The RURAL. NEW-YORKER 
691 
MARK 
It Cultivates 
ItPacKS 
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SvVW 
advantage of conditions, and these are by 
far the great majority. In my opinion 
they will do far better to control produc¬ 
tion, change their methods, economize as 
best they can and do what they can with 
their own families and such help as they 
can afford. I consider it folly for most 
of such people to try to compete in the 
gamble of high-priced labor when they 
are not close to market. For my own 
part, we shall try to produce more than 
ever before. I have had an unexpected 
chance to get some good help, and I will 
take a chance on the investment. It will 
mean the risk of considerable capital, but 
we are no quitters, aud I stand by what 
I say—that food this year should bring 
a good price. I do not advise my friends 
differently situated to do the same; but 
we expect to take the chance—so no one 
can fairly accuse me of being a grouch 
or a quitter. # I will, however, go on 
record as saying that the high cost of 
farm food has not. reached the top, and 
Will not until the unwise and unpatriotic 
policy started by the “big men’’ who ran 
the war for us is reversed in act and in 
spirit. n. w. c. 
Sweet Potatoes in Old 
Bed 
where the 
I have a sweet potato bed 
potatoes were not removed last year. 
Would it be safe to use it again without 
removing the soil, if I treated it with 
formaldehyde, as stated on page 25S for 
carnations? c. A. F. 
Middletown, Pa. 
It certainly would not be wise to use 
that old sweet potato bed without remov¬ 
ing all of the soil, manure, etc., left from 
last year. In addition to this, it would 
he a wise precaution to treat the boards, 
etc., with formaldehyde, as recommended 
on page 258. It pays to have the bed as 
dean and free of disease, as possible. 
When renewing the soil it is the general 
practice, here to get it from the woods or 
far below the surface so as to be sure of 
having it free of ste mrot aud other sweet 
potato diseases that live over in the soil 
from year to year. We never use soil 
from a field that has had sweets in it re¬ 
cently. TRUCKER, JR. 
Black Rot of Sweet Potatoes 
I have beou raising sweet potatoes 
for years, and each year I find my po¬ 
tatoes more and more affected by some 
disease, I suppose. In taking them up 
I find some with black spots, only skin 
deep, which gives them a peculiar odor. 
This year I laid up three barrels of choice 
ones for sprouting, and I find that about 
one-third of those are getting black spots. 
Elizabethtown, Pa. w. L. d. 
There is no doubt that the sweet po¬ 
tatoes are affected with black rot. Next 
to stem rot, this is the most serious dis¬ 
ease of sweets. In the plant bed it often 
ruins thousands of plants. The lower 
parh of the root turns black aud dies. 
In the field plants often get it soon after 
being set out. and they either die or re¬ 
ceive a tremendous setback. At digging 
time it is noticeable as black spots on 
the potatoes, and they should not be sold, 
as they have a very bad flavor when 
cooked. The great loss from this disease 
usually comes in the storehouse. A 
couple of black rot potatoes in a basket 
will usually infect the entire lot. before 
Spring, and make them worthless. To 
get free from the disease iti is best to dis¬ 
infect the plant, beds thoroughly aud use 
soil which has never had sweets grown 
in it. Have seed as free from the disease 
as it is possible to get it, and then treat 
th<‘ seed before planting, as previously 
advised in The It. N.-Y. Also avoid 
cold. wet. conditions in both plant, bed 
and field as far as possible, as this tends 
to make black rot develop quicker than 
it otherwise would. trucker, jr. 
Orange as a House Plant 
How can I get. a six-year-old orange 
tree to bloom, or wliat care can be given 
it other than to water it? It is about 
three feet tall, looks well, but uo blooms. 
Last Summer T put it in ground, putting 
it in a large pot iu Fall. Siuee then no 
now leaves have come out. 
MRS. E. S. T. 
Orange trees grown as house plants 
often fail to bloom because they are kept 
in active growth thonghout the year, 
without any period of re*t. Keeping 
them too wet at the roots also tends to 
prevent bloom. In late Autumn or early 
\\ inter the plant should be allowed to 
rest, so as to harden the wood. Durin; 
this period it should be held in a temper¬ 
ature of 40 to HO degrees, and kept fairly 
dry at the roots. Water must not be 
withheld entirely, or the leaves will drop. 
