55o 
XHB RURAL NEW-YORKER 
August 1 
Ruralisms >1 
^ ►! 
MOTES FROM THE RURAL 6R0UNDS 
A BKArTIFUI, Burraxk Purlicatiox. 
—The four highly appreciative papers on 
the life and work of Luther Burbank, 
published last year in the Sunset Maga¬ 
zine, Ivave been brought together in a 
tasteful i)a*iphlet issued by the Passen¬ 
ger Department of the Southern Pacific 
Company, 4 Montg®mery St., San Fran¬ 
cisco, Cal. It is beautifully illustrated 
aad the very entertaining text by Prof. 
Edward J. Wickson well describes the 
persoaaJity of Mr. Burbank, his methods- 
and achievements. Those interested In 
Burbank’s unique and valuable work in 
plant breeding may doubtless procure 
this attractive souvenir from the above- 
mentioned source. 
The First Plum. —Two years ago buds 
of several new hybrid plums were re¬ 
ceived for trial from Burbank’s Experi¬ 
mental Grounds, Santa Rosa, Cal. Buds 
of the First, an extra early variety, were 
put in all the limbs or a three-year 
Abundance seedling. They grew vigor¬ 
ously, and made a well-balanced head by 
fkst Fall, one year from the budding. 
There was a scattering bloom on the 
new branches this season, and though 
the plum crop is generally a rank fail¬ 
ure, a few fruits of this variety came lo 
maturity the first week of July. Fig. 
20(5 represents a fair specimen in nat¬ 
ural size. The color is pale yellow, 
slightly flushed with red, with a con¬ 
spicuous light bloom. It is a cliuge'tone 
of good texture, sweet, juicy and well- 
Havored. The pit is small and flat. The 
gi'owth of the budded branches is up¬ 
right and handsome, the twigs being 
small, tough and wiry. The few plums 
set showed no signs of the Monilia rot, 
which is very prevalent on other varie¬ 
ties. First seems to be a hybrid Japan 
in general character, and is the earliest 
plum yet fruited here. Red June is just 
ripening, July 18, and the little red 
Berger, of which we have no trial tree, 
is reported to mature about the same 
date. A plum that ripens July 4, while 
late cherries are still on the trees, is 
desirable for the home garden, though 
First does not seem to have sufficient 
size nor coloring to compete with the 
large Pacific coast plums so abundant in 
our markets at the time. First, as 
grown here, is infinitely better in flavor 
than western plums as we get them. 
PitE’rh'v Good Hay. —The weather 
croakers, among which the Rural 
Grounds’ workers must now be counted, 
missed their prediction of a short local 
hay crop. When the long drought was 
broiken about June 7 the prospects of 
even a fractional crop seemed ramote, as 
most fields did not appear as if they 
could gain enough to pay for cutting, 
but the weeks of rain and cool moisture 
that followed so stimulated growth that 
yield is better than for several past 
years, and the quality as harvested dur¬ 
ing the recent clear hot weather, when 
it cured perfectly in a few hours, is 
higher tlian usual. When rain came the 
conditions so favored the development 
of grasses for several weeks that the 
predicted shortage was entirely over- 
0 ome, but such continuous moist weath¬ 
er at this season is so unusual that it 
cannot be counted on, and the farmers 
who made preparations for good 
breadths of other forage crops were on 
the safe side had the rains been less 
constant. 
Cow Peas Lagging. —While the 
month of cold rain literally created a 
good hay crop, it has just as effectually 
suppressed our sowings of cow peas. 
They were broadcast June 9, as soon 
after the drought as the soil was moist 
enough to work well, but got a poor 
send-off in the chilly downpours that 
followed. They came up pale and weak, 
and have advanced so tardily that the 
weeds threaten to overtop them. At 
this writing it almost seems good policy 
to replow and sow Crimson clover, 
which has never disappointed us when 
put in freshly-turned soil in mid-July. 
Cow peas and Soy beans in many varie¬ 
ties were sown at the same time in drills 
on other plots of less fertility, and are 
making a fair growth under cultivation 
sufficient to keep down all weeds. But 
we want a weed starver as well as a 
soil restorative, and therefore prefer to 
broadcast these cover crops. Cow peas 
of the Early Black, Clay and Whippoor¬ 
will varieties have failed to make a 
smothering growth two years out of 
five, on account of excessive Summer 
rain, but we do not intend to give them 
up, as they are thoroughly satisfactory 
when conditions are at all favorable. 
