\ Fy J (lass__O SO/ pg 2 tee Copyright N° COPYRIGHT DEPOSH: The Farmer's Handbook A CONVENIENT REFERENCE BOOK For All Persons Interested In General Farming, Fruit Culture, Truck Farm- ing, Market Gardening, Livestock Production, Bee Keeping, Dairying, Etc. BY International Correspondence Schools SCRANTON, PA. 1st Edition, 6th Thousand, 1st Impression SCRANTON, PA. INTERNATIONAL TEXTBOOK COMPANY CopyrRiGHT, 1912, By INTERNATIONAL TEXTBOOK COMPANY ALL RIGHTS RESERVED Br ©ta330L qa ? 24070 = + 2 PREFACE This handbook is intended as a book of reference for general farmers, fruit growers, truck farmers, market gardeners, livestock raisers, dairymen, and in fact all persons interested in the principles and. best modern practices of agriculture. Students and teachers of agriculture in colleges and public schools will find it of great value to them in their work, and suburbanites and city and town dwellers who have gardens or raise livestock will receive much help from a study of its pages. While not a treatise covering the entire subject of agriculture; it presents facts, data, and information in language that is clear, concise, and easily-understood, and with the matter arranged in a manner that makes the work especially valuable for ready reference. Among the subjects treated are: Soil improve- ment, general farm crops, fruit and vegetable cul- ture, dairying, bee keeping, farm implements and machinery, as well as a section on farm livestock; this last includes descriptions of the approved types and breeds of livestock and the best method for the feeding and caring of animals in both health and disease. Although the treatment of some of the ‘K 111 iv subjects is necessarily brief, the information given is of the same high order as that contained in the Instruction Papers of the Agricultural Courses of the International Correspondence Schools and is in strict accord with the latest agricultural methods. This handbook was prepared under the super- vision of H. O. Sampson, Principal of our School of Agriculture, assisted by the following Agricultural Editors, all members of our staff of textbook writers: , J. E. McClintock, S. W. Shoemaker, W. W. Otto, H. J. Stevens, and E. D. Stivers. INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENCE SCHOOLS. November 1, 1912. INDEX A Abscesses, 278. Aberdeen-Angus cattle, 208. Abortion in farm livestock, 278. Acetic acid as medicine for livestock, 274. Acid-forming bacteria in milk, 318. phosphates as fertilizer, 34. Aconite as medicine for live- stock, Tincture of, 274. Actinomycosis, 278. Administration of medicines to farm livestock, 273. Aeration, Soil, 47. Air in soil, 7 Alfalfa as green manure, 29. as hay and pasture crop, 77. Aloes as medicine for live- stock, 274. Alsike clover as hay and pas- ture crop, 75. American merino sheep, 219. saddle horses, 181. trotter horses, 183. Ammonia, Sulphate of, 31. water, as medicine for live- stock, 274. Ammoniacal copper carbonate as a fungicide, 91 Analyses, Misleading method of stating fertilizer, 37. Anesthetics, 272 Anodynes. 272. Anthrax, 278. Symptomatic, 279. Antimony as medicine for livestock, Butter of, 275. Antispadmodics, 272. Apothecaries’ fluid measure table, 381. weight table, 380. Apples, Pruning of, 100. Spraying of, 101. Varieties of, 93. Arab horses, 178. Arithmetical tables, 378. Arnica as medicine for live- stock, Tincture of, 274. Arrangement of home gar- den, 166. Arsenate of lead as an insecti- cide, 89. Arsenic as medicine for live- stock, Fowler’s solution OL 2714: Arsenite of lime as an insecti- cide, 90. Artichokes, Jerusalem, 84. Ash in feeds, 239. Ashes for fertilizer, Wood, aoe Asparagus, 174. Astringents, 272. weight table, Avoirdupois 380 Ayrshire cattle, 201. Azoturia, 279. B Babcock milk test, The, 321. Bacon-type swine, 231. Bacteria in milk, 315. in milk, Acid-forming, 318. in milk, Pathogenic, 319. in soil, 11. Balanced rations, 243. Barley, 58 Treatment of smut on, 59. sansa has in farm livestock, 279 Barrow, Score card for bacon- type, 289. Score card for fat-type, 300. Basic slag for fertilizer, 35. vi INDEX Beam plows, 339. Bean and pea thrashers, 352. Beans, 175. Bee keeping as an industry, * keeping, Profits in, 335. keeping, Time required in, stings, Treatment for, 337. Beef animal, List of parts of, 205 cattle, Breeds of, 205. -cattle class, 214. type, Description of, 205. Bees, Drone, 339. Parthenogenesis in, 339. Queen, 337. Races of honey, 337. Worker, 338. Beet lifters, 352. Beets, 168. Sugar, 83. Belgian horses, 188. Belladonna as medicine for livestock, Fluid extract of, 274. Berkshire swine, 232. Bermuda grass as hay and pasture crop, 70. Bichloride of mercury as medicine for livestock, 276. Black quarter, 279. Blackberries, Pruning of, 146. Spraying of, 147. Varieties of, 146. Blackleg, 279. Blisters, 273. Bloat, 284. Blood as fertilizer, Dried, 31. Blue grass as hay and pas- ture crop, Canada, 68. grass as hay and pasture crop, Kentucky, 67. grass as hay and pasture crop, Texas, 71. vitriol as medicine for live- stock, 274. Boars, Rations for herd, 260. Boiled milk, 317. Bone black as fertilizer, 34. as fertilizer, Dissolved, 34. as fertilizer, Raw, 33. as fertilizer, Steamed, 34. Bordeaux mixture as a fungi- cide, 91. Boric acid as medicine for livestock, 275. Broadcasting seeders, 344. Brome grass as hay and pas- ture crop, Smooth, 68. Brown Swiss cattle, 203. Buckwheat, 59. Bunchers, Clover, 348. per cee class of cattle, 14. Cc Cabbage, 169. Calcium in soil, 10. Calomel as medicine for live- stock, °275: Calves, Veal, 216. Camphor as medicine for live- stock, Spirits of, 277. Canada blue grass as hay and pasture crop, 68. ae peas as green manure, Canadian milk 329. Canners and cutters, 215. Capillary water in soil, 6. Carbohydrates in feeds, 240. Carbolic acid as medicine for livestock, 275. Care of farm implements and machinery, 354. Carriage-horse class, 193. Carrots, 83, 170. Castor oil as medicine for livestock, 275. pomace as fertilizer, 33. Cattle, Aberdeen-Angus, 208. Ayrshire, 201. Breeds of beef, 205. Breeds of dairy, 197. re for dual-purpose, Mie Brown Swiss, 203. class, Beef, 214. class, Butcher-stock, 214. standards, INDEX vii Cattle, Devon, 211. Dutch belted, 202. French Canadian, 203. Galloway, 209. Guernsey, 198. Hereford, 208. Holstein-Friesian, 200. Jersey, 198. manure, 22, 25. Market classes and grades ob 22213 Polled Durham, 207. Rations for dairy, 257. Rations for fattening, 259. Red polled, 212. Shorthorn, 206. Simmethal, 203. Sussex, 210. Score card for dairy, 294. Score card for beef, 295. Cauliflower, 170. Celery, 170. Cerebrospinal 280. Charbon, 278. Chemical changes in soil, 8. Cherries, pruning of, 135. Spraying of, 135, Varieties of, 131. Cheshire swine, 236. Chester white swine, 234. Cheviot sheep, 225. Chinch bug on wheat, 55. Choking in farm livestock, 80 280. Cholera, Hog, 283. Chunk-horse class, 192. Classification of feeds, 241. Cleanliness in handling milk, 316. Cleveland bay horses, 186. Sener for truck farming, Clover as hay and pasture crop, Alsike, 75 as hay and pasture crop, Crimson, 76 . as hay and pasture crop, Mammoth red, 74. as hay and pasture crop, Red, 74. meningitis, Clover as hay and pasture crop, White, 76 bunchers, 348. hullers, 353. Clovers as green manure, 27. Clydesdale horses, 187. Coal tar dips, 276. Colic in farm livestock, 280. Commercial fertilizer, 30. Composition of feeds, 238. of milk, 313. Constipation in farm live- stock, 281. Cooling of milk, 316. Copper sulphate as medicine for livestock, 274. Copperas as medicine for livestock, 275. Corn as hay and pasture crop, Kafir, 73. binders, 350. Enemies and diseases of, 66. grown for silage in dif- ferent zones of the U. S., Table of varieties of, 63. huskers and_ shredders, Soe in) Us ASs0 eDate of mirst, general, and last plant- ing and harvesting, 64. pickers, 350. planters, 345. Sweet, 175. Varieties of, 60. Zanes in the United States, il Corrosive sublimate as med- icine for livestock, 276. Cotswold sheep, 227. Cotton planters, 345. Cottonseed meal as_ ferti- lizer, 33. Cough in farm livestock, 281. Cow, List of pasts) /of, 197; Cowpeas as green manure, as hay and pasture crop, Crimson clover as hay and pasture crop, 76. viii INDEX Crops for home garden, 165. from seeding, Table of time required for matur- ity of different vege- table, 366. Half-hardy vegetable, 174. Hardy vegetable, 168. oe of home garden, 167. Hay and pasture, 66. Planting of home garden, 167. Root, 82. Soiling, 85. Tender vegetable, 176. Truck-farm, 163. Cubic measure table, 379. Cucumbers, 176. Cultivators, 342. Culture, Fruit, 89. Currants, Pruning of, 150. Varieties of, 149. Cutters and canners, 215. type, Description of, 197. D Dairying, 313. Delaine merino sheep, 220. Dentrification by tillage, Les- sening of, 48. Devon cattle, 211. Dewberries, Pruning of, 147. Spraying of, 147. Varieties of, 146. Diagnosis of diseases of farm livestock, 270. Dips, Coal tar, 276. Diseases of farm livestock, 264. of farm livestock, Diagno- sis of, 270. of farm livestock, Non- transmissible, 267. of farm livestock, Trans- mussible, 265. Disk plows. 340. Distances, Table of, 382. Distillate oils as insecticide, 91. Ditches, Construction of drainage, 15. for drainage, Open, 15. Ditches, Locating of drain- age, 15, Dorset sheep, 224. Dosage of medicines for farm livestock, 278. Draft-horse class, 190. Drags, Soil, 342. Drainage, Beneficial effects of soil, 13. Cost of soil, 15. laterals, 17. mains, 17. Gpen ditches for, 15. Soil, 12. submains, 17. Dried blood as fertilizer, 31. Drill, Grain, 345. Drone bees, 339. Dry measure table, 381. Dual-purpose type of cattle, Description of, 211. Duroc-Jersey swine, 234. Dutch belted cattle, 202. E Eczema, 281. Epsom salts, as medicine for livestock, 276. Equipment for market gar- dening, 156. for truck farming, 162. Equivalents, How to find fer- tilizer, 39. Table of data for comput- ing fertilizer, 40. Essex swine, 237. Ewes, Rations for, 262. F Farcy, 281. Farm implements and ma- chinery, Care of, 354. livestock, 178. Fat in feeds, 240. Feed, Fodder as, 242. Hay as. 241. on value of manure, Influ- ence of, 23. Root crops as, 248. Silage as, 242. Soiling crops as, 242. Straw as, 242. INDEX 1x Feedstuffs, Table of dry mat- ter and nutrients in American, 249. Feeders and stockers, 215. Feeding, livestock, 238. standards, 243. standards, Wolff-Lehmann, 245. Feeds, Ash in, 239. Carbohydrates in, 249. Classification of, 241. Composition of, 238. Fat in, 240. Protein in, 239. Water in, 239. Fertilizer analysis, mislead- ie methods of stating, 3 equivalents; How to find, 39 equivalents, Table of data for computing, 40. Fish, 32. laws, State, 36. Fertilizers, Commercial, 30. Facts about, 39. Vegetable potash, 36. Field peas as hay and pasture crops, 81 Fish fertilizer, 32. Fodder as feed, 242. Foot and mouth disease, 281. rot, 281. Foul in foot, 282. Founder, 282. French Canadian cattle, 203. coach horses, 185. Fruit culture, 89. Fungicides, 91. Furrow drains, 16. G Galloway cattle, 209. Galls, 282. Gang plows, 340. Garbage tankage, 32. Garden, Arrangement of home, 166. Crops for home, 165. Glass for home, 165. produce, Markets for mar- ket, 159. Garden, Site for home, 164 Size for home, 164. Soil for home, 164. Soil improvement home, 165. Tillage for home, 166. Tools for home, 167. Gardening, Equipment for market, 156. Site for market, 155. Garget, 282. Gasoline as medicine for live- stock, 276. Gentian root, as medicine for livestock, 276. German coach horses, 185. Gestation table for farm live- stock, 301 Gidd, 282. Glanders, 283. Gooseberries, 153 for Pruning of, Spraying of, 154. Varieties of, 152. Grade in underdrains, Ob- taining uniform, 21. Grain binders, 349. drills, 345. harvester and 350. headers, 350. Grapes, pruning of, 122. Spraying of, 124. Training of, 122. Varieties of, 117. Grasses as hay and pasture crop, 66. Grease, 283. heels, 283. Green manure, 27. manure, Alfalfa as, 29. manure, Canada field peas ast: manure, Clovers as, 27. manure, Cowpeas as, 28. manure, Soybeans as, 28. manure, Supplying of, 29. manure, Vetch as, 28. manure, Weeds as, 27. manuring, Effects of, 29. Guernsey cattle, 198. thrasher, x INDEX H Hackney horses, 184. Hair and wool waste, as fer- tilizer, 32. Hampshire sheep, 223. swine, 238. Hand as a unit of measure- ment, 178. Harrowing, 51. Harrows, 340. Harvesting of corn, Table of first, general, and last planting and, 64. of home garden crops, 167. Hay and pasture crops, 66. as feed, 241. loaders, 349. rakes, 348. stackers, 348. tedders, 349. Heaves, 283. aera as an insecticide, 90. Hereford cattle, 208. Hessian fly, Combating of, 55. Hog cholera, 283. List of parts of, 230. manure, Care of, 25. Hogs, Rations for bacon, 260. Rations for fattening, 250. Holstein-Friesian cattle, 200. Honey bees, Races of, 337. Hoof and horn meal, 32. Hoose, 284. Horn and hoof meal, 32. Horse class, Carriage-, 193. class, Chunk-, 192. class, Draft, 190. class. Road, 194. class, Saddle,- 195. class, Wagon-, 192. List of parts of, 179. manure, 21. manure, Care of, 25. Horses, American saddle, 181. American trotter, 183. Arab, 178. Belgian, 188. Breeds of, 178. Cleveland bay, 186. Clydesdale, 187. French coach, 185. Horses, German coach, 185. Hackney, 184. Market classes of, 189. Morgan, 182. Orloff trotter, 184. Percheron, 186. Rations for draft, 255. Rations for driving, 255. Rations for saddle, 256. Score card for heavy mar- ket, 289. Score card for light mar- ket, 292. Shire, 188. Suffolk, 189. Table of market classes of, 191. « Thoroughbred, 180. Yorkshire coach, 186. Hoven, 284. Humus in soil, 10. Hydrometer readings, Table of comparison of Baumé and_ specific gravity, 366. Hydrostatic water in soil. 6. Hygroscopic water in soil, 6. i 3 Implements and machinery, Care of farm, 354. and machinery, Farm, 339. Improvement, Soil, 13. Indigestion, in farm live- stock, 285. Inorganic ingredients of soil, 1. Insecticides for fruit plants, 89 Intestinal worms, 285. Iodine, as medicine for live- stock, Tincture of, 276. Italian rye grass as hay and pasture crop, 70. J Jamaica ginger, as medicine for livestock, 276 Jerusalem artichokes, 84. Jersey cattle, 198. Johnson grass as hay and pasture crop, 70 INDEX K Kafir corn as hay and pasture crop, 73. Kainite as fertilizer, 35. Kentucky blue grass as hay and pasture crop, 67 Kerosene as medicine for live- stock, 276. Kerosene emulsion as an in- secticide, 91. Kohlrabi, 83. L Lambs, R ations for, 263. Lard-type swine, 231. Large Yorkshire swine, 237. Laterals, Distance between drainage, 18. Laudanum as a medicine for livestock, 277. Leather meal as fertilizer, 33. Legal weights per _ bushel, Table of, 368-377. Legumes as hay and pasture crops, 73. Leicester sheep, 226. Lettuce, 171. Lice in farm livestock, 285. Lime, Methods of determining if soils need, 42. on soils, Effect. of, 41. sulphur as a fungicide, 92. sulphur as an insecticide, 90 to soit, Application of, 44. to soil, When to apply, 46. water as medicine for live- stock; 277. Liming of soils, 41. Lincoln sheep, 226. Linear measure table, 278. Linseed meal as fertilizer, 33. oil as medicine for live- stock, Raw, 277. Liquid measure table, 381. List of market classes of sheep, 229. of parts of beef animal, 205. of eee of dairy animal, of parts of hog, 230. List of parts of horse, 179. of parts of sheep, 217. Listers, Corn, 346. Livestock, Administration ce ‘ medicines to farm, Diagnosis of diseases of farm, 270. Diseases of farm, 265. Dosage of medicines for farm, Farm, 178. feeding, 238. Gestation table for farm, 301. Medicines for farm, 272. Non-transmissible diseases of farm, 266. Sanitation of farm, 267. Transmissible diseases of . eu fartia2 65. Location for bee-keeping, 333. Location for truck farm, 160. Lockjaw, 288. London purple as an insect- icide, 90. Long ton weight table, 380. Lump jaw, 278. M Machinery and implements, Farm, 339. Machines and implements, Care of farm, 354. Maggots in farm livestock, 285. Mammoth red clover as hay and pasture crop, 74. Mange, 285. Mangel wurzels, 82. Manure, Alfalfa as green, 29. Soi field peas as green, 2 Care of cattle, 25. Care of hog, 25. Care of horse, 25. Care of poultry, 26. Care of sheep 26. Cattle, 22. Clovers as green, 27. Cowpeas as green, 28. Green. 27. xii INDEX Manure, Horse, 21. Influence of feed on value Ol, 2ae Poultry, 23. Sheep, 22. Soybeans as green, 28. Spreaders, 353. Stable, 21. Swine, 23. Vetch as green, 28. Mares, Rations for, 256. Market classes of cattle, 212, 213. classes of horses, 189. classes of sheep, 228. garden produce, Markets for, 159. gardening, Equipment for, 156. _. gardening, Site for, 155. Markets for market - garden produce, 159. Meadow fescue as hay and pasture crop, 69. foxtail as hay and pasture crop, 67. Meal as fertilizer, Hoof and horn, 32. as fertilizer, Leather, 33. as fertilizer, Linseed, 33. Measures of extension, 378. of volume, 383. : Medicine to farm livestock, Administration of, 273. . for farm livestock, 272. for farm livestock, Dosage Ofs2ese Meningitis, 280. Mercury as medicine for livestock, Bichloride of, 276. Metric equivalents, 381. Milk, Acid-forming bacteria Cerebrospinal, in, 318 Bacteria in, 315. Boiled, 317. Cleanliness in handling, 316. constituents, 313. Cooling of, 316. fever, 286. Milk, Odors in, 320. Pasteurized, 317. Pathogenic bacteria in, 319. regulations, City, 327. standard, Canadian, 329. standards, State, 327. standards, United States, 325. Storing of, 316. test, The Babcock, 321. Testing of, 321. Use of preservatives in, sibte Weighing of, 321. Milkers and springers, 217. Millets as hay and pasture erop, (is Minerals in soil, 8. Miscible oil as an insecticide, 90. Misleading methods of stat- od fertilizer analyses, ate Morgan horses, 182. Mowers, 347. Mule-foot swine, 235. Muriate of potash as fertili- zer, 35. Mutton sheep, 218. N Navel ill, 286. Nitrate of soda as fertilizer, 30. Nitrogen in soil, 9. Non-transmissible diseases of farm livestock, 267. Nutritive ratio, 244. O Oat grass as hay and pasture crop, Tall, 69 smut, Treatment of, 58. Oats, 56. Varieties of, 57. Objects of bee keeping, 331. Odors in milk, 320. Onions, 172. Orchard grass as hay and pasture crop, 68, 69. INDEX xiii Organic ingredients of soil, 1. Orloff trotter horses, 184. Oxford down sheep, 223. P Paris green asan insecticide, 9 Parsnips, 84, 173. Parthenogenesis in bees, 339. Pasteurized milk, Pasture crops, Hay and, 66. Pathogenic bacteria in milk, 319. Peaches, Pruning of, 107. Spraying of, 109. Varieties of, 103. Pears, Pruning of, 115. Spraying of, 115. Varieties of, 110. Peas, 172. Percheron horses, 186. Perennial rye grass as hay and pasture crop, 70. Phosphates as fertilizer, Acid, 34. as fertilizer, Rock, 34. Phosphorus in soil, 9. Pigs, Rations for, 259. Plant food in soil, 9. Planters, Corn, 345. Cotton, 345. Potato, 346. Seedling, 347. Planting and harvesting of Com, Lable of -efirst, general, and last, 64. and harvesting of wheat, Table of first, general, and last, 54. of home garden crops, 167. Plants required to set an acre of ground at given dis- tance, Table of number of, 363. Plowing, 49. Plows, Beam, 339. Disk, 340. Gang, 340. Subsoil, 340. Sulky, 340. Walking, 339. Plums, pruning of, 130 Plums, Spraying of, 131. Varieties of, 126. Poland-China swine, 233. Polled Durham cattle, 207. Potash as fertilizer, Muriate of, 35. as fertilizer, Sulphate of, 36 as fertilizer, Vegetable, 36. as medicine for live-stock, Nitrate of, 277. Potassium in soil, 10. sulphide as a _ fungicide, 2 Potato diggers, 351. planters, 346. Potatoes, 81, 176. Enemies and diseases of, 83. Varieties of, 82. Poultry manure, 23. manure, Care of, 26. Preservatives in milk, Use Olas Profits in bee keeping, 335. Protein in feeds, 239. Pruning of apples, 100. of blackberries, 146. of cherries, 135. of currants, 150. of dewberries, 147. of gooseberries, 153. of grapes, 122. of peaches, 107. of pears, 115. of plums, 130. of quinces, 138. of raspberries, 145. Pumace as fertilizer, Castor, oon Q Quack grass as hay and pas- ture crop, 71 Quarter crack, 286. Queen bees, 337. Quinces, Pruning of, 138. Spraying of, 138. Varieties of, 136. Quinine as a medicine for livestock, 277. xiv INDEX R Rabies, 287. Races of honey bees, 337. Rachitis, 287. Radishes, 173, Rambouillet sheep, 221. Raspberries, Pruning of, 145. Spraying of, 147. Varieties of, 143. Ratio, Nutritive, 244. Ration for draft horses, 255. for stallion, 257. Raticns, Balanced, 243, for bacon hogs, 260 for brood sows, 261. for dairy cattle, 257. for driving horses, 256. for ewes, 262. for fattening cattle, 259. for fattening hogs, 260. for herd boars, 260. for lambs, 263. for mares, 256. for pigs, 259. for saddle horses, 256. Raw bone as fertilizer, 33. Reaper, Self-rake, 350. Red clover as hay and pas- ture crop, 74. polled cattle, 212. top as hay and pasture crop, 67. Rheumatism, 287. Rhubarb, 168. Rickets, 287. Ringworm, 287. Road-horse class, 194. Rock phosphates as fertil- izer, 34. Rollers, 341. Rolling, 50. Root crops, 82. crops as feed, 243. Rutabagas, 83. Rye, 59. grass, as hay and pasture crop, 70 Ss Saddle-horse class, 195. Saltpeter as medicine for livestock, 277. Sand crack, 286. Sanitation for farm livestock, 267. Scab, Sheep, 285. Scabies in sheep, 286. Score card for bacon-type barrows, 289. card for dairy cattle, 294. card for fat-type barrows, 300. card for heavy market horses, 289. card for light market horses, 292. card for market beef cat- tle, 295. card for mutton sheep, 296. card for wool sheep, 298. Scours, 288. Scratches, 283. Seed mixtures for meadows, 362. mixtures for pastures, 362. required per acre, Table of quantity of, 359. Seeders, Broadcasting, 344. Seedling planters, 347. Seeds to germinate, Table of average time required for garden, 366. Self-boiled lime sulphur as a fungicide, 92. take reaper, 350. Sheep, American merino, 219. Breeds of, 217. Cheviot, 225. Cotswold, 227. Delaine merino, 220. Dorset, 224. Hampshire, 223. Leicester, 226. Lincoln, 226. List of parts of, 217. manure, 23. manure, Care of, 26. Market classes of, 228. Mutton, 218. Oxford down, 223. Rambouillet, 221. Score card for mutton, 296. Score card for wool, 298. INDEX XV Sheep, Shropshire, 222. Southdown, 221. Suffolk, 225. Wool, 218. Shire horses, 188. Shorthorn cattle, 206. Shropshire sheep, 222. Silage as feed, 242. Simmenthal cattle, 203. Site for home garden, 164. for market gardening, 155. Size of home garden, 164. Slag as fertilizer, Basic, 35. Small Yorkshire swine, 236. Smooth brome grass as hay and pasture crop, 68. Smut on barley, Treatment Treatment of Treatment of stinking, 53. Treatment of oat, 58. Soda as fertilizer, Nitrate of, Soil aeration, 47. Air in, 7. Bacteria in, 11. by tillage, Mellowing of, 48. by tillage, Pulverization of, 46. Chemical changes in, 8. Classes of water in, 6. Coloz of. 5; drainage, 13. Effect of sunshine on plowed, 47. for home garden, 164. improvement, 13. improvement for home gar- den, 165. by tillage, Increase of water- holding capacity of, 47. Tnorganic ingredients of, 1. Minerals in, 8. Movement of water in, 6. Need of water in, 5. Organic ingredients of, 2. particles, Size of, 1 Plant food in, 9. Properties of, 1 Soil temperature, 7. Types of, 2 Weight of, 4. When to apply lime to, 46. Soiling crops, 85 crops as feed, 242. systems, Tables of, 86-88. Soils, Application of lime to, 44 for truck farming, 161. Liming of, 41. Sorghum as hay and pasture eropy ls Southdown sheep, 221. Sows, Rations for brood, 261. ee i as green manure, 8 as hay and pasture crop, 79. Spinach, 173. Sprayers, 353. Spraying of apples, 101. of blackberries, 147. of cherries, 135. of dewberries, 147. of gooseberries, 154. of grapes, 124. of peaches, 109. of pears, 115. of plums, 131. of quinces, 138. of raspberries, 147. of strawberries, 142. Sprays for fruit plants, 89. Springers and milkers, 217. Square measure table, 379. Squashes, 176. Stable manure, 21. Stallions, Rations for, 257. Standards, Feeding, 243. State fertilizer laws, 36. milk standards, 327. Steamed bone as fertilizer, 34. Sterility in farm livestock, 279. Stockers and feeders, 215. Stomach worms, 285. Storing of milk, 316. Straw as feed, 242. Strawberries, Spraying of, 9 142. Varieties of, 139. Street sweepings, as fertilizer, Soe Xvi INDEX Subsoil, 1. plows, 340. Suffolk horses, 189. sheep, 225. Sugar beets, 83. Sulky plows, 340. Sulphate of ammonia, 31. of iron as medicine for live- stock, 275. of potash as fertilizer, 36. Sulphur as medicine for live- stock, 277 dust as a fungicide, 92. Sunshine on plowed soil, Ef- fect of, 47. Sunstroke in farm livestock, 288. Superphosphate for fertilizer, 34. Surveyor’s square measure table, 379. Sussex cattle, 210. Sweet corn, 175. Swine, Bacon-type, 231. Berkshire, 232. Cheshire, 236. Chester White, 234. Duroc-Jersey, 234. Essex, 237. fever, 288. Hampshire, 238. Lard type, 231. Large Yorkshire, 237. manure, 23. Mutle-foot, 235. Poland-China, 233. Small Yorkshire, 236. Tamworth, 237. Victoria, 236. Symptomatic anthrax, 279. T Table, Apothecaries’ fluid measure, 381. Apothecaries’ weight, 380 Avoirdupois weight, 380. Cubic measure, 379. Dry measure, 381. for farm livestock, Gesta- tion, 301. Table, Linear measure, 378. Liquid measure, 381. Long ton weight, 380. of average time required for garden seeds to ger- minate, 366. of capacity of circular silos and quantity of silage to be fed to lower sur- face two inches daily, 367. of comparison of Baumé and specific gravity hy- drometer readings, 366. of data for computing fer- tilizer equivalents, 40. of distances, 382. of dry matter and nutrients in American feed stuffs, 249. of first, general, and last planting and _ harvest- ing of corn, 64. of first, general, and last planting and _ harvest- ing of wheat, 54. of legal weights per bushel, 368-377. of market classes of horses, 191 91. of New England complete soiling system for 20 cows, 86. of New Jersey complete soiling system for cows, 88. of number of plants re- quired to set an acre of arouee at given distance, 6 of partial soiling system for 20 cows, 85. of quantity of seed required per acre, 359. of time required for matu- rity of different vegetable crops from seeding, 366. of varieties of corn grown for silage in different zones of the U. S., 63. of Wisconsin complete soil- ing system for 20 cows, 87. INDEX Xvii Table, Square measure, 379. Surveyor’s square meas- ure, 379. Troy weight, 380. Tall oat grass as hay and pas- ture crop, 69 Tamworth swine, 237. Tankage, 31. Garbage, 32. Temperature, Soil, 7. Teosinte as a hay and pas- ture crop, 73. Testing of milk, 321. Tetanus, 288. Texas blue grass as hay and pasture crop, 71 fever, 288. Thoroughbred horses, 180. Thrashers, Bean and pea, 352. Thrashing machines,. Grain, 352. Thrush, 289. Tile to use for underdrains, Size of, 17. Tillage, Benefits of, 46. of home garden, 166. Pulverization of soil by, 46. Time required in bee keep- ing, 336 Timothy as hay and pasture extracts and decoctions as insecticides, 91. Tomatoes, 177. Tools for home garden, 167. Training of grapes, 122. Transmissible diseases of farm livestock, 265. Troy weight table, 380. tuck-farm crops, 153. farm, Climate for, 161. farm, Location for, 160. perming, Equipment for, farming, Labor for, 161. farming, Soils for, 161. Tuberculosis of farm live- stock, 289. Turnips, 83, 174. Turpentine as medicine for livestock, 277. U Underdrains, 17. arrangement of, 17. Depth of, 19. Excavating for, 20. Laying tile for, 20. Obtaining a uniform grade Age ort Size of tiles to use for, 17. United States milk standards, 3 P15). v Varieties of apples, 93. of blackberries, 146. of cherries, 131. of corn, 60. of currants, 149. of dewberries, 146. of gooseberries, 152. of grapes, 117, Of Oats, oF. of peaches, 103, of pears, 110. of potatoes, 82. of plums, 126. of quinces, 136. of raspberries, 143. of strawberries, 139. of wheat, 52. Veal calves, 216. vee crops, Half-hardy, 174 crops, Hardy, 168. crops, Tender, 176. potash fertilizers, 36. Velvet grass as hay and pasture crop, 71 Verminous bronchitis, 284. Vetch as green manure, 28. Vetches as hay and pasture crop, 80. Victoria swine, 236. Volume, Measures of, 383. WwW Wagon-horse class, 192. Walking plows, 339. Water-holding capacity of soil, Increase of, by till- age, 47. in feeds, 239. XVili Water in soil, Capillary, 6. in soil, Classes of, 6 in soil, Hydrostatic, 6. in soil, Hygroscopic, 6 in soil, Movement of, 6. in soil, Need of, 5 Weeds as green manure, 27 by tillage, Destruction of, 49 Weeders, 344. Weighing of milk, 321. Wheat, Chinch bug on, 55. Hessian fly on, 55. Table of first, general, and last planting and har- vesting of, 54. Treatment of loose smut on, 53. Treatment of stinking smut on, 53 INDEX Wheat, Varieties of, 52. White clover as hay and pas- ture crop, 76. Whiskey as medicine for live- - stock, 277 Windrowers, 348. Wolft-Lehmann feeding stand- ards, 245. Wool and hair waste, 32. sheep, 218. Wood ashes as fertilizer, 35. Worker bees, 338. av Yorkshire coach horses, 186. Z Zones in the United States, Corn, 61 The Farmer’s Handbook PROPERTIES OF SOIL Soil and Subsoii—Soil is that part of the earth’s surface in which plants, by means of their roots, may or do find nourishment and a place in which to grow. To distinguish the different parts of the soil, the terms surface soil and subsoil are employed. Surface soil, as the name implies, is soil at or near the surface of the ground—that portion usually subjected to tillage; subsoil is soil that lies beneath the surface soil. Surface soil is usually darker in color than subsoil, due to the presence of humus. Inorganic Soil Ingredients.—The inorganic ingredients, or rock particles, of soil are classified according to size into three divisions known as sand, clay, and silt. Sand is made up of larger soil particles than clay or silt. In nearly all soils a certain amount of sand is present. The quantity in an area of soil influences its character to a marked degree. For example, a soil con- taining relatively few sand particles is harder to work with tillage implements than one containing a larger number of sand particles. The smallest particles of soil are known as clay. They are so small that when rubbed between the fingers no gritty feeling is noticeable. A mass of clay particles is usually gray in color. A familiar example of clay is the material used for the making of brick and tile. The particles of soil that are finer than the finest sand but larger than those that make up clay are known as silt, Particles of silt are darker in color and less angular in shape than particles of sand. 1 2 PROPERTIES OF SOIL Organic Soil Ingredients.—The animal and vegetable matter of soil forms what is termed humus, which is partly decomposed organic matter. The proportion of humus in soil greatly influences its crop-producing power. Other conditions being favorable, a soil rich in humus is fertile, and one poor in humus is not fertile. Soils rich in humus are, as a rule, dark in color, and those poor in humus are light in color. Humus is re- tentive of water, and for this reason soils rich in this material are usually moist. If an area of soil is treated with a liberal quantity of humus-forming material, stable manure for example, the soil will become more compact, more retentive of moisture, darker in color, and more fertile, all of which are desirable soil qualities. Types of Soil.—Soils are designated according to the proportion of rock particles of certain size that they contain; or, if they are nearly deficient in rock particles, according to the proportion of vegetable matter they contain. For example, a soil made up largely of sand is known as a sandy soil; one in which the particles are nearly all silt is a silty soil, and one largely of clay is a clay soil. Soils that are largely organic matter are known as peat soils or as muck soils. The term loam is used to designate soils that are made up of at least three of the four ingredients—sand, silt, clay, and humus. Loams are named in accordance with their predominating-sized mineral particles. For example, a loam largely of sand is a sandy loam; one made up practically of clay is a clay loam; and one rich in silt is a silty loam. Sandy soils are easy to work but are poor in plant- food, and are not retentive of water. However, they are what are known as quick soils, that is, they produce crops quickly after seed is planted or young plants are set out. Sandy loams and light sandy loams allow water and plant-food to pass through them quickly, but, as a rule, they are lacking in humus and also in fertility. They PROPERTIES OF SOIL 3 are, however, easy to work, become warm quickly, and will produce early crops of good quality, provided they are kept supplied with large quantities of organic mat- ter. Still, they are not particularly desirable for cropping on account of the expense necessary to keep them in a desirable state of fertility. Regular sandy loams are light in color and contain a comparatively small proportion of humus, but they are easy to work, become warm early in spring, and are quick soils when vegetable matter is added in liberal quantities. They are very acceptable soils for vegetable growing, but on account of the expense of keeping them fertile, they are not profitable for general farming. Medium sandy loams are often termed medium loams. Compared with regular sandy loams, medium loams are more compact, darker in color, more retentive of water, and a little more productive, but they do not produce crops so quickly. They are excellent soils for regular farm crops, such as wheat, corn, etc., but, on account of their lack for quickness, they are not so much desired for vegetable growing as are the regular sandy loams. Clay soils are hard to work, sticky when wet, exceed- ingly retentive of water, and slow in producing crops, but they are usually fairly rich in plant-food. They are better adapted to the growing of regular farm crops than to vegetable production. Clay loams are generally designated as medium clay loams and heavy clay loams. Medium clay loams are usually dark in color, fairly compact in texture, and retentive of water. They are rather difficult to work, and, in addition, are cool and late, which qualities make them unsuitable for vegetable growing. However, they are acceptable for many of the regular farm crops. Heavy clay loams are more compact, more retentive of water, and more tenacious than the medium clay loams. Considering these facts, they are not suitable for vegetable growing, but if liberally supplied with humus they are desirable for some forms of general farming. 4 PROPERTIES OF SOIL Peat is formed by the partial decay of vegetation under water. It is nearly all vegetable matter, containing, as a rule, not more than 25% of rock particles. If drained of surplus water and the vegetation allowed to rot for a long time, peaty soils can be used for cropping. Muck soils differ from peaty soils in the method of formation. They are formed where vegetable matter is under water for a time and is then successively exposed to air and to water. They usually contain a larger percentage of rock particles than is found in peat soils and are usually swampy, but after being drained often become exceedingly productive. Muck soils are excellent for celery and onions, but for general cropping they are not desirable. Soils containing a large proportion of stone, varying in diameter from % in. to 6 in., are termed gravelly soils. Of these there are several kinds, to which such terms as gravelly sandy soil, gravelly loamy soil, or gravelly clay soil are applied. Gravelly sandy soils contain large quantities of coarse sand and are of little use for crop production. Gravelly loam soils are suitable for general farming, but on account of the presence of gravel, which interferes with the working of land for vegetable crops, they are not particularly suitable for gardening. Gravelly clay soils are made up largely of clay in addition to the gravel. They have about the same characteristics as clay soils, and are more suitable for general farming than for vegetable growing. Stony soils are similar to gravelly soils, except that they contain many large stones. They are not well adapted for vegetable growing, largely on account of the diffi- culty of the tillage operations, but for general farming and for tree fruit culture they are often very acceptable. Soil Weight.—The weight of soil varies considerably; it is influenced by the size of the particles and by the proportion of humus and of water the soil contains. A soil composed largely of coarse particles is heavier than one made up principally of small particles. This is PROPERTIES OF SOIL 5 because in a fine-grained soil there is more combined air space than in a coarse-grained soil, air, of course, being lighter than soil particles. The proportion of humus in a soil influences the weight to a marked degree. The humus is lighter than the soil particles; therefore, the larger the proportion of humus, the less is the weight of the soil, and vice versa. Peat or muck soils are about one-half the weight of sandy soils. Surface soils that have been treated liberally with stable manure are, on account of the large proportion of humus they contain, lighter in weight than the same types of soil that have not been ‘treated with manure. An increase in the moisture content of a soil increases its weight. Both water and air occupy the spaces around the soil particles; if water is added to soil, it displaces some of the air, which is lighter than water, and the result is an increase in the weight of the given quantity of soil. Color of Soil.—The color of soil is influenced by its composition. For example, soil that is made up largely of white sand particles is light in color; soil of yellow clay particles is yellow in color. Humus, also, in- fluences the color of a soil. Since humus is dark in color, if it is present in a soil in large quantities, the soil is likely to be dark in color. The proportion of water in a soil generally has an influence on the color. Most soils are darker in color when wet than when dry, but sandy soils change color but little when they become wet. Need of Water in Soil.—Water in soil is absolutely necessary for proper plant growth. In fact, a soil without sufficient water for the needs of plants is a desert. The quantity of water taken up from the soil by plants is exceedingly large. Over 90% of cabbage and lettuce is water; green corn plants are nearly 80% water; clover and potatoes are also about 80% water. As all the water in a plant comes directly from the ) PROPERTIES OF SOIL soil, it is easy to see that a soil to produce large crops must be liberally supplied with water. Classes of Water in Soil.The water in soil is grouped into three classes known as hydrostatic water, capillary water, and hygroscopic water. Below the sur- face ot the soil, water that maintains a given level is encountered at a distance that depends on the quantity of water in the soil at the place where the obser- vation is made. This standing water is the so-called hydrostatic water. It is known also as drainage water and as ground water. Capillary water is that which soaks through the soil in the same manner that oil is carried through a lamp wick. This water passes in any direction—upwards, sideways, or downwards. The soaking of water through soil is caused by what is known as capillary attraction; hence, the season for the term capillary water. Hygroscopic water is that absorbed by the soil particles and which can be driven out of the soil only by excessive heat. It does not move from place to place in soil like drainage water, and the only way it can be removed is by heating a quantity of soil to a temperature sufficient to drive the moisture away in the form of vapor. Movement of Soil Water.—Water in soil moves about from place to place as a result of two forces; one, the attraction of gravity that draws water downwards, and the other, capillary attraction, that causes water to pass in any direction from one part of soil to another. The movement of water downwards is known as ferco- lation. Water in percolating through soil carries with it to depths below the reach of plant roots many of the soluble plant-foods with which it comes in contact. The removal of plant-food from soil by the percolation of water is known as leaching, and any soil from which plant-food leaches rapidly is known as leachy soil. The movement of water through soil by capillary at- traction is necessary for crop production. Plant roots PROPERTIES OF SOIL a absorb capillary water and use it for the development of plants. In fact, no plant can thrive unless a plentiful supply of capillary water is available for use by its roots. The size of soil particles influences the rate at which capillary water travels. The coarser the particles, the more rapidly will water travel by capillary attrac- tion, but, in a coarse soil it will travel a shorter distance than in fine-grained soil. Air in Soil.—In a soil in which plants grow, air is as needful as water and plant-food. In fact, unless air is present in soil, seeds cannot germinate and there can be no plant growth. When drainage water fills all the spaces of a soil at or within a few inches of the surface of the ground, plants fail to grow simply because there is no air around the roots. The death of plants in a low, wet part of the field often results from a lack of air in the soil. The removal of surplus water by drainage is the remedy for such a condition. Air in soil is necessary also for the decay of organic matter in the formation of humus. A grass sod or a quantity of stable manure plowed under and left in a water-filled soil will not decay for years, but, if plowed under and left in a soil where air is present, it will decay in a few months. The presence of air in soil is necessary also to make possible chemical changes that liberate otherwise un- available plant-food. If such changes did not occur, the supply of available plant-food might soon become deficient. Soil Temperature.—Below a certain temperature seeds will not germinate nor plants make satisfactory growth. As soil is the medium in which seeds germinate and in which the roots of plants are imbedded, the proper degree of soil temperature is necessary for crop pro- duction. Different crops differ as to the best tem- perature for the sprouting of seeds and the growth of the plants, but from 75° to 100° F. is a good average temperature for most seeds. 8 PROPERTIES OF SOIL The rapidity of the growth of a crop depends to a large extent on the temperature of the soil. With other conditions the same, crops will mature more quickly in a warm soil than in a cool soil. Soils that warm quickly and easily and retain their heat well, are, as a rule, more suitable for vegetable growing than those having less favorable temperature conditions. But, for grain growing, cooler soils are suitable. The lay of the land influences the amount of heat received by an area of soil. The more direct the rays of the sun strike the land’s surface, the greater is the amount of heat received by the soil. A warm slope is preferable for vegetables and other early crops on account of the warming effect of the direct rays of the sun. For fruit growing, however, a cool slope is pre- ferred. This is because the fruit buds will be retarded, and thus they may escape injury from late spring frosts that are likely to occur. Minerals in Soil—The most abundant rock material in soil is a hard compound known as silica, or quartz. It is abundant in rocks, and on account of its hardness it resists weathering longer than most other minerals. For this reason it is found so largely in soils. Nearly all sand grains are silica. In addition to silica, soils contain quantities of compounds known as alumina, lime, magnesia, potash, soda, phosphoric acid, nu- merous salts, and humus. Alumina and soda are present in relatively large quantities in clay. Lime and magnesia are found more abundantly in soils of limestone origin than in those derived from other sources. The quantities of other compounds in soil vary, but are small in comparison with silica. Chemical Changes in Soil.—Chemical changes are go- ing on constantly in soil. Complex compounds are being broken up into simpler ones or into elements, and simple ones are uniting to form those more complex. These changes are brought about largely by the action of oxygen, which produces decay, or what may be termed ROPERTIES OF SOIL 9 slow combustion. Acids and alkalies in the soil also cause changes, and water in bringing materials into solution is responsible for many chemical changes. Bacteria, some forms of which live in the soil, are also responsible for many of the chemical changes that take place therein. The beneficial result of chemical changes is the liberation of plant-food. Much of the plant-food in soil is not soluble in water and is therefore unavailable for use by the plants, but the constant changes that take place break up these unavailable plant- food compounds and convert the food they contain into a form that can be used by plants. Plant-Food in Soil—The use made by plants of the chemical constituents of soil is for food. Research has shown that out of the eighty or more elements of the universe, only fourteen are taken up from the soil by plants for food, and, further, that the soil is never deficient in any of the plant-foods except four. This being the case, the farmer, gardener, and fertilizer manu- facturer concern themselves only with these four foods, which are the elements nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium, and calcium. The last three of these are often spoken of as the mineral plant-food elements, on account of their being minerals. Nitrogen is a colorless gas that is abundant in the atmosphere. As a gas, however, plants cannot absorb it. To be available it must be in the form of a compound that is soluble in water. Nitrogen combines to form a variety of compounds, only a few of which are available as plant- food, and these compounds are easily leached from the soil. The terms nitrates, nitrites, and ammonia are the most common compounds containing nitrogen. Phosphorous is a solid; it forms the chief ingredient of match tips, and gives off a faint glow in the dark. To be available as a plant-food it must be part of a compound that is soluble in water. The term phosphoric acid is used to designate compounds containing phos- phorous in the form usable by a plant. 10 PROPERTIES OF SOIL Potassium is an element similar in appearance and character to phosphorous. It burns easily and united with oxygen it forms a compound called potash. In the form of potash it is added to soil for use as plant-food. Calcium is one of the ingredients of lime. It is a yellow, solid element. In soil it is generally in the form of lime or limestone. As a plant-food, lime is not often deficient, but it is often applied to soil to correct an acid condition, to liberate unavailable plant-food, or for other beneficial effects. The quantity of plant-food in an area of soil depends somewhat on the size of the particles, on the origin and method of formation, on the proportion of humus therein, and on the manner in which the soil has been cropped. The larger the particles of a soil, the less likely is a large proportion of food to be present. This is because a light soil does not retain plant-food well. This deficiency of plant-food in sandy soils applies more to the nitrogen compounds than to the others, simply be- cause the nitrogen compounds leach away more rapidly. In a clay or a loamy soil there is likely to be more plant-food present, because the soil texture is better fitted to prevent its loss. The origin of a soil has more of an influence on the mineral plant-foods than on the nitrogen compounds, simply because the former are minerals and are con- tained in the rocks that have formed the soil. For example, in a soil formed from limestone, there is likely to be a plentiful supply of lime present, or in one formed from rocks rich in potassic or phosphatic com- pounds, there is likely to be plenty of potassium and phosphorous. The quantity of humus in a soil is of vast im- portance in regard to the quality of plant-food; humus not only contains plant-food but the decaying of animal and vegetable matter in the soil is instrumental in liberating much of the plant-food that would otherwise be unavailable. PROPERTIES OF SOIL 11 By chemical analysis the quantity of plant-food of the different kinds can be told for a given quantity of soil. It would seem, therefore, that a chemical analysis would be of considerable benefit to a farmer. Such is not the case, however, for, although the chemist can tell how much plant-food is in a quantity of soil, he cannot tell about its availability, and it is the availability that the cultivator desires to know. Then, too, it is difficult to secure a sample of soil for analysis that is representa- tive of a field or other given area. Thus, a chemical analysis tells about the quantity of plant-food in the sample analyzed, but it may or may not tell about the quantity of available plant-food of a large area of the soil. Bacteria in Soil.—The presence of bacteria in soil is very necessary. In fact, were it not for soil bacteria there could be no crop production. One of the im- portant effects of bacterial action in soil is the decay of organic matter. The result of this decay is the for- mation of humus, and without humus there can be no plant growth. The rate at which bacteria change organic matter into humus depends largely on the condition of the soil and the climate. The climatic condition cannot be influenced by man, but the soil condition can be influenced by the way the soil is farmed. By fol- lowing the proper methods of cultivation, by rotating crops grown on the soil, and by manuring in the right way the organisms can be made more efficient than otherwise, and as a result the soil through the agency of humus becomes richer. The bacteria in the soil have much to do with the available nitrogen supply. As stated previously, nitro- gen is one of the plant-foods that may be deficient in soil. A large part of the nitrogen used by plants comes from the organic matter in the soil, in other words, from the humus. Nitrogen in the organic form, as it is called, is in compounds that are very complex, and in this condition it is not available for the plants. Certain forms of bacteria act on these complex compounds and 12 PROPERTIES OF SOIL break. them up into simpler ones. In this process of change at least three forms of bacteria are necessary. Each form has its own special work to do. The first changes the organic matter in a way that what is known as ammonia is formed; the second changes the ammonia into what are known as _ nitrites; and the third one changes nitrites into nitrates. Nitrates are soluble and are therefore available as plant-food. This whole process of change from the organic to the nitrate, or soluble, form is known as nitrification. This process is indeed of vast importance to agriculture. In fact, were it not for nitrification there would be no plant growth, for there would be practically no available nitrogen, and without nitrogen no plant can grow. Bacteria that live on the roots of legumes—clover, alfalfa, peas, beans, etc.—are of much importance in the enrichment of soil. On the roots of legumes that are growing under favorable conditions there are found knots of various sizes that are known as nodules, or tubercules. In these nodules live bacteria that are an aid to the plants. They are not parasites, for although they derive nourishment in the form of sugar and dis- solved salts from the plants, they benefit the plant by supplying nitrogen to it in an available form. These bacteria, unlike higher plants, have the power to use the nitrogen of the air and make it available for use by higher plants. After the plants have been removed the roots and the tubercules decay and as a result some of the nitrogen that has been taken from the air is left for subsequent crops. This is why a crop of clover or other légume acts as an enricher of the soil. If none of the bacteria peculiar to the legume that is planted on an area of soil is present in the soil, the legume will make a poor growth and no nodules will form. A few bacteria, however, will serve to inoculate a large area of soil. The bacteria multiply rapidly, and they are carried about by water and on dust particles by the wind. In a region where a given kind of legume, SOIL IMPROVEMENT 13 Red clover, for example, is grown abundantly, there are likely to be plenty of Red-clover bacteria in any area of soil to be planted. When a legume new to a region is to be planted, however, bacteria often need to be supplied. The most practical way of accomplishing this is to obtain soil from a field where the kind of legume it ig desired to grow has been grown successfully, and scatter it on the field that is to be planted. The bac- teria will in this way be carried to the field, and when the legume plants become of sufficient size the bacteria will gain access to the roots, form nodules, and com- mence to be a benefit to the plants. This process of supplying certain kinds of bacteria to soil is known as soil inoculation. SOIL IMPROVEMENT SOIL DRAINAGE Beneficial Effects of Drainage.—The beneficial effects that result from artificial drainage of farm lands are many and varied. The mechanical condition of wet ground is soon corrected when the land is drained, the soil assumes the light color characteristic of dry earth, and the air, the sun, the rain, tillage implements, soil bacteria, and plant-food are effective in a way that is impossible in wet soil. One of the principal benefits of drainage is that it lowers the water-table below the zone of plant roots. When the water-table is at or just below the surface of the soil so that roots of plants are submerged, plant life cannot long exist because of want of air. Also, under such a condition, many of the plant-food com- pounds that are dependent on air for their dissolution and consequent availability to plants are rendered of no value to crops. As soon as water-logged soil is drained aeration takes place, with the result that plant roots are enabled to obtain the necessary air and many of the plant-food compounds are rendered available to plants. 14 SOIL IMPROVEMENT Another important effect of drainage is the warming of the soil. All wet soils are cold, and crops planted on them will not thrive. When the surplus free water is removed from land by drainage the soil invariably becomes warmer. A valuable effect of drainage is the mellowing of the soil. When a soil is properly drained, the change in its mechanical condition is most marked. The heavy character of the soil disappears, and the soil becomes light, pliable, and loose. On a well-drained and hence mellow soil, all tillage operations, including plowing, rolling, and harrowing, are carried on more easily than on a wet soiJ. and the planting and cultivating of crops is therefore accomplished more cheaply. Farm machinery also suffers less from wear and tear when it is used on a light, dry soil than when it is used on a heavy, wet soil. An important benefit of soil drainage is the pro- motion of bacterial action. Most kinds of bacteria cannot live in a water-logged soil. Owing to the fact that the supply of available plant-food in soil is largely dependent on the action of bacteria, it will readily be seen that it is highly important to provide conditions that will facilitate their action. A saving of plant-food is effected by drainage. If land is not well drained, and the fields, particularly those that are tilled, become surface-washed, much of the soil is carried away and with it the plant-food it contained. One of the benefits of drainage is the increase in the quality of crops. Grass, wheat, corn, and many other kinds of crops are, when other conditions are favorable, of better quality if grown in drained soil than if grown in wet soil. The reclaiming of waste land is, perhaps, one of the most beneficial results of drainage. Ground that would otherwise be useless is made fit for cultivation by ridding it of free water; in other words, the acreage of available land on a farm is increased by drainage. Wet SOIL IMPROVEMENT 15 soil that has never been farmed is, as a rule, rich in plant-food, and when reclaimed makes valuable farm land. Cost of Drainage.