JULY 3 
THE BUBAL HEW-YOBKEB 
CULTIVATING COEN. 
The culture of corn is a simple process, yet 
it seems to me there is room for some improve¬ 
ment, or at least for suggestions of improve¬ 
ment, in the method usually followed by our 
farmers. The work of cultivating corn comes 
in a busy season, when farm handB are scarce, 
and various kinds of farm work are urgent; 
hence there is need of expediting the work as 
much as practicable. It is, at best, a poor 
crop to grow for profit on onr rich Eastern 
farms, where land is high, and unless we can 
produce it cheaply there is an absolute loss. 
In our grandfa herB’ time it was customary to 
employ much hand work iu the culture of 
corn. The work of “billing" which was then 
considered absolutely necessary, was all done 
with the hoe, which made the cultivation of a 
field of corn very laborious and costly. 
Thanks to our inventors, we now have im¬ 
proved implements for cultivating, which 
make it possible to perform most of the hoeing 
by horse power. One horse, with a skillful 
man, will now boe as much corn In a day aB 
ten men in former years by the nee of hand 
hoes. There is need, however, of exercising 
considerable care and patience in cultivating 
corn or potatoes as they shoiid he. 
However good the cultivator or horse-hoe 
may be, it will not do good work unless it is 
kept in good order. The teeth, or diggers, 
should be kept sharp and well polished, so that 
the earth will slip readily. If the teeth are 
blunt and rusty so that the earth adheres to 
them, the work cannot be well done, and, be¬ 
sides, it is much more laborious for the horse. 
Let cultivator teeth be put on the grindstone 
occasionally and sharpened or polished if need 
be, and when the cultivator is not in use, let it 
be protected from the weather, to keep the 
teeth from becoming rusty. 
Considerable skill is required to h'orse-hoe 
corn properly and with little labor. It is nec¬ 
essary to run as close to the rows as possible 
without uprooting the hills, which will leave 
but little hard work to be done. It will pay 
farmers to spend a few moments with their 
laborers in order to teach them how to man¬ 
age the cultivator so as to do the work effectu¬ 
ally. A careless, unskillful workman will 
sometimes let the cultivator slip along hap¬ 
hazard without accomplishing the desired 
effect. 6. A. Goff, Jr. 
Chemung Co., N. T. 
$ ontological. 
CONVENTION OF AMERICAN ASSOCIATION 
OF NURSERYMEN, Etc. 
[Rural Special Report.] 
The fifth annual meeting of the American 
Association of nurserymen, seedsmen, flor¬ 
ists and kindred interests, was held in Chica¬ 
go, June 16th, and lasted three days. 
The morning of the first day was consumed 
in routine business, consisting of the address 
of welcome by Edgar Saunders, an address by 
the President. T. 8. Hubbard, of Fredonia, N. 
Y.; the report of the Treasurer, and the ap¬ 
pointment of the Committee on Business. 
The afternoon session, after hearing the re¬ 
port of the Committees on Business and the ap¬ 
pointment of the Committees upon Nomination 
of Officers and that upon Exhibits, by the Pres¬ 
ident, took np the regular order of business, 
the first of which was a paper from Peter 
Henderson, of New York, upon 
“Humbug* In Horticulture.” 
He said that experience witn other swindles 
is no safeguard against swindles of this sort, 
as the horticultural swindlers often find their 
best customer? among the intelligent lawyers 
and merchants of our large cities, and the 
speaker gave as an example the Bine Rose 
swindlers who sold large quantities of the 
humbug at high prices in New York City, until 
having received too much free advertising, 
they were obliged to leave. Mauy pretended 
to have The secrets of success, which they 
offer at a price to the confiding public. There 
are no secrets in horticulture, and those who 
vend such should be let severely alone. 
This waB followed by a paper from Professor 
Husmann, of Missouri, upon 
Tree Peddler*. 
