189 
Timothy Hay as a Farm Crop 
Growing on Undrained Land 
W HILE Timothy hay is regarded as being par¬ 
ticularly soil exhaustive, it is a crop which 
readily responds to fertilizers, and is in general a 
productive farm crop. Land that has not been 
drained, or is rather unfit for other crops because 
of its natural characteristics, generally produces 
good yields of Timothy hay. With Timothy selling 
around an average of $25 a ton, and since it yields 
about two tons to the acre under good treatment/it> 
is not a bad money-maker for the farmer who has 
land adapted for its culture. I remember about 15 
acres that we had on our farm before it was drained 
that grew enormous crops of Timothy each year 
from a light top-dressing of manure in the Fall. 
The Timothy easily yielded more than two toils to 
the acre, and it is quickly harvested and placed in 
the barn when proper tools are used. Timothy hay 
will cure much quicker than clover, and while it is 
a little harder to handle, the use of modern hay tools 
removes its disadvantages in this line. 
Timothy hay also responds wonderfully to the 
application of sulphate, of ammonia. This nitrogen- 
bearing compound stimulates a quick growth when 
applied in the Spring, at the rate of 
about 100 lbs. to the acre, and the re¬ 
sults may be plainly seen in treated 
and untreated land at harvest- time. 
As a rule it will cost from $3 to $5 an 
acre to supply sulphate of ammonia to 
the soil, but an increase of from 1.200 
to 1,500 lbs. of hay may be expected 
from this, «o that an application of 
sulphate of ammonia is really a good 
investment. 
It is doubtful whether Timothy 
should be included in the rotation of 
crops on good tillable land that has 
been well drained and is responding to 
applications of manure and acid phos¬ 
phate. Timothy, of course, only yields 
one crop, where clover or Alfalfa might, 
be grown and several crops secured; 
but on land that has not yet been fully 
reclaimed it is undoubtedly a good 
money-maker, and baled Timothy hay 
sells rather high each year in our hay 
markets. It would seem with these 
methods as described which are now 
used by many farmers in the north 
central part of Ohio, much of the land 
not yet completely reclaimed as far as 
drainage is concerned, could be made 
to yield profitable return on the invest¬ 
ment. • C. M. BAKER. 
Wayne Co., Ohio. 
It. N.-Y.—On many of the good farms 
in Central New Jersey it was formerly 
customary to run a rotation of corn, 
potatoes, wheat—the latter seeded to 
Timothy and clover and cut for hay 
two years. This gave good returns, all 
the manure being put on the clover sod for corn. The 
tendency now is to cut out the Timothy aud grow 
more potatoes. 
The RURAL NEW-YORKER 
phosphate. He has already tried some of this ma¬ 
terial, and is satisfied that Dr. Hopkins’ system of 
soil improvement is the thing. He is now planning 
his entire farming operations on the four-cornered 
scheme of limestone, legumes, livestock and raw 
rock phosphate. w. e. hart. 
Farm Adviser, Williams Co., Ill. 
How to Build Snowshoes 
Will you give directions for making a pair of snow- 
shoes? L. C. 
Harlingen, N. J. 
F IRST, make a pattern over which to bend the 
framework. To do this select a plank of suffi¬ 
cient length and width. From another plank cut 
three pieces and shape 'them to correspond with the 
•three open spaces in the shoes. These should also 
correspond with the work that is required of the 
shoes. The shoes shown in the illustration, Fig. 44, 
are designed for taking long hikes* over a level 
country. If it is intended to travel over a hilly 
surface the shoes should be shorter and correspond¬ 
ingly wider, and for use in the woods and among 
thick underbrush they should be still shorter and 
broader. For this purpose the Indians of the woods 
use shoes that are almost round, while the Sioux 
Effect of Sulphate of Ammonia on Timothy. Fir/. 45. 
An Illinois Limestone Man 
R IGHT down among the coal fields of Egypt we 
have a number of progressive farmers who 
realize the value of ground limestone rock in the 
growing of Red clover on our (new) acid soils. In 
Williamson County one of the pioneer limestone 
users, and certainly the heaviest user of limestone 
t.» date, is Adolph Spitznass. When Mr. Spitznass 
sleeps he dreams about limestone—great heaps of 
limestone—and during his waking hours he is either 
spreading more limestone, talking about limestone 
or reaping the benefits of previous applications. An 
application of four tons per acre makes all the 
difference between complete failure and heavy crops 
of Red clover, hay and seed. I’uril he began using 
limestone, Red clover seedings had failed regularly 
and almost completely, but now lie has no difficulty 
at all in maintaining a thick, even stand, wherever 
proper treatment with limestone 1ms been given. 
Just the other day his twenty-fifth ear of lime¬ 
stone arrived, and it was the first time that Adolph 
was not there with his shovel to help unload. But 
lie was off arranging for the membership drive for 
the Williamson County Farm Bureau, and so couldn’t 
afford to stop just then. For, aside from being a 
limestone enthusiast and a breeder of high-class 
Shorthorns, Adolph Spitznass is a live wire in his 
community and a real booster for his Farm Bureau. 
Now that Mr. Spitznass lias gotten practically 
over his entire farm with applications .of limestone, 
In 1 is almost ready for extensive use of raw rook 
A Load of Timothy Hay. Fig. 46. 
Indians of the plains tise snowshoes that are even 
longer and proportionately narrower than those that 
are shown. 
