832 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
December 15 
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.] 
Northern and Central Alabama. 
O., Powell, O .—What is you opinion of 
northern and central Alabama as good lo¬ 
calities in which to live and make a living? 
Is the land productive and climate equable? 
How do prices for horses, milch cows and 
dairy products, eggs, etc., compare with 
the markets of the northern and eastern 
States? Is demand good? 
Ans. —Northern and central Alabama 
offer as good chances for successful 
farming or gardening as any other lo¬ 
cality provided one likes the climate and 
situation. There is much dry and un¬ 
productive upland, intermixed with areas 
of excellent soil adapted for all farming 
operations. Much of the land is espe¬ 
cially suitable for growing peaches, 
plums and grapes, also some varieties of 
apples. We can give no personal infor¬ 
mation concerning markets, prices of 
stock and products, etc., and must de¬ 
pend on our correspondents in the State 
for such local facts. 
Fertilizer for Fruit Trees. 
R. II. W., Kingston, N. Y.—I own a good- 
sized city lot, 50x145 feet, on which there 
are a number of apple and plum trees, 
grapevines, etc. It is light sandy land, and 
is now in grass and weeds. These trees do 
not bear well, and when there are lots of 
fruit they are stung by something and fall 
off, or are wormy. When shall I spray 
them? Would you advise using wood 
ashes? I can get them nearby. Would you 
recommend using tobacco stems? I can get 
them readily. Would bone meal and pot¬ 
ash be good for my grapevines? Would 
you advise spraying with crude petroleum? 
Ans. —The first thing I would advise 
doing is to plow or dig up the sod and 
manure the land with any of the ma¬ 
nures mentioned, working them in with 
rakes or any tools that will best suit the 
purpose. All of these manures are good 
for fruit trees. Wood ashes, if not 
leached or exposed to the weather, are 
good, but a heavy coating should be 
given, not less than a barrel per square 
rod. Dissolved bone meal and muriate 
of potash in about equal proportions 
make an excellent manure. An appli¬ 
cation at the rate of 500 pounds per acre 
is sufficient. Tobacco stems are very 
good, because they contain potash, phos¬ 
phoric acid and nitrogen, and also make 
humus, all of which are needful in all 
kinds of soils. It is probable that the 
cause of the falling of the fruit is the 
work of Codling moth and other insects. 
The bulletins of the experiment station 
at Geneva, N. Y., relative to insect pests 
should be obtained, and their directions 
closely followed. Spraying with arseni¬ 
cal preparations is one of the most help¬ 
ful things that can be done. Crude pe¬ 
troleum is dangerous to the trees and 
should only be applied with a special 
kerowater sprayer, using not more than 
25 per cent of oil, and only when the 
leaves are off the trees. It is rarely 
needed except to destroy the scale in¬ 
sects. H. E. VAN DEMAN. 
Fumigation for Scaly Bark Lice. 
A., Old Fork, N. O.—I have read Prof. 
Johnson’s articles on San Josg scale, but 
am not certain that fumigation will answer 
my purpose in destroying Oyster-shell 
scale on some one and two-year-old apple 
and cherry trees. Will you advise me in 
this regard? I wish to dig trees soon, and 
wish none to pass into other hands unless 
I can safely guarantee freedom from living 
scale. 
Ans. —The fumigation method does 
not, as a rule, seriously affect the eggs 
of any species of insect. In the fumiga¬ 
tion of trees we find that the Oyster- 
shell scale or Scurfy scale, which is up¬ 
on apple and other trees at this season 
of the year, would have little or no ef¬ 
fect for the destruction of insects inas¬ 
much as they Winter in the egg stage. 
If one of the scales should be lifted up 
at this season of the year with the point 
of a knife and examined with a hand¬ 
glass or le»s, ip the case of the Oyster- 
shell scale a large number of whitish 
eggs would be seen, while on the other 
hand, the eggs of the Scurfy scale are 
purplish. These eggs remain in this 
condition under the scales all Winter, 
hatching early in the Spring, possibly 
the latter part of April or early May, in 
the South, as a rule; the young lice 
crawl upon the trees and insert their 
beaks, and begin their work of destruc¬ 
tion. I do not know of any particular 
remedy for the destruction of these pests 
on nursery stock at this season of the 
year other than the total destruction of 
the stock when it is badly infested. The 
trees mignt be scraped and then dipped 
in a strong solution of whale-oil soap 
at the rate of 1% to two pounds of 
water, but in this instance there would 
be a question in my mind whether the 
soap solution would effectually destroy 
the eggs of either creature. No doubt 
the eggs of some would be destroyed, 
but many would escape uninjured. 
