june as 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
that are blight-proof, make a good growth 
and ripen up their wood well, but the trees 
do not seem to be able to stand the Winters, 
having been injured in even the past not very 
severe Winter. The Russians, ao a rule, have 
done better, some of them leading us to hope 
that the North-west may, some time, have 
hardy pear trees. They are being propagated 
and sent to different parts of the West as fast 
as cions cun be obtained. A few years will 
determine their value. In the meantime 
farmers of the northern half of this State 
and farther north, should be very cautious 
in buying trees of the agents of Eastern nur¬ 
series. The trees they offer are mostly of 
those common varities that have been tried 
here and failed. Koiffer’s Hybrid, the Sand 
Pear seedling now offered through the West, a 
tree considerably hardier than the common 
kinds, has not done well here. l. e. b. 
Hort. Exp‘t Grounds, Ag. Coll., Ames, la. 
HANDY FRUIT LADDER. 
Mr. M. V. Kerns, of Gloucester, C. H,, 
Va , sends us a model and description of the 
fruit ladder iIllustrated In Fig. 2011. The fol¬ 
lowing, quoted from his letter, will explain 
the illustration: "To make a ladder six feet 
long, I use uny light wood—pine, or poplar. 1 
nmko the sides and steps of inch lumber three 
and one-half inches wide, the top six inches 
wide. The width of the ladder is 10 inches at 
the top, and 20 inches at the bottom. The legs 
and we can hardly afford the room to repro¬ 
duce the cuts. Another year has shown the 
efficacy of bags in protecting the fruit from 
the grape rot, provided the bags are applied 
before the spores of the rot have become af¬ 
fixed to the grapes. The bag knowu in the 
market as No, 1, fining six by eight inches, is 
large enough for Delaware and other small- 
clustered grapes. The bags are put up in 
packages of 500, and in bales of 12 packages, 
or 0,000 bags; a bale weighs 80 pounds, and 
would cost here *5.76, or OR cents per thous¬ 
and; if sold in smaller quantities *1.60 per 
thousand are charged; bag No. 2 is seven by 
nine inches; weight, 44 pounds per bale, and 
cost *7.20, or *120 per thousand: in smaller 
quantities they cost *2 per thousund. They 
are sold at these prices by Robert Gair, No. 
143 Rondo Street, N. Y. They may be applied 
as soou as the grapes are well out of bloom, 
and are put on by cutting first a hole In the 
bottom to let out any water that may happen 
to get inside; then cut down the sides an inch 
and a-half; insert the cluster in the bag; 
bring one side up over the cane and the other 
Bide over the cane in the reverse way; bring 
them down and put a common pin through the 
whole bag as close up to the cane as possible. 
Singular os it may seem, both the bloom and 
quality of grapes grown and ripened in these 
bagB are superior to those grown exposed. It 
should be remembered that these bags do no 
good in preventing rot and mildew after these 
have once attacked the berries, so to be safe it 
is the best way to put ou the bags early. 
horticultural. 
FROST AMONG THE BERRIES. 
Fruit Ladder. Fig. 203. 
are made of two-inch stuff, with the comers 
rounded off. The braces are made of round 
iron chain one-quarter by eighteen inches. 
The eye bolts are of one-half inch iron, one 
three inches long, to screw into the leg, and 
the other ono-and one-half inch loug, to bolt 
to the side, and fasten with a nut. There 
should f»e a ferrule on the upper end of the leg 
to prevent the bolt from splitting it. The chain 
brace is fastened to the top and sides of the 
ladder by means of staples; this makes a com¬ 
plete brace. 
A ladder made in this way is light, conven¬ 
ient and strong; will not weigh over 20 
pounds, and can be folded and carried with 
ease to any part of the orchard. It can be 
used on a hillside or any uneven ground, as 
well as on the level, by adjusting the legs so as 
to keep the chain braces tight. I have used 
one of these for three years, and have found it 
more convenient than anything 1 have ever 
used.” 
-»♦« 
The Bassett Plum "Americana.” 
A few years ago this plum came out with 
the assurance that it was cureulio-proof. This 
seemed a treasure, for we were accustomed to 
see our whole crop lost from the ravages of the 
little Turk. 1 paid *1 for a little Bassett tree 
about one foot high. When it came, it was 
cut back, and the top was used for grafts, a 
few of which were set ou a branch of a bear¬ 
ing Louisa Plum, and one graft was set upon 
a thrifty young wild plum tree. 
All grew and have borne fruit for two years. 