—Some experts on drainage consider $35 an acre as being the average cost of draining farm land. Others claim that land can be drained for from $12 to $15 an acre. There is, undoubtedly, a wide varia- tion in the cost of drainage. OPEN DITCHES : Where large. quantities of surplus water from sur- rounding highlands collect in ravines and overflow lowlands, open ditches should be constructed to carry away this surplus water. Gullies, which become larger at every rain, are likely to be formed when this is not done. These gullies interfere greatly with farm opera- tions and occupy space that might otherwise be profitably cultivated. Open ditches are also useful in draining large areas in regions where there is but little fall to the natural waterways. In such regions open ditches are provided to convey the water to natural water courses or to large open ditches that in many districts serve as outlets to drains from several farms. Locating of Open Ditches.—In locating an open ditch care must be taken to place it where it will receive the most of the surface water in times when there is much rain or snow. As far as possible, however, open ditches should be placed where they will not be in the way of farm operations, and where they will receive little or no damage from livestock. Construction of Open Ditches.—A ditch should have such an amount of fall, or grade, that a slow, steady flow will be maintained throughout its length. There will then be but little danger that the sides and banks of the ditch will be washed away. When a ditch is par- ticularly steep at any point, the speed of the water may be checked by a series of waterfalls. 16 SOIL IMPROVEMENT The depth and width of a ditch should naturally largely depend on the maximum quantity of water to be carried by it, that is, the water it must carry in times of freshets. The width should be a little greater at the outlet than at the beginning, as the quantity of water carried becomes greater as the outlet is ap- proached. Under most conditions the best kind of an open ditch for farm lands is a wide ditch whose bank and sides, and where possible its bottom, are kept grassed con- tinually. Such drains can usually be maintained with less labor, expense, and inconvenience than any other type of open ditch. Open ditches are generally made with sloping sides, the best slope being about 45°. The banks can thus be grassed over so that the roots of the grass protect the soil by holding it in place, and with such a slope the grass can be easily mowed. Furrow Drains.—Comparatively level stretches of stiff clay soil are often met with that can be properly drained neither by the ordinary surface ditch nor the under- drain. One of the best methods of removing surplus water from such areas is to plow the fields in narrow lands, or divisions, leaving open, or dead, furrows at the sides of each land. The water will collect in these open furrows and will, if there is an incline to the surface of the field, drain to some outlet. Even if the field is so level that water will not drain from the fur- rows, the drainage conditions of the field are better than if no open furrows were made, for the surplus water is removed from around the roots of many of the plants ~ in the field. The distance apart and the depth of the furrows will, of course, depend on various conditions. If the field is level or nearly so, the practice is to make the furrows shallow and from 9 to 15 ft. apart; if there is enough inclination to the surface of the field to cause the water in the furrows to pass to an outlet, the furrows are made deep, and from 40 to 50 ft. apart. SOIL IMPROVEMENT ile UNDERDRAINS Arrangement of Underdrains.—All the lines of tile, with the silt wells whenever these are employed, that are used in draining surplus water from a field, make up what is known as an underdrainage system. The prin- cipal line or conduit of such a system is called a main; sometimes a main constitutes the entire system. When a large area is to be drained it is generally necessary for an underdrainage system to be made up of many branches. The number and size of these branches naturally depend on the area to be drained and the quantity of water to be removed. A submain is a line of tile that has one or more drains branching from it but is itself subsidiary to a main. The lines that extend from either a main or a submain and that have no other lines branching from them are known as /aterals. As more water is carried in the main of a drainage system than in the submains or the laterals, the main is generally made of tile of a larger bore than those used in building any of the other lines. More water is carried in submains than in their own laterals, and usually more than is carried in the lat- erals of the main, and so submains are generally made of tile with a larger bore than the tile used in laterals. The laterals should join the main or the submains at oblique angles and the submains should join the mains at like angles. Determining Size of Tile to Use.—In determining the size of tile to use in an underdrain, careful study should be made of the quantity of water to be carried, the slope of the land in the area to be drained, and the size of this area. The quantity of water to be carried is naturally a very important consideration. Other things being equal, larger-sized tile should be used in regions where the rainfall is heavy than in those where it is light. It should be borne in mind that drainage has to deal with the extreme rather than the average 2 18 SOIL IMPROVEMENT rainfall. Suppose, for example, that there is often as much as 2 in. of rainfall in 24 hr. in a locality. If a drain is constructed in such a region provision should be made for getting rid of a large quantity of water quickly, as a rainfall of 2 in. gives 54,308 gal. of water to the acre. Of this, say one-fourth, is lost through evaporation and one-fourth is absorbed by the crops; there still remains one-half the water, or 27,154 gal., to be carried off through the drains. Of course this water is carried away slowly, but if the tile in the drains are too small it may remain in the soil long enough to injure the crops. The extent of the area to be drained should likewise be considered when the size of tile to use is being determined. The following rules for determining in a general way the acreage that mains will drain will be helpful, but when considering them, the fact that many other conditions enter into the problem should not be overlooked. If the fall is about 3 in. in 100 ft., the rule for finding the acreage that can be drained by a tile of any diameter is to square the diameter and divide by 4. Hence, if a 3-in. tile is used, the area it will drain is 3x3+4=2% A. If a 4-in. tile is used the area that will be drained is 4x4+4=4 A. If the fall is about 4 in. in 100 ft., the diameter is squared and the result divided by 3 instead of 4. Under this condition, a 3-in. main will carry the water from 3 A., and a 4-in. main from 515 A. Distance Between Laterals.—Before deciding on- the distance from each other at which to lay laterals in an area to be drained, full consideration should be taken of the inclination of the land, the kind of soil, and the quantity of water in the area. When there is a sharp incline, the water is more readily removed than when it has a gradual slope or is level, and consequently the laterals should be placed farther apart in the first case than in the other. The kind of soil and the quantity of water are, naturally, important points. SOIL IMPROVEMENT 1g Water will reach a drain more quickly in a coarse- grained soil than in a fine-grained soil; therefore, the laterals should be placed farther apart in a sandy soil than in a clay soil. The following are the usual dis- tances at which laterals should be placed apart from each other in various kinds of soil: In stiff clay soils, from 30 to 40 ft.; in loamy soils, from 40 to 50 ft.; in silty soils, from 50 to 60 ft.; in sandy soils, from 75 to 100 ft. -In addition to considering these general rules, a farmer might do well to ascertain the experience other farmers in the locality may have had with drains on land similar to his. Depth of Underdrains—When deciding the depth at which to lay a drain, careful consideration should be made of the climate of the region, the soil of the area to be drained, and the crops that are to be raised. As the freezing of the water in drain tile will burst or displace them, they should be laid below the depth at which the ground freezes. In most parts of the United States a depth of from 3 to 4 ft. will be below frost, and consequently this is a good average depth for drains on tilled land. The kind of soil is an important factor in determining the depth of an underdrain. When a field has a loose gravelly or sandy subsoil 3 or 4 ft. below the surface, care should be taken not to lay the tile so deep as to cause the water-table to be located in the subsoil. As water percolates easily through such subsoils, they would, unless the drain were placed above the subsoil, act as a filter through which the water would be carried out of the reach of piant roots. In a field that has a stiff clay subsoil, the drain should also be placed above the subsoil, but for a different reason. Water percolates so slowly through a stiff clay that sufficient surplus water will not be removed to benefit the crops growing on the field. Drains in such a field should be as shallow as climatic conditions will allow. 20 SOIL IMPROVEMENT Peaty soils or others of like class, which contain con- siderable humus, often settle to a depth of 2 ft. or more after being drained. In such areas the drains should be placed deep enough to allow for the sinking of the soil. The natural wetness of a soil should influence the consideration of the depth of a drain. If a soil is wet only in the early spring and the late fall, and the farmer desires to work the land at both these seasons, he will probably be able to get rid of sufficient surplus water by building a drain, say from 3 to 3% ft. in depth. On the other hand, if land is wet in the late spring and the early fall, and but partly dry in the summer, a drain from 3% to 4% ft. deep may be nec- essary. The kinds of crops to be grown in drained land should have considerable influence on deciding the depth of drains. In a tilled field the ground freezes much deeper than in a field protected by a sod, and for this reason drains laid in permanent meadows or pastures may be more shallow than those laid in tilled fields. Excavating for Underdrains.—After the ditch for a tile drain has been laid out and the grade has been properly marked on grade stakes, the excavating of the ditch is next in order. As with surface ditches, the work is done with hand tools or by means of a plow. The depth of the ditch at all points should correspond with the figures on the grade stakes, and the earth removed should be thrown near the ditch, as it has to be replaced after the tile are laid. Special care should also be taken to remove all loose dirt from the ditch, as its presence is likely to interfere with the laying of the tile. Laying Tile in Underdrains.—Tile are laid end to end on the bottom of the ditch, generally in a single row. A whole tile should be placed at the outlet. When two rows are laid parallel in the same ditch it is a good plan, after two whole tile have been laid at the outlet, to have the joints of one row alternate with the joints SOIL IMPROVEMENT 21 of the other by starting the remainder of one row with a whole tile, and the remainder of the other row with a half tile. When this plan is employed each joint is opposite the center of a tile in the other row. The two rows can be laid at the same time. The ends of the tile in an wunderdrain should be placed very close together, as a tight joint tends to prevent the entrance of silt and roots. There is no danger of getting joints so tight that water will not enter them. The tile if properly laid below where frost can reach them are practically indestructible, and hence the only way in which a tile drain is likely to become useless is by being clogged. Obtaining a Uniform Grade.—There are many methods in vogue for obtaining a uniform grade in tile drains. A method that is commonly used is to test the grade by means of a spirit level as the tile are laid. If the grade of the line of tile is to be, say, 5 in. in 100 ft., there should be a grade of 2% in. in 50 ft., 1% in. in 25 ft., 4% in. in 12% ft., or % in. in 2% ft. For practical purposes, the amount of fall, or grade, in such a case may be regarded as % in. for each 2ft. Sincea tile is 1 ft. long, the distance from the center of the first tile to the same position on the third tile is 2 ft. Therefore, if the grade is correct, the spirit level when raised % in. at the end toward the outlet should have the horizontal bubble in the center. To verify the calculation of the grade after laying twelve or thirteen tile, it is a good plan to place a leveling board or other straightedge on these tile and set the spirit level on top of it, calculating the grade as just explained. STABLE MANURE Horse Manure.—The dung of the horse, if the animal is in normal health, is very dry, owing to the large quantity of crude, woody, fiber which is undigested. This coarse fiber in horse dung gives it a loose texture, 22 SOIL IMPROVEMENT which renders it liable to ferment easily. As soon as * fermentation occurs, the manure readily loses much of its nitrogen in the form of ammonia. Horse dung is uniform in its character, being less variable in quality than any other animal manure. Horses that are in the stable at night and at feeding times during the day, drop about two-thirds of their dung in the stable. The ordinary work horse of 1,200 lb. will make from 50 to 60 lb. of manure a day, one-half of which is urine. At this rate, one horse will make in the neighborhood of 10 T. of manure a year, about 6 T. of which are dropped in the stable. The liquid manure of solid-hoofed animals like the horse and mule is very rich in nitrogen and potash. Most of the nitrogen exists in the form of urates. On these compounds the bacteria act so soon after the manure is voided that the smell of hartshorn, or am- monia, is very perceptible in a horse stable. Such a condition always means loss of nitrogen. Cattle Manure.—Steers and cows make a large quan- tity of both solid and liquid manure. The average quantity from a mature animal is 70 lb. a day, 30 1b. of which is solid and 40 lb. liquid. No other class of animals surpasses cattle in the quantity of the liquid voided, taking into consideration, of course, the weight of the animals. In estimating the value of the manure from either steers or cows, it is a serious mistake not to take into consideration the liquid manure along with the solid. As a rule, these animals, in summer time, are on a pasture range, and in the winter, if stabled at all, they are in the stable only at night, having the run of a barnyard during the day. By such practice, much of their manure is lost on the pasture, roads, and lanes, or is dropped in the barnyard. Cattle differ from horses and mules in that they will urinate as frequently out of as in the stable. Cattle manure, owing to its watery condition, decomposes much more slowly than does ea se ee SOIL IMPROVEMENT 23 horse manure; it is also less inclined to ferment and fire-fang. Sheep Manure.—The dung from sheep tests very high in nitrogen, phosphoric acid, and potash, being richer than that of ary of the other farm animals, except, perhaps, poultry. Sheep dung is highly concentrated and ferments readily, which means a loss of ammonia. It is a quick-acting manure in the soil, soon becoming avail- able as plant-food. A fult-grown sheep will produce from 1 to 1% T. of manure a year. Sheep manure is liable to the same losses that attend horse manure, and these losses come about in a similar way. Swine Manure.—The size and age of the animal has much to do with the quantity of hog manure that is made by one animal in a year. As nearly as experi- ments can be made to ascertain the facts, a hog makes, both of solid and liquid manure, from 8 to 10 lb. a day. Hogs drink considerable swill and water; consequently, their manure contains a large percentage of liquid. This being the case, it is not inclined to heat as quickly as either horse or sheep voidings. But, owing to the large quantity of water contained, it is in danger of losing some of its value by leaching. Hog manure decom- poses slowly and in this respect it is like that of cattle. Poultry Manure.—Poultry manure compares’ very favorably with that of sheep. It is rich in all the plant-food elements, because the solid and liquid void- ings are made at the same time. As a fertilizer it acts promptly, but as it belongs to the hot manures, fermen- tation starts readily and the ammonia in it is likely to be lost in the air. To prevent this loss, plenty of powdered absorbents, like gypsum, road dust, fine loam, or other similar material, should be applied to the droppings when they are fresh. Influence of Feed on Value of Manure.—The real value of manure, both in quantity and quality, depends not only on the animal producing it, but still more on 24 SOIL IMPROVEMENT the kind of feed fed to the animal. It has been proved both by experience and by chemical analyses that rich feed makes rich manure. Animals give off in solid and liquid excreta only that which they have eaten. If they eat feed rich in protein, the manure will be rich in nitrogen, because it is in the protein that nitrogen is found; whereas, if their feed is poor in protein, the manure is poor in nitrogen. Then, again, if they eat feed rich in carbohydrates, the manure, being of the same character as the feed, will not be nearly so val- uable as if the animals had been fed protein feed. Horses, cattle, and sheep, fed principally on hay and other fodders, make manure rich in potash but poor in phosphoric acid and nitrogen. This condition is due to the fact that most of the potash of plants is found in the leaves and stems. Cottonseed meal stands at the head of the list of all feeds for making rich manure. Linseed meal is another mill feed that makes a manure rich in value. Gluten meal stands next to linseed meal in its manure-making power, although it is a product that is very likely to vary in protein content. Distillers’ grains, such as Ajax flakes, are high in protein, hence a manure rich in nitrogen can be expected when they are liberally included in a ration for livestock. Wheat bran is another feed that is excellent for its manurial value. Although worth only about one-third as much as cottonseed meal, or one-half as much as linseed or gluten meal for nitrogen, it contains a large quantity of ash, which makes it valuable as a manure producer, Corn meal is very low in manure-making value, how- ever, a fact that often surprises farmers when they are thus informed. Yet, it is only too true that corn meal has only about one-half the manurial value of wheat bran, one-third that of linseed meal, and one-fourth that of cottonseed meal. There are many other mill feeds, such as wheat middlings, buckwheat middlings, rice feed, etc., that are very useful both for their feed value to animals and for their manure-making value. SOIL IMPROVEMENT 25 The grasses like timothy, red top, orchard grass, and other similar plants, when fed to livestock, do not yield nearly so rich a manure as the legumes, such as clover, alfalfa, etc. The difference is not due to their digestibility, for grasses, like timothy, are more easily digested by the animal than legumes like clover, but it is due to the difference in nitrogen content inherent in the plant itself. There is also a difference in the manurial value of the varieties of each plant class. Corn fodder, a grass, yields a richer manure than timothy, while alfalfa, a legume, makes richer manure than Red clover. Care of Horse Manure.—To save both the liquid and solid manure of horses, the water-tight floor of their stalls should be inclined slightly from the front to a point just behind the animals. At this point the floor should be a flat gutter having just enough of a de- pression to it to keep the liquid from flowing back over the main floor of the stable. The dung, urine, litter, and absorbents can be mixed in the gutter and all less of liquid prevented. Care of Cattle Manure.—If cattle or steers are stalled in a stable, there is no better way devised to save all their manure than to construct a water-tight gutter behind them. To hold a day’s voidings, this gutter should be 24 in. wide and 7 in. deep, with the sides perpendicular and the bottom perfectly level. All the litter, absorbents, dung, and urine of the manure should be collected in this gutter, enough of litter and ab-: sorbents being used io soak up all the liquid. The manure from a gutter of this size should be removed daily and be spread on the fields as desired. Care of Hog Manure.—The solid and liquid manure of hogs requires the same care and precaution against waste as that of other animals. Hogs usually drop most of their voidings in the outside pen. To prevent loss of the liquid manure, the floor of this pen should be water-tight and should slope toward either one side or the other. 26 SOIL IMPROVEMENT A water-tight gutter of sufficient depth and width to hold the manure for whatever length of time the farmer sees fit to have it there, should be built along the sloping side. Hog manure, being cold, is not likely to heat quickly. If, however, heating occurs, the manure should be removed at once and applied to the soil; otherwise, it will waste. The gutter for hog manure should have a roof over it to protect the manure from the weather. Litter and absorbents are as necessary for use with hog manure as with any other kind. Care of Sheep Manure.—Sheep are not stalled but are allowed to run loose in stables, yet their manure needs to be cared for quite as much as that of any other class of livestock. Owing to the dryness of their dung and the small quantity of water voided, there is no need of gutters as for the animals previously named. A tight floor over the whole sheep barn is of importance if the greatest quantity of manure is to be saved. Litter will not take the place of a tight floor, but when used on a floor that will not allow the manure to escape it is a most excellent material to retain all the rich manure of the sheep. As a rule, there is more litter used for sheep than for other animals, the idea being to have the flock tramp a large quantity of it into shreds to be used as fine manure. It is customary to allow manure to remain in the sheep stable and add bedding from time to time, only removing it when a large quantity has accumulated. Care of Poultry Manure.—The coarse litters are not so well suited for saving poultry manure as are the pow- dered mineral absorbents. In a poultry house, a tight floor or dropping-board sprinkled with road dust, loam, gypsum, or some other absorbent is very necessary to retain the richness of the poultry manure. Poultry manure should be gathered frequently so that it may not be wasted by being knocked about over the house by the moving fowls. SOIL IMPROVEMENT 27 GREEN MANURE Weeds as Green Manure.—Weeds are often very rich in plant-food, and although it is not recommended to have them grow on farms, they may be made use of by plowing them under for green manure. The best time to put them under the soil is while they are in bloom, as they are thus prevented from going to seed. Clovers as Green Manure.—Red clover is one of the plants sometimes used for green manuring. If the whole plant is turned under, it will supply a large quantity of vegetable matter to form humus. However, the tops are so valuable for animal feed that, as a rule, the entire plant is seldom used for green manure. Alsike clover is useful as a green manure. One ad- vantage of this variety is that the plants will often grow on ground too wet for Red clover. Besides this, Alsike lasts in the soil longer than does Red clover. Crimson clover, like Red clover, has a long tap root and numerous branching roots. It is particularly useful as a catch crop, and if plowed under will make very good green manure. A crop of Crimson clover in a region where it is indigenous is easily grown, and is one that yields a heavier tonnage per acre than any of the other clovers. Canada Field Peas as Green Manure.—The Canada field pea, which is grown to a great extent in the northern part of the United States, makes a very good green- manure crop. It is a quick-growing crop, the plants blooming about 7 or 8 weeks after the seed is planted. The physical condition of a _ soil on which pea vines have been grown is very much improved; so much so, in fact, that it is often surprising to see how the soil crumbles when being plowed. The matting of the pea vines on the surface of the ground may be largely prevented if the crop is grown with a strong- growing, tall-stemmed variety of oats, as the oat plants 28 SOIL IMPROVEMENT will act as a support for the pea vines. Better results are insured by planting the seed of peas and oats separately, the peas being placed from 2% to 3 in. in the soil and the oats 1 in. The combination planting, or even the peas grown alone, makes an excellent green-manure crop. Cowpeas as Green Manure.—Cowpeas grow with heavy foliage and consequently make a large quantity of green manure. However, the mass of foliage is so great at times that, when it is all plowed under, the heat caused by the decaying vegetable matter will make the top layer of soil too dry. When used as green manure, cowpeas should not be plowed under too deeply. For the northern part of the United States, the varieties known as New Era and Whippoorwill are probably the best. They are quick-growing and will generally de- velop sufficiently during the growing season to furnish a large quantity of green manure. Soybeans as Green Manure.—The soybean, like the cowpea, makes a large quantity of valuable green manure. It grows very well in the southern part of the United States, and has an advantage over the cowpea in that it is able to stand more drought. The soybean plants, too, grow more upright and with less matting of stems. Vetch as Green Manure.—Two kinds of vetch are used for green manuring, namely, Hairy vetch and Common vetch. Hairy vetch, although it grows best on a rich, moist soil, will often make satisfactory growth on soils that are somewhat dry and sandy, and for this reason is sometimes called sand vetch. As sand vetch will mat on the ground, the crop is often sown with some other crop, a cereal like wheat, rye, or oats usually being chosen. The Common vetch, or tare, is a legume similar in habits of growth to the field or garden pea. The vetch plant, however, is more slender, and has more tendrils SOIL IMPROVEMENT 29 and leaves than the pea plant. Common vetch makes a good catch crop if sown with either rye or wheat, as these crops will hold the vines off the ground. When plowed under, this mixed crop makes excellent green manure. Alfalfa as Green Manure.—Alfalfa is seldom used as a green manure, as the tops are of great value as animal feed. It makes excellent green manure, however, when it is desired to use it as such. Effects of Green Manuring.—One of the principal benefits of green manuring is that it adds humus to the soil, thus making the soil more porous, more re- tentive of film water, and lighter in weight, the latter being particularly true of heavy soils, like clay. Owing to the fact that soils treated by green manuring are made physically better, they are easier to work with the implements of tillage than soils not so treated. Another benefit of green manuring is the addition to the soil of such plant-foods as nitrogen, phosphoric acid, potash, and lime, these fertilizing elements being contained in varying quantities in the crop turned under. The decomposing of the vegetable matter of green manure adds much heat to the soil. The quantity of heat liberated when vegetable matter decays is as great as if the same quantity of matter were burned, the only difference being in the time taken to complete the process. In fact, decomposition is really slow burning. This heating caused by the decay of green manure is often of much benefit to the crop that follows. Soil depth can be increased by green manuring, pro- vided the vegetable matter is placed somewhat deeper than the usual plow depth. The plowing must not be so deep, however, as to shut off the supply of air from the surface, because air is necessary for the decay of vegetable matter. Supplying of Green Manure.—Two or even three green-manure crops may be grown and turned under within a year, provided, of course, that the income crop 30 SOIL IMPROVEMENT is given up. The advantage of turning under several crops is that much more humus and nitrogen can be added to the soil than when only one crop is used. The work may be begun either in the spring or the fall, as desired. The stage of acrop’s growth greatly influences its value for green manure. If the plants have mature, woody stems, the vegetable matter will be slow to decay when placed underneath the plow furrow. Besides this, when a layer of dry, woody plant material is placed a few inches below the soil surface, the normal supply of capillary water from the lower soil depths is partly pre- vented from reaching the roots of the plants growing in the soil. Then, too, mature plants during their growth have used large quantities of water, and the soil on which they are grown is therefore likely to be deficient in water. Thus, it is easy to conclude that plants should not be too mature when they are plowed under for green manure. During their blossoming period, plants are in the best condition to be plowed under. At this stage of growth, the stems are soft and succulent, will decay rapidly, and will not cause the surface soil to become dry for the succeeding crop. The deeper green manure is placed in the soil, the longer it will take the vegetable matter to decay. This is because air, which is necessary for decay, is present in smaller quantities as the soil depth increases. In wet weather 4 in. and in dry weather 5 in. are good average plow depths for green manuring. COMMERCIAL FERTILIZERS Nitrate of Soda.—Chile saltpeter, or nitrate of soda, is a natural product that is mined with common salt in the rainless regions of South America. Before the fertilizer is sent to the farmer, it is purified. It then contains from about 95 to 97% of practically pure nitrate of soda. This purified salt contains from 15% to 16% of SOIL IMPROVEMENT 31 nitrogen, which means, of course, from 15% to 16 lb. to the hundredweight. The price of nitrate of soda varies from $50 to $70 a ton, thus making the nitrogen it con- tains cost from 15 to 20c. or more a pound. Sulphate of Ammonia.—At gasworks where gas is manufactured for light and fuel, a by-product called sulphate of ammonia is formed. This material is sold as a fertilizer. In 100 lb. of the sulphate there are 25 lb. of ammonia, which is equal to 20% lb. of actual nitrogen. Since the sulphate, like the nitrate, is readily soluble, it should be applied after the crop is started. Sulphate of ammonia is a good fertilizer to use when growing wheat, corn, rye, oats, grass, or potatoes. Dried Blood.—Among the important nitrogenous ani- mal fertilizers is dried blood. This material is rich in nitrogen and decays readily in the soil. At packing houses, the blood from the animals that are killed is carefully saved and dried, and then ground into meal. Two grades of the meal are on the market; one is bright red and the other is somewhat darker and almost black. The red meal contains from 13 to 15% of nitrogen, with little or no phosphoric acid, while the dark, or black, meal has from 6 to 12% of nitrogen and usually a small percentage of phosphoric acid. This lower grade of dried blood is more generally used in the manufacture of fertilizers, chiefly on account of its being cheaper in price. The red meal is extensively used as a stock food. Tankage.—A fertilizer known as tankage is put on the market as a by-product of the large slaughter houses. Tankage is composed of the animal parts that cannot be used for other purposes. Two grades of tankage fertilizer, known as concentrated and crushed, are offered for sale. Concentrated tankage is made by evaporating some of the animal fluids that are rich in fat. This leaves a fairly uniform product, yielding on analysis from 10 to 12% of nitrogen and a small per cent. of phosphoric acid. 32 SOIL IMPROVEMENT Crushed tankage is made by boiling and steaming the otherwise waste materials, removing the fat, and drying and grinding the residue. It contains on the average from 5 to 10% of nitrogen and from 3 to 12% of phos- phoric acid. Fish Fertilizer.—Fish and fish scrap in various forms are utilized in making commercial fertilizer. At packing houses and fish canneries, all the waste fish products are saved and sold for fertilizer. At fish-oil works, the residue left after removing the oil is the part used as fertilizer. Fertilizer made of such material is more uniform in quality than that from the packing houses and canneries, and contains, as a rule, from 7 to 8% of nitrogen and the same amount of phosphoric acid. Garbage Tankage.—The garbage of cities is often utilized for making commercial fertilizer. The value of such fertilizer, on account of the great variety of material of which the tankage is composed, varies widely. As a rule, this kind of fertilizer contains small quantities of nitrogen, phosphoric acid, and potash. Wool and Hair Waste.—At slaughter houses, the refuse hair and wool is saved and sold as a fertilizer. Its nitrogen content is relatively high, reaching, especially if the refuse is mixed with blood and other forms of animal matter, as high as 12%. However, as wool and hair decay slowly, the fertilizer is classed as a low- grade product. The waste wool from both carpet and woolen-goods factories is often used as a top dressing for grass lands. On an average, such waste contains from 1 to 5% of soluble potash and from 4 to 7% of nitrogen. Hoof and Horn Meal.—From the waste of hoofs and horns, where these products are manufactured into combs, buttons, etc., fertilizers known as either hoof or horn meal are made. Although these meals contain as high as 12% of nitrogen they are very slow acting and of little use unless very finely ground. Hoof meal has been found by experience to decay more quickly in a SOIL IMPROVEMENT 33 soil than horn meal. These slow-acting fertilizers are largely used in the manufacture of mixed fertilizers. Street Sweepings.—The sweepings from city streets are composed of manure mixed with dust or mud, chips of wood, scraps of paper, nails, tin cans, bits of glass, etc. The value of street sweepings as fertilizer depends on the proportion of manure contained. Leather Meal.—At factories where leather is worked up into shoes, harnesses, etc. there are many waste scraps. As leather contains considerable nitrogen, these scraps are ground into meal and sold as fertilizer. Leather itself decays very slowly; therefore, the meal makes a slow-acting fertilizer. In fact, it is regarded as the slowest acting of all nitrogen fertilizers. Cottonseed and Linseed Meals.—The vegetable prod- ucts known as cottonseed and linseed meals are rich in nitrogen. Although they make very good fertilizer, their use for this purpose, on account of price, is nearly always limited to the regions in which cotton or flax is grown. So valuable are they as fertilizer, that whenever the price for which they can be purchased justifies their use, fertilizer men incorporate them in mixed goods. Castor Pomace.—The residue left after the oil has been extracted from the castor bean, known as castor pomace, is a vegetable product that is high in nitrogen. The pomace differs from cottonseed and linseed meals in that it is not used for feeding livestock. This makes its use as a fertilizer more general. Castor pomace, when analyzed, shows about 6% of nitrogen. Raw Bone.—When bones in their natural condition —that is, without any treatment of steaming, cooking, burning, or the use of acid—are ground into a fine powder, the product is known as raw bone. There is a strong tendercy to adulterate raw bone with such cheap materials as coal ashes, lime, and ground oyster shells. Bone in its raw state shows by analysis from 3 to 5% of nitrogen, from 20 to 25% of phosphoric acid, and from 50 to 60% of lime. 3 34 SOIL IMPROVEMENT Steamed Bone.—If bones are steamed or boiled before grinding, the resulting product is known as steamed bone. The object of cooking raw bones is to get rid of the fat and meat particles. The steaming puts the bone into a condition that will permit it to be more easily crumbled. The advantage, then, that steamed bone has over raw bone is not due to a difference in composition, but to the fact that the steamed bone is more readily — reduced to a fine powder than is raw bone; the finer the bone, the better it is fitted for use either as a single fertilizer or in mixed goods. Bone Black.—Charred, or partly burned, bone, called bone black, is extensively used in the refining of sugar. After being used several times, it is no longer valuable to the sugar manufacturer, and is then sold as fertilizer. This product contains about 30% of phosphoric acid, but like all other charcoal resists decay for a long time. Dissolved Bone.—When bones are treated with sulphuric acid, the phosphoric acid contained in them is made available, and the product is called dissolved bone, or acidulated bone. Dissolved bone contains from 2 to 3% of nitrogen and from 15 to 17% of total phos- phoric acid, of which from 12 to 14% is available. Rock Phosphates.—In North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Florida, and one or two more states are found rock phosphates deposited in beds, veins, and pockets. As regards consistency, there are two classes of the phosphate rock. One is very hard and the other is comparatively soft. The soft rock is easily crushed, but powerful stone crushers are needed to render the hard rock fine enough for fertilizer. Raw phosphate rock usually contains from 18 to 30% of phosphoric acid, and owing to its variation in quality, it is sold at the crushers for from $1.75 to $4 a ton. Acid Phosphate, or Superphosphate.—By treating finely ground rock phosphate with sulphuric acid, the resulting material is commercial acid phosphate, which usually contains about 14% of phosphoric acid. Both dissolved SOIL IMPROVEMENT 35 bone and acid phosphate are sometimes known as super- phosphate. Basic Slag.—A basic slag formed as a by-product at iron furnaces where steel is manufactured is sold as fertilizer. This slag is known also as Thomas slag and odorless phosphate. To make it of use as a fertilizer, it must be ground very fine, and then in this form it is not soluble in water. The soil acids, however, will in time dissolve the phosphate and make it available as plant-food. The phosphoric acid content of basic slag ranges from 12 to 20%. Wood Ashes.—There are two kinds of wood ashes: those from hard-wood trees, such as hickory, oak, beech, walnut, and elm; and those from soft-wood trees, such as pine, cedar, spruce, poplar, etc. The ashes from hard woods are richer in potash than those from soft woods. Besides supplying potash to a soil, wood ashes, because they contain lime, correct acidity. They are good fer- tilizers for soils rich in humus and make a good top dressing for grass; but not more than 300 Ib. per acre should be applied at one time. Kainite.—The only Stassfurt salt that in its crude condition is imported into the United States is kainite. It is a compound of magnesia, common salt, and potash, about 12 to 13% of the material last named being present. Kainite is used either alone as a fertilizer or in mixtures to form commercial brands. On account of its tendency to absorb water when kept for a long time, it gets lumpy, and when in this condition it is difficult to apply to the soil. One reason for the frequent use of kainite as a fertilizer is that it is cheaper per ton than the higher grades of potash. Kainite sells on the market for from $11 to $16 a ton. Muriate of Potash.—From the crude potash salts the muriate of potash is manufactured. It is perhaps the cheapest form of potash, as it contains 50% of actual potash on an average and sells for from $40 to $50 a ton, which, as just explained, brings the cost per pound 36 SOIL IMPROVEMENT from 4 to 5c. However, it does not seem to be the best, for after continued use the muriate affects the soil in such a way that lime is required to bring it back to fertility. Muriate of potash can be used for all legumes and fruit trees, but on account of the chlorine it contains, it should not be used for potatoes, tobacco, sugar beets, onions, or mangels. For these, the sulphate of potash is a better form. Sulphate of Potash.—Another fertilizer made by- re- fining crude Stassfurt salts, is sulphate of potash. It contains from 48 to as high as 53% of actual potash. It is a very valuable fertilizer, because it can be safely used on any and all crops. Sulphate of potash does not cause the loss of lime in soil as does the muriate, nor does it attract moisture, become lumpy, or pack into the soil. Perhaps the main reason that the sulphate form is not used more as a fertilizer is its cost. The actual potash in the sulphate costs %c. more per pound than it does in the muriate. For clay soils, the sulphate is a better form to use than the muriate. On account of not becoming lumpy, the sulphate of pctash mixes very easily with other ingredients in manufacturing commercial fertilizer. Vegetable Potash Fertilizers—Sometimes, ground to- bacco stems are used as a potash fertilizer. On the average, they show by analysis from 7 to 8% of potash, from 2% to 3% of nitrogen, and from 3 to 5% of lime. Another vegetable product useful for commercial fer- tilizer is cottonseed hulls. Both raw hulls and the ashes obtained from burning the hulls are used. The ashes are the quicker acting, and, bulk for bulk, they are richer in potash and phosphoric acid. State Fertilizer Laws.—In states where fertilizers are used, there are state laws that require the manufacturer to attach to his goods a prescribed label. The form of this label is fixed by the state; as a rule, it must bear SOIL IMPROVEMENT 37 the name and address of the manufacturer, the weight of the package to which it is attached, and the chemical analysis of the fertilizer. In addition, the state fer- tilizer laws provide for the inspection and analysis of all brands offered for sale within the state. Were it not for these laws, the farmer when purchasing mixed or unmixed commercial fertilizer would be almost en- tirely at the mercy of the manufacturer. The reason for this is that no one can tell from the appearance, odor, weight, or handling qualities of a fertilizer whether it contains plant-food in such form and quantity that the fertilizer can profitably be applied to the soil. Chemical analysis is the only way in which the quantity of plant-food in a fertilizer can be determined. As a rule, mixed fertilizers are put up in bags, on the outside of which is printed the analysis. In some states the manufacturer is required to purchase from the state printed tags that bear the analysis of the brand to which they are to be attached and the sig- nature of the state chemist or person in charge of fertilizer control. No matter what form of label is used, the analysis must be legible and the fertilizer must conform to the analysis. In most states the state guarantees to the public that each package of fertilizer bearing the approved label contains as much of the fertilizing ingredients as the manufacturers state; if the fertilizer falls short of the guarantee, the manufacturer is liable to arrest and fine. From these statements it will be seen that every farmer who purchases fertilizer should become informed regarding the fertilizer control law in his particular state. Misleading Methods of Stating Analyses.—Notwith- standing this effort on the part of the state to protect the public, it is not difficult for fertilizer manufacturers to practice misleading methods of stating the analyses of their products. Some of these dubious practices can scarcely be said to be dishonest, yet they certainly give a wrong impression concerning goods. 38 SOIL IMPROVEMENT For example, in the guaranteed analysis printed on a fertilizer bag or tag, the manufacturer often uses two numbers which represent, respectively, the minimum and the maximum percentage of each plant-food ingre- dient. This method of stating an analysis is shown in the accompanying illustra- tion. Although it is not dis- honest, it is, in a way, mis- leading, for unless a person == is familiar with the inter- ANALYSIS. = preting of an anlysis, he is : likely, on account of seeing many figures, to be misled OLUBLE into thinking that he is an ° getting considerable more 4 ACTUAL POTASH, 10-2»: = plant-food than is actually present in the fertilizer. As required by law, the manufacturer guarantees the smallest quantity of each ingredient shown in the analysis. The second number showing the maximum quantity of each ingredient that might be present, then, really has no meaning to the farmer. Thus, in the analysis shown in the illustration, nitrogen 3 to 3.5% means that there is at least 3% of nitrogen in the bag and that there may be 3.5% present. In the second line of the analysis, the nitrogen is given in terms of ammonia, 3% of nitrogen being equal to 3.6% of am- monia. As shown in the third line, the soluble phos- phoric acid is guaranteed to be 10% with a possibility that 12% may be found. The actual potash, as indicated in the line, is given as 10 to 12%, showing that 10% is there, but that as high as 12% may be present. As actual nitrogen, soluble phosphoric acid, and actual potash are the forms that a farmer should consider when buying a fertilizer, he should always bear in mind that the smallest quantities of these forms expressed on MMs NITROGEN 3-35 per cent= -AMMONIA 36-42 . S S S S SS S N : wn — w ee SOIL IMPROVEMENT 39 the bags show the true commercial value of the fer- tilizer. Therefore, in the analysis just given, the purchase should be made on the basis of 3% of nitrogen, 10% of phosphoric acid, and 10% of potash. If slightly more than these quantities are present, the farmer will be a gainer, but he should not figure on more than th: stated quantities being present. Neither should he be deceived by lengthy analyses that have as their purpose nothing but deception. Facts About Fertilizers—On the market, both mixed and unmixed fertilizers are sold by the ton, with the quantity of plant-food ingredients expressed in per- centages. Thus, if a ton—2,000 lb.—of fertilizer is said to contain 3% of nitrogen, 10% of phosphoric acid, and 10% of potash, the quantities, in pounds, of these in- gredients are: Nitrogen ..... Bae eereae co clalo ae talais. ote 2,000 x .03= 60 HUSMROLIC sACL weinareieiaele cies eecinael o's 2,000 x .10 = 200 Phas lac tes cles ee ossiaieae’s ole euetaeel cic 2,000 x .10 = 200 In stating the percentages of ingredients in a fer- tilizer, that of nitrogen is generally given first, that of phosphoric acid second, and that of potash last. In fact, it is so much a universal custom to use this order that the names of the ingredients are often omitted. Thus, the fertilizer just considered is often spoken of as a 3-10-10 fertilizer. A 1-12-8 fertilizer would be one that contained 1% of nitrogen, 12% of phosphoric acid, and 8% of potash. How to Find Fertilizer Equivalents.—It is often neces- sary for a farmer to find fertilizer equivalents. This is because manufacturers do not confine their state- ments of analyses to the percentages of nitrogen, phos- phoric acid, and potash actually contained in a fertilizer. The following table will be found helpful in making the calculations necessary to express the quantity of one ingredient in terms of some other ingredient. By using this table a complex analysis of a fertilizer is made clear. For example, consider the following 40 SOIL IMPROVEMENT analysis: Ammonia, 2%; available phosphoric acid, 8%; insoluble phosphoric acid, 2%; total phosphoric acid, 10%; bone phosphate, 21.8%; actual potash, 4%; sulphate of potash, 7.4%. DATA FOR COMPUTING FERTILIZER EQUIVALENTS ao poner, Into Terms of Multiply by > Nitrogen Ammonia 1.215 Ammonia Nitrogen 823 Sodium nitrate Nitrogen .165 Nitrogen Sodium nitrate 6.061 Bone phosphate Phosphoric acid 458 Phosphoric acid Bone phosphate 2.183 Potash Sulphate of potash 1.850 Sulphate of potash | Potash 541 Potash Muriate of potash 1.583 Muriate of potash Potash -632 Referring to the table, the percentage of ammonia can be easily converted into terms of nitrogen by multi- plying the quantity of ammonia by .823. Thus, 2% of ammonia is equal to 2x.823=1.65% of nitrogen. The available phosphoric acid given as 8% in the analysis is really the only quantity representing phosphoric acid that should be considered by the farmer. The 2% in- soluble added to the 8% soluble equals 10% total phos- phoric acid, as given. The quantity of bone phosphate, 21.8%, is found by multiplying the 10% of total phos- phate acid by 2.183. There is really no reason why the quantity of phosphoric acid in the analysis need be given in terms of bone phosphate. The actual potash given as 4% is, as in the case of the available phos- phoric acid, the only quantity representing potash that it is necessary to give in the analysis. This amount, how- ever, when expressed in terms of sulphate of potash, SOIL IMPROVEMENT 41 found by multiplying 4 by 1.85, as shown in the table, equals 7.4%. It will readily be seen that the analysis under consideration could be written as_ follows: Nitrogen, 1.65%; available phosphoric acid, 8%; actual potash, 4%. LIMING OF SOILS Lime is a soil constituent that is necessary for nor- mal plant growth. This is proved by the fact that plants will not grow properly in soils deficient in lime. An additional proof is that when plants are analyzed, lime is found. But, as a rule, enough lime is present in the soil for the use of crops; if it were not for the fact that lime is needed in soil for other purposes than as a plant-food, it would seldom be necessary to apply it. For this reason, lime is usually considered an indi- rect fertilizer; that is, it indirectly renders soil more fertile. The beneficial effects that result from the liming of soil are. of course, dependent on the condition of the soil. Aside from the value of lime as a_plant-food, there are three ways in which it may benefit soil. namely: (1) by correcting soil acidity; (2) by making otherwise unavailable plant-food available; (3) by im- proving the mechanical condition. Effects of Lime.—Soils that are sour, or acid, produce very poor crops. The acid in soil comes largely from plant roots, where it is needed to dissolve a part of the plant-food. Soils on which crops have been raised for a number of years without the application of lime are very likely to become sour from the surplus of this plant acid that remains in them. The use of com- mercial fertilizers that are acid also tends to make soil acid. The same is true of soils in which free water is allowed to stand for a long time; insufficient drainage is a very common cause of soil acidity. On account of these conditions, many of the farm soils of the United States and other countries are acid; and if 42 SOIL IMPROVEMENT these soils are to produce good crops, the acidity must be corrected. This can best be done by the application of lime. In some soils nitrogen, phosphoric acid, and potash are often present in such a form that they are unavyail- able to plants. This is often the case in soils of a vegetable origin, such as reclaimed swamp soils and heavy black loams containing long, deep roots. When such a condition exists, lime is an effective agent in rendering the plant-food available. In fact, the good effects obtained by applying lime to soil are often due to the action of the lime in releasing plant-food. Some soils, particularly those of a heavy clay nature, are vastly improved mechanically by lime. In heavy soils the particles composing them are very fine and have a tendency to pack together, thus causing the soil to retain a large quantity of free water and to become very unfriable. Lime causes the fine soil particles to flocculate, that is, join together in small lumps. This makes the soil more friable, lighter, and easier to work with the implements of tillage. In other words, the structure is greatly improved. Methods of Determining Whether Soil Needs Lime, Although it is very profitable to apply lime where it is needed, it is a waste of labor and money to apply it where it is not needed. For this reason, soil should be tested to determine whether it is in need of lime before an application is made. There are three com- mon tests for determining this point; the beet test, the litmus-paper test, and the ammonia test. These tests can easily be made by any one. The beet test consists merely of growing a crop of beets in the soil to be tested. Owing to the fact that all kinds of beets grow very poorly in soils deficient in lime, a beet crop is a good indicator of the condition of a soil with respect to this constituent. To make the test the ground may be prepared and the beets planted as follows: SOIL IMPROVEMENT 43 Lay off in the field a piece of ground 36 ft. by 90 ft. Next, plow this ground as deeply as the soil will allow without subsoil being brought to the surface; the usual depth of plowing in the locality will be the best for the test. Roll the ground immediately after it is plowed, and then put on, at the rate of 500 to 600 lb. per acre, a good complete fertilizer—one containing available nitrogen, phosphoric acid and potash—that is rich in nitrogen. Harrow the ground well after apply- ing the fertilizer. Then divide the piece into three plats of equal size and spread lime as evenly as pos- sible on two of them, using 100 lb. on one plat and 50 lb. on the other, which is at the approximate rate of ie iwarid= 25D .niper iacre: On the third plat use no lime at all, as this is to be a check plat. The lime used in the test should be very fine and free from lumps, and should be brushed into the soil with a weeder or a light harrow. When applied in this way it does not come in direct contact with the ammonia of the fertilizer. Next, beet seed of a quantity sufficient, if they all grow, to produce a good stand should be drilled into the soil. The beets should be permitted to come to maturity, when the yields of the different plats will show whether or not lime is needed on the soil. The litmus-paper test is used to determine whether a soil is acid. If a soil is found to be acid it follows that it is in need of lime. Litmus paper is a paper covered with a preparation called litmus. It has the property of turning red when it comes in contact with an acid and blue when it comes in contact with an alkali. In making soil tests, the blue litmus paper used by chemists should be used, as it is better than the common grade generally sold by druggists. To test a soil, puddle a small quantity with water in a cup and then place a small strip of blue litmus paper in the wet soil. If the paper turns red soon after being placed in contact with the soil, it is a good indication 44 SOIL IMPROVEMENT that the soil is acid and, consequently, that it needs lime. Before making the test, however, it is a good plan to determine whether the water used for puddling is free from acid. The ammonia test is used, like the litmus-paper test, to determine whether soil is acid. To make the am- monia test, half fill a 2-oz. bottle with the soil to be tested and pour boiled rainwater into the bottle until the water is about % in. above the soil. Next add a teaspoonful of strong ammonia. If the water in the bottle is turned slightly yellow, it indicates that the soil is slightly acid; if the water is made almost brown in color, it indicates that the soil is decidedly acid. Owing to the fact that the ammonia test is somewhat less convenient of application than the litmus-paper test, it is not so commonly used as the latter. Application of Lime to Soils.