THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
795 
1895 
FARMERS’ CLUB DISCUSSION . 
(continued.) 
thought I would see what North Dakota 
could do. I intend to purchase the bulk 
of my seed from New York State, plant 
the Dakota seed, and a few Maryland 
grown, alongside the New Yorks, and 
hope in the fall, to know something more 
about seed potatoes. 
Crimson Clover in Wisconsin. 
YV., Monroe, YVis. —A complete failure 
with Crimson clover a year ago, caused 
me to get a small amount of seed this 
year early in July. A portion was sown 
in corn, cultivated in, and never came 
up. Another portion in corn on freshly 
cultivated ground, raked in, grew but 
very little, and nothing can be expected 
of it. A third portion was sown on a 
thoroughly prepared bed or plot, in a 
sheltered place, and the very dry soil 
watered, sprayed, irrigated and flooded, 
so that the blistering, evaporating heat 
could not dry it out. The amount of 
water required was astonishing ; but 
every seed, apparently, germinated in a 
hurry, and grew beautifully, so that I 
have a plot under favorable conditions 
for the ordeal of winter. It is useless 
to expect any growth of consequence 
of that or any late-sown seed, including 
millet, under the prevailing conditions 
of this and previous years. Thousands 
of dollars’ worth of common clover seed 
have been wasted in this country, in seed¬ 
ing with spring-sown grain. The only 
chance is in sowing before frost is out of 
the ground ; so there seems little show 
for the Crimson without more rain. 
Now, friends, we want to tell you a 
little more about the new Japan trailer, 
Itosa Wichuraiana. We have alluded 
to it, quoting what others have said ; 
but we may now speak of it from an ex¬ 
perience of two seasons, our first plant 
having been received from Ellwanger & 
Harry in the early spring of last year. 
It is a charming little beauty ; “little” 
as to its leaflets and flowers, though a 
prizetaker as to rapidity of growth. As 
to its hardiness, this plant stood without 
harm a temperature, last winter, of 24 
degrees below zero. Had it been trained 
to a trellis, perhaps it would have suf¬ 
fered. Evidently it loves to trail, the 
leading shoots with large terminal buds 
making their way through a bed of vinca 
as if delighted with the companionship. 
It is a fierce grower, spreading out on 
all sides, and taking as complete posses¬ 
sion of the soil as though it were Bermuda 
or Quack grass. 
The leaflets are generally seven in 
number, small, roundish-oval, thick and 
as shiny as if varnished. The wax-like 
flowers are borne singly, two inches in 
diameter, white, with a spicy fragrance. 
Though this plant was set out not until 
May, by June 15 some of the leading 
shoots were four feet long. It began to 
bloom about July 10 when most other 
roses, and, indeed, shrubs of all kinds, 
were resting after having given us their 
wealth of bloom. 
This charming novelty commends it¬ 
self especially to those who would clothe 
rock-work, lake banks or borders with 
deep green, luxuriant foliage, enlivened 
during July with its dainty, fragrant, 
anemone-iike blossoms. Our illustra¬ 
tion (Fig. 253, page 791), nearly one-half 
size, is from Nature. 
An Enigmatical Bill-of-Fare, 
For a dinner served on the Dining Cars 
of the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul 
Railway, will be sent to any address on 
receipt of a two-cent postage stamp. 
Apply to Geo. H. Ileatford, General Pas¬ 
senger Agent, Old Colony Building, Chi¬ 
cago, Ill.— Adv. 
Mr. R. N. Randall, of Sweetwater, 
Tenn., favors us with this reply in 
response to our request for information 
in regard to the new pear, Idaho : 
My Idaho pears ripened here this year about 
October 1. The largest one that I weighed, tipped 
the beam at 18 ounces; there was one larger, but 
some one stole it before it was ripe. The quality 
is of the very best, comparing well with Bart¬ 
lett, Louise Bonne, Seckel and others of that class. 
The tree is hardy and thrifty. 
YVe are glad to receive so favorable a 
report . 
Mr. ,T. II. Ansley, of Simcoe, Ont., 
kindly tells of his experience with the 
Mills grape as follows : 
I have found the Mills, both in bunch and qual¬ 
ity, as The R. N.-Y. has described it. It is unique 
among out-of-door grapes of this latitude. The 
only fault that my vine (I have only one) has de¬ 
veloped, is lack of vigor. 
And Prof. Tracy, of the Mississippi 
Experiment Station, tells of its behavior 
in this wise : 
Vines of this variety were received from Ell¬ 
wanger «fc Barry in February, 1889, and planted 
in a vineyard containing about 150 varieties. 
Three vines were planted, of which one has since 
died, and the others have made only a moderate 
growth. The vines are productive; bunches 
above medium in size, fairly compact; berries 
medium in size, black, and of good quality, with 
a thin but tough skin and a very pleasant flavor. 
The variety sulTers little from rot, and is a good 
shipper. Itipe July 28 to 30, or about 10 days later 
than Concord. It has never attracted my atten¬ 
tion as havirg any special value for this region. 
Evidently, in so far as we are at pres¬ 
ent advised, the Mills will not behave 
itself everywhere as it does in Roches¬ 
ter, N. Y. ; but where there is a chance 
for its thriving, we would certainly give 
it a trial. 
The following letter is fromour friend, 
Mr. A. YV. Smith, of Americus, Ga. ; 
Reading what you say as to “ Business Pear,” 
i. e., Keiffer, I send you a few that you may see 
what such ensilage is, without waiting until 
December. I grow no pears for sale, but a few 
years since planted some Keiffers, not caring 
much for them, as I had found them hard and 
almost worthless. This year, my trees bore for 
the first time, and, following the suggestion of 
Mr. Berckmans, I left them on the trees until 
October, and have been most agreeably surprised 
as to the quality of the fruit. It is now better 
than any pear I have eaten, other than Law¬ 
rence or Fondante d’Automne. The smaller ones 
ripened up first, and were, I think, the best. What 
I send are the last, neither selected for size, color 
nor quality, simply the last. I believe that if they 
had been placed in a dark room, and covered with 
a blanket, they would have been more attractive 
and, possibly, better. The spicy flavor is to my 
family most palatable. I judge that they should 
in your locality be left on trees until November. 
These pears were received November 
6, or thereabouts, in good order, except 
that most of them were over-ripe and 
had begun to decay. They were fine 
specimens, four of the best weighing 
three pounds five ounces. The R. N.-Y., 
both from specimens kindly sent by 
friends, and from fruit raised at the 
Rural Grounds, was the first to place the 
Keiffer among pears valuable chiefly for 
cooking. Since that time it has been 
grown in vast quantities, and its large 
size and showy appearance, have made 
it profitable. Hut this does not change 
its quality. YVe still insist that, grown 
north of Pennsylvania, the Keiffer is de¬ 
sirable only for preserves, and that it is 
nearly worthless as compared with Hose, 
Seckel, Anjou, Sheldon, etc., which ripen 
at about the same time. The Keitfers 
so kindly sent by Mr. Smith, do not 
change our views, though in quality 
slightly better than any others we have 
eaten. They were full of juice, the flesh 
rather hard and coarse, suggesting the 
harder portion of a half-roasted apple. 
There was little of the real pear flavor, 
a certain agreeable spiciness, it is true, 
combined with an immatured, raw, 
diluted acidity, if we may so speak, quite 
unlike any other pear we know of. There 
is much to be said in favor of the Keiffer, 
however. The tree is healthy, self-fer¬ 
tilizing, productive, and comes into bear¬ 
ing early. Where it thrives well and 
ripens perfectly, and better kinds do not 
thrive, we would prefer to grow it rather 
than have no pears. For canning or 
preserving, probably it is of special 
value. As a market pear to eat out of 
hand, we would guess that it has seen 
its best days. Size and show are always 
valuable properties in market fruit. But 
when people find that beauty, size and 
a distinct form (as with the Keiffer) cover 
inferior quality, these characteristics 
after a while serve as a sign to guard 
the public against them. 
People were slow to find out that the 
splendid peaches of California were of 
the lowest quality. Hut they have found 
it out, and now choose Eastern fruit, 
though not half so attractive in appear¬ 
ance . 
A late bulletin of the Delaware Sta¬ 
tion gives an account of strawberries. 
Many kinds which thrive there are of 
little value at the Rural Grounds. 
Michel is preferred to Heder YVood. Rio, 
one of our best early kinds is pronounced 
“not specially valuable.” Shuster, one of 
our trustiest early kinds, was “ severely 
injured by blight.” Parker Earle, too, 
“was seriously injured by blight.” 
Of Brandywine, first brought to public 
notice by. The R. N.-Y., the bulletin 
says : “This variety is worthy of all the 
praise that has been bestowed upon it.” 
Questions were sent by the Station to 
many extensive growers regarding the 
kinds most valued in Delaware, and 20 
replies were received. These implies 
show that Bubach is the leading straw¬ 
berry for general cultivation. That is, 
it is the most productive and profitable. 
Haverland stands second. Gandy is con¬ 
sidered the best shipper, Bubach closely 
following, Meek’s taking the third place. 
Sharpless is the favorite for home use, 
with Gandy for second choice. Michel 
and Haverland are equally popular as 
early kinds, with Meek’s closely follow¬ 
ing. Gandy leads as a late berry, with 
Enhance as second choice. Of 39 varie¬ 
ties mentioned by the respondents, the 
follow ing were the most prominent ; 
Bubach, Gandy, Sharpless, Haverland, 
Michel, Jessie, Phillips and Cumberland. 
