468 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
June 2'i 
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 whether it Is not answered In 
our advertising columns. Ask only a few 
questions at one time. Put questions on a 
separate piece of paper.] 
A QUESTION IN IRRIGATION. 
Can you give me a good plan for irri¬ 
gating the piece of land shown in diagram, 
Fig. 174? The river always has water. 
River bank is about 2% feet, then low 
meadow about 10 rods wide. Then a ridge 
runs nearly across the piece within four 
rods 20 feet higher than the water. The 
remainder of the piece of ground is a 
gradual descent from the upper side to 
the river. The lower side is not over 15 
feet above the water. I have two acres 
of strawberries in the corner which the 
dry weather has nearly ruined; not a 
sprinkle since the forepart of April. Soil 
is gravelly loam, subsoil hard gravel, with 
stones from size of eggs to four-quart 
measure. a. j. p. 
Branford, Ont. 
That portion of A. J. P.’s land where 
his strawberry patch is located and 
which has a gradual fall to the river 
can be readily irrigated. We assume 
that he wishes to obtain water from 
the river, and the most serious question 
is how to get it above the level of his 
strawberry patch in sufficient quantity 
and most economically. If there is a 
sharp fall to the river at any point 
along his land a hydraulic ram would 
be the power to use, necessitating a 
reservoir somewhere above the level of 
the land to be irrigated. If the lay of 
the land is not favorable to installing 
a ram, I would advise A. J. P. to es- 
I 1/ 
C K 
O 
o 
^4. 
tablish a pumping station just about at 
high-water mark, and put a gasoline en¬ 
gine there, or what might be done in 
some localities to advantage, hire a 
thrashing engine, which is usually 
idle during the season when crops are 
growing. Whatever may be the power 
decided upon for elevating the water, 
it should be led to a wooden flume lo¬ 
cated above the strawberry patch, and 
at about right angles to the slope so as 
to be nearly level. From this flume the 
strawberry rows run down the slope 
with furrows between to carry the 
water. Opposite each furrow is an ori- 
flce 1% to two inches in diameter, clos¬ 
ed by a galvanized sheet iron gate. The 
flume may be made V-shaped out of 
eight and nine-inch boards. A 2%-inch 
distributing pipe with a moderate head 
will supply from six to 10 rows, using 
full-sized openings or the openings may 
be partially closed and water more rows 
at once. The rows may be 200 feet in 
length or more if soil is not too porous. 
An amount equal to one inch of weter 
over the surface is considered a good 
watering, or about 850 barrels. The 
time required will depend upon the sup¬ 
ply. The furrows should not have too 
great a slope, although that again de¬ 
pends upon the nature of the soil. Ac¬ 
cording to A. J. P.’s diagram he will 
have a fall of about one foot to 100, 
which should be nearly right for his 
loose soil. 
It may be well for A. J. P. to look 
around to see if he cannot obtain water 
without going to the expense of lifting 
it from the river. It sometimes happens 
that there is a drain or water course on 
higher ground which will supply water 
during a wet time but dry up at other 
times. If there is such a water supply 
that can be carried by gravity to a pond 
above the strawberry patch it would be 
highly advantageous to build a reser¬ 
voir to receive such water and store 
until wanted in time of drought. A 
reservoir can be constructed without 
great expense by using puddled clay to 
make it retain water, grant bavts. 
New Jersey. 
A Traveling Power Sprayer. 
J. E. S., Columbus, N. J.—l would like 
very much to hear from anyone who has 
run a power sprayer, doing work for 
farmers at so much per tree, acre or day. 
I think this is the proper thing, the same 
as thrashing is done or fodder cutting, as 
the outfits are too expensive for the or¬ 
dinary farmer, and if he gets his tree.® 
sprayed properly it must be done in some 
such way. I am confident the right man 
in the right place could get all the work 
he could do here. The question is, how 
long would the spraying season last’ 
Would everyone want it at once, and what 
would be the price to be right for both? 
What would a good power rig cost? 
Ans. —We shall be glad to obtain the 
figures from anyone who has had ex¬ 
perience. In theory, this plan of work¬ 
ing with the sprayer about as the 
thrashing machine or buzz-saw is op¬ 
erated ought to be a good one, but has 
anyone really succeeded with it? The 
practice may not equal the theory. We 
want the facts. 
Black Knot on Plums and Cherries. 
J. G. C., Lansdale, Po.—What is the best 
treatment for Black knot on plums and 
cherries? 