It is n handsome little freestone plum, sweet 
and good when ripe; but to get one in this 
condition, the eureulio must be kept off as well 
as from any other variety. The trees bear 
immense crops, and yet the eureulio will man¬ 
age to sting the last one of them, if left alone. 
I counted at least ten punctures ou a single 
plum of the Bassett. So much for its being 
proof against the insect. s. m. 
Bluffton, Mo. 
[We planted this tree when it was first intro¬ 
duced, and told our readers, five years ago, 
that there was nothing cureulio-proof about 
it.—E ds.] 
&I)C Vinn)atii. 
ceived no confirmation, nor did the season of 
ripening seem to affect the result. 
There is some justification of the view that 
the latitude of the place where the variety 
originated, may have had more influence: 
four kinds that suffered most came from New 
Jersey, Pennsylvania and Kentucky, while 
those that proved the most hardy originated 
further north, viz., Connecticut, New York 
and Michigan. 
While writing on the subject of straw¬ 
berries, allow me to refer to an article in the 
Rural of May 10, entitled "Changes Effected 
in Pistillate Varieties of Strawberries by Fer¬ 
tilization,” and to quote the following: "Man¬ 
chester with Bidwell was equal to Bid well; 
with Miner’s Prolific, it was medium in qual¬ 
ity; with Wilson, it was a failure,” in order 
to remark that the finest Manchester fruit on 
the tables at the New York Horticultural 
Society's Exhibition, last Spring, was grown 
between Wilson’s and Miner's. The fruit was 
so fine that the disseminator of the Manches¬ 
ter said he had never seen any that would 
compare with it. While I believe in the in¬ 
fluence of one variety over another, I am not 
prepared to advance any rules which I think 
reliable under all circumstances. 
BAGGING GRAPES. 
In answer to many who desire information 
as to the proper time and manner of applying 
bags to grapes, to prevent the rot, we would 
say that in the Rural for 1888, page 245, we 
gave very full instructions for bagging grapes 
in connection with cuts illustrating the sub¬ 
ject. There is nothing new to be added now, 
Wk have had a hard freeze in the Hudson 
River Valley. 1 think there are somefeatures of 
this visitation sufficiently noteworthy to be of 
general interest to fruit growers. The weather 
previous to May 28 had for some days been 
very warm, the mercury once or twice reach¬ 
ing above yodeg., ondeverytbing was growing 
very rapidly. On the 28th came a great 
change, and that night there was a slight 
frost, and on the morning of the 29th the mer¬ 
cury in this vicinity registered 25 deg., a 
change of 70 deg. in extreme limits within a 
few days. The 80th was clear, and the sun 
shone at once upon large quantities of frozen 
fruit, thus increasing the damage which 
might have been somewhat abated had the 
day been cloudy. I made a very careful sur¬ 
vey of my fruit plantations that day and the 
next, recording the following results: 
Strawberries were about 10 days from ripen¬ 
ing, ranging from blossom buds to fruit nearly 
half grown. The fruit on a bed of Sharpies* 
standing alone, was entirely destroyed, ex¬ 
cepting a few growing under an apple tree. 
A half acre plantation of several varieties 
showed Sharpless about ull killed; Downing, 
Miner, Cumberland, Triple Crown, one half 
to two-third* killed; Bidwell about one fourth 
killed, Glendale (late) and Dutchess (early) 
almost uninjured. In a half acre specimen 
bed of the leading varieties. Sharpless were 
about all destroyed; Manchester nearly as 
bad; Pioneer, destroyed; Jersey Queen, 
Finch’s, Cumberland, Miner’s and most other 
kinds, half destroyed; but Dutchess, Bidwell, 
Crescent, Glendale were nearly uninjured. 
The fruit on plants of Prince of Berries set last 
Pall, was uninjured; while Manchester fruit, 
10 feet off, was killed. The above plantations 
are all on rather high ground and unpro¬ 
tected. 
Flndiug so much destruction on this land, I 
anticipated a worse condition on low, wet 
ground, so wet that I almost thought the 
berries might be drowned out ou a portion of 
it; but they suffered less in this situation than 
in any other, an acre of Bidwell. Windsor 
Chief, Crescent, Manchester. Sharpless and 
Chas. Downing showing the first three almost 
uninjured, and the latter about half killed. 
It is but proper to state that, on the west side 
of this bed, was a high Arbor-vita? hedge, and 
inside that a row of tail Norway Spruce, a 
very complete wind-break. 
