The RURAL NEW-YORKER 
1655 
Notes from the Mail 
It often happens that a peach tree 
planted in a chicken yard or in a very 
rich garden goes wrong. When forced 
too heavily the peach tree will often grow ; 
so fast that the bark cracks here and ; 
there, and gum oozes out. This is often 
mistaken for borers or for a disease of 
the peach. It is the result of forcing, 
however, and if the heavy feeding and 
cultivating are kept up the tree will be 
ruined. It is chiefly for this reason that 
we do not advise planting peach trees in 
chicken yards. The plum and the apple i 
tree are far better able to stand this fore- j 
ing. We prefer to plant the peach on 
rather medium soil, provided it is open 
and well drained. By feeding the peach, 
we can obtain the needed growth and 
better results than when the tree is 
planted on naturally rich land. 
* * * * * 
There is more call than ever before for 
information about coal ashes. Many peo- i 
pie still think that the ash from burning 
coal must be as valuable as wood ashes. 
There is little, if any, value in the pure 
ash from coal. In most cases the coal 
ashes from stove or furnace represent 
the burning of some wood along with the 
coal, and this gives a little value to it. 
The chief value of the coal ash lies in 
the mechanical effect it will have upon 
the soil. It makes sandy soils more com¬ 
pact. and opens up the heavier clays, so 
as to make them more porous. Our own 
plan is to put the year’s accumulation 
of coal ashes around the apples trees. 
Tn late Fall we haul these ashes and put 
them in little piles around the trunk of 
the tree. f 
$ & * * * 
Many of our gardeners write that they 
are starting a compost heap to provide 
fertilizer for next Spring. This is a good 
plan, and everything about the farm which 
will naturally decay can well be put into 
such a compost. Old cornstalks, weeds, 
leaves and similar things of all sorts may 
go into such a pile. Black soil from a 
swamp will also help. .Small quantities 
of stable manure or chicken manure are 
usually useful, as they will help to start 
the needed fermentation. Small quanti¬ 
ties of lime or wood ashes scattered 
through the pile will also help. As a 
rule, such a compost is lacking in phos¬ 
phoric acid. If it is possible to obtain 
fine bone or acid phosphate, they will 
certainly help. It is not usually possible 
in making such a pile to build it up fully 
in layers, as one would like. The ma¬ 
terials can he dumped onto the pile at 
any time. It is better to make a long, 
narrow pile leather than a large, round 
heap. When such a pile has been made 
high enough, we would cover it with about 
two inches of soil and add to the pile 
at the end, so as to make it long and t 
narrow, covering with soil as the pile 
stretches out. If possible, fork it over 
twice during the Winter, starting at one ; 
end and throwing the compost back behind j 
into another pile. By using a little ma- j 
mire with lime and phosphate such a 
compost in the Spring will be quite equal | 
to stable manure. 
***** 
My father-in-law came to live with 
ns last January. lie had been living in 
a Western State for a few years, but 
lived most of his lift' in the eastern part 
of the State. lie served nearly or quite 
the four years of the Civil War. We 
took him to be registered, and they told 
him he could not vote without being in 
the State a year. Is there any possible 
way of his voting without going back 
to Michigan? Tie is not able to make 
the trip alone, and there is no one that 
ean very well go with him. I doubt 
whether he has ever missed voting, for 
lie has been in good health most of his 
life. ,T. R. 
We find that there is no exemption or I 
special privilege given in the case of a 
veteran. No one can vote in New York 
unless he has been one year in the State, 
four months in tlje county and 80 days 
in the election district. It seems hard, 
hut the election officers were within their 
duty when they refused to register this 
old veteran. 
WANT TO KNOW 
Peat for Smoking Ham 
Has turf or peat been put in the mar¬ 
ket for fuel, and is it commercially ob¬ 
tainable? We are to do some hog butch¬ 
ering this Fall, and inasmuch as hickory 
is not available for smoking, and the 
supply of corncobs limited, I have been 
advised that many provision houses are 
"sing mahogany sawdust, but in my 
••pinion preference should he given to 
peat. I know from personal experience 
in the old country that peat does not 
throw off any chemicals or obnoxious 
gases. This is one of the reasons that 
l'ork smoked with peat retains its sweet¬ 
ness and is given the firmness which has 
made the Westphalian and Trish hams 
and bacons so well known. Perhaps this 
question might interest a good many of 
"ur farmers, and it would be interesting 
to learn what experience some of them 
have had. n. r. 
