374 
May 16 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
; Ruralisms ; 
NOTES FROM THE RURAL GROUNDS 
Free Trees as Well as Free Seebs. 
—The Government seed distribution has 
grown to be such a travesty on the in¬ 
tention of the original law establishing 
It that even the regular recipients of 
Congressmen’s seeds usually condemn it, 
yet the supposed political necessity of 
this annual “hand-out” is so great that 
appropriations are constantly increased 
for the purpose. This year the amount 
is a very respectable fraction of a mil¬ 
lion dollars. It is safe to say that few 
who have to do with these seeds, from 
the Secretary of Agriculture to the ac¬ 
tual planters, are wholly satisfied. The 
present Administration must be credited 
with sincere efforts to reform this seed 
distribution as far as allowed by Con¬ 
gress, and to carry out the original in¬ 
tention of disseminating new or rare va¬ 
rieties of promise when procurable, and 
many sensible modifications will doubt¬ 
less be made from time to time as au¬ 
thority or precedent permits. A limited 
distrioution of fruit and other valuable 
trees to the various experiment stations 
and responsible individuals for careful 
tests will soon take place. The Agricul¬ 
tural Department of Kansas distributes 
the true Catalpa speciosa and perhaps 
other valuable species under restric¬ 
tions, and the North Carolina Depart¬ 
ment of Agriculture has distributed 20,- 
000 seedling mulberry trees of the White 
and Russian varieties among the farmers 
of that State in lots of 50 and 100 at a 
cost to the recipient for transportation 
of about one cent for each tree. These 
distributions of useful varieties are cer¬ 
tain to do much good by creating a tree¬ 
planting habit. There is little danger 
that the free tree idea will expand to 
harmful proportions, and the private 
nurseries are certain to be called on to 
fill the demand created among farmers 
who plant a tree almost for the first 
time, because it comes to them for a 
trifling expense. This is not by any 
means the first tree distribution by the 
National Department of Agriculture, as 
the Bureau of Plant Industry has been 
for years collecting and sending out 
small lots of promising foreign varie¬ 
ties of fruits adapted to temperate and 
tropical climates. The dissemination of 
trees and scions of Russian and Asiatic 
apples and other orchard fruits many 
years ago by the Department of Agri¬ 
culture was a great benefit to American 
pomology. 
LE.SS San Jose Scale.—W e make no 
apology for harping on the subject of 
Pernicious scale. It is now the great¬ 
est local obstacle to fruit tree culture, as 
it scares out the small grower and ama¬ 
teur planter, and thus threatens serious¬ 
ly to reduce the future fruit supply. 
Practical orchard men now feel that the 
pest can be successfully combated when¬ 
ever it seems profitable to make a good 
fight. According to latest reports kero¬ 
sene and petroleum are likely to be re¬ 
tired as scale destroyers on account of 
occasional injurious effects to the trees, 
whale-oil soaps are slowly gaining in 
favor where few trees are to be treated, 
while the lime, sulphur and salt washes 
are having a decided boom on account 
of favorable results from applications 
made last season in diverse eastern lo¬ 
calities. The unfavorable impressions 
of the lime-sulphur combinations gained 
by the earlier trials in the rainy climates 
of the Atlantic seaboard have been 
largely superseded by last year’s experi¬ 
ence, and it is now claimed that the 
wash when properly prepared will ad¬ 
here and continue its lethal work among 
the younger scales for many weeks after 
application. It is cheap and harmless 
to dormant trees, but so troublesome to 
prepare on account of the necessary long 
boiling that its use is likely to be con¬ 
fined to the larger orchards. We still 
depend on whale-oil soap, costing five 
cents a pound in 50-pound kegs, applied 
in a strength of two pounds soap to the 
gallon of water. It is easily dissolved 
in water by heat, and sprays well when 
nearly cold by using moderate pressure 
in the pump. No injury to the trees, 
except the killing of fruit buds on 
peaches and plums, and to a less extent 
on pears, has been perceptible, while in 
most instances the trees have been 
cleared of scales and in every case the 
pest was so thinned that an application 
the following Spring has completed the 
cure. Tl>e average cost for labor and 
material to our three to seven-year-old 
trees does not exceed five cents each, 
the soap keeps for years, and is conveni¬ 
ent to store, while the solution is quick¬ 
ly prepared and not as disagreeable to 
handle as sprays containing lime. The 
stored soap dries out with age, and con¬ 
sideration of this loss of weight should 
be taken when using old stock, but an 
excess of strength seems rather bene¬ 
ficial than harmful. One should well 
saturate every portion of the tree above 
ground and let the solution soak the 
rough bark about crotches and collar of 
tree at the meeting of the soil, as this 
seems the last refuge of living scales in 
many trees lightly sprayed with oils or 
emulsions, which must be sparingly 
used about the trunk and soil junction 
on account of possible damage to the 
roots. Soap solutions may be put on un¬ 
til branches drip and soil at collar is 
wet, and in most cases only good will 
result, as the contained potash is likely 
to be utilized as a fertilizer. It is under¬ 
stood that such strong solutions and 
fiee applications should only be made 
to dormant trees before the buds swell 
to any great extent. Solutions of more 
than four ounces soap to the gallon of 
water cannot be safely used on young 
or tender foliage. 
