1*00 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
757 
Events of the Week. 
DOMESTIC.—October 24, a fire and several explosions 
occurred in one of the filling houses and magazines at 
the Government proving grounds, Indian Head, Md. 
No one was injured, and the loss was comparatively 
small.Another feud has broken out in Clay 
County, Kentucky, between the Philpots and the deputy 
sheriffs under Sheriff Ben White, headed by the friends 
of Felix Davidson, on the other side. In a fight October 
22, David Davidson and David Philpot were killed. 
The explosion of a gasoline stove in Philadelphia, Pa., 
October 26, killed one woman and injured five others. 
. ... A fierce electrical rainstorm at Winona, Minn., 
October 27, did great property damage, all the railroads 
entering the city suffering from washouts.Two 
miners who entered a colliery shaft near PIttston, Pa., 
October 27, to prepare for resumption of work, were 
killed by an explosion of gas.The Yukon In¬ 
dians in Alaska have been suffering from an epidemic 
that resembles a combination of pneumonia, typhoid 
fever and measles, and 50 per cent of the tribe are dead. 
The plague has been general all along the coast of Bering 
Sea and the river, and famine now threatens, as the 
natives have been unable to lay up provisions for the 
Winter.Cornelius L. Alvord, the defaulting 
note teller of the First National Bank of New York, who 
stole $700,000, was arrested in Boston October 29, and 
brought back to New York for trial.October 
29, fire in the big drug house of Tarrant & Co., in the 
down-town business section of New York, resulted in a 
frightful explosion, which wrecked two whole blocks, in¬ 
cluding 15 buildings, the property loss being estimated 
at $1,500,000. More than 100 persons were injured, and 20 
estimated killed. The station of the Ninth Avenue Ele¬ 
vated Railroad was wrecked and traffic stopped. Many 
persons injured by glass and other fragments were sev¬ 
eral blocks away. Great buildings rocked from the force 
of the shock, the first impression through the lower part 
of the city being that of an earthquake. The condition 
of the ruins makes the search for bodies slow. Up to 
October 31 six bodies had been found, and 14 persons were 
still unaccounted for. Judicial inquiry will be made as to 
the explosives stored in the drug store.Seven 
passengers were killed and 20 injured in a wreck on the 
Northern Pacific Railroad at De Hart, Mont., October 28. 
. . . . An explosion of acetylene gas, which was to be 
used for a stereopticon entertainment, wrecked the in¬ 
terior of the First Presbyterian Church at Austin, a sub¬ 
urb of Chicago, October 27. The operator, recently re¬ 
turned from mission work in India, lost his right hand 
and sustained other injuries.An attempt at es¬ 
cape was made October 29 by two burglars confined in the 
prison attached to the Seventh District Court, New York 
City. The result was the murder of Hugh McGovern, 
the keeper, the serious wounding of George Wilson, a 
“trusty,” and the death of one of the escaping prisoners. 
The other got away. The prisoners who committed the 
murder and left the prison were Arthur Flannigan, 19 
vears old, and Frank Emerson, alias Johnson, 22 years 
old. Both were colored. Emerson dropped from the sec¬ 
ond story window of the prison on to a pile of railroad 
iron and crushed his skull, dying instantly.Oc¬ 
tober 30, four highwaymen held up and killed Henry C. 
Hosier, paymaster of the Southwest Cornellsville Coke 
Company, near Alverton, Pa. Accompanied by a negro 
guard named Burgess, Hosier was taking $12,000 to the 
Alverton plant of the company to be paid out to the 
employees. At a lonely spot in the mountain road four 
men armed with revolvers and huge dirk knives sprang 
from behind the bushes and called upon the paymaster 
to halt. One of the bandits seized the horse’s bridle and 
the others rushed toward the wagon. Hosier and Bur¬ 
gess were each armed with a Winchester rifle. Quick as 
a flash the negro guard aimed and fired at the man who 
held the horse. His lifeless body dropped in the road. 
Before Hosier could fire bullets from the other three re¬ 
volvers pierced his body and he fell dead. The negro 
guard held the robbers at bay, and escaped. The coke 
workers at Alverton hunted for the robbers, killed two, 
and captured the last one alive.An explosion of 
gas October 30 in the Kingston Company’s mine at Ed- 
wardsvllle. Pa., killed three men and fatally injured sev¬ 
eral others. 
PHILIPPINES.—General MacArthur reported October 
26 from Manila details of an engagement in Northern 
Luzon on Wednesday, when a force, of 100 Americans at¬ 
tacked a position held by 1,400 Filipinos. The Americans 
were obliged to withdraw, losing five killed, including 
Lieutenant Febiger, four missing and nine wounded. 
