148 
Ruralisms 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
PROFIT or LOSS? 
Mar«h i 
NOTES FROM THE RURAL GROUNDS. 
Forced Celery and Onions. —We 
have advocated the cellar treatment of 
celery for home or limited market use 
• in past issues of The R. N.-Y., and find 
further encouragement to commend 
this plan of handling to those having 
cellar accommodations for a few hun¬ 
dred plants. In brief, the method, 
which is as old as celery culture, but 
apparently little used, is to grow se¬ 
lected vigorous plants of some strong¬ 
growing green celery—we have had best 
success with the Philadelphia variety 
known as Schumacher—in rows three 
feet apart and spaced eight inches apart 
in the row, without hilling. They are 
set level in good soil, sufficiently fer¬ 
tilized, and given very shallow culture. 
No earthing up is practiced at any time, 
and when ready to dig the plants sprawl 
about like huge clumps of parsley. The 
whole object is to get as strong develop¬ 
ment of the crown or rootstock as the 
season will allow. The stalks are en¬ 
tirely green right down to the heart or 
growing point. We do not care to grow 
the self-bleaching kinds, as they are not 
long keepers, and we have found any 
earthing or banking checks late growth 
and favors rust and blight. These 
stocky plants with adhering soil are 
lifted when freezing weather threatens 
and crowded closely together on the 
earth floor of a dark cellar, tilling in 
the soil spaces with moist sand or loose 
dirt. We find it of advantage to soak 
the soil well by means of a short hose 
slipped over the spout of a watering 
can. In the unheated cellar one water¬ 
ing will carry them through, but when 
near a furnace or boiler repeated soak- 
ings may be needed, as the foliage 
should never be allowed to droop. In 
a few weeks’ time, according to the 
average temperature, a new growth 
starts from the center, beautifully 
white and crisp if daylight is sufficiently 
excluded, and enlarges almost to the ex¬ 
tent of the original clump, while the 
outside leaves brown and shrivel. In 
this state it presents a very attractive 
appearance, the stems and new foliage 
being perfectly clean and free from rust 
or discolorations. Like rhubarb grown 
in the dark, the leaves are only partially 
developed, but are very attractive in 
their waxen paleness. The quality is, to 
our taste, incomparably better than the 
stringy cornstalk like celery sent in so 
freely from Michigan and California. 
It is crisp, tender yet full-flavored, and 
makes up better for table decoration 
than when stored in trenches or sheds. 
To test the market value of forced celery 
in competition with the ordinary kind 
which is now abundant and of better 
quality than usual, we placed a few 
bunches on sale at a popular grocery. 
It did not “go” at all, being rejected by 
most customers, who said it “looked 
queer,” in favor of the coarse and rusty 
grades they were familiar with. A 
family hotel was next induced to try a 
sample, and an immediate order result¬ 
ed for the entire surplus, as the dis¬ 
criminating boarders at once noted the 
delicate, appetizing quality and fine ap¬ 
pearance, and requests soon came from 
individuals who chanced to eat at the 
hotel for a supply for the domestic table, 
which would seem to indicate that a dis¬ 
criminating private trade could be built 
up with such a superior product, but a 
better price than is now current would 
be needed to return a fair profit, as cel¬ 
lar or similar dark and secure storage 
room is limited. We have space for less 
than 800 large plants, and find those 
stored in the heated cellar at an average 
temperature of 50 degrees ready for use 
by January 1, while in the cool cellar, 
with an average below 40 degrees, it 
comes on nearly a month later, and is 
of better quality and more compact in 
growth. For domestic use and limited 
sale to discriminating consumers we can 
recommend this way of treating celery, 
and see in it a chance for enterprising 
youths to make a profit from the home 
garden when convenient cellar room is 
available. 
Forced Onions Not Wanted. —The 
outcome of an onion experiment was 
not as satisfactory. Many gardeners are 
aware of the quick response of the hardy 
Egyptian Perennial onion to Spring 
warmth. When established by previous 
Spring or early Fall planting the strong¬ 
ly rooted bulbs send up a vigorous 
growth, producing excellent green 
onions, often before the soil is ready to 
receive the first planting of the usual 
seed-grown “sets," which will not be fit 
for use until several weeks later. We 
have thought a variety endowed with 
such strong vitality would force well 
under glass if wanted in midwinter or 
earlier, and accordingly transferred 
about 100 clumps from the field to the 
greenhouse bench during a late Decem¬ 
ber thaw. In a week growth had start¬ 
ed, and by the end of 30 days the young 
bulbs were reaay for the table. They 
were tender and of good flavor, and it 
seemed as if home-grown green onions 
in January would be wanted in the local 
market, but few takers could be found, 
and they bought for soup flavoring only. 
