1066 
August 9, 1924 
while in live stock farming a larger proportion of 
phosphorus than potassium leaves the farm. 
EFFECT OF MANURE.—The application of ma¬ 
nure to land stimulates a greater per cent of avail¬ 
able plant food yearly; therefore, instead of 1 per 
cent per 1,000 lbs. of phosphorus being available 
during a corn-(growing season, the manure may re¬ 
lease an additional 1 per cent, thereby making the 
crop 100 bushels instead of 50. However, the land 
is being worn out at a double rate, showing that ma¬ 
nure alone in the end makes land poor, especially 
for producing kernels. If manures, residues and 
green crops plowed under are the causes of increased 
availability, they in themselves add but little of the 
deficient elements. Limestone also probably aids in 
liberating plant food. 
ADDING PHOSPHORUS.—It being agreed that 
added phosphorus is desirable, it remains to deter¬ 
mine the best method to accomplish it. One ton of 
raw rock phosphate averages 250 lbs. of actual phos¬ 
phorus, so that four tons would add 1,000 lbs. to the 
1,000 lbs. now present in many soils, and make a 
total of 2,000 lbs. phosphorus in the surface seven 
inches. Steamed bonemeal should also have 250 lbs. 
phosphorus per ton, but its cost would be three or 
four times as much per units of phosphorus. Acid 
phosphate has only 125 lbs. of actual phosphorus 
I>er ton, and per unit of that element is about as ex- 
pensive as bonemeal. The freight cost per unit of 
phosphorus might be equal, except that on the acid 
phosphate it would be greatei*, if anything. If 'n 
raw rock phosphate each pound of actual phos¬ 
phorus costs 5 cents, it would cost $50 to add 1,000 
lbs. to an acre. Bonemeal would likely cost three 
times as much, or $150, and acid phosphate at same 
price per ton as rock phosphate, and having only 
half as much actual phosphorus, the cost per acre 
would be $100. The rock phosphate, applied in de¬ 
creasing quantities every four years would average 
$2.50 per acre per year for 20 years. The acid phos¬ 
phate applied annually in like units would cost $5 
per acre each year, and unless it was utilized by the 
crop promptly it would revert to the raw condition 
and be no more available than in natural earth, or 
rock phosphate. For truck growing and similar 
crops, where there are several rapid turnovers per 
season, the acid phosphate may equal the raw rock 
for continuous farming. 
HUMUS IN THE SOIL.—'The decay of fresh veg¬ 
etable matter is essential to release plant food. 
After it is well decayed or turned to humus it be¬ 
comes rather inactive toward making mineral ele¬ 
ments soluble, but continues valuable in its physical 
effects. I have noted results of applying raw rock 
phosphate in Northeastern and Southern Illinois, 
and also in Florida, and read of its successful prof¬ 
itable use in many other places. These reports and 
tables would fill one of your issues if assembled for 
full comparison. I think the statement in your ar¬ 
ticle, “Most Eastern farmers who keep live stock 
can hardly bring themselves to plow under full crops 
of clover” covers the reason why the Hopkins meth¬ 
od has not fitted the East. 
PRINCIPAL AND INTEREST.—If you consider 
plant food in the farm soil to be similar to a savings 
account, and your yearly crop the interest, it be¬ 
comes clear that if your principal is only $1,000 your 
income might be $40 annually. If you wanted $80 
]>er year and took $40 of it from the principal the 
$1,000 would gradually grow less, and the interest 
also, so ere long you would have no income. How¬ 
ever, if for a number of years you used only $20 
yearly and added $20 to the principal, it would in 
time total $2,000, and then the income would equal 
$80 yearly, and continue so. Our forests have been 
depleted in like manner, and many farms are in that 
condition. I am satisfied that the farmers will never 
restore their farm fertility unless they add the de¬ 
ficient mineral matter faster than they do with the 
present applications of acid phosphate and other 
commercial fertilizers. Soy beans and Alsike clover 
may thrive without limestone, but unless a large 
amount of acid phosphate is used, all additional 
yields in crops continue rapidly to deplete the re¬ 
serve phosphorus. 
