I 12 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
FEB. 7 
All Sorts. 
RECENT STATION BULLETINS. 
Cornell, Ithaca, N. Y., Bulletin 25 -Sundry Investi¬ 
gations. 
Kentucky. Lexington, Bulletin 81, Strawberry Pests. 
Ohio, Columbus, Bulletin 9, Asparagus; Trans¬ 
planting Onions. 
Prof. W. J. Green, (Ohio Station, Bulle¬ 
tin 9) concludes from careful experiments 
that male asparagus plants are about 50 
per cent more productive than female 
plants, and the shoots being larger have a 
greater market value. He also states that 
rubber bands can be used economically in 
bunching asparagus, the extra expense be¬ 
ing more than counterbalanced by the time 
saved, while the bunches have a neater ap¬ 
pearance, hold together and bear handling 
better in marketing. Mr. Green thinks 
there is difference enough to pay the as¬ 
paragus grower to select all male plants in 
starting a new plantation. Male plants 
may be secured by division of old plants, 
or by selecting those that bear no seed 
after they are two years old. The rubber 
bands mentioned cost two dollars per 
pound, the best size running about 2,000 
bands to the pound. Two bands are used 
for each bunch. In bunching, the band is 
slipped over a common tea-cup. The cup 
is then filled with asparagus shoots, heads 
downward, and the band slipped over. 
This bulletin also gives an interesting ac¬ 
count of the new method of growing onions 
alluded to by Mr. Greiner, on page 106. 
At the French Agricultural School at 
Aube, Prof. Dupont experimented with 
potatoes that were frozen in the ground, to 
see if they could be utilized as food. The 
frozen tubers were washed or soaked in 
cold water, then slowly dried in the air 
and afterwards stored in a dry place. Po¬ 
tatoes thus treated made good food, kept 
well and gave a slightly better analysis 
than those which had not been frozen at 
all. Almost every farmer has had occasion 
to dip frozen carrots oi other roots in cold 
water to “save” them. 
Some evaporated apples that were rejected 
by the chemists of the German Custom¬ 
house were analyzed by Chemist Snyder 
(Cornell Bulletin No. 25) and found to con¬ 
tain zinc which came from the pans used in 
the process of evaporation. In the same 
bulletin is an account of an experiment on 
the effect of removing the tassels on corn. 
It has been claimed that if these tassels are 
removed, the strength thus saved to the 
plant, would result in more grain. In a 
large corn field the tassels were removed 
from each alternate row as fast as they ap¬ 
peared. The result was a decided gain in 
the plants from which the tassels were 
taken. In no case did a row on which the 
tassels were left produce as much as the 
rows on either side of it. It paid to remove 
the tassels on half the rows, but just what 
proportion should be removed or how much 
time the farmer can afford to spend at the 
work cannot be determined from this one 
experiment. Sugar beets grown at the 
station gave a somewhat lower percentage 
of sugar than has been found in beets grown 
in other States ; but the season, on the 
whole, was not entirely favorable for beets. 
As compared with mangels, the beets gave 
a lighter crop and were twice as hard to 
harvest. Prof. Bailey has given the paper 
flower pots described in recent issues of 
The R. N.-Y., a very careful trial and con¬ 
siders them “good.” An interesting poul¬ 
try feeding experiment is recorded in this 
bulletin, which we shall review at length 
next week. 
READER’S NOTES. 
The following letter from George Wash¬ 
ington to his confidential friend, Col. 
Edward Carrington, (in whose family, by 
the way, the wife of Payton Thomas was 
once owned), showing the former’s inter¬ 
est in an improved thrashing machine, is 
interesting. The original letter is in the 
hands of Prof. Wm. D. Cobell, of Washing¬ 
ton, D. C., and its contents have only of 
recent date been made public : 
Mt. Vernon, 29th June. 1197. 
Dear Sir,—General Marshall, who did me the favor 
to spend an evening at this place on his way to 
Philadelphia, confirms the report I had before re¬ 
ceived of the utility of Mr. Booker’s improved 
thrashing machine, and added that a letter to that 
gentleman directed to your care would certainly 
reach him. 
