768 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
November 15 
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.] 
WHEN TO COVER STRAWBERRY PLANTS. 
Will you tell us when you consider the 
best time for covering strawberry plants 
for Winter protection, and your reasons for 
doing it at that time? There seems to be 
some difference of opinion about this, and 
we would like to settle it if possible. 
What Nature Tells Us. 
Nature tells us to protect strawberry 
plants in the Fall, when the forest 
leaves are falling. One reason for pro¬ 
tecting before frost is in the ground is 
that the young fibrous roots are kept 
well anchored in the soil and are not 
threatened by each sweeping frost, 
which causes each plant to heave more 
or less, thereby causing weak, feeble 
plants, which can bring only small, in¬ 
ferior berries. We usually commence to 
cover our fields about November 10 in 
this section of New Jersey. 
New Jersey. t. c. kevitt. 
As Soon as Frozen. 
I consider the sooner strawberry 
plants are covered the better after the 
ground is frozen sufficiently to bear a 
loaded wagon, as I find on our soil it is 
not the fi-eezing and thawing, but the 
extreme cold of Winter, especially in an 
exposed location, where snow blows off 
badly. This kills or so weakens the 
plants that the yield of fruit the coming 
season is very unsatisfactory, unless 
protected with snow or some other ma¬ 
terial during the cold Winter weather. 
About November 1 in our section would 
be the best time for covering, but it re¬ 
quires too much labor to cover large 
fields before the ground is frozen, as one 
cannot drive on with a loaded wagon 
without cutting up the ground so as to 
damage the field, george g. walker. 
Mass. 
The Value of Straw. 
I prefer to cover after the ground is 
frozen, as then the plants are dormant 
and the horses and wagon do not break 
up the ground in passing over it with 
the heavy loads. The idea of some that 
you then retain the frost does not al¬ 
ways prove true, as a warm rain may 
take it all out. The character of mate¬ 
rial used in covering is a factor to be 
considered. I used last year 120 tons of 
medium coarse horse stable manure 
bought by the carload in New York City. 
This I consider the best covering, fur¬ 
nishing both mulch and fertility to pro¬ 
tect and grow the crop. Where straw is 
cheap it makes an excellent covering, 
and when raked from the rows into the 
paths when the plants begin to grow it 
protects the soil and helps to retain the 
moisture. I have used as high as four 
tons to the acre with most excellent re¬ 
sults, as the season was very dry. 
WALTER F. TABER. 
Dutchess Co., N. Y. 
When the Leaves Fall. 
The best way to judge of such things 
is to follow Nature. The wild straw¬ 
berry growing naturally is among 
grasses and weeds, which, at the ap¬ 
proach of Winter, fall down and cover 
the strawberry plant, which seems to 
droop its leaves a little before the 
grasses, etc., thus allowing the latter to 
close over it. It is also covered by tree 
leaves, which fall upon it. From these 
observations w r e have made the rule to 
cover as soon as the tree leaves fall. We 
know that many wait until the ground 
becomes frozen. It is much easier to 
put the mulch, as one can drive any¬ 
where, but there are some objections to 
this method. Sometimes the foliage is 
not well hardened off and is tender when 
the freeze comes, and the leaves all dry 
up and drop like melon leaves. A sec¬ 
ond trouble is that if the ground freezes 
very hard many small roots are broken 
by the expansion of the ground in freez¬ 
ing, and the plant is weakened, thus lay¬ 
ing the foundation for future winter- 
killing. Matthew Crawford says there 
are more beds killed in November than 
in March. A third objection is that it is 
sometimes quite difficult to get the 
mulch to stay on frozen ground, particu¬ 
larly marsh hay. All things considered, 
I am in favor of early covering. Some 
may fear results if weather turns warm 
after mulching; we have had no bad re¬ 
sults, although we have had the warm 
spells. e. G. TICE. 
Oswego Co., N. Y. 
Cover When Growth Ceases. 
I prefer to cover strawberries as soon 
as growth ceases, and like to have the 
ground sufficiently frozen to bear a team 
and load—it is so much less work when 
the straw can be distributed in wind¬ 
rows where it is to be used. The early 
application of the mulch reduces the 
number of times the ground freezes and 
thaws, and greatly lessens injury to the 
plants. The ideal condition would be 
continually frozen ground from the time 
plant growth ceases until it begins in 
Spring, but this is impossible of attain¬ 
ment, as a covering heavy enough to 
prevent thawing during a long warm 
spell would also keep out frost and al¬ 
low the internal heat to attack the 
frozen ground from below. Several years 
ago a writer in The R. N.-Y. argued 
covering before the ground freezes in 
order to keep it from freezing and to se¬ 
cure additional plant growth during 
Winter. A neighbor had a load of buck¬ 
wheat straw for sale early. I bought it 
and applied it along one edge of my ber¬ 
ries and across the rows. The rest was 
covered later, but with rye straw. The 
result was that the berries were almost 
a failure where the buckwheat straw 
was used and a full crop on the rest of 
the piece. An observer concluded that 
rye straw is a better covering than 
buckwheat straw—a fallacy, as I had be¬ 
fore and have since used both kinds side 
by side and never with noticeable dif¬ 
ference in yield. G. a. parcell. 
