]fl03 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
115 
WESTERN N. Y. HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY 
Part II. 
Prof. I. P. Roberts read a notable paper on The Duty 
of the Horticulturist to the Rising Generation. A com¬ 
paratively small proportion of the fruit growers of the 
State have gone ahead with modern methods of spraying 
and cultivation so as to produce first-class fruit. Many, 
however, still produce a product of low grade which clogs 
the market and Injures the sale of the better class which 
costs more to produce. As American workmen we object 
to competition from underpaid foreign labor, yet there is 
as great a menace from the underpaid labor on many 
American farms which is producing inferior goods. 
Most of the farmers who work in this way, are not to 
be reached by horticultural societies, institutes or other 
ordinary means of education. Prof. Roberts does not see 
much hope for them, but he hopes for their boys. There 
are many elderly men now in the fruit or nursery busi¬ 
ness who have built up reputation and trade by long and 
faithful work. Some of those men have no heirs, and 
when they pass away the work of a life time may be 
scattered. There should be well-trained boys to follow 
them, if not their own then some other boy who will 
grow up trained to respect them and follow in their foot¬ 
steps. Prof. Roberts made a noble plea for the agri¬ 
cultural college, showing the need of agricultural edu¬ 
cation in order to reach the boys who should live on our 
farms, as well as in meeting the increased competition 
from the West. This paper was received with greet 
enthusiasm, which showed the deep feeling on the part 
of leading farmers in favor of the propo.sed appropriation 
for the agricultural college. 
“A Big Fight with Grape Pests” was the title of an 
address by Prof. M. V. Slingerland. 'I'he two pests men¬ 
tioned were the Grape root-worm and the Grape hopper. 
The combatants were Prof. Craig and himself. Those 
pests occurred in large numbers in Chautauqua County 
and were a result of poor culture. The farmers had be¬ 
come discouraged with low prices the i>ast few years, 
and had neglected the cultivation. Careful cultivation 
would eliminate most of them. Experiments were insti¬ 
tuted to catch the larvre of both iu.sects. It was found 
that tents made of cloth and coated with the maiterlal 
u.sed in making sticky fly i)apcr, when put over the vines, 
would catch many of the hoppers. The lar\nc of the 
Grape root-worm were caught by spraying with diluted 
kerosene oil, when they would fall to the earth and en¬ 
deavor to get the oil off, then If sprayed with near'v 
full strength of oil, they would bo killed. Other experi¬ 
ments w'ere tried with jarring the insects into troughs 
where they would fall Into oil and be killed. Either of 
these methods was expensive, but many insects were 
caught. The moth catchers were of no avail and Prof. 
Slingerland has no use for them for any purpose. 
“Plant Breeding” was the subject of an address given 
by Prof. H. J. Webber, of Washington. Prof. Webber spoke 
of the methods used to improve plants by selection and 
by hybridization. He spoke of the experiments of Vil- 
morin to improve the sugar beet; how for 17 years he 
worked with a plant of naturally fibrous roots trying to 
induce it to grow a fleshy root, and never saw any change 
for all these years. That year the plant showed some 
alteration, and afterwards developed to the fleshy root 
form. The cotton plant is another Illustration. Several 
years ago a disease appeared among the cotton fields of 
the South threatening t.o destroy the industry, whole 
fields died out, and the product was nothing. A few 
scattering plants were found that lived and showed 
greater vigor than the rest. These were selected and 
propagated. They have become the parents of immune 
plants, and now all the cotton grown in the South is from 
these original plants. A disease has developed on the 
roots of the cow pea, which is the clover of the South, 
and an immune variety of cow pea has also been found. 
Prof. Webber said that it was hard to improve plants 
by selection, and especially where they were not already 
on the road to improvement. In the matter of hybridiza¬ 
tion, up to a short time ago it has been largely chance 
and guesswork. Now definite results are known to be 
obtained. The first crosses of two varieties will often 
give unaccountable results, but the second and further 
cro.sses of the new variety obtailned with one of the 
parents, are sure to show definite characteristics of the 
parent. One peculiarity of hybrids is that they are in¬ 
variably larger in fruit than the parents. White on a 
visit to Luther Burbank he was shown walnut trees that 
were only eight or nine years old, and yet larger than 
native varieties that entered into the cross that were 
nearly 30 years old. Crosses of the Sea Island cotton 
with the Egyptian variety had led to results very gratify¬ 
ing. He was in Florida at the time of the great freeze 
of several years ago. The orange trees were frozen to 
the ground. Experiments have since been carried on 
with the Trifoliate orange crossed on the tender orange 
of the South, resulting in a tree that will stand 16 de¬ 
grees above zero, and produced fairly good oranges, but 
of course not of the flavor of Florida oranges. Prof. 
Webber spoke of the cro.ssing of corn varieties, and said 
that every farmer ought to make experiments along this 
line. Sweet corn crossed on common yellow coi-n gave 
a stalk of immense size and height. 
