1893 
THE tfURAL NEW-YORKER. 
559 
Mu. Homer Reed, of Kansas City, Mo., 
keeps all his fruit trees wired with wire 
cloth two feet above ground till 10 years 
old, as a protection against borers, rab¬ 
bits, mice and sun-scald. 
Is drought conducive to a more or less 
regular shape in tomatoes ? 
The Japan Climbing cucumber, so con¬ 
spicuously advertised this year, is at the 
Rural Grounds one of the army of dis¬ 
appointing novelties. The fact that it is 
more or less inclined to climb is neither 
for nor against it. The important claims 
made were that it is much more rugged 
in its constitution and less susceptible to 
disease than ordinary cucumbers, besides 
being immensely more prolific. The vines 
fail with us because of insect injuries. 
The vines die, that is all, and it is enough 
to show that the claim of “a more rugged 
constitution ” is not well founded, this 
season at any rate. 
Near the Japan Climbing grow three 
hills of Burpee’s White Wonder cucum¬ 
ber. The claim of vigor and endurance 
made for these is a good claim. We are 
writing August 3. The vines are green 
and beautifully vigorous, though they 
have been yielding pickles for 10 days. 
The fruit is whitish from babyhood—a 
wax-like white tinted with pea green, or 
shall we say a wax-like, light-colored pea 
green ? The quality is much like that of 
the green favorites. Whether the mar¬ 
ket will take either to white pickles or 
white cucumbers, we leave our friends to 
judge for themselves. 
Does the market need a white pickle 
or cucumber ? 
Loudon’s red raspberry—we are going 
to tell you something about it later. 
Kindly bear it in mind. We want to ad¬ 
vertise it, you know. A first announce¬ 
ment rarely makes a deep impression. It 
is often passed over as if not seen at all 
or read. Loudon’s, remember that—Lou¬ 
don’s red raspberry. That may not be 
its name ; but we are going to tell you of 
a remarkable red raspberry sent to the 
Rural Grounds by one Loudon. 
Many of our friends are trying the new 
Horticultural Pole Lima. Let us hear 
from them, please. In The Rural’s esti¬ 
mation much may be said in its favor and 
a thing or so against it. It is early. 
>. There is no doubt of that. The beans 
(pods) may be shelled two weeks before 
Limas and the beans (seeds) cooked as 
gr^gn Limas are cooked. But it is more 
work to shell them and the beans (seeds) 
are not so large. Besides, they are a 
muddy purple color when cooked. That’s 
not desirable, is it ? We shall tell our 
complete story of the new Horticultural 
Lima later and would also be glad to 
hear in what favor or disfavor our read¬ 
ers regard it. 
It is now about five years since Mr. 
Terry (Practical Farmer) has had a culti¬ 
vator in his patch of raspberries. He just 
spreads fresh straw on the surface each 
spring. This accomplishes, he says, the 
sam ; that cultivation would and saves 
him much work. The surface is mulched 
and grass and weeds are mostly kept 
down. In this way he treats not only his 
raspberries (black and red), but his 
blackberries and currants. This method 
would not answer at all at the Rural 
Grounds. Weeds there take a fancy to 
mulched land while the roots of the ber¬ 
ries so mulched grow near the surface of 
the soil and are easily winter-killed. 
If Crimson clover is an annual (and 
it is) the question arises, at what time 
must it be cut if sown early, so that it 
will pass the winter and grow in the 
spring ? If sown in May and cut just 
before the flower buds appear, when will 
the second growth bloom ? If so cut in 
early August, will it go through the 
winter and grow, bloom and seed in the 
spring ? Crimson clover is an interest¬ 
ing plant and we want to know all there 
is to know about it. 
The Golden Syringa or Mock orange 
(Philadelphus) is pronounced in its color¬ 
ing ; far more so than the old Golden¬ 
leaved Ninebark, (Spiraea, opulifolia). It 
would make a pretty contrast with the 
Purple-leaved barberry. Are our friends 
aware that a large proportion of seed¬ 
lings of the Purple-leaved barberry bear 
purple leaves ? We have one seedling 
which holds its color during the entire 
summer the same as Pissard’s plum re¬ 
tains its color. The flower racemes also 
differ greatly in size (length) as do the 
berries later in the season. 
W. B. Randolph, of Clinton, N. Y., 
writes us that he recommends the Free¬ 
man to any one fond of small potatoes. 
Early Puritan planted the same day in 
adjoining rows were large and ripe July 
25, while Freemans were “ the size of 
partridge eggs.” 
The following note comes to us from 
Richard Haskell, of Parkhill, Ontario, 
Canada: 
I Inclose for Tub Rural a sample of the rye- 
wheat hybrid Roberts, of this year’s crop, with a 
head with the beard partly removed. Last year It 
was a very red wheat with long red straw. This 
year it Is white with very bright straw of medium 
length. It has undergone a very radical change. 