Chemung Co., N. Y. 
Fertilizers for Violets. 
A. T., Rhinebcclc, N. Y.—I am engaged in 
the raising of violets for the New York 
market. Is there a fertilizer sold suitable 
for them? 
Ans. —There is no safe commercial 
fertilizer for violets other than sheep 
manure and pure ground bone free from 
acids. Well-rotted yard manure with a 
fair proportion of lime is altogether the 
safest fertilizer, although fine sheep ma¬ 
nure may be applied at the rate of 50 
pounds to a ton of soil, and the ground 
bone at the rate of 10 or 15 pounds to 
the ton. We would recommend you to 
get the book by Galloway on “Violet 
Culture”; price $1.50 from this office. 
Disappointing Apple Trees. 
J. R., Woodinville, Wash.—I have about 200 
apple trees which I took to be Paragon, but 
according to your description of Stayman 
I conclude they are of that variety. I had 
concluded to top-graft them next Spring 
as the fruit is too small for market, it 
seems to me; it scabs badly, and the trees 
have borne very lightly, but they are only 
set in six years and at one year old. They 
have made very strong growth. Should I 
top-graft them, or give them a further 
trial? I intended to graft Wealthy on 
them, as the fruit is much freer from scab. 
We have so much rain here (Puget 
Sound) that spraying does very little good, 
so the director of the British Columbia Ex¬ 
periment Station states. 
Ans. —If the trees in question are 
either Paragon or Stayman they should 
bear abundantly, especially in that 
northwestern region, where all kinds of 
apple trees are very, very early and 
heavy bearers. It is hardly probable 
that Stayman was planted in that sec¬ 
tion six years ago, for there were very 
few of the trees of that variety then in 
the hands of any nurseryman. The be¬ 
havior of the variety is the best indica¬ 
tion of what should be done with the 
trees. If the fruit does not pay, from 
being too small or unduly subject to 
scab, then top-graft them to some kind 
that pays better in the same locality. 
Wealthy is a very early bearer and al¬ 
most proof against scab, but it will 
rarely keep beyond November. It is 
very handsome and of fair size. 
H. E. V. D. 
Plums tor Home. 
J. J. IF., Brewster, N. Y.— What varieties 
of plums should I plant for home use? I 
have now Abundance, Burbank and Wick- 
son that have fruited two years, but none 
of them seems to be good to eat out of 
hand. I want a few of this quality, also 
a few varieties of peaches to be eaten in 
this way, and of the earliest. I planted 
last Spring six each of Elberta, Chairs 
Choice, Carman, Mountain Rose, and wish 
to plant a few dozen more. Also a few 
cherries, gooseberries, crab apples, pears 
and grapes. 
Ans. —The following records were 
those made by an expert observer in the 
orchard. This will give an idea of the 
equaled by Green Gage at its best. Bur¬ 
bank and Wickson are usually of indif¬ 
ferent quality. Shiro and October Pur¬ 
ple are very good and do not conflict in 
season. Of the European plums, Brad¬ 
shaw, Fellenburg, Lombard, Coe’s Gold¬ 
en Drop and Bavay’s Green Gage will 
give you high quality and a fair range 
of season. You might add Waddell and 
Tyhurst to your excellent list of peaches. 
Montmorency Ordinaire, Richmond, May 
Duke, Black Tartarian and Governor 
Wood should make a satisfactory selec¬ 
tion of cherries. Triumph, Downing and 
Houghton are probably the most reliable 
gooseberries. There are no more satis¬ 
factory crab apples than Hyslop and 
Transcendant. There is quite a choice 
in pears. Tyson, Bartlett, Angouleme, 
Bose, Seckel, Howell, Sheldon, Law¬ 
rence, Anjou and Winter Nelis are all 
good. A few Kieffers and Le Contes 
should be aded for early fruiting. Our 
choice in grapes would be Moore’s Early, 
Concord, McPike, Moore’s Diamond, 
Green Mountain, Brighton and Agawam. 
)Make the Farm Pay 
1 — There’s money in 
fur mine: if you under¬ 
stand modern methods 
and farm intelligently as 
taught by our correspond¬ 
ence course in 
Modern 
Agriculture. 
Under Prof. Win. P. 
