I'.lilu 
TIIE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
/ OD 
EVERYBODY'S GARDEN. 
Melon Exfurikncf,. —On page 671 B. 
Buckman, Illinois, relates some new ex¬ 
periences with melons and tobacco dust, 
end asks the cause of failure as follows: 
“Did the tobacco dust either kill the re¬ 
producing parts of the blossoms, or did 
it drive the fertilizing insects away, or 
kill them as it did the beetles and lice, 
or yet must I ascribe the failure to the 
weather?” It may be only a whim; but 
personal experience has led me to be 
very cautious in the use of tobacco dust 
on watermelon vines. Whether weather 
or soil conditions aggravated the diffi¬ 
culty I am unable to say, but the fact 
remains that it nearly ruined a fine 
patch of vines, and to save them I had 
to remove the dust from the vines by 
thorough drenching with water. This is 
simply practical experience and not 
“guess so,” and must be taken for what 
it is worth. Others might not meet with 
like results in a lifetime. It is hardly 
probable that .any injury was done in 
the destruction of “fertilizing insects,” 
for I think they are not essential in pol¬ 
linating vine crop's. There was ample 
cause for failure from the three other 
sources mentioned, the hail, excessively 
wet weather, and last but not least, the 
aphis, "which doubtless was none other 
than the genuine Melon louse. Laying 
aside all theory as to the tobacco dust, 
either of the three latter obstacles is 
enough for one crop of melons to over¬ 
come, and with all combined, the rea¬ 
sons for failure would not be far to seek. 
The Melon Louse. —This is a serious 
pest, and by scientists is said to be a dif¬ 
ferent species from the green louse 
which infests the cabbage and other like 
\egetables. The trouble seems not to 
have developed in.the North to the same 
extent as in the South, where it infests 
the cotton fields as well, and is known 
as “honey-dew.”* The northern species 
may differ from that of the South, but 
in any case ir. is bad enough, and war 
cannot be declared any too soon after its 
first appearance. They increase with as¬ 
tonishing rapidity, and once gaining a 
foothold there will be great-grandfath¬ 
ers and great-grandmothers in almost 
no time, and generation follows genera¬ 
tion fast. I have seen this or a kindred 
pest in the hop yards, where quite large 
areas would become utterly worthless in 
a single day. We used to call it mildew, 
but they were lice just the same, in the 
North they have been successfully com¬ 
bated with whale-oil soap, and also 
with kerosene emulsion. The former is 
made fry dissolving one pound of whale- 
oil soap in six gallons of water. For the 
latter, dissolve one pound of ordinary 
soap in two gallons of water, and add 
(while boiling) four gallons of kerosene 
oil. It must be stirred or otherwise 
violently agitated until thoroughly 
mixed; then add 20 to 24 gallons of 
water, Either of the above is applied 
with a sprayer, and the work must be 
thoroughly done, especially on the un¬ 
derside of the leaves, as that is where 
the lice chiefly gather. It must be 
promptly done upon their first appear¬ 
ance and vigorously followed up when¬ 
ever there are any signs of their pres¬ 
ence. else little will be accomplished. 
In the South the victory is still more 
uncertain, and if won at all the ground 
must be contested inch by inch. There 
the later stages of the trouble are de¬ 
scribed as a rolling and almost entire 
closing of the leaves of the infested 
plants. In the enclosed leaves the lice 
are found in masses, and the honey-like 
substance which they exude has given 
the name "lioney-dew” to the trouble. 
