THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
Beptember 2C 
676 
OATS IN THE STRAWBERRIES. 
Who Has Ever Tried It? 
ir., Mass.—Can any reader tell me whether 
it will pay to sow oats among the straw¬ 
berries in the Fall to occupy the ground 
and provide Winter protection? 
I have never tried it, but would not 
think it a good plan, as the berry plants 
need all the chance for growth during 
the Fall that is possible in order to 
develop the plants and form strong buds 
for the next season’s crop of berries. 
New York. d. k. pease. 
I have never tried it, but think oats 
sown about the first of October would 
answer the purpose very satisfactorily. 
Anything that stops the freeze and 
thawing and breaks the wind is a good 
covering for strawberries. The clean 
culture and a few cornstalks would be 
my choice: I have not much experience. 
Summer grass comes in here and makes 
a good protection, but clean culture pays 
best. T- J- BLACKWELL. 
New Jersey. 
I have had no experience with grain 
sown for a strawberry mulch. My opin¬ 
ion is that if sown early enough to make 
sufficient growTh to be of any use, it 
would deprive the plants of much neces¬ 
sary cultivation, resulting in poorly de¬ 
veloped plants and so great a reduction 
in the yield of the ensuing crop that the 
less would be far greater than the cost 
of a mulch of straw or stalks. 
New York. Q. a. parcell. 
I have no experience in sowing oats 
in strawberries as a cover crop in Win¬ 
ter, though I have seen it done by a 
neighbor, who reported in its favor and 
practiced it for several years, but does 
not now follow it up. The reason I do 
not know. I see no reason why it could 
not be successfully applied. The time 
to sow would depend somewhat on the 
season. One could judge pretty closely 
how long it would take to get a good 
growth on an oat crop with favorable 
weather; I should say September 20 to 
October 1 w'ould not be far out of the 
N. HAI-T-CK'K. 
IvOng Island. 
I never tried the oat covering in my 
strawberry lot, neither do I know any¬ 
one who has. We always use hay that 
grows on low land that we buy delivered 
for about $8 per ton. We used to cover 
our beds with this hay after the ground 
was frozen hard but now w'e cover about 
November 10. I think it is more dam¬ 
aging to the plants to freeze and thaw in 
the Fall than it is later, because if lifted 
by the freezing and thawing in the Fall 
they have to stay so all Winter, but if 
they are lifted by the frost in the Spring 
they soon recoup, as the Winter is over. 
As soon as I take off the mulch or cov¬ 
ering I look it over to see if any of the 
plants have been heaved with the frost; 
if so if I cannot roll it and press them 
in again with my own weight, I fasten 
a piece of board to an old pair of arctic 
shoes (on the bottoms), I then put my 
feet in these arctics and walk over the 
plants in the soft ground, which presses 
them into their proper places. We re¬ 
move all of the hay, as we dig and sell 
many of the plants. Some of my land 
heaves badly, as it is a reclaimed 
swamp, and the mud is from two to 10 
feet deep. On this wet land we put about 
three tons of covering to the acre, but 
on high land half that amount will do. 
Massachusetts. s. h. warren. 
Several years ago we experimented in 
a small way sowing oats in the straw¬ 
berry field as a mulch for Winter pro¬ 
tection, but were not favorably impress¬ 
ed with the results. Every strawberry 
grower of experience knows that to a 
great extent next Summer’s crop must 
be made this Fall. To get a growth of 
oats sufficient to be of any account as a 
mulch for Winter protection they would 
have to be sown not later than the mid¬ 
dle of August in this latitude, and we 
consider August and September the very 
time when we must do our best to make 
next Summer’s crop. So far as our ex¬ 
perience goes this can be done best by 
thorough cultivation and thinning of 
plants up to October 1. Oats sown in the 
patch will interfere with cultivation and 
at the same time crowd and take the 
moisture from the plants, which at this 
time is none too plentiful here, this sea¬ 
son, however being an exception as to 
moisture. The mulch question is indeed 
a serious one where almost any kind of 
straw brings $8 and $10 per ton, and 
where cornstalks are all utilized as feed, 
as is the case in this section. We have 
solved the mulch question however, at 
least in part, by not mulching at all. We 
know this is not orthodox teaching, but 
on our soii and as we grow the straw¬ 
berry we can dispense with Winter 
mulching with little loss or disadvan¬ 
tage. Most of our berries are grown on 
high ground, which is a gravelly loam 
and well drained naturally. We set 4x2 
feet and use the wide matted row sys¬ 
tem, keeping plants thinned to six to 
eight inches apart, allowing the rows to 
run two to three feet wide, leaving only 
about a foot between rows for picking 
paths. We find grown thus on this soil 
they go through the Winter in fine shape 
and do not heave, their own foliage be¬ 
ing sufficient mulch. We get firmer and 
better colored fruit than where mulch 
is used and left on, also they are leas 
liable to be killed with late frosts, as 
the ground warms up readily and the 
radiation of heat through cold nights 
often keeps frost at bay, while if they 
had heavy mulch the ground would be 
cold and the frost would get in its work. 
