448 
June 30 
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 paper.] 
Lime and Sorrel. 
G. E. Q., Massachusetts.— I would like to 
know what causes sorrel to appear, or, 
perhaps, what is lacking in the soil that 
It does appear? I have in mind a level 
clay loam field, not by any means poor 
soil, as It has yielded good crops of corn 
and other cultivated crops. This season 
it is in Timothy, and the sorrel has ap¬ 
peared so thick as to make the meadow 
unprofitable. What shall I do to rid the 
field of it? 
Ans. —A heavy growth of sorrel usual¬ 
ly indicates a sour soil, and shows that 
lime is needed. This may not always be 
true, but it is a pretty sure indication. 
The application of 20 to 25 bushels of 
lime per acre will 'be quite sure to drive 
the sorrel out. It will pay best to plow 
up the sod and use the lime when plant¬ 
ing corn. When the land is clean, seed 
again to grass. 
Millet for Northern New York. 
C. A. T., Crown Point, N. Y.—What is the 
best kind of millet for northern New York? 
How much should be sown per acre? When 
is the proper time to sow, the proper time 
to harvest, and about what does it cost 
per bushel? 
Ans. —German millet produces more 
hay than Hungarian grass. It is a little 
coarser, and therefore not quite as ac¬ 
ceptable to the animals as Hungarian, 
but I think It stands dry weather better. 
Sow at least one-half bushel of seed per 
acre. Some difficulty is usually experi¬ 
enced in getting the ground fine enough 
and moist enough to germinate the 
seeds certainly and quickly; therefore, 
some pains should be taken in fitting 
the ground, and it should be rolled after 
the seeds are sown and harrowed in. It 
is probable that both seeds will be high- 
priced, as there is an unusual demand 
for them. i. p. robekts. 
Fitting Land for Grass. 
H. S. C., Maine.— I have five acres of run¬ 
out land. Soon after mowing it in July I 
shall cut the sod with a Cutaway harrow, 
then in October plow it; next Spring put 
on a spring-tooth harrow with the teeth 
set clear down at least twice a week till 
middle of August; then seed down, using 
one-half bushel Timothy and 200 bushels 
lime ashes per acre. Ashes cost 10 cents 
per bushel. As I am inexperienced, tell 
me whether I am doing right. 
Ans. —That will make good prepara¬ 
tion for grass seeding, but we do not 
like to let land stand idle so long. We 
would work that sod several times this 
Summer and either sow rye this Fall or 
sow oats next Spring. We would cut the 
oats early for hay, and at once plow and 
work the land through July and August 
for seeding. You would get almost as 
good a seed bed, and have an extra lot 
ol good hay. 
Dead Limbs on Trees. 
I have found a pear tree in my orchard 
on which two limbs have died. They ap¬ 
pear to be dead way down to the trunk, and 
it is a query in my mind whether I should 
go out now and saw them off or let them 
stand for a while as they are. Shall 1 do 
harm by letting them stand? Some people 
tell me that a dead limb on a living tree 
injures it in some way, which I do not quite 
understand. Some of these wise men talk 
you know, freely, about “poisoning the sap” 
and other similar things. Would it pay me 
to saw those limbs off at once? 
Ans. —It can be no injury to a tree to 
cut away a dead branch, and the sooner 
it is done the sooner will the process of 
healing begin. There could be no bene¬ 
fit from waiting to do the work later. 
While it is doubtful regarding any spec¬ 
ial harm that the branch may do the 
tree by remaining on longer, yet it may 
have some effect in the way of evapora¬ 
tion of sap more than the wound would 
cause. As to the dead wood “poisoning 
the sap” of the tree, I do not believe it. 
We have untold millions of cases of dead 
branches on trees in the forests. It is 
Nature’s method of pruning to starve a 
portion of their branches to death for 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
lack of light, and when they die they 
remain just where they grew until they 
rot away. There is no blood-poisoning 
in cases of vegetable as in animal life. 
Cut off the dead branches on cultivated 
trees as soon as seen, and paint the 
wounds with anything that will keep 
the weather from causing cracking and 
decay, until Nature covers the place with 
new wood. n. e. v. d. 
Twig Blight on Apples. 
D. R., Bcrnardsvillc, N. J.— WliaL is the 
trouble with an apple tree, apparently in 
good growing condition, as the leaves and 
young growth are healthy, but some of the 
spurs with fruit on, all over the tree, seem 
to wilt and die back about six to eight 
inches? I have only noticed it on one 
tree in our orchard; it is quite a large tree. 
Ans.— This is almost certainly the 
twig blight, which is a form of the com¬ 
mon fire blight that affects the pear, 
apple and quince. There is no known 
remedy for it. It affects the apple trees 
on the ends of the branches, where the 
germs of the disease find entrance 
through the tender growth, and some¬ 
times, through the delicate parts of the 
flowers. As the fruit spurs in this case 
are the affected parts, it is quite certain 
that the germs entered through the 
flowers. Some varieties are much more 
easily affected than others. 
n. e. v. D. 
White Grubs Attacking Strawberries. 
