October IS 
Pluralisms ; 
NOTES FROM THE RURNLGROUNDS 
Keep on Trapping Moles. —Amateur 
gardeners and even some professionals 
who should know better often find it 
easy to overlook the depredations of 
moles as the Summer glories wane, and 
the press of Fall work looms large 
ahead. There are fewer seedlings and 
small plants to be upheaved, while the 
soil is so well hidden with rank growth 
that the work of the destructive little 
quadrupeds is not so readily noticed. 
However free one’s garden or lawn may 
be during Spring, if there are moles in 
the near vicinity, they are likely l o 
strike out. for pastures new as soon as 
the top soil is well softened by autumnal 
rains, and the appearance of a fresh 
mole run at this time is a quite certain 
precursor of a more extensive irruption. 
It takes a certain attitude of grim deter¬ 
mination to drop hurried needful work 
whenever fresh mole traces are noticed 
end immediately assemble and set the 
necessary traps, but it is the only prac¬ 
tical way to checkmate the pests, as they 
are likely to come in considerable num¬ 
bers this restless season of the year. 
The runs or burrows made at this time 
when the earth is fairly well compacted 
may remain pervious all Winter, and 
thus encourage further encroachments 
among bulb beds and the roots of rare 
hardy plants, so it is well to dispose of 
the intruders as they find their way in. 
Our experience is that when making long 
excursions in early Spring and Fall 
moles are less cautious than when work¬ 
ing through familiar ground, and are 
quickly caught by well-set traps. 
The Miserable Melon Blight. —The 
heading is not to indicate this very prev¬ 
alent and obstinate disease is in a 
languishing condition. On the contrary, 
ic is as lusty and vigorous as the Potato 
beetle or the San Jos6 scale. Again our 
muskmelon crop has been swept away 
just as the first fruits ripened, although 
every effort was made to give the vines 
a good early start and keep them grow¬ 
ing vigorously. The Summer was too 
cool and rainy for best results, but our 
plot never made a better showing, and 
was well set with fine fruits just ap¬ 
proaching maturity. Right on time, in 
the last week of August the dreaded 
brown spots began to show on the oldest 
leaves at the base of the vines. The dis¬ 
ease spread at an almost visible rate, 
coming down the row's from north to 
south, but w’as held at bay 10 days 
longer by the resistant vigor of a new 
unnamed variety from Paul Rose, South 
Frankfort, Mich., the raiser of the cele¬ 
brated Paul Rose or Petoskey musk¬ 
melon, in many respects the finest va¬ 
riety in general cultivation. The new 
kind is a refined and sublimated Petos¬ 
key, round and elegant in shape, just the 
right size, thick and meaty in flesh, and 
of the very highest dessert quality. It 
appears to be very productive, and the 
short-jointed vines are well furnished 
with tough foliage of a more resistant 
character, as above noted, than any va¬ 
riety w r e have tested. The delayed ad¬ 
vance of the blight gave us about half 
a crop of as acceptable melons as could 
be desired, while other varieties yielded 
next to nothing in the way of high 
quality fruits. As soon as the leaves die 
sugar formation ceases in the attached 
melons, and though many may appear 
to ripen, coloring up in a normal man¬ 
ner, they are flabby, insipid and general¬ 
ly unfit to eat. Thousands of these dis¬ 
eased melons, less desirable for food 
than green pumpkins, clog our markets 
in Summer and bring discredit on the 
whole muskmelon trade. Only early- 
planted vines of the earliest ripening 
varieties get far enough along in in¬ 
fected localities properly to ripen any 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
fruits at all. Our pet theory of specially 
feeding the exhausted plants with solu¬ 
ble foods, just before the supreme effort 
of seed ripening, v'hen the expanding 
fruits call for great quantities of nour¬ 
ishment, gets a set-back this year, al¬ 
though the extra-fed plants are plainly 
better and more productive than those 
given usual culture. The method is, 
briefly, to plant 20 to 25 seeds as near 
May 1 as the season will allow in hills 
containing a large forkful of old stable 
manure, mixed slightly with the soil 
and w’ell tramped down. Before sowing 
the seeds a five-inch earthen flow'er pot 
is sunk nearly to the brim in the cen¬ 
ter of the hill, which is only high 
enough to afford good drainage, and the 
seeds are evenly strewm about, covered 
with an inch of fine soil which is firmly 
pressed dowui with the hoe or a board. 
