320 
May 5 
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 pape-.] 
A Spray for Gooseberries 
L. F.,Bedford, Ind .—Can you give me the 
formula for a spray to be used on goose¬ 
berry bushes to kill caterpillars that eat 
the leaves? I saw this in The R. N.-Y. in 
1899, but have lost the paper. 
Ans. —If the fruit is not over half 
grown, spray the hushes with Paris- 
green, one pound in 150 gallons of water. 
If fruit is too large, use hellebore, either 
dusting it on the bushes or spraying it 
at the rate of one ounce to a gallon of 
water. Spray or dust the bushes thor¬ 
oughly, if at all. If the insect is the 
common green currant worm, spray with 
the Paris-green early, as soon as the 
worms first appear. m. v. s. 
Killing Moths in a Closet. 
G. E. P., Hartford, Conn.- Will the gas 
treatment for fumigating nursery stock be 
effective in killing moths that infest a 
closet where woolen goods are stored for 
the Summer? If so, advise the amount to 
use for a closet, say 5x5x9 feet, and should 
everything be put on lines that run across 
it, or would it do to leave them on the 
hooks and in piles, as blankets, etc., lie? 
Ans. —The gas will kill any breathing 
thing. H»ng the clothes on lines or 
open on hooks. The closet contains 225 
cubic feet. Each foot requires one-quar¬ 
ter gramme of the cyanide, or 56 
grammes in all. This is a fraction over 
two ounces. First put three ounces of 
sulphuric acid and 4% ounces of water 
in a jar together. Then have the cya¬ 
nide ready in a bag. Reach in and drop 
it into the jar, and shut the door. 
Using Chemicals on Potatoes. 
IF. P., Malone, N. 7 .—When should muriate 
of potash be applied on potatoes, at plant¬ 
ing or after they are up? Is there any dan¬ 
ger of hurting the plants in using nitrate of 
soda on corn or potash on potatoes, if it 
comes in contact with the plants? 
Ans. —We would use muriate of potash 
in the Spring, before the potatoes are 
planted. On level ground many farmers 
like to apply the muriate in the Fall, 
thinking that in this way there is less 
injurious effect on the potatoes than 
would be the case if it were used in the 
Spring. Both nitrate of soda and muri¬ 
ate of potash should be thoroughly 
mixed with the soil, and not put in direct 
contact with the seed or with the vines. 
In applying the nitrate late in the sea¬ 
son we scatter it along the rows from 
six inches to a foot away from the vines, 
and work it in thoroughly with culti¬ 
vator or hoe. Used in this way, espec¬ 
ially before a light shower, the effect 
upon the vines will be quickly seen in a 
darker green, and a prompt, vigorous 
growth of vine. 
Wild Goose Plum Seedling. 
T. D., Palermo, Ale.—About 40 years 
ago a friend sent me some Wild 
Goose plum stones. I planted them, 
but only one grew. I nursed that for years. 
It would bloom profusely but never a plum 
would I get (all blight); hundreds of 
sprouts came up to maturity, bloom and 
blight, the same as the original. I cut out 
some, drove rusty nails into them (which I 
suppose was a fad), dug among the roots, 
etc., all to no purpose. Do you know 
whether anything can be done to make 
them fruit? 
Ans. —This seedling of the Wild Goose 
plum may produce but little pollen, or 
possibly be infertile to its own pollen, re¬ 
quiring the aid of another perfect¬ 
flowering plum tree, blooming at the 
same time. Robinson, Miner or Potta¬ 
wattamie, all Chickasa varieties, would 
meet the case if set among your trees, 
preferably in the direction from which 
come the prevailing winds, though bees 
and insects may generally be relied upon 
to transmit pollen from one blooming 
tree to another, sufficiently to provide a 
fair set of fruit. The only practicable 
remedy for the blighc Which injures your 
tree and its descendants is repeated 
sprayings with Bordeaux Mixture, be¬ 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER] 
ginning just before the buds open, and 
repeating after bloom, and at intervals 
of two or three weeks during the grow¬ 
ing season. If fruit is not secured under 
these conditions, the tree would better 
be dug up and a good one planted in its 
place. 
Tomato Refuse for Manure. 
F. B., Middletown, Del .—What Is the value 
of tomato peelings and cores, to spread on 
land as a fertilizer? Also the value of 
coal ashes? 
