200 THE RURAL NEW-YORKER, 
commend dwarf pears even for small places. 
In fact, we have found nothing about pear 
trees on quince stock that makes them prefer¬ 
able to standards. 
JOHNSON GRASS. 
If our two little patches of Johnson Grass 
(Sorghum halapense) should pass through 
this (the second) Winter all right, we shall 
feel justified in calling it thoroughly hardy in 
this climate. The past Winter was a trying 
one, with little snow and occasional spells of 
cold weather when the thermometer marked 
from two to ten degrees below zero. 
THE VICTORIA AND ROCKINGHAM. 
The reports from these experiment grounds, 
during the past eight years, as to the uew 
fruits aud plants tested, have certainly hit the 
nail on the head in most cases. But in our 
advocacy of the Victoria Grape '(Miner) we 
stand so nearly alone, that we shall for the 
present let it rest. Perhaps it is just one of 
those grapes that loves precisely the soil aud 
climate of this particular spot. Certain it is 
that our single vine during the past four or 
five years has given us a greater quantity of 
grapes r.han any other, while the vine itself 
has been as healthy, as hardy and as free 
from mildew. Miner’s Rockingham likewise 
is rarely if ever alluded to. Tnis is a black 
grape, fully as good in quality as the Wilder, 
while the bunches are larger aud the berries 
cling more persistently to tne stem It is also 
extremely hardy and healthy, bearing large 
crops every year. Like the Wilder, the ber¬ 
ries often crack open—its only failing. 
TESTS OF NEW KINDS OF POTATOES CONCLU¬ 
DED. 
SOIL. CULTURF., ETC. 
Tbp sol) Is a moist, mellow loam,inclining a little 
to clay, and this Is the fourth eonsec tlve year in 
which potatoes have been raised on it. It has re¬ 
ceived liberal quantities or potato concentrated fer¬ 
tilizers and occasional dressings of salt Icalnlt, bone, 
etc-, perhaps at (be rate of 1,'JOO pounds to the acre 
altogether. Trenches two spades wide, five inches 
deep an I three feet apart, as ill past seasons, were 
durf. The s >il in the bottom was raked mellow', the 
piecesitwo eyes each) placed one foot apart upon 
this, and then cov re I with an Inch or SOIL The 
fertilizers were then evenly strewn, and the freDCh 
fll ed to the surface. The cultivation is done be¬ 
tween the rows entirely with wheel eultlvatois, and 
between the plants with the hoe. Very lttt e hoeing 
is required, since the plants meet before the weeds 
start The 8 dl is never htlle i-up about the plants, 
but kept at the same level over the eutire plot. In 
testlug new potatoes here, our object is to ascertain 
their quality, growth of vine, time of maturity and 
the greatest yield or which they are capable in a 
rich soil especially prepared for them. 
North 8tar. This was first tested in 1883. 
The yield was then at the rate of 730.50 bush¬ 
els to the acre. It Was sent to us by Thomas 
Archer, of Falkland, Caaada. The past year 
the yield was bat 453 75 bushels to the acre. 
Planted April 15 and dug August 10. Among 
the best tubers live weighed two pounds six 
ounces. They averaged 7)4 t0 a bill, of which 
85 per ceDt (in numbers) were marketable. 
The skin is buff, streaked aud banded with 
purple. Eyes rather deep; shape irregular, 
generally larger at one end. It was eaten 
Oct. 1st. The flesh was nearly white aud 
quite mealy. 
Mr D. Bouck, of Lockport, N. Y., sent us 
small qurntities of several of his new seedlings 
(from the Whipple)which, with the exception 
of one (No 12), do not seem suited to this soil 
and climate. No. 12 yielded heavily, tbough 
the potatoes were of small size. A single tu 
ber (small) was planted and yielded 1)4 pounds 
—14 potatoes, of which three-quarters were of 
small marketable size. The illustration (Fig. 
124, page 201), shows the characteristic shape 
and is above the average size, Skin white, eyes 
on surface. A shapely potato, oblong, some¬ 
what egg-shaped, flattened. It is a late inter¬ 
mediate. The quality is mealy and good—the 
flesh white. 
