682 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
October 12 
The Robin's Food. 
Q., Watertown, N. Y.—For the benefit 
of those who think that life is made up 
of carnal appetites alone, and that the 
“glittering- generalities” which intro¬ 
duce the Declaration of Independence 
apply to homo only, I wish to cite the 
results of Mr. David Alexander Lyle’s ex¬ 
periments with a young robin as de¬ 
tailed in the American Naturalist for 
July, 1878. In May, he captured and 
confined in a wire cage, a young robin. 
The first food offered consisted of 
bread, potatoes and boiled egg, which 
the bird refused. Beefsteak was then 
offered, which was devoured with 
avidity. The next change was to earth 
worms. Of these, he would eat until 
his crop could contain no more, when he 
would retire to his perch, draw down his 
neck as if suffering, and sit perfectly 
still for about 15 or 20 minutes. At the 
end of that time, he had digested his 
meal, and was ready for another. A 
strictly vermicular diet acted as a laxa¬ 
tive, and did not entirely agree with 
him, and he would always refuse worms 
when beefsteak was furnished at the 
same time. All other food, however, 
was left untouched when June beetles 
were offered. Of these, he would eat 
enormously, his appetite knowing no 
bounds. One morning at 7 o’clock, Mr. 
Lyle gave him 15. At noon, he com¬ 
menced feeding him continuously until 
sunset. During that time, he disposed 
of 72 of the large beetles, and Mr. 
Lyle thinks that, if he had fed him 
during the morning, he would have 
eaten 100. When cherries were ripe, 
he fed him upon this fruit. When 
hungry, he would eat them greedily, but 
they did not fill the void, and were 
speedily rejected when Coleoptera ap¬ 
peared in evidence. Fruit was invariably 
discarded when insects could be found. 
Diurnal and nocturnal Lepidoptera were 
swallowed with such zest that it was im¬ 
possible to supply the demand. On 
grounds near, Mr. Lyle counted 23 pairs 
of robins, and figuring from the known 
to the unknown, he concludes that these 
40 birds would require 4,000 insects per 
diem, or in 30 days would dispatch 
138,000 insects, and for every cherry or 
grape they ate, they destroyed thousands 
of injurious insects. In gathering my 
own crop of cherries, I always leave a 
most liberal supply on the trees for my 
brother robin, lie is move than wel¬ 
come to them, and 1 have my opinion of 
the man who would shoot the bird for 
levying a contribution on the harvest 
which, without his aid, would be poor 
indeed. 
Tanning a Sheep Skin. 
W. K. T., Kenosha, Wis. —I am a tan¬ 
ner and currier, and this is the way I 
would tan a sheep skin : A fresh skin is 
the easiest to handle. Put the skin into 
a barrel of fresh spring water if it is 
newly taken off, say, within 24 hours. 
Soak for 24 hours, then lay over the side 
of a barrel, and with the flesh side out. 
An old scythe which will fit oval around 
the skin on the barrel, is excellent for 
a scraper. Stand at the end of the bar¬ 
rel on which one end of the skin hangs 
over, raise the end of the barrel so as to 
come up to the lower part of the abdo¬ 
men, press the body firmly against the 
skin so as to hold it firmly, and scrape 
with the scythe blade till all the tallow, 
flesh and blood are scraped off ; then 
turn the other end of the skin in the 
same position, and work likewise. If 
the skin has become dry in places, as 
often happens, scrape a little oftener, 
perhaps seven or eight times or strokes. 
If the skin is perfectly fresh, it should 
be scraped all over the second and third 
day after it has been put into the water, 
allowing about 15 to 30 minutes each 
day. If it has become dry, a little more 
scraping would be better, and a day or 
so more soaking. If the skin is dirty 
on the wool side, tramp it in the barrel, 
or pound with a plank before taking out 
for the second day’s scraping; also scrape 
on the wool side, dashing water on it 
occasionally. Do not allow iron to come 
in contact with the wool, as it has a 
tendency to color it. After the skin is 
ready for the tannage, lay the skin out 
flat, flesh side up, and apply the follow¬ 
ing : Mix together, pulverized alum, 
one-half pound; common salt, about 
one pound; saltpeter, one-half pound, 
and about twice the quantity in bulk of 
bran as you have of the above chemicals. 