—Two forms of lime are now used for soil improvement. These are limestone in powdered form and stone lime, or quicklime, made by burning limestone. Both forms can be purchased on the market, or, if limestone exists in a community, the farmer can burn it himself and thus obtain stone lime. Powdered limestone is in condition to be applied to the soil when it is purchased. Stone lime, or quicklime, as it comes from the kilns must be either ground or slaked before it is of use in a soil. By slaking is meant the absorbing of water. This produces a chemical change, making the lime caustic. In this condition the lime is a powder and can easily be applied to the soil. Lime may be slaked either by applying water to it directly or by exposing it to the air, from which it absorbs the moisture necessary for slaking it. There are several ways in which lime can be spread on the soil. It may be applied with a manure spreader, a lime spreader, or a fertilizer distributor, be spread from a wagon or be placed in piles on the ground and distributed by means of shovels. If a manure spreader is used and the wind is blowing, it is practically necessary to use SOIL IMPROVEMENT 45 a wooden or a canvas hood over the spreader drum, to prevent the loss of considerable lime. Spreading lime from a wagon by means of shovels is an unsatisfactory method, as the lime, being caustic, will burn the hands and faces of the workmen, and, besides, is likely to injure the harness. If lime is to be distributed from piles on the ground, the size and distance apart of these will, of course, depend on the quantity of lime that is to be used per acre. If it is desired to use 1 T. per acre, 50-lb. heaps should be placed 33 ft. apart. Two tons per acre can be distributed by placing 100-lb. heaps 33 ft. apart. It is often desired to apply a certain number of bushels per acre. The weight of a bushel of stone lime in most states is 80 lb.; after this quantity is slaked, it will weigh from 150 to 160 ib., according to the quantity of water absorbed. In order to put on a given number of bushels per acre, the following figures showing the quantities and distances apart for the piles will be found useful: For an application of 20 bu. per acre, put ™% bu. heaps 11 steps apart each way, one step to be considered 3 ft.; for 25 bu. per acre, put the heaps 10 steps apart; for 30 bu., 9 steps; for 40 bu., 8 steps; for 50 bu., 7 steps; and for 60 bu., 6 steps. The quantity of lime to use per acre varies. Heavy soils usually require more lime than light soils, very acid soils require more than only slightly acid soils, and some crops use more lime than others. Then, too, twice as much ground limestone should be used per acre as slaked lime. Lime containing impurities, or air-slaked lime that is not fresh, will not go as far as good water-slaked lime. As a rule, from 1 to 2 T. of water-slaked lime per acre are used and from 2 to 4 T. per acre of ground limestone. An application of 1 T. of slaked lime or 2 T. of limestone should give good results in soils not exceedingly heavy or acid. Supplying the soil with too much lime at one time is injurious, small and frequent applications being better than large ones. 46 ° SOIL IMPROVEMENT When to Apply Lime to Soil.—As a top dressing for sod land, lime may be applied either in the spring or in the fall. The latter season is preferable, because the lime will have more time to work down into the soil than if applied in the spring. When sod land that is to be placed to corn is limed in the spring, it is a good plan to plow and roll the land before putting on the lime. After the lime has been applied it should be harrowed well into the soil. Although lime is not as beneficial to corn as it is to some other crops, it is helpful to the crop that follows corn. Lime should never be applied just before planting sugar beets or potatoes, as it will decrease the quantity of sugar in the beets and the percentage of starch in the potatoes. Neither should lime be applied at the same time that manure or commercial fertilizer is put on the soil, as it acts chemically with these substances and sets the nitrogen free. This danger may be avoided by applying the lime a few months before using the manure or fertilizer. TILLAGE BENEFITS OF TILLAGE Pulverization of the Soil—One of the prime objects of tillage is to break the soil into fine particles. Soil, from lying dormant for months or perhaps years, be- comes packed aiid hard; it is first turned up by the plow and is then still further broken up by other instruments of tillage until it is divided into very minute particles, in which condition it is suitable for a seed-bed. Much of the plant-food present in a soil is liberated by this pulverization and made available for plants, and the fine soil grains are thoroughly mixed with manure, plant roots, and humus. Many of the living plant roots are shredded, torn, and broken by tillage so that they will not sprout again, but these broken roots are left in a condition to enrich the soil. SOIL IMPROVEMENT 47 Effects of Sunshine on Plowed Soil.—As soon as the plow or any of the lighter implements of tillage disturb the top layer of soil, the effects of sunshine on it can be noticed. The heat from the sun’s rays soon dries out the upturned furrow slices and makes it possible for the air to enter. By this action, the soil begins to weather and change structure. In addition to the facts just mentioned, the soil is also sweetened, that is, made less acid, by the action of the sunshine. Then, too, many insects, and other vermin are destroyed by the excessive heat. There is a danger, however, of exposing the furrow to too much sunsine. For instance, if the furrow slices are left upturned for too long a time before the rolling and harrowing processes take place, the soil will be injured by drying out too much. Soil Aeration.—The drying of soil by sunshine makes more space for air to enter atnong the soil particles. This better aeration, as it is called, is very important for crop production. Without sufficient air in the soil, seeds cannot sprout or plants grow. Besides these uses, were it not for the air in the soil, there would be no decay of vegetable and animal matter. The presence of air also makes possible chemical changes, without which much of the plant-food of the soil would be kept in an unavailable condition. The air, too, is absolutely nec- essary for the use of soil bacteria. The sunshine can do the best work when the soil is prepared to receive the sun’s heat. Increase of Water-Holding Capacity.—As tillage breaks up the soil into fine particles, it increases the amount of the soil surface exposed to the air. This being the case, the quantity of film water that a soil can hold is increased. The gréat importance of an increase in the film water held in a soil is obvious when it is re- membered that it is from film water that plant roots absorb the moisture for plant growth. There is always more or less loss of film water by evaporation from the surface. The damage done to 48 SOIL IMPROVEMENT crops by such loss of moisture, especially during dry spells, is often considerable. There is a remedy, how- ever, by which the farmer can at least prevent excessive loss of moisture by evaporation. It has been found that if 2 or 3 in. of fine, loose soil is kept on the top of a cultivated field, that the quantity of moisture lost by evaporation is reduced to a minimum. Such a layer of loose soil, or dust mulch, as it is frequently called, can be secured by frequently stirring the surface soil with the implements of tillage. Lessening of Denitrification——A certain kind of bac- teria called denitrifying bacteria exists in soil and causes available nitrogen compounds to become unavailable. The denitrifying bacteria work actively only where air is absent. In well-tilled soil, therefore, which contains plenty of air, denitrification practically ceases. These injurious bacteria live in manures and straws as well as in the soil, and if any of this vegetable material containing active denitrifying bacteria is plowed under a soil, and thorough tillage to supply air is not practiced, the bacteria will continue to do their destructive work of changing the available nitrates into unavailable forms of nitrogen. Mellowing of Soil.—A well-tilled soil is more mellow and friable than one not well tilled, the mellowness being due to the combined effects of tillage. Other things being equal, a mellow soil is a good crop- producing soil. All kinds of soil are more or less dependent on tillage operations to turn their characteristics into use. Rich soil, for example, will not respond with profitable crops without good tillage. Deep soil, too, is made better for crops by careful tillage. A hard soil—that is, one containing little or no plant-food—can be benefited by tillage, but only after plant-food in the shape of manure has been thoroughly mixed with the mineral matter of the soil. A soil that is thin, due to the lack of plant- food and humus, can be made deeper and more mellow, SOIL IMPROVEMENT 49 provided plant-food and humus are well worked into it by deep tillage operations. ye WY han” 2 AN = Fic. 1 Fic. 2 60 to 70 bu. are considered to be high, although yields of 100 bu. per acre have been reported. The average yield in the United States would be produced by three plants on each square foot of an GENERAL FARM CROPS 57 acre, provided each plant produced three or four stalks and each stalk produced 40 grains of fair size. An oat crop is said to be well filled when each stalk bears from 30 to 150 grains. There are two distinct types of oats: (1) The spreading oats, as shown in Fig. 1, in which the branches bearing the grains spread in all directions from the main stalk, or straw; and (2) the side, or mane, oats, as shown in Fig. 2, on which all the branches bearing the grains hang on one side of the main stem. These two distinct types of oats may be subdivided as to time of planting into spring and winter oats; as to color, into white, black, gray, and red cats, and many variations of these colors; and as to shape of the grain, into short and plump oats, and long and slender oats. There are also a few varieties of oats, the hulls of which are so loose that they are separated from the kernels in thrashing. Such varieties are called naked oats. They are, however, poor yielders and are there- fore not extensively grown. The winter varieties of oats are those which are sown in the fall. They have been grown almost wholly in the South, but seem to be gaining favor in Northern sections. The spring varieties are those which are usually planted in the spring. They are grown almost entirely in the North. For Southern growers, the Red Rust Proof and Virginia Gray varieties are recommended. For planting in Northern United States, the varieties known as American Banner, Improved American, Badger Queen, Wide Awake, Colonel, Lincoln, Swedish Select, and Siberian have met with much success. In Canada, the Siberian variety is considered to be the best yielder. Oats thrive best in a cool, moist climate and in a soil that is not especially fertile, but in all instances the soil should be moist. Oats are inclined to grow too rank to produce a large quantity of straw and a comparatively small quantity 58 GENERAL FARM CROPS of grain, and have a tendency to break over, or lodge, if they are grown on soils in a high state of fertility. The most severe damage to the oat crop is caused by oat smut, This disease causes a loss of from 5 to 50% in fields sown with untreated seed. The best way to combat the disease is to treat all seed oats with a fungicide and thus kill the spores of the smut. The treatments that are recommended for the stinking smut on wheat are recommended for oat smut. The formalin treatment, which is most commonly used, is as follows: A solution made up of 1 lb. of formalin to 50 gal. of water is sprinkled over the oats at the rate of 1 gal. of solution to 4 bu. of grain. The grain is then mixed thoroughly by shoveling the oats into a conical pile, and is covered with blankets. After being covered for 2 hr. the oats must either be sown or be spread out and dried. BARLEY The barley plant is similar to wheat in its general appearance and its habits of growth; barley grain re- sembles the oat grain, in that it consists of a kernel and a hull, except in the case of a few varieties known as hull-less barleys. Two distinct varieties of barley exist, namely, the two-rowed and six-rowed varieties. There are, however, other so-called varieties, known as four-rowed, hull-less, and beardless. Barley may be grown under more varied climatic con- ditions than any other grain crop; also, it requires less water for its production than any other grain crop, though an abundance of water does not materially re- tard its growth. It may be raised in nearly all parts of the United States and in some sections of Canada, and its cultivation is carried on successfully even in Alaska. But the soil, to grow barley successfully, should be well drained and fertile. GENERAL FARM CROPS 59 The only insect that proves injurious to barley is the chinch bug. Smut attacks barley and as a preventative the seed barley should be treated as follows: Place the seed in sacks and soak it in cold water for 4 hr.; then let it stand in the sacks for 4 hr. After this immerse the sacks with the grain in hot water at a temperature of 130° F. for 5 min. The grain should then be dried in the manner described for wheat. RYE Rye grows much taller than either wheat or barley, frequently attaining a height of 6 or 7 ft. The heads that bear the grain are longer and more slender than those of wheat, and are covered with beards, as are most of the barleys. Although rye kernels closely resemble those of wheat, they are longer, more slender, and more pointed at the end nearest the stem of the head. The annual yield of rye in the United States is about 14 bu. per acre. Yields of 20 to 25 bu. are considered to be fair. and those of 30 to 35 bu. are said to be good. Rye is naturally adapted to a cool climate and will thrive in climates that are too cold for wheat. How- ever, it is successfully grown in the warmer sections of the United States. It may be successfully grown in soils that are too poor in fertility to produce average yields of other grain crops. BUCKWHEAT Buckwheat is classed with grain crops, although it is a member of a family of plants that includes sorrel, smartweed, and bindweed. Buckwheat leaves the soil in which it is grown in a peculiarly mellow, crumbly condition, and for this reason, together with the fact that it will grow in almost any kind of soil, it is considered to be a soil improver. 60 GENERAL FARM CROPS CORN Four general classes of corn are grown on a com- mercial scale. These are pop corn, flint corn, dent corn, and sweet corn. There are two general varieties of pop corn—Rice and Pearl. The grains of Rice pop corn are pointed at the top, and the ears are somewhat cone-shaped. The grains of Pearl pop corn are rounded at the top and the ears are cylindrical. The kernels of flint corn are hard and smooth. In shape they are nearly round. The width of grains varies in differe1.t varieties from 34 to % in. The average depth in all varieties is about 3 in., and the thickness is about 4% in. In color, flint kernels are usually yellow, white, or red, although brown and purple varieties are known. The ears of flint corn vary in length from 4 to 18 in., the average length being from 7 to 10 in., and in diameter they vary from 1% to 2 in. In most varieties of flint corn there are but eight rows of kernels on a cob, although ten, twelve, and even sixteen rows are found on some varieties. Among the leading varieties of flint corn may be mentioned Rhode Island White Flint, King Philip, 90-Day Yellow Flint, Pennsylvania Yellow Flint, Long- fellow Flint, and Hall’s Golden Nugget. The most widely distributed class of corn is dent corn, which gets its name from the fact that the kernels, when matured, are indented at the top. In color, dent kernels are generally yellow or white, although red and mixed yellow and red kernels are sometimes found. The ears of dent corn vary in different varieties from 5 to 12 in. in length and from 1% to 2% in. in diameter. A medium sized ear weighs % lb. and a rather large- sized ear weighs 34 lb. The average number of rows of kernels on dent ears is from sixteen to twenty, although as few as eight and as many as forty-eight are some- GENERAL FARM CROPS 61 times found. The size and shape of grains vary with the variety and with the position on the ear. Among the important varieties of dent corn are: Boon County White, Clarage, Funk’s. Yellow Dent, Hickory King, Hildreth, Hogue’s Yellow Dent, Johnson County White, Kansas Sunflower, Leaming, Minnesota No. 13, Pride of the North, Reid’s Yellow Dent, Silver King, and Silver Mine. The corn most widely cultivated for household use is sweet corn. Part of the starch of sweet corn turns to sugar during the growth of the plant. The corn is, therefore, sweeter to the taste than other kinds of corn. The grains of sweet corn, when matured, are wrinkled at the surface, rather broad, and rounded at the top. In most varieties a typical grain is about 1% in. long, % in. thick, and about 3% in. wide. Among the early varieties that are highly recom- mended are Early Golden Bantam, Marblehead, Crosby, Chicago Market, Early Landreth; among the medium varieties, Squantum, Maul’s XX, Stabler’s Early; and among the late varieties, Ne Plus Ultra, Stowell Ever- green, and Country Gentleman. The number of quarts of seed corn used per acre will vary largely with the size of the kernels. When planted three kernels to the hill with the hills 3 ft. 6 in. apart, from 4 to 4% qt. is the average quantity required to plant an acre; where four kernels are planted to the hill, the hills being 3 ft. 8 in. apart, about 5 to 5% qt. are required to plant an acre. Fig. 3 shows the United States divided into sections or corn zones, and in the table showing the varieties of corn grown for silage is given a list of some of the best-known varieties of corn for silage for each zone. The table on pages 64 and 65 gives the date of the earliest planting and harvesting, also the date of the most general and latest planting and harvesting of corn in several states of the United States. GENERAL FARM CROPS Ro “2, ‘fa eRe | e. - ¥ 2 0 oe } J \ gle 5 uv | a Seen os Y x HLI1 0 S —_——. GENERAL FARM CROPS 63 VARIETIES OF CORN GROWN FOR SILAGE IN DIFFERENT ZONES OF THE UNITED STATES Variety Northern zone: rer hvyge EMAL OL o.0.S 225. 0s ave ey eians &s Tonetellow Flintw....... 0.06662. PtrderOReNOLGED® «53.05 he cs overs ole GEGEN SH 1 2 Sietevrets terete ee os Central zone: Boone County White.......... STi IMGs ae ea a na ertnatra pe ener tule ots ies, Scien Rdleyes Pavorite. 22.2. ...0..-s- Hogue’s Yellow Dent......... TEE Sr cats i Sin2, am oldie Sete Southern zone: Boone County White.......... WoekesProlihic. sy kisses es: ifekony ine 2S 3555 Leche sue es eGo DNSIAPE. onsen wae IMS TOMI 2) arene creel isc. sores Waneimia olage soi Oe esas ee Eastern zone: INGOs ACT En (syals soe spect a leiden CockesProlinie c3 2 oe cae oe IbreGhrathass ys eee ee aaa eee BougtetlowsRlint....0.: 0... Sibley’s Pride of the North.... Western zone: Mitsamesota (Kang: <5 oms.sce. =: 0.6 ons mot WEA. Fo. es Color of Ear Yellow Yellow Yellow White White White White Yellow Yellow Yellow Yellow Yellow Yellow Yellow Yellow White White White White White White White White Yeilow Yellow Yellow Yellow Yellow Yellow White Length of Ear Inches _ _ Go opmNprrrrenowmnoe anon ct ct ct chet ichict oOo o0o0o0°0 o ll lomo me) etl oe) ore en emererie ehietred: _ 5 On@ (OO: — Se OR bo on - © i + ee ONIN NOONAN CMHOMOW ttetaeed (e\(o} oP loyto) mor OO nD bb _ tttttae 900000 ©Ooco MR HwmoOo No ct ct ct loonie} GENERAL FARM CROPS 64 Gz ‘349g GT “ydag b “ydag Te Ae g Ar QZ Ady. | [ttre PI ~ ‘AON jp "~O I *ydag ZS ‘idy ZS ‘AVN LZ oN Pay aan es NSC ey ST “AON TZ “0 8T “dag 9% APIN gG AvW GT ‘idy AY 91 99d 6 ‘AON Il *0 SI Av 6Z ‘idy $I ‘idy suey Ieee Al (ier 61. “OQ 9% APN el API pb AW MOT g ‘09EqT 6Z °2?O Iz ‘3dasg ks Av FL Av T ABN ales eee puy OL 99q 62 “PO 9% ‘3dasg Z oun{ El ALI og adyo fesse Ni €Z “AON 02 °?O QI 4dasg L sew y ‘ady OLR [ttc ex) CZ. 1900) ez “ydesg €g ‘sny gq ‘idy IL ‘Jew 1g Gea ae ee ae 8% “3495 BT “30286 8g ‘Bny 03 Av g Av Besa ys 5S eos Pd 8% “3dag gT “3dag OT *3dag py unt GS APIN OT ABW wu0) b “AON FL ‘WO 2 ydog 9 ACN 9 ‘idy SI IeW ag Suu ae aa eee) y1V T ‘09d 9% 490 OI ydasg ST Av c ‘idy ZI Ie crvdis, wegehens) ey rem ely 4se’T [ereues) 4S 4se’T jereuss 4SI1yq 94849 BUIISOAIe PT surjueld SALVLS GALINA AHL dO SULVLS TVUAAAS NI NUOD AO ONILSAAUVH GNV ONILNVId LSVI GNV “IVYANGD ‘LSUId FHL dO aALVva 65 GENERAL FARM CROPS +ydag *ydag *ydag *ydag “ydag *ydag "490 *ydag *ydag *ydag +ydas *ydag *ydag *ydag *ydasg *ydas *ydag *ydag *ydasg +4dag *ydag *ydag *ydag *ydag 8% APIN Lg AVI F oun 1Z AVI b ‘idy cz Ae T ounf GT Ae TT oun 6g API 0g ‘Ady LZ API Te Ae FG AVI € oun TE ACW F- oun 6Z APTN GS APTN OT Av 0g API @ oun g ount Te Av ST Av OL APWw cg API Z Ae €I ‘Je 1g ‘idy 0% AP G ‘idy 61 APN CT Ae L ‘idy FL Ae To API 61 “idy TZ APN FI Av $Z ACW ET Ae T Ae T ‘adv 61 API Ze ARIA 9z API 0z API 66 GENERAL FARM CROPS The average yield per acre of corn in the United States is’ about 25 ° bus; / “a. fairl Syseld ae ee a good yield, 75 bu.; an excellent yield, 100 bu.; and more than 125 bu. have been raised per acre. If corn is planted in hills 3 ft. 8 in: apart each way there will be approximately 3,250 hills per acre, and if only one plant, or stalk, in each hill produced one medium-sized ear weighing % lb. the yield per acre would be about 23 bu. If two stalks in each hill produced a ¥%-lb. ear the yield would be 47 bu. However, if three stalks grew in each hill and each stalk produced a large-sized or a 34-lb. ear the yield per acre would be more than 100 bu. The corn plant is injured by numerous insect pests among which are rootworms, root lice, cutworms, white grubs, earworms, stalk borers, chinch bugs, wireworms, and bill bugs. Corn smut appears in masses of black powdery spores on any part of the plant that is above ground, although the parts most likely to be affected are the ears and tassels. The best way thus far discovered for ridding corn plants of smut is to gather the masses of spores two or three times during the season and either burn them or place them in boiling water. The heat will kill the spores, and germination will be prevented. HAY AND PASTURE CROPS GRASSES ‘Timothy.—Timothy in some localities is called herd’s grass, but this name is confusing from the fact that the same name is sometimes used to designate red top. A seed-head of timothy is shown in Fig. 4. In value, timothy leads all other hay grasses grown in the United States. It is, however, nearly always sown with Red or Alsike clover, sometimes with both. When sown alone for hay, the quantity is about 15 GENERAL FARM CROPS 67 lb., or 18 bu., per acre. If Red clover is included, the quantity of timothy seed is reduced. In this case, from 8 to 12 lb. of timothy is sown and about 8 lb. of clover. Timothy is sown at almost any time during the grow- ing season, but if sown alone, the sowing should be done in the fall, as the weather conditions at this time are the most favorable for successful seeding. Meadow Foxtail.—_The grass known as Meadow fox- tail, a head of which is shown in Fig. 5, is a near relative of timothy and closely resembles it. Meadow foxtail, however, differs from timothy in that its habit of growth is slightly creeping. Meadow fox- tail is not common in the United States. Red Top.—Next to tim- othy, red top is doubtless the most important hay grass in North America. The plant is of a creep- ing habit, producing long underground stems. It grows rapidly from seed and quickly forms a e4 Fic. 5 Fic. 6 dense, smooth sod. These latter characters make it particularly adapted for lawns and pastures, and it is consequently largely used for these purposes. The seed head is open and spreading, as will be seen in Fig. 6. Red top is sometimes mistaken for blue grass on account of the similarity of the heads of the two plants. Kentucky Blue Grass.—Probably the best-known pas- ture grass of the United States is Kentucky blue grass, also known in some sections as June grass. The first name doubtless had its origin in the fact that the plant grows luxuriantly in the limestone regions of Kentucky; the second name was given on account of the fact that 68 GENERAL FARM CROPS the grass is at its best during the month of June. The plant is rather shallow rooted and strongly creeping in habit. When it becomes well established, it forms a fairly dense, even sod. The leaves are crowded near the base of the plant, and are light green in color. The end of the blade of blue grass is closed, giving the end of the leaf the appearance of the keel of a boat. A head of Kentucky blue grass is shown in Fig. 7. Canada Blue Grass.—Canada blue grass very closely resembles Kentucky blue grass, but the stem of the former is more zigzag than that of the latter and the seed head of the Canada blue grass, which is illustrated in Fig. 8, is more flattened and is not so spread- ing as in the Kentucky blue grass. Smooth Brome Grass.—Smooth brome grass is strongly creep- ing in habit and a coarse grower, under favorable condi- tions reaching a height of from 4 to 5 ft., and forming a dense sod from 6 to 8 in. thick. The leaves are coarse, being from %4 to % in. wide, and often reach a length of 1 ft. The seed head is in the form of a long, spreading panicle, as will be seen from Fig. 9. The seeds are among the largest of those of the cul- tivated grasses, often being % in. in length. Orchard Grass.—Orchard grass is a common grass in some sections of the United States. The grass probably derives its name from its ability to thrive under the shade of trees, although it does not appear to grow better in the shade than in the open. It is not creeping in habit like blue grass, but has a habit of growth similar to that of timothy. The plant does not form an even sod like many other grasses, but grows in raised clumps, making a very uneven and bunchy sod. rea Fic. 8 GENERAL FARM CROPS 69 The coarse, light-green leaves are mostly produced near the ground. It will be seen from Fig. 10 that the panicle is somewhat spreading, with the flowers clus- tered in what are known as tufts. Meadow Fescue.—Meadow fescue somewhat resembles brome grass when in blossom. Its habit of growth, however, is not at all similar to that of brome grass, as it is not a creeping plant. Meadow fescue can be distinguished from most other grasses by its shiny, Fic. 9 Fic. 10 bright-green leaves. A seed head of Meadow fescue is shown in Fig. 11. Tall Oat Grass.—Tall oat grass is related to the com- mon cultivated oat plant. A seed head of tall oat grass is illustrated in Fig. 12. The grass is known also as Meadow oat grass, and in some localities as Evergreen. This last name is used in the southern part of the United States, where this grass remains green through- out the year. Tall oat grass grows to a height of from 3 to 5 ft., and forms clumps like orchard grass. 70 GENERAL FARM CROPS Bermuda Grass.—In the southern part of the United States, Bermuda grass is a favorite. Preset lived grass, lasting but 1 yr., or, at best, 2 yr. duces from seed and from creeping stems on or just below the surface of the ground. The main prostrate stem may extend 4 or 5 ft. during the season and send out several lateral branches a foot or two in length. At intervals of an inch or two, the stems take root. A flower- ing stem is shown in Fig. 13. The stems grow from a few inches to 2 ft. in height, depending on the soil and the climate. The habit of the grass is to form a dense sod, which bears trampling by cattle. It does not produce seed in the United States except in the extreme South. Italian Rye Grass.—lItalian rye grass, a head of which is shown in Fig. 14, reaches at maturity a height of ftom 240-3. ft. a ltimisa short The plant repro- Eres 12 Perennial Rye Grass.—Perennial rye grass, often known as English rye grass, is said to have been the first of the true grasses domesticated for hay and pasture purposes. This grass grows from 1 to 2 ft. ih height,, and As adapted to both pastures and meadows. Johnson Grass.—In the southern part of the United States, Johnson grass is grown to some extent for hay and pasture, although it is Fic. 13 probably more often looked on as an undesirable weed than as a useful plant. Johnson grass often grows from 4 to 7 ft. high and produces seed on a spreading head, as shown in Fig. 15. GENERAL FARM CROPS 71 Velvet Grass.—Velvet grass is a low-growing variety that reaches a height of about 2 ft. It derives its name from the downy character of the leaves and other parts. This character makes it distasteful to horses and cattle. It is said that these animals will nearly starve before acquiring a liking for velvet grass, but when once accustomed to it they thrive remarkably well on it. Quack Grass.—Quack grass is usually regarded as a weed wherever it is common. It spreads by underground stems in much the same manner as Johnson grass. In spite of its weedy character, it is often utilized as a hay and pasture grass. Texas Blue Grass.— Texas blue grass is a close relative of Ken- tucky blue grass and has similar habits. It is a grass of south- ern: origin. ‘and adapted to southern conditions, although it is grown as far north as Tennessee. It is used for both Fic. 14 meadows and_ pas- ture and in some cases it is used successfully for lawns. The Millets—The millets grown in North America are generally classed in four groups, only two of which are of importance in the United States as hay. These two groups are the foxtail millets and the broom-corn millets, specimens of which are illustrated in Fig. 16. The three important varieties of the foxtail millets are Common millet, shown in (a); German millet, shown in (c); and Hungarian grass, shown in (d). Sorghum.—Although sorghum is generally used for another purpose, namely, that of producing sirup, it has Fic. 15 GENERAL FARM CROPS 72 4 2, SS WNWN U409-Uul00AG (ce) =~. iS) GENERAL FARM CROPS 73 great value as a hay crop in many parts of the country. Kafir Corn.—Kafir corn is a variety of sorghum, although it does not have the sugar-producing qualities of the latter. It is most commonly grown for the grain, but is sometimes planted for hay in the same manner as sorghum. It is especially adapted to the semiarid sections, as it is able to endure extreme heat and drought. Teosinte.—Teosinte is an annual grass that much re- sembles Indian corn in habit of growth; it is of tropical origin, and consequently not adapted to northern con- ditions. It is grown rather extensively in the southern part of the United States. LEGUMES Nearly all leguminous plants have certain common characteristics. The leaves are arranged around the stem in regular order—not two-rowed as in grasses. The leaf consists of a stalk and leaflets. All legumes have a common form of blossom, examples being sweet peas, garden peas, and beans. The _ root system of legumes com- prises a large central root, called a tap root, from which numerous branches are sent out at varying distances. The roots of all legumes un- der favorable conditions bear tubercules, or nod- ules, which are caused by certain forms of bac- teria that live in the soil. They have the power of assimilating the Fic. 17 free nitrogen of the soil atmosphere and of transferring it to the root tubercules. 74 GENERAL FARM CROPS Red Clover.—Red clover is the most important legu- minous crop in the United States and is especially valuable as feed for milch cows, sheep, and in fact almost all classes of growing animals. It is not so Suitable for horses because it is liable to contain too much dust. In purchasing Red-clover seed, care should be taken to secure seed free from such adulterants as Yellow trefoil, dodder, Curled dock, Sheep sorrel, Lamb’s quarters, and Green foxtail. Experiments have proved that a crop of Red clover yielding 4,900 lb. of dry matter per acre will leave in the soil from roots and stubble 44 lb. of nitrogen, 32 Ib. of potash, and 13 lb. of phosphoric acid. The stem, leaves, and blossoms of a Red clover plant are shown in Fig. 17. Perhaps the worst enemy of clover is the dodder plant, which is a tawny yel- low plant that twines about the clover plant, as shown in Fig. 18, and on which it lives. Fic. 18 Mammoth Red Clover.—Mammoth Red clover, also called Mammoth clover, Perennial Red clover, and Pea vine clover, is a variety of ordinary Red clover, differing from it in a few respects only. It is larger and coarser than Red clover, is a longer-lived plant, and matures 3 or 4 wk. later. GENERAL FARM CROPS’ ° 75 Alisike Clover.—Alsike clover, a plant of which is shown in Fig. 19, has not attained the wide reputation that Red clover has, and is seldom a competitor with it where the latter can be grown successfully. But it is especially well adapted to land too wet for Red clover. Al Fic. 19 Alsike clover may be used for the same purpose as Red clover, and matures at about the same time. It is often used in a mixture with Red clover to make certain that there will be at least a partial crop in case the latter fails. 76 GENERAL FARM CROPS Crimson Clover.—Crimson clover, a plant of which is shown in Fig. 20, differs from the other clovers in that it runs its life history in less than a year from seeding. This variety of clover is not likely to be hardy in northern latitudes; hence, it is not planted extensively north of the 40th parallel. It is grown most extensively in the South Atlantic States. White Clover.—White clover, also called Dutch clover, is a small plant of creeping habit. It is very common in pastures and lawns. The stems of the plant are prostrate, but at intervals, blossoms and leaves are produced that assume an upright habit of growth, as is well illustrated in Fig. 21. The root system of White clover is much shallower than the root system of other GENERAL FARM CROPS 77 clovers; also, there is not so deep a tap root as is produced by either Red or Alsike clover. White clover is less affected by climatic conditions than Red clover and is better adapted to moist, rich soils than to soils that are too dry. For this reason, it makes better growth during wet seasons than during dry seasons. It is one of the best plants for pasture and lawn purposes, for which it is most largely used. Fic. 21 Alfalfa.—Among the leguminous plants used as hay and pasture crops, alfalfa is probably second in im- portance. It is a strongly growing branching perennial, which, at full maturity, may have a height of 3 or 4 ft. As shown in Fig. 22, which illustrates an old root that is starting a new growth, alfalfa has a large tap root, which grows directly downwards. Under favorable con- ditions the tap roots often reach a depth of from 12 to 78 GENERAL FARM CROPS 14 ft., depending on the character of the soil and the depth of the permanent water-table. te 0 wp a0) << - yy = SA > = NGS AS Ns = ~= av. Sis eS SE aE SN Cray ANETTTNEL Fic. 22 TES = ¢ Qj QD NS \ —s* SUS rs 4, aes \ = CI a ne we Os Alfalfa is used as a feed for © cattle, horses, sheep, swine, and poultry. It is used as pasture, as hay, .as. silage, -and as a soiling crop. About four-fifths of the alfalfa grown in the United States is made into hay. Some- times the hay is ground into meal and sold as alfalfa meal. Alfalfa: is’ yar ‘pare ticularly desirable feed for young stock, because it contains a large percentage of protein, which is es- sential for growth of young animals. It is also a good roughage for beef cattle. It has been determined that 1 acre of alfalfa will produce from 562 lb. to 706 lb. of beef annually. In the eastern half of the United States it is usually neces- sary, for the success- ful growing of alfalfa, to inoculate the soil with the proper nodule-forming bacteria. Cowpeas.—The cowpea is an annual leguminous plant that is grown extensively in the South and is used GENERAL FARM CROPS 79 largely to take the place of forage crops and of grain as feed for all kinds of farm animals. The feeding value of cowpeas is very high, as they are rich in protein. Above. ground there may be considerable variation in this plant, but there are only two general forms. One form is decidedly bushy in habit of growth; the other is of a trailing form. The bushy forms may grow to only 1 ft. or so in height; the trailing forms may extend only a few feet along the ground or they may ex- tend 15 or 20 ft. In Fig. 23 is shown a young cowpea plant with two seed pods. Soybeans.—_The soy- bean, also known as soja bean, is an erectly grow- ing plant of from 2 to A ft... in. »herght: As shown in Fig. 24, the leaves are composed of three large leaflets borne at the end of a stem. This stem is often from 10 to 12 in. ‘in length. The leaves, stems, and Fic. 23 pods are covered with stiff, reddish hairs. As with alfalfa and cowpeas, the leaflets are the most valu- able part of the plant when it is used as forage. The seeds are nearly globular, usually more or less compressed, and in color range from whitish to brown and black. In some varieties they are yellowish; in others green. The plant is prolific and will produce as many as 200 pods containing about 450 seeds. Root 80 GENERAL FARM CROPS nodules, which are often as large as small peas, are borne in great profusion. The amount of nitrogen added to the soil by a crop of soybeans is large. It is believed that the proper nodule-forming bacteria are often wanting in the soils of the United States, unless provided artificially. Vetches.—The vetches commonly grown in the United Fic. 24 States are of two kinds: the Hairy vetch, also known as the Sand vetch; and the Common vetch. The leaf of these plants is composed of about eight pairs of leaflets arranged in pairs along the sides of the midrib. The stems of the plants trail on the ground unless they are supported by an upright plant. Both kinds of vetches make excellent green-manure crops. GENERAL FARM CROPS 8] Field Peas.—Field peas are an important crop in Canada. Although they are not grown so extensively in the United States, they are doubtless well adapted to various portions of the country. Miscellaneous Legumes.—Other leguminous plants that are occasionally grown are: Japan clover, Florida beggar weed, Sweet clover, Yellow trefoil or Black medic, Bur clover, and Velvet bean. POTATOES The common potato is the enlarged, fleshy, underground stem, known as the tuber, of the potato plant. Although the tubers are widely known as Irish potatoes, the plant is a native of America. Aside from its universal culture in home gardens, the potato constitutes an important field crop, ranking next to rice as a food product for the human race. It is also extensively used for feeding to domestic animals. In those sections of America where potatoes are most largely grown, the small and the badly diseased potatoes, that is, the un- marketable portion of the crop, are used for the manu- facture of starch, and in certain sections of Europe large yields of comparatively small tubers are grown especially for the manufacture of starch and of alcohol. The average yield of potatoes in the United States for several decades past has been 83 bu. per acre. It takes about 15 bu. of seed potatoes cut into 1 oz. pieces to plant 1 acre, provided the rows are spaced 3 ft. apart and there is a space of 12 in. between the hills in the rows. If each seed piece grew and produced two 4-oz. potatoes, which are only medium-sized potatoes, 1 acre would yield 121 bu. of marketable potatoes. I1f each hill should produce eight 4-oz. potatoes, or 2 1b., as every grower should endeavor to have the crop yield, 1 acre would yield 484 bu. of marketable potatoes. Among the thousands of varieties of potatoes that have been developed the following may be considered as 6 82 GENERAL FARM CROPS standard: Bliss, Triumph, Bovee, Burpee, Extra Early, Crown Jewel, Early Ohio, Early Rose, Early Thorough- bred, Eureka, Norton Beauty, Reliance, Six-Weeks’ Market, Beauty of Hebron, Irish Cobbler, Polaris, White Elephant, Burbank, Carman Number 3, Freeman, Green Mountain, Peachblow, Pearl, Rural New Yorker Num- ber 2, Sir Walter Raleigh, State of Maine, Snowflake, and Vermont Gold Coin. In a general way, the varieties are mentioned in the order of their earliness of maturity. Some varieties, however, mature much earlier in one section of the country than in another. The principal diseases of potatoes are early blight, late blight, and scab. The blights destroy the foliage of the plants and thus materially reduce the yield, and the scab attacks the tubers. The blights are prevented by spraying with Bordeaux mixture. There is no standard formula for this mixture; however, a good Bordeaux may be made up of the following: 5 lb. of copper sulphate, 5 lb. of fresh quicklime, and 50 gal. of water. If to this mixture 1 lb. of Paris green or 3 lb. of arsenate of lead are added the mixture will be effective in killing the potato bug, the most common insect pest of the potato. The percentage of scabby potatoes in the crop produced can be materially decreased by disinfecting the seed potatoes by soaking them, before cutting, for 2 hr. in a solution consisting of % pt. of formalin and 15 gal. of water, or for 1% hr. in 2 oz. of corrosive sublimate dissolved in 15 gal. of water. ROOT CROPS The principal plants that are grown as farm crops for their fleshy roots are mangel wurzels, beets, turnips, tutabagas kohlrabi, carrots, parsnips, and artichokes. Mangel Wurzels.—Among the best known varieties of mangel wurzels, or cattle beets, or field beets, are the Norbiton Giant, Gate Post, Golden Tankard, and Yellow GENERAL FARM CROPS 83. Globe. These are grown almost entirely as feed for livestock. Sugar Beets.—Sugar beets are grown both for the manufacture of sugar and as feed for livestock. The leading variety grown for sugar production is the Kleinwenzlebener. The leading varieties grown for stock feed are Lane’s Imperial, Danish Red Top, and Danish Improved. Turnips.—Three members of the turnip family are commonly grown as farm crops, namely, the common turnip, the rutabaga, and the hybrid turnip, which is a cross of the common turnip and the rutabaga. Some of the most-used varieties of common turnips are: Purple Top, White Globe, Golden Ball, Snow Ball, Strap Leaf, and Cow Horn. In general appearance and habits of growth rutabagas are much the same as common turnips. They are used both as vegetables. for human food and as a feed for stock. Two common varieties of rutabagas are the Purple Top and the Green Top. Rutabagas are larger than common turnips and will yield twice as much bulk per acre, for which reasons they are grown more extensively as a root crop for stock feeding. One of the most apparent differences between the turnip and rutabaga is that the latter has a greater development at the crown, producing a distinct neck which the turnip does not have. Kohlrabi.—Kohlrabi is a plant that is frequently re- ferred to as the turnip-headed cabbage, for the only part used is the enlarged fleshy stem that grows above ground. The two most common varieties are the White Vienna and the Purple Vienna. Carrots.—The carrot is grown for human food and as a feed for livestock, particularly for horses. The juices of some varieties are used for coloring butter and the seed is employed in the manufacture of some kinds of liquor. 84 GENERAL FARM CROPS Parsnips.—The parsnip is a hardy plant that is widely grown in the United States for human food, and to some extent as a feed for horses. In European coun- tries, it is valued highly as a cattle feed. Since the roots grow entirely under the soil, harvesting is more difficult than with most other root crops, and as the roots are comparatively small it is not likely that it will ever become popular in the United States as a crop for livestock. Jerusalem Artichokes.—The Jerusalem artichoke is a native of the United States. In its habit of growth it resembles a small sunflower and belongs to the same botanical family. It has a coarse foliage and grows very rank. The artichoke is seldom planted with the expectation that it will be grown but 1 yr. Usually a field is devoted to it for several years, in some cases as many as 7 years. TOBACCO The tobaccos grown most widely in the United States are the White Burley, grown in Kentucky and small areas in neighboring states; Export, or heavy, tobacco, grown in the Middle West and in Maryland; Bright Yellow tobacco, grown chiefly in Virginia and the Carolinas; Sun-Cured tobacco, raised to a very limited extent in Virginia; Perique, which has a wide reputa- tion, but is raised only in a small area in Louisiana; and cigar tobaccos. All of the tobaccos named, except cigar tobaccos, are used in the manufacture of chewing, cigarette, and pipe tobaccos and are known as manufacturing tobaccos. However, a portion of the Export tobacco is used in foreign countries for the manufacture of cigars. The cigar tobaccos are classed according to their use as cigar-filler, cigar-binder, and cigar-wrapper tobaccos. Cigar tobaccos are raised in two distinct zones in the United States. The northern zone includes a large portion of the Connecticut River valley in the states GENERAL FARM CROPS 85 of Connecticut and Massachusetts; two districts in New York, embracing Chemung and Onondaga and por- tions of adjoining counties in one, and Tioga and por- tions of adjoining counties in the other; Lancaster and adjoining counties in Pennsylvania; Montgomery and Miami and portions of adjoining counties in Ohio; and small areas in Southern and Western Wisconsin. The southern zone includes Gadsden County, Florida, with the adjacent county of Decatur in Georgia and small por- tions of adjoining counties; and small areas in Southern Alabama, and Anderson and Nacogdoches counties, Texas. SOILING CROPS Crops that are cut and fed green to livestock, either in the stable or the feed lot, are called soiling crops. The practice of feeding such crops is known as _ soiling. Soiling may be either partial or complete, depending on whether the feeding is practiced simply to supplement pastures or to supply all of the green feed used by the animals. Often several soiling crops are grown on the same land in a single season and each soiling crop produces a large quantity of feed per acre. In the accompanying table is given a suggested list of crops and the acreage required in a partial soiling system for soiling 20 cows during the usual dry period PARTIAL SOILING SYSTEM FOR 20 COWS Area to be Kind of Crop Seeded Time of Feeding Acres Ontsrand"peass\..<2 9s «sm. 13 July 4 to Aug. 1 LOVER SE ence. ee ca 3 Aug. 1 to 20 NTME Toe ne ok peettrscscaccete 2 1 Aug. 10 to 20 COrnee ts se eS chao 2 Aug. 20 to Sept. 5 WRADICMA seta pete RES oes 1 Aug. 15 to Oct. 15 Clover (second crop)..... 3 Sept. 1 to Oct. 1 GENERAL FARM CROPS 86 *‘punoi3 yeoyM oy} UO sueoqAos 94} pue puNoI3 9AI 9Y} UO UMOS BUIEq qoq[iur oy} ‘Wy 26 SBM posn pur] jo vole 1e}0, 94} JNG "YW GT SBM UMOS Bore [e40} 94. — "ALON cI "190 O04 CL “sny og o4 0Z APN spunod ¥ T ae) 6) Sle) eas: oe Sere le ode “21 ST “PO 04 GT “3dag Z ssei3 WOIJ YeWIIJY ‘IT GT 03 G ydag OL sunt S[[IIp ut ‘4b OZ% T uvaqAOs Useis UINIpeyy ‘OT G +4ydag 04 CL “ony og 0} 0z ACI jeysnqg g £T Wie eee qe) (ewe) apie Bb cae ulod 6 > : ELON TRUTOD. Slee ox se. Wahl ch ch Ne cemsialeene : Cl o4 I any { doio proces \ a JaAO]O pea 8 GT 04 it ‘ony T ounf jeysnq z T Pee Pa ect Leis PILI Of) [ORISHA Te AY, Netaltge. WePeapisysitene en ste cle tereycere sted : TE 0} ST pill GT 94 OT API { gjoysnq £T \ E (sv 9 TOU SEG Se [ee ale lithe sp ead rants nuantel nice Cetera tts se : GT 0} $ ANE ¢ 0 | SRW Bierce eres gel aa Ste aes spunod 9g IDAO[D por - F A[n[ 03 Og ounf OL 04 T AVI spunod Ff pa cote a ae | ** doy poy spunod g ** AYQOWTL 0Z 03 OT eunf G 01 T ARI spunod cT eT a |e eetae orn 2 JOAOCTO poy “ES : jysnq § vevee J YOPOA JOPULM F OL 03 T oun ay. ov.opeides © AV cena ta pie al are eee O€ 93 02 API OL 03 T *3dos sjeysng Z% ( Wise ees Scents aoe aAI JoJUIM «CT soloy BUIpsey jO OWT BUIpIaG JO OUWITT, aloy Jod paag UMOS doig jo puryy eoly SMOOD 0? HOA WALSAS ONITIOS ALATMNOO GNVIONA MAN GENERAL FARM CROPS | z Agyie GT 94 T2990 O€§ 04 ST Aine { euen 1 \ Allie praca ara toi tc { tea) 0€ 94 02 “dag CT 4[n¢ joysnq T[ a ae | See _Ssei3 ueesun}y 0€ 91 OL “3dag Og AB syienb OT z EOS) OT ‘3dag 03 ¢g “Any 0z API syienb §T z ae ee) GI “3dag 03 0g ‘sny 0% ARI syzenb gT Boo pepe enes Semmes 4tasose uIntpout) suvaqAog 0% °7 OT “Bny Gg Ae Teysnq § PP Os ae ae Spee 21 4 OL ‘sny 03 GZ A[ne OL API Tysn § é he Sid ER OT EL ht, Cena ez Amf or Leunf | of Kew orogsdy |{ sierena i ee yee paves, pceenenes Sag G A[nf 03 gy ounf de ovo aye Ut Givene | A Pi ae ete ine hee page tee items sie 0Z 07 T sunt GI ‘Ady 04 OF “Je { crater i \ I qoute sees Pie) Og 01 ¢g ounf 02 Tudy i eadendt 7 Ube gd leas ie a es Fr shete spunod IOAO[D per O€ 07 ST sun T ‘ydag 03 [ ‘any spunod a Tee | eee aes ** doy poy spunod ** AYZOUNLL dois urei3 GZ 0} ST sunf snotAeid YIM 10 spunod ZI mee ee ke Op IDAO[D Pa Penyer ir Ay yn Ae Ge es eae el ee CT 02 T sung GI 94 OL ‘3desg sjeysng Zz Lo Sh aera, oe eee yee M. O€ 97 0Z APTN GT 93 OT “3dag sjeysnq % | apes seo ek aA soloy BuIpsag jo ow, BuIps—ag jo ouILy ainy ted paeg uMOG doig je puryy | | voly SMOO 0 YOX WALSAS ONITIOS ALATANWOD NISNOOSIM NEN re 9 OS Lek ee ee GENERAL FARM CROPS 88 SMOO 02 HOAX WALSAS ONITIOS ALATMWOD AASUAL MAN I “AON 04 LG "490 z *ydag sjoysnqg tT ¢ al [ak ee) es) in) Sele) ceil. « eis Aged ‘61 NE O4 Gc 490 Z vip te oie p wie) aie) a a awae (pelip Ajjted) sosseis poxtfy ‘ST ¢ 0} T "390 ¥z Ain sjoysnq §] Tie ei eek kg seodmoy *2T T 290 93 9T “3dag IT 4nf jeysnq fF 2 ae ted | cea Soe) a QI 03 T ‘ydag OL AInf eaeticl e ee oe nee es ‘ey I "ydag 04 CZ ‘any OL oun Seni z $ ote @, 16 6 ur eyey-e tere! os seodmoy “EL Go 04 61 ‘Bny iL ount sjeysnq Z 2 ee wes 6 & soo bem suevaqA0G OT 61 03 ¢ ‘sny 61T oun joysnq § My Stee stan Sep yoy] preAureg ‘ZT € ‘sny 03 Zz A[nf z AP jeysnq FA “*-ULO9 a}IYM UOyNOG “TT ; Ed Go OF TT Ane 6L [dy rand, i ra \leio eo urine oy oni ery ‘OI TT 93 6 Ain A (BU1}}No puodas) eeITy 6 BSHSOG HL .- Welle gen 2“ a eee sted . 6 07 $ Aine IT Edy aeuettel te ; ee ai BSH RM EI a Mago. “cline. arenes ond SUT . b An 07 gg ounf j Indy See te ¥ Cae “ 9% 93 Tg sunf aera oe Sica a sossei3 poxIy ‘9 IZ 03 [ ounf OT Ajne yeysngq F 1G aE S IO9AO[O UOSTUTI) °G T oun 04 GZ ACN 9% *ydag sjeysnq Z $ the iailet eriebel euenswerstars yeouM, ‘} OL ond Aen "e100 slouend 2 pea Pe eicneengn 7 a [2 Bop sett ca esis ee heen é : 20 It ARIN LZ *ydag sjeysnq Z z & aspeteithwis tel efe.'s) -ayietettedrs aAX Ti soloy BUIpaay JO polleg BUIpVeS JO sully aioy Jed psag uMOG doig jo pury ealy FRUIT CULTURE 89 from Aug. 1 to Oct. 15, in a region where blue-grass pastures prevail. In this plan, the soiling crops are depended on to supplement the pasture until corn silage is available, silage being used through the winter. In the table on page 86 is given a complete suc- cession of soiling crops, together with the rate and time of seeding, and the feeding period. The system given in this table is used in the New England states for the complete soiling of a herd of 20 cows from May to Oct. In the table on page 87 is given a system used in Wisconsin, for a herd of 20 cows; the table on page 88 is a system applying to conditions in New Jersey and near-by territory and furnishes green feed for 20 cows for a period of 6 mo. These tables are not intended as absolute guides, but are for the purpose of giving a correct idea of the essentials of a soiling system and to emphasize the importance of a complete and orderly succession of crops. FRUIT CULTURE SPRAYS FOR FRUIT PLANTS INSECTICIDES Arsenate of Lead.—Arsenate of lead is a much-used poisonous insecticide that contains very little soluble arsenic; it stays in suspension well, is not easily washed from plant foliage by rain, and has some value as a fungicide. It is sold as a paste and as a powder. The paste form is used at the rate of 2, 3, or 4 lb. to 50 gal. of water, the exact quantity de- pending on the pest to be combated. Half as much of the powdered form as of the paste form is required. Paris Green.—Paris green is an arsenical poison easily recognized by its green color. It contains a higher 90 FRUIT CULTURE percentage of soluble arsenic than arsenate of lead. It should not be used on peaches, cherries, or plums. Often used as a potato spray. Generally used in the form of a spray consisting of 1 lb. to from 75 to 150 gal. of water. Arsenite of Lime.—Arsenite of lime is an arsenical spray that is cheaper than arsenate of lead or Paris green, but its use is likely to be attended with spray injury. Made by boiling 1 lb. of white arsenic and 2 lb. of good lime in 2 gal. of water for 40 min. Water to make 300 gal. of spray is added. London Purple.—London purple is a by-product in the manufacture of aniline dyes. Varies greatly in com- position, and for this reason is not often used in orchard work. Used in the same proportion and in the same way as Paris green. Hellebore.