THE RURAL f$EW-¥@RJCER. 
MAY 43 
338 
THE 
RURAL NEW-YORKER, 
A National Journal for Country and Suburban Home 
Conducted by 
KLBEKT S. CUUIAK, 
Address 
THE RUBAI, NEW-YORKER, 
No. 34 Park Row, New York. 
SATURDAY, MAY 19, 1888. 
Insecticides receive special attention 
in this number. 
London-purple seems to be preferred 
to Paris-green by a majority of those, who 
in this number of the R. N.-Y., favor us 
with their experiences respecting insecti¬ 
cides. 
Last week we planted the following so- 
called varieties of asparagus: Smalley’s 
Defiance, Palmetto, Barr’s Mammoth, 
Moore’s Cross-bred and Conover—the lat¬ 
ter for comparison. The plants were set 
three feet apart each way. We should 
have chosen four feet apart each way, ex¬ 
cept that the distance would have inter¬ 
rupted horse cultivation. It is absurd to 
call an asparagus “cross-bred.” 
Professor Samuel Johnson, of the 
Michigan Agricultural College, makes a 
decided mistake in his Bulletin No. 34, 
lately issued. He says that the Dakota 
Red resembles the Rural Blush potato 
“very much.” Not in the least, Profes¬ 
sor Johnson. In color, shape and quality, 
the tubers are as different as they well 
can be. Again, Professor Johnson finds, 
after several years of trial, that the “mer¬ 
its of the White Elephant are obvious.” 
The Late Beauty of Hebron is an older 
variety by several years. It would puz¬ 
zle Professor Johnson to tell the one from 
the other. 
The article by Joseph Harris, on page 
339, will interest many of our readers. 
We do not quite agree with Mr. Harris in 
his estimate of the value of nitrogen in the 
R. N.-Y. experiments. It is very evident 
indeed that on our poor-soil plots we can 
not raise large crops unless it forms part 
of the chemical fertilizers applied, but we 
think that the increased crops produced 
by an increase of fertilizers are as much 
due to the phosphoric acid and potash as 
to the nitrogen. Perhaps Mr. Harris 
would agree with us were he to consider 
our experiments in this line previous to 
1887. 
— . 
Tns price of white hellebore at whole¬ 
sale is 10 cents per pound. In 10-pound 
lots the price is 18 cents. At retail the 
price is 30 cents—all for a prime article. 
Country stores should not charge more 
than 30 cents. 
Paris-green (pure) is "worth 35 cents 
per pound at retail; 22 cents at whole¬ 
sale, or in lots of 14 and 28-pound cans. 
Dalmatian insect powder (pyrethrum) is 
worth 65 cents for a pure article. It is 
adulterated to sell as low as 25 cents. It 
is hard to distinguish between the pure 
and adulterated. Buy of trustworthy 
firms. Sulphur is worth three cents a 
pound at wholesale. Whale-oil soap is 
worth five cents per pound in 100-pound 
lots—at retail 15 cents. London-purple 
in kegs of 80 to 100 pounds is worth 10 
cents; in one, two or five-pound boxes, 
15 cents. 
On page 821 of the Rural for 1886, a 
first-rate portrait was presented of a chest¬ 
nut sent us by H. M. Engle, of Lancaster 
County, Pa. They were nearly double 
the size of our largest American chestnuts, 
and fully as good in quality. Mr. Engle, 
a few days ago, sent us a tree, grafted 
about six feet high, of this promising va¬ 
riety, which he has named Paragon. He 
says that these trees often bear in the 
nursery, when two years old, from grafts. 
The wood of this tree is not like that of 
the American chestnut; it is also differ¬ 
ent from the Japan, resembling more near¬ 
ly what is here commonly known as the 
Spanish. Still, the hardiness of the tree 
and the fine quality of the nuts are op¬ 
posed/to 6uch an origin. We have great 
hopos^for the Paragon. 
We may now say that the Agawam 
Blackberry has passed the winter with 
scarcely any injury—no more than the 
Snyder or Taylor has received. A good 
thing about it is its strong canes, which 
have fewer and shorter thorns than most 
kinds. What is the reason that the Aga¬ 
wam does not take a first place among 
blackberries? It is said to be hardy and 
prolific, and to bear medium-sized, jet- 
black fruit, which is sweet and melting 
to the core. The Rural plants will bear 
this season, and we can then speak of it 
from experience. Crystal White is killed 
to the ground. This we anticipated; but 
we are sorry to report the same of the Ear¬ 
ly Harvest. Topsy, besides being the 
thorniest blackberry that grows, is tender. 