Soap is the Handiest Scale Killer. 
—We have been quite explicit in recom¬ 
mending whale or fish-oil soap in prefer¬ 
ence to other scale washes, as it seems 
to the Rural Grounds workers more con¬ 
venient to the small cultivator than 
other applications. We used petroleum 
two seasons with very good results, but 
the danger of killing trial trees that 
could not be replaced in time for useful 
reports seemed so great that a milder 
substitute w.^?.s sought. Tent fumigation 
with hydrocyanic acid gas requires too 
costly equipment, and the lime-sulphur 
wash is practically still in the hands of 
official experimenters. 
A Five-Years’ Fioiit. —After five 
years’ combat with the scale on the 
Rural Grounds we find this Spring only 
two trees seriously infested, and scat¬ 
tering scales on three or four others. In 
other words the scale seems to be di¬ 
minishing. We attribute this more to 
the visible increase of such parasites as 
the Twice-stabbed ladybird and the Pen- 
tileas, as well as possible minute or fun¬ 
gus enemies, as to our oil and soap 
sprays, and we would not on any ac¬ 
count spray a tree with such insecti¬ 
cides during the growing season, or 
Vvhen any parasites are visible. The 
washes have cleared crusted trees for 
the season, but doubtless nature’s forces 
are doing the actual work, and the days 
of the Pernicious scale as an over¬ 
whelming menace to fruit culture may 
be numbered, as the pest reaches a bal¬ 
ance with its imported or acquired na¬ 
tive parasites. 
St^pbkb Pansies. —Henri Beaulieu, 
Woodhaven, N. Y., is an enthusiast in 
several horticultural specialties, among 
which is a strain of pansy seed he im¬ 
ports under the name of Mme. Perret. 
Mr. Beaulieu claims the best pansy seed 
known is grown in France, and that the 
Mme. Perret type is the gem of them 
all. A sample of this seed was grown 
by a successful local pansy expert in 
competition with most of the widely ad¬ 
vertised strains offered to the public last 
Fall, and the conclusion at the present 
blooming season is that the importer’s 
claims for Mme. Perret are well found¬ 
ed. The seeds had evidently been most 
carefully selected, as the plants are uni¬ 
form and compact in growth, well cov¬ 
ered with large, highly finished flowers 
of the most pleasing and tasteful shades 
imaginable. The pansy is now so highly 
developed that intelligent description of 
the colorings of any but a few well- 
marked varieties is Impossible. One can 
only say that the range of coloring and 
combination of bright and pleasing 
shades is better than in the competing 
strains, though some of the latter are 
very good indeed. We grow fair pansies 
on favored plots on the Rural Grounds, 
but preferred this trial should be made 
by a grower of long experience who has 
always planted the best pansy seed pro¬ 
curable. His verdict is that the sample 
of Mme Perret produced the highest 
average of good blooms of any seeds he 
has yet tried. It is a good thing to work 
up a strain of seeds of a popular plant 
to the highest excellence, but It requires 
much care and discrimination to keep it 
up to such a standard. w. v. f. i 
ORCCN, Star Brano 
Warranted Striclif Pure. 
In 2r.01I>. Keicrt. 13 ^^ cts. per lb. 
