548 
August 1 
FARMERS’ CLUB 
[Every query must be accompanied by 
the name and address of the ■vvritcr to in¬ 
sure attention. Before asking a question, 
please see whether it is .’^ot answc-ied in 
our advertising columns. Ask only a few 
questions at one time. Put c;ue.-3tions on a 
separate piece of paper.] 
WINTER VEGETABLES IN CLOTH 
COVERED HOUSES, 
F. N. V., lAtdington, Mich.—l would like 
some information on Winter vegetable 
gardening In cloth-covered forcing houses. 
Can they be managed as successfully as 
glass-covered houses? What is best width 
of house? What is best pitch of roof? 
What is best method of heating? What is 
best method of ventilating? Would houses 
better extend east and west and have 
north side of even span roof covered with 
boards, or would house better be the long 
way north and south? What is best 
height, and should house set into ground 
some? Is there any book on the subject? 
Have any of your subscribers succeeded 
with cloth-covered houses? 
Ans.—I do not think this scheme fea¬ 
sible, at least in the Northern States. In 
the Southern States, where there would 
be a very much greater proportion of 
sunshiny weather, the scheme might be 
practicable. With us there would be too 
many dull cloudy days for the use of the 
opaque cloth cover for forcing vegetables 
during the months of November, De¬ 
cember, January and the early part of 
February. The most recently built forc¬ 
ing houses for vegetables have gla;ss on 
the sides as well as on the roof, to obtain 
the greatest possible amount of light, 
and one of the largest and most success¬ 
ful forcing houses in the vicinity of Bos¬ 
ton is also illuminated with arc lights 
mounted on tall poles to light the large 
lettuce houses during the night as weli 
as by day, thus making the growth of 
the plants practicably continuous. If 
you have had any experience with forc¬ 
ing lettuce during the Winter months 
you will remember that the plants grow 
very little during the months of Decem¬ 
ber and January, and do not begin to 
grow rapidly until the days become 
bright and sunny in February. In using 
the cloth as a roof cover it would not of 
course retain the heat as well during 
the severe cold weather as glass, and it 
would cut off the greater portion of the 
light. In my opinion it would be the 
nearest ideal plan to have the house cov¬ 
ering of glass sash in midwinter months 
which could be taken off and the opaque 
cloth substituted in its place for late 
Spring and early Fall months. The 
plans for building a cloth-covered house 
would be identical for both, using the 
same pitch of the roof for the house 
covered with glass. The best location 
for a house of this character is on a 
well-drained slope with the southern ex¬ 
posure, so that the beds in the house 
may stand one above another, and thus 
each will receive the full sunlight with¬ 
out being shaded in any way. It would 
not be possible to build as wide 
a house with glas^ for lettuce and 
cucumbers, as I do not think the cloth 
would be made sufliciently waterproof 
to withstand the rainfall on a wide sur¬ 
face; glass-roofed houses of this type 
are built 50 or more feet in width on a 
single slope to the south for ordinary 
Spring and Fall crops. The large cloth- 
covered frames which are used for grow¬ 
ing tobacco in the Connecticut Valley 
should be serviceable and practicable, 
but in midwinter it is necessary to ob¬ 
tain the fullest possible amount of light 
and sunshine as well as to avoid a very 
great supply of moisture. The question 
of watering lettuce which is heading is 
one of the most serious in this line of 
gardening as a great many crops are 
spoiled by an over-watering just before 
they are ready for market, as if the 
leaves fail to dry off properly before 
nightfall the tender edges of the young 
leaves rot or drop off and are rendered 
almost unsalable. Some varieties of let¬ 
tuce will, of course, do well at a great 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER, 
deal cooler temperature than others, and 
such varieties as the Big Boston would 
be much more apt to succeed in the 
cloth-covered house than would the 
White-Seeded Tennis Ball and similar 
varieties which are usually planted for 
a quick crop under glasis. 
E. D. DARLINGTON. 
Fordhook Farms. Pa. 
How White Variegations Originate. 
N. D. B., Bangor, Me.—Will you inform 
me how the white variegations in plants 
are originated, as In Yucca blcolor, varie¬ 
gated pineapple, etc.? I am familiar with 
the usual methods of pollination and se¬ 
lection. 
