Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume], July 18, 1914, STATE EDITION, MAGAZINE SECTION, Image 13

About Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916

Image provided by: Rutgers University Libraries

                
. Va P*M 'FA*r F i ftfctutirk
1 iala.. .J, i „ Zalj/. ^4n^rQhairiGile5^aibb=^:sr^jpMSp;^^ ^ a ay v^aLaa aa.a [
COMBINING INGENUITY WITH CONCRETE
IS HELPFUL ON COUNTRY PLACES
Tf the dweller in the countryside
- would combine a little ingenuity with
concrete he could make many useful
things from a single unit or pattern,
as he could cut up a board for
sundry purposes. The manufacture
of concrete lumber of this type is a
simple matter. Consider, for exam
ple, a simple concrete hoard or slab.
Home of the uses to which this ce
ment lumber could be put are ae
follows:
If two of the boards were firmly
m planted in an upright position and a
m third slab placed across the top one
f would have an everlasting stone
* bench.
Two of the boards planted longi
tudinally with a third board placed
* upon the top would make an excel
lent culvert or cover for a small
drain.
By providing proper supports,
whether of concrete or other con
venient material, these slabs would
serve as steps.
Laid upon the ground, one after an
other, they would make an excellent
walk.
Planted at the sides of the garden
walk they would keep the vegetable
or flower beds in position. The walk
hetween could be composed of a
series of slabs.
If made sufficiently* wide they
could be utilized for the sides of a
hotbed or cold frame.
Made a little thicker and stronger
they would constitute an excellent
pavement for a cellar, carriage house
or ground level porch.
Another convenient type of con
crete lumber w the staall beam. In a
box of required length could be cast
4x6-inch sections of concrete corre
sponding to timber of that dimension,
or in larger size, if desired. These
would be reinforced with three
eignth-inch rods, one in each corner.
Four of these firmly planted would
carry a large slab, thus making an
indestructible, weatherproof table
They could also be used for posts and
supports.
For making boards or slabs one
should have a shallow box or form
that will hold concrete to the depth
of twn or three Inches. It may be
of any desired length and width. A
k layer of concrete placed in the box
to one-half the depth of the latter
would be the first step in the manu
facture of the board. Upon this
would be placed a layer of woven
wire and the box then filled to the
top.
In brief, as stated, one would have
so much concrete lumber on hand,
and If he were to exercise his in
genuity he would find many uses for
’ it other than those described above. It
would not be necessary in every case
\ arious kinds of “concrete lumber” easily made from simple molds such as
can ftbe put together on any farm.
to purchase lumber for making forma
for some types of construction. For
example, there is the case of a builder
who utilized some old kegs for mak
ing supports for a building, and In an
other instance several kegs were piled
one upon the other to make a strong
concrete column, the concrete subse
quently being wrapped with wire and
plastered to bring it into proper
shape. Again, a man desiring a flower
screen at a point where it was impos
sible to dig, merely divided an old
store box Into two compartments and
placed therein some five inches of con
crete. In the centre of each block
was imbedded, while the concrete was
soft, a section of two-ineh pipe.
The two timber supports for the
flower screen were inserted in these
pipes and proper cross pieces at
tached from top to bottom. After
serving this purpose throughout the
summer the supports came into play
in other convenient ways, one of
them being used as a base for a
Christmas tree, and on another occa
sion it was called into service on the
lawn as a support for a large sun
shade.
A mixture consisting of one part
Portland cement, two parts clean,
sharp sand and four parts crushed
stone would make a strong and dense
concrete. The concrete should be
used at once, after mixing, and be
given ample opportunity to cure thor
oughly, which would require from a
week to ten days. In the meantime, it
should be sprinkled daily. The form
in which slabs or posts are cast should
have a simple locking device and
hinges to facilitate removal after the
concrete has set.
The purpose in adopting concrete
rather than lumber would be to elimi
nate all outlay for renewals and re
pairs, such as are essential when wood
is used. Time and exposure to the
elements increase the strength of con
crete and hence for the various de
vices specified it would serve the pur
pose as long as required.
TO MAINTAIN FERTILE SOIL
IN NORTHERN NEW JERSEY
The highly intensive systems of
farming practised on the greater part
of the farming land in the northern
counties of New Jersey make the
question of maintaining soil fertility
ar 1 soil tilth a most important one.
