322 
April 25 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
EVERYBODY’S GARDEN. 
Lettuce) Queries.— Can Boston market 
lettuce be marketed in June to any advan¬ 
tage over other kinds? Will it head up as 
well as any other variety, and if not, what 
will? E. J. Q. 
Pine Island, N. Y. 
The Boston Market lettuce is essential¬ 
ly a forcing variety, and is doubtless at 
it? best when grown under glass. At 
that season of year it would seem that 
some other sorts would be more satis¬ 
factory. The forcing house is its native 
heath, and it could hardly be expected 
that it would do as well in the open 
ground. The Big Boston, an improved 
strain of the old variety, has largely su¬ 
perseded its parent, and succeeds well 
in the open ground in the early Spring 
and late Fall. The Deacon, Mammoth 
Black-seeded, Iceberg, California Cream 
Butter, etc., are strictly cabbage-type or 
head varieties, and for general outdoor 
work I believe will be more reliable. 
Rhubarb Problems.— In setting out roots 
that have been forced the past Winter, Is 
there any better fertilizer than nitrate of 
soda? What is the best way to use it, 
plowed in, or otherwise? I have no facili¬ 
ties for hauling stable manner myself, and 
to hire It hauled will be expensive. I have 
but little ready cash, but have done so well 
in forcing on a small scale that I am anx¬ 
ious to increase my plant as fast as pos¬ 
sible. Could not the roots be frozen arti¬ 
ficially to get them started sooner? A ton 
of ice is not very expensive. A market 
gardener here has 3,000 or more roots that 
he is forcing in cold frames. He offers 
me all I want of them. Will it not pay me 
to get all I can fertilize? w. c. e. 
Auburn, R. I. 
The analysis of rhubarb shows consid¬ 
erable nitrogen and potash, with but lit¬ 
tle phosphoric acid. Its constituent ele¬ 
ments as published by the Department 
of Agriculture give 91.67 per cent mois¬ 
ture. There is .55 or about one-half of 
one per cent of nitrogen, and nearly the 
same (.53) of potash, while of phosphoric 
acid there is only .06 per cent. The stems 
and leaves are more watery than the 
roots, with 92.7 per cent of moisture. 
They also contain .13 per cent nitrogen, 
.36 per cent potash, with .02 per cent 
phosphoric acid. Thus it will be seen 
that your fertilizer should contain both 
nitrogen and potash in considerable 
amount. Your cheapest source of sup¬ 
ply for the former will be nitrate of 
soda, and for the latter, I think, muriate 
of potash or unleached wood ashes. I 
would prefer the latter as they will also 
furnish lime, and that in most cases will 
be of great benefit. After the ground is 
plowed, broadcast the ashes as thickly 
as you can afford to, or if short in sup¬ 
ply, sow then in narrow spaces where 
the rows will be set, and work them 
well into the ground. If muriate of pot¬ 
ash is used, sow on 300 to 400 pounds to 
the acre and work that in also. The ni¬ 
trate of soda will best be applied in three 
applications of 100 pounds each. Sprinkle 
around the plants and work In with hoe 
or rake. The first application should be 
soon after the plants are set, the others 
to follow at Intervals of four or five 
weeks. It will be better if at all pos¬ 
sible to afford it, to apply some stable 
manure, as the rhubarb requires large 
amounts of humus, as that is Nature’s 
sponge to hold and control the moisture. 
Constant and shallow cultivation will 
compensate in a great measure for lack 
of the vegetable matter. Doubtless if 
unable to do so now, you can apply the 
manure in the Fall, and that will be of 
great benefit. Do not plow the nitrate 
of soda in, as it goes down all too quick¬ 
ly at best, especially in wet weather. I 
fear that freezing the roots with ice 
would prove expensive, and hardly think 
it could be done successfully unless you 
had exceptional facilities. On page 8, of 
the New Rhubarb Culture, you will find 
full instructions for forcing the roots 
without freezing. All you require is 
boxes like hotbeds and plenty of fresh 
manure. It is entirely practical with 
strong heat down close to the roots, but 
will not work in ordinary cellars where 
the heat cannot be concentrated. The 
Ifftrdener referred to is very unwise to 
waste time forcing rhubarb in cold 
frames, when so much better quality 
can be grown in the dark cellars at much 
less expense. His offer is very generous, 
and you should by all means accept it. 
Take all such roots you can get and with 
good care they will be in prime condition 
for forcing again in two years. Doubt¬ 
less some of the roots will die, especial¬ 
ly if they have been forced too long and 
too hard. Careful handling will bring 
the majority through all right and they 
will be a good investment. 