The idea was too novel, though it i 
likely a demand could in time be created, 
as with other forced vegetables, when 
the supply can be counted on. There 
is apparently no difficulty in bringing 
on this variety of onion any time in 
Winter if light and moderate warmth 
can be given, and the clumps got up 
with a good share of their roots. 
About Baltimore and the trucking re¬ 
gion of the Chesapeake peninsula this 
onion is grown as an important money 
crop, and the bunched new growth 
shipped in great quantities to the North 
and inland points as soon as Spring 
opens. The Egyptian onion does not 
form a very distinct bulb, but splits up 
like a Multiplier into many scullions, 
which are of excellent quality during 
the brief stage of their early formation. 
If not disturbed bloom heads are later 
sent up, on which few or many bulblets 
form instead of flowers. These bulb- 
lets vary from the size of a wheat grain 
to that of an average acorn. They are 
planted in September in well-enriched 
soil, from which a hoed crop like beans, 
sweet corn or early tomatoes has been 
taken, two or three inches apart in rows 
a foot or more apart. Little cultivation 
is needed owing to the lateness of the 
season, but all weeds must be kept 
down. The bulblets do not make much 
top-growth, but root deeply and nearly 
always withstand the sharpest frosts of 
Winter. Several eyes are formed, each 
of which produces its young bulb the 
size of the finger next Spring. The old 
clump may be separated and the scul 
lions planted in a similar way in Fall or 
Spring, but most growers prefer to use 
the top sets, as they make a cleaner 
growth, and clear the field each season, 
reserving a row or two to produce suf 
ficient bulblets for replanting. This in¬ 
teresting and valuable onion is sparingly 
catalogued, and apparently little grown 
in the North. It is entirely hardy in this 
portion of New Jersey, and information 
of its trial in colder latitudes would be 
welcome. w. v. f. 
For the land’s sake, use Bowker’s Fer¬ 
tilizers. They enrich the earth.— Adv. 
If you grow BERRIES, 
PEACHES, GRAPES 
or MELONS, 
^address on a postal, and secure a 
_ 'copy of our latest catalogue and 
price 1 ist of Berry Boxes and Fruit Baskets. 
THE PIERCE. WILLI AMS CO. 
South Haven, Mich. 
Thisiseasy todo ifyou spray your trees. 
Now a word aboutsprayers. Get 
the best when you buy. 
THE HARDIE 
„„ SPRAY PUMPS 
kii 6 best i because they have brass 
"®J1 valves, patent agitator, an adjust¬ 
able plunger that will never leak. No 
leather nor rubber about them. 
That’s why they work so easy, 
give such a fine spray and cost 
nothing for repairs. We make 
them all sizes,to supply from one 
toeightnozzles. Our catalog tells 
the whole story. It is free. Ask for It. 
THE HARDIE SPRAT PUMP MFG. CO., 
74 Larned St., Detroit, Mich. 
Broadcast 
jjc Seeding is made easy and 
effective by the 
Gaboon 
Broadcast §Gedei* 
fi sows five times faster than 
by hand. Saves one-third the 
. seed. Sows absolutely even, 
/ thus insuring good 
crops. Does’t wear out. 
. Anyone can use it. Ask 
/your dealer about it. 
60QDELL C0MP4HT, ' 
14 Main street, ANTBI1I, N, fl. 
That’s the Question 
THE ECLIPSE 
SPRAY PUMP 
Will settle that in your 
orchard. With it you 
CAN make a profit, with¬ 
out it what do you get ? 
Send for Catalogue. 
MORRILL & M0RLEY, 
BENTON HARBOR, MICHIGAN. 
PURIFYING 
CHAIN PUMP 
Complete outfit with exact lengths 
15 ft. or shallower $6 Delivered. 
Add 12 cents for each foot in depth be- 
ondl5feet. Outfit includes the follow- 
ng: A Galvanized Steel Ventilated Curb 
with galvanized fixtures; Galvanized steel 
tubing, malleable couplings, reservoir.fun- 
nel, etc. Patent Purifying Rubber Buckets, 
Cleveland” Pump Chain. All ready to set 
up, and guaranteed as represented. 50,000 
pumps and 7,000,000 feet of Cleveland chain 
In use. Circulars Free. 
n.KVKI.AXn G.U.VANIZISfl WORKS, 
14-24 Cooper 8t,, • Cleveland, Ohio 
r, 
Corn 
V/Jl 
removes from the soil 
large quantities of 
f'V i g 
ip 
01 rv-* 
Potash. 
The fertilizer ap¬ 
plied, must furnish 
enough Potash, or the 
land will lose its pro¬ 
ducing power. 
Ifftllf 
SSStiJ 
Read carefully our books 
on crops—sent fret. 
