@82 
THE BUBAL NEW-YOBKEB. 
©6T 48 
vines. For the grapes, cut the branches two 
or three inches long, and a vine will not have 
to Is? coaxed much before it will twine its ten¬ 
drils around the stubs and climb to the top¬ 
most twig. 
Why will disseminators of new fruits persist 
in misrepresenting them when introducing 
them? Why will farmers patronize fairs where 
horse racing, side-shows and gambling are the 
leading features? And why is it that farmers’ 
papers are fillet! with advertisements of patent 
(humbug) medicines? I take eight weekly and 
two monthly farm and fruit papers; every one 
of which allows space to quacks. F. L. w. 
FINOCCHIO. 
The finocchio, or Florence Fennel, is the 
Fomieulum dulce, DC., and seems to bo a 
plant of forgotten culture in this country, as 
it is recorded among American garden plants 
by McMahon in 1806, and by Fessendon in 
1828. It is also eaten in China, but the local¬ 
ity where it is in special esteem is Italy. 
There it is ordinarily eaten cooked, having a 
taste something like that of celery, but of 
sweeter savor, and a delicate perfume. The 
portion eaten is the base of the radical leaf¬ 
stalk, which is sw ollen and united as in the illus¬ 
tration, Fig. ."07, page 685, thus forming a kind 
of tuber. These leaf-stalks are fleshy and tender, 
and may be also eaten raw, as celery; in this 
condition having, when blanched, a crispness, 
and an anise-seed-likc flavor. It seems a very 
desirable vegetable, us it is easy of culture; 
but our experience is hardly yet sufficient to 
form a judgment as to whether it will suit the 
American palate. It may be grown in drills 
16 to 20 inches apart, and the plants left four 
or five inches apart in the drill. Like other 
plants whose usefulness depends upon succu- 
lency and teuderness, it requires rich and 
moist soil for the best results. It is usually 
planted in the Spring, for summer consump¬ 
tion, and a second planting late in the Bummer 
for use in Autumn. k.l.sturtevant. 
. - 
A NEW GOOSEBERRY. 
We show at Fig. 390, page 684, an accurate 
representation of gooseberries sent to us by Mr. 
Eoesch, from Fredonia,N. Y. He writes us that 
he does not know the name of the variety; but 
he has found it a good berry, and free from mil¬ 
dew, as grown on his soil, for the past six 
years. The gooseberry was handsome, free 
from mildew, and of very good quality. We 
were unable to identify it with any of the old 
sorts. We show it as it was, and, if new, we 
think it worthy of further trial. We have 
some plauts growing, which will fruit next 
year, when we may have more to say of it. 
farm (lojiics. 
OATS AFTER CORN. 
In the Rural of September 27 is an article 
(Wheat After Corn), w hich has induced me to 
send my method of preparing corn land for 
seeding with small grain after the stalks have 
boon cut off close to tho grouud aud cleared 
away. With my sulky cultivator I go both 
ways, as I would were I cultivating corn. 
Afterwards it is well harrowed, and if this is 
properly done, there will be a fine,mellow seed¬ 
bed ready for the drill. 1 have followed this 
plan some time, and prefer to sow my oats in 
that way rather than have the land plowed 
before sowing. My land is u sandy loam; per¬ 
haps on a heavy soil it might not work so well. 
EXPERIENCE IN CROSSING CORN. 
Experimenting in crossing different varie- 
ities of corn this year has given me a new ex¬ 
perience. On three patches pi a u ted. not a 
single ear resembles the seed put in. all hav¬ 
ing been from colored varieties, while the 
produce is of different shades of white. The 
corn sent me by the Rural had yellowish 
and white kernels. They were parted and 
planted separately; but both patches yield 
alike; but there isn’t a kernel like the seed 
planted. The product on both plots is 8-rowed 
white and yellow mixed; kernels very wide, 
flat and thin, exactly like a yollow corn I had 
If, years ago, which was known here as Mexi¬ 
can Dent. In looking over my own crosses, 
I have also found two or three ears exactly 
the same, though there has not been any of 
that kind of coni here for 10 or 12 years. 
West Point, Wis. w. h. c. 
Cnlffiitotagical. 
THE SCURFY BARK LOUSE. 
At Fig. 400 we show a scale that attacks 
apple aud pear trees. It is known asAspidio- 
tus Harrisii: but the name Chiouaspis furfurus 
is said to have a prior claim on this diminutive 
insect. Tbe scale of the female is oblong in 
form, pointed below, very flat, of a grayish- 
white color, and about one-tenth of an inch 
long; that of the male is smaller and narrow¬ 
er; it is not more than one-thirteenth of an 
inch long. This insect is a native of our coun¬ 
try, and originally Jived on the wild crab 
trees. It is not so common «s the oyster-shell 
bark scale, and is far less injurious. The 
scales are formed by a secretion from the body 
of the louse, and under them t he female lays 
her eggs. These, when batched, art? active 
for a few days; then attach themselves to the 
bark, and in their turn form a scale; as they 
move about for bo short a time, they do not 
disseminate t hemselves, but are often brought 
into orchards on young trees. All such should 
be carefully examined, and if any trace of the 
insect is discovered, the trees must be thor¬ 
oughly washed in soap-suds or a solution of 
soda and water. 
fctnml topics. 