Ans.— White variegated plants such as 
you mention are, in most cases, bud va¬ 
riations, garden sports or freaks pro¬ 
moted by artificial cultivation, and pro¬ 
pagated by cuttings, grafts or other ve¬ 
getative means, as they seldom repro¬ 
duce themselves with certainty from 
seed. Howbver, some varieties of varie¬ 
gated leaf plants now in cultivation are 
species found in nature. 
The Hygrometer in Hay Making. 
C. A. P., Massachusetts.—Are ordinary 
meteorological instruments (such as sup¬ 
plied by the United States Weather Bu¬ 
reau), of practical use in showing whether 
hay, for example, is drying or the reverse? 
Ans. —The hygrometer will show the 
evaporating power of the air and the ac¬ 
tual and relative humidity contained 
therein at the time of observation. The 
greater the evaporation (the difference 
between the readings of the dry and wet 
bulb thermometers), the more rapidly 
the hay will dry, and the hygrometer 
alone is of the greatest value in deter¬ 
mining the above and is the only instru¬ 
ment necessary for such a purpose. 
EDWARD W. M’GANN. 
N. J. Weather Service. 
Budding Apple Trees in the North. 
G. S. G., Newport, N. Y.—I have several 
hundred small apple seedlings, some trans¬ 
planted in regular rows, and some where 
they came up, that I would like to bud 
this Summer. I have had plenty of ex¬ 
perience with orange budding but none 
w’lth apples. What time shall I do the 
work? Shall I leave the w'axed cloth on 
until next Spring? Can I cut the bud- 
sticks from four or five-year-old grafts? 
Ans. —Apple trees can be budded as 
easily as any fruit tree, and I can see no 
reason why the little trees mentioned 
may not be profitably budded. The time 
to do the work in New York will be 
about August, or the season may ex¬ 
tend into September. So long as the 
trees are in such condition that the bark 
will peel readily the work may be done 
successfully. It is not necessary to use 
W’axed cloth in budding the apple. Raffia 
is the best material for tying that I know 
and may be had of almost any dealer in 
any fiorist’s supplies. Some use ordi¬ 
nary cotton strings, but I prefer wider 
material. The ties should be cut about 
two weeks after they are put on. 
H. E. V, D. 
How to Handle Potato Balls. 
C. D. J., Carey, O.—What is the proper 
time to gather potato seed balls, and how 
are they treated? I have discovered a few 
on Seneca Beauty vines, and am anxious 
to see what I can do with them. 
Ans. —Potato seeds may be treated in 
every respect like those of tomatoes. 
The seed balls, however, should be left 
until the tops die, and then cut open and 
the seeds scraped out and washed free 
of pulp, or may be left a week or 10 days 
in water to ferment and then washed 
clean. They may then be dried in the 
shade exactly like tomato seed, kept 
until Spring and planted in same man¬ 
ner. The young seedlings should be 
transplanted an inch or two apart in 
pots or boxes, and later set out in the 
ground, putting them 12 or 18 Inches 
apart, in rows not less than two feet 
apart for convenient cultivation. By 
Fall each plant should produce one or 
many tubers, varying from the size of a 
pea to that of a good-sized potato. The 
tubers from each plant should be kept 
separate, and the following year planted 
in the usual manner of potatoes. A very 
fair estimate of the value of seedlings 
may be obtained in two or three years. 
Grafting Japan Plums. 
J. H. 8., Portland, Col.—I have about 20 j 
Japan plum trees, three years old. I feel | 
quite sure they will never amount to any¬ 
thing here; they bloom too early. The 
kinds are Burbank, Red June and Wick- 
son. Can I graft other kinds on them?! 
What kinds would be best for the pur- 
po.se, and what time best to graft? 
Apfg—japan plum trees make good 
stocks for almost any other kinds. The 
Americana type would be the best for 
that section, in my opinion. The trees 
are very hardy and do not bloom so 
early as those of the Japan species. 
Stoddard, Wyant and Brittlewood are 
among the very best of the American 
plums. There are other good kinds, but 
these have been proved by thorough 
tests in the extreme Northern States, 
and are entirely safe. Etta, Freeman, 
Hawkeye and American Eagle are also 
good kinds. h. e. v. d. 
