262 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
April 8 
Rose Grafting. 
S. H., Avonia , Pa.— I have a lot of ordinary 
roses that I have been dividing for years. Can I 
graft the American Beauty, Jack, etc., on them ? 
Ans. —We would not recommend graft¬ 
ing 1 the roses you mention. We infer 
that your idea is that you can change 
the tops just as you would an inferior 
apple tree ; but this would be distinctly 
uncertain. Grafted roses, ordinarily, are 
simply worked on a strong-growing 
stock, such as the Manetti. 
A Belated Mushroom Bed. 
J. It., Winnipeg, Manitoba.—I have been trying 
to grow mushrooms. The first bed I made about 
December 1, and have not got any mushrooms 
yet. About three of the beds made in December 
are all full of spawn; one mass of live spawn 
smells like fresh mushrooms. In other beds 
made later, I cannot see the spawn running. I 
have four books on mushroom growing, and all 
say that mushrooms come quicker than mine are 
likely to do. Can you throw any light on the 
matter ? The temperature is 45 to 60 degrees. 
Ans. —It is difficult to tell what is the 
matter with the beds, with the informa¬ 
tion J. R. gives. It would seem that the 
temperature is too low ; 70 to 80 degrees 
is about the right temperature, when 
the spawn is spreading through the bed. 
When the mushrooms appear, 57 to 60 
is about right, but it should never go be¬ 
low 55. He says 45 to 60 degrees! If 
he will send a small sample of mycelium 
from his bed, we can then let him know 
whether he is likely to get mushrooms 
when the warm weather comes, or 
whether he would better clean out the 
bed and start in anew. 
Tomato Flowers Rarely Cross. 
J. L. R., Leamington, Ont. —I am growing early 
tomatoes for market, and wish to select seed of 
my own. Where two varieties grow side by side, 
would they mix so that the seed thus produced 
would not be pure ? If so, how far apart would 
they require to be to be comparatively safe from 
mixing ? 
Ans. —We have been crossing tomatoes 
for many years, two of the results being 
the Terra Cotta tomato—a cross between 
the “Peach” and ordinary sorts—and 
many crosses upon the little Currant 
tomatoes. Our opinion, from all of this 
experience, is that tomatoes rarely inter¬ 
cross. The stigma of the pistil seems to 
be mature as it makes its way between 
the united stamens, the pollen of which 
is at that time ripe. We should not, 
therefore, hesitate to plant different 
varieties of tomatoes as close together as 
desirable. 
A Fertilizing Problem. 
J. C. W., Brant, JY. Y.—l have on hand the fol¬ 
lowing materials: 500 pounds of acid phosphate, 
200 pounds of muriate of potash, 400 pounds of 
sulphate of potash, 400 pounds of kainit, about 
eight barrels of wood ashes, and a lot of other 
fertilizer. Can I use this as a mulch on my straw¬ 
berries, or can I use it as a pea phosphate to 
drill, or on early potatoes or wheat ? 
Ans. —Suppose that you said that you 
have in your barn plenty of clover hay 
and bran, and the barn is open so that 
the cattle have plenty of air. You want 
to know how to use the air, the bran and 
the clover to the best advantage. It 
would be evident at once that, unless 
you can supply water to the cows, you, 
could not hope to obtain good results, 
because the three things, dry food, air 
and water are absolutely necessary. The 
acid phosphate contains phosphoric acid. 
The potash salts contain potash, and so 
do the wood ashes. There is no nitrogen 
in any of these substances, and unless 
you can supply nitrogen in some form, 
you will be nearly as badly off as you 
would be with the clover hay, the bran 
and the air, without water for your stock. 
The 500 pounds of acid phosphate 
should be mixed with about 100 pounds 
of either muriate or sulphate of potash. 
This would make a fair mixture for straw¬ 
berries which made a heavy growth in 
the Fall and were supplied with nitrogen 
in some form, such as manure. The 
wood ashes will, probably, also give good 
results on the strawberries, but so far as 
fertilizing the potatoes is concerned, you 
will not obtain good results unless you 
use nitrogen in some form. You could 
make up a good mixture for potatoes, 
using your acid phosphate, 130 pounds of 
your sulphate of potash, 100 pounds q{ 
nitrate of soda, and 200 pounds of dried 
blood. Without knowing what other 
materials you have on hand, we cannot 
advise you which forms of nitrogen to 
use, but you cannot expect to raise a 
good crop of potatoes on ordinary land, 
unless you use nitrogen of some kind. 