Ans. —Such refuse is called tomato 
pomace. Prof. E. B. Voorhees, of New 
Jersey, says that an average analysis 
would show about 8% pounds of nitro¬ 
gen, 2 y 2 of phosphoric acid, and 3% of 
potash in a ton. Average stable manure 
contains about 10 pounds of nitrogen to 
the ton. This refuse would be worth 
about $1.50 when average manure is 
worth $2.10. It is wet and disagreeable 
to handle, but is worth hauling. We 
should haul it right to the field and 
spread it at once. There is very little 
actual plant food in coal ashes. On light 
soils such ashes have a good mechanical 
effect, and they also benefit some heavy 
clays. We have never been situated so 
that it seemed worth while to haul them. 
Seedlings of Damson Plums. 
O. 8. P., Menlo, Ga .—Can you tell me 
whether Damson plums will come true 
from seed? I have heard the question ar¬ 
gued from both sides. Do pears do as well 
on a north hillside as on the east or south? 
Ans. —The small blue plums, popular¬ 
ly called damsons, come pretty true from 
seeds, especially if the parent trees stand 
apart from other varieties of plums, 
though some variation may be noticed 
between the individual seedlings and 
the tree from which the seeds were 
taken. The damson plums belong to a 
well-fixed type. The only advantage of 
a northern slope for fruit trees is that 
the opening of the flower buds is likely 
to be somewhat delayed, in comparison 
with the other aspects, and thus the 
chances of injury by late frosts is less¬ 
ened. Pears will thrive on a north hill¬ 
side, other conditions being equal, but 
we would prefer an eastern slope when 
attainable. 
Oyster-Shell Lime. 
II. IF. B., Boonton, N. J— We can get a 
quantity of oyster shells for the carting, 
about 1% mile; will the lime pay for the 
labor? Can they be burned with logs and 
wood, or is it necessary to have a kiln? 
Ans. —It would certainly pay to cart 
oyster shells the distance mentioned for 
burning into lime, if a sufficient quantity 
of roots, stumps, logs, etc., can be cheap¬ 
ly secured. We have frequently seen 
huge piles of these shells burning on a 
foundation of stump near Chesapeake 
Bay, but lack information as to how the 
heaps are built and the proportion of 
wood to Shells, to insure a good reduc¬ 
tion to lime, and shall be glad to hear 
from our readers on the subject. The 
lime from shells is not considered quite 
as good as mineral lime by practical 
farmers, but the cheapness of the shells 
and the readiness with which they may 
be burned without a kiln, make oyster- 
shell lime a favorite soil application 
where it can be procured. 
Propagating Seedling Peach. 
M. M. H., Salem, Mass .—I have, in a city 
garden, a large seedling peach tree which 
needs to be removed, but it seems too val¬ 
uable to be sacrificed. It is a rapid grower, 
and a prolific bearer. The foliage is heavy, 
and the fruit very fine—large, highly col¬ 
ored and richly flavored, but it ripens very 
late, and ought to be tried farther south. 
From what part of the tree should I take 
cuttings? 
Ans.—A seedling variety such as our 
correspondent describes, ought to be pre¬ 
served, as there is some Chance that it 
may prove of value, though new varie¬ 
ties have been coming out so rapidly of 
late that there seems little room left ex¬ 
cept for really high merit. It is not 
practicable to root cuttings from peach 
trees, but scions may be taken before 
the buds start, and crown-grafted just 
at the surface of the ground on young 
peach or plum seedling stocks any time 
in April or early May. Use firm young 
Woou free of blossom buds for the scions. 
In August buds may be cut and inserted 
into peach seedlings in the usual man¬ 
ner, and the variety thus preserved. 
For the land’s sake, use Bowker’s Fer¬ 
tilizers. They enrich the earth .—Adm 
Binder Twine 
Fanners wanted as agents 
AUGUST POST, 
Moulton, - - Iowa 
SAVES YOUR BACK. 
Carpet laying—bardestand most 
disagreeable work of house-cleaning 
time—is made the easiest by the 
Positive Carpet Stretcher 
and Tacker. 
Works perfectly, stretching the carpet to 
it« place, feeding the tacks and driving 
them home to stay. Works on wheels; 
gets into all corners. Price only $1.75 
Circulars and special terms free. 
Deposit Pearl Button Co., 
Dept Q. Deposit, N.Y. 
Big Money 
for agents. 
Write today 
Peerless Potatoes for Seed. Greatest 
cropper known. Price, 50 cents per bushel. One 
bushel or car-load. Sacks, r, cents. 
W. II. JUDSON, Berlin Heights, Ohio 
CARMAN NO. 3 $9.50 
SEED POTATOES. ™ per bbl. 
Sir Walter Raleigh and Early Bovee $4.00 per bbl., all 
bbls. 4 bu. Dewey, the great cropper, per bbl. $5 00. 