—Hellebore is a poison made from the powdered roots of hellebore. Recommended as a substi- tute for arsenical poisons where insects must be com- bated on nearly ripe fruit. May be applied dry mixed with from 5 to 10 parts of flour or lime, or as a spray consisting of 1 oz. of hellebore to 1 gal. of water.: Lime-Sulphur.—Lime-sulphur is a contact insecticide made by boiling stone lime and powdered sulphur. Used as a spray on dormant trees at 1.03 sp. gr. for scale insects, especially the San José scale. Also used as a fungicide at 1.007 to 1.01 sp. gr. Concentrated lime-sulphur may be purchased or may be made at home by using the proportion of 1 lb. of lime, 1 lb. pow- dered sulphur to 1 gal. of water and boiling for 1 hr. The concentrated mixture should be tested with a hydrometer and water added to give the specific gravity required for the spray. Miscible Oil.—Oil that has been chemically treated so that it will combine with water to make a uniform mixture is called miscible oil. Such oils are used successfully as contact insecticides. Many brands of miscible oils are on the market. Miscible oil is often used as a spray for the San José scale. FRUIT CULTURE 91 Kerosene Emulsion.—Kerosene emulsion is a contact insecticide, similar in nature to miscible oil. Made from kerosene with soap as an emulsifier. Much used for combating plant lice. It is made by dissolving 1 lb. of soap in 1 gal. of water and adding 2 gal. of kerosene and churning with a force pump until a _ butter-like mass is formed. To this is added water in different proportions for spraying. Distillate Oils.—Distillates are made from oil taken from wells in the western part of the United States. sed either as an emulsion or in the form of a mechan- ical mixture. Used for combating scale insects. Tobacco Extracts and Decoctions.—Tobacco extracts and decoctions are spray materials made from tobacco waste. Much used for plant lice and other sucking in- sects. Many proprietary tobacco decoctions are on the market, and these, when applied in accordance with the directions that accompany the packages, will generally prove satisfactory. May be made at home by steeping 1 lb. of tobacco in 1 gal. of watét. FUNGICIDES Bordeaux Mixture.—Bordeaux mixture is a much-used fungicide made from copper sulphate and lime. Can be used successfully on most fruit and vegetable crops. Sometimes causes injury to fruit and foliage of apple and other fruit trees. The copper sulphate, lime, and water are combined in different proportions, depending on the plant to be sprayed and the fungus to be com- bated. The strength of Bordeaux mixture is designated by figures giving the proportions of the ingredients and followed by the name Bordeaux. For example, 6:6 : 50 Bordeaux means that the proportions of the mixture are 6 lb. of copper sulphate, 6 lb. of lime, and 50 gal. of water; 3:4:50 means that the proportions are 3 lb. of copper sulphate, 4 lb. of lime, and 50 gal. of water. Ammoniacal Copper Carbonate.——Ammoniacal copper carbonate is a solution made from copper carbonate 6 oz., 92 FRUIT CULTURE ammonia 3 pt. and water to make 50 gal. This solution does not cause injury to fruit as Bordeaux mixtures does, and for this reason its use on ripe fruit may some- times be advisable, but it is more injurious to the tree than Bordeaux mixture and is not so effective. Sulphur Dust.—Sulphur in the form of dust has con- siderable value as a fungicide. It is used principally to combat powdery mildew on certain kinds of fruit. Potassium Sulphide.—A spray of some value as a fungi- cide is made by dissolving from 2 to 3 oz. of potassium sulphide, sometimes called liver of sulphur, in 10 gal. of water. It is of value principally for powdery mildew on berry plants. Lime-Sulphur.—During recent years dilute lime-sulphur is being used as a summer fungicide to replace Bordeaux mixture for many classes of fruit plants. It is claimed that lime-sulphur does not cause injury to fruit as does Bordeaux mixture. Self-Boiled Lime-Sulphur.—Self-boiled lime-sulphur is a mechanical mixture of lime and sulphur. A _ small quantity of the sulphur becomes dissolved in the mix- ture, and it is this sulphur that gives the preparation its fungicidal property. Much used as a summer spray for peaches. It is made by adding sufficient water to lime to start slaking and then sifting in sulphur. Water is added to keep up the slaking and the mixture is thoroughly stirred. When slaking is complete enough cold water must be added to cool the mixture at once. The proportion of 6 lb. of sulphur, 6 lb. of lime to 50 gal. of water is generally used in making the com- pound, but other proportions are sometimes recom- mended. FRUIT CULTURE 93 APPLES VARIETIES OF APPLES Summer Varieties.—Among the most important sum- mer varieties of apples are the following: Yellow Transparent: Summer apple; good variety for the home orchard. Tree is rather a slow grower, but bears at an early age; often 2- or 3-year-old trees will set considerable fruit. Fruit, above medium in size, beautiful clear yellowish white in color; flesh, white, juicy, with a pleasant flavor. Skin somewhat tender; fruit should be picked often in order to be marketed in good condition. Early Harvest: One of the oldest and most widely disseminated varieties of summer apples in America. Tree, vigorous and healthy; comes into bearing rather young. Fruit, medium size; pale yellow; pleasant; of very good quality. Red Astrachan: Widely known variety of summer apple. Tree, medium size, fairly vigorous, although in some sections it is not very productive. Fruit, medium to large size; red splashes over greenish or greenish yellow; a little too sour for dessert, but excellent for cooking. Apples mature unevenly; are very perishable; and are not well suited for long shipment. Oldenburg: Adapted to a cool climate, but widely dis- seminated; considered one of the most important of summer apples. Tree, rather a slow grower; medium in size; bears when young; prolific in most localities. Fruit, medium to large; roundish to oblate; yellowish, almost completely covered with irregular splashes and stripes of red; stands shipment fairly well; generally in demand on the market. Gravenstein: Summer variety that is fairly well known in most sections. Tree, strong, vigorous, spreading. Fruit, medium to large; roundish oblate; red and yellow striped. Flesh, yellowish; firm; quality very good. 94 FRUIT CULTURE Fall and Winter Varieties.—Several of the important varieties of apples suitable for fall and winter use are: Fall Pippin: Tree, large; moderately vigorous; long lived. Fruit, large; yellowish-green; of good quality, but ripens unevenly, the first often being ready in September and the last not ripening until a few weeks later. A desirable variety for home and commercial orchards. Alexander: Fall, or in some places a late summer apple, grown especially in the eastern apple-growing regions. Tree, a strong grower; bears at an early age. Fruit, round, conic, or oblate conic; very large; coarse in texture; of fair quality; greenish yellow almost cov- ered with red stripes; ripens early in July in Vir- ginia and continues until Sept. or Nov. in New York. ' Wolf River: Similar to the Alexander. Tree, fairly vigorous; large; spreading; comes into bearing rather late. Fruit, large; broad; flat at the base; round; slightly conic; bright red and yellowish stripes blushed with deep red. Flesh yellowish; somewhat coarse; juicy; of only fair to good quality. On account of their high color and good size the apples are in good demand on the market. Fruit may be kept until Dec. in a cool cellar or until Jan. in cold storage. Wealthy: An important fall apple extensively grown in the Central States and to some extent in the Eastern States. Tree, hardy and thrifty when young, but with maturity it becomes a rather slow grower. Fruit, me- dium to large; roundish oblate; of good quality; heavily striped with red over light yellow or green. Flesh, white, sometimes tinged with red. Fameuse: An old variety decidedly adapted to North- ern regions. Tree, of medium size; a moderate grower; healthy and long lived. Fruit, above medium in size; roundish and somewhat conic; bright red, deepening to purplish black in the best colored specimens. Flesh, white, often streaked or tinged with red; quality, good. McIntosh: Similar to the Fameuse, but adapted to a wider range of localities. Tree, in some localities a FRUIT CULTURE 95 slow grower and not very productive; in other places, a strong grower, hardy, and productive; bears fairly early; yields good crops. Fruit, medium to large; roundish to somewhat oblate; red with a slight amount of whitish yellow or green; quality, very good to best; prized for dessert, but lacks sufficient firmness to stand long shipment. Flesh, white or slightly yellowish; often tinged with red; firm; fine; crisp; tender; juicy; aromatic. Hubbardston: An early winter variety. Tree, vigor- ous and generally of good size. Fruit, medium to large; roundish ovate; red mingled with yellow or green. Flesh, whitish; slightly tinged with yellow; quality, very good to best. Tompkins King: One of the highest quality apples produced. Tree, rather vigorous; lateral branches, slen- der and somewhat drooping. Fruit, large to very large; roundish; sometimes inclined to conic; red with a small amount of yellow. Flesh, rich yellow; tender; aromatic; juicy; quality very good to best. In ordinary storage the King keeps until Dec. or Jan., and in cold storage until about Feb. King apples are probably at their best about Christmas. Yellow Bellefower: Tree, large; vigorous; good grower; fairly hardy; not a satisfactory bearer. Fruit, round- ish oblong, narrowing toward the base; pale lemon yel- low, often with brownish yellow cheek; quality good; ex- cellent for dessert and for cooking. Flesh, white, showing slightly yellowish. The season same as King. Winter Banana: Tree, medium; vigorous; a fair grower; bears young; yields moderate crops; in most cases is an annual bearer. Fruit, large; roundish conic; bright pale yellow with a dark pinkish blush; quality, good to very good. Flesh, whitish tinged with yellow; moderately firm; tender; juicy. The apples are better for dessert than for cooking, being too mild in flavor for the latter purpose. They will keep in cold storage until about March. 96 PROIT CULTURE Smokehouse: Tree, vigorous; healthy; hardy; bears rather young; a good yielder, usually producing crops annually; has a tendency to form a dense head. Fruit, medium large to large; oblate; yellow; deeply mottled red; flesh, slightly tinged with yellow; rather firm; crisp; juicy. Quality is good. Season is from Oct. to Feb. in storage. Black Gillifower: Tree, medium in size; a vigorous grower; generally a reliable bearer. Fruit, medium in size; long ovate to oblong conic; dark red to dull purple. Flesh, whitish or yellowish; becomes mellow and mealy on standing. The season is from Oct. to Jansfor) Heb: Rambo: Tree, of medium size; moderately vigorous. Fruit, medium in size; roundish or somewhat oblate in form; greenish yellow, mottled with red; quality, good to very good. Flesh, white, tinged with yellow or green; juicy; rather fine grained. In ordinary storage the apples keep until Nov.; in cold storage until Feb. Tolman Sweet: Tree, moderately vigorous; a good grower; long lived; very hardy. Fruit, medium; oblate; pale yellow, sometimes slightly blushed; sweet; quality fair to very good. Flesh, white; firm; rather tough. In ordinary storage the apples will keep until about Jan. 1 and in cold storage to about March or April. York Imperial: Tree, vigorous; a thrifty grower; a good bearer, bearing biennially, or in some cases an- nually. Fruit, medium to large, roundish oblate, and distinctly lopsided; pinkish red over green or yellow. Flesh, yellowish; firm; fairly juicy; quality, generally good. In cellar storage it will keep from Jan. to April; in cold storage it seems to scald badly, and may last only through Feb. Smith Cider: Tree, moderately vigorous; has long, stout, straggling branches. Fruit, medium; round; striped pinkish red. Flesh, whitish; juicy; of good flavor. Desirable for cooking purposes; will keep in cel- lar storage until Feb.; in cold storage until March. FRUIT CULTURE 97 Baldwin: The most important commercial winter apple grown in America, a standard fruit in both American and export markets, and one of the principal varieties handled in cold storage. Tree, strong grower; long lived; vigorous; slow to come into bearing, but bears very abundantly, generally biennially. Fruit, medium in size; roundish to conic; red over light yellow or green. Flesh, yellowish; moderately coarse; quality good to very good. Fruit is suitable both for dessert and cooking purposes. Its season in ordinary storage is from Nov. to March, in cold storage until May or June. Esopus Spitzenberg: Better known, perhaps, as Spit- zenberg. Is of the Baldwin type, but of better quality and more highly prized as a fancy dessert fruit. It is. also a good quality cooking apple. Tree, rather slow grower and generally rated as a moderate cropper. Fruit, medium to large; oblong; bright red over yellow. Flesh, yellowish; crisp; tender; quality very good to best. Its season extends from Nov. to Feb. or March in ordinary storage and to May or June in cold storage. Delicious: Tree, a strong grower and a heavy bloomer. Fruit, large to very large; oblong conic, with 5 points projecting from the basin; red splashed and striped over pale yellow. Flesh, pale yellow; tender; moderately juicy. The quality is of the best, especially for dessert. Rhode Island Greening: As a type of green apple, the Rhode Island Greening is the best known in America. Tree, large and spreading; a reliable cropper; yields fruit annually. Fruit medium to large; grass green in autumn, to yellowish green when fully matured; roundish oblate; a good shipper. Flesh, yellowish; firm; fine grained; juicy; quality very good. It is highly prized for cooking and by many is thought to be an excellent dessert fruit. Its season is about the same as that of Baldwin. Yellow Newtown: Also known as the Albemarle Pip- pin. Tree, vigorous and erect. Fruit, yellow, often with a pink blush spread over a part of the surface. Flesh, 3 98 FRUIT CULTURE yellowish with a mild and highly aromatic flavor. Its season extends from Jan. until April and sometimes until May. Northern Spy: Tree, large and vigorous; upright; a slow grower and late coming into bearing, but when mature a good yielder. Fruit, large to very large; roundish conic; pale yellow nearly concealed by pinkish red and splashed with carmine. The flavor is very good and the fruit is well liked for dessert and for cooking. In ordinary storage the apples cannot be kept much later than Feb. or March, and even in cold storage they are likely to deteriorate if left longer than March. Jonathan: Tree, medium; fairly reliable cropper; bears rather early. Fruit, small to medium; roundish conic; bright red over yellow, which is sometimes visible where a twig or leaf has shaded the fruit. Flesh, white often marked with red; juicy; spicy; quality, very good to best. Its season is from Oct. to some time in Jan. in ordinary storage, and to Feb. or March in cold storage. Ben Davis: Tree, medium; rather a rank grower when young; has coarse, strong wood that will stand under heavy crops. The form of tree tends to be upright and roundish, becoming rather spreading in old trees. Fruit, medium to large; conic; deep red or red striped. Flesh, whitish slightly tinged with yellow; firm; moderately coarse; slightly tough. The quality is fair to poor. Its season extends as late as June or July if the fruit is kept in cold storage. Gano: Similar to the Ben Davis, although better in quality. Tree, generally vigorous and of the same up- right spreading habit as the Ben Davis. Fruit, me- dium: roundish conic; light yellow, overlaid almost com- pletely with red. Flesh, whitish, slightly tinged with yellow; firm, but coarse in texture. Its season is about the same as that of Ben Davis. Black Ben Davis: Is of the Ben Davis type, but re- sembles the Gano more nearly than the Ben Davis. FRUIT CULTURE 99 Tree, upright when young but spreading and dense when mature. Fruit, medium to large; roundish conic; a clear pale yellow covered with a brilliant red that be- comes a dark purple on the side exposed to the sun. It lasts until April and May when kept in cold storage. Winesap: Tree, of medium size; rather vigorous; bears early; usually an annual cropper. Fruit, small to medium; roundish; slightly conical; deep red. Flesh, yellowish, with an occasional red streak running through it; juicy; crisp; quality, good to very good. The ordinary limit in cold storage is April. Staymen Winesap: Tree, fairly vigorous; spreading; rather open. Fruit, medium to very large; roundish conic to globular; a dull red that is rather indistinctly striped with carmine. Flesh, yellowish or greenish; crisp; juicy; quality good to very good. The fruit will keep in storage until April or May. Wagener: Tree, small; vigorous when young, but short lived. Fruit, medium to large; roundish oblate; bright, light-red stripes over pale yellow. Flesh, whitish, slightly tinged with yellow; juicy; tender. Quality, very good to best, being similar to the Northern Spy in this respect. Its season extends from Oct. to Feb. Grimes: A variety adapted to middle latitudes and one of the best quality apples produced. Tree, moderately vigorous; branches, short, curved, and crooked; good cropper. Fruit, medium to large; roundish oblong. Flesh, yellow; firm; tender. Can be kept until Jan. or Feb. in cold storage. Rome, or Rome Beauty: Does well in the latitude of New Jersey and Southern Ohio. Tree, not particularly vigorous, but attains medium size and bears early. Fruit, medium to very large; roundish; red mixed with yellow. Skin, thick; tough; smooth. Flesh, nearly white, with a slight tinge of yellow or green; juicy; crisp; of an agreeable taste; good quality. The fruit is used both for dessert and for cooking purposes. The season extends to about April or May. 100 FRUIT CULTURE Stark: Tree, vigorous; large; a reliable cropper, and very productive. Fruit, medium to large; red mixed with dull green or yellow. Flesh, yellowish and firm; quality, fair to good. The apples can often be kept in storage until May. A variety widely grown in the central part of the United States. PRUNING OF APPLES When the young apple tree from the nursery is planted it should be cut back and the head started about 2% to 3 ft. from the ground. If the branches are properly placed, the three or four best ones should be cut back to stubs 10 to 15 in. in length; these branches should be strong and be spaced about 6 in. apart on the trunk. If the branches on the tree are not properly placed so that a good head can be started, cut off all the branches, leaving the trunk merely a whip, and form the head from the new shoots that are sent out. There is much difference of opinion in regard to the subsequent pruning of the apple tree. Some authorities give detailed instructions as to just how and when an apple tree should be pruned, and the approximate dis- tances the tree should be cut back at different ages. Taking the average experience of a large number of growers, however, it seems that the best results have not been obtained by heavy pruning, but rather by moderate pruning, and that the least cutting possible should be done, consistent with -training the tree into such form that each individual fruit will receive as much light as possible, and with keeping the tree in such form that spraying and harvesting can be done . to the best advantage. The most economical way of pruning is to pinch out, and train the growth of the branches during the summer so that only the limbs that are desirable are permitted to grow. This will save cutting out a large quantity of wood later on, and the branches permitted to grow in this way usually grow larger than those pruned during the dormant season. FRUIT CULTURE 101 From year to year aiter the tree has once been properly started, it should be developed according to some definite system. Each of the original three or four main branches should be headed back some the second spring and two branches allowed to develop on each of them, the branches coming off at different points and growing in such directions that the top of the tree will be balanced and open. That year, during the summer, the growth on these laterals should be limited to two or three branches, chosen with the same end in view, as in the case of the first laterals. This system of se- lecting branches should be continued for 3 or 4 yrs. until the main framework of the tree has been built up. After the framework of the tree has been built up, the quantity of wood cut from the tree should be gradually reduced, until only the removal of misplaced and diseased branches will be needed. When the trees approach bearing age care should be taken to leave the fruit spurs on the tree and to keep the bearing wood low and well distributed in all parts of the tree so that the load of fruit may be well carried and easy of access. Future injury to the tree is prevented if the pruning is well and neatly done. No stubs should be left, the cuts being made flush with the limb from which a branch is pruned. All large cuts that will not heal over in a short time should be painted with a good white lead and linseed-oil paint. This painting of the wounds is very important and should never be neglected. SPRAYING OF APPLES ‘The principal insects attacking the apple are the bud moth, canker worm, coddling moth, apple maggot, cigar- case bearers, San José scale, oyster-shell scale, scurfy scale, leaf-blister mite, round-headed borer, and apple- tent caterpillar. The principal diseases of the apple are scab, fire blight, black rot, sometimes called New York apple-tree canker, and bitter rot. 102 FRUIT CULTURE In order to control the insects and diseases of the apple that can be controlled by spraying the following system of spraying will be found effective: 1. During the season when the trees are dormant and just as the leaf buds are swelling but before they are open, spray with lime-sulphur solution (sp. gr. 1.03—that is, concentrated lime-sulphur of 33° Baumé diluted 1 to 8 with water) to which has been added 2 lb. of arsenate of lead to each 50 gal. of solution. This spraying is for the control of the San José scale, leaf- blister mite, bud moth, and cigar-case bearer. It is gen- erally known as the dormant spray. 2. After the leaf buds are open, but just before the fruit blossoms open, or about the time when the fruit blossoms are beginning to look pink at the tips, spray with a dilute lime-sulphur solution (sp. gr. 1.007, that is, concentrated lime-sulphur of 33° Baumé diluted 1 to 40 with water). Bordeaux mixture (8 lb. copper sulphate, 4 lb. lime, water-slaked, 50 gal. water), may be used instead of the dilute lime-sulphur, but it is likely to cause some damage to the foliage or fruit or to both. Whichever of these solutions is used, arsenate of lead should be added (2 to 3 lb. arsenate of lead to 50 gal. of the other spray solution). This combined fungicide-insecticide spray is for the control of the apple scab, bud moth, cigar-case bearer, and canker worm. 3. After the petals have begun to fall from the apple blossoms, starting when about two-thirds of them have fallen, spray with the solution given in paragraph 2, preferably with the lime-sulphur-arsenate-of-lead solu- tion. This spraying is for the control of the apple scab, leaf spot, coddling moth, canker worm, and bud moth, and is the most important of all the applications. 4. From 10 to 14 da. later another application of the solution given in paragraph 2 should be made for the control of apple scab, leaf spot, coddling moth, and canker worm. FRUIT CULTURE 103 5. From 8 to 9 wk. after the blossoms fall the spray- ing described in paragraph 2 should again be repeated for any late infections of the apple scab that may occur, and also for any of the later brood of the coddling moth. Though in most seasons this application will not be found necessary, the work is not so expensive but that it generally pays to apply it. 6. In case the green aphis attacks the foliage, spray thoroughly, before the leaves begin to curl, with a whale-oil soap solution (1 lb. whale-oil soap to 6 gal. of water), or with a tobacco preparation guaranteed to con- tain 2.7 per cent. of nicotine diluted with 65 to 100 parts of water, or with kerosene emulsion diluted in the proportion of 1 part of emulsion to 6 parts of water. The importance of applying all of these sprays thor- oughly and at the right time cannot be too greatly emphasized. PEACHES VARIETIES OF PEACHES Early Varieties.—The following are the principal early varieties of peaches that are used in commercial plant- ings: Greensboro: Very early. Fruit, white fleshed; medium to large; oblong to oval, often somewhat flattened; clingstone; fair flavor, rather soft for distance ship- ment. Tree, hardy and productive. Best market peach of its season and profitable where an early peach is in demand. Inferior to Carman in flavor and _ shipping quality, but ripens 2 wk. earlier. Waddell: Early. Fruit, white fleshed; medium size; oblong conic; semi-clingstone; flavor better than Greensboro; better for shipment than Greensboro. Tree, hardy and productive. Fruit needs to be thinned severely to reach good size; ripens only a few days in advance of Carman. Can be used to start the Carman season, especially in local markets. 104 FRUIT CULTURE Carman: Ripens a few days after Waddell. Fruit, white fleshed; large; round to oval; semi-clingstone; flavor, medium to good; shipping quality, fair to good. Tree, hardy and productive. Regarded as the first im- portant early shipping variety. More hardy and pro- ductive than Elberta in most sections, but not high enough in flavor for a good canning peach. St. John: [Earliest yellow-fleshed market variety. Fruit, yellow-fleshed; medium size; round, blunt at apex; freestone; flavor, high; rather soft for distance shipment. Tree, fairly hardy and productive in some localities. Mountain Rose: Medium early; ripens about 7 to 9 da. after Carman. Fruit, white fleshed; medium size; nearly round, blunt at apex; freestone; high prominent flavor; shipping quality, fair. Tree, fairly hardy and in favorable seasons, productive; less hardy than Greens- boro, Carman, and Hiley. Hiley, or Early Belle: Medium early fruit, white fleshed; large; oblong conic, apex pointed; freestone; high quality and flavor. This variety has taken the place of Mountain Rose in some localities, as it is hardier, of better shipping quality, and ripens at the same season. Brigg’s Red May: Early-ripening variety in California. Fruit, medium to large; skin white, with rich red cheek; round; semi-clingstone. Standard early variety. Alexander: Widely grown early variety in California. Fruit, greenish white, nearly covered with deep red; medium to large; semi-clingstone; flesh, firm, juicy, and sweet; bears transportation well. Mid-Season Varieties.—The following are the prin- cipal mid-season varieties of-peaches uséd in commercial plantings: Champion: Ripens about 5 to 8 da. after Mountain Rose or Hiley. Fruit, white fleshed; large; round, blunt at apex; freestone; flavor regarded as the highest; rather tender for distance shipment, otherwise a good market variety. Tree, hardy and productive. FRUIT CULTURE 105 Belle of Georgia: Ripens a few days before Elberta, and a few days after Champion begins. Fruit, white fleshed; large; oblong conic, apex pointed; freestone; high flavor; especially desirable for distance shipments; very firm. Tree, hardy and productive. Good variety both for market and for the home garden. Reeve’s Favorite: Ripens about the same time as Belle of Georgia. Fruit, yellow fleshed; very large; round, with blunt apex; freestone; high flavor; good shipping quality. Tree, less hardy than Early Crawford; lacks productiveness as generally grown. Foster: Widely grown in California where it ripens just before or about the time of Early Crawford. Fruit, yellow fleshed; uniformly large; slightly flattened, with slight suture; freestone; flavor, good, rich, and juicy. Tree, hardy and productive. Oldmixon: Ripens about with Early Crawford. Fruit, white fleshed; large; roundish, or slightly oval in shape; flavor, excellent; flesh, juicy. Early Crawford: Ripens about 7 to 9 da. before Elberta. Fruit, yellow fleshed; medium sized; requires severe thinning to be of best size; round oval, blunt at apex; freestone; high quality; rather tender for ship- ping. Tree, rather tender in bud; fairly productive. Elberta: Ripens a few days later than Belle of Georgia. Fruit, yellow fleshed; very large; oblong oval, often somewhat flattened; freestone; medium to good quality according to locality; firm; excellent for shipping. Tree, hardy and productive. Most popular market peach grown. — Ede: Ripens about with Elberta. Fruit, yellow fleshed; large; round oval conic; freestone; higher in flavor than Elberta; shipping quality good. Tree, hardy and productive. Frances: Ripens a few days after Elberta. Fruit, yellow fleshed; large; round to oval; freestone; high flavor; good shipping quality. Tree, hardy and pro- ductive. 106 FRUIT CULTURE Late Varieties.—The following are the main late vari- eties of peaches used in commercial plantings: Fox Seedling: Ripens about 10 to 14 da. after Elberta. Fruit, white fleshed; large; oval to conic; freestone; flavor good; shipping quality, good. Tree, medium hardy and productive. Best commercial variety of its season. Muir: California variety. Ripens a few days before Late Crawford. Fruit, large to very large; freestone; flesh, yellow; flavor, excellent; fruit good both for shipment and canning, and also particularly adapted for drying. Tree, good bearer and strong grower. Newhall: Grown largely in California. Ripens with or sometimes a few days before Late Crawford. Fruit, yellow fleshed; very large; freestone; flavor rich, some- what vinous. Tree, hardy, healthy, and vigorous. Late Crawford: Ripens from 10 to 14 da. later than Elberta. Fruit, yellow fleshed; large, round to oval, blunt at apex; freestone; flavor, good, but rather acid; shipping quality, fair to good. Tree, rather tender in bud, and, therefore, variable in productivity. Smock: Ripens from 10 to 14 da. later than Elberta. Fruit, yellow fleshed; medium to large; oblong to oval; freestone; flavor, fair; flesh, rather dry; shipping quality good. Tree, hardy and productive. Old variety, grown commercially in some districts. Edgemont Beauty: Ripens about 10 to 14 da. later than Elberta. Fruit, yellow fleshed; large; round to oval, pointed at apex; freestone; shipping quality good. Tree of the Crawford type, but appears to be slightly more hardy and productive. Iron Mountain: Ripens 5 to 6 da. later than Edge- mont or Late Crawford. Fruit, white fleshed; skin, greenish white; large; oblong to oval; freestone; high quality; firm. Tree, vigorous, hardy, and productive. Krummel October: Ripens 7 to 10 da. after Late Crawford. Fruit, yellow fleshed; large; freestone; round, blunt at apex; quality, high; good shipper. Tree, medium hardy and productive. FRUIT CULTURE 107 Salway: Ripens 2 wk. after Late Crawford. Fruit, yellow fleshed; medium to large; round to oval; freestone; flavor good where season permits of thorough ripening; shipping quality good. Tree, requires long season and good soil to be medium hardy and pro- ductive. Yellow Tuscany: Late variety, grown extensively in southern California. Ripens about 2 wk. later than Late Crawford; fruit, yellow fleshed; large; clingstone; especially desirable for canning. ‘Tree, productive and a strong grower. Bilyeu: Ripens about a month later than Late Craw- ford. Fruit, white fleshed; medium to large; round to oval; freestone; quality fair; very firm. Tree, hardy and productive where season is long and soil rich. Staley: Late variety grown extensively in California; ripens about 3 wk. after Salway. Fruit, white fleshed; very large; somewhat elongated and flattened laterally; freestone; flavor, delicious; flesh, very juicy and tender. PRUNING OF PEACHES Before a young peach tree from the nursery is planted, the top should be cut back to about 2 ft. above the bud. If the side branches that are left are large they should be pruned back to stubs 2 to 3 in. long; if they are slender, the tree should be cut back to a cane. All injured roots should be cut back smoothly, and all of the roots should be cut back to not exceed 6 in. in length. The pruning the second spring should be with the object of retaining the strongest two, three, or four main branches that will tend to form the strongest and best balanced tree; all other branches should be pruned off close to the trunk. The pruning the third spring consists in thinning out the secondary branches that, when the tree becomes larger, would exclude the light. Where two branches take up much the same space, the weaker or more 108 FRUIT CULTURE irregular branch should be removed. The branches left should be cut back from a third to a half of the previous season’s growth, and if a tree possesses some branches that have made an excessive or irregular growth, these branches should be cut back even more severely in order to maintain a well-balanced top. Beginning with the fourth spring, when the form of the tree has become well established, and continuing throughout the life of the tree, the pruning consists in cutting back the annual growth about a third to a half on the leading branches, and in _ keeping the top well thinned. The cutting back of the tips of the branches will tend to cause a thickening of the top, thus making the thinning of the top a necessity. In cutting back any leading branch, the cut should be made just above or beyond a side branch, or if no such side branch exists, the cutting should be made to a bud on the outside of the branch. Any broken branches should be cut off smoothly where they join another branch. The annual cutting back of bearing peach trees re- duces the bearing surface and may considerably reduce the crop, because the peach bears its fruit principally on the previous season’s wood or twig growth, although some of the fruit is produced on spurs and short twigs that develop on portions of branches that are 2 and in some cases even 3 yr. old. Most commercial varieties of peaches, however, set such an abundance of fruit buds that some annual cutting back is necessary to keep them from overbearing and to retain the vigor of the tree. Unpruned peach trees frequently produce a somewhat larger crop the first season than trees that have been regularly pruned, but after the first or second crop the pruned trees generally produce the larger crop, as they are likely to be more vigorous and to have a greater annual growth. Peach trees that are regularly pruned are much longer lived than unpruned trees, and the buds are less likely to be injured in winter. FRUIT CULTURE 109 SPRAYING OF PEACHES The principal insects attacking the peach are the peach borer, plum curculio,.and San José scale. The principal diseases of the peach are brown rot, black spot, or scab, leaf curl, and yellows. Spraying is not effective for yellows, the only known means of control being to take out and burn diseased trees as soon as they are discovered. The following method of spraying should be followed for peaches: 1. Spray, before the buds open, with lime-sulphur mixture (at sp. gr. 1.03 to sp. gr. 1.035—that is, concentrated lime-sulphur of 33° to 34° Baumé diluted 1 to 8 or 1 to 9 with water) for the control of scale and peach-leaf curl. 2. Spray just after petals fall from blooms with a mixture of 2 to 3 lb. arsenate-of-lead paste to 50 gal. of water to control the curculio. 3. Spray when calyx is being shed from the fruit with self-boiled lime-sulphur (about 8 lb. sulphur, 8 lb. lime, 50 gal. water) to which has been added 2 to 3 lb. arsenate of lead for each 50 gal. of solution, for the control of curculio, scab, and brown rot. 4. Spray with self-boiled lime-sulphur (same formula as given in paragraph 3) about 3 wk. after the third spraying for the control of scab and brown rot. 5. For mid-season and late varieties, such as Cham- pion, Elberta, Fox Seedling, Salway, and Bilyeau, spray with self-boiled lime-sulphur (same formula as given in paragraph 3) about 2 wk. after the fourth spraying, for the control of scab and brown rot. 110 FRUIT CULTURE PEARS VARIETIES OF PEARS Of the many thousand varieties of pears the following are the most important commercially; they are named approximately in the order in which they mature, the summer, fall, winter, varieties being given in the order named: Bloodgood: Of considerable importance throughout California. Tree, generally hardy, close grower, having deep reddish-brown wood; short jointed; comes into bearing early and bears an abundance of fruit. Fruit, yellowish-white flesh; though fairly good in flavor is not very attractive in appearance. Clapp’s Favorite: Tree, very strong grower; young wood, reddish, dark brown; tree tends to rather upright growth, but when fruiting will spread considerably; bears its fruit evenly and is very productive. Flesh very fine and very juicy, being sweet and vinous in flavor. Bartlett: European variety and known in Europe as the Williams Bonchretien. It is the king of pears com- mercially, has a very good market, and is one of the most profitable varieties. Tree comes into bearing early; generally healthy and vigorous, making a strong growth but varying somewhat in fruitfulness. Fruit, large, varying somewhat in form; when ripe is of a yellowish color, often with an attractive blush on one side; flesh, white and juicy; has a musky and perfumed flavor. Beurre Hardy: In different localities may be a sum- mer pear, an early autumn pear, and in some localities it becomes a late autumn pear. Tree, a strong, erect grower, with an abundance of foliage. Fruit, somewhat sub-acid but of rich, delicious flavor, and is well re- ceived in some markets. Flemish Beauty: Popular variety, being known by more than twenty names. Tree, vigorous and hardy; tends FRUIT CULTURE 111 to come into bearing early; heavy bearer. Fruit, gen- erally large, yellow, often marbled and covered with patches of light russet; flesh, white, juicy, sweet, and often slightly musky in flavor. On the Pacific coast it must be picked early and ripened in the house to be of the best quality. Seckel: Very small pear, but what it lacks in size is made up in quality. Fruit, very sweet and juicy, making a delightful pear for eating, pickling, or spicing. Because of small size, does not meet with much demand in many markets, but those markets that do know it appreciate it highly and will pay good prices when it is well grown. Tree, generally small, with a rather rounded head; likely to be a rather slow grower, but is fairly hardy and generally healthy. Howell: Increasing in popularity on the Pacific coast, due largely to its handsome appearance and tendency to be an annual bearer. Fruit, light yellow, often with a red cheek; flesh, white and melting, generally juicy. Tree, generally vigorous grower of upright habit; comes into bearing early and bears annually. Sheldon: Very popular pear in parts of the East; often troubled with core rot, due no doubt to its hanging on the tree too long. Tree, upright grower, vigorous, and early, generally producing a round-headed tree and tending to be a good bearer. Fruit, of medium size and roundish; greenish yellow; often has a light russet color, and at times becomes a bright red where exposed to the sun; sweet, aromatic, juicy. Duchesse d’Angouléme: Grown extensively along At- lantic seaboard. When well grown it is an attractive pear of good quality, but must be well grown to be profitable. Fruit, varies in size, from large to very large; greenish yellow, with more or less streaks and spots of russet; flesh, white, juicy, and fine in flavor. Tree, generally vigorous and does very well grafted on the quince; is often used in double working for other varieties. 112 FRUIT CULTURE Beurre Bosc: Unfortunately, not as well known in America as it should be. When well grown, is one of the most delicious varieties to be found anywhere; its unattractive appearance has been against it, but as people come to know it better, the demand is constantly increasing. Fruit, large size and generally tapering; color varying from dark yellow to green, often covered with a cinnamon russet; there may also be streaks or dots of red on the fruit; in some regions fruit becomes almost entirely russet; flavor very delicious; has a melting buttery, very rich flesh. Holds in storage well. Beurre Clairgeau: Fruit, very large and of pyriform shape; apt to vary in size; color, very yellow; often contains some cinnamon streaks covered with russet dots; varies extremely in quality; because of its at- tractiveness, often brings high prices and at times one of the most profitable varieties. Tree, an erect grower, and very vigorous, has handsome foliage, is a heavy bearer, and comes into bearing early. Beurre d’ Anjou: Becoming one of most popular pears on Pacific coast, also popular in many of the Eastern States. Fruit, very good quality and in good modern storage house can be held until Jan. or even Feb.; gen- erally large and has a pyriform shape; stem _ short; color, generally greenish yellow—may have trace of russet and at times a shade of crimson on the sunny side; flesh, fine grained, very juicy; flavor rich, gen- erally perfumed. Tree, in some parts of the country is a fair grower, and in other regions a rank grower. Doyenne du Comice: French variety and has _ prac- tically brought top prices for American pears, having sold as high as $10 per box in the Rogue River Valley; one of the favorite English Christmas pears and holds up very well in cold storage. Tree, fairly vigorous, up- right grower, although with age becoming rather broad and spreading; unfortunately, comes into bearing late and is not very productive. Fruit, generally large, of pyriform type; color, greenish yellow and often russeted; FRUIT CULTURE 113. on the sunny side becomes shaded with crimson; quality, highest; flesh, white, melting, and has an abundance of sweet, rich juice. Glout Morceau: An old pear, formerly grown quite ex- tensively in the East, but on account of susceptibility to scab and blight is not grown as much as formerly, should, however, receive more attention. Tree, has a dark wood; generally of a spreading habit, usually hardy, and although it does not come into bearing early, when matured produces good crops and tends to bear regularly. Good variety to use as a dwarf. Fruit, highly prized by English trade, being on a par with Comice; varies somewhat in form; generally large; of a short pyriform type, at times approaching an oval; color, pale greenish yellow; flesh is very fine grained, white, melting, sugary, and extremely delicious. Kieffer: Hybrid, supposed to be a cross between Chinese sand pear and Bartlett or some similar variety; has become the most popular variety in the South and parts of the Middle West; increasing in popularity, especially as a cooking pear; has been one of the most resistant to the blight. Fruit, ships and keeps well; probably stands rougher handling than most European and American varieties; quality, poor for eating but good for cooking; grows from a medium to a large size, generally oval pyriform shape; often sprinkled with small dots and has a tinge of red on the sunny side; flesh, coarse and juicy. Le Conte: Le Conte is a variety that is grown rather extensively, especially in the South. It is supposed to be a hybrid between the Chinese pear and some other cultivated variety. Tree, generally vigorous, prolific, and hardy. Fruit, like the Kieffer in quality, is poor and is not grown in regions where the Bosc, Comice, etc., succeed; skin is generally yellow; large, pyriform. Eastern Beurre: Grown quite extensively on the Pa- cific coast, especially in California; very late winter variety, often keeping until April. Fruit, color is S 114 FRUIT CULTURE generally yellow, may contain some russet, often has a brown cheek, and occasionally has patches of russet; when well grown, flesh is fine, white, sweet, and juicy. Tree, makes a moderate growth, has a round head and under favorite conditions is a good bearer; must be grown on good, rich soil. Columbia: Being grown to some extent in California and is valued in parts of the South. Tree, good bearer and handsome grower. Fruit, yellow and when fully matured often is deep orange. Lawrence: One of hardy winter varieties valued in the East. Tree, generally a good bearer and a fair grower. Fruit, in markets where it is known brings a good price; color, light yellow with some russet; flavor, generally melting, sweet, and aromatic; juicy; medium in size. Winter Nelis: King of the winter pears. When well grown, reaches superb quality. Tree, however, often comes into bearing late and the fruit often tends to become rather small. Must be planted on deep, rich soil and thinned well if it is to succeed. Fruit, generally yellow in color, but may have patches of russet; when well grown, flesh is very fine grained and buttery, sweet, juicy, and of very good quality; generally a yellow white. Can be kept well by proper handling. Patrick Barry: Receives more diversity of comment than almost any other variety, being condemned by some and praised by others. It is one of the few pears that can be shipped through the tropics. On the Pacific coast it is displacing the Winter Nelis in certain regions. Fruit, an elongated pyriform, fairly large; color, will vary from almost a complete russet to a rich golden russet or a deep yellow. Flesh, generally white, juicy, and melting; may vary extremely from very poor to fair. Tree, comes into bearing early and tends to bear regularly. FRUIT CULTURE 115 PRUNING OF PEARS The same general principles of pruning that were given in the discussion of the apple apply equally well to the pear. The first 3 yr. the pruning should be practically the same as for the apple, the laterals being chosen and the framework being built up in the same Way. After a pear tree comes into bearing, however, close attention must be given to pruning, and pruning in such a way as to produce a growth of soft, sappy twigs or branches should be avoided, as such a growth is easily injured by fire blight. The pruning should be done regularly, and long, rangy branches that in time will have to be headed in severely should not be allowed to develop, for such heading in stimulates a rank growth of soft wood. Summer pruning, when properly and not too severely done, is very effective on the pear, because it does not tend to stimulate a growth of soft wood and tends to throw the tree into heavy bearing. Terminal growth of branches checked in the summer will avoid the necessity later of heading in long, rambling branches, and will also force the formation of twigs further down. on the branch that in turn will bear fruit buds and thus better distribute the crop over the tree. As many pears have a tendency to produce a large percentage of their buds near the tips of the branches, summer pruning on such varieties is particularly desirable. SPRAYING OF PEARS The most serious insect pests of the pear are the pear psylla, leaf-blister mite, San José scale, coddling moth, and pear slug. The most destructive diseases attacking the pear are fire blight, and pear scab. For the control of the insects and diseases of the pear that can be controlled by spraying the following system of spraying will be found effective: 116 FRUIT CULTURE 1. The first spraying of the pear should be the same as for the apple, the spray solution being the same and applied before the buds swell. This spraying is for the control of the San José scale and leaf-blister mite. 2. The second spraying of the pear is likewise given at the same time as the second spraying of the apple (before the blossoms open), but the fungicide used may be weaker and no arsenate of lead is needed. In this spraying a dilute lime-sulphur mixture (at sp. gr. 1.006 —that is 33° Baumé lime-sulphur solution diluted 1 to 50 with water) should be used; if Bordeaux is preferred, the same Bordeaux as used for the second spraying of the apple may be used. This spray application is for the control of the pear scab. 3. While the petals of the blossoms are still falling and the calyx is still open, spray with arsenate of lead (2 to 3 lb. arsenate of lead, 50 gal. water) and the same lime-sulphur solution given in paragraph 2. This spraying is for the control of the coddling moth, pear scab, and any other fungus diseases present. 4. After the blossoms have fallen, spray with dilute kerosene-soap emulsion (1 part kerosene-soap emulsion stock solution, 6 parts water), or whale-oil soap (1 Ib. whale-oil soap, 4 or 5 gal. water), or one of the tobacco extracts (a preparation guaranteed to contain at least 2.7 per cent. nicotine diluted with 65 to 100 parts of water). This spraying is for the control of the pear psylla and should be repeated at intervals of 3 to 7 da. until the insects are under control. 5. From 10 to 14 da. after the spraying described in paragraph 3, spray with the same lime-sulphur-arsenate- of-lead solution. This is principally for the control of the coddling moth and pear scab. 6. For the entire control of the coddling moth, an arsenate-of-lead spray (2 to 3 lb. arsenate of lead, 50 gal. water) may have to be applied in July, Aug., or even as late as Sept. FRUIT CULTURE 117 7. The green aphis is controlled in the same way as on the apple. This pest should be sprayed for as soon as it appears, before the leaves curl, and is easy to control if this rule is followed. The green aphis has a number of broods and can rarely be controlled with one spraying. 8. The fire blight of the pear cannot be controlled by spraying. Prune out all affected parts as soon as in- fection is detected, cutting from 6 to 10 in. below the lowest affected part. Disinfect all cut surfaces with corrosive-sublimate solution (1 part corrosive sublimate to 1,000 parts of water). Coat all large wounds with paint or gas tar. GRAPES VARIETIES OF GRAPES Not less than 300 varieties of grapes are offered by nurserymen to the grape growers of the United States. The following list of varieties of grapes includes those of the various classes that are generally considered the most important commercially. The varieties are ar- ranged under the botanical groups to which they belong, a list of varieties being given, and then the par- ticularly important ones being described. Vinifera Grapes.—Black Ferrara, Black Hamburg, Black Morocco, Cornichon, Emperor, Gros Colman, Ma- laga, Mission, Muscat, Palomino, Rose of Peru, Sultana, Thompson’s Seedless, Tokay, Verdal. Black Ferrara: In California, considered excellent both for local market and for shipping a long distance. Bunches and berries, large, and berries cling well to stem; berries, black; flavor, superior; skin, thick; and pulp, firm. Cornichon: Also known as Purple Cornichon and Black Cornichon. Vine, very vigorous and bears large, loose, bunches of grapes on long peduncles; berries, large and long, more or less curved; skin, dark in color, spotted 118 FRUIT CULTURE and thick; berries, borne on long pedicles; quality, not of the best, but variety is desirable because of its ex- cellent shipping qualities, lateness, and curious shape of the grapes. Malaga, or White Malaga: Is grown in southern Cali- fornia as a table grape and for raisins. Vine, vigorous; bunch, very large, loose, shouldered, long, borne on a long, flexible stem; berries, very large, oval, yellowish green, covered with white bloom; skin, thick; flesh firm; of very good quality. Mission: Delicious table grape, grown more or less in all parts of California having vineyards, but not largely shipped out of the state. Vines, very vigorous and pro- ductive. Bunches, of medium size, slightly shouldered, loose; berries, of medium size, round, dark-purplish black, heavy bloom; skin, thin; pulp, juicy; very sweet. Muscat, or White Muscat of Alexandria: Leading table grape of Pacific coast. Vines, although short and straggling, are vigorous and productive, bearing often two and sometimes three crops annually; bunch, long, loose, shouldered; berry, oblong, light yellow, nearly transparent, covered with bloom; skin, thick; pulp, firm; very sweet, rich, with a musky flavor. Thompson's Seedless: Vines, very vigorous, having an especially long trunk and long canes; bunch, large, cylindrical, well filled; berries, below medium or small, oval; skin, rather thick, of fine golden-yellow color; flesh, firm, crisp, juicy; quality, very good; as name implies, this variety is seedless and is now the most popular seedless grape grown on the Pacific coast, being found in vineyards in all parts of Vinifera grape-growing regions. Tokay, or Flame Tokay: Leading shipping grape of Pacific coast. Vines, very vigorous, all parts being large; bunches, very large, sometimes weighing 8 or 10 lb., compact shouldered; berries, very large, oblong, red or reddish, covered with heavy bloom; skin, thick; pulp, firm; season, late; quality, rather poor. FRUIT CULTURE 119 Labrusca Grapes.—Agawam, Brighton, Campbell Early, Catawba, Concord, Diamond, Eaton, Empire State, Gaert- ner, Herbert, Iona, Jefferson, Salem, Vergennes, Win- chell, Worden, Niagara. Agawam: Best known of the hybrids between La- brusca and Vinifera grapes. Qualities which commend it are large size of bunch and berry; beautiful purplish- red, oval grapes; rich, sweet, aromatic flavor; attractive appearance; excellent keeping qualities, vigor of vine, and capacity for self-fertilization. Catawba: One of the four standard grapes of eastern America. Characters which give it prominence are: adaptability to many soils; splendid keeping qualities; rich, sweet delicious flavor when fully ripe; vigorous, hardy, productive vine; large handsome bunch, with attractive dull purple-red berries; skin, thick but not disagreeable; flesh, juicy, fine grained, sweet, and rich. The chief defects of the variety is that it is susceptible to fungi, and its lateness keeps it from being grown in very northern regions. Concord: Ranks first among the grapes of eastern America. Probably 50% of the grapes grown in this eastern region are Concords and at least 75% of those put on the markets are that variety. Characters of Con- cord which have enabled it to take first place in eastern America’ viticulture are: elasticity of constitution whereby it adapts itself to many soils and climates; its great productiveness; hardiness; ability to withstand diseases and insects; certainty of maturity in northern regions; and attractiveness from size of bunch and berry, both of which are usually uniform, the latter of a beautiful blue-black color. Diamond: One of leading green grapes of the La- brusca group, being surpassed in quality and beauty by few other grapes. Vine, early, hardy, productive, vigor- ous. Fruit, of splendid quality; rivals Niagara for first place: among green grapes; ships and keeps fairly well, and makes a very good white wine. 120 FRUIT CULTURE Worden: Seedling of Concord and has most of the good qualities of its parent; differs chiefly from Con- cord in having larger berries and bunches, in being better in quality, and in being a week earlier; equally as hardy, healthy, vigorous, and productive. Its fault that keeps it from being as popular as the Concord is that it is more fastidious as to soils and the berries crack badly. Niagara: Has been leading green grape, but plantings of it have so signally failed that it is now ranked below several other green grapes. In vigor and pro- ductiveness, nearly equals the Concord, but it falls far short of this variety, and of a number of green grapes, in hardiness. Fruit, although highly esteemed by many, has too much foxiness to be high in quality; shell badly and do not keep well; of no value for wine making; ripens about with Concord; clusters, of medium size or large, usually shouldered, compact; _ berries, large, oval, light green or pale yellow; skin, thin, tender, astringent; seeds, separate easily from the pulp, rather numerous, and of large size. Aestivalis Grapes.