Cultivated crops are grown on the
land year after year and in spite of
»'T?(aiie manure and commercial fertil
.'/liters In many cases the yields cannot
be maintained. This Is especially
true on the very sandy soils and on the
\ heavy clay soils in the county, as both
these extreme types require a very
large amount of organic matter to
maintain the moisture holding ca
pacity of the former and thp proper
tilth of the latter. Stable manure will
solve the difficulty if enough of it can
lie secured and applied, and with some
of our smaller truck crops, which
must utilize the ground during the
entire growing season, stable manure
is the only solution. But land devoted
to the production of sweet corn, toma
toes, early potatoes and some other
crops, or to fruit trees, can be greatly
improved by the growing of cover
crops between the rows with the main
crop solely for the purpose of plowing
under in the spring.
There are several crops which may
be used for this purpose, but the
clovers, vetches or bfkns or others be
longing to the legume family are best
because of their ability to get nitrogen
from the air and store it up for later
crops. Some of the grains and grasses
may be used, however, and have their
valuable place under certain circum
stances. A good mixture sufficient tor
one acre for sowing between the rows
with the crops mentioned above w'ould
consist of the following:
Rye or wheat.40 pounds.
Winter vetch.18 pounds.
Crimson clover.10 pounds.
Mommoth clover. 2 pounds.
When planted in corn and tomatoes
this mixture should be spread broad
cast Just preyious to the last cultiva
tion and when there is an abun
dance of moisture in the soil. The
cultivation will cover the seeds suf
ficiently. In peach and apple or
chards sow the seed just previous to
the last harrowing between the trees
which should be made during the
last of July or early in August. In
early potatoes sow after the crop has
been harvested.
The object of sowing a mixture as
recommended above is to assure
some growth even though the sea
son should prove unfavorable. Crim
son clover is probably the most val
uable of our soil improvement crops
but it is not well adopted to the cli
matic conditions that frequently pre
vail in northern New Jersey. If the
season is favorable, however, It
makes a splendid growth that more
than repays the occasional failure.
The same may be said of Mammoth
clover. Vetch Is much surer than
either of the clovers but the high
cost of the seed as well as its trail
ing habit makes it undesirable to
sow it alone
Rye is an old dependable mainstay
which will always grow, no matter
what the seasonal conditions. It also
acts as a support for the vetch, keep
ing it off the ground and enabling it
to make better growth.
Under average conditions this mix
ture will produce a cover crop which,
when plowed under in the spring, will
be equal in soil improving value to
an application of twenty tons of
stable manure to the acre. The cost
of the seed per acre is less than
three dollars and twenty-five cents
would pay for the sowing.
Not only does a cover crop add
plant food to the soil and Improve
Its tilth and water-holding capacity,
but it also prevents the loss of plant
food through leaching and washing
during the fall and winter months,
when the land otherwise would be
bare. This is especially true on hill
sides—and a large proportion of the,
farming land In Essex. Passaic and
Bergen counties is so situated.
Every farmer knows the serious
oonsequences of a dashing rain on a
bare hillside, while if the same hill
side were covered with grass or some
other fine-looted plants which hold
the soil in place very little washing
would result.
Many of the best farmers already
practise cover cropping, but many
more could profitably do so. It
doesn't seem reasonable to pay fifty
dollars for manuring an acre of
ground, when three dollars worth of
.seed wdll accomplish practically the
same results.
THE COUNTRY CALENDAR
Do not handle ducks by the legs
or wings; carry them by the neck.
Soreness of beak, head and eyes
Is a complaint which may affect
goslings later on. This is caused by
chlggers and grass ticks. Olive oil
and turpentine, half and half, make
a strong smelling oil which, with the
addition of a few drops of carbolic
acid, will repel these insects.
Goslings Bhould he kept warm and
quiet for at least twenty-four hours
after hatching, and should he as
> carefully guarded from chilling the
first week as chicks Do not give
them free range until they are ac
quainted with and will follow their
mother. Confine them to small mov
able pens, which should be moved to
fresh grass each day.
Give ducks charcoal twice a week.
Charcoal should he fed to poultry of
nil kinds in larger quantities. Corn
cob charcoal is as good as ready
prepared if made rightly. Dig a pit,
start a Are with a few cobs, and add
more until you have a pit of red-hot
coals. I-our cold water over the cobs
at the red coal stage. Tf the char
coal seems damp, dry it out before
feeding. Crush and keep before the
poultry, or powder and feed in mash.
An animal raised on the farm will
not introduce diseases from an out
side source.
If you find the borer in your
squash vines, split it out and bury
the wounded part under loose, damp
earth.
