434 
Killing Rose Bugs. 
L. H. B., South Haven, Mich.— I have 
read all the theories on the rose bug and 
have tried all of the poisons known against 
it; but all to no purpose. I have sprayed the 
trees with London purple, Paris green, car¬ 
bolic acid, prussic acid and soft soap, so that 
I killed every leaf, but not a bug was found 
on the sheets. I have suffered more from 
them than from all other insects together. 
They come about June 4 and leave July 
1. I have 35 acres of apple orchard all in 
good shape, but have lost several entire 
crops owing to this pest. Is there any 
remedy ? 
R. N.-Y.—We can do little more for our 
friend than extend the sympathy of fellow 
sufferers. The only remedy we have found 
is pyrethrum or buhach powder. Use two 
heaping tablespoonfuls to two gallons of 
water, and spray the infested plants. 
Handling Ensilage Fodder. 
W. F. Massey, N. C. Experiment Sta¬ 
tion. —I am so used to agreeing with all 
tbat Mr. Gould writes about ensilage that 
it's ratter strange to feel like criticising 
Lis teachings But his ar icle on “Ensilage 
Harvesting Machinery ” on page 339, con¬ 
tains some statements that are rather sur¬ 
prising. He sp c aks of 20 big loads per acre, 
and further on spf aksof a3,000-pound load. 
Does he mean that he got 20 loads of 3,000 
p unds, or were 1 is big loads larger ? Now 
at 3 000 pounds—this would be 30 tons per 
acre. I would like to tsk Mr. Gould if he 
ever weighed 30 tc ns from a measured acre? 
I have grown ensilage com, on river bottom 
land in Virginia, that would have made 75 
tushels per acre of dried grain. The growth 
was much heavier than that of any corn I 
have ever seen in the North, and yet the ac¬ 
tual weight was but little over 20 tons per 
acie. I have often seen statements in print 
of 30 to 40 tons at the North, but I have al¬ 
ways concluded tie writers guessed, as 
farmers usually do, both at the size of tbe 
acre and the weight of the crop. Mr. Gould 
must have bis corn on very smooth land in¬ 
deed, if he can get it to t tay < n the wagon 
with the tops all one way. In my case I 
have to haul up a hill half a mile or more 
long to reach my silos after leaving my 
bottoms, and I was compelled to use a four- 
horse team to average 3,000 pound loads, 
and three of these four-horse teams would 
not make the 45 loads end three negroes 
could not keep the corn cut faster than 
they hauled it. M r. Gould’s cutter was a 
man of wonderful power or was foolishly 
over exerting himself, a thing that some 
ambitious young men will sometimes do 
for exlra pay. But for one man 1 o cut and 
lay in gavels 135,000 pounds of corn in a day 
is very big work. But as my men got $16.75 
per month and boarded themselves, of 
course, I could afford to use more than Mr. 
Gould who paid boys $1 per day and board. 
But I fully agree with Mr. Gould tbat no 
machine yet conlrhed will cut heavy corn 
as cheaply as a man with a corn knife even 
if he doesn’t cut half of 45 loads per day. 
The Flavor of Potatoes. 
H. Stewart, Macon County, N. C.— For 
many years past I have been growing sev¬ 
eral varieties of potatoes especially for 
their flavor. This quality in the tuber is 
exceedingly variable, and yet distinct in 
kind. The old Mercer or Neshannock, the 
most popular kind before the advent of the 
Early Rose, had a specially fine flavor, 
while the old Peachblow had a strong, 
peculiar flavor which was agreeable to 
some persons, but not to others. At that 
time—about 30 years ago—there were 
certainly more fine flavored potatoes than 
we have now, and the great popularity of 
the Early Rose, which quickly drove all 
the old kinds into desuetude, was unques¬ 
tionably due to this quality. The question 
as to the cause of the flavor of the potato 
has not, I think, been touched by the ex¬ 
perts who have given their views recently 
in The Rural, and it is one that requires 
a satisfactory solution, because, to a great 
extent, the value of the tuber depends 
upon it. Most persons would grow any fine 
variety, although it might be a small 
yielder, if the flavor was desirable, and at 
the present time we certainly have no one 
kind that compares with some of the old 
ones. 
