1902 
THE RURAL NE W-Y O R K E R. 
5oi 
Events of the VEeek. 
DOMESTIC.—Near Gloversville, N. Y., July 4 : a run 
away trolley car on the Mountain Lake road killed 13 
persons and Injured 50 others. The accident was caused 
by a combination baggage and passenger car getting 
away from the motorman and rushing down the moun¬ 
tainside at terrific speed. The brakes refused to work 
and at the end of the grade the heavy car crashed into 
a loaded open car also descending the mountain. The 
latter was hurled from the track and turned on its side, 
and over 50 per cent of the passengers were injured. 
ITiose who were pinned directly under the car were 
crushed to death and in some instances terribly muti¬ 
lated The combination car also left the track and 
turned on its side.Grave trouble between cat¬ 
tlemen and Indians in the Choctaw Nation is feared, be¬ 
cause of the killing of nearly 400 cattle, supposedly by 
the Indians. The trouble arises from the violation by 
the cattlemen of the law providing that non-citizens of 
the Nation shall have no more than 10 head of cattle 
each. It is asserted that the cattle owners have violated 
the law with impunity, and aroused the hostility of the 
Indians.Fire at the Chicago Stock Yards July 
5 caused a loss estimated at $1,000,000. Swift & Company 
were the chief losers.A strike of the freight 
handlers was ordered in Chicago July 7. The men pa¬ 
raded and held a meeting. Between 8,000 and 9,000 men 
are out, and all the railroads entering Chicago are af¬ 
fected.A succession of cloudbursts occurred in 
western New York July 5, paralyzing business over a 
wide section. Damage to property is extensive; vine¬ 
yards, crops, live stock, buildings, railroads and bridges 
were swept away, and travel seriously impeded. The 
damage at the head of Canandaigua Lake alone amounts 
to $100,000. Almost every bridge over creeks in Niagara, 
Allegheny and the southern part of Wyoming counties 
was swept away. The damage around Pike, Wyoming 
County, is put at $250,000. Farms were laid waste down 
the Genesee Valley. At Nunda large fields of growing 
crops were washed away, ground and all. 
While parts of the country were suffering from floods 
July 4-5 a sandstorm did $1,000,000 damage in the Indio 
Valley, on the Southern Pacific Railroad, in the Colorado 
desert. An artificial oasis of 900 acres had been made by 
digging artesian wells and planted in melons. Judging 
by last year, when only 60 acres were in cultivation, a 
profit of more than $1,000 an acre would have been made. 
Three hundred carloads of melons, for which $1,200 a car 
had been offered, were almost ready for shipment when 
the storm broke. For three days it raged, with the ther¬ 
mometer 126 degrees in the shade, and when it was over 
every bit of vegetation had been destroyed. 
Fire at Oswego, N. Y., July 7, resulting from lightning, 
destroyed a large flouring mill and other property; loss 
$250,000. The fair buildings at Oswego Falls, N. Y., were 
burned on the same date; loss $25,000.Near 
Salina Cruz, on the Pacific side of the Isthmus of Te¬ 
huantepec, a giant geyser has broken out as the result of 
heavy earthquakes occurring in that section since April 
18 last. The column of water, rising to a height of about 
50 feet, roars and hisses from among the rocks, and is 
an object of great interest to the people and to passing 
vessels, being plainly visible from the sea. 
PHILIPPINES.—July 4 the President formally de¬ 
clared the restoration of peace in the Philippine Archi¬ 
pelago; placed the islands under complete civil control 
and extended general amnesty to the Filipinos who have 
been in rebellion. Military control in the Philippines has 
cost more than 4,000 American lives and over $170,000,000 
cash More than 100,000 soldiers have been required to 
pacify the islands. As high as 70,000 soldiers have been 
in the service in the Philippines at one time. The move¬ 
ment of these large bodies of troops back and' forth 
across the Pacific and the shipment of supplies neces¬ 
sary for their sustenance necessitated the organization 
of a fleet of transports at a monumental expense to the 
Government. Up to April, 1900, more than two years 
ago, the transport service had cost $32,030,449.30. The 
service for the two years since April, 1901, has cost 
equally as much, making the total approximately $65,- 
000,000. Secretary Root recently submitted to Congress 
a statement showing that the cost of the war in the 
Philippines the army alone considered, not including the 
transport item, had been $170,326,586. This sum does not 
include the $20,000,000 paid to Spain for the islands. . . . 