Cellars are usually poor places for
milk, as there is not sufficient air in
v circulation to drive out t.he stale
odors, and milk is such an absorber
of ill-smelling things.
Every driver of horses should see
to it that his horses are given fre
quent opportunities to bury their
noses in the water. It will refresh
them greatly. Don't leave them
standing very long in the hot sun.
Do to a horse t.he same as you would
like to have done by you were you
a horse
In the autumn cut off the currant
twigs of the growth of the year and
stick them down in any protected
place. They will become rooted, and
may he transplanted in the next
spring or later. Is there any better
breakfast relish, any more healthful
dish, than that of currants and
cream?
An egg may be new laid and fresh
within the limits of the meaning of
those words and still be decidedly not
a good egg. Eggs readily absorb odors
and tainta so that a new laid egg, ii
placed where it is exposed to unpleas
ant odors, may quickly become unfit
as an article of food.
On all flat-land farms the immedi
ate ground on which the buildings
stand should be graded up toward the
buildings and made low along the
outside lines so that surface water
shall flow’ away from the buildings
instead of standing in pools about
them or causing unnecessary mud
and dampness.
The word "culling” has come to
mean among /poultry raisers "elim
inating the unfit.” To build up a
profitable flock it is absolutely neces
sary that those that are of poorer
quality be disposed of before they
have "eaten their heads off.” They
are often a loss to the flock, not pro
ducing enough eggs to pay for thetr
keep, and are a cause of disease.
Give the hen the attention she mer
its. Keep only purely breed varieties.
House them comfortably and feed
them well. Endeavor to have the hen
consume large amounts of the right
kind of food. Confine her within cer
tain definite bounds, so that while she
is not crowded and hampered, yet
she will not have an opportunity to
run about the farm wasting her en
ergy, loosing her eggs and making
herself a general nuisance.
The road drag is the simplest and
least expensive contrivance yet de
vised for maintaining earth roads,
according to the experts in the United
States Department of Agriculture,
who are co-operating with State and
county authorities in work for bet
ter roads.
Properly used, the drag gives the
needed crown to the road, smootne*
out ruts and other irregularities,
spreads out puddles of water, thereby
accelerating the drying of the road
and makes the surface more or less
Impervious to water by smearing over
the so-called pores in the earthy ma
terial. The cost of operation depends,
of course, upon local conditions and
the thoroughness with which tne
work is done. It is safe to say. how
ever, that It is less expensive than
any other efficient system of upkeep.
Farmers' Bulletin No. 597, of the
Department of Agriculture, dis
cusses, under the title of “The Road
Drag and How It Is Used," the best
methods of maintaining earth roads
in good condition by this simple de
vice. In this bulletin, which has just
been published, the department
points out that of more than 2,000,000
miles of public roads in the United
States, only about 200,000 miles have
been given a hard surface. It is true,
of course, that a large part of the
remaining mileage consists of roads
.that ar*? entirely unimproved, and
that on roads of this class the drag
is pracl lcally useless. There is a
much larger mileage, however, that
has been partially improved, and it
is on roads of this character—roads
that have been crowned or drained,
but have not a hard surface—that*
the use of the drag is advocated.
In its simplest form, the road drag
consists of an ordinary log split in
half and the two halves connected
like the uprights of a ladder by
means of cross-sticks or rungs set in.
The log should be about seven or
eight inches in diameter, and from
six to eight feet in length. It is bet
ter to have it of w’ell-seasoned. hard,
tough wood. The two semi-cylindri
cal halves of the log form the run
ners of the drag, and are usually
spaced from thirty to thirty-six
inches apart The front runner is
always placed with the split surface
of the wood facing forward, but the
rear runner sometimes has its round
ed face in front. This is done in or
der to increase the smearing action
of the drag as it passes over the
surface or tne roau.
The two runners are not placed di
rectly behind each other, hut are
“offset,’' as It is called, from twelve
to sixteen inches. This is done be
cause the drag is drawn over the
road at an aprle sufficient to make the
runners free themselves of the ma
terial which they scrape. The amount,
of this angle or skew ilependB, of
course, upon the condition of the
road By offsetting the runners, it
Ib possible to make their ends follow
approximately the same line on the
road, which they would not do if they
were set directly behind each other
and the drag drawn at an angle with
the road. ,
In order to provide standing room
for the man, it is usual to nail two
boards down upon the rungs parallel
to the runners. Standing upon these,
a skillful driver will bear his weight
in such a way as to aid materially
in the successful operation of the
drag.
The drag is drawn by a chain,
which should he about eight feet long.
This can be fastened by eye-bolts to
each end of the front runner, or one
end of the chain can pass through a
hole at the i discharge end of the front
runner, and the other end be looped
over the rung at the cutting end of
the runner. It is Important that the
hitching link should be so designed
that its position can be changed
readily. It Is also desirable to pro
vide a metal-cutting edge for the
front runner. This can he made from
a strip of iron or steel, and old
wagon tires have frequently proved
satisfactory.
The cost of such a drag varies from
»2 to perhaps *10 pr *12. This prac
tically insignificant outlay will secure
an implement that will be of gret^t
service to the community for at leaht
three or four years. The fact can
not be overlooked, however, that
skill in the use of the drag Is Indis
pensable.
ASK “THE QUESTION BOX”
What You Want to Know About Gardening, Poultry and Coun«
try Problems Answered by Experts.
This service costs you nothing. The only requisite for a full and com
plete answer Is to state your problem clearly, to write only on one side of
the paper, and to sign your name and give us your address. Initials only
will be use in answering queries. If your question relates to diseased plants,
describe fully and also send us a piece of the plant (stem and leaves) If
possible. Address “Home and Garden Question Box,” The Evening Star,
Newark. N. J.
Netting Apple Tree#.
How far apart should apple trees |
be set; is a filler of some quick-bear
ing variety advisable, and if so what
kind? W. P. H.
Flcmington.
This will depend somewhat on the
variety. Widespreading sorts, such
as Greening, Baldwin or Spy, should
be set, if alone, not less than forty
feet; if a filler is used, fifty feet.
Those not so spreading—Hubbardson,
Sutton, or Wealthy—may be set
thirty to thirty-five feet apart.
As to filler. If a man has only a
moderate amount of orchard land and
his chief industry is the growing of
apples, it may be wise to set in the
diamonds some of the quick-matur
ing. smaller trees just mentioned;
and where the large trees are set
fifty feet apart these tret's can live
out nearly their natural life, which j
is about thirty years, before they
will not interfere with larger trees. On j
farms where lines other than orchard
ing are followed, and orchard land is
plenty, it is wiser to set each kind
by itself, as indicated above, thus
allowing the younger trees to live as
long as they can. The last four or
five years of their lives will probably
[ be the most profitable, and when they
are set as fillers some of these years
must be sacrificed or the permanent
trees will be injured. It should al
ways be remembered that the roots
| of the trees will extend fully as far
I as the branches.
llorAfH Stabled in Same liiiihlinic witb
Dairy.
| What is the particular objection to
stabling horses in the building with
the dairy?
Summit. B. O. B.
The odor coining from the body of
the horse, as well as the voidings.
is exceedingly penetrating, and for
this reason it is objectionable to have;
them in the same building with the |
dairy. The manure of horses is one
of the most favorable breeding places;
for the common house fly. and un- j
less it is removed daily there will be
a multiplication of flies in the prox- j
imlty of any building where horses!
are stabled.
Lt-ffhornH I.ay Soonrr Than Wyandotte*.
All things being equal, which breed
will lay sooner. White Leghorns or
White Wyandottes?
Irvington. S. A. B.
Ordinarily speaking, the Leghorns
will mature more quickly and lay
earlier than the Wyandottes. It is a
question as to which breed actually
holds the record of early maturity.
Instances are known of the Wyan
dottes, as well as the Leghorns, ma
turing and laying shortly after four
months of age.
Dark Spot Inside of HkC
What causes a dark spot iuside of
an egg when the rest of the egg is
all right? Jl. F.
The dark spot often seen inside of a
fresh egg is caused by the discharge
of a small amount of blood from one
of the blood vessels supplying the
glands within the waUs of the ovi
duct. This blood is discharged into
the eggs together with the albumen
from these glands. Such eggs are
more frequently found dining the
heavy-laying season, when the glands ;
are most active and the blood vessels
within them consequently more easily
ruptured. Often the production of
such eggs is limited to a few indi
vidual hens. In such rases trap nest
ing will indicate whifch hens are pro
ducing such eggs, and they can be
eliminated from the flock.
These dark spots make the eggs
objectionable from the customer's
standpoint. The egg, however, is as
good for eating purposes or for
hatching purposes as if the blood
spot was not there.
Male*.
We are having a good bit of trouble
wi'h moles in our lawn and garden.
What can we do to rid the place of
them'’ J- W. W.
East Orange.
There is some question as to the ad
visability of killing moles. They are
as beneficial in some respects as they
are damaging in others. Their food
consists almost entirely of destructive
grubs and insects, w'hlle the damage
they do consists entirely of rooting
up lawn grass and garden plants.
They are often blamed for damage
done by mice and other rodents.
However, if a mole persists in run
ning through the lawn or vegetable
garden, he is to be considered a pest
and should be exterminated. This is
best accomplished by means of a trap
made especially for the purpose.
There are several varieties advertised
and all are good. Poisoning by means
of strychnine is often resorted to and
with success. Several grains of pure
strychnine are inserted in small bits
of beefsteak or In bodies of bugs and
dropped into the runways through a
hole made by inserting a small stick
through the top of the ridge. Raisins
treated the same way are also used.
The mole can often be discouraged
from running his ridges through the
lawn or garden by persistently tramp
ing his runways down. If he can be
driven into the cornfield or potato
patch, he will there do more good
than harm and should be left alone.
Carr of Out-Door Frrno.
How shall I care for my ferns which
are out of doors? A. S. A.
Newark.
Outdoor ferns should have rich
earth of the same texture as the soil
where the ferns grew in their natural
haunts. The location should be a par
tially shaded one, and as cool as possi
ble, and the earth kept moist in dry
weather. North sides of houses are
the best.
Dj not stir the soil about the ferns
very much. Do not reset often. A
fern loves one location. A little water ]
in which stable manure has been
Roaked applied twice a month will help;
to enrich the earth about the roots.
If the winters are severe use a little |
protection in the form of leaves or
a few stalks of fodder and leaves until!
spring returns.
If your ferns are house plants give;
them light, rich earth like the soil!
produced by decaying leaves and tim
ber known as woodsearth. Do not
reset into larger pots too often; keep |
moist but not soaked, and find a good
location and keep the ferns there.
It is strange but ferns do not like to
be moved about.
Value of Drainage to Land.
What Is the value of drainage to
land and the comparative value of the
methods employed—the open furrow
by plowing, or tilling; and what is the
expense and duration of the latter
method? F. H. K.
Dover.
Drainage, together with the addi
tion of organic matter, tends to In
crease the productiveness of a soil by
restoring it more or less closely to Its
original virginal condition.. When the
escape of an Injurious amount of
water was prodded for through
channels made by the roots of trees,
when the soil was filled with decay
ing vegetable matter which permitted
the water from rains and melting
snow's to filter rapidly through with
out becoming cold and stagnant, as it
nowf does In the long-cleared and
long-cultivated lands, or when we, by
artificial means, restore as far as we
are able, the conditions that orig
inally existed, we find that nature is
ever able and willing to respond to
our efforts and reward ua in a manner
that is often surprising. The amount
of water that is commonly known as
film moisture is ali that is necessary
in most cases for the best growth of
such crops as we cultivate; and the
water which remains In the soil after
heavy ralne or melting snow, filling
the spaces between the soil particles
to the exclusion of air. oxygen and
warmth, should be gotten rid of as
soon as possible, so as not to interfere
in any way with nature’s complex
operations by which she encourages
and perfects the growth of a plant.
Open furrows do not accomplish this.
-A system of tile drains may. at first
flight, appear expensive, but often
pay for itself in the first crop and is
to all human intents and purposes
permanent.
Heavy Clay Ground Good for Alfalfa.
Will heavy clay ground raise good
alfalfa, and how should the ground
be prepared? C. W. K.
Flemington.
Yes. some of the most successful
fields are growing on this kind of
land. The first essential is a thor
ough underdraining; then such fitting
as will free the land from weeds and
thoroughly fine it. Next, plenty of
available plant food. from both
manure and commercial fertilizers,
and then plenty of lime and inocula
tion.
l*Vvdins » Cow Hay.
Is there any danger of feeding a
cow too much hay if she has a rea
sonable amount of grain? What
would be a reasonable amount of
hay? A. M. P.
Chatham.
There is no danger in feeding a cow
all the coarse fodder she will eat. so
long as It is sweet and clean. The
amount for each animal is best de
termined by the animal’s desires and
appetite. What she will eat up clean
and have a good appetite for the next
feeding is the proper amount. If ex
cessive amounts of forage are given
before the grain the cow may not be
! able to consume as much of the lat
ter as her needs would require.
Therefore, it is best to feed the grain
first or in combination with the coarse
food.
Good HmIhiicpiI Ration for a Hor***.
What would be a good balanced ra
tion for a horse? B. W.
Summit.
In general the working horse should
be supplied whh something over two
pounds of food daily for each hun
dred pounds of weight. Of this about
one-half or two-thirds—the exact
amount depending upon the severity
of the labor performed—should be
grain in some form. If the work is
exceedingly heavy the grain in the
ration should be increased and the
hay diminished, whereas, if the work
is light the grain should be dimin
ished and the hay increased. The
morning and noon meal should be
comparatively light, consisting mostly
of grain, so that the heavy feed will
come at night when the animal has
sufficient time to eat and digest the
feed, and it is not obliged to go to
work immediately after eating.
While the foods that enter into the
ration may consist largely of such
as are available, yet a grain mixture
consisting of half oats and half corn,
by weight, fed In connection with
timothy, clover, alfalfa or mixed hay.
cannot as a rule be greatly Improved
upon, all things considered. In feed
ing the working horse a very good
practise is as follows:
For the morning ration feed one
fourth the daily allowance at least
one hour before going to work. It
should be in condition to be easily
and rapidly consumed so as to be well
out of the way when the horse is led
from the stable. After being watered
he is ready for the morning's work.
At the end of five hours of labor he
should be given the midday ration.
When he comes to the stable he
should have a drink of fresh, cool
water, hut see that he does not drink
too rapidly or gorge himself if very
warm.
Number of Henn in Flock.
How many hens should there be in
a flock, and what are the best breeds
for market and eggs? E. L. S.
Newark.
It Is difficult to state how many
hens can be kept In one flock. We see
flocks containing as many as 1,000 to
2,000 hens giving the best of satisfac
tion In other cases flocks of even 200
or 300 fowls are not giving the satis
faction which similar fowls in flocks
of fifty to 100 are giving Much de
pends upon the ability of the care
taker as to whether he can profitably
keep 100 or 1,000 fowls in one pen. Or
dinarily it is hetter to ke*p 100 or 200
fowls in one flock.
The best breed for egg production
and market are the Plymouth Rocks.
Wyandottes and the Rhode Island
Reds. These sre ail general purpose
breeds, of medium to large size, lay
ing a large brown egg. producing a
goodly number of eggs, maturing
their young and in the end providing
an excellent product for marketing
Best Layers of Leghorn Family.
Which strain of l.eghoms is con
sidered the best layers, white, brown
or buff, single comb or rose comb?
Newark. E. B. C.
The WTilte Leghorns are considered
the best of the Leghorn family. This
undoubtedly Ib due to the fact that
the White Leghorns have been bred
more extensively and with more at
tention to egg production than have
the other varieties, naturally result
ing in their being more perfected for
laying than the others. For the same
reason the single comb Leghorns are
more favored than the rose comb.
There are strains of the other varie
ties of Leghorns which are equal to
the White Leghorns.
Animal Protein Better Than 3 efftsble.
Would you advise using cottonseed
or other high protein grain food for
poultry instead of beef scrap or
ground bone? S. L. H.
East Orange.
WINDOW BOXES IN THE CITY ADVOCATED
FOR ALL BUSINESS PLACES AND HOMES
Thin allow a wliat can be done for a very modeat e* peitdit ure with window lioxea in the home. In this Inatanee
hoxea tilled with How era are placed on t lie porch and at the aecond atory window.
Recognizing the importance of,
Mower boxes in the business district, i
the committee on downtown streets
of the Chicago Association of Com
merce has issued a booklet calling
the attention of business men to
their opportunity in this direction.
The advertising value of this touch
of nature in the heart of a great city
is one of the many advantages
i pointed out. Already several of the
; great hotels, hanks and other insti
| tutions are using window and Inte
rior plant boxes, adding much to the
beauty of the place and making a
decided impression on the public.
To quote from the committee's
booklet: “Chicago ha* the opportu
nity greatly to improve the appear
ance of its business district during
the summer months by the adorn
ment of business buildings with
flowers, vines, or shrubbery grown
in boxes. The co-operation of all
progressive building owners and ten
ants is invited in adding a “touch of
nature" that will be a source of
pleasure to the people of Chicago, to
visiting business men and to tourists.
The favorable impression you make
will bear direct fruit. Such orna
mentation is a ‘living advertisement'
and worth many times its small cost.
Dispel from the minds of people that
downtow’n Chicago is ugly The
growing of plants within the loop
district is not an experiment.”. The
booklet her^ notes a number of ho
tels. banks, restaurants, etc., where
the idea has been carried out
The use of flower boxes has a
favorable effect upon one’s trade and
one’s etrfdoyes. Progressive manu
facturers in Chicago and elsewhere
have found that more and better
work can be secured from employes
when the windows of the working
rooms are filled with growing plants.
What is true of manufacturers is
true of all other lines of businesses.
Those who have tried the plan find
that they cannot afford to be with
out the growing plants Flower;
boxes exert an influence both from
the inside and from the outside In
other cities tenants in offices too high
to be seen from the street have main
tained flower boxes for the influence
they seem to have upon their em
ployes and their clients. In a me-1
rhanical age. when surrounded on
every side by things artificial, the
use of growing plants is the one
touch of nature that brings us back
to real things.
“Experience w’ithr flower boxes in
Chicago and elsew’here has proven
that growing plants can be main
tained for months wdth a little reg
ular’attention. that the flower boxes
do not fall on people’s heads, and that
they do not leak and main the build
ing. The heat results seem to have
been obtained by the use of a sub
irrigated flower box. Wherever
flower boxes are oared for by the
tenant this is preferable. The plants
may be cared for by the tenants or
by the florist. Growing plants may
be rented from the florist for the
summer season, in which case the
work of maintenance is done by the
florist.”
Arrangement of the Koxe*.
Among the rich and the people
who. if not rich, are at least very
comfortably situated, thousands of
dollars are spent every summer on
this one item. The man of average
income, however, need not be with
out his window box, for the ordinary,
everyday plant at a very reasonable
price will add much beauty to any
home.
The accompanying illustration
gives a good idea of what may be
done. Some of Ihe more elaborate
arrangements are, of course, too
costly for the average salaried man,
but others are within the reach of
almost everybody who is unwilling to
slight his love and appreciation of
growing things where growing things
are all too scarce. Palms, rubber
plants, dracaenas, pandanas, etc.,
are all used with fine effect in the
more elaborate arrangements. What
the person of moderate means needs,
however, is something that will keep
on flowering all summer. White
marguerites, vincas, both green and
variegated, and geraniums are splen
did plants for such cases. If watered
and fed as required they will keep
well during the entire season S. A.
Nutt and Jefin Viand are two very
good geraniums to use. Dwarf lobe
lias and vines of thunbergia a lata
are also desirable. Nasturtiums,
ivies. Boston ferns, asparagus, spren
geri. solanum jasnindoides, are a few
of the many plants that may be used.
The box obviously must be made to
fit the window and To set off but not
to obscure other objects of beauty,
but otherwise Its shape is immaterial.
It should be deep enough for good
drainage, nine or ten inches at least.
The material of which the box is
made, of course, will depend a gTeat
deal oti the price one wishes to pay.
Boxes of oak and cypress are. how
ever. cheaper in the end than the less
costly kind, as they do not have to be
renewed. The box should harmonize
In color with the house and the com
mon green color is often out of place,
not fitting its surrounding, and often
detracting from the greens of the
vines or plants. Especial care msist
be taken of the soil if the plants art
NEW AGRICULTURAL YEAR
BOOK BEING DISTRIBUTED
The year book of the United States
department of agriculture for 1913 has
Just come from the presses and is
now being distributed to congress
men and to correspondents of the de
partment entitled to receive copies.
The new volume differs in several
respects from its predecessors. The
articles that it contains are in gen
eral of a more popular and instruc
tive character, and although the book
itself contains a smaller numiter of
pages, it is safe to say that it has as
much valuable material in it as ever.
In addition to the secretary s re
port there are fourteen special ar
ticles by department experts and an
appendix containing statistics of th<
principal crops: a table of the ani
mals imported into the United States
for breeding purposes for which cer
tificates of pure breeding have been
issued, and lists of the agricultural
colleges and experiment stations in
the United .States, together with th >
names of the State officials in charge
of agriculture.
The book is illustrated b- fifty
four full-page plates, of which a
large number are reproduced in col
ors. and by twenty-one tables, maps
and line drawings.
In the articles in the year book the
cost of living plays a prominent part
Dr. Pennington, for example, points
out that Americans neglect a valu
able source of food by failing to take
advantage of the Immense supply of
fish at their disposal The protein
content of fish is fully as high us
that of meat and yet although meat
price* rise steadily little or no ef
i fort Is made to use the cheaper sub
stitute. It is the foreign population
of the United States which eats the
greater part of the fish consumed in
this country. Dr Pennington points
out that the ordinary American is
completely ignorant of the great
variety of fish at his disposal. Tb»
cheapness of this food is also scarce
ly realized. Dr. Pennington names
ten staple varieties some of which
it is safe to say can always be pur
chased for less than ten cents a
pound, even when prices are highest,
and can usually be obtained for less
than five cents
Another article by W. F. Ward
shows how greatly the beef industry
In the South has profited from the
work of eradicating the cattle tick.