THE POTATO CONTEST. 
T he R. N.-Y. is not going to shirk a 
fair, square trial of the “trench” sys¬ 
tem of raising potatoes, and so, as is its 
way, it commits itself in advance. The 
“contest” plot is settled. If upon this 
plot, containing 165 hills—one-eighty- 
eighth of an acre—we do not raise eight 
bushels of potatoes (within a fraction), 
then the R. N.-Y. will donate to some 
charity $50. If it does raise the eight 
bushels, Mr. Atkinson will pay that 
amount—the charity to be determined by 
the judges. We should have made this 
plot larger but for the fact that we were 
desirous of killing two birds with one 
stone, viz., to raise at the rate of over 700 
bushels to the acre and to do it with the 
R. N.-Y. seedlings Nos. 2, 3 and 4, in 
whose yielding capacities we have high 
hopes. There was only seed enough of 
those varieties to plant the 165 hills. 
Upon the new Rural Farm (43 acres), 
which is only a stone’s-throw from the 
Rural Grounds, we have prepared about 
half an acre according to the trench sys¬ 
tem. The land has not been manured in 
many years, and potato fertilizer will alone 
be used. The seed-pieces were planted on 
Monday, the 6th. The soil is mellow and 
uniform, but much impoverished. It has 
been prepared without any fussy work 
Avhatever—plowed, harrowed, and trench¬ 
ed with a shovel plow, involving no more 
labor or expense than any good farmer 
would put upon his potato field. 
Again, at the Rural Farm on Long 
Island, an exact acre has been planted by 
the trench system, in accordance with 
economical farm practice. We may add, 
however, that we do not look for a very 
heavy yield in this last trial, for the rea¬ 
son that our instructions were not com¬ 
plied with either in the width and depth 
of the trenches, or the distance of the 
trenches apart. 
PREPARE FOR POISONS. 
I t is well to foster the common dread 
for deadly poisons. Familiarity with 
them should never be permitted to “breed 
contempt.” The effect of some of the 
poisons used in killing insects is deadly 
and sure. Substances containing arsenic 
arc most to be dreaded, because they are 
most numerous. Every one should know 
what to do in case some human being is 
unfortunate enough to swallow a poison¬ 
ous dose. Such a case may not occur 
once in a dozen years, yet it is worth 
while to be prepared for that one case. 
The symptoms of arsenical poisoning are 
sickness of the stomach, vomiting of 
bloody matter and difficult breathing, a 
cold feeling in the feet, and low, hard, 
quick pulse, with the most insatiable 
thirst. There will be stains about the 
mouth. Vomiting should be encouraged 
in the usual way by giving salt or mus¬ 
tard and lukewarm water, lime water, 
soap and water, or ipecac. Prevent the 
poison from attacking the lining mem¬ 
brane of the stomach. For this purpose 
magnesia and chalk, with water, sugar 
and linseed, or sweet oil should be swal¬ 
lowed. The best antidote is the hydrated 
sesquioxide of iron. (In some of the pre¬ 
pared arsenical insecticides this is added 
to the preparation to neutralize the pois¬ 
onous effect of the arsenic.) It may be 
purchased at any drug store, but should 
be obtained as fresh as possible, as it 
soon loses its efficacy. If the dose 
of poison is a small one, the violent 
symptoms will soon subside, and all 
that will be required is the usual care as 
to diet, etc., remembering that the inflam¬ 
mation of the stomach is very severe, and 
that there is very great danger of chronic 
inflammation or permanent paralysis. It 
cannot be too often reiterated that the 
different forms of arsenic are the most hor¬ 
rible and deadly of poisons, and with them 
an ounce of prevention is worth many 
pounds of cure. If you use that which 
may cause death, it is no more than right 
that you should also use that which may 
hold death at bay. 
INSECTICIDES. 
T he R. N.-Y. for the past 15 years has 
given much attention to insecticides as 
well from necessity as in an experimental 
way. The valuable part of our experience 
may be told in a few words. For the 
currant worm hellebore is a perfect rem¬ 
edy. Used as powder it is an expensive 
remedy; in water a very economical one. 