CuiM'SOx Clover for Florists’ Use.— 
In addition to its solid merits as a ni¬ 
trogen-catcher and fodder crop. Crimson 
clover l*is no mean decorative value as 
a cut flower. As seen in bloom in large 
breadths the color effect is tawdry and 
unpleasing, but small groups and iso¬ 
lated plants have both grace and bril¬ 
liancy. Cut with long stems and loosely 
arranged with plenty of its own foliage 
ife makes a pleasing objeet, certain to at¬ 
tract attention. When first introduced 
in a neighborhood it is always sought 
for decorative purposes, and in some 
localities, during a droughty May, as the 
one just passed. Crimson clover blooms 
have been about the only resource for 
Memorial Day. A few florists have real- 
FIR^T PLUM. Natckai, .Sizk. Fig. 206. 
ized the possibilities of this handsome 
clover for Winter forcing, and have 
bloomed it with profit in their green¬ 
houses. The gay flowers are so unlike 
other glass-house blooms of the season 
that they, find ready buyers. The plan 
is to sow four plump seeds around the 
edge of a six-inch pot filled with good 
compost, during the latter part of Au¬ 
gust. Clover plants do not bear trans¬ 
planting well, and should be grown 
without disturbance of the roots. The 
pots are plunged outside in cinders to 
protect from earthworms, well-watered 
and cared for until freezing weather, 
when they are stored in frames, with 
only sufficient protection to keep frost 
from bursting th'em, to be later brought 
into violet or carnation temperatures as 
wanteil. It takes about 10 weeks after 
growth begins to bring out blooms. The 
only requirements are moderate growing 
temperatures, water and plenty of sun¬ 
light. White and intermediate shades of 
red as well as the usual intense crimson 
may often be found among field plants, 
and a variety of tints might be develop¬ 
ed if its use as a decorative plant should 
extend. w. v. f. 
Reports About Potato Beetles. 
When potatoes follow potatoes the 
beetles stay over Winter in the ground. 
1 once planted a piece across the Housa- 
tonic River when there was half a mile 
of woods to the nearest cultivated land, 
and the bugs didn’t find them soon enough 
to do any damage. I wrote you two or 
three years ago that a handful of fer¬ 
tilizer with potash in it, dropped on the 
hill after planting, would prevent the 
bugs from sitting on the hill waiting for 
the potatoes to come up. I am not ready 
to take that statement back. I have two 
acres of potatoes now that stands as the 
banner field, for looks, in this section, 
and I overheard one blacksmith telling a 
customer that it was the nicest-lnoking 
field of jiotatocs he ever saw. I may say 
that we have had few bugs this year ex¬ 
cept when potatoes follow potatoes last 
year, but for years 1 have applied Paris- 
green but once, when the tops were in 
blossom, and have potatoes to sell when 
my farm neighbors have to buy. Perhaps 
Providence favors me, and perhaps does 
so because 1 put the fertilizer on top; 
can't tell. R- s. h. 
Connecticut. 
In The R. N.-Y., page 488, you say Po¬ 
tato beetles are scarce with you. On page 
499, an inquirer asks where they come 
from., I have always considered Mr 
Slingerland’s opinion as the correct one. 
The beetles appeared even before any 
potatoes were through the ground, and 
acting upon the theory that by destroy¬ 
ing these hibernates I would be clear of 
the following brood, since May 9, when 
they appeared on volunteer potatoes and 
on tomato vines, I have daily gone over 
my one-fourth acre of potatoes. 1 have 
destroyed 3,867 up to date; find a few slugs 
and small bunches of eggs. Is there not 
a Spring, Summer and Fall brood? 
St. Louis, Mo. E. H. 
Chinch Bug Fungus.— We have often 
told of the plan of killing chinch bugs by 
spreading a contagious disease among them. 
The Ohio Experiment Station is sending out 
the fungus which causes the disease. The 
following note is taken from a Station 
bulletin: “The fungus the experiment sta¬ 
tion is sending out this year has been 
grown in a mixture of cornmeal and beef 
bioth, instead of upon insects, as it is a 
cheaper and .simpler method of cultivatin.g 
and distributing it to the farmers of the 
State. But owing to the great number of 
requests for material the quantity sent to 
each individual is very small, and should 
be used to its greatest advantage. To do 
this collect a number of bugs and confine 
them together with a small portion of 
fungus material, finely divided, in a tight 
wooden box, containing a thin layer of 
earth in the bottom. Supply the impris¬ 
oned bugs with fresh cornstalks as often 
as necessary and keep the contents of the 
box moist by sprinkling water over them. 
As bugs show evidence of disease dis¬ 
tribute a part of them over the fields, and 
supply their places with fresh bugs. Keep 
up this operation till a goodlv number of 
fungus covered bugs are distributed in the 
worst infested areas. If by chance the 
boxes become foul, they should be care¬ 
fully cleaned and thoroughly aired. A 
simpler method of spreading the disease 
is to crumble up the material finely and 
distribute it where the bugs are most 
numerous, preferably in damp place.s, 
such as under grass and fallen corn¬ 
stalks.” 
