468S 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
fruit, something delightful. I have always 
wondered that some enterprising nurserymen 
had not, in their uiual glowing rhetoric, in¬ 
vited the public to try the fruit. 
These dewberries grew in open meadows of 
knee-high grass, and filled the undergrowth. 
Bushels could have been picked within a 
small area. I have no doubt if inquiry was 
made, that such vines could be found in 
abundaut localities in Virginia. Year by 
year new and improved varieties would 
doubtless come to the front, a3 have so many 
of the high-bush, since the advent of the 
New Rochelle, first brought before the pub¬ 
lic by Mr. Lawton. 
I have told this story of the dewberry be¬ 
fore in the Gardeners’ Monthly. This Lucretia 
Dewberry is the first I have heard of any 
fine variety of the plants in the market. I 
write in hope that Mr. Saul near Washing¬ 
ton, or some euterprising nurseryman will 
start a small hunt for some new improved re¬ 
lations of the Lucretia. 
THE CRIMSON BEAUTY. 
I have testimonials showing that this rasp¬ 
berry has stood where even that old ironclad, 
the Turner, has been killed down to the snow 
ine, and plenty of them to show its product- 
iveness and fine qualities. It should have an¬ 
other sort planted near, as the flowers are 
largely pistillate. a. m. purdy. 
Palmyra, N. Y. 
A GOOD WORD FOR THE ATLANTIC STRAW¬ 
BERRY. 
Out of 25 different kinds of strawberries I 
had this year, the Atlantic was the nicest and 
solidest. It was better than Sharpless. I am 
going to set 4,000 or 5,000 Dext Spring. My 
soil is clay- I like the Rural better than 
any agricultural paper I have yet seen. 
Cayuga Co,, N. Y. w. G. 
HINTS. 
To mal e a cheap, indestructable tag for 
trees, use a strip of sheet zinc of proper size, 
for the name, and use muriatic acid and a 
sharp stick for writing. Such a tag will last 
many years. 
A very nice way to keep tender plants from 
being burned in spring hot-beds by the hot 
rays of the sun, is to white-wash the glass on 
the under side. Try it. f. p. b. 
Havana, N Y, 
("Why use muriatic acid when common black 
lead pencils will serve just as well, if not 
better? At first the writing is scarcely dis¬ 
cernible, but it becomes distinct in a few 
weeks.— Eds ] 
3nJ)ust’l Sociflks. 
MICHIGAN STATE HORTICULTURAL 
SOCIETY. 
(RURAL SPECIAL REPORT.) 
Early commercial fruit growing in Michi¬ 
gan; a peach "craze;'' the yellows kills it 
and the orchards; damage to fruit last 
Winter; over-production; the swindling tree 
agent; officers; shrubs for ornamental 
grounds. 
The annual meeting of this society was 
held at Benton Harbor, beginning in the 
afternoon of December 1st. This town lies 
at the mouth of the St. Joseph River on the 
shore of Lake Michigan, nearly opposite and 
60 miles distaut from Chicago. St. Joseph, 
on the opposite side of the river’s mouth, was 
the nucleus of commercial fruit-growing in 
Michigan, heginning more than 80 years ago. 
Enterprising boat captains gathered the 
peaches from the farmers, carried (hem across 
the lake to Chicago in barrels and dry goods 
boxes, and sold them at fabulous prices as 
compared with the figures for them on the 
farms. The product of one tree of what was 
termed “cultivated peaches,” brought, in the 
Chicago market, IS. This transaction re¬ 
ported by the boastful captain, set the whole 
“Shore” crazy to grow peaches, and St. 
Joseph early became the fruit port of the 
eastern shore. Here the first fruit meetings 
werp held, and the whole country from three 
to five miles inland became one vast peach 
orchard. Bearing orch rds sold for 
per acre, aud peach lands sold fast and for 
long prices. The farms were cut up into five 
and ten-acre lots, and occupied by enthusias 
tic fruit growers. The first meeting of the- 
State Society was held at Beuton Hnrbor on 
June 12, 1872, the year following its organiza¬ 
tion. At that time the peach was Ring of 
Fruits, and all others were supplementary, 
The yellows had made its appearance, but no 
alarm was felt for the orchards. If u tree 
ripened its fruit two weeks earlier, it was 
considered a new variety, and the buds were 
scattered for propatgaion. The disease thus 
spread rapidly, and five years afterwards the 
orchards were all dead or dying, aud to day 
not a peach tree is alive in all this region, ex¬ 
cept what have been planted in the last year 
or two. From growers of peaches the fruit 
men soon became growers of small fruits, and 
this year more packages of fruit have been 
shipped from this port than ever before in its 
history, 
The Berrien County Horticultural Society 
has among Its members many staunch friends 
of the State Society, and the frequent meet¬ 
ings at Benton Harbor have always been 
heartily welcomed, and this one was no ex¬ 
ception to the rule. The exhibition of winter 
apples was never better. The specimens were 
perfect, of excellent color and of the most ap¬ 
proved varieties. The appearance of an apple 
does very little to recommend it if it has no fur¬ 
ther valuable characteristics. 
