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NESBITT’S TALK
TO THE FARMERS
Monthly Letter of the Commis
sioner of Agriculture.
IMPORTANT QUESTIONS DISCUSSED
Cotton Not the Only Crop That Will Suffer
a Result of the Long Drouth—The
Bowin; Small Gruliao* Grave*, FStc.,
Vnavoldably Delayed—The Advantage*
of Fall Plowing.
Department of Agbicut.ture,
Atlanta, Ga., Oct. 1, IS9G.
FALL CROPS.
The conseqnences of the long drouth
are not confined to the cotton crop. The
land has been in such parched condition,
that no preparation for the usual fall
crops could be made. The small grains,
grasses, clovers, which should have been
prepared for in August and early Sep
tember, and sown in the latter month,
have been unavoidably delayed, and
unless the seasons are unusually favor
able from the present date the farmer
will be disappointed in his seeding of
these fall crops. We should not, how
ever, be discouraged, but take advant
age of every available opportunity, and
put in as large areas of these necessary
crops, as circumstances will admit.
Don’t make the mistake, because time
is pressing, of too hurried preparation
«nd seeding. An acre well prepared
and fertilized, will be worth several
times as much as a far larger area sown
in the old time, careless method.
FALL PLOWING.
The cotton fields being cleared so much
earlier than usual, will give farmers
the opportunity, so rare in cotton lands,
of testing the value of fall plowing.
Last fall we turned over with a 2-horse
plow several acres of stiff land on which
there was a heavy growth of vegetable
matter, leaving the furrows flush, that
they might get the full effects of the air,
the frosts and the rains. Could those
who doubt the advantages of fall plow
ing, have followed each successive steu
in the management of the crops grown
on these acres, they would no longer
urge objections to the plan. From the
outset, when the spring preparations
began, this land, was easier to manure.
During the time of preparation when
other fields became too hard to plow,
these were still managable, and all dur
ing the cultivation of the crop, it has
been much easier to keep the mulch of
finely pulverized soil on these, than on
less favored spots. Today, although
these crops have suffered iu common
with every other green thing, from the
effects of the protracted dry spell, the
yield is superior and the plants in better
condition than elsewhere. On all heavy
lands and lands underlaid with a stiff
clay subsoil, fall plowing is above value.
•The greatest need in our section for the
successful production of crops, is a suf
ficient supply of moisture during the
long hot months, when the usual sum
mer drouth prevails. And there is no
more certain method of supplying this
moisture on demand, than by storing it
up in the subsoil. If fall plowing is
properly done, the subsoil being loosened
so as to receive and absorb the winter
rains, we form a reservoir underneath
the immediate surface. When the hot,
dry weather of summer begins, tho
moisture gradually ascends—and, when
it comes in reach of the thirsty roots, it
is immediately absorbed by them, and
goes to nourish the drooping plants.
Let a farmer make the experiment with
a small patch of land, and mark the dif
ference between the plowed and the un
plowed plats, even in the winter months.
Where the land is left hard, when the
winter rains fall, the water, instead of
sinking into the land, penetrates only
the surface and when it runs off, which
it will inevitably do, it often carries
with it much of the surface soil, in many
cases fertilized at heavy expense. Let
him mark that on the deeply plowed
plat, we have the double advantage of
retaining both the water and the pre
cious elements of fertility. Another ad
vantage of fall plowing is that a man
and a mule will accomplish more satis
factory and more thorough work in the
pleasant fall weather, than when the
busy days of spring come. There is
time to do the work carefullv and com
pletely, no crops are pressing fqr atten
tion, and each furrow can be most ef
fectively run. Another fact which
makes fall plowing most important is
that every acre of such land contains
in its subsoil an amount of phosphoric
acid and potash, which is more than
sufficient to supply the needs of any
crops that may be grown on them for an
indefinite number of years—but in their
present condition these elements are not
available. It has been proven over and
over again that when these unavailable
elements are brought to the surface and
exposed to the action of the air, the
frosts and the rains, they are <a>Tiverted
into available plant food. It seems folly
for a farmer to run up such heavv bills
with the fertilizer merchants, when by
putting his plow in deep and bringing
to the surface a small portion of these
heretofore unappropriated elements, he
can each year supply his crops with
some portion of the necessary plant food,
as well as hold the moisture for further
'use. The prairie lands of Mississippi
were a* one time thought to be almost
inexhaustable, but there are acres and
acres iu that state from which the rich
top soil has been ruthlessly skimmed—
and now that the hard subsoil has been
reached, the farmers, instead of breaking
this and releasing the stores of plant
food confined there, are turniug to com
mercial fertilizers to supplement the
thin layer of top soil which remains.