—Cynthiana, Norton, Berckmans, Delaware, Herbemont, Lenoir, Moir, Walter. Norton: Leading wine grape in eastern America, but the fruit has small value for any other purpose. Vine, hardy, but requires a long, warm season to mature its fruit; has great adaptability to different soils, but thrives particularly well in rich alluvial soils; vines are robust, very productive, as free or more so from diseases than any other native grape, and very resistant to insects. Bunches, of medium size. Berries small, almost black; pulp, firm, rich, and spicy; pure-flavored but acid; skin, thick; fruit keeps well. Delaware: Standard grape in quality for eastern America. Vines, productive, hardy, and adapted to many soils and conditions; fairly immune to fungus diseases; next to the Concord, probably most popular grape for garden, commercial vineyard, and wine press now grown FRUIT CULTURE 121 in eastern United States. Fruit, matures sufficiently ‘early to make crop certain; its handsome red color makes it attractive; grapes keep and ship well. Faults are: Small size of vine, bunch and berry, and slowness of growth; suffers very seriously from the depredations of robins. Riparia Grapes.—Bacchus, Canada, Clinton, Elvira, Janesville, Noah. Bacchus: Wine grape grown from seed of Clinton, an older and better known grape, which it much re- sembles in vine characters, but surpasses in quality of fruit and in productiveness; little by little it is superseding its parent. Vines, vigorous, hardy, pro- ductive, free from mildew, and adapted to a great variety of soils. Bunches and berries, small, latter dark red; quality does not fit it for a dessert grape, being too sour, yet if left until after frosts it becomes very good. Noah: Rather largely grown in Missouri, where it is much used for wine making. Vine, remarkable for health and productiveness. Fruit, green, one of the few good Riparia grapes of this color. Clusters, for one of its species, are large, as are also the berries. Fruit ripens with the Concord or a little later, and neither keeps nor ships well. Seeds separate with difficulty from the pulp and are numerous; pulp, tough, juicy, and rather acid. Used for making white wines. Rotundifolia Grapes.—James, Thomas, Mish, Flowers, Memory, Scuppernong. James: Probably best general-purpose Rotundifolia grape for the South. Ripens toward the end of Aug. and remain on vines 2 or 3 wk. longer. Vines, vig- orous, productive, healthy; bunches bear from 4 to 12 large, blue-black grapes of large size; skin, thin; pulp, sweet and juicy; quality, very good. Flowers: One of the very late Rotundifolias, ripening last of Sept. and remaining on the vine until last of Oct. Vines, vigorous, healthy, and exceedingly 122 FRUIT CULTURE productive; bunches, bearing from 10 to 20 purplish- black, oblong, large berries; skin, thick and _ tough; acid, pulpy; quality, good only when very ripe. Memory: Considered best Rotundifolia table grape. Vines, vigorous and productive; bunches, bearing from 4 to 12 large, rouid, brownish-black berries; skin, thick and tough; pulp, juicy, sweet, tender; of very best quality. Scuppernong: Oldest of cultivated varieties of Rotun- difolia grapes, and still largely cultivated; also lightest in color of the varieties commonly cultivated, being a brownish amber. Vines, very vigorous, very healthy, and very productive. Bunches bear from 6 to 10 large ber- ries; skin, thin; pulp, sweet, juicy, vinous, and with a peculiar flavor characteristic of this variety; quality, very good. PRUNING AND TRAINING THE GRAPE In discussing the pruning of the grape, the following technical terms are often used: Trunk—the body of the vine when 2 or more yr. old. Arm—a branch from the trunk when 2 or more yr. old. Cane—1-yr.-old branch of an arm or of the trunk. Spur—a very short but annually lengthening arm, from which cane renewals are made. Shoot—a growing, leafy branch of the current season. When young grape vines are to be planted in per- manent places in a vineyard, the roots should be rather severely cut back, usually leaving stubs from 6 to 10 in. in length, and all dead or injured roots cut out. The top almost always should be cut back to a single cane and to two or three buds. The aim for the first two or three seasons should be to develop a good root system; to accomplish this the growth of the first summer is cut back, late in the winter or early in the spring, to two buds, leaving the vines in apparently the same condition as at setting. At the end of the first year all grapes to be grown on FRUIT CULTURE 123 trellises should be tied up to keep them out of the way of the cultivator. Grapes to be grown on stakes are staked at this age also. Any fruit set the second season should be removed before it has attained much size. Two years after setting, the vines should be ready to train permanently on the trellis or stakes, as the case may be. East of the Rocky Mouutains all species of grapes are grown commercially on trellises, or on wires stretched on posts. On the Pacific coast they are nearly always grown on stakes. Whatever the method of pruning and training chosen, the grower must keep in mind the relationship of the wood to fruit bearing; that is, grapes are borne on the base of shoots of the same year’s growth, which in their turn spring from the canes of the preceding year. The average yield for a Concord grape vine is about 15 lb. In order to produce this quantity, from forty to sixty clusters of grapes are required. As each shoot bears from two to three clusters, usually two, twenty to thirty buds must be left on the previous year’s growth, or sufficient spurs to furnish the required number of clusters. These buds might be left on a single cane; but usually two, three, or more canes are selected, variously distributed on one or two main stems in accordance with different systems of training and trimming. Good pruning, then, consists in removing all wood except canes or spurs sufficient to furnish the shoots necessary for the desired number of clusters. The time for pruning grapes extends from the dropping of the leaves in the fall to a period just before the swelling of the buds in the spring. Some vineyardists prune after a vigorous flow of the sap has begun and claim that no serious injury results, but such bleeding must be devitalizing to the vines. In sections where winters are severe it is often necessary, in order to prevent freezing, to cover the vines in position or to lay them on the ground for covering. To lessen the 124 FRUIT CULTURE area to be covered, it is best to prune some before covering. In such pruning it is advisable to leave more wood than is actually needed for the next year’s crop, as there is danger of some of the buds being broken off or of the canes being otherwise injured by the covering and uncovering. It is seldom advisable to prune when vines are actually frozen, as frozen canes are brittle and easily broken during handling. Where the vines are in a vigorous condition the system of training to be adopted becomes somewhat optional with the grower, although there is no doubt that certain varieties do best when trained to a certain type. For example, it is generally agreed that strong- growing varieties like the Concord, Niagara, and others do best when trained with the shoots drooping, and the weaker and slower-growing varieties like the Delaware can be best trained to some form in which the shoots are upright, other conditions being the same. SPRAYING OF GRAPES The most serious insect pests attacking the grape are phylloxera, grape-vine fidia or grape-root worm, grape- vine flea beetle or steely flea beetle, grape-leaf hopper, grape-berry moth, and the rose chafer. Some one or several of these pests must be reckoned with in most parts of the country. The serious diseases of the grape are black rot, downy mildew, powdery mildew, anthracnose, and chlorosis, or yellow leaf. The best method of spraying for the control of such insects and diseases of the grape that can be controlled by spraying will vary. The following, however, will serve as a guide: 1. For the control of the grape-vine flea beetle, spray thoroughly just before the buds begin to swell with arsenate-of-lead solution (4 lb. arsenate of lead to 50 gal. water). Later in the season, when the worms appear on the leaves, arsenate of lead should be added to one of FRUIT CULTURE 125 the Bordeaux sprayings (8 lb. arsenate of lead to 150 gal. Bordeaux mixture). 2. If anthracnose has to be combated, apply to the surface of the canes when the buds are swelling, but before they begin to open, a warm, saturated solution of copperas (iron sulphate), to which may be added if necessary to make it stronger, 1% of sulphuric acid. This solution is very caustic and should be handled with care. If the saturated solution of copperas is used alone the solution may be sprayed on, but if the sulphuric acid has been added, it is safer to apply it to the canes with a swab. Thoroughness is essential in this work, as all the surface of the canes must be cov- ered if the solution is to be effective. Anthracnose is not satisfactorily controlled by Bordeaux alone. 3. For the control of the black rot, and incidentally for the control of downy mildew and powdery mildew, spray with Bordeaux mixture (4 lb. copper sulphate, 4 lb. lime, water slaked, and 50 gal. water) just as the pink tips of the first leaves appear. 4. From 10 to 14 da. after the spraying described in paragraph 3, spray again with the same strength Bor- deaux for the same troubles. 5. Repeat the spraying just after blossoming. 6. Repeat the spraying in from 10 to 14 da. later. 7. Repeat the spraying in from 10 to 14 da. later. 8. For the control of the grape-vine fidia, or grape root worm, while the beetles are feeding on the foliage about the middle of June, spray with a _molasses- arsenical mixture (1 gal. molasses, 6 lb. arsenate of lead, 100 gal. water). 9. For the control of the grape leaf hopper, when the hoppers appear, spray with a nicotine preparation guar- anteed to contain at least 2.7% nicotine diluted with 65 to 100 parts of water. 10. For the control of the rose chafer, when the in- sects are present, spray with glucose-arsenate mixture (10 lb. arsenate of lead, 25 lb. glucose, 100 gal. water). 126 FRUIT CULTURE 11. If the sprayings for black rot are not necessary, other means of control must be applied for the powdery mildew. In such cases in dry climates, dusting the vines with flowers of sulphur is effective. 12. If the vines are suffering from chlorosis, or yellow leaf, this trouble is thought by some to be overcome by applying a small quantity of iron sulphate to the soil about the vine. But as a number of the American varieties are known to be free from this trouble, plant- ing them is probably the wiser course. PLUMS VARIETIES OF PLUMS Plums grown in the United States and Canada may be divided into four groups: (1) Plums that have been introduced from Europe; (2) native plums; (3) plums introduced from Japan; and (4) hybrid plums. Of the European plums, only two species are of special interest to American growers. These are the Domestica, to which most of the large European plums grown in America belong, and, second, the IJmnsititia, which are smaller plums and include fewer species of value. The native plums may be divided into the following prominent species: (1) Americana, known as the red plum, yellow horse, hog plum, and goose plum; this plum is grown over a large portion of America. (2) The second division, the Hortulana, which includes a number of variable plums that are adapted to a wide range of climate and especially adapted to growing in the South- ern States and the Mississippi valley. The Hortulana make good stock upon which to graft varieties of the same and other native plums. (3) The third division of the native plums is Prunus nigra. This species of plum grows further north than any other native plum and is often called the Canadian plum. The fruit of the Prunus nigra ripens earlier than that of the Americana, or FRUIT CULTURE 127 Hortulana. It is more oblong in shape, darker in color, has less bloom and a finer skin that that of the Americana. The plums introduced from Japan belong to the variety known as Prunus trifora. These plums are about as hardy as the Domestica, and some of them have proven of special worth. However, many varieties of Prunus triflora that have been introduced into America have proved worthless. Hybrid plums are produced by crossing different species. Many valuable hybrid plums are grown in America. The following are the most important varieties of plums grown in this country: Abundance: Triflora. Variable; several distinct strains exist; has been much overplanted. Fruit, ships and keeps poorly; subject to brown rot and drops readily; must be picked before it is ripe; color, pinkish red to dark red. Agen: Domestica. One of the best plums of Europe or America for prune making; rich in sugar and solids; very good preserving plum; its defect is lack of size; many strains of this variety. Tree, bears regularly and heavily. Fruit, hangs well on trees; excellent for home orchard and for commercial use. Apple: Triflora. Fruit, large and has firm, compact, red flesh; excellent keeper; fruit has peculiar flavor; inferior for dessert or kitchen. Tree, robust~ grower. Arch Duke: Domestica. Well known. Fruit, large, dark, rich purple; keeps and ships well; suitable for home and market use. Tree, medium grower. Season, late. Arctic: Domestica. Tree, hardy and productive; small; medium grower. Fruit, medium size; blue. Mid-season. Bavay: Domestica. One of the best of the green plums; a desecndant of Reine Claude. Fruit, excellent dessert plum; high flavor; good canner; keeps well and flavor not quite equal to Reine Claude. Tree, medium size, vigorous. Season, late. 128 FRUIT CULTURE Bradshaw: Domestica. Tree, regular bearer, produc- tive, hardy, healthy. Fruit, ships well; not very high in flavor. Ripens in peach season, which is against it. Leads all other plums in number of trees in New York. Burbank: Triflora. Second to Abundance in number of trees planted in New York. Fruit, handsome, red; keeps and ships better than Abundance. Ripens a week later than Abundance. Tree, vigorous, but wood is brittle. Compass: Hybrid of American type. It is being adver- tised as of value commercially for the Northwest. Fruit, small and of no value unless for regions mentioned. Damsons: Insititia. Name is from Wamascus. Fruit, usually oval, black; chiefly used for making preserves. Tree, scarcely surpassed in productiveness, vigor, and hardiness Dy any of the plums. The Damsons show great adaptability to various soils and climates. There are a number of improved varieties of Damson, among which are Crittenden, Shropshire, a standard, and French. Many of these improved varieties excel the Damson in quality. Diamond: Domestica. Fruit, large, well formed; flesh, coarse; flavor, poor; ships well; otherwise it is disap- pointing for market fruit. Tree, vigorous, hardy, and productive. German Prune: Domestica. One of the oldest plums under cultivation; of several strains. Tree, medium to large; purplish black; flesh, yellowish green. Dis- tributed over the whole country. Season, late. Golden Drop: Domestica. Largest and best of the yellow plums; fit for the home garden only. Grand Duke: Domestica. Tree, rather late in coming into bearing; fruit, excellent market plum, hangs well, and ships well; flavor moderate; good canner; large sized. Season, late. Gueii. Domestica. One of the standards. Tree, bears early and abundantly; large, vigorous, healthy, hardy. Fruit, of poor quality, but excellent shipper. FRUIT CULTURE 129 Italian Prune: Domestica. One of the most widely grown of all plums; leading plum in the Pacific North- west. Fruit, fine flavor; purple; attractive when cooked; ships well. Tree, large; hardy, productive; regular bearer, but often capricious as to soil and climate. Lombard: Domestica. One of the most easily grown of all plums. Tree, hardy, productive; regular bearer; much used as a stock on which to graft weaker growing varieties. Fruit, very poor in quality. Middleburg: Domestica. A very good late plum for New York. Fruit, purple. Not enough planted. Monarch: Domestica. One of the most popular of the recent introductions. Fruit, of moderate quality; color, purple. October: Triflora. Late plum. Tree, vigorous, rather tardy in bearing in some places. Mid-season or later. Fruit, dark red. Pond: Domestica. Fruit, one of the largest; poor quality; purple. Pottawattamie: Native. Especially adapted to north- ern- latitudes. Fruit, good quality for a native plum. Tree, dwarf, vigorous, productive. Quackenboss: Domestica. Tree, large, vigorous, hardy. Fruit, purple, large, good quality. One of the best. Reine Claude: Domestica. Fruit, unexcelled in quality. Tree, moderate; grows very poorly in the nursery; productive; is apt to sun scald. Satsuma: Triflora. Fruit, red flesh; one of the best of its class in quality; keeps and ships well; is subject to brown rot in the Southern States. Tree, fairly good grower; hardy; productive. Washington: One of the largest of the Reine Claude or green gage type. Fruit, fine flavor; suitable for home use. Wayland: WHortulana. Suitable for Central Iowa and Nebraska. Fruit, sour and small; excellent for jelly. Wood: Americana. Can be recommended for the cold parts of the country. Fruit, red. 9 130 FRUIT CULTURE Yellow Egg: Domestica. Fruit, largest and most handsome of the yellow plums; good for culinary use. PRUNING OF PLUMS As a rule, the plum should be pruned as little as possible. More growers overprune plum trees than underprune them; and this is a serious condition, be- cause a plum tree will not recover from overpruning nearly so readily as will an apple tree. Plum trees are grown in two types, or forms. The first type has a leader, or main stem, with four or five branches coming from it at different points. This type is often used in New York for the Domestica and Damson plums. The second type of pruning is more common on the Triflora group of plums; in this it is usual to start four or five branches at a head about 2 ft. from the ground, and remove the leader, making the-tree into a vase shape, somewhat like an inverted umbrella; the branches should be spaced 4 to 6 in. apart on the trunk to prevent splitting. Subsequent pruning of the plum consists of the re- moval of limbs which cross and in keeping the trees low. Until the trees begin to bear, as little pruning as possible should be given; if this policy is adhered to it will tend to make the trees bear early. One dis- advantage attending excessive pruning is that such a practice once started must be continued. The trees should be kept low to lessen the expense of picking. In some orchards, plum trees are shorn off at a certain height and are never allowed to make a growth of more than two or three buds above this each year. Some of the Americana varieties make such a crooked, dense growth that considerable pruning is necessary in order to allow sufficient room for the pickers to harvest the fruit. FRUIT CULTURE 131 SPRAYING OF PLUMS The principal insect attacking the plum is the plum curculio. The principal diseases of the plum are the black knot, brown rot, plum pockets, and leaf spot, peach yellow and little peach. The following method of spraying the plum has been recommended: 1. If San José scale is present, spray just before the buds open in the spring with lime-sulphur solution (sp. gr. 1.03—that is, concentrated lime-sulphur of 33° Baumé diluted 1 to 8 with water). 2. Just after the blossoms fall, spray with arsenate of lead (3 to 4 lb. arsenate of lead, 100 gal. water) for the control of the plum curculio. 3. About 10 da. after the blossoms have fallen, or about the time when the shucks, or calyces, are being shed from the fruit, spray with arsenate of lead (3 to 4 lb. arsenate of lead, 50 gal. water) combined with self-boiled lime-sulphur (8 lb. sulphur, 8 lb. lime, 50 gal. water), for the control of the plum curculio, leaf spot, and brown rot. 4. About 2 to 3 wk. after the spraying described in paragraph 3, spray with self-boiled lime-sulphur (8 Ib. sulphur, 8 ib. lime, 50 gal. water) for the control of leaf spot and brown rot. 5. About 1 mo. before fruit ripens repeat spraying given in paragraph 4 for the control of the fruit spot and brown rot. CHERRIES VARIETIES OF CHERRIES There are two main types of cherries, sour cherries and sweet cherries. The sour cherries most commonly grown are included in two general groups, the Mont- morency group, and the Morello group. The most im- portant of the sour cherries commercially are: 132 FRUIT CULTURE Baldwin: Morello type. Tree has a stout spreading top and is regarded as promising. Brusseler Braune: Very late in ripening, July 15 to 25. Tree, medium to large, upright in type; long branches; slender; twigs, light gray and covered with numerous lenticels; leaves, medium in thickness and _ slightly rough; dark green on the upper surface, much lighter below; serrated on the edge. In some sections, a poor bearer. Dye House: Montmorency group. Fruit, medium to- small; smaller than Early Richmond and Montmorency; quality, very good; flavor, slightly acid. Early Richmond: Montmorency group. Season, early, or moderately early, June 15. Tree, usually regarded as productive, but inclined to be short lived; hardy, vig- orous, profuse, and regular bearer. Fruit, medium in size, light red; poor for shipping. English Morello: Morello group. Classed as one of the best sorts, being very productive and hardy; a firm and excellent shipper. One of the oldest varieties and has been grown in this country for many years. Season, late, about July 15 to 20 in Central Iowa. Tree, medium and spreading; slender and hardy in growth. Montmorency: Montmorency group. Much confusion exists in regard to the Montmorency variety. There are at least two strains, the long-stemmed, or Montmorency Ordinaire, and the sort-stemmed, which is the large Montmorency and considered to be of the best quality, but a poor bearer. The long-stemmed variety is the one most generally distributed and the one that is generally secured by the public even when named Montmorency or Montmorency Ordinaire or Montmorency Extraordinaire, the short-stemmed Montmorency being practically non- existent in this country. The Montmorency Ordinaire is the Standard variety, and fruits from June 20 to about July 1, or mid-season. Ostheim: Morello group. Really consists of a number of types. Has been grown in the United States for FRUIT CULTURE 133 nearly a century. Fruit, round, medium to dark red; juicy; skin, tough; quality, fair. Planted in large num- bers in some sections. Suda: Morello group. Hard to distinguish the fruit of this variety from Wragg or English Morello, the only essential difference being in the stem; but the tree is more upright and can thus be readily distinguished from these varieties. Tree, good, prolific bearer in some sections. Wragg: Morello. Regarded by some as little more than a large English Morello, which is somewhat later; is being considerably planted in all parts of the North- west; now considered a standard variety. The two main groups of sweet cherries commercially are the Bigarreaux and the Dukes. The principal varie- ties of the Bigarreaux group are: Ring: Fruit, very large, almost flat, with a sweet flavor; flesh, firm; ripens in mid-season; high in quality; and is regarded as promising. Centennial: Said to be a seedling of Napoleon; flesh somewhat similar to Yellow Spanish. Considered prom- ising, especially on the Pacific coast. Elton: Tree, good grower, but lacks productiveness in some sections. Fruit, very large, heart shaped; skin, pale yellow, with red blush; flesh, medium light, firm, with a sweet flavor of the best quality. Desirable for some sections. Mid-season. Lambert: Originated in Oregon. Fruit, large to very large; heart shaped; color, dark amber, turning a dark red magenta as fruit matures; flesh, dark, rich, firm, and juicy, with a good flavor; pit, small for so large a fruit. Napoleon, or Royal Ann: One of the most popular varieties. Tree, strong; vigorous in growth; very pro- ductive. Fruit, large, good quality; flesh, light colored. Mid-season. Rockport: Early to mid-season. Fruit, quality very good. Tree, moderate in vigor. 134 FRUIT CULTURE Black Tartarian: One of the oldest and most popular varieties; lacks in vigor and hardiness when compared with Windsor and Napoleon. Fruit, very large, dark red; flesh, of good quality. Windsor: Origin, Ontario, Canada. One of the new varieties that has made a good reputation; should be included in almost all cherry orchards. Tree, hardy, vigorous, and very productive. Fruit, heart shaped, dark liver colored; flesh, dark red, firm, fine quality. Wood, or Governor Wood: Recommended for all near-by markets and home use. Tree, strong, vigorous grower, and productive. Fruit, medium to large; pale yellow, with a reddish blush; flesh, tender and juicy; of good quality. Yellow Spanish: Old and well-known variety and does well under many conditions. Tree, strong grower and productive. Fruit, large sized; good quality. The Dukes have one very undesirable feature in that they tend to ripen their fruit over a considerable period of time. In growth of tree they vary from the upright to a round, spreading head. As stated before, these are classed with the sweet cherries, but in flavor the fruit is neither sweet nor sour, being rather half way. It is usually tender, juicy, excellent in flavor, and can be used both fresh and preserved. In so far as acreage is concerned, the Dukes do not occupy a very important position, for they are poor shippers and are subject to rot. Eugenie: Tree, lacks vigor, grows upright, and is fairly productive; one of the earliest to ripen and lasts over a long season; flesh, and juice, dark red; and flavor fine. Louis Philippe: Downing states that the tree is up- right, spreading in growth; skin, rich; dark; flesh, dark red. Said to be productive. Medium to late. Magnifique: One of the latest of all cherries to ripen and of value on this account. Tree, upright, spreading grower, productive; but the fruit is of too light a shade FRUIT CULTURE 135 of red to take well on the market; flesh, pale yellow, firm, and juicy. May Duke: One of the most popular of all varieties, being one of the earliest to ripen. Tree, vigorous grower, productive. Fruit, dark red. Montreuil Belle De: Comparatively new; productive and profitable. Fruit, glossy red, almost black; flesh and juice, dark red. Medium late in season and ripens in good season for a Duke. Clivet: Tree, strong, spreading grower, frequently re- ported as unproductive. Fruit, color, dark red. Season, medium late. PRUNING OF CHERRIES Compared with other fruits, the cherry receives little pruning, especially after the first 2 or 3 yr. If the head is started within 18 in. of the ground and oppor- tunity is given for the tree to spread, a desirable spreading habit may be started. Some of the most successful growers of cherries prefer to train their trees with a leader from which from three to five main branches are allowed to develop. During the first year, just sufficient wood anata be removed to secure the spreading habit, and no more. When a low-headed tree of this sort is forced to spread its growth, most of the fruit may be readily picked, thus materially reducing the cost of picking, and the spreading branches shade the trunk and to some extent prevent the cracking and splitting seen on some trunks. When the trees reach bearing age, comparatively little pruning is needed other than to take out wood that crosses, and wood showing disease. SPRAYING OF CHERRIES Among the principal insects attacking the cherry are the black cherry aphis, plum curculio, San José scale, and other scale insects. The principal fungus diseases of the cherry are the black knot, brown rot, shot-hole fungus, or leaf blight, and powdery mildew. 136 FRUIT CULTURE The following system of spraying will be found ef- fective in controlling the insect and disease troubles of the cherry: 1. Just before the leaf buds break, or open, spray with a lime-sulphur solution (sp. gr. 1.03—that is, con- centrated lime-sulphur of 33° Baumé diluted 1 to 8 with water). This spraying is for the control of the San José and other scales. 2. Just before the fruit buds burst open, spray with a lime-sulphur solution (sp. gr. 1.007 to 1.006—that is, concentrated lime-sulphur of 33° Baumé diluted either 1 to 40 or 1 to 50 with water), to which has been added arsenate of lead (1% or 2 lb. arsenate of lead to 50 gal. lime-sulphur solution). This spraying is for the con- trol of the plum curculio and the fungus diseases. 3. As soon as the fruit has set, spray again with the same lime-sulphur-arsenate-of-lead solution given in paragraph 2, for the control of both the insect and the fungus troubles. In some cases it may be advisable to make two or three later sprayings with the same ma- terial. Bordeaux mixture is sometimes used in place of the dilute lime-sulphur solution given in paragraph 2, but on account of the liability of injuring the foliage, this is not to be recommended. QUINCES VARIETIES OF QUINCES There are comparatively few varieties of quinces in cultivation. The following are brief descriptions of the important commercial varieties, including information that the prospective planter would find useful in se- lecting varieties for his orchard: Orange, or Apple Quince: Probably most important commercially. Tree, moderately vigorous, with spread- ing habits. Fruit, variable in size and shape, and is FRUIT CULTURE 137 modified somewhat by the treatment it receives; it may be pear shaped or flattened on the end something like an apple; color, pale orange, surface being moderately covered with down. Flesh, firm and of good flavor. Mid- season variety and when well grown can be kept until Feb. Best general-purpose variety. Champion: Tree, upright grower, somewhat taller than Orange. Fruit, large, pear-shaped and furrowed about the top; color, generally greenish yellow; covered with a prominent fuzz; late in maturing and in some places does not ripen well; it is one of the best keepers. Rae, or Rae’s Mammoth: Tree, small, of two-thirds the size of Orange at the same age. Fruit, large to very large; somewhat pear shaped; color, orange; surface, smooth; flesh, of good quality; ripens early but does not keep as well as Orange. Meech, Meech’s Prolific: Tree, something like Orange, bears young; fairly good cropper. Fruit, handsome but inclined to be small and not as valuable for market as. some other varieties. Missouri Mammoth: Tree, one of the largest and most handsome; bears reasonably young; generally regarded as prolific. Fruit, rich and aromatic. Bourgeat: Tree, strong grower; regarded as a good bearer. Fruit, bright golden yellow; large in size, with a small core; good keeper; can be held until spring. Van Deman: Recent introduction of Luther Burbank; by some claimed to be one of the hardiest and surest bearers in existence. Fruit, ripens throughout a com- paratively long season and is claimed to be a good keeper. Chinese, or Hong Kong: Sometimes catalogued as a new, unique, and distinct fruit. Fruit, may be regarded as very large in size, somewhat oblong in shape. Tree, not unlike an ordinary quince tree in habit; it is gen- erally regarded as hardy in New York. Of no particu- lar value for commercial growing. 138 FRUIT CULTURE PRUNING OF QUINCES When the quince is planted direct from the nursery row and already has a good head started within a few inches of the ground, all the pruning necessary is to remove any excess of limbs and plant as it is; cutting back the terminal is not even necessary. However, if the tree has become dried in shipment and the tips of the limbs are dead, all dead parts should be pruned off. Some quince growers prune their trees severely, as much as one-half of the new growth each year, but such men are usually those who force their trees with manures and other nitrogenous fertilizers, and who must prune severely to keep the trees within bounds. The better practice seems to be to use nitrogenous fertilizers sparingly and to prune very little. A good plan is to head the trees from 6 to 8 in. from the ground and to allow them to grow at will until they come into bearing, the amount of pruning necessary to keep the fire blight in subjection being adequate. At the end of 4 years or so the trees may need heading back, but this is a matter of judgment in each case. In such cases, winter pruning is the best. After the tree comes into bearing and thinning of the fruit is desirable in order to improve the size and quality of the fruit borne, heading in may be practiced. This consists in cutting back the annual growth a certain amount each year. There is, however, danger in this pruning, because the quince, like the pear, is subject to fire blight, and as excessive pruning will cause an excessive growth of tender sprouts on which the fire blight is especially severe, the pruning should be done with care and judgment. SPRAYING OF QUINCES The principal insects attacking the quince are the round-headed apple-tree borer, quince curculio, coddling moth, and San José scale, though the latter, very FRUIT CULTURE 139 fortunately, seldom attacks the quince and when it does causes very little harm. The most serious diseases of the quince are fire blight, leaf and fruit spot, or black spot, and rust, or cedar rust. The following system of spraying the quince is: fol- lowed by some of the best commercial growers: 1. Just before the blossoms open, spray with Bordeaux mixture (6 lb. copper sulphate, 6 lb. lime, water slaked, 50 gal. water); Bordeaux mixture appears to be well adapted to the requirements of the quince. Arsenate of lead (2 or 3 lb. arsenate of lead to 50 gal. of fungicide solution) should also be used with the fungicide spray at this time. This spraying is for the control of leaf and fruit spot, or black spot, rust, and curculio. 2. Immediately after the blossoms have fallen, or even while the last of the petals are falling, spray with Bordeaux mixture (3 lb. copper sulphate, 4 Ib. lime, water slaked, 50 gal. water) and arsenate of lead (2 or 3 lb. arsenate of lead to 50 gal. spray solution). This spraying is for the control of the same troubles mentioned in paragraph 1. 3. From three to four other sprayings at intervals of 10 days after the spraying described in paragraph 2 will be sufficient to keep the fruit and foliage in excellent condition. STRAWBERRIES VARIETIES OF STRAWBERRIES The following varieties of strawberries have been recommended for commercial planting, the varieties being named in the order of their ripening and designated as perfect and imperfect. These terms refer to the sex of the flowers. Perfect flowers have both sets of sexual organs, and varieties having them are self-fertile; varieties having only the pistils, or female organs, cannot fertilize themselves and should be planted with perfect varieties. 140 FRUIT CULTURE Michel’s Early: Perfect. Fruit, pointed, conical; me- dium to below in size; seeds, not prominent; dull, pale red; flesh, pale, juicy, acid, subacid when dead ripe; rather soft; quality medium. Season, extra early; plant, moderately vigorous. Foliage, moderately good; rusts slightly to considerably. Virginia: Imperfect. Plants, few in number; of medium vigor; healthy; productive. Leaves, inclined to be large; rather dark green. Blooms early in mid-sea- son; ripens slightly before mid-season; picks easily. Seeds, deeply depressed. Fruit, large to medium, those ripening late being small; roundish conic to wedge, bluntly pointed and often with depression at apex; color, light and dark glossy scarlet, resembling Hunn. Flesh, medium red; of average firmness; mild; not high in flavor or quality. Only a fairly desirable variety. Beder Wood: Perfect. Fruit, round to conical; medium size; pale red; seeds, not prominent; flesh, pale, juicy, acid, moderately firm, medium quality. Season, early to extra early. Plant, vigorous; runners numerous; foliage moderately good; rusts considerably. Clyde: Perfect. Fruit, round, large to very large, pale red; seeds not prominent; flesh, pale red, juicy, subacid, pleasant, firm, and above medium in quality. Season, early to medium. Plant, vigorous, with numer- ous runners. Foliage, poor to moderately good; rusts considerably. Lovett: Perfect. Fruit, pointed to wedge conical; above medium size; bright red, glossy; flesh, bright red, juicy, acid, moderately firm, and above medium in quality. Season, early to medium. Plant, vigorous, with but few runners; poor to moderately good foliage; rusts considerably. Attractive berry. Warfield: Imperfect. Fruit, pointed conical; medium to above medium size; deep red, glossy; seeds, rather prominent; flesh, deep red, juicy, acid, moderately firm; quality, medium. Season early to medium. Plants, vigor- ous, with large number of runners; foliage moderately FRUIT CULTURE 141 good; rusts considerably. Handsome berry and a good cropper. Glen Mary: Perfect. Fruit, irregular, roundish to wedge conical; very large to large; deep red at base, becoming pale toward tip; seeds not prominent; flesh, bright red, juicy, rather watery; subacid, firm, of medium quality. Season, medium. Plant, moderately vigorous, with numerous runners; foliage, moderately good to good; rusts considerably. Senator Dunlap: Perfect. Fruit, handsome, pointed, wedge shaped; medium to large in size; deep, glossy red; seeds, not prominent; flesh, rich red, juicy, tender, subacid, moderately firm; above medium quality. Sea- son, early. Plant, vigorous, with large number of run- ners; productive; foliage, moderately good; rusts con- siderably. Sample: Imperfect. Fruit, handsome, pointed, regular in shape; above medium to large; bright or rather deep, glossy red; seeds fairly prominent; flesh, bright red, juicy, almost watery, subacid, moderately firm; quality, medium. Season, medium to late. Plant, vigorous, productive, with large number of runners; foliage, mod- erately good to good; rusts considerably. President: Imperfect. Plant has numerous runners; vigorous; somewhat injured by blight; productive; leaves, large, dark green. Blooms and ripens in mid- season; picks easily. Fruit, of largest size, slightly conic; seeds, slightly depressed; attractive bright scar- let; flesh, medium light color, firm, moderately juicy, mild; fair to good quality; good variety where size and color are prime requisites. Brandywine: Perfect. Roundish to sugar loafed; me- dium to large; deep, dull red; appearance, unattractive; seeds, not prominent; flesh, bright red, juicy; sub- acid, good, firm, and of good quality. Season, late. Plant, vigorous grower, with medium number of runners; foliage, moderately good to good; rusts slightly to con- siderably. Good late variety. 142 FRUIT CULTURE Gandy: Perfect. Roundish; medium to large; pale, dull red; seeds, not specially prominent; flesh, bright red, juicy, subacid, pleasant, firm; above medium to good in quality. Season, late. Plant, moderately vig- orous, with a moderate number of runners; foliage, good; rusts slightly. Marshall: Perfect. Fruit, pointed conical; large to very large; deep red; seeds, not prominent; flesh, pale red, moderately juicy, mildly subacid, firm, of good quality. Season, medium to late. Plant, vigorous, with a large number of runners; foliage good; rusts consid- erably. Probably better for home use than for market. Bubach: Imperfect. Fruit, irregular wedge shaped; very large; bright red; seeds, not prominent; flesh, bright red, juicy, subacid, moderately firm; of good quality. Season, medium to late. Plant, vigorous, with moderate number of runners; foliage, moderately good, but rusts considerably. One of most satisfactory in regard to size and appearance of fruit, productiveness, and good foliage. Steven's Late Champion: Perfect or semiperfect. Plant, sets few plants; vigorous, healthy; unproductive; leaves, large; dark green. Blooms and ripens in mid-season; picks easily. Fruit, large; retains its size well through the season; seeds, depressed; irregular in shape, but averaging wedge shaped; flesh, attractive light scarlet, well colored, firm, agreeably acid; quality, good. Plants should be set closer than most varieties. SPRAYING OF STRAWBERRIES The principal insect enemy of the strawberry is the white grub, though the strawberry leaf roller often does considerable damage, and the most serious diseases are the leaf spot, leaf blight, or rust. When once in a straw- berry bed, the white grub can be controlled only by digging it out from below the crown of the infested plant, and by cultivating the land about the plants early in the fall. Strawberries should not be set on old sod land which is FRUIT CULTURE 143 likely to be infested with white grubs. If cultivated for a year in corn or other farm crops (not potatoes) upon which the grub does not feed, a field will be rid of most of them. The following method of spraying for the control of leaf spot and the leaf roller has been recommended: 1. Soon after the growth of the newly set plants be- gins, spray with Bordeaux mixture (5 lb. copper sulphate, 5 lb. lime, water slaked, 50 gal. water). 2. Repeat this spraying in about 2 wk. and two or three times more during the first season, as may be needed. 3. The second spring, before the plants blossom, spray with the Bordeaux mixture of the formula given in paragraph 1. Whenever the strawberry leaf roller is present add from 2 to 3 lb. arsenate of lead to each 50 gal. of Bordeaux solution. 4. Two weeks later give another spraying with the Bordeaux mixture mentioned in paragraph 1. RASPBERRIES VARIETIES OF RASPBERRIES Red Raspberries.—The varieties of red raspberries most usually planted are: Cuthbert: Bush, strong grower but only moderately hardy; where hardy, it is productive and is the main crop variety, Fruit, large, dull red, moderately juicy, of good quality, and a good shipper. Mid-season. Herbert: Bush, strong grower, hardy, and very pro- ductive. Fruit, bright red, sweet, juicy, and of good quality. Mid-season. Likely to replace Cuthbert in localities where that variety is not sufficiently hardy. Loudon: Bush, only medium grower, hardy, but not productive in all localities. Fruit, large and of good flavor. Mid-season. 144 FRUIT CULTURE Marlboro: Bush, fairly strong grower, hardy, usually productive. Fruit, medium or a little larger; bright red, and of medium quality. Best early variety. Black Raspberries.—The most commonly planted va- rieties of black raspberries are: Cumberland: Bush, strong grower; one of the hardiest, productive. Fruit, large, black, sweet, and of good quality. Season, medium, early. Gregg: Bush, very strong grower; not hardy in all localities, but productive where hardy. One of most widely planted black raspberries. Fruit, large to very large; black, with a gray bloom; moderately juicy, sweet, and of good quality. Season, late. Kansas: Bush, moderately vigorous grower; pro- ductive; not hardy in all localities, but promising where hardy. Fruit, above average in size; glossy black, and of good quality. Mid-season. Black Diamond: Bush, vigorous grower; resistant to disease; very productive. Fruit, large, black; good shipper. Mid-season, a few days later than Kansas. Ohio: Bush, strong grower; productive. Fruit, of medium size, but very seedy and for this reason very desirable for drying, because it will yield a high percentage of dried fruit to the bushel. Palmer: Bush, strong grower; not always hardy; moderately productive. Fruit, medium size; black, juicy, sweet, and of good quality. Season, early. Probably best of the early varieties in localities where it does not winter-kill. Purple-Cane Raspberries.—The purple-cane varieties are not of much importance commercially. Two of the best are: Shaffer: Bush, very strong grower; fairly hardy; very productive when canes are not winter-killed. Fruit, large, dark, purplish red; juicy; quality, fair. Season, medium to late. Columbian: Bush, strong grower; very productive when canes are not injured during the winter. Fruit, large, FRUIT CULTURE 145 dark purplish red, juicy, and of good quality. Season, late. PRUNING OF RASPBERRIES Red Raspberry.—The wood of the red raspberry is biennial—that is, it lives for 2 yr.; but the roots are perennial—that is, they live year after year. The young canes shoot up from the roots in the spring and should be allowed to grow at will during the first season. The second spring each 1-yr.-old cane should be cut back to a height of about 2 ft. to cause the development of laterals on which the fruit is to be borne. As soon as the fruit has been picked from these in the summer, the old canes should be cut out to allow room for the development of the new canes. Some growers summer prune the young canes of the red raspberry, but this is not generally recommended. Black Raspberry.—The wood and roots of the black raspberry are similar in growth to that of the red rasp- berry, but the pruning is different. As soon as the young canes that start up from the crown of the plant reach a height of 2 to 2% ft. their tender tips, or terminal buds, should be pinched off with the fingers. This will pre- vent the further elongation of the cane and force the growth of the lower buds into lateral branches. The second spring the laterals of these 1-yr.-old canes should be cut back so that the cane will somewhat re- semble a small conical tree, the lower side branches being cut back to a length of about 18 in. and each branch above proportionately shorter. These laterals will in turn throw out side branches on which the fruit will be borne during the summer. As soon as the fruit has been picked the old canes that bore it should be cut off close to the ground, taken out of the plantation and burned. On soils where the growth of black raspberries is very vigorous, the canes are sup- ported by wires stretched on posts. Purple-Cane Raspberries.—The pruning of the purple- cane raspberry is similar to that of the black raspberry, 10 146 FRUIT CULTURE except that as the growth is somewhat more vigorous the young canes should be allowed to grow to a height of 2% to 3 ft. before being pinched off. BLACKBERRIES AND DEWBERRIES VARIETIES Blackberries.—Blackberries are a popular bush fruit and a large number of varieties are planted. Those most extensively planted are: Agawam: Bush, vigorous grower; hardy and pro- ductive. Fruit, medium to large; glossy black, firm, juicy, sweet, and of good quality. Mid-season or a little earlier. Eldorado: Bush, strong grower; hardy, but only mod- erately productive. Fruit, black, sweet, juicy, and of good quality. Season, about same as Agawam. Mersereau: Bush, good grower but not as hardy as Agawam. Fruit, above medium size; glossy black, sweet. Rathbun: Bush, moderately strong grower, but lacks hardiness. Fruit, large, black, and of good quality. Snyder: Bush, vigorous and very hardy. Fruit, me- dium size; usually black but sometimes with a reddish tinge; juicy, sweet, and of good quality. Mid-season or a little earlier. Dewberries.—_Two of the most prominent varieties of dewberries are: Lucretia: Bush, good grower but not hardy in north- ern localities. Fruit, large, glossy black, sweet, juicy, and of good quality. Season, early. , Mayes: Bush, strong grower but lacks hardiness. Fruit, very large; glossy black, juicy, and of good quality. Season, very early—earlier than Lucretia. PRUNING OF BLACKBERRIES AND DEWBERRIES Blackberries.—The pruning of the blackberry is also similar to that of the black raspberry, the growth of FRUIT CULTURE 147 the wood and of the roots being the same, except that the suckers, or young canes, spring up from the roots. When the young canes are 18 to 24 in. high their tips should be pinched off and all except three or four of the strongest canes should be cut out. The second spring the laterals forced into growth by the previous summer pruning should be pruned so that each cane will assume a conical appearance, with the lower lat- erals about 18 in. long, though the proper length varies considerably with different varieties. As soon as the old canes have borne fruit they should be cut out and burned. The second year from five to six of the young canes should be allowed to grow, and should likewise be pinched off at a height of 18 to 24 in. The young canes will rot all reach the required height at the same time, and for this reason the patch must be gone over several times. Blackberries are frequently supported on wires or stakes. Dewberries.—Though the canes of the dewberry are very similar in growth to those of the other brambles, they grow long and trail much more along the ground. The dewberry is not summer pruned like the black- berry, but the 1-yr.-old canes, if too long, are cut back in the spring to a length of 18 to 24 in., and are thinned out to four or five strong canes in a hill. On account of their drooping, or trailing, habit of growth, the dew- berry canes that are to bear fruit should be tied up in the spring; this will prevent the fruit from becoming soiled and will make cultivation easier. The young canes are allowed to trail along the ground, where their tips take root and form new plants, which may be used for starting new plantations. SPRAYING OF RASPBERRIES, BLACKBERRIES, AND DEWBERRIES Spraying of Raspberries.—The principal insects that attack raspberries, blackberries, and dewberries are the saw fly and the cane borer. 148 FRUIT CULTURE The principal fungous diseases of these small fruits are the following: Anthracnose, which is very destructive to black raspberries but not often a serious problem on red raspberries; cane wilt, or cane blight, a destructive disease on both red and black raspberries; crown gall, or root knot, a destructive disease on red raspberries; and red rust, often a serious trouble on black rasp- berries and blackberries, but which does not affect red raspberries. Spraying is not often practiced on raspberries, black- berries, or dewberries, because their disease and insect troubles are largely controlled by cutting out diseased canes. For the control of anthracnose on raspberries, it is sometimes desirable to spray with Bordeaux mix- ture (5 lb. copper sulphate, 5 lb. lime, water slaked, 50 gal. water), the first application being made when the young growth of canes is from 6 to 8 in. high, and the second and third applications being made at in- interval of about 2 wk. each. It is, however, often found that such spraying is not profitable. In case the brambles are attacked by the saw fly, sprayings with arsenate of lead (2 to 3 lb. arsenate of lead, 50 gal. water) or with Paris green (1 1b. Paris green, 50 gal. water) should be given until the pest is under control. One thorough application of either of these poisons, especially of the first, will usually be sufficient. Care should be taken not to apply either of these poisons after the fruit has formed. In some sections of the country, at rare intervals, the canes in blackberry plantations will suddenly be found to be covered with dark-brown soft scales. These may be so abundant as almost to cover the entire canes. These insects suck the sap from the plants and greatly weaken them. In case of such an attack, all of the unnecessary wood should be pruned out and in the spring before growth begins a thorough spraying given with lime-sulphur solution (at sp. gr. 1.03—that is, con- centrated lime-sulphur solution of 33° Beaumé diluted FRUIT CULTURE 149 1 to 8 with water) or with a kerosene emulsion. In most cases, however, it will be found necessary to abandon a blackberry plantation so attacked and to set out another on good, rich soil. CURRANTS VARIETIES OF CURRANTS Red Currants.—Of the fifty or more varieties of red currants the following are the more important com- mercially: Cherry: Bush, strong grower and productive in most places. Fruit, large to very large in long, well-filled bunches; deep red, acid, and medium in quality. Tips of branches sometimes go blind. Origin, Italy. Mid- season. Fay: Bush, medium, spreading grower; branches lop and fruit gets soiled; is slow in starting to bear in some localities, but is largely grown. Fruit, large to very large in well-filled bunches; red berries and of a milder acid flavor than Cherry. Mid-season. London Market: Bush, erect in growth and is less injured by diseases and borers than others. Fruit resembles Fay but is more acid. Mid-season. Prince Albert: Bush, upright grower, with strong canes; moderately productive. Fruit, medium in size in short bunches; pale scarlet; medium in quality. Very late. Red Cross: Bush, strong grower and productive. Fruit, large in short, compact bunches; red; excellent flavor. Origin, New York. Mid-season. Filler: Bush, productive. Fruit, red and of good quality. Pomona: Bush, rather spreading grower and _ pro- ductive. Fruit, bright red, of good quality, and con- tains’ few seeds. Red Dutch: Bush and fruit, small. Not recommended. 150 FRUIT CULTURE Versailles: Bush, good grower and productive; a seedling of Cherry and something like it. Mid-season. Victoria: Bush, a good grower and little troubled by leaf diseases or borers; foliage very good, but susceptible to injury by hot weather; very productive. Fruit, small, red, acid, and of good flavor. Late mid- season. Wilder: Bush, strong, upright grower; productive. Fruit, large, hangs well; red, and of a good, mild flavor. Mid-season. Perfection: Bush, ‘productive and foliage good. A good variety for table use when well grown. Fruit large, mild in flavor, and borne in long bunches. Origin, New York. Diploma: Bush, a strong grower. Fruit, large and of good quality. White Currants.—The following are the most commonly planted varieties of white currants: White Imperial: Best white currant. Bush, pro- ductive. Fruit, pale yellow, sweet, rich, and used for the table. White Grape: Bush, productive. . Fruit, pale yellow, mild, and of good quality. Black Currants.