Ans. —Black knot is a fungus disease, 
the parasite growing through the tis¬ 
sues of the wood and bark. The 
“knots,” which are collections of spore¬ 
bearing branches, break through the 
bark in May and June. At first they are 
small light-colored warts, but soon en¬ 
large and become rough and black. The 
best treatment is to cut them out as 
thoroughly as possible on first appear¬ 
ance, cutting the branches five or six 
inches below the swelling. They should 
be promptly burned to prevent further 
spread of the spores. If on the trunk 
or large branches they should be cut 
out and the wound treated with pure 
kerosene and afterward covered with 
grafting wax. If too large to remove 
without destroying large limbs paint 
several times with kerosene or petro¬ 
leum. Spraying with Bordeaux Mixture 
prevents but does not cure the disease. 
Seeding Grass in Corn. 
P. J, 8., Mechanicsville, N. F.—I broke up 
10 acres of old meadow soil, sandy loam, 
about equal parts, thoroughly pulverized, 
planted with field corn and fertilized with 
about 300 pounds to the acre. The corn 
came up quickly and 1 can see the rows 
across the field. It will be thoroughly 
worked and cultivated. I want to get it 
back into meadow as soon as possible for 
the good of the crops and soil. Would 
you advise seeding between the corn rows 
previous to last cultivation, and if so, with 
what seed and how much? I thought I 
would like to sow with oats or barley next 
Spring, and seed to meadow. Would you 
recommend Winter rye to be turned under 
in Spring, sowing with oats and seeding? 
Ans. —We have had poor success in 
seeding grass in the corn. In parts of 
New England we find that many farm¬ 
ers follow this method regularly. We 
have seen some excellent meadows that 
were started in this way. Just before 
the last cultivation the grass seed 
(usually 10 quarts of Timothy and six 
of Red-top) is scattered evenly over the 
ground. The cultivator covers it be¬ 
tween the rows. It is best to drag a 
plank behind the cultivator to smooth 
the ground. In order to do a complete 
job men follow the cultivator with 
hand rakes and scratch between and 
around the hills so as to cover all the 
seed. In a wet season the grass seed 
uually starts quickly and makes a good 
growth in the shade of the corn. In a 
dry season both grass and corn suffer. 
We prefer to give the grass a better 
chance, and would either seed alone or 
in a light seeding of wheat or rye. Wo 
would rather seed with oats than to 
seed in the corn, although in our prac¬ 
tice we like to seed to grass in the Fall. 
Rye will answer well provided you plow 
it under early in the Spring. 
Questions About Summer Pruning. 
W. H. N.. -Albion, N. F.—Will it be safe to 
head back neglected pear trees, eight to 
10 years old, this month? Will It be safe 
to give them a thorough trimming? I.® 
it safe to trim apples all through Summer? 
I have often a leisure day that I can use 
in trimming. Is Bordeaux Mixture a 
remedy for leaf blight? 
Ans. —I fully believe in Summer- 
pruning of apple and pear trees, if prac¬ 
ticed with moderation. Indeed, I be¬ 
lieve in moderation in pruning in most 
cases, especially with bearing apple and 
pear trees. I would in no wise fear to 
cut back pear trees in June that had 
been neglected until they had grown 
too tall. A little earlier in the season 
would have been better, in such a case, 
perhaps, but they will send out shoots 
that will ripen before frost. Even 
somewhat later than June will do for 
this operation, as the buds will form 
ready for the next year’s growth, and 
the skyward tendency will be checked. 
Wounds made in Summer heal over 
very quickly, and few sprouts come 
about them when they are made at that 
time of year. It will do no hurt to 
prune these trees at any time during 
the Summer, luit I prefer June and July 
for it. One of the main objections to 
doing the work then is that there is 
much other and more pressing work to 
do, but if anyone has the time he should 
not fail to use it. Bordeaux Mixture is 
a preventive of many kinds of leaf 
blight, but is not a remedy or cure for 
the disease when it has once entered 
the tissues of the leaves. Its office is 
entirely preventive. Nor is it even a 
preventive of fire blight in the pear, 
apple and quince, to any great extent. 
H. E. V. B. 
For the land’s sake, use Bowker’s Fer¬ 
tilizers. They enrich the earth.— Adv. 
\—B B.B. CHASE 6^ 
J W MEDICATED 8 \ 
Crumbs of Comfort 
* * I ^ Easiest Shoes on Earth, 
Positively Cures CORNS, SORES, TENDER FEET. 
Postage paid, $2.00. Send for particulars to 
CIASE’S SBOE BOUSf, Port Jervis, N.y 
THE LUCKY “4-LEAF CLOVER’ 
Plymouth Cream Extract¬ 
or is the CREAM of them all. 
Inner can quickly remova¬ 
ble; water all around and 
under milk; has far greater 
cooling surface than any 
other. No water required 5 
months in year. Special air 
chamber with ventilator. 