GERMAN KALI WORKS, 
93 Nassau St., New York. 
IT PAYS TO SPRAY 
even under ordinary conditions and in the ordinary way, but 
it pays especially well to spray vhen you can do the work 
perfectly and cover thirty acres a day with the 
PERFECTION IfM 
either hand or horse power. Pump Is positive in action and 
never loses force. Liquid does not enter the working parts 
of the pump to corrode it. Simple, easily adjusted 
and operated. Tne manufacturer has spent twelve 
years in bringing it to its present state of perfec¬ 
tion. Sprays Bordeaux and all mixtures without 
trouble or waste. W rite for free catalog. W e also 
make the Improved Riggs 
Plows and Furrowers. 
THOM * S PEPPLER 
Box 37 Right 8 town 
N. J. 
fngl 
’omp ft 
O., I 
(seecut)isthebestPumpmade \ 
for emulsifying and Spraying I 
Kerosene and Water. Two I 
pumps operated by one lever, I 
one drawing Oil from the Oil : 
’ Tank, and the other Water 
from the surrounding barrel, 
blending both at the point of 
dischargein a milk like emul¬ 
sion. The amount of oil 
used is easily regulated—from 
5% to 15 % as desired. We 
handle a full line of Spray 
Pumps and Knapsack Sprayers of all 
sizes. Also all kinds of Farm and Garden 
Seed! Implements, etc. All fully described 
and illustrated in our free catalogue No. 12 
GRIFFITH & TURNER CO., 
70S N. Pact Si., Baltlmora, Md. 
52! 
5PRAY 
s EMPIRE KING. 
This Is the only hand pump hav¬ 
ing a mechanical automatic agi¬ 
tator with a brush for keepin g the 
suction strainer clean. This Co. 
also make the Garfield Knapsack and 
Orchard Monarch, and can furnish 
the New Process Lime, which requires no slack¬ 
ing or straining. Valuable hook sent free. 
FIELD FORCE POMP CO., 
2 JlarketSG, Lockport, N. T. 
with the “incomparable’ 
BORDEAUX NOZZLE)! 
and our world’s best outfit you are abeo ’ 
{lute master of the situation. Insects and dirf 
|«aas fall before this all conquering outfit.! 
■Se* the book. It fa free. Write for It now/ 
f THE DIMING CO., SALEM, OHIO. I 
Wes tern Agts., Henlon A Hubbell, Chicago. 
Men Wanted 
$20 A DAY 
is what one new man has just made. Another has 
sold and delivered tifiO machines and has nearly 100 
more sold for later delivery. This new style Spray¬ 
er has "Kant-Klog’ nozzle and sells like hot cakes. 
We want some one to sell them In your locality at 
onC 6 . Sprays trees, potatoes, vegetables, etc. 
Washes wagons, windows and has many other uses. 
Write for circulars telling how to get 
ONE SPRAYER FREE. 
ROCHESTER SPRAY PUMP CO., 
16 East Ave.,Rochester, H. V. 
the Auto-Spray 
The HEST, CHEAPEST and MOST EFFECTIVE device for 
spraying Gardens, Orchards, Lawns, Stables, Chicken Houses, etc. No 
continuous pumping. Compressed air drives the spray automatically. 
Can be operated by a boy; will save itscostin a few days. Neverbreaks 
down or gets out of order. Nozzels, stop cocks and all fittings which 
come in contact with insecticide solutions are solid brass. The 
ALTO-SPKAY cannot rus t, c orrode or leak. The 
is one of our promi- 
_ _ nent attachments. 
It is the only torch which really kills worms, etc. It burns kero- 
,'7'sene vaporized with oxygen and a single blast will destroy a nest 
of caterpillars. Ask V our Dealer for the Auto-Spray, or write 
us for free instructions, “How and When to Spray.” which will 
tie gladly sent to any address. Write us if you want agency. 
E. C. BROWN A- CO., Oept. F, KOCHESTEK, N. " 
J\. u X 1 GUUUV7U A U 01, GUI I UUO Ci J 
Auto-Spray Torch 
Use Nitrate of Soda 
CORN, WHEAT, FRUIT and VEGETABLES. 
You get your share of profit when you use 
this Standard High-Grade Ammoiiiate. 
Formulas and other valuable information free. 
WILLIAM S. MYERS, Director, 
12 John Street. Chilean Nitrate Works, New York. 
- For Money Crops - 
Fresh Burned Ground Lime 
for “ Bordeaux Mixture,” Bug Exterminator, White¬ 
washing. Disinfecting purposes and for Lime Fer¬ 
tilizer. For full Information, address 
THE SENECA WHITE LIME CO., Fostoria, O. 
LIME FERTILIZER 
Special preparation giving splendid satisfaction. 
Correspondence solicited THE SNOW FLAKE 
LIME CO., Bowling Green, Ohio. 
HIGH grade FERTILIZERS 
OUR PRICES LOW. QUALITY PURE. 
Write for Memorandum Book, Prices and Samplea. 
The Scientific Fertilizer Co • P.O.Box10l2 PITTSBURG, PA. 