—The following are the most com- monly planted varieties of black currants: Lee’s Prolific: An improvement on Black Naples, and similar to it. Black Naples: Bush, a strong grower. Fruit, large and borne in small bunches. Champion: Bush, a good grower. Fruit, large and of mild flavor. Mid-season. PRUNING OF CURRANTS Practically no pruning is needed at the time of plant- ing, although some growers prune the nursery plant to a single cane and head that cane back to five or six buds. In the commercial currant plantation, little pruning is given until the plants are 4 or 5 yr. old. FRUIT CULTURE 151 The red and white currants and the black currants bear the largest proporton of their fruit on wood of different ages and therefore require different pruning. The red and white currants bear their fruit on wood 2 or more yr. old, the most and best of it being on wood from 3 to 5 yr. old; hence a plentiful supply of wood of these ages should be left on the bushes. The black currant bears most of its fruit on wood that developed the previous summer; therefore black currant bushes should always have a sufficient supply of 1-yr.- old wood to bear a large crop of berries. At the be- ginning of the second year the bushes should be thinned out to five or six strong canes, or even less if a bush is not vigorous. Pruning during the succeeding years should be devoted to keeping about five or six strong, healthy canes in each bush, keeping the bush open enough so that sunlight will be admitted to all the fruit, and maintaining the proper proportion of fruit- bearing wood. Currants are sometimes pruned to grow in tree form, but such plants are of no cemmercial value, because the damage done by a single borer will ruin the bush. SPRAYING OF CURRANTS The currant is attacked by the San José scale, currant borer, currant worm, or currant saw fly, green leaf hop- per, or currant leaf hopper, yellow leaf currant bug, or four-lined leaf bug, grape flea beetle, currant plant louse, currant miner, and by the currant leaf spots. A number of the insects do but little damage. To control the above insects and diseases, the currant should be given the following spraying: (1) Before the buds open with a 1 to 9 lime-sulphur solution to control the San José scale (sp. gr. about 1.03—that is, 33° Baumé lime-sulphur diluted 1 to 9 with water); (2) as soon as the plants have gone out of bloom, with 4:5:50 Bor- deaux mixture (4 lb. copper sulphate, 5 lb. lime, water slaked, 50 gal. water), and a 2:50 arsenate of lead 152 FRUIT CULTURE (2 lb. arsenate of lead to 50 gal. Bordeaux mixture) combined to control the leaf spots and currant worm; when arsenate of lead is used in this spraying there is often no necessity for applying it again; (3) as soon as the fruit is harvested with the same spray as that given in (2), or without the arsenate of lead if the currant worm has been controlled by the previous spraying. In some cases an application of 4:5:50 Bordeaux mixture between the second and third regular sprayings is advisable to control the leaf spots, but this application should not be made so late that the spray will stain the fruit. No arsenate of lead should be applied within 4 wk. of harvest. GOOSEBERRIES ’ VARIETIES OF GOOSEBERRIES Gooseberries are of three general classes: American, European, and American-European hybrids. American Gooseberries.—Downing: One of the best of the American class and most widely grown. Bush, strong grower, seldom troubled with mildew, and very productive. Fruit, large for its class, with a thin, smooth, pale green skin; pulp, soft, sweet, juicy, and of good quality. Mid-season. Houghton: Parent of Downing. Bush, vigorous and hardy, but somewhat drooping grower, and is productive. Although fruit is small and dark red in color, with a whitish bloom, flavor is very good. Pearl: Cross between Downing and Ashton’s Seedling or Broom Girl, and closely resembles Downing. Bush, strong, fairly erect grower, seldom attacked by mildew, and productive. Fruit, medium, or about as large as Downing; pale green skin; pulp, juicy, and of good flavor. Mid-season. Red Jacket, or Josselyn: Cross between Houghton and Warrington Red. Bush, strong grower; does not mildew; FRUIT CULTURE 153 productive. Fruit, good size; skin, reddish green to red and tender; pulp, rich, fragrant, and of good quality. Highly esteemed by some growers. Mid-season. Purple Red: Bush, strong grower and productive. European, or English, Gooseberries.—Among the European, or English, gooseberries, of which about a thousand are catalogued, the following appear to have been of some value in certain sections in the Northern States and Canada: Industry: One of the best. Bush, heavy cropper where it succeeds, but often suffers from mildew. Fruit, medium to large; skin, smooth or nearly so; dark red; pulp, very good in flavor; excellent for marketing in unripe condition. Crown Bob: Good variety for early market. Fruit resembles Industry in color but is smaller. Wellington Glory: Has proven productive in some parts of the country. Fruit, an attractive pale yellow. Warrington Red: Bush, strong grower; somewhat sub- ject to mildew. Fruit, pale red, hairy; pulp, sweet and of good quality. Whitesmith: Frequently recommended as a desirable variety, especially for the home garden. Fruit, medium to large; skin, smooth, and pale yellowish green; pulp, of good quality. American-European Hybrid Gooseberries.—Two of the American-European hybrids, which resemble the Euro- pean in type, are of value: Columbus: Bush, strong grower, and comparatively free from mildew. Fruit, white or greenish yellow, and of good quality. Chautauqua: Bush, vigorous, healthy grower. Fruit, large, smooth; pale green. PRUNING OF GOOSEBERRIES At the time of planting no pruning is needed except to take off injured roots or twigs, nor is any usually given for the first 2 or 3 years except to head in a 154 FRUIT CULTURE branch that may be growing too rapidly. Gooseberries are trained to grow in two forms, the bush form and the tree form. The bush form is the only commercial form; four, five, or six canes are allowed to develop to make the bush in the same way as described for. cur- rants. The gooseberry bush should not be pruned out too much, as such pruning may expose the fruit to too much sunlight. After three or four seasons of growth the new wood should be pruned back in the spring one-half of the growth made the previous summer, in order to prevent the formation of a large quantity of blind wood. Canes 4 to 6 yr. old should be: removed. The best and the largest proportion of fruit is borne on wood 3 to 5 yr. old. SPRAYING OF GOOSEBERRIES Gooseberries are subject to the same insects and dis- eases already mentioned for currants, with the addition of the gooseberry mildew, which is a serious problem with European varieties. To avoid this mildew as much as possible, gooseberries should be planted on an elevation where they will have a good circulation of air about them, and should be pruned and cultivated so as to allow the air to circulate as freely as possible. The first two sprayings for the gooseberry should be the same as those for the currant. Then, as soon as the fruit is set the plants should be thoroughly sprayed with a 1 to 35 lime-sulphur solution (sp. gr. 1.008, that is concentrated lime-sulphur solution of 33° Baumé di- luted 1 to 35 with water), or a solution of 1 oz. o£ potassium sulphide in 2 gal. of water, making sure that both the upper and under surfaces of the foliage are well covered. These sprayings should be repeated at intervals of 10 da. until the fruit is harvested. Even in spite of all that can be done, how- ever, the mildew will sometimes destroy the crop. After the fruit is harvested the bushes should be sprayed as described under (3) for currants. VEGETABLE CULTURE 155 VEGETABLE CULTURE ESSENTIALS OF VEGETABLE CULTURE MARKET GARDENING Location for Market Gardening.—Before locating a market garden in a particular locality, the vegetable grower should give careful consideration to all con- ditions existing in the region. Some of the conditions may be improved; others are fixed. The points of greatest importance to consider in choosing a location are: the kind of market that is available, the distance from market, the nature of the roads to market, the labor supply, the stable-manure supply, the climate, the seasons, and the social conditions. Site for Market Gardening.—The choosing of the site that is to be used as a market garden is of prime im- portance. The factors that influence the desirability of a site are: the kind of soil, the drainage of the soil, the water supply, the exposure of the land, and the previous treatment that has been given to the soil. Unless certain special crops are grown, the kind of soil best suited for a market garden is one of light to medium loam. A soil of this nature is easy to work, it does not retain water to a degree to make it sticky, and it can be worked early in the spring or soon after a rain. Owing to the fact that much hand working of the soil is necessary in gardening, it is advantageous to have a soil free from stones. To have a soil rich in vegetable matter and plant-food is also desirable, although if necessary, this can be supplied in manures. Other soils than light to medium loams can be used for vegetable growing, of course, but they are not so 156 VEGETABLE CULTURE suitable because they do not have the properties just mentioned. Soil in which surplus water stands at or within 1% ft. of the surface is of little use for the production of vegetable crops until the surplus water has been re- moved. However, soils that need draining are often very rich in plant-food; all they require to make them productive is the removal of the surplus water. In the selection of a site for a market garden the availability of a water supply for the house and barn, and the shed where the vegetables are washed, and for irrigation purposes, is an important factor, as mar- ket gardening cannot be conducted without an adequate supply of water. The ideal exposure for a market garden in the North Temperate zone is one with a slight slope to the south- east and with a protection on the northwest from the full sweep of the winds from that direction. The next best exposure is a level one. Level land is very desir- able for murket gardens provided it is well drained. One trouble with level lands, however, is that they are often exposed to winds that may at certain seasons do considerable damage. The treatment soil has received before being con- verted into a market garden needs but little attention. If a soil is of the right type it can be made suitable for a garden by the addition of vegetable matter and other plant-focd and by working it with proper garden tools and implements. A soil that has been made fertile by previous treatment is, of course, a valuable asset to a market garden, but, as just stated, it is not a requisite. In selecting a site, the local seasonal differences should be studied. For instance, if a market gardener has decided on a region in which to locate, he should ascertain before choosing a site, whether or not there are frost belts in the region. Equipment for Market Gardening.—Equipment for market gardening includes capital to run the business, VEGETABLE CULTURE 157 land used for gardening and as a site for the buildings, the buildings themselves, a water-supply system, live- stock, barn equipment, tools, machinery, glass for hot beds and cold frames, seeds, plants, stable manure, commercial fertilizer, and labor. The equipment may be either comparatively simple or very extensive, depend- ing on the size of the business, the capital of the gardener, the nature of the soil, the kind of crops to be grown, the cost of labor, and the ideas of the grower. Following is given an approximate list of items needed on a ten-acre market garden that requires fixed and working capital, and the cost of each item. It may be possible, of course, under local conditions, to dispense with some of these items, and the prices given may vary in different localities. The items and figures given are taken from the books of a market gardener in the northern part of the United States. IrEMsS REQUIRING FIxED CAPITAL Randecl0h acres at.$100 per acre)... 00.666 oe botee nc $1,000.00 Buildings: ETO USCeen ae Ree i ranin ce cian Ga on Geico Le uae eee Aone 1,000.00 PaeMa MEAS ea con ois Aacmamt s sia nate «a f/Seids.« Majeed dike 600.00 Combination packing shed, tool room, and im- PLSMIESM baSMSO™ aos senwone via ho Hekaaeaniods aioe eee. 500.00 Water-supply system, including 3% H. P. gaso- Lineseneine and duplex puimp ties s..o-- sues 400.00 Livestock : 1 team of work horses weighing about 2,600 lb.. 400.00 1 express horse weighing about 1,200 lb......... 200.00 RNC Wm Scot eee sik eres Sere aaiai(e Sicunyesarere\atols Whalators Mieaeidenie cain os 75.00 Barn equipment: Pe tWO-UOLSe MARULE WAPOM ovicdts-icbcc cece cues 200.00 Meone-borse’ Warket) wagon |: cho. icc. cose wss seeds 175.00 Pte OCS TLD CATT. yo occ anc ha tea ee eee 50.00 IGA LGlar Cheat ce mnt mans ue Sh eee hens Pie te 125.00 {PSecOmd-Hand EXPEESS) WAGON 25.0.6 .5 sawines ace cs 35.00 bene Gouble, Narness! s.. cen. scaedencees ts cle cs 45.00 Manediusecexpress: harness: . 2.25228. ooa cde ee 40.00 MID Caress ht aEMESS) era teisicisiioersian ehaciele eis wie isioeis asi: 18.00 Meta GA WTIIESS - o.'s capsid ssid) ciers trsleve ase sera ee sien’ 18.00 S GON cE Se NRE ESE Gee OD BOL OCS eer ao eee nhs 9.00 158 VEGETABLE CULTURE 1 medium-weight “blanket: sa... 02.a seme seer 3.50 Z3.stable» blamketsy 4... sections tctae esthel tia acta eee 4.50 DNCALTIASE, “TODES | Geiateic ae rains a.oelateleielsleva/are annie aero 6.00 2. sets. of ‘curry, ‘combs; brushes, -ete.n. weenie 3.00 Incidental fi3. . Sy ea hive tame noielolnie spe ee ele eaees 5.00 Tools and machinery: i two-horse:s plow. “Aint artesieas ate Caine clase ae 15.00 1 ,One=HOTrSe “PIO Wi os nctiee.sn vei eine were Senne Ee 8.50 1 double-action ‘disk harrow .20.o.ce.c cee senieees 24.00 Isnioothing wharro wits ssaeen seers esiooe eae eel eee 15.00 1 Meeker fharrowiy es acer. 2nd. soaker 28 Reeaeeeee 22.50 1 five-tooth’ shovel ceultivator (22.0. .cceee cee ieee 8.50 1 twelve-tooth’ spike) cultivator 32. .92.. 3%. es ese 8.50 LHSESUt-BSOWIER Mis aleleisie tie olealale sts here's Si aichen eat eae 9.00 Lewhee Ls, HOON cis Sovereoeie io ose ratn ele rerebien oe Re Ee 5.00 DESINAE) MHOES Wik oo Stase Wie, Seis 6.9 Gwicacio oie ete os er eee Dieter 3.00 SNCOMIMMOM HOES sec case « wedle Sore oes ccleeteid oe cietmern teeter 2.00 SrmMamure:. LOTIKG > J aisiateis ate eae samt aren 2 ee toe erneeinees 2.70 3 fourteen-tooth iron garden rakes..............- 1.80 SrSIOVELS: vs Giclee acetossia love disvclape Bd oie otal y i uate ene ieee eee 3.60 DrSPadesS' ’ > ch ae Gale cases sc sinaie olnyelale Sette eile ee ree teneea 1.50 De WA MUMET: —\, shaves eeteslieiniok o/om sto san wl ovate wate an eee tao .60 Least SALW: © a's aps pie iehc oi acenaie esata etovorel stave ers Walevetapsterreneveners a eeare 1.25 TMCFOSS= CUE, (SAW. « Soiwininys cceisieie a cle estvaiee e(ctete teal ateeieiereers 1.25 i bet 0} oh 0 =e ae aM MNP AM m.dmoont sco 7 1.00 ibe = es Ike Rena IN nara ERE eae Coch ceicmrniec oaes 75 Dchisels- >. ee ve olarak ek hae eee ee ee 50° iMbit.stockWatid VDitS 2:.:./talaes.ckiceiticltain'« siete acts setae 2.00 Miasce liane ors! OOS ire a secercicte rate sins do cicisis viele cree ears 5.00 Miscellaneous garden equipment: 1-carden sline> and \reeler ia: ec aces see eee 1.00 BO Et: “Gf HOSE’ oon wtes s oN e wins sashes ci siete Cee 4.00 Smal tools inottlisted: <4 t20. 28 22 eee eee eee 10.00 25 thotbedwsash: at, $4.25: each... .. stele asieertetleeere 106.25 aimiber “or irae s5'i25 sittew'einte tes eel ae eee ee 20.00 Total eeu, Sic sana eetonn vat eater eee eee $5,204.20 ITEMS REQUIRING WoRKING CAPITAL Seeds“ and) plants 26055. a-/..tiesseaes came eee elas $100.00 Stable manure, 400 tons at $1 per ton............ 400. Comumnercial sfertilizers. > .ccsec inns aoe ee eee 200.00 Labor: 6 men at $1.50 per day, working 26 days per month: for 8 (months: 4... .iceacesets ee ee ee eee 1,248.00 2 men at $25 per month for 12 months per year.. 600.00 TOtal piac.varoetiarcs ots eisBiaie.d 0 te cele aac eee $2,548.00 VEGETABLE CULTURE 159 Totat CAPITAL REQUIRED Fixed capital required ...............eeeeeeeeeees $5,204.20 Warkane "capital required © 6i./i..22s hen dee. eee 2,548.00 $7,752.20 Markets for Market-Garden Produce.—Markets for market-garden produce may be classified as four kinds: wholesale markets, wholesale-retail markets, retail mar- kets, and special markets. Wholesale markets are those where produce is bought in large quantities to be sold to dealers, who, in turn, sell it to consumers. The consumer, therefore, buys goods that have been handled by the grower, by transporta- tion agents (if the goods have been shipped), by the wholesale dealer, and by the merchant to whom the wholesaler sells. He pays, therefore, at least two profits other than thai of the grower. Wholesale-retail markets are those where the produce is sold by the grower direct to the retailer and by the retailer to the consumer. To this class belong all mar- ket and grocery stores. The wholesale-retail market does not usually offer a very acceptable opportunity to the market gardener because of the accessibility of the wholesale market, in which sales can be generally made with less trouble than in the wholesale-retail market. In small cities where no wholesale market exists and in towns where there are a number of enterprising -marketmen and hucksters, however, good wholesale- retail markets are often open to the market gardener. To supply such a market a large variety of produce should be grown. Retail markets are those where the producer sells direct to the consumer. Such trade is largely monopolized in the large cities and their suburbs by peddlers. In towns and villages the opportunity for such business is prob- ably greater than elsewhere. Special markets may be classified as two kinds: mar- kets developed by the ingenuity of the gardener, and 160 VEGETABLE CULTURE markets for a special product. In the case of markets of the first kind a broad field is open to the grower, provided he is able to devise some successful scheme for packing and distributing his produce, either to the wholesale-retail market or to the consumer. In the case of markets of the second kind, the market may be a canning factory that uses large quantities of certain vegetables, or it may be a hotel that demands a high- grade product. Often private families are willing to pay a fancy price for some exceptionally desirable product, and thus a profitable special market can be developed. Range of Crops for Market Gardening.—The range of crops that may be grown by a market gardener is so great that usually the grower can find some crop especially suited to his soil, climate, or market. There are about forty vegetable crops that are commonly found in the markets of the United States, and it is possible to produce the greater number of these crops in most sections of the country. Of each of these different vegetables there are many varieties. In ad- dition to this wide range of vegetable crops there are a number of small fruit crops that fit in well with the cropping and the marketing of the market gardener. TRUCK FARMING Location for Truck Farms.—The factors influencing the location of a truck farm are similar to those influencing the location of a market garden, but are of a different relative importance. In the order of their importance they are: Transportation facilities, climate, soil, mar- keting organizations, labor, distance to shipping centers, roads to market, and social factors. Transportation Facilities for Truck Farming.—The truck farmer is absolutely dependent on public carriers for the transportation of his produce. These carriers are, as a rule, railroads and boats. Before locating a truck farm, consideration should be given to whether the VEGETABLE CULTURE 161 service of such carriers as are available is adequate for the purpose. Climate for Truck arming: —The great variations of climate in different sections of the United States have made truck farming possible. The range in climatic conditions along the Atlantic coast, for example, is such that a succession of tender crops grown in the field are available to the northern consumer from one year’s end to the other. The climate influences the selection of crops, the time of year of shipment, and indirectly the cost of transportation to the markets where the produce will be sold. Soils for Truck Farming.—The ideal soil for truck farms is a sandy loam that is free from stones. Such soil should be well drained and in a high state of fertility. Marketing Organizations for Truck Farming.—When truck farms are located a long distance from market it is practically impossible for individual growers to market their crops satisfactorily. Such a condition compels the growers to organize associations and pro- vide sales departments to sell their produce. Such organizations have satisfactorily solved the marketing problem for truck farmers. These associations are found in localities where a number of growers can conveniently act together. To locate where affiliation with such an organization is impossible would be unwise for the truck farmer at a considerable distance from market. Labor for Truck Farming.—The labor problem of truck farmers is not usually so difficult to solve as that of market gardeners, on account of the slack demand for labor in remote regions as compared to that near large cities. However, the cost of labor for the truck farm is comparatively large. An investigation of labor con- ditions should precede the selection of a location for the business. Distance to Shipping Centers.—The extreme distance from a shipping center to the truck farm should not be it 162 VEGETABLE CULTURE more than 10 miles, and each mile nearer than this distance deducts the annual constant expense to a large degree. Roads to Shipping Centers.—The same problems in re- gard to roads confronts both the truck farmer and the market gardener. Locations admirably suited by natural conditions for the business of truck farming may be rendered entirely unsuitable by impassable roads. Social Conditions.—The truck farmer is usually in a sparsely settled region, and for this reason his social problems are more difficult of satisfactory solution than are those of the market gardener located in more thickly settled communities. For this reason, a pros- pective truck farmer should study thoroughly all con- ditions pertaining to the social life and customs of a locality before establishing a business. Equipment for Truck Farming.—The size of a truck farm varies between wide limits. Some truck farms have from 4 to 5 acres of ground; others often have as many as 600 to 800 acres under cultivation. This vari- ation in size is due largely to the type of crops grown, the ideas of the farmer, the length of time he has spent in the business, the success he has attained, and the amount of capital invested. The capital necessary to go into truck farming is small, but the amount that may be invested is almost unlimited. A lesser investment in land, glass, build- ings, and labor, makes the amount needed by the truck farmer less than that required by the market gardener. The cost of selling produce is also less because of the opportunity to sell through organizations. To start a small truck farm $1,000 would be sufficient. Some per- sons could start on less and succeed and others would need more. Markets for Truck-Farm Produce.—It is typical of the truck farmer to sell his produce in distant markets, through a selling organization. Occasionally a truck VEGETABLE CULTURE 163 farmer operating a large farm is found who handles his own products, the: bulk of his business enabling him to do this to advantage. It is also typical of the truck farmer to produce large quantities of single crops. Such crops are marketed in carload lots to wholesale distributors. The marketing organization of the truck farm bears much the same relation to the grower as the commission house of the large city bears to the market gardener. There is, however, one distinct difference; as the mar- keting organizations exist to provide a market for truck farmers’ products, they are controlled by the grower, while the commission man of the city is in business to amass wealth for himself. The truck farmer gets much more satisfaction from his method of marketing than does the average market gardener who depends on commission merchants to handle his crops. On the other hand, it is necessary for the truck farmer to market his produce through his association or not at all, while to the market gardener a number of ways of distribution are opened. Truck-Farm Crops.—The crops of the truck farm are practically identical with those of the market garden, different crops being grown in different sections of the country. The development of methods of distribution and of packing have made possible the shipment of very perishable products for a long distance and have thus increased the range of crops that may be pro- duced on sections far distant from market. There are a number of distinct trucking sections along the Atlantic coast of the United States. The largest of these centers is at Norfolk, Va. The prin- cipal crops of this section in the order of their im- portance are: Irish potatoes, spinach, cabbage, kale, sweet potatoes, strawberries, radishes, peas, lettuce, cucumbers, cantaloups, egg plants, tomatoes, asparagus, beans, and beets. In the trucking centers of Texas, onions are the principal crop. Florida excels in the 164 VEGETABLE CULTURE production of lettuce, cucumbers, celery, and tomatoes. Colorado is foremost in the production of cantaloups. Georgia leads in growing watermelons. Other sections, of course, produce the crops to which they are adapted. HOME GARDENING Site for Home Garden.—In selecting a site for a home garden the following factors need careful attention: (1) Convenience of access from the house; (2) extent of land available; (3) richness of the soil; (4) ease of working the plot; and (5) appearance of the garden. A home garden not convenient of access to the house- keeper loses a large part of its value. The garden should be located so that when vegetables are wanted they can be quickly obtained, fresh from the soil. The fact that a home garden must be located largely according to the land available often makes accessibility to the house out of the question. Nevertheless, it does not lose its importance on this account. Size of Home Garden.—The extent of land needed for the home garden depends on the size of the family to be fed, and the amount of time and money that can be spent on the garden. A home garden 20 ft. long by 10 ft. wide can be made to produce a good supply of some of the smaller vegetable crops, such as lettuce, radishes, spinach, beets, carrots, turnips, and perhaps a few potatoes and tomatoes. An area 50 ft. x 100 ft. will yield sufficient produce for a large family for both the summer and winter supply. In a home garden the plants can be grown close together and more than one crop can be taken from the same land the same season. Soil for Home Garden.—The home garden, especially if it is in a city or town, must often be located with little opportunity for selection according to soil charac- teristics. The soil should preferably be sandy. Other types of soil can be made to produce crops, but always ‘with more labor and expense, VEGETA BLE CULTURE 165 Soil Improvement for Home Garden.—Soil improvement for a home garden should consist of the addition of as much stable manure as can be obtained conveniently. A quantity that covers the soil to the depth of from 3 to 8 in. is desirable, provided it is later worked into the soil. The plowing under of grass sod and the addition of all vegetable matter available, such as clipped lawn grass, garbage, etc., help to increase the capacity of the soil for crop production. The addition of wood ashes is also helpful. Except in limestone regions, the use of about 50 lb. of lime to every 100 sq. ft. of soil is good practice. Lime and manure should not, however, be added at the same time. If good tillage is coupled with the addition of the fertilizing material and lime, satisfactory crops can be produced from prac- tically any type of soil. Drainage, if necessary, should be provided in a home garden. Selection of Crops for Home Garden.—The selection of crops for the home garden is distinctly a family problem. The home gardener is practically unlimited in his choice of garden crops, and the greater the variety, within reasonable limits, the greater the interest in the garden, and the more benefits received from it. The majority of garden crops are easily grown from seed, and the cost of seeds of the best kind and from the most reliable sources is very small. Plants of those crops that must be started in hotbeds or cold frames can usually be purchased ready for transplanting from dealers in towns and cities. The cost of such plants, too, is usually not high. Glass for Home Garden.—Home gardening for the city and town worker is made much more interesting by the use of a few sash for the production of plants out of season. From 1 to 5 sash is the usual number in use on a home garden, depending on the amount of money it is desired to spend, the room available, and the time allowable for the work. The type of glass structure most used by home gardeners is the cold frame. 166 VEGETABLE CULTURE Arrangement of Home Garden.—A rectangular shape is the most desirable for the home garden, as the plan of cropping may then be such as to make necessary the least possible labor in the care of the garden. The gardener can, in addition, economize on space in a rectangular plot. Every home garden, if of sufficient size, should have the following perennial crops: Asparagus, rhubarb, raspberries, blackberries, gooseberries, and currants. These should be located on one side of the garden where they will not interfere with the annual plowing and harrowing for other crops. A border of perennial crops makes a most desirable arrangement. In addition to the perennial crops, the following are desirable: Strawberries, lettuce, beets, carrots, cabbage, cauliflower, cucumbers, spinach, radishes, sweet corn, string beans, and tomatoes. To be most successful with the garden a plan should be made before the gardening season opens. In making a plan the gardener should arrange the crops according to their planting time and degree of hardiness. The length of time usually needed from seed to maturity should also be considered, as it is often desirable to plant crops on ground that has already produced a crop earlier in the season. General Rules for a Home Garden.—Some general rules in regard to cropping a home garden are given following: (1) Group the perennials; (2) plant the hardy crops to- gether, so that no more land than is necessary need be cared for early in the season; (3) group the small crops and the large crops that need similar tillage; (4) as soon as one crop has been harvested, follow it by another; (5) interplant some of the slow-growing large crops with quick-growing small crops. Tillage of a Home Garden.—The soil of a home garden should be plowed after the manure has been applied. The plowing then mixes the manure with the soil and upturns the soil particles to the air, thus making the VEGETABLE CULTURE 167 soil fine in texture. Spading the ground will ac- complish the same result as plowing, but it is more expensive and tiresome. After the soil has been plowed a harrow should be used to make a finely pulverized seed-bed. On small areas a hand garden rake can be used in place of a harrow. After the plants in the garden have commenced to grow, tillage between the rows is necessary. Thorough working of the soil should be done to keep the ground stirred to a depth of 1 or 2 in. during the whole growing season. This stirring of the soil conserves soil moisture and keeps the garden free from weeds, both of which are essential in gardening. Planting and Harvesting of Home-Garden Crops.—The planting of the seeds, the setting out of the plants, and the harvesting of the crops take place in different parts of the garden throughout the entire season. There is no general planting and harvesting time for home-garden crops, as in most branches of agriculture. Tools for a Home Garden.—For the average home gar- den the following implements and tools will be found useful. The average cost of the equipment is also given. 1 seed sower and wheel cultivator combined. $9.00 -40 HRC TITET ON IOC > ace fares aie arele co Mvieis oie selene Giciessisusionwrs, 1 fourteen-tooth iron garden rake............ 50 MSc TTP MEOH hs cevicrerot, s:cie aieietsleie sete ers) e ol s/a wtove evke .70 SPU NG WC MLE te Ra orcst has sis efancjalsra osslc ela: otis Salelaelaighe lel oldie 1.00 tee ancdeteshoOse mamG | Felt are smoothness, compactness, and a cylindrical shape of the body. The Aberdeen-Angus are low-set: have great style, quality, and symmetry; and are evenly and smoothly covered with a wealth of firm flesh that retains its smoothness and firmness even if the animals are forced in fattening. In the early history of the breed, browns, blacks, reds, and brindles were common, but now black is the pre- vailing color, although red calves are occasionally dropped, showing a tendency to revert back to the old colors. White is objectionable except on the bottom line behind the navel, and it is tolerated there only to a moderate extent. In size, the Aberdeen-Angus is somewhat smaller than the Shorthorn; mature cows FARM LIVESTOCK 209 usually weigh from about 1,200 to 1,600 lb. and mature bulls, from about 2,000 to 2,200 lb. An important point in favor of the Aberdeen-Angus is their hornless character. It is frequentiy claimed that the Aberdeen-Angus surpasses all other breeds in the production of beef. There is, of course, a considerable difference of opinion as to this, but it is safe to say that the Aberdeen-Angus is second to none as an all-round beef breed, and is, in some respects, superior to all others. This claim is substantiated by the position that the breed has taken at the leading fat-stock shows and by the high regard in which the meat is held in the market. The milking qualities of the Aberdeen-Angus have been considerably neglected, more attention having been paid to beef production. However, there are some indi- viduals and certain strains of the breed that make a creditable showing as milkers. GALLOWAY CATTLE Galloways are best adapted for a cold, damp climate, their special qualifications for these conditions being -ruggedness and a thick coat of hair that protects them from cold and rain. They have been found very suit- able for Dakota, Montana, and Idaho ranches, and for the Canadian Northwest. Being of a rather small frame and very muscular and active, they are well adapted to rugged pastures. The Galloway is a thick, low-set, symmetrical, black, polled animal, resembling somewhat the Aberdeen- Angus. In good animals the head is short and broad, without any trace of horns or scurs, and is surmounted by a poll that is not quite as sharp as that of the Aberdeen-Angus. The ears are set a little farther back than those of the Aberdeen-Angus and point forwards and upwards, and have a fringe of long hair. The body is cylindrical but somewhat longer and flatter in the rib than that of the Aberdeen-Angus. 14 210 FARM LIVESTOCK The color of the Galloway is black with a brownish tinge; white markings on the feet, legs, or any portion of the body above the bottom line are very objectionable. In size, the Galloway hardly equals the Shorthorn, Hereford, or Aberdeen-Angus. Galloway steers can usually be made to weigh from 1,000 to 1,200 lb. as yearlings past; from 1,200 to 1,400 lb. at 2 yr. old; and from 1,400 to 1,600 lb. at 3 yr. old. Mature bulls will weigh about 1,800 to 1,900 lb., and mature cows from about 1,200 to 1,500 lb. The Galloway is distinctly a beef breed and lays no claim to milking qualities, although the animals pro- duce enough milk to raise their calves, and the milk is of good quality. SUSSEX CATTLE The Sussex are best adapted to localities that are rich in crop production and temperate in climate. Their grazing qualities are nearly if not quite equal to those of the Herefords. They are very hardy, which is due largely to the manner in which they have been handled. The color of the Sussex is solid red, a moderately deep shade being preferred. The horns are inclined to be large and long, curving around in front and often in-- clining slightly downwards. The nose is of flesh color. The form is blocky, the ribs being well sprung and long, and the body capacious. The Sussex is compara- tively large, ranking about on a par with the Hereford in size. The average weight of mature cows is about 1,400 lb. and of mature bulls about 2,000 Ib. The Sussex has long been held in high esteem as a beef breed, as might be assumed from the excellent showing it has made at fat-stock shows in England. In beef production it is comparable to the Shorthorn and the Hereford. FARM LIVESTOCK 21! DUAL-PURPOSE CATTLE DESCRIPTION OF DUAL-PURPOSE TYPE Dual-purpose cattle are cattle that are kept for the production of both beef and milk. An appropriate term for them and one that is commonly applied is general- purpose cattle. They produce, when fattened, fairly satisfactory carcasses of beef, although they are not the equals of the special-purpose beef cattle in this respect, and the cows give a sufficient quantity of milk of fair butter-fat content to warrant milking them. If cattle of a dual-purpose breed or strain possess merit as beef animals but are without dairy qualities, they should be classed as beef cattle. If, on the other hand, they possess dairy qualities but neither they nor their offspring exhibit beef qualities, they should be classed as special-purpose dairy cattle. The dual-purpose type of animal is not restricted to any particular breeds, but because a large number of animals of certain breeds are of this type, the breeds are spoken of as dual-purpose breeds. These breeds are: the Devon, the Red Polled, and the Brown Swiss; certain animals and strains of the Shorthorn breed are also classed as dual purpose. DEVON CATTLE In color, the Devon is a solid red, with the exception of deep orange-colored rings around the eyes and oc- casionally a small amount of white in front of the udder or the scrotum and in the switch. White is not permissible on any other part of the body. The red varies from dark to light; some breeders prefer one shade and some the other. The Devon is smaller than the Shorthorn and the Hereford, the size varying greatly, however, with the breeding, feeding, and care. The lack of size of the Devons makes them less popular than they would 4 212 FARM LIVESTOCK otherwise be, but what they lack in size they make up in quality, fattening powers, compactness of flesh, per- fection of form, splendid handling qualities, and beauty when finished. The average weight of mature cows is about 900 lb. and of mature bulls about 1,200 lb. The bulls seldom weigh more than 2,000 lb. Combining fair flesh and milk-producing qualities, the Devons are very suitable animals for hilly regions where a system of mixed farming is followed. RED POLLED CATTLE The Red Polled breed is one of the best of the dual- purpose breeds. Red Polls produce an abundant quan- tity of milk and the steers fatten readily, producing carcasses that are very acceptable to the butcher. As the name implies, the animals are without horns, all indications of such being very objectionable. The color is red, varying from a light to a dark shade. A solid red is preferred, but a little white is permissible on the udder, on the belly, and on the switch of the tail. In size, the Red Poll ranks below most of the animals of the beef breeds. Typical mature bulls of the breed will weigh from about 1,800 to 2,000 lb. and mature cows from about 1,100 to 1,300 lb. Although the dairy qualities of the Red Poll do not rank with those of special dairy cattle, the breed stands high in this respect among the dual-purpose cattle. MARKET CLASSES OF CATTLE Variations in the quality, condition, weight, and age of cattle reaching the great livestock markets make it necessary that different classes and grades be estab- lished. If it were not for these classes and grades it would be impossible properly to designate different kinds of cattle and intelligently to report market con- ditions through the public press. A list of the various market classes and grades of cattle is given in the accompanying table. FARM LIVESTOCK 213 MARKET CLASSES AND GRADES OF CATTLE Classes Grades Prime steers Choice steers Beef cattle Good steers Medium steers Common steers Prime heifers Choice heifers Good heifers Medium heifers Prime cows Choice cows Good cows Medium cows Common rough steers Choice bulls Good bulls Medium bulls Butcher stock Good cutters Medium cutters Common cutters and good canners Medium canners | | | | | ) Medi [ Inferior canners | | | | Cutters and canners Bologna bulls Fancy selected feeders Choice feeders Good feeders Medium feeders Common feeders Inferior feeders Feeder bulls Fancy selected yearling stockers Choice yearling stockers Good yearling stockers Medium yearling stockers Common yearling stockers Inferior yearling stockers Good stock heifers Medium stock heifers Choice Veal calves and saat Common Stockers and feeders Milkers and springers 214 FARM LIVESTOCK Beef Cattle.—In the beef-cattle class are included all grades of fat steers and occasionally the best grades of fat heifers and cows. Condition and quality rather than weight determine whether an animal shall be in- cluded in this class. Beef cattle are in demand in the Chicago market by three classes of buyers: exporters, packers, and shippers. Exporters desire fat cattle for export to the British markets; packers desire them for slaughter in Chicago as dressed beef; and shippers de- sire them for shipping to Boston, New York, Philadel- phia, Pittsburg, Baltimore, Cleveland, Albany, Detroit, and many smaller eastern cities. The Chicago packing houses use from about 50 to 60% of the beef cattle sold on the Chicago market, and the exporters and shippers from about 20 to 25% each. The beef cattle class is made up of the following grades: Prime steers, choice steers, medium steers, and common rough steers. Prime steers are those that are practically above criticism as to both condition and quality. The bulk of the prime steers sold at Chicago weigh from about 1,200 to 1,600 lb. Choice steers are not quite right as to either quality or condition but have to a marked degree desirable characteristics. Such steers usually weigh from about 1,150 to 1,600 lb. Steers that are of good quality, but noticeably lacking in con- dition or in finish, or those that are finished but are deficient in quality, or those lacking in both quality and condition but above the average are graded as good. They weigh from about 1,150 to 1,600 lb. Steers of about average quality and condition but lacking to a marked degree the finish and quality demanded in a prime steer are graded as medium steers. Steers of this grade are usually of light weight, weighing from about 1,100 to 1,400 lb. Common rough steers, as the term implies, are the roughest grade of beef cattle. Such steers weigh from about 900 to 1,200 Ib. Butcher Stock.—A large number of cattle of all grades as to weight and quality reach the market after having FARM LIVESTOCK 215 been merely warmed up—an expression used by cattle- men to designate the fact that cattle have been full fed but a short time. Then, no matter how carefully stockers and feeders are selected, there is almost sure to be a few animals that do not fatten satisfactorily. These, together with the better grades of heifers, cows, and bulls are classed as butcher stock. The butcher stock class is made up of the following grades: prime heifers, usually weighing from about 800 to 1,200 Ilb.; choice heifers, weighing from about 700 to _ 1,000 lb.; good heifers, weighing about the same as choice heifers; medium heifers, weighing from about 600 to 900 lb.; prime cows; choice cows; good cows; medium cows; common rough steers; choice bulls; good bulls; and medium bulls. Cutters and Canners.—Thin cows, inferior steers, rough heifers, and the poorer grades of bulls, provided they carry sufficient flesh to allow of the loin or rib, or both, being used for cutting, or selling over the butcher’s block, are classed as cutters. Cutters are a slightly better grade of cattle than canners, which are cattle of the same general class as cutters, but too inferior to allow of even a part of their carcasses being used for sale over the butcher’s block. Canners are used largely for canning purposes. The class of canners and cutters and the grades within this class are more or less elastic and variable, as are all market classes and the grades within them. The bulk of cattle classed as cutters and canners may be graded as follows: Good cutters, medium cutters, common cutters, and good canners, medium canners, inferior canners. and Bologna bulls. The impression prevails among persons unfamiliar with the cutter-and-canner trade that only old, thin cows are classed as canners. This is an erroneous im- pression, as wretchedly thin bulls, steers, and heifers are included as well. Stockers and Feeders.—The class known as stockers and feeders includes calves, yearlings, 2-yr.-olds, and older 216 FARM LIVESTOCK cattle. When it is necessary to refer to steers or bulls 18 mo. old or older that are intended for immediate use in the feed lot, they are spoken of as feeders. Calves, heifers, and young steers, including yearlings, are referred to as stockers. Some difficulties are en-. countered, however, in attempting to draw a definite line between stockers and feeders. Cattle of the same grade, age, quality, and weight shipped to the country by two different feeders might not be handled at all alike; one feeder might use them as stockers while the other might place them in the feed lot for imme- diate use. It is seldom that a steer weighing less than 800 lb. is placed in the feed lot; the common practice is to buy steers for feeders that weigh from 900 to 1,000 Ib. or more. Such steers are usually 18 mo. of age or older. Steers spoken of in the market as feeders are, generally speaking, in better flesh than stockers. As a rule, there- fore, feeders may be classified as steers weighing 900 Ib. or more, that are 18 mo. old or older, and that are fleshy enough to render an extended period of low feed- ing unnecessary. The stocker and feeder class of cattle is divided into the following grades: Fancy selected feeders, choice feeders, good feeders, medium feeders, common feeders, inferior feeders, feeder bulls, fancy selected yearling stockers, choice yearling stockers, good yearling stockers, medium yearling stockers, com- mon yearling stockers, inferior yearling stockers, good stock heifers, medium stock heifers, and common stock heifers. Veal Calves.—Calves of suitable age, condition, and weight to sell, when slaughtered, as veal are classed as veal calves. Weal calves are graded as follows: Choice veals, good veals, medium veals, and common veals. Weight is not as important in determining the grade of a veal calf as age and flesh, although desirable weight in the good and choice grades of veals is important. A veal either 25 lb. too light or too heavy may be sold at a reduced price when one of the same quality, age, FARM LIVESTOCK 217 and flesh, but of desirable weight, would sell as a choice veal. It is more- difficult to distinguish breeding in young calves than in older cattle; it is fortunate, there- fore, that the breeding of veals is of little importance and that the most important point is to get fine finish on a young calf—say a weight of from about 140 to 160 lb. with faultless finish on an 8-wk.-old calf. Milkers and Springers—A cow that is in milk when she goes to market or has a calf at her side is classed as a milker. One that shows unmistakable signs of pregnancy is classed as a springer. Milkers and springers may be either slaughtered or returned to the farm to serve as dairy cattle or as breeding stock. SHEEP In order that the description of the types and breeds of sheep may be more intelligible, the position of the different parts of a sheep is indicated on the animal shown in the accompanying illustration. The names of the different parts are as follows: a, head; }, neck; c, shoulder; d, brisket; e, top of shoulder, or withers; f, fore leg; g, chest; h, back; i, loin; 7, hip; k, rump; l, leg of mutton; m, twist; », hind leg; 0, flank; p, belly; q, fore flank; r, ribs, or sides; and s, tail, or dock. 218 FARM LIVESTOCK WOOL TYPE OF SHEEP From the sheep that centuries ago were raised in the southern part of Europe, especially in the hills of Spain, and fostered by the early Romans, there has been developed a type of sheep known as the wool type. The animals of this type are noted for the pro- duction of a large quantity and a fine quality of wool, from which the finest woolen cloth is made. A typical wool-type animal is angular in shape; the skin lies in folds over the body, especially about the neck; and the head presents a strong and rather coarse appearance, particularly in the case of a ram that shows great vitality. The neck is long, rather thin, and often droops where it joins the body; the shoulders are close together, sharp, and prominent on top; the brisket is narrow; the fore legs are close together, with the fore feet often wider apart than the knees; and the fore flanks are low but thin. The ribs slope downwards sharply from the backbone, which appears to be too long for the length of the sheep; the back is narrow; the loin is thin and narrow; the rump is short and in- clined to droop abruptly from the hips, which are also narrow; the thighs are thin and separated well up toward the tail, or dock; the flanks are thin; the bot- tom line is generally level; and the legs have a tendency to be long. Some breeds of the wool type of sheep have been developed by feeding, selection, and breeding until they produce a fair quantity and quality of mutton as well as excellent fleeces of wool. MUTTON TYPE OF SHEEP In the British Isles, sheep raising has been carried on for several centuries, but in this region the chief aim of the breeder has been the production of a fine quality of mutton, wool production being a secondary con- sideration. The type of sheep that has been developed FARM LIVESTOCK 219 under these conditions is known as the mutton type. In form, a sheep- of the mutton type is smooth, round, compact, symmetrical, and free from angularities, and the flesh is evently distributed over the carcass. The head is broad between the eyes, which are large and prominent; the neck is short and thick; the brisket is broad and full; the fore legs are short, straight, and set squarely under the body; the fore flanks are well filled so that there is but a slight depression just back of the shoulders, which are evenly and deeply covered with flesh and are smooth and round on top. The ribs are well covered with flesh and spring boldly out from the backbone, making the back broad and level and the body cylindrical. The loin is broad and thickly cov- ered with flesh; the flanks are let well down but are thick, giving a straight bottom line that is parallel with the top line. The hindquarters are broad; the rump is long and level; and the twist extends well down to the hocks. The legs stand well apart; and the thighs, both on the outside and between the legs, are well covered with flesh, thus making a good leg of mutton. Sheep of breeds of the mutton type produce heavy fleeces, but these are not of as fine a quality as those produced by sheep of the wool type. AMERICAN MERINO SHEEP In general appearance, a typical animal of the Ameri- can Merino breed of sheep more nearly represents the ideal wool type than does an individual of any other breed in America. The American Merino is narrow and angular in conformation; has a rather long neck and long leg; and has many distinct folds in its skin, except on the back. The head of the American Merino is small as com- pared with the heads of animals of other breeds, and usually the lips, nostrils, legs, and part of the face are covered with fine, white, silky hair. The ears are small, and, as a rule, are covered like the parts just 220 FARM LIVESTOCK mentioned, with fine, white hair, although occasionally tan-colord spots of hair are found on one or more of such parts. The head of the ewe is hornless, but the rams carry heavy, spiral horns, which are marked with transverse wrinkles. In size, American Merinos vary greatly. It is gen- erally accepted, however, that mature ewes should weigh about 100 lb. and mature rams about 150 Ib. The American Merino is an inferior animal for mut- ton production, because it does not make a rapid growth, lay on flesh rapidly, or produce a first-class carcass. The meat is lacking in quality, and there is always much waste in dressing, due to the extensive folds of the skin, the long legs, and the large proportion of bone to flesh. In wool production, sheep of the American Merino breed surpass those of all other breeds in America. Sheep of no other breed produce as fine or as heavy fleeces. DELAINE MERINO SHEEP Sheep of the Delaine Merino breed differ from Ameri- can Merino sheep in having a larger and better mutton carcass, fewer wrinkles and folds on the body, and longer wool that contains less yolk. The minimum weight for ewes of the various families of Delaine Merinos varies from 100 to 130 lb., and the minimum weight for the rams, from 150 to 180 lb. The Delaine Merino breed is really a branch of the American Merino breed, and has been developed prin- cipally in the section including the western part of Pennsylvania, the Panhandle district of West Virginia, and a few counties in the eastern part of Ohio. The Delaine Merino is superior to the American Merino for mutton production, and, as a rule, is inferior in wool production. FARM LIVESTOCK 221 RAMBOUILLET SHEEP In general appearance, a typical animal of the Ram- bouillet breed of sheep bears some resemblance to the American Merino, but the Rambouillet is larger and has more of a mutton carcass. The outline of the body is rounder and more plump; the back is broader; the ribs are better arched; and there is a better develop- ment of loin, hindquarters, and leg of mutton, and a deeper fleshing all over the body than in the American Merino. The females are hornless, but the rams usually bear large, spirally curved horns; occasionally, polled rams are found. In size, the Rambouillet is considerably larger than the American Merino. Mature rams usually weigh from 175 to 250 lb., and occasionally one will weigh 300 lb. Mature ewes weigh from about 110 to 150 lb., and mature wethers from about 150 to 200 lb. The Rambouillet is not one of the best breeds of sheep for mutton production, but it is better in this respect than the American Merino, although not so good as the Delaine Merino. The Rambouillet is one of the best breeds for wool production. The wool covers the body evenly, is of good length on the belly, and grows well down on the nose and legs. SOUTHDOWN SHEEP The Southdown breed of sheep probably more nearly represents the ideal mutton type than does any other breed. In general appearance, the typical Southdown presents a compact, broad, deep, and smooth body evenly covered with flesh. The head is small and hornless in the case of both rams and ewes. The Southdown is the smallest of the medium-wool breeds, and is often criticised on account of its lack of size. However, the carcass of a Southdown is so com- pact that mature rams of the breed will weigh, on an average, about 175 lb. and mature ewes about 135 lb. 222 FARM LIVESTOCK For the production of mutton, the Southdown breed is one of the best. Animals of this breed are good feeders, make good gains for the feed consumed, mature quickly, and can be made ready for the market at almost any age. In wool production, the Southdown does not rank high, although the wool is finer in quality than that of sheep of any other breed of the mutton type. SHROPSHIRE SHEEP The Shropshire breed of sheep is a medium-wool breed that is popular. with sheep raisers., The sheep of this breed are larger and heavier than those of the South- down breed, which they resemble in general conforma- tion, although they are not so compact as the South- downs. Both the ram and the ewe are hornless, and in the case of the best specimens of the breed, the head, with the exception of a small part of the nose, is covered with a dense cap of wool. The nose of the ram is slightly Roman, and the nostrils are strong and large; the head of the ewe is finer than that of the ram and the nose is straight. The ears of a Shropshire sheep are small, short, pointed, moderately thick, wide apart, and covered with short, fine wool. In size, the Shropshire is about an average of the sheep of the medium-wool breeds. Mature rams should weigh about 225 lb. and mature ewes from 150 to 160 Ib. The Shropshire breed ranks next to the Southdown in the quality of mutton produced; in fact, the quality of Shropshire mutton is claimed by some to be equal to that of the Southdown. Shropshires fatten readily and there is comparatively little offal in dressing. The wool of Shropshire sheep is of superior fineness and crimp for a medium-wool breed, is usually about 3% in. in length, and often contains a considerable quantity of yolk. The fleeces from a flock of Shropshire sheep should average about 7 or 8 lb. in weight. FARM LIVESTOCK 223 OXFORD DOWN SHEEP Sheep of the Oxford Down breed are the largest of the animals of the medium-wool breeds. -They resemble the Southdowns and Shropshires in general conformation, which is that of the mutton type. The head is hornless, the poll, or top of the head, is well covered with a tuft or a topknot of wool, and the cheeks are covered with wool, although the rest of the face is usually covered with dark hair. The ears are rather long, thin, set low and well back, and are free from wool. The face and legs are of a dark-brown color. The body is practically the same as that of the Shropshire. The rump is broad, level, and well covered with flesh. When mature, Oxford Down rams should weigh not less than 275 lb., and some rams of the breed have attained a weight of 400 lb. Mature ewes should weigh about 200 lb. Lambs dropped in April should weigh from 100 to 120 lb. in the following September. In the ability to produce mutton, Oxford Down sheep rank high on account of their large carcasses, the small proportion of waste in dressing, and the fine quality of the mutton. The lambs grow rapidly and attain a desirable killing size at 12 mo. of age, and when kept until older they continue to make good gains. As wool producers, the Oxford Downs are much in favor on account of their heavy fleeces. The wool is of a quality known as combing wool, which is longer and coarser than that from sheep of any of the other medium-wool breeds. The fleeces from a flock of good Oxford Down sheep should average from 10 to 12 lb. HAMPSHIRE SHEEP : The ears, nose, and legs of Hampshire sheep are of a uniformly dark-brown color that often shades to almost black. The ears, the back of which may be of a dark mouse color, are rather long and in the best specimens of the breed are inclined to fall slightly outwards. The 224 FARM LIVESTOCK head is well covered with wool between the ears and on the cheeks; the neck is rather long, thick, and well muscled, and the body is very much like that of an animal of the Oxford Down breed. The Hampshires raised in America are lighter in weight than the Oxford Downs, but in England the Hampshires are often regarded as the heaviest sheep of the medium-wool breeds. Mature rams should weigh about 250 lb. and mature ewes about 190 lb. Occasion- ally, by careful breeding and good care, rams weighing 300 lb. are produced. For production of mutton, Hampshire sheep have long ranked high. The wool of the Hampshire sheep is of medium length and not so fine as that of the Southdowns. DORSET SHEEP The Dorset breed of sheep, also known as the Dorset Horn breed, is a breed that is distinctly marked. Both the rams and the ewes have horns. The horns of the ram are spirally curved rather close to the head; those of the ewe are shorter, smaller, not so close to the head and are curved less than those of the ram. The sheep of the Dorset breed have white faces and legs. The face, muzzle, ears, and that part of the legs below the knees and hocks are covered with short, white hair. The nostrils are large and white. The body of the Dorset, although smooth and well covered with flesh, is longer in proportion to its depth and width than the body of a sheep of the other breeds of the mutton type. In size, sheep of the Dorset breed rank somewhat above the average of those- of the medium-wool breeds. Mature rams should weigh about 225 lb. and mature ewes about 165 lb.; an extra good 2-yr-old ram has been known to weigh 317 lb.; a yearling ram, 287 lb.; a 5-mo.-old ram lamb, 184 1b.; and yearling ewes, 250 lb. In the production of mutton, sheep of the Dorset breed rank only fair among those of the medium-wool breeds. FARM LIVESTOCK 225 Sheep of this breed dress with a larger percentage of waste than those of some other breeds, although the quality of the meat is fair. The principal value of Dorset sheep is in the production of early, or hothouse, lambs, for which they have long been highly valued. The Dorset does not rank high in production of wool. CHEVIOT SHEEP Sheep of the Cheviot breed are white in color and have a graceful-carriage. The head is usually hornless in the case of both the male and the female, although occasionally horns occur on the ram; according to an enactment of the American Cheviot Sheep Society, all male lambs dropped after January 1, 1905, are ineligible to registry unless they have a true polled head. The head, back to a line just back of the ears and around under the middle of the lower jaw, and the legs from the knees and hocks down, are usually covered with fine, white hair; sometimes small black spots, which are not considered objectionable, appear on the head and ears. Reddish or sandy hairs that occasionally occur on the face and legs are objectionable. A mature Cheviot ram should weigh from 200 to 225 lb. and a mature ewe from 150 to 160 Ib. The quality of the meat of the Cheviot is good, although not so delicate as that of the Southdown, and there is comparatively little offal in dressing. Cheviot sheep produce fleeces of a medium quality known in the market as half combing wool. SUFFOLK SHEEP Sheep of the Suffolk breed have a characteristic inky- black color in the region of the head, ears, and legs. The head, in the case of both the male and the female, is hornless. The face is long and narrow, and the ears long and rather large. The face and the ears are cov- ered with jet-black hair; there is rarely any wool on any part of the head, although a small quantity of 15 226 FARM LIVESTOCK clean, white wool on the forehead is not regarded as objectionable. In size, the Suffolk sheep rank somewhat above the average of those of the medium-wool breeds. Mature rams should weigh from about 225 to 240 lb., and mature ewes about 175 lb. Sheep of this breed rank high for the quality and quantity of the mutton that they produce, but do not rank high as wool producers. LINCOLN SHEEP Sheep of the Lincoln breed are large, squarely built animals, and are nearly white in color. The head is large and hornless in the case of both the ram and the ewe; the face is rather long and usually is covered with fine, white hairs, but frequently has a grayish tinge over the nose; the poll is surmounted by a short tuft of wool; and the ears are large and often covered with brownish spots. Lincoln sheep are the largest of any breed. Mature trams should weigh from about 275 to 300 lb., and mature ewes from about 225 to 250 lb. Lincoln sheep are good feeders and mature quickly, but they do not rank high as mutton producers. The carcass is too large to suit the modern market demand, yields too much fat, and the quality of the meat is not first class. Sheep of this breed produce longer wool and heavier fleeces than those of any other breed with the exception of sheep of the fine-wool breeds. LEICESTER SHEEP The Leicester breed is divided into two strains; the English, or Dishley, Leicester, and the Border Leicester. These names are derived from the sections of England where the two strains were developed. The sheep of the two strains are much the same in general appearance, and the same description will apply to both, except where differences are stated. FARM LIVESTOCK 227 The heads of both the ram and the ewe are hornless and usually are white, although small black spots occa- sionally occur on the face and ears. The head of a Border Leicester is covered with fine, soft, white hair, but occasionally the poll of the head of a Dishley Leicester is covered with a tuft of short wool. The ears are thin, somewhat large, and stand rather erect. The nose is slightly Roman and the skin at the muzzle is black. The hindquarters are not so large as breeders desire, because the thighs are not sufficiently thick, especially near the hocks. When mature and fitted for market, Leicester sheep: carry too much fat to be popular. The lambs fatten readily and make desirable mutton if killed before they are 12 mo. old. The wool of Leicester sheep is about 6 in. long and is a fine grade of coarse wool. COTSWOLD SHEEP Sheep of the Cotswold breed are large, long-wooled, and white in color, and somewhat resemble those of the Lincoln and the Leicester breeds. The head in the case of both the male and the female is hornless and carried high, and the poll is surmounted by curling locks of wool, which often almost cover the eyes and extend down as far as the nostrils. This forelock is one of the characteristic features of the breed and is not trimmed when the sheep are shorn or trimmed for show. The face is usually covered with white hair, but is sometimes spotted with gray or brown patches. In size, Cotswold sheep are larger than those of the Leicester and almost and sometimes fully as large as those of the Lincoln breed. The weight of these sheep will average about 25 lb. lighter than that of the Lin- colns. A mature ram should weigh from about 250 to 275 lb. and a mature ewe from about 200 to 250 lb. Cotswold sheep make a desirable grade of mutton if killed at about 1 yr. of age. If they are allowed to 228 FARM LIVESTOCK grow to 2 yr. of age, the carcasses are too large, bear too much fat, and the flesh is not of as desirable quality as when the sheep are killed at a younger age. Cotswold sheep produce a lustrous combing of wool that is rather coarse and hair-like, and hangs in spiral curls, or locks. The wool is coarser than that of either Leicester or Lincoln sheep. MARKET CLASSES AND GRADES OF SHEEP Almost the entire number of sheep and lambs received at the large livestock markets are classed as mutton sheep, feeder sheep, or breeding sheep. All sheep and lambs that are shipped to a large market and sold for slaughter, no matter what their condition, age, or weight may be, are classed as mutton sheep. The largest part of the sheep received in the market consists of this class, which is divided into the following subclasses: Lambs, yearlings, wethers, ewes, bucks, and stags. Lambs are animals that are mostly under 12 to 14 mo. of age. Yearlings are the castrated lambs from about 12 to 14 mo. of age until they are about 2 yr. old, or mature, after which they are known as wethers. All female sheep received in the markets and that are older than lambs are known as ewes. Rams after they have passed out of the lamb subclass are designated in the market as bucks. Male lambs that are castrated after they are 12 to 14 mo. old are classed in the market as stags. Each of the sub- classes described and the subclasses of the other market classes of sheep are further divided into market grades of sheep. The grades usually given in market reports are prime or fancy selected, choice, good, medium, and common, or culls. The grades rank in the order named in regard to the quality and the condition of the sheep. The class known as feeder sheep consists of sheep that are received in the markets in poor condition and that are sold to be fattened. The recognized subclasses of feeder sheep are lambs, yearlings, wethers, and ewes. FARM LIVESTOCK 229 MarkKEtT CLASSES AND GRADES OF SHEEP Classes Subclasses Grades . Prime Choice Good Medium Common, or culls eseage Prime { choice Good Prime Choice Good Common Prime Choice Good Medium Common, or culls Choice Good Common Fancy selected Choice Medium Yearlings Mutton sheep Wethers Ewes A ae ee ee ses Bucks and Stags Lambs Good Common Choice Good Common Choice Good Medium Common Choice Good Medium Common Fancy selected Choice : Ewes Good Breeding sheep Common Bucks Not graded Miscellaneous classes: Hothouse lambs, export sheep, throw-outs, dead sheep. Yearlings Wethers [ | Feeder sheep | | Ewes 230 FARM LIVESTOCK The class known as breeding sheep consists of those sheep that are bought in the large markets for breeding purposes. By far the largest number of sheep of this class are ewes. The rams, or bucks, as they are known in the markets, are few in number and most of them show a form and a mixture of blood that make them undesirable for breeding purposes. A miscellaneous class consists of hothouse lambs, export sheep, throw-outs or rejects, and dead _ sheep. Hothouse lambs are those dropped at a time of year that will permit of placing them, when 8 to 12 wk. old and weighing from 25 to 50 lb., on the market between Christmas and the first of May. The weight of the lambs will vary with their age. Export sheep are usually sheep in excellent condition and are of the prime and choice grades of any of the subclasses of the mutton class of sheep. Throw-outs are the sheep first placed in the feeder class on account of their poor condition and then rejected, or thrown out, by purchasers of feeder sheep, a privilege allowed by the market authorities. Such sheep are usually purchased by local butchers who cater to a cheap trade. Dead sheep are those that are killed in transit. They are sold for their wool and for fertilizing purposes. The classes, subclasses, and grades of market sheep are shown in the accompanying diagram. SWINE In describing the different breeds of swine, mention is made of certain parts of a hog, and in order that a clear understanding may be had of the location of these parts, they are designated by letters on the outline view of an animal shown in the accompanying illustration. In the illustration, a is the snout; b, the ear; c, the poll; d, the jowl; e, the neck; f, the shoulder; g, the front leg; h, the chest; i, the side; j, the back; k, the loin; l, the rump; m, the ham; , the hind leg; 0, the fore flank; FARM LIVESTOCK 231 p, the belly; g, the hind flank; r, the pastern joint; s, the scrotum; and f, the tail. LARD TYPE OF SWINE _Hogs of the lard type, as the term implies, produce large quantities of fat. The animals have, as a rule, well developed hams and shoulders, but they produce only a fair quantity of bacon. The animals of the different lard-type breeds are of the same general character, but differ in minor respects. An animal of the lard type should show good width and fair length, and should be built low to the ground. The snout should be of medium length, the eyes full, mild, and bright, the face short, the cheeks full, the jowl strong and broad, and the neck thick and of a medium length. The shoulders should be broad and compact on top, the chest broad, the sides deep, the back broad and thickly and evenly fleshed, the loins wide and thick, and the bottom line straight and even. The hams should be heavily fleshed, plump, full, deep, and wide. BACON TYPE OF SWINE Hogs of the bacon type, as the name indicates, pro- duce relatively large quantities of bacon. Their bodies are long, deep, and narrow throughout. The shoulders 232 FARM LIVESTOCK and hams are not so well developed as in the lard type of hogs, but they should be smoothly covered with flesh and in line with the sides. The back should be of moderate but uniform width, and smoothly covered. The sides, as they are the parts from which the bacon is taken, should be long and deep, and have a good thick- ness of flesh. There should be no falling away at the flanks, and the flesh should be firm and free from wrinkles. In general appearance, hogs of the bacon type are long and narrow, have long heads, and stand up rather high on their legs. There is really no use of the great length of the head and legs, so far as meat production is concerned, but it seems impossible to breed hogs without there being a certain correlation of parts, and it has been found that a hog with long legs and head will generally have a long and narrow body. BREEDS OF THE LARD TYPE Berkshire Swine.—The Berkshire breed of swine originated in the southern part of England, particularly in the counties of Berkshire and Wilts. The animals of this breed are black in color and usually show six white points, namely, on the face, on the tail, and on the four feet. A splash of white on the jowl, under the neck, or on the fore legs is often found and is not regarded by the American Berkshire Association as a disqualification. White ears are some- times found, but they are not objected to by breeders and judges. The black of the Berkshires differs some- what from the black of some of the other breeds in that it is a sort of blue-black. The conformation of the modern Berkshire is typical of the lard hog. An animal of this breed has a short face that is gracefully dished; the ears are short, pointed, and usually erect; the back is broad and level; the hams are full; and the legs are short, strong, and straight. FARM LIVESTOCK 233 Berkshires are of medium to large size. The average mature boar in good breeding condition should weigh about 500 lb. and the sow about 400 lb. Frequently specimens are found that weigh considerably more than these weights. The pigs can be made ready for market at from 6 to 8 mo. of age, if desired. Poland-China Swine.—The Poland-China breed of swine originated in the counties of Butler and Warren in Southwest Ohio, as a result of crossing the mongrel hogs of the early settlers with Berkshires and other old breeds from Europe and Asia. Associated with Butler and Warren counties in the early improvement of the breed were Hamilton County in Ohio, and: Union and Wayne counties in Indiana, the five counties consti- tuting a region known as the Miami Valley. The Poland-China swine are black with six white points —white in the face, on the tip of the tail, and on the four feet. Splashes of white are sometimes found on the jaw, legs, flanks, sides, or back, and are not objected to by judges and breeders. The black should be jet black and not blue-black, as in the Berkshires. Like the Berkshires, the Poland-Chinas possess the characteristic conformation of the lard type. They have short heads, wide faces that are but slightly dished, full jowls, short and wide necks, broad shoulders, wide backs, well-sprung ribs, broad loins, full and broad hams, deep sides, and legs that are straight and of medium length. A distinguishing feature of the breed is the ears; these are rather small and on an ideal animal should stand up slightly at the base to within two-thirds of the tip, where a gentle break or drop should occur. Poland-China swine are of medium to large size. A mature boar in breeding condition should weigh about 500 lb. and a mature sow about 400 lb. Poland-China pigs that are fed for market can usually be made to weigh 200 lb. at 6 mo. of age, and 250 lb. is by no means rare at this age. 234 FARM LIVESTOCK Duroc-Jersey Swine.—The Duroc-Jersey breed of swineis an American breed that was originated by crossing the Durocs, a breed of red swine found in New York State, with the Jersey Red, a breed of red swine found in New Jersey. These original breeds constituting the foundation stock of the Duroc-Jerseys probably sprang from some of the red swine, such as the Guinea hogs, Portuguese hogs, red Spanish hogs, and Berkshires, that were imported into North America at an early date. The Duroc-Jerseys are of a cherry-red color when purely bred. It often happens, however, especially in mature animals, that they become copper or reddish gray in color, and in some instances the tips of the hairs turn black. These variations from the established cherry-red color are undesirable. Black spots on the belly and legs are also undesirable, but are admissible. The conformation of Duroc-Jersey swine is similar to that of the Berkshires and Poland-Chinas. The head is small, the face straight or slightly dished, the nose of medium length, the ears are of medium size and point forwards and downwards; the back is broad in comparison to its length, the sides are deep, and the hams and shoulders are heavily fleshed and extend well down on the legs. In size, the Duroc-Jerseys are somewhat large. Mature boars in good breeding condition should weigh from about 500 to 550 lb. and mature sows in the same con- dition should weigh from about 400 to 450 lb. Duroc- Jersey pigs that are fed for market mature quickly and reach a good size. Chester White Swine.—The Chester White breed of swine originated in Chester County, Pennsylvania, as a result of crossing the common white swine of that locality with white hogs brought from Europe..- In 1865, L. B. Silver, of Salem, Ohio, purchased some Chester White swine and began breeding with the pur- pose of securing a type of this breed of large size and superior quality. As a result of his breeding, a strain FARM LIVESTOCK 235 known as Ohio Improved Chester White, commonly spoken of as O. I. C., was originated. A separate herd book is maintained by breeders of this strain. Both the old type of Chester Whites and the QO. I. C. strain have been developed to the extent that they are to be found in all parts of the United States and Canada where Swine are kept. The Chester White, as the name implies, is a white breed. Blue specks, known as freckles, are often found on the skin of these animals and are not objected to by judges, but black, sandy patches in the hair or on the hide are undesirable and will bar an animal from registration in the’ breed herd books. In conformation, the Chester Whites are of the typical lard-hog shape. They have short, broad heads, and slightly dished faces. The ears are drooping but do not stand out so far from the head as in the case of animals of the Poland-China breed. In width and depth, Chester Whites are similar to the Poland-Chinas, but, as a rule, they have greater length. In size, the Chester Whites are large. Mature boars in breeding condition should weigh about 600 lb. and mature sows in the same condition, about 450 lb. Young animals that are fattened for market should weigh from about 250 to 275 lb. at 6 mo. of age. Mule-Foot Swine.—The origin of the Mule-Foot breed of swine isunknown. Certain breeders claim a knowledge of its origin, but their claims are discredited by the association fostering the interests of the breed. Doubt- less this lack of information is due to the fact that the breed has only recently been brought to public attention. The Mule-Foot hogs are characterized by a solid hoof, which resembles that of the mule, as the name indicates. This gives them great strength in the feet, a point widely exploited by their admirers. In color, they are black, although white points are admissible. It is claimed for the breed that no animal has ever been 236 FARM LIVESTOCK known to have hog cholera, but this claim has been proved erroneous. The Mule-Foots are known to have great vitality and to be good feeders. Cheshire Swine.—The Cheshire breed of swine orig- inated in Jefferson County, New York. Evidence indi- cates that the breed is the result of crossing Large Yorkshire and White Suffolk swine with the native white swine of Jefferson County. Cheshires are white in color. Black spots sometimes occur on the skins of pure-breds and although objec- tionable do not disqualify them. The animals are smooth, compact, and of symmetrical proportions. As a rule, they mature early. They are of medium size, as a breed, but frequently specimens are found that are as large as the largest individuals of the lard-type breeds. The sows are good mothers and are very prolific. The feeding qualities of the animals of the breed have not been thoroughly investigated. Small Yorkshire Swine.—The Small Yorkshire breed of swine originated in England. Little is known of the foundation stock, but it is believed they were Chinese swine. Small Yorkshires are white, with occasional black spots on the skin. They are very small and compact. Animals of this breed are noted for quick-maturing qualities, and are well adapted for producing early market pork. Their meat is fine grained and tender, but inclined to be rather fat. Victoria Swine.—The Victoria breed of swine originated in Lake County, Indiana, as a result of crossing Poland- Chinas, Berkshires, Chester Whites, and a breed of white hogs from England. In color, Victoria swine are white, with occasional dark spots in the skin. The ears are erect or slightly drooping, and the animals have a good coat of fine, soft hair; the head is small and the face is medium dished; the bones are fine, and the back is straight, broad, and level. The Victorias are said to be prolific FARM LIVESTOCK 237 hogs, easy to keep in condition, and are readily fattened at any age. They are of medium size; mature sows should weigh about 450 lb. and mature boars about 600 lb. Essex Swine.—The Essex breed of swine originated in the county of Essex, England, as a result of crossing Neapolitan swine with the native hogs of Essex. It is thought also that Berkshire and Suffolk blood was used in the crossing. Essex swine are black; animals with white on them are not admitted to registry by the record association. They are small, compact animals, set on short legs. The face is dished, the snout short, and the shoulders and hams well developed. The animals are quick ma- turing, and easily fattened; the meat is fine grained, but carries an excessive quantity of fat. The breed does not stand very high in prolificacy. BREEDS OF THE BACON TYPE Large Yorkshire Swine.—The Large Yorkshire breed of swine originated in England. For many years large, awkward, white swine have existed in certain parts of that country, particularly in Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, and Norfolk, and it is from these animals that the Large Yorkshires were developed. The hogs of this breed are white in color, with occa- sional blu2e spots on the skin. They are large in size, rangy, inclined to be long in the leg and coarse in bone, and are somewhat slow in coming to maturity. They have extreme length and depth of body, and their meat is well streaked with fat and lean, being especially desirable for bacon purposes. In fact, Yorkshire bacon is considered to be the best obtainable. Tamworth Swine.——The Tamworth breed of swine originated in central England, notably in the county of Stafford. The breed is one of the oldest in existence and the ancestry is obscure. The color of the Tamworths is somewhat variable, a golden-red hair on flesh-colored skin that is free from 238 FARM LIVESTOCK black being preferred. The snout is very long and straight, the ears are large and pointed, and the legs are long. The animals have long, deep bodies and the meat from their carcasses is well fitted for bacon pur- poses. As compared with Poland-Chinas, Berkshires, and other animals of the lard type, they seem long and narrow. In constitution, they take high rank, being especially strong and vigorous. Hampshire Swine.—The Hampshire breed of swine, for- merly known as the Thin Rind breed, is indigenous to England. The Hampshire is a black animal with a broad white belt encircling the body and with white fore legs. The ears of Hampshires are erect, which, together with the peculiar marking of white, makes them easy to dis- tinguish from animals of other breeds. They have a rather long snout and narrow face, and incline some- what to smallness of bone. The Hampshires can be fed to produce a good selling weight of hog at an early age, and by feeding to maturity they make good heavyweight hogs. As breeders, they are prolific and are said to have good constitutions. LIVESTOCK FEEDING COMPOSITION OF FEEDS It is a matter of common observation on farms that certain feeds tend to produce growth—the formation of bone, muscles, etc.; that other feeds tend to produce fat; and that still other feeds tend to produce milk. The reason for this lies in the difference in their compo- sition; therefore, a knowledge of the composition of a feed is a valuable guide in feeding livestock. Chemists have made five classes or groups into which all com- pounds that are found in feeds are placed. These classes are water, ash, protein, carbohydrates, and fat. FARM LIVESTOCK 239 The following tabulation shows the elements that make up the compounds of each class: Hydrogen Carbon Water..... Ge Hydrogen Oxygen Oxygen Protein... Nitrogen Sodium Sulphur Potassium [ Phosphorus Calcium Iron Magnesium Ash ron Carbon rea as Manganese Carbohydrates, Hydrogen Sulphur Oxygen Phosphorus Silicon Carbon Fluorine Bate.t.cr ee { Hydrogen Chlorine Oxygen Water in Feeds.—All feeds contain water, although the more water a feed contains the smaller is its nu- tritive value. In young and growing plants the presence of water is readily apparent; it constitutes from 70 to 90% of the total weight of such plants. Air-dried feeds, such as the grains, corn, wheat, and oats, and well-cured hays, contain on an average only from 8 to 15% of water. Ash in Feeds.—The mineral matter, or ash, of a feed is the portion that is left after complete burning; it is, therefore, the incombustible part. The common farm feeds contain but a small per- centage of ash, although the percentage varies greatly in different feeds. Potatoes contain .9% of ash; rutabagas, 1.2%; corn, 1.5%; oats, 3.2%; timothy hay, 4.4%; Red clover hay, cut when the clover is in bloom, 6.6%; and alfalfa hay, 8.6 to 10.6%. Protein in Feeds.—All plant and animal compounds that contain the element nitrogen are grouped into a class to which the term protein is applied. This is a very general term, and the number of compounds in- cluded in this group is exceedingly large. In addition to nitrogen, there are always found in protein the 240 FARM LIVESTOCK elements carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, and sometimes sulphur, phosphorus, and iron. Owing to the fact that nitrogen is found in all the compounds included in this class, they are often spoken of as nitrogenous com-— pounds. The percentage of protein in the common feeds is given in the table showing the dry matter and digestible nutrients in 100 pounds of feedstuffs, printed on a subse- quent page. An examination of this table will show that the seeds of plants usually contain a higher per- centage of protein than the other parts of the plants. It will be learned, further, that by-products from mills and slaughter houses are rich in protein. Carbohydrates in Feeds.—Like protein, the term carbo- hydrate is a general one and is the name of a large group of compounds. All carbohydrates are alike, how- ever, in that they contain only the three elements, carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen. There are two general classes of carbohydrates, namely, crude fiber and nitrogen-free extract. Crude fiber constitutes the frame- work, or skeleton, of plants, such as the hard, woody portions of corn stalks and of straws. The husks of grains, such as oat hulls and corn and wheat bran, contain large quantities of this material; wood also is an example of crude fiber. Carbohydrates of the nitrogen-free-extract class are- much more valuable as sources of feed than are those of the crude-fiber class, because the former are more easily digested than the latter. Familiar examples of the nitrogen-free-extract compounds are corn starch and common sugar. Fat in Feeds.—The term fat, as it is used in connec- tion with feeds, applies to all true fats and oils, as well as to all other feed compounds that are soluble in ether, and because of this fact the terms ether extract and fat are used synonymously in tables showing the com- position of feedstuffs. Although all feeds contain some fat, the percentage in feeds varies widely. r FARM LIVESTOCK 241 CLASSIFICATION OF FEEDS Feedstuffs can be conveniently divided into two gen- eral classes; concentrates and roughages. Roughages are also of two classes: dry and succulent. The concentrates include all grains, seeds, and by- products that are used as feeds. Feeds of this class yield a larger proportion of digestible nutrients than those of the other class. The proportion of concentrate feeds that should be supplied in a ration depends on the class of dnimal that is being fed and on whether or not the ration is merely one for maintenance or is a full ration. Three general classes of dry roughage are used as livestock feed. These are hays, straws, and fodders. As compared with the concentrates, all roughage feeds are more bulky in nature, less digestible, and, there- fore, are not so efficient as furnishers of materials for the production of energy, growth, fat, or milk. They usually are the stalks of the plants from which the seed has been removed. Their low digestibility is due to the large proportion of crude fiber, or woody matter, that they contain. Though ranking low in feed value, they constitute an essential and necessary part of every ration for all farm animals, except perhaps for pigs. On account of the difference in the digestive capacity of the animals, less roughage is used for horses and pigs than for ruminants. The abundance and the com- parative cheapness of roughage on most farms make it highly desirable that the feeder use all such feeds as completely as possible on the farm. Hays.—The hays represent the most valuable roughage for feeding purposes. They are of two classes, namely, leguminous and non-leguminous. The leguminous hays have, on an average, a higher feed value, are more di- gestible and usually more palatable when _ properly cured, and contain a larger proportion of protein than the non-leguminous hays. As leguminous hays contain 16 242 FARM LIVESTOCK more protein and less carbohydrates than non-leguminous hays, the former are particularly valuable when fed with corn or other feeds that contain small percentages of protein. The quantity of protein that leguminous hays contain guarantees a high fertilizing value to. the manure of the animals to which the hays are fed. There can be no well-directed or wise system of cropping established on farms that does not include some legume in the crop rotation, and experience and scientific inves- tigation both indicate that leguminous hay should be fed on the farm where it is grown. Straws.—The straws are the lowest of the roughages in feed value. Their high content of crude fiber makes them hard to digest and reduces their palatability. However, straws are of some use as livestock feed. Ruminants that are to be carried through the winter on merely a maintenance ration can make large use of straw. Idle horses can also be fed some of this material to advantage. Fodders.—Most of the fodder available for livestock feed has its origin in the corn plant. Corn fodder, or fodder corn, is the entire corn plant after drying. Corn stover is corn fodder minus the ears. Shredded corn stover is corn stover that has been passed through a corn shredder. Soiling Crops.—The crops most valuable for soiling purposes aie field corn, sweet corn, sorghum, millets, rape, rye, oats, wheat, alfalfa, the clovers, cowpeas, soybeans, and vetch. It is desirable that these crops be fairly well matured before they are cut, as the im- mature plants are mostly water and often have an injurious effect on the digestive system of an animal. Silage.—Silage may be defined as feed which has been stored in such a manner that its green or fresh con- dition is preserved. Green clover, alfalfa, cowpeas, sorghum, and other forage crops have been stored suc- cessfully in the silo. But the great American crop preeminently suited for the making of silage is the FARM LIVESTOCK 243 corn plant. Recent tests have shown that it is usually unprofitable to make silage out of a crop that can be successfully cured and stored in the mow without danger of excessive fermentation. The pithy stalk of the corn plant prevents it from drying and being handled in the same way as the hollow-stalked hays and straws. Root Crops.—The roots ordinarily grown for feed are mangels, sugar beets, rutabagas, and carrots. Horses prefer carrots; sheep, common turnips and rutabagas; and for cattle, mangels are very appropriate. In England and Scotland, roots are largely depended on for all classes of livestock, especially for cattle and sheep. In fact, in those countries roots constitute the greatest part of the daily rations for livestock; but in America roots are not grown extensively for the feeding of livestock. This is due chiefly to the labor required to grow and harvest a root crop, and to the fact that corn is so extensively grown and made into silage. BALANCED RATIONS Feeding Standards.—A feeding standard shows the experimentally established quantities of dry matter, digestible protein, digestible carbohydrates, and di- gestible fat that are necessary to satisfy the physio- logical requirements per day per 1,000 lb. of live weight of animals under specified conditions. Thus, the Wolff-Lehmann feeding standards given in the accompanying table show that a dairy cow weighing 1,000 lb. and giving 22 lb. of milk should receive 29 lb. of dry matter, 2% lb. of digestible protein, 13 lb. of digestible carbohydrates, and % lb. of digestible fat for-each 24 hr. This standard is the result of experi- ment and scientific investigation, which has shown that a daily ration supplying the above quantities and kinds of digestible nutrients to a 1,000-lb. cow will maintain on an average, a milk flow of 22 lb. a day. All the other standards in the table have been derived in the same manner. 244 FARM LIVESTOCK Nutritive Ratio.—A nutritive ratio is the ratio of the digestible protein to the digestible carbohydrates and fat in any feed or ration. In computing the nutritive ratio of a ration, the amount of digestible fat is multi- plied by 2.25 and the product added to the amount of digestible carbohydrates, and the sum divided by the amount of digestible protein. The ratio of one to the quotient is the nutritive ratio. To illustrate: What is the nutritive ratio of a ration furnishing 2.5 lb. of digestible protein, 15 lb. of digestible carbohydrates, and .5 lb. of digestible fat? The calculation is usually made as follows: .5x 2.25 =1.125; 1.125+15=16.125; 16.125+2.5=6.45. The nutritive Yatio is, therefore, 1 part of protein to 6.45 parts of carbohydrates and fat, or 1 : 6.45. Norte.—Some authorities on feeding multiply the quan- tity of fat by 2.4 in computing a nutritive ratio, but recent experiments and investigations show that 2.25 is a more nearly correct factor to use. The nutritive ratio is wide or narrow according to the proportion of protein that the ration contains. If the relative amount of protein in a ration is large, it is said to have a narrow nutritive ratio, and if the relative amount of protein is small it is said to have a wide nutritive ratio. A ratio of 1 to 5.5 or less is considered narrow; a ratio of 1 to 8 and above is considered wide; between these two the nutritive ratio is medium. Young growing animals generally and cows giving milk need a large amount of protein, and should therefore receive a ration that has a narrow nutritive ratio. Fattening animals thrive well on wide rations, but pregnant animals and horses at work should receive rations of a medium nutritive ratio. FARM LIVESTOCK 245 WOLFF-LEHMANN FEEDING STANDARDS Requirements per Day per 1,000 Lb. Live Weight Digestible Nutrients Hw . oO = — Animal 3 2| 3 Sate | So) a) 2 SS iipe ea cs) °C “5,2 e A, fal f=] Se a =} 8 A a 5 5 5 | & 5 oe page bode a Z 4 a oO oO Oxen: AGinest installer. sok ine: 18 if 8.0 el platomtdes Atelightrwork:.. 02s: 22 1.4 | 10:0 EO ele bOwieO At medium work....... 25 2.0) 5) Sh 20) | to Gre At Heavy WOrk, <...: 2s). 28 2.8 | 13.0 eS atone: Fattening cattle: inctamenOds os oc ciccais.e 30 2:5 | 15.0 SS LetouGsp Second period......... 30 3.0 | 14.5 {7p abawomay! Miilairas Pero’. 4 cic srs ne 26 PATEL SLO) eee to cord. Milk cows when yielding daily: HMEGHbY of mille: vec oe 5. 25 16 3) e1'0!0 eo led tOnOst KG!Gnlby OF milk: . 40.65 27 2203-1150 4 | 1 to 6.0 PP Onibsor milks... 5. 29 Pe delelstO Bay, Epadla ers Qico Vow Of mille: «Ste oes 32 oe | bow or | le COMkeo Sheep: Coarse-wool........... 20 LZ lO 2 tl to Ot IIe WOO ln citeven a koe 23 12.5) /=12-0 Soule cOnoee Breeding ewes with Dic] OA py ne ens 25 ZO on -O 2n | Le toyo.6 Fattening sheep: IESG PETOGs..s Hc bcs > 30 3.0) | 150 sella Leiecoyea ee Second period......... 28 Sey Ilsa) 6 | 1 to 4.2 Horses: AGI EME GWOT Kc wise cicis «2.0 20 15 9.5 24 | itovo:9, At medium work....... 24 PALS oa at 8) {6a toy Ore At heavy work........ 26 Aisa) || USGs 28} 1 to 6:0 SKOQUESOWS: acute ated es 22 25) kas A> 15to.6:6 Fattening swine: inst PeEmMOGes so -nss oso: 36 4.5 | 25.0 of = aletoroee, Second period......... 32 4.0 | 24.0 5: | 1tor6:3 ePhurdypenod!. << ss: | 25 | 2.7 | 18.0 Ar! Mton7e0 | | 246 FARM LIVESTOCK TABLE—(Continued) Requirements per Day per 1,000 Lb. Live Weight Digestible Nutrients Hw Animal 2 o BO |. g 2 4158/88/.3| Be os 9 Be =| ~O ¢ »- foie Fala Ss) S|s 8) Bs A ‘|S e/35|"5| so gm om Ay z k a Un aS) Growing cattle—Dairy breeds: _ Age, 2 to 3 mo.; average live weight, 150 lb....| 23 4.0 | 13.0 | 2.0 | 1 to 4.4 Age, 3 to 6 mo.; average live weight, 300 lb...| 24 3:0 >| 12.8 |) 1205) ae torb.0 Age, 6 to 12 mo.; aver- age live weight, 500 oP Ae aaqienns cemeeices 2 Oh 20) 225 2D | 2) tOrG:8 Age, 12 to 18 mo.; aver- age live weight, 700 NSE: Aieateadecsinr esters 26 1-8 |) 12:5 4 |. 1 to7.4 Age, 18 to 24 mo.; aver- age live weight, 900 Ue ce aes Se ees 26 V5 t220 Oni) Loko See Growing catile—Beef breeds: Age, 2 to 3 mo.; average live weight, 160 Ib...| 23 | 4.2 | 13.0 | 2.0 | 1 to 4.2 Age, 3 to 6 mo.; average live weight, 330 lb...| 24 3.5. | 12185 ak be eto Age, 6 to 12 mo; aver- age live weight, 550 SRA Se Le Bea atone 25. 4 62:5 | lae2 le bOloee Age, 12 to 18 mo.; aver- age live weight, 750 24 | 2.0 | 12.5 o [4 1G Wasa vastceeue oes Cee Age, 18 to 24 mo.; aver- age live weight, 950 NDS ee ssn e oes aioe 24 1.8 | 12.0 4 | TP bone FARM LIVESTOCK 247 TABLE—(Continued) Requirements per Day per 1,000 Lb. Live Weight | Digestible Nutrients Hw Animal sae ag pe , - 2/3 3 o S/Og|5 <3 =o ee pola slSeiea| 22 = a [ere oat) fy =, Bs: A © 0} 5 fo) 3 mA} aa AY eZ oe O oO ae. ‘> eS | Growing sheep—Wool breeds: Age, 4 to 6 mo.; average live weight, 60 lb....| 25 3.45) 15.4 7 | 1to 5.0 Age, 6 to 8 mo.; average live weight, 75 lb....| 25 2.8 | 13.8 6 | 1 to 5.4 Age, 8 to 11 mo.; aver- age live weight, 80lb.| 23 As sees o) 12 1to. 6:0 Age, 11 to 15 mo.; aver- age live weight, 90 lb. | 22 1.8 | 11.2 4 | 1 to 6.7 Age, 15 to 20 mo.; aver- age live weight, 100 VC a eas Salat aes 5 Pa 22 gs) aloes Dale SbOL sh Growing sheep—Mutton breeds: Age. 4 to 6 mo.; average live weight, 60 lb....| 26 | 4.4 | 15.5 Iga to420 Age, 6 to 8 mo.; average live weight, 80 lb....] 26 SOLO SCE to 47 Age, 8 to 11 mo.; aver- age live weight, 100 1D ye ee ie ear 24 3-0) | 14:3 poo letter oa Age, 11 to 15 mo.; aver- age live weight, 120 ovis ieee in Aes eae 23 2.2; |\12.6 9 | 1 to 6.2 Age 15 to 20 mo.; aver- age live weight, 150 enc pat gas le ae ie 22 2.0 | 12.0 4) A*to16:5 248 FARM LIVESTOCK TAaBLE—(Continued) Requriements per Day per 1,000 Lb. Live Weight Digestible Nutrients H e oO Animal £3 g g S35 3) 2). aie Pola ¢! Sele at sa Sid sd fy S) £3 A ©. 5 oL5 o| «Se ey he O ey Growing swine—Breeding stock: Age, 2 to 3 mo.; average live weight, 50 lb....| 44 7.6 | 28.08) AON tetor40 Age, 3 to 5 mo.; average live weight, 100 lb...| 35 | 4.8 | 22.5 Miah ators.) Age, 5 to 6 mo.; average live weight, 120 lb...| 32 Ord elscies A | Jo) 6:0 Age, 6 to 8 mo.; average live weight, 200 lb...| 28 2:8: | 18.7 3 [cp ator6.9 Age, 8 to 12 mo.; aver- age live weight, 250 : oye ccoeeam eee eee ME eee © 25 2a el bes 2 el tol@o Growing fattening swine: Age, 2 to 3 mo.; average live weight, 50 ib....| 44 7.6| 28.0 1.0% lstoreo Age, 3 to 5 mo.; average live weight, 100 lb...) 35 SO Me23e Prose bal hairomes yO) Age, 5 to 6 mo.; average live weight, 150 lb...| 33 4°3) 2233 6 | Ito 5:5 Age, 6 to 8 mo.; average live weight, 200 lb...| 30 Som Oss 4 NL tove9 Age, 9 to 12 mo.; aver- age live weight, 300 Wo; sO har eo Oe eto 26 3.0 | 18.3 . | 1to 6.3 FARM LIVESTOCK 249 Making Up a Balanced Ration.—By the aid of the accompanying table giving the total dry matter and the digestible nutrients contained in 100 lb. of the different feedstuffs, and the number of pounds of each of the digestible nutrients, the nutritive ratio may be determined of almost any ration that may be fed. The value of such determinations to the feeder is not only to acquaint him with the wide variations in the demands and requirements of the different classes of livestock, but to increase his knowledge of the chemical com- position of feeds. With a knowledge of feeding standards and of the composition of feeds a stockman is enabled to combine feeds so that they satisfy the needs of animals, or, in other words, to feed a balanced ration. This is the first and a most fundamental prin- ciple of feeding. TOTAL DRY MATTER AND TOTAL DIGESTIBLE NUTRIENTS IN 100 LB. OF COMMON AMERICAN FEEDSTUFFS Digestible Nutrients in 100 Lb. Total Dry Feedstuff Matter iA saci in 10 fag |o48d ~ Lb. Se Ogi | On Sr BS = oa =) — O° | 5 fo) oa ,OPA Yi Ae Ream aaa, silts toes ove oneh ee: 2 93.4 11.4 40.0 1.3 Alsike clover, green........| 25.2 2.6 11.4 i, Alsike-clover hay.......... 90.3 8.4 39.7 ilsil PNBEICHO KES cess che Goes hs, acs 20.5 163 14.7 2 Barley and peas, green..... 20.0 2.1 9.1 4 Barley and vetch, green....| 20.0 Fadl 6.5 -o Basley forage. ...... 1. horse, hay. ..2:2..- 90.8 4.3 39.5 8 Bean, velvet, green........ 17.8 2.7 8.4 4 Bean velvet. Dayine.iecc: 90.0 9.6 52.5 1.4 Beans, “MOTse: o6 se see 88.7 23.1 49.8 8 Beet ~pulprdry eee 91.6 4.1 64.9 beet pulp, Web. .6ci5.o kek 10.2 5 rer; Beets, common: .'..¢cies <. 11.5 1.2 7.9 ott Beets: stigare’. 2 ace sak 13.5 1.3 9.8 5 | Beggar-weed hay.......... 90.8 6.8 42.8 1.6 Bermuda grass, green...... 28.3 1.3 13.4 4 Bermuda-grass hay........ 93.1 6.4 44.9 1.6 Bone-and-meat meal....... 94.0 36.7 5.5 10.6 Braniniconis. tin. bereaetens 28s 90.6 6.0 52.5 4.8 Bran, wheat, all analyses ..} 88.1 11.9 42.0 2.5 Brewers’ grains, dry....... 91.3 20.0 32.2 6.0 Brewers’ grains, wet....... 23.0 4.9 7.6 Lev, Broom-corn seed.......... 87.2 4.6 42.2 1b Buckwheat brans.29..%. 52! 91.8 5.9 34.0 2.0 Buckwheat, grain.......... 86.6 8.1 48.2 2.4 Buckwheat straw.......... 90.1 12 37.4 als Buffalo-grass hay.......... 85.0 3.0 42.0 1.6 Bur-cloverhay.an-6 veces 91.0 8.2 39.0 PAL Birttermtikeye nese fair aes 9.9 3.8 3.9 1.0 Cabbagetern sc ae Bae 10.0 2.3 5.9 mE Canada field peas.......... 85.0 19.7 49.3 4 Canada field peas, green...| 15.3 1.8 6.9 3 CAErotsse cele oe Ce eee 11.4 8 (hth 3 CASSAV An Stee ed thee ee 34.0 8 28.9 2 Cassava starch refuse...... 88.0 A 74.0 6 Cattan-millet hay ets ans 89.0 ee 41.6 1.0 Clover and grass, mixed, VR ee hen ai ee 87.1 5.8 41.8 es Colostram ieee sae 25.4 17.6 PAS 3.6 Common beetss=s.6 -eilesce TES 12 7.9 Al! Common millet, green .....| 20.0 8 1420 Me Corn-and-cob meal........| 84.9 4.4 60.0 2.9 Cornmdeniyperain=. si. . css. Cormebing rain. sesso): Corn fodder, ears on....... CWormpleaves irs aa ens = bee Corn stover, ears removed. . AS ONE OMSCE OE eee to laren w seere ss Wamipeaaysen ecb theres Gowpeaiseedss oa... 22-5 oak: Crimson clover, green...... Crimson-clover hay........ Distillers’ grains, dry...... DirtedcinloOdine 25%: catecrers ote « Dwarf Essex rape......... EMMETT SLAIN, 2\<2 sijeteres. ee os IBRD NAY’. -.5< 6 stalk ds) eos aps Brig Sha hayioeert voce «tests se, 6iers Rreld=bean hay... i. css Field peas, Canada, green. . Fulci GHiGGhdee, <-slatete vis sedis Germ ol-mieal. i. 6 Be. aks Gilatenmiced oat. Martie snes. Hairy ‘vetch, winter, hay... Hay from mixed grasses.... Hog millet, green.......... Hominy cltop 4.0. dsleie gcc s Hominy feeds... 2 2 Horse bean, green......... HHorse-bean hays... <2 ks IGESE- Deans Aoi s,2 dee anelagers Hungarian-grass hay....... Italian rye-grass hay....... Japan-clover hay: ..)..:.... Japanese millet, green ..... FARM LIVESTOCK TaBLE—(Continued ) 251 Digestible Nutrients in 100 Lb. Total: )|=2 Feedstuff Matter o Protein Pounds Carbo- hydrates Pounds Fat Pounds mcs SOUNAGHPENSONOAWWOOUNSONHSS Be ee eee e an See oO - ry One to Se (aja tena eAi6, te), 0: e.0, ni 0, mboe — re Oe Ce SON ON ON OOuris WOW MOODDORMOMOO MOOD WOO OMMMmMAIUD SASSSRHOM OHoo HH NOH WW OD ONWOWONWAWDANOSCOHDDURDDDOAWURNDMOWO SOMO NWO RONNDORODWOOHOWHERHERORODNMNOOWNASD bo HO ON RID O bo 20 © 00 00 or 5 = G2 00 bow Or ww Oa See he aoe eh fee tthe 0D | NG Ss 0 0p AE ee ee Gos Cet ANUP ODiNwWnNDONDORREONOOWN NioHioOwWNRiy SOR P RW DOHPROWWH Wh = — — ho Nee _ Ores] ww a oe oe i) pes bed ere | STIS alt ret Ole COS cit NDF RO betes bt CON NT = 209 2 WOE OCOONMPRRWHRDMOOW NROWNUNONUHWNHOANWHNdi ww _ —_— 252 FARM LIVESTOCK TaBLE—(Continued) Digestible Nutrients in 100 Lb. Totaly |e Feedstutff itt g eo Matter) £9 [68g] .¢ inl00| Be |2sG/ es b. o 3 | SoS (ers Aa |ORA AY Johnson grass, green....... 25.0 6 Sf .2 Johnson-grass hay......... 89.8 2.9 45.6 8 Kahricorn, prams .ose..- 90.1 5.2 44.3 1.4 Kafir corn, heads, ground..| 86.4 4.2 42.4 1.2 Kafir corn, Red, green..... 18.4 8 9.7 4 Kafir corn, White, green....| 16.6 9 NeskD} ‘D Kentucky blue grass.......| 34.9 2.8 19.7 8 Kentucky blue-grass hay...| 86.0 4.4 40.2 arf Linseed meal, new-process..} 90.3 oles SOnk 2.4 Linseed meal, old-process...| 90.2 30.2 32.0 6.9 Maléisprouts ss. ioe amie 90.5 20.3 46.0 1.4 Mammoth-clover hay......| 78.8 6.2 34.7 231 Mangels ot ck anc locatae oss 9.1 1.0 Sas 2 Meadow fescue, green...... 30.1 1.6 18.6 5 Meadow-fescue hay........ 80.8 4.2 36.9 i Ls Meadow-foxtail hay....... 93.4 ole 41.0 1s} Meat-and-bone meal....... 94.0 36.7 5.5 10.6 MCA tC SGTAp os tyenceeumvetes arte 89.3 66.2 13.4 Milk, cow’s, whole......... 12.8 3.4 4.8 3.7 Malkecowisy Skil one ao. <75-2 9.4 2.9 5.3 3 Mallet. seed Syn! ede 87.9 Pfail 48.5 2.5 Mialletestrawys teria eee acne 85.0 9 34.3 6 Milo maize, heads, ground.| 90.3 4.2 45.0 1.1 Malo maize;seed:..2 5... . 91.0 4.9 44.8 1.3 Mixed grass and clover hay.| 87.1 5.8 41.8 ike) Molasses, beet, pulp, dry...} 92.0 6.1 68.7 Molassesrerains) <)s:).1. oa). 89.6 10.8 48.0 22 Molasses, Porto Rico...... 74.1 1.4 59.2 Molasses, sugar-beet....... 79.2 4.7 54.1 Oxatrandepes thay. .:stne ccs 89.5 7.6 41.5 alts Oatiand vetch haya... 5. 85.0 8.3 35.8 i138} Onitulias iytip sation tees 6. oes 86.0 4.7 36.7 LZ. Oath eehewe 4 terse en ae 92.1 11.9 65.1 6.7 @atimiddlingst. 4o52) ese sen 91.2 t3el Bet 6.5 Oatstrawe towels. pei ak be 90.8 les 39.5 8 Oats and peas, green....... 20.3 1.8 10.2 4 Oats and vetch, green...... 20.0 2:3 10.0 2 Oats; STA cae rerdeeeaec (tare 89.6 10.7 50.3 3.8 Orchard-prass#haye. a4. -- 90.1 4.9 42.4 1.4 FARM LIVESTOCK TaBLE—(Continued) 253 Digestible Nutrients in 100 Lb. otal), | Dry Feedstuff Matter] .¢ % \ 3 3 inl00| 82 |.8s 8 Lb. S8 leds aA |ORA Oxeye-daisy hay...........] 89 4 Daum: CAKEN..a2t)he 6 ses = 89 if 5 [REVESTUI SSS 6 cig ec ea 9 Pearand Oatenays ..sG se. 2 89. 4 Pen madieGAKee eis cgh Pie sis aes 89 4 2 Peanut kernels, without Lak Ise tea Rc P O r etae 9 2 1 Peanub-vine may: 6.0 ss... 9 4 Perennial rye-grass hay....| 8 3 EO LAbO mae ite iy tee ks 2 il sien ayn. Pacer a here cates 9 4 Beromplans melds {Leh =. ss.) Pumpkin. garden .:)..s2a:<'s Rape-seed cake............ Red clover, green.......... IRed-clover hay... eb sti Red-dog flour isc.) .2 2 5 4. IWEG=TOPHGAY rags els clove veers REG MeraAlnNs os. sts cee en Oty es HVOWENs DAVits. cs otas bocce sseuc READ AC ASR er na bse oes seers RCN G AINE Weta. aya ines ees RVeTOraget we 6 tise Bas ac RIVE STAM Atak fe oe bless, « Rye-grass hay, Perennial... Rye-grass hay, Italian..... IRAViGrShnAW.n sc cccoce Spores Save Commonmede asics 6 « Salt-marsh-grass hay ...... Walon: averse Meee he Serradella, green.......... perradella “hay: s. 2. bs. sic oss Sesame oil cake ........... MOLES ae Nay erdare sins chooks HAGE COM: cs vies ce eats Silage, corn, ears removed.. (Steyaedoloban (c(co\s ee A re Soy beanehay i. aso.teiers sao Soybean seeds. ).:...8.. eee ee ee ee a secre Re Pr Og Fe At ee ee Ee SS oe? I Oe WHNWRORDUNORROUOCWRNRORHENNONEDOORG WHOON DCCONWNWWODON DAUD OMONDHWOMWDOOONOF j_ _ bo PRO Ns STO SIRO CU Gor OG Ov WNT > G9 — BH Oe So Sa gl ae cc ad) Tat nate pa St gl HOUR ROORE RENO NODR DN HOWROORRNH WROON Noe BRS ie i OID SO FE SBE US O00 90 C2 AUNTS OO 00 CO Crist NO 09 Ol NIN WOE OWNOROUNERROPRE OR NNOOHONWHONDNN Rind DO NRORE PEW WWHWRWOHEDR BPabOWweD Fat Pounds Ww Pe he ee Oe eee poke “I ONWONNORUROCOCHORONNRONARORDNRARNAENOD NUWON bo ewe wo wo tlaeel _ _ ROW — ee bo 254 FARM LIVESTOCK TABLE—(Continued) Feedstuff Soybean straw............ Spelt erainieeeas sarees teu SPS LE Ay petals eee score: Spring vetch, green........ Husa beets. teisccieiee eps 2 Sugar-beet leaves.......... Sugar-beet molasses........ pupar canes green. ..J.....: Sunflower seed............ Swamp-grass hay..... Sweet clover, green........ Sweet-clover hay Sweet corn, grain.......... Sweet potatGes....dk ems e- iallzoatahanzsae ser. spety., to sranka ges sin. She eee ‘Eeosinte;ereen: ss. fo. Texas blue-grass hay....... moth yaerassen co). d,52 2a Timothy hay, all analyses. . unntpsaalatypa> beeen Se Velvet-bean hay.. oe: Vetch and barley, green apes Vetch and ioat hay... 25%; Vetch and oats, green...... Vetch and wheat, hay Vetch s.cc8 = zi Went “besa Mite Tse oc 9 Corn. Silage. osc. ree 20 Gil: meee ee ir O@ fOOt Crops ./--.'- 3.0 Cana fodder See hee 110 Alfalfa hay eecencccces 2.0 Clover, alfalfa, or Soybean hay sc. 2.0 0. 32 Shelled corn or oats .4 No. 8: Corn Silage x ccoancue 20 Shelled” corm 2. .cee+ ae, OF root Crops ..... 3.0 Oats “cacassnhe ee eee 3 Soybean ‘hay ....... 25 Wheat bran\.c...-<. eZ, Oil. meali- . Sache. sl Weds Corn fodder .....:.. 