1899 
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 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
The Tent Caterpillar; Spraying in Bloom. 
C. M., Fairmount, N. Y .—Is the description 
given by J. T. Roberts, of the propagation of the 
Apple tent-worm correct ? There are two kinds 
of the apple worm similar. The tent worm is 
known by its stripes; the other does not build a 
nest, and is the more destructive of the two. It 
is known by spots on the back instead of stripes. 
An effort has been made to repeal the law pre¬ 
venting spraying while the trees are in bloom, 
to destroy these worms. If the method described 
by Mr. Roberts will prevent the destructive work 
done by these worms, it is worth thousands of 
dollars to the apple growers. 
ANSWERED BY M V. SLINGKBLAND 
I read Mr. J. T. Roberts's theory re¬ 
garding the propagation of the Apple 
tent-caterpillar and his scheme for com¬ 
bating it, and expected that some one 
would discover that his theory and 
scheme were decidedly at fault, so far as 
the Apple tent-caterpillar is concerned. 
Had he substituted Canker worms for 
tent caterpillars, his article would have 
been all right and to the point. The 
wire traps he mentions are the best 
thing I have seen to prevent the ascent 
of the wingless female moths of Canker 
worms, but they are practically useless 
so far as either the Apple or the Forest 
tent-caterpillars are concerned. 
As Mr. Mills states, there are two 
kinds of these tent caterpillars. The 
Apple species has a conspicuous white 
stripe down its back, while its near 
relative, the Forest species, has a row of 
light-colored spots down its back. The 
life-story of both of these caterpillars is 
very similar, but there is one striking 
difference, in that the Forest caterpillar 
makes no tent or nest. Both kinds have 
been at work in orchards during the 
past Spring, and the Forest caterpillar 
has done much damage to shade trees, 
especially maples, in many of the vil¬ 
lages of our State where it is known as 
the “ maple worm Last year many 
sugar bushes were stripp3d of their 
foliage by hordes of these forest worms, 
but as their enemies were very numer¬ 
ous, we hope and expect that the insect 
will not long continue to be a serious 
menace to sugar groves. Like many 
other of our insect pests, this is subject 
to its ups and downs, and its enemies 
will soon get the upper hand and turn it 
down, probably, for several years. An 
emergency bulletin upon these tent- 
caterpillars will soon be issued from the 
Cornell Experiment Station, and may be 
obtained free by any one asking for it. 
These tent caterpillars are now nearly 
full grown, and will soon be wandering 
about seeking a sheltered place in which 
to spin their cocoons, in which within 
10 days or two weeks they will change 
from the pupa stage to small buff-brown 
moths. The female moths will soon lay 
their eggs in conspicuous rings around 
the smaller twigs. Most of the eggs 
will be laid by the middle of July, and 
as both sexes of the insect have well 
developed wings, are active at night, 
and doubtless fly up into the trees, the 
wire traps would capture but few, if 
any, of them. The only way in which 
the wire traps could be used in combat¬ 
ing these Tent caterpillars would be 
first to get the caterpillars off the 
trees, when the traps would prevent 
these from ascending again, but most of 
them would, doubtless, find their way 
to untrapped trees, and thus a crop of 
worms would be propagated for the next 
season. 
As Mr. Mills states, an effort was made 
to repeal the law making it a misde¬ 
meanor to spray fruit trees while they 
were in bloom. Although I was not 
sure, at the time, that such a law was 
needed to protect our honey bees, still I 
think it would be a great mistake now 
to repeal it, because it would tend to 
put a premium on the man who sprayed 
his trees while they were in bloom. 
There is no question that honey bees 
may be killed by visiting fruit blossoms 
which have been sprayed with Paris- 
green. This fact has been carefully 
demonstrated by scientific methods, and, 
furthermore, it has been shown that the 
bees may carry the poison back to the 
hive, and kill the brood in the hive. 
Remembering that fruit growers are 
dependent largely upon the honey bee 
for the fertilization of their blossoms, 
therefore, for a crop of fruit, it seems to 
me very unwise for any one to spray a 
tree with poisons when in bloom. Not 
only will honey bees be killed, but me¬ 
chanical injury may result to the blos¬ 
soms themselves ; and so far as I know, 
there is no insect pest which can not 
be just as effectually, or even more 
effectually, combated by spraying 
either just before or just after the 
blooming period. In fact, the Codling 
moth, the principal insect pest for which 
apple growers spray with Paris-green, 
can be reached only by waiting until 
after the blossoms fall. In short then, 
I thoroughly believe that there is no 
good reason for spraying a fruit tree 
with poisons when it is in bloom. It is 
only an injury to one’s neighbor who 
keeps bees, and may prove a serious 
drawback to the setting of a crop of 
fruit on his own trees. 
Bone Fertilizer and Wood Ashes. 
C. E. S, Spragge, Out .—It is convenient for me 
to procure from a pork-packing establishment, a 
fertilizer containing ammonia, 9 30 per cent; bone 
phosphorus, 2-1 75, at about $18 per ton. Wood 
ashes can, also, be cheaply procured. How can 
I use these, to the best advantage, in growing 
apples, strawberries and potatoes, and when 
should they be applied ? 
Ans —One part by weight of this fer¬ 
tilizer and two parts by weight of wood 
ashes will make a good dressing for al¬ 
most any farm crop. It would be par¬ 
ticularly good for fruit, grass or grain. 
For strawberries, we would apply it 
heavily at the time of setting out the 
plants. For apples, make annual appli¬ 
cations early in the Spring. Do not try 
to mix the ashes and fertilizar before 
using. You will find it better to apply 
them separately. Do not use the wood 
ashes directly on the potatoes ; in many 
cases, the lime in the wood ashes will 
increase the amount of Potato scab. If 
the potatoes follow clover, put an extra 
dressing of the ashes on the clover, and 
use the fertilizer alone on the potatoes. 
Water Tank for a Windmill 
0. It., East Granby, Conