520 
law, and it has been found that the conditions re¬ 
quired by the law are reached at the precise mo¬ 
ment that the syrup boils at a temperature of 219 
degrees, which is seven degrees greater than that of 
water. Hence the thermometer becomes an essential 
agent in the manufacture of maple syrup. 
VARIATIONS IN FIGURES.—Rut these figures 
are based upon calculations made at zero altitude, 
and they vary, approximately, at the rate of one 
degree for every 500 ft. of elevation, so that, in an 
orchard located at an elevation of 2,000 ft, water 
would boil at 208 and syrup at 215 degrees. A gal¬ 
lon of maple syrup boiled at this temperature would 
weight but 30*/£ lbs., and would contain very nearly 
equal parts of.sugar and water; possibly a profitable 
combination, but one that would hardly satisfy the 
consumer, and one that would surely bring the sugar- 
maker into conflict with the pure food law. This 
difficulty is obviated by a proper adjustment of the 
thermometer. This is made by plunging the bulb 
into boiling water, noticing the exact figure at which 
the mercury points, and then adding seven to that 
figure, to indicate the point at which maple syrup 
should boil. 
WHY SHALLOW BOILING IS DESIRABLE.— 
The moisture escapes in the form of little bubbles 
of steam which originate on the bottom of the pan. 
These bubbles are inclosed in thin films, somewhat 
analogous to the film which incloses a soap bubble. 
These films tend to hold the particles of steam 
Our assistant, standing in the edge of a Gano plot fer¬ 
tilized with 10 lbs. each nitrate of soda and acid phos¬ 
phate per tree square per year. The second season after 
beginning. Growth composed principally of Timothy, 
Red-top and June grass. No seed had been sown. The 
fruit product on this row averaged 318.1 bbls. per acre 
per year for the five-year period. The growth of vege¬ 
tation was cut and utilized as a mulch 
against the bottom of the pan, and they must be 
burst before the steam can escape. And, from the 
inception of the bubble of steam until the film above 
it bursts, the bottom of the pan in the space beneath 
the film is bare of moisture, but is covered with a 
film of sugar. During the time that this space is 
bare of moisture this film of sugar becomes more or 
less scorched and changed to caramel, and the cara¬ 
mel tends to impart a dark Color and an acrid 
flavor. The longer time that the space is bare the 
greater will be the extent of the caramelization, and 
the darker and stronger flavored will be the product. 
Now it is obvious that the deeper the sap in the pan, 
the greater will be its weight, the more it will 
strengthen the film, the longer will bo the time re¬ 
quired to burst it, the greater will be the carameliza¬ 
tion, and the darker will be the product. Hence, in 
the manufacture of a high-grade product the sap in 
the pans is maintained at the least possible depth 
that is consistent with safety. c. o. orhsbee. 
Ohio Apple Orchard ‘Fertilization 
Part II. 
FIVE-YEAR RESULTS.—The orchard referred to 
in the report submitted by Mr. Eicher at the Missouri 
meeting was one in which our station later conducted 
tests continuing for five years, and gave even greater 
results from the use of nitrogenous plant food as 
compared with no fertilization, as may be observed 
from the following data which I shall endeavor to 
give as briefly as possible: 
‘Ihc RURAL NEW-YORKER 
The unfertilized or “check” plots averaged 30.7 
barrels of apples per acre per year. 
The plot fertilized with the usual formula of 5 lbs. 
each of nitrate of soda and acid phosphate per year, 
used in connection with a mulch of straw maintained 
in circular form beneath the outer ends of the 
branches of the trees, produced an average of 317.4 
bbls. of apples per acre per year. This was a gain of 
80.7 bbls. of apples per acre per year, as compared 
with the yield of the unfertilized plots. 
The plot fertilized with 2 1 / 2 lbs. of nitrate of soda 
and 5 lbs. of acid phosphate per tree per year, used 
on a mulch of straw, produced 93.4 bbls. of apples 
per acre per year, representing a gain of 50.7 bbls. 
of fruit per acre per year, in comparison with the 
unfertilized yield, and a loss of 24 bbls. per acre per 
year as compared with the plots fertilized with the 
5-4 formula and mulch. 
The plot fertilized annually with 30 lbs. each of 
nitrate of soda and acid phosphate per tree per year, 
distributed evenly over the tree-squares of ground, 
without a mulch of straw, gave an average of 138.1 
bbls. of apples per acre per year for the five-year 
period, or a gain or seven-tenths of one barrel per 
acre per year over the 5-5 formula used with a 
mulch. The gain of the 10-30 formula was 81.4 bbls. 
per acre per year as compared with no fertilization. 
ALL-OVER APPLICATION.—The cost of the 5-5 
formula with a mulch of one bale of straw per tree 
per year, and the 10-10 formula applied evenly over 
the tree-squares of ground without a mulch, was 
practically the same. However, in favor of the 
double-quantity or “all-over” plan of application, we 
obtained an additional result that was quite pleas¬ 
ing, namely, that it produced on the formerly very 
thin, poor orchard soil between the trees, in the 
wonderful development of a dense soil covering of 
grasses, mulching material at the rate of 2,515 lbs. 
sun-dry weight, per acre per year for the five-year 
period. This was a gain of 1.872 lbs. of dry grasses 
per acre per year, as compared with the yields of 
native weeds and poverty grass on the unfertilized 
plots. No grass seed was sown in any of the plots. 
Quite a number of other variously treated plots were 
embraced in this experiment; but those above de¬ 
scribed are the more important. 