The programme for the meetiDg was separ¬ 
ated into five divisious, viz.: “Market Fruit 
Growing,” “The Vegetable Garden,” “Orna¬ 
mental Horticulture,” “Amateur Fruit Gar¬ 
dening," aud “Arboriculture and Forestry.” 
The reports from delegates on the damage 
to fruit trees emphasized again the fact that 
location is everything in fruitgrowing. While 
the interior of the State reported peach trees 
almost entirely killed, and the tenderer va¬ 
rieties of apple trees badly damaged, all the 
Lake 8hore points reported more or less 
peaches, and the trees in fine condition for the 
oncoming Winter. In favorable locations in 
Oceana County, a little above the center of the 
State, on the lake, the mercury went down 
only to 12 below zero, while in the center and 
east it stood at 29° below. In Oceana County 
the tenderer varieties of peaches bore a good 
crop, while in Washtenaw County nearly all 
the trees were killed. 
On the important topic of over production 
members generally expressed the opinion that 
more small fruits were grown than could be 
profitably sold. Early fruits come in com. 
petition with those from the South, and the 
unusual yield of the later varieties causes a 
glut which demoralizes prices to such an ex¬ 
tent that the net gain scarcely pays for the 
cost of sending to market. 
Methods of purchasing nursery stock 
elicited a spirited discussion. The ubiquitous 
agent has been canvassing the State, vending 
his rare impossibilities at big figures. Blight- 
proof pears and curculio-proof plums are the 
attractions. These are reported as being rare 
and not in stock sufficient to be furnished in 
quantity, so the ignorant, unreading farmer 
grabs bis half dozen trees and pays his ten dol¬ 
lars, exulting over bis lucky bargain, only in 
subsequent years to find himself swindled. 
Wednesday,at 11 o’clock, officers wereelected, 
President Lyon, Secretary Garfield and Treas¬ 
urer 8, M. Pearsall were re elected. L. H. 
Bailey, Jr., of the State Agricultural College, 
and A. G. Gulley, of South Haven, were placed 
ou the Executive Board. The reports of the 
treasurer showed the society to have over 
$1,500 on hand and Invested in bonds and 
securities. 
Secretary Garfield read from O. C. Simons, 
of Chicago, a list of 12 good native shrubs for 
ornamenting grounds. It comprises Prickly 
Ash, Wahoo (Winged Elm), early wildrose, 
Juneberry, Shadbusb, Witch Hazel. Red 
Twig Dogwood. Snowberry, Indiau Currant, 
Sweet Elder, High-bush Cranberry aud Sas¬ 
safras. In the discussion some exceptions 
were taken to the Elder, Prickly Ash and Sas¬ 
safras, as the first two are bad to sprout aud 
spread, while the last soon becomes a tree, in¬ 
stead of a shrub. A. c. G. 
Paw Paw, Mich. 
■Miscellaneous. 
AN ACQUIREMENT WORTH MAKING. 
Study of phonography; its growing popular- 
ity and importance ; works on the subject; 
advantages of it. 
W hen boys or girls living in the quiet, 
happy country—enviably happy, says old 
Horace, if they but knew their good fortune— 
when they have passed in all the branches 
tuught iu their home school, and have yet 
some time for study during the long evenings 
of Winter, it is a question of great interest to 
them how they can use some of this spare 
time with satisfaction to themselves, and in 
the hope of future advantage, at little present 
cost. 
An art that is growing iu usefulness every 
day, as electricity begins to be the motive 
power of all improvement aud of alt business, 
is that of phonographic writing, which was 
first somewhat crudely invented iu 1887, but 
has been assiduously cared for by its inventor 
ever since, uutil uow his method seems incap¬ 
able of further betterment, and is all but 
universal in all English-speaking countries, 
being as legible to the initiated as priut, eveu 
when written in the briefest reporting style, 
which is able to put on paper every word at 
speaking speed. 