If you raise apples—few or many 
—send for our booklet “ Turning 
Apples into Gold” and see how 
you can do it. 
I Goodell Company, 70 Main St,,Antrim,N.H.J 
BUSHEL 
I Our Tcnttlatcd bushel crates 
1 are better and cheaper than 
' baskets—8 cents each—made 
of best material. Shipped 
ready to put together, book¬ 
let No.ltlull particulars free. 
Geneva Cooperage Co.,Geneva,0. 
EACH LITTLE WIND 
that blows is turned into value for the 
man who pumps or generates 
power for grinding, sawing, etc., 
with the 
Freeman 
Steel Windmills. 
Mills with 
genius to 
work and 
strength t o 
. stand. Full 
line high grades with special four 
post angle steel tower. Also Feed 
Cutters, Wood Saws, Corn Shel- 
lers, etc. Write for catalog 102 
S. Freeman & Sons Mfg. Co.. "ST.'.".*’ 
DOW 
Potato Diggop. 
col. Standard dlrarer with no peer. »nd it ImU. Aek for free Bowden 
OOWDEN MFC. CO., Box 22 , PRAIRIE CITY. 
THE 
CROP, 
large or small, is best 
harvested with 
tho Intprovod 
The 
■■. ' 
leasure. 
of 
Success in 
Wheat Growing 
is a complete fertilizer 
containing 6 % actual 
Potash 
A deficiency of Potash 
in fertilizers will result 
in small grains. 
Our books on Wheat and 
Grain Culture areyr^? to farmers. 
GERMAN KALI WORKS, 
03 Nassau Street, New York. 
THE HESSLER IS THE BEST. 
Price, 
$1 EACH. 
Discount Dozer. 
Lots. 
Simple, Durable, 
Economical. 
Round, STuoxG, 
Heavy. 
Trowestin price, 
highest in quali¬ 
ty. A sample best 
evidence. Keap- 
proved Jan. 26th, 
1903. Circulars 
sent free. Orders promptly shipped. We sell direct 
to the farmer. H. E. HESSLEK Ot)., Syracuse, N. Y. 
Rural Mail Box. 
pisparen^ 
saves 
trees 
FROM ALL LEAF-EATING INSECTS 
Most powerful Insecticide made; safest to 
use; never injures foliage. One spraying 
remains effective through the season, out¬ 
lasting many applications of Paris ^een or 
similar sprays. The only one that de¬ 
stroys both broods of the codling- 
moth. Used and endorsed by professional 
foresters and orchardists, park superin¬ 
tendents, tree wardens, experiment stations. 
Springfield City Forester Gale says: “ I 
know of no better preparation.” 
Enough for a large orchard, $4.25 
Enaugh for 75 gals, spray . 1.00 
2 lb. sample..50 
Large illustrated catalogue free. 
BOWKER 
INSECTICIDE 
COMPANY 
Address nearest office: 
Boston, New York, or Cincinnati 
Park and Tree Commissioner of Savan¬ 
nah, Ga., reported that they used Disparene 
as an insecticide against the Bag-worm 
and found it very effective. After one ap¬ 
plication the worm stopped eating and the 
trees put out new leaves; they consider 
they would not have saved their trees had 
It not been for Disparene.” 
FUMA 
VC klUs Pralrlo DOfs, 
' ^ Woodchucks,Gophers, 
and Grain Insects. 
“The wheels of the 
gods grind slow but 
exceedingly small.” So the weevil, but yon can stop 
“Fuma Carbon Blsulpliiile”^,?S' 
EDWARD R. TAYXOR, JPenn Yrhl N. *. 
Best for Water 
WRITE 
FOR 
PRICES 
jCjYpResg 
HtoWsi.'- 
1 j’l 
1^ 
&'ii 
i 
WRITE 
FOR 
PRICES 
RALPH B. CARTER CO. 
26 Cortlandt St., New York, N. Y. 
HAVE RICH MELLOW LAND. 
That condition is sure to 
follow through draining 
_ _ with JACKSON'S Round 
AGRICTJLTTJRAL BRAIN TILE, For 48 years we have been making these 
Sewer Pipe, Red and Fire llrlek. Oven Tile, Chimney and Flue Linings 
and Tops, F.tmaustic Sidewalk file, &c. Supply Mortar Colors, Plaster,Lime, 
Cement &c. Write for prices. John E. Jackson, 70 3rd Av. Albany, N.Y. 