A sprinkling of ground bone or chemical 
fertilizer to give the seedlings a good 
start may always be given with advan¬ 
tage. We keep a v r ary eye for insect 
pests, fighting the spotted beetle and 
other strenuous enemies with bone flour 
and tobacco dust if need be, but relying 
chiefly on hand picking to limit their 
numbers. Clean and frequent cultiva¬ 
tion is always necessary, and in this 
case is understood. The seedlings are 
gradually thinned out until three of the 
most promising remain. Along in July, 
when tw'o or three of the first fruits have 
attained the size of hens’ eggs we place 
a tablespoonful of nitrate of soda, mixed 
w'ith double the quantity of a good 
chemical fertilizer containing phos¬ 
phoric acid and potash in addition to 
nitrates, in each flow'er pot as sunk in 
the hill, and fill up with water unless 
rain is imminent. A sudden and rapid 
growth usually follows, while the foliage 
takes on a darker tinge. This is repeat¬ 
ed in about two weeks or sooner if any 
check is noticed in growth, and con¬ 
tinued until blight strikes the plants or 
the fruits commence to ripen. While a 
highly suitable method for our limited 
plantings it does not checkmate the 
blight, which must be practically con¬ 
trolled, if at all, by selection of varieties 
for earliness and resistant qualities. 
The experiment station people say the 
Melon blight is a fungus growing in the 
interior of the melon vine, and comes 
to the surface to fruit in irregular 
blotches on the foliage, soon destroying 
it. The blight spots show in about 10 
days after infection, and the plant then 
fails rapidly and soon dies, leaving the 
melons in various stages of partial de¬ 
velopment. They are not clear whether 
the pest is a Macrosporium or a Cercos- 
pora, but it makes little difference to the 
poor planters who want a sure remedy 
to kill it out so they may grow' some 
good melons. The experiment stations 
claim Bordeaux Mixture made in full 
strength, six pounds of bluesione or cop¬ 
per sulphate and six pounds of lime to 
00 gallons of w'ater, sprayed on every 
two w r eeks from the time the vines are 
15 to 18 inches long, w'ill prevent the 
disease, or at least hold it in check. We 
may not deny this assertion, as we have 
only dusted with dry Fungiroid with lit¬ 
tle effect, but w r e think mighty few' 
growers w'ill care to plaster their vines 
fortnightly with this troublesome mix¬ 
ture at present melon prices, even if 
reasonably certain good results would 
follow, which is by no means assured. 
The spread of this destructive disease is 
rapid and far reaching, affecting one lo¬ 
cality after another. We understand the 
Rocky Ford district, even with its ideal 
climatic conditions, is no longer exempt, 
and it seems only a matter of time when 
this most delicious Summer product can 
no longer be grown to perfection. The 
blight not only attacks melons in the 
field but under glass as well. The 
American varieties seem especially sus¬ 
ceptible under glass, although of su¬ 
perior quality and are being discarded 
for foreign sorts specially adapted for 
such conditions. 
Good Early Watermelons. —Water¬ 
melons came through the trying Sum¬ 
mer in better condition than usual. Our 
planting was limited to Cole’s Early, 
from Peter Henderson & Co., New' York, 
and Halbert Honey, from W. Atlee Bur¬ 
pee & Co., Philadelphia. They were 
sown before May 10 in the same manner 
as the muskmelons, even to the sunken 
pots and the nitrate treatment, when 
fruiting began, except only one or two 
vines w'ere allowed to the hill. Cole’s 
Early ripened the last w r eek in August 
and gave us a splendid crop of sweet and 
delicate melons, which w'ere highly ap¬ 
preciated by all who tested them. They 
were not large, averaging about 12 
pounds in weight, but the rich and lus¬ 
cious quality made up for any lack in 
size. This is one of the earliest and best 
melons w'e have yet tried, and if it will 
continue to grow' well in succeeding 
years we shall have little use for the 
southern product when it is in season. 
Cole’s Early is a good grower and very 
productive. While unsurpassed for the 
private garden it is too tender to bear 
shipment well. 
Halbert Honey is nearly a month 
later, coming in the last of September 
from an early May sowing. It is a long, 
dark green variety with bright red flesh 
and white seeds. The quality is almost 
as good as Cole’s Early, perhaps a little 
sw'eeter, but not at this late season quite 
as enjoyable as the former. The vines 
are strong and rank in grow'th and quite 
productive. The two melons go well to¬ 
gether, the Halbert making a good suc¬ 
cession to the other when planted at the 
same time. We get so many overgrown 
watermelons from the South of imposing 
weight and portly presence but very lit¬ 
tle net goodness mat it is a relief to 
turn to these little fellows, packed so 
full of real excellence as they come 
sw'eet, fresh and crisp from one’s own 
garden. w. v. f. 
If You Have a 
Sick Friend 
Let Me Know It. 