One indication of the growing inter
est in beef industry in this section is
the large number nf farmers who for
the first time are buying pure bred
cattle
The business side of farming is con
sidered in two articles by W. J. Spill
man and T. X. Carter: Factors of
Efficiency in Farming, and the Or
ganization of Rural Interests. Prof.
Spillman finds that in ihe last an
alysis the farmer himself is the de
termining factor in every successful
agricultural enterprise. He is as
quick to sec the advantages of a new
system of management as he is those
in improved methods of tilling the
soil or feeding his stock. Dr. Carver
tells with the aid of graphic maps
what has already been done in the
way of organizing co-operative en
terprises for the benefit, of farmers.
Mutual insurance companies, co
operativaecreameries, cheese factories
and elevators are among some of
these widespread enterprise.8.
Other articles deal with various
to continue to do well. Loam from
rotted soil should form the basis of
the compost.' One-fourth well-rotted
cow manure and leaf mold in about
equal parts should be added. If the
sod is of a close-knit nature, sand or
grit should l>e included. The plant#
must l>e able to run their roots
throughout the soil, but there shoul<|
I l»e substance enough to make for life
and to ke^p them vigorou#.
Filling the Boxm. '-‘~
I Where the vines are heavy they
| must be planted firmly, so the wind
will not tear them loose. It is better
to plant them first and then firm the
soil around them. Rough-leaved
Plante should be left out of consider
ation. if there is a gTeat deal of fust
to contend with. The ferns, aspara
gus and the like, can be placed be
tween the vines Do not water too
heavily if the boxes are to filled at
the greenhouse and removed at once.
I’se just enough to settle the soil
when they are first planted and give
a good watering when their final des
tination is reached. If in a sunny
position, copious watering will, of {
course, be necessary. If the dust
from the street reaches the plants
frequent syringings will be in order.
Above ail. it must be remembered
that it is not necessary for the box to
look well, but that every precaution
must be taken to keep it in that con
dition.
Plant Vmmrw,.
Lawn vases are quite as important
summer adjuncts as are window
boxes, although not in such general
use. They are. indespensabl* for
large grounds, however, but they are
too frequently not the object* «
beauty they should be. There may
be several reasons for this. Plants
in metal it* receptacles should be
placed in shady position*, as they
will otherwise be likely to suffer from
overheating of the roots. Good drain
age must also be provided. Over- ■■
crowding must also be avoided.
The selection of colors that harmon
ize is as important here as wito
window boxes, and unless the plants
are arranged in good taste the mere *
fact that they are in a thriving con
dition will, not matter materially. The
rustic idea is often carried out wish
good effect where lawn vases are
used, as it lends itself naturally to
the work A lard barrel sawed to
the right length and with perfora
tions in thy bottom for drainage wfil
do very nicely, but. of course, tlv#
plant* should hide the barrel from
view.
GOOD ADVICE
In some cases weeds will come In
the lawn in spite of the best efforts to
keep them out One way to kill
them or reduce their numbers is to
mow the lawn frequently In spring
and early summer This will kill or
reduce the annual weeds, which have
hut one season of growth. Perennial
weeds, however, which live on In the
ground from year to year, cannot be
killed by ttelng cut off at the top, as
their roots and crown buds will live
on. This kind must be killed by being
dug out by the root*, or all the crown
buds cut off low down.
branches of the work of the depart
ment ranging in subject from a dis
cussion by C. F. Lang worthy of what,
the department does for the house
keeper to Mn article on the practical
value of entomology by F. M. Web
ster Prof F. K I- Beni has gathered
material for an article on American
thrushes which shows that they are
not to be prised for their song alone,
j hut are in other ways of real assis
tance to the farmer, and .1 F. Collin*
tells ,.f practical tree surgery. More
I strictly agricultural papers are those
of C. Ft. Hull on the Grain Sorghums;
! L. FF. Dewey on Hemp: R O. E.
I>avis, on Economic Waste from Soil
Erosion, and W A. Taylor and H.
P Gould on Promising New Fruit*.
The present health laws and thetr
relation to the department are ex- .,
plained by F G Gaffer, and, Anally,
i a D Melvin contributes an article on
jthe South American Meat Industry.
EVERY GARDEN REQUISITE
ALSO
POULTRY SUPPLIES
J. F. NOLL & CO.
US Mulberry *U Newark. N. J.
Thom W7® MarM