He said that most buyers are ignorant of 
what they buy, and in many cases of what they 
want, and take our goods ou trust; that on ac¬ 
count of the difficulty in detecting frauds, the 
temptation to deceive is great. Of tree ped- 
Jers he formed two classes;—first, the reliable 
and trustworthy ones, who, he regretted to say, 
formed the smaller class. They sell only reli¬ 
able Borts and represent reliable firms. Very 
much of the progress of horticulture among 
farmers is due to their labors. The other class 
are unscrupulous, using fancy pictures, and tell¬ 
ing big stories, such as those abont a Canadian 
peach which is perfectly hardy, and which 
grows In the shape of a poplar; marvelous 
seedless grapes, tree strawberries, etc. To 
counteract the influence of these is of first im¬ 
portance, and to this end he urged the diffus¬ 
ing of sound horticultural knowledge among 
the public. He would employ no agents ex¬ 
cept reliable men and give certificates to no 
others, and would use only faithful representa¬ 
tions of fruits. 
Mr. Manning, of Massachusetts, said that for 
years he had printed a notice in bis catalogues 
warning all to beware of any one representing 
bis establishment, who con Id not show an open 
letter dated witlilu 20 days and written under a 
printed headiug. Mr. Foster, of Iowa, had ex¬ 
posed tree swiudlers for a long time, but could 
not see that any headway was being accom¬ 
plished. The farmers need enlightenment and 
education, and he knew of no better way than 
to publish pertinent matter through the local 
papers, Mr. Albaugh, of Ohio, had fought 
this thing for several years. He thought there 
was no one particular way to reach the case. 
Swindling Is not confined to the nursery busi¬ 
ness ; neither are rustics the easiest victims- 
They have been “ chipped,” and to use a popu¬ 
lar expression, “ are looking a little out." 
Buyers only trust the man—they don’t care for 
the authority—a good talker is all that is really 
necessary to persuade them. Each buyer 
must learn to read character. You can’t open 
their heads and give them brains. No associa¬ 
tion can do any good in this connection in any 
other way than by enlightening the public. He 
thought some progress had been made, as more 
honesty and authority are needed now in trav¬ 
eling agents than ten years ago. He did not 
think we should condemn all substitution. 
Sometimes our agents sell sorts that we know 
will fail in a given locality. In such cases 
nnrserymen do their customers a kindness in 
giving them some other sort of the same general 
character, hut which will succeed there. 
Mr. Moody, of New York, thought we should 
not forget that we have honest dealers in our 
ranks. He also thought that nurserymen 
ought not grow those sorts that are nearly 
worthless, although there may be a lively de¬ 
mand for them. He denounced the Wild 
Goose plum as being worthless in New York. 
Mr. Scott, of Illinois, had eaten the Wild Goose 
plum and liked it. It is profitable in the West 
and South. Mr. Bush, of Missouri, advocated 
that nursery products should be sold more 
largely through local agents who have a repu¬ 
tation. Mr. Husmann said that in his State 
local agents were of no account. They reldom 
devote their whole time to the business and are 
not the proper instruments to employ In reach¬ 
ing the people. Mr. Plumb, of Wis., offered 
the following resolution, which was carried; 
Resolved, That this Association recom¬ 
mends general dissemination of horticultural 
knowledge as the most important factor in 
mitigating and reraedyingt.be evils complained 
of in regard to the dissemination of nursery 
products. 
In the evening the society first discussed the 
subject of rates on railroad freights, from 
which it seemed that some railroads, especially 
those west of the Missouri River, would not 
accept trees or plants for transportation un¬ 
less the freight were paid in advance, being 
unwilling to accept guarantees even from thor¬ 
oughly responsible parties. It w-as the sense 
of the meeting that nothing could be done. 
Next was read a paper by W. C. Strong upon 
the subject of 
“The Effect of Various Stocks on the Cion and 
the Future Tree.” 