As I am extremly desirous (and that with as little 
delay as possible) to get one or two erected, and had 
got the scantling for them on the plan of the Scotch 
machine used by Mr. Jefferson, General Lee and 
others, I have taken the liberty of requesting the 
favor of your care of the enclosed letter—to which 1 
am Induced from the consideration of not having 
possessed myself of Mr. Booker’s christened name or 
place of abode. I am always sincerely 
Your affect. & H’ble servant, 
G. Washington. 
Col. Edward Carrington, ) 
in > 
Richmond, Va. ) 
A writer in the Ohio Farmer proposes a 
novel scheme for cutting down the salaries 
of county officers. He would have every 
candidate print in a local paper, before 
the nominating convention, the sum for 
which he will guarantee to do the office 
work. Every candidate must, before the 
election, file a bond with the county com¬ 
missioners agreeing to do the work for a 
stated sum. If elected ho is not to receive 
any more than the stated sum for his work. 
This might put a stop to the fee system 
which now makes the county officers valu¬ 
able. “ Cheap ” men, however, can never 
do high-priced work, and under such a rule 
as the above, a man’s salary would often 
be gauged not by his ability or the 
amount of work he would have to per¬ 
form, but by the urgency of his distress. 
In positions of trust, it would probably be 
a fruitful source of rascality. 
“ Investment Fund ” companies and 
like high-sounding concerns are among the 
shams of the day that are spreading like a 
life sapping pestilence all over the country. 
Lately they have been doing a very flour¬ 
ishing business even in cautious, thrifty 
New England, by promising very large re¬ 
turns for small monthly payments. Re¬ 
cently they have extended their specula¬ 
tions vigorously into Vermont; but their 
operations there have just received a check 
or a death blow by a circular from L.-O. 
Green, State Inspector of Finance, in 
which they and their methods are bitterly 
denounced, and they are forbidden to do 
business in the State under penalty of 
$1,000 for each transgression. The circular 
gives the names of 100 companies against 
which the public are warned. 
FARM ENGINES 
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It will pay you to write us before buying. Illus¬ 
trated Pamphlet free. Address 
theJAMES LEFFEL&CO. 
SPRINGFIELD,O. or 110Liberty St.N.Y.City. 
SYRACUSE 
PLOWS 
Horse Hay Forks and Conveyors. 
Steel Frame Cultivators. 
Spring Tooth Harrows. 
Chilled Iron and 
Steel Plows 
Single and Reversible 
Sulky Plows. 
Hillside Plows. 
Shovel Plows. 
Road Scrapers. 
UNEQUALED BY ANY OTHERS Manufactured. 
Agencies in All Cities and Towns. Send for Free Illustrated Catalogue. 
SYRACUSE CHILLED PLOW CO., Syracuse, N. Y. 
VALUABLE SEEDS 
OF 
NEW VARIETIES 
GIVEN TO ALL YEARLY SUBSCRIBERS TO 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
In accordance with our promise, we describe below the 
choice varieties of field and garden plants of which we will send 
enough seeds to each yearly subscriber to enable him to secure 
“stock-seed” for future use. We have been disappointed in 
several things originated on the Rural Grounds, that we had 
hoped to be able to send out this season, but found the avail¬ 
able supply to be wholly inadequate to the great demand, so we 
are obliged to hold them over for another year. In their place, 
however, we have arranged for several good things, which we 
believe will be highly satisfactory to our subscribers. 
These seeds are sent to yearly subscribers only, on request. 
We merely ask that the subscribers shall pay the postage, which 
should be sent with the requests. The varieties follow : 
RURAL THOROUGHBRED FLINT CORN. Fully described in previous issues. 
This is the variety of which Mr. Carman has grown at the rate of 103 bushels of shelled 
corn on one acre. It is also probably the best of all varieties for ensilage purposes. 
About one gill. Postage, 3 cents. 