We are aware, though, that this plan 
will not work on heavy retentive soil. 
On such soil mulching is imperative. We 
would advise our New England friend to 
grow his mulch on another field and ap¬ 
ply when the ground is hard frozen. The 
strawberry, to do its best, must in the 
Fall develop strong stocky plants with 
heavy crowns and well-developed fruit 
buds, and from our experience, extend¬ 
ing over a period of 18 years of commer¬ 
cial berry growing, we find this cannot 
be attained by allowing the plants to be 
crowded in any way. w. p. keeper. 
Pennsylvania. 
FRUIT NOTES. 
Pan-American Strawberry.— We are 
now (September 14) picking ripe straw¬ 
berries from the Pan-Americans. They are 
loaded with fruit and blossoms, s. h. w. 
Massachusetts. 
Hudson Valley Apples.— Shipments of 
apples from this point to Europe have 
netted as high as $4.90 per barrel. Bald¬ 
wins are coloring finely, but the high 
prices will be apt to fall off, as much in¬ 
ferior and immature fruit is being shipped. 
Hudson. N. Y. j. y. p. 
Fall Strawberries.— This is a queer 
season, and vegetation is indulging in some 
strange freaks. I am having quite a few 
strawberries at present; had some for tea 
the forepart of the week, and to-day (Sep¬ 
tember 12) picked a nice quart; sold them 
for 50 cents. There are a good many 
green ones at present and some blossoms. 
These berries are picked on a new set bed 
this Summer. w. L. H. 
Bristol, Conn. 
Protecting Trees.— I often read ques¬ 
tions from many who ask the best protec¬ 
tion against mice girdling young fruit 
trees. Years of experience with hundreds 
of trees have taught me the simplest, 
safest and least harmful way I know. 
Bank the trees with soil eight or 10 inches 
high. The mice work on the level ground 
under the snow; they never touched a 
tree that I thus treated. Remove the dirt 
in the Spring. h. k. w. h. 
Massachusetts. 
Florida Tomatoes.— I noticed on page 
629 a letter from J. Y. P., Schenectady, N. 
Y., headed Notes on Florida Tomatoes, 
stating that Florida tomatoes had undis¬ 
puted possession of the market this season 
and that prices were high and kept up till 
late in the season, prime tomatoes bringing 
$2.50 per crate. Tomatoes may have sold 
for $2.50 per crate, but no such price was 
returned to the grower. There were more 
fancy tomatoes sold for $1.50 to $1.75 than 
$2.50 in Manatee County, and prime toma¬ 
toes sold for $1 to $1.25; that is, these were 
the returns that came back to this section. 
Last season w'as the worst in 20 years for 
price.s on all vegetables. Lettuce half the 
time did not bring freight. The trouble 
with tomatoes was that the whole State 
came in together. Manatee had the largest 
tomato crop ever grown, also the best, and 
the lowest price ever known for tomatoes. 
Ellenton, Fla. a. w. s. 
Fruit Notes from Illinois.— My plum 
orchard w'as planted in 1886, two each as 
follows: Willard, Abundance, Burbank, 
Red June, Splendor, Gold. Since then I 
have added Forest Rose, Forest Garden, 
De Soto, Weaver, Hawkeye, Wolf, Potta¬ 
wattamie, Wlckson, Rockford, Klondike, 
Milton, Moore’s Arctic, Marianna, Sur¬ 
prise, and one brought from Switzerland 
by a Mr. Kunzler. Twice Abundance have 
all winterkilled. Splendor both killed the 
first Winter. One of the Gold killed first 
Winter. With the exception of Pottawat¬ 
tamie all were in bearing this year. Wick- 
son is the largest, best looking and quality 
best; Burbank next. It is the best paying 
of all. The one from Switzerland would 
sell for Lombard; propagates from suck¬ 
ers. bears well and I have found it hardy 
and profitable. Weaver comes next in size, 
productiveness and profit. De Soto bears 
in the nursery row so heavily the trees 
become dwarfed unless the fruit is removed 
when small. Hawkeye is nearly as bad. 
