84 
THE RURAL HEW-YORKER. 
FEB 8 
largest bulbs were in the first row. There 
seems to be some foundation for the opinion 
held by some onion growers, that the bul bs de¬ 
velop better, offering fewer scallions where 
they are so close in the row as to crowd each 
other. The following experiment with onions 
is quite suggestive: The soil was thoroughly 
pulverised over a small plat of ground, and 
an adjoining pi at of equal size the ground was 
paoked as hard as possible by repeatedly 
pounding it with a heavy maul. The surface 
of both plats was then covered with finely 
pulverized soil to the depth of half an Inch, 
aud June 3, three rows on each plat were 
plauted with seed of the Large Red YVethers- 
field Onion. Late planting was disadvanta¬ 
geous to the yield, but the three rows on the 
compacted soil yielded nine pounds seven 
ounces of merchantable bulbs, while the three 
rows on the pulverized soil yielded but three 
pounds three ounces. The percentage of 
vegatation in the two plats was not noticeably 
different, although the vegetation was 
prompter on the compacted soil. 
- «♦«- 
Small Fruits for General Planting.— 
For the benefit of new subscribers, and like¬ 
wise as a reminder for old, we quote the fol¬ 
lowing from the uew catalogue of Mr. J. T. 
Lovett: “The editor of the Rural New- 
Yorker gives in that journal, of December 
8 tb, 1883, a list of Small Fruits for General 
Planting which coincides so closely with what, 
from my personal observations and experi¬ 
ence, I would select as the best that I give it 
as it appears, simply omitting a few that are 
not yet in the market. It is as follows: ‘We 
say plant the Cuthbert Raspberryfor late, the 
Hansell for early—both are of a bright- red 
color, and suitable for market as well as for 
home use. For a yellow, plant the Caroline. 
It is hardy and productive, though not of the 
first quality. For canning, or for table use, 
if you like a fruit full of raspberry flavor 
though a little tart, plant Shaffer’s Colossal. 
It is rather dark in color for market, and per¬ 
haps a little soft. For a hardy, early red 
raspberry, that is sweet and delicious for 
home use, plant the Turner. For the earliest 
and most productive of blackcaps, plant the 
Souhegan. For a larger and later blackcap, 
plant tbe Gregg. For currants, plant the new 
Fay’s Prolific for red; and the White Grape 
Currant for white. For grapes, plant the 
Lady for earliest white; Moore’s Early and 
Worden for early black. For later, plant the 
Pocklingtou for light-colored; theVergennes, 
Jefferson, Brighton, or Centennial for red; 
aud the Wilder, Herbert, or Barry for black. 
For strawberries, try the Cumberland Tri¬ 
umph, Charles Downing, Sharpless, Manches¬ 
ter (pistillate), Daniel Boone, James Vick, 
Mount Vernon, Rart’s Minnesota and Ken¬ 
tucky. You cannot select a better list for 
trial, unless by experience you know already 
just what varieties will succeed best on your 
land.’ Blackberries are omitted, hence I would 
add, plant Early Harvest for early, Kittatin- 
ny for late; at tbe North substituting Tay¬ 
lor’s Prolific for tbe latter. ” 
•-*♦«-- 
Apples for Different Uses.— The 
owner who makes a selection for planting an 
orchard should keep in view the intended 
uses for the crop, says Mr.Thomas in the Cul¬ 
tivator. If chiefly' for market, the Baldwin, 
in the North and East, will stand at the head 
of the list for great productiveness and hand¬ 
some appearance, and for fair prices. Some 
will variously add Rhode Island Greening, 
Roxbury Russett, Tompkins King, aud others, 
and Ben Davis and Willow Twig at the West. 
For home supply, fruit of tine quality will be 
needed for the table, from Midsummer till the 
following June, aud among the most agreea¬ 
ble sorte in succession will be Bummer Rose, 
Early Joe, Primate, Dyer, Fatneuse, Hub- 
bardston Nonsuch, Red Canada, Swaar, and 
Northern Spy. The list of valuable culinary 
sorts will include Lowell, Twenty Ounce, 
Gravenstein, Rhode Island Greening, Fall 
Pippin, and Esopus Spitzenburgb. The list 
of these different sorts may be variously ex¬ 
tended, according to the preferences of dif¬ 
ferent persons and the adaptation of soils and 
localities. 
PITHS AND REMINDERS. 
Dr. Stcrtevant traced the roots of Cauli¬ 
flowers on August 13 downward to the depth 
of three feet. Many roots reached a depth of 
two-and-a-half feet. Hence deep manuring 
and deep pulverization.of the soil are deemed 
benficial..... 
This question was submitted to the W. N. 
