THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
so. We have no doubt that if the land were 
plowed for corn and well cultivated during 
the season, the Johuson Grass would be exter¬ 
minated. Frequent plowing, exposing the 
roots to the air, is found to be the best way to 
get rid of it in the South. It cannot stand 
tram]ling. 3, We want you to try the cross 
bred com we shall send to all applicants for 
the Rural Seed Distribution. The Pride of 
the North is about the earliest of the rleuts. 
4. We have repeatedly exposed the “Four- 
percent loan” affair in the “Eye-opener. 11 
A. J. P., Johnstown, N. V.—1. What grass 
and clover seed is best to sow with Orchard 
Grass for meadow—some that will mature at 
the same time? 2. What is the best Red Win¬ 
ter apple for this climate? The Baldwin and 
King are too tender and winter-kill. 3. My 
Blush Potatoes were planted between Beauty 
of Hebron and Queen of the Valley, and while 
the two latter were badly scabbed, the Beauty 
was smooth and nice, cultivation the same; 
why tins difference? 
ANS. —1. Sow medium Red Clover 10 pounds 
per acre, and if the ground is heavy clay,two 
pounds of alsilce. 2. Ben Davis is a hardy, 
handsome red apple, not very good in quality. 
Fameuse would be splendid if itdues not spot; 
the Northern Spy is one of the best, if it will 
succeed with you. 3. Some varieties of pota¬ 
toes for some reason are very much more sub¬ 
ject to scab than others; or some are less sub¬ 
ject to it: hard to tell which or why. Ty salt 
freely, and report result. 
./. B. Factoryville, Pa —I have a plot 
of ground which was broken last year for 
corn; it was a heavy clover sod, land good 
and rich; l shall cover it with barnyard man¬ 
ure and plant it to raspberries in the Spring. 
Would it pay to use chemical fertilizer, and 
if so. wbat kind, how and when? 
Ans.— That laud will, no doubt, grow fine 
plants and berries without an application of 
commercial fertilizers, and whether any fertil¬ 
izer would or would not pay, can only be told 
by trial. We suggest the application, to a 
small plot, of ashes and phosphate separately, 
and to another, of the same mixed. Put on 
different quantities aud proportions, marking 
the plots, and keep an accurate record of the 
appearance of the bushes and the yield of 
berries. This is the kind of knowledge that 
pays, and we should like a record of the whole 
transaction. 
Inquirer, Canon City, Cot —My soil is a 
stiff clay, here called “adobe;” to loosen it 
would It uot be a good idea to sow field peas 
and plow them under green? 2. If so, what 
variety? 3. Would they preveut the soil 
from baking better than clover, Alfalfa or 
buckwheat? 4 Would soda in small quanti¬ 
ties iu the soil be injurious to vegetation? If 
so, is there any way to neutralize its effects? 
An8 .—1 Yes 2, Any that grow large aud 
can be bought cheap for seed. 3. No better 
than clover or Alfalfa; but better than buck¬ 
wheat. 4. No, but if in excess, the only 
remedy is to flood the land; or if this is uot 
practicable, plow it and let the rains wash out 
the excess of soda. 
G. M ir.. Johnstown, Pa .—Is the use of 
glass jirs for distributing milk to customers 
advisable? 
Ans.—T here is nothing better than those 
with wide mouths iu some places a glazed 
earthenware bottle is used, but it is not as 
good as the glass. Of course, the wishes of the 
customers would be the best guide as to the 
most profitable practice iu each locality. We 
think, however, the use of glass jars would be 
popular, at any rate among well to-do custo¬ 
mers. 
W. F. W. —1. Does the Delaware grafted on 
the Concord prove healthy, vigorous, aud 
fruitful? 2. Would a hardy vine, grafted on 
half-hardy roots, like the Rogers’s Hybrids, 
be made less hardy? 