The Moros in the towns of Masieu and Bocolod are 
growing more aggressive. General Chaffee has advised 
General George W. Davis to disregard the insulting let¬ 
ter received from the Sultan of Bocolod, and to icmain 
unaggressive, unless attacked, or in the event of an 
overt act being committed.The taking of tes¬ 
timony by the board appointed to inquire into the 
charges of cruelty, brought by Major Cornelius Gardener, 
Governor of Tayabas Province, against American of-, 
fleers and soldiers, closed July 5. Major Gardener de¬ 
clined to produce testimony showing that the military 
had been hostile to the civil authorities, saying that 
such evidence was not available and he would leave the 
charge unproved. 
FARM AND GARDEN.—The Supreme Court of Mich¬ 
igan, June 24, affirmed the constitutionality of the Mich¬ 
igan’ statute forbidding the manufacture and sale of 
colored oleo, and sustained the conviction of George W. 
Rotter, a Petoskey grocer, who was convicted of selling 
the colored article. The Court held that the Legislature 
had power to pass this law, and that the Courts cannot 
consider the wisdom or policy of so doing. 
The New York State Grange will hold its next meeting 
at Syracuse, February 3-7, 1903. 
The Wisconsin State Horticultural Society held its 
Summer meeting at Waupaca, Wis., June 25-26. 
A new schedule of freight rates has just been issued 
in Iowa, so that all kinds of road making materials will 
be carried at the greatly reduced slack coal rates to all 
points where the public roads center at railroad stations. 
The 1,000 acres of land which have been awarded to 
the Minnesota Forestry Board, are to be mainly planted 
with spruce, for which there is a brisk demand for paper 
making purposes. Wffiile spruce when set out in good 
land attains a height of 150 feet in 25 years, the White 
pine requires 50 years or more to attain its full develop¬ 
ment. 
Secretary of Agriculture Wilson has started on a tour 
of the West and Northwest that will extend six weeks 
or two months. He will visit various State fairs, agri¬ 
cultural experiment stations and agricultural colleges 
and rub elbows with the farmers. 
Dr. T. H. Hoskins died suddenly at his home in New¬ 
port, Vt., June 26. He was born at Gardiner, Me., May 
14, 1828, and was familiar to many of our readers both 
as a writer and an intelligent investigator in horticul¬ 
ture. He was especially interested in vai'ieties suited 
to the colder sections of the country. 
APPLE DISEASE IN WESTERN NEW YORK. 
I send a sample basket of apples. In one end, occupy¬ 
ing about one-fourth of the space, is a fair sample from 
an orchard that has had no care whatever for severa 
years. Nearly all the apples are affected like the sam¬ 
ples of Greenings, Baldwins and Kings. Directly across 
the road from this is another orchard from which was 
taken the remainder of the apples. This orchard has 
been well cared for in every respect, tilling, fertilizing, 
trimming and spraying. The first lot are Greenings and 
Baldwins, probably two or three Kings, that make a 
very good showing. This fairly represents many or¬ 
chards in the country, and there are many orchards 
having no better care, and some not even as good are 
better than this. There are some sections, I think more 
specially the lake towns, where there is very little of 
this blight. Many of the blighted apples are dropping, 
as they were hurt so much that they stopped growing 
and are falling. But for all this we expect a great many 
good apples. I should say that the crop now promises 
to be about 40 per cent of the crop of 1900. That year 
you know the apples were good, and in quantity about 
equal to the crop of 1896, at least in Orleans County. 
The present crop bears no comparison to the one last 
year, as then we had a mere nothing. Farmers are all 
puzzled on the spraying question in regard to the fun¬ 
gus on the apples, not leaves. Some who did not spray 
at all are comparatively free from fungus, and others 
who did spray have it. It would seem as if this blight, 
whatever it may be, came at one time, arresting the 
growth of that part of the apple where it first lodged. 
Insects and worms of all kinds have been veiy few, in 
fact not enough to notice them. This particular injur* 
seems to be the only thing this season, and if the spray- 
Unsprayed. Sprayed. _^_ .... 