Id 100 to 175 11). Ke^..,. I ^ eta. ** 
In 14, 28, 561 b. Kits.cts. " « 
In 2 or 5 n>. boxes. 15 cIs. << 
ARSENATE OF LEAD PULP, 
Star Brand 
For Spraying Fruit Troos 
In 100 lb. Kokh .eta. perIh. 
In 50 lb. Kegs.| | eta. « “ 
LADIES CREAM CHINA SILK WAISTS AT $2.99. 
An excellent Kuniient for the hot sniumer days, has Valenciennes 
lace inaertlou <lown the front, hemstitched tucks on each side and 
also In iMick. Fancy collar and culTs. Order No. F 1 * 254 
SPECIAL SUMMER BARGAINS 
COFFEE, Kieeii, very high er.'uie quality, 
“.Siiltaiia Biuiiil ”. j rta. iM-rlb. 
COFFEE, i-oasted, Vienna Braml,” our own 
blend.Price )MT 11). Iftcts. 
TEA* very choice mixture, otir brand, “(TiKIO 
UHOP,” Formosa Oolonic, KiikUhIi Breakfast, Ja« 
pan, Yoiim? Hyson, Mlxe«l and Oeyloii. 
Price |)er lb. 34 . els. Price |)erfp lb. Imx $ | ,59 
“red STAR” LAUNDRY SOAP. 
no one lb. cakes, )H>r Isix, SlaCAi 
cakes, per l>ox, S2.94 
Write us for prices on any article yon may require. We supply 
every want, Isdn#? eqnlp|s‘«l to 111] all orders promptly. S<‘nd us 
your name and address and we will mall voii FHKK oiir 06 pa^e 
iKioklet, “(lOIdlKN OPPOBTIMTIKS FOK WtiXKY SAVFK.S,” 
which contalimllinstratlons, descriptions and quotations on artl- 
des needed in every household. WKITK TO-DAY. 
R. H. MACV & CO., NEW YORK. 
Kstahlished 185B. The >Vorld\Original and liUiyest Ueparltiieiil Store* 
a 
FUMA 
kills Prairie Dogs, 
Woodchucks, Gophers, 
and Grain Insects. 
“The wheels of the 
gods grind slow but 
exceedingly small.’’ So the weevil, but you can stop 
Bisiilphide”.'‘,rd?C 
KDVVAKD K. TAYLOK, I'enn Yaii, N. Y, 
Grape Growers 
are learning that there is 
a better support for their 
vines than wood posts. 
The Climax Steel Post 
with vitrified tile base is 
indestructible. Cannot rot 
or ru.st. Made of high car¬ 
bon steel and actually 
cheaper than wood. Cro.ss- 
arnis easily attached and 
holJ vines securely. Can’t 
blow down. 
The Climax 
is the best all-round fence 
post. We make ornamen¬ 
tal posts for lawns, parks, 
cemeteries. Just the thing 
for Rural Mail Boxes. 
JVri/e at once for full 
inforniatio?/. 
Climax Fence Post Co. 
712 Marquette Bldg., Chicago, III. 
We operate factories at Ithaca, N. Y., Scran¬ 
ton, Pa., Akron, O., and ship from nearest 
factory to save frci^lit. 
Arid Tenting Cloth 
(Patented Jan. 13,1903) 
Made from extra staple cotton in a way to 
fortify it against wind, rain or hail; is the 
only perfect cloth for growing 
Tobacco and Vegetables 
under shade. Our patents cover strength¬ 
ened edges and cross strengthening cords. 
Made in widths of 144 , 200 and 288 inches. 
The wonderful results obtained with 
shade-grown tobacco are bringing to the 
attention of gardeners the advisability of 
using it for vegetables and flowers. Experi¬ 
ments at Govern7neni ayid Cornell Univer¬ 
sity Experimefit Stations last year show 
25 % to 40 % increase in quantity and quality 
of Beans. Cauliflower, Lettuce and like 
crops. Every tobacco grower, gardener or 
farmer only needs try the experiment. 
free Samples and Circular with Prices on request. 
J. H. LANE & CO., Gen’l Agtg., 110 Worth St., New York. 
SAN JOSE SCALE. 
And other Insects can be Controlled by Using 
Good’s Caustic Potash Whale- 
Oil Soap No. 3. 
also prevents Curl Leaf. Endorsed by Entomolo- 
TWs Soap is a Fertllieer as well as Ineeotloide. 
