756 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
October 31 
THE OCTOBER PURPLE PLUM. 
The specimens shown on the first page. 
Fig. 281, were sent by H. S. Wiley late in 
August. The following opinions of October 
Purple are interesting: 
The October Purple plum has developed 
in fine shape this year. It is a good pro¬ 
ducer, has a fine color; is of good quality, 
and I believe that growers are justified in 
planting it. s. d. wii.r.AnD. 
New York. 
'J'he October Purple plum has not been 
grown very long in this locality. Our trees 
are young, but promise well. I would not 
like to recommend it for general planting 
until we have tested it further. 
Indiana Exp. Station. J. troop. 
October Purple plum belongs to the sn’^e 
class as Hale and Shlro. Evidently all 
these varieties contain Myrobalan bloon, 
whatever may be claimed for them. The 
October Purple ripens here in late Septem¬ 
ber, and is of superior quality. We have 
already set over 600 trees in our orchard, 
which will probably answer whether we 
think it safe to set for market. 
Connecticut. Q. s. butler. 
Two October Purple plum trees on the 
Rural Grounds, five years from the bud, 
each bore a few plums this season. They 
ripened the first week in September, and 
were green rather than purple in color 
when ready to eat. The quality is good, 
flesh firm but juicy, and the fruit small. 
The trees are fine upright growers, leading 
all varieties planted at the same time. 
Our present Impression is that October 
Purple is likely to be desirable for homo 
planting, but the fruits may lack size and 
color for market purposes. w. v. f. 
The October Purple plum belongs to the 
Japan group, and has the characteristic 
bearing habit of the varieties in that group. 
I have seen it only in the States of Wash¬ 
ington and Oregon on grafted trees. There, 
it is a splendid grower and a heavy 
ylelder, bearing its fruit all over the old 
wood on spurs. The fruit is of large size, 
rather heart-.shape. with yellow flesh, cling¬ 
stone, and of very good quality. I have 
!iever seen October Purple in New York 
State, but from what I have seen of it 
elsewhere, I believe it will be considered 
desirable for a late market .sort. 
Cornell University. s. w. fletchejr. 
My experience with the October Purple 
plum is as follows: Tree very healthy and 
a rampant grower, forming a beautiful top; 
comes into bearing at a very early age; 
June-budded trees fruited the third year 
from planting. Tree very hardy in bud 
and a profuse bearer; fruit rather below 
medium size and of excellent quality, 
clings tightly to the pit, which is small. 
This plum ripens in central New Jersey 
about September 1. I would advise the 
planting of it for home use only, as size 
and color are against it for a market plum, 
for it would come in direct competition 
with larger and handsomer plums from 
New York and elsewhere. w. h. s. 
Rocky Hill. N. J. 
1 consider October Purrfie the best of any 
of the Japan varieties or those sent out by 
Mr. Burbank. The tree is a fine upright 
grower, and is not, like some of the varie¬ 
ties, of sprawling head, but is upright and 
line. The tree loads itself with fruit, and 
will set its blossoms even if alone, yet 1 
believe any tree will be better for being 
in proximity to some other variety. The 
fruit is of large size and the quality is the 
best of any varieties we have tasted of 
the Japan strain of blood. It is about as 
sweet as the English varieties; ripe here 
about September 10 to 15. I think there is 
no doubt that it will be a good market as 
well as family variety. The color has not 
been as dark with us as those sent us by 
Mr. Burbank. It is not a dark purple. 
Connecticut. edwin hoyt. 
1 consider this plum among the very 
best of Burbank’s productions. The tree 
is a very vigorous, rapid grower, somewhat 
like the Hale. Neither of these plums 
comes into bearing quite as early as many 
other of the Japans. They make so much 
wood in the first years of their growth 
that it seems to prevent earlier fruitage. 
Instead of being an October plum, the 
Purple matures here in central Connecticut, 
September 5 to 10; while the tree is not in¬ 
clined to over-bear, like many of the 
Japans, it alw’ays sets more than enough 
for a full crop. Well-grown specimens are 
Pyi to 1% inch in diameter; a roundish, 
purple plum of excellent quality. I believe 
it is valuable, both for home use and mar¬ 
ket. J. H. HALE. 
Connecticut. 
From what I have thus far seen of Octo¬ 
ber Purple, I would not recommend it as 
a commercial plum. It has certain positive 
advantages, but it has equally plain dis¬ 
advantages. The advantages are fine, 
healthy growth and a comparatively late 
season of ripening. The disadvantages are 
late bearing and late cropping. The habit 
of late bearing may be overcome with in¬ 
creased age, but 1 have seen nothing yet to 
give any color to that theory. The fact Is 
we find that a certain n^imber of varieties 
are so much more profitable than others 
that we would not think of setting out for 
commercial purposes many .sorts whict. 
have really good qualities. Burbank, Cha- 
bot. Red .Tune and Satsuma seem to be the 
commercial sorts in-this part of the coun¬ 
try, and Satsumii cannot always be depend¬ 
ed upon. F. A. WAUGH. 
Mass. Agl. College. 
FRUIT NOTES. 
The Duchess Pear.— The beautiful de.s- 
sert pear known as Duchess, or Duchesse 
d’Angouleme, to give it its full title, is 
shown on page 754, Fig. 283. It is said to 
be a natural seedling, originally found in 
a forest hedge near Angers, France. When 
in i)erfection it is a delicious fruit of 
highest quality, though it is said that the 
quality is a little uncertain on young 
standard trees. The tree is a strong 
grower. The fruit, which is large, some¬ 
times weighing PA pound, is ripe in Octo¬ 
ber. The pear figured was grown in Eng¬ 
land, where the variety is highly esteemed. 
The Apple-tree Agent.— Seven years 
ago one of the much-talked of agents called 
at my place and informed me he was sell¬ 
ing McIntosh Red apple trees. I whistled 
for the dog. and before the dog came he 
showed me a fiamijig picture of the old 
tiee lo.aded with beautiful red fruit and 
a certified letter slating the agent's trees 
were from buds from the old original stand¬ 
ing on the old McIntosh farm in Ontario, 
Canada. Of course, I bit, paid him 75 cents 
a tree for six. The result is these trees 
have borne three annual crops, and have 
taken first prize wherever show'n. They 
will be seen at the St. Bouis Exposition. 
Smithville Flats. N. Y. a. i>. b. 
Nova Scotia Notes.—W. V. Brown, who 
recently patented an aiiple-jjacking box of 
his own invention, received recendy a cable 
message informing him that his first .ship¬ 
ment had averaged 11 shillings and six¬ 
pence per box. The apples were of the 
Emperor variety. Each apjile was wrapped 
in tissue paper. The size of :\Ir. Browm’s 
boxes is such that each will hold one-third 
of a barrel of apples. The returns quoted 
above w’ould therefore show' the average 
jirice received to be at the rate of 31 .shill¬ 
ings and sixpence per barrel, equal in 
Canadian currency to ?7.66. Mr. Brown’s 
invention evidently means money for the 
farmers. Gravenstein.s sent by steamer to 
Walter Ford, Bondon, averaged, for Nos. 
1 and 2, $1 per barrel, clear of expense. 
Joseph A. Taylor, of Millville, dug a mam¬ 
moth potato of the E'arly Harvest variety. 
It is 19 inches around its largest circum¬ 
ference, weighs two iioiinds 7',4 ounces, and 
is well formed and free, from an.v defect or 
blemish. 
Fall Straw'rerries.- There has been 
(luite a lit.lle W'litten about late straw¬ 
berries. 1 wish to give my experience this 
season, as I never saw anything like it 
before. The second croj) commenced ripen¬ 
ing about September IS, and we have been 
picking a few quarts along ev'er since to 
date. October 12. There are a good many 
green ones left and lots of blossoms. J>'rom 
m.v patch of strawberries, Ic.ss than one- 
fourth acre, we pieked and sold 511 quarts, 
besides what the famil.v used. Plants used 
w'ore Jessie, Bederw'ood, Parker Earle, 
Warfield and Captain Jack, second year 
fruiting. I do not pretend to know much 
about the strawberry business, but will 
give my way of growing them. I prefer 
to set jilants in Spring 3x1 foot in rows; 
give clean cultivation through the season. 
In late Fall a mulching of coarse litter; in 
Spring, if not loo thick on row's, let it 
alone. If too thick rake a part off between 
the rows. As soon as berries are idcked I 
mow off the vines, rake them off, and start 
the cultivator and give clean cultivation 
the rest of the season. Second-crop berries 
are mostly Jessie and Bederwood. u. h. 
Auburn, N. Y. 
Blackberry Root-cuttings. 
F. .1/., Geneva, O.—The past Spring we 
planted some blackberry root cuttings. 
The ends of some pieces were callused 
nicely; others showed no signs of a callus. 
Some of the cuttings grew', while other.s 
failed, and w'C conclude that if there is no 
visible callus the root fails to grow. Is 
our presumption correct? 
Ans.—B lackberries are propagated in 
four ways, sucker plants, stool-bed 
plants, root cuttings, and occasionally 
from tips. It is only with rare varieties 
like Wilson Jr. and Rathbun that the 
latter can be successfully and profitably 
grow'n. In the latter way, however, 
these tip plants are very desirable, hav¬ 
ing a root formation quite similar to the 
blacl '' raspberry. All things consid¬ 
ered, the loot cutting plants are perhaps 
the best; thej' have, when well grown. 
a full, fine root system, and are easy to 
handle. However, I would just as soon 
have for my own use good average- 
sized sucker plants from a plantation 
three to six years old, and believe there 
is nothing better. Heavy sucker plants 
from an old bed, or the old original 
plants themselves, are very inferior, un¬ 
reliable and should never be used at 
any price or under any circumstances. 
StooBbed iplantB are the first Year’s 
growth from the roots left in the soil 
where an old discarded plantation has 
been rooted out. They are the equal 
of the best plants grown. Callus forms 
on the wounded surface of root and top- 
cuttings of various plants mainly for 
healing and protection. It is really a 
scar tissue and is not essentially con¬ 
cerned in root production, though it 
usually precedes the emission of roots, 
and probably favors thqir formation. 
Blackberry root cuttings showing no 
callus when ready to plant after bein^ 
properly stratified in moist sand over 
Winter have probably too little vitality 
to root well, and may usually be re¬ 
jected. T. J. D. 
For the land’s sake, use Bowker’s Fer 
tilizers. They enrich the earth,— Adv. 
“ How to Grow Paper-Shell Pecans,” 
free. Be.st varieties in U. 8. True to variety 
Cions cut from bearlrg trees by member of firm 
ITill descriptive Catalogue of ABLFltUIT trees, free 
IT. \\. STONE ii CO., Tliotiiasville, Ga. 
In writing lucutlou Kuuai. New-Youkkb. 
PECAN TREES AND NUTS.";a'feSt,S'‘,'^a 
U years old.) THKO. B. BACON FKCaN CO., (Ioc.) D«wltt, On. 
r ST NURSERY STOCK—At the old RollableMilford 
Nurseries, Esiabllshed. 1870. I’each 'I'reos, 4c.; 
niums, and other slock. Rlackberry plants, $.')a 1.000, 
Catalogue. Milford Nurseries, Uo-v 84, Milford, Dei. 
Glenwood Nurseries 
Most complete assortment of oholoe 
Ornamental Trees, Shrubs and Vines 
Send for Descriptive Illustrated Catalogue. 
THE WM. H. MOON CO., MORUIBV1L.LE, PA. 
80 miles from New York; 80 miles from Philadelphia. 
sasGRAPEVINES 
100 y arletlea. Also Small Fmlta,Tree#,4!o. Best Root¬ 
ed stock. Genuine, cheap. S sample vines mailed for 10c. 
Descriptive price-list free. LBWlfl BOIUlCll,rr*deBla,I.T. 
When you write advertisers mention The 
R. N.-Y. and you will get a quiak reply and 
“a square deal.” See our guarantee 8th page. 
SAN JOSE SCALE. 
And other Insects can be Controlled by Using 
Good’s Caustic Potash Whale- 
Oil Soap No. 3. 
It also prevents Curl Leaf. Endorsed by Entomolo¬ 
gists. This Soap Is a Fertilizer as well as In«ectlclde. 
60-lb. Kegs, lOU-Ib. Kegs, f4.60; llalf-Rarrel, 
270 Ids., 3Hc. per lb.; Barrel, 425 lbs., 3)4c.. Dargo 
quantities, Special Rates. Send for Circulars. 
JAMES GOOD. iWSt N. Front St., Phllndelpbia. Pa. 
THE TREE OF LIFE -n 
Is one budded upon a br.mched root Rccilliiig, buds 
t.aken from bearing trees, grown upon tho liilnous 
Micliigan fruit land, dug by our root protecting 
tree digger and handled in our mammoth storage 
cellars. Small fruits and everytliing In nursery 
and grocnhou.se lines true to nanio at wholesale 
prices, tir Wo guarantee safe delivery. 
Catalogue FREE. Write to day. 
CENTRAL MICHIOAN NURSERY, Kalamazoo, Mich. 
Michigan"uMatnmothXurserit^ 
Fruit & Ornamental, 
Shrubs, Roses, Bulbs 
and Plants. 
Catalogue No.1,112 pages, 
free to purchaserBof Fruit 
and Ornamental Trees. No. S, 64 
pages, to buyers of Holland Bulbs and Green- 
^ house plants. Try us, satisfaction guaranteed 
Correspondence solicited. 60th year. 44 greenhousea. 
[000 acres. 
THE STORRS HARRISON CO.. 
PEACH 
and other FRUIT TREES at fair 
prices. Circular free. R.S. JOHN¬ 
STON. Box 4, Stockley. Del. 
THIS US THE 
Best Season 
to plant Apple, Pear, Plum, Cherry, Quince, and Nut 
Trees. All thoSmall Fruits, and Hardy Ornamentals 
namedinourfrecAUTU.MN CATAI.OGUE, Write 
for It. Our stock flrst-class. Prices reasonable. 
T. J. DWYER & SON, 
Oraugo County Nurseries, Cornwall, N. V. 
Choice Apples 
and the greatest quantities of them result from 
planting rightly propagated trees. The great 
Hurrison Nurseries have ready for planting over 
A Half Million Trees m 
They are the most shapely, tho healthiest, the 
most vigorous growing ami the best rooted trees 
to be found in tho land. Tho great market apple, 
Ben Oavis, and the ever poi>u1ar York Imperial 
are leaders of winter varieties. A long ll.st of 
others, a huixlrcd varieties, includes Greening, 
Wine Sap, Baldwin, Crimes Golden, Missouri 
Pippin, Rome Beauty, Stork, Wealthy, Jonathan, 
King aiid-all the worthy summer and lull var¬ 
ieties. Don’t fail to write for our lute eataloguo. 
It’s our only salesman which Introduees on r trees 
everywhere. Sale delivery guaranteed to all parts 
of the United Slates. I'eaeh, Rear and Cherry 
trees, Strawbenii s, Asparagus, etc. 
HARRISON'S NURSERIES, 
Mmx 20, Brnrlln, MN. 
tmmmmmmmamKmBmmBEamamtmmmmmmmmammmit 
100,000 Apple, 200,000 Peacli, 
UOM. SOUR CHERRY. Low Prices. Catalogue. 
WOODVIEWNURSERIES, U. 2, Mt. Holly Springs,Pa 
TREES SUCCEED WHERE 
’Uargeet Nuracry. OTHERS FAIL 
CTM... 
Oil* Fruit Book Free. Kceult of 78 years’experience 
W’stark BRQb . Louisiana, Mo.; Dansvllle, N. Y.; Etc 
NORTHERN GROWN TREES. 
Rest climate, Best soil. Best for the Fruit 
Grower. Itest for Agent and Dealer. Best Cata¬ 
logue, Best Frlees. My treatment and trees make 
permanent customers. Once tried, always wanted. 
Catalogue free. Instructive, Interesting. 
MAUTIN WAUL, Rochester, N Y 
SPECmi SALE. 
In order to reduce a large stock of extra 
line Peach Trees, Call’s Nurseries, Perry, 
Ohio, are offering our customers very low 
rates for the next Thirty days. These 
trees are all Northern Grown Trees from 
Natural Tennessee Pits and are free from 
Scale or disease of any kind. Write 
them for prices, stating the number of 
Trees wanted. 
My Illustrated Catalogue of Trees and Plants at 
WHOLESALE PRICES. Buy direct, and save 
commissions. 1 pay the freight when cash accom¬ 
panies order 
E. O. PETERSON, MONTROSE NURSERIES, 
Montrose, N. Y. 
ALFALFA 
THE GREAT PROTEIH CLOVER. 
Our "booklet tells all about 
it, free. Prize Medals two 
Ameri canEx positions, and 
at Paris (France), 1900. 
The G. A. Smurthwaite Produce Co., 
OGDEN, UTAH. 
DON’T WAIT 
till Spring to buy those Trees, 
Plants or Ornamental stock wliich 
you have in mind. Send us your 
order now and .save money. Get 
first-class goods and avoid the 
rush of Spring orders. ^Ve have 
a large stock to se'.ect from and 
guarantee satisfaction. Otirs is 
the largest Nursery in New Kng- 
land—over 5J00 acres in trees. 
Catalogue sent free to R. N.-Y. 
readers. Send your address. 
THE STEPHEN HOYT’S SONS CO., 
NEW CAN.11AN, 
BOSC 
Pear Trees. Bred from selected hearing trees. $13.50 per 
100. Send for photo, also prices of other business kinds. 
KOGKKS ON TeHQ HILJL, DANSVULIjE, N. 
PCD inn APPLE, PEAR, CHERRY, and PEACH, healthy,true to name and 
yO I L.n lUUi Fumigated. AUkindsoftreesaudplantsatlowwholesalepric^^B- 
TREES 
Don’t buy until you get our catalogue, which Is free, or send list of wants for special 
price. Address RELIANCE NURSERY, Box lO, Geneva, New York. 
