362 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
May 13 
Work of Buffalo Tree-Hoppers. 
G. C G., Went Bedding, Conn,.—I inclose a sec¬ 
tion of apple limb, ■which is covered with some¬ 
thing'. What is it and wbat can be done for it? 
ANSWERED BY M. V. 8LINGFBLAND. 
The apple branch sent by G. C. G. bore 
many scars of an intect known as the 
Buffalo tree-hopper. Many of the sears 
look as though the point of a large knife 
blade had been forced through and slight¬ 
ly under the bark; others are oval or 
circular in shape. The natural growth 
of the bark has, in each case, caused a 
slight spreading, thickening, and eleva¬ 
tion of the bark at the slits. If the bark 
be carefully cut from around these scars, 
one, or more often two, rows of six or 
eight eggs will be revealed stuclr in a 
slanting direction through the bark, 
and even extending into the woody por¬ 
tion of the branch. These eggs are thus 
neatly put into the slits late in the Sum¬ 
mer or early Fall by a curious, yellow¬ 
ish-green insect about one-third of an 
inch long, and very strikingly resem¬ 
bling a beechnut in shape. This insect 
obtains its food by sucking it through a 
long, sharp beak with which it punc¬ 
tures the bark of tender twigs. The 
scars are made by the female with her 
long, sharp ovipositor. 
ThiB insect and its near relatives are 
called tree-hoppers because they are 
good leapers, and live mostly on trees 
or bushes. The popular name of this 
species refers to the side projections of 
the body near the head, which suggest 
the horns of a buffalo. The insect rare¬ 
ly occurs in sufficient numbers to do 
much harm. Most of the injury is done 
in the laying of its eggs in the upper 
parts of the twigs of apple, pear, maple 
and other fruit and shade trees. The 
slits are sometimes so numerous as io 
cause the death of the branch, and often 
the symmetry of branches or even the 
whole of young trees is seriously marred. 
The eggs hatch in May. The recently- 
hatched nymphs resemble the adults in 
shape and color, but have large spines 
projecting from each segment of the body. 
These nymphs go about sucking the 
juices frc m different parts of a tree, and 
as they increase in size, from time to 
time their skins are shed. Late in the 
Summer, they attain full growth, and 
egg-laying begins. There is but one 
brood during the season. 
As this insect sucks its food, as it feeds 
on such a variety of plants, and as its 
eggs are so well protected, it will be a 
difficult pest to fight. The only prac¬ 
ticable methods that have been recom¬ 
mended are to cut and burn, where prac¬ 
ticable, the branches containing the 
eggs, early in the Spring (before May 1); 
or to spray the tree with kerosene emul¬ 
sion diluted with 9 or 10 parts of water, 
not later than June 1, or as soon as the 
nymphs are seen to be emerging from 
the eggs. 
What Is “ A Good Adviser ” ? 
“ Canadian .” — An old and very respectable 
farmer said to me not long ago, that be would 
rather take the opinion of a farmer, although he 
could neither read nor write, than the opinion of 
the very best agricultural paper. This man has 
been 30 years, living none too well, paying for his 
farm, while the man on the next farm, which is 
of the same size and no better, who says a good 
agricultural paper has been a great help to him, 
has paid for his farm in 10 years. Both men 
started on next to nothing. 
Ans —We have known some shrewd 
but unlettered farmers, whose common- 
sense advice was certainly worth more 
than the scientific theories of unpractical 
men. There is no reason, however, why 
an agricultural paper should not contain 
practical advice. In the case of The R. 
N.-Y., practically all the advice contained 
in it is written by men of experience. 
Whenever we give mere news or theory, 
we try to make it clear that it is not 
exact advice. We do not know why the 
inability to read and write should make 
a man’s advice unusually valuable, 
neither can we see why an agricultural, 
scientific education should destroy the 
value of a man’s honest opinion. In 
fact, we think that the best agricultural 
advisers of the present day are those 
who combine science and practice. 
Tested science is, of course, the most 
useful. 
Another thing is also true. In an agri¬ 
cultural paper which covers a wide range 
of territory, it is natural that advice 
well suited to one section of country 
might not be at all suited to another 
section. For example, a farmer in 
Florida might give the exact truth about 
his experience with the cow pea or the 
Velvet bean, and in his enthusiasm, he 
might advise all farmers in the country 
to invest in these crops. That would be 
poor advice for the Canadian or the man 
living in Dakota, because the Velvet 
bean is peculiarly a warm-country crop, 
and will be almost sure to disappoint the 
northern farmer. It would not be fair 
to class the Florida man as a fraud or a 
mere theorist, because he advises farm¬ 
ers generally, to follow his experience. 
It simply shows that, in the majority of 
cases, one must read with discretion, and 
use judgment and care. Almost every 
sensible article contains a germ of 
thought and help, but the individual 
reader must make his own application, 
and this applying is often the most help¬ 
ful thing connected with an agricultural 
paper. 
Snails in the Hotbed. 
F. S , Augueta, Me.— What does The R. N -Y. do 
to kill snails in the hotbed and in the garden ? 
