1902 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
279 
Events of the IVeek 
DOMESTIC.—Assistant Secretary Spaulding, of the 
Treasury Department, has announced that hereafter in 
the case of Americans going abroad and taking sundry, 
articles with them the rule will be that “personal effects 
may be examined by a customs officer before leaving, and. 
an itemized descriptive schedule prepared, and then upop 
the return of the person the goods will be exempted from 
duty, provided they tally with the list.” .... Wind¬ 
storms swept over western Pennsylvania March 30, ac¬ 
companied in some cases by lightning. At Knoxville a 
crowded church was unroofed, and 40 persons were 
crushed under the wreckage, of whom five were not ex¬ 
pected to survive. At Robinson Run lightning struck a 
church spire, crashing it through the roof; five persons 
fatally injured. In Jamestown a church was wrecked by 
the wind, fatally injuring its pastor. Near McDonald 
over 200 oil derricks were blown down, and much damage 
was done at Pittsburg.Severe floods prevailed 
in portions of Tennessee March 29-30, following a violent 
storm of wind and rain. The section visited by the flood 
embraces one of the richest portions of the State, and 
damage to farm lands would bring serious results. Coun¬ 
ties lying between the mountains on the east and the 
Tennessee River on the west, and between the Cumberland 
River and the Alabama line, are included in the flood- 
swept area. Stone fences were washed away on many 
of the riverside farms of Lincoln County and crops de¬ 
stroyed. The total damage is estimated at $5,000,000, and 
25 lives were lost.March 31 an explosion in the 
Nelson mine, Dayton, Tenn., killed 22 men.Fire 
in the Keim Saddlery Company's factory at Philadelphia, 
Pa., March 31, caused a loss of $200,000.April 1 
a sand and dust storm had been raging in Cass County. 
Neb., for 10 days. The surface of roads and fields was 
much disturbed, and Fall wheat on many farms was 
buried by the dust.April 1 the Pearl River, at 
Jackson, Miss., had risen 40 feet. Farmers and stockmen 
in the flooded district have suffered great damage. 
.... April 1 a factory fire at Chicago, Ill., caused a 
loss of $150,000; at Douisville, Ky., fire in a paint ware¬ 
house cost $200,000, and the little town of Newport, in 
Giles County, Va., was practically destroyed by fire, with 
a loss of over $100,000. 
CONGRESS.—In the House, March 27, Mr. Richardson, 
of Tennessee, the Democratic leader, created a sensation 
by presenting charges, based upon an alleged secret re¬ 
port of Capt. Walter Christmas to the Danish govern¬ 
ment, alleging the corrupt use of a fund of $500,000 in con¬ 
nection with the sale of the Danish West Indies. The 
charges against Members of Congress were not specific. 
The House ordered an investigation, and the Speaker 
appointed the following committee: Messrs. Dalzell (Rep., 
of Pennsylvania), Hitt (Rep., of Illinois), Cousins (Rep. 
of Iowa), McCall (Rep., of Massachusetts), Richardson 
(Dem„ of Tennessee), Dinsmore (Dem., of Arkansas) and 
Cowherd (Dem., of Missouri). No steps will be taken to 
bring the matter to the attention of the Danish govern¬ 
ment, as it is known that Denmark does not intend to 
pay one cent of the $500,000 claimed by Christmas as his 
commission. It is asserted that Capt. Christmas fell 
into the hands of confidence men who impressed him with 
the belief that nothing could be accomplished without a 
liberal expenditure of money, and that their relations 
with public men and with the newspapers enabled them 
to promote the matter in which Christmas was interested. 
The investigation of these charges was begun April 
1 by the special committee of the House. Neils Gron, 
who brought the charges to this country as the agent of 
the “no sale” party in Denmark, was examined at some 
length. In the executive session of the Senate Mr. Bacon, 
of Georgia, offered a resolution requesting the President 
to defer the issuing of his proclamation announcing the 
acquisition of the Danish West Indies pending the inquiry 
by the House into the charges of bribery. A sharp debate 
followed, at the close of which Mr. Bacon announced that 
he would not press the resolution. 
PHILIPPINES.—Noriel, the only insurgent general in 
the field, except Malvar, has been captured, while making 
his way to the coast to escape. He admits that the in¬ 
surrection, as such, is over.The minority mem¬ 
bers of the Senate Committee on the Philippines are con¬ 
sidering the advisability of presenting to the full com¬ 
mittee a proposition for a visit to the Philippine Islands 
during the next vacation.A Filipino dollar is to 
be coined, which will be legal tender in the islands, but 
not in the United States. Bullion will be purchased aryl 
coined by the United States on the request of the Philip¬ 
pine Commission. The conclusion was reached April 1 by 
the Republican members of the Senate Philippine Com¬ 
mittee. The first coinage will be probably $20,000,000 or 
$30,000,000. The value of the new dollar will be governed 
by the price of bullion. American office holders and sol¬ 
diers in the Philippines will be paid according to its 
equivalent in gold. There will also be a subsidiary coin¬ 
age. 