Buhach serves very well, but more fre¬ 
quent applications are necessary. The 
best way to use either is to mix two or 
three tablespoonfuls in hot water forming 
a paste, and add this to two gallons of 
water. Where there are only a few plants 
to spray, the spraying bellows answer 
very well; where there are many plants, 
the work becomes exceedingly tiresome 
and laborious. 
By the use of a hand-pump, rubber 
hose, iron tube and Cyclone or Climax 
nozzle, there is nothing laborious about 
it. It is mere play. The under side of 
leaves may be sprayed as readily as the 
upper; in fact, by holding the nozzle 
under the bush for a few moments, the 
entire plant is reached. 
For the cabbage worm, Buhach used as 
above described, is effective and altogether 
unobjectionable. We prefer Buhach to 
the imported Pyrethrum because it is 
more reliable. The latter is often adul¬ 
terated and liable as well to injury from 
long sea voyages. 
For plant lice (aphidse), we have found 
a mixture of equal parts of Buhach and 
hellebore effective. 
Caterpillars of all kinds, as far as tried 
(except the bag-worm), are destroyed by 
Buhach. 
The Rural’s statement that Buhach 
may be economically used in keeping the 
rose-bug in subjection does not inspire 
much confidence, apparently, among 
those who have large areas in roses or 
grapes, and armies of the insect to fight. 
We have only to say that we have used it 
for three seasons very satisfactorily, and 
we shall certainly use it again the present 
season as soon as this dreaded visitor 
appears. 
When Paris-green was first used to kill 
potato beetles, and, later, London-purple, 
the Rural experimented to learn how 
most economically to apply them. At 
that time using the poison in water and 
sprinkling the infusion upon the plants 
was preferred to usiDg the poison extended 
with flour or plaster. The result of our 
investigation was that not one-tenth of 
the poison used was necessary, and that 
the poisoned plaster was far better than 
the poisoned water. The reason we gave, 
and time has since proven that it was 
sound, was that Paris-green or London- 
purple water can not he used so as to kill 
the beetle without injury to the vine. 
The poisoned water necessarily collects in 
the lowest part of the leaf, evaporates and 
leaves the poison to kill the leaf where it 
is deposited. 
If we take one pound of pure Paris- 
green and thoroughly mix it with an entire 
barrel of plaster, we have a mixture that 
will just as surely kill the beetle as if two 
pounds or more of the poisomwere used. 
The beetle will not die so soon, but it is 
made sick at once and its appetite never 
returns during the remainder of its un¬ 
happy existence. 
The advocacy of destroying the early 
beetles by hand is not well founded, in 
our opinion. The simple fact is that a 
large proportion of the early beetles are 
concealed in the ground or under leaves, 
while millions of them are crawling or 
flying from field to field. By the time 
a man “picks over” an acre of pota¬ 
toes, he may start again—and then again, 
and, in short, find constant employment 
in this way, and yet have lots of beetles 
after all. The destruction does not 
amount to a drop in the bucket. The 
Rural’s way of mixing the plaster and 
the poison is to spread out, two inches 
thick,half a barrel of the plaster on a tight 
floor and sprinkle as evenly as possible 
half a pound of the poison over it. Then 
with a rake work it to and fro. Shovel 
it together, spread it out again and rake 
it again until the whole mass shows the 
faintest tint of the poison uniformly 
throughout. Shovel it back in another 
barrel and treat the other half in the same 
way. London-purple is very much cheap¬ 
er. We prefer the Paris-green, because it 
is less likely to injure the vines if used a 
trifle too strong, while if the London-pur¬ 
ple is not used of a certain strength it will 
not kill the beetles. 
For the formidable scale insect we know 
of no remedy the application of which 
does not cost more than it is worth. The 
tent’caterpillar is destroyed in an hour or 
so by blowing a few whifs of Buhach into 
the tents early in the morning or late at 
night. Spraying is just as effective. 
For the squash bug and striped cucum¬ 
ber and melon beetle we know of no 
remedy. For the latter we use a mixture 
of sulphur and plaster upon the young 
leaves. Dust, ashes, etc., may serve as 
well. 
For lice in hen house we spray the 
houses every two weeks or so with kero¬ 
sene, using the Woodason spraying bel¬ 
lows. The tedious practice of white¬ 
washing is no longer necessary. We do 
not believe that lice can live in a hen 
house so sprayed, since every crack and 
hole is reached by the kerosene. Infested 
hens so quartered soon become cleansed. 
Every one having a hen house should be 
provided w r ith the spraying bellows. 
