POSSIBILITIES OF A BACK YARD 
WHERE FRUITS ARE TAKEN INTO PARTNERSHIP. 
( Concluded .) 
A Talk About New and Old Fruits. 
Some Downing gooseberries along the fence were 
loaded with fruit. “They never fail to give a crop. 
That one has eight quarts ou it now. That Industry 
is a fine thing, when true to name. I paid a big price 
for those six bushes, and they are nothing but Down¬ 
ing.” A bush of Golden Prolific showed some large, 
smooth, creamy-colored berries. 
“ Here are some Rocky Mountain cherries,” said he 
pointing to some small plants that look like young 
willows. “That is the Rocky Mountain Dwarf cur¬ 
rant which was to be sent ‘ ready for bearing,’and 
‘ has borne a bushel to a tree.’ I am afraid it won’t 
this year. This vine is the Rocky Mountain Oregon 
Everbearing blackberry.” Two slips taken off this 
spring, showed blossoms. It looked vigorous, has 
fine cut leaves and plenty of thorns. The plums were 
all killed by the frost, as well as most of the grapes. 
A row of red raspberries showed Franconia 
extra large—sourer than Cuthbert. Pride of 
the Hudson have measured one inch in 
diameter. A single plant of Royal Church 
set this spring was as high as my head, and 
had been cut back at that. Stalk, leaves and 
stems are of a peculiar, purple color. 
Of strawberries, 100 quarts were sold from 
two square rods, after half the crop was 
ruined by frost. Some plants from seed sown 
in spring were two inches high. His No. 1, 
is of a bright color, late, coxcomb in shape, 
of better flavor than Crescent, and has the 
healthiest foliage I ever saw. The plants 
have double and triple crowns and never rust. 
He thinks it a seedling of Woolverton and 
Parker Earle. 
“ What are your best berries ? ” I asked. 
“ Timbrell and my No. 1 were about equal. 
Shuster’s Gem is not so good. Parker Earle 
and Woolverton are good for fertilizing, but 
the latter rusts. Bubach did well for a year 
or two, but seems to run out. Shuckless 
gives only small plants, and seems to lack 
vigor. The Crescent is a good berry; it 
makes a good many runners, and will take 
care of itself better than any other variety, 
but there are others which are better.” 
“I don’t know,” remarked Mrs. J.; “ I found 
one plant that had 160 berries on it. That is THE 
pretty nearly enough. A solid rim of berries 
three inches thick all the way ’round the 
plant. 1 agree with The R. N.-Y. report; it’s one of 
the most profitable.” 
A bed of lettuce about 6x6 feet, contained, perhaps, 
25 plants ; it was one solid mass of leaves which aver¬ 
aged a foot in length. It was headed like cabbage. 
“ Now, how did you do that?” 
‘ I transplanted it from the hotbed, gave the plants 
room—they are over a foot apart—and hoed a little. 
I did not put a thing under them, just worked in a 
barrel of hen manure last fall.” 
Next came 18 hills of Carman No. 1 potatoes, which 
were started from three eyes. One stalk was about 
an inch in diameter, and the foliage completely 
covered the ground. Next was an early potato grown 
by Mr. J. from seed. This ripens in June, and re¬ 
sembles a Hebron, but is much more delicate in color. 
The tuber he dug for me, was very clear white and 
pink, the two colors being distinct and clearly defined. 
This will be a valuable variety for market gardeners, 
as it matures so quickly, with a large yield. This is 
the only variety saved from hundreds grown fromseed. 
As an example of the forcing quality of Mr. John¬ 
son’s soil and methods, rye and barley sowed in June, 
were headed out July 12. Asparagus, pieplant, coru, 
cabbages and all kinds of garden truck, were found in 
abundance at every turn. What they do not need, 
they sell to customers who come to the garden for it. 
Coming to Facts and Figures. 
“ How much did you sell last year ?” I asked. 
“ I hardly like to tell. It won’t be believed, I am 
afraid ; but the salesbook shows $300.” 
“ But you have only a back yard. How much land 
have you ? ” 
“ I do not know ; enough for me any waj r . I can go 
over the whole thing with my wheel hoe by 10 o’clock; 
then I am tired.” 
“ Where did the money come from ? ” 
“Mostly from currants and strawberries; a little 
from garden truck, and $40 for plants.” 
“I would like a list of all that is growing on this 
spot ?” 