Q. E. 11., Bristol Strings, N. Y.— Is there 
any known way to prevent white grubs 
from destroying newly-set strawberry 
plants? I have a fine plantation set this 
Spring, which they seem determined to 
ruin in spite of all I can do. I have tried 
digging them out, but it does not seem to 
do any good, besides being a slow and tedi¬ 
ous operation. The ground was in corn 
last year, and as I did not see any grubs 
in cultivating, I thought the piece must 
be clear of them. I had intended to set 
the rest of the piece to berries next Spring, 
but am almost afraid to do so. It is in 
corn now, and was in corn last year. 
Ans. —The white grub comes from an 
egg laid by the June beetle, which is 
brown and about half an inch long. The 
eggs are usually deposited in meadows 
and pastures and the young larvae feed 
on the roots of plants for two years be¬ 
fore they come to maturity. During this 
time they do their mischief. It is a 
wrong plan to plant strawberries on 
land that has been in grass until after it 
has been cultivated for at least two 
years in some crop that will not attract 
the beetles to deposit eggs. Almost any 
crop that requires high cultivation is of 
this character. Corn and potatoes are 
very good. It would seem that this year 
would almost or entirely rid the fields 
mentioned of grubs. H. e. v. d. 
Rot in Plums. 
K. P. 11., Parliton, Md.— My plums rot 
somewhat every year, and sometimes they 
nearly all rot. There is a difference in the 
degree in which the varieties are affected. 
What is the cause and what can I do for 
the disease? 
Ans. —The disease that usually affects 
the fruit of the European plum trees, 
and the others to some extent, is the 
same that affects the peach and some 
other fruits. It is one of the ripe-fruit 
rots, and rarely shows its effects until 
the fruit is nearly matured. There is 
a quite effective remedy in the proper 
use of sulphate of copper. In the Bor¬ 
deaux Mixture it should be applied early 
in the 3pring, for the germs winter over 
in the diseased fruit of the previous 
year. All these should have been gath¬ 
ered and burned last Fall. The spray¬ 
ing of the trees before the buds open 
will destroy some of the germs that may 
be lurking there, but later sprayings are 
also very beneficial. At this late date 
there is no other plan practicable than 
to give two sprayings with the ammoni- 
acal carbonate of copper. This prepara¬ 
tion will not injure the looks of the fruit 
by remaining on, as would Bordeaux 
Mixture; yet it is very effective. The 
first spraying should be done when the 
fruit is nearly full grown, and the next 
one about 10 days later. This treatment 
is preventive, and not intended to cure 
after the disease has entered and begun 
its work of destruction. The only time 
to kill the germs is while they are on 
the outside. h. e. v. d. 
Angora Goats on “Back Lots." 
IV. L. 8., Wayne Co., Pa.— We are trying 
Angora goats on our back lot, as we have 
an abundance of brush and weeds. Why 
don’t you save the labor, and give the 
goat a chance, on that lot “over past the 
woods?” 
Ans. —There are no fences around our 
back fields, and we cannot keep stock 
there yet. We think the prices charged 
for Angoras are too high at present. 
They have been boomed almost as Jer¬ 
sey cattle were 20 years ago. The pres¬ 
ent figures are, we think, above the prac¬ 
tical values of the animals. When they 
come down to a fair basis, there may be 
profit in them. At present we think the 
sulky plow and the cow pea can bite 
down the brush and grass very well. 
Woolly Aphis. 
T. T., Cove, Utah.—I send some kind of an 
insect which has infested only one apple 
tree so far. I would like to know what 
it is and what to do for it. 
Ans. —The branch was infested with 
the Woolly aphis, one form of which 
also works upon the roots of the tree, 
where it does the most damage. The 
branch form is easily controlled by di¬ 
recting a strong spray of whale-oil soap 
(one pound in four gallons of water), or 
a kerowater spray of 10 per cent kero¬ 
sene against the clusters of the lice on 
the branches. m. v. slingerland. 
Fighting the Tomato Worm. 
F. B., Albany, Oa.— What remedy can I 
use on tomato vines to prevent the worm 
which bores into the tomato, and at what 
stage should the remedy be applied? 
Ans. —There is no satisfactory method 
of checking the ravages of this Cotton 
boll-worm, or corn worm, when it works 
in tomatoes; the only thing that can be 
done is to hand-pick and destroy the 
infested fruits. Some think that thor¬ 
ough cultivation of the soil in the Fall 
will kill some of them in their hiber¬ 
nating stage in the soil. Perhaps they 
might be induced first to attack very 
early corn planted among the tomatoes. 
M. V. SLINGERLAND. 
What Form of Potash. 
J. 11. 11., Nashtia, N. II.— In using potash, 
which would you advise, muriate or sul¬ 
phate? Is there anything in kainit of 
value, except the potash? If not, would it 
not be better to buy the potash alone, in¬ 
stead of buying so much useless stuff? 
