THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
695 
PARAGON CHESTNUTS. 
A N O T II j; K year’s EXPERIENCE. 
Older readers may remember that a year ago I gave 
my experience with two trees of Paragon chestnuts, 
and also the result of grafting the Paragon on com¬ 
mon sweet chestnuts. For the benefit of new 
readers, let me say that the two trees which we have 
were planted in the spring of 1890, one year grafts, 
and that in the summer of 1893, one of them bore seven 
burrs with three chestnuts each, and the other, three 
burrs with a like number. These trees are now about 
inch in diameter of body, not over seven feet high, 
and with a spread of top of not over four feet. The 
one that bore 21 chestnuts last year, was more ex¬ 
posed than the other, and the late frost we had last 
spring so killed the young growth that it bore no 
fruit this year. The other, bearing nine chestnuts 
last year, started wdth 22 burrs this year, but being 
away from daily observation the summer web worm 
got upon it and so ate the leaves from one limb that 
the burrs dropped from that, and it matured but 17 
burrs. But before they were fully ripe, some vandal 
stole the most of these, so that we got only 10 chest¬ 
nuts this year. I weighed these and they averaged a 
little over one ounce to four chestnuts. 
Some of the grafts set in the spring of 1893, bore 
nuts this year, and all have made a very strong, 
healthy growth, and show every indication of great 
fruitfulness next sea.son. I last spring grafted a lot 
more, and among others I cut off quite large trees 
and cleft-grafted them the same as I would the apple. 
On others, I inserted scions in the side of the trunks, 
and these have made a good growth. Next spring, I shall 
cut the main body off just above the grafts. I grafted 
some quite early, and others just as the buds were 
nicely swelling. I also put in other scions after the 
bark would start quite easily, and I came to the con¬ 
clusion that if the scions were cut in proper season, 
and kept perfectly dormant, that it does not make 
much difference when the grafting is done. Only, of 
course, the scions cannot be inserted on the side of 
the trunk until the bark ^ill start easily, as in this 
style of grafting the scion is cut slanting from one 
side to a point, and inserted under the bark similar to 
a bud in budding, but having the end sticking out a 
couple of buds. 
A successful method of grafting is to cut off a limb 
or the main trunk, about an inch or so in diameter, 
and insert scions cut the same .shape as those last 
mentioned, under the bark, waxing the whole end of 
the stub. Two or more .scions may be inserted in a 
stub, but one is a plenty to let grow. In using this 
method, of course the bark must be loose. But don’t 
make the mistake I did in .several cases ; don’t shove 
the scion down so far that a little of the cut surface 
does not extend above the end of the stub, for if you 
do, no union can take place above the cut surface, and 
a bad job is the result. In all systems of grafting the 
chestnut, I have found it to pay to use waxed cloth, 
and firmly bind the limb until growth takes place to 
such an extent that the band is liable to strangle the 
young growth. 
I notice that a good deal is said about the chestnut 
not making a good union of stock and scion. I have 
closely examined mine, and while occasionally one 
does not seem to be perfectly joined, the majority 
have made a good union, and on a good many, it would 
puzzle one to find the place of grafting. I have had 
a few break with the wind, but in no case has it been 
at the collar. Next spring I intend to cut off and top- 
work a good many trees which I have that are from 
four to six inches in diameter of trunks. I will do 
this as I would an apple orchard, using the limbs and 
spreading the top as much as po.ssible, so as to have 
them come quickly into fruitage. I have tried budding 
this past fall, but so far, have had no succe.ss. Will 
some one give needed instructions if “the thing can 
be did.” j. s. wooiiward. 
LOWER WATER LEVELS IN IOWA. 
In traveling across Iowa, probably one of the first 
things to attract the attention of a farmer from east 
of the Mississippi River, would be the large amount of 
waste land in the sloughs. Those depressions between 
the rolls of the prairie, although the richest places on 
the farm, are left uncultivated by many, because too 
wet. Some of them, which dry out in the fall, are cut 
over for prairie hay. The question is asked, “ Why 
are they not tiled and cultivated ?” They are being 
tiled, and in 25 years, if not before, there will hardly 
be a wet slough in Iowa ; but this is not entirely a 
one-sided question, as it might at first appear. 