And this is but a repetition of the agri
cultural history of our older southern
states. Georgia farmers are just begin
ning a thorough investigation of this im
portant question, and each year we see
new converts added to the list of those
who make fall plowing a study and a
success. As before mentioned, we have
an unusually favorable opportunity this
year for testing this question. Cotten
picking will doubtless be over early in
this month and labor will ue abundant
and cheap. The fields, which are us
ually occupied until the last month of
the year, now offer no hindrance to ex
perimentation on this line. Let us give
a few of these hardrun acres a chance
to recuperate their wasted stores We
would rejoice to see every farmer in the
state try it, if only a half acre on this
plaj. and rej» it n suit' at this ffi ..
Put the plow in deep and bring a little
of the subsoil to the surface. If there
Is a etating o* vegetable matter, don’t
turn it entirely under; leave the furrows
at an angle of about 45 degrees. D m’t
I bring up a largo quantity of the sub
soil and leave it flat on the surface,
there to harden and bake. The plan is
to go gradually deeper and deeper each
year—bring up a small quantity of the
subsoil to the surface, leaving it there
for the forces of nature to complete the
work of disintegration and decomposi
tion. On sandy lands this plan is not
admissable; they require different treat
ment It is only on heavy clay lands, or
those having stiff clay subsoils, that the
full benefits of fall plowing may be
realized. Don’t leave the sweet and Irish
POTATOES
in the fields until the tops killed by
frost. In a measure the keeping qual
ities of the potatoes are injured, and
moreover, after the first frost, we are
’ apt to have rains, which prevent tho
saving of the potatoes in a perfectly dry
state, an absolute necessity, if we would
preserve them successfully through the
winter months. It is also important
that they be kept dry. If the straw,
‘ earth, or other covering becomes damp,
it shoul I be removed and dry material
: substituted.
FEEDING FOR MANURE AND FOR BEEF.
In the Inquiries for tins month is one
I of great importance and interest, as to
the merits and costs of different foods
in producing manure, fat and flesh.
The study of these questions indicates
an advance in our system of agricul
ture, and those who inquire into and
investigate this subject will discover
that our methods have been ill advised
and wasteful, and that for a given
amount of food judiciously used, we
can produce a much more profitable re
turn in both meat and manure than has
heretofore been customary.
THE COTTON TIE TRUST
is also inquired into by a farmer who
wishes to know the history and cause
of the re cent fight made against the
“combine,” which has forced up tlio
price of ties beyond all reasonable limits.
We have replied at length in order to
show the farmers how they have been
fleeced, and to put them on guard
against a repetition of the same tactics
another year. The “trust” has made
several hundred thousand dollars out of
the farmers, which prompt and united
effort could have prevented.
R. T. Nesbitt, Commissioner.
CONDITION OF CROPS.
Continued Drouth Injures Cotton—The
Corn Crop Likely to lie Short.
COTTON.
Condition worse than at last report on
account of drouth through September.
With reasonably fair weather the crop
will be entirely gathered by the middle
of October. A full estimate of the
yield would be 60 per cent of an aver
age crop for this state, and from seven
to seven and a half millions for the en
tire erdb. The price should bo, and I
think will be, higher.
CORN.
This crop is injured more than was
supposed a month ago, and in some por
tions of the state the supply will be
short. I therefore urge upon those
farmers who know they will be short of
stock feed, to save everything possible
in the way of forage, viz: pea vines,
ground poa vines and hay of any kind.
And also to plant rye patches and early
oats, that by these means they may sup
plement their corn crops and be saved
from buying corn and fodder. In most
of the counties in this state there is a
sufficient supply of corn made.
FALL CROPS.
Such as potatoes, sugar cane, peas,
sorghum, etc., have been injured seri
ously, particularly the three first. Sor
ghum has turned out fairly well; while
the grinding showed a lack of juice, the
long drouth had eliminated nearly all
the water from the sap and very little
boiling was required to convert it into
syrup. Sweet potatoes, peas and cane
will be shorter than for many years
past; indeed in many places these crops
might be called a total failure.
WHEAT AND OATS.