Home Comfort was received from W. E. 
Weld, Ingleside, N. Y. Planted April 25— 
dug September 8. Tops medium. The yield 
was at the rate of 9G8. bushels to the acre. 
Among the oest, five weighed three pounds 
eight ounces. They averaged to a hill of 
whieb 80 per cent, (in numbers) were of mark¬ 
etable size, though all were irregular aud ill- 
sbapen. The skin is pink—the shape long, 
tapering at the ends; eyes prominent or de¬ 
pressed enough to make the surface hilly. The 
quality is sweet and the flesh mealy though 
yellowish. 
Superlative. Received from F. Sanders, 
Minden, N. Y. Planted May 11—dug Septem¬ 
bers. ‘‘From seeds of Early Rose fertilized 
with Peerless.” Wide, with spreading tops. 
Yield at the rate of 872.25 bushels to the acre, 
12% tubers to the hill of which 70 per cent, (in 
numbers) are marketable. Among the best, 
five weighed three pounds, 14 ounces. Often 
tapering at one end and truncate at the other, 
depressed about the stem. Eyes not promi¬ 
nent. Buff-white skin. The flesh is nearly 
white with dark parts when cooked. It is not 
dry or mealy as raised here. 
The following new kinds were tested with 
our usual care, but as here grown do not seem 
worthy of introduction: Cross between Peer¬ 
less and another from, W. S. Torence. Colfax. 
W. T.; Early Yankee from Ilenry Wood 
Cooperstown, N. Y.—white skin, shapely, 
well-preserved; intermediate, yield atthe rate 
of 425 bushels to the acre, but small; No. 22 
from W. E. Weld, Ingleside, N. Y., yield at 
the rate of 770 bushels to the acre, large size, 
deep eyes; no name, from Michael Schaeffer, 
Bay Co., Mich.; No. 18 from O. F Fuller; 
Strawberry from C. L. Fox, Naples, N. Y , 
wit h about 20 others that, as we have tested 
them under numbers, ueed not be reported. 
The above will end our reports of tue new 
potatoes sent to us aud tested during the sea- 
sou of 1884. 
Duong the past five ypars, we have tested a 
large proportion of nil the potatoes that have 
been introduced during these years, and our 
reports should have proved a trustworthy 
guide as to their quality aud productiveness. 
During these five years, we have tested no 
less than 300 different kinds, aud we have yet 
to hear of a single variety which we have 
condemned that is now popular, or of any 
variety that we nave praised that is not gen¬ 
erally offered for sale. Of course, it remains 
to be seen how the varieties of 1884 and per¬ 
haps some of lo83 will be accepted. 
Of one thing we are moderately confident, 
that, of our last year’s tests, the Green Moun¬ 
tain, which will be offered for sale next Fall 
or Spring by seedsmen, will prove an immense 
cropper and a late keeper, of, at least, fair 
quality: while Hodgman’s Seedliug will 
also prove an immense yielder, though its 
keeping aDd eating qualities may render it 
less valuable. 
our best early kinds; Nott’s Victor has pi oven 
arnoDg the earliest and best; Lee’s Prolific 
also yielded well for an early potato, and the 
quality is excellent. Instead, however, of 
giving space for any extended recapitulation, 
our readers must be referred to our detailed 
accounts, which have appeared during the 
past six months. 
We have already a large number of newer 
varieties which have bi eusentto us, and which 
we have ordered in order to continue our testa 
during uext season. We know of no better 
way in which to serve our readers. 
LAST TEAR 
we began to plant our potatoes April 7. It is 
now March 16, and there is a foot of frost in 
the ground. 
NOTES ON BACK NUMBERS. 