Ans,—1 . We are uot aware that it has ever 
been worked on the Concord. No doubt it 
would increase its vigor. 2. We doubt if it 
would make any difference, 
S. E. J/., Cowles , Neb. —Where can Johuson 
Grass seed be bought by the bushel? What is 
the price per bushel? How much seed per 
acre will be needed? 
Ass.—About 30 pounds to the acre. The 
price will be about ?5 per bushel. It will be 
foumi among the grasses or miscellaneous seeds 
of many of the catalogues noticed or adver¬ 
tised In the R. N.-Y. 
-4. W. V.\ Basking Ridge, .V. ./.—1. Which 
is the best commercial fertilizer for raspber¬ 
ries? 2. Whit is the best time before April 
1 st for trimming three year old apple trees? 
Ans. —1. Any one containing a large per¬ 
centage of potash and phosphoric acid. Study 
the analyses on the packages. 2. Any time 
when your knife is sharp, cutting off oUly 
smallish limbs. 
W. A. S., Alexandria, Va .—My land is a 
rich bottom, soil clay, with very little sand 
and drained. Would Mapes’s Complete Man¬ 
ure for heavy soil be advisable for celery 
strawberries, cucumbers, cabbages and onions? 
All the above crops, excepting cabbages, grow 
very well without manure, but l desire better 
crops. 
Ans. —From so brief a description it is im¬ 
possible for us to give an intelligent answer. 
We should say try it on a part, and try ashes 
on another part. The Rural desires above 
all things to incite each one to experiment for 
himself, keeping a record of what is used aud 
the results obtained. 
8. C. 8., Westover, Md .—Which are the 
most profitable raspberries for market pur¬ 
poses, earliness, quality and shipping proper¬ 
ties combined? 
Ans. —For late, there is to day probably no 
berry equal to Cuthbert. It is hard to tell 
which is the best early berrv. Send us a new 
subscriber and try the Marlboro beside 
others. We think it worthy of trial, and 
an hour's work should secure you a dozen 
plants for your own use. 
J. FI. R., Mantan, Ohio .—What is the best 
fertilizer for potatoes? 
Ans, —Get any good one, analyzing six to 
eight per cent, of phosphoric acid and from 
three to four per cent, of ammonia, and then 
add enough wood ashes to bring the potash up 
to about six to eight per cent, of the original 
quautity—good hard-wood ashes contain 
about six or seven pounds of potash iu one 
hundred, or a little over three pounds per 
bushel. 
O. D. K., Yarmouth, N. S .—Where can the 
Jewel and Amateur Strawberries be obtained? 
Ans. —They have not yet been offered for 
sale. 
S. E, Alexandersville, Ohio .—What would 
be a good grass to sow with Orchard Grass for 
a permanent pasture? 
Ans. —Sow oue bushel of Poa Pratensis 
(Blue Grass) mixed with the Orchard Grass. 
I, R., Fountain City, Wis .—The washers 
are good in the hands of the mistress, but in 
careless, hired hands they are poor enough. 
We do not recommend the firms inquired 
about. The «Hansel is hardy and very early, 
though not a very vigorous grower. Cut the 
young oak3 in August. 
place, both of the “inventions” have been 
made for upwards of 17 years—the term of a 
patent under the present law—yet neither 
has been introduced to aDy noticeable extent. 
In view of the fact that an effectual device 
of the kind is certainly a desideratum among 
stock owners all over the country; and that 
stockmen are an exceptionally intelligent class, 
ever wide-awake to all that is likely to promote 
their own interests, if these arrangements 
were of any practical utility, they would 
certainly have long ago been widely used. I 
know quite well that the rapid introduction 
of a patented device and the profit from it 
often depend more on the energy, tact.address, 
flneucy and persuasiveness of the agent who 
handles it, than on its intrinsic merits, but 
this is the case only with regard to patents of 
doubtful public utility: and does not apply to 
so great a desideratum as a “self-operating” 
pump. It is to be hoped, however, that we 
shall soon have a good one. now that the 
Rural has directed the attention of thousands 
in all parts of the country to the need of such 
a device. 
