28 o 
April 11 
FARMERS’ CLUB 
[Every query must be accompanied by 
the name and address of the writer to In¬ 
sure attention. Before asking a question, 
please see whelher it is not answered in 
our advertising columns. Ask only a few 
questions at one time. Put questions on a 
separate t>iece of paper.] 
Trouble with a Cream Test. 
J. H. II., Tomah, Wts.—I use a separator 
and take my cream to our creamery. In 
January my cream tested 26; in February 
20. Whal causes that difference, as I feed 
and care for my cows the same? This is 
what I feed and have been feeding all 
Winter: I mix 100 pounds of bran, 100 
pounds cornmeal, 25 pounds oil meal; feed 
eight pounds a day to each cow and give 
all the clover hay they will eat up clean; 
that is, I do not ask them to eat up the 
coarse part. I cannot see any good reason 
for the variation in the test, and should 
like to have you tell me if it is possible 
that it may occur. Can anyone read a 
Babcock test? I shall try to have some 
tested of cream that I will save myself. 
—It is wise always to answer 
questions of this class very guardedly, 
because we do not know all of the cir¬ 
cumstances. As 1 understand this one 
the cream is separated at home and the 
cream delivered. J. H. B. can readily 
see that the cows are not responsible in 
any way. He does not advise whether 
or not the volume of cream was increas¬ 
ed from a given quantity of milk, neith¬ 
er does he tell us whether the skim-milk 
was tested to show whether the separ¬ 
ator was working as it should. Not 
knowing all of the facts I could only 
suggest that a Babcock test be secured 
at once, the whole milk carefully weigh¬ 
ed and tested to find out how many 
pounds of fat is produced, then test the 
cream and skim-milk and reduce the fat 
in both to pounds. This will show wheth¬ 
er the first work was correct. The fat 
in the cream plus that found in the 
skim-milk should equal that found in 
the whole milk. Then compare these 
totals with the total pounds of fat re¬ 
turned from the creamery for the same 
period. One will serve as a check upon 
the other. If they do not agree go at 
once to the manager and find out who 
is wrong I came across a creamery the 
past week that took samples when the 
buttermaker felt like it, and then tested 
once a month. If your creamery is do¬ 
ing business like this one I should ex¬ 
pect mistakes and inaccurate results. 
The testing of cream is always attended 
with more difficulties than testing milk. 
Properly cream should be weighed in 
the bottle to know that absolutely the 
same amount always goes in. It can 
readily be seen that if cream varies in 
consistency, sometimes thin, sometimes 
thick, or if the temperatures of the same 
cream vary, there will not be a uniform 
delivery into the bottle from the pipette. 
Glreat care must be exercised therefore 
to secure accurate and uniform results. 
U. E. OOOK. 
Mr. Hitchings on Apple Culture. 
L. C. S.. Albion, .V. y.—1 would like tbe 
opinion and advice of Mr. Hitchings on the 
following subject: 1 wish to plant an apple 
orchard and also desire to biing it into 
bearing as soon as possible. 1 have natur¬ 
ally drained fertile sloping held, which 1 
think of treating as follows: Plant trees 
in heavy rich sod, one rod apart each way; 
keep the ground immediately under the 
trees loose with spading fork. Every 
Spring put heavy mulch around each tree, 
said mulch to be coarse stable manure. In 
Fall remove the mulch and put a heap of 
coal ashes about the tree. The first year 
sow 800 pounds acid phosphate and 200 
pounds muriate of potash to the acre, 
broadcast. Mow two or three times each 
season and place the grass near the trees. 
1 would like you to criticise my plan and 
make any suggestions needed. What va¬ 
rieties shall I plant, and how soon may I 
expect fruit to appear? I wdsh to bring the 
orchard into bearing in the shortest pos¬ 
sible time. I would like to plant some 
kinds which are little affected by fungus, 
but which are still good sellers. 
Axs.—The inquirer desires an early- 
bearing orchard. To accomplish this it 
is necessary to be careful not to force 
the wood growin of the trees, but rather 
stimulate their fruit bud development, 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
BIG STRaWBERRIES., 
As fruit buds are formed in June and de¬ 
veloped during the remainder of the year 
I would wait until July 1 before apply¬ 
ing manure or fertilizer. We cut the 
grass at this ume and apply as a mulch 
for this reason. We mow but once, be¬ 
lieving the aftermath helps to hold 
moisture by shading the ground. We 
would be cautious in using fertilizers, 
as I think they are unnecessary. Apply 
a mulch of manure around the trees 
when first set and avoid the expense of 
hoeing around them; applying coal ashes 
close to trunks in Fall will keep mice 
away from trees. Wrapping with build¬ 
ing paper serves the same purpose. I 
would not set closer than 20 feet each 
way, the roots at that distance will oc¬ 
cupy the entire surface in a few years. 