Ans —In hotbeds and frames, use the 
mode employed by florists in the green¬ 
house ; place lettuce or cabbage leaves 
or slices of raw potato about the beds at 
night, and remove them in the morning ; 
the snails collect on these traps, and are 
easily destroyed. We have never been 
troubled with snails in the garden, but 
would U6e the same plan there. Little 
trails of bran and sugar, poisoned with 
arsenic, are recommended by some gar¬ 
deners. 
Onion Sets. 
C E. W., Satsop, Wash .— What variety of onion 
seed shculd be sown to produce sets for green 
onions another season? Also, what seed for 
large ones ? When is the proper time to sow the 
seed ? What is the proper method ? I have a 
lot of Yellow Danvers seed; would that do ? 
Ans. —Sow any variety you wish to 
grow; Yellow Danvers is excellent for 
a large onion, but the market demands 
a white sort for scullions or green Spring 
onions. To raise sets from seed, drill 
when the apple is in bloom, 60 to 75 
pounds of seed to the acre. As soon as 
the tops dry, about midsummer, remove 
the sets to a dry place, being careful 
that they are not in any way bruised. 
If not sown thickly, they attain too 
large a size, and run to seed when re¬ 
planted. Most seed firms have a special 
strain of white onions for scullicns. 
Chemicals and Stable Manure. 
E A. H , Monticello, N. Y. —1. What element is 
lacking in stable manure for potatoes, corn and 
oats? 2. What are the proportions of the ele¬ 
ments in ordinary poultry manure, and how can 
I best make them available ? 
Ans.— 1. A fair sample of farm ma¬ 
nure contains, in each ton, 10 pounds of 
nitrogen, 5 pounds of phosphoric acid, 
and about 10 pounds of potash. With 
most crops, experiments have shown 
that there should be about twice as much 
potash as of nitrogen, and rather more 
phosphoric acid than potash. In the 
majority of cases, we think it would pay 
to add, at least, 25 pounds of muriate of 
potash and 40 pounds of dissolved rock, 
to every ton of manure. This would 
give a better balance to the manure, and 
make it go much farther. Experiments 
in Massachusetts have shown the wis¬ 
dom of this system of manuring. In one 
case, a cord of manure weighing 5,087% 
pounds, was used alone. On a plot by 
its side, half a cord of manure weighing 
2,712% pounds, with the addition of 40 
pounds of potash, was found to yield 
slightly more hay than the plot where 
the manure alone was used. The result 
of a series of experiments showed that 
the heavy application of manure did not 
show an increase of crop over half the 
quantity of manure with 40 pounds of 
potash. These results seem to indicate 
that farmers might use less than the 
usual quantities of manure, to supply 
the nitrogen required, while the chemi¬ 
cals added in small quantities will sup¬ 
ply the potash and the phosphoric acid 
much cheaper than they can be had in 
the form of manure. In this way, a 
farmer might make the manure cover 
twice the ground that it now does, and 
by adding the chemicals to it, secure 
good results on the increased area. 
2. A ton of ordinary hen manure con¬ 
tains about 30 pounds of nitrogen, 17 
pounds of phosphoric acid, and 13 o 1 
potash. The best way to use hen ma¬ 
nure is to keep it thoroughly dried by 
the use of plaster. This will leave it in 
hard, dry chunks. These should be 
crushed with a heavy spade, or by pass¬ 
ing them through a small mill, so that 
they may be mixid with chemicals, and 
broadcasted like any fertilizer. Where 
it is not desirable to handle the manure 
in this way, we would advise mixing it 
with the other farm manures, or throw¬ 
ing it into the hog pens to be worked 
over by the pigs. 
Scott’s Emulsion of Cod- 
liver Oil with Hypophos- 
phites is pure and palatable. 
For years it has been used 
for coughs and colds, for con¬ 
sumption, for those whose 
blood is thin or colorless, 
whose systems are emaciated 
or run down. 
For children it means 
health and .strength, stronger 
hones and teeth, and food 
for the growing mind. 
Baby gains in weight and 
thrives when Scott’s Emul¬ 
sion is added to its milk. 
50 c. and $ 1 . 00 , all druggists. 
SCOTT & BOWNE, Chemists, New York. 
SUNNY WEATHER 
will soon be here. 
That will start the 
hoops on all wooden 
tanks and hundreds 
of them will “fall to 
staves.” 
If you 
buy an 
Electric Tank 
You will always have a Tank. 
They are made of best galvanized steel and will 
not rust and cannot rot. Thoroughly riveted, sol¬ 
dered and re-inforced with iron strips. Makes 
them unusually strong and lasting. Made in many 
sizes and for all purposes. Write for Special 
Tank Circulars, prices, etc., they are FREE. 
ELECTRIC WHEEL CO., Box 309, QUINCY, ILL 
RIFE HYDRAULIC ENGINE 
Pure water delivered by muddy 
water as power. 
Brook water used to pump spring water 
Absolute Guarantee. 
Your Money Hack if 
You 'Want It. 
Send Your Conditions. 