Pennsylvania. 
ft- N.-Y.—This is new to us, but no 
doubt some of our readers can give* the 
information. We should like to have 
them do so. 
AMERICAN TABLE OF ENGINE MORTALITY 
!0 YEARS 
OR MORE 
9YEARS 
Percentage of 
Engine Deaths 
1 YEAR. 
2 YEARS 
5 YEARS 
4YEARS 
5YEARS 
0YEARS 
7 YEARS 
SYEARS 
i 30p«r C*nt- 
40per Cent 
20 per Cent 
lOper Cent 
— 
** 
high engine authorities, 
shows that 70% of all 
farm engines go to the 
scrap heap in less than 
jioeyears. Iowa Over¬ 
size d.eats this high 
engine tt rath rate. It 
adds yearsengine life. 
How Iowa Oversize Lengthens 
5-Year Engine Life 
Our engineers, years ago, began studying en¬ 
gine mortality. They found many engines 
puny, skimped, undersize, underweight— 
running at such high speed that they were 
racking and shaking themselves into the scrap 
heap. Fully 30% lived less than 3 years. The 
average life was less than five years. 
So the very first Iowa Engine was built of big 
Oversize parts. In Iowa Engines today 
scores of parts exceed the average of other 
engines 15% to 55%. The main frame is 40% 
larger and heavier ; bore and stroke are 30% 
greater; magneto gives 55% more voltage; and 
scores of other parts are Oversize in like 
proportion. 
The result of Iowa Oversize is now known 
everywhere. “Iowa” long-life records are the 
talk of scientific engine circles. Thousands of 
marvelous long-life records are now available. 
And engineering perfections make fuel con¬ 
sumption extremely low. 
Ask your dealer at once for a demonstration. 
Iowa Engines come in all types and sizes. A 
new book describing Iowa Oversize construc¬ 
tion will be sent free on request. 
Associated Manufacturers Company, Dept.F-l Waterloo, Iowa 
Columbus, Ohio Omaha, Nebraska London, England Kansas City, Missouri 
Syracuse, New York Minneapolis, Minnesota Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 
Chicago, Illinois Wellington, New Zealand Melbourne, Australia 
Also makers of the famous Iozva Curved-Disc Cream Separator 
Little pi^s make ho$s of 
themselves on Ubiko Pig Meal 
W HAT’S a hog’s time to me?” a farmer asked when we 
told him Ubiko Pig Meal would give him sturdier, 
healthier, full grown hogs in a shorter time. A hog’s 
time may not amount to much, but the feed he eats during an 
extra month or two costs money. 
Good stock and Ubiko Pig Meal mean quick growth, sound 
flesh and healthy coats. They mean more pork produced at a 
lower total cost for feed. 
The analysis is 18% protein; 5% fat and 8% fibre. 
Write for sample, prices and full feeding directions. 
THE UBIKO MILLING CO. Dept. R CINCINNATI, OHIO 
Wo also make Union Grains, Ubiko Stock Feed, Calf Meal and Poultry Feeds 
UBIKQ 
BALANQEdJr^TIONS ~ 
*\7o r yjll Zjfavrrx Stock 
Gr MEAL 
Make More Money 
in High-Priced Crops 
Stump land is too expensive for any 
farmer to own. Clear your land with a 
HERCULES 
All-St«*l Triple Power 
Stump Puller 
Write for catalog and special 
Introductory price. 3-year 
guarantee—30 days ’ free trial. 
Hercules Mfg. Co. 
930 29th SL 
Centerville, low* 
^minimi 
k 
;imiiiiiui 
| The Farmer 
| His Own Builder 
By H. ARMSTRONG ROBERTS 
— A practical and handy book of all kinds 
S oi building information from concrete to 
— PRICE $1.50 
SS carpentry. 
For sale bv 
| THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
333 West 30th Street, New York 
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