The Filipinos lost over 150 killed.The Philippine 
Commission has prepared and will soon promulgate a new 
customs tariff for the Islands.A scouting party 
was ambushed near Loac, October 27, and a sharp fight 
ensued, lasting two hours. The rebels were led by a 
white man. 
GENERAL FOREIGN NEWS.—Washington advices 
state that the great nations of the world are practically 
in accord as to the indemnity demands to be made on 
China, and that the amount agreed upon is $200,000,000, 
the largest sum ever demanded by one nation from an¬ 
other. It is expected that China will agree to the pun¬ 
ishment of the guilty leaders in the late insurrection. A 
special dispatch from Shanghai says a battle was fought 
between imperial troops and rebels October 23, and that 
the rebels were ultimately routed, 600 of them being 
slaughtered.The Allies entered Paoting-fu Oc¬ 
tober 23, the force consisting of French, Germans, Italians 
and English. Three English missionaries were rescued; 
several others had been slain with fearful barbarity. 
Thousands of native converts were massacred. 
Caracas, Venezuela, was visited by an earthquake Octo¬ 
ber 29; 13 persons were killed and many more injured. 
FARM AND GARDEN.—The following dairy societies 
will hold their annual meetings as given below: South 
Dakota, De Smet, December 4-5; Indiana, Hobart, De¬ 
cember 5-6; Massachusetts Creamery, Easthampton, De¬ 
cember 19-20; Vermont, Burlington, January 8-10, 1901; 
Eastern Ontario, Elgin, January 9-11; Connecticut, Hart¬ 
ford, January 15-16; Wisconsin Cheese-makers, Madison, 
January 23-25; Michigan, Lansing, February 6-6; Wis¬ 
consin, Mondovi, February 12-16; Creamery Buttermakers, 
St. Paul, February 18-22. 
Albert T. Dow, proprietor of an alleged illicit oleomar¬ 
garine factory in Chicago, which recently was raided, 
was arrested in that city October 26. The taxes on the 
oleomargarine alleged to have been evaded from Febru¬ 
ary 1, 1896, to October 15, 1900, amount to $25,000. 
The agricultural and mechanical engineering depart¬ 
ments of the University of Illinois at Champaign began 
making unusual tests on farm machinery October 25. The 
test began with a Port Huron steam engine and separa¬ 
tor for thrashing grain. They made three friction tests, 
the first with the engine alone, the second with the en¬ 
gine and separator, and the third with the engine, sep¬ 
arator and self-stacker. When these tests were com¬ 
pleted they measured the power required for thrashing 
oats and wheat. 
American fruit of the crop of 1900, exhibited at the 
Paris Exposition, left New York Wednesday, September 
26, and arrived at Paris Friday, October 5, the actual 
time of transit being eight days, 18 hours. The display 
is said to be the finest yet made in the American section. 
Up to October 15, American fruit had received 66 first 
prizes, 55 second, 14 third, and 10 honorable mention, 
making a total of 145. 
The Columbus (O.) Horticultural Society held its regu¬ 
lar monthly meeting at the State University October 27. 
Addresses were given by L. K. Sutton, Prof. J. S. Hine, 
and Prof. Wm. R. Lazenby. 
Owing to the fact that the date of the Nebraska State 
Dairy meeting, as fixed by law, is December 18-20, it has 
been thought wise to change the date of the Missouri 
meeting to December 20-22. This is done so as to give 
those who want to attend both conventions a chance to 
do so. The Missouri meeting will, therefore, begin Thurs¬ 
day, December 20, the day the Nebraska meeting closes. 
Arrangements are being made which will insure a big 
meeting, one which Missouri dairymen cannot afford to 
miss. 
The Idaho Inter-Mountain Fair was held at Boise Octo¬ 
ber 8-13. It was a great success, and will be of much 
benefit to live stock and agricultural interests. 
The East Tennessee Horticultural Society has appoint¬ 
ed a committee of three to prepare bills, to be presented 
before the next Legislature, providing for the appoint¬ 
ment of a State entomologist, and for the control of in¬ 
sect pests in the orchard. 
The Southern Poultry Association will meet at Mem¬ 
phis, Tenn., January 7-12, 1901. 
The Ohio State Grange will meet at Akron December 
11-13; secretary, R. L. Holman, Springfield, O. 
