1894 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
283 
Farmers' Club Discussion. 
{Continued.) 
He did not consider it an exhausting 
crop at all, popular opinion to the con¬ 
trary notwithstanding. I concluded to ex¬ 
periment a little myself. The soil was a 
clay loam in which the loam is mentioned 
more out of courtesy than actual fact, 
the ground being a pebbly white clay 
with barely enough loam present to call 
it loam. My first and several succeeding 
trials confirmed the opinion received 
from the farmer referred to, one parcel of 
land in particular exhibiting for years a 
marked contrast in productiveness to 
adjacent land not sown with buckwheat. 
There is no crop of which I know that 
is equally profitable for subduing hard, 
intractable soil. It is also an excellent 
crop to seed with grass and clover, the 
buckwheat being sown rather thin. 
Farmers are likely to regard buckwheat 
with indifference, because it must be 
sown in this latitude right in the busiest 
season of the year—haying—also because 
the grain is sometimes scalded with the 
heat of a hot sun while in the “ milk 
state,” and there are many false grains 
in consequence. Notwithstanding these 
defects, taking the small amount of labor 
in cultivating and harvesting the crop, 
into consideration, and its unequaled 
effect in rendering tough land friable 
and fit for succeeding crops, it is in my 
judgment equal to a good coat of lime 
witn a liberal sprinkling of manure 
added. Several years ago, I sowed a small 
piece of three or four acres to buckwheat, 
on July 4. With it, I applied a liberal 
allowance of bone meal and tankage, say, 
500 pounds per acre. On August 4, I 
found numerous stalks measuring 31 
inches in length, showing that it aver¬ 
aged an inch a day in its growth. On 
large farms with fields at long distances 
from the barnyard, buckwheat is a most 
convenient crop to keep the land in good 
tilth and condition. The crop varies con¬ 
siderably in price one year with another. 
1 have seen it sell for 25 per bushel, 
and the following year 50 cents was a 
good price. Its reputation further north 
for “pancakes” with maple sugar ac¬ 
companiment is always dear to the coun¬ 
try boy. _ 
Items of interest, criticisms, or corres¬ 
pondence of any kind intended for, or sug¬ 
gested by, this column, should be addressed 
to Ruralisms. 
White Zui.u Bean. —This bean was in¬ 
troduced by W. Atlee Burpee, and was 
tried at the Rural Grounds the past sea¬ 
son. The seed was planted May 12. Mr. 
Burpee claims that the vines are of quick 
growth, readily clinging to the poles, 
foliage healthy and of immense size, pro¬ 
ducing pods ready for the table in seven 
weeks from the date of planting. The 
pods, heelaims, are very broad, fleshy and 
perfectly stringless. Even when full 
grown (eight to ten inches long) the pods 
still retain their fine quality. The va¬ 
riety, he says, is wonderfully prolific, 
bearing continuously, so that a few poles 
will keep the family supplied. 
Our trial substantiates many of these 
claims, but not all. The season, as has 
been frequently noted, was exceptionally 
late and cold. Our first notes were taken 
not until August 1. The vines were then 
eight feet tall. The pods, as shown in 
the illustration, from nature. Fig. 82, 
averaged about six inches in length, often 
of a crooked, irregular shape and un¬ 
evenly filled. At this time, the vines 
were less prolific than the Horticultural 
Lima growing in the next row. The pods 
were of an ivory whiteness, varying in 
width from half an inch to an inch, and 
very solid, that is, fat or fleshy, as shown 
by the transverse section. Fig. 81. The 
seeds at this stage of maturity were pur¬ 
ple and kidney shape, and about an inch 
long. The vines remained green and 
healthy through August, bearing beans 
through all stages of growth. The ma¬ 
ture beans are of a purplish black color. 
The quality is, as claimed, rich and ex¬ 
cellent, and the pods stringless. In a bet¬ 
ter soil and more favorable season, it is 
probable the beans would grow consider¬ 
ably larger then shown in our illustra¬ 
tion and grow more uniform as to shape. 
Prof. S. W. Johnson, everywhere re¬ 
garded as our highest authority in the 
chemistry of agriculture, has, at our re¬ 
quest and in answer to our questions, 
prepared a paper which will be, or 
should be, carefully studied by all who 
use, or may use, concentrated fertilizers. 
It appears in this issue, page 280. 
It will be seen that, at present, nitrate 
of soda, at the present price, is the best 
and cheapest form of nitrogen; that 
leather which may be used in mixed fer¬ 
tilizers by unprincipled firms to raise 
the per cent of nitrogen, may be so dis¬ 
guised that it can not possibly be identi¬ 
fied by the chemist. When the presence 
of leather in a given fertilizer can not 
be proved, the chemist reckons its money 
value the same as that of other organic 
nitrogen. Beware, then, of buying 
nitrogenous fertilizers of unknown par¬ 
ties, particularly if the price asked for 
it “is especially cheap.” 
