1332 
September 33, 1919 
Trouble from Borax in Fertilizer 
During the past few weeks we have re¬ 
ceived a number of letters from troubled 
readers who cannot understand the be¬ 
havior of some of their crops. One in 
particular comes from New Hampshire. 
A number of acres of cut-over land was 
planted to oats, corn and beans. Such 
land is usually w.ell suited to these crops. 
The weather was good, and up to the 
time the plants were four to six inches 
high the oats were in excellent condition. 
Then they began to fall down and turn 
white, as our reader describes it. The 
corn followed in much the same way. It 
looked as if it had been struck by an early 
frost, and the entire plant gradually be¬ 
came withered. Later the beans followed 
in the same manner. It was not a lack 
of water, nor was it poor soil. The seed 
was of good quality, and apparently not 
afflicted with any disease. There was 
apparently no difference in the appear¬ 
ance of the crop planted in the hollows 
or on the higher ground. No one in the 
neighborhood is able to account for this 
strange behavior. We have submitted the 
trouble to some of the best scientists in 
the country, and the only thing they can 
suggest is that this may be what is known 
as “borax injury.” It appears that some 
of the American potash obtained from 
California, even when used in mixed fer¬ 
tilizers, has given some trouble of this 
sort. This potash contains a quantity of 
borax, and when there is enough of it in 
the fertilizer there is a rotting of the 
CONTENTS 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER, SEPT. 13, 1919 
FARM TOPICS 
Fighting Witch Grass in Nova Scotia 
Lime Top-dressing on Meadow. 
Borax in Fertilizer. 
Potato Wart Disease.... 
Coming Farmers’ Meetings. 
Crops and Farm News. 
Hone Farm Notes.._. 
Moldy Bread for Fertilizer. 
The Farmer in Politics. 
The Silo Corn Crop.,,. 
All Sorts of Comments. 
Sweet Clover for a Pasture. 
1330 
1331 
1332 
1332 
1336 
1337 
1346 
1346 
1349 
1357 
1360 
1360 
LIVE STOCK AND DAIRY 
1330 
1336 
1349 
1352 
1352 
1354 
1354 
A Feed that Helps Other Feeds... 
Coming Live Stock Sales... 
Penalizing Milk Producers.. 
Tricks of the Dairy Test... 
Holstein Prices . 
Fighting Lice on Horses... 
Sheaf Rye and Wheat for Sows. 
Value of Reground Oat Feed. 1354 
A Fair Exchange of Cornstalks and Hay.. 1354 
Ration for Pigs. }3*j4 
Feeding Calves .. 135^ 
Reducing Cost of Feed. 1357 
Good Dairy Ration. 1357 
Amount of Butter in Milk. 1357 
Holding Up Milk. 1357 
1357 
Sheep in Orchard. 1361 
Old Horses and Their Teeth. 1361 
Breeding of Foxhounds. 1361 
Alfalfa as a Pasture Plant. 1361 
Buckwheat as Forage. 1361 
Buckwheat Fodder . 1361 
Fouls in Cattle. 1361 
Black Teeth . 1361 
Ropy Milk . 1364 
Silage Not Responsible. 1364 
Paralysis . 1364 
Scurfy Pigs . 1364 
Shrink in Milk. 1364 
Mammitis . 1364 
Summer Itch . 1364 
Scours . 1364 
Sweeny . 1364 
THE HENYARD 
Breeding for Eggs and Plumage 
Progeny of Young Roosters. 
Selecting Cockerels . 
Mating for Egg Yield. 
Pullets Change Color. 
Crowded Chicks . 
Home-raised Grain for Poultry... 
The Egg-laying Contest. 
About Hatching Eggs. 
1359 
1359 
1359 
1359 
1359 
1359 
1359 
1365 
1365 
HORTICULTURE 
Garden Notes from New England......... 1334 
Notes from a Maryland Garden.1341, 1343 
Transplanting Evergreens . 1344 
Horseradish Culture . 1344 
Hastening Ripening of Grapes. 1344 
A Backyard Quince Tree. 1343 
Long-keeping Apples .. 1343 
Fruit Notes from Missouri. 1347 
Propagating Raspberries and Blackberries. 1347 
Grapes in Northern New York. 1347 
The Robin as a Florida Tourist. 1347 
WOMAN AND HOME 
From Day to Day.. 
Dried Apples for Chicken Green Feed 
Green Tomato Pie. 
The Rural Patterns. 
Bottle Feeding of Infants. 
Summer Salads . 
Among the Green Mountains. 
Embroidery Designs . 
1350 
1350 
1350 
1350 
1350 
1350 
1351 
1351 
MISCELLANEOUS 
A Few Cider Problems. 
Deep Wells; the Earth’s Heat. 
Laying Out Building Foundations. 
The Story of the Vitamines—Part IV. 
Shooting Down a Tornado. 
Events of the Week. 
Elder Roots Clogging Drain. 
Trapping Woodchucks .... 
Shed for Large Farm Machinery. 
Cesspool in Cellar; Hollow Concrete Blocks. 
Killing an Untagged Dog. 
Tlie Merchant and His Trade. 