Experiment (Sroundu of the $uxal 
Slew-^ovher. 
THE RURAL’S EXPERIMENT WITH 
DIFFERENT FERTILIZERS ON POTA¬ 
TOES IN A “WORN-OUT” SANDY- 
LOAM SOIL. _ 
As already stated, these experiments were 
desigued to test the effects of the various con¬ 
centrated constituents of which commercial 
fertilizers are composed, separately and in 
various combinations. The soil of the plots 
selected is a worn-out sandy loam, level, and 
naturally well-drained. There was no air 
stirring to interfere with the even distribu¬ 
tion of the fertilizers; the soil was mellow and 
moist without being wet, and with ample 
assistance, the entire work of sowing the fer¬ 
tilizers, planting and finishing the plots, was 
accomplished between seven in the morning 
and sunset, April 14th. 
Tbe seed had been cut several days pre¬ 
viously, the White Star having been selected 
as, by its season of maturing, keeping qual¬ 
ities and vigor, well suited to such tests. Po¬ 
tatoes of nearly the Bame size were cut in 
halves lengthwise, the seed end of each having 
been cut off and rejected. The seed conditions 
were? made still more equal by using the same 
weight of seed pieces to each plot. Trenches 
had been dug sc?veral dayB previously, two 
spades wide and six inches deep—the trenches 
six feet apart so that the roots of one trench 
should not reach and feed upon the fertilizer 
of tbe adjacent trenches. Later, two inches of 
soil were raked into the trenches and upon this 
the pieces (cut-surface down) were placed one 
foot apart, April 14th, as we have said. Two 
inches of soil were raked over them, and the 
fertilizers applied as shown in the table. 
In the first column, the heavy black lines, 
drawn to a scale, show, by their different 
lengths, the relative yields in pounds, regard¬ 
less of size 1 he next column gives the amount 
of fertilizers used in the different trenches. The 
next column shows the relative size of the 
tops (vines) of the potatoes, as they appeared 
June 16. The natural soil is rated at five (5); 
and ten (10) is the maximum. Tho object of 
this is that our readers may compare the yield 
of tubers with the growth (vigor) of the vines; 
that, in other words, they may see to what 
extent the actual yield of potatoes was indi - 
rated by the size of the vines as they appeared 
at their best, June 16. The fourth column gives 
the actual weight, in pounds, of the potatoes of 
each trench 33 feet in length. Tbe fifth 
column gives the total number of tubers of 
each trench. All larger than a pea were 
counted. The sixth column gives the number 
of marketable potatoes. The last column gives 
remarks, which are reprinted from the Rural 
of various dates. 
POTATO FERTILIZER. EXPERIMENTS. 
Showing the comparative yields in pounds, the fertilizers used, the relative size of vines and the number of potatoes, with remarks. Trenches 
two spades wide, 38 feet long; variety White Star. 
fertilizer used. 
No. 1. Nitrate of Soda. 
VINE. YIELD. 
Pounds Total Market- 
per Growth weight Total able 
acre. June 16. pounds. number, potatoes. 
200 9. 17 199 39 
No. 2. Sulphate of Ammonia. 
120 8.50 17 
255 41 
No. 3. Dissolved Bone-black. 
400 5. 
16% 172 65 
No. 4. No fertilizer. 
No. 5. Sulphate of Fotash (50 per cent). 
No. 6. Blaster. 
No. 7. Lime. 
No. 8. Nitrate of Soda. 
Dissolved Bone-black. 
No. 9. No fertilizer. 
No. 10, Nitrate of Soda. 
Sulphate of Potash. 
No. 11. Dissolved Boue-black. 
Sulphate of Potash. 
No. 12. Nitrate of Soda. 
Dissolved Bone-black. 
Sulphate of Potash. 
5. 
13% 
157 
55 
300 
5.50 
21 
170 
82 
400 
, 5.50 
19% 
161 
75 
2,000 
6. 
22 
174 
89 
200 
400 
9. . 
23% 
214 
70 
5. 
18% 
141 
67 
-ST 
300 
9. 
31% 
261 
113 
400 
300 
5.50 
23% 
185 
97 
200 
400 10. 29% 254 98 
300 
No. 13. Fine Ground Bone. 
No plots Nos. 14 and 15. 
1,000 
6.50 
21% 
255 
58 
No. 16. No fertilizer. 
5. 
23% 
227 
64 
No. 17. Mapes Potato Manure. 
