1899 
381 
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.J 
Apple Questions From Georgia 
S It. G., Rome, Ga —1. On my place is an apple 
orchard about six years set. The orchard has 
been cropped by the tenant with cotton and corn 
since setting. Most of the trees are very small, 
six to seven feet high, with water-sprouts start¬ 
ing near the ground, and in some cases, running 
as high as the tree. What causes these water- 
sprouts ? 2. What do you think of growing early 
apples here in the South for shipment to north¬ 
ern markets ? What three varieties would you 
select? What do you think of Yellow Trans¬ 
parent for one ? 3. Can apples, pears and cher¬ 
ries be June-budded in the South like peach 
trees ? 4. I have some apple seedlings that will 
be budded in Summer. I am thinking of setting 
the seedlings with the dormant buds in the places 
they are to occupy in the orchard next Winter. 
Will they make better, quicker trees, or would 
it be better to let them stay in the nursery row a 
year ? 5. I shall have, next Fall, a lot of one-year 
apple trees (root-grafts set in February Iasi). If 
I should want varieties other than these, could 
not these be cutoff and grafts of the desired 
variety put in the tops, so as to make a good 
growth next year? How low down would you 
cut them ? Should they be set in orchard, or stay 
in nursery row ? Do not trees make better trees 
in the orchard the younger they are set ? 
Ans.— 1. If the trees were cultivated 
properly along with cotton and corn, and 
the soil is fertile, they should not be in 
bad condition as regards growth. If 
they are not thrifty, then manure them. 
In any case, it will likely do them good. 
The water sprouts growing near the base 
are the result of neglect when the trees 
were small. They should be cut off at 
once, and all sprouts that come out to 
replace them, as many will surely do, 
should be rubbed off as soon as seen. If 
kept down all this season, there will, 
probably, be little trouble from that 
cause hereafter. 
2 Early apples often pay very well in 
the South, because the northern markets 
are always ready to receive them up to 
the time the first early apples ripen 
nearer to them. Yellow Transparent 
would be a very good kind to plant, only 
that the fruit is very tender, and shows 
bruises very plainly, because of its color. 
Red Astrachan is good, but it will not 
bear so quickly as the former. Olden¬ 
burg, which is a second early kind, is 
another very good apple for the South, 
as well as for the extreme North, for it 
endures the heat much better than many 
of our most popular northern varieties. 
In fact, I believe that the same qualities 
in an apple tree that enable it to endure 
severe cold are just those that are needed 
to enable it to withstand heat. It is ex¬ 
cessive evaporation that does the dam¬ 
age in either case. I have seen this ex¬ 
emplified in many parts of the southern 
States. Near New Orleans, I examined 
what remained of an apple orchard 
planted with many kinds, and Red 
Astrachan and Oldenburg were among 
the best looking of those that had sur¬ 
vived the extreme and continued heat of 
the long Summers. 
3. Yes, apple, pear, and cherry trees 
can be June-budded the same as peach 
trees, but it must be done very skillfully 
to be effective in gaining time. The 
main troubles are to get mature buds 
early enough, and to know just how to 
treat the budded stocks. It is sometimes 
possible to send farther south for buds 
that are more advanced. The stocks 
should be severely clipped as soon as the 
buds are set, so as to cause them to start 
into growth as soon as possible after 
they become united to the stocks. 
4. It is usually easier to take care of 
the little trees in a nursery row than in 
an orchard. I would let them stand a 
year after being budded. 
5. Very small trees are all right to set 
in the orchard, provided they are well 
eared for. This is often almost impossi¬ 
ble to do. Hired men are likely to treat 
them carelessly, and the owner is some¬ 
times equally as bad or worse. If it is 
THE RURAL !NEW-YORKER 
found advisable to regraft some of the 
one-year-old nursery trees, I would ad¬ 
vise doing it very early next Spring, and 
leave them to grow one year before set¬ 
ting in the orchard. The transplanting 
will lessen the chances of the grafts 
taking well. If the trees are very thrifty, 
I would set the grafts about where I ex¬ 
pected to begin the head, perhaps at 
two feet from the ground. If they are 
small and weakly, then almost at the 
ground. Theoretically, a seed, a root 
graft or a dormant bud is better to plant 
in an orchard, but practically is not. It 
takes too much extra trouble to care for 
such properly, except in a small lot 
where the extra care may be given. 
H. e. v. D 
Orchard in a Wheat Field 
W. E. R, Carroll County, Ind.—I set out this 
Spring 250 apple and 2C0 peach trees, in a field 
that has wheat in It. I don’t think it Is the best 
thing to do, but under the circumstances I had 
to do so. If it should turn dry, would it do to cul¬ 
tivate after harvest, and water the trees? 