A large acreage should be planted in
these grains this fall. The early gath
ering of the cotton crop will enable
those so disposed to prepare thoroughly
and plant with care, a larger crop than
usual, of these two important cereals,
one or both of which should be planted
on every farm in the state.
STOCK.
The condition of stock continues good,
and doubtless there will be more hogs
killed this winter than for many years
past. -This is as it should be. Our
farmers should never relax their efforts
to make their farms self supporting;
then, and then only, will they be truly
independent.
Harvestlrg Upland Rico.
Question. —I have a half acre in up
land rice, which is very fine. When
will it be at the proper stage to harvest,
and how should it be gathered.
Answer.—The proper stage for har
vesting is when you find the straw turn
ing yellow and the grains well filled cut
in the heads. You can cut with a reap
hook, tie in bundles at once, and hang
on poles held up by props at the ends,
or yen can cut and lay upon the stubble
to dry, after which it can be put in
small stacks. Should you hang on
poles, a week's exposure will be suffi
cient, and you can then house until
ready for threshing. Don’t bind in
bundles when the dew is on the straw.—
State Agricultural Department.
Value of Coal Ashes.
Question. —I have a quantity of coal
ashes which I do not like to throw
away if there is any value hi them,
either as a fertilizer or as a mulch. Can
you tell me if they are valuable for
either purpose?
Answer. —Coal ashes may contain a
slight quantity of phosphoric acid, but
if so, the amount is so small as to be of
no practical value. The ashes may be
used to improve the mechanical condi
tion of very heavy soils, which contain
vegetable matter. They are also of use
as an absorbent, and may be placed
around fruit trees with advantage. In
all cases they should be fine aud dry
?nd sifted.—State Agricultural Depart
uieLi.
ANSWERS
TO INQUIRIES
Commissioner Nesbitt’s Ques
tion Box For the Month.
THE HPTT WIRE COTTON TIE
Certificates From Compress Companies
Who It Is Far Superior to the Old
Flat Tie The Fertilizing: Properties In
a Ton of Cottonseed—How to Destroy
“Leaf Folder.*’
Question. —What has become of the
wire cotton tie, in which we as farmers
should be much interested? We have
heard nothing of them recently, and
suppose from this that you have becu
j unable to secure »i substitute that would
; answer all the purposes of the fiat tie.
I We as farmers would like to know, if
; we will be compelled to submit to the
i imposition of the cott on tie trust another
year.
Answer.—Owing to the rapidity with
which the crop has been gathered, and
; also to the fact that most merchants
and ginners had already purchased a
supply of the flat ties, it has been im
possible to introduce the wire tie gen
erally this season. The first ones tried
did not give entire satisfaction, but you
! will see from the following certificates,
j that the improved Hitt wire tie, double
strand and patent buckle, is not only a
substitute, but is considered superior to
' the flat tie iu many respects. A bunch
, of these weighs 50 lbs. and costs §l.lO
.at present prices. The flat ties weigh
45 lbs. to the bunch and cost $1.35. We
' trust that farmers will read these cer
tificates and investigate the merits of
these new ties. Any questions ad
dressed to the Department of Agricult
ure, Atlanta, will be cheerfully an
swered.
The Brunswick compress, where the
ties were tried, is one of the largest in
| the south. The certificate speaks iu no
uncertain tones as to the superiority of
i the wire tie. The ties wiil be on exhi
| bition at the Agricultural Department,
and we would be glad to have farmers
: come iu aud examine them. The two
; additional certificates are from two dis
; ferent compress companies in Albany,
Ga. *
Brunswick, Ga., Sept. 23.
j To Whom It May Concern:
I lam now handling cotton upon which
: Hitt’s wire tie and patent buckle has
been used, and having had 25 years’ of
! experience in stevedoring and compress-
I ing will say that I can highly recom-
I mend the Hitt device to the public as
i being in every way far superior to the
flat bands and,buckles heretofore used.
First. It is cheaper, hence the planter
gets a benefit.
Second. Wire bauds will not break
and can be tied just as quickly as tho
flat ones, hence the compress people are
benefited.
Third. Wire bands can be tied tighter
than flat bauds, which means a greater
density, and as there will be no broken
bands the cotton arrives at destination
in much better condition than if it had
been compressed with flat bands thereon,
hence the shippers are benefited in two
ways: first, by lower ocean rates on ac
count of increased density, and secondly
by having cotton reach destination in
better condition than if pressed with
■ flat bands.