Undoubtedly, if the immediate result to the owner of 
the land is considered, it is very profitable to reelaim 
these sloughs, but what of the ultimate effect if this 
practice becomes general ? The natural condition of 
the surface soil has already been so much changed by 
cultivation, that many people are becoming alarmed 
at the behavior of the water. All surplus water is 
hurried off in the spring, causing unusually high water 
in the rivers, instead of a large proportion of it being 
held in the sloughs, as by a sponge, to be given off 
gradually all summer. Consequently, all streams get 
very low in summer. This has gone so far tha t it 
seriously interferes with the mills which depend on 
water power. 
But this is by no means all. The water level in the 
soil has been getting lower and lower, and to obtain 
water for stock, wells have to be dug deeper and 
deeper. This is thought to be due to squandering the 
water of the spring rains, while others go still further, 
and attribute this drought to the same cause. 
As a remedy, it has been strongly advocated that 
united action be taken to make ponds and reservoii’s 
to retain the surplus spring water. If these people 
are to be believed, the farmer who drains a slough or 
swamp, so as to get rid of the water in time to culti¬ 
vate, though he may reap an immediate advantage, 
does him.self, as well as the public, an injury by 
squandering that water. Our several dry seasons in 
succession, culminating in this drought, are enough 
to make a person stop and inquire for the cause. But 
his faith in this explanation is somewhat shaken when 
he learns that in 1840, Iowa experienced a drought 
much more severe than this one. No rain fell from 
April till November, and all the streams became much 
lower than they have this year. This, be it remem¬ 
bered, was before the prairie sod was broken, and 
Iowa was in a state of nature. So that it seems that 
it is going too far to say that cultivation and squander¬ 
ing of water have affected the climate. Still it does 
seem reasonable to suppose that it may have affected 
the underground water supply. We ai*e reminded 
again that the balance between nature’s forces may 
be disturbed by a very small cause, and also of the 
far-reaching influence which a very small act may 
have. That the level of our underground water is 
sinking, is certain, but just why is not so clear. It is 
exciting a good deal of comment, though, and con¬ 
siderable wild talk. K. B. WATSON. 
Newton, Iowa. 
AUTOMATIC PIPETTE FOR MILK TESTERS. 
An Englishman has devised the apparatus shown at 
Fig. 184. It is designed to measure the acid used in 
testing milk. 
The large bottle contains the acid. C is a rubber ball 
with a tube running to the bottle as shown. By press¬ 
ing on C, the acid is forced through the gla.ss tubes 
from the bottle until it rises above A. Then by re¬ 
leasing the pressure at C, the acid is drawn back until 
it gets below the tube, B. This leaves it just at the 
point. A, which measures the exact quantity required 
and by turning the tap, D, it will run into the test 
bottle, E. Thus the exact amount is automatically 
measured and cannot vary. 
A CARMAN POTATO AND ITS SPROUTS. 
The Carman No. 1 sent me last year, weighed four 
ounces, and had 13 eyes. It was first cut into pieces, 
each containing a single eye ; each of these eyes was 
carefully cut through the center, giving 25 pieces for 
planting, one half eye having been spoiled by an un¬ 
skillful cut. These half eyes were planted April 7 in 
shallow boxes of soil, at regular distances apart, and 
placed in sunny windows of the kitchen chamber, 
carefully watered when necessary ; each piece in due 
time made a plant. When the weather became warm 
enough, they were placed outdoors, with protection 
on the coldest nights. As soon as they were large 
enough to spare part of the top, cuttings were taken 
and rooted like those from an ordinary house plant. 
We found that even a single leaf would root, but 
would not branch out afterward. Some of these leaves 
set potatoes the size of a pea, but none grew to matur¬ 
ity. As a result of this treatment, we had 80 good, 
strong plants in crocks and boxes, which were trans¬ 
planted into the garden, well tended, and watered 
thoroughly five or six times during the heat of the 
season. IIow they did grow ! I never saw more 
thrifty, strong-growing vines. Most of them covered 
a space of more than four feet, before maturity. 
From the one-fourth pound of seed, we now have 
174 pounds of potatoes, many of them very fine, the 
largest weighing two pounds. Others are medium, 
small, or irregular, as might be expected from the un¬ 
usual treatment given the plants. I have had the 
curiosity to make a calculation as to w'hat a like 
multiplication would produce in another year, and 
find that next year's crop would be more than 2,()()() 
bushels ! Don't think we shall try it, however. My 
daughter is entitled to fully one-half the credit of 
this experiment, as she has attended to the cuttings, 
potting plants, etc. This is our first attempt in this 
line, and we think we have done very well for begin¬ 
ners. We tried the same method of multiplication 
with another potato, the“(»reat Divide,” but find 
that it can not compare in vigor with the Carman. 