M-lb. Kegs, $2.50; 100-lb. Kegs, $4.60; Half-Barrel, 
no lbs., 8 Hic. per lb.; Barrel, 425 lbs., 8 ^ 0 . Large 
quantities, Special Hates. Send for Clronlars. 
JAMBS GOOD, 939 N. Front St., Philadelphia, Pa 
Feed Your Land 
with fertilizers rich in 
Potash 
and your crop will crowd your barn. 
Sow potash and reap dollars. 
Our five books are a complete treatise on 
fertilizers, written by men who know. Write 
for them. 
GERMAN KALI WORKS, 
93 Nassau Street. New York. 
BiSchanck Perfect Sprayei 
Will spray any kind of liquid poison 1 yy 
without stopping up on eight rows of —^ 
potatoes at one time. Usedfornielons, pickles, cab¬ 
bage, and any kind of truck. No pumps, pipes, cog¬ 
wheels or small nozzles. 40 acres in one day. Send for 
pamphlet. John K. SHANULK,Mfr.,Hightstown,N. J 
THE 
AUTO-SPRAV 
It all band work. No oontinoonj ^ 
^pompln;. Compressod air rant It to tpray ^ 
I U acre of rioes. Boy can carry and operate. > 
I All working and eontaot parte of braia. Lcnf 
I line of high grade sprayera for every purpoM 
I fbowo in Catalog F* It is PREX. Write at 
I once if you want the agency. 
lE.C. BROWN &C0..R0CHESTEB. I. T. 
PRAVINO 
OurUne of sprayers ana appU. 
sinoes fits every man’s needs. 
Hand,KiAapsack,Bucket, >. 
Field. Barrel, and Power 
sprayers,twenty styles, Bestnosslss 
made, attachments, formulas, ete. 
Select the usefiil and rdtable. Catalog free 
... THE HEKIKO CO., Salem, Ohio. 
The Hardle Magic Sprayer 
is suitable for any held crop. 
It sprays two rows at a time; 
and one man can spray ten 
acres of potatoes a day. Ills 
automatic In action—all the 
operator has to do Is to pick 
up the handle and push the 
outtit like a wheelbarrow— 
“The machine does the rest.’’ 
Can bo changed to an orchard 
sprayer at a moment’s notice. 
Send for our new catalogue 
telling the whole story. 
Hardie Spray Dump Mfg. Co., 
49 LaruedSt., Detroit, Mich. 
GET THE BEST 
A Good Spray Dump earns big 
profits and lasts for years. 
THE ECLIPSE 
is a good pump. As 
practical fruit growers 
we wereuslng the com¬ 
mon sprayers in our 
own orchards — found 
their defects and then in¬ 
vented ’THE BCUJDSE. Its 
success practically forced us 
into manufacturing on a 
large scale. You take no 
chances. We have done all 
the experimenting. 
Large fully illustrated 
Catalogue and 'Treatise 
on Spraying—FREE. 
MORKILL iSc MOKLEY, Benton Harbor, Mich. 
HamiOHD’s 
GENUINE 
True Blue Color. Butter fine; ready for dilution. Sold by Seedsmen. Send for pamphlet to 
HAMMOND’S SLUG SHOT WORKS, FIshkill-on-Hudson, N. Y. 
French Bordeaux Mixture 
—Your Troubles Disappear 
if you use a sprayer that automatically stirs the mixture 
K if you use a sprayer that automatically 
■mrB*’ and cleans the strainer. You have the easiest work in the 
B* field,get theflnest spray and do more work by usingtheEMPIRE 
KING, ORCHARD MONARCH and GARFIELD Sprayers. They have 
sutomsUo Hi*•<<>« sad •trainer cleaning bru«he<. They nerer dor end they nerer horn nor ipoll the foUnge. 
Thote and other ipeclal feature, dl,tingul«h them from aU other iprayora Write for Initruotlon book on eoraT- 
tng, formulae, etc. Mailed free. ---- 
FIELD FORCE PUMP CO.. 2 I llh St., Elmira, N. Y. 
SLUG SHOT 
Kills Insects on Currants, Potatoes, Cabbages and 
Flowers. Used 24 years. 
SOLD BY SEEDSMEN EVERYWHERE. 
Send for Free booklet on Bugs and Blights to 
B. HAMMOND, Fisliklll-ou-Hndsou, N. ¥. 