FARM AND GARDEN.—The National Irrigation Con¬ 
gress, which was to have been held at Colorado Springs, 
Col., next August, has been officially postponed by the 
National Irrigation Association until October 6 to 9. The 
reason assigned for the postponement is that the Trans- 
Mississippi Congress is to be held in St. Paul in August, 
and the Irrigation Congress draws upon practically the 
same class of delegates. 
The revised official estimate of the wheat crop of New 
South Wales is that 1,390,000 acres will yield 14,705,000 
bushels. 
Dr. Salmon, Chief of the Bureau of Animal Industry, U. 
S. Department of Agriculture, has been making careful 
tests of the so-called “red albumen” offered as a wonder¬ 
ful stimulant for laying hens. He says that 90 per cent 
of the compound is useless. The postal authorities have 
been asked to issue a fraud order against the advertiser 
of this stuff, and to deny mail privileges to papers con¬ 
taining its advertisements. It is said to consist largely 
of mineral paint. 
The District Court at Lincoln, Neb., declares the Ne¬ 
braska oleo law constitutional, and the State Food Com¬ 
missioner has begun an active crusade against alleged 
violators of the law. Complaints are prepared against 
wholesale and retail dealers, and packers. 
It is reported that Sheffield Farms Dairy Co., Slawson 
Bros., and T. W. Decker & Sons, milk dealers of this 
city, operating 30 retail stores, have formed a combina¬ 
tion with a capital of $500,000. The object is said to be the 
reduction of operating expenses. 
The New York State Fair Commission met in Albany. 
March 26. The Governor has reappointed S. D. Willard., 
of Geneva; Geo. I. Wilber, of Oneonta., and E. B. Norris, 
of Sodus, as members of the commission for three years, 
their term having expired. Henry Smith, of Syracuse, 
was reappointed superintendent of the fair at a salary of 
$1,500 a year, and Dr. H. B. Ambler, of Chatham, veterina¬ 
rian. The officers of last year were all reflected: Presi¬ 
dent, Timothy L. Woodruff, Brooklyn: vice-president. 
Hon. Chas. A. Wieting, Cobleskill; secretary, S. C. Shaver, 
Cobleskill; treasurer. A. E. Brown, Batavia. 
Traffic officials of the Western railroads are much dis¬ 
turbed by an order received from the Interstate Com¬ 
merce Commission to discontinue immediately their dis¬ 
crimination in rates against live-stock shipments from 
Missouri River and intermediate points to Chicago. The 
Chicagft Live-stock Exchange recently filed a complaint 
with the Interstate Commerce Commission that the west¬ 
ern railroads were making lower rates on fresh meats 
and packing-house products shipped there from Missouri 
River and intermediate points than the rates on live¬ 
stock. The traffic officials of the western lines have 
now received notice from the commission to change their 
rates so as to avoid discrimination. The commission re¬ 
minded (he railway officials that last October it made a 
ruling that the railroads must not charge higher rates 
for hauling live hogs than for hog products from pack¬ 
ing houses. The commission declares that the order 
made in October applies to the shipment of fresh meats 
at lower rates than live stock, and wants the practice 
discontinued at once. 
Secretary Charles F. Martin, of the National Live Stock 
Association, has issued a bulletin calling the attention of 
stockmen to the present status of certain bills of inter¬ 
est to the live stock industry now before Congress. These 
bills are H. R. 6565, by Congressman Grosvenor, of Ohio, 
to prevent the sale of shoddy goods as pure wool; S. B. 
2538, by Senator Penrose, of Pennsylvania, to provide for 
the improvement in breeding horses for general purpose 
use; H. R. 10,308, providing for a permanent census 
bureau and an annual classified census of live stock; 
others asking for Federal aid in the reclamation of the 
arid and semi-arid lands of the West by irrigation: that 
the Interstate Commerce act be amended so as to give 
the commission judiciary power; for the admission of the 
territories of New Mexico, Arizona and Oklahoma to 
Statehood, and the Henry oleomargarine bill. 
HOW TO FIGHT FROST 
In figuring on the probability of frost, the thermome¬ 
ter is not a sure guide. Surprise is often expressed that 
frost should be found on plants or the surface of the 
earth, while the mercury a few feet from the earth reg¬ 
isters several degrees above 32. The reason is that the 
plants and earth by radiation of heat and giving off of 
moisture may become slightly colder than the air above. 
