©EC e 
802 
THE BUBAL 
you choose in regard to sending out cuttings. 
Am much obliged for, and appreciate the in¬ 
terest you feel in Mr. Miner's efforts. 
Linden, N. J. mrs. t. b. miner. 
We have but little wood to give away, and 
propose to distribute this among our friends 
and readers, according to the announcement 
on page 813. President T. T. Lyon, who visited 
the Rural Grounds September 10, describes it 
as follows; 
VICTORIA GRAPE. 
While at the Rural Experimental Farm 
recently, I tested this grape, grown upon a 
plant presented to the editor by the originator, 
the lateT. B. Miner, just previous to his death. 
As no other plants were sent out during his 
lifetime, and those disseminated since, under 
this name, have been characterized as value¬ 
less by pomologists of high reputation, there 
would seem to be room for doubt as to the 
genuineness of those more recently dissemi¬ 
nated, since, to my apprehension, the variety, 
as I saw and tasted it, would seem to have 
few, if any superiors among the newer native 
white grapes. 
The plant was bearing it's third crop of 
large, perfect bunches—a very full one, en¬ 
tirely free from mildew of either foliage or 
fruit. The vino was planted in 1878, end is 
said to be a selected seedling of Concord, 
originated, probably, in New York, and re¬ 
moved by the originator to New Jersey. 
Plant very Lardy; of more tbau medium vigor; 
canes long, loss stout than Concord, brown or 
dark cinuamon in color; berries round, of the 
size of Concord; bunch, long, lobed, rather 
compact; color yellowish-green; bloom thin, 
whitish; color of tiesh greenish; pulp tender, 
breaking; juice abundant, colorless; aroma 
slightly foxy; Haver sweet, vinous, slight 
acidity next the skin, which would probably 
disappear wbeu fully ripe; seeds, generally 
two, small; ripens with Concord. At the 
date of testing, most of the crop was yet but 
partially ripe, and the same was true of Con¬ 
cord. T - T. LYON. 
THE VICTORIA AND CARLOTTA 
GRAPES. 
Referring to some remarks in a late 
Rural in regard to the Victoria Grape, I 
would say that I have had it in bearing for 
three years, and can indorse all there said re¬ 
specting it. It is perfectly healthy and hardy, 
very productive of good-sized bunches and 
large berries, and it has a very heavy white 
bloom, which gives it a handsome appearance, 
and it is in my estimation the best white Con¬ 
cord that I have yet tested, and I have the 
Lady and Martha and two white seedlings of 
my own. It is later in ripeuing than either 
Martha or Lady, but ripens with me about 
with the Concord, or perhaps a few days 
later. Its clusters and berries are always 
perfect, and it does not have the faults of the 
Martha—imperfect berries and emasculated 
clusters; nor does it crack and decay like t£e 
Lady. In fact, it is equal to the Concord in 
every respect except size of bunch. The 
bunches, however, are of good size, but not 
shouldered. I am surprised that there are so 
few reports about it, as it was advertised aud 
dissemiuated four years since. As the Rural 
says that Mrs. Miner is under the impression 
that it has not been sent out, I inclose her 
card, received in answer to her advertisement 
four years since, and I then purchased a Vic¬ 
toria aud Carlotta at $1.00 each. 
The Carlotta is of better quality than the 
V ictoria, but the skin is thick. like that of 
the Diana, and the berry drops from the 
bunch when very ripe, It is a large, hand¬ 
some white grape. It is liardy, but has not 
the good qua! ties of the Victoria, and it is 
not very productive. L. G. m. smith. 
New York City. 
[We can indorse every word of the above 
as to the Victoria, except as to size of bunch. 
This year the bunches of Victoria are larger 
and far more perfect than Concord ever bore 
at the Rural Grounds.— Eds.] 
THE EMPIRE STATE GRAPE. 
I notice in the Rural of Oct. 27, in refer¬ 
ence to Mr. Ricketts’s statement that he re¬ 
gards this grupe as the best of all his varie¬ 
ties, you say you “do not think so, by a long 
shot.” Now I would really like to know, and 
I presume many others of y r our readers also, 
which of Mr. R.’s grapes you regard as best, 
all things considered. [The Jefferson thus 
far.— Eds.] I confess that I have tried 
many of Mr. Ricketts’s grapes with varying 
shades of disappointment at their perform¬ 
ance in my hands, as compared with the beau¬ 
tiful specimens exhibited by Mr. R. I have 
not fruited the Empire Stute, but 1 have 
tasted it several times; the last time at Philo- 
pelphia, the middle of September, and the 
clusters then and there exhibited were large 
and very handsome, and the quality certainly 
very good. It seems very hard to believe 
that so good a grape sprang from the parent¬ 
age of Hartford and Clinton; but after grow¬ 
ing it the past seasou, I am obliged to say I 
have had no more healthy-foliaged vine on my 
place, and it is now, nearly the last of Octo¬ 
ber, as fresh aud green as that of the Concord 
after having been subjected to several sharp 
frosts. The trouble with many of Ricketts’s 
grapes has been tender foliage and too late 
ripening. I am hoping the Empire State may 
be, as it seems to promise, better, if not best, 
in these respects and more worthy than some 
of its predecessors, george w. Campbell. 