The speaker said that there are two methods 
of propagating, the one by seed, the other by 
division. From the seed we get variation, and, 
as many plants are not propagated easily in that 
way, webnd. The bud preserves its individu¬ 
ality and is affected by the root. The stock 
imparts constitution to the bud. The Chinese 
Sand Pear is of luxuriant growth, and it’s 
seedlings ought to be valuable a9 stocks. The 
root is also affected by the cion or bud. Plums 
budded on peach roots are more liable to dis¬ 
ease than upon their own roots; but peaches 
on plum roots are good. The Yellows—which 
is a fungus growth on the root (?)—does notat- 
tack the plum root, and so we escape it. 
Mr. Hendersou, of N. Y., thought that we 
had “Graft Hybrids,” or amalgamation of 
stock and graft, and instanced the Abntilon 
variegata. If it is grafted on the top of a 
plant, the variegation appears below the graft. 
Variegation is disease and we inoculate dis¬ 
ease. Mr. Powell, of N. Y.. said that the stock 
is affected by the graft, and referred to the 
crab as a well-known illustration. Mr. Moody 
thought with Mr. Powell, but did uot believe 
that the fruit was affected by the stock. He 
had budded the Duchess of Oldenburg on 
crab seedlings. They commenced to bear the 
second season and never made good trees. It 
dwarfed them. 
Mr. Albaugh, of Ohio, said that peach on 
plum may be good at the East, but it was not 
so in the West and Southwest. The peach root 
with them was not Bhort-lived ; it was longer- 
lived than the plum root. Plum on peach is 
not undesirable in the Miami Valley. We have 
no yellows or other trouble with our peaches, 
except the borer. Mr. Powell said they used 
nothing but the Canadian wild stock for the 
peach. It never dies, and peach on that stock 1 
stands our climate better, and is not troubled 
by the borer. 
Mr. Waters, of Wis., thought the best stock 
for peach and plum to be the Miner plum. He 
knew of trees of thi6 sort in his State that 
would measure four feet in circumference. It 
is not hurt by anything, and is propagated by 
root cuttings. Mr. Weir, of Illinois, had ex¬ 
perimented with the seedlingB of the Chinese 
Sand Pear. They grew like the French 
stocks and were of no more value than they. 
Mr. Moody would take soft wood plum, and 
not American seedlings, to grow the peach on, 
as the seedlings are bard and must dwarf the 
peach very much. Mr. Weir had found the 
European plum root to be much more tender 
than the peach root. Mr. Stark, of Missouri, 
bad tried peach ou plum, using the common 
red plain. He found taat early sorts did well, 
but late ones would not produce well. His 
largeet fruit was grown on trees double-worked. 
Mr. Stickuey, of Wisconsin, thought that 
dwarfing the peach on plum is just what we 
want. It matures early, bears early and is hardy. 
The subject of careful handling and packing 
was then taken up. Mr. Budd of Iowa, stated 
that the European method of packing was 
better than ours. He had had trees from 
Northern Europe that were three and four 
months on the way, and they reached him in 
perfect condition ; whereas frequently he had 
trees even from Rochester reach him in very 
poor condition. He thought our nurserymen 
should be more careful. 
The association then diBcusBed 
Insects Injurious to Nursery Stock, 
and the best methods of destroying them. Mr. 