EFFECTS OF FUNGUS IN WESTERN NEW YORK.. Fie. -00. 
ing fails to help that, many farmers would lose confi¬ 
dence in the spraying for general purposes. 
Orleans Co.. N. Y. 8 ; c- bowen. 
21 N.-Y.-We have had fair samples of the apples 
sent by Mr. Bowen photographed. They are shown at 
Fig. 200. __ 
FRUIT AND CROP NOTES. 
JUNE 30.—June was an unfavorable month for the 
fruit crop in Chautauqua County. The rainfall has not 
been excessive, but the temperature for the entire 
month has been unusually low. From present indica¬ 
tions there will be less fruit than last year of all kinds 
except apples, which were then a failure. Cherries 
about 75 per cent, with fewer wormy ones than usual. 
Pears and plums about 50 per cent or less, but thus far 
giving promise of good size and freedom from insect 
pests. Apples 50 to 75 per cent of a full crop, the for¬ 
mer figures being more nearly correct, in my judgment, 
than the latter. Present indications are for high qual¬ 
ity in size and appearance. Grapes, the principal fruit 
crop in this county, are showing the ill-effects of long- 
continued cold, and the crop will probably be less than 
that of last year by 15 to 25 per cent. Last year s crop 
was about 8,000 carloads. E - w - p - 
Fredonia, N. Y. 
JUNE 30.—The prospect is good for all kinds of fruit 
except peaches, which are almost a failure In this lo¬ 
cality. Plums of all kinds more than last year. There 
will be a good many pears of all varieties, but not more 
than one-third the crop of Bartletts and Kieffers that 
we had last year. Apples promise well now, Baldwin, 
Greening and King a full crop; Spy and some other 
varieties short. We estimate about the same quantity 
of apples as two years ago; many more than last year. 
Abundant rains now falling may injure apples. Pres¬ 
ent indications are that the quality of all kinds of fruit 
will be unusually good. There seems to be very little 
damage from the Codling moth this year. F. s. h. 
Lewiston, N. Y. 
JULY 2._The strawberry crop in this section has been 
harvested. The crop was unusually good. Raspberries 
and blackberries will be about two-thirds of a crop. 
Pears are light in this section; plums light, apples and 
peaches promise to be a good crop. Trees are looking 
very healthy. Grapes promise a good crop. f. b. 
Marlboro, N. Y. 
JULY 3.—The apple crop Is a very uneven one, some 
orchards having a fine load and others scarcely any. 
Baldwins seem to predominate, and the quality looks 
fine. We have not got what we call a crop, probably 
not" one-half of a crop, but we have three times as 
many apples as last year, and quality better. Pears are 
very light; plums a small crop; sour cherries were very 
light. Wheat a fine crop; Spring grain Is looking fine; 
corn very backward. T - M - c ‘ 
Lakemont, N. Y. 
JULY 4.—The outlook for apples in this section is bet¬ 
ter than last year, about half a crop, Greenings and 
Baldwins principally; quality good. Pears very scarce. 
Rye and oats are looking well. Corn is backward; 
grass light, quality poor. Plenty of rain, weather cool, 
work backward. C- J ’ L ' 
New Baltimore Sta., N. Y. 
JULY 4.—Wheat two-thirds of a crop; corn promises 
well; oats, hay and rye over the average. Potatoes and 
truck above the normal, say 125 per cent; berries not 
plentiful. Apples promise a good yield; pears one-half. 
Excessive moisture is now delaying farm work, espe¬ 
cially wheat cutting; corn pretty much all clean. To¬ 
matoes are in good condition; 200 acres in this nelgh- 
. , C. W. R. 
borhood. 
Clarkshill, Ind. 
JULY 8 —The pear crop has every appearance of be¬ 
ing smaller than last year. The trees are very unevenly 
fruited. Peaches have thinned by natural process, 
dropping in most cases; some kinds and situations have 
to be thinned, so that the crop will be good except on 
sickly trees or those that have overborne. Apples, 
Baldwins especially, will be a heavy crop, good quality, 
but not large. Greenings very light; other kinds me¬ 
dium. Plums good if they do not rot; currants have 
been about the same as last year. o. s. c. 
Milton, N. Y. 
The outlook for an immense hay crop through all the 
Central West was never better; in fact, a great portion 
of the crop has now been harvested, and most of it was 
taken care of before the heavy rains came on so as to 
avoid any considerable amount of damage. Our esti- 
mate would be that the hay crop is largely in excess of 
that of any year in the last seven or eight years. 