DISCUSSION 
M. R. S., Medina, N. Y. —In the Rural of 
January 24 some self operating cattle-pumps 
are described and illustrated. There is no 
doubt that a device by means of which cattle 
could pump water for their own use, would 
be a boon to farmers and stock owners, and 
the article in the issue of January 24 is use¬ 
ful in the w&y of directing the attention of 
the inventive genius of the country in this 
direction: but, although I have never tried 
the devices described. I hardly think they 
will be found of any practical utility, though 
they may suggest ideas which may lead to the 
invention of what- is wanted. Jf I have not 
tried them, why do I think these pumping con¬ 
trivances will not prove effectual? Well, in 
the first place, a proper arrangement should 
be so simple that it couid not well get out 
of order : for it is of the first importance that 
a supply of water for the stock should always 
be certain, and in case of the designs illustrat¬ 
ed this cannot be assured, in the second 
Communications Received pob the week endug 
Saturday, Jan. 81. 
J. H.—B. S. W.—S. W. E.-H. K.-E. E. S.—D. M. M.- 
J’ H C. W. H. R„ thanks.—A. W. W.-J. S. McC.-P. 
S.-G. V. W.-A. D. P. G., thanks —H. S.—•‘Swan,’’ 
yon should give your name.—G. V. W.—S. W. E.—W. 
F.-J. W. S. —E. E J.-C.S. C.-R. V. C.^I. D. T.-J. 
R.—T. J. L.-H. H. S.-R. W. R—El P.-R. C. H., 
thanks.—M. R -M. A. H., thanks.—A. K. J.—G. tv. R. 
—H. U. R.. thanks.- J. K. S.—A L J.— J. P. S.-S. A, 
L.-P. H. D.-Sl. C., thanks.-S. E >L-S. A. C.—E. T. 
—J. G. M -G. E. C.. thanks. Domestic Economy De- 
partment.—W. F.T.-M. E. A.-K. A. T.—E. M. 
jieed.s and plants 
15 JOlftX STREET, NEW YORK 
The OLD ESTABLISHED SEED HOUSE of JVew York 
Will be Pleased to mail free, their New Priced Catalogue for 1885 
ARE WARRANTED 
FIKST-CI.AS.** In every 
RESPECT. FEW Ft 
-NONE BETTli 
My a nnual Priced Catalogue Is now ready and mail¬ 
ed free to all applicants. It contains all the loading 
anil most popular sorts of 
WUl be sent FREE to all who write for it. Itis a Handsome Book of 120 p age*, hundreds of 
beautiful newiilustratlona, two Colored Plates, and tells all about the l> *t burnt arid Carden 
Seed*, including I H PORT ANT Novelties oi Hen.1 Merit. Fanners, Market Gardeners, and 
Maitera who wunt the BEST SEEDS at the LOWEST PRICES send addwea on a postal to 
Besides all the desirable novelties of last season, and 
nearly everything else in my line of business. 
ALFRED B RID GEM AN 
37 E ist 19tliSt., near Brondsvny. New York 
a a ■■ I ■ MM mm THE NIAGARA WHITE CRAPE CO. having decided to offer for sale to 
1W1 LJ ■ I a_ the general public, without restriction, a limited number of t wu-year-old vines of 
IfJ ■ I I their < Vlrbrutrd \\ kite 4: mpe N1 VC V If A. orders wilt mnv be received and 
m W m m u ■ entered in rotation for vines to bo delivered in the spring of 18H&. until tbmr stock of 
vines is exhausted. Us merited popularit y has induced unscrupulous persona to .UP mpt a FK V LI) in of¬ 
fering to furnish them to their customers at a reduced price, claiming that they are genuine Niagaras. • This Co. 
desires, therefore, tu inform the public that it now bus, and ulwuv, has arid, the absolute control and 
possession of nil the vine* grown from the wood or cuttings of the Niagara up to Ibis time. 