STRAWBERRY GROWING.—F. G. Tice, of Oswego, 
N. Y., spoke on “Some Points of Modern Strawberry 
Culture.” Ho favors elevated points as being much less 
liable to injury from Spring frost, also greater immunity 
from fungus diseases. In choice of soil he favors a 
rather heavy moist loam. Often an ideal soil condition 
is found in a deep wet sour land which has been thor¬ 
oughly underdrained, as this laud always has that 
peculiar moist condition so necessary to carry the crop 
through the fruiting period. Thorough preparation was 
strongly urged, the laud to be well pulverized and com¬ 
pacted, the latter being made an essential. 'I'he Meeker 
harrow is an ideal tool for such work. 'I’lio planting 
of a separate plot for the production of plants and the 
growing of one’s own plants was advised. In the digging 
and trimming of the plants short methods were given, 
particular stress being laid on the point that plants 
should not be exposed to light or air. In setting plants 
he uses the spade method with success, being careful to 
have the roots well spread. 'I’he vveeder or some tool 
to make a dust mulch immediately follows planting. 'Phe 
plants are set, 2 V 2 by 2’^ feet. The after cultivation con¬ 
sists of a liberal use of the vveeder interspersed with the 
spike-tooth cultivator. Very little hand hoeing is given. 
'Phe runners are carefully laid and held in place by stones 
or earth to ensure quick rooting. 'Plie earlier the plants 
are rooted the better the chances for a crop. About 
September 1, when the rows have become about eight 
inches wide, barley is sown at the rate of two bushels 
per acre in the paths. This aften grows to a height of 
IS inches, affording much shelter, checking w'eed growth, 
runners, etc. A mulch of good clean straw, wheat or 
rye preferred, was spoken of as absolutely necessary to 
best results, both as a Winter and Summer protection. 
'Phe speaker described liis methods of picking and pack¬ 
ing. All berries were sorted in the field by the plckei's, 
two grades being made. Each basket of the first grade 
is wrapped in thin waxed paper which protects the fruit 
from the air and dust, and presents a very clean and 
attractive appearance. 
£l/£ivrs OF THE WEEK, 
DOMESTIC.—The business center of Norway, Mich., is 
sinking into the earth, and the largest buildings In the 
town are likely to be destroyed. 'Phe Aragon mine is 
under the threatened district. ... A resolution was 
introduced in the Kansas Legislature January 29 to 
amend the election laws so as to exclude all negroes from 
voting and to require all foreign-born persons to become 
fully naturalized before voting. 'Phere is much sentiment 
in favor of the resolution, and it will cause a hard con¬ 
test. ... A large department store at Sacramento. 
Cal,, was destroyed by lire January 31, with a loss of 
$.500,000; one fireman was killed, and 400 persons thrown 
out of employment. . . . 'Phe trolley strike at Water- 
bury. Conn., resulted in so much disorder that all cars 
were withdrawn February 1. Motormen and conductors 
were stoned, and the police and militia were powerless. 
. . . Fire at Malcom Island, 50 miles north of Van¬ 
couver, B. C., January 31, killed 11 persons belonging 
to a colony of Russian Finnish refugees, injuring 19 
others. 'Phe survivors, about 100 in number, were entirely 
destitute until aid was sent from Vancouver. . . . Fire 
in the city jail at Berlin, N. H., February 2, caused 
the death of two prisoners. . . . 'Pwo men were killed 
and five seriously injured in a rear end collision of east 
bound stock trains oiv the Illinois Central at Cloverdale, 
February 2. 'Phe victims were trainmen and stockmen, 
and the collision was due to dense fog. The wreckage 
caught fire, and the caboose and five cars of stock were 
consumed. . . . Vermont has discardetl the prohibitory 
liciuor law enacted in 1852, and substituted for it a local 
option license measure. 'Phe vote was close. 'Phe new 
law goes into effect next month. . . . 'Phe Westfield, 
N. J., railroad disaster has prompted the introduction of 
bills in the legislatures of New York and New Jersey 
roiiuiring the presence of throe men on locomotives. 'Phe 
New York measure provides for the employment f)f an ad- 
dilioual man to aid the cuginecr or fireman in the cab. 
'Pwo bills h.'ivc been submitted to the New .feise.v Legis¬ 
lature. One provides that one practical engineer atid two 
practical firemen shall be employed on cabs of loco¬ 
motives of the Wootten, mogul, camelback or hayback 
type. The other bill contains the additional provision 
that none of the three men shall be required to leave 
the engine to perform duties connected with any other 
I)ait of the train. Railroad officials interviewed with 
respect to the legislation say that the proposed plan of 
keeping two men in the cab is impracticable; that the 
engineers have voted against it, and that several serious 
wrecks had occurred when two men were in the en¬ 
gineer’s cab. ... A woman and child were burned to 
death at I>ansford, Pa., February 3, as the result of 
pouring kerosene on a lighted fire. . . . Fire at Okla¬ 
homa (,'ity. O. 'P., February 4, caused a loss of $250,000. 
