1899 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
281 
The Ridgely nut is a trifle smaller than 
the Paragon, and nearly or quite as 
sweet and tender as the average Ameri¬ 
can. 
Alpha is claimed by William Parry to 
be the earliest known chestnut. . It is 
about the size of the Ridgely, begins to 
bear when three years old, ripens without 
frost about September 10 in this climate. 
Beta, of about the same size, ripens 
next, and Early Reliance next. We have 
had the last mentioned variety for four 
years from Mr. Parry, but for some 
reason unknown to us, it has failed to 
bear. It would seem that the blossoms, 
male or female, have been harmed by 
frofct. 
For the Superb it is claimed that the 
nuts are two inches across. It is claimed 
that the quality is better than that of 
the run of varieties. Parry’s Giant, it 
is claimed, ripens in late September, and 
“is the largest kno wn chestnut. ” N umbo 
ripens usually before frost. The nuts 
are of the largest size, but of inferior 
quality. Comfort is said to be nearly the 
same as Paragon. Scott is said to bear 
when two years old from grafts, and it 
is said that the nuts are rarely attacked 
by the Chestnut weevil. The nut is the 
size of Ridgely. 
The La.test Introductions, to which 
we have before alluded, are the McFar¬ 
land, Coe and Hale. These are selections 
from 10,000 Japan seedlings raised by 
Luther Burbank and bought by the late 
Judge A. J. Coe, of Connecticut. After 
his death, the stock was purchased by J. 
H. Hale, of the same State. McFarland 
is described as an extra early variety— 
ripening in Connecticut about the middle 
of September. We have eaten the nuts, 
and estimate them as in quality fully the 
equal of the Paragon, and about the 
same size. Coe, it is claimed, “is the one 
great chestnut for size and quality.” Mr. 
Burbank says: “ It is the best of more 
than 10 000 seedlings,” etc. “ The nuts 
are of the largest size and as sweet as 
any American chestnut.” 
The Hale produced “ nuts 18 months 
after the seed was planted.” “ The tree 
is the most beautiful of all the Japan 
chestnuts.” 
The R, N.-Y. began to plant foreign 
chestnuts about six years ago. They are 
now shapely, dwarf trees, that might 
well be chosen for the lawn. We have 
not as yet had occasion to tell our read¬ 
ers that the nuts borne by these seed¬ 
lings are superior to the average foreign 
chestnuts already in the market. Still 
they have not all fruited, and we have 
yet a feeble hope that we may yet pro¬ 
duce “ the greatest chestnut on earth.” 
Mr. G. Harold Powell, who has care¬ 
fully investigated foreign chestnuts, ex¬ 
presses his choice of varieties for com¬ 
mercial purposes, in a late bulletin issued 
by the Delaware Experiment Station 
(Newark), as follows : His first choice of 
the Japans is Alpha, Reliance, Kerr, 
Kent and Killen. Of the European kinds, 
he chooses: Paragon, Ridgely, Lott and 
Styer. 
Spraying on Windy Days 
R. 6’, Casey County , Ky .—In sprayh>g when the 
wind is blowing, we find that we can wet only 
about three-quarters of the surface of the trees; 
we cannot throw the spray against the wind 
without getting men and team soaked. How do 
the experts do it? Do they wait for a day when 
there is no wind, which would be very hard to 
find here in Spring ? 
Ans, —Most fruit growers who spray 
are troubled on windy days by the blow¬ 
ing of the spray. Most of them try to 
avoid such days for the work. In seme 
cases, a long, light rod of bamboo is 
fastened to the nozzle and hose, so that 
a man standing on the ground or in a 
wagon can hold the nozzle up close to 
the tree. In this way, there is less trou¬ 
ble from the wind than when the spray 
is thrown from a distance. The Ver- 
morel nozzle is best for this short-range 
spraying, while the McGowan does the 
beet long-distance work. 
Farmers’ Club. 
[Every query must be accompanied by the 
name and address of the writer to insure atten¬ 
tion. 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.] 