So necessary to all professed writers will be 
this art in the near future, that it should be 
made at once a part of the course of writing 
practice in all schools, so that the characters 
may become as familiar to the pupils when 12 
or 14 as those of the common long hand are, 
and so that either can thereafter be used with 
equal facility. This would not rob the ordin¬ 
ary long hand of excellence, but would 
increase it, especially in neatness, precision 
and legibility. All who are early trained in 
tracing phonographic characters, become 
incidentally expert in sketching, owing to 
having learned to trace lines of definite 
lengths and thickness equally in different 
directions. Long baud, practiced alone, spoils 
the hand for drawing, because its strokes 
have all one certain slant, and are over-free 
and indefinite as to length and size. 
There is no need at all of a teacher to enable 
any one to learn to write or read the Pitman 
stenography: but, a3 in other studies, it is well 
that two or three friends begin and go on to¬ 
gether, so that they may compare and crit icise 
their writing and maintain a cheering emula¬ 
tion. Their exercises can make a weekly 
round by mail, if the parties are far apart. 
The books needed by a beginner are now pro¬ 
duced at Mr. Pitman's printing establishment, 
in Bath, Eogland, at a very low price. The 
Teacher and Exercises cost here but25cents J 
and are all that are necessary for learning to 
write. A "Compend and Reader” for later 
practice in both reading and writing C03ts the 
same. The “Ma» ual,” at 50 cent3, gives les¬ 
sons in the abreviations and in the ingenious 
phrase-forms which are used by reporters. 
Learners of this art become enthusiastic 
over its ingenuity and its usefulness. Like 
the maetery of a musical instrument, it requires 
finger practice more than brain study. The 
fingers can practice the movements required 
for a work eveu without a pencil, while walk¬ 
ing along or sitting down. Voice enunciation 
is much improved by the required practice, as 
the sounds of each word must be well discrim¬ 
inated without reference to the spelling. Com¬ 
mand of words and knowledge of their uses 
are greatly enhanced by it. The proper mode 
of practice is to tak e but one character or one 
word at a time, give it brief practice, and then 
rest, for the memory—the finger memory, es¬ 
pecially—to secure it. These brief turns 
should be frequent daily. The “Teacher,’’ 
“Reader,” “Manual,” and “Exercises” are all 
of convenient size for carrying in a side poc 
ket. This art seems to specially invite the 
attention of young people in the country, 
whose quiet and isolated lives give them choice 
opportunity of practice. “w.” 
Tyrone, Pa. 
“FIXING" a GROOVED GRIND STONE. 
There is no farmer, perhaps, who has not 
been annoyed at haviug his grind stone hol¬ 
lowed by careless grinding. In fact, it is 
almost impossible to grind scythe blades and 
certain tools without concaviug the stone, 
and when in this condition nothing can be 
ground with satisfaction. The simplest and 
most effective way to get such a stone into 
its proper shape is to griud a dull spade upon 
it, holding the spade flat and square across 
the stone at the proper angle for grinding 
the tool. It will surprise auy one to see how 
quickly and nicely the stone can be leveled 
down, and when the job is done the spade is 
sharp. No other implement about the farm 
will answer for this purpose so well as the 
spade. J. o. L. 
Appreciative Words —Mr. Charles A. 
Green, of Clifton, N. Y., in his Fruit Grower, 
speaks very kindly of the Rural New- 
Yorker and its work. We quote a portion 
of it, while we heartily commend the entire 
number (January) as one that is full of in¬ 
terest to all who care for fruit culture. 
“We have thought,” says Mr. Green, “that 
the readers of the Fruit Grower would be 
glad tohearof the Editor of the Rural New- 
Yobker, who is so well known for his suc¬ 
cessful management of that journal. He has 
taken special interest in fruit culture, and 
his journal has done much to familiarize the 
public with the newer and better fruits. The 
Rural Grounds in New Jersey, which we 
visited last season, are a curiosity shop in the 
way of new aud rare fruits. These grounds 
are a desirable place for experiments, for the 
reason that tender varieties, and those with 
tender constitutions have no opportunity 
there to distinguish themselves. No variety 
that has proved hardy and vigorous at the 
Rural Grounds will be apt to disappoint 
others. There is something remarkable re¬ 
garding the severity of different locations on 
plant growth. Our fruit farm near Rochest¬ 
er is a trying place for plants during Winter, 
and plants are often injured there, while 
grounds not half a mile distant are exempt 
from injury. 