Japan varieties brought $3 and natives $2 
a bushel here at the nursery this season. 
I expect great things from Surprise, a 
Wisconsin seedling, on account of its size 
and quality. The earliest ripening native 
plum we had is Wolf. The fruit was sold 
in quart boxes at $3.20 a bushel. We had 
five trees that averaged 1% bushel per tree. 
I bought four Rockford plum trees for my 
trial orchard. All are alive and bearing. 
There are three varieties. Two are Forest 
Garden, one Forest Rose and the other 
must be Rockford, for it is the best of the 
lot, in productiveness and quality; was 
planted 11 years ago and has borne every 
year. I do not propagate any fruit stock 
except from bearing trees or bearing 
vines. I cannot see why the rule will not 
hold good in nursery stock as well as with 
animals, that like begets like. Kieffer 
pears pollenized with Vermont Beauty have 
more color and a better flavor than when 
fertilized with their own pollen, and there 
is more fruit on the trees in the vicinity 
of the Vermont Beauty, Seckel, Flemish 
Beauty and Koonce do not seem to affect 
them in the least. Apples and pears are 
not bearing this year. Plums and peaches 
are well to overload. We are having 
lots of rain, the same as in New York, 
only more. s. e. h. 
When you write advertisers mention Thh 
R. N.-Y. and you will get a quick reply and 
“a square deal.” See our guarantee 8th page. 
PUNTS AND SHRUBS 
FOR HOME DECORATION. 
Let us help you make your yard more at¬ 
tractive aud “home like.” A few hardy 
phmts and shrubs rightly placed will work 
wonders. Fall is the time to p.ant them. 
Write us what you need, if onlj a Crimson 
Rambler for the corner of your porch. 
Perhaps your entire lawn needs attention^ 
Does it? Then don’t delay a day. Write us 
about it. We handle planting problems 
large and small; tell you what you need and 
why. No charge unless you want the plants. 
That’s fair, is it not? 
Get OUR NEW FLOK.VI. GUIDE, just 
out. Mention Rural New-'^orker, and 
address: 
THE CONARD &, JONES CO., 
“ Growers of the Best Boses in America." 
Box 4, West Grove, Pa. 
1904 
—Full crop from Layer Strawberry Plants; 
$3 per 1,000. Try Fall planting; list. 
KEVITI 'SPLANT farm. Athenla, N. J. 
WHY NOT GROW GINSENG? 
SEEDS 
AND 
GRAIN 
Red Alsike, Crimson and Alfalfa 
Clovers. Timothy and Grass Seeds. 
Hungarian, Millet & Buckwheat. 
Dwarf Essex Rape and Sand 
Vetches. Turnip Seed and Seed 
Wheat. 
Feeding com and Oats in car 
lots, delivered on your track. 
Clipper Grain & Seed Cleaners 
Let Us Know Tour Wants. 
The Henry Philipps Seed & Implement Co., 
Department “A,” Toledo, Ohio. 
T 
Fruit Trees. 
All kinds, sll 
ages* A com* 
plete line ol 
shrubs, vines and g^eneral nursery stock of Genesee Valley 
ffrowing. Catalogue and price list to all interested parties. 
THE SWEET NURSERY CO., 245 Main St., Dansville, N. Y. 
WANTED. 
Eldorado Blackberry and Golden Queen 
Raspberry Plants. Address, Box 237, 
North Collins, N. Y. 
Apple, Peacli,Sour Cherry, 
Selection. 
The Best of Trees. Low 
- _ Prices. Catalogue. 
VOODVIEW nurseries, B. 3,Mt. Holly Springs. Pa 
TTADK TREES succeed where 
Nursery. OTHERS FAIL 
Oil# Fruit Book Free. Result of 78 years’experience 
V^^STARK BROS, Louisiana, Mo.; Dansville, N. Y.; Etc 
MAIDEN’S BLUSH 
Is but one of hundreds of varieties of trees gg’own 
by us. We send FREE, upon request, new hand¬ 
some, complete illustrated catalogue, giving valu¬ 
able hints and suggestions on selection and care 
of stock. We have Largest Nurseries, Most Com¬ 
plete Facilities in Michigan. Write us to-day. 
CENTRAL MICHIGAN NURSERY, 
Huxerymsn, Fierkts, Lanlscape AraMtsak. Kalama^co, Hiah 
BUDDED FRUITS. 
Peach, Apple and Pear Buda. 
Largest and best assortment in the United States. 
Write ns to-day for the list of varieties & prices. 
Harrison’s Nurseries, Box 89, Berlin, Md. 
NORTHERN GROWN TREES. 
Best climate, Best soil. Best for the Fruit 
Grower. Best for Agent and Dealer. Best Cata¬ 
logue, Best Prices. My treatment and trees make 
permanent customers. Once tried, always wanted. 
Catalogue free. Instructive, interesting. 
MARTIN WAHL. Rochester, N T 
A GRAND LOT OF TREES 
Brown on virgin soil In the mountains of Western 
Pennsylvania. No scale, no disease of any kind. 
None better, none cheaper. Our business Is growing 
trees for the commercial orchardist and farmer. 
Write for descriptive catalogue and price list. Address 
The River Side Nursery Company 
Confluence, Penn. 
THE 
Half • Matary affair dealiair has gWen 
our products that prominence omich merit 
deserves. Wa still offer eveKthing of 
best for Orchard, Vineyard, 
Lawn, Park, HtreeL Gardea 
and Greenhouse. Oatalogus 
- No. 1. 112 pages, free to pur¬ 
chasers Fruit and Ornamental 
Trees. No. 3, 64 pages, free to buyers 
of Holland Bulbs and Greenhonss 
Plants. Try ns; we guarantee 
'satisfaction. Correspondence solicited. 
STORRS A HARRISON COh 
PAINESVILLE, OHIO. 
My Illustratad Catalogue of Trees and Plants at 
WHOLESALE PRICES. Buy direct, and save 
commissions. I pay the freight when cash accom¬ 
panies order. 
IS. O. PETERSON, MONTROSE NURSERIES, 
Montrose, N. Y. 
2,000,000 PEri^EEs 
We offer 2,000,000 Elberta June Buds, besides large 
stock of Belle of Georgia, Mamie Ross, Hlley, Car¬ 
man, Greensboro, etc., all for Fall delivery. Big as¬ 
sortment of 2-year Apple, 1-year Pear and Cherry, 
and small fruit plants. Write for catalogue. 
Chattanooga Nurseries, Chattanooga. Tend. 
CEED WHEAT—The haraiest and heaviest yield- 
Ing varieties at moderate prices. Samples and 
circular free. A. H. HOFFMAN, Bamford, Pa. 
IT IS THE GOLD WINNER. We sell Northern 
Pennsylvania Wild Roots. The best, surest and 
cheapest to start with. Write for prices. 
S. H. BRIGGS, Warren, Pa. 
^IMOTHY SEED,—Choice new seed, grown on 
* hew clean land, extra cleaned, $1.40 per bush , bags 
Included. Write for prices on all farm and G rass seeds. 
Address, Katekin’s Seed House. Shenandoah, Iowa. 
THIS IS THE BEST SEASON TO PLANT 
Apple, Pear, Plum, Cherry, Quince, and Nut Trees. All the Small Fruits, and 
Hardy Ornamentals named in our free AUTUMN CATAUOGUE. Write for 
it. Our stock first-class. Prices reasonable. 
T. J. DWYER &SON, Orange County Nurseries, Cornwall, N. Y. 
FRUIT TREES 
FOR FALL PLANTING 
We do not hesitate to say that you will get most 
excellent results from planting our Trees in Octo¬ 
ber and November. A lull line of varieties, named 
in my Catalogue, which is free. Get it to-day. 
Cayuga Nurseries, Cayuga, 
N. Y. 
TREES 
PFR inn APPLE, PEAR, CHERRY, and PEACH, healthy,true to name and 
$0 I LH lUUi Fumigated. All kinds of trees and plants at low wholesale prices. 
Don’t buy until you get our catalogue, which is free, or send list of wants for special 
price. Address RELIANCE NURSERY, Box 10, Geneva, New York. 
nh ROGERS TREES 
BREEDER 
WE GROW THEM. That’s how we 
KNOW THEM. You ought to know them 
too. You will never regret it. The Tree 
Breeder Tells Its Free. 
ROGERS ON THE HILL, DansviUe, N. Y. 