The Maryland State Horticultural Society will meet at 
Baltimore December 19-21; secretary, Prof. W. G. John¬ 
son, College Park, Md. 
The Vermont State Bee Keepers’ Association will meet 
at Brandon, December 5-6; secretary, M. Cram, West 
Brookfield, Vt. 
The Central Illinois Horticultural Society will meet 
at Canton November 20-21; secretary, H. Augustine, Nor¬ 
mal, Ill. 
.The Agricultural and Experimental Convention will be 
held at Guelph, Ontario, December 10-11. 
The Southern Illinois Horticultural Society will meet at 
Kinmundy December 4-5; secretary, E. G. Mendenhall, 
Kinmundy, Ill. 
The New Hampshire State Dairy Association will meet 
at Lancaster December 4-5; secretary, W. D Baker 
Quincy, Ill. 
The Missouri State University will give a short Winter 
course in agriculture and horticulture. This course will 
begin January 1 , 1901, and continue daily, except Sun¬ 
days, until March 22, 1901. It is designed to meet the 
needs of young men who cannot afford the time or money 
necessary for a full college course in agriculture, and 
yet desire better preparation for their life work. 
PRICES FOR WESTERN NURSERY STOCk. 
It has been reported that western nurserymen are to 
advance the prices of stock from 50 to 75 per cent. The 
following notes from western nurseymen will tell the 
true story: 
Prices of nursery stock were higher last Spring than in 
late years, and no doubt they will remain up at a fair 
figure, but I do not believe that an advance of 50 to 75 
per cent is contemplated by the trade. I am constantly 
leceiving letters, circulars and price lists offering stock 
at fair prices. Profits of fruit growers are not such that 
they would buy stock at any large advance over prices 
in the past. E. A. Riehl. 
Illinois. 
The nurserymen generally throughout the country ap¬ 
preciate that good stock of apples and cherry, also 
Kieffer pear, etc., is scarce, and the price will be a little 
higher. Most other things will range in price about the 
same as last year. We have heard of no such talk as ad¬ 
vancing prices 50 to 75 per cent, and we think you may 
safely say that there is no truth in such a statement. 
It is a question of supply and demand. 
Missouri. Stark Bros. Nurseries & Orchards Co. 
I here has been an advance in the price of nursery 
stock, both wholesale and retail. The advance in cherries 
has been nearly 50 per cent, but I think 25 per cent would 
cover the advance for this year in other stock. The 
Winter of 1898-9 destroyed a large number of apple trees 
and grapevines, consequently there is a good demand 
for stock in these. The advance in cherry trees seems 
to be a kind of reaction from the extremely low prices 
of a few years ago; owing to this low price and also 
to the great advance in the price of budding stock the 
propagation of the cherry has been greatly restricted 
the last two or three years. Finally the great prosperity 
of the western farmer makes it easy to sell at good 
prices. Iowa State Nursery Co. 
There is no question but what there will be an advance 
in prices of nursery stock for coming Fall and Spring 
delivery, but we do not anticipate that it will be anything 
like 50 to 75 per cent. There are one or two articles like 
cherry, and perhaps apple, that are exceedingly scarce on 
the market, and the advance in wholesale rates may be 
in the neighborhood of 60 per cent, but that would not 
mean an advance of 60 per cent on retail prices. We do 
not think that this increase in prices is due so much to 
the increased demand for stock, although that is a fac¬ 
tor, especially on ornamental stocks in the East, as to 
the scarcity of stock. Previous to last year, for sev¬ 
eral years nursery stock has been in large surplus, and 
in very many instances, selling below the cost of pro¬ 
duction. Plantings were curtailed, a good many of the 
smaller planters pulling out entirely. This, in connection 
with the hard Winter of a year ago, which killed thou¬ 
sands of trees in the nursery, accounts for the advance 
in prices. We doubt whether prices will advance to re¬ 
tail buyers, on the average, more than 15 to 25 per cent. 
Ohio. Storrs & Harrison Co. 
THE CLOVER SEED CROP. 
During the Winter of 1898-99 the clover was about all 
killed out by the severe weather, and seeding last Spring 
was fairly good, but there is practically no seed in this 
part of the country. m. j. b. 
Rochelle, Ill. 
There has been no clover seed raised in this section 
this year. The cause is supposed to be the previous 
Summer’s drought. In years past there have been quite 
a number of bushels thrashed. d. h. m. 
Ruma, Ill. 
There is no clover to be hulled in this section. Dry 
weather forced farmers to pasture a good per cent of it. 
What I looked at had very few seeds in it. The clover- 
seed crop goes by jerks here; one man hulls, the rest 
follow. Some years none is hulled at all, and this is 
one of them. I have made some inquiries out of my 
neighborhood, but find the same. I have not seen any 
of the huller men; there is none within eight miles of 
me. w - J- c. 
Rozetta, Ill. 
The clover seed crop is rather light; on an average not 
more than one farmer in 10 had seed to thrash this sea¬ 
son. What there was seemed to be pretty good seed; from 
one to iy 2 bushel per acre. I consider the crop very short, 
compared with other years, the shortage being caused by 
a very poor stand last year and not much better this 
season. Corn is about an average crop this year; ware¬ 
house price, 32 cents. Some of the farmers are not 
through seeding yet; there was about as much rye as 
wheat sown this Fall; seed rye, $1 per bushel, scarce at 
that. The fly has laid its eggs in early-sown wheat. The 
apple crop was light, some orchards having scarcely any 
apples. Potatoes that were mulched were good. c. s. 
Zimmer, O. _ 
NEWS AND NOTES. 
Clover and Turnips.— This year I sowed Crimson 
clover and turnips mixed together in my pickles at the 
last cultivation. There is a great demand for turnips. 
The gardeners have not got any on account of the 
drought. We shall have between 1,200 and 1,500 bushels. 
We counted on© bushel, and there were 45 in it. Every 
week there is some one here who wants 100 or 200 bushels; 
this proves what tillage will do in a dry time. The clover 
will average eight to 10 inches high. chas. siddons. 
Barn Paints.— Nothing better than linseed oil and 
white lead, home-mixed. I have used linseed oil and 
crude petroleum half and half, with Venetian red for 
barns and outbuildings, with very satisfactory results. 
My experience with this mixture dates back 15 years. It 
makes a very cheap paint, and I cannot see but that it 
lasts as well as the pure linseed oil and red. As to the 
red, I prefer what we know as the iron-clad red to the 
Venetian. The former is more of a brownish red, darker; 
do not know that it is any better. c. G. w. 
Gustavus, O. 
The Tree that Did Its Duty.—To continue' the story 
of the “pear tree that did its duty,” in The R. N.-Y., 
September 8 , I will say that I have a number of pear 
trees standing near the dwelling, some right at the 
kitchen door, Duchesse on quince roots. These get soapy 
water from the dish pans and wash tubs, of course; and 
the soil there has had it for 20 years. The fruit on these 
particular trees is twice as fine as from the trees farther 
from the kitchen door, and they bear twice as much fruit. 
If S. T. M. or anyone else will plant the 1,000 pear trees, 
each by a kitchen door, and with plenty of open space 
adjoining, and other like environment, he can count on- 
well, prosperity. But let him plant the 1,000 trees in a 
solid block, 100 to the acre, without the kitchen door, or 
the wide open space, and a practical old experienced fruit 
grower can predict the tale that will be told without 
waiting for results. J. F. c. 
Skagit, Wash. 
Apples in Michigan.— The apple question is puzzling 
the farmers this Fall; what shall we do with them? 
They are selling for 20 cents per bushel on the car here, 
and farmers are selling them now. Before Spring they 
will be 50 to 75 cents per bushel in our home market, and 
it takes big bushels, three to Ihe barrel, too, if we sell 
here. We get peach-basket measure, and it takes nearly 
four of them to the barrel. I have made it a practice 
for a number of years to cater to the home market. 
Spies, Baldwins and Wageners I put in the cellar, mar¬ 
keting them about the holidays. I have never failed to 
realize handsomely on them. Russets and Ben Davis I 
keep until March or April; could sell 500 bushels if I 
had them. In keeping Russets and Ben Davis I usually 
pit them. My cellar is too warm or too dry, and they 
wither before Spring, and are unsalable. To pit them, 
make pit 20 inches below the surface will be deep 
enough, four feet wide and whatever length is required 
to hold the amount you have. Cover the bottom with 
straw, handling them so none will be bruised, filling so 
that when the cross pieces are put on they will not 
touch the apples. If there is any pressure on the apples 
they will rot. Now take a short piece of timber and lay 
crosswise of the pit, four to six feet apart, covering 
with boards lengthwise of the pit, with a generous cover¬ 
ing of straw and slight covering of earth. They are all 
right until the ground is frozen solid; then cover well 
with old straw, potato tops or something that will pre¬ 
vent the frost from striking too deep. Those apples 
will be in excellent condition next Spring, and the price 
will warrant the work. w. b. 
Mecosta Co., Mich. 