Flavor in all vegetable products is un¬ 
questionably due to the essential oils con¬ 
tained in them. The parsnip, carrot, cab¬ 
bage, cauliflower, radish, celery, turnip, 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
1UNE 6 
onion; the odoriferous plants, mint, sage 
and others used for flavoring, all the fruits, 
owe their flavor to this essential component 
part of them, and not to the starch which 
is perfectly insipid, or to the water, which is 
equally tasteless. The skin of the potato 
is the most highly flavored part of it, and 
the flavor of the whole tuber is retained in 
it to the greatest perfection by baking it 
in the skin, which prevents the escape of 
the essential oil in the flesh. Now, it is a 
fact that the most succulent vegetables 
grown upon the richest soils are the least 
highly flavored, and this is especially true 
of the potato, which when grown in gravel 
and on rocky ground has the finest flavor, 
and is the most tasteless when grown upon 
moist land that has been enriched with ma¬ 
nure. The finest potatoes, too, are grown 
in northern climates, where the vegetation is 
least vigorous and it requires a longer time 
for its maturity. Many years ago, when 
growing potatoes in northern Michigan 
upon land consisting so much of fragments 
of rocks that it was often difficult to get 
soil enough for covering the plentiful 
tubers, I shipped them to friends in Penn¬ 
sylvania, New York and Ohio, who had 
previously procured their supplies of im¬ 
ported Nova Scotia potatoes, and who 
thought the Michigan potatoes were even 
finer. The northern New York potatoes 
now owe their popularity to their fine 
flavor, which far surpasses that of any kind 
grown further south. 
If it is a fact that the oil of the potato is 
the source of the flavor, and that the oil is 
due to the slower growth which gives time 
for the better development of this flavoring 
matter; then we have a key to the solution 
of the problem and the suggestion that we 
have been going astray in the direction of 
rapid growth instead of slower maturity 
and finer quality. This seems to be the 
case to me here where I can get Early R se 
flt to eat early in May, but they aie quite 
wanting in the fine flavor of those grown in 
Maine, where at that time not a bud has 
started. They are dry and mealy and have 
plenty of starch, cooking to a dry flour, but 
are quite insipid after having been t rjwn 
a few years without change of seed. But 
with fresh seed from Maine or Nova Scotia 
or even from Saratoga County in New 
York, the quality is all that can be desired 
for two or three years. The same is true of 
the Burbank, a dry, mealy, but here, very 
insipid kind. It applies also to the sweet 
potato whicn has some of the fine flavor of 
the Nansemond grown in New Jersey, 
which I have grown here from Northern- 
grown plants, tut which rapidly becomes 
as gummy, watery and tasteless as the 
Southern yams, wholly I believe from the 
accelerated growth in the warmer climate. 
The proposition of this problem for study 
is a very useful suggestion, and comes well 
from The Rural which has done so much 
to make the potato more productive, and 
will now crown its valuable work if it 
can give us that most desirabe quality, the 
fine flavor of the old varieties. 
“ No New Thing.” 
E. M., Scott, W. VA.-On page 385 of 
The R. N.-Y. is a picture of a roof—new 
perhaps here, but Captain T. Brooks in 
1848 gave a good description of the same 
roof with details in his book Practical 
Builder, written in Christiana, Norway. 
I have often been in a large foundry with a 
roof 60x200 feet constructed on this prin¬ 
ciple in 1820 in Copenhagen, Denmark. It 
is a very good plan where an open room is 
needed. 
No Pleasure There. 
O. H., Greeley, Col.— Eight years ago 
the writer visited a State’s prison. The 
rules and regulations contained the follow¬ 
ing : “ It should be understood that this is 
not a place for p’easure.” A thousand 
times the thought has come, Why should 
not pleasure be permitted to our 
brothers in “ durance vile ?” The old 
proverb fays, “All work and no play 
makes Jack a dull boy.” Is the object of 
prison discipline to make the prisoners any 
duller ? If recreation is good for the aver¬ 
age human being out of jail, why has the 
prisoner ceased to need it ? Does the 
young prisoner’s term of imprisonment 
leave him better or worse ? Does it sweeten 
or embitter ? Does it reform or harden 
him ? There is a foolish fashion of sending 
flowers and presents to condemned mur¬ 
derers, a lionizing of them that is as bad as 
can be. But, upon the whole, can we not 
contrive to hate the sin and love the sin¬ 
ner ? How mnch we strive to help the 
physically unfortunate, the sick, the de¬ 
formed, the crippled. We do not want 
them to know their whole loss. Now, to 
be criminal, soul-hardened must be as 
much worse than bodily imperfection as 
the soul is more precious than the body. 