The Texas Experiment Station suggests 
as a preventive a liberal use of tobacco 
dust in the hills at the time of planting 
the seed, and also scattering it plenti¬ 
fully around the plants as a top-dressing 
as soon as they are up. They also ad- 
■ise against planting near cotton fields 
that have been infested, or planting a 
•second time on melon ground where they 
have been previously troublesome. In 
experiments there, the chief and most 
successful remedy is fumigating with 
carbon bisulphide. For this purpose a 
hoop two feet in diameter is made of 
3-16-inch steel or brass wire. A second 
hoop of same dimensions is cut in halves 
and the ends are fastened to the whole 
hoop so as to cross at right angles and 
form a dome-shaped frame. Over this 
is stretched heavy cloth (which has b°en 
previously oiled or tarred to render it 
airtight), with edges fastened around the 
hoop. A bale of cotton or loose rags is 
suspended from the center of the hood 
and it is ready for use. When ready to 
operate, a tablespoonful of the carbon 
bisulphide is poured upon the ball of 
waste, and the hood is turned quickly 
over the hill and left for one hour. They 
• should be set so that they will fit closely 
tc the ground, and should be banked 
around with soil to prevent the escape 
of the fumes. They are made very 
cheaply, are durable and are equally 
useful for all varieties of plants requir¬ 
ing fumigation. Success depends entire¬ 
ly upon fumigating the affected hills at 
the first appearance of the lice, and 
keeping 'a sharp lookout for any other 
hills that may become infected. It is 
useless to postpone the matter of getting 
ready until the lice have preempted the 
ground, but taken in time the plan is 
said to be entirely feasible, as well as 
successful. The kerosene emulsion is 
also very helpful, but the all-important 
point is, by the thorough use of either 
or both methods, to destroy and hold 
in check the first crop, else when the 
winged generation is produced they will 
break beyond all bounds of control. 
Busy Times. —If there ever is a time 
when the gardener’s work is finished 
and vacation is in order it is certainly 
not at this time of year. With the stor¬ 
ing of the Winter crops, the marketing 
of the perishable stock, and the surplus 
of the later supply there, is surely little 
time left for climbing trees to look into 
the middle of the next week, or other 
like sports. In our own city the market 
conditions vary widely from those in 
many of the larger cities. Here, every 
day, Sundays excepted, is market day, 
with perhaps the most crowded on Sat¬ 
urdays and the lightest traffic on Mon¬ 
days. The principal points for the re¬ 
tail trade are the Eastern and Western 
markets, about three miles distant, and 
located upon two of the main thorough¬ 
fares of the city. The buildings are open 
structures and cruciform in shape, with 
wide hallways traversing each arm a dis¬ 
tance of 125 or 150 feet from the center. 
Outside of the main hallways on either 
side, and extending their entire length, 
are narrower passage-ways, where the 
produce is unloaded or left upon the 
wagons backed up at the outer edges. 
The slate roofs extend over all, and suf¬ 
ficiently far out to cover both wagons 
and teams. The market fee is only 10 
cents for single or double loads, and the 
convenience of shelter from the hot sun 
or the pouring rain is often worth many 
times the cost. Here the farmers and 
market gardeners are daily gathered 
from near and far, and the scene is a 
merry, busy whirl. But the wagon space 
is insufficient, and usually many are 
forced to stand out under the blue sky 
o: the dripping clouds. Rain or shin?, 
outside or in, the market fees are the 
same, and there is slight, opportunity 
for dodging the blue-coated collectors m 
charge. But now comes the scramble 
for choice of places, and the all-night 
ride is the common lot of many a dis¬ 
tant market-goer. Many more drive in 
ir. the evening and sleep on their wagons 
cr at nearby lodging houses as weather 
or fancy may dictate. Still others drive 
their loads in and return home for the 
night. Whether attended or deserted for 
the night, by the owners, the wagons 
are entirely sal'g from molestatiofi, and 
the market, day or night, affords valu¬ 
able object lessons for the careful ob¬ 
server. Very early in the morning, often 
before daylight, the traffic begins, for 
here many of the retail grocers depend 
on getting their day’s supplies, and 
hence the necessity of being the “early 
bird.” Market experience with all its 
attendant labors is a valuable tonic, and 
many a roughly-clad attendant is pos¬ 
sessed of a heritage that would be 
cheaply sold even for the entire assets 
A constant Cough wears anybody’s Strength away. 
A sure remedy is found in Dr. D. Jayne’s Expectorant. 
— A(2V 
of many a dweller in the marble fronts 
over on the avenue. e. mouse. 
Michigan. 
For the land’s sake, use Bowker’s Fer¬ 
tilizers. They enrich the earth.— !»/?’. 
Dollars 
BUYS 
DELIVERED, 
An 800 Lb. 
GOOD SCALE, 
On Wheels. 
PLATFORM 1 3 X 25 IN 
Cast Steel pivots, carefully 
tempered. Acc urate, durable, 
well finished. Other sires and 
WAGON SCALES ■ 3nw 
Iratio, For circulars, addr -i, 
JONES 
HK PAYS TUK FREIGHT. 
