672 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
October 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 paper.] 
San Jose Scale on Pears. 
F. B., Columbia, Pa .—I have sent you by 
mail two Seckel pears that are affected 
with some disease unknown to me. I tried 
several remedies, and I lost several dwarf 
trees. I have some large Duchess pears 
affected the same way. What is it? 
Ans. —Fig 250 represents one of the 
pears sent by F. B. It required but a 
glance at the fruit to determine that it 
was badly infested by that dreaded 
enemy, the San Jos6 scale. Rather large, 
dark blotches or spots with a small 
lighter center are to be seen on the 
fruit. The dark spots were bright red 
in color on the specimen, and are usual¬ 
ly the result of the work of this scale 
on the fruit, or light-colored bark on 
branches. Such fruit is a bad advertise¬ 
ment for a fruit-grower, and it should 
never be put on the market for sale. The 
San Josd scale is now so widely dis¬ 
tributed that such spotted fruit is be¬ 
coming too common. I do not wonder 
that the trees which are bearing such 
badly-infested fruit are dying. There 
must be millions of the little scales 
pumping out the life of the tree on the 
trunk and branches. 
I would cut down and burn at once 
such badly-infested trees. Doubtless 
nearby trees are also more or less in¬ 
fested with this dreaded scale, and 
prompt measures should be taken. As 
soon as the fruit is picked from these 
slightly-infestcu trees, I would drench 
them with a spray of whale-oil soap, 
using one pound in two gallons of water, 
or use a kerowater pump, using about 
20 per cent of kerosene. Then this Win¬ 
ter I would treat the trees with crude 
petroleum, using it in a kerowater 
pump, if possible, at a strength of about 
25 or 30 per cent of the petroleum. Pos¬ 
sibly the trees would stand an applica¬ 
tion of undiluted crude petroleum, but 
it is risky to apply it undiluted; some 
fruit trees in New York were badly in¬ 
jured by using it undiluted last Winter. 
A safer but perhaps not so elective an 
application tnat can be applied in Win¬ 
ter is to drench the bark with a whale- 
oil-soap solution, using it as strong as 
two pounds in a gallon of water. One 
should first heavily prune the trees, 
burning the prunings, and if the trees 
are small the soap can be applied with 
a brush, but usually with a good brand 
of soap one can spray it on when slight¬ 
ly warm. If many scales survive a thor¬ 
ough Winter treatment, and some will 
survive, then spray the trees at intervals 
of three or four weeks during the grow¬ 
ing season with a kerowater spray of 20 
per cent kerosene, or with whale-oil 
soap, one pound in two gallons of water; 
these Summer treatments are to kill the 
young scales as they hatch. Complete 
extermination without burning the trees 
is doubtful in an orchard, but one can 
hold the pest in check and reduce its 
injury to the minimum by intelligent 
thorough work. m. v. slingerland. 
The Civil Service Examination. 
Reader, Alma, N. T .—How may I obtain 
full particulars in regard to civil service 
examinations? 
Ans. —The first thing to be done by 
anyone desiring to take a civil service 
examination is to write to the Civil Ser¬ 
vice Commission at Washington, D. C., 
for application blanks and a pamphlet 
giving full particulars. Nearly all ques¬ 
tions that may be asked are answered 
somewhere in this pamphlet, and it 
should be read very carefully. As might 
be expected, a great amount of work is 
required to keep the records of all ap¬ 
plications for examinations, changes, 
etc. Certain rules have been made to 
handle this work to best advantage, and 
all who have correspondence with the 
Commission should follow out the in¬ 
structions given in this pamphlet and 
the blanks which they will receive. In 
this way misunderstandings and delays 
will be avoided. At some seasons of the 
year there may be a few days’ delay in 
answering letters, but it is best to wait 
a reasonable time before writing again, 
thus saving confusion. Few properly- 
directed letters go astray in the mails. 
It is not necessary to send stamps to the 
Commission for return postage, as all 
of its matter is sent in the free Govern¬ 
ment envelopes; and there is no use in 
writing to Members of Congress or oth¬ 
er officials in Washington in the hope 
of getting special favors or more prompt 
action from the Commission. The chief 
object of the Civil Service Commission 
is to give merit a chance and do away 
with unfair favoritism. Some of the po¬ 
sitions to be filled by those who pass ex¬ 
aminations are: aid in coast and geo¬ 
detic survey; assistant microscopist; as¬ 
sistant patent examiner; civil, electrical 
and mechanical engineer; eiectrotyper; 
clerk; teacher; hospital steward; trained 
nurse; stenographer and typewriter; 
meat inspector; observer in Weather 
Bureau; pressman; railway mail clerk; 
seamstress in Indian service; bookbind¬ 
er, and guard. Persons who are debarred 
from taking examinations are those who 
are not citizens of the United States; 
physically disqualified for the service 
sought; addicted to the habitual use of 
intoxicants to excess; guilty of crime or 
disgraceful conduct, or of deceit in any 
manner in connection with an applica¬ 
tion or examination; or who have been 
dismissed from public service for de¬ 
linquency or misconduct within one year 
preceding date of application. Certain 
persons claim to have special informa¬ 
tion which will be of material aid to 
those who wish to pass examinations. 
The Commission states that “No person 
has any information of importance to 
applicants concerning examinations 
which cannot be obtained without cost 
by request to the Commission.” The 
pamphlets sent to applicants contain a 
large number of questions on various 
subjects, giving the student a good idea 
of the scope of the examinations. Those 
who expect to get through in good shape 
shou.a do some hard work in subjects 
in which they are deficient. 
How to Kill Crows. 
17., Virginia .—Crows are greatly injuring 
my sweet corn and canteloupes, and have 
completely destroyed my watermelons. 
What can I feed them to induce permanent 
slumber? Patience exhausted, I want some¬ 
thing to kill outright. 
Ans. —It is with many misgivings that 
I offer a suggestion as to how crows may 
be killed, for it has been demonstrated 
that a crow usually gets only three per 
cent of his food from the cornfields, 
while he eats nine times as much of in¬ 
jurious insects during the year. But U. 
presents an extreme case, where it seems 
that it is necessary to kill some of the 
birds as a warning to the others. I 
never before heard of crows damaging 
melons. It is said that crows are easily 
killed by scattering about kernels of 
corn which have been soaked for several 
hours in some poison solution, like 
strychnine or corrosive sublimate. But 
we should remember that by any poison 
method yet devised, only a few crows 
are killed. The general disappearance 
which so often follows the use of strych¬ 
nine must be attributed, it is said, 
mainly to the crow’s intelligence; the 
mysterious death of a few serves as a 
warning to the many survivors, who 
promptly quit the locality. 
M. V. SLINGERLAND. 
We grow Sanford corn for silage, and 
have harvested 26 tons per acre of It. 
Learning is on trial now, and promising 
well. The Sanford is a gross feeder and 
heavy yielder on heavy soils. 
Mass. Exp. Station. G. m. gowell. 
SEED POTATOES. 
FULL LIST. PURE STOCK. 
We want good reliable Agents to take orders. 
LIBERAL COMMISSIONS. Address 
LECLARE & MANNING, Farnj 8eeds, Brighton, N.Y. 
Fall is the Best Time 
TO PLANT all the Trees, Plants, Vines and 
Shrubs, both Fruit and Ornamental, that are 
listed. See our Autumn Catalogue. Send for it 
at once. The prices are right. 
T. J. DWYER & SON, 
Orange County Nurseries. Box 1, Cornwall, N.Y. 
Dill DC F OR FALL 
DULDO PLANTING. 
Hyacinths, Tulips, Crocus. Narcissus, Lillies, &c. 
Our New Hull) Catalogue is sent free to all. 
Besides giving much interesting information this 
book Is bound in beautiful covers, showing the 
Spanish Iris. Jonquils and Narcissus in their natural 
coiors. Write to-day for a copy. 
HENRY A. DREER, Philadelphia, Pa. 
200,000 Peach Trees. 
We oiler a choice lot of Peach trees, grown from 
Tennessee pits. These trees are healthy and flne. 
Address STEPHEN HOYT’S SONS. New Canaan. Ct. 
200,000 Peach 
HEADQUARTERS FOR 
YORK IMPERIAL and KIEFFER. 
One tree to a carload. 
Business trees at business prices. (They are bear¬ 
ers.) Inducements to Peach buyers. Let us 
quote you on your want list. 
WOODVIEW NURSERIES. Box 100, Uriah. Pa. 
Our Fruit Trees Grow 
We have thousands of all the best varie¬ 
ties of TREES and PLANTS. Full descrip¬ 
tion in our Catalogue—it ’11 free. Send for 
it to-day. We can gave you money. 
Address 
HIGHLAND NURSERY CO., Rochester, N.Y. 
HSGRAPE VINES 
100 Varletlew. Also Small Fruits, Treei,Ao. Best root¬ 
ed stock.Genuine, cheap. J® sample vines mailed for l«r. 
Descripti .e price-list free. LKWI8 liOKSCH, Fredonla* N.T. 
a Grape Vines 
Descriptive and Price List free. 
Currants, Gooseberries and other Small 
Fruit Plants. Extra quality. Warranted true. 
T. S. HUBBARD CO., FREDONIA, N. Y. 
ForestTrees. ForestTrees, 
Sugar. Norway. Sycamore, Silverleaf, and other 
Maples by the 1,000 or 10,000. Also Lindens, Poplars, 
Elms, Willows, Mountain Ash, Birch, etc., in large 
quantities, and Shrubbery by the acre. We can fur¬ 
nish trees from one to three inches in diameter. 
Address STEPHEN HOYT’S SONS, New Canaan, Ct. 
October Purple Plum Trees. 
The best of all of Mr. Burbank's Plums. We offer 
a large stuck of flne trees, one and two years old 
Address STEPHEN HOYT’S SONS. New Canaan, Ct. 
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 , 2 Pill LAIiEI^PH 
A||UCCMft—Bookftll'aboutIt4c. Tellshowto 
prow this if root money maker. 
Write to-day. AMERICAN GINSENG GARDENS, Rose Hill. N. T. 
GINSENG 
We are extensive growers, 
and make a specialty of 
Seed and Plants 
Book telling how to grow Thousands of Dollars’ 
worth in your garden or orchard sent Free for stamp 
LAKESIDE GINSENG GARDENS, Amber, N. Y, 
TQCEC at Wholesale prices. Apple, Plum 
I nCCO and Pears at $8 per 100. Don’t buy any 
kind of stock until vou get our prices. Catalogue 
Free. RELIANCE NURSERY, Box 10, Geneva, N. Y. 
STA P 
STAI 
K TREES succeed where 
Largest Nursery. OTHERS FAIL. 
Fruit Book Free. Result of 7f> years* experience. 
STARK BROS., Louisiana, Mo.; Dansville, N.Y. 
Illustrated Catalogue 
of Choice Evergreens, 
_Shrubs, Fruit and other 
Trees, Roses, Water Lillies, etc. Prices 
low. Heautify your home at small expense. 
E. S. PETERSON & SONS. Box IS, Montrose, New York. 
Trees. Plants. 
We have all kinds of Nursery Stock. 
Catalogue Free. 
JOS. H. BLACK, SON & CO., 
HIGHTSTOWN, N. J. 
BALDWIN 
York Imperial. 3 years, flne. List 
Free. C. D. Wkngkk. Dayton. Va. 
C*T7T?rv l~Y T 7"fT— Very flne. extra 
Cl P. P. I 3 X\. JL l* 1 - heavy, well ma¬ 
tured. Will guar¬ 
antee 99 per cent to germinate. While stock lasts 
will fill all orders, bags Included, for 90 cents per 
bushel, or 80 cents per bushel in 10-bushel lots, or 
over. A rare chance to get good seed cheap. Quan 
tity limited. Order quick. 
\V. F. ALLEN, Salisbury, Mil. 
M AMMOTH White Winter SEED RYE 
—Noted for its productiveness both in grain 
and straw; awarded first prizes at several N. Y. State 
and American Institute Fairs. Also first at theTenn. 
Centennial, Mo.. Vt. and Mass. State Fairs. Price. II. 
per bushel. Send for illustration. Refer by permls- 
sion to Thk It. N.-Y. E. L. CLARKSON. Tivoli. N. Y- 
AULIFLOWER SEED 
High grade Danish seed by mail, direct from the 
grower In Denmark, to your nddress, postpaid. 
Danish Snowball, oz. 50c loz. 81.50 1 lb. 818.00 
Dwarf Erfurt. J4 oz. 65c 1 ox. 81.85 1 lb. 822.00 
KAHLKOLLE, 840 E. Fullerton Av. Chicago, Ill. 
BEw»p.e 
THE C 
Or- *] 
P EOPLE steal your fruit because they like it. 
They don’t steal burdocks and Canada 
thistles. Our business is to grow and sell 
plants, vines and trees TRUE TO NAME. 
Now is the Time to Plant. 
Save half your money by dealing direct with the 
producer. Everything for the orchard, garden 
and park. Specialties : Apple, pear, plum, cherry, 
quince and peach trees. New Fall Catalogue sent 
free on application ; also “ Plum Culture.” 
GREEN’S NURSERY CO., 
BOX B, ROCHESTER, N. Y. 
For $ 2 , I will send by express or freight, i Alpha, i Parry’s 
Giant, i Early Reliance and i Paragon chestnut tree grafted, 
worth $ 3 . 25 . Full line of Nursery Stock. Certificate. 
ARTHUR J. COLLIN8 Moorestown, Burlington CouDty, N. J 
TREES 
etc., advertise themselves. The best always 
cheapest. Have hundreds of car loads of 
Fruits and Ornamentals. 
40 acres of 'Tardy Roses. 44 greenhouses of Palms, 
Ficus, Ferns. Roses, etc. Correspondence solicited. 
Catalogue free. 47th year. 1000 acres. 
THE S5TORRS & HARRISON CO„ Painesville, O. 