The Moon and Brush Cutting. 
Silo Juice and Intoxication. 
Getting a Passport. . ; . 
The Howling Dog Nuisance. 
Publisher’s Desk . 
1330 
1330 
1331 
1333 
1333 
1336 
1343 
1346 
1358 
1358 
1363 
1363 
1363 
1363 
1363 
1363 
1366 
The RURAL NEW-YORKER 
roots of cultivated crops which affects 
them iu much the same way as our New 
Hampshire reader describes. In South 
Carolina some of this trouble was ob¬ 
served on cotton, the behavior of the plant 
being very much like what is reported for 
the oats and corn. Other reports have 
come from Maine regarding the same 
thing, and it appears that when this 
borax potash has been used, trouble with 
the roots has resulted. We would like, if 
possible, to have reports from our readers 
regarding this use of American potash. It 
is an important matter to know just how 
this form of potash is behaving. Evi¬ 
dently some of the American potash is 
harmless to crops, while other sources 
containing borax are dangerous to use. 
Potato Wart Disease 
This dangerous disease has caused great 
damage in Europe during recent years. 
In 1912 the United States placed an em¬ 
bargo on shipments of potatoes from coun¬ 
tries where the disease was known to ex¬ 
ist. It had already been brought to this 
country, however, and great efforts are 
now being made to stamp it out wherever 
found. 
The picture, reproduced from United 
States Department of Agriculture Cir¬ 
cular No. 32, shows sectional view of a 
potato affected with wart. The first signs 
of wart are small spongy outgrowths on 
the potato, especially at the eyes. The 
warts are at first light brown, later be¬ 
coming black. Badly diseased tubers rot 
in the field, and those slightly affected are 
likely to spoil in storage. As the disease 
does not kill the potato plant, it is diffi¬ 
cult to detect it until digging time. 
Wart is caused by a parasitic fungus 
(Chrysophlyctis endobiotica Schilb.) 
which penetrates the outer layers of the 
potato and stimulates them to abnormal 
development, thus causing the character¬ 
istic warty outgrowths. Millions of re¬ 
productive bodies, called sporangia, are 
formed in the wart tissue and are re¬ 
leased into the soil when the wart de- 
•p 
Sectional View of Potato Affected with 
Wart 
cays. Some germinate as soon as ma¬ 
ture, releasing litters of spores which may 
reinfect the potatoes and cause new warts. 
Others are resting sporangia, which may 
lie dormant in the soil for many years un¬ 
til by cultivation or other means they are 
brought into suitable conditions for ger¬ 
mination. 
The wart parasite may be carried into 
clean soil (1) by drainage water from in¬ 
fected fields, (2) by the distribution of 
infected soil (as on agricultural _ imple¬ 
ments or on the feet of men or animals), 
(3) by the use of manure from animals 
to which diseased tubers have been fed, 
(4) by garbage into which peelings from 
diseased tubers have been thrown, and 
especially (5) by the planting of dis¬ 
eased tubers or of tubers which have been 
grown in infected soil and carry the in¬ 
fection on their surfaces. 
It is very important that close watch 
be kept over potatoes at digging for 
warty outgrowths, and all suspicious cases 
be brought at once to the attention of the 
United States Department of Agriculture 
or some authorized local officer. This dis¬ 
ease is easily distinguished from scab by 
being a cauliflower-like outgrowth on the 
potato, while scab shows a rusty pitting 
of the surface. 
In New York State Dr. Cyrus A. King, 
of the Plant Disease Survey, United States 
Department of Agriculture, is looking for 
the disease, and will visit any locality 
where it is found. He offers to pay $10 
for the first genuine case of potato wart 
discovered in the State. Specimens should 
not be sent to him, but be left in the earth 
attached to the top until he can reach the 
place and identify them. In writing him, 
address Dr. Cyrus A. King, Erasmus Hall, 
Brooklyn, N. Y. Dr. King wishes to co¬ 
operate with farmers, associations, State 
and local authorities, so that any case of 
this disease in New York State may be 
found and proper measures taken to pre¬ 
vent its spread. 
Everett and Evelyn were twins. On 
their fifth birthday their father brought 
them home a small dog, telling them they 
could own it together. On being petted 
the dog growled, but finally wagged its 
tail. Noting this, Evelyn exclaimed: “Ev¬ 
erett can have the head and I’ll take the 
tail—it’s the most friendly end.”—Chi¬ 
cago Tribune. 
lirniniTriniTniTiiiTniLiiiriiiniii 
3 
s 
i 
Off-Color Days 
are usually the reflexion of some 
upset to bodily health,. 
