448 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
June 28 
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.] 
THE FENCE CORNER PEACH TREE. 
Why It Is Hardy. 
Why do the fence-corner peach trees, 
struggling to make their own living as 
best they can, usually stand a cold snap, 
dry season, or other neglect, better than 
cultivated trees? Is it because they are 
naturally hardy, vigorous varieties, or is 
it their bringing up that carries them 
through? 
I think that one reason why “fence- 
corner” peach trees bear so well when 
others do not, is because they are sur¬ 
vivors in the struggle for existence 
which destroys all those which are not 
able to withstand neglect and to keep 
up their “end of the row.” The single 
old apple and pear trees which some¬ 
times bear so many years under entire 
neglect, are only one or two trees out of 
perhaps a thousand seedlings, the others 
having perished many years ago. 
Cornell University. l. ir. bailey. 
I do not know why it is that some 
“fence-corner” peach trees seem to be 
a little more hardy and bear a little 
more freely, although usually of inferior 
fruit, than those in well-fed and culti¬ 
vated orchards; but I do not know that 
anyone has ever made very much of a 
commercial success of “fence-corner” 
trees or neglected orchards. So what is 
the use wasting time or hunting out the 
reason for that class of trees doing well? 
I know of a working man who gets 
gloriously drunk every Saturday night 
and soaks up a gallon of whisky over 
Sunday and yet does six good days’ work 
the following week until drunk time 
comes again, and he has kept this up 
for years, and is very successful as a 
laborer; still I do not recommend any¬ 
one following his example, j. h. iiale. 
The “fence-corner” peach trees are 
looked after by Nature in some way bet¬ 
ter than we care lor them in orchard 
cultivation. In the first place they 
usually have all the room they need, so 
they get plenty of sunshine. The old 
fence and brush gather in and hold all 
the leaves blowing that way. These not 
only decay and furnish excellent plant 
food, year after year, but make the best 
mulch possible for the tree. All through 
the hot Summer months this mulch 
holds the moisture. But best of all, 
after the ground has frozen hard it stays 
so all Winter long in this fence corner, 
for the brush and fence have plenty of 
leaves, etc., all around this tree to keep 
the ground frozen. The freezing and 
thawing is what does the mischief more 
than anything else with cultivated trees 
in our orchards. I do not think “fence- 
corner” peach trees more hardy or vig¬ 
orous than our best varieties under the 
same conditions. ethelbert bliss. 
Massachusetts. 
I am not sure that “fence-corner” 
peach trees are very much hardier than 
those in the orchard and under good 
cultivation. That they endure more ad¬ 
verse conditions than those in the aver¬ 
age orchard is probably due to the fact 
that they are of a type less forced from 
the normal type; that is to say, the cul¬ 
tivated trees are usually of varieties 
that are prized for their fruit of high 
quality rather than the hardiness of the 
tree. Again, it may be, that high culture 
may induce a tender growth. This does 
not appear to have been so in the very 
notable case of Roland Morrill’s orchard 
in Michigan a few years ago, when it 
passed the most severe Winter weather 
with no damage to the trees or buds, 
while other peach orchards all over that 
section, as well as elsewhere, were ter¬ 
ribly injured, and few of them had any 
peaches the next season, although his 
trees were full. He claimed, and no 
doubt justly, that the high culture was 
the reason of their ability to withstand 
the test. I believe the natural hardi¬ 
hood of the poor seedling trees is the 
main reason for their exemption from 
injury. h. e. van deman. 