Camfornia Onr.ERY. —The exception¬ 
ally bad weather of last year wrought 
no end of damage to the home-grown 
celery, and thus the Winter supply was 
short. During February and March a 
liberal supply of the California-grown 
was in evidence. For purposes of com¬ 
parison between the western and home¬ 
grown, I invested in the former to some 
extent. The product was exceptionally 
fine as to appearance, and in price would 
satisfy the most fastidious. It retailed 
at 60 cents per dozen, and large quanti¬ 
ties of it were sold. Judging from the 
amount handled the people must have 
relished it, but my teeth were too poor 
to tackle it with any vim. My taste may 
be sadly depraved, but it seemed to me 
to be away off in fiavor. It may be that 
the poor quality was true only of the 
one variety that found its way to our 
market, and that other sorts would prove 
better as to flavor and be more easily 
managed upon coming to the table. 
.1. R. morse. 
TESTING A SOIL FOR FERTILIZERS. 
How do you test your soil in order to 
learn what special elements of fertility are 
needed? If you were going to a new farm 
with which you were unfamiliar, how 
would you fertilize it? 
Potash and phosphoric acid stay in the 
soil until taken up by the plant, and 
there is not much danger of getting in 
too much. Use a mixture containing five 
per cent nitrogen, 10 per cent potash, 12 
per cent phosphoric acid, then alongside 
of this any other combination you de¬ 
sire; put 1,500 pounds on an acre. I 
have tried all grades of fertilizers, and 
the one above I like best This is for 
potatoes. 'This one application brings 
five or six crops. We do our own mix¬ 
ing. We commenced our experiments 
with 600 pounds to the acre, and increas¬ 
ed it until we got to 1,500 pounds. This 
we found gave the best results. If we 
were going on to a new farm we would 
do as stated above. The best way to 
test the soil is to measure the ground, 
weigh the fertilizer, put on different 
grades in plots side by side, and weigh 
or measure the crop. p. k. hoadley. 
Connecticut. 
If we were going to buy a new farm 
and were not familiar with the soil or 
its requirements we would use a com¬ 
plete fertilizer with an endeavor to as¬ 
certain if any ingredient thereof was 
especially needed or superfiuous. The 
great mistake most people make in using 
chemicals and fertilizers Is that they 
buy cheap goods, that are of course of 
little relative value. It pays always, in 
my opinion, to buy the best in fertili¬ 
zers; that is to buy fertilizers having 
real plant food in them. We have no 
real system in the matter, depending up¬ 
on experience to govern our actions gen¬ 
erally. For our soil here a fertilizer 
running four to five per cent ammonia, 
eight per cent potash, eight per cent 
phosphoric acid seems to fill the bill as 
loam would need less nitrogen, more 
phosphoric acid and less potash; on the 
other hand, even on the same farm, 
fields more of a sandy loam would re¬ 
quire more nitrogen, less phosphoric 
acid, and more potash. This is my ex¬ 
perience, from this I have always be¬ 
lieved it safer to use the highest grade 
of manures with a liberal proportion of 
every element of plant food, then I could 
not be deficient In my application of any 
one element. This has been my prac¬ 
tice, and when conditions were favor¬ 
able it has always paid me. In entering 
upon a new field of farming I would ask 
myself first what is the character gen¬ 
erally of the soil. I would start out with 
high phosphoric acid, high potash and 
liberal amounts of nitrogen, and later 
would be governed by results. 
New Jersey. n. c. lewis. 
Winter Apples on Small Stock. 
G. J. O., Rockcreek, Oregon.—Will it be safe 
to graft Fameuse, Red Astrachan and Old¬ 
enburg to Winter apples? What best va¬ 
rieties in red fruit? Where can I get some 
scions of Jonathan? 
Ans. —It would be a very good idea to 
graft the trees mentioned to any Winter 
apple that may be desirable. Jonathan 
and Rome Beauty would be very suit¬ 
able for that use in Oregon, as they are 
well tested there and among the most 
profitable market varieties. Scions 
ought to be had of almost any of the 
large fruit growers. ii. e. v. d. 
Grafting a Small Branch. 
H. F. IF., Ban Diego Co., Cal.—It I graft a 
icion Into a small limb on the south side 
of a six or eight-ycar-old apple tree, the 
limb being a foot from the ground and 
after two or three years growth of the 
graft I cut the original tree away just 
above It, will the roots of the tree begin to 
die and in a year or two the tree be dead? 
The opinion of some of my neighbors is 
that it will. 
Ans. —The chances are that a graft set 
on a small subordinate branch will grow 
very feebly. The upper part of the tree 
is sure to shade it and take the strength 
that it should have. To cut off a large 
tree and depend on a sprout or small 
branch near the ground would be un¬ 
wise. It would be a great shock to the 
tree and seriously injure It by making 
a large wound to heal over. The roots 
might not die but would rarely remain 
healthy. The better way would be to 
top-graft the tree In its main branches. 