They will pay their cost in a short time in 
effectiveness and in saving of labor. 
There is little about them to get out of 
order, and one soon grows to feel that he 
cannot afford to do without them. 
For mildew, grape rot, etc., etc., the 
Rural refers its readers to other columns 
of this issue, since it has made little or no 
investigation on its own account worthy 
of record. 
BREVITIES. 
Unslaked bine dust for the asparagus 
beetle. Use it when the leaves are moist with 
dew. 
A spoonful of pure Paris-green to one bar¬ 
rel of water is thought to be the right propor¬ 
tion for spraying apple trees. 
A drought generally means an increase of 
insect pests; a damp season means a decrease 
of them. This is a good point to remember. 
Last year a friend nominated the Pekin 
duck as a candidate for insecticide honors. It 
was claimed that this bird would eat the pota 
to beetle. Can anybody add to this testimony 
How about the profit in fattening a duck on 
potato beetles? 
It has long been believed by some entomol¬ 
ogists that insects might be destroyed by in¬ 
troducing among them some infectious dis¬ 
ease. Something may come out of this belief, 
but how prevent the killing of the helpful 
insects along with the stealers? 
Farm mortgages in the United States are 
attracting a great deal of attention not only 
in this country, but in England also. Strange 
too, farmers have least to say about them. 
Financial experts, statisticians and political 
economists are the chief essayists and disput¬ 
ants. 
Some of the best small fruit growers in this 
country, including J. M. Smith, P. M. Augur, 
T. V. Munson, T. T. Lyon and Parker Earle, 
will tell in next week’s Rural what steps they 
take to prepare for a drought. It will be 
found that their methods are good no matter 
what the season may be. 
A poisonous solution applied to the leaves 
of a plant would doubtless kill a leaf-eating- 
insect, but what effect would it have upon sap¬ 
sucking insects like plant lice or the squash 
bug? Pyrethrum or the kerosene emulsion, 
which affect the respiratory organs, would be 
far more effective with the latter insects. 
It frequently happens at the season when 
spraying with the arsenical solutions is needed 
that we have a succession of light showers 
which wash the poison off about as fast as it 
can be applied. This state of affairs is unfor¬ 
tunate. It is something that cannot be con¬ 
trolled. The only thing to do is to keep at 
the trees. 
Some farmers who use the Paris-green solu¬ 
tion in the orchard for the first time complain 
that their pumps will not work. Examina¬ 
tion of some of these pumps has shown them 
full of apple blossoms. These blossoms fall 
into the open barrels of liquid, and are thus 
drawn into the pumps. It is best to use closed 
barrels with a hole in the top. 
Canker-worms and elm beetles are making 
sad havoc among the grand elms of rural 
New England. The arsenical solutions are 
very useful, but many of the trees are so large 
that it is next to impossible to spray them ef¬ 
fectually. In some of the larger towns old- 
fashioned fire engines have been drafted into 
the service and do fairly well. 
Secretary Woodward believes that 
black-knot is cut out and the wound washed 
with turpentine, a cure will be effected. 
There are cases reported when young trees 
have been killed by the turpentine. The oper¬ 
ator should be careful not to touch the healthy 
bark. The safest remedy, though not always 
effective, is probably to cut off and burn the 
affected parts. 
Like a number of other seedsmen, nursery¬ 
men and florists living near the frontier, 
James Vick, of Rochester, N. Y., has been 
sending many of his goods to Canada, and 
thence shipping them to customers in the 
United States, paying only the Canadian post¬ 
al rate of one cent for four ounces, whereas 
if they were mailed at home, the rate would 
have been one cent per ounce. A short time 
ago he notified our postal authorities that he 
was making shipments in this way, and the 
Postmaster-General directed the postmaster 
at Suspension Bridge, N. Y., through whose 
office nearly all the goods re-entered the 
United States, to hold them all until the differ¬ 
ence between Canadian postage and that of 
the United States should have been paid on 
them. Mr. Vick apDealed to the United States 
Court, and Judge Wallace of the United States 
Circuit Court, has just granted an injunc¬ 
tion restraining the postmaster at Suspension 
Bridge from obeying the order of the Post¬ 
master-General. The Court orders the de¬ 
fendant not to interfere iu any other way 
with such packages except to forward them 
through the mail to their respective addresses. 
As we have often urged, Congress should at 
once lower the postage on seeds and plants in 
this country to the same figure charged in 
Canada. “„That is the only proper remedy. 