Has any Rural reader had a similar experience, 
and what does The Rural think about It? 
Remarks.—The R. N.-Y. would be 
glad to have those of its readers who 
have raised these hybrids reply to Mr. 
Haskell. We have noticed that the color 
of the straw is not quite constant. That 
is to say, we have sown the seeds of 
plants having dark purple straw, for ex¬ 
ample, and a considerable proportion of 
the straw of the next crop would vary 
in color, some being yellow. The color 
of the grain, too, varies slightly with 
the season. But no such radical change 
has ever been noted. It is an interesting 
question. We are obliged to think that 
our friend is in some way mistaken, 
since the shape of the kernels sent is 
very different from that of the Roberts, 
which is long and of goodly size, while 
those sent are small and short. 
It is now August 3. Many tomatoes 
are ripe in neighbors’ fields and have 
been for a week or more. The Rural’s 
cross-bred and hybrid tomato plants were 
never stockier nor more promising in 
every way than those (165 in number) 
set out last spring in late May. And 
yet, we have no ripe tomatoes, except 
indeed hybrids with the Currant tomato, 
a cross made last year. All of our plants 
are thrifty and beautiful, but few bear 
many “berries,” as we would like to 
have tomatoes called. Is this becaus3 
they have been crossed and recrossed for 
four years ? 
The terrible drought was broken by a 
brief (20 minute) shower on August 2. 
We would have our readers consider the 
drought in connection with the trench 
vs. furrow potato experiment now being 
tried and alluded to a few weeks since. 
If one cared to make a wager as to which 
would yield more heavily, he would have 
to go over the plot carefully more than 
once before he could make up his mind 
which would probably win. The trench 
vines seem to have a trifling advantage. 
Director Voorhees, of the New Jer¬ 
sey Experiment Station, arrives at some 
telling conclusions in Bulletin No. 93, just 
issued. They are 
1. That the use of fertilizers In New Jersey Is In¬ 
creasing, and that the present annual expenditure 
of over $1,500,000 may be very materially reduced 
by a detlnlte knowledge of what and how to buy. 
2. That In the preparation of formulas the quality 
of plant food is of prime Importance, and that the 
proportion of the different elements, as well as the 
amount of the application, should be determined by 
the object of their use. 
3. That farmers can make mixtures which are 
equal to the belt manufactured brands and superior 
to the average—first, In mechanical condition; sec¬ 
ond, In concentration; third, in quality, and fourth, 
in point of cost. 
4. That In buying manufacturers’ mixtures dis¬ 
tinct advantages In quality and cost are secured 
when bought direct from the manufacturers Instead 
of from local agents. 
Correction —On page 511 Mott’s Ex¬ 
celsior was alluded to as the prince of 
dwarf wrinkled peas. It should have been 
Nott’s. 
Longfellow corn was planted May 12. 
On August 5 the ears—or many of them 
—were matured enough to boil. The 
quality was not as good, of course, as 
that of the later sweet varieties ; that is 
not to be looked for in flints which have 
hard, tough skin. But it was about as 
good as the first earlies, while the ears 
are twice as long, and there is no great 
difference in the ripening period. 
Crimson clover (August 4) was about 
18 inches high, and perhaps one-tenth of 
the plants were in bloom. One-third of 
the plot was cut; the other will be al¬ 
lowed to mature seed. We want to know 
whether the rest—the cut portion—will 
live through the winter, and just when 
the part not cut will die. 
The Abundance plum (August 4) at the 
Rural Grounds is a sight to behold. The 
branches are wreaths of fruit, and they, 
as well as the tree itself, are held up by 
props and ropes. Some of the plums are 
beginning to color ; all are of good size, 
and, though the old marks of the cur- 
culio sting are engraved upon most of 
them, no injury seems as yet to have re¬ 
sulted. For 20 years, off and on, The R. 
N.-Y. has tried so-called curculio-proof 
plums. We have never used insecticides 
or jarred the trees to destroy them, and 
we have never before had a crop of plums. 
Plums are not raised in the vicinity sim¬ 
ply because the people are not willing to 
put themselves to the trouble of jarring 
the trees, and they know from experi¬ 
ence that they cannot raise plums with¬ 
out doing so. Now here we have the 
Abundance loaded down with beautiful 
fruit while not a precaution has been 
taken to destroy the curculio. Blessed 
be the Abundance ! It is well named. 
The Botan and Burbank are also Japan 
plums. The quality of the former is in¬ 
ferior. We know not how the Burbank 
compares with the Abundance in quality 
or in its ability to resist the small Turk. 
Direct. 