Delaware, O. 
MELONS. 
GEN. CASSIUS M. CLAY. 
I read the Rural’s article on melons with 
interest, as I have made melon culture a 
specialty, as an amateur, for life. 
1 have had the “Boss” for two years, and I 
find it ft first-class melon, but iuferior, on the 
whole, to the Ice-rind of Laudreth, sometimes 
known as the Ice-cream Melon. A fh-st-rate 
Boss is as good as the Ice-rind, but the lower 
grades of the Boss are inferior to the lower 
grades of the Ice-rind, where the melons not 
larger than your fist are good. I gathered a 
wheelbarrow load lately and found these 
remnants of the lee-rind much the best. 
The best qualities of the watermelon are a 
symmetrical shape, thin, brittle rind, red 
meat, sweet, compact, and when fully ripe a 
little granulated; seeds small and few. Each 
variety should be planted as far apart as pos¬ 
sible, aud none but red meat ones should be 
plan ed on the same farm, as they mix easily 
by the pollen. 
The qualities of fine cantaloupes (muskmelous 
should never be grown) are a highly netted 
surface, green rind aud flesh; thick meat 
highly flavored, melting aud aromatic, a 
small hollow, of course, and few seeds. I pay 
little regard to varieties, hut follow' these 
qualities, never saving the seed of a melon in 
ferior in flavor But in watermelons varieties 
should be regarded and kept pure with groat 
care. The watermelon is the best aud most 
wholesome of all fruits in hot weather, being 
a flue diuretic and promoting insensible pers¬ 
piration, and as a substitute for other fomis 
of water this is always pure, aud a prevent¬ 
ive of fevers and malarial diseases. Stale 
watermelons, when unripe, are very un¬ 
healthy, yet I put the Massachusetts Giant 
and the Cuban Queen, thick-rind varieties, 
in the cellar, aud find them good till the mid¬ 
dle of November, when they should no longer 
be eaten till next season, though I have had 
them on ice iu good order till Christmas. 
■Whitehall, Ky. 
WEEVIL-EATEN PEAS. 
PROF. W. W. TRACY. 
The report of the Rural’s test of the ger¬ 
minating powers of buggy peas is so often re¬ 
ferred to that it may interest some to hear of 
the results of similar trials here made mainly 
by Mr. E. O. Ludd. Samples of different 
varieties, including iurge and small, smooth, 
large and small wrinkled, soft and green and 
hard aud dry peas, in which from 90 to 100 per 
cent, of the Hound poas would germinate, 
were taken, aud from each lot 100 buggy but 
otherwise sound peas were selected and planted 
in the shallow pots we use for testing, about 
four varieties to a pot, with a sample of souud 
peas for comparison. They were carefully 
cared for, being placed in our testing bench. 
Upon the completion of the first trial it was re¬ 
peated, and then repeated a third time, the con¬ 
dition being varied by planting out of-doors, 
aud the tests were repeated still again iu mid¬ 
summer, so that we planted several hundred 
peas of each sample under various conditions. 
The results may be summed up as follows: Of 
the small peas, like Tom Thumb, Alpha, etc., 
only from 10 to 30 per cent, would germinate. 
Of the large varieties, like Marrowfat aud 
Champion of England, from CO to 80 per 
cent would germinate; generally (I think in 
every case), the buggy peas would come up 
first, particularly if the soil was kept pretty 
dry, or if the peas were old and dry. In such 
cases they would retain the advantage until 
the plants were sovoral inches liigh; but under 
ordinary treatment the plants from the sound 
peus would overtake the others before they 
were four inches high; aud by carefully wash¬ 
ing away the earth, we found tiiut invariably 
the souud peas had the lurgest roots, even 
when the plumules had grown less than half 
as much as those of the injured peas. If the 
soil was kept too wet, the hard, buggy peas 
would come to the surface very quickly, but 
would be speedily overtaken by the sound 
ones, while in the case of the soft peas in wet 
soil, the buggy ones could simply start and 
very soon perish, often before reaching the 
surface. Do not these tests indicate that 
variety of peas, condition of soil and season, 
are all elements which have an influence on 
the amount of injury done by the bug, and 
help u-s to understand how one experimenter 
may report buggy peas as good as any, aud 
another declare them to be worthless. 