Why should we not suppress some of our 
indignation at the sight of human mean¬ 
ness and try to* produce great-heartedness 
in the place of it ? Have there not been 
men who have been moved to pity at the 
sight of human wickedness and folly f We 
help the crippled child to cross the street. 
Shall we not extend all the aids in our 
power to him who is in the shadow of a 
terrible crime ? 
Let us use our influence, then, to reform 
the prisoner—to give him a larger, broader 
outlook, greater self command, a true self- 
respect, the joy of self conquest, the pleas¬ 
ure of upward progress. Horrible things 
are done in the name of prison discipline, 
which are brutalizing to both keeper and 
prisoner. Let us cease giving wardens 
their positions as the rewards of party 
fealty. Let there be as much rational 
enjoyment as will tend to keep soul and 
body in health. 
Watering Transplanted Trees. 
Prof. W. F. Massey. N. C. Experiment 
Station.— I never use water in transplant¬ 
ing any trees, and have never seen good 
results from the practice. Last year, at 
the request of the Governor of North Caro¬ 
lina, I planned the grounds around the 
new gubernatorial mansion in Raleigh, 
and personally superintended a part of the 
tree planting in order to see that it was 
properly done. My instructions to the 
men were to get the fine earth well among 
the roots, and then ram every spadeful as 
it went in as firmly as though setting a 
post. Some lookers-on, accustomed to the 
common practice hereof watering, prophe¬ 
sied the death of the trees, and were rather 
surprised to find that they all lived. The 
exclusion of the dry air by good ramming, 
and a mulch on the surface to check evapo¬ 
ration, are better than any artificial water¬ 
ing that can be done. 
Phosphoric Acid Needed Here. 
M. H. W., Woods Holl, Mass.—I have 
never tried the experiment of using fertil¬ 
izers at different times during the growing 
season. I use them at the time of planting. 
I think corn and potatoes would receive 
more benefit if the same quantity were ap¬ 
plied at two or three different times instead 
of all at the time of planting. A fertilizer for 
potatoes largely composed of potash and 
a small proportion of ground bone in 
which is phosphoric acid, I find best. 
For corn dissolved bone-black strewn in 
the hill or furrow I find helps to fill out 
and develop the ears. The bone-black 
is in addition to the stable manure which 
is plowed in in the ordinary manner. I 
advocate planting corn in drills, leaving 
the plants 10 inches apart. The ears are 
then larger and the plants are more evenly 
distributed and they receive a larger quan¬ 
tity of food than if planted in hills and left 
four in a hill. The rows or drills are three 
feet apart; the plants 10 inches in the row. 
Advertisers treat all correspondents 
well if they mention The Rural New- 
Yorker 
Creates 
An Appetite 
There Is nothing for which we recommend Hood’s 
Sarsaparilla with greater confidence than for loss 
of appetite, Indigestion, sick headache and other 
(roubles of dyspeptic nature. In the most natural 
way this medicine gently tones the stomach assists 
digestion, and makes one feel "real hungry.” Ladies 
in delicate health, or very dainty and particular at 
meals, after taking Hood’s Sarsaparilla a few days, 
find themselves longing for and eating the plainest 
food with unexpected relish and satisfaction'. Try it. 
Hood’s Sarsaparilla 
Sold by ail druggists. $1; six for $5. Prepared only 
by C. I. HOOD & CO., Lowell, Mass. 
IOO Doses One Dollar 
For Internal and External Use. 
Stops Pain, Cramps, Inflammation in body or limb, 
like magic. Cures Croup, Asthma, Colds, Catarrh, Chob 
era Morbus, Diarrhoea, Rheumatism, Neuralgia, Lamo- 
back, Stiff Joints and Strains. Full particulars free. Prios 
Si els. post-paid. L S. JOHNSON <£ CO., Boston, Mass. 
MAST, FOOS & GO. 
^ .SPRINGFIELD, OHIO. 
MANUFACTURERS 
OF 
MAST. FOOS & coll TU r 
SPRINGFIELD 0. // THE 
IRON TURBINE 
WIND! 
ENGINES 
Strong and Durable. Will not Swell, 
Shrink, Warp or Rattle in the Wind. 
RUCKEYE 
D FORGE PUMP 
Works easy, and throws a constan 
stream. Has Porcelain Lined and Brass 
Cylinders. Is easily set. Is the Cheapest 
and Best Force Pump in the World for< 
Deep or Shallow Wells. Never freezes 
in winter. Also manufacturers of the 
BUCKEYE LAWN MOWERS, 
Buckeye Wrought Iron FENCING, 
e.oeting, etc. Write for Circulars and Prices. 