The three elements, nitrogen, phosphoric 
acid and potash, are absolutely neces¬ 
sary to produce a fair crop. In some 
soils, one or more of these elements may 
be abundant, but unless you know pos¬ 
itively something about this, you should 
use all three of them. 
Some Insect Questions. 
J. A. L., Stockport, N. Y.—l. Is the hibernating 
form of the Pear psylla wingless ? If not, what 
similar Insect has the same leapipg habit ? 2. 
Are the black, oval eggs found in the versiculae 
covering of the tent caterpillar’s eggs, those of a 
beneficial parasite ? 3. Who is the maker of the 
Common-sense wire trap for catching moths, men¬ 
tioned in The R. N.-Y. of February 4 ? 4. Is it 
known what causes the brown, pithy spots found 
in apples just under the skin, sometimes half an 
Inch into the flesh ? 
Ans. —1. No, the adult Pear psylla is 
never wingless. I know of no other simi¬ 
lar wingless insect that is liable to be 
seen on a pear tree. If J. A. L. could 
send me one of the wingless, leaping 
forms referred to, I could, doubtless, 
throw much more light on the case. 
2. It is possible that the black eggs 
found in the covering of the tent cater¬ 
pillar eggs are the eggs of parasites, 
but I should sooner suspect that they 
are the eggs of the Apple plant-louse, 
especially if the tent caterpillar eggs 
are old ones. As in the above case, it 
would be necessary for me to see the 
eggs before I could give a definite 
opinion as to what they are. 
3. Feathers & Harris, Albion, N. Y , 
are the inventors and dealers in the Com¬ 
mon-sense wire trap for stopping the 
ascent of canker worms. 
4. The brown pithy spots found just 
under the skin of apples, especially Bald¬ 
wins, are caused by a fungus known as 
the Fruit-spot (Phyllachora pomigena) 
I can find no account of any successful 
method of controlling this fungous dis¬ 
ease. M. V. SLINGERLAND. 
Our choice for best early and late potatoes 
would be Bovee for early, and Sir Walter Raleigh 
for late. 
F. A. W., South Richland, N. Y.— The best 
grass that we know of, to grow on a lawn that is 
thickly shaded with maple trees, is Poa nemor- 
alis, or Wood Meadow grass. 
H. F. S., Skaneateleb, N. Y.—In regard to 
frosted potatoes being suitable for seed, if upon 
examination, it be proved that the eye has not 
been killed, plant them; still the center may be so 
injured that the growth will be very feeble. If 
the Spring were cold and wet, they might never 
get above ground. From our experience, we 
would not use frost-bitten potatoes for seed. 
Egyptian Food.— At the present time, fully one. 
sixth of the food eaten by the common people of 
Egypt consists of lentils, and it was for a mess of 
pottage made from lentils that Esau sold his 
birthright. Beans and peas contain 23 per cent 
of protein, lentils 25 per cent, beef, on an aver¬ 
age, 17 to 21 per cent, so it will be seen that tbe 
Egyptian looks to lentils for the protein he is un¬ 
able to obtain in meat. Beans and peas rank far 
above lentils in the American dietary, but the 
food value of the latter is gaining an increasing 
recognition here. 
Mr. C. W. Vrooman, of Alexander, 
Genesee County, N.Y., writes: “Bowker’s 
Phosphates have been used on my farm 
for the past four years, and the results 
have been uniformly good in both Spring 
and Fall crops. Last Fall I used 150 
pounds per acre of Bowker’s Sure Crop 
Phosphate on 27 acres of wheat, which 
yielded 700 bushels fit for seed as it 
came from the machine.”— Adv. 
IS THE 0RIGINA 
Dry Sprayer. 
No Water or Plaster. 
Dusts Tree, Bush or Vine. 