Fertilizer and Hen Manure. 
G. R. 8., Ballston Lake, N. Y.—l intend to use 
for potatoes a fertilizer containing one per cent 
ammonia, 9 per cent phosphoric acid, and six 
per cent of actual potash. I have a large amount 
of hen manure, and as the soil I shall plant lacks 
organic nitrogen, I thought I would mix 100 
pounds of the fertilizer with each barrel of hen 
manure and apply in the hill, using about three 
times the amount I would use of the fertilizer 
alone. The soil is a light slate, which, through 
lack of humus, suffers much from drought. 
Ans. —That fertilizer is very low in 
nitrogen, and the addition of the hen 
manure will prove beneficial. You will 
find, however, that it is impossible to 
mix moist hen manure so as to have the 
mixture complete. The best way to do 
is to dry out the manure by putting it 
under cover, and keeping it well dusted 
with land plaster. This will leave it in 
hard, dry chunks, and you can crush or 
fine this with a shovel or spade, then mix 
your fertilizers and thus obtain much 
better results. 
Wool Waste as a Fertilizer. 
C. C. S , Passaic, N. ./.—Can wool cardiDgs be 
utilized for fertilizers by any chemical action ? 
When so reduced, is there any profit in them as a 
manure ? 
Ans. —Wool carding, wool waste, hair 
and similar substances contain consid¬ 
erable plant food, chiefly nitrogen. This 
plant food, however, is insoluble, and is 
very slowly available under ordinary 
conditions. In some cases, these wastes 
are used for bedding stock, but this 
is not usually satisfactory. The waste 
sticks to the animals, and makes a dirty 
and filthy appearance. Probably, the 
best way to utilize it is to mix it with 
the manure, and let it rot in an ordinary 
compost. To use it directly on the 
ground would be a mistake, for it would 
decompose so slowly that the plants 
would be unable to use it. 
Alfalfa in New Hampshire 
O. G. D„ Hanover Centre. N. //.—Will Alfalfa 
grow and do well aa far north as this place ? 
Would it be a good hay crop—any better than our 
northern clover for cows ? 
Ans —Attempts to grow Alfalfa in the 
New England States have generally end¬ 
ed in failure. Many think, however, 
that it can be grown to advantage in 
this section of the country. But one at¬ 
tempt was made at this Station, which 
was unsuccessful. It has been grown 
successfully at the New York Experi¬ 
ment Station, Geneva, but in experiments 
on 30 farms in different parts of Ver¬ 
mont, it was largely winterkilled. We 
think if a good stand can be obtained, 
through summerfallowing and thorough 
cultivation, so as completely to fine the 
soil and destroy all the weeds, Alfalfa 
can be grown here with good results. 
We do not think it advisable to give up 
the attempt; at least, we shall try it 
further. A light, sandy or loamy soil 
with a penetrable subsoil is preferable 
to make a trial. Sow in the Spring, 
from 20 to 30 pounds of seed in drills, or 
cover lightly with a harrow. 
N. H. College, chas wm burkett. 
Sprouting Sweet Corn. 
Subscriber, Inkster, Mich —Now for sweet corn! 
Is there any way to sprout the seed that will 
make it come up quickly ? I am told, to “ sprout ” 
sweet corn, to put the seed in a bag, soak with 
hot water, place on the sunny side of a building, 
cover with manure, keep it dark—add hot water 
two or three times a day, and it will produce 
sprouts in less than 12 hours. Do you know of 
any better way ? 
Ans —Seeds do not germinate until 
they have sucked up all the water they 
it is of semi-tropical origin, and the seed 
requires considerable heat in order to 
sprout, a temperature of about 100 de¬ 
grees F. being most favorable. If we 
plant corn in soil at a temperature of 50 
degrees, it will germinate very slowly, 
if at all. Multitudes of fungi are always 
lying in wait in the ground for just such 
a delicate morsel as a softened grain of 
sweet corn that lacks the strength to 
push its shoot up to the light. Soaking 
seed corn in warm water is of decided 
benefit, even though the ground is warm. 
The heat stimulates the protoplasm—the 
vital part—of the seed, to immediate ac¬ 
tion. I have recently demonstrated this. 
Of two lots of sweet corn planted in a 
greenhouse, one was soaked 20 hours in 
warm water, previous to planting. This 
lot is now three inches high, while a 
similar lot planted dry is just peeping 
through. 
The method outlined in the foregoing 
query would, with some modifications 
cause sweet corn to sprout. The direc¬ 
tions are somewhat indefinite. I would 
suggest that the term “hot water” 
should be “ water at 120 degrees F.”; also, 
that a thermometer be placed in the ma¬ 
nure pile so that the temperature could 
be observed. If the seed is exposed for 
any considerable time to a temperature 
above 122 degrees, it is very likely to be 
injured. The seed would sprout if ex¬ 
posed to light as well as in the dark, if 
sufficient heat and moisture were pres¬ 
ent. Another plan is to place the seed 
between two pieces of cloth, and these 
between layers of sand or sawdust, and 
keep under the kitchen stove or in other 
warm place. The seed would scarcely 
start in 12 hours. Sprouts might show 
in 24 hours. Frederic cranefield. 
A common expression is: 
“The human race is grow¬ 
ing weaker and wiser.” 
That we are growing weak¬ 
er is proved by the large 
number of pale, thin and 
emaciated people. 
That we are growing 
wiser may be proved by 
overcoming these disorders 
with the timely use of 
Scott’s Emulsion of Cod- 
liver Oil with Hypophos- 
phites which gives strength, 
enriches the blood, invigor¬ 
ates the nerves and forms 
fat. 
50c. and £1.00, all druggists. 
SCOTT & BOWNE, Chemists, New York. 
ABUNDANCE PLUM 
R. 8. JOHNSTON, Box 4, Stockley, Del. 
Trnnc 5 to 7 ft— Collection bdst varieties. Total 
I ICCO 38 13 50. Freight paid. To close out stock: 
T Fears, 7 Plums 3 Cherries, 4 Peaches, 2 Quinces, 
8 Currants. 4 Gooseberries. 3 Grape Vines. 
G. C. STONE’S WHOLESALE NURSERIES, 
Send for circular giving varieties Dansvllle, N. Y. 
Winter Nelis and Bose Pears 
in surplus. Also Dwarf Louise Bonne and Duchess 
pear trees; Lombard, Shipper’s Pride and Bradshaw 
plum trees; Ben Davis, Taltnan Sweet and other 
apple trees; Victoria and Cherry currants; Norway 
Spruce and Arbor-Vitae, about two feet high, at $10 
per 100. Surplus of Red-leaved Beech and Carolina 
Poplar. Send us a list of your wants, and let us price 
your list. GREEN'S NURSERY CO., Rochester, N.Y 
Strawberries 
Finest young plants, fresh dug. By express only- 
cash with order. Gandy, Crescent. Warlle d, Meeks 
Early, Greenville, Tennessee Prolific, at SI.50 per 
1,000. Henry Ward Beecher, Lady Thompson, Vvm. 
Belt. Bismarck, and Champion of England, at #3 
per l.OOO. Offer good only as long as stock lasts. 
Money returned if we are sold out. 
JOS. H. BLACK, SON & CO., Uightstown, N. J. 
Potash. 
PJ'NOUGH of it must be 
contained in fertilizers, 
otherwise failure will surely 
result. See that it is there. 
Our books tell all about 
fertilizers. They are sent 
free to all farmers applying 
for them. 
GERMAN KALI WORKS, 
93 Nanaa St., New York. 
Quick Fertilizer. 
There is nothing in the American 
market to day that acts so quickly and 
surely as a fertilizer as 
Nitrate of Soda . 
Apply to the surface in the spring. 
A small quantity does the work. 
Watch the crops closely and when 
they look sick or make slow growth 
apply the remedy promptly. Book, 
“Food for Plants,” tells all about it. 