ROCK DUST WITH MANURE.—Where the con 
ditions are so that the farmers are not justified in 
turning under a full green crop with raw rock phos¬ 
phate, they can obtain favorable results by putting 
the rock dust with their manure, either in the stall 
or pit, or when loading. Taking the experience of 
Frank I. Mann of Iroquois Co., Ill., as an example, 
there should be little doubt about the profit of raw 
rock phosphate as applied on his large farm for over 
30 years. Suppose any wornout farm that was orig¬ 
inally productive could be bought for $50 per acre, 
1h« RURAL NEW-YORKER 
hardly enough to cover the labor. For $50 more 
the mineral deficiency would be increased to a full 
crop requirement in a balanced ratio, and the yield 
increased to 60’ bushel#. Then the added capital 
might return 20 per cent and the land be profitable 
at a cost of $200 per acre. After sufficient plant food 
is provided for a full crop, the annual upkeep is 
small, and the returns continue large, depending 
then mainly on climate, temperature, moisture and 
management. Soil improvement is an open field for 
profitable investment, and more dependable than 
those where the S is crossed out thus—$oil. 
Illinois WM. D. CLINGMAN. 
Effect of the Japanese Exclusion Act 
in California 
I Our Eastern people on the Atlantic coast <lo not 
clearly understand what the law to exclude Japanese 
and prevent, them holding land will mean to the indus- 
tiial life of California. There seems to be a general 
belief that the Japanese are leaving the State, and that 
California is short of labor. We hear of farmers and 
gardeners who plan to go to California in the expecta¬ 
tion of finding farm work at very 'high wages. From 
the following notes, written by California people it, 
appears that there are plenty of laborers, and that no 
particular efforts are being made to import colored peo¬ 
ple from the Southern States.] 
HE Japanese exclusion law is not affecting farm 
labor in California. Of course it has not been 
in effect lofig enough, but so far has not affected the 
State. There is plenty of white labor to take care 
of the crops, and no effort is being made to obtain 
negro labor from the South. Should we need it, the 
Mexican labor is easily obtained. Few Japanese 
have left this district. 
The San Joaquin Valley is gradually being divided 
into 20-acre tracts where the rancher is doing most 
of his own work, except during the rush season, 
when picking fruit, and at that time we always 
have had plenty of white labor. During the pick¬ 
ing of cantaloupes, some Japanese are employed, but, 
as stated above, Ave have never had a scarcity of 
labor except during the Avar, but since then Ave have 
had plenty of white labor, as people are always com¬ 
ing to California. There is a floating white labor 
group that starts in the southern part of the State 
and Avorks north as the fruit ripens. Thjs group is 
efficient labor as a rule. This is also a large dairy 
district, and the Japanese do not go into this line of 
work; neither do they do any grain farming on the 
lands adjacent to our irrigation districts. 
The Japanese exclusion matter has been greatly 
exaggerated. We are in a splendid valley, and in 
order to protect the interests and standards, Ave 
deem the Japanese exclusion laAv a necessity. We 
send picture of Don Pedro Dam (first page) from 
AA’hich the Turlock and Modesto Irrigation Districts 
derive their storage water. This dam is 2S4 ft. high, 
1.040 ft. long at the top, and 17G ft. thick at the 
base. The capacity of the reservoir is 289,000 acre 
feet of Avater. Having the use of the river and 
using this Avater for late irrigation gives the Turlock 
Irrigation District ample AA n ater for irrigation. 
TURLOCK CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. 
Paul Rupp, Secretary. 
From AA'hat I can find out I belieA 7 e the 1rav is gen¬ 
erally obeyed throughout the State. The farmers 
here have no bother in securing all the AAdiite help 
needed. Avith possibly a feAv exceptions. I do not 
believe there have been any negroes brought into 
the State to work on the farms. Many Japanese 
have left the State. 
In closing I Avish to say that 17 years ago I paid 
for a subscription to The R. N.-Y., and, to the 
best of my knoAvledge, the paper has been received 
regularly all these years without the loss of a sin¬ 
gle number, and the paper has been read Avith much 
pleasure and appreciation in our home. j. m. nead. 
Stanislaus Co., Cal. 
There is a large surplus of labor in California at 
present; in fact, all districts are SAvamped Avith idle 
men, due to the foot and mouth disease, which is 
OA'er. Now dry weather and farmers are not culti¬ 
vating, and have no Avater to irrigate. In some sec¬ 
tions the grain simply burnt up Avith hot north 
Avinds. Crops are running about 60 per cent in this 
section, and prices fair. Our i*ainfall last Winter 
was about 10 in.; should have had 30 in., and springs 
and Avells are drying up, causing a hardship on some 
ranches. Power companies are curtailing electricity, 
due to light snoAvfall in the mountains and Ioav water 
in the power dams, and no i‘elief in sight until Fall. 
What Japanese we have noAv of course cut in on 
American labor, but a Japanese can take an alkali 
daylight until dai*k. We have enough of the yel- 
Ioav race; to be among them is surely convincing. 