An old plantation of about an acre of Bid- 
well, Sharpies* and Cumberland,showed ubout 
the same results as to Sharpies* and Cumber- 
laud (nearly all destroyed), Bidwell also suffer¬ 
ing very much, but these plants all lacked the 
vigor of those m new (one-year-old) beds, 
and, in general, we can say of each variety,that 
the fruit on the most vigorous plants suffered 
the least, regardless of whether it was cov¬ 
ered by the foliage or otherwise. To borrow 
an expression from the turf, "it was a bad 
day for the favorites.” I am forced to con¬ 
clude that Sharpless, Manchester, Mt. Ver¬ 
non, Jersey Queen, Chas. Downing, etc., are 
more susceptible to frost than Bidwell, Cres¬ 
cent, Dutchess, Glendale, Windsor Chief, etc. 
I have sometimes thought that pistillate 
varieties were more hardy, but this idea re- 
Dutchess Co., N. Y. 
M. L. FERRIS, JR. 
•J-Eiscdlaiveous. 
RAYS. 
Young Trees and Drought.— If you have 
some young, choice trees and shrubs, more 
especially if they were transplanted last sea¬ 
son, don’t let them perish now. Draw a little 
circle around them; loosen the surface soil in 
it and dispose it In somewhat saucer shape, 
then add a good mulching of grass-mowings, 
or other handy stuff, and, if need be, give a 
good watering. 
Look out for Storms.— Your dahlias, 
hollyhocks, gold-banded lilies and other tall, 
heavy-headed plants may still be unstaked, 
erect and looking beautiful, but, please, re 
member a violent rain and wind storm may 
occur at any time, and the plants that look bo 
vigorous and stately to-day may tie prostrated 
to-morrow. Neat, stout stakes and string, 
and their timely application will insure you 
against such an evil. 
Care for Youno Trees.—D on’t let a hay 
crop grow up about your pines and spruces, 
else they may lose their lower limbs, and then 
their beauty would be gone. If the tops, 
leaders or branches of these trees are pushing 
forward comparatively faster than the lower 
branches, shorten them back. Encourage the 
growth amt spread of the lower rather than of 
the upper branches. Remove at once all dead 
and dying branches or twigs, and tie not slow 
to cut outliving brandies that mar the comely 
forms of the trees. 
Care of Shrubs.— Remove the seed pods 
from rhododendrons and azalea*; they will 
grow the better for it. If any of your Arbor- 
vitoes, retlnlsporas or yews have a tendency 
to fall apart owing to the weight of their 
branches, tie them up together, placing’ the 
string about the stout stems only. Some of 
the spiricas, exocorda, lilacs, forsythia and 
Other shrubs have a tendency to grow very 
tall and leggy, and in Winter we hesitate to 
prune them because we would be cutting 
away so much good flowering wood. Prune 
them now. Shorten back the long reaching 
shoots of shrubs, aud in order to strengthen 
those retained, t hin out all weak and super¬ 
numerary shoots. 
Strawberries and Birds. It is a very 
easy thing to grow strawberry plants; but it 
depends on circumstances if you are to get the 
fruit they bear. There are many trees und 
shrubs around this place and cat-birds, robins, 
and other birds in proportion. Gnus aud 
scarecrows are only a partial remedy. I use 
mosquito netting. I have over 1,000 yards of 
netting. In the Spring, with it we protect 
the apricots while they are in blossom; in 
early Summer it saved our strawberries from 
the birds; in the Fall it protects our grapes 
and. later, our half-tender plants aud chry¬ 
santhemum flowers from early frost. Arouud 
the strawberry patch I set a lot of 6-feet posts 
—auy old stakes—and also through the patch 
at distances of eight feet apart, then stretch 
strands of tar-cord for the netting to rest on. 
The netting is stitched together so as to form 
one sheet, and to the cord to keep it in place. 
Standard Gooseberries. We have a 
good many gooseberry bushes, and among 
them some standards, “worked” four and five 
feet high on the Missouri Currant. So far, I 
have not seen any mildew on the low-grown 
bushes, but the berries on the standards are 
all spoiled by it. What remedy would 1 ad¬ 
vise* Root them out aud throw them on the 
brush burn-pile. [We have currants and goose¬ 
berries both worked on the same stock as stand¬ 
ards. We value them only as curiosities. Eds.] 
Cslkrt. You can set out a few plants as 
soon as you please for October and November 
use, but for the main crop it is soon enough to 
plant it in July. Golden Heart, with me, kept 
up into May; Boston Market., and Hender¬ 
son’s and Crawford’s half dwarfs are capital 
kinds; the crimson celeries, so highly reputed 
for keeping through the Winter, are not to be 
depended on after March—indeed, I should 
say February. The giant sorts may be good 
enough for early and for show, but I don't 
want any part of them, and won’t grow them. 