Wholesale list free. GEO. A. BONNELL. Waterloo.N. Y 
Choice Seed Potatoes 
seed w.th great care from large selected stock. Guar¬ 
anteed pure and true to name. To close out quick 
we offer Sir Walter Raleigh, Carman No. 1 and 3. 
IlncleSatn.3-bushels $2;4-bushel barrel.$2.60. Extra 
Early: Harvest. Fortune. Bovee and Columbia, 3- 
bushel. $3.15; 4-bushel barrel. $1.25. Mammoth yel¬ 
low and Bed Glaze white SEED CORN. $1 perbushel. 
FIELD BEANS.—Scofield (Marrow Pea), early and 
best cropper, $2.50 per bushel. Bags free. Money 
O'der office, Caledonia. N. Y. 
D.C McPHEKSON SEED CO.. Garbutt.N.Y. 
'T'HOS. MeELROY, European Seed Commission 
Merchant, Mercantile Ex. Bldg., 6 Harrison St., 
N. Y., offers Crimson Clover, Essex Dwarf Rape and 
English Perennial Rye Grass Seeds; spot and to ar¬ 
rive. Samples & prices on application. The trade only 
GRASS 
SEEDS 
FOR LAWN 
and FIELD. 
Dreer’s Catalogue 
of Grass Seeds and 
Lawn Requisites— 
FREE. 
HENRY A. DREER, Philadelphia, Pa. 
The Counter Edition of our 
Garden and Farm Manual 
OKED POTATOES—R.N.-Y. No. 2 and Carman No.3. 
^ 7,000 bushels to offer; first-class. Price low. One 
bushel or a carload. A. J. Norris, Cedar Falls. Ia. 
Choice Seed Potatoes.— Grown in a 
drained Peat Bed. n he very best soil for Potatoes. 
Prices low. Early Ohio, Carman No. 3. 75c. per bu. 
J. P. DAVENPORT, Mendota, Ill. 
DflTATnCC 30 3 bushel sacks: E. Hebron, 
ill I A I II CO E. Rose, E. Clarks, E. Everltts, 
Carmans, E. Harvest, (Maule’s Commercial, $3.75). 
Circular. 40 varieties. WHITE STAR OATS. Sam- 
free. Write this day. SMITHS POTATO FARM, 
Box 3. Manchester, N. Y 
OLD CUSTOMERS BUY EVERY YEAR 
which proves our stock has vigor and quality. 
A tew extra-fine Seed Potatoes, Cheshire Pigs, 
Plants and Eggs. Send for catalogue. 
C. E. CHAPMAN, Peruville, N. Y. 
Sir Walter Raleigh, $2.88; Living¬ 
ston, $4 ; Carman No. 3. Seneca 
Beauty and Banner, $2.67; Rural, 
$2.60; Extra Early Ohio, $3.27: 
Bovee. $4—4-bushel barrels. 
W. E. IME8, Seed Potato 
Specialist. Vermontvtlle, Mich. 
Big Crops 
of Big Potatoes 
result from applying about 100 lbs of 
Nitrate of Soda 
per acre just after the potatoes are 
well up. Then, too, the potatoes are 
smoother and more salable. Insures 
a profitable crop. Our books tell 
about its use on potatoes and the 
profits produced. Send for free copies 
before you plant to Jolin A. Ulyers, 
12 O John St., New York Mtrate 
for sale by fertilizer dealers everywhere. 
Blight- 
Proof 
Seed 
contains besides the very complete line 
of GARDEN AND FLOWER SEEDS a 
Great Variety of GARDEN AND FARM 
TOOLS and SPRAYING OUTFITS. Send 
for it. Send also for our Poultry Supply 
Catalogue. 
JOHNSON & STOKES , ,l7 SailSSSyr— 
Write at once for List of Dealers > 
PARAGRENE 
is better, cheaper and bulkier than PARIS GREEN, 
and will not burn the foliage. Send for pamphlet. 
FRED. L. LAVANBURG. Box 1670-A, New York. 
SLUG SHOT 
KILLS INSECTS ON CURRANTS, ETC. 
In use since 1880. Is effective and safe to use. 
SOLD BY SEEDSMEN EVERYWHERE. 
Send for Free booklet on Bugs and Blights to 
B. HAMMOND, EishklU-on-Hudson, N.Y 
Hundreds of thousands of fanners have 
demonstrated during the past thirty-nine 
years that 
BRADLEY’S FERTILIZERS 
cause a quick start, promote a steady 
growth, and ensure an early maturity of 
grass, grain, and vegetables. 
