4 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
January 6 
Farmers’ Club. 
[Every query must be accompanied by the 
name and address of the writer to insure atten¬ 
tion. 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 p.»per ] 
Winter Catch Crop for Washington. 
W. B., Olympia, Wash .—Owing to lateness 
of ripening and rainy weather, we cannot 
often dig our late potatoes before Novem¬ 
ber. We wish to follow potatoes with oats 
and clover, sown in March. Frequent 
heavy showers during the Winter, causes 
our land (which is sandy loam), to leach 
a large part of the manure. We usually 
have a week (rarely more) of snow and 
zero weather, some time during the Winter. 
What crops would be likely to prevent 
leaching, and, at the same time, furnish 
the most nitrogen for the oats? Rye does 
well; is there any better crop? 
Ans. —On rage 9 a reader in Oregon 
speaks very highly of vetch (Vicia sa- 
tiva) as a catch crop for holding the 
soil during the Winter. This crop, like 
clover, is able to take the nitrogen out 
of the air, and in this respect is far bet¬ 
ter than rape. We should judge it to be 
well worthy of trial by those who desire 
a Winter cover for the soil. It must be 
remembered, however, that when we 
speak of a new crop in this way we 
merely suggest its use as an experiment, 
and do not advise any large investment 
in it. 
Culture of Upland Cranberries. 
F. 0. C., Sandy Creek, Me.—Give some in¬ 
formation regarding the cultivation of 
cranberries on uplands, where flooding is 
Impracticable. How should the soil be 
prepared and fertilized, and is there any 
choice of variety for such a situation? 
Downing says, ‘'Cover the beds with sand,” 
which would entail a large amount of labor. 
Is this necessary? Those growing natu¬ 
rally on high lands have not, of course, 
been so treated, and are called very nice. 
Ans. —Cranberries grow best on peat 
and muck bottoms. After clearing off all 
rubbish and turf the surface is usually 
covered by four to six inches of pure 
sand, chiefly for the purpose of retard¬ 
ing the growth of the vines, which in¬ 
ceases their productiveness as long as 
the roots have access to rich and moist 
severe cutting they are sometimes bad¬ 
ly sunscalded. If the sunlight can get 
through tne tree top fairly well, and 
the branches do not collide with each 
other, it is probable that a tree needs 
very little or no pruning, except to head 
back such branches as are too tall, too 
straggling in growth, or to cut away 
entirely any that droop almost to the 
ground. 
The idea that a tree must be so 
trained that a horse can walk under its 
branches is a mistaken one. I like low 
trees. So do nearly all of the most ex¬ 
tensive and successful orchardists of the 
country. The ground does not need 
plowing near the base of a large fruit 
tree if it is properly trained. The feed¬ 
ing roots are not there, but under and 
beyond the ends of the branches. The 
plow may do harm to the large roots 
near the body of the tree. To plow 
the ground shallow, and harrow and 
otherwise cultivate it thoroughly, is a 
very good plan, and I would in no wise 
discourage that kind of treatment. If 
a liberal amount of coarse manure of 
any kind is worked into the soil it will 
add humus and fertility, which is doubt¬ 
less needed by the trees in nearly every 
old orchard. Scraping off the rough 
bark may destroy some insects that prey 
upon the trees or fruit, or their eggs, 
but Nature has put the bark there for 
the protection of the body of the trees 
against the effects of hot sunshine and 
sudden changes of climate, and I do not 
give so much credit to that sort of work, 
as some persons do. However, it will 
seldom do any harm, and may do some 
good to scrape off the hanging bark. 
Whitewashing can be of little use. A 
white surface does not absorb heat as 
readily as a dark one, and a trunk of 
that color will not be so easily affected 
by changes of temperature as one hav¬ 
ing its natural color. Other than this 
I can see no special benefit to come from 
whitewashing. I have seen white¬ 
washed trees ever since I can remember, 
and cannot think of any way in which 
they were better than those that were 
not whitewashed. One who takes the 
under soil. It also greatly checks the 
growth of weeds. Flooding with water, 
which is only done during the Winter 
and early Spring, furnishes protection 
from insects and early frosts, and stim¬ 
ulates the growth of the plants. We 
have no experience in upland culture, 
and invite suggestions from our corres¬ 
pondents. The coating of sand would 
obviously be out of place on uplands. 
There are several varieties differing in 
shape, color, and season of ripening. 
The Early Black would be most desir¬ 
able for upland. 
Handling an Old Orchard. 
D. S. D., Pennsylvania.—I have an old apple 
orchard that Is not thrifty, and I think 
needs a lot of trimming to thin out the 
tops and let in the light, and so that I can 
get the teams under the branches to plow 
the ground up to the trees. Will it pay 
to scrape off the old bark and whitewash 
the trunks, as some do to their trees? 
This old orchard may need considera¬ 
ble pruning, or it may need but very 
little. It is far too common a notion 
that, when orchard trees are old and 
making a feeble growth, they need a 
lot of cutting out of their branches. 
The probability is that, in most cases, 
half or three-fourths of the trees need 
cutting out altogether, and the re¬ 
mainder will then have plenty of room. 
They will very likely need some of the 
branches that cross or otherwise inter¬ 
fere with each other cut out, so that the 
light and air may have free play 
through the tops. Good fruit cannot 
be grown in deep shade, except in such 
cases as grapes and a few other species 
that naturally conceal their fruit under 
their foliage. The best apples on a 
tree are those that grow far out on the 
branches, where the sun has a fair 
chance at them. But it is a great mis¬ 
take to cut an old tree severely. Their 
large branches a.e naturally shaded, 
and if they are suddenly exposed by 
pains to do this work is likely to be 
thoroughgoing enough to do other 
things that are really helpful to the 
trees. h. e. van deman. 
For the land's sake — use Bowker’s 
Fertilizer.— Adv. 
Seeds! Seeds! 
76th Annual Priced Catalogue of 
Vegetable, Farm and Flower Seeds 
is now ready and mailed free to all applicants. 
BRIDGEMAN’S SEED WAREHOUSE, 
37 East 19th Street, New York City. 
grow paying crops because they’re 
fresh and ahvuyi the heat. For 
sale everywhere. Refuse substitutes. 
Stick to Ferry’s Seeds and prosper. 
1900 Seed Annual free. Write for it. 
D. M. FERRY & CO., Detroit, Mich. 
FOR 14 CENTS 
We wish to gain this year SXMUHJO 1 
new customers, and hence offer 
1 Pkg. City Garden Beet, 10c 
1 Pkg.Earl’st Emerald CucumberlBc 
La Orosse Market Lettuce, 16c 
Strawberry Melon, 16c 
13 Day Radish, 10c 
Early Ripe Cabbage, 10c 
Early Dinner Onion, 10c 
Brilliant Flower Seeds, 15c 
Worth $1.00, for 14 cents. $1.00 
Above 10 Pkgs. worth $1.00, we will 1 
mail you free, together with our I 
great Catalog, telling all about i 
SALZER S MILLION DOLLAR POTATO i 
upon receipt of this notice & 14c. , 
stamps. We invite yourtrade, and 
, know when you once try Salzer’s 
• seeds you will never do without. 1 
"$200 Prizeson Salzer’s 1000—rar- I 
eBt earliest Tomato Giant on earth. F: 111 
JOHN A. NALZEK HEED CO., LA CROSSE, Wig. , 
Johnson & Stokes, 
217-219 Market Street, 
L PHILADELPHIA, 
Ik. PA. A 
THE SEEDS 
YOU SOW 
Will determine the size and quality of 
the crop you reap. You take no chances 
of a poor crop when you sow Johnson A 
Stokes’ seeds. You can seethe results al¬ 
most as well before you begin by examin¬ 
ing the handsome photographic plates 
■shown, without exaggeratiou, in the 
new century 
GARDEN and FARM MANUAL^ 
for 1900. The most valuable book ever 
given away to seed buyers. Whether 
you bow a few seeds or many. 
Write to-day for it. 
'^ OTASH gives color , 
^ flavor and firmness to 
all fruits. No good fruit 
can be raised without 
Potash. 
Fertilizers containing at least 
8 to io% of Potash will give 
best results on all fruits. Write 
for our pamphlets, which ought 
to be ia every farmer’s library. 
They are sent free. 
Pedigree Strawberries 
Recommended to all strawberry growers by Rttrai 
New-Yobkek March IX, ’99, and praised by it July 17 
'97 and July 16, ’98. We Offer JOE, CARRIE 8 ILVBK 8 . 
STELLA and REBA In pot-grown plants at 25c each. 
*2 per doz.. *5 per 100; and ROBBIE and NETTIE, the 
best late strawberries yet Introduced, at 26c. each, $2 
per doi., 16 per 100. Plants to be all pot-grown and u 
be delivered after July 1st. Order quick; stock llmlte. 
JOS. H. BLACK , SON & CO , Hightstown, N. J • 
Grape Vines 
Descriptive and Price List free. 
Carranti, Gooseberries and other Small 
Fruit Plants. Extraquality. Warranted true. 
T. S. HUBBARD CO., FREDONIA, N. Y. 
800 mrletloe. Also Crapee.SmaUl'rulte.cte. Best root¬ 
ed stock. Genuine, cheap. 2 samplecurrants mailed for 
tOa Umo. Orice list, free LEWIS K0E8CU.IY*<ioiiU. S. E, 
GERMAN KALI WORKS, 
93 Nassau St., New York. 
pi nifCD an<i other Grass Seeds FOR SALE 
UleUVkll Write for samples and prices. 
Bourbon Elevator and Milling Co., Bourbon, 111. 
OSIER WILLOWS 
for the protection of DAMS, DYKE 8 and DITCHES, 
and for the manufacture of baskets. Prices for cut¬ 
tings, II per 100; 18 per 1 000. Directions for planting 
and Information given with each order. 
CHA 8 . RENNER, Harrison, N. J. 
Do You Grow Strawberry Plants for 
the Trade? Then you should use THE COM¬ 
BINATION LABELING AND TYING BANDS 
The greatest invention of the age for nurserymen. 
Send stamp for samples and full particulais. 
I. E. BKVKR, Keithsburg, Ill. 
MY NEW OFFICE 
Send all mall to T C. Kevitt, 
Passaic, N. J. List free. 
onn nnn l ’ lura an<l standard Pear Trees, 80 
JYIIII 11 Mil varieties, first-class, 6 to 7 ft., 12 c. ea.; 
' 5 to 6 ft . 8 c.; 4 to 5 ft., 60 .; 3^ tot ft., 
4c. No charge for boxing. Secure varieties now. pay 
in Spring. WE GROW everything from a Strawberry 
Plant to a City Shade Tree. Catalog Free to Every¬ 
body. Sbeerin’s Wholesale Nurseries, Dansville, N. Y 
WINTER WORK 
f —Farmers and others you 
can make some cash 
and get your own Trees 
free. Write for particulars. New catalog free. 
The Geo. A. Sweet Nursery Co., B. 1605, Dansville,N.Y 
FRUIT ™ PROFIT 
Echo Strawberry. 
Loudon and 
Columbian Raspberry. 
Erie and P.athbun 
Blackberry. 
Pearl Gooseberry. 
Pomona and 
Bed CrosB Currants. 
My new catalogue is free. 
Last year it was conceded to be 
the most valuable issued. Let 
me send it to you. All fruits 
warranted true to name. They 
command the market. 
ALLEN L. WOOD, Wholesale Grower, Rochester, N. Y. 
The Fruits to Plant 
for profitable results are named in our 1900 
Catalogue. This book names all the trees and 
plants that will succeed in a northern climate: 
gives accurate descriptions of varieties and 
instructions about planting. Catalogue mailed FREE at your request. Write to us for any 
further information vou need about fruits. Sixteenth Year. 
T. J. DWYER & SON, Box I (Orange Co. Nurseries), Cornwall, N. Y. 
your t Chestnut Trees 
A few grafts put in vour seedling chestnut tree will make it pay big I name price and kinds in catalogue 
Free. Full line nursery stock ARTHUR J. COLLINS, Moorestowu, Burlington Co., N. J. 
A MILLION TREESsckseiect. 
ed, grown and budded with expert knowledge of the orchardists needs. 
We can supply 
demand. 
VICTOR PEACH our newest. 
Earliest in cultivation. Hardy, vig¬ 
orous. Fruit large, tirm, good ship¬ 
per, fine flavor and color. 
MAMMOTH BLACK TWIG 
highest colored large Winter Apple. 
Deep red, delicious flavor, good 
keeper. Ask about these. ourPlum 
andotliertroes, Asparagus and Strawberry plants. Illnst’d Catalogue free. 
HARRISON’S NURSERIES, Box 29, BERLIN, Md 
The 
Popular CAROLINA POPLAR. 
.lust the tree for city plantiug — Thriven where others fall—Resists 
smoke and gas as the salamander fire. No tree furnishes quicker shade; 
75.000 of them, beautiful trees, 6 to 8, 8 to 10, 10 to 12 and 12 to 15 feet. Immense stock 
of all other Shade Trees, Shrubs and Roses. Hundreds of thousands of Fruit 
Trees, Nmstll Fruits, Grape Vines, l’laiits, Seeds. Valuable Catalogue free. 
Correspondence solicited. Write us your wants if you would procure the best at bottom 
prie s. 46th YEAR. 44 CREENHOUSES. IOOO ACRES. 
THE STORRS & HARRISON CO., Box 789, Painesville, Ohio. 
T ” FARM and GARDEN SEEDS 
Dreer’s Garden Calendar for 1900 
p-to-date in every particular. Profusely illustrated, handsome 
colored covers and full of valuable information. We will send a 
copy free to those who state where they saw this advertisement. 
HENRY A. DREER, 714 Chestnut St., Philadelphia, Pa. 
Best by Test—74 YEARS. Largest annual sale. .High quality— 
ov I_ . _ __ w 
not high price. Finest sorts. We bud 4 million Apple trees, 
whole-root graft 5 million—1- and 2-yr. Other Trees, Vines, etc., 
in proportion. 1400acresNur-VA/-. DAY FPFIAHT 
scry. 43,000 acres Orchards. VYC lAI I l\ L11711 I 
Box and pack flee, ask No Money until SAFE arrival,— 
guarantee Satisfaction. Fruit Book free. Write us,— Visit us 
DiV CASH each WEEK and want more Home and 
YYG rAI traveling salesmen. STARK Market and Qual- 
. ity Kinks PAY; Apple of Commerce, CTADK LOUISIANA, M0. 
jWBlack Ben Davis, Stayman Wintsap, Delicious, Dansville, N. Y. 
Senator Champion; Gffld plum; Kieller; Elberta w Stark, Mo., etc. 
