. PEPPER. SWEET POTATO PLANTS in season 
Send for our 1919 price list. Caleb Hoggs & Son 
ROMANCE SEED AND PLANT FARM. Cheswold, Delaware 
Srawberry Plant 
to select from including tlio Full-bearing. Semi f<> 
free catalog. J. KEIFF0R0 HALL, Dept. 2, Rhodesdalc, Mti 
Howard No. 17 Strawberry explains why. Plants for 
sale' by the introducer. C. E. CHAPMAN, North Stonington, Conn 
r. J nEarly White Cap, 70 lbs. ears, $3.50. Also Ciroinhnrru PLANTS. ?£°ney Making Varieties. Catalog 
0660 bOrn ensilage corn. liuDSom Larin, (Jouctb, Olilo J utf<iWD6lTj Free. BASIL PERRY, GBOROETOWN, Del. 
Maple Sugar Making 
Pleasures and Perplexities of a Vermont 
Farm 
Sugar Making. —As always, I enjoyed 
“Thoughts of a Plain Farm Woman,” 
“School Privileges,” and “Boy Problem.” 
especially, as I am an ex-teacher. But, 
on page 309, she speaks of the “restful” 
days of March, by which token I am sure 
she belongs not to the ranks of maple sugar 
makers. Here in Central Vermont we 
rarely have more than two weeks of the 
sugar season in March—often less—the 
remainder coming in April. Today, 
March 2, seems a “perfect sugar day.” 
If one goes in for sugaring now there will 
come cold “snaps,” with searching winds, 
which will “dry up” the trees, so they 
will need re-tapping. We tap nearly 700 
maples, and, before my illness a few years 
ago (when we tapped.about 500), my hus¬ 
band and I did all that was done at barn, 
house and sugar house. No little feet 
here to run errands, bring in wood and 
eggs; no little lives to bring us either 
pleasure or perplexity. At the time of a 
“big run” some sap wasted, the best we 
could do, as husband does not enjoy the 
best of health, and cannot boil sap nights 
and work days, for if he did he would have 
to “give up” entirely. 
The Day’s Program. —This would be 
a sample <>f our daily program : Rise, 5 
a. m. ; while husband fed, milked, etc.. I 
prepared breakfast, perhajis part of the 
dinner; ate my own breakfast “on the 
run”: washed separator while husband 
»te. Then, leaving other dishes unwashed 
(if there should be much sap ready to 
boil) I would go to the sugar house, not 
far away, start tire under the evaporator, 
keep it. going until 11:30 a. m., or noon, 
when husband would stable the team, with 
which he had been gathering sap, and take 
my place at the sugar house. I would 
then put ou some dinner. 1 am afraid we 
did not always have a “balanced ration” 
when there had been several strenuous 
sugar days and little chance to cook. 
When 1 could obtain it I bought bread, 
also some other food, but people are too 
busy to go downtown when sap runs, un¬ 
less very necessary. After getting and 
eating a hasty dinner, washing breakfast 
dishes meanwhile, if I had time I returned 
to my “job” and husband ate, after which, 
if there was still sap ungathered, he again 
began collecting it. and kept at it. until 
about 6 p. m. usually. If sap was “driv¬ 
ing.” I stayed with the evaporator until 
dusk, going then to the house to collect 
eggs, bring in wood, kindling, etc., clear 
table and wash all day’s dishes, if not 
done. As husband eats a light supper, it 
was not necessary for me to prepare that. 
Syrup Straining. —All through the 
day, at intervals, the person who is boiling 
the sap has to “syrup off,” and, as we 
have not the conveniences at the sugar 
house in our case it has to he carried, 
while still very hot, to the house, to he 
strained through felt, “to remove the mal- 
ate of lime,” popularly called “niter.” 
This is a line, sandy substance, and it is 
a curious fact that some seasons there is 
a great deal more of it than others. To 
wash these strainers is one of my “pet” 
detestations. As they are very sticky, 
the., water has to be as hot as can he 
borne. When sugaring full flow it has to 
be done several time a day and house fires 
are low and water cool when one is some¬ 
where else most of the time, so that was 
another job for dinner time. Three heavy 
felt strainers, shaped much like a “fool’s 
cap,” attached to iron hoop at top (to 
prevent collapsing) so they cannot be 
wrung out. but must drain : these perhaps 
half full of “niter,” must be turned and 
rinsed in several waters. Careful as I 
may be, I nearly always find dipper han¬ 
dles. doorknobs, etc., are-wont In “stick 
closer than a brother.” 
Sugaring Off. —Any day when two 
hours could be “sandwiched in” must be 
dovoted to “sugaring off” on the-kitchen 
range in .a large galvanized pan. from 25 
to 40 lbs. at a time. After commencing 
to boil the syrup has to be rathei strictly 
attended to,' for two reasons, viz. not to 
let it boil over (which it is very .prone to 
do) and to keep an exceeding h<?t fire for 
the purpose of l'apid cooking 'apd conse¬ 
quent light color. Due of the “pleasures” 
of this- season is the warm sugar, either 
“waxed” on snow, "grained” by stirring) 
or any preferred methpil..Jifi^eatiug, In' 
my opinion it is never agijin of such a 
delicate “new” flavor as now. One of our 
favorite confections is to “sugar off” in a 
small saucepan (aluminum preferred! and 
mold into small fancy cakes-of Various, 
shapes when ready. (By the way,, why' 
does not someone manufacture sojpe small 
sugar tins in the shape of maple leaves? 