Crimson Clover and Cow-horn Turnips. 
Subscriber, Freeburg, Pa.—In sowing Crim¬ 
son clover with Cow-horn turnips, how 
much of each should be sown to the acre ] 
and when? Are these seeds to be sown on 
lorn ground alone? When is the proper 
time to plow them under? 
Ans.—W e use 12 pounds of Crimson 
clover and one of Cow-horn turnips per 
acre. This mixture is good to sow in 
corn alvead of the last cultivation, but 
can be put in anywhere provided the 
ground is fit. The turnips die during 
the Winter, but the clover is likely to 
live over, though March Is hard on it. 
We usually plow It under about the 
middle of May. In a dry Spring we 
would plow it earlier, because all such 
growing plants suck the soil of mois¬ 
ture. _ 
For the land’s sake, use Bowker’s Fer¬ 
tilizers. They enrich the earth.— Adv. 
THISTLE-INE1 
Oak Grove,Mich., July 9, ’03 
The Llndgren Chemical Co.* 
Grand Rapids, Mich. 
Gentlemen: The more I 
use Thistle-lne the better I like 
it, and I believe it will in time 
be as necessary an article on 
the farm for spraying noxious 
vegetable growths as Paris 
Green is for spraying potatoes. 
Used Thistle-lne an Milkweed 
last week, and was delighted 
with results. Yourstruly. 
W. O. ItICHABUS. 
One thorough spraying with •* Thlstle- 
ine” settles it. Guaranteed. 5 1h. can 
makes 6 gallons of the liquid, $2.00. Eree 
booklet tell all about it. 
THE LINDGREN CHEMICAL CO. 
8 S. Ionia St. Grand Rapids, Mich. 
Plants 
Will produce a full crop of berries 
next June, if planted this Summer. 
DREER’S 
Mid-Summer Catalogue 
offers a choice line of these; also Celery, 
Cabbage, Cauliflower and other season¬ 
able plants. Write for copy, FREE. 
HENRYA.DREER,714ChestnutSt.,Phila.,Pa. 
n ja M G V i^^ADAME 1’EKKET. Send for 
1 circular. Beaulieu, Woodhaven,N. Y. 
See Huralisms, Page 371. 
CABBAGE 
PLANTS, il per 1.000; 
_ __ _ _ Warren’s Stone Mason, 
Burpee's Surehead and Premium Plat Dutch. 
P. W. ROCHELLE, Chester, New Jersey. 
BUDDED FRUITS. 
I Peach, Apple and Pear Buds. 
Largestand best assortment in the United States. 
Write us to-day for the Ust of varieties & prices. 
Harrison’s Nurseries, Box ‘i9, Berlin, Md, 
100,000 2-YEAR APPLE 
$7 to $14 per 
100. Best com¬ 
mercial sorts, 
on AHA rnrUDV Karly Richmond, Dyehouse, 
ZDjUUU VULlVlll Large Montmorency. 
200,OOOPeach,75,OOOJune Buds. Fumigation. Thisstock 
cannot be surpassed, and we can save you money. 
WOODVIBW NURSERIES, B10, Mt. Holly Springs, I’a 
TREES SUCCEED WHERE 
l.ar‘e"’urs<.ry. OTHERS FAIL 
A GRAND LOT OF TREES 
Grown on virgin soil in the mountains of Western 
Pennsylvania. No scale, no disease of any kind. 
None better, none cheaper. Our business is growim: 
trees for the commercial orchardist and farmer. 
Write for descriptive catalogue and price list. Address 
The River Side Nursery Company 
Confluence, Penn. 
Bf 1 y . ---— 
"Pruiriiook Free. lU'BUlt of 78 years’ experience 
sTARK BROS, Louisiana, Mo.; Huntsville, Ala.; Etc 
Tree Dealers and Agents! 
Have your orders filled at wholesale prices. Do 
business direct with your customers. Make the 
Middle Man’s profit and commission. NO LOSS, NO 
BAD ACCOUNTS. “ Try my way. it’s a good way.” 