POWER SPECIALTY CO., 126 Liberty St., New York. 
A Profitable Business 
ON A LIMITED CAPITAL. 
Any man can make a good living 1 
Drilling Wells; 
for his neighbors. They are ( 
better and cheaper than the ( 
dug wells. The 
STAR 
iDrilling Machine 
is the strongest, fastest and the best designed 1 
in the world. Write for our illustrated cata - 1 
logue. IT IS 1'H.EE. 
Star Drilling Machine Co., Akron, 0. 
HAVE YOU HEARD 
a man ask for a “better fence than the Page”? Uni¬ 
versal Satisfaction Is a good recommend. Have 
von tested it? 
PAGE WOVEN WIRE FENCE CO., ADRIAN, MICH. 
FOR A GOOD FENCE 
One that embodies allthe 
eorrectprinciplesin weight 
strength, size of mesh, 
height, etc., buy the 
...PITTSBURG... 
WOVEN WIRE FENCE. 
It’s a perfect wire fence at 
a moderate price. Itls strong, 
durable, handsome and 
harmless to stock. Agents 
make money selling it. We 
want good agents in every 
locality. First order secures 
township agency. Circulars free. 
Pittsburg Woven Wire Fence Co. 
15 Penn. Av., Pittsburg, Pa. 
“A WORMY OLD CHESTNUT 
isnota valuable thing. 
Neit her Is a fence made 
of soft wire orone with 
light, flimsy uprights. 
Get one 
that is 
r - 
A PERFECT 
LOCK TO 
MOLD IT- 
right 
when you buy, and be 
satisfied. We have the 
right one and at the 
right price. 
LAMB WIRE FENCE CO. 
Adrian, Mich. 
It Adjusts Itself 
The handsomest, handiest and best 
woven wire fence for parks, lawns, 
cemeteries or fields is the Ran dull Wov 
en Loop Wire Fence. Easiest to put 
up—may betaken down and put up any 
number of times ;can’t sag nor get out 
of shape, never kinks. Write for 
illustrated catalog and sample. 
RANDALL FENCE CO. 
Le Roy, N. Y. 
STRONGEST FENCE MADE. 
BULL-STRONG AND CHICKEN-TIGHT. 
Our prices will surprise you for we sell direct to the 
Farmers at wholesale. If you are wanting anything in 
the Fence line, don’t fail to write for our Free catalog. 
COILED SPRINC FENCE CO., 
Box 24. Winchester, Indiana, U. S. A. 
Your Attention for a Moment! 
TO OUR 
M. M. S. POULTRY FENCING 
Is stronger, yet the completed fence is 50 per cent 
cheaper than the old-fashioned poultry netting; it 
requires only one-fourth as many posts, and neither 
top nor bottom rail. Will not sag or buckle; neat, 
elastic, durable, cheap. K isily and rapidly erected. 
Price-list FREE. JAMBS S. CASE, 
Colchester, Ct. 
WIRE FENCE A FAILURE 
( When the Posts Give Out.) 
Brick houses are not built on wooden blocks. No 
matter what style of wire fence you build. 
Use Durable Posts . 
We can give you valuable informat ion on the use of 
Steel for this purpose. 
BOND STEEL POST CO., Adrian, Mich. 
1,000 SAMPLES FREE 
= of our new 8 uccess Fence Ratchet 
which tightens any wire fence. Grips 
automatically as wire Is wound on. 
No holes to bore In posts; attaohes 
midway of the fence. We will mall you a sample 
free If you will send us 10 cents to oover postage 
only. Circulars free. 
W. H. MASON & CO.. BOX 67. LKX8BUBG, OHIO. 
A MECHANICAL WONDER. 
Fonr tools In 
one. All work 
as perfectly as 
though each 
were sep¬ 
arate. 
Vise, An¬ 
vil, Drill and Hardy. Send $3.50 and we we will send 
you this complete machine neatly boxed. This is the 
regular $5.00 outfit. Give it a ten days’ trial, and If 
you do not consider it well worth the money, and the 
biggest bargain you ever saw, you may return it, and 
we will refund your money. The machine will save 
Its cost to any one in need of tools in six months. Tho 
drill alone is well worth the money. Weight SO lbs. 
Jaws of the vise open 9 inches. Order to-day and se¬ 
cure the agency. Please mention this paper when 
writing. Address 
Bloomfield Mf'g. Co., Bloomfield, Ind. 
LIGHTNING WELL MACHY 
IS THE STANDAR D ; 
ST/AMPUMPS AIR LIFTS. * r 
WRITE FOR CIRCULAR 
GASOLINE ENGINES 
Jfa. 
THE AMERICAN WELL WORKS 
AURORA,ILL- CHICAGO.- DALLAS.TEX. 
UfCll drilling 
WELL Machines 
Over 70 sizes and styles, for drilling either deep or 
■hallow wells In any kind of soil or rock. Mounted 
on wheels or on sills. With engines or horse power*. 
Strong, simple and durable. Any mechanic can 
operate them easily. Send for catalog. 
WILLIAMS BROS., Ithaca, N. Y. 
