February 28 
148 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
; Ruralisms ; 
9 w ▼ ▼ ^ yr ▼ 'w’^m 
NOTES FROM THE RURAL GROUNDS 
Resistant Cow Peas. —That great soil 
restorer, the cow pea, is attacked in por¬ 
tions of the South, where it is of great¬ 
est value, by the wilt disease and root- 
knot, two dangerous affections that se¬ 
verely check growth and even cause the 
death of the plants before maturity. The 
first is most deadly, but is as yet nearly 
confined to the upper Gulf States. It is 
caused by a fungus that enters the small 
roots when the plants are two or three 
weeks old, and grows up through the 
tissues, choking off the water and sap 
supply, until the leaves drop and the 
stalks die, after which reproductive 
spores of the organism are freely pro¬ 
duced on the surface to perpetuate the 
trouble. It is closely allied to the wilts 
of cotton and of the watermelon, both 
of which seem to be spreading rapidly 
and gaining in destructiveness, but are 
not communicable to or from the cow 
of living plants, or even go out and 
wander in the soil until they find a 
fresh root to their liking. They pene¬ 
trate into ■ the tissues and cause the 
galls or enlargements, in which they 
live and increase. These galls are quite 
different from-the beneficial root-tuber¬ 
cles, sheltering nitrogen bacteria, found 
so plentifully on the roots of cow peas, 
clovers and other leguminous plants, 
and appear to be entirely harmful. This 
minute organism is not a true worm, and 
is classed by entomologists as a nema¬ 
tode. It looks so much like a little trans¬ 
lucent eel under the microscope that the 
florists’ name of “eel-worm” seems quite 
appropriate. One’s liking is not increas¬ 
ed by learning it is nearly related to the 
trichina of pork, the thought of which 
is everywhere a household terror. 
Can’t Stand Muoii Cold. —Eel-worms 
like a moderate temperature, and are 
seriously harmed by excessive tempera¬ 
tures, high or low. They are, in common 
with other disease organisms, frequent¬ 
ly eradicated from greenhouse soils by 
heat sterilization, either by steaming or 
baking the soil, and on the other hand 
they cannot exist long in a freezing 
temperature and therefore are not likely 
to do much harm where frosts penetrate 
the soil a few inches, so we may con¬ 
tinue growing in the North the usual 
early maturing varieties of cow pea so as 
to get the maximum development in our 
short seasons. 
pea by those plants. These wilt dis¬ 
eases cannot be cured after plants are 
infected, nor can the soil be rid of the 
germs by any known means except pro¬ 
longed cropping, with plants in which 
the fungus cannot thrive. Experiments 
seem to show that the cotton and melon 
wilts remain active in the soil for at 
least seven years after the last crop of 
the preferred host plant has been grown, 
so that the outlook for rapid starvation 
of the Cow'-pea wilt is not encouraging, 
though the matter has not yet been 
fully worked out. 
Pla-Sick Lands. —When the soil is so 
thoroughly infested with the wilt fun¬ 
gus that cow peas cannot grow the land 
is said to be “pea-sick,” and their cul¬ 
ture must be abandoned. The only re¬ 
lated legumes that can be successfully 
grown in pea-sick soil are the Florida 
beggar-weed, Desmodium molle. Soy 
beans. Hairy vetches or Velvet beans, 
none of which meets the wants of south¬ 
ern cultivators very well, so an effort 
was made to find a cow pea variety im¬ 
mune or at least strongly resistant to 
the wilt fungus. T. S. Williams, Mo- 
netta, S. C., called the attention of the 
experts of the National Department of 
Agriculture in August, 1900, to a variety 
cultivated by him that seemed to have 
the desired qualities. Since then quite 
thorough experiments have fully demon¬ 
strated its resistant qualities not only to 
the wilt, but to the more widely dis¬ 
seminated eel-worm or root-knot. 
A Touoii CusTOMEiL—This pea has 
been named the Iron, probably from the 
resistant character of its tissues. It 
would be interesting to know just what 
qualities of vital development are com¬ 
bined in the Iron cow pea successfully 
to defy the attacks of both animal and 
vegetable disease organisms. There are 
doubtles.s peculiar cell reactions so ob¬ 
scure that modern science cannot yet de¬ 
tect them, but the comforting fact re¬ 
mains that the diseases are able to make 
so little headway In this variety that re¬ 
liable crops are raised.-- The Department 
has conducted, extensive" trials with this 
pea, and distributed it widely the past 
season. The concensus of opinion is 
that it is practically-immune to the root- 
knot organism and only slightly injured 
by the wilt disease even when planted 
in soil so thoroughly infected that other 
tested varieties come to nothing. The 
Iron pea is a compact and vigorous' va¬ 
riety of the Clay type. It is not as pro¬ 
ductive of forage as some others, and 
ripens its seeds through a long season, 
so that it is only well adapted to. .locali¬ 
ties having a long season, Mit seems cer¬ 
tainly to offer a solution of the difficulty 
of growing the invaluable cow pea on 
the pea-sick lands of the South. 
