io4 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
3 
t 
February 15 
FARMERS’ CLUB 
[Every query must be accompanied by 
the name and address of the writer to in¬ 
sure attention. 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.] 
Tomatoes Refuse to "Set ” 
T. R. M., Pocomoke City, Md.— Why is it 
that the first blossoms on my early toma¬ 
toes fall off? I sow the seed in hotbed 
February 20, give them air when up, trans¬ 
plant in cold frame about March 20, and 
plant out in open ground May 4. 
Ans. —Tomato blooms seldom fall if 
pollinated. Pollen often fails to develop 
in or be set free from the anthers in 
dull, cold or wet weather and on weak 
or starved plants. When your plants 
get more sunshine and room to grow 
they win probably set fruit all right. 
Soil Needs of English Walnuts. 
L. L. O., New Bedford, Mass.— Can English 
walnuts be successfully grown in this sec¬ 
tion? If so, what conditions of soil do 
they need? Ours is a heavy loam with a 
hardpan beneath. 
Ans. —English walnuts grow readily 
in any fertile soil that will suit the 
apple. They do not like very thin nor 
heavy wet soils. Massachusetts is be¬ 
yond the limit of safety as regards cli¬ 
mate, but some seedlings might survive 
and increase in hardiness with age. 
Young trees are often killed back north 
of Virginia. 
Crape Myrtle and Wonder Lemon. 
N. S., Oswego Falls, N. Y.—l. What are the 
merits and drawbacks of the so-called 
Wonder lemon, and what is its botanical 
name? 2. What are the general character¬ 
istics of crape myrtle? Is it perfectly 
hardy in this locality? What is its proper 
botanical name? Does it bloom all the 
season, and what is the color of its bloom? 
Ans. —1. We do not know much about 
the Wonder lemon, as we have not tried 
it, but assume that like the Othaheite 
orange, it is only valuable for decora¬ 
tive purposes. 2. The crape myrtle is 
Lagerstroemia Indica, a native of the 
East Indies. It is only half-hardy, 
winterkilling badly north of Baltimore. 
The flowers are handsome, pink, blush 
and white in different varieties. It is 
a fine plant for a cool greenhouse. 
Cata/pa Speciosa Not a Nuisance. 
H. S., Atwater, O.—I have been making 
preparation to plant about 2,000 Catalpa 
speciosa on a piece of ground that is in¬ 
convenient to farm or pasture; but if the 
Connecticut man is correct about the con¬ 
duct of these trees I would better let them 
alone. I have the bulletin of the Interna¬ 
tional Society of Arboriculture, but it looks 
a little as though it was written in the 
interest of a certain forest tree nursery. 
Ans. —We have Catalpa trees grow¬ 
ing and seeding abundantly near the 
Rural Grounds. The seeds germinate 
freely where they are biown, hut never 
give any trouble as a weed. Cultivation 
or mowing quickly destroys them. The 
Catalpa is no more likely to become 
a nuisance on cultivated ground than 
the elm or maple. We have now 
learned that the tree mentioned on page 
835 was not Catalpa speciosa at all. 
The Powder-Post Beetle, 
II 7 . M., Uoncoyc Falls, N. Y .—Under my 
house the flooring and sills are all powder- 
posted with little worms. Is there any¬ 
thing I can do to stop it? 
Ans. —The insect which causes the 
"powder-posting” of timbers, wagon 
spokes and similar hard woods, is a 
very small bettle, which one rarely 
sees. The beetles and their grubs tun¬ 
nel through and through the wood, 
filling the tunnels with their fine “pow¬ 
der” or "sawdust.” Almost invariably 
it is the sap wood only which is at¬ 
tacked by this Powder-post beetle (Lyc- 
tus unipunctatus). A few years ago 
an entomologist investigated a case 
where the floors and posts that sup¬ 
ported the floors of the several stories 
of a large manufacturing concern were 
being "powder-posted” by this pest. He 
tried various remedial methods, and re¬ 
ported that “kerosene applied to the 
parts had little effect, and in the paint 
shop, the frequent rubbing of paint 
brushes over the surface of the posts 
did not appear to inconvenience the 
borers. The only place where they did 
not appear to depredate was in the 
basements, which were, of necessity, 
more or less damp. On the floors, kero¬ 
sene was effective for a time, but later 
investigations have shown that, in time, 
this would all evaporate, and the beetles 
would then commence their attacks a 
second time. The only application that 
was thoroughly effective, and also a 
protection from future attacks, was a 
very thin mixture of turpentine and as¬ 
phalt, or coal tar. This was applied to 
the posts and pillars by boring small 
holes obliquely inward and downward, 
and then filling them with this mixture, 
which would quickly penetrate even the 
powdery mass in the burrows, not only 
killing all life with which it came in 
contact, but also carrying with it the 
asphalt, thereby rendering the uneaten 
portions permanently distasteful to the 
insects.” This is the best and most 
practicable method I can find suggested 
for combating this Insect. The only 
other alternative is to replace the tim¬ 
bers, and in doing this burn the old 
infested ones and try to avoid all the 
sap wood possible in the new ones, for 
the insect will not often attack the 
harder parts of the wood. 
M. V. SLINGBRLAND. 
San Jose Scale on Raspberries. 
W. S. M., Montclair, N. J.— Will the San 
Jos6 scale attack raspberry bushes? If so, 
please give detailed statement as to when 
and how to treat them. Also state whether 
the scale attacks grapevines. It has ap¬ 
peared on my peach and plum trees, but 
I have not detected it on my grapevines 
near by. 
Ans. —The San Jos6 scale will un¬ 
doubtedly attack raspberries, though it 
prefers young smooth-barked trees. We 
have never heard of it on grapevines, 
and should think the bark too dry ana 
scaly to harbor It long. To rid berries 
or small fruits cut the canes almost 
to the ground, and spray the stubs with 
crude petroleum or whale-oil soap so¬ 
lution, two pounds of soap to one gal¬ 
lon of hot water. 
" Cement Plates" for a Walk. 
,7. TV. K., York, Pa.— Will cement plates 
four feet long, two feet wide and four 
inches thick, do to lay on a bed of sand 
as bricks for a pavement? Will they split 
by freezing? What brand of cement must 
be used? Will rolling-mill slag answer for 
a filler, or must it be crushed stone? 
Ans. —The cement blocks are used for 
walks, but it is doubtful whether you 
could as cheaply do the work this Win¬ 
ter. You would have to dry them care¬ 
fully, and not allow them to freeze, or 
the job would be a failure. Besides, 
you would not gain much in time. When 
you get ready next Summer, dig out a 
foot deep, fill in nearly full oi slag, then 
put on six inches of sand and cement. 
Use best American Portland. Read re¬ 
cent articles in R. N.-Y. on cements. 
Make in blocks or sections to prevent 
cracking by frost. h. e. c. 
All Rural New Yorker readers, wish¬ 
ing to plant trees the coming Spring, 
should send for the instructive and in¬ 
teresting catalogue of Martin Wahl, 
Rochester, N. Y. It is free for the 
asking.— Adv. 
PRIZt^ 
LECT! CTFT'OF' 
(Best SEEDS'* 
contains Radish, 17 sorts; Let¬ 
tuce, 12 sorts; Toniatoes.il rare; 
I Turnips, 7 beauties; Onions, 8 fine 
I ones; 65 sorts in all,-will be sent you, 
1 with mr new seed growers Guidebook I 
FREE 
if you mention this paper and send j 
10 cents to help cover postage and j 
packing. Sena to-day. 
H. W. BUCKBEE, 
Rockford Seed Farms J A 
Rockford, III. 
■ 3’t L-71. 
Don’t let another season pass without planting 
VICK’S SEEDS. The highest quality seeds at the 
most reasonable price. Vick’s Seeds are the most profita¬ 
ble because the most productive. 
VICK’S 
Farmer’s Handbook 
A complete, reliable and valuable reference book, 
which tells all abouttheculturo and care of crops, prep¬ 
aration of land, fertilizing and spraying for fungus and , 
insects, etc.—a 85c book, will be sent to yon for lOcif 
you mention this paper, and we will Bend with it, free, ' 
VICK’S Garden and Floral Guide, splendidly 
illustrated and full of information that will help you, 
whether you plant for pleasure or for profit. 
JAMES VICK’S SONS. 
Box 15»S.. Rochester, N. Y. 
fiAT<\~ Pure seed - Sample free. 80 kinds. POTA 
UnlvJ TOES. Description. Save $1 or $2 a barrel; 
direct from grower. Field Corn, Beans, Ohio Rasp¬ 
berries. Best Clover, Timothy. Choice Barred 
Rocks. Smith Potato Farm, Box B, Manchester, N. Y. 
FREE 
Our handsome GARDEN ANNUAL and 
| SEED CATALOGUE. Send your address 
on a postal to-day, or for a 2c stamp 
and name of a neighbor j 
whois nn actual seed buyer. Catalog and ’ 
and a packet of EARLIANa TOMATO <_ 
earliest Tomato grown. If sent before Mar.20. Address 
COLE’S SEED STORE, PELLA, IOWA. 
l or tx am pva mp 
SEED 
Worth $1.25 
A SPECIAL OFFER 
made to introduce our 
_ ids. Satisfaction guar¬ 
anteed, or money refunded. 
20 Pkts. Seeds 
1 Pkt.. Washington Weeping Palm. 
lPkt. Alyssum, I.ittlc Gem, mixed. 
1 Pkt. Mary Semple Asters, 4 colors. 
1 Pkt. Rambler Roses, 3 colors, mixed. 
1 Pkt. Phlox Droolmondil. 1 Pkt. Umbrella Plant. 
Pkt. Bouquet Chrysanthemum. 1 Pkt. Diamond flower. 
1 Pkt. Pansies. 10 col’s mixed. 1 Pkt. Gian t Verbena, mxd. 
California Sweet Peas. " Petunia Hvbrld mixd. 
Lovely Butterfly Flower. “ Japan MorniDg Glory. 
" Forget-me-not Victoria •* Poppy—Sew Shirley. 
11 California Golden Bells. 11 Heliotrope mixed, 
“ Carnation Marguerite. “ Double Chinese Pink 
o 23 BULBS 
1 New Spotted Calla, 1 Beautiful Begonia, 1 Double 
Pearl Tuberose. 2 Butterfly and 2 Hybrid Gladiolus, 
8 Fine Mixed Oxalis, 2 Rainbow Lilies, 2 Scarlet Free- 
•ias, 2 Climbing Sweet Mignonette Vines, 2 Splendid 
New Cauna Lilies—1 crimson, 1 golden. 
A Return Check Cood for 25 Cents 
onflrst$l.00 order; also our New Floral Guide, 
IRfi pages. All the shove sent postpaid foronlv 30 e. 
If you sell t w<> collcctlona an d sondli a (i O cent*- 
with name and address of each purchaser, we will 
send you, FREE, another complete collection as 
your commission. Also our 
$100 Cash Prize Offer. 
THE CONARD & JONES CO. . 
Bose and Flower Growers, Box 1 West GfOVO* Pa. (3 
H Write 
W to-day. 
Horseradish Sets from five acres of 
cultivated roots last year. Want to sell for Spring 
delivery. LUDWIG MOSBOEK, South Chicago, 111. 
No. 1 Peach Trees. 
CATALOGUE FREE. 
All new and leading sorts. Prices right. 
Send list of kinds wanted for special prices. 
Pull line of trees, plants and vines. 
ARTHUR J. COLLINS, MOORESTOWN, N. J. 
(|li\V>\\v ■ 
Spark’s EARLIANA Tomato 
introduced by us last year has made more hard rank for our 
customers than any other novelty ever introduced. Price: pkt., 20c.; 
or,., 85c.; M lb.. S’J.75; lb., SI 0.00. Our 1902 (Jarden and 
Farm Manual tells the story of this wonderful tomato and hundreds 
of other good intlklCOkl ft, CTftVCC 21 7-2 t 9 Market Sh 
thingB. Free. vUnllwUll ® wlUKCw; Philadelphia, I’a. 
BURPEE’S SEEDS-war. 5553; 
■V w 111 ■■ ■■ ww If you want the choicest vegetables or most beautiful flowers 
you should read BURPEE’S FARM ANNUAL FOR 1902,— so well known as the 
“ Leading American Seed Catalogue.” It is mailed FREE to all. Better send your address 
TO-DAY. W. ATLEE BURPEE & CO., PHILADELPHIA. 
MY Silver Anni- 
*" *■ versary Cata¬ 
log ue contains 
everything in Seeds, 
Plants and Bulbs 
worth growing. It 
is the Seed Book of 
the year. Eight 
colored plates. Free 
to all who apply by 
letter; no postals. 
Address 
Wm. Henry Maule, 
Philadelphia, Pa. 
The Maule 
Seed Business 
is 25 Years Old 
This Year. 
Salzer’s 
Seeds 
BROMUS INERMIS 
The greatest grass of the century. We are the introducers and tha 
^only large growers of same for seed in America. We are headquarters. Wka 
O ur Rromus yields 6 tons of hay and lots aud lotaof pasturage besides per 
acre. It will grow wherever soil* is found. It is an agricultural wonder.\ 
Every farmer ought to plant it. It is a money maker. Try it for 1902. 
Catalogue tells. ^ T7 
The great cereal, producing from 60 to 80 bushels of grain and A tons 
of hav, as good as timothy, per acre. We are the introducers. 
. TRIPLE INCOME CORN 
How would ‘250 bushels per acre suit you at the present prices of corn? ’ 
% Well, Salzcr’scorn sorts will produce this for you in 1902. Catalog tells. 
Fodder Plants, Grasses and Clover 
We have the largest array of fodder plants found in any catalogue 
^ in America. We have the* finest varieties, the biggest yielders and 
^ surest croppers. Our Giant Incarnate Clover produces a crop 3 ft. 
high in six weeks after seeding. Our Pea Oat gives 8 tons of hay pcr v 
acre; our Teosinte is good for 80 tons of green fodder; our Thousand 
1 Headed Kale and Dwarf Victoria Rape make sheep and swine and cattle 
growing at 1c. n pound possible. We warrant our grass mixtures to 
furnish a luxuriant crop of hay on every soil where planted. 
(O'er *2,000,000 pounds sold the past few years). 
VEGETABLE SEEDS 
We are the largest growers. Choice onion seed at but 60c. and up a 
lb. We have a tremendous stock of fine vegetable seeds, such as 
earliest peas, sweet coni, radishes, beans and many other money 
making vegetables. Our seeds are money makers, the kind the market . 
gardener and farmer wants. 
For lOc—Worth SIO. 
Our great catalog with a large number of rare farm seed 
samples is mailed to you upon receipt of but 10c. in 
stamps. These seeds are* positively worth $10 to get a start. 
JOHN A. SALZER SEED CO., 
La Crosse, Wis. 