Budd had used carbolic acid soap as a wash 
for trees. It kept off the rabbits, and also the 
borers from apple ttees. Mr. Albaugh had 
used diluted tobacco water for keeping off and 
destroying the Black Cherry louse. Peach 
buds in his section were seriously injured by a 
hug that eats off the terminal bud when the 
tree is only 12 or 18 inches high. It is more 
prevalent on alluvial than any other land. He 
asked for a remedy. For the black Span-worm 
which is often troublesome, he knew of no 
better remedy than hand-picking. Mr. Hen¬ 
derson stated that the English sparrows will 
eat the last-named pest, and they had cleaned 
his premises of the Rose-sing. Mr. Manning 
found the Canker-worm difficult to manage; 
but by the use of poisons, such as Paris-greeu, 
London-purple and arsenic diluted with water, 
he had finally succeeded. Mr. Foster, of Iowa, 
had used all three of the above poisons ; but 
preferred London-purple. Mr. Zimmerman, 
of New York, stated that the way to manage 
the Canker-worm was to prevent toe female 
—which is wingless—from going up the tree, 
which she does to lay her eggs. This can be 
done by bands. He also recommended the use 
of air-slaked lime for slugs on cherry and pear 
trees. Mr. Woodward, of New York, reported 
that Paris-green is the thing for the Codling- 
moth. The cost is about one cent per tree ( 
and it is effectual. Mr. Manning stated thatan 
ice storm in the spring freed them of the Teut- 
caterpillar, Mr. Woodward, being called upon 
to state how Par is-green Is used for theCodliug- 
moth, said he threw it by means of a small 
force pump over and through the tree. He 
used a tablespoonful to a barrel of water, and 
applied it before the apples began to droop, 
while they were erect upon their peduncles. 
The second day’s session opened with the re¬ 
ports upon 
Quantity and Quality of Stock. 
Mr. Augustine, of Illinois, reported that old 
6tock looked thin ; but of younger trees there 
was a better supply. Of sour cherries there 
was a good supply; but of sweet sorts and pear 
and plurn trees and apple seedlings, the stock 
was light. Stock had all made a fine growth 
and was in capital condition. Mr. Spaulding, 
of Illinois, thought there would be but little 
young stock put on the market this fall; but 
what there was would be of very fine qaality. 
If anything, stock had made too much growth. 
Mr. Hill, of Illinois, reported that of small 
evergreens there seemed to be a short stock. 
The spring planting was coming along well, 
but for a year or two the lighter grades would 
be scarce. Mr. Graves, of Illinois, reported 
the spring planting of apple Bced xo have re¬ 
sulted in a partial failure; other stock is doing 
well; apple trees are especially fine. Mr.. 
Douglas, of Illinois, being absent, Mr. Stick- 
* ney reported for him, as ho had been through 
the former's grounds recently. Mr. Douglas 
has a good aud large stock on hand. He i9 
making a specialty of the new Rocky Moun¬ 
tain evergreens, mauy of which promise to be 
decided acquisitions to our present list. 
Mr. Van Lindley, of North Carolina, re¬ 
ported for his State an increased quautily of 
apples and peaches, of which there would 
he a surplus, Stock was doing nicely. 
Mr. Peters, of Ohio, reported theie was In 
his section a fair supply of apples aud a good 
stock of peaches; of cherries a fair stock, aud a 
large one of apple seedlings aud Mabaleb stocks. 
The old stock of apples has been used up. Mr. 
Hoover, reported for Daytou, Ohio, the usual 
supply of apples, there being enough for th 
demand aud a little to spare. Of dwarf and 
standard pears there was a small stock; but 
not enough. The supply of peaches is large, 
but of cherries not so great as heretofore. 
Small fruits are in abundance. We need 
grapes, pears and evergreens—we have a good 
stock of Wild Goose, and Weaver plums, and a 
fair stock of other sorts. The season's growth 
is excellent. Mr. Weltz, of Ohio, reported the 
stock of apples to be very good and of cherries 
sufficient. Of pears there is sot enongh. 
Peaches are plentiful and of good quality. 
Grapes and evergreens are needed, especially 
Irish Junipers. 
Mr. Underwood, of Minnesota, stated there 
was no great stock in Minnesota. There had 
been no heavy plantings, and fruit trees hed 
been seriously injured by the past winter. 
They were obliged to grow Iron-clads, and 
nothing else. The Duchess, Wealthy and 
Tetofsky were the only apples that stood the 
winter well. The common crabs they did not 
care about, the newer sorts being much better. 