“There are 13 apple, 35 plum, 7 apricot and 2 peach 
trees; 20 grape vines; 25 gooseberries; 400 currants ; 
600 cuttings ; 586 square feet of strawberries ; 100 red 
R. N.-Y. PEACH HYBRID TOMATO—FIFTH YEAR. Fig. 90 
raspberries ; 768 square feet of asparagus ; 324 square 
feet of potatoes ; 121 square feet of corn, and some of 
every other kind of vegetable besides.” 
A careful measurement showed that the garden is 
156 feet long, and 54 feet wide, or less than one-fifth 
of an acre. Over and over have I repeated the figures; 
$300 from one-fifth of an acre means $1,500 from an 
acre, or more than is sold from most 100-acre farms. 
He has nothing to do in winter, and only a part of the 
time in summer ; yet he produces a good share of his 
family’s board, besides the money. 
This garden patch shows what a careful man can do 
if he will make a perfect study of his business. What 
are the secrets of success? Here are a few: Good 
soil, plenty of plant-food, surface cultivation and 
mulching, strong and well-selected varieties properly 
cared for. Above all this is the watchful care of 
one who takes a personal interest in each plant, and 
does just what is needed “on time”! That is the 
chief point of difference between a garden of Eden 
and a yard full of tin cans and rubbish. Let no 
man complain of his village lot till he tries a little 
tillage in it. c. e. chapman. 
AN AUTOMATIC POULTRY HOUSE 
SUITABLE FOR A SUBURBAN HOME. 
Need of a Good House. 
Many who have an acre or less of land planted to 
fruit trees, vines, flowering plants and shrubs, and 
run a garden by early morning light and holidays, 
would keep poultry but for the handicap of time. To 
such, the following suggestions may be of benefit. 
The ideal poultry house is built box shape, with a roof 
slightly slanting, sufficient only to shed water. The 
construction need not be expensive ; heavy paper such 
as is made at Walpole, is admirable for the roof and 
inside lining. Above all, study simplicity in construc¬ 
tion ; have no more divisions or compartments than 
are absolutely necessary. Everything inside should 
be removable—nests, roosts, feeders, water fountains, 
heater, and platform to catch droppings. Twice a 
year, say, October 1 and April 1, an hour should be 
devoted to whitewashing thoroughly the inside of our 
abnormal dry goods case. Don’t forget a little car¬ 
bolic acid in the wash. The nests must have their 
coat, likewise the removable platform, but 
not the roosts, as will be explained later. To 
whitewash some houses divided by wire runs 
and cut up into intricate arrangements de¬ 
signed for conveniences, is a task one might 
shirk with grace. 
Watch Ventilation and Temperature. 
Thorough ventilation in winter in a small 
house, is better than no ventilation in a large 
one. Half-inch auger holes just below the 
roof, will be found sufficient, making one hole 
for every two fowls accommodated. The 
fresh air should come in from the entrance 
to the house from the yard, which should be 
arranged to let in a moderate amount, about 
what will find an outlet through the auger 
holes mentioned. It is best to make the 
entrance of two light swinging doors of white, 
painted duck on wire forms, with springs to 
close as shown at Fig. 91, page 295. The 
circular space is always open, admitting air, 
and no hindrance to the ingress or egress of 
fowls is offered ; they almost instantly poke 
their heads through the opening, and before 
aware of it, the yielding doors let them in or 
out. We must control the ventilation, hence 
the house must be perfectly tight; the win¬ 
dows must be double. Contrast such a house, 
with clear, unfrosted windows behind which 
the contented fowls go into eggstacies, with 
the desolate-looking apology, with dismal 
windows frost-covered and shaded from the sun ! As 
we pass them, we pity the occupants, and marvel at 
the owner who expects much under adverse conditions. 
The feathered tribe can not respond when so check¬ 
mated. 
With its dead-air space between, the double win¬ 
dows mark a step towards perfection in poultry arch¬ 
itecture. You may have more glass than is needed 
for light; if so, “pool your issues,” double up the 
glass, and save warmth. A steam pipe bursting dur¬ 
ing zero weather in a large greenhouse near Boston, 
caused the ruin of thousands of lettuce plants in one 
hour’s time before repairs could be made. This 
illustrates the extreme sensitiveness of glass to the 
changes of temperature, and corsequently we should 
not spread our glass too thin. We ought not to shock, 
except favorably, the egg-producing tendencies of 
our favorite fowls; but we certainly do so when 
allowing the temperature to reach the freezing point. 
Water should never freeze in our houses. Can we 
afford to burn corn or wheat for fuel? This we do 
when the feed is utilized for warmth. We can keep 
them warm cheaper, and let the grain go into the egg- 