Illinois. ACME HARVESTER CO. 
The prospects for fruit this season thus far are fair; 
the heaviest will be apples and peaches; the latter hav¬ 
ing fallen prey to the yellows to a large extent there 
will in all probability be as many as last year. Two 
agents employed by the Department of Agriculture are 
here now inspecting and marking the diseased trees 
The farmers are doing generally as they are instructed 
by the agents and remove them before 10 days. There 
are a great many apples, but the ravages of the Codling 
moth are to be seen. Plums are a fair crop, with the 
annual noticeable presence of the curculio stings. Chei- 
ries about half crop, with many poor ones. Pears are 
not up to an ordinary year. H - v - 
Orange Co., N. Y. 
We have had a very dry and cool season, so garden 
truck is behind. I picked my first ripe outdoor toma¬ 
toes June 21, variety Maule's Earliest. 1 have some of 
Coss Earliest ripe now; they are larger and smoother 
than Maule’s. I have some very fine fruit of Burpee s 
Unnamed now ripe; more look as though they would 
ripen in a few days. The largest early tomato 1 ever 
raised. Beans are a poor crop, 40 cents a peck on our 
market. I have about one acre of Alfalfa sown wiLh 
oats. The largest stalks are about 15 inches in length. 
It was sown in April, and 1 shall cut it shortly. 1 am 
anxious for results from this seemingly new plant. The 
grass crop is very short. w - s - c - 
Hagerstown, Md. 
Prospects for fruit are not very good in this section. 
Cherries are about an entire failure; no plums of any 
accounL. I am satisfied that the apple crop will not 
be more than one-fourth to one-third, of course it is a 
little early yet to make an accurate estimate, as weath¬ 
er conditions may materially change the outlook. Va¬ 
rieties will be mostly Fall and Winter kinds, which I 
am afraid will be poor in quality, as 1 find the curculio 
has been very busy puncturing the fruit this season, 
probably on account of there being no peaches, cherries 
or plums for them to work on. The weather here has 
been very cool all through June, with a few days which 
were exceptionally hot. Rainfall has been abundant, 
but corn Is rather at a standstill. Hay will be only an 
average crop. Wheat looks for a good turnout; oats 
seem to be doing well. °. w. h. 
Evans City, Pa. 
The yield of hay will be above an average, while the 
oat crop is fine and wheat is a fair crop. While the 
first crop of Alfalfa has been damaged by rains to some 
extent the second crop will be extra good, and more 
than repay the damage done by the heavy rains. This 
county (Meade) is not much of a hay county when it 
comes to wild prairie hay, but there is a good deal of 
Alfalfa raised in the bottoms, and there are lots of sor¬ 
ghum and Kaffir hay raised here. This hay enabled 
stockmen to keep their cattle here during the Wintei 
instead of sending them east to be wintered on high- 
priced hay. So far this year in this southwestern part 
of Kansas prospects are good for all crops except some 
few fields of wheat. My son drove through from here 
to Butler County recently and he says that corn and 
oats are fine all the way, and nearly all of the wheat 
that he saw. There will be thousands of acres of hay 
land mowed this year that was not worth mowing last 
year. J- J> s * 
Meade, Kan. __ 
THE ONION OUTLOOK.—The prospects for central 
New York are poor. Heavy winds and excessive freez¬ 
ing early in the season were followed by continued wet 
weather, which has made weeding almost impossible. 
In Orange County the crop has been somewhat damaged 
by wind, but on the whole looks more favorable than 
a year ago. In Wayne, Medina, Licking and Lake 
counties, Ohio, a better crop than last year is prom¬ 
ised. Lucas and Hardin counties have a poor stand on 
account of high winds and frost. Wet weather and 
maggots have injured the Wisconsin crop, and some 
fields are being plowed up, weeds having taken pos¬ 
session. In the Wheatfield district of Indiana 125 acres 
have been drowned out, and 600 acres in the Nappanee 
district have suffered severely. In New England, ex¬ 
cept Rhode Island, an increased acreage is reported, 
the outlook in Connecticut being most favorable. 
JEROME B. RICE CO. ONION PROSPECTUS. 