The Rural Editor’s tendency has been to¬ 
ward the conservative; thus varieties that he 
has recommended have proved worthy of re¬ 
commendation. He has spent considerable 
money in illustrations of fruits. I have told 
him frankly that I did not think he showed 
specimens as large as they might have been 
shown ruthfuliy. The fact is, an engraving 
of a raspberry or strawberry when printed 
does not give to the eye the actual size it re¬ 
presents. A strawberry measuring an inch 
in diameter does not appear to be over three- 
fourths of an inch as seen in the papers, 
Being extremely careful about exaggerating, 
Rural readers are never disappointed in the 
specimens they secure, when compared wit 
the illustrations given. The Rural wai 
among the first to recommend the Cuthbert, 
Shaffer, Caroline, Marlboro, and other lead¬ 
ing raspberries; the Manchester, Sharpless, 
Orescent, Jewell and other favorite straw¬ 
berries, many of which it took an active part 
in disseminating at an early date. 
The benefit accruing to the community by 
being correctly informed about the value of 
a new variety of fruit, e&nnot be fully ap¬ 
preciated at a casual glance. For instance, 
when the Cuthbert was first offered, it was 
natural for the public to hold back, hesita¬ 
ting and waiting for a thorough test of the 
variety. Supposing we have to wait ten 
years before a thorough and satisfactory test 
can be made of a new fruit, what a loss is 
there to the community; a loss that could 
not be estimated by hundreds of thousands of 
dollars. But in case a prominent journal, 
well known for its reliability, makes a 
thorough test of the variety and recommends 
it, a variety may establish a reputation in a 
very short space of time, and be placed at 
once in general cultivation, enabling all to 
derive the benefit, which might otherwise be 
derived only by a few. 
A strong point with the Rural tests is 
that they are entirely disinterested. This 
question of disinterestedness ought not to 
weigh so seriously as it does. People should 
have such a reputation forverucitv that their 
recommendation can be accepted in all cases. 
We have many pomologists whose word would 
be accepted though they were interested, but it 
is important that tests be made by disinterested 
parties in order to convince the incredulous. 
While the editor of the Rural is enthusias¬ 
tic over improved fruits, he does not permit 
his enthusiasm to get the better of his judg¬ 
ment. I have sometimes sympathized with 
introducers of new fruits, who have sent them 
to the Rural Grounds to be tested, when the 
report from such testing has been that the 
variety was unworthy of further attention 
by the public, knowing, as I did, that such a 
report could not be received by the introducer 
with complacency. I have sometimes thought 
that possibly it might have been better to 
have said nothing about the variety submitted, 
thereby escaping injury to the feelings of 
the originator, but on second thought it 
would seem that this would not be justice to 
the public, and that any attempt of the party 
testing the variety to withhold any facts, 
whether favorable or unfavorable, would be 
injustice to the public. Therefore no orig¬ 
inator has any business to submit a variety 
for testiug, without being willing to accept 
the verdict, whether good or bad.” [This is 
certainly true.—E ds. R. N. Y.] 
“The Rural’s experiments in wheat, oats, 
potatoes, corn and other farm crops, have 
been as noticeable as those with fruits, but we 
have not space to refer to them at length.” 
Tree Planting.—B en Perley Poore, in a 
paper read before the New England farmers, 
as reported in the Massachusetts Ploughman, 
says that tree planting is the most profitable 
expenditure that can be made by those who, 
having acquired large wealth in cities, spend 
liberal shares of it on farms in the country. 
One of the “solid men of Boston” who thus 
farmed for pastime, said to a visiting friend. 
“Will you have a glass of Alderney milk or a 
glass of champagne—they cost me the same!” 
How much better, says Mr. Poore, it would 
be if these amateur, or rather fancy farmers, 
instead of paying thousands of dollars for 
pampered stock, or for holes in the ground 
where chopped corn-stalks can mold, or for 
horses that they ore afraid to drive, would 
every year plant more or less forest trees. 
This is what Washington did at Mount Ver_ 
non, and Jefferson at Monticello, and Picker, 
ing at Hamilton, and Clay at Ashland, and 
Webster at Marshfield. Gladstone and Bis¬ 
marck are practical foresters. A little labor 
and judicious cultivation will enable any 