I think it is generally conceded that 
peach trees grown from natural pits 
make the healthiest and hardiest trees, 
whether they are grown in a fence cor¬ 
ner or elsewhere. The “fence-corner” 
trees are usually seedlings allowed to 
grow without being transplanted; such 
trees always have a tap root and a sys¬ 
tem of roots as Nature designed a peach 
tree should have. The tap root goes 
down deep, and finds moisture in a dry 
season; while a transplanted tree has 
its tap root broken and seldom forms 
another; thus it is crippled in a period 
of drought. The tree practically stands 
still for lack of water; and when suffi¬ 
cient moisture comes Nature attempts to 
repair the damage by causing an extra 
flow of sap. This causes the tree to 
start into a new growth, and it does not 
ripen its wood and mature its buds so 
as to resist the Winter. The hardiest 
peaches I have are those varieties which 
ripen their wood and denude themselves 
of leaves the earliest in the Fall; then 
again, the “fence-corner” tree usually 
stands in better soil, and has more or 
less shade to protect its roots and is not 
so badly hurt by dry weather. I believe 
the time is not far distant wnen the pits 
will be planted where the tree is to 
grow; they can be budded there as well 
as in the nursery row. I also believe 
the time is coming when budding will 
be dispensed with; we shall have fruit 
that will reproduce itself and come true 
to the pit. My belief is that destroying 
the tap root, and budding are the two 
sources from which emanate most of 
the weaknesses the peach tree is heir 
to. The “fence-corner” tree has neither 
of these evils to contend with, hence is 
a hardy, vigorous and long-lived tree. 
Rocky Hill, N. J. w. n. s. 
The Dusty Man on the Stack. 
J. M. 7'., Paris, Ont .—Is there a con¬ 
trivance made for protecting the nostrils 
from dust and dirt at thrashings, etc.? 
To those reared to the business it appears 
to make no difference, but to one in the 
country in search of health it is of de¬ 
cided importance. 
A modern thrashing outfit does not 
create any dust that is objectionable to 
the operator. A modern thrasher is 
equipped with the self-feeder, which 
does away with hand feeding entirely, 
and takes the operator away from the 
dust that would be objectionable in hand 
feeding, it is also equipped with a wind 
stacker. This stacks the straw by wind 
blast and does not require any men on 
the straw stack at all. In sections of 
the country where these modern attach¬ 
ments are not used on account of small 
crops they use what is called a dust col¬ 
lector. This dust collector consists of a 
small suction fan which is housed in 
and draws the dust away from cylinder, 
carrying it quite a long distance from 
the machine through a canvas spout or 
tube. We might suggest that traction 
engines are now being very extensively 
bought and used by large contractors to 
take the place of teams. 
Ohio. THE HUBER MEG. CO. 
The only practical device for protect¬ 
ing the nostrils from dust and dirt while 
thrashing that we know of, is a piece of 
damp sponge tied over the mouth and 
nose. That is not entirely satisfactory, 
though it is the best thing we have ever 
seen used, except the pneumatic stacker, 
or blower as it is often called by thrash- 
ermen, and that is practical and satis¬ 
factory for the reason that it avoids the 
necessity of having any men on the 
straw stack whatever. This device is 
operated by a man who stands upon the 
rear end of the machine and builds the 
stack entirely by manipulation of the 
chute through which the straw is preci¬ 
pitated from the separator. The wind 
stacker has been a great boon to thrash- 
ermen all over the country, as it does 
away with the hot, dirty, uncomfortable 
position of two to four men on the straw 
stack, thus making a saving in the ex¬ 
pense of operating the outfit, and at the 
same time caring for the straw as well 
as has been done by previous methods. 
Michigan. advance thresher co. 
The only successful dust protector 
that the writer has ever seen is a fine 
quality of sponge kept damp and tied 
over the nostrils. There is, however, 
but very little call for the prevention of 
dust among laborers around a thrashing 
machine at this time, for the reason that 
the blower stacker is being used very 
largely, and they seldom put a man on 
the straw at all, and there are but few 
machines using hand feeders, as this is 
now being done almost entirely by the 
automatic feeder and band cutter, and 
the men are practically out of the dust. 
Iowa. THE 0. S. KELLY MEG. CO. 
A Maine Fruit Garden. 
II. If., Bunker Hill, Me.— I am desirous of 
planting a fruit garden, and wish to know 
what varieties, in your judgment, would 
be most likely to succeed in this locality. 