John A. Myers, 12—0 John St., New 
York, will send you free copy on re 
quest. Nitrate for sale by 
BALFOUR, WILLIAHSON & CO., 
27 William St, New York. 
Profits of Farming 
GARDENING AND FRUIT CULTURE. 
depend upon Good Crops and they in 
turn upon Good Fertilizers. The 
uniformly best fertilizer for all Crops 
and all soils Is made by 
The Cleveland Dryer Co., Cleveland, O. 
Materials Supplied for “Dome Mixing." 
^wwvwvwwvtvvwvwwvtvwmVlv 
CANADA UNLEACHED 
HARDWOOD _ _ 
For prices address TH08. POTTS, Brantford, Ont. 
FAYS’ PROLIFIC RED CURRANTS 
are the most productive. Write for cut-rate prices. 
FRED. H. BURDETT, Clifton, N. Y. 
STRAWBERRY PLANTS, BEST Quality. 
Circular free, send for it. B. King;, Tewksbury, Mass 
S trawberries.—New York, Sample, Excelsior, Nick 
Obmer, Maximus. Best kinds. 10 p. c. disc, on orders 
for April. List free. P. SPEER, Passaic, N. J. 
S TRAWBERRY Plants and Asparagus Roots. The 
cheapest and best plants In New England. Cata¬ 
logue free. C. PEIRCE, Digbton, Mass. 
infl Strawberry Plants, by mall, your selection, $1. 
IUU Clyde, Carrie, Darling, Margaret, Belt, Man- 
well, Seaford, Glen Mary, Louis Gauth er, Hall’s 
Favorite. P. BUTTON, Exeter, Pa. 
Lakeview Farm Berry Plants. 
1,000,000 Plants and V nes. Prices reduced. Loudon 
$8 per M. Agent Eclipse Spray Pump. Send for 
catalogue. WALTER F. TABER, Poughkeepsie,N.Y. 
GLADSTONE Sanlple ’ Nick Ohmer Strawberry Pits 
S. H. WARREN, Weston, Mass. 
^tnwhprm PlflTltc - Bubach No. 5, Tennessee 
OlldW UClIj 1101113 Prolific, and other standard 
varieties, true to name. Price, $1.50 per M. List free. 
Address CHAS. BARKER, Milford, Del. 
I ADAM PLUMS, PEAR and QUINCE, * *5 per 100. 
JAlMli Peach, 3c. All kinds of stock CHEAP. 
Cat. free. Reliance N ursery, Box 10, Geneva, N.Y. 
Fruit Trees, Plants and Vines. 
Prices lower than ever. Catalogue free. 
SOUTHERN VERMONT NURSERY, 
North Bennington, Vt. 
5,000 
GLEN MARY for 85. 
T. C. KEVITT, Athenia, N, J. 
APPLE SCIONS. 
York Imperial ai d Black Twig. 50 cents per 100. 
H. K. MARKELL, Gerrardstown, W. Va. 
nr 1 nil TRCEC 4 to 6 ft. at 3t£c.; 3 to 4 ft. at 
I ■•EC02^c.;alllyr.frombud,healthy 
* ™nuil and thrifty; no scale. Official certificate 
accompanies each shipment. Sample by express If 
wanted. Can ship any time. Trees kept dormant 
till May 10. R. S. JOHNSTON. Box 4, Stockley, Del. 
can bold, i. e., are saturated. They will 
take up this water more rapidly in a 
warm than in a cold atmosphere ; we 
can, therefore, hasten germination by 
soaking the seeds in warm water for a 
time before planting. This plan is of 
especial advantage in the case of corn, as 
SAVE MONEY! BUY YOUR FERTILIZERS DIRECT. 
You get the benefit of salesman’s expenses and agent’s profit. Our entire production 
goes from factory to farm. Write for free samples and book. 
WALKER, STRATMAN & CO., Herr’s Island, Pittsburg, Pa. 
.. - _ _ - —— 