It takes nerve to remove trees when 
best for results. Do not trim your young 
trees but very little. Trimming €(n 
courages wood growth and should be 
avoided if you desire early bearing 
Four-year-old trees treated as described 
above on examination to-day showed 
very prominent fruit buds. The Olden¬ 
burg and Wealthy are as free from fun¬ 
gus troubles as any Fall varieties, and 
the Sutton Beauty and Boiken for Win 
ter. The varieties to plant depend on 
your situation and the market you de¬ 
sire to cater to. If strictly commercial 
three or four varieties are enough; if 
for fancy a much longer list is better. 
GRANT O. UlTCHINOS. 
Seeding Clover with Oats and Peas. 
fl. TV., Woiine Co.. N. Y.—How many oath 
and how much of the Canada field peas 
and clover should I use in seeding? • 
Ans. —Last year we had excellent suc¬ 
cess with oats and peas when sowed in 
the following manner: One bushel and 
a half of peas were scattered over an 
acre before plowing. They were plowed 
under with a small plow about five 
inches deep. On the furrows 2^ bushels 
of oats were broadcast and worked in 
with an Acme harrow. This did better 
work than a tooth harrow as the latter 
will tear up some of the peas. Ten 
pounds of Red clover seed to the acre 
were put on with the oats and harrowed 
in. We did not roll, as the soil is heavy 
and wet. On light, dry soil we would 
roll. The oats came up a little ahead 
of the peas, but the latter caught up. 
There was a heavy yield which was 
cured for hay, and the field is now cov¬ 
ered with clover. We used 400 pounds per 
acre of a fertilizer containing 2% per 
cent of nitrogen, eight of phosphoric 
acid and six of potash. 
Fine varieties of strawberries are my speolalt^Wil 
aa experience of 20 years I have selected and perfeew 
a list of tUe leading and finest sorts. A fine selection , 
Baspberrlea ana Blackberries. Currants, 
Grapes, etc. Everything true to name, guaranteed 
Send for free caial^neto^ay. 
D. BKANDT, Box 306, Bremen, Ohio- 
Trees, Plants and Vines 
Ornamentals, Shade Trees, Shrubs, 
Flowers—everything to make the home 
grounds beautiful. Fruit Trees, too. 
Send for Catalogue. 
STEPHEN HOYT’S SONS, 
New Canaan, Conn. 
GLADIOLI 
Our Motto: Quality First. We have, 
however, a sufficient quantity to supply 
aU demands. Send for Catalogue. 
ARVHUR COWEE, 
“Meadowvale Uarm.” Berlin, N. I. 
United Stt.tes Grower and Representative 
of GROFF’S HYBRIDS. 
FREE! 
My new Illustrated Catalogue of shade, fruit and 
evergreen trees, flowering shrubs, etc., wholesale 
orlces. Bavo aKonts’coininlsslons. Buy direct from 
the Nurs^'ry. I pay the freight. EUUBNK O. 
PBTBRBON, Montrose Ni.rseries, Montrose, N. Y. 
CACTUS DAHLIAS 
80C varletias Hardy Phlox, iOO varieties. Hardy 
Pompon f .rysanihemums, 60 varieties. 
Bend for Catalogues. 
NORTH SHORE FERNERIES, Beverly,MCaMU 
SUPERB 
DAHLIAS 
ORN1 
ready for the market 60 days after plant¬ 
ing, is one of the many wonders you read 
about in HO LIlI ES’ J 90.3 CATA LOGUE 
OF TESTED SEEDS. Contains many 
otlier new and profitable flower end vege- 
tal)le varieties. Honestly ])lctured—truth¬ 
fully described. Different from ordinary 
seed books. A book well worth writing for. 
HOLMES SEED COMPANY, 
Harrisburg, Pa. 
We send it 
Seed Potatoes 
Vaughan’s Improved 
Early Ohio, Red River Stock, 1000 
barrels at $1.00 per bushel 
while the}’ last. 
Seed Sweet Corn- 
New Farm Seeds 
1903 catalogue FREE. 
V au^Kaa’s 
84-86 Randolph St., CHICAGO, 
New York Branch; H Barclay Street 
Apple 
Trees 
Fine two and three-year old stock, 5 to 6 
feet in height, H inch in diameter, 2 
inches from hud. Clean, healthy, Geneva- 
grown trees. Furnished with Certificate 
of Inspection and Fumigation guaran¬ 
teed. $15 per hundred, hoxed and de¬ 
livered at your place. 
We offer the following varieties only; 
Boiken, Falla water, Gideon, Giffen 
Beauty, Hendrick’s Sweet, Longfield, 
Mann," Northern Spy, Red Astrachan, 
Rhode Island Greening, Senator, Smoke 
House, Winesap and Yellow Transparent 
Also the famous Dikeman Cherry at 
same price. 
The Seneca Lake 
Nursery Company, 
P. O. Box No. 209. Geneva, N.Y. 
reference: 
The First National Bank, Geneva, N. T. 
!!!!£ Hieley Peach. 
Hardy stock and very early. Fruit 
large, rich and creamy white with a 
sun kissed blush. One of the very best 
varieties. Free catalog shows Mamie 
Koe*, Elberts and many other 
- choice varieties. Write for It. 