I am in the town of Nobleboro, on Lake 
Damariscotta, in Lincoln County. The 
soil is, I suppose, glacial drift; the earth 
being full of stones and bowlders of all 
shapes and sizes; but when the bowlders 
are removed the soil is light, friable (not 
sandy) and fairly productive. I wish to 
try tree and small fruits for home con¬ 
sumption (not for market), so that qual¬ 
ity is more to be considered than quantity. 
Will you name what you consider the best 
apples, pears, plums and cherries, as well 
as the best small fruits? 
Ans. —Some of the best fruit that 
Maine produces is grown in Knox and 
Lincoln counties, and I should say you 
would have no difficulty in growing any 
of the kinds named. The personal ele¬ 
ment enters so largely into the selection 
of varieties for the home that any list is 
not likely to give universal satisfaction. 
My own choice would be somewhat as 
follows: Apples for Summer and Au- 
turn, Oldenburg, Gravenstein, Munson 
Sweet; for Winter, Munson Sweet, Shia¬ 
wassee, Milding, Mother, Hurlbut, Rhode 
Island Greening. The sweet apple men¬ 
tioned is in season from October to 
March. Pears, Clapp’s Favorite and Bart¬ 
lett for early use; Sheldon, Lawrence 
and Anjou later. Plums, Burbank, Im¬ 
perial Gage, McLaughlin. Cherries, 
Windsor, Early Richmond, English 
Morello. Seedlings of Black Tartarian 
sometimes thrive, but sweet cherries are 
always uncertain in Maine. Raspberries, 
Cuthbert, Loudon, Golden Queen. Black¬ 
berries, Agawam, Snyder. Currants, 
Wilder, Prince Albert, White Imperial, 
Prince Albert has the special merit of 
being late and of holding its foliage 
well. Gooseberries, Downing and pos¬ 
sibly Whitesmith. Strawberries, Clyde, 
Glen Mary, Greenville, Haverland. 
Maine Exp. Station, w. m. munson. 
When you write advertisers mention The 
R. N.-Y. and you will get a quick reply and 
“a square deal.” See our guarantee 8th page. 
D WYER’S Summer and Au¬ 
tumn Catalogue (now ready) 
of Pot-Grown Strawberry Plants, 
Celery, Cabbage, etc. Pot-Grown 
Clematis, Honeysuckle, Ivy, etc. 
A full line of Fruit and Ornamen¬ 
tal Trees Vines and Plants. 
Tills Catalogue, with beautiful colored plates, 
mailed free—write for It. T. J. DWYER & SON, 
Orange County Nurseries, Box 1, Cornwall, N. Y. 
THE PRESIDENT 
STRAWBERRY 
The Rural New-Yorker calls It "the most 
promising new variety of the year.” 
It has been carefully tested for four years, and 
not offered for sale until fully matured. It has 
been grown in field culture, and marketed in 
large quantities by the side of otner leading 
varieties—leading them all in the qualities de¬ 
manded in big berries for a critical market. 
Large, Firm, High Colored, Well Flavored. 
POTTED PLANTS FOR SALE! 
Per dozen, #3. Per 50, 1SI0. 
Per IOO, 1*18. 
Stock all in originator’s hands. Buyers protected 
THOMAS R. HUNT, Lambertville, N.J. 
Mention this Paper. 
Potted Strawberry Plants, July I. 
T. C. KEV1TT, Athenla, N.J. 
Cabbage Plants £ 
B. A. BASSETT, Afton, N. Y. 
CABBAGE PLANTS SKUT m 
Ea. J. WakeMeld, Ea. Summer. By exp., $1 per 1,000. 
C elery and Cabbage Plants, 81 per 1,000 
rimson Clover Seed, 84 per bushel. 
8 LAYMAKER & SON, Dover, Del. 
Vegetable Plants. 
Cabbage—Danish Bullhead, from own Imported 
seed, $1.25 per 1,000. Celery-White Plume and 
Celeriae, transplanted, very strong. $2 per 1,000. 
Tomato—Acme and Livingston, twice transplanted; 
Pepper—Ruby King and Sweet Mountain, twice 
transplanted, $1 per 100. cash. LUDWIG MOSB/KK 
85th Street, near South Chicago Ave., Chicago, Ill. 