Mix them together, and sprinkle a nice, 
even layer over the skin, folding the 
skin edges over to the back bone ; then 
roll from the head till you roll it tight. 
Put into a cool place for a week ; keep 
damp. After a week, open up and put 
on the other half of the bran and chemi¬ 
cals after scraping off the first applied ; 
leave about another week. It would be 
advisable to dampen by sprinkling a 
little water, say, a pint, before the 
second application. After the second 
week, hang over a scantling ; hold the 
skin on one side of the scantling with 
the* flesh side out, then start at the 
scantling and scrape down towards the 
ground with a mincemeat chopping 
knife, till the skin is softened on the 
whole flesh surface ; then do the same 
with the other end of the skin. Do this 
a day or two later as the skin dries. 
Then take a horse-mane comb and comb 
out the wool, and it will make a fine 
robe or rug. 
A Potato Report. 
C. J. F., Victory, Wis. —This has been 
a poor year for potatoes, principally on 
account of the drought. Last spring I 
received a Carman No. 1 potato weigh¬ 
ing about two ounces. This was cut to 
one-eye pieces, and planted in an old 
meadow sod. It made 10 hills. At the 
same time and place, I planted 10 single¬ 
eye hills each of It. N.-Y. No. 2, Bur¬ 
bank and Green Mountain. They re¬ 
ceived no fertilizer, and only common 
field culture. Following are the results: 
Carin an 
Green 
Bur- 
R. N.-Y. 
No. 1. 
No. marketable 
Mountain. 
hank. 
No. 2. 
tubers. 39 
40 
38 
50 
No. small t’b’rs 5 
5 
20 
2 
Total weight 
pounds. 16% 
25 % 
17% 
22*/. 
Per cent mar- 
ketable. 95 
99 
85 
99% 
The No. 2’s were dug before they were 
ripe, and would have equaled or ex¬ 
ceeded the Green Mountain. They were 
of much finer appearance than any of 
the others, and had but two small tubers. 
The Carmans were of rough appearance, 
the skin brown, and eyes deep sunken. 
The Burbanks were almost worthless, 
being of irregular shape and prongy to 
the last degree. The Green Mountains 
were larger than the No. 2’s, but of not 
so fine appearance ; yet they exceeded 
both the other varieties in appearance. 
This would show that this year, at least, 
the Carman is not the potato for this 
climate and soil. 
Save the pits of the best peaches and 
plant them at once. Most of them will 
sprout next spring, and the trees may 
bear in a couple of years thereafter. 
Prune grape vines, currant bushes, 
raspberry and blackberry plants, as soon 
as the leaves fall. 
Cuttings of grape vines, gooseberries 
and currants may now be made and 
planted. Many of them will grow next 
spring. 
Dr. Hoskins says in the Florist’s Ex¬ 
change that the Wealthy apple is in size 
from medium to large, according to 
treatment. In his orchard (Newport, 
Vt.) with proper handling, it is an all¬ 
winter apple, if gathered as soon as the 
skin and seeds are colored ; and with 
proper care will keep through to March. 
No apple suited to his section is a better 
bearer, or more salable or profitable to 
the grower, except Scott’s Winter, a 
native seedling which he introduced, 
which is equally popular both with him 
and in the Northwest, and is of a longer 
season by from two to three months; 
but not so large or so handsome. Except 
in the hands of a careful expert, Scott’s 
Winter is far the better keeper of the 
two. 
