688 
October 11 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
FARMERS’ CLUB 
[Every query must be accompanied by 
the name and address of the writer tp 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.] 
Sterile Miner Plum Trees. 
M. M., Blue Mound, III .—A friend of mine 
has 235 Miner plum trees 11 years old, plant¬ 
ed on a light timber ash or clay soil, a 
gentle north slope, near Decatur, Ill. 
These trees have been given fair cultiva¬ 
tion, sprayed with the ordinary Bordeaux 
Mixture, and are white with bloom every 
year, but have never borne but one fair 
crop of fruit. What is your opinion as to 
their non-productiveness, and what should 
be done with them? 
Ans. —The Miner plum, like many oth¬ 
er varieties, does not bear well alone. 
If some other varieties of the same spe¬ 
cies, such as Hawkeye, Stoddard oi 
Wyant were top-grafted into these trees, 
here and there, it is likely that they 
would bear. It would only be necessary 
to put a few in the top of every second 
to fourth tree, and the bees will carry 
the pollen from their flowers to those 
of the Miner. The flowers of some varie¬ 
ties will prove potent upon certain oth¬ 
ers, but this has not been thoroughly 
worked out yet, so as to enable us to 
know which ones to use in more than a 
few cases. h. e. v. d. 
Cob f\shes for Corn. 
E. ff. T., Bates, III .—How much cob ashes 
should I put on an acre of corn ground to 
increase the yield of corn the next crop? 
The corn will average about 60 bushels this 
year. The ashes are from a cob burner 
used by an elevator. Should I put the 
ashes on this Fall or next Spring? 
Ans.—A ton of the cob ashes will 
contain 142 pounds of potash, 47 pounds 
of phosphoric acid and 234 pounds of 
lime. Unless the land is very strong or 
has a clover sod to be plowed under 
the cob ashes will not produce the 
largest yield. The reason for this is 
that like all ashes it contains no nitro¬ 
gen. Why? Because nitrogen is a gas 
easily driven off on burning the cobs. 
Nothing but the mineral or incombust¬ 
ible matters remain when a substance 
is burned. It may be that the ashes 
will increase the yield. Such cases 
have been known where the soil was 
sour or where there was too much ni¬ 
trogen already present in proportion to 
the potash and phosphoric acid. We 
should use a ton to ton and a half to 
the acre. We prefer scattering on the 
plowed ground and harrowing in before 
planting. 
Treatment of Budded Peach. 
or the variety was poor. It is quite late 
to bud them now, and yet, if the trees 
are still very green and vigorous, their 
bark may peel, and it may be possible to 
bud them. They alone can answer the 
question on this point. If the buds take 
the trees may be set next Spring and 
treated as has just been stated for the 
smaller ones. The tops should not be 
cut off until next Spring. n. e. v. d. 
Mammoth Black-Twig, Stayman and Cano 
Apples. 
B. B. V. D., Jamestown, O .—Will you give 
short history of Mammoth Black Twig, 
Stayman and Gano apples? Are they re¬ 
liable bearers, good keepers and all-around 
good apples for commercial planting in 
southern Ohio? 
Ans. —Arkansas is the approved name 
of the apple that is quite generally call¬ 
ed Mammoth Black Twig. It is also in¬ 
correctly called Paragon sometimes. It 
is a seedling of Winesap, that originated 
in Arkansas, and has been extensively 
grown of late years, especially in the 
West. The tree is of much better form 
than that of the Winesap, and is a good, 
reliable bearer. The fruit is from me¬ 
dium to large; flat in shape, dark, smoky 
red, over a yellow ground; the flesh is 
yellowish, firm and juicy until dead 
ripe; flavor subacid, pleasant and of 
good but not first quality. Stayman is 
also a seedling of Winesap, that was 
originated by Dr. J. Stayman, of Leaven¬ 
worth, Kan., about 25 years ago, and is 
only of recent introduction to the gen¬ 
eral public. The tree has a very good 
form and is a sure and abundant bearer. 
The size of the fruit is medium; shape 
oblate conic, just like that of Winesap; 
color dark and brilliant red mixed and 
striped over a yellow ground; the flesh 
is firm, crisp and very juicy; in flavor 
it is sprightly subacid and rich; the 
quality is excellent, almost best. Alto¬ 
gether this is one of the very desirable 
apples to plant where the Winesap does 
well. Gano was lately described in The 
R* N.-Y., page 593. It is similar to Ben 
Davis, but more nearly solid red. 
H. E. V. D. 
pest, while others within a few miles 
may be riddled. We put out an orchard 
of nearly 500 trees a few years ago, ex¬ 
pecting to test some of the proposed 
remedies, but there have not been bor¬ 
ers enough in it to experiment on. The 
“digging out” or “wiring” process is 
the surest method yet devised and the 
one generally practiced by apple grow¬ 
ers. No effectual preventive measure 
has yet been discovered. 
M. V. SLINGERLAND. 
the pickers. If anyone is tempted to do 
likewise I say “Don’t!” Of course pop¬ 
corn stalks with leaves on are very dif¬ 
ferent, and I see no reason why they 
should not be used. Potato vines pullel 
before dying down are good g. a. p. 
Southport, N. Y. 
M. 8. H., Spruce Creek, Pa.— Can I dig 
peach trees budded this Fall and keep in 
good cellar all Winter, planting them out 
in nursery rows again in the Spring? How 
are they best cared for? I have several 
hundred peach trees that were budded last 
year. Can they be budded yet this Fall 
(top-budded), and planted out permanently 
next Spring? Should budded trees be topped 
back this Fall, or not until Spring? 
Ans. —Little peach trees that were 
budded this year and are now in good 
condition may be taken up about No¬ 
vember and safely kept over Winter in 
a cool, damp cellar, but their roots must 
not be allowed to get dry or they will 
be damaged. They should have their 
roots covered with earth, the same as if 
they were heeled in out of doors; and 
this must be moistened from time to 
time, unless the cellar is very damp, 
which is not likely to be the case. They 
can be set in nursery rows next year, or 
into the orchard next Spring. The lat¬ 
ter would be preferable if the ground 
will be in order by that time. This is 
sometimes done, and is called planting 
“dormant buds.” The tops have to be 
cut down to the bud, of course, and the 
sprout from the bua carefully nurtured. 
This incurs more trouble at first than 
to set in nursery form, but it saves sub¬ 
sequent transplanting. Peach trees that 
were budded last Fall and now need 
budding again must have failed to take, 
How to Kill Apple Borers. 
A. P. TV., Boston, Mass —What is the best 
preventive of borers in apple trees? I have 
an orchard in Hillsboro, N. H., and I find 
borers in all of the young trees. The beetle 
deposits its eggs quite near the roots in¬ 
stinctively to place them below where the 
woodpecker looks for them. I find in or 
near the roots, where the earth is wet and 
slimy, many grubs, snails and other insects 
abide there. Are there any chemicals which 
would destroy these pests and not injure 
the trees? Would barnyard liquid put 
around the roots be advisable? How would 
wood ashes work on the ground near the 
trees? Would you advise placing sand 
close to the trunks to prevent beetles de¬ 
positing eggs in trees? The borers make 
bad havoc with young trees when allowed 
to develop; they cause deep depressions 
and eventually destroy trees. 
Ans. —I know of no sure method of 
preventing the work of the Apple-tree 
borer. A piece of tarred or other tough 
paper wrapped tightly around the base 
of the tree will keep out some of them. 
Perhaps a coating of gas or coal tar 
would prove as effectual on the apple 
as it has against the Peach-tree borer, 
but it should be tested on a few trees to 
see if it injures the tree. Tar would 
prove as effectual as any other “wash.” 
