The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1884-06-25
Bone Fertilizers, Etc.

L. M. H., ElmOre, W., makes various
enquiries, as follows:
O "This spring have some bone
and ashes compound, some of which
made myself from refuse bones, and
some from bone meal. see plaster or
dry loan is advised to mix with the com.
pound before using. Plaster costs money,
and dry loan is impossible this wet
season, so what have used was applied
over the seed, always placing quantity
of soil between. Is there any danger in
this, or is there any essential point or
condition omitted? used large table
spoonful to each hill"
(2) "Where can the Sanford corn be
procured, and the price?"
(3) "Where can I get seed of the Red
Kidney bean, and the price ?"
(4) (which cultivator and horseshoe
do you consider the best, and the best
place to buy?"
(5) "ls plaster or gypsum beneficial
upon other than sod land ? My father
insists that it is not, while many tell me
it is, and some say it will assist to rot and
pulverize vegetable matter in which our
titled land abounds, being an old pasture
never plowed till recently. If not plaster,
then what will rot the brake roots, de-
cayed wood, etc. "a"
| REPLIES BY AGRICULTURAL EDIToR.-
O The method followed by F. M. H.
with his bone and ashes was the best
under the circumstances, but the quantity
used in the hill was rather small. 1t
would be better to use twice as much, and
harrow it in before planting. (2) San
ford corn is grown on many farms in the
Champlain valley. We have got good
seed of DR.. F. B. Hathaway of Milton,
Vt. The price is usually about 50 per
bushel of nice seed corn, or say IS per two
bushel bag. (O We find the Red Kid
ney or Gillian bean advertised in the
catalogue of Parker & Wood, 40 North
Market street, Boston, at 81 per peck.
AS other dealers do not seem to have it,
it is probably not greatly in demand,
although Parker & Wood say "largely
used for field culture" We are not
acquainted with it. az We have not
tried all the new cultivators and horse
hoes, but of those we have used we prefer
Shares, made by the Higganum Manufac-
turing Company of Connecticut and sold
by most dealers in implements. Price
when we bought S14. This is made of
wood, with cast-iron teeth. A lighter
implement, of wroughtiron and steel, is
the "IXL" cultivator and horseshoe, 81
to $15. (5) We do not think plaster will
do much to rot stiff sods and brake roots.
Ashes and lime have some effect upon
them, but in our experience frequent
blowing is the best, turning well under,
and gathering the loose stuff into the fur.
row ahead of the pillow. 1t is trouble
some job, and takes time to get such land
thoroughly subdued. We consider plaster
beneficial on all land where there are
insoluble potash compounds in the soil.
On such soils plaster has the same effect
as ashes, but we know of no way to
determine whether plaster will do good on
any particular spot, except by trying it
Quite often plaster alone has been found
to give great help to corn or potatoes
when used in the hill. This must be on
soils where plaster releases potash, and
which need potash only to produce crop
Such soil is not very common, excep,
some rather fresh light soils. Generally
some bone fertilizer would have to be
used with it. We think much of the
good done by commercial phosphates ii
due to the plaster which makes about one
: third of their weight.