Our experience with everbearing black 
raspberries, and we have tried many 
varieties, has been such that we do not 
care to commend them highly. Until 
the appearance of the new Gault, the 
Earhart was the best ; that is, it began 
to ripen its fruit earlier and bore more 
during the entire season than any other, 
during the first and second season of 
fruiting. After that, the canes grew 
feeble, and the plants died. The Ear- 
hart, during the season of blackcaps, 
bore scarcely as much fruit as other 
kinds, while the berries ripening later 
were crumbly and of little value. No 
one seemed to care for them. What the 
new Gault may prove to be, we cannot 
say, since our plants have not borne. 
The claims made for it are that it ripens 
its first crop with the Gregg, and the 
crop is larger. Then it continues in bear¬ 
ing on the new wood until killing frosts, 
ripening not a few scattered berries, but 
often clusters of from 75 to 100. Our 
impression is that the new canes must 
be weakened by this fall crop, and that 
the plants are necessarily short-lived... 
(Continued on next page.) 
&Ui$crilancou.$i 
In writing to advertisers, please always mention 
The Rural New-Yorker. 
Sudden Changes 
From cold to heat and from heat to cold, 
are experienced at this season. They 
threaten danger to the system and are 
frequently the cause of colds, coughs, 
pneumonia, rheumatism and catarrh. 
Now is the time when the blood must be 
kept pure and rich, and the body as 
strong and vigorous as possible. 
Hood’s Sarsaparilla 
Is the One True Blood Purifier. There¬ 
fore it is the best Fall Medicine 
HnnH’c Pillc cure habitual constipa- 
1 1UUU 5 r 111 * tion. Price, 25c. per box. 
Banks or Red Gravenstein Nurseries. 
Correspondence solicited from reliable parties, who 
would like to purchase my entire stock of this promis¬ 
ing variety, consisting of about 2.000 trees, three-years 
old. from 0 to 8 feet high; (i.000 trees, two years old, 
from 4 to 6 feet high; 4,000 trees, one year oid. from 
2 to 3 feet high. Reliable references furnished on 
application. Trees have retailed readily in my own 
county for 50c. each. Sales have been contined almost 
wholly to Annapolis and Kings Counties, N. S. 
A. S. BANKS, Prop.. Waterville, Kings Co., N. S. 
If You 
Want a 
Japan Plums, Standard 
Pear and Peach Trees. 
The distinguishing feature 
of our stock is its superior 
quality. Stock grown at 
Geneva, N.Y. 1.000.000 Donald 
Elmira Asparagus Roots, all 
northern grown. Send postal 
for descriptive price list. 
WHITING NURSERY CO., 
Roxbury. Mass. 
Plum, Pear, Apple, Cherry or Quince 
Orchard, or anything in the way of Small 
Fruits, Ornamental Trees or Shrubs, 
Japan, Holland or other ISulbs, write us 
your wants and we will quote you low prices. 
Everything of the best—for Orchard, 
Vineyard, Lawn, Park, Street, Carden 
and Conservatory. Millions of Tree*, 
Shrubs. Koses, Vines Bulbs, Plants, etc. 
Price List and Catalogue Free. 
42nd Year, 1000 Acres. 29 Greenhouses, 
THE STORRS & HARRISON CO., 
PAINESVILLE. OHIO. 
300,000 PEACH TREES, 
20.000 Apple, 900.000 Asparagus Roots. Millions of 
Strawberry Plants. Twenty-page Catalogue free. 
CRIMSON CLOVER SEED. 
BERLIN NURSERIES, - BERLIN, MD. 
HEADQUARTERS FOR 
Paragon Chestnut Trees 
The most valuable large chestnut on the market 
to-day. Send for circular. 
H. M. ENGLE & SON, Marietta, Pa. 
AGENTS WANTED. 
Salary and Expenses paid, or HIGHEST commission. 
Unequnled facilities. Stock all home-grown. BEST 
ever raised. Great demand for our NEW and very 
valuable SPECIA1/TIES All our Agents suc¬ 
ceed. Apply immediately. 