. . . During a thunderstorm February 4 lightning set 
lire to big steel works at Bin way, N. J., causing a loss 
of $50,000, and throwing 200 men out of employment. 
ADMINIS'PRATION.-There was a sharp debate in the 
Senate January 28 over a resolution directing the Secre¬ 
tary of War to furnish to the Senate the proceedings of 
a number of courts martial in the Philippines. 'The Ad¬ 
ministration was bitterly attacked, the killing of Father 
Augustin, a priest charged with complicity in a plot 
against the Americans forming ground for denunciation. 
|r^ 
of this ear indicates a 
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bred corn. The end of the 
harvest will demonstrate 
kthefact that our improved var- 
/ieties of Seed Corn will yield 20^ 
to M)% more than tlie older ki nds. It costs 
^Only 25 Cents Per Acre 
ito plant our choice, tei>ted seed corn. You ' 
r can't afford to risk doubtful stock or inferior 
varieties. Largeillustrated catalog of 23var- 
ieties of pedigreed Seed Corn and also Seed ^ 
Wheat, Okti, HotktocB, etc. niatied free 11 you mention 
this p4per. We ftre the largest seed corn dealers in U. S 
IOWA SEES CO., Des Moines, Iowa, 
^Mrilsweetcorninyourgarden 
next Summer, aud want 
the most delicious variety ever grown, you should 
plant OUDWAY’8 GOLOKN, because it is early, ten¬ 
der, juicy and sweet—qualities of the ideal corn 
which win favor at any well-ordered dinner table. 
Send 10 cents to O. J*. OIIDWAV, .Sa.xonvllle, 
Mass.; for a trial packet containing enough seed for 
40 hills; or 25 cents for half a pint; 40 cents for a 
pint; 75 cents for a quart. Order at once to make 
sure, and it will be sent by return mail postpaid. 
Ea. Whiton Potatoes 
Whlton’s White Mammoth 
Potatoes. 
Single-CombWhite Leghorn 
Fowls. Circular Free. 
W.W. WHITON, 
Box 3. Wakeman, Ohio. 
THE VERY FINEST 
Straw 
Rasp 
Black 
Goose 
Currants 
m the world are grown from plants sent out by 
thirty years a small fruit specialist. 
J eautiful, illustrated catalogue of 50 pages, giv¬ 
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had of no one else—fair prices and replete with 
valuable hints on culture, free to everybody. 
J.T. LOVETT, Little Silver, N. J. 
E6e ACKNOWLEDGED 
STANDARD 
Of the utmost importance to farmers is the quality of 
the fertilizer they use. On account of the high price of 
all farm products, take no risks ; buy the old, reliable 
Bradley's 
Standard F ertilizers 
For nearly a half century they have proven superior 
to all others, and are the despair of competitors, 
whose chief argument is, “ As good as Bradley’s.” 
This means that Bradley’s is the ackno’wledged 
standard of excelence in manufacture, in quality, 
and, therefore, in crop-producing pow'er. 
Send for our free pamphlet 
Bradley Fertilizer Works 
92 STATE ST., BOSTON 
Vegetable Peach Novelty. 
Friends, this is one of the tlOOl) new things for' 
your garden. A real vegetable wonder. Ripens in 80 ' 
days from tlie seed. 1 
Similar to peaehes; , 
rich, delicious Ha- 
vor. Tested in eve¬ 
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unbounded praise. 1 
Makes superb iiies, i 
preserves, mangoes 1 
and sweet pickles. , 
A Wonderful , 
New Fruit, 
('.rows on vines , 
like melons,are size 
of oranges, golden 
color, very band- ' 
some. Creatcurios -1 
ity; easily grown, i 
You will miss a , 
good thing if you do 
not grow tills valu-' 
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Selected Seed— with catalog—I’aeket, tine Dime ' 
or ICc. in stamps; 3 for 25c. Please order to.<lay. 1 
Crand Novelty for wife or daughter free with 1 
orders for peaches—if yomiame lliis paper. , 
A. T. COOK. Seedsman, HYDE PARK, N. Y. , 
GLADIOLI 
Our Motto: Quality First. We have, 
however, a sufficient quantity to supply 
all demands. Send for Catalogue. 
ARTHUR COWEE, 
“Meadowvalo Farm.” Iterlin, N. V. 
Uuited States Grower tinrt Representative 
of GROFF’S HYBRIDS. 
THOUSAND 
PEACH TREES. But Varitiitt, 
as many Apples, Plums, Cherry, 
Etc., cheap. Catalogue free. 
WOOOVIEW NURSERIES, Ml. HOUf SPRINGS, PA. 
Premo 
Dewberry 
The earliest ami most produetlve 
Hlsckberry ^-ariety. Very large, jet 
bl^k, firm and solid. Crop ripens rap¬ 
idly. Tills is the berry to plant for 
prollt. Write at once for priceii and particulars. 
Myer AiSon, Bridgevllle Nurseries. 
BrIdgevUle, Del. 