The Detestable Eel-Worm. —The 
root-knot trouble of the cow pea is 
shared by other valuable cultivated 
plants, such as the cabbage, melon, 
grape, tomato and many others in warm 
climates and the violet, rose, cucumber 
and tomato in greenhouses in the North. 
It is characterized by dropsical swell¬ 
ings and tumors on the roots, greatly 
deranging their functions and diminish¬ 
ing the vitality of the entire plant. These 
swellings are caused by the irritation of 
multitudes of little transparent worm¬ 
like animals, so constituted that they 
can force their way through the cells 
The Iron Cow Pea in New Jersey.— 
Seeds of the Iron cow pea furnished by 
the National Department of Agricul¬ 
ture were planted on the Rural Grounds 
as received, June 7, just one week after 
our usual plantings of Early Black were 
made. The Iron peas caught up with 
the Black in growth by the end of the 
month, but never greatly surpassed 
them. The season was cool and rainy in 
character, greatly retarding the develop¬ 
ment of heat-loving plants. The Iron 
peas were covered with dense dark green 
foliage, with a bluish tinge throughout 
their growth, but did not bloom early 
enough to ripen seeds and developed 
very few nitrogen tubercles on the roots. 
The Early Black was yellow and stunt¬ 
ed, most of the time but ripened a good 
crop of seeds and was well covered with 
the desired tubercles. After four years’ 
comparative trial we find it best suited 
to our climate and conditions. 
More Resistant Plants. —It is in¬ 
ferred that Government and experiment 
station plant breeders will take in hand 
the selection or production of resistant 
varieties of the many plants seriously 
affected with root-knot and the wilt dis¬ 
eases. This is being done with much 
promise of success in the case of the 
Cotton wilt as well as the cow-pea dis¬ 
eases, and in time we may have a lot of 
good varieties reasonably free from these 
pests wherever grown. w. v. f. 
BOTTLE RABIES 
Bottle babies are so likeb, 
to get tliin. What can !)( 
done More milk, contlenset. 
milk, watered milk, househok' 
mi.xtures—try them all. Thei' 
try a little Scott’" Emulsion ii 
the bottle. 
It does for babies what i( 
does for old folk.s—ejives new 
firm flesh and strong life 
You’ll be pleased with the rc 
suit. It takes only a little ii 
milk to make baby fat. 
\\ L'llsend you a little to try, if you like. 
SCOTT. & liOW'XE, 409 Pearl street, New Vurl. 
Tliere will be no trouble about the profits if 
you spray your trees and vines with a 
Hardie Spray Pump 
This hig-h.g^ade machine has large ball 
valves, adjustable plunger, mechanical agi¬ 
tator and nozzles that make the finest spray. 
Each of the working parts Ik nmde of 
Heavy Brass so accurately fitted that 
there is no friction, 
That's Why They Work so Easy* 
Our catalogue tells you all about it* 
The Hardie Spray Pump Mfg, Co. 
54 lArned St., Detroit, Mieli* 
aud Windsor, Canada* 
SINGLE BARREL SHOTGUNS 
are acknowledged as superior to many 
on the market. They are good hard 
shooters, thoroughly made and reliable 
Prices Range from $7.50 to $12.00 
We also make a Double Barrel Gun, 
the best of its cla.ss, for ISUS.OO. 
Nearly every dealer in sporting goods and 
hardware can supply our firearms. If you 
cannot find them, we will ship direct (ex¬ 
press paid) on receipt of price. 
Send for 12S-page illustrated catalogue. 
J. STEVENS A^S& TOOL GO. 
No. 775 Main Street. 
CHICOPEE FALLS, MASS. 
ARROW BRAND 
ASPHALT READY ROOFING CO. 
136 Water St., New York. 
Asphalt 
Ready Koohng 
can be very 
advantageous¬ 
ly applied on 
SILOS. Farm 
BiiiliUngs or 
Slieds by any 
handy man.e 
Send for free 
samples. 
A Golden Rule 
of Agriculture: 
Be good to your land and your crop 
will be good. Plenty of 
Potash 
in the fertilizer spells quality 
and quantity in the har- . 
vest. Write us and ’ 
we will send you, 
/ree, by next mail, 
our money winning 
books. 
QEBMAN KALI WORKS, 
93 Nassau Street, 
New York. 
A.. 
PUMP^ ^SPRAY. 
OD«»tatime. ISiecondspumplsf 
charts with atiougb air to rua 
The Auto-Spray 
10 mlautef and cover ^ acre. Per¬ 
fectly Automatic, operator merely 
ivalkfl and directs aotxle. Bpray from 
fine mlittoiolidstream. Any boy can 
work it. Brass working and contact 
MTts make it perfect working and 
durable. For poultry bouses, vines, 
trees, etc. CaUlo| P,free. Shows the 
best lineofallsiie, all purpose spray¬ 
ers made. Write for agency. 