Ans. —Trees planted in a wheat field, 
or in any other field of small grain, al¬ 
ways have a hard time. It does seem 
strange that any one who has the am¬ 
bition to set 450 fruit trees would risk 
them in a field already seeded to grain. 
Unless the wheat gives promise of a very 
good yield, I would recommend plowing 
a strip next the trees about six feet wide 
at once, and then keep it thoroughly cul¬ 
tivated until the grain is harvested, 
when the whole field should be plowed. 
If the wheat is very goed, I would say, 
spade up without delay a space around 
each tree six feet in diameter, and keep 
it hoed or raked over just like a garden 
until the wheat is cut, and the ground 
can all be plowed and kept mellow the 
rest of the season. In my opinion, the 
best that can be done for them, they will 
not make the growth that they should 
make. h e. v. d. 
The Quince in California. 
C. N., Petaluma, Cal .—With a view of propa¬ 
gating a new quince rapidly, would you recom¬ 
mend grafting small cuttings on apple, pear or 
quince roots ? Is either equally good ? Will it 
be advisable, with no quince trees to graft into, 
to use apple or pear trees ? This is with a view 
to getting early-bearing trees. 
Ans —Apple and pear roots are not 
good for use as stocks for the quince. 
The best stock is the Angers quince. As 
C. N. has no quince stocks, and wishes 
to propagate a choice variety in the 
quickest and surest way, my advice 
would be to get some Angers stocks of 
some dealer next Fall, set them out at 
once, and bud them in the Summer of 
1900 with the desired variety. Quince 
stocks are propagated in two ways, from 
cuttings and from layers. The best lay¬ 
ers are made by cutting trees back to 
low stumps, thus causing them to make 
numerous small shoots, and banking 
these with earth for several inches to 
induce a growth of roots at their bases. 
They are then severed from the stump, 
and set in the nursery ready for budding 
the following August. h. e. y. d. 
Apples Grafted to Winesap. 
II. P. M, Albion, N. Y .—I have some apple trees 
about 15 years old, which were grafted to Wine- 
sap long enough ago to make a good top. Are 
they good for anything commercially ? If not, 
are they good to graft on, and what varieties will 
work well ? 
Ans. —Winesap is somewhat north of 
its proper latitude anywhere in New 
York. The fruit is likely to be quite 
small where the seasons are shorter than 
in the latitude of Maryland, Kentucky 
and Missouri. But it is a good apple, 
and I have seen trees in Michigan bear¬ 
ing fruit of quite fair size. Suppose the 
owner allow these trees to bear before 
condemning them. This is one of the 
best of the Winter apples in its proper 
latitude, and it may be more profitable 
in New York than is generally believed. 
Any variety will grow if grafted on the 
branches of Winesap. York Imperial 
and Sutton are good varieties to use as 
substitutes, in case of necessity. 
h. e. y. D. 
Japan Millet for Seed. 
W. L. I)., Woodridge, N. J. —I wish to plant a 
plot of Japan millet for seed. When shall I plant, 
when cut, and how handle after cut ? Has the 
straw any feeding value for horses, cattle and 
hogs ? 
Ass.—We would plant the Japan mil¬ 
let about the middle of May on good 
land, well cleaned and in first-class con¬ 
dition. The millet requires good soil in 
order to produce a profitable crop. It 
will not give good results on pcor soil. 
At the Massachusetts Agricultural Col¬ 
lege, where considerable of this millet 
has been grown for seed, about the follow¬ 
ing plan is followed : The birds are very 
fond of the seeds, and will get most of 
them unless they are watched. A boy 
is put to watch the fields with a shotgun, 
from 5 to 9:30 A m., and 3:30 to 6:30 p. m., 
and with a clapper or bell and an oc¬ 
casional shot, he keeps the birds away. 
For seed, the millet is sown 12 to 15 
inches apart in drills. When the seed 
begins to dry, it is cut by hand, and laid 
in small bunches. After these are well 
dried, they are bound and shocked in the 
field, about 8 or 10 bunches to the shock, 
with cloth hay-caps over the top to keep 
the birds away. As soon as dry, the 
millet is thrashed directly from the field. 
Some kinds of millet will thrash easily, 
while others must be thrashed with a 
flail, to get them clean. When cured for 
hay, millet needs more drying than 
Timothy, and is better when cured in 
the shed in the manner of curing clover. 
It is a mistake to feed millet hay to 
horses. Cattle will make good use of it, 
but most horses are often made sick or 
killed by feeding millet in which many 
of the seeds are left. There seems to be 
some bad effect upon the kidneys and 
joints. 
The Fruits of Nut Trees. 