T. H. HOSKINS, M. D. 
Rural, Feb. 21.—Sir J. B. Lawes s observa¬ 
tions (p. 117), upon the necessity of a good 
supply of moisture to the potato crop, are, 
like all bis observations, solidly based. But a 
lessened summer heat admits a lessened rain¬ 
fall without loss, as shown by the good crops he 
raised on 12 and 18 inches of rain during the 
growing season. So small a rainfall on the 
Atlantic slope of North America would make 
profitable potato growing impossible without 
Irrigation, unless possibly In Northern New 
England and the Maritime Provinces of Can¬ 
ada. 
The Rural does well (p. 118) in using Dr. 
Lawes's remarks as a text in favor of deep 
plowing, easily soluble fert ilizers, level culture 
and mulching for the potato crop, especially 
so far south as Long Island and New Jersey, 
and on thin, light soils. Even in Northern 
New England great benefit arises from the 
same treatment, though mulching is less 
essential. 
I am glad to read the Rural’s remarks 
(p. 118) in favor of plautiug the Tulip-tree or 
‘•Yellow Poplar ’of toe West In Kentucky, 
I never had any more duratde posts or rails 
than those made of its timber, but the wood 
should be well seasoilud before heiug used for 
posts. It also makes good boards, though 
they are hard to drive units in after the wood 
is dry, and they are apt to warp when exposed 
to the weather. The wood is about as light 
as White Pine. One of the largest trees of this 
species on record stood on my Kentucky farm, 
three miles from Louisville on the 6th St. 
(Pond Settlement) road. Ir is referred to in 
F. A. Michaux's Forest Trees of North Amer¬ 
ica as the largest be saw in his travels. After 
the laud had been some time cleared and in 
cultivation, it blew down, and it was an 
enormous task to remove the trunk, which 
wastwicea man’s bight as it lay on thegrouud. 
It measured 80 feet to the first limbs. The 
Tulip-tree has very soft and small roots, and 
is easily overthrown by stormy winds, when 
of forest growth. I think it is hardy in Can. 
ada on the Ontario Peninsula only, between 
lakes Erie and Ontario. 
F 
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_ f 
Prof. Budd’s horticultural observations (p. 
119) are most valuable. 1 fouud out a curious 
thing about the Yellow Transparent Apple 
last Year. My ‘'original tree” (from the one 
cion I got from Washinglou tn 1870) is in grass, 
in a rather poor spot, and bore an immense 
crop; but the fruit was so small that it was 
not gathered for market, as that, of the others 
was iu August. The fruit hung on, growing 
better aud better, and whiter and whiter, 
until the last of September, and visitors when 
they came around to that tree declared the 
apples to lie the best on the place. They were 
the size of Fameuse, as white as the whitest 
ivory, and really equal to Early Harvest, 
which I cannot say they are when gathered 
in August, though they are very eatable then. 
This apple is the best shipper and keeper of 
any early apple 1 know. 
When given au exactly equal chance, I can¬ 
not say that Charlottentbaler is, as Prof. 
Budd thinks, larger than Yellow Transparent 
As 1 believe I am responsible for the original 
statement that it is larger, I feel bound to say 
that I do not now find it so. Possibly it keeps 
up its size better in grass, but Yellow Trans¬ 
parent is a big apple under good culture. 
The Rural puts its squarely and fairly 
when it says (p. 124), Thought, System, and 
Persistency are the foundation pillars of suc¬ 
cessful fanning. Even so; and as these quali¬ 
ties are rare siugly, aud still more rare in 
combination, but few men, comparatively, 
will be successful farmers, iu the full sense of 
the words. But we can all struggle towards 
this high mark of our calling. 
Rural, Feby. 28.—i am glad to see so emi¬ 
nent an authority as Prof. Budd speak in 
praise (p. 132) of the Worden Grape. It is a 
Map of Buildings. Fig. 116. 
The Pearl of Savoy has here proven one of 
dAR 26 
little too late for us here, but I have had good 
opportunities to learn about its merits, and it 
seems to me that it has all the good points of 
the Concord with others that are peculiar to 
itself, and this will cause it to supplant that 
variety with intelligent planters. 