Coffee drinking usually exagger¬ 
ates such conditions and fre¬ 
quently produces therm 
That’s why so many former 
coffee drinkers now favor 
The Original 
| Postum Cereal 
Boil fully fifteen minutes and a 
delightful beverage results. Fine 
| for children as well as grown-ups. | 
E E 
1 Everywhere at Grocers. I 
I I 
I Two sizes, usually sold at 15c and 25c. § 
= 
—i 
l 
VINES, BERRIES, SHRUBS AND ROSES 
Have made good for over 35 years. When buying of us you enjoy the lieneflt of our 
many years experience. This fall is the time to plant, for Nursery Seedlings come from 
Fi ance and have been, during the war and are now- almost impossible to get at any price, 
as they arc not growing many seedlings, the land being used for farming purposes since they arc very 
much in need or grain, therefore stock is vei-y scarce and will be for year* to come. There will be a record- 
breaking demand for fruit the next few years, for it falls to the fruit growers of the United States to 
supply largely the foreign needs. Maloney hardy upland trees of known merit will establish themselves 
quickly, make a rapid growth and fruit early. Write for our Hig, Free Descriptive Catalog — We guar¬ 
antee absolute satisfaction or refund your money. 
We Prepay Transportation Charges on ali Ordersifor Over $4.00 
MALONEY BROS. & WELLS CO., 29 East Street. Dansville, N. Y. 
NEW CROP, RECLEANED 
Crimson Clover Seed SALE 
We are offering you crimson clover seed, threshed. 
1919, from one of the highest rated crimson clover 
seed growing counties (Franklin County), Makes no 
difference who you are nor whore you live, if your 
record is half l ight we will ship you nice new clo¬ 
ver seed at S8.90 per bushel, sixty pounds to the 
bushel, cotton bags free, freight paid by us to any 
point in the United States. Don’t say I would order 
but might not get them in time to sow. We have 
sufficient stock on hand to fill all orders. Mail yonr 
Jotter to us at Maxwell. Tennessoe. and we will get 
it. Your seed will be shipped the same day we re¬ 
ceive the order. Do not send any money; wo will 
draw draft on you through some bank near you. 
Brogdon Bros., Maxwell, Tennessee 
STRAWBERRY PLANTS 
For September and Fall planting. Pot-grown and run¬ 
ner plants that will bear fruit next summer. Pot-grown 
plants ready now; runner plants early in September. Also 
RASPBERRY'. RLtt'KHERRY, O 0 O8 K R F. U K Y, CCRIUNT, 
DRAPE, ASPARAGUS, Kll III A It It, PARSLEY PLANTS; FRUIT 
AND ORNAMENTAL TREES, AND SllRUBS for fall planting. 
Catalogue free. HARRY L. SQUIRES. Good Ground, N.Y. 
Seed Wheat, RED WAVE, beardless, straw 
long, still, ripens mid-season. Large yielder. $3.00 
per bu., bags included. Write for sample. 
BED HILL FARM Bridgeport, Fa. 
Russian nnos *t£ 
1 to 5 bu., S2.25 per bn. Over 5 bn., 52.00, Bagged. 
Sample for stamp. CL0VERDALE FARM. Charlotte. N. Y. 
Leap’s Prolific Seed Wheat 
Write for prices and samples. Also some Red Wave. 
HILLSIDE FAR M, - Rockland Lake, N. Y. 
CERTIFIED ROSEN RYE-Lt^eiU^s 
has averaged more than 35 bushels per acre for us. 
Seed for sale. Average date sown, Oct. 1 to 5. 
J. W. SPANGENBERG & SONS, Sparta, Mich. 
RED ROCK 
SEED WHEAT, certified. $3.25. Also cer¬ 
tified Rosen rye, $2.50. Sacks extra at 
«0e. HENRY CURTIS, Jsnnlug*, Midi. 
NO Money! 
Simply eend your size 
and these wonderful 
American Scout Shoe* 
will coma to your home 
at once. Built solid, full 
of wear. Genuine oak 
leather aoles. Note the 
splendid extra quality 
leatherl Enjoy ;thelr blen.rd 
comfort! The risk la oars— 
them* must delight you or 
»y only $3.98 id 
this a p 1 e n u 
WE GUARANTEE 
new pair 
ONLY 
$ 3 98 
that thews shoos arc ex¬ 
ceptional values; that 
they will give .satin- 
fart ory wear or we 
ill send “FREE 
On Antral, Postage Fra* 
American SooutShOB 
Ss"« promt. Buy direct 
from Factory Headquarters! 
Boston Mail Order House, Dept. S-904 Boston, Mass, 
gaud shoes on approval. My mooer beck If 1 want It. /rule nothin* 
Name, 
Size 
Addresi 
Color 
For Sale- LongIslandSEEDCORN WHITE DINT 
J. CODD1NGTON, - Glen Head, L. I. 
ROSEN RYE- 
Our own growing. $2.2f* per bu., bag* In 
eluded. J. H. F0RELL, Sears. Mich. 
FEEDS AND FEEDING, by Henry and 
Morrison. Price, $2.50. The best book on 
this subject. For sale by Rural New-Yorker 
Plant that Orchard 
Now—this Fall! 
ig to be bigger and better than ever, 
fruit True to name. 
IT WILL SA VE YOU MONEY. 
-I- DANSVILLE. H. V, 
Now is the time to plant. The market for fruit is goir 
Plant Kelly Trees—they are the best and will bear 
SEND LOR OUR FALL TRICE LIST TOO AY. 
KELLY BROS. NURSERIES,_ -i- 
k. 
ftttWUWVW 