Barnyard liquid or wood ashes around 
the roots would not discourage the bor 
ers, but it would encourage the trees and 
help them recover. Sand would be of 
little use. A little practice will soon 
enable one quickly to locate the borers’ 
burrow or tunnel, and it is often an easy 
job to run a wire in and end its life. 
Some inject a little carbon bisulphide 
into the opening where the “sawdust” 
is being thrown out in the Spring, and 
quickly close the hole with putty, thus 
causing the deadly fumes to penetrate 
all through the burrow and kill the 
grub. It is possible that low-headed 
trees shading the base would discourage 
the borer, but there is no definite data 
on this point. It is true that some or¬ 
chards suffer but very little from this 
CORNSTALKS FOR MULCHING 
STRAWBERRIES. 
J. TV. B., Hathome, Mass .—Will you ask 
your readers for their experience in using 
cornstalks as a Winter covering for straw¬ 
berries? I have a cornfield (pop-corn) close 
to one of berries, and have no use for the 
stalks. 
I always use cornstalks as a Winter 
covering for strawberries, but in con¬ 
nection with leaves. My strawberries 
are on stiff land that heaves very badly 
in Winter, so plants have to be we'l 
covered. I find the stalks keep the 
leaves in rows from blowing away better 
than such brush as I can get The 
stalks are put lengthwise of the rows. 
Massachusetts. geo. l. clark. 
We have used cornstalks at our 
School of Agriculture and Horticulture 
for covering strawberries. They work 
very well. We laid them along the rows 
the long way, and did not cover very 
heavily. They will pack very closely, 
and would smother the plants if laid 
very heavily. The pop-corn stalks be¬ 
ing lighter would make a very excellent 
covering to leave on during the Sum¬ 
mer. I consider them cheap and prac¬ 
tical to Use. GEO. T. POWELL. 
Briarcliff Manor, N. Y. 
I consider evergreen boughs the ideal 
strawberry covering, but quite an ex¬ 
pense to cover several acres and clear 
away the same. My second choice is 
cornstalks. If the stalks are very long 
I should put lengthwise to save ma¬ 
terial. If light, fine stalks I should 
spread with a fork. I think a light cov¬ 
ering of corn fodder alone is quite suffi¬ 
cient, as all that is required is to shade 
the ground and have something to hold 
the snow from blowing off. 
Massachusetts. g. c. walker. 
I have never used cornstalks for 
mulching strawberries without cutting 
oi shredding, and then they were fel 
plentifully to horses and cattle. What 
they left served as bedding, and then 
were used with manure for mulching, 
serving an excellent purpose. I would 
certainly use them as a mulch if I had 
nc other use for them. It would b•• 
more economical to place them length¬ 
wise of the rows and easier removed 
into the paths in the Spring. If used 
alone some kind of fertilizer would be 
beneficial in the early Spring, as the y 
give no fertility to the plant. 
Ulster Co., N. Y. Walter f. taber. 
I think the pop-corn stalks would be 
excellent for mulching strawberries, un¬ 
less very coarse. I would put them 
lengthwise of the rows if they are to be 
left until after the berries fruit; it will 
be much less work to remove them from 
the row. I had, last year, a small 
piece of dent corn .that made a heavy 
growth. After feeding a cow what she 
would eat of them I put the waste stalks 
on my berries. Although they were put 
on very thickly it seemed to make no 
appreciable difference in retarding 
Spring growth. It was a disagreeable 
task to remove them from the crowns, 
and they made it very uncomfortable for 
The Arctic Peach. — S. W. Call, of 
Perry, 0., sends us samples of this 
peach. He says: “The trees were so 
heavily laden that the sample is below 
size, but it will give you some idea of 
the quality. There is no question that 
this is the hardiest peach grown. They 
have produced a full crop each year for 
the last nine years, while several of 
those years all other varieties have fail¬ 
ed, and how much extreme cold weather 
the Arctic will stand I cannot say, for 
they have never been killed here yet.” 