Two rows of potatoes as 
fast as you walk, wide or 
narrow planting. Agents 
wanted. Catalogue and 
spray calendar free. 
LEGGETT & BROTHER, 
301 Pearl St., New York. 
Paragrene. 
A NEW INSECTICIDE. 
It is a deadly foe to insect pests and bugs. It is 
cheaper than Paris Green, more bulky and kills quicker. 
Does not injure the foliage. 
For many years we bave been the pole manufacturers of the 
well-known Star Brand of Strictly Pure Paris Green, and know 
that Paragrene is an effective and reliable improvement on 
Paris Green. Our reputation as Paris Green manufacturers 
is a guarantee that Paragrene will do all we claim for it. 
Prices: 14 lb. kits, 14^0. per lb.; 1 and 3 lb. pkgs., 
15c. per lb.; lb. pkgs. 16c. per lb.; lb. pkgs. 17c. 
per lb.; f. o. b. New York, Special rates to dealers. 
Send for descriptive pamphlet and samples. 
PRED. L. LAVANBURG, Box 1670 B New York. 
Phylloxera 
on your grapes may destroy the whole 
crop in one night while you are asleep. 
Don't have It. Spray the leaves and 
vines with Bordeaux Mixture or l’arls 
Green. The best and quickest way to put iton is 
"/“'"'NOVELTY 'W. PUMPS. 
r Wedeliver a sample for $ 1 ,50. Send for 1 ree 
Spraying Calendar. Agents wanted everywhere, 
THE BERGER MF0. CO., Dep’t K, CANTON, OHIO. 
Vegetable Plants. 
Make money by raising early vegetables. Our 
plants are guaranteed to be of good size, and to be 
grown from extra selected seeds. The largest estab¬ 
lishment In the United States devoted exclusively 
to the raising of vegetable plants. The prices quoted 
below are for transplanted, well-hardened plants. 
Per 100. PerM 
Cabbage plants ready Maroh 15.$0.40 $3.00 
Tomato plants ready May 1.40 3.00 
Celery plants ready March 15.40 3.00 
Pepper plants ready May 1.40 3.00 
Eggplant plants ready May 1.50 4.00 
We raise all of the leading varieties. Stamp for 
catalogue. Cash must accompany all orders. 
J. E. HUTTON, Conynjfhsm, Pa. 
New Clover Seed for Sale—$ 3 75 per 
bushel. M. HAItBICAN, Big Patch, Wis 
POTATOES, Choice Clean 
Oats, great ylelders; Red Kid¬ 
ney Beans and Seed Corn. Po¬ 
tatoes: SirWalter Kaleigh, Ham¬ 
mond’s Wonderful, Thorough¬ 
bred, Carmans. Enormous, Uncle Sam (some good 
seconds. $1 80 a barrel); Pingree and Maule’s Com¬ 
mercial, 25c. a pound. 35 kinds. We grow them. 
Circular tells you the poor ones. See it before you 
order. I want Irish Cobblers. 
S. J. SMITH. Rural, Manchester, N. Y. 
ARMAN No. 3 
SEED POTATOES. 
.00 
per bbl 
Sir Walter Raleigh and Early Bovee $4.00 per bbl., all 
bbls. 4 bu. Dewey, the great cropper. Tuber, 10 ct«. 
Wholesale list free. GEO. A. BONNELL.Waterloo, N.Y 
Best Seed Potatoes. 
Catalogue of 70 varieties free. 
A. G. ALDRIDGE, Fishers, Ontario Co., N.Y. 
BIGGEST LITTLE 
BUG KILLER 
ON 
Earth 
BUGS 
At one-fourth expense in labor 
and material of any other method. 
Salesmen wanted everywhere. Big 1 Profits. 
Sample, $1.25, delivered free. Write for terms. 
MORRILL & MOBLEY, 
Benton Harhor, Mich. 
QflTATflCC grown especially for SEED. 
rUIAIUCO 18 varieties. Prices right. List 
FREE. GEO. H. COLVIN, Crest Farm, Dalton, Pa. 
cccn DCTATAEQ expressly grown; none more 
wLuL# rU Ifi I UCO vigorous or better. Seed 
quality you want; 1 have it. Cir-H Bfl TCPTFR 
cular free. BELLVILLE, O. U.IVli ItLICn 
Q_|~—A Linllted quantity of Early Bovee 
| 0l vClIB Potatoes, choice stock, at $1 per bu., 
f n h. Also. Harman No. 3 at 75 cents. 