On the other hand, on account of wind or lack of neces¬ 
sary moisture, no frost may be found even at a tempera¬ 
ture below 32. Conditions favoring frost are a moderate 
degree of moisture and clear, still air; and under such 
circximstances it may be expected when the thermometer 
as .ordinarily placed registers from five to 10 degrees 
above freezing. After still nights peculiar streaks of 
frost may be seen, usually corresponding to hollows in 
the ground. Cold air, being heavier than warm, falls to 
the lowest places, and remains there, unless a current 
comes along to make it move. Those traveling on coun¬ 
try roads during still Summer evenings have noticed 
these warm and cool portions of the air, with clearly de¬ 
fined boundaries. A wind causes the air to mix thor¬ 
oughly. doing away with these patchy frost spots. An 
excess of moisture hinders the formation of frost, form¬ 
ing a blanket of vapor over the earth, thus decreasing 
radiation of heat and doing on a small scale what clouds 
do over large areas. But little has been done in the East 
in systematic fighting of frost. The usual plan is to 
cover what can be conveniently handled thus, and let the 
rest go. It is certainly annoying to have Jack Frost 
come along during the growing season and in one night 
upset all prospects for a crop. On general principles, 
tender plants whose season runs close to Spring and Fall 
are in more danger in low land slightly moist than on 
either wet or hilly ground. The United States Depart¬ 
ment of Agriculture has given considerable time to the 
study of artificial means employed in various localities 
for protection from frost. Tn Europe, and parts of the 
South and West in this country screens of lath or cloth 
have been stretched on poles, over vines or trees, but 
these devices cost too much to warrant their use on large 
areas. In California devices have been used successfully 
for making a smudge or damp smoke, to prevent radia¬ 
tion of heat from the earth. On heavy wire netting 
suspended from the stakes of a wagon wet stable manure 
or straw is thrown. Underneath are placed pots of burn¬ 
ing tar. The wagon is kept moving, so that the smoke 
trails behind and settles to the ground. In one night a 
wagon will cover a large area with this fog 15 or 20 feet 
deep. Another machine uses crude petroleum and min¬ 
eral wool, and is said to be handled with rather less 
trouble. This smudge may be made on a small scale by 
placing here or there through the field or orchard old 
sacks filled with wet, coarse manure or straw. They are 
burned by the addition of a little kerosene, but the re¬ 
sult is not so effective as from the portable smudging 
machine, as the heat remaining in one place causes the 
smoke to rise. Schemes for heating the air are not so 
successful as might be expected. Large fires create 
strong currents; the heat rises rapidly; and cold air 
rushes in from the sides. The best results from this 
heating plan have been obtained by the use of a large 
number of small fires. The burning of coal in small wire 
baskets, 25 to 50 to the acre, has saved orchards when the 
mercury dropped to 24. A recent invention is a small pot 
for burning crude oil, which is said to make an intense 
heat for several hours. 
FROST BLISTERS. 
During March I received young peach twigs from dif¬ 
ferent parts of the State, showing blisters which dry and 
collapse later, forming small depressions over the twig. 
When the twigs have been injured for several weeks or 
months, the blistered portion is dead and collapsed on ac¬ 
count of drying out. At the same time the dead area of 
the blister has changed color, so that it is much paler 
than the surrounding tissue, nearly white, or pale, dirty 
yellow, bordered by a darker line next the normal color 
of the unaffected part of the twig. The blisters vary in 
size from one-sixteenth to three-sixteenths of an inch in 
diameter. This injury to peach twigs seems to be quite 
widespread throughout the State, and probably has only 
come to notice during the process of pruning the or¬ 
chard. In very cold weather the young succulent twigs 
are subject to freezing. In most cases ice does not form 
on the inside of the individual cells, but water is drawn 
from the cells into the intercellular space, and there 
crystallized into ice. Where a sufficient amount of water 
is drawn from several neighboring cells, forming a 
large ice crystal between the cells, they are forced 
a.part at this point, and thus a blister is formed. The in¬ 
dividual cells themselves are not torn, but a large num¬ 
ber are torn away from the cells which lie underneath. 