I would be very glad to get. some.)_ Sugar, 
when done in small quantities like this 
has a much finer grain and is more deli¬ 
cate. It is “fussy” work, and, in this 
shape consequently commands a higher 
price. 
("’leaning Up.;—A t the end of the sea¬ 
son all utensils must be thoroughly 
washed, rinsed and dried. We take a 
sunny day and wash the sap tubs out of 
doors. I usually “keep up my end,” arid it 
is no joke to wash nearly 790 of them, 
over 200 of which are wooden, which are 
the worst of all. When dry they must he 
stacked and stored for next season. The 
men have “draw tub,” storage tanks, evap¬ 
orator, etc., to clean. So, you see, while 
those who are not sugar makers are 
“painting furniture, dressmaking,” house¬ 
cleaning. etc., we bring up the rear of the 
procession, for we must attend to the 
“maple sweets.” If, on this farm, there 
are any “vacation months,” in the house, 
I think they are January and February. 
Summer Boarders. —For one who. like 
myself, has no vacation away from home, 
I think the people coming in the Summer 
bring us a new point of view, and some¬ 
what broaden our outlook. (My vacation 
consists of an annual visit to a dentist in 
a neighboring town, and an extra amount 
of reading Winter evenings.) Gardening, 
such a recreation for some, tires me to 
the extent that a “small dose” at a time 
is all my strength ran endure, but in read¬ 
ing I bury in "oblivion,” for the time, all 
my weariness, worries and duties. We do 
not keep a boarding house, but have a few 
boarders each Summer. Several have re¬ 
turned season after season, and it is a. 
source of gratification, naturally that they 
are sufficiently satisfied with our simple 
farm home to return to it. So when they 
wish to come, we refuse unknown appli¬ 
cants for tlie same weeks. Several friends 
from the same town take the available 
rooms, in that way barring out possibly 
uncongenial strangers, and they can do 
just as they please about making a fresh 
toilet for afternoon, and can “visit,” walk 
or play games at their own sweet will. 
Our specialty is an abundance of cream 
and milk, and it is surprising how much 
•some can consume, reminding us of "Sa¬ 
mantha” (“.Tosiali Allen’s Wife”), who 
thought the Summer boarders “legs and 
arms were all holler.” I wish we might 
hear from others who have Summer board¬ 
ers on a small scale. I should like some 
ideas, on nourishing food for a hard¬ 
working farmer, who can eat only a 
small amount of meat or eggs. \ 
Vermont. 
Washing the Letters from Grain Sacks 
Bast year we had several questions from 
women who wished to know how to re¬ 
move the printed letters from grain and 
flour sacks. This cloth is made clean and 
is very useful for making towels and chil¬ 
dren’s garments, but many women have 
not been able to remove the lettering. 
We received a very large number of notes 
from women who have succeeded in re¬ 
moving the letters, and the following brief 
notes are taken from some of these let- 
ters: 
Mrs. N. S. Fuller of Connecticut says 
that she rubs soap, either hard or soft, all 
over the lettering. The bags are then 
boiled in a strong soda water for 15 to 20 
minutes. Wring out the cloth after cool¬ 
ing and repeat the process. She uses a 
small brass kettle that will hold about 
three, sacks with a good-sized handful of 
washing soda to each boiling. For the 
thinner sacks twice boiling will answer, 
although five or six boilings will be need¬ 
ed for the thicker cloth. 
Mrs. Stanley Carpenter of New York 
prefers to remove the letters with concen¬ 
trated lye. She takes 20 or more sacks at 
a time, rips them up and shakes them 
well. They stand over night covered with 
cold water. They are then washed well 
and boiled about half an hour in soft 
water to which is added one-half can of 
lye, with just enough water to cover the 
sacks nicely. After this boiling tin* sacks 
are rinsed in three water and hung up to 
dry in the sun. If, however, some marks 
remain, another boiling in the potash wa¬ 
ter will take care of that. 
Mrs. A. A. Drake of Massachusetts 
prepares a tub of warm water to which 
one-half teacup of borax is added. The 
letters on tlx 1 sack are then well smeared 
with naphtha soap. They are rolled up 
and soaked in borax water for two hours, 
and then rubbed hard on the washboard. 
The red ink is harder to wash out than 
the blue. In case tin* above process does 
not take out all the color, the sacks are 
put into a washboiler half full of warm 
water, with one-half cup each of borax 
and washing powder. Boiling and stir¬ 
ring will take out all of the ink marks. 
Mrs. M. E. Hotis of New York first 
prepares a washing fluid. This is made 
of one-half ounce salts of tartar, one-lmlf 
ounce carbonate of ammonia and one can 
of lye to a gallon of water. Then add one 
part of this fluid to every three parts of 
water to make the fluid. After ripping 
and shaking the sacks they are put in cold 
water for 24 hours and then wrung out. 
They are then put into a wash boiler in 
cold water to which the washing fluid and 
laundry soap have been added. Boil for 
half an hour and then rinse in cold water. 
Mrs. Margaret Rafferty says that she 
places the sacks in cold water and rubs 
soap on the letters. She rubs this hard 
with her hands or between her hands, 
taking one sack at a time, and in this 
way the letters are thoroughly rubbed out. 
The cold water is best, and patience is 
required to do the work thoroughly. Sev¬ 
eral women give very much the same ad¬ 
vice as this by Mrs. Rafferty, but they all 
say that great perseverance and hard rub¬ 
bing will be necessary to get rid of the let¬ 
ters. The women report using the bags 
for all sorts of purposes. They are found 
very good for towels, and the lighter 
white bags are frequently used for making 
children’s garments. 