-Spurgeon: “Debt, dirt and the devil.” 
-New-York Herald: “His soul would 
rattle in a millet seed.” 
-Dr. Pearody : Science has repeat¬ 
edly gone off with the fullest assurance 
on a false scent, and we have no more 
reason to place undoubting confidence 
in the theories of the nineteenth century 
than in those of the seventeenth.” 
-American Agriculturist : “ The 
sun shines on the just and the unjust 
alike, but the former see a beauty in its 
rays which the latter can never discern.” 
“If you have to bite at every bait you 
see, you had better have a guardian ap¬ 
pointed.” 
If you name The Rural New-Yorker to our 
advertisers, you may be pretty sure of prompt 
replies and right treatment 
THE WOMAN WHO WORKS, 
and is tired, will find a 
special help in Doctor 
Pierce’s Favorite Pre¬ 
scription. Perfectly 
harmless in any condi¬ 
tion of the female sys¬ 
tem. It promotes all the 
natural functions, and 
builds up, strengthens, 
regulates, and cures. 
For women approach- 
confinement, nurs¬ 
ing mothers, and every 
weak, run-down, deli¬ 
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vigorating, supporting 
tonic that’s peculiarly adapted to their 
Hoods 
But it’s more than that, too. It’s the only 
guaranteed remedy for all the functional 
disturbances, painful disorders, and chronic 
weaknesses or womanhood. In “ female 
complaints ” of every kind, periodical pains, 
bearing-down sensations, internal inflamma¬ 
tion, and kindred ailments, if it ever fails 
to benefit or cure, you have your money 
back. 
Something else that pays the dealer better, 
may be offered as “ just as good.” Perhaps 
it is, for him, but it can’t be, for you. 
♦ GIVE THE BABY ♦ 
IF YOU WISH your infant to be 
well nourished, healthy and vigorous, 
THE • BEST • FOOD 
For Hand-Fed Infants, Invalids, Conva¬ 
lescents, Dyspeptics, and the Aged. 
Our Book for MOTHERS, 
“THE CARE AND FEEDING OF INFANTS,” 
Mailed free upon request. 
Doliber Goo dale Co .Boston, Mass. 
A CHANCE FOR A 
HOME 
RESERVATION LENDS 
IN THE 
INDIAN 
TERRITORY 
You want to know all about this district, 
and how you can secure a quarter or half sec¬ 
tion of land on the 
GREAT 
ROCK ISLAND 
ROUTE 
Write at once to me and state your wants, 
and I will send you full particulars, Including 
map of that district. Will send tha “Western 
Settler" for one year FREE ON APPLICATION 
JNO. SEBASTIAN, 
General Ticket and Passenger Agent. 
CHICAGO, U.8.A. 
TRYtHEIi 
Heats 
Ieaders 
AND SEE 
OrLlnator of Winter Fife, Early Red Clawson, 
American Bronze, and the latest and best Early 
Genesee Giant, Early White Leader, also Pride of 
Genesee, the longest headed of all with long dark 
llloty grain. See cash prize offered for largest 
yield of Early Genesee Giant. 
Send for descriptive circular to 
A. N. JONES, Le Koy, Genesee Co., N. Y. 
DIBBLE’S SEED WHEAT. 
Jones’ Winter Fife, yield d 50 bushels per acre. 
Early Red Clawson, field of 25 acres, average 
yield, 41 bushels per acre. $1.25 per bushel, 10 bushels 
$1.00 per bushel. Circulars and sample heads, free. 
EDWARD F. DIBBLE, Seed Grower, 
Honeoye Falls, N. Y 
SEED WHEAT. 
We offer headquarter stock of Jones’ Winter Fife, 
American Bronze and Early Red Clawson at $1.00 per 
bushel cash with order; bags. 15 cents. Write for 
circulars. EDWARD C. BROWN & Co., 
Rochester, N. Y 
ENGINES. -AlT., 
Threshing Machines. 
Best Machinery at Lowest Prices. 
A. B. FARQUHAR CO., York, Pa. 
UU II I I [ Urr h designs of the season. 
■ ■ NLL I HI LI I 100 samples for 8 cents. 
A. L. Diament & Co„ 1624 Chestnut Street. Philadelpw. 
THE NEW BOTANY: 
A Lecture on the best method of 
Teaching the Science. Valuable to 
Students and Amateurs, being a Use¬ 
ful Guide in Studying “The Beauti¬ 
ful Science.”—By W. J. Beal, M. Sc., 
Ph. D., Professor of Botany, Agri¬ 
cultural College, Michigan. Third 
Edition, enlarged and revised. 
Price, paper, 25 cents. 
THE RURAL PUBLISHING CO., 
Cor. Chambers and Pearl Sts., New York. 