Pea straw, well cured, is, as Mr. Harris says, 
(p. 135', capital food for sheep—and also for 
cows. Last Summer I had a large piece of 
peas grown from seed, aud these bad to be 
“rogued” thoroughly. Bemg a new dwarf 
variety, with a wet season and rather too rich 
ground, there were a good many “ rogues” 
(tall vines, not true to type) in the piece. 
These were pulled while the pods were not 
more than half filled, taken out on a mown 
field, and carefully hayed. I never saw a cow 
do better than on this feed, or eat more heart¬ 
ily than she did of the “pea hay.” Pigs, also, 
ate it up clean. 
That’s a most excellent article of Mr. Fal¬ 
coner on Hardy Plants for Shady Places (p. 
138), and I am glad to see it marked “to be 
continued.” You have no contributor more 
intelligently and instructively practical than 
Mr Falconer. 
£l)e ijcrOsimw. 
NOTES BY A STOCKMAN. 
REPLY TO “A PROTEST.” 
I am sorry that anything I have said should 
have made Prof. Morrow angry, and, being so, 
that he should—unintentionally, of course— 
misrepresent me. No one can put his finger 
upon anything I have ever written derogatory 
to Prof. Law, whose course in all this disease 
business has been unselfish, conservative, and 
exceedingly judicious, and for whom I have 
the highest respect. It is a matter of regret 
that some of his associates have not been as 
wise as he. I have charged, and do now 
charge, that the pother about animal diseases 
has been greatly exaggerated; that our stock 
in America are Dot generally affected by, or in 
auy serious danger from, contagious diseases; 
that the danger has come from importations of 
diseased animals; aud that there never has 
been auy reason why our native stock should 
have the gates of Europe shut against them; 
and that this embargo has been tne direct re¬ 
sult of ihe exaggerated fuss which has been 
made about contagious diseasts. Further, I 
am by no means alone in my views of this 
matter. Many leading stockmen have acqui¬ 
esced in them, and leading writers and editors 
have remarked favorably of them. I know 
that the conductors of the Rural New-York- 
er seek the truth, aud if 1 have made mis¬ 
statements, they will cheerfully admit any 
facts which will disprove them. I have shaken 
Prof. Morrow by the hand, aud forgive him 
the remarks about conceit, priggishness, etc., 
etc,, aod beg him to take any one of my so- 
called offensive statements aud disprove it, 
and so go on through the list. Now I will 
convict Prof. Morrow of—unintentional, of 
course—mis statement, when he says that 1 
have said “there has been little disease among 
hogs, and that little might have been easily 
prevented.” Will Prof. Morrow point to the 
place, or time, when 1 said there has been lit¬ 
tle disease among hogs? Why, readers of the 
Rural will bear me out when I sav 1 have 
been continually protesting against the enor¬ 
mous losses of hogs from cholera, which I 
have said, aud uow insist, i9 wholly a prevent¬ 
able disekse. Only recently 1 remarked that 
the statement of the Agricultural Depart¬ 
ment that hog cholera was stamped out, and 
that it was impossible to get virus for experi¬ 
mental purposes, was a forlorn hope, and 
would prove illusive; for as soon as the feeding 
season came around, the disease would be as 
rife as ever again. And have I not been cor¬ 
rect? _ 
I object to Prof. Morrow’s unfounded 
charges that I write about things of which I 
am very ignornut. I assure the Professor that 
I am a conscientious person and am desirous 
of defending from false and injurious state¬ 
ments the live stock interests of the country, 
in which I am pecuniarily interested to a con¬ 
siderable extent, aud that, moreover, I know 
sufficient of the diseases of animals to distin¬ 
guish the symptoms of sporadic pneumonia 
front those of contagions pleuro pneumonia, 
and 1 state emphatically and knowingly that 
1 have seen notbiug whatever in any recent 
coses which have been reported, that certainly 
convicts any animal of huving died of the 
contagious lung fever, or of anything worse 
than sporadic pneumonia. The reports speak 
of hepatization of the lungs as the chief proof 
of the contagious disease, w hen a competent 
veterinarian ought to know that iu simple 
pneumonia this peculiar change in ihe lungs 
into granular substance easily torn apart, is 