ET I COY Plants, $1 per 1,000; 70 cents 
ifc ^ 1 500. Strong, stocky plants; 
seed sown thin in rich beds. The plants, over the 
whole field, have an average of four square Indies 
of space each. They are kept in even, steady growth 
by irrigation. G. S. B., $1 per 1,000; W. P.. $1,20: G 
Rascal, $1.10. All plants from imported seed. Write 
for prices on 25,000, 50,000 and 100,000. Circular free. 
F. W. liOCHELLE, Drawer 1, Chester, New Jersey. 
QKDEHS booked now for new crop Crimson Clover 
seed ready June 15. Popular prices. Seed guar¬ 
anteed. Write JOHN J. ROSA, Milford, Del. 
Brief Potato Notes. 
In Hope Farm Notes you wonder how 
they can raise potatoes so cheaply in 
Belgium. The climate has a great deal 
to do with it. Here in Vermont, in Mt 
Holly, the town west of us, and near the 
summit of the Green Mountains, pota¬ 
toes are a fine crop, while it is too cold 
for corn. The township east of this 
raises much better crops of corn than 
potatoes, all owing to the elevation. 
Where I lived in Nevada they called a 
good crop 600 bushels. The elevation 
above sea level is about 4,500 feet; the 
soil loose and friable; the crop is irri¬ 
gated properly, manure is plentiful— 
the rancher hauling in a load of pota¬ 
toes and a load of manure costing noth¬ 
ing back. The potatoes grow very large 
and are very mealy. The cook quarters 
many of them to get them cooked in any 
reasonable time, and a quarter of one Is 
often enough for a meal. Many of the 
ranchers are Italians, and one year the 
proprietor of an Italian store offered a 
prize of $5 for the largest Irish potato 
brought in that season. The largest was 
a seven-pound potato perfect in shape 
and quality. F. h. 
Windsor Co., Vt. 
For the land’s sake, use Bowker’s Fer 
tilizers. They enrich the earth.— Adv. 
P b« AC d I A~' 500 bushels Early Black Cow 
iUI V* Cf I Cs Peas. $2 bu.; 100 bushels Early 
Black-eyed Peas. $2 bushel; 600 bushels Delaware- 
grown Crimson Clover Seed. Hi bushel. 
J. E. HOLLAND, Milford, Del. 
SWEET CORN. 
Do you know that many people enjoy green 
corn as much In September and October as in any 
other month of the year'/ It Is a fact, but why 
not try it yourself? Ordway’s Golden Is the best for 
late as well as early use, and can bo planted as late 
as July 1 with good results, as It will be ready for 
the table 10 W’eeks after planting, affording you a 
treat before frost comes. Send 25 cents to 
O. F. ORDWAY, Saxonvillc, Mass., 
for a half-pint packet, and you will receive it by 
return mall. 
He has many testimonials verifying his assertions 
that it is the sweetest and most delicious corn ever 
offered to the public. Give it a trial. 
Peach, Apple and 
Pear Buds. 
Send list of wants to bo priced. Can furnish in 
largo or small quantities. 
J. G. UAKKISON SONS, Berlin, M«L 
Clenwood Nurseries 
Most complete assortment of choice 
Ornamental Trees, Shrubs and Hines. 
Eend for Descriptive Illustrated Catalogue. 
THE WM. H. MOON CO., MORU18V1LLE, PA. 
60 miles from New York; 30 miles from Philadelphia. 
The Name on My Trees Means Something 
IT DOESN’T ALWAY8 ON OTHERS. 
Tree Breeders. ROGERS ON THE HILL. Dansville, N. Y. 
PRIMSON GLOVER 
ucbcnumg u»cu ui unmttun uiovcr is iu<*i 
v HENRY A. DREER, 714 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, Pa. 
In sowing this valuable clover It Is Important 
that American seed is used. We supply gen¬ 
uine Delaware Beed only. Our special circular 
describiug uses of Crimsou Clover is mailed 