C. E. B., CrosHoille, Tenn—Go the fruits of 
Black walnut, hickory, etc , develop from blooms 
that appeared the year previous ? 
Ans.—T he fruits (nuts), of the walnut, 
hickory, chestnut and oak all come on 
the new growth of the year in which 
they grow and ripen. The flowers of the 
two sexes are usually on the same 
branch, but on different parts of it. The 
staminate flowers come out first in nearly 
all cases, and are long and like tassels. 
The pistillate flowers are quite incon¬ 
spicuous. 
The Agricultural College of Minnesota, at St. 
Anthony Park, is to have a new 135,000 building, 
devoted to horticulture and physics. The Legis¬ 
lature has just made an appropriation for this 
purpose. Efforts will be made to make this one 
of the finest buildiDgs of its kind in the country. 
44 A Mans Discontent 
Is His Worst Evil ” 
Avoid discontent by looking after human 
housecleaning. Change the surcharged 
blood from impure, clogged state to cleanli¬ 
ness and purity, by taking that marvelous 
Spring Medicine, Hood’s Sarsaparilla. It 
is a blood purifier par excellence. 
Jadoo Fibre and Jadoo Liquid: 
Will give you Early Crops and Large Crops 
of Vegetables or Fruit Send for Catalogues 
and be convinced of the merits of these 
new Fertilizers. 
THE AMERICAN JADOO CO- 
815 Falrmount Avenue, Philadelphia, Pa. 
E very successful 
farmer who raises fruits, 
vegetables, berries or 
grain, knows by experience 
the importance of having a 
large percentage of 
Potash 
In his fertilizers. If the fer¬ 
tilizer is too low in Potash the 
harvest is sure to be small, and 
of inferior quality. 
Our books tell about the proper fertilizers 
for all crops, and we will gladly send them 
free to any farmer. 
QER/TAN KALI WORKS, 
9 J Nassau B4., New York. 
i 
Exhausted Land. 
The first element to become ex¬ 
hausted in land is nitrogen. The ap¬ 
plication of 100 pounds of 
Nitrate of Soda 
per acre will supply this and produce 
astonishing results. It is the cheap¬ 
est and most available source of nitro¬ 
gen. More about it—use and results, 
in our book, “Food for Plants 
mailed free. Write John A. Myers, 
12—O John St., New York. Nitrate 
for sale by 
BALFOUR. WILLIAMSON & CO. 
27 William St., New York. 
Profits of Farmiitj 
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 “ Home Mixing." 
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 wo have been the sole manufacturers of the 
■well-known Star Brand of Strictly Pure ParlB Green, anil know 
that Par&gTene 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., 
15 c. per lb.; % lb. pkgs. 16 c. per lb.; lb. pkgs. 17 c. 
per lb.; f. o. D. New York. Special rates to dealers. 
Send for descriptive pamphlet and samples. 
FRED. L. LAVANBURG, Box 1670 B New York. 
A Dry Sprayer 
No Water or Plaster. 
Stilts Tret, Bash or Vise. 
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. 
The Way To Spray s'SKS’"'”" 
I0VELTY FORCE 
and SPRAY PUMPS 
Plenty of force and little labor 
required. Neat, compact, light 
and economical. We deliver 
sample for only 91.&O. Agents 
wanted everywhere. 
The Berger Mfg. Co., Canton, Ohio. 
SAVE THE POTATOES 
From tho bugs with one of my 
PARIS GREEN SPRINKLERS. 
(GRAY’S PATENT.) 
If tried onoe will never be wlthont It. Oaa 
sprinkle more than one aore In an hoar with 
yit. It aaves half of the Paris Green against 
any other method. Prloe |3.50 
circulars to E. GOCttSCtlC, Mfl*., 
1049 Milwaukee Ave. Chi ago, IiL 
MENTION THIS PAPER 
Buy Your Fertilizers direct! 
Our entire product 
Save Money ! No Salesman’s Expenses; No Middleman’s Profit, 
goes from Factory to Farm. Write for free samples and book. 
WALKER, STRATMAN & CO., Pittsburg, Pa. 
Other People’s Profits 
b&ve increased 25 to 50 per cent, when they began to spray the right way— \ 
- .wdh the right sprayer, the p E pp LER AND CLIMAX SIX-ROW SPRAYERS. ’ 
s They will do as much for you. Read how they spray 30 acres a | 
mmi 
day, how they save H the poison, increase crops one-half, pay for themselvea in ! 
one season. Catalogue contains spray calendar, formulas, etc. Sent free. > 
L— THOMAS PEPPLER, Box65, HICHTSTOWN. N. d. 
^ f f VVttttt M >f f f f ^ V V V rTWTM * 