MARTIN WAHL, Nurseryman, Rochester. N. Y. 
ipi I f" D V PLANTS,$1 per 1,000. Strong, 
11^ EL iw T healthy plants grown from 
imported seed sown thin (in rows) in rich beds. Tbo 
plants have an average of 4 square inches oi space 
each over the whole field. Golden Self-blanching. »1 
per 1,000 ; 70c. per 500. Golden Heart, White I’lumc 
and Giant Pascal. $1.60 per 1.000; 90c. per 500. 1 ship 
in ventilated boxes. Roots in damp moss. 
F. W. ROCHELLE, Drawer 1, Chester, N. J. 
VEGETABLE PLANTS 
KAA nnn Celery, Field grown, white Plume. Per- 
0UU|UUU fection Heartwell, Golden Heart, and 
Giant Pascal, $1 per 1,000; $8.50 per 10.000. The same 
varieties, very strong transp'anted plants, Sc-.oO per 
1,000. Cabbage, late Danish Ball-head, sold out. 
LUDVIG MOSBiEK, South Chicago, Ill. 
CHANGE YOUR SEED GINSENG 
Seeds and Roots. Prices low. 
50 cent book on Culture and 
Profits of Ginseng, FRKK. 
Send for it. D. BRAND'l, 
Box 507, Bremen, Ohio. 
Wheat, It will pay you big. Raise a crop of pure, 
clean wheat, and sell it to your neighbors another 
year for seed. We can furnish pure Fultz, Poole, 
Mealy, Dawson’s Golden Chaff, Rod Wonder, Fultzo | 
Mediterranean. Also Rye and Timothy. 
THE O, C. SHEPAKD COMPANY 
_ MEDINA. OHIO, _ 
CEED WHEAT.—Heaviest yielding and hardiest | 
^ varities. Get our free circular and samples be¬ 
fore ordering. A. H. HOFFMAN, Bamford. Pa. 
C KIMSON CLOVER SEED, home grown. Now 
ready. Write for prices. i 
R. 8. JOHNSTON, BOX 4, Stockley, Del. 
I — Our new book about Luther Bur- ■ 
bank, originator of new fruits, and his grand new 
plum, “Maynai’il.” Send 10c stamps, 
Nursery Co., 6 12th Street, SALEM, OREGON. 
H 
ENDERSON GREAT RUBY STRAW- 
JiKKKY, 100 Pot Grown Plants for $3. List 
free. KEVITT’S PLANT FAKM, Athenia, N.J. 
SEEDS 
AND 
GRAIN 
The Henry Phi 
Bed Alsike, Crimson and Alfalfa 
Clovers. Timothy and Grass Seeds. 
Hungarian, Millet & Buckwheat. 
Dwarf Essex Rape and Sand 
Vetches. Turnip Seed and Seed 
Wheat. 
Feeding’corn and Oats in car 
lots, delivered on your track. 
Clipper Grain & Seed Cleaners 
Let Us Know Your Wants. 
Ipps Seed & Implement Co., 
Department “ A,” Toledo, Ohio. 
ppen u/uii at 
OLLU iVriLMI dollars experimenting. Descrip¬ 
tion, price and sample fn'e. S.MITH’S ” WUEAT 
FAKM. Route 1, Shortsviiie , N. Y. _ 
The President Strawberry 
It heads the list. In a class by itself. Largest, 
most productive, brightest color, most profitable and 
longest seasoned of any strawberry yet introduced. 
Potted plants ready July 15th. Send for circular. 
Mention this paper. THOMAS R. HUNT, 
Originator, Lambertvillc, N. J. 
LARGE LUSCIOUS STRAWBERRIES IN 1904 
A full crop of fruitten months after our strong UDT GROWN 
plants are set out. Plant now. We have the best varieties for 
Market and Home use. Celery, Cabbage, and Cauliflower 
plants. We have in FIVE-INCH POTS now ready for 
planting and late bloom, all the best hardy Roses, Honey- 
( suckle and Clematis; also Boston and English Ivy. A full 
line of selected FRUITS and ORNAMENTALS for autumn 
planting. Stock first-class. Prices reasonable. Our latest 
Catalogue mailed free. Write for it to-day. 
T. J. DWYER & SON, CORNWALL, N 