Fourth. There are no sharp ends of
; bands to cut the hands of laborers when
handling cotton compressed with the
Hitt device, hence the stevedores will
prefer wire bands upon cotton.
Fifth. Underwriters should make a
reduction in insurance rates on cotton
with wire bands upon it, and no doubt
they will when they are generally used,
las in case of fire wire bands will stand
j more than double the heat of flat bands
' without breaking, hence a great deal
more cotton will be saved in bales than
if it wore in the loose condition, as loose
cotton burns very rapidly.
Respectfully,
A. F. Churchill,
President The Brunswick Terminal Co.
Brunswick, Ga., Sept. 24.
Hon. R. T. Nesbitt, Commissioner of
Agriculture, Atlanta, Ga:
Dear Sir—l forgot to mention in my
letter of yesterday to you that I have had
considerable experience in the use of
wire bauds upon cotton. I have used
them in the past when doubling cotton
. (putting two bales together) under great
pressure in our Brunswick compress.
Necessity compelled me to use wire, as
the flat bauds would uot hold doubled
bales.
Wire bauds will not cut the bagging
of cotton bales when two bales are
pressed into one, let alone upon single
pressed bales. I have proven this fact
from practical experience, and I make
this statement without fear of con
tradiction. Furthermore the tensile
strength of wire is far more than tensile
strength of flat bands, hence there will
not be any broken bands or bursted
bales when tied with wire, which must
certainly be a benefit to everybody who
is interested.
I cannot discover any disadvantage
in the use of the Hitt device, but, vice
versa, it has an advantage over the flat
band in every particular.
Very respectfully yours,
A. F. Churchill,
President The Brunswick Terminal Co.
Albany. Ga., Sept. 24.
To Whom It May Concern:
In a trial of the “Hitt bale tie” at our
compress we find it altogether availa
ble for compress requirements.
It secures the bale at the density to
which the press reduces it fully as well
as the baud tie.
Respectfully,
Albany Compress Co.,
H. Nott Parker, Sec’y. aud Treas.
Albany, Ga., Sept. 24.
Dear Sir—After having tried the
Hitt bale tie I find the strength of the
tie and its method of buckling entirely
effective.
Yours truly,
Albany Cotton Compress,
J. R. Whiteread, Manager.
Orders for these ties in car load lots),
ax-tlres-x-J. to Jaiaes A. FanuJL
mill
Broadway, N. Y., will meat with prompt I
response.—State Agricultural Depart- •
meat.
Planting; Onions.
Question. —I have an acre of Rood
hammock land now in peas. I wish to
plant this land in onions as soon as the
peas are taken off. After broadcasting
well rotted stable manure over the
ground, will it require any com
mercial fertilizer? If so what kind and
how much? What variety of onion
seeds would you advise? How many
seed will it require? Where can I get
reliable seed?
Answer. Your land should be deeply
broken and harrowed and re-harrowed
until the soil is thoroughly pulverized.
This careful preparation, in addition to
heavy manuring, is essential to the suc
cessful raising of onions. In addition
to a liberal applic ition of well rotted
stable manure, you will find it advan
tageous to add at least 500 L4sss of cotton
seed meal, and 500 lbs of ktfinit, half of
which should be broadcasted, and half
applied in the drill. The onion likes a
heavy dose of nitrogen, and is also fond
of potash and salt, both of which it will
get from the kainit. In your latitude
(below Savannah), to i.ave early onions
on the market you should sow the seed
in a seed bed, from Sept. Ist to Sept.
15th. When the young plants are 3or 4
inches high, transplant them, taking
care to retain all the root fibres if pos
sible; set out in rows 18 inches apart
and 4 to 5 inches in the row. This
should bo done immediately after a rain
to insure the plants from dying. In
transplanting press the small bulbs
firmly into the ground. The Bermuda
or the Italian varieties are best to plant
from the seed, in this latitude. Five :
pounds of seed should furnish enough I
plants for an acre, and good seed can be |
obtained from any of the leading seed i
growers, such as Landreth, Buist or !
Henderson. Don’t fail to have your |
laud rich and well prepared if you wish :
for success. The causes of most of the
failures in onion culture, and indeed in
all truck growing, have been poor prep
aration of the soil, or insufficient man
uring, or both. —State Agricultural De
partment.
Bulky Portions <»f a Fertilizer.