E.C.BROWN &COMPANY, 
B............. U W 
IT MEANS FULL FRUITING 
^ IJ|JM I yAND FINE FLOWERS. 
About the only pumps worth using arei 
those that mechanically mix the liquid and 
a ^ clem the itreloer to prcTcnt clogsiog uid stopping eprej. Tb. ^ 
Empire King, Orchard Monarch and Garfieid^B 
are that kind. They are easiest and fastestln the field, they make the finestapray 
and they are the only sprayert with automatlo at^tators and strainer clea^n^; 
brushes. They do not bum and spoil obe foliage by applying too much poison in M 
•pots, and every part gets its due proportion. To be euie of being *igbt send for JL Kjnid 
•ur book of Instructions on spraying, formulas, etc. Hailed free for the asking, 
FIELD FO£€£ 
% IIU St.., Klmira, N* T, 
GAIN ACRES 
ly clearing that stumpy piece 
i laiid.»THE UEBCIILES 
^ -w , Stump Puller pullaanystomp 
time, iaoor and money. 
OuttiogFREE. Hercules Mfg. Cd^,. Dipt pgCenterville, lows. 
Monarch Stump Puller 
Will pull fr-foot stump In three mluutes. 
Guaranteed to stand 250,UOU lbs. strain. 
For Illustrated catalogue and dlsoounts 
address MONARCH GRUBBER CO., Lone Tree. la. 
The Pump 
that Pumps 
SPRAY I 
PUMPS 
Double-actii^ 
Lift, Power, Tank 
and Bpray 
PUMPS 
Store Ladders, eto. 
Bam Door Hangers. 
HAYTOOls 
of all kinds. Write 
for Oir’s and Prices, 
r. E. MYERS A 
BBO.. Ashland, O. 
IT PAYS TO SPRAY 
•Ten under ordinary oondiUons and in the ordinary way, but j 
it pays especially well toepray when you cando the work 
perfectly aud cower thirty acres a day with the 
PiRFEGTION Iftsva., 
either hand or horse power. Pump Is positive in action and 1 
. never loses force* Liquid does not enter the working parte j 
of the pump to corrode it. Simple, easily adjusted | 
andoperat^. Tne manufacturer has spent twelve i 
*’ years in brining it to its present state of perfec- j 
tion. Sprays^^esuz and all mixtures without I 
^trouble or waste. W rite for free catalog. We also | 
make the Improved Riggs j 
Plows and FurroweTs. 1 
THOST^S PEPPLEBI 
^Bez 37 lilghUtown I 
MiMiuii&i 
Fruit Packages 
Send postal for our latest catalogue of 
Climax Baskets aud Bushel Stave Baskets 
for Peaches, Grapes, Melons, and other 
finiits and products. Low 
^delivered prices quoted 
on carloads of 12,(X)0 
or more peach or 
grape Climax, 
6,000 or more mel¬ 
on Climax, or on 
100 or more dozen 
Bushel Baskets, 
all with covers. 
The Pierce-Williams €0., 
South Uaven, Mich. 
m The No. 72 '‘Planet Jr.” A 
Two Row Pivot Wheel Cultivator, 
Plow.Kuirower and Rldgerls the ton- 
B satlon for 1903, for with it one man with 
W two boreea can cultivate perfectly two M 
* rows at ons passage any distance apart S 
V from 28 to 44 inches, even if the rows are of 1 
r irregular width. It has one lever for regulat- ' 
Ing the depth in front by means of a hinged 
■ tongue. The machine can also be balanced so as 
to suit It to any weight driver and entirely re¬ 
lieve neck pressure on the horses—such an ob¬ 
jectionable feature In most sulky cultivators. 
It has also two levers for regulating separately 
the depth of the two gangs in the rear, and two 
for changing the width of each gang separately 
while In motion, to accommodate the tool to the 
varying width of the rows.lt has our famous pivot 
axle,which makes It so easy of control by the op¬ 
erator, and it Is provided with furrowers and 
ridgers in addition to the cultivating teeth. 
It is a special favorite with potato growers, 
It is but one of our fifty Seeders and Cultiva¬ 
tors, including plain and combined Seed Sow¬ 
ers, Wheel Hoes, Hand Cultivators, Walking 
Cultivators and One and Two-Horse Kldiug 
WINCHES UR 
“REPEATER” SMOKELESS POWDER SHOTGUN SHELLS. 
Ifyou want a good low-priced Smokeless Powder “load," 
Winchester Factory Loaded “Repeater” Shells will surely 
suit you. Don’t forget the name; Winchester “Repeater,” 
THE YELLOW SHELL WITH THE CORRUGATED HEAD. 