THE GENEVA NURSERY, Geneva, N. Y. 
Established 1846 
One of the largest and best known in the country. 
W. & T. SMITH, Proprietors. 
CECne CLOVER, ALSIKE, 
U L L U O TIMOTHY. 
WE BUY. Send samples for our bids. 
WE SELL. Every quality. Our samples free. 
The Whitney-Noyes Seed Co., 
Specialists in Seed Cleaning. BINGHAMTON.N.Y 
PD MCnil PI nIf CD-Tbe largest handler 
bnimOUIV IfLUVCn of American-grown 
Crimson Clover Seed In the United States, is JOSEPH 
E. HOLLAND. Grower and Jobber. Milford. Del. 
Also, Cow Peas, Winter Oats, Timothy Seed. etc. 
2nd 
Crop 
. Second - Crop Seed Potatoes. 
) Fall Delivery October 20 to Deeem- 
. her 15. Shipped in lined barrels if 
\ danger of frost. Varieties: New 
( Queen, Hebron, Thorburn. Freeman, 
i Puritan. Early Norther, Burpee's 
Extra Early and Early Rose All 
/ early, productive and excellent. 
> Now is the time to buy cheapest. 
; FREE pamphlet on application. 
JNO. C. PEARCE & CO.. 
) 404 W. Main St., Louisville, Ky. 
C hoice Delaware sweet potatoes, 
$2 per bbl.,f. o. b. WM. PERRY, Cool Spring, Del. 
TREES 
FRUIT AND ORNAMENTAL. iT.VP&tf.T 
Collections in America. Cl i UlAllf'CD o ninnv 
160-page Catalogue Free. £LL VvANutK u HARRY, 
Small Fruits, Grapes, Shrubs. Roses for 
PALL Piauting. Largest and choicest 
ftCQ 0 , DIDDV Mt. Hope Nurseries, 
lien at DAKHT, Rochester, N. Y. 
6™% K— JR New Varieties of PEAR, APPLE and 
ra - Jr B— B M JkAPII TREES. Hardiest and most vigorous stock. Also 
BERRIES, VINES and PLANTS of every description. 
Enpyi ■ | B B —-Valuable Illustrated Catalogue mailed FREE_ 
——-ARTHUR d. COLLINS. ■ Moorestown. N. J. 
$22,500 
That s the amount of orders filled by Rogers last season. Some firms sell 
more, some less; but these same trees bought of tree agents would cost 
the planters 150,000. Our new location has many advantages over the old 
one at Moorestown, and if you want to save dollars, write us to-day. Our 
HAltGAINS in planter’s sizes include 6c. Plums. Cherries and Apples, 
and 5c. Dwarf Pears. ISAAC C. ROGERS, Dansville, N. Y. 
TRIUMPH J 
The only Yellow Freestone PEACH 
Ripening with Ainsden. 
▼e 
r 'i'lie Latest and Largest 1 
Yellow Freestone PEACH, ' 
EMPEROR 
MERCER { 
The only Sure-Bearing, 
N o n-Ro tti ng C H ERRY, 
E iniC FRUIT TREES, 
SMALL FRUITS, VINES, ROSES, 
| V ORNAMENTALS, Crates & Baskets. 
LORENTZI says E.^. Ca*rm A. R.*n! Y^und I ELD O RAD O 
PEACH. I H. E. V akdeman, U. S. Dept. I BLACKBERRY. 
Don’t pay double prices. 1 ' Illu”.’catalogue Free. - REID’S NURSERIES, Bridgeport, Ohio. 
TREES 
New sorts and Standard Kinds in APPLE. P 1 HQi IMP 
CHERRY, PEAR and PLUM TREES. DAIlUAIIld 
Send for book, “ Money in Fruit,” and Illustrated Catalogue free. 
Box 100. ROGERS NURSERY COMPANY. Moorestown. N. J. 
ROGERS NURSERY COMPANY, Moorestown, N. J. 