BINGHAMTON, N. Y. 
Box 5. 
> 
RREE 
This booktet tells how 
to make money on tho 
farm, and outlines our 
course of home study iu 
Modern Agriculture, 
Under Prof. Wm. P. Brook',, 
Ph. D., of tho Mass, Agri¬ 
cultural Collego. Treats 
of soils, tillage, drainage, 
fertilizers, crop rotation, 
stock - feeding, poultry- 
raising, dairying, etc. Al-o 
Horticulture under Prof. Bailey, of 
Cornell University, and Agricultural 
Bacteriology tinder Prof. Conn, of 
Wesleyan. Full Commercial, Normal and 
Academic Departments. Tuition nominal. 
Text-books free to our students. 
Cata. anrlparticnlars free. Write fn-day. 
THE HOME CORRESPONDENCE SCHOO" 
Sept, 18 Springfield Mass, 
giving prief' on the largest I 
scrlpttons in the United State 
MARVIN SMITH GO. 
SO MANY 
farmers have finally adopted the PAGE FENCE, 
wo wonder why you haven’t. It’ a a good one. 
PAGE WOVEN WIRE FENCE CO., ADRIAN,MICH. 
SAWS 
ItEATC 9 MEN with o 
DCA I d ma Cross-cut haw 
I MAN With a FOLD 
ISO SAWING HACHINK 
6 to 9 cords daily is the usual average for one man. 
RUNS RASY O—- -JBf- — . — 8AW8 DOWS 
/ J No TBEE3 
Monarch Mill 
for grinding ear corn into feed and for 
grinding? all grains, is Guaranteed t.» 
do moro and hotter work In a glren time than any other. 
mill of same Bhe. Best for farmers’ n?e. 
15 DAYS’ TRIAL 
to prove It, If you are not oonvlnoed, 
_ no Bale and no nay. Standard French 
BurTnnvl Attrition Mills,Shelters,Crush* 
„ ora, eto., for many farm purposes. Semi 
^for free catalogue and price list 
SPROUT, WALDRON A CO. Box 18 Munoy, Pa. 
200 Bu.A DAY 
With the Otis Ball Bearing No. 2 Mill. 
('finds ear corn and other grains fine or coarse. 
w Grind* faster than any other two*horse.mill made. 
Burrgare 2in. diameter of improved 
^shapeto draw the grain down Into them. 
, Pulls euHler as it runs on hall bearings. 
GUARANTEED^^ 
ag// o h as most others and % more than any other 
n 4—" 2-h. mill made of any construction. Larg- 
^ acSiw.a'’ est 2-h. mill made. Our Prices are low be* 
cause WE HAVE NO AGENTS. 
8 styles sweep mills. Prices l l.f.O and up. Send for catalog 
giving price' on the largest lino of grinding mills of all de¬ 
scriptions in the United States for all kinds of grinding. 
0G-&5 N. Jefferson St.» 
CHIU AGO, ILL. 
ANY WOOD_ 
IN ANY POSITtON 
ON ANY CROUND 
4 in. to 8 ft. Through 
Our 1908 Model Machine saws faster, runs easier & will 
last longer than ever. Adjusted in a minute to suit a 
12-year-old boy or the strongest man. Send for catalog 
showing latest improvements. First ordergets agenev. 
Folding Sawing Mach.Co. 55 N. Jefferson St., Chicago, 111 
Clark’s 
Cider 
Mills 
One to eight llarrels. 
Clark’s Double-Action 
CUTAWAY HARROW 
will easily move 15.CC0 tons 
of eaith one foot iu a day. 
Send for Circulais to 
THE CUTAWAY HARROW CO., Higganum, Ct. 
5 % 
PER ANNUM 
GUARANTEED 
Deposits 
may bo 
mndo or 
withdrawn 
at any 
time, and 
boar earn¬ 
ings for 
every day 
invested. 
Vour money safely invested, with 
4 risks eliminated, earning 5 p. c. 
yoarly. Dividends payable quar¬ 
terly by check. Thel.NDUS I’UIAT, 
Is thoroughly roliabl-, living up to 
evory agreement. Business non- 
speculatlve. Established 10years. 