THORBURN’S LONG KEEPER TOMATO. Originated on the Rural Grounds, the 
product of selection by Mr. Carman covering a period of over^S years. It is considered 
perfect in shape, is uniform in size, of rich color, with solid flesh of fine flavor, and pos¬ 
sesses long-keeping qualities unknown in any other variety. A small packet, Postage, 1 
cent: will be included with any other package without charge for postage. 
VAUCLUSE WATER-MELON—red seeded. The bright red seeds and brilliantly 
colored flash make this, perhaps, the handsomest of Its tribe for the table. The flesh is 
of especially fine flavor and free from stringiness. It is of good size, ripens early and is an 
excellent shipper. Postage, 1 cent. 
EVERBEARING CUCUMBER. The new cucumber of our own originating not 
being ready, on account of the small supply of seeds, we have purchased a lot of this, 
which we consider the best of recent introductions in its class. It is small in size, very 
early and highly productive: especially valuable for pickling. The vines continue to 
/lower and fruit until frost. Postage, 1 cent. 
SILVER BEET. This combines in rare degree both useful and ornamental qualities, 
being a superior table vegetable, while as “ greens” it is thought by many far better than 
spinach, and it yields much larger crops. It is ready for the table from early spring to 
August, at a time when the farm garden is too often lacking in green things, and when 
the human system is most in need of fresh vegetable food. Further, its beautiful foliage 
Is highly ornamental, so that rows of the plants are frequently arranged as ornamental 
hedges. An ample supply for an average garden. Postage, 2 cents. 
CHOICE POPPIES. Who does not love these brilliant flowers ? But how many know 
of the wonderful improvements made in varieties during the past few years t Among 
them are gorgeous beauties that are as unlike the old kinds as the new roses are unlike 
the old wild sorts. We give you a package of mixed seeds, from the FIFTEEN best va¬ 
rieties known to modern gardens, including the famous “ Shirley ” strain. Postage, 1 
cent. The seed is very fine and light. 
SWEET PEAS. The Eckford’s Hybrid and the White Everlasting are, perhaps, the 
finest of all this fine species of exquisitely beautiful flowers. But we need not sound the 
praises of the favorite sweet pea. We present our readers with the finest to be obtained. 
Postage, 3 cents. Enough for 20 feet of hedge will be sent. 
ffW°If any subscribers prefer to have the seeds go by ex¬ 
press, not prepaid, no money need be sent us for postage ; in 
such cases all of the kinds will be put in the package if desired, 
and IF THE SUPPLY HOLDS out we will put an extra quantity of 
the Rural Thoroughbred Flint Corn in all express packages. If 
Ten Cents is sent, and you live near an express office, ex- 
pressage can be prepaid by us in most cases, as most of the ex¬ 
press companies accept small prepaid parcels at that price. 
OUR BOOK CEUB. 
The Rural New-Yorker, price, $2 ; The American Garden, 
price, $2 ; taken together, $ 3 . 
Either Rural or Garden, 1 year, in club with any American 
books (strictly on one order) at regular retail prices to 
the value of $1.00, sent prepaid for $2.50 
XXXXXX * * X X X X X X X X -X-X X -X-- XXX XX X X X X X X-X X X X»X X 1.50, “ 2.75 
| If sent upon one Order, 1 “ 
“«.„<< “ 5.00, “ 5.50 
“ 10 . 00 , “ 10.00 
Both Rural and Garden, 1 year, in club with any American books to 
tile value of $1.00, sent prepaid for $3.85 a- Exclusive of any book , at special prices 
If sent upon one Order. 
6 6 
1.50, 
6 6 
4.25 ^ 
66 
2.00, 
6 6 
4.50 | 
66 
3.00, 
66 
5.25 | 
6 6 
5.00, 
66 
6.50 ** 
66 
10.00, 
6 6 
11.00 
BelTTf your own subscription is already paid for 1891, the paper 
or magazine may be sent to any other address, the books to your own, 
if sent upon one order. 
THE RURAL PUBLISHING CO., Times Building, New York. 