There is thus left a crevice under the bark, which sepa¬ 
rates the outer layer of cells from the inner ones, and re¬ 
sults in the drying out and death of the outer cells 
which were blistered. Abundant rains during the Sum¬ 
mer and Fall produced a vigorous growth of twigs. When 
Winter came they were probably not so fully matured as 
they would have been in a dry season, and the tissues 
containing a large amount of water, were more suscepti¬ 
ble to injury by freezing. In the instances that have 
come to my notice this season, there is no direct proof 
that the injury is the result of frost blisters, but such 
seems to be the case. Many of the twigs received were 
so badly injured that the entire twig had lost nearly all 
of its water by drying out, and probably would not put 
forth leaves in the Spring. A careful observance of the 
orchard with the approach of cold weather, watching the 
l wigs after each very cold period, would throw consid¬ 
erable light upon this question. Frost blisters are not 
uncommon on the twigs of apple, pear and peach trees, 
etc. GEORGE F. ATKINSON. 
Cornell University._ 
Outlook for Southern T ruck and F.ruii. 
MARYLAND.—The acreage of strawberries is larger 
this year than last, prospects good. There will be fewer 
raspberries, for growers are giving them up. The acre¬ 
age of Lucretia dew’berries, I think, is about the same. 
There will be more sweet potatoes planted this year, also 
more early sweet corn for shipping. It is a new thing 
here, but some have been at it about three years; others 
are going in it. I think the acreage of cantaloupes will 
be doubled this year, as they did well last year. I do not 
see any change in method of shipping, only we have 
nearly all dropped the half-barrel basket, and are using 
the crate for cantaloupes. A few peaches were shipped 
last year in carriers, and seemed to pay for fancy fruit. 
The business of growing small fruit and vegetables is on 
the increase here. White potatoes are not grown much 
for market, only a few seem to make a success of it. We 
find the business on the whole profitable. We have al¬ 
ways done well with cantaloupes; we grow only from 
Rocky Ford seed. s. j. b. 
Greensboro, Md. 
TEXAS.—The prospect for strawberries in this section 
is very poor, on account of imperfect stand, caused by 
drought of 1901, though I think the crop will be at least 
up to the average for what plants we have. The ship¬ 
ment will be probably one-half of last year’s; crop will 
begin moving about April 10. Our next crop is tomatoes. 
I think the acreage is probably increased at least four 
times at this point, and probably that over the entire 
county. They paid well last year; some claim as much 
as $400 per acre. I realized $200, expenses included, which 
were about $60 per acre. Our principal tree fruit is the 
peach. I would be afraid to say how much the acreage 
has increased in the past year. Everyone seemed to go 
wild last year over their peach sales, and put out all the 
Elbertas they could get. Our home nurseries were out in 
October; in an order for 800 trees, I could only get 100 
Elbertas, which was probably fortunate for me, as the 
outcome of this Elberta craze is hard to foretell, though 
Mi’. Morrill, of Michigan, seems to have faith In it. As 
to profitableness, I will say that I have been in Smith 
County about 10 years, and on this farm six seasons, and 
I can’t think of a fruit and truck grower who has paid 
proper attention to his business who is not in a better 
condition financially than when I came here. I see on 
page 171, that J. E. Morse, of Michigan, gives the time 
of maturity of tomatoes from 110 to 120 days. I have al¬ 
ways heard that vegetables grew faster in the North 
than South, but last year I planted Stone tomatoes May 
25 to 30. and shipped my first on August 30, and we con¬ 
sidered that the hot Summer retarded growth and caused 
all the first blossoms to shed; still they matured in about 
90 days, which is 20 to 30 days sooner than Mr. Morse’s 
table. The Stone is not an early variety. We are put¬ 
ting our tomatoes in cold ground now. As to packages, 
we use the 24-quart crate for berries, and the four-basket 
crate for peaches and tomatoes, though a few still ship 
in one-quarter and one-third bushel boxes, and a few 
used the six-basket crate last season, though I think it 
will be some time before this supersedes the four-basket 
crate. c. f. powell. 
Smith Co., Tex. _ 
MICE GIRDLED TREES.—I hear quite a good deal of 
complaint about mice eating the bark from fruit trees 
during the past Winter. The worst case I have heard 
is of a four-year-old peach orchard, where from 25 to 30 
per cent has been ruined. Tn a 30-year-old apple orchard 
of 600 trees the owner tells me there are 60 to 70 trees 
girdled by the mice; another orchard of twice the number 
of trees has six or seven eaten. A good many orchards 
I have seen have no signs of girdling. From what I have 
heard and seen I would not think that more than one or 
two per cent was injured. About 25 years ago mice in¬ 
jured a lot of small trees—trees two or three inches 
through. The owner had them bridged over with small 
limbs such as are used for grafting, about four to each 
tree, covering all the wound including the grafts or bridg¬ 
ing. I doubt whether the large trees can be saved by 
this means. J- N. 8. 
Orleans Co., N. Y. 