Y. Farmers’ Club, as stated in the Rural 
Home: whether it be meaner for farmers to 
pick out and sell the smaller eggs at the price 
of the larger ones than it is for the dealers to 
pay no more for the larger than the smaller 
ones) 1 Mr. Garretsee expressed the opinion 
that the meanest farmer is the one who sells 
the largest and best and gives his family the 
poorest to eat. 
SUMMER EXTRA APPLE. Fig. 44. 
KANSAS BELLFLOWER APPLE. Fig. 45. 
MASON’S ORANGE APPLE. Fig. 46. 
LARGE GOLDEN PIPPIN APPLE. Fig. 47. 
Members reported that the Early Amber 
Cane failed to ripen. The cane, however, is 
preferred by stock to corn stalks, and it is 
thought to increase the flow of milk. 
“Do you need all those fences” asks the 
New England Farmer. “Yes, and more,” 
would be the general answer.. • 
A farmer tells the Western Rural that he 
lost $200 last year by planting the Tree Beau 
extensively. Reading the Rural New- 
Yorker would have saved him that amount. 
We tested the beau when first it was an¬ 
nounced as a wonderful affair, and reported 
results which would have deterred any farmer 
from planting it, except on trial.. 
W e have more than once stated that there 
was no evidence that salt is good for the as¬ 
paragus plaut. Now Mr. J. B. Moore ex¬ 
presses tbe opinion that it is of no use what¬ 
ever. Very likely' the same may bo said as to 
the quince tree.... • 
If troubled with “scabby” potatoes, use in 
one row potato chemical fertilizer only; in 
another farm manure. Tbe experiment will 
teach you something. 
Puck considers the Presidential year a quad¬ 
rennial curse to the country. 
If you propose to have a garden that will 
pay you as well as, or better than, any part 
of the farm, prepare the land early, and do 
not wait until all the farm crops are in before 
sowing it. Long rows, a narrow', shallow cul¬ 
tivator are needed. Hand-hoeing may then 
be nearly dispensed w'ith. The cost of a gar¬ 
den of strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, 
currants, gooseberries, as well as all needed 
vegetables is small. One halt acre will supply 
the needs of a family of six—aud give some 
early potatoes besides. 
Sir Stafford Northcote remained 
a while ago that there are three things so easy 
to do that any one might do them, viz., drive 
a gig, manage a farm and write a leading ar¬ 
ticle. Johu Bright oncesaid, as we learn from 
the London Agriculture Gazette, that mis¬ 
chief came to fanning from its agricultural 
doctors................ 
Do not be deceived by tbe advertisements of 
Millo Maize. It is either the Rural Branch¬ 
ing Sorghum or very close to it. If so, it has 
no claim to the name of Millo Maize—no 
claim to that of maize in any case since it is 
a sorghum... * . 
Mr. Gregory’s new cabbage called “Early 
Deep Head” is said to be as early and as large 
as the Fottler, while it makes a head much 
thicker. The leaves “wrap entirely around 
the head.”... 
The editor of our sparkling contemporary, 
the Orange County Farmer, recommends the 
Downing Mulberry. It should have a place 
in every home collection. It is hardy, pro¬ 
lific, and the fruit is delicious in the extreme. 
Its long bearing seusou makes it additionally 
desirable. We should like to see oue or two 
of these trees on every farm. 
Marshall P. Wilder says that “the Down 
*ng Strawberry increases in favor every year 
throughout the country”. 
The Rural’s estimate of the new' Sealy- 
bark Watermelon is very different from that 
of others who have raised it, Johnson & 
Stokes, of Philadelphia, speak of one melon 
which they raised weighing 73 V* pounds, and 
of the average weight as being from 40 to 50. 
They report also that its peculiar value liesiu 
the fact that it remains in choice eating con¬ 
dition after being pulled, much longer than 
any other variety, One case is mentioned in 
which a melon laid in their office (with flrel 
for 27 days and when cut open was in perfect 
condition. 
The Sehuinaker Peach is said to bo the ear¬ 
liest peach known. It is said to be a perfect 
free-stone aud exempt from rot common to 
many early peaches.... 
Ijcv.c. 
RURAL SPECIAL REPORTS. 
niiNHOiirl. 
Golden City, Burton Co., Jan. 14.— Me 
have been having very cold weather for over 
a week, during which time the ground was 
covered with snow. Saturday aud yesterday 
it thaw ed somewhat, so that we got a peep at 
our wheat again, it looks splendid yet. Sno" 
is falling fast again to-day and wheat has re¬ 
turned agaiu to winter-quarters. The weather 
is almost too tuild for the snow to last long. A 
good many cattle and hogs are being fed in 
this county this Winter. Nearly all of the 
Fall crop of hogs already sold. Nearly allthc 
surplus corn is in the bauds of stockmen and 
shippers at 25 cents per bushel. The average 
of the corn crop for this county will probably 
be about 40 bushels per acre, T. J. H- 