GRASS MULCH ORCHARDS.—It will be obviofis, 
by this time, to readers, that the fertilizer experi¬ 
ments of the Ohio Station have been conducted in 
orchards remaining in grass, or under the grass- 
mulch plan of culture. This cultural scheme, in the 
hilly sections of our State, is the only one that gen¬ 
erally can be safely utilized. And it is safe to state 
that fully nine-tenths of the apples grown in Ohio 
are produced under the grass-mulch plan of orchard 
management. Nor should these facts be construed 
to mean that the Ohio Station, while gladly recog¬ 
nizing the merits and possibilities of the grass- 
mulch method either for difficultly tilled or more 
favorably situated areas of land, does not recommend 
this plan exclusively. For many years we have 
maintained for the study and benefit of our apple 
growers test plots demonstrating both the tillage- 
cover-crop and grass-mulch systems of apple orchard 
culture. And our growers are at all times advised 
to make use of their own personal choice of these 
two widely different forms of culture. In our or¬ 
chard fertilization experiments in grass-mulch or¬ 
chards, as above described, the chemical or com¬ 
mercial forms of plant food were applied on the sur¬ 
face of the ground, either in circles beneath the ex¬ 
tremities of the branches of the trees, or evenly over 
the entire surface of the orchard. f. h. ballou 
Practical Aid in Buying and Selling 
ETTING DOWN TO FUNDAMENTALS.—In 
the multiplied agencies for the uplift of the 
farmers it is refreshing to find here and there one 
working from the standpoint of the producer, and 
therefore helpful to the industry. So many start 
from the top and reach down, but, somehow, always 
with the chief objective of promoting the big opera¬ 
tions, and so fail of aiding the individual worker. I 
think the New Hampshire State Agricultural De¬ 
partment has worked out the most practical and 
helpful scheme I have ever known, and. best of all, it 
is workable and bringing desired results. In all 
like movements the personality of the man at the 
helm determines the ultimate result, and in the 
Deputy Commissioner of Agriculture the State has 
one who learned his lesson on a little rocky farm, 
and out of his necessities laid the foundation for 
what is now the well-established work of the Bu¬ 
reau of Markets of New Hampshire. Every Wednes¬ 
day morning this official gets the market quotations 
for leading farm products from dealers in all lead¬ 
ing centers of the State also the stock, hide and 
produce markets of Boston, and also whether, in 
March 13, 1920 
each case, the demand is “active,” “moderate” or 
“weak.” This information is tabulated in order, 
sheets are printed and mailed to go out on the after¬ 
noon trains, to be in the hands of thousands of farm¬ 
ers that night in season to enable shipments on 
Thursday. 
PRACTICAL WORK.—It requires no argument to 
prove the practicability and helpfulness of this ser¬ 
vice, and the response has been remarkable, while 
the stimulating effect on producers is readily seen. 
Going still further, the farmers all over the State 
have been encouraged to notify the department 
weekly of any stock, crop or product they wish to sell 
or purchase, and this information is tabulated and 
put in concise form on the back of these weekly re¬ 
ports. The department is made the medium for 
connecting buyer and seller. As an illustration, one 
man wanted a quantity of straw, and not finding it 
near home, telephoned the department, which in 
turn got in touch that day with a large number, and 
the want was supplied the next day, to the profit of 
all concerned. All this points towards practical co¬ 
operation. During the past two years this official 
has obtained from all the hotels, wholesale and re¬ 
tail dealers, the amount of farm crops and products 
purchased outside the State. One hotel paid $33,000 
for poultry and eggs alone, in one season. A dealer 
was found who was bringing in squabs by the car¬ 
load from Michigan. The giving out of this infor¬ 
mation has already led. in many sections, to the 
Our assistant, standing in edge of unfertilized plot, S ft. 
from where he stood in previous photo. Apparently 
nothing but native weeds and poverty grass in this check 
plot. Yet. among this wild growth are many tiny, 
starving plants of Timothy, Red-top. June grass, Blue 
grass and White clover. The fruit produced on this row 
averaged 36.7 bbls. per acre per year for the five-year 
Period of the experiment. 
coming together of products upon a community 
basis to produce and ship together, and check the 
sending of such vast sums out of the State. 
EFFECT ON PRODUCTION.—Today there is an 
enthusiasm all over the State, and men are planning 
for larger operations, because certain that the week¬ 
ly report will help them find the best market for all 
surplus. This intensely practical work by the de¬ 
partment is infusing new life into all agricultural 
sections of the State. If such organized action can 
be made effective in New Hampshire, why not in New 
York, or any other State, . nd why is there not here 
a possible solution of the jig problem of disposal 
of surplus by the individuri farmer? The essential 
principles are here, to be modified or strengthened, 
according to local conditions. With so much being 
spent in a thousand and one ways to aid agricul¬ 
ture, it is good to find one line of work based on 
actual experience and made workable for the aver¬ 
age farmer. It will be well if others go to it and do 
as Well. G. M. TWITCHELL. 
Maine. 
Very little trade going on in butcher cattle, and 
what is sold is a very low price, in some instances as 
low as when they were bought. Hogs, 18c per lb., 
dressed. Many farmers are discouraged ovei this sit¬ 
uation, and put it on the packers as the cause for not 
being able to make cost out of the feeder cattle. Eggs 
sell at 71c per doz; were up to 81c. Fresh eggs were 
selling in Reading (IS miles distant) at 95c. and stor¬ 
age eggs at 90c; butter 72c and milk at $3.65 per cwt. 
Feeds are very high. All young men and girls moving 
to city. K. L. u. 
Berks Co., Pa. 