The peach reached us in good condition. 
It is firm, of fair size and appearance, 
but the quality is not high. 
$25,000 TX 
PROFITacLU 
:NG 
was made In one year. Demand isincreasing. 
Eisily grown and hardy everywhere in the 
United Stat -s and Canada, t an be grown in 
sm ill gardens as well as on farms. Most pro- 
(itable crop known. Cultivated roots and seed 
for sale. Send four cents to help pay post *ge, 
and get our complete book teliing all about 
this wonderful Gin'sk- o. 
CHINESE-AMERICAN GINSENG CO. 
Department AC, JOPLIN, MO. 
5,000 Glen Mary for $7 50. 
KEVITT'S PLANT FARM, Atkenia, N J. 
WANTED 
Golden Queen Raspberry Plants. Address, 
stating numbor and price, Box 227, No Collins, N.Y. 
Trees, Plants and Vines 
That should be planted in October and 
November, are named in our free 
FALL CATALOGUE. Write lor It 
to-day. 200 Acres in Fruits and 
Ornamentals. Stock tlrst-class; 
prices right. Send us your list of wants 
for estimate. Call at our Nurseries, 
and make your own selections. 
T. J. DWYER & SON, 
Orange County Nurseries, 
liox 1. CORNWALL, N. Y. 
GRAPE VINES 
Currant*, Gooseberries, Black 
berries, Raspberries, Stiaw> 
berries. Price List FllEE. 
Send 2 c stamp for illustrated descriptive catalog. 
T. S. HUBBARD CO. Fredonia, N, i. 
MORE TRUTH THAN POETRY. 
Call’s Nurseries, Perry, O. 
Can furnish you the finest 
Northern-Grown Fruit Trees 
At very low Prices. 
Write them for Price List. 
CHOICEST FRUIT 
and Ornamental Trees, Shrubs, Roses. 
Plants, Bulbs. Direct deal will save 
you money; try us. Valuable Catalogue 
_ free. 49th Year. 1000 Acres. 44 Greenhouses. 
THE STORRS & HARRISON CO., 
PAINESVILLE, OHIO. 
FREE 
Illustrated Catalogue of choice 
Evergreens, Shrubs. Fruit and other 
Trees, Hoses. Water Lilies, etc. 
Prices low. Beautify your homes 
at small expense. 
I vy *» Ol'» 
E. S. PETERSON & HONS. Box 15, Montrose, N. Y. 
TREE PLANTING IN FALL 
Is recommended by horticulturists of highest author • 
lty. The soil Is always in better conditio;, the trees 
are dormant and start early in Spring, ai d any pos¬ 
sible loss on account of unfavorable weather the fol¬ 
lowing season Is prevented by Fall planting My 
catalogue is free. MARTIN WAHL, Rochester, N Y. 
MAMMOTH white winter rye. 
Mr. T. S. Cooper and others, who have grown 
our Rye, sent large orders this Fall Send for Cir¬ 
cular and Photograph of our 7-ft. Straw, awaraed 
Dip.oma at Pan-American Exposition. Price. $1 per 
Bushel. E. L. CLARKSON, Tivoli. N. Y. 
TREES 
$ Q DCp I Of) APPLE, PEAR, PLUM and PEACH; healthy, true to nam- 
■ til IUUi and Fumigated. All kinds of trees and plants at low whole- 
PT 1 ®,® 8 ,- Don’t buy until you get our catalogue, which is free, or send fist of wants 
for special price. Address RELIANCE NURSERY, Box 1, Geneva, New York. 
Fruit Trees 
are not grown like shade trees at Woodview Nurs¬ 
eries. It is a fact worth knowing by every orebard- 
ist. Let every planter ask for a catalogue. 
BOX 100, URIAH, PA. 
ROGERS TREES 
ARE DIFFERENT 
FROM OTHERS. 
Tht Tree Breeders. ROC ERS ON THE HILL, Dansville, N. Y. 