800 
1 
35 
415 
106 
No. IS. Farm Manure, 2 years old. 
20,000 
1 
8. 
30% 
301 
82 
No. 19. 
No fertilizer. 5. 
19% 
187 
55 
mi 
BBHHUSHBEHDHHB 
No. 20. 
Sifted Coal Ashes, 2 years old. 400 bus. 5. 
19% 
212 
45 
No. 21. Kainit. 880 lbs. 5 50 
21% 
184 
60 
No. 22. 
Kaiuit. 1,760 5.50 
25% 
201 
88 
No fertilizer. 5.50 
21 
178 
65 
^2? 
Unleached Wood Ashes from burnt 41% bus. 5,50 
brush. 
22% 
184 
78 
Hen Manure. 55 bus. 9. 
24 
347 
47 
No fertilizer. 
21 
204 
53 
ss 
Mapes’ Potato Manure. 500 lbs. 
Kainit. 50 8. 
47 
248 
168 
Hay Mulch. 
remarks. 
Aug. 9th. The foliage of the plots which received 
nitrate of soda alone is now dying, not as if the tu¬ 
ber* were maturing, but rather an if from some harm 
or disease. Itl the first nitrate of soda plot half of 
the plants are dead. 
Result* on the foliage the same with sulphate 
of ammonia alone as with nitrate of soda alone, as 
above described. (Rural Aug. 9.) It will be remem¬ 
bered that nit the plot* that received nitrate of soda 
or ammonia salts were rated in our last report, in 
ever}-Instance, a* giving the strongest aud greenest 
growth of vines, that these plants should now be 
dying.evidently before maturity, Is to u« quite un¬ 
accountable. 
Phosphoric acid alone, or in combination with 
potash, failed to do any good It Is only when ni¬ 
trate of »oda or ammonia salt* weresptead on these 
with potash and phosphorte acid, forming a complete 
fertiliser, that any good effects are noticed. The 
plants fertilized with the dissolved bone black are 
all green. (Renst. Atig. 9th.) 
Tbe potato top* on all of the unfertilized plots ap¬ 
pear to be the same In htgbt, color and vigor; the 
plants are all green. (Rural Aug. 9tb.> 
Potash, whether In wood ashes or a* sulphate or 
muriate of potash, produces thus far, no additional 
growth of top«. Kalnlt alone changes tops to a yel¬ 
lowish color, (Rubai. Aug. 9th.) 
Aug. 9th. Plants green, but no larger than those of 
unfertilized plots. 
Plants green and but very little larger than those 
of unfertilized plots. 
Rural Aug. 9th. One third of the plants are dead 
Foliage remains green. (Rural Aug. 9th.) 
' Foliegegreen and shows no signs of maturing. (Ru 
ral Aug. 9th. l Neither potash alone, phosphoric acid 
alone, nor phosphoric acid and potash cause any a<i- 
dltlonul growth over the unfertilized plots. (Rural 
July 5th.) 
Neither potash alone, phosphoric add alone, nor 
phosphoric acid and potash cause any additional 
growth over the unfertilized plots. Either nitrogen 
or ammonia salts, however. In every plot cause a de¬ 
fined Increase ingrowth, while the complete fertl 
Uzers stand first. (Rural July 5tb.) Boliage turning 
yellow here and there as if in the first stages of ma¬ 
turing. (Rural Aug. 9th.) 
Foliage poor. Raw bone helped somewhat. tRu 
ral July 5th.) 
The vines of these potatoes are of a yellowish- 
green, as If beginning to mature. (Rural Aug. 9th.) 
This farm-manure plot l* likely to gain ascom 
pared with the Olliers as the season advances. (Re- 
rai. Julv RUli Boliage has not changed since our 
last report, t Rural Aug. 9th) This plot with old 
horse manure Is. singularly enough, scarcely better 
than the unmanured ptuts at the present time Har¬ 
vest may tell a different story. Next year this stable 
manure plot would probably out-yleld any of the 
others. (Rural Aug. 9tn.) 
Foliage as green as that of any other. (Rural 
Aug. 9tn.) 
The foliage of these kalnlt plots Is a yellowish- 
green, the Bame as from the beginning. (Rural 
Aug. 9th ) 
These plots 21 and 22. whether S8<! or l'fti pounds are 
used, are scarcely better than the unfertilized plots. 
(Rural July 5th ) Foliage the same on both (Rural 
Aug. 9th.) 
Unleached ashes seem to have no effect. (Rural 
July 5th.) Plants on this plot are quite green. 
(Rural Aug. 9th.) 
The plants of this plot are turning yellow. (Rural 
A ug. 9th.) 
In case of continued dry weather we should look 
for Improvement In the mulched plot over the others. 
(Rural Julv 5th I The vines of this plot are all green 
and the thriftiest of any. (Rural Aug. 9th.) 
No. 28. No fertilizer. 
Not measured. Smallest of all. 