[Prof.] W. G. JOHNSON. 
Use of Tarred Paper. 
8., Tompkins Co., N. Y.—I am soon to build 
a farmhouse and should like to know why 
tarred paper is not used on houses under 
the siding. It would seem to me more 
nearly weather and vermin-proof than the 
cheap building papers that are usually put 
on, and I think the tar smell would soon 
cease. 
Ans. —Much greater care should be 
taken by builders in the selection of a 
thoroughly airtight paper which is not 
likely to disintegrate with time; it is 
unfortunately true that much building 
paper that is put into house construc¬ 
tion is neither impervious to air nor of 
such a nature but that a little wetting 
through the leakage in siding or other¬ 
wise, easily causes it to disintegrate and 
cease to perform the functions designed 
for it. No house should be built in a 
cold climate without the use of a good 
quality of some form of acid and water¬ 
proof paper, which has a sufficient bouy 
permanently to stand the wind pressure, 
and to resist the tendencies to decay 
which result from moisture. The ordi 
nary tar papers which are used in house 
building are often not well filled, are 
only barely stained black, and are so 
open and porous that they fail to per¬ 
form their important mission. A good 
building paper should have a close tex¬ 
ture, and have the pores well filled with 
some permanently waterproof material. 
Scrub Oak Land in Grass. 
F. 0. W., Greenfield, Mass .—In the new 
part of our cemetery there are about 10 
acres of land covered with scrub oaks and 
brush, weeds, etc. There isn’t enough 
earth to call it soil, but what there is may 
be about four inches deep. What can I do 
to get green grass to grow there, and 
what kind of grass will be the best? We 
have not much money to invest in fertil¬ 
izing, and we do not care to crop the land, 
but just have it look green. 
Ans. —There is no royal road to im¬ 
proving scrub-oak hillsides. It will first 
be necessary to get rid of the stunted 
trees and brush, preferably by grubbing 
them out and burning all the material 
not valuable for other purposes in the 
clearing. Then plow the slope as deeply 
as possible, harrow until the surface is 
reasonably smooth and apply either 
stable manure at the rate of 10 to 20 
loads an acre, or a good chemical fer¬ 
tilizer at the rate of 600 to 800 pounds 
per acre. If unmixed chemicals are pre¬ 
ferred, apply 200 pounds ground bone, 
or 400 pounds dissolved South Carolina 
phosphate rock, 100 pounds muriate of 
potash and 100 pounds nitrate of soda 
to each acre, broadcasting it carefully, 
and sow at least two bushels of Orchard 
grass, to which may be added a few 
pounds of Awnless Brome-grass (Bro- 
mus inermis) to the acre. Follow with a 
mixture of 10 pounds Alsike and five 
pounds White clover to each acre. Har¬ 
row in very lightly and roll well. This 
should be done as early as the ground 
can be worked in good condition. A 
more economical method, but one which 
would delay the grassy effect a season 
or two, would be to give the freshly- 
plowed soil a coating of 25 to 40 bushels 
of lime per acre, and in May or early 
June harrow again, apply what manure 
or fertilizer can be spared, and sow 
about two bushels of Early Black cow 
peas to each acre. They could be turned 
under in the Fall, the grass seeds sown, 
using eight pounds each Kentucky Blue- 
grass and Red-top, and one bushel of 
Orchard grass, following with the mixed 
clover seeds as before. Bromus inermis 
is strongly recommended for such poor 
and arid situations, but has not been 
used much in the East as yet. Some of 
it ought to be added to any mixture of 
this kind, or sown separately on the 
driest knolls. To keep green grass on 
such a poor hillside throughout the Sum¬ 
mer is not an easy matter, and annual 
Spring dressings of bone or phosphate 
rock and wood ashes, muriate of potash 
or fine stable manures will likely be 
needed to keep it in presentable condi¬ 
tion. In a milder climate the Lespedeza, 
or Japan clover, could be sown among 
the standing trees with some hope of 
getting a catch, but we have not learned 
that it endures the New England Win¬ 
ters. 
To produce the best results 
in fruit, vegetable or grain, the 
fertilizer used must contain 
enough Potash. For partic¬ 
ulars see our pamphlets. We 
send them free. 
GERMAN KALI WORKS, 
93 Nassau St., New York. 
Y ork imperial, peach, 
KIEFFER. You get what you order. 
WOODVIEW NURSERIES, B. 100, Uriah, Pa 
For the land's sake, use Bowker’s Fer¬ 
tilizers. They enrich the earth — Adv. 