Question. The question is often :
asked, “What are the other ingredients !
of a fertilizer, not included in theana'y- !
sis as published, and may not the pure
materials given in the analysis be pur
chased alone, and a great saving in
freight be made.”
Answer.—This question, so often
asked by farmers, is so well answered
by the North Carolina Experiment Sta
tion that I give their answer. “Take
for an example a fertilizer with 9.6 i per
cent available phosphoric acid, 2.39 per
cent ammonia, and 3.05 percent potash.
Tnese three added together only make
15.08 out of 100 parts. Os what is the
remaining 84 9 3 per cent composed of? !
The following table answers this ques- ■
tion:
Moisture 16.39 parts per 109 i
Available Phosphoric
Acid 9.61 I
Insoluble 1.63 “ »“ “ |
Nitrogen (in the Ammo-
nia) 1.97 “ “ ••
Potash 3.05 •* “ “
Volatile and Organic
Matter 30.00 “ “ “
Sulphate of Lime 15.00 “ “ “
Lime (Combined with
Phosphoric Acid) 11.00 “ “ “
Silica 3 00 “ “ “
Chemical Salts 5 0) “ “ “
Miscellaneous 3.36 “ “ “
Total 100.00 “ “ “
“The above represents an ammoniated
fertilizer. The moisture and organic
matter are necessary to accompany the
material furnishing the nitrogen (or am
monia). Nitrogen is a gas and must be
held in combination, and considerable
bulk is necessary, depending on the kind
of material used. Lime must be present
combined with phosphoric acid, and sul
phate of lime is derived from the union
of sulphuric acid added to the phosphate
of lime to make it more soluble. The
chemical salts are generally combined
with the potash. The silica is found
with the phosphate.
“Au acid phosphate is made up of
phosphoric acid, combined with sulphate
of lime (the largest constituent), neces
sarily present as explained above, mois
tive, and miscellaneous. ” —State Agri
cultural Department.
Strawberries vs. Potash.
Question. —I planted an acre of straw
bery plants last spring on a freshly
cleared up piece of ground. The dry
year has retarded the growth of the
plants very materially, except where I
had burnt the trash heaps in clearing
up. On these spots the plants are as
vigorous as in a favorable season. Did !
the potash in the ashes cause the vigor
ous growth ? What percent of potash ‘
is there in ashes from burnt tan bark ? i
What would be their commercial value
per ton ?
Answer.—The potash in the ashes !
undoubtedly caused the fine growth of
the strawberry plants, which being ren
dered more vigorous than those not on
the ash piles, sent their roots deeper and '
farther in search of food and moisture,
and so when drouth came they were
in better condition to retain their vigor,
and resist the effects of dry weather.
There is usually from 3 to 8 per
cent of potash in the ashes from
burnt tan bark (of course I mean un
spent bark), and they are worth from $4
to $8 per ton, according to their purity
and freedom from sand and other foreign
substances. I will give you another
reason for the plants growing as you
describe. When you burned the trash
heaps, the heat killed all the seeds of
grass and weeds in the ground under
the fire, and when your strawberry
plants were set out their growth was ,
never retarded by gruss and weeds, as
1
perhaps the others bad been. —State
ricultural Department.
1
Sowing: Wheat.
Question. —How deep should wheat
be covered to produce the best crop?
Some of my neighbors argue in favor of
shallow and some of deep covering.
Which is considered the best, a bearded
or a beardless wheat?
Answer. Many experiments have
been made to find out the proper depth
to plant wheat, and it has been demon
strated that from 3 to 3U' inches is the
depth to insure the largest yield. Some
prefer the beardless and others prefer
the bearded wheat. I think the bearded
varieties suit our soil and climate best,
but are not the most popular in this
state.—State Agricultural Department.
To Prevent a Cow From Sucking Herself.
Question. —Do you know any way to
prevent a cow from sucking herself?
Answer.—Many plans have been sug
gested to put a stop to this bad habit
that some cows have. The best plan I
have heard of is this, viz: put a pair of
straight hames on the cow’s neck, just
in front of the shoulders, and another
pair just back of her horns. Nail to
these two pairs of hames, two stout
strips of wood on each side of her neck.
This will effectually prevent her from
sucking herself, and will not prevent
her grazing. An animal addicted to
this habit had better be fattened and
! butchered for beef, for in all probability
whenever you remove the side bars you
will find the habit as strong as ever.—
State Agricultural Department.
Planting Cabbages.
