1900 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
Events of the Week. 
DOMESTIC.—A number of negroes who mutilated the 
dead at Galveston, in the effort to secure jewels, have 
been summarily shot. The extent of the disaster is far 
greater than first estimates, and the death list along the 
coast is now put officially at 8,000. The dead are being 
burned, as they are thrown up again on the shore when 
buried at sea. One train bound for Galveston during the 
storm was totally destroyed, and 85 passengers lost; a 
few escaped to a lighthouse. Fort San Jacinto was de¬ 
stroyed, and 31 soldiers killed.A Burlington 
train was held up September 12 near Haighler, N. D., and 
the occupants of the sleeping cars were robbed of $1,500 
in money and jewelry. The robber escaped.The 
business portion of Paris, Ont., including 30 stores and 
the public buildings, was destroyed by fire September 12. 
.... September 11-12, windstorms did extensive dam¬ 
age in various parts of the country. At Buffalo, N. Y., 
the damage is estimated to be nearly $1,000,000; the build¬ 
ings of the Pan-American Exposition, were damaged to 
the extent of $60,000. Near Erie, Pa., an ore barge 
foundered in Lake Erie; 12 lives lost. Chicago suffered 
severely from the wind. A number of wrecks were re¬ 
ported on the lakes, the wind reaching a velocity of 78 
miles an hour.In a railroad wreck at Mounds, 
Ill., September 12, nine members of a minstrel troupe 
were killed and six injured.Narragansett Pier, 
R. I., was visited by a destructive fire September 12, 
which caused a loss of $500,000.Detroit, Mich., 
had its entire water supply shut off September 12 through 
the bursting of a large water main.The recent 
great gale caused great destruction to shipping along the 
Newfoundland coast, and many lives were lost. The gale 
reached the north Atlantic September 13-14.The 
Merchants’ and Planters’ oil mill, at Houston, Tex., 
was destroyed by fire September 16. it was one of the 
largest cotton-seed oil plants in the South; loss $350,000. 
.... A trolley collision at Yonkers, N. Y., September 
16, injured 40 persons.The upsetting of a boat 
at Eau Claire, Wis., September 15, precipitated 18 lumber¬ 
men into the river, and six were drowned.A 
great coal strike began in the Pennsylvania mining re¬ 
gions September 14, 15,000 men going out. They were fol¬ 
lowed by others, and September 17 it was said that more 
than 100,000 men had decided to strike.Septem¬ 
ber 17, the burning of a building in Cincinnati, O., used 
by the Salvation Army as a nursery and kindergarten, 
caused the death of six persons.The losses by 
forest fires in Hancock County, Me., are estimated at 
$75,000. The iiames ate so deeply into the earth that lum¬ 
bermen say it will not support another growth of timber 
in 75 years.An Indian outbreak is threatened 
in San Miguel County, Col. The Utes are stealing range 
horses and threaten to murder citizens when molested. 
.... Shipwrecked crews aggregating 79 persons have 
been brought from Belle Isle Straits, where 42 fishing 
vessels are ashore. Immense stocks of codfish have been 
lost with the shipping.A fire at Spring Lake, 
N. J., September 19, destroyed three hotels, eight cottages 
and eight stores, the loss being $35U,U00. 
CUBA.—The elections for delegates to the Constitutional 
Convention have resulted in favor of the black party 
throughout Santiago Province, and the whites now openly 
declare themselves to be annexationists. Ten thousand 
colored men, who had worked themselves up almost to a 
frenzy, and wearing badges containing a skull and cross 
bones, signifying death to the Republican party, paraded 
through the principal streets of the city September 17, 
carrying tallow candles and torches. A mock funeral of 
the Republican party was held September 18, and was 
attended by about 1,000 colored persons. The white peo¬ 
ple are cautious, and are avoiding conilicts. 
PHILIPPINES.—Active operations against the insur¬ 
gents have been resumed. September 12-19 there was an 
increase of insurgent aggression near Manila, along the 
railroad? The natives of Manila are restless, and many 
are leading the city. There was a sharp engagement at 
Siniloan, Laguna de Bay, in which 90 Americans met with 
1,000 intrenched Filipinos. Our loss was 12 killed, 26 
wounded, and five missing. The Manila mail escort was 
attacked at Cabugao Lake, a two-hours’ fight resulting. 
In the Province of Neuva Ecija ration wagons with an 
escort of 12 men were attacked, the wagons burned, and 
five of the escort are missing. 
GENERAL FOREIGN NEWS.—President Kruger has 
fled from the Transvaal to Portuguese territory, and will 
sail from Lorenzo Marquez to Europe. Fighting still 
continues.The Powers in China have agreed to 
insist upon a stable central government, and that full 
retribution shall be exacted for the attacks on the le¬ 
gations.Five fresh cases of bubonic plague ap¬ 
peared in Glasgow, Scotland, September 17. It is confi¬ 
dently asserted that plague has been present in southern 
France, news concerning it being suppressed to avoid 
injury to the Paris Exposition. So far, there have been 
23 deaths from the disease in Glasgow. 
FARM AND GARDEN.—September 12, a strong wind 
blew down the poultry tent at the Dutchess County Fair, 
Poughkeepsie, N. Y. Under the tent were many fancy 
fowls, and the loss was considerable, as much of the 
stock was killed or injured. The pigeons escaped, and 
for several minutes the air was filled with them. 
William Saunders, Chief of the United States Experi¬ 
ment Gardens at Washington, D. C., died September 12, 
aged 78. He was called the Father of the Grangers, and 
was widely known as a landscape gardener; among other 
famous places, he designed and laid out Fairmount 
Park, Philadelphia, and the National Cemetery Grounds 
at Gettysburg. Mr. Saunders was a native of Scotland. 
In point of service he was, at the time of his death, the 
oldest employee of the Department of Agriculture. 
Up to September 1, American exhibitors in the horti¬ 
cultural competitions at the Paris Exposition had re¬ 
ceived 96 awards; 41 first prizes, 31 second, 14 third, and 
10 honorable mention. 
The Southern California Walnut Growers’ Association 
has increased prices for this year’s crop. 
Reports from Virginia assert that there will be a short¬ 
age in the peanut crop in consequence of the dry 
weather. The average estimate is from one-half to two- 
thirds the ordinary crop. 
Forest fires in the neighborhood of Plymouth, Mass., 
were extinguished by heavy rains September 16. They 
have ruined many acres of cranberries. 
The Wheatland annual plowing match took place on the 
farm of William Stark, near Naperville, Ill., September 
15. In spite of a heavy rain more than 4,000 spectators 
were prese»* and there were 18 contestants. 
APPLE GROWING IN NORTH CAROLINA. 
“the land of the sky.” 
The Country, Varieties and Culture. 
Part I. 
THE COUNTRY.—Western North Carolina or “The 
Land of the Sky,” as it has been not inappropriately 
designated, is an elevated plateau lying between the 
Blue Ridge range on the east and the Alleghenies on 
the west. It embraces 13 counties and has an area of 
a little more than 6,000 square miles, it is a well- 
watered and fertile region from which issue the head¬ 
waters of the Tennessee. Many of these streams are 
rivers; many of them are cold and clear brooks, flow¬ 
ing through wild gorges and beautiful valleys. The 
valleys have an elevation ranging from 1,500 to 3,000 
feet, and more above sea in level. Not only do they 
possess fertility, but nearly all the mountains also are 
clothed in verdure from base to summit—a peculiar¬ 
ity of this region, which causes travelers familiar 
with the Alps to say that for perennial oeauty “The 
Land of the Sky” surpasses all others. Quite a num¬ 
ber of the mountain peaks tower above any summits 
east of tue Rockies. Its flora is not only abundant, 
but, in the opinion of Prof. Asa Gray, the great bo¬ 
tanist (a frequent visitor and explorer of this fair 
region), it is more varied than can be found in any 
other part of the United States. 
AN APPLE REGION.—In soil and climate ic is well 
adapted to the production of the fruits usually grown 
in temperate regions. Remoteness from large mar¬ 
kets, however, makes the production of Winter apples 
especially remunerative, and to this branch of fruit¬ 
growing it is particularly adapted. Prof. Van Deman, 
formerly United States Pomologist, a man of long 
experience in fruit-growing, of wide observation and 
excellent judgment, visited this region in tue Summer 
of 1339, and made a thorough investigation of its re¬ 
sources. In his subsequent Annual Report he says: 
"There is no portion of our country that in soil and 
climate is better adapted to the growing of choice 
Winter apples.” 1 have frequently sent to tne Pomo- 
logical Department in Washington specimens of 
apples, including the famous Newtown or Albemarle 
Pippin, which can be successfully grown only in a 
few favored regions. These specimens were charac¬ 
terized by Prof. Van Deman and his successors as 
lully equal, and in some instances even superior, to 
any of the kind which they had ever seen. If it be 
true that apple-orcharding is being “overdone” in 
some parts of the country, as some assert, it is safe to 
say that the business is only in its infancy with us. 
This fact will appear when one considers carefully the 
admirable adaptation of our soil and climate to the 
production of apples of the highest quality, the com¬ 
parative accessibility of markets, the increase of pop¬ 
ulation in our cities and manufacturing centers, and 
the growing appreciation of fruits among our peo¬ 
ple. At present we are not growing apples that in 
quantity or quality meet the demands of the market 
in our own State, and in the States immediately 
south of us. 
WHEN TO PLANT.—The best locations for or¬ 
chards are at the foot of the mountains and in the 
midst of them. The greater elevation affords some 
protection against late frosts in the Spring. In such 
locations one is apt to find dark, loamy soil, which 
is best suited to the production of fine fruit. Al¬ 
though there may be at times a superabundance of 
rocks in such soil, this is not a serious objection. The 
rocks do not prevent a fine development in the trees, 
and they help to hold the land against washing rains 
when it is steep. What are known as mountain 
“coves” are, when fertile, ideal locations. But in 
seeking a location one should carefully avoid choos¬ 
ing land just above the heads of springs. Apple trees 
will not thrive in wet soil, though they require a good 
deal of moisture. 
SUMMER AND FALL FRUIT.—In orchards devoted 
to marketing in this region the production of Sum¬ 
mer apples should be rarely undertaken, and then 
only in very limited quantities, ready access to mar¬ 
kets in large cities being essential to success. Even 
Fall varieties should be grown to a limited extent 
only, for the market is sometimes overloaded and, 
inasmuch as such fruit cannot be kept long, it must 
be sold at a sacrifice. Commercial orchards of this 
region should contain mainly a few varieties of Win¬ 
ter apples. The multiplication of varieties is useless, 
for a few kinds carefully selected meet the demands 
of the market better. I give a short list which I 
think ample for our purposes. 
661 
WHAT VARIETIES—In making such list several 
years ago, I began with the Newtown Pippin and end¬ 
ed with the Ben Davis. At this time I shall reverse 
the order, for experience has shown that the Ben 
Davis leads all others as the apple for the general 
market. The tree is about all that one could desire, 
being vigorous, healthy and especially free from fun¬ 
gous diseases. It is an early and abundant bearer, 
and by blooming late it frequently escapes late frosts 
when others suffer. The apple is of good size, excep¬ 
tionally uniiorm and of a beautiful colox*. It is little 
injured uy the Codling moth, and holds much the 
same position in our mountain region, as well as in 
the Middle States, that the Baldwin holds in the far 
North. For a long time I believed that us flavor 
would sooner or later seriously injure it in the mar¬ 
ket. But the facts are against that opinion. The 
mass of the buyers are rather guided by the eye than 
by tne palate in making their selection. A critical 
taste is me exception. And besides many prefer a 
mellow apple of rather neutral flavor. To all such a 
x-ipe Ben Davis is admirably suited. 
THE WINESAP is a widely-gi’own and deservedly 
popular apple. It is beautiful, of high quality, and, 
when grown under favorable conditions, of good size. 
But fertility of soil is essential to continued success, 
as otherwise the apple will lack size, color and qual¬ 
ity. The tree is inclined to overbear in good seasons. 
In such an event the fruit must be thinned to pre¬ 
vent injury in the size, color and quality or the apple; 
and the exhaustion of tne tree. This variety is strag- 
ling in the growth both of root and top, and requires 
careful trimming. The leaf is small and thin. It is 
also susceptible to fungus diseases which cause feeble 
growtn ana scab in the apple. But these evils can be 
easily prevented by spraying. Two seedlings of it are 
now being introduced that, it is claimed, overcome 
all of the defects of the parent in tree and fruit. They 
are Stayman and Arkansas, or Mammoth Black Twig. 
I have not fully tested them as yet, and can only say 
that they fully overcome all defects in the tree. I 
never saw more vigorous trees. The fruit of the Ar¬ 
kansas is an that could be desired. The apples are of 
uniform ze. They are virtually very large Winesaps 
and better keepers than the original stock. But it 
seems to ue slow in coming into bearing, and so far 
with me has not proved productive. 
Haywood Co., N. C. geo. m. boggs. 
ORCHARD INSECTS.—Taking the tent-caterpillars 
off our apple trees this week I found a great number 
of another species equally destructive. These have 
no web, but stay in dense clusters until near matur¬ 
ity, when they scatter over the tree. They have a 
curious habit when at rest of raising both ends of 
the body, holding on with the four pairs of pro-legs. 
They are covered with long, weak white hairs. Heads 
jet black, bodies reddish brown or black with long, 
regular longitudinal stripes, nearly white. When full 
grown about two inches long. As they are while 
young in masses generally on the ends of limbs, it 
is easy tc take them off, but need early attention, or 
they will soon strip the tree of leaves. As they were 
of various sizes from those just hatched to those 
about ready to pupate, it is evident the trees should 
be visited several times to destroy them promptly. 
In short, the orchard should be examined once a week 
all Summer for such things, though my conscience re¬ 
minds me it is easier to preach than to practice. 
Bucyrus, Kan. f. e. h. 
THIN SEEDING FOR WHEAT.—Do we use more 
seed wheat than is necessary? Last Fall the Pennsyl¬ 
vania State College sent me a peck of a new wheat 
for trial. It was late, and all our wheat ground was 
occupied, so we husked some corn, moved the fodder 
and harrowed the surface mellow with a spring¬ 
toothed barrow and drilled the wheat on October 11; 
the peck on one-fourth of an acre. Some $20 fertil¬ 
izer was used, 500 pounds per acre, perhaps. Besides 
it with a biank space between, was seeded an acre of 
Poole wheat for comparison, two bushels per acre. 
The new wheat—I do not care to give the name— 
looked so thin and me ground was low and heavy, 
that when the snow was on it we spread thinly, but 
very evenly, fresh stable manure on it. The other 
was not so treated. In tne Spring about 150 pounds 
nitrate of soda was sown over the two plots. The 
acre of Poole wheat made 28 bushels of nice, plump 
grain. The one-fourth-acre of trial wheat made 10 
bushels and 20 pounds, after recleaning. Enough was 
scattered about in handling to have made up 10% 
bushels, or 42 per acre. Our average yield this har¬ 
vest was 30 bushels; the highest yield we ever had 
before was 34 bushels. Our seed runs from 1% bush¬ 
el to two bushels per acre. Was it the light applica¬ 
tion of stable manure, the variety of wheat or the 
thin seeding that increased the yield? We always 
depend on commercial fertilizers for wheat, never on 
barnyard manure. ytm. t. smedley. 
Chester Co., Pa. 