In this country, writes F. K. Phoenix 
to Ruralisms, thousands of Siberian crab 
apple seedlings have fruited with, he be¬ 
lieves, little addition to our ironclad 
dessert and market apple list. But the 
Wealthy, McMahon and Northwestern 
Greening are ironclad acquisitions with 
plain Siberian cross breeding in their 
make-up, showing what Nature can and 
will speedily do for us once we get on 
the right track. In view of the above 
well known facts, must we not conclude 
that we should take pains to fertilize 
with Siberian Crab pollen our best winter 
dessert and market apples such as Ben 
Davis, Spy, Baldwin, Greening, Janet 
and Russet, and sow their seeds to give 
the cold North the bitterly needed winter 
ironclad apples ? 
W. A. Stiles, the editor of Garden and 
Forest says that, “ Mr. R. T. Titus, of 
Westbury, Long Island, who exhibited 
34 varieties of potatoes at the World’s 
Fair, tested 100 varieties last year, and 
found the most productive to be Rural 
New-Yorker No. 2, which yields a tuber 
of fine shape with few small ones in the 
hill. Rural Blush, a very large late 
potato, but liable to rot, followed next 
in amount of yield.” We have used the 
Rural Blush every season for the past 12 
years. It was chosen for our experi 
ment work, and we have naturally held 
to it. It rots as little as any variety we 
know. The R. N.-Y. No. 2 is speaking 
for itself. It tells, in no uncertain lan¬ 
guage, that it is all that The Rural 
claimed for it when introduced. 
Sprayins: li’riiit Trees Pays. 
This Is the verdict of the leading Entomologists 
and Hortloulinrlsts of the United States. Census sta¬ 
tistics show that the depredations of insect pests cost 
the fruit-growers of the U. S. 1200,000.000 annually, 
while the experiments of our leading Entomologists 
and largo fruit growers prove that 7.5 per cent of ibis 
loss can be prevented by the proper application of 
Insecticides. By spraying you get much larger and 
finer flavored fruit, much more of It and better 
prices, while your trees will be kept In much better, 
healthier, and more thriving condition on account 
of the foliage and fruit being kept from blights and 
Insect pests. We have just received a handsome, 
llluslratod catalogue on the subject of spraying 
fruit trees from the P. C. Lewis Mfg. Co., of Catsklll, 
N. y. This book Is full of valuable Information on 
this subject, and should be In the hands of every 
ore interested In raising good fruit. The above ilrm 
will send the book postpaid and absolutely free to all 
who apply. This firm are pioneers In the manufac 
ture ot spray pumps They are thoroughly reliable 
They make a specialty of the New Wonder Spray 
Pump, which they are selling at $11 00, express paid 
This pump makes three complete brass machines 
as shown in cut above They have now sold about 
CiO.000 of them. They guarantee the pump to do as 
much and as good worn as any *10 or $15 spray pump 
on the market, or money refunded. Vou would 
therefore take no possible risk In ordering one of 
these pumps on trial. Parties Intending to buy a 
spray pump should write them for their catalogue 
and Illustrated book on spraying before purchasing. 
What a wonderful thing is a live Heed. 9 
Immature, older dead it may look the same. 
flow to know? Old gardeners say that u 
ieerM^om, 
This la the proof of life. When grown we give 
our word you will be satisfied—your success 
Is ours. bUltPEE’S FAIlM ANNUAI. 
for 1894» 172 payes. tells all about the Best 
Seeds that Grow. The newspapers call It the 
Leading American Seed Catalogue. Yours 
free for the asking If you plant seeds, 
I ATLEE BURPEE & CO., Philadelphia. 
NEWPORT NURSERY CO. 
NEWPORT, R. I. 
Trees, Shrubs, Roses, 
Rhododendrons, 
Azaleas, French Cannas 
A full line of Evergreens—Native and Imported. 
Apples, Pears, Quinces. Currants, Peaches, Plums, 
Cherries and small Fruits. 
Plants for the seaside grown In seaside exposures, 
HARDY TREES, 
Shrubs, Vines, Evergreens, 
ANM) 
HARDY HERBACEOUS FLOWERS. 
I llncst goueriil assortment of Hardy 
Ornamental Plants In Ainerl<u». 
H our Illustrated Catalogues (228 pages) free upon 
application. Send your list of needs for special rates. 
THE READING NURSERY, 
JACOB W. MANNING, Proprietor, 
BEADING MASS. 
STRAW- 
RASl*- 
HDACK- 
GOOSI5- 
Berry Plants 
Currants, Grapes. Fruit Trees, etc. Standard 
Varieties at Reasonable Prices. Headquarters for 
the Snyder Blackberry and Japanese Plums. Cata¬ 
logue free G. S. IIUTLEK, Cromwell, Conn. 
Plants for Sale at Lakevlew. 
Thompson's Early ProUfle Raspberries, $1 per 100, 
per 1,000; Erie and Mlnnewaskl Blackberries, $1 
per 100, $8 per I.OOO. Strawoerrles. It! kinds. Write 
for prices. Burpee s Extra Early Potatoes, $1.26 per 
bushel, $8.E0 per barrel. WALTER F. TABER, 
Lakevlew Fruit Farm, Poughkeepsie, N. V. 
DWARF PEARS 
to planters at panic prices State number and varie¬ 
ties warned, and get prices that will surprise you. 