H eadquarters for Pedigree 2nd crop Seed Potatoes, 
acknowledged by potato growers of the U. S. and 
Ag. Kx. Sta. to be the best seed potatoes grown. 
Cat. free. J. W. HALL, Marlon Station, Md. 
SEED POTATOES. 
Write for Catalogue. 
W. W. WHITON, Box T, Wakeman, Ohio. 
SPRAYING FRUIT TREES. 
The question of spraying fruit trees to prevent 
the depredations oMnsect pests and fungous dis¬ 
eases is no longer an experiment but a necessity. 
Our readers will do well to write Wm. Stahl, 
Quincy, Ill., and get his catalogue describing 
21 styles of Spraying Outfits and full treatise 
on spraying the different fruit and vegetable 
crops, which contains much valuable informa¬ 
tion, and may be had for the asking. 
Vineland Sweet Potatoes 
Send for Circular. F. S. NEWCOMB, Vineland, N. J. 
Seed Potatoes —Northern grown, 40 
varieties, free from disease. Write us. 
KIVERDALK SEED FARM, Grand Kaplds, Wls. 
Seed Potatoes —Peachblow, Sir Wal¬ 
ter Raleigh. Bovee, Thoroughbred, Uncle Sam and 
Carmans. Sample tuber, six cents, postpaid. List 
free. J. W. HARTMAN, Sligo, Pa. 
Ctrawhorrv Plante -Bubach No - 6 > Tennesse® 
vjLIdVV Lfijlij rittlUo prolific, and other standard 
varieties, true to name. Price, $1.50 per M. List free. 
Address CIIAS. BARKER, Milford, Del. 
GLADSTONE 
Sample. Nick Ohmer Strawberry Pits 
S. H. WARREN, Weston, Mass. 
’THE COMET $2toS 
Double-Acting—Sprays from bucket or barrel B0 
feet. New scientific principle. My free catalogue 
will make plain to you that 1 have the sprayer you 
want. Write to-day. II. B. IU 8LKK, Johnstown,O. 
Other People’s Profits 
have Increased 25 to 60 per cent, when they began to spray the right way— 
\with the right sprayer, the pepplER AND CLIMAX SIX-ROW SPRAYERS. 
X Th.. will do as much for you. Read how they spray 30 acres a 
day, how they save ]4 the poison, increase crops one-half, pay for themselveB in 
Catalogue contains spray calendar, formulas, etc. Sent free. 
season. __ 
THOMAS PEPPLER, Box 65, HICHTSTOWN, N. J. 
... 
Easy Cultivating 
means economy, more crops, better crops. A boy can work the Kraus Cul¬ 
tivator, moving wheels and shovels to right or left by a touch on foot 
levers. Levers raise or lower gangs or set them any distance apart whil^ 
machine is moving. The 
Pivot 
Axle 
is the most complete, simplest, strongest, most popular, "the best one 
made,” say farmers who use it. On hill-sides it does perfect work, r'erleci. 
row crop or fallow worker. Get the catalogue at once and save money. 
THE AKRON CULTIVATOR CO., Akron, Ohio. 
KRAUS 
CULTIVATOR 
izing Harrow, Clod Crusher and Leveled 
For all soils, all work-crushes, cuts, lifts, pulverizes, turns 
and levels. Cast steel and wrought iron-therefore 
indestructible. Cheapest riding harrow and best pul¬ 
verizer on earth. Sizes 3 to 1354 feet. Catalogue free. 
SENT OH TRIAL to be returned at my expense if not Entirely Satisfactory- 
l 4 t)|Vfr fi-Mftn hoard at Now York, Chicago, Columbus, O., Louisville, Ky„ Minneapolis, San Francisco and othor polath 
Address DUANE H. NA8H t Sole Mfr., MILLINGTON, N. J., or CHICAGO- H.U 
PLEASE MENTION THIS JPAPEIjL, 