Ov* And that NO m ms mm HA MM f in,y *»«v- 
l£l*KKM*\ MB TO (A jfSPffM mg n 
HAS Bi n ini' MKklrV M Aim fltf a 01 01 authority 
TO HTin S ■ fti « M n M M Co.. r c>< t <> * 
supply the vines of the Niagara, and that - - •irhnl 
thttir niithoriKtHl riM Aiiw toil n SFAL Din inly 
If egistered Trnde-nmrk. Reltatilu dealers and nurserymeu will t mi 
terms, and furnished with iiiitlioritv l«* lake orders, making -cat 
mnnta with the Company I .non I agents wonted in ever y town thrm 
States and Canada to sell our Niagara vines from sample 
grapes, Out (It for canvassing furnished to agents. Address a ™ IJ 
NIAGARA WHITE GRAPE CO. L $?V2F'\A ti 
TRADE 
MARK 
ir FRUITS 
[r PLANTS 
Ik oiSEEDS 
'EH. None 1'liruper. 
Pest-ago paid; 
SETS I I ,,r '• iample 
and all the old reliable aorta. N 
Plante, Trees Vines. Seeds, Ac 
guaranteed. 64 CHOICE l_ 
blooming Rowes. IS sorts, our choice VI • 1| maguiberuc 
sorts,s» l; | | Chrysanthemums, It sorts. N* l^j ' 
.Seeds. M. or CJ for dOc., or S for 2.Ac. 
Needs. St I , or I I for.AOe., e? ' for 2.V 
N poc.ki ta choice Flow er Seeds. ."tOe 
it Outnoe,* |. |'i GrapeVines. 4 sorts.w: 1 ,..r 11 
. , lfatdy Camilla S I. If) S *eet Chestnuts, > I 
. li.r the ether 64 At sets, and l.o lathings Iwsodo • 
thing kept In the Nuraei 
uni Ornamental Trees of i 
‘•i/ mail, -a specialty. 
" $| $212 IA splendid ever. 
1 :_ JS. _i Carnations. 14 jpyS - -ijy 
1: 30 packets choice blower Va V a Jfff 
z!) packets choice V«wfsW« T 
.. 7 packets choice Vegetable and 
I Ka rtr-r Standard Pear, I Russian w 
‘ Sail ConconLw: I7-‘» ■'ip.ug Si raw berry Plants, 
. T_: 1 . 30 Mulberries, It) each Russian, Black 
md l,<> lathings Isolde, send for our valuable t'utulogue of over 110 
line, from pot ptatns to fittest trees, including an immense stock of 
. si/e«. 31st Yeur. <iOO Acre*. 21 Eixrge Crerntioowes. 
Warranted to give satisfaction or 
MONEY RETURNED. S.wthent.artdyour garden 
will is- a success. Send for oc.r tlarden Guide aud 
Price List, and SEE OUR SPECIAL DISCOUNTS. 
liOBERT BUST, Jr., Seed-Grower, 
PHILADELPHIA. 
On - CARDEN CUIDE.jU''published. 
FREE to all. l-est I.ir ettes at. low 
pil<-es Yeti OMg T to tl.ll it. COLE 
,<&.BRO. Seedsman,Pe la,Iowa. 
vtiojtr v nit .' uuci a i in ii .. —- - ~ ~ ’ t .i i . ^ -v i t 
THE STORRS & HARRISON CO. Pmnesville, LakeCo',Ohio- 
My iriBb riovelties introduce The King of the Garden Lima Bean. Very 
■ appropriately named as it is the Largest Pod¬ 
ded and Most Prolific lima bean extant^bearg 
JF*RANK S. T*LATT’S 
CATALOGUE OF SEEDS ninrmrfffffi 
will be ready tor distribution ,|ir|l)WW Wjlljiljlra 
Fcb'y 