Battle Creek, Mich. c. c. mci). 
WHAT VARIETIES OF FRUIT SHALL / PLANT? 
In all cases, for home supply, we want a succession 
of all the fruits, so that the supply in ordinary years 
may be constant of some variety. For instance, the 
strawberry, followed by the gooseberry and currant, 
raspberry, blackberry. As the peach joins the rasp¬ 
berry, the blackberry might be omitted in small gar¬ 
dens. Pears may be had from July 10 until March by 
proper selection. 'Phe apple from July 10 until .June 
1. so that fresh fruit is possible the year ’round with¬ 
out the aid of cold storage. 
For market, the planting should be of what pays 
best. Crow what you have a market for, and what 
you can grow best, never forgetting that a quart of 
early strawberries brings more clear money than two 
quarts in the height of the season ; that a quart of 
good-sized berries will sell for more than two of small¬ 
sized berries; that a barrel of Bartlett pears will bi-ing 
as much clear cash as five barrels Belle Lucrative. Both 
are of good quality—the one well known and popular 
on the market, the other without a reputation, is 
neglected to rot on the trees. I would confine my 
planting to Clapp’s Favorite, Bartlett, Clairgeau (if 
land is high and dry), and Anjou. If planting for can¬ 
ning, the Parsonage beats all the rest; the quality is 
superior for canning, but hardly satisfactory for table 
use. Clairgeau is not satisfactory without spraying, 
as it is very much affected by leaf blight. Bou.ssock 
is not so good a bearer as Bartlett, and sells no better. 
We are too late here for Le Conte, as it idpens in Sep¬ 
tember. Keiffer has been very profitable, but its 
quality is poor. 
Among the peaches. Mountain Rose, Oldmixon 
Free, Moore’s Favorite, Stump, Crawford’s Late, 
Elberta, Ford’s Late, Late Rareripe come in from 
the earliest to the latest. About or just as good, are 
Ilance’s Golden, Crawford’s Early, Chair’s Choice, 
Brandywine, Red Rareripe, Globe, Fox’s Seedling 
(one of the hardiest). Among the extra-sized peaches 
are Reeve’s Favorite, Mai-y’s Choice (probably one 
and the same peach re-named) ; Susquehanna is one 
of the largest. The above are all freestones. Enough 
clings come from California to supply the market for 
that class. They keep better than freestones. 
The apple is the fruit that comes early and stays 
late ; is sweet to sour and of all shades of color. It is 
melting, juicy, tough—any quality in fruit may be 
found nearly in perfection in the apide. For market, 
the earliest variety usually pays well when near a 
good market, but when peaches are plentiful, the 
apple has to take a back seat. In planting for market, 
it is well to remember that after the first half of .1 uly 
until October, there is little call for the apple. This 
cuts out of the market list a great many good apples. 
Among the earliest, I find Frimate a good selling 
apple ; it has a great draw back in being a shy bearer. 
The man that will produce a red apple of the quality, 
red in color, productive and a little firmer in texture 
than the Primate, ought to realize a fortune from it. 
Garrettson’s Early, Keswick Codling, Summer JIagloe 
are good, but peaches are close on them. William’s 
Favorite is at the head of August apples ; productive, 
form and color perfect. Twenty Ounce is another 
good Augu.st apple. Sweet Bough, ripening from the 
middle of July to August, is profitable. Baldwin 
ripens here after peaches. Pekin, Wine, White Pip¬ 
pin, Cogswell are early winter or fall varieties for 
market. Smith’s Cider is the great apple for New 
Jersey ; it is in market from September until April, is 
productive in alternate years to a fault. The quality 
is fair, but not high ; color, red, striped, size medium. 
Tree a moderate, open grower, drooping branches, 
bears early. Rome Beauty, slow, upright grower, 
bears, sells and keeps well. York Imperial is another 
Pennsylvanian that has few equals, take it all in all. 
For a keeper or bearer of large size, plant the Willow 
Twig. Is the list loiig enough ? 'I’here are more good 
apples. We have a year's supply. 
Is there anything in the theory of cross fertiliza¬ 
tion ? We have the Nero apple, one of the first to 
bloom ; it usually goes out of bloom as the other 
apples come in bloom. The early blossoms are set 
some years, before other trees open a blossom, The 