H. E. V. D. 
The New York State Fair 
Prize List is now ready for 
distribution, and can be had 
by applying to S. C. Shaver, 
Sec’y. Albany, N. Y. 
NATIVE EVERGREENSTC'srrn rr. 
ti to 12 In.. *4 per 1,000; 5,000 for $15. White Pine and 
Hemlock, $5 per 1,000 ; 5,000 for $20. A Iko TruuBplnntert 
Kvernreens, American Arbor Vitae. 0 to 7 feet, at $35 
Iter 100 f. o. b. Write for jirlce list. 
Mh.s. JAMES A. HOOT, Skaneateles. N. V. 
C ARMAN No. 3 $4.00 
SEED POTATOES. Per Bbl. 
Klondike, bestof all. Tuber, 15c.; bbl.,$10. Plngree 
and White Mammoth, bbl., $5 (all bbls.f bu.) Whole¬ 
sale list free. Geo. A. Bonnell, Waterloo, N. Y. 
P nTATnPQ~Cobbler8, E. Harvest, Ohlos, Hebrons, 
U I n I UtO Kalelghs, and 20 other choice kinds. 
Low rates on Central or Lehigh. Seed Corn, White 
Star Oats. Sample free and de.scrijttlon. 
SMITH’S POTATO FARM, Shortsvllle, N. Y. 
For Sale 
-Second-growth Seed Potatoes, $1.25 
Clover Seed, $3 Iter bushel : Cow Peas,$1 ..50 per bushel. 
JOSEPH F. HOLLAND, Milford, Del. 
P (JTATOES—Bovee, Carman, Cobbler, Harvest, OWks 
Uncle Sam, Rose. 85 kinds. C. W. Ford, Fishers,N.Y 
CCCn nnTITnee 8‘r Walter Raleigh, 
OCbU I U I H I UlaO choice and true to 
name, $1 per bushel. Send for circular to the N. Y. 
PEERLESS Farm, Lyons, Wayne Co., N. Y. 
For Immediate Acceptance. 
Black-eye Cow Pens. $1.20 per bushel; Jersey Pickle. 
$1.50 per itound; Boston Marrow Squash, 35c. ncr 
pound. EDW. RIGG, JR., Burlington, N. J. ‘ 
m PEAS 
—Early Black, $1.25 per bu., sacked and 
f. o. It. O. O. Gwathmey, Aylett, Va. 
N. Y. State Grown Soy Beans, Smefa^u'S; 
Rape, etc., at close prices. Leaflet ou Forage 
Crops Old and New, free on request. 
BINGHAMTON SEED CO., Binghamton, N. Y. 
12 Oom Paul 
STllAWBEUltV A I 
Pi. A NTS for 91 
KKVITT'S PIjANT FARM, Athenia, N. J. 
STRAWBERRY PLANTS 
PINK HILL FRUIT FARM, Center Brook. Conn. 
P ^ u O £ 1 1 ^—Strawberry Plants—Bu bach, 
■ vll Gandy, Brandywine, throe of 
'he best varieties grown. $2 peri.(KM). 
T. K. WOODIIULL, Wading River. N Y 
dfrawoemes Ltidy Garrison, Kxcolshtr, 
Parsons, 'Tennessee, Crescent, Michels, Sheppard— 
a surjilus at $1.50 per 1.000. 
WM. PERRY, Cool Spring, Del. 
Surplus Strawberry Plants-»e"srGandy 
Haverland, Warfield, etc., at $2 per 1,000; Crescent’ 
'Tennesseo and Michels at $1.50 per 1.000. Best plants 
and packing. Cat.frcc. Slaymaker&Son,Dover,Del. 
VARIETIES of strawberry plants. Strong 
•tV healthy, young plants, very cheap. Kansas 
black raspberries at $5 per 1000. 'Three varieties of 
asparagus, strong one-year roots, 60 cents per 100, $2 
per KKX), Strong two-year roots, 75 cents per 100, $3 
per 1000. Send for price list before placing your order. 
Satisfaction guaranteed. Address 
CUAS. BLACK, Hightstown, N. J. 
Strawberry and Raspberry Plants, 
grow and prodm-e. Cat. “J.” A Treatise on the 
Strawberry, free. We grow MiiiiKtsota No. B Oats, 
Seed Potatoes, etc. Northwe.stcrn Headquarters fur 
Strawberry Box Goods, I'lanet Jr. Machinery, Aspln- 
walH-RowSprayers, BemlsTransplanters. Noagonts. 