Harrison’i Nuratrlit, Box29,Berlin,Md. 
THE TREE OF LIFE 
is one budded upon a branched root seedling, buds 
taken from bearing trees, grown upon the famous 
Michigan fruit land, dug by our root protecting 
tree digger and handled iu our mammoth storage 
cellars. Small fruits and everything in nursery 
and greenhouse lines true to name at wholesale 
prices. We guarsmtee safe delivery. 
Catalogue FREE. Write to day. 
CENTRAL MICHIGAN NURSERY, Kalamazoe, Mich. 
Mxchigan'aMammoOtKurum'ie* 
aGMPE VINES 
100 Varieties. Also Small Fmlts,Trees,*e. BestRo^ 
ed stock. Genuine, cheap. * sample vines mailed f or Kte. 
Descriptive price-list free. LBWU ROBSCH, rrrimis.l.T. 
STARK GRAPE NURSERIES 
Portland, N. Y. are in the heart 
of the famous Fredonia-Chautau- 
For the land’s sake, use Bowker’s Fer¬ 
tilizers. They enrich the earth.— Adv. 
GRAPE VINES 
the best vines of any locality in the U. S. An Immense Stock. 
BRIGHTON, large red, rich, sweet, best . 
CAMPBELL EARLY, early black. 
CATAWBA, large red; late, very good. 
CONCORD, well known “Old Stand-by”. 
DELAWARE, a most excellent red. 
DIAMOND, finest white; very early . 
IVES, black; fair quality, hardy, healthy. 
MOORE EARLY, large black; very early. 
NIAGARA, famous large white; good.. 
WORDEN, richest, finest black, early. 
CURRANT, Fay, needs best of care... 
“ LONDON MARKET, best. 
GOOSEBERRY. Houghton, Old Reliable. 
“ Downing, large, good. 
“ Josselyn (Red Jacket) best new sort ...„. 
A general assortment of Fruit Trees, including 250,000 Japan Plum and 1,000,000 Peach; 
Raspb’y, Blackb’y, Mulberry, 3 best varieties; Chestnut, Weir’s Maple; Root Grafts and an 
extra fine stock of Apple Seedlings. Send for Colored Plate and Descriptive Circular of 
STARK-STAR, best of all late grapes. We Pay Freight on $12 orders, box and pack free. 
CTJtni^ DRA'C. MURSEBDES/ft LOUISIANA, MO. Portland, N. Y. DansvlIIe, N. Y. 
wlnlvlV DKUwl*&ollCtUuU)3w Atlantic, Iowa. Starkdale, Mo. Faysttevllle, Ark. 
Grape 
Belt, w 
lich produces 
I-Yr. 
No. 1 
2.Yr. 
No. 1 
100 
1000 
100 
1000 
$4.00 
$30.00 
$6.50 
$55.00 
8.50 
75.00 
11.00 
100.00 
4.00 
30.00 
6.00 
60.00 
3.50 
25.00 
4.50 
35.00 
4.50 
35.00 
6.50 
56.00 
4.00 
30 00 
6.00 
60.00 
3.50 
25.00 
4.60 
36.00 
4.00 
30.00 
5.50 
45.00 
4.00 
30.00 
6.50 
65.00 
4.00 
30.00 
6.00 
40.00 
4.00 
30.00 
6.00 
40.00 
4.50 
85.00 
6.00 
50.00 
5.00 
40.00 
6.00 
60.00 
6.00 
40.00 
6.00 
60.00 
6.00 
50.00 
8.00 
70.00 
Pan-American Gold medal 
20 KiiKls (my selection) ISI. 
Purchaser’s selection $1 d*. & up. 
.500 kinds, latest and best Cat. 
free. H.F HURT. Taunton,Mass 
DWYER'S 1903 SPRING CATALOGUE 
Two Hundred Acres of Hardy Fruits and Ornamentals. 
Reliable descriptions; perfect illustrations and beautiful colored plates. T. J. Dwyer’s Book on 
Hardy Trees, Plants and Vines 60 cents. This work will be sent postpaid, free, for all Spring 
I orders. The Catalogue is free. Write for it to-day. 
T. J. DWYER &, SON, Orange County Nurseries, Cornwall, N.Y. 
WAUKEGAN NURSERIES 
Evergreen and Ornamental Trees 
Fruit Trees, Shade Trees, 
Shrubs, Vines, Roses, Etc. 
WHOLBSALH AND RETAIL 
R. DOUGLAS’ SONS, WAUKEGAN, ILL. 
T 
MAKE YOUR LAWN 
IN THE NATURAL WAY BY SOWING 
HENDERSON’S LAWN GRASS SEED 
(Avoid the use of Sod and all its attendant evils.) 
Our catalogue of “EVERYTHING FOR THE EAWN” sent free on application. 
PETER HENDERSON & CO., 
86 & 37 Cortlandt Street, New York. 