California Privet Hedge- “so*"?.”: fir.*',?.’ 
for 10 cents. T. C. KEVITT. Athenia, N. J. 
A|m|QC , U|2—Bookarraboutlt4<s. Tells how to 
grow this great money maker. 
VI Write to-day. AMERICAN GINSENG GARDENS, Rose Hlli.M.1 
AULIFLOWER SEED 
High grade Danish seed by mall, direct from the 
grower In Denmark, to your address, postpaid. 
Danish Snowball, V oz. 50c 1 os. tl.50 1 lb. 118.00 
Dwarf Erfurt . k os. 66o l oz. 11.86 1 lb. 822.00 
RARLEOIAE, 840 K. Fullerton Av. Chlcaro. 111. 
with onr new patent 
Kerosene Sprayers^ 
is simple indeed. Kerosene emulsion 
made while pumping. 12 varieties 
sprayers, Bordeaux and Vermorel 
Nozzles, the “World’s Best.” 
THE DEMINQ CO., SALEM, 0. 
Western Agents, Hennion & llubbell. 
Chicago. Catalogue and formulas free. 
W 
K TREES SUCCEED WHERE 
Largest Nursery. OTHERS FAIL. 
Fruit Book Free* Result of 76 years' experience. 
STARK BROS., Louisiana. Mo.; Danaville, K.Y. 
Trees. Plants. 
We have all kinds of Nursery Stock. 
Catalogue Free. 
JOS. H. BLACK, SON & CO., 
HIGHTSTOWN, N. J. 
Grape Vines 
Descriptive and Price List free. 
Currants, Gooseberries and other Small 
Fruit Plants. Extra quality. Warranted true. 
T. S. HUBBARI) CO., FREDONIA, N. Y. 
Pear Possibilities 
are realized to the fullest if you plaut 
KIEFFER PEARS. 
renowned lor vigor, rapid 
growth, absolute freedom from disease, etc., 
is enormously productive, large, handsome fruit, 
good seller, ripens late. Everything for the orch¬ 
ard and garden; Strawberries, Asparagus, etc. 
Harrison’s Nurseries, Box 29, Berlin, Md. 
DREER’S Garden Calendar ">'1901 
The largest and most complete SEED. PLANT and BULB Catalogue 
ever ottered for FREE DISTRIBUTION. It contains 200pages,which are 
fully illustrated, true to nature, and is bound in beautiful embossed 
lithographed covers. We will send a copy free to all who mention this 
paper, and request those who are Market Gardeners to state the same. 
HENRY A. DREE R, 714 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia. 
THE STORKS & HARRISON CO., PAINESVIL.L.E, OHIO. 
Leodlag American Naraerjrm'n, offer one of the Host Complete AaeortmenU of 
FRUIT AND ORNAMENTAL TREES, SHRURS, ROSES, RULRS, ETC, 
4T Year.. 44 GreenhouacH. 1000 Acrea, Correspondence Solicited. Catalog Free. 
£ I will send, by express or freight, 1 Paragon, 1 Alpha, 1 Parry’s 
* 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. 
Surplus of Japan Plum Trees IN s s?i EE 
We have a large supply of Burbank, Abundance, Bed June, Wickson 
and Hale Japan plum trees. We will make exceptionally low prices for early 
orders for these trees ; also for other nursery stock. We offer large size, medium 
and small-sized trees. We have a surplus of Early Richmond and Montmorency Cherry, 
also in three sizes. We offer 18,000 one-year-old Apple trees, from 15 to 30 inches high. 
We have everything for the orchard, vineyard and park. Let us price your list of wants at once. 
Fruit, or Ornamental catalogue mailed free. GREEN’S NURSERY'CO., Rochester, N. Y. 
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Horses, i $2 Bookfor $l 
Cattle, 
Sheep■ 
Swine 
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X We have yet some copies left of a lot of slightly 
4 shelf-soiled books of Horses, Cattle, Sheep and 
♦ Swine, by Curtis, that we will mail postpaid as 
♦ long as they last for $1. This book is the standard 
4 work on live stock. It is used as a text-book in 
^ almost all agricitltural colleges, and is indorsed by 
♦ all leading authorities on live stock It is a large 
4 book, fully illustrated, and requires 16 cents to pay 
J postage alone. These copies are in condition for 
♦ any library, and will be reserved for subscribers 
4 alone. They will not be sent at this price to deal- 
4 ers. They are a great bargain at the price for anyone 
♦ who wants to make a study of animal husbandry. 
♦ THE RURAL NEW-YORKER, NEW YORK. 
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