The State of Nevada is warning the idle of Cali¬ 
fornia not to come there, as Nevada is in the same 
fix as California. Of course, Presidential year is an 
oft year in any State, but what California needs just 
noAv is people Avith capital enough to get a foothold 
and started. Then it is easy sailing; otlienvise you 
need a round-trip ticket to go back East, for there 
are thousands here now “hanging on by their eye- 
broAvs” and waiting to see what Avill happen next. 
Very feAv negroes in this part of the State, but Avith 
an ideal climate, like Napa Valley, I don't belieA T e 
you could get much work out of a negro, as when it 
comes to Avork a Japanese has the world beaten at 
farming, and they keep to themselves; do not mix 
with Americans. This is the true state of conditions 
here at present. G eo. r. fry. 
Napa Co., Cal. 
In this part of the State, Santa Clara Valley, Jap¬ 
anese exclusion laAv has made little change in the 
supply of farm labor. Most of the Japanese here 
leased or worked the land on shares. Some own the 
land. Not many worked out for wages. Probably 
more work noxv as farm laborers than Avere Avorking 
out a year ago. Some of the Japanese are still Avork¬ 
ing the land they leased or Avorked on shares before, 
haAdng some agreement or understanding Avith the 
owner. Not many Japanese have gone axA r ay from 
here. We have many Italians, Slavs and Spanish 
here, avIio supply most of the farm labor. Just now 
plenty of farm labor here; more men than jobs. I 
do not think a laborer from the East Avould do Avell 
to come here noAv. We do not Avant negroes to locate 
here. The objection to the Japanese is, they are 
workers, and are hard to compete Avith. The Jap¬ 
anese women deserve credit (slaving in the fields 
from daylight till dark as they do) for the Avay they 
are raising their children. These children are blight, 
well-behaved, are clean and Avell dressed, and are be¬ 
ing educated in both the American and Japanese 
SChOOlS. AVILL I). WILKINS. 
Santa Clara, Cal. 
Starting a Strawberry Bed 
Will you give me advice about setting a strawberry 
bed? There is au old bed on the farm we bought this 
Spring. It only gave a very few berries. It is sending 
out a lot of nice runners. When would be the best time 
to set the bed? Would you take off the runners and 
throw away the old plants? Would it be all right to 
plow the ground and put them back on the same place? 
We have hen and barn manure. j. f 
Rome, N. Y. 
E Avould not try to start a new strawberry 
bed on this old ground. No doubt it is full of 
weeds and grass, which Avould make it almost impos¬ 
sible to keep clean. The strong and healthy run¬ 
ners will do if you start a new bed, although of 
course you are taking a chance on this, without 
knowing just what the varieties are. It Avould be 
better if you could get knoAvn varieties, so as to 
knoAA r just Avha/t you are doing, but these runners 
Avill answer to start with. 
Late Summer or Fall is not the best time for plant¬ 
ing strawberries. You cannot hope to get a full crop 
next year, from Fall planting. Spring is the best 
time. That gives the entix-e season for growth and 
will insure a full crop the following year. Plants 
set out uoav will only give a few berries next season. 
Keep atvay from the old bed; take a neiv piece of 
ground as clean as possible, in good shape and Avell 
drained. PIoav or spade it up and make the surface 
as fine and level as possible. Then, following a lit¬ 
tle rain, dig up strong, healthy runners, leaving a 
small amount of dirt around the root, and transplant 
them as quickly as possible in the new bed. We 
should put them in rows 4 ft. apart and about IS in. 
in the row. If the ground is not naturally rich, use 
some fertilizer or manure, and give clean cultiva- 
tion right through the rest of the season. When the 
ground freezes, cover them with some loose material, 
like straw or coarse manure, and let them alone until 
Spring. 
A hot tongue in the harvest field! Some of our folks 
say they cannot seem to drink enough water to keep the 
mouth from going dry. One remedy is to carry a stalk 
of rhubarb to the field and keep sucking a piece of it 
as you would a cigar. 
For centimes there has been a belief that “night air” 
is someAA'hat injurious to health. Thus peoDle have in¬ 
sisted on sleeping with the windows closed tightly. 
There never was any sound basis for this belief in the 
danger from night air. The fact is that the air at night 
is usually sweeter and purer than during the day. 
Think for a moment and see if you can conjure up any 
reason why the air at night should be injurious. When 
a person sleeps in a tightly closed room he is on a 
small scale, like one sleeping in a garage with a car 
with engine running and spitting out foul gasses. 
ranch, woilhless for a white man. and raise crops 
but corn yield was only 20 bushels, the returns would and make money, but the Avhole family works from 