Also standard pears. I>. S. SIJOURDS, 
Macedon Nurseries, Macedon, N. Y. 
CRIMSON CLOVER SEED. 
PURE JERSEY RED PIGS. 
Send for Catalogue. 
ARTHUR J. COLLINS, Moorestown, N. J. 
FOR SALE. 
RED KIDNEY BEANS. 
Choice seed, hand picked. Price, $2.60 per bushel. 
In new bags. No charge for bags. 
ALFRED WHITAKER, Bedford. O. 
“Finest Corn in America”!! 
WORLD’S FAIR PREMIUMS. 
Also pronounced by Agricultural Department and 
thousands of leading farmers’ fairs, eic., to be far 
beyond any other, both In yield and quality; guaran¬ 
teed to make one-quarter more on same land than 
any corn ever grown. We have highly Improved It 16 
years ; sheus over one pound ot corn to ear ; pure 
white kernels, nearly one Inch long; very tllniv 
wide and plump. Matures In 11)0 days; so It can be 
planted North and West as well as South. Half 
pound package. ‘25 cents ; tnree pounds. $1 by mall 
postpaid, or if you have time send for descriptive 
circulars. KIHlio in cash will be paid by us fox 
sample of better corn Address 
J. J.. ANDERS. Seedsman, Ivanhoe, N. C. 
LEAMING 
CORN. 
300 bushels pure Seed LEAMING 
CORN at ltd 1 per bushel, delivered on 
cars. Address 
PAUL ELDRIDGE, Shlloh, N. J 
A LARGE VARIETY OF 
HERBACEOUS PLANTS. 
Write for Catalogues and Circulars. 
WANIEO-ENERGETIG MENi< 
to solicit orders 
__ tor Nursery 
Stock. Expenses advanced to men who can leave 
home, or commission to local agents. 
K. G. CHASE & CO., Philadelphia, Pa. 
Now comes the Carman No. 1—and 
then (next fall) will come the Carman 
(Continued on page 290.) 
In writing to advertisers, please always mention 
Thu H0BAL Nbw-Yorkkb. 
Seed Potatoes! Last Call! 
Rural New-Yorker No. 2. Freeman, Empire State, 
Vick's Champion. Early Market, American Wonder, 
Write for special Price-List. We send by mall 40 
eyes Rural New-Yorker No. 2; 80 eyes Freeman and 
30 eyes any other variety In above list for jl.OO. 
Address ENTERPRISE SEED CO.. Newark. N. Y. 
40 S 
TWO-BUSHEL SACKS OF PUKE FREEMAN 
Seed Potatoes, free from sprouts, at $8.50 per 
sack; iO sacks small ones at $2.00 per sack. Send 
P. O. order to W. W. McCOV, Brandon, la. 
I y EKKY-IiOX MACHINK.—For putting up any 
J3klnd or size of berry box or basket material. Saves 
money to growers who use them. Price nominal. Don t 
fall to send for our Illustrated circular. Address 
CIN SPECIALTY MFG. CO., Cincinnati, Ohio. 
THE ONLY PERFECT _ ( 
Substitute for Mother s Milk .' 
West Liberty, la. ' 
We have a baby 20 months old who was 
raised on Mellln’s Food; she was so delicate 
that no one thought she could live; Mellln’a 
Food saved her. Mrs. A. J. Westland. 
Wilmington, Del. 
I have been using your Mellln’s Food for 
my boy, nearly two years old, for the last 
month or so, and It has improved him won¬ 
derfully; he Is just recovering from a severe 
illness and could not digest milk at all before 
using the Food. Mrs. Wm. J. Quinn. 
SEND for our book, “The Care and 
Feeding of Infants,’’ mailed 
Free to any address. ^ 
Doliber-Goodale Go., Boston, Mass. ^ 
ST&R CURRANT. 
THE JEWELL NURSERY CO.. 
Nursery Ave. No. 26. Lake City. Minnesota. 
r In any 
Berries do not shell or DROP OFF. 
■ , Fruit large, most DELICIOUS FLAVOR. 
A Very sweet, uses only half the sugar, 
T FINE 2 year plants. BO cts. e ach, $6 doz. 
7^£S 
SMALL FRUITS, GRAPES, SHRUBS, EVER¬ 
GREENS, ROSES, HARDY PLANTS 
FOR SPRING PLANTING. 
Handsome new 160 page Catalosne Free. 
ELLWANGER A. BARRY, 
PPIIIT and nPN A MFNTAT Hope Nurseries, Rochester, N. Y. 
AlVUii d.llu. V./iXlL/e Awarded Several Medals at the World’s Fair. 
HIGH CLASS SEE 
Our Ninety-Third Annual Catalogue is now ready, ana wiii.be 
mailed FREE on application. It contains the 
largest collection in the world of 
VEGETABIE, FLOWER and FARM SEEDS, 
including every standard variety and every novelty of 
established merit. 
Beautifully Illustrated with Hundreds ol Cuts. 
or We Mall It FREE.-aej 
J.M.THORBURN & Co. 15 JOHN ST.NewYork 