Shape these three pieces as may be desired, and 
nail them to the plank, leaving two open spaces 
where the cross-pieces are to be placed. Thou bore 
a ring of half-inch holes through the plank, and 
entirely around the three pieces. Space them three 
or four inches apart, and let the rim of each hole 
he half an inch from the cleat. Fit a stout wooden 
plug to each hole, and cut and fit the cross-pieces. 
These should be of strong, tough wood, one quarter 
of an inch thick, from one to two inches wide and 
half an inch longer than the opening left for it. 
Then prepare the frames. These may be made from 
any tough, flexible, straight-grained wood, but 
probably white ash is the best of all. They should 
be of ample length, one quarter of an inch square, 
with the corners well rounded and, if the toe is 
sharply bent, as in the illustration, they should be 
hollowed out at that point to admit of bending. 
Mortises are cut at the proper distances to admit 
the ends of the cross-pieces. Then they are bent 
around the pattern, the cross-pieces inserted, aud 
the frames are held snugly to the pattern by means 
of the wooden plugs. Then the lieels are riveted, 
and the whole is set away to dry. If the frames are 
made of green wood they can probably be bent 
around the pattern without previous preparation. 
But if cut from a dry board they will need to be 
either steamed or soaked in water until soft and 
pliable. However, green sap-wood should always he 
used if available. 
For filling rawhide is aftnost invariably used. 
Caue, such as is used in makimr cane-seated chairs. 
if woven by the same pattern, makes an exceedingly 
neat shoe and one that is very serviceable for light 
work. Strips of ash, such as are used in making 
baskets, also make a serviceable shoe, but rawhide 
is the best of all materials. If one is located near 
a tannery this may be bought all prepared, but 
ordinarily it is not carried in stock by dealers, and 
must be made by some home process. The Indian 
method of preparation is to wrap a hide around a 
quantity of hardwood ashes, lay it in a damp, cool 
and shaded or dark place and let it lie until the 
hair will readily slip off. Then remove the hair and 
all adhering tissue and immerse the hide in neat’s- 
foot oil. Let it remain in this for a week or 10 days, 
hut pulling and stretching and wringing it every day. 
similarly as one would wring wet clothes. Trim off 
a piece of convenient size and in such a manner as 
best to economize the leather, and pin it to a smooth 
board by means of an awl inserted through the 
center. Stick a sharp-pointed and exceedingly 
sharp-bladed knife into the board and revolve the 
hide against it until the hide is of a perfectly.circular 
form. Then remove the awl, insert it well into the 
board and about an eighth of an inch from the point 
■of the knife. Start a little string from the hide, pass 
it between the awl aud the knife and, holding the 
skin flat upon the board, draw the 
string between the awl and the knife, 
thus transforming the flat piece of 
leather into one long, slender string. 
Now, when the frames are dry and 
rigid, we are ready to begin the string¬ 
ing. There are a great many patterns 
for doing this, and so far as utility is 
concerned I do not know that any r* ? 
has any marked superiority over the 
others. Some are exceedingly intricate 
and others arc quite simple The pat¬ 
tern shown in the illustration is per¬ 
haps as easily learned as any, and it 
would be an easy matter to show by 
a practical demonstration just, how the 
weaving is accomplished, out it is ex¬ 
tremely difficult to describe the method 
on paper. With a few instructions ic 
can best be picked out by studying the 
illustration. 
Begin at the right side oi the frame, 
at a point some three c four inches 
back of the cross-piece. Cut a slit in 
one end of the striug Pa s this end 
around the side of the fram •. Pass the 
other end of the string through the 
slit, draw tight and carry to the oppo¬ 
site side. Pass under the frame, bring- 
over the frame and under itself, then 
back around the frame. Now. as this 
strand will have to bear the greater 
part of the strain, it is necessary that 
it. be made the strongest. So carry it 
back to the place of beginning, winding 
it a few times. Unite four strands in 
this manner. Then, after winding the 
loose end around the strands, carry it 
back an inch, wind it around the frame,-then around 
itself, back around the frame and carry across. 
Wind here as before, and move back an inch, aud 
so continue nearly to the heel cross-piece. Then 
carry it to the center of the quadruple strand, weav¬ 
ing a> you go. Pass it between and then around the 
strands, carry it an inch to the left, bring it back 
to and around the heel cross-piece, weaving through 
alternate strands. Wind it around itself, bring it 
to the right of the first diagonal strand, weave it, 
back to the quadruple strand, back to the right and 
then return. This last strand is carried to the toe 
cross-piece, passed around it. returned to the quad¬ 
ruple strand, passed around it. drawn tight, wound 
around itself, returned to and carried around the 
cross-piece, and returned as another strand. When 
this side has been filled the striug is passed to the 
other side, which is woveu in a similar manner. 
When this is filled diagonals are woven in the 
opposite direction. 
It. sounds complicated enough to puzzle the most 
clear-headed, but really it is simple enough. Just 
start as I have indicated, and as soon as one step 
is taken the next will be made plain. When com¬ 
pleted the straps are woven in. and unless it is in¬ 
tended to wear moccasins' when using the snowshoes, 
it is well to fasten a false sole in place the prevent 
the wear which sharp leather heels - uilPoceasiou. 
After being finished and dried, if intended for sale, 
the filling is often given a coating of glue to impart 
a glossy finish. I have often seen an Indian weave 
a pair in a single evening that would now retail for 
$10. The Indians claim that horsehide is best, but 
calfskin will answer. c. o. ormsbeb. 