After six weeks or two months of rest 
the plant may be moved to a sunny win 
•low and a higher temperature, where it 
is watered more freely, and given occa- 
Momil liquid manure. Tt should bloom 
m Summer or early Fall. It will not do 
",*!*■*. 1 'Over-potted, as best results are 
untamed when there i.s not too much root 
loom. \\ lieu a lmuse-growu orange tree 
attains a height of about five feet, it. will 
'H't require repotting for several years, 
though some of the surface soil may be 
ienjoyed and replaced if desired. Appli- 
en !,un of , lu '!' id manure will provide 
... f .‘*' ni0l| t. loo high a temperature is 
sneli .!* ni Ca i U T fr ,r disappointment with 
is the n !,n - ,ut :l °k °f the resting period 
this J' SU e erp ? r iu hl *use culture. In 
large not Iff > vas spotted in a 
Summer f^f' I»]auting out during the 
■ - ’’ ail( l Hits treatment is calcu- 
11 ivtard blooming for some time. 
Culti-Packing Increases Farm Profits 
Culti-Packing increases farm profits in two 
ways. 
First—tt cuts the cost of production be¬ 
cause the Culti-Packer will make a fine, 
firm seed bed and keep it in good shape 
while the crop is growing with less time 
and labor than any other tool. 
Second—it boosts the yield by giving the 
crop a quicker start, a better feeding 
ground, a stronger root system and by sav¬ 
ing moisture to tide plants over dry sea¬ 
sons. 
Between these two tilings—increase of 
yield and a cut in the production cost—lies 
the bigger profit which your farm should 
pay. 
These results are not guess work. Half 
an hour's trial in the plowed field will show 
j’ou the labor that can be saved with a 
Culti-Packer. Many experiments by agri¬ 
cultural stations and others will certify 
to' the bigger yields secured by Culti-Pack¬ 
ing. 
No investment you can make this year will 
pay you such a quick return and. such a big 
one as the Culti-Packer. 
Culti-Packers For Sale By Your Local Dealer 
Ask Him For The “ Soil Sense” Book 
The Dunham Company, Berea, 
Suburb of 
Cleveland 
Ohio 
ACME T TOOLS E 
Make Perfect Seed Beds 
“ A CME” TILLAGE TOOLS enable 
you to make better seed beds than 
you have ever made before. They provide 
the plants with smooth, fine, firm soil which 
promotes quick root growth. Crops planted 
in “Acme”-made seed beds yield heavier. 
\4CME" Disc Harrow 
—tO Sizes 
Better Tillage — Bigger Crops 
"ACME" Disc Harrow has offset gangs 
which disc all the soil — leave no 
“comb” or middle ridge. The discs 
are specially formed so that they enter the 
soil with a clean cut. They lighten 
the draft yet pulverize thoroughly. 
Special ball bearings take up the 
end thrust. Pres¬ 
sure springs hold the 
gangs to their work 
— prevent 
61-2 ft. Wide l- 
skips on un- 
, evenground. 
Mo. 23 
“^CME” Coulter Pulverizing Harrow com¬ 
pletes the work so well begun by the 
“Acme Disc. It is almost universally used 
on truck farms where perfect seed beds are 
the common thing. And it’s equally valuable 
on fruit and general farms. Everywhere. * ‘The Coul¬ 
ters Do the Work"—make perfect seed beds. 
"I have used both your ’Acme’ Disc and ‘Acme* 
Coujter Harrows at the Stale Institute of Applied 
Agriculture on Long Island," writes Wm. Ryan, 
Inspector in Farm Management, “and find that they 
do excellent work. 1 can recommend them either 
with tractors or with horses." 
Ask your dealer to show you "Acme’'TilIage Tools. 
Write us for free book, “The ‘Acme’ Way to 
Crops that Pay." 
“ The Coulters Do the H'ork"~~ 
Make Perfect Seed Beds. 
DUANE H. NASH INC. 
141 Elm Street, Millington, New Jersey 
No More Singing Spindles 
Mica Axle Grease ends squeaking, 
friction-bound axles and hot-boxes. 
Makes it easier for the horse and 
less expensive for the owner. The 
finely ground mica fills spindle 
crevices and makes a perfect bear¬ 
ing surface. 
MICA 
AXLE GREASE 
Eureka Harness Oil prevents cracking and 
breaking, makes leather soft and pliable. 
STANDARD OIL CO. of NEW YORK 
Principal Offices 
New York Buffalo Albany Boston 
lated 
When you write advertisers mention 
quick reply and a “square deal.” 
The R. iV.-Y”. and you’ll get a 
See guarantee editorial page. 
AGENTS WANTED 
Aetive.rehaMe, on sal¬ 
ary. to take subscrip¬ 
tions for Rvral Nrw-Yorkkr in Ohio. Prefer 
men who have horse or auto. Address 
J. C. MULHOLLANO.‘General Delivery, Columbus, Ohio I 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER.333 W. 30th St..NewYorkCity| 