Remember, deeply worked, very heavily en¬ 
riched ground, and lots of water are needed to 
raise fine celery. 
Watering Plants.— Yes, during a dry 
spell, you may water your tomato, egg, pep¬ 
per and other plants to-night, and to morrow 
night they will appear as thirsty and the 
ground about them as dry as ever. But in 
the morning after watering, if you stir the 
soil a little, and mulch the plant* with some 
rank manure, salt, hay, lawn mowings, or 
other come-at-able material, t’ e earth will 
retain the moisture you gave it, the plants 
will be much benefited, and you will not have 
to water oftener than once a week where be¬ 
fore you had to do so every evening. In the 
case of young stuff, as lettuce, beets, and 
radishes in rows, give them lots of water in 
the evening, and run a long-toothed iron rake 
between the rows in the morning, and they 
will respond most cheerfully to your indulg¬ 
ence. 
"Sow Lettuce iu the rows where it is in¬ 
tended to grow and head,” is n common bit of 
advice to us for summer work. Good it may lie 
for the marines; but the sailors know that there 
ore times in Hummer when only purslane, por- 
tulaca and Crab Grass will germinate in the 
dust of the garden, and I am required to pro¬ 
vide lettuce each and every day of the 365 in 
the year. Then, during a dry spell, I sow in 
sheltered patches or frames where the earth 
can be kept moist until the seeds germinate. 
Thinning gives stocky plant*, and rather 
than let them spoil in the seed-bed, no matter 
how dry the weather may bo, we set them out 
in the garden. But before setting, we give 
the ground a thorough watering, and, after 
planting, we water again. 
Transplanting Beets. “We must do 
something with those beets or the cut-worms 
will deetroy the lot of them, and it won’t do 
to transplant them till we get some rain, as 
the weather is *o warm ami the ground so 
dry,” said Dan, my vegetable foreman, a little 
while ago. I took him to the tomato patch 
und had him dig a two spade-wide strip be¬ 
tween the rows, making the soil very flue and 
mellow; marked off two rows in each strip, 
and transplanted the beets at once. They were 
watered rightaway, and every evening after¬ 
wards for a week, and to-day they are the 
prettiest patch of beets iu the garden. Iu 
transplanting, I make it a special point to lift 
my “sets” with every root 1 can get to them, 
make my holes to receive them deep enough 
so that the roots may drop down straight, and 
pack the earth so Hrndy around them that the 
leaves will break away rather thuu the plant 
can be pulled out, and water each row as soon 
as 1 plant it. 
Cut worms. These are very ruinous to the 
cabbage tribe, and more or less destructive to 
melons aud other vegetables- 1 wrap a little 
bit of paper around my cabbages und eauli 
flowers, but still they suffer 11101 *? or less. The 
first job one of my men does, every morning 
Is to go over the hills of melons and other 
crops to see after the cut-worms, and wherever 
he finds anything cut off, to search for, find, 
and kill the depredators. My kitchen garden 
contains seven acres, and an hour’s work every 
day of a man in this way, keeps the pests iu 
very great check. 
Kings Co., N. Y. william falconer. 
CATALOGUES, ETC., RECEIVED. 
J. A. Fields & Co., St. Louis, Mo. Cata¬ 
logue of feed-griuding mills, cane crushers, 
and evaporators, etc., etc., made by this wide 
awake firm. This catalogue contains a full do 
scriptiou of a race of Giant com mills; also of 
the Star and Forest King cane crushers, giving 
the points wherein the firm claims its goods are 
superior to others. It wifi pay any farmer 
having stock to feed, or growing a sorghum 
crop, to send for this catalogue and study it 
well. 
Bee-keepers’ Convention Hand-book. 
By Tbos. G. Newman, Chicago, Ill. This is 
designed as a pocket companion for bee-keep¬ 
ers. It contains a model constitution aud by¬ 
laws for the formation of a bee-keeper's so¬ 
ciety, with a simplified manual of rules of 
order for the guidance of members; also a list 
of questions that might interest such bodies, 
and also has pleuty of blank space for making 
memoranda of such points of interest as may 
be desirable to preserve. Brice, 50 cents. 
U. S. Wind Engine and Pump Co., Bata¬ 
via, 111. Descriptive Catalogue of the Halla 
day Standard Windmills, windmill, hand 