Hoyt Plant & Seed Co.,Uoyt Ave.. St. Paul, Minn. 
For Spring of 1903 We Offer Three Million 
Strawberry Plants 
From new beds planted in the Spring of 1902 on land 
especially adapted for making strong crowns with 
abundance of fibrous roots. We tie In bunches of 26, 
.mark each variety with printed tags, pack securely In 
iwel ventilated packages with abundance of moss to 
(secure safe carriage, no matter how great the dls- 
Jtance. Certifleato of inspection with every shipment. 
We Invite correspondence, with a list of your wants, 
,on which we will cheerfully name you our very best 
price. 
AUTO 
If you have notnplanted this grand 
Strawberry, you “ Au ” to. We have 
it with 42 other varieties. 
We also have Asparagus Boots, One and Two Year 
Old 1 n varieties— Pa 1.M etto, Con o ve ii Colossal, 
Bauk’s Mam.moth, Giant Auoenteuil. 
A general assprtment of Fruit Trees. 
SNOW HILL NURSERIES, W. M, Peters & 
Sons, Proprietors, Snow UiU, Maryland. 
100,000 Strawberry^fants. 
■ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ $2,150 per 1,000. Also fifty 
other varieties. Send for price-list. 
WILLIAM PALMER, Grooms, N. Y. 
WANTED-HORSERADISH SETS 
by the 1,000 and 10.000 lots, i’lease mail sample and 
price to L. MOSBAiK, South Chicago, 111. 
Vegetable Plants. 
Largo transplanted plants of Cabbage, Tomato, 
Jelery, Egg Plant, Popper and Caullflowor. Write for 
I’rico List. 
J. H. HUTTON & SON, Conyngham, Pa. 
Recleaned ITU IT 1^ d I V 
Western I IlC IVEiLL.T 
Grown SEED MERCHANTS. 
Clover, 150-152 Sheriff St., Cleveland, Ohio. 
kinds of grass and Hold seeds and 
„ I poultry suiiplics. Seed manual free. 
Reference, this paper, or Park National Bank. 
T THODSAHD 
riFT 
F Apple Trees. But Commirclillorh 
■ ^ clean, smooth, thrifty: no end to 
roots. Peach, Plum, Pear, Cherry, (Juince, 
etc., cheap. Woodview Nurseries, Mt. Hour springs, Pt 
SWt 
TREES SUCCEED WHERE 
LargctNurRcry. OTHERS FAIL* 
Fruit Book Free. KcbuU of 78 years' cxperlenc* 
”l!il!!!! trees 
■pMialtlei: Apple, 16o; Peach, Dc; Cherry, 15o. Small fruit plant*, 
Tlnei. lOO-pago catalogue free. 2 New Red Gross ourraDt* 
lOo. BeoreU of Fruit Orowiiig, 150 photos, 10c. Copy 
Or*«a’* Fruit Grower free. Good salary paid for work at home. 
ORCEN'8 NURSERY CO., Rochester, N.Y. 
BARGAINS IN TREES 
well as anything we have ever struck. 
Connecticut, s. d. woodrufip & sons. 
The fertilizing requirements of differ¬ 
ent soils are so varied that it is quite im¬ 
possible to lay down rules for the gov¬ 
ernment of farmers generally. The dif¬ 
ference in soils even on the same farm 
will demand different treatment. A clay 
■ PllwntO Varielles--Elberta, Early Crawford, Late Crawford, Crosliy, Wlieatlaiid, Cliamiiioii, 
Globe. New Prolific. 
ADDI P^ V‘“'‘bties, Baldwin, W'olf River, IlubbardHton Nonsuch 
■ “PD 15 ,, 1 . Greening, Yellow Transparent, Hweet Bough, 'rolnian Hweet, W'inesap, Mann 
Ben Davis, Belle de Boskoop. 
AUCIIDICC and Ollier stock at eorresiionding low i»riees. Send for free catalogin' 
PtAKw) UntnKItw and Special Bargain List before yon buy and save money. We make 
no charge for box or packing. 
RELIANCE NURSERY CO., Box 410, Geneva, N. Y. 
DOni^T BUY GASOLINE ENGINES ‘ ‘TH ASTEr‘“wORKM AN,” 
a two-cylinder gasoline engine, superior to all one-cylinder engines. Costs less to buy and less to run. Quicker and easier started; has a wider sphere 
of usefulness. Has no vibration; can be mounted on any light wagon as a portable. Weighs less than 34 of one-cylinder engines. Give size of engine 
required. Please meotion this paper. Send for catalogue, THE TEWPLE PUMP CO., Established 1863. Meagher and 15 th Street, CHICAGO, 