Question. —I am preparing to plant
I several acres of land in winter cabbages
for northern markets. The land is fair,
| sandy loam, with good, red clay subsoil.
I Now tell me what is the best commer-
I cial fertilizer I can use, how much ought
: I to use per acre, where can I get it and
I 5, hat will it cost me cash?
j Answer.—Cabbages are very gross
1 feeders and need a fertilizer rich in all
the elements of plant food. Well rotted
stable manure is the best fertilizer for
cabbages, as indeed it is for almost all
plants. In the absence, however, of
stable manure, commercial fertilizers
are used very successfully, You want
a mixture carrying 7 to 8 per cent of
i nitrogen, 6 to 7 per cent of potash and 7
! to 8 per cent of available phosphoric
acid. You should use 1,500 to 2,000
pounds to the acre, broadcasted, and
from 400 to 500 pounds in the drill.
You can get such a fertilizer put up by
a,ny of the guano factories, and it will
cost you in the neighborhood of S4O a
ton. Don’t forget to tear that clay sub
soil all to pieces, if you want to make
fine cabbages.—State Agricultural De
partment.
Fertilizing Properties of Cottonseed.
Question. —I have a quantity of cot
tonseed, for which I am offered $7.00
■ per ton. Will it pay me to accept that
; price, or are the seed more valuable to
! the farm as a fertilizer? Please tell me
I the fertilizing properties in a ton of seed
j and their value.
| Answer.—l have always
I to convince the farmers of Georgia that
it would not pay them to sell their cot
tonseed at $7.00 per ton (lO'o cents a
bushel)? The haul of the seed must be
counted against the farmer, and cannot
be estimated at less than SI.OO per ton,
leaving him $6.00 per ton—or less than
9 cents per bushel. As meal is selling
for about SIB.OO per ton, you will be
giving three tons of seed for one of
meal.
Let us compare the value of three tons
of seed to a ton of meal, in fertilizing
properties:
Phospho- Pot-
Nitrogcn. ric Aci.l. ash.
lbs. lbs. lbs.
In a ton of whole seed. 61.4 20.4 33.4
In three tons 184.2 61.2 70.2
Phospho- Pot-
Nitrogen. ric Acid. ash.
lbs. lbs. lbs.
In a ton of C. S. Meal. 141.6 56. 36.
Thus you see that the three tons of
seed contain of nitrogen 42.6 pounds, of
I phosphoric acid 5.2 pounds, and of pot
ash 34.2 pounds, more than the ton of
cottonseed meal, worth in the aggregate
$6.40. When you sell your seed do not
do it for less than 15 cents per bushel or
SIO.OO per ton, for when you sell for less
you are simply giving away valuable
fertilizing material, and not only giving
it away, but furnishing a team and
hauling it to the purchaser yourself. In
the above calculation no value has been
given to the mech: uical effect of the
whole seed when used as a fertilizer,
though every farmer knows that in use
ing the whole seed he adds considerable
humus to the soil, and renders stiff clay
soils more friable and easier of cultiva
tion.—State Agricultural Department.
To Destroy the “Leaf Folder.”
Question. —I have a number of vines
that are affeeted with “Leaf Folder. ”
What will prevent them, and will they
do much damage to vines this late in
the season? I also have some vines af
fected in a manner that I do not under
stand. I send you. some sample leaves.
Is it not the “Rose Chafer?” What
shall I do to remedy the matter?
Answer. —The best method of des
troying the “Leaf Folder” is to crush
them suddenly within the leaf with
both hands. To prevent their appear
ance, however, is less troublesome, pro
vided the neighboring grape growers
unite in the effort. The chrysalis is
formed within the folds of the leaf,
and by going over the vineyard in the
autumn, before the leaves fall, and care
fully picking and destroying all those
that are folded and crumpled the sup
ply for the following year will be cut
off. This remedy, though very effect
ive, will avail but little unless all in a
neighborhood unite in it. I do not
think the “Leaf Folder” will injure
your vines this late in the season (Sept,
10), but you should take steps to reduce
their numbers for another year. The
leaves sent are injured by the “Grape
Leaf Hopper,” and not by the “Rose
Chafer.” The former attack the thin
leaved varieties of grapes in preference
to those with thicker leaves, like the
Concord, etc. They fasten their beaks
in the leaves and suck the juices, until
at length the leaves become sickly, yel
low and prematurely dry, giving the
vine the appearance it should have at
the approach of winter. The most
promising remedy yet discovered is to
dust the leaves with pyrethrum (insect
powder), or tobacco dust, in the early
life of the “Leaf Hopper,” before they
have acquired wings. Millions of them
may be destroyed by this means. After
they acquire wings there is no remedy
yet known that has much effect upon
them.—State Agricultural Department.