New and original faucet, 
impossible to leak or sour. 
Express charges prepaid. 
Catalogue free. 
Plymouth Cream Separator Company, Plymouth, Ohio. 
THISTLE-INE1 
Feb. 28,1903. 
Gentlemen: During the 
pa.st year I gave your 
Thistle ine a test on the 
Kent County Poor Farm in 
Paris Township, Mich. I 
tried iton Canada Thistles, 
Milkweed, Yellowdock.Bur- 
dock. Willows, and found it 
does kill them just as you 
claim it will do. 
Very resp’y, N. D. Edmonds. 
Keeper of Kent Co. Poor Farm. 
5 lb. can makes 5 gallons of the liquid, 
$2.00. Free booklet tells all about it. 
THE LINDGREN CHEMICAL CO. 
6 so, IONIA ST. GRAND RAPIDS, MICH. 
When you write advertisers mention The 
R.N.-Y.and you will get a quick reply and 
“a square deal.’’ See our guarantee8thpage. 
Potato 
Growers 
If you want your team to 
sift those potatoes out of 
the soil use Hallock's 
Potato Fork. Run by 
two horses. No cog^s to 
wear or break—hut it 
runs all the same. Just 
send us your name and 
address, and we will tell 
you all about it. 
D. Y. HALLOCK A. SONS, 
Box 805, York, Pa. 
SCALES 
FREIGHT PAID 
BEST QUALITY 
LOWEST PRICE 
ON TRIAL. AIJ. 
SIZES. FREE LIST 
JONES BING- . 
HAMTON N. Y, 
TWO OF THE BEST 
'^FROST- , 
JBEST.^1 
SggaX cHEAPEST 
Railroad Companies In the world have purchased 
ind constructed over 300 miles of the FROST FENCE 
within the past year. They know a good thing 
and use it. 
THE FROST WIRE FENCE CO., Cleveland, 0. 
Portable Fence 
Isnow In order. You have it In THE PAGE. 
PA(1K IVOVEX WIRE EEXCE( 0., ADRIAN, MICH. 
D/? 
Y/AIC 
THE BROWNIE 
DUSTER 
Brownie Duster, - . . §3.00 
Little Giant, - - - - .5.00 
Champion,.7.50 
Mammoth Champion, - - 15.00 
Jumbo, - - . . . 25.00 
Descriptive Circular of each on application. 
Also Dry Insecticides and Fungicides for these 
machines. Agents wanted. 
LEGGETT & BRO., 301 Pearl St., New York, N. Y. 
BEAULIEU’S 
HARDY WHITE ONIONS 
_ Lb. $2.60. Special Offer; The 
New Onion Culture, by T. Greiner, FREE. 
BEAULIEU, Woodhaven, N. T. 
Seed Buckwheat.—SI per bushel; bags 
free. J. S. BULL, Cortland, N. Y. 
-Home-grown Crimson Clover 
For Sale Seed, $3.50 perbu.; Cow Peas, 
$1.50 per bu. J. E. HOLLAND, Milford, Del. 
M 1313 A he high next Fall; 
ID E9 Ml El plants are scarce. While 
they last, I will sell the leading varieties: 1.000 for 
$ 1 ; 10.000 for $7.50. Shipped safely anywhere. Circu¬ 
lar free. A. B. KATKAMIER, Macedon,N. Y. 
C ELERY FLANTS I CTRA WHERRY (Potted 
only $1 per 1.000. 1 ^ Plants) $1 per 100. 
Address SLAYMAKER & SON, Dover. Del. 
Celery and Cabbage Plants for Sale.— 
Leading varieties carefully packed with moss in bas¬ 
kets, and delivered here at express office. Cash with 
order. Celery plants ready .Tuly 1. Cabbage plants 
ready now. Write for varieties and prices. 
WOODLAND FARM, L anastota, Madison Co.. N. Y. 
Glenwood Nurseries 
Most complete assortment of choice 
Ornamental Trees, Shrubs and Vines 
Send for Descriptive Illustrated Catalogue. 
THE WM. H. MOON CO., MORRISVILLE, PA. 
60 miles from New York; 30 miles from Philadelphia. 
SUCCEED WHERE 
^ Largest Nursery. OTHERS FAIL 
■ ^ Fruit Book Free. Result of 78 years exp^e^ 
'stark BRO*. Loatalana, Mo.; Dansvllle. N. eu 
CRIMSON GLOVER 
w UCUDV A DDCCD IIA t 
In sowing this valuable clover, it is important 
that American seed is used. We supply genuine 
Delaware seed only. Our special circular describ¬ 
ing uses of Crimson Clover is mailed free. 
BENRY A. DREER, 714 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, Pa. 