U nder supervision of State Bank¬ 
ing Department. 
Write for full particulars, also 
indorsements of r any of this coun¬ 
try's most prominent clergymen and 
professional men. 
I’aid in Capital. Assets. Surplus. 
$1,000,000 $1,600,000 $18.VWM 
industrial Savings and Loan Go , 
1134 Broadway, Now York. 
Handy Farm Wagons 
make the work easier for both the man and team. 
The tires being wide they do notcut into the ground; 
the labor of loading is reduced many times,because 
of the short lift. They are equipped with our fam¬ 
ous Electric Steel Wheels, eitherstraightorstag- 
ger spokes. Wheels any height from 24 to 60 inches. 
White hickory axles, steel hounds. Guaranteed to 
carry iOOOlbs. Why not get started right by putting 
in one of these wagons. We make our steel wheels 
to lit any wagon. Write for the catalog It la free. 
ELECTRIC WHEEL CO., BOX 88. QUINCY, ILL. 
UfEI I DRILLING 
WELL Machines 
Over 70 sizes and styles, for drilling either deep or 
shallow wells in any kind of soil or rock. Mounted 
on wheels or on silts. With engines or horse powers. 
Strong, simple and durable. Any mechanic can 
operate them easily. Send for oatalog. 
WILIAMS BMiOH., Ithaca, N. Y. 
CHARTER 
Gasoline Engine 
V T C* r* Any Place 
I Nh 11 Any One 
VkJLl/ For Any Purpose 
Stationariea, Portables, Engines 
anti Pumps, Hoisters, 
Satvlng: Outfits. 
Send for Illustrated Catalogue and 
Testimonials. State your Power Needf-. 
Charter Gas Engine Co., Box 26, Sterling, IU. 
THE MIETZ & WEISS 
Kerosene Engines. Sizes, 1 to 60 H P. 
Cheuptnt and Safest Cower Known 
For pumping and electric light¬ 
ing, grinding corn, Beparating 
cream, .awing woodand allpow, r 
purpoaea Higheat Award for 
Direct Coupled Knglnx and tlenei ■ 
ator, Paris Kxn., 1900; awarded 
Bold Medal Pan-Ara, Exp., Buffalo, 
1901 ; Gold Medal, Charleston, S.C., 
Kxp.,1902, Send for Catalogue. 
A. MIETZ, 1S8 Mott 8L, NewYork 
TWO KINTI3S 
of fence—one that will last a lifetime and one that 
will last from three to flvo years if not exposed t> 
hard usage. Tho FROST FENCE Is the one that 
will last a lifetime. Send for catalogue. 
THE FROST WIRE FENCE CO., Cleveland, O. 
DUPLEX MAS 
The only successful field fence maker. Bal 1 
Bearing, Automatic, simple, life-lasting. 
A Child Can Operate It. 
A level headed boy can take it apart and 
put It together. It makes most perfect 
Fence at Coat of Wire. 
Machine sent on Trial. Plain and Barbed 
Wire at Wholesale Prices. Catalogue Free. 
KITSCLM AN BROTHERS, 
BoxD92 Muncie, Indiana. 
The Best Farm Fence 
is made of woven wire. Our “Superior’ 
Square Mesli Poultry, Lawn and I’’a rut 
Fence is the best ; descriptive circulars 
tell why. We are making 1 SPECIAL low 
prices for Fall delivei’y. 
CASE BROS., Colchester, Conn. 
SAVE YOUR CORN 
by grinding cobs and alt with 
the machinetliatneverchokes. 
The New Holland 
Cob and Feed Mill. 
Sold on trial. If it doesn’t dp' 
better work than mills costing 
twice as much, don’t keep it. 
Handsome Catalogue Free. .jj 3 sizes. 
New Holland Machine Works, Box 115 New Holland,’Pa. 
Portable Saw Mitts 
with Engines und Rollers Complete. 
Made in seven sizes, friction feed, cablo 
lightning gig, patent chain set works a:ul 
improved dogs. AJAX CENTER 
CRANK ENGINES are constructed 
with especial reference to the peculiar 
work required of them. This com¬ 
bination of engine and mill 
makes the best sawmill 
outfit on earth. 
A. B. Farquhar Co., Ltd. 
York, Pa. 