Package makes 6 gallons. 
Delicious, sparkling, and 
appetizing. Sold by all 
dealers. F JIFF a beautiful 
Picture Book and cards 
•octto any on a addressing 
O. E. HIRES A CO./ 
Philadelphia, 
WHY PAY RETAIL PRICES 
When you can buy hand-made oak leath. 
er Harness, single 87 to $30. Double 
S 18.50 to $40. Illustrated catalogue free, 
rder one. KING & CO., Mfrs. Owego, N.Y 
PADTG buggies, 
UMVl I O ROAD WAGONS, 
A Wholesale Prices where we have no Agents. 
tarSend ior Catalogue to GAY SON. Ottawa, Ill. 
STUDY Thor »OKh and practical 
instruction given by 
Mail in Book-keeping, Business Korms, 
Arithmetic, Penmanship, Shorthand, 
etc. Low rates. Distance no objection. Circulars free. 
Bryant & Stratton. 415 Main Street. Buffalo, N. Y. 
PLAYS 
-->gnc„, __ ,„ r 
School,Glut) Sc Parlor. Best out. Cata¬ 
logue free. T.S. Denison .Chicago .ill. 
S OUK I M AWL) , mu «- <»;/*; 
n Y ** B 1 * by in a 1 1 or personally, 
ltuations procured all pupils when competent, 
end for circular. W. G. CHAFFER. Oswego,.N.Y 
Bookkeeping and Penmanship thoroughly taught 
by mall. 
WAI I DADCR of attractive styles, at rx- 
*• "kU rarLIl tremely low prices. For 8c. post¬ 
age we will send to any address samples with borders 
to match, of papers ranging In price from 6c. to 50c. 
a roll. A. L. DIAMENT & CO., 1206 Market Street 
Philadelphia, Pa. 
PAINTroofs 
DIXON S SILICA GRAPHITE PAINT 
Water will run from it pure and clean. It covers double 
the surface of any other paint, and will last four or five 
timeslonger. Equally useful for anyiron work. Sendfor 
circulars. Jos. Dixon Ckuciblk Co., Jersey City, N. J. 
An Excellent Opportunity 
for Investment In the Orange Belt at RIVER¬ 
SIDE, CAE. Young groves for sale at bargalDS. 
Net profits, $500 per acre. Low taxes. Climate un¬ 
surpassed. For further particulars and terms address 
C. F. McBRIDE. Mansileld, Ohio, or 
•I• H. FOUNTAIN. Riverside. Cal. 
275 ACRE FARM. 
Good Grass Land. 
Good Butter Farm. 
Good Truck Farm. 
Good Fruit Farm. 
n ......... , Rood Poultry Farm. 
Deposit of Pink Granite. 
Deposit of Fine Molding Sand, 
Famous Spring of Pure Water. 
Twenty-seven miles from Boston. Six good manu¬ 
facturing village markets within seven miles; one 
mile from railroad station, post-office, etc. 
tar FOR SALE AT LOW PRICE. 
May be divided Into two farms. Two houses, 
barn, etc. 
Address “ FARM,” care The Rural New-Yorker 
NAL,” *1.00 a year. Arcadia, Florida. Cheap homes*, 
cash or time. Samply copy, with State map, 10 cents 
HOMES FOR ALL ms 
MOBILE dt OHIO RAILROAD. Cheap lands 
? ood health, good water, a mud climate, good markets 
or your products, aud in fact all that conduces to 
success In Agricultural and Mechanical pursuits. You 
can purchase ROUND TRIP LAND-SEEKERS’ 
TICKETS VI A TH E MOBILE <fc (Hlio tiAlL- 
our territory, at very low rates, GOOD FOR 
£>iUyddi X§.• f , ro , n L daof sale > with Privilege )t 
STOPPING OFF AT PLEASURE south of the 
*JHIO River. ForrurTTIe^ir^omu^o n in regard to 
rates address J. N’. EBERLE, Land and Immigra¬ 
tion Agent, > 0 . 423 Chestnut Street, ST. LOUIS, 
General Passenger Agent 
MOBILE, ALA. Address the ALA. 
BAMA LAND AND DEVELOPMENT CO 
or HENRI FON'DE. Pres., MOBILE, ALA., foi 
circulars or other 
Information in re¬ 
gard to land 
UK. Pres.. MOBILE. ALA., fo 
IN ALABAMA, 