As an act of humanity, write me a 
postal card, telling which book to send. 
Then I w'ill gladly do this: 
I will send the sick one an order— 
good at any drug store—for six bottles 
Dr. Shoop’s Restorative. He may test ii 
a month at my risk to learn what it can 
do. If it succeeds, the cost is $5.50. If 
it fails, I will pay the druggist myself. 
Not a penny will be asked or accepted 
in any case that my remedy can’t cure. 
There are such cases—rare ones, 
where the trouble results from an in¬ 
curable cause, like cancer. But my rec¬ 
ords show that 39 out of each 40 who try 
those six bottles get well—and pay glad¬ 
ly. Those remarkable results make this 
offer possible. 
My success comes from strengthening 
the inside nerves. I don’t treat the or¬ 
gans, for chronic diseases never were 
cured in that w’ay. I bring back the 
nerve power which alone operates the 
vital organs. They do their duty when 
they have the power to act. 
My books explain all. Tell me a friend 
who needs one. 
Simply fctate which 
book you want, and ad¬ 
dress Dr. Shoop, Box 
670, Racine, Wls. 
Book No. 1 on Dyspepsia, 
Book No. 2 on t he Heart, 
Book No. 3 on the Kidneys, 
Book no. 4 for Women, 
Book No. 5 for men (sealed', 
Book No. Con Rheumatism. 
Mild cases, not chronic, are often cured by one or 
two bottles. At all druggists. 
WWBHMWa—IMIIIHIH I ■IIM— 
The Milkman, Markefman, 
and other people who drive early in the morning or 
late at night, need a good and reliable light. 
For this purpose nothing equals our 
DIETZ 
Blizzard (Nos. 1 & 2) 
DASH LAMP. 
Clasps dash with a strong spring. No. 1 lias our special hull’s eye 
lens on perforated plate—drives the brilliant white light away 
ahead of the horses and gives the driver a good view of the road 
and any impending danger. Has an oil pot holding_ enough to 
burn 14/2 hours. Can be used as a hand or hanging lantern 
or shelf light. Like all "Dietz" Lanterns it is the best of its 
kind obtainable. Ask your dealer for them Write for free catalog. 
R. E. DIETZ COMPANY, 8 7 Laight St., New York. 
Established ISM). 
A GOOD ROOF 
y svmws 
; STANDARD 
W: ROOYXUG 
At a Low Price 
la what you get every 
time you use 
SWAN'S 
The roof is the most 
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| you make it the 
■ least expensive. 
' Easily laid on new 
roofs or over old 
shingles or tin. Becomes as hard and resisting as elate. 
It'* Fire. Wind and Water Proof. Sena for free 
samples and circulars. 
THE A. P. SWAN CO., 1 U Nassau Si., NEW YORK. 
STEEL ROOFING 
HEIGHT CHARGES PAID BY US 
Strictly new. 
Bn 
perfect, Semi - Hardened 
Steel Sheets, 2 feet wide, 0 feet long. Th» 
best Hoofing, Hiding or Celling yon etui use. 
No experience necessary to lay It. .Au 
ordinary hammer or hatchet the only 
tools you need. We furnish nails free 
and paint roofing two sides. Conics 
either flat, corrugated or “V” crimited. 
Delivered free of all charge* to all points 
in the U. 8 ., east of the Mississippi River 
and North of the Ohio River 
AT $2.25 PER SQUARE 
1 ‘rlees to other points on applleatlon. A square means 162 
square feet. Write for free Catalogue No. 57 
CHICAGO HOUSE WRECKING CO., W. 35th and Iron Sts., Chlcsf* 
Hubbard’s 
Fertilizers. 
have been used by Hon. GEO. M. CLARK, of Higganum, Conn., 
since the baginning of his famous Grass Experiments. 
FOR FALL SEED!NIC USE 
Hubbard’s * 
Grass and Grain Fertilizer. 
Our book, “ Hubbard’s Fertilizers for 1902,” sent free to any address. 
The Rogers & Hubbard Co., Middletown, Conn. 
OME makes of Rifle and Pistol Cartridges are as un¬ 
reliable as some people’s watches: Cartridges out of 
the same box won’t shoot alike—some go high, some 
go low and some don’t go at all. If you want cartridges 
that will shoot every time and just where you aim, ask for 
RIFLE AND PISTOL CARTRIDGES 
and insist upon getting this time-tried brand. The ex¬ 
perience of 30 years, coupled with a modern system of 
manufacture, makes the Winchester brand of Rifle and 
Pistol Cartridges better than any other on the market. 
HU Dealers 8eU ^Ulncbester JVtahe of Cartridges. 