Of 71 varieties tried by the Station, 
the following ripened their first berries 
as shown ; Shuster, May 30 ; YVentzell, 
May 30 ; Meek’s Early, May 29 ; Michel, 
May 31; Van Deman, June 1; Heder 
YVood, June 2 ; Bubach, June 2 ; Cres¬ 
cent, June 2 ; Greenville, June 4 ; Ilaver- 
land, June 4 ; Jessie, June 4 ; Rio, June 
3 ; Brandywine, June 5 ; Parker Earle, 
June 7 ; Sharpless, June 6 ; Timbrell, 
June 7 ; Gandy, June 12. 
In writing to advertisers, please always mention 
The Rubai, New-Yorker. 
Artificial Arms and Legs. 
PATENTS OF 181)5. 
MARKS’ Improved Rubber Hands and Feet are 
Natural In Action. Noiseless In Motion, and the Most 
Durable In Construction. 
It is not unusual to see a farmer working in the 
fields with an artificial leg, or an engineer, conductor, 
brakoman, carpenter, mason, miner; in fact, men of 
every vocation, wearing one or two artificial legs, of 
MARKS’ Patents, performing as much as men In pos¬ 
session of all their natural members, and experienc¬ 
ing little or no inconvenience. 
Over 17.000 in use, scattered in all parts of the world. 
Eminent surgeons and competent judges commend the 
Rubber Foot and Hand for their many advantages. 
At the WORLD S COLUMBIAN EXPOSITION they 
received the highest award. They are indorsed and 
purchased by the United States and foreign Govern¬ 
ments. A Treatise, containing 430 pages, with 300 
illustrations, sent free; also a formula for taking 
Measurements by which limbs can be made and sent 
to all parts of the world with fit guaranteed. Address 
A. A. MARKS, 701 Broadway, New York City. 
Established 42 Years. 
Cider Machinery.—Send for catalogue to Boomer & 
Boschert Press Co., 118 West Water St., Syracuse,N.Y. 
•••••••••————•••€<63 
1A Mountain 
of Dishes 
S confronts the average farmer’s wife 
after all the family and the farm hand? 
• have dined. They are greasy dishes, 
5 too, and hard to getperfectly clean with 
9 ordinary soap and water. A good many 
• farmers’ wives and other men’s wives, 
§ too, have discovered that the best, 
9 quickest and easiest way to wash dishes 
• is to use 
|6°«feSr 
| Washing Powder 
• in the dish water. It acts like magic— 
® cuts the grease and makes the dishes 
2 clean. All cleaning is made easier by 
9 this great cleanser. It is cheap, too— 
q that’s the best of it. 25c. for a large pkg. 
Gold Dust Washing Powder bus 
an additional value to the farmer for 
destroying insects. Send us your name 
and address and we will mail you an 
important booklet containing recipes 
for making kerosene emulsions, for 
spraying crops and trees and livestock. 
THE N. K. FAIRBANK COMPANY, f 
Chicago, St. Louis, New York, 2 
Boston, Philadelphia. 
ENGINES, 
SAW MILLS, 
THRASHING MACHINES. 
Best Machinery at Lowest Prices. 
A. B. FARQUHAR CO., York, Pa. 
J £ SAW MILL. 4 H. P. and 
^ larger. Corn and Feed Mills 
^ Hay Presses AWaterWheols 
DELOACH MILL MFG. CO.. Box 3(57, Atlanta, Ga 
STEEL 
WEB 
Picket Lawn Fence 
8teel Posts, Steel Ralls and Steel Gates; Steel Tree 
Flower and Tomato Guards; Cabled Field and Hog 
Fence, 24 to58 in. high; Poultry, Gardon and Rabbit 
Fence; Steel Wire Fence Board,etc. Catalogue free. 
DeKALB FENCE CO.. 17 High St„ OeKalb, Ilf 
We Are Not “Stuck Up.” 
That’s not the reason “common wire Is not good 
enough for us", but we nuiMt have ELASTICI¬ 
TY, and having that we want strength to match 
it. and that's why ours is the best. 
PAGE WOVEN WIRE FENCE CO., Adrian, Mich. 
CHAMPION evaporator 
SORGHUM, CIDER, AND FRUIT JELLIES 
Write for 1896 Catalogue. 
THE G. II. GIUM.il MFG. CO., Hudson, Ohio, or Montreal, P. Q. 
Fruit Culture, and the Laying Out 
and Management of a Country Home. 
By W. C. Strong. Illustrated. A guide to the 
culture of fruits suited to the owner of a home 
Considers the choice of location, preparation 
of the soil, how and when to plant, and gives 
a short descriptive list of the popular varie¬ 
ties of each fruit. Instructions in pruning 
and cultivation, descriptions of diseases and 
insect enemies, with remedies, and a chapter 
on propagation, make the book complete for 
the amateur. Cloth, $1, postpaid. 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
Corner Chambers and Pearl Streets, New York. 