Brooks, Ph. I>., of 
___J>L . K „. Treats of soils, tillage, 
drainage,fertilizers,crop rotation, stock-feeding.poultry- 
raising,dairying,etc. Also Horticulture under Prol. 
Bailey, of Cornell University, and Agricultural 
Bacteriology under Prof. Conn, of Wesleyan. 
Full Commercial, Normnl and Academic de-J 
partments. Tuition nominal. Text books free to our 
students. Catalogue and particulars free. Write to-day.| 
THE HOME CORRESPONDENCE SCHOOL, 
— Dept. 18, Springfield, Mass. 
Mass. Agricultural College. 
Fleming’s 3 are free if they fail. 
SPAVINS CURED 
IN 45 MINUTES. 
Fleming’s Spavin Cure has 
never yot failed. One treatment 
only usually needed. Not severe, 
can’t harm, does not scar. Every 
claim made good or no pay. 
Nothing else at all like it. You 
can’t afford not to write us today. 
Equally good for Curb, Splint, 
Ringbone, etc. 
WE WANT CASES OF 
Fistula & Poll Evil 
Cure them in half the usnal time 
with Fleming’s Fistula and 
Poll Evil Cure. Simple, easy, 
painless,andcan’tfail. No longer 
need for the existence of a single 
case of either disease. 
We Cure Lump Jaw 
Every case. No pay if Flem¬ 
ing’s Lump Jaw Cur© ever 
fails. Now used by nearly every 
prominent stockman on the 
continent. . , 
Write ns today for circulars on 
any or all the above remedies. 
State which circulars are wanted. 
FLEMING BROS., Chemists, 
222 Union Stock Yards, Chicago, III. 
a FENCE MACHINE 
That combines Simplicity, Durability, Ra¬ 
pidity and Economy, Ttie DUPLEX. It 
makes over 100 Styles, 60 to 70 rod a day. of 
Horse-high, Hull-strong, Pig and Chicken-tight 
Fence that combines Strength, Uniformity, 
Permanency, Reliability and Efficiency 
AT COST OF WIRE. Machine on TrlaU Full 
information free. Wire of every descrip¬ 
tion at Wholesale Prices. Write today. 
KIT8ELJUN BROTHERS, BOXD92 Muncle, Ind. 
5 
% Per Annum 
' on Your Savings 
GUARANTEED 
D EPOSITS may be made or withdrawn at any 
time and bear earnings for every day invested. 
Payable quarterly by check. Our operations are 
confined to strictly high-grade, gilt-edged real- 
estate securities. Our business is non-speculative 
and regularly inspected by and under absolute 
supervision of State Banking Department. 
Write at once for full particulars and indorsements 
of prominent clergymen and professional men. 
Paid in Capital Assets Surplus 
*1,000.000 SI,000,000 $185,000 
Industrial Savings and Loan Go., 
1134 Broadway, New York. 
Can You Afford 
to buy your next woven wire fencing without in¬ 
vestigating the PAGE? You’ll find our catalog 
Interesting and quite instructive. 
PAGE WOVEN WIRE FENCE CO., ADRIAN, MICH. 
When You Are in Need 
of wire for fencing, either Plain, 
Barbed or Woven, send us a list of 
your wants. We sell best goods at low 
prices. Better write to-day for price lists. 
CASE BROS., Colchester, Conn. 
TERRIFF’S PERFECT WASHER 
QCMT AU TPIHI with a positive guarantee to wash the 
Wbia I via I 111 RL collars and wristbands oftthe dirtiest shirt 
perfectly clean, without the use of the washboard or hand rubbing, 
with no injury to the most delicate fabric. Will do a family wash¬ 
ing in one hour; saves time, labor and expense. 
We want good, reliable and industrious agents, and in 
rBiCkB order to secure your help will send one of our washers 
absolutely FREE. Write today for FREE catalogue and full particulars. 
PORTLAND MANUFACTURING CO., 165 Pearl St., Portland, Mich. 
W MILLS ARE BEST. 
The Price is Right Too. 
Known the World Over. 
FARMERS’ $125 SAW MILL 
Cuts 2000 Feet Lumber u day with only 4 h. p. 
DeLoach Variable Feed Saw Mills, 4tol00h.p., 
any price. DeLoach Mill Machinery. Planers, 
Shingle. Lath and Corn Mills, Water Wheels, etc. 
DeLoach Mill Alfg. Co., Box 900 Atluntil, Ua. 
(Branch, 120 Liberty St., NewYork.) 
Handsome Catalogue Free if you cut this out 
givo name of paper. 
and 
ie Saw Hails 
with Engines and Bolters Complete. 
Made in seven sizes, friction feed, cable 
lightning gig, patent cliain set works and 
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. 
■iiii n iwm«fiMiTrr- 