Iu the nursery all varieties of apple and crab 
were injured; but in the orchards the same 
varieties were hardier. The Wealthy is the 
vevy best apple they have, and will come into 
bearing three years after being planted. Next 
in order of value are the Duchess and Tetof¬ 
sky. Four-fifths of the Haas were killed to the 
ground or badly injured. The Walbridge, Pe- 
waukee, Fameuse, Golden Russett, Price's 
Sweet and Saxton all fared better than the 
Haas, but all were injured. Of the crabs they 
found the Orange to be a good one, Whitney’s 
No. 20 is also hardy; but Bethel is not. The 
Hesper does well. 
At this point Mr. Budd, of Iowa, moved that 
the wives and daughters of members present 
be made members, without fee, which was 
unanimously carried. The new President, Mr. 
Albaugh. of Ohio, was then conducted to the 
chair, aud ho expressed his thanks in fitting 
words for the high honor thrust upon him, 
which had come unsought by him. He con¬ 
gratulated the association upon its flourishing 
condition, aud predicted for it a glorious fu¬ 
ture. The reports were then continued upon 
the 
Comlition of Slock. 
Mr. Stickuey, of Wisconsin, stated that for 
the current year there were sufficient apples, 
but not quite enough cherries or plums. Of 
small evergreens there is no surplus. Mr. 
Plumb, of Wisconsin, said that there were but 
few nurserymen left in the State. The plant¬ 
ing for three years had been light, and stock 
is becoming scarce- 
Mr. Moody, of New York, reported the qual¬ 
ity of stock to be fine. That grown by farmers 
is used up, and apples are all in the hands of 
the nurserymen. Of cherries, plums, and pears 
there is a gcod supply. Mr. Powell, of New 
York, agreed with Mr. Moody. The surplus 
stock has all been used up. We have nothing 
left but clean, thrifty, well-grown stock. Small 
fruit? are in abundance, aud the demand for 
them is great. Mr. Sweet, of New York, re¬ 
ported a fair supply of apples in Dansville ; 
but not so many as last year. Standard pears 
are abundant, except younger trees. Dwarf 
pears are not so plentiful as last year. Cher¬ 
ries and plums are about as usual. Mr. Rich¬ 
ardson reported for Geneva, N. Y., that the 
poor stock is all goue, a large acreage having 
been cleaned off last Spring. Young stock 
looks fine, but is not in great supply. Standard 
pears are in fair supply. Cherries are short, 
and plums in good supply. Mr. Hubbard, of 
New York, reported the stock of grape-vines 
to be about as usual, aud doing well. Mr. 
Jones, of New York, reported for his section 
(Rochester) that there was no surplus. The 
old stock of apples which was in the hands of 
farmers is used up, and what there is left is 
in the hands of nurserymen. Of cherries there 
is a light stock; of other things only about 
enough for the usual trade. 
Mr. Teas, of Indiana, stated that the nursery 
business was about run out of his State, but 
little being grown except small fruits. They 
did not have enough apples or peai'3, but they 
had enough cherries and peaches. 
Mr. Waters, of Iowa, reported that they had 
no pears at all, aud but few sweet plums. Old 
apples are out of the market, and evergreeus 
Iu light stock. They would have to buy cher¬ 
ries, pears, and plums. Apple seedlings are 
short this year, a heavy wind-storm having 
scattered the seed all over the country after 
being planted. Osage Oranges are in limited 
Bupply, aud this is in the hands of a few 
growers. 
Mr. Manning reported for Massachusetts a 
general scarcity of stock, except iu ornamen¬ 
tals, which are abundant. 
Mr. Wilson, of Michigan, reported a large 
aud flue stock, especially of peaches, which is 
the largest he had ever known. 
Mr. Bush, of Missouri, reported that the 
small nurserymen hud gone out of the busi¬ 
ness, aud the larger ones had curtailed their 
plantings. Vineyards are looking fine. 
Mr. Webber, of Tennessee, reported stock 
in good condition. A neighbor of his would 