3.0 oa or shelled corn .4 Mae 8: eat branmee.i.5 ss Sit Pee Corn ‘silage : sani inn.ce cee eee eee Udder: large, long; attached high and full behind; extending far in front and full; GUATGETS CWeN eStats ee i nt ee ee Udder: capacious, flexible, with loose, pliable skin covered with short, fine hair...... Teats: convenient size, evenly placed...... Milk veins: large, tortuous, long, branching, with large milk wells: ... < -\.).. La | ct ue _ Sie Gitucite a, cum cel gus, el) ele wile) lo) >) o\ een eo) ree 4 oe % a& -— a cb oO n Br oO Qu 4 oO = Qu (eo) a S ct (o) =m (o) [o) ©, Now FARM LIVESTOCK 297 SCORE CARD FOR MUTTON TYPE OF SHEEP (Continued) Twist: deep, plump, firm, indicating flesh- Hind legs: straight, short, set well apart; bones smooth, strong, being neither coarse nor fine; pasterns upright; feet squarely placed; neither close nor SOLA WILT ie ere Glaeser share ar ale aieitatiay oe eee Woo. Quantity: long, dense, even, according to [Onn ETECC Lh ht A Aen Sanne SOP pee ee eg ava ROE Ae Quality: structure and color true; fine, soft, even according to breeds): jis dana sks Condition: strong, bright, clean, slight AIM OMMts ORV OLE eis hsscisie srovs lela he hanes PERFECT JUDGE’S SCORE 5 SCORE 298 FARM LIVESTOCK SCORE CARD FOR WOOL TYPE OF SHEEP PERFECT JUDGE’S GENERAL APPEARANCE Form: level, deep, stylish; round rather than SQUATCSS..2 5.2.6 oe ee rae ee Quality: clean, fine bone; silky hair; fine skin HEAD AND NECK Muzzle: fine; broad, wrinkly nose; pure white yes: laraesclear, placid: 2-2 ..dee kan emneeoe Face: wrinkly, covered with soft, velvety coat Horeheadsproad= full ws Sere ache epee Bars:sott, thick, -welvetyer ssrise tte i ee Neck: short, muscular, well set on shoulders. FOREQUARTERS Shoulder: strong, deep and broad.......... Brisket: projecting forwards; breast wide... Legs: straight, short, wide apart, shank SMOG Amashin Ge. wih .gclerere ciara »\sce es ore Bopy Chest: deep, full, indicating constitution... Back: level, long; round ribbed............ Ronrttwides level prc o aissesasoieton aloe Ries HINDQUARTERS Hips stanapartslevel-smootltees secs oie Rump: long, level, WIG) Ett eee nae Legs: straight, short, strong; shank smooth, Woo. Quantity: long, dense, even covering, espe- cially over crown, cheek, armpit, hind legs vana@'belliy.s Sic. orcs ene aes ere cponeteetetae Quality: fine fiber; crimp close, regular; even quality, including tops of folds: ra Condition: bright, lustrous, sound, pure, soft; even distribution of yolk, with even surtace to fleece. |. ...03..2.0 case SCORE PHL TE LAP TE TI tt et et No ep NRRO H= bo 15 15 SCORE ale FARM LIVESTOCK 299 SCORE CARD FOR BACON-TYPE BARROW PERFECT JUDGE’S GENERAL APPEARANCE Weight: 170 to 200 pounds, the result of thick Cover ol firm tesh? 5 Sie kis ee be oe Form: long, level, smooth, deep............ Quality: hair, fine; skin, thin; bone, fine; firm covering of flesh without any soft bunches of fat or wrinkles............. Condition: deep, uniform covering of flesh, especially in region of high-priced cuts. . HEAD AND NECK SLRGTESRS TAVGYE Nee SIS ee eee aa ar 50.00 MEMMATUITERSPLEAUET, scjcc/ ss vice bc eekic diccslcse cee 100.00 - MDMA MAGE kU ees i tas bose cne heed ke needs 45.00 BHA set caronhs «aisle. c a hot Ke ale ioc ORK si bie so L0So 20.00 MUD g COAT UWAROMH ooo. cnx Scenes atcank sae d0ee 60.00 Lv EEE TES ce sil 2 agai Sl eg rte a ial bere a 75.00 » SUN GI LsctN increta shay stoners fs og-tcychePolars ve ACEI ok hack IR $800.00 This makes a total of $800, assuming that all the machinery is new. For $200 a very convenient tool shed can be built that by a little careful planning can be made to shelter all of the above machinery very satis- factorily, especially if a floor is provided on a level with the eaves by which means considerable room can be made for some of the implements which can be easily taken apart, and for parts removed from some of the 358 IMPLEMENTS AND MACHINERY - larger ones. Assume that a man starts farming with $800 invested in implements, and that if these imple- ments are sheltered and well cared for they will last 10 yr. and if not sheltered they will last only 5 yr. If the implements stand out in the weather it costs $800 more to purchase a new set of implements at the end of 5 yr. The compound interest on this amount for 5 yr. at 5% amounts to about $215, or, the extra amount of money paid out for machinery, with its accrued interest, equals $1,015. If our tool shed costs $200, the compound interest on this amount for 10 yr. at 5% equals $125, or the shed may be considered to cost $325. After paying the ex- penses for the shed, it leaves at the end of 10 yr. a balance of $690.40 in favor of housing the machinery, and the shed is perhaps good for 10 yr. more. This does not take into consideration the saving in the cost -of repairs. It is very poor economy to buy good tools and convert them into poor ones by the lack of care. This is especially true of plows. In order to do good work, a plow must scour properly, and in order to do this the moldboards are made very hard and given a high polish. When plows are left in the soil or exposed to the weather the polished surface soon becomes pitted with rust and its scouring qualities are lost untikFea new polish can be obtained. Plows left in the field over night should have the polished surfaces covered with grease or oil. Between seasons, plows should be prop- erly housed in the barn or in a tool shed and the polished surface covered with paint or grease. Paint is to be preferred, because mice and rats are apt to remove the grease before spring. Rainy days and spare time during the winter season should be devoted to the inspection and repair of all machinery. For this reason the tool shed or storage room should be light and machines so placed that they are readily accessible. At this time all bolts should be MISCELLANEOUS AGRICULTURAL TABLES 359 tightened, the paint renewed on the wooden parts and all bearings thoroughly cleaned and oiled. If this is done much valuable time will be saved later during the busy season when the tools are in almost constant demand. The man who expends money in the proper housing and in care of his machinery will find that it will all come back to him in the lengthened life of his ma- chines, in the reduced cost of repairs, and in the satis- faction derived from having his machinery always in good order. MISCELLANEOUS AGRICULTURAL TABLES QUANTITY OF SEED REQUIRED PER ACRE Kind of Seed Quantity Ababa, PEOAMCASCEG. Oh. eon eee cena ees 20 to 25 lb. PAM eur emits Pseie scece Se we sais’ oles acecstarmackeaee orate 15 to, 20 Ib. SES) str a SPV ae a a A 6 to 8 bu. PRS PAT AQUIS tet a enscat ever ala od G, oo. cise, aif hues da Gila a sralYew dy «wre 4 to 5 |b. yeti Cut ret aeons Ni 8 wire at airs 3 adatie,abelelays 4) Sleee ale 8 to 10 pk. Barlevsancdupeds, Cache = 320.5... @ ora.w stole alerene:« 1 to 2 bu. BeansuG wartaimrGrils so oe cceccs le wu a ecice oe es 13 bu. Beanssieldsmallivariety. ic. 5 auc bce cece eae 2 to 3 pk. Beans sueldlarpervariety: . is... < sie es bee v owen 5 to 6 pk. IB BatismepOle wire Grills Jah e et ..o sesso eyass.« Sak sw ab 10 to 12 at. ESE EN eee Rh Shs oss fooone eet one Shale obie wale die a 4. 4 to 6 lb. Bere Weis LOL TOLAR Gs. 6 kiwtieo cia's wialecnies oie gs oe 5 to 6 lb. BegecicawicedntOt DAY se cies o.4:Sasis o/s Wists slek.oiats 8 to 10 lb. SOTA AUSS AE ra Stal Scns: uch Pict ce Castet ska A oeeoes whe > 1 to 2 bu. TELS SnezSS) Ak ee Se ee AE ee eee eee a BE 25 Ib. Bremesorasswalone tor hayes saswe besa c 12) to, 15ilb: Brome grass, alone for pasture................. 15 to 20 lb. ERO OMIMCORE ten epee ele os AG. Sil gle Sividee vableqenedd adie 3 pk. PVEOGI COLMMTOL SECO aps iro steals) oiwnsvay aes lei ee. 8 Gee a-ak 1 pk. TESTO id © SEE Te, ieee are eee ik em ee ea 3 to 5 pk. ERC CLR CINE ce Aes oV chs oa a Mal aeA sige gia die wea 12 lb. CG alata ere Meee irl yn Meee cick ate oy Oat oodicl c' stans ace ded 2to 1 lb (CBNSROU 2 Joie Ba ois becsmeean See eee ee 4 to 6 lb. Oates te erect Said a nee aS 1 to 14 lb. Clover, Alsike, alone for forage................ 8 to 15 Ib. Clover, Alsike, on wheat or rye................ 4to6 Ib. Riaver mC rimson eer. goers a sid oa emia ee ole oa 12 to 15 lb. PASO PAD ATL caches siocts lelaset etait sevsoio ee's wsierewiels 12 lb. 360 MISCELLANEOUS AGRICULTURAL TABLES TABLE—(Continued ) Kind of Seed Quantity Clover; ;/Manuniethsl i. on,2. ee Ca eee 12 omd Dallas Clover, Red, alone for LOLA gE i er he ae 16 lb. Clover; Red;on small grain: x So eee 8 to 14 lb. Clover, Sweet CMeltlotus))o ae ee eee 2 to 4 pk. Clover SWE yc ive ceat athe akc eae 10 to 2 lb. Clover, Wie W: 20 o csc cats Sass hiro eee ee 3 to 5 lb. Cornyinthilisice® .. 2S). 2S. 5 eee eee 6 to 10 qt Cor, dor silages)! .-s,4ick Zee ae ae eee 9 to 1l qt COttoRnneg Minette is nuisances Orie: oie eee 1 to 3 bu. Cownense ss co balck le ee ee ee 1 to 13: bu. Cowpeas; in drills: with corr. ..6::52 2. Sri eee = to; Mibu, Cowmeas*foriseedis 5 2. Sas... iacisre Cee eee ee 3 pk. Cuctimbervin-hillsia: vn. vac csaieees eeee 2 Ib. Cress;"water, in «drills: 2:3 3). Aaa ee Zi tors lias Cress; upland: + “i023. P cass Le eee 2 to 3 lb. Beepianty for 1,000 plants... <2 <2. eee 1 oz. Field pea, small VARIELY:. a 5.cus doi «.g cme eeu eee 23 bu. Mieldpéa, large variety, 99... 2s... eee 3 to 33 bu. lax ton SCE si, «/ bee 13 to 2 bu. IMA ETS HAAS ee acl a ces oo ox to, sical cn sh suc: Seen Oe a ae 5 to 8 lb. Meadow feéseues! J eeDiese.. os. 2 sks | ee ee 12 to 15 |b. Millet, barnyard, in drills..........-..--:0.-% 1 to 2 pk. Millet} foxtanl-inadrills).:2....5)-ccpsscusustouescuc orien eee 2 to 3 pk. Millet, German, fOR SEES fio eae noe Gee 1 pk. Millet, Pearl, for soiling? 23.2 oe eee ee 4 |b. Mallets Pearl forhay..... 23.0.0. os «ee bie ee 8 to 10 lb. UN es seats ee eos ok neon at hei tee Oe 5 Ib. Muskmelon: fin hillse: iss os oa as aece Gee 2 to 3 lb. Mustard doroadeasteds.--22. 26/44. 2. a2 sa eee 4 bu. Oatrerasss: Walls 22.54 sos cayiahnenss «alle: acre ice eee 30 Ib. Oats ENT. deals cacecee eit es «niente ee 2 toi bua Oats, 2 bu. Oatsvand"pease5 tt. caksiegcle suet ee ee ee Peas, } bu Onion singd tills. s24 5 scros os Binnanrs ee ei ee eee 5 to 6 lb. Onion, fOr sSetssy 3... cscs 4 oo ha eee 30 lb. Onion) Setsxcs: .. wis hhc tee hy ye 6 to 12 lb. Orchard: erase 3.36354 Hoes Shoe den ee ee 12.to 15 1b: MISCELLANEOUS AGRICULTURAL TABLES 361 TaBLE—(Continued) Kind of Seed Quantity LE DIPS ne en USE ES AA Age 9 ee 4 to 8 lb GCG IAT ee ISA oe ctcis Stee las are che OA TESS s 3 lb. ELOY EF] POE SEOUL Re Cle) gee ae a ny oe 6 to 20 bu Pumpkin 5 NS CUS OTE i Aenea te 4 lb. Iea pe maT rfl Seok ites Steklo, sale, ef ee) cgevecsdcc = cae sis occkee eke eats 13 to 4 bu (VEO Sine SES. SEE See Gene eee ee 1 to 3 lb. MAUL AY 955.2. ed peeeea ois crit: y 25 Ib : PEO UV A os ata crnce ew 6,0 Saye one Timothy and clover Clavenee man are assiok wats 2 8 lb. eine, tor ceaisplantime... 66.2 a. es ia eo + Ib. Turnip, broadcast Re ear ee Ne ec 2 to 4 1b Pitracat pyr T se ee ie) oii a ws ete : Sepa ee Ra es be Sales aa 3 to 5 Ib Wisivcimbeatdn 5 on See ele ape des ke nls we ito4pk Metehepbictinys 1 drillsne ene. las c ccreccele, aia cise « s bu. Weteh, Wainy, Groadcasted..'... 5s. .0. es ce ete 13 bu SESE 2 SS ais eee nie ain « oe ns a4 5 18 to 22 Ib Vetch, 5D Da ee ee 3 pk. Watermelon, ATIMATS See RIO, Gers ciate, ence Ak 4 to 5 lb 362 MISCELLANEOUS AGRICULTURAL TABLES MIXTURES RECOMMENDED FOR 1 A. OF MEADOW ‘ Mixture Pounds (ori: Wim O bay, © ote ede Siceaes O45! Pao Skim bis ae ee ee 8 Red>tlovers oiins5 oo bh Seo ee fe ee eee 8 No. 2: OPaTIMNVO GH Ye be Oe oaiallsc Sid cs clos te ortho bee eee 8 Redclover. 2s 4 255 halee 235. > ee eee 6 Alsitice! ClOWEP nec oc. b es thee «0 OOo le ee ee 2 INon is: REGitOD: cee snaeSelhnes aes oe ows Seo ee, 13 Orchard jarass: Setee ic os v0 bens aioe ee tee eee 18 Meadow: fescue: 5.2.5 on) sc. 08 ees ae en eee 9 Red 'clovern 2 sie cisis tas 3 oc ens oa eee 4 No. 4: TiO AY Wiss aw cone ala ake Bie wratalisl ge he ee eo ne ee 8 Redtclover. cls. ok eae iene eee 4 Ausike clover ci. 0 ee i eee eee 2 Kentucky bluegrass. 0) on.c os fcc ee fee Ce ee 2 REG OP To oon shovels wc la's Sioa Pe ee OR eee 2 MIXTURES RECOMMENDED FOR PERMANENT PASTURES For fertile land: Pounds PIM OEY i. Sees, «ances ech 4: sco covavaelollehelo bes Se eee 8 to 12 Kentucky sblite grass. o.5 <2, «2)e0rse ceciclete eee 4to 6 Meadow fescue sis 6.0 « =o. 0.0.0, 6casvcraet or ee lto 4 Orchardherass | 7205 6s eas cs db 4 aL eee lto 4 RED ClOVER! 2a acd cates 3 aS cae eee 6 3 2 Canadianblve grass: 5.0. eos ea ane eee 4 Red clover.s rs en one eee ee ee For wet pasture: REG EOP ite fe 285, cue) ershatsi er harsreiolenclebelstelehepelensie tne aa 1 Creeping bent grass.:jc-015:. 0. 2% /shi. se ee Perennial tye grass. 354: see ne eee ee MISCELLANEOUS AGRICULTURAL TABLES 363 NUMBER OF PLANTS REQUIRED TO SET 1A. OF GROUND AT GIVEN DISTANCES Distance ao —a a st ve NOMOANOMHANOCWMANCMANOMANOMOD # pahe bate bake bake pekn bake pede pete pete bake eke pede peke beke pede bbe ede bake fhe bake phe bade pte pee pete =——" WOOO WDMOONNNNTNOMAOMNOOOR PPP WWWWNNN NR Ree BBBEBBBBBBBEBBEEB BEES SESS BS Esse SKK ICO K KOK ROK ORK IKK KOK OK ROK OOK KOR KK ORK KK KK OK NOOCNOCANOeON _ (=! pate pete bee PPB fat eh i=) an i=} 10 in. X 12 in. 10 in. X15 in. 10 in. X 18 in. 10 in. X 26 in. 10 in. X 24 in. 10 in. X 30 in. 10 in. X 36 in. 10 in. X 42 in. 10 in. X 48 in. in. in. in. in. in. in. in. Plants 1,045,440 784,080 627,269 522,720 522,720 392,040 313,632 261,360 348,480 261,360 209,088 174,240 261,360 196,020 156,816 130,680 209,088 156,816 125,452 104,544 174,240 130,680 104,544 87,120 128,013 112,011 89,609 74,674 98,010 78,408 65,340 77,440 Distance Plants 12 in. X 15 in. 34,848 12 in. X 18 in. 29,040 124n=><20 in. 26,136 12 in. X 30 in. 17,424 12 in. X 42 in. 12,446 12 tn 654 in. 9,680 Pane LD in. 27,878 15 in. X 18 in. 23,232 15 in. X20 in. 20,908 15 5ne X24 in. 17,424 15 an>< 30 in: 13,939 15 in. X 36 in. 11,616 15 in. X 42 in. 9,953 15 in. X 48 in. 8,712 15 in. X 54 in. 7,744 15 in. X60 in. 6,969 18 in. X 18 in. 19,360 18 in. X 20 in. 17,424 18 in. X 24 in. 14,520 18 in. X 30 in. 11,616 18 in. X 36 in. 9,680 18 in. X 42 in. 8,297 18 in. X 48 in. 7,260 18 in. X 54 in. 6,453 18 in. X 60 in. 5,808 20 in. X 20 in. 15,681 20 in. X 24 in. 13,168 20 in. X 30 in. 10,454 20 in. X 36 in. 8,712 20 in. x 42 in. 7,467 20 in. X 48 in. 6,534 20 in. X 54 in. 5,308 20 in. X 60 in. 5227, i ftee<) Lit. 43,560 Lottie 2) tb. 21,780 tet S co tte 14,520 Ltt A: ft: 10,890 i ft < oft. 8,712 A ft2>< 6 ft. 7,260 APES fo tte 6,223 etic (Site 5,445 lettieoc G9) tt. 4,840 If OCIO ft: 4,356 Aveta eet: 3,960 Distance TABLE—(Continued ) Plants Distance — NR OCOONOORWNROOWONOOH WW Ep ep ep — ao — at ee Te XX KKK KK KK KK KKK KKK KKK KK HKHKHK KKK KKK KK HK HK KKK HK HK KK KK FR EE PRE EE EER ERR ERR PR A A EA RRR RR RRR RR HF FF pe AARADHAMWNINIMIAIHINIAPELLADL PAD RoW WhWWWWWNNNNNNNNNNhNe nde denen eich icici inelacdaclnciachachaclaclaclaciaclncimcincincimcincinsinciniindiaciaclaclaclaciaciachaciachacieschac) KH OOWTNANKFOUVDMDNAUNRKOOONOOe PRR RR RR RP PR ER PP Fs an Uae Sees tons tees fans fone fees Pee Wane Bene ene Bees Wee Wen e ees Tens Bees) SPP EP EP Op Epp Cp Eb ep CP Ep PEP PE Op Ep Ep oO Eh oh eh oh hh hep hep rp ep rp rh mh ep rp rp ep ep 3,630 10,890 7,260 5,445 4,356 3,630 3,111 2,722 2,420 2,178 1,980 1,815 4,840 3,630 2,904 2,420 2,074 1,815 1,613 1,452 1,320 1,210 2,722 2,178 1,185 1,556 _ Ls) dpe dedle dele dade dis Qle dls edie delegate Jue le ate Shanes . ee CODOODOOOOMMHMONHWYINNINNNS — coe Get cmt a ehiet Chet etaer eter ot Ghee Shen Boeh ites «x KK KK KK KKK KK KK KK KKK KK KK Le tt et WDUINOCOWMUFPNHOCONKFOCOOONrFHOOMN a) oooeS = 10 ft. x 24 ft. 10 ft. x 30 ft. 10 ft. x 36 ft. 10 ft.x 42 ft. 10 ft. x45 ft. 10 ft. x 48 ft. 10 ft. X 54 ft. 10 ft. x 60 ft. 12 ft. K 12 ft. 12 ft. 15 ft. 12 ft. X 18 ft. 12 ft. X 20:f£. 12 ft. x 24 ft. 12 ft. x 30 ft. 12 ft. X36 ft. 12 ft. 42 ft. 12 ft. 48 ft. 12 ft. X 54 ft. 12 ft. x 60 ft. 15 ft. X15 ft. stet ct ct ct ct ct ct ch ct ct ct chet ct ch ct ch ct ct ct ct . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . e ° j=) aad = 364 MISCELLANEOUS AGRICULTURAL TABLES Plants MISCELLANEOUS AGRICULTURAL TABLES 365 Distance 15 TEXAS ft. 15 ft. X20 ft- a5 tt. COA fh. 1 COO FE. Ltt. X36-ft- a fb. 42 EE. 15 it. 48 ft. 15 th. X54. FE. 15 ft. X 60 ft. 13 f£.2¢.18) ££. 18 ft. X20 ft. 18 ft. X 24 ft. 18 ft. 30 ft. 1Sat. wD (peTjeys) suvag 10jse_ ysueag Ao[ieg speas addy sojddy petiqd SF | 09 Sfe SF OGs a >is 3% |S & | 2 q?) Qu GaLdOGV ATAGIM NAAT AAVH SLHDIIM THHSNG HOIHM UOA SAILIGOWWOSD SNOIUVA AO TAHSNG Add SLHOIGM TVIOAT MISCELLANEOUS AGRICULTURAL TABLES 369 08 08 O08 O8 | 08 O8 08 08 92 08 O8 92 OL 92 O8 92 O8 O8 Glut O8 O08 92) 92 Lg OG 6G 6G 0Z STot‘st 0G 0% OS 0) OS Og Og 0g OS OS OS OS OS OS cP Og og og os OS og aa 6G SP GP og GP SP SF GP GG 0) GP Og SP OS 8P og GG 6G 6G SP og SP SP 8P of 0) O€ OP AS 0G 0G 0G 0G 0G 0% 0G 0G 0G 0G 0G 0G 0% 0G 06 0G 0G 06 la! lal iat ial Fle FI al ial FL FI FI FI FI Fle 9g | OF OF Yb OF OF OF OP OFz1 OF OGor Chr OF 09 099 9 O9s ‘tat 09 OF OF Ce OSe 09 09 09 09 “0 “DAT 24 370 MISCELLANEOUS AGRICULTURAL TABLES bs azre £1 13 00 8 le 10 ulOd ueIpuy a peesg sseinn uelesuny 3 as sjnNY ATOM 5 oa 2 ggSSP1IL) S ploy] 0 = ES peog dw] 3 $333 5 ireH] (Bupyseyq) a Oz eG SoT1Iaqasoor) S Dn op (peesury) poosxe]y SS = i = ia S ats sJoquinong a gs solliequeig 29 za peeg u0z70D purjdg am Ae peeg 10330>d puUrIS] eas Bs 2 a 5 ea} rjc 58 129g 10309 3.8 35 os ae peoquy ‘Tee Wop ze a PeHod ‘Tee Ut0D + on Beacon 2 2 2S Be ese a ea} lone ra mm UIOD P2eJeYqS B 8 Bi wes ae peysnyuy ‘seq Ul UIOD i R ie > a peysny ‘leq url ul0og Sig co = ee py Airs aa ue ve-1 010) 3 Bo) S 27109 8 a Memeo Gros aim c 5 > 1 OE eel eee 2 eee o Pe 3 eg ee a “sheds Ss gdb ide aa Pat qOOORAROTEaAS MISCELLANEOUS AGRICULTURAL TABLES 371 9¢ 0S 9¢ 9Gsz Og at Gv SP cv bP bP SP 8 ¥z| OP SP 8P SP 6& 9€ OF GE O& O€ O& O€ iA’ LAs tPF tP oé CE 86 O€te (as O€ tte as SP SP SP og 8P Lad OS OGoz 9¢ GG gg g¢ gc 9¢ 9G Plie GL OL 8g OGzz OLsz 9¢ 9¢ OLsz EES \i sees eary Seer “2. *S UES]. 372 MISCELLANEOUS AGRICULTURAL TABLES 08 | 9S OL6e og 02 |£8 8b |Zh|ZE| PL | Ose ug jee 0 |) josyoaye rr BMO] 99 g& GG | €8 | FT eo le) eg | te[s tele et eet otenns pu] €& le ee ge jog} | olrrcccrcc ‘ti oe sterlse brates Teme py 09 Gox |EE |8E LG AGS os! | [iets tscr tet eo) 09 | 2 €& | FGee go (ze erie o< |) bo Pe lbises ee eae at A ert 5a Pd 09 ee [ee oF ao 2s A ee Gee wae Lg Ze OR. 2 Pee hee eee ojod SE die e e.8) sees eae 1e9 09 gg |e ia tos "Ser Ogi ee te ber arenes ie oe op pe LY S/ 09 SS «ss cee ea mea a egaliinn mae opre 2. ely 09 | Me “ CE re FE eliel eisai eye, @)ve: piece S “ial lS) e o a S fe) > é Bp) a | o Z| 3 e v a | @ = B | O a rs ~ ge] 4} Ly} 4 Os Te ce Rees ee er a elo ee ie aad al dros ta 2/8.) | mp ° @ n fe) =a ro) 5 a a Oo! 8 Ee S er en (eo) pe) o 4 ae om > > 5 ry o} a = >, a 3 5 n n soe | Ae © D me | 3 Y 5 si 5 =~ 1h/a/0 pele ea SG ee eres B |B jo jo |B) P| o @ rm 1¢ 3 3 @ (=| = _ n (a) n pig = et 3 J s\s |e aro 5 e 5 3 | & oo ® ® o © cf Blo |B e | | (pamijuo)—GALdOdV ATACIM NAAT AAVH SLHOIGM TAHSNA HOIHM UOd SAILIGOWNWOO)D SNOIAVA AO TAHSNA Ad SLHOIAM TVOAT MISCELLANEOUS AGRICULTURAL TABLES 373 OL GFis 9G19 09 |0& CPoe 9C19 GP 09 |9°9/|8F 090s | 9S 09 09 09 09 099% 09 09 O9or OG FGx OSzr (46 PGx GE &€ €€ Esp SEsr ita 66 0g OGos SP SP SP Og SP 8P 8P SF OFss 8P bP SY Og og UP GP cP cP 6G |#e €& 9€ 6& 9€ €& ial! Al! a! ia! Lal! FI ial! FI FI 86 GS SZer 98 OGes FEee 8é 08 08 08 SE FE cE 0€ O€ 8é 8é PEze 08 08 08 GE 08 OL og og 9g 9g 374 MISCELLANEOUS AGRICULTURAL TABLES 09 0S GS] 0S | SF | SE | OSzo 08]9¢] |GS|} | ]09|8h) J9FI\O9 FT BMOT 09 cg| |S 0¢ | 9¢ e¢ | 09 ‘pul 09 cg| [SF 0g | ¢¢ 9¢ 09 | 0¢ ea 0! Ae Gat ES VERA at 2 ieee cea Paseine eats HeAeeE 09 ‘|e¢c| | Sb 9¢ & O8!| Gell ope eee eB) 09 PS 9¢ 09 | 9¢ SF 09) OR: faa ed Goeit eae raees 5G Bolibicc tot ky bee decom oh oie Cee De tele” Reel ae || or calmed a Ba 09 og 02 | 02 | 0¢ 9 | 0S | 09 | SF Eo O0a | ae es wu0d 09 cf 08 | 9¢ 09 (le) 09 #S “TeD 09 4g} |09| jos 0g | 9¢ FI O))\09' | os 4IV He Ge ee Fae tae ee Ne ti epee Mice cates au 09 Gg 9¢ 09 | ¢¢ “ely 09 =i ef 9¢ 09 oa fe ° : : 3/2) 2 S| 5 4i5|3.| 8 o | 2 el 4| Sie/2/8 (8/2) [ele] Flolwlslele| 2S ielele| » > =~ |e id 3 Sra Ce ee ier yaa o |p |A © yh Ba io |e tol] & Poe lente: Sis ipl 2 ltio | elele isis Hl|wlala}o| & "| [B28 18 [ele e tie) & BIS /E) 8 je 8/8 (2) g 3 este Seo . 8 Paes | g Ee | n (panuiuo))—GaLdOdV ATAGIM NAA AAVH SLHDIAM TAHSNA HOIHM AOA SHILIGOWNOO SNOINVA AO TAHSNA Add SLHOIAM TVOAT MISCELLANEOUS AGRICULTURAL TABLES 375 og OGo99 GP (Gis 10) cg 9¢ 9¢ cY 9¢ 9¢ 9¢ cy 9¢ 09 cP OF 0g og og og Og | &P CP Lg og og 0G | OL | OS 0G | OL | OS G8 | 2929 02 | 02 OL OL 0g 9¢ 09 g¢ 0S | 99 SP og 0g ai Flo Flo FF | FIs 10) og GP og 6g og cP 0g | 09 Fir FIr9 FIv9 Feo 105) 70/09 |p STM 09 foc 2AM 09 | *°: 7. "4sem rr ee ee eA o9 |: vies neg iy eo} fee eng Qa 2. | esemoe: ‘uuay, a ee ‘yeq *s eee: ‘aS so] [eee Ta gg force “ed 09 foc ‘210 ce eee EHO (OLE (Oe oryO OF ""4eq 'N 9¢|9¢e|-0 ‘> N a eee KCN #¢ ea NE #¢10900/ °° 00° HON oclo9 occ “AON og} fcc ‘qaN 09 ; “‘JUOTT go} [vee OW 09 S rae “SSITN on “UUTT a ‘UDI eolog |octctt: ‘SSE 09109 hares DW 09 ES Mine er] cc 09e9 4. 2.@.-o_ eee 8 ‘AY og!09 i" "** “suey 376 MISCELLANEOUS AGRICULTURAL TABLES NoTES CONCERNING PRECEDING TABLE INot defined. 2Small white beans, 60 lb. Green apples. [wurzel. 4Sugar beets and mangel ®Shelled beans, 60 1b.; vel- vet beans, 78 lb. 6White beans. Wheat bran. norcen unshelled beans, *English blue-grass_ seed, 22 |lb.; native blue-grass seed, 14 lb. Also castor seed. MSoybeans, 58 lb. [30 1b. Green unshelled beans, Soybeans 144Free from hulls. Commercially dry, for all hard woods. Fifteen lb. commercially dry, for all soft woods. WStandard weight in bor- ough of Greensburg. Dried beans. 19Red and white. 20°Corn in ear, 70 lb. until Dec. 1 next after grown; 68 lb. thereafter. 21Sweet corn 22Qn the cob. *3Tndian corn in ear. *4Unwashed plastering hair, 8 lb.; washed plastering hair, 4 lb. Corn in ear, from Nov. 1 to May 1 following, 70 lb.; 68 lb. from May 1 to Nov. 1. *6Tndian-corn meal. *7Cracked corn. 28Shelled. ??Free from hulls. 3°Standard weight bu. corn meal, bolted or unbolted, 48 lb. 31Except the seed of long staple cotton, of which the weight shall be 42 lb. “Green unshelled corn, 100 lb. *3Green cucumbers. 34See also ““Popcorn,” “Tm dian corn,’ and “Kafir corn.”’ 3°Green peaches. 86Green pears. 37Malt rye. [32 Ib. Top sets; bottom sets, Shelled, 56 lb. 40Shelled, dry. “Strike measure. “Bottom onion sets. #German and American. #4Shelled. *Peaches (peeled); un- peeled 32 lb. 46Cowpeas. *7Roasted; green 22 lb. *SNot stated whether peeled or unpeeled. *Top onion sets. “Including split peas. *1Tn the ear. *2Slacked lime, 40 1b. *8German, Missouri, and Tennessee millet seeds. °4Matured onions. Bottom onion sets, 32 Ib. *6Matured. “Matured pears, 56 Ilb.; dried pears, 26 lb. *8Black-eyed peas. Barley malt. Tncludes ‘“‘Rice corn.” 61°*Rice corn.” [seed. ®Sorghum saccharatum Red top ° grass. seed (chaff); fancy, 32 Ib: 64Seed. ®Trish potatoes. Free from hulls. Ground salt, 70 Ib. ®8TIndia wheat, 46 lb. ®Tn some states herd’s grass is a synonym for timothy; in other states, for Red top. MISCELLANEOUS AGRICULTURAL TABLES 377 The states of Idaho, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming have no standard for bushel weights. LEGAL WEIGHTS PER BUSHEL OF VARIOUS COM- MODITIES FOR WHICH BUSHEL WEIGHTS HAVE BEEN ADOPTED IN BUT ONE OR TWO STATES Alsike (or Swedish) seed, 60 lb. (Md. and Okla). Beggar weed seed, 62 lb. (Fla.) (Tenn.). Blackberries, 30 lb. (la.); 48 lb. (Tenn.); dried, 28 lb. Bermuda grass seed, 40 lb. (Okla.). Blueberries, 42 lb. (Minn.). Bromus inermus, 14 lb. (N. Dak.). Bur clover, in hulls, 8 lb. (N. C.). Cabbage, 50 lb. (Tenn.). Canary seed, 60 lb. (Tenn.); 50 Ib. (Ta.). Cantaloup melon, 50 lb. (Tenn.) Castor seed, 50 lb. (Md.). Cement, 80 lb. (Tenn.). Cherries, 40 lb. (Ia.); with stems, 56 lb. (Tenn.); with- out stems, 64 lb. (Tenn.). Chuta, 54 Ib. (@la.). Cotton seed, staple, 42 lb. (S. C.). Culm, 80 lb. (Md.). Currants, 40 lb. (Ia. and Minn.). Feed, 50 lb. (Mass.). Fescue, seed of all the, except the Tall and Meadow fescue, 14 lb. (N. C.). CNET Gy: Fescue, Tall and Meadow fescue grass seed, 24 Ib. Grapes, 40 lb. (Ia.); with stems, 48 lb. (Tenn.); with- out stems, 60 lb. (Tenn.). Guavas, 54 lb. (Fla.). Hominy, 60 lb. (O.); 62 lb. (Tenn.). Horseradish, 50 lb. (Tenn.). Italian rye-grass seed, 20 lb. (Tenn.). Japan clover in hulls, 25 lb. (N. C.). Johnson grass, 28 lb. (Ark.); 25 lb. (N. C.). Kale, 30 ib. (Tenn.). Land plaster, 100 lb. (Tenn.). Lentils, 60 lb. (N. C.). Lucerne, 60 lb. (N. C.). Lupines, 60 lb. (N. C.). Meadow seed, tall, 14 lb. (N. C.). Meal (?), 46 lb. (Ala.); unbolted, 48 lb. (Ala.). aa. fine, 40 lb. (Ind.); coarse middlings, 30 lb. nd.). Millet, Japanese barnyard, 35 lb. (Mass. and N. H.). Mustard, 30 lb. (Tenn.). Mustard seed, 58 lb. (N. C.). 378 ARITHMETICAL TABLES Oat grass seed, 14 lb. (N. C.). Oat grass seed, 14 lb. (N. C.). (Mich.). Plums, 40 lb. (Fla.); 64 lb. (Tenn.); dried, 28 Ib. Prunes, dried, 28 lb. (Ida.); green, 45 1b. (Ida.). Radish seed, 50 lb. (la.). Raspberries, 32 lb. (Ia. and Kan.); 48 lb. (Tenn.). Rhubarb, 50 lb. (Tenn.). Sage, 4 lb. (Tenn.). Salads, 30 lb. (Tenn.). Sands4130) lib. (las). Seed of brome grasses, 14 lb. (N. C.). Spinage, 30 lb. (Tenn.). Strawberries, 32 lb. (la.); 48 lb. (Tenn.). Sugar cane seed (amber), 57 lb. (N. J.) Sunflower seed, 24 lb. (N. C.). Teosinte, 59 lb. (N. C.). Velvet grass seed, 7 lb. (Tenn.). Vetches, 60 lb. (N. C.). ARITHMETICAL TABLES MEASURES OF EXTENSION Measures of extension are used in measuring lengths (dis- tances), surfaces (areas), and solids (volumes), and are divided, accordingly, into linear measure, square measure, and cubic measure. Linear measure has one dimension (length), square measure has two dimensions (length and breadth), and cubic measure has three dimensions (length, breadth, and thickness). LINEAR MEASURE 12rin chest). saves s erciaierot eee = footis..acheeee Ee ft SLCC LAY. tae ee econ eiotr ois eros = yard. 236 Se eee yd. SEV ARGS Wisc orc eievatecaie em terenonsthaes =] Tod's: enews eee rd SO EFOUSS aoe fe wren tial sioattolevend rel cna =] miletit paca mi in. ft yd. rd. mi (2 1 5= a 1 198= 164 = Fe nel 63,360 =5,280 =1,760 =320=1 ARITHMETICAL TABLES 379 SQUARE MEASURE 144 square inches (sq. in.) ....=1 square foot........ sq. ft. OP Satareteetieten e ores 3-2. 200 =1.square-yard....... sq. yd. SOF SGHTATC: VALOS.. oot aly erie a: =1 square rod:;....... sq. rd. AGOPSGUATS TOGS. o5.306.5 5:55. we ess = AR CTO EA. See on, a eGo A. FLD EAGCECS weiss ooaian c/s «oo 2 38 =1 square mile........ sq. mi. Sq. in. sq. ft. sq. yd. sq. rd. A. Sq. mi. 144= 1 1,296 = 9 = i 39,204 = 2721 = 304 = 1 6,272,640 = 43,560 = 4,840 = 160=1 4,014,489,600 = 27,878,400 =3,097,600 =102,400=640=1 SURVEYORS’ SQUARE MEASURE 625:square links:(sq. li.)..... 35... =I square rod..... sq. rd. SGiSGQUare TOdSe Frise ete oh oes =1 square chain ...sq. ch. 1Oisquare chains)..20%. [0283 5% —MACTO 5 oss) ysl tcee A. GAONACTES We Matec As a tehc te esos, 3 =1 square mile ....sq. mi. 36 square miles (6 miles square)..=1township....... ior A square measuring 208.71 ft. on each side contains 1 A. The following are the comparative sizes, in square yards, of acres in different countries: sq. yd. Sq. yd. England and America 4,840 Amsterdam.......... 9,722 Sor iaict ie ae GeloOne DANtZIC srs eae ee ae 6,650 Trelandtte tes cn «5. MOAOl ~ Brancetcy.c5 i esesele 11,960 js teterl s0tye 2 ae ee eee ABP POPE TUISSIsl «ofc cic eis, orelets 8 2 3,053 CUBIC MEASURE 1.728 cubic inches (cus in:)....7.=1 cubic foot........ cu. ft. 27 cubic feet. ste bye. s bets =e CUPiC VATE .cn. 2 > « cu. yd. 128 cubic feet =1 cord of wood. cu.in. cu.ft. cu. yd. 1,728 1 46,656 AP ee | 380 ARITHMETICAL TABLES MEASURES OF WEIGHT AVOIRDUPOIS WEIGHT GFounces (OZ!)e. ne. sterae =I) pond: Sine accra sete lb. LOOFpoundsy > ewe tiers ste =1 hundredweight......... cwt. 20 hundredweight RUG pounds, 60 bites =] HOM... 7. eine wrslavets eee ene TE oz. LOS CWhe dr 16— 1 15600 = 100 32,000 = 2,000 = 20=1 LONG-TON TABLE 1GioUNCES; (OZ:)c.. ns ose sie 8. = 1 pound; shoes eee Ib. PSMOUNGAS ne lets wee os =] quarter oo uscceeoeeere qr. ANGUMATLCT Sr: cre crates sie e.cue =1 hundredweight......... cwt. 20 hundredweight ET ee ee } Passe = tomse: 2s sees epee T OZ. 1D. dr CWte in 16= il 448= 28= 1 1792). ae 35,840 = 2,240 =80=20=1 TROY WEIGHT PASE TAINS (OTs) nels eels =1 pennyweight........... pwt. 20 pennyweights............ ='T OUNCE. oo...2 5 ores eee Oz. HP GSbE ahaa ccdnondorc doc =1 pound. ~..4).4). oe eee lb. gr. pwt. oz. lb 2A — 130——20—iet 5 (60=240—=12=1 APOTHECARIES’ WEIGHT AV ieTrairis (Shs) nereinsie crete ai =| scruples). see sc. or D SISCTUPIES selene mie eyeeene ='] dram. eee dr. or 5 Sidrams*:.:. coves see renee =i] ounce seat. eee oz. or 3 IZ F OUNCES Seah eicicinie eee = pound eee lb. or tb gr. DS 5 Sasa 20 — 60=—))3= 480= 24= 8= 1 5,760 = 288 =96=12=1 ARITHMETICAL TABLES 381 MEASURES OF CAPACITY LIQUID MEASURE Aroaliss(Gts)< «cio citiars «Seis oe METI GEA isi eiwc-a cs sere ieee pt. PROIAGS so cick Sian tise le =A GULTATGS,s Siops 13 cha, 2 Ss ere kes at. RCH TAT US Siac 2, 5 ici an Rakaneteee == [ire Pohang ce gal SM eweallOnSede ore es Sn ohacias MD ALTE IN snes ote Se seis bbl 2 pees \ Oa AAAS Sieh. 5... wk: hhd. 63 gallons gi. pt. qt. gal. bbl. hhd. rel, = Dasa! Se = = f= 1,008 = 252 = 126=313=1 2,016 = 504 =252=63 =2=1 APOTHECARIES’ FLUID MEASURE 60 minims, or drops (M)..... = Nehmiat Grane aes ee {5 uitael dratnsnSsac, ns oeides == ifiiideOuUNCe’ 2 =t.c. 6. esos = {3 LGehluid Ounces nen. oc Sho aa] Sy ay ck hee ea ees ek aren ae QO. BEDITES GA oriG Rane we = csere ots =P OAL OMe eae sh aiels oaiee:s/ays Cong DRY MEASURE PMINTUESE CPEs): c12'e we «: Sines sie siete 3 | (OETA eee rare at SAG LEN ns ee IE DECK. Ceres hacks cairo eee pk. PTIECKS! Lcataiate wekcaes eats es SI ISHe ler es cots 5 ott ore bu. bt. qt. pk. bu 2= 15 — St 64—32—4—1 MISCELLANEOUS TABLES METRIC EQUIVALENTS OF POUNDS, FEET, ETC. The government publishes the equivalents in pounds, etc. of the metric system, but the American shipper wants to know what the pounds, inches, feet, and gallons, to which he is accustomed, are in the metric system. The following is a convenient table showing the metric values of our measures. Some countries demand that the metric system should be used in the consular papers, and in most countries, especially 382 ARITHMETICAL TABLES in Latin-America, the consignees ask for the weights, etc. in the metric system. Pounds Kilos Pounds Kilos il ete rie re Fp are ae = o50 60K eee eee = 27.216 Das a ER Rate: = .9072 70. 2b eee =v So ee = 1.3608 SOL eee = 36.287 Gen Pade eetet es shateialaie vs = 1.8144 QO). irs tie seeds = 40.823 1) Seen ea CRSP = 2.2680 100}. Ae = 45.36 a aN PNe ERCP eo Bee A == PANG 200.33: 2 eee = 90.72 CRASS eI e 3), 17/511 SO0is eit = 136.08 Se ee lata eratok oak = 3.6287 ADO i eee = 181.44 IF Sat tay hen Koks = 4.0823 SOON Pk ibene sete = 226.80 TIL SAAR ae a eae = Gliante) BOON. eee = Dao eke 740 Ay 2 2 rR a =" 9.072 100 loo ieeeeee —oliaol BO Sees = 13.608 8003. ke ee ee = 362.87 7: | OS lie She as -0 ft en eee = 18.144 900! ats ear e ee = 408.23 ORES AP en cers =22:680" |) 1.000): eee = 453.60 1,000 kilos=1 metric ton (Tonelada metrico). Centimeters Centimeters A inher ee en te ats ole = yey “ féet. ce oe eee — aloe Ufootetun ts hae oe = 30.48 8 feet. ose eee = 243.84 1B dehies ee or eye = 91.44 9 feet. o.G4 site eee = 274.32 DHteeti tet acts sie e's =-'60!96: | AOtectan- se eee = 304.80 SpleCtein cielo eee « == 4 O14 Aa Sul eee so eretteeeee = 335.28 A feet te cNaceee ieti = 1'21:92) 7 2 teeta. sae ene = 365.76 Irate hy aia eRe =1'52.40). |, Steet, ace ase = 396.24 GtCCts Sachse ccs = 182.85 1A fe6E nce oe = 426.72 TABLE OF DISTANCES simile. Vane, sco kremetae eoapeas: Sap ot each NE = 5,280 ft.; 1,760 yd.; 320 rd.; 8 fur. MO TIT ON ges A. vagina ee ehe spe meee =40 rd WCASIC. On atc sero eee cear an oes sini ree =3 mi iiknotshormatical mers) on sees eee = 6,080 ft.; or 14 mi * A knot is really a measure of speed and not of distance; when used in this sense, it is equivalent to 1 nautical mile in 1 hour. Thus, a vessel traveling 20 nautical miles per hour has a speed of 20 knots. ARITHMETICAL TABLES 383 Meriter ae aAgie te. see 6 oe Sess aisjais asians =3 nautical mi. Ty EER IVER pee ee 5 ine lie a en ie =6 ft. MIC LET A Cease Netto os es ere annie Se =3 ft. 33 in., nearly Tis LEE eG | IRS Dees Ba ae ine eee ae a ere =4 in 1503) PES a Caco An EOE, Eee =3 in LOGS Ve ages Sone San a ee een ee =9 in HReaple Senge blrs tomer eis ww a's cies eles = 240 yd MEASURES OF VOLUME PATIO OO ep Pre re aie ote eee arora he oie Bum oka ease =1,728 cu. in. 1a eres) Ete creas Roni are ae aera = 282 cu. in. iestandard. or witles Pallon.... ..ciscc-cs oss =231 cu. in. MCV IN OET ee ree ester oii s honstc aioe Wee oie = 268.8 cu. in. LI evrisl 2 le Se aa ae ne aa a = 2,150.4 cu. in. WEIS Diets SHE levee S022 sco sha ois oe 'e /dhs ala = 2,218.19 cu. in. WECOLUIORMWOOUS 5 crass asia sie sie achuts.o-0 a stare = 2S erate Lh SESS fis aided FOR ene = 24.75 cu. ft: PLN OL TOUnG timber: 252 22.52. 0. Se ee =40 cu. ft. COMO Me WH tIMDErs <0 o.202 6.2 coke + da esl beers = 50 cu. ft Cylinders having the following dimensions in inches con- tain the measures stated, very closely; the diameters are given first: ale aciceae ft =1}3in.X3 in. | Gallon....... = 7in.X 6in. | Lr ee ee = 3} in. X3 in. 8 gallons... .=14 in. X12 in. (ODES Re rae = 33 in.X6in. | 10 gallons....=14 in. 15 in- MEMORANDA MEMORANDA 25 MEMORANDA MEMORANDA MEMORANDA Promotion Advancement in Salary and Business Suceess Secured Through the GENERAL FARMING Soil Improvement Farm Crops Livestock and Dairying POULTRY FARMING Poultry Breeding COURSES OF INSTRUCTION OF THE International Correspondence Schools International Textbook Company, Proprietors SCRANTON, PA., U.S. A. SEE FOLLOWING PAGES The Benefits of an Agri- cultural Course The benefits to be derived from a Course in Agriculture in the I. C. S. are manifold, the most important, perhaps, is that it teaches the tiller of the soil to grow not only a better crop, but realize a greater production, as well as to do it with a great deal less of labor and expense, thereby making the tilling of the soil more of a pleasure than a drudge. Farmers, as well as others, are waking up to the truth that scien- tific farming is the only proper method to pursue, especially in these days of worn-out land, problems of drainage, and other things too numerous to mention. In this connection, your instruction on manures is worth the price of the whole Course. I might say the same of your instruction on drainage, etc. I have just put out twenty-five ParagonChest- nut Trees, and a quantity of Catalpa Speciosa, Bald Cypress, etc., and, in the proper prepara- tion of the soil to receive these trees, your instruction, of course, stood me in good stead. Am also growing Ginseng, Golden Seal, Pink Root, Ladies’ Slipper, and others of the so- called “special crops,’’ on the same farm; the preparation of the soil for the successful grow- ing of such plants requires special consideration and study. I also have a problem of drainage on my hands, on the same farm, but, with the instruction given in your Agricultural Course, it will be a very easy matter to meet all the conditions. I have endeavored to make my letter brief, but, on account of the great scope or magni- tude of your Agricultural Course, it would be difficult to say it all upon a hundred sheets of paper of this size. WAYNE CANFIELD, 84 Madison St., Wilkes-Barre, Pa. SECURED A POSITION ON A POULTRY FARM Jack CHAMBERLAIN, Petoskey, Mich.: ‘‘Since taking up your Course in Poultry Farming I have been employed on a poultry farm, and my wages are 10 per cent. higher than ever before, due to the knowledge gained from your Course.”’ WELL SATISFIED PHILLIP BECKER, 1910 Prospect Ave., New York, N. Y.: “T desire to state that I find your Course in Agriculture all that I expected it would be. It not only explains everything, but tells what to do, when to do it, and how to doit. Jam very well satisfied with the Course.”’ MANAGING A LARGE PLANT Puiiie J. Roy, St. Joseph Academy, Tipton, Ind.: ‘“‘From the knowledge gained from the lessons in your Poultry Farming Course that I have completed, I have been appointed man- ager of poultry farming for this institution, and as a special favor I ask all the assistance that the I. C. S. may see fit to give me to make my work a success. At present, I have 1,000 eggs under incubation. The president and general manager of this institution have inspected my studies thus far and they have given me their confidence in my work; they think your Course so complete that one can be successful if your teach- ings are followed.” FIT TO MANAGE A FARM J. H. Pennincton, Pennington Gap, Va.: ‘‘My Course in Agriculture has been of great practical value to me and I am sure that any one who studies it will be fully able to manage a farm.”’ NOW MANAGER CLAUDE C. Rocke, Manager Hillair Farm, Sterlington, N. Y.: “I find the knowledge derived from your Course in Soil Improvement and Farm Crops of practical value in my business. I took up the Course with the idea of gaining all the information possible concerning agriculture, also the more advanced methods of farming. I now have charge of a gentle- man’s estate, and there is seldom a day but some points of the Course are of benefit to me in my work.” 3 Worth Many Times Its Cost I wish to express my gratitude to the faculty of the International Correspondence Schools for the assistance they have rendered me and the interest they have taken in my progress and success since I enlisted for a Course in Soil Improvement and Farm Crops. The Instruc- tion Papers are very lucid and cover every point of importance with the utmost care, thereby making it easy for a person to grasp the meaning of what is taught. I think any one who contemplates making farming his life vocation will find an International Correspond- ence Schools’ Course in Agriculture worth many times the cost. WILLIAM R. HALLoway, River Side Farm, Newark, Md. MOST PRACTICAL HarRo_tp Brown, 1511 W. 8th St., Los Angeles, Cal.: ‘I think your Poultry Course is the most complete and practical I have ever seen, covering as it does every branch of the busi- ness thoroughly from start to finish.” WE HELPED HIM OBTAIN A POSITION Joun Gowpey, Millville Poultry Farm, Millville, N. J.: ‘“The Poultry Farming Course in which I enrolled last October is now nearly finished and I have found it to be an exceedingly Valuable Course, as it contains a great amount of very valuable information along the line of poultry raising—information which no one person could gain in even a lifetime of practical experience without such aid. I consider this Course one of the best investments of my life; and would not be without the information gained through it for many times the cost of the Scholarship. I wish also to thank your Students’ Aid Depart- ment for the valuable assistance they have rendered in securing a position that I desired.” SAVED HIM FROM FAILURE Jas. ARCHER-GURNEY, Charleston, S. C.: ‘‘When I began studying-the Poultry Farming Course for which I enrolied with the I. C. S. I had no idea there was so much to be learned about poultry. Had I attempted to go into the business prior to the study of this Course I would have made a grand failure. The knowledge gained from each one of your Instruction Papers is worth the price of the entire Course.” NO HOBBY OR THEORY MarsHALL J. Lune, South Hill, B. C., Canada: “I found the Poultry Farming Course of the I. C. S. to be simple, pointed, and accurate. I have been impressed with the fine judgment, sound business methods, and scientific research which stamps the author as a scientific and practical man of long experience. The subject matter is well chosen and carefully pruned of all hobbies and unproven theories.” HIS COURSE PROFITABLE C. L. Law, 2036 W. 83d St., Cleveland, Ohio: ‘“‘I have found my Poultry Farming Course very satisfactory. Pre- vious to enrolment with the I. C.S. I had studied poultry raising and had bred poultry to some extent; but I must say that your Course has been of great profit to me.” 5 Learned More in a Few Months Than in Six Years Previous The knowledge that I have gained since I started to study your Course in General Farm- ing has been of great assistance to me. I had 6 years of practical farm experience previous to taking the Course, but I have learned more about farming in the few months that I have studied than in the 6 years previous. The textbooks make everything so plain that any one with a common school education can easily understand them. I feel very confident that the Course will be very helpful to any one engaged in agricultural work. C. H. SIem_Er, Bernardsville, N. J. CANNOT FAIL TO SUCCEED Bert WHITE, Box 477, Burlingame, Kans.: ‘‘Any one interested in poultry should invest in the Poultry Farming Course with the I. C. S. From personal experience I can say that any one that will study the Course cannot fail to succeed. Each subject is well explained and easily understood. Since I began to study my Course the profits of my flock are rapidly increasing.” MARKED SUCCESS WALTER L. HARLAN, 218 Center St., Mauch Chunk, Pa.: “* After studying your Poultry Farming Course I can truthfully say that I made a marked success in raising and caring for poultry, and I will always recommend the Course to any one interested in the subject.” HIS COURSE BROUGHT SUCCESS Moses L. KoHEN, Pueblo, Colo.: ‘“‘I think the Poultry Farming Course issued by the I. C. S. is fine. As a result of studying it I have been able to raise a nice lot of chickens and I know that I could not have succeeded as I have without the information obtained through your Schools.”’ HIS COURSE PROFITABLE J. C. THRENHAUSER, Fair Haven, Pa.: “I cannot express my appreciation of the value of your Poultry Farming Course since the benefits derived are far beyond my anticipation. Since taking your Course I have spent some time at the gov- ernment experiment station. Their course in some respects is quite like yours, but it it not so extensive or so complete. I have been offered two positions to take charge of poultry farms, both of which I declined, because I can do much better by caring for my own poultry.” HIS COURSE A BENEFIT W. T. Courtney, Atlanta, Ga.: “I found the Agricultural Course to be of great benefit to me; in fact I know of no other way in which I could have gained the same practical informa- tion so readily. I was promoted to be superintendent of grounds of the Spelman Seminary. This threw a herd of dairy cows and several acres of land on my hands. Being practi- cally ignorant of such things I turned to agricultural liter- ature, but found nothing that helped me to systematize what I learned. I then decided to take your Course, and feel that I have learned more from it than would have been possible any other way. I have been uniformly successful in follow- ing out your instructions.”’ 7 A Course that Leads to Success I have found your Course in General Farm- ing to be simple, practical, and of the greatest value to a prospective farmer or stockman. A study of your Course is not only a mortgage lifter, but it will put a common-sense man in a position to be envied by his fellow men. I would not part with my Course for many times the amount paid. You not only get the Course but four beautiful Bound Volumes for refer- ence and future use. I shall always endeavor to interest my friends to the best of my ability and will advise them to take the Course, as a study of it will lead to their greatest aim in life. ALEX. R. GAUL, 272 Western St., Albany, N. Y. HIS MOST SATISFACTORY INVESTMENT MartTIn J. Rooney, 408 S. Ohio St., Butte, Mont.: ‘The I. C. S. Course in Poultry Farming is thorough in every par- ticular. I can honestly say that I consider the price I paid for the Course one of the most satisfactory investments I ever made.”’ THE BEST OF ITS KIND FRANK H. PAyNeE, 115 Patterson Ave., Ogden, Utah: “I am more than satisfied with my Course in Poultry Farming for which I enrolled in the I. C. S., and can truthfully recom- mend it to any one wishing a thorough knowledge of the poul- try business. I have studied several books on poultry culture, but your Course is the best of its kind.” NO EXCUSE FOR FAILURE D. H. McFatts, White Plains, N. Y.: ‘‘I am pleased to express my appreciation of the Poultry Course by the I. C. S. If I had had the knowledge your Course has now furnished me two years ago, I would have been spared much anxiety and saved loss, since your Paper on feeding alone would have been worth more to me than the cost of the whole Course. To any one having your Course, there need be no more excuse for failures in the poultry business. THE I. C. S. VERSUS EXPERIENCE C. L. Swartz, Detroit, Minn.: ‘‘I like your Poultry Farm- ing Course very much and have learned a great many things that would have taken years of experience to have found out. Any one starting in the poultry business would be spending his time and money wisely by taking the Course, as when he has finished the Course, he can start right in to make a success of the business.” MANAGING A POULTRY PLANT AT DOUBLE HIS FOR- MER WAGES _JAcK W. Patton, Coxeyetta Poultry Farm, Box 64, Mas- sillon, Ohio: ‘‘Since studying your Course in Poultry Farming, I have been able to increase my earnings 100 per cent. I have secured the position of manager with the Coxeyetta Poultry Farm of Massillon, Ohio. I consider the lesson papers on Poultry Feeding alone worth the price of the entire Course. Any one completing your Course should have no difficulty in securing a position as manager or superintendent of a poul- try plant.” 9 A Help to the Ambitious The knowledge which I have obtained from my Course has assisted me materially in my general farm work. My aim in studying the General Farming Course is to learn all that I possibly can now, so that when I shall be thrown on my own resources I may make a success of my profession. I find that the knowledge derived from my Course of instruction, owing to the clear and concise manner in which mat- ters pertaining to agriculture are explained and described, will assist me considerably toward the fulfillment of my ambitions. JOHN BARANOWSKI, R. R. 3, Box 6, Montrose, Colo. THE BEST SOURCE GILBERT M. Burr, Meshoppen, Pa.: ‘“‘As a student now completing your Poultry Farming Course, I can heartily recom- mend it to any one engaged in raising or handling poultry. I do not believe any one can derive as much benefit from any other source as by studying this Course. As a breeder of single- comb White Orpingtons, I find it full of valuable information and practical instruction for all phases of the work.” MONEY WELL SPENT Joun B. GALLAGHER, 418 Broad St., Bethlehem, Pa.: ‘‘In fifteen years of poultry keeping I have not had such a successful winter as the present one and I have had only the I. C. S. to thank for my success. I thought that I knew how to keep poultry, but every lesson taught me new points. I consider _ the Course the best investment of my life and any one inter- ested in poultry will do well with poultry and soon learn to make money from them. If they take this Course, it will be money well spent. Wishing you success in the good work you are doing, I remain.” FOUND OUR COURSE SUPERIOR Paut O. ARNSWALD, 5917 N. 12th St., Philadelphia, Pa.: *“*T wish to inform you that I am a student of your Poultry Farming Course, and although I have seen a great many books on this subject, those I have received from you are absolutely the best I ever came in contact with. I think every one inter- ested in poultry should have these books and your Course. Thanking you for your interest in me, I remain.” PRAISES HIS COURSE LEwIs FurMAN, R. F. D. 2, Sunbury, Pa.: ‘‘I have almost completed your Course on Poultry Farming and I think it is fine. If more people took your Course on Poultry Farming there would be more successful poultrymen.”’ OUR COURSE INDISPENSABLE Epw. J. Murpny, 260 Bloomingdale Road, Worcester, Mass.: “IT find your Course just what you claim it to be, and anybody intending to embark in the poultry business, either the novice, amateur, or expert, should study it. To accomplish success your Course is indispensable.” 11 Found His Course Helpful and Practical I desire to state that I have gained consider- able knowledge from your Course in Agricul- ture. I am engaged in farming and what I have learned from your Instruction Papers has been very helpful to me. I feel confident that any one wishing to take up agricultural work will derive great benefit from the study of an I. C. S. Agricultural Course. I do not see how the Course could be made any plainer or easier to understand. Any one who can read and write can get along with such a Course without any trouble whatever. R. F. SNyDER, Ashland, Pa. NOTHING LACKING C. H. RosENBAUM, 227 Poplar St., Norristown, Pa.: “*Be- fore taking your Course in Poultry Husbandry, I had been studying the business for several years; reading the best books published on the subject, and all that, but in them ali there was always something lacking—something that was not thoroughly explained. Your Course in Poultry Husbandry leaves nothing unexplained to the smallest detail. I consider myself greatly benefited by your Course. The articles on feeding alone are worth the price of the entire Course.” NO OTHER POULTRY LITERATURE APPROACHES OURS E. F. StaupAcuer, Brooklyn, N. Y.: ‘I have read various poultry magazines, government bulletins, different poultry- system books, etc., but I have never read any poultry literature that, in my opinion, could approach the Poultry Farming Course that you are now furnishing. It is the most practical, comprehensive, and voluminous treatise on the subject that I have ever come across; it fully covers the subject matter in all its phases; is most interestingly and entertainingly written, and it seems to me that the further I go into it, the more enthn- siastic I become with it. In short, it is a clear, concise, and most excellent write-up in which the presentation of facts is attractively set forth in a manner easily understood.” STUDIED BOOKS AND FAILED—OUR INSTRUCTION TURNED FAILURE INTO SUCCESS Cuas. S. Fry, 241 Rose St., Reading, Pa.: ‘‘After having taken your Course on Poultry Farming, would say it is very interesting and instructive, and I have derived great benefits from it. I have been interested in poultry for about twenty years; read all kinds of poultry books and thought I knew a great deal about poultry, but had failures all through. Your Course has overcome these failures and cannot be recommended too highly, because it not only instructs how to house, breed, and feed all kinds of poultry, but gives all the details on dis- eases which must be known by all successful poultrymen.”’ OUR COURSE MORE VALUABLE THAN ALL POULTRY PUBLICATIONS RaLpH W. Weston, Box 26, Honolulu, Hawaii: ‘Having about completed your Course in Poultry Farming, I can say in all faith that the methods set forth are of priceless value to any one intending to keep poultry, ducks, geese, turkeys, or squabs. In a small way, I have applied the methods set forth in the Course and find the results as stated. In my opinion the Poultry Farming Course is worth all the poultry magazines published, and is also worth many times the expen- diture of time and money.” 26 13 Praises the I. C. S. As a student of your Agricultural Course, I have received the best instruction that I could have found anywhere. To a person that already has work of some kind, as I had, it offers a good chance of gaining more knowl- edge without taking very much time from regular work. Also, it is not expensive. The Course starts from the beginning and treats all subjects so that any one without any pre- vious knowledge of the subject can easily mas- ter the instruction given and can carry the work completely through. This knowledge will be of great practical assistance to any one. The volumes that are furnished with the Course are very good. I would advise any one thinking of taking a Course to do so with the International Correspondence Schools. ERNEST E. VEST, Scottsburg, Ind. 14 WORTH MANY TIMES THE PRICE CLARENCE THEO. ANVICK, Box 23, Arcata, Cal.: ‘It would hardly seem just for one to finish your Course in Poultry Farm- ing without giving an opinion on it. Every branch of poultry farming has been so thoroughly touched, and presented in such simple language that no one who takes up its study can fail to fully comprehend the text. The Course is worth many times the price paid for it and cannot be easily forgotten. It can be safely recommended to all who wish a broader knowl- edge of the subject, and should appeal alike both to those who intend to enter the business of poultry raising on a small scale or a large scale.’’ DOLLARS AND CENTS KNOWLEDGE Tuomas H. PoLiarD, 916 Eighth Ave., Brooklyn, N. Y.: “Having been a subscriber to your Mechanical Course in for- mer years, I was pleased to learn that you were issuing a Course in Poultry Farming. Knowing the need of information on this subject, I subscribed for the Course. In reading and study- ing the first Instruction Papers, I began to realize the greatness and perfection of the Course. Step by step the student is led to proficiency and also I find that each step has been carefully examined beforehand from one standpoint—the question of dollars and cents. In this lies the crux of the matter, the secret of success.”’ SUPERIOR TO OTHER COURSES W. A. Moore, 143 Sherman Ave., N. Hamilton, Ont., Can.: “This is to certify that I have nearly completed the I. C. S. Poultry Course and I find it up to date and the best so far. I have taken courses in two other poultry schools and followed the experimental farms and find points completely covered in the I. C. §. Course which all others said they had no data of. Any one desiring a thoroughly practical poultry course can get nothing better.” HIS COURSE BROUGHT SUCCESS D. BRANNAN, 223 Beech St., Grafton, W. Va.: ‘“‘I can truly say that since I began to study the Course in Poultry Farming I have had perfect success with my fowls. I have 11 pullets and four cockerels and have been getting from 50 to 75 per cent. egg yield since my flock was 6 months old, and I am not troubled with colds, etc., in my flock as before. The Poultry Farming Course is very good in its teachings with regard to the com- mercial side of poultry raising; that is, raising fowls for meat and eggs. 15 UCY 4 Proprietor of a Pros: perous Business Before I enrolled with the I. C. S. for the Poultry Farming Course I was in the milk business. Since enrolment I have sold out and now devote all my time to poultry. I found no ~ difficulty in completing my Course and I have to thank the I. C. S. for putting me where I am today. No one going into the poultry busi- ness for profit can do without the I. C. S. Course. There is much to learn and the Course will take you over all the dangerous places in safety. There is no branch of the poultry business omitted. I am at present making about three times as much by selling hatching eggs and day-old chicks as I did before enrol- ment. G. F. KAIHLER, 508 S, Lime St., Lancaster, Pa. ~ AOU OO02S5S&be4u7ea