Ans. —The muriate is the cheapest 
form of potash. For crops like straw¬ 
berries, sugar beets and potatoes the sul¬ 
phate is better, since it gives a higher 
quality. Where crops are sold on the 
general market it is doubtful whether 
the higher quality will buy enough more 
to pay for using the sulphate. A ton 
of kainit will contain about 250 pounds 
of potash, 200 of magnesia, 25 of lime, 
and the remainder water and common 
salt. While the price per ton is low, we 
consider it the most expensive form of 
potash. Pure potash is out of the ques¬ 
tion. It must be bought in combination 
with other substances. 
Beautiful Strawberries in 1901 
We can furnish you with 
pot-grown Strawberry Plants 
that will bear a full crop of 
fruit next year. Celery and 
Cabbage Plants. Full line of 
Fruit and Ornamental Stock. 
Write at once for our Summer 
and Autumn catalogue. It 
explains all. Fruit packages 
of all kinds for sale at low 
prices. T. J. DWYER & SON, 
Orange County Nurseries, Box 1, Cornwall, N. Y. 
RIMSON CLOVER SEED growers’ prices. 
ELERY PLANTS So” 
ABUAGE and Potted Strawberry Plants. 
Circular free. Slaymakee & Sox, Dover, Del. 
CELERY PLANTS. 
Strong field grown in eight varieties In any quan¬ 
tity. Extra selected stocky plants. $1.50 per 1,000 
cash. WM. 8. HERZOG, Morris Plains, N. J. 
CELERY PLANTS 
Grown by the acre on land especially adapted to 
them. With our system of growing and Irrigating, 
each plant is strong and stocky, with a large mass of 
fibrous roots. We ship safely to all parts of the 
United States and Canada. Varieties: White Plume, 
Golden Self-Blanching and Golden Heart. 
Price: 500,75c.; 1,000, $1.25; 5,000, $5. 
WILSON BROS. & CO.. Tecumseh. Mich. 
400,000 Premium Flat Dutch Cabbage 
Plants, $1 per 1,000 ; 5,000 for $4; 10,000 for $7.50; 
Pepper and Egg Plants, 30 cents per 100. 
CALEB BOGGS. Cheswold, Del. 
Plants 
Tomato, Celery, Cabbage, Pepper, 
etc. CHEAP IN LARGE LOTS. 
J. S. LINTH1CUM, Woodwardville. Md 
CELERY AND CABBAGE PLANTS FOR SALE. 
Leading varieties, carefully packed with moss in 
baskets, and delivered here at Express Office; 250 
plants for 00c.; 500 for 90c.; 1,000 for $1.50. Special 
price on quantities over 6,COO. Cash with order. Celery 
plants ready J illy 1. Early Cabbage plants ready now 
WOODLAND FARM, Canastota. Madison Co., N.Y 
JAPANESE BUCKWHEAT-;;, 
sample; most productive variety. Price, $1 per bushel, 
bags free JEROME R. RICE SEED CO., 
Cambridge Valley Seed Gardens, Cambridge, N. Y . 
THOS. McELROY, 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 
C rimson 
Clover. 
Genuine Delaware Seed, also other seeds for Summer 
sowing. Write for our Midsummer Catalogue. We 
send It Free. Henry A. Dreer, Philadelphia. 
School of Practical 
Agriculture and Horticulture. 
THE SMALL FARM WELL TILLED. 
To teach the art of Fruit Culture, Gardening, 
Landscape Gardening, Dairying and allied subjects, 
Greenhouses and Poultry. 
Course begins In September, and is open to men 
and women lor training in practical and scientific 
work. Address GEO. T. POWELL, Director, 
Briarcliff Manor. Westchester Co., N.Y. 
The Counter Edition of our 
Garden and Farm Manual 
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, 217 
Trees. Plants. 
We have all kinds of Nursery Stock. 
Catalogue Free. 
JOS. H. BLACK, SON & CO., 
HIGHTSTOWN, N. J. 
m 
IK TREES 74 YEARS. Larg- 
k est Nursery. Fruit Book free. We 
DAY CASH WEEKLY & want MORE 
1 /\ I home & traveling salesmen 
STARK BRO’S, L0U1S1ASA, M0.; Dansville.N.Y. 
10 
Peach Trees 
10 Apple, Plum or Pear 
80o.; 10 Dwarf Pear 60c.; 
10 Quince 75c.; 10 Grape, 
Gooseberry or Currant 
50c. Write Quickly. C. NURSERY AND ORCHARD 
CO., Charleston, W. Va. 
50c. 
1^1 yv I will send, by express or freight, 1 Paragon, 1 Alpha, 1 Parry’s 
TOr IPO Giant, 1 Early Reliance, 1 English Walnut, 1 Japan Walnut 
1 Pecan, 1 Bismarck Apple, 1 Dwarf Rocky Mt. Cherry, worth $8.20. Full line of 
Nursery Stock. Certificate. ARTHUR J. COLLINS, Moorestown, Burlington Co., N. J. 
O E" C" O SHRUBS, ROSES, 
I nLLW PLANTS, BULBS, 
KtC., sent out by the Storrs & Harrison Co., have been the standard of excellence 
for more than a generation. If you have any wants in these lines for the coming 
Fall write us for an estimate and get the best at bottom prices. Catalogue free. 
THE STORRS & HARRISON 00., - - Painesville, Ohio. 