D. M. Ferry’s Trial Grounds, Detroit, Mich, 
♦ - 
NOTES FROM THE EXPERIMENT 
GROUNDS OF THE RURAL 
NEW-YORKER. 
THIRD TEST IN MULCHING POTATOES. 
Plot 9 A. Corliss’s Matchless, received 
from J. Corliss, Lockport, N. Y. 
Two-eye pieces were planted one foot apart 
in drills three feet apart. The drills or 
trenches were dug spade-wide aud live inches 
deep. Soil was spread lightly over the pieces 
and Mapes’s potato fertilizer was strewn at the 
rate of 800 pounds to the acre. The trenches 
were then filled to the level of the soil and 
cultivated flat (without any hilling-up) during 
the season. Yield, 303 bushels to the acre. 
Among the largest size, live weighed three 
pounds 10 ounces. There were at the rate of 
08,403 large and small potatoes to the acre, 
or 4*?# to a hill. 
Plot 50 A. Two-eye pieces, the size of 
those in 49 A., were planted in the same way in 
an adjoining plot. After lightly covering the 
pieces with soil, the trenches were half-filled 
without straw—the samefurttUzer was strewn 
on top of the straw at the same rate per acre. 
The rest of the trench was then filled with 
soil to a level with the top of the trenches. 
The cultivation w as flat as in 49 A. The yield 
was at the surprising rate of 1,140.33 bushels 
to the acre, the greatest yield we have ever 
secured. Amoug the largest potatoes, five 
weighed eigbti-and-n-half pounds. Best single 
potato of irregular shape, two pounds nine 
ounces. Best potato of regular shape one pound 
9 ounces. There were of large and small pota¬ 
toes 145,200 to the acre, or 10 to a hilL 
Our readers will observe, by reference to 
back numbers, that this mulching experiment 
differs from No. 29 A, in which the yield was 
9l>7.50 bushels to the acre (Peerless), and 
from No. 20 A (Queen of the Valley) in which 
the yield was at the rate of 109.40 bushels to 
the acre, in that the trench was but half filled 
with cut straw, while iu the others (26 aud 29) 
the trenches were entirely filled with cut 
straw. Fig. 090 shows the potato weighing one 
pound nine ounces. 
Corliss’s Matchless is an intermediate as to 
maturity. Tho quality is mealy and dry, 
and tho flesh white. In test No. 50 A, the 
potatoes were of very irregular form, several 
potatoes often growing out ot the main one 
as if three or four separata growths had beeu 
made. Some of them elosoiy resembled the 
White Elephaut or Late Beauty of He¬ 
bron. Tho eyes aro prominent, the skin of a 
piuk color, running into buff. It will be ob¬ 
served that in all of our mulch experiments 
the potatoes were from one to two weeks 
later in maturing, ns judged by the dying of 
the vines, than iu those not mulched. 
TESTS WITH NEW VARIETIES CONTINUED. 
Plot 74 B. Mullaly, received from W. E, 
Weld, of Jngleside, N. Y. In his letter he 
stated as follows: “ It is nearly round, russet 
skin, covered with irregular blotches of pur¬ 
ple. It is a heavy yielder; tubers grow com¬ 
pactly in the hill, quality first.” 
This potato was planted tho same as in Test 
No. 49 A. except that at tho rate of 500 pounds 
of Lister’s potato fertilizer was used to tho 
acre, and that a light dressing (10 bushels to 
the acre) of hen manure was strewn over the 
surface after the trenches were filled with 
soil. The yield was at the rate of 414.84 
bushels to the uero. Best five weighed throe 
pounds 12 ounces. Of large and small pota¬ 
toes, rejecting ull smaller than an inch in 
diameter, there were at the rate of 72,800 or 
five to a hill. The skin wus buff, splashed 
with purple. Eyes not deep. The engraving 
shows the typical form aud average size. It 
is late in maturing. Eaton October 8, it was 
judged to be not quite dry or mealy. Flesh 
white. Bee Fig. 091. 
An experiment to indicate variation in the 
yield of potatoes treated the same ou un- 
manured laud was made as follows: A drill 
40 feet long wus divided into four parts each 
10 feet long. Tho yield of the first 10 feet of 
drill was at the rate of 175.80 bushels to the 
acre. The yield of tho second 10 feet was 
224.10 bushels to tho acre. The yield of the 
third 10 feet was at the rate of 275.00 bushels 
to the acre; that of the fourth 163.*32 bushels 
per acre. Had those been differently fertil¬ 
ized, we should naturally have attributed tho 
variations to the efforts of the fertilizers. 
THE USE OF BELLOWS IN DISTRIBUTING IN¬ 
SECTICIDES. 
It is now well known that emulsions of 
kerosene are our best insect exterminators. 
Persian Insect Powder (the ground leaves of 
certain Pyrethrums), hellebore, sulphur, etc. 
are also valuable. But their application has 
hitherto been laborious and uncertain. Two 
years ago we began to use several kinds of 
bellows known as the Woodaston Bellows, for 
sale by most seedsmen. They are made iu 
different sizes, costing from one dollar up¬ 
wards, one set for the use of powders, the 
other for liquids. The latter are constructed ou 
the plan of the littlo “ evaporizers” sold by 
druggists, except that instead of pressing a 
little rubber bag to induce the spray, wo use 
the handles of the bellows tho same as if 
“blowing a fire.” Previous to their use wo 
had poured kerosene upon the perches, iuthe 
cracks and nests of our hen houses to rid them 
of vermin. Now we use the bellows, and 
the spray reaches every crovice and hole, 
while one-tenth the quantity serves, and the 
operation is performed far more effectually 
in one-tenth the time. These bellows will 
project a fine spray for six feet, so that vinos, 
small trees or plants infested with aphides, 
bark-lice or insects of any kind may readily 
be reached. The powder bellows serve just 
as well for sulphur, hellebore. Paris-green aud 
the like, ns the spr ay bellows do for liquids, 
and we commend their use to all of our readers 
who aro obliged to fight insect foes, whether 
in the hennery, kitchen, conservatory, garden 
or field. 
COARSE BONE-MEAL FOR POULTRY. 
As our fowls are necessarily confined iu 
small yards, we aro obliged to supply them 
with all the essential kinds of food that they 
would eat if running at large. But previous 
to the past six months a full supply of shell¬ 
forming food has always been at times ne¬ 
glected aud “ soft-shelled ’’ eggs or oggs with¬ 
out any shells, have followed from the neglect. 
About six months ago we began to feed our 
fowls bones broken up to the average size of 
wheat Kernels and wo have never seen a soft- 
shelled egg since. Tho fowls are excessively 
fond of Ibis food in small quantities and a very 
small quantity suffices to satisfy them and to 
insure sufficient egg-shell material. This 
quantity we have found to be a full handful 
given three times a week for every six hens. 
Pure broken bones ready for use are sold by 
all chemical fertilizer firms at $3 per bag 
(200 lbs.,) and it will be seen that a bag will 
go a long way. 
BLACKBERRIES. 
John 8. Bodge, of Indiana, sent us our Sny¬ 
der Blackberries. Thus far they have proven 
perfectly hardy. The berries are scarcely 
more than half tho size of the Kittatinny, but 
sweeter. Tbo latter bears from eight to twelve 
berries in a cluster, while the Snyder boars 
from 10 to 20. Its leaves are of a darker 
green, smoother and more finely serrated, 
with less down on the back. This was found 
near La PorLe, Indiana, many years ago, but 
it has attracted little attention until lately, 
and is now’ of value on account of its hardi¬ 
ness, productiveness, and good quality. 
Among now black berries are the Wilson, 
Jr., which closely resembles its patent, and 
the Early Cluster. The latter is said to be as 
early as the Wilson Early, though the berries 
are not quite as largo but sweeter aud with 
less hard core. We have plants of each which 
will perhaps fruit next year. 
JAPAN CHESTNUT. 
For five years pust we have endeavored to 
establish the new Japan Chestnut. Until the 
past year, our several specimens have died 
from oue cause or auothor. 
This chestnut, as we have seeu it in Flush¬ 
ing. bears early. The tree seems quit© hardy 
aud the nuts aro very large and, it is said, as 
sweet as our native chestnuts. It is well 
worthy of trial by all. 
GRAPE TESTS. 
Goethe (Rogers’s No. 1) mildews so badly, 
both the vine and fruit, that we have never 
secured a perfect bunch. Besides, it is too 
late to ripen here onee in five years. The 
Quassalc of Riekotts is tender. His Newburgh 
is ulso tender and too late. Where it is free 
from mildew, Ricketts’s El Dorado is oue of 
the best of grapes. Tho viue is vigorous, the 
fruit nearly white, semi-trausparent, sweet, 
vinous, tender, with a firm skim 
$uiiru'-l}cr'D. 
A SHORT ARTICLE ON PIGS. 
JOSEPH HARRIS. 
The editor of the Rural New-Yorker 
asks me to write a short article ou pigs, aud 
he does not care how short. 
How is it possible for a man who has a large 
herd of pigs tills year to be any tiling but 
short? Aud unfortunately my wheat is short, 
and corn is short, and wool is low. 