Chickens Suffering From Roup.
Question. —Can you tell me the dis
ease, and give mo a remedy for my sick
chickens, several of which are affected
as follows: A thick offensive discharge
from the nose, heads swollen, the eyes
often closed, great weakness and con
stant thirst?
Answer.—Your chickens are suffer
ing from roup, which is very fatal un
less promt measures of relief are taken.
The sick fowls should at once be re
moved from the flock, and placed in dry,
warm quarters. Warm, soft food in
which a teaspoonful of sulphur for a
dozen fowls, has been mixed, should be
given them. A little cayenne pepper
or powdered ginger should also be mixed
with the food, three times a day. Wash
the head and nostrils with
suds, and then with weak alum water
several times daily. Syringe the nos
trils and throat daily with a solution of
one part of chloride of soda to two of
water. Should they show no improve
ment under this treatment, you had bet
ter kill, and bury or burn them.
It is easier to prevent roup, than to
cure it. Warm, dry shelters in bad
weather, fresh, pure water to drink,
cleanly and nutritious food, no crowd
ing together in large flocks, and active
measures kept up to prevent lice and
filth, will insure your chickens not only
against roup, but also against many
other diseases to which poultry are sub
ject.—State Agricultural Department.
Hice us Stock Feed.
Question. —I have a field of upland
rice, that has a very fine growth of n
stalk. It is now heading out, and as the V
heads appear, they dry up the stalk. ■
Can you tell me why this is? Should I 1
cut the rice now, what kind of stock
feed would it make?
Answer. —Not knowing all the au
ditions, relating to the soil, rainfall,
it is difficult to given satisfactory ■
swer to the first question. It is poM
ble that the soil is so dry. that fi e phlfl
can advance no farther toward
-
riched with .fertilizer noWproperly bal
anced, and hs giWwth it has ex
hausted the plat necessary to .
make the grain, and has so come to a
stand still.
By all means cut it for stock feed, as
both mules and cattle will eat it greed
ily. If the heads have not filled at all,
it will make fine long forage, and if the
heads are partly filled it-will be of course
that much better. St-.te Agricultural
Department.
Marc Troubled With Urticaria*
Question. —I have a pony mare 10 or
11 years old. She has hail something
like itch for 3or 4 years. First appears
as itch, then in hard whelks; has been
getting worse every summer; almost
disappears in the winter. There is no
eruption. She seems perfectly well and
hearty otherwise. Can you tell me what
is the matter and give me a remedy?
Answer. —Your horse is troubled with
urticaria, an itching skin trouble, duo
usually to high feeding, with insufficient
exercise. It is neither dangerous nor
contagious. Give her 6 drachms of
Barbadoes aloes, made into a pill; reduce
her feed, give her more work, and the
disease should soon disappear.—State
Agricultural Department.
To Remove Warts. 1
■ Question. —I own a fine col
years old, that has a large wark on its
hind leg, on the knee joint. 1 cut it off
once and applied pulverized bluestone,
but it lias grown out agaiif. The colt is
a valuable one, and I would like to
know how to get rid of the wart. It is
as large as a man’s fist.
Answer.—Cut off wart again and ap
ply acetic acid daily until cured. You
should have no trouble in removing it
permanently by this means. It is al
ways best to remove warts before they
grow so large, as the operation then
would, be less painful, and a cure more- THI
easily effected. —State Agricultural De- M
partment.
Losses In Manure.
An English chemist points out the "
fact that in every ten gallons of urine
there will be found as much nitrogen as
is contained in 7 pounds nitrate of soda,
34 pounds of bonemeal or 127 pounds
of white turnips. This ptrfa in a com
prehensive way the loss that occurs
when liquid manure is permitted to
drain or soak away. A farmer would
certainly not throw away a bag of ~
ground bone. Yet he may thoughtlessly
lose more than enough liquid manure
to pay for the bone. By the use of ab-
Borbcuts he may save a 1 of the urine,
including the water, or by using plaster
he may let the water go and save only
the nitrogen. In any case it is just as
much a mistake to let the liquid manure
escape as it would be to throw a ton of
fertilizer in<-“ the brook —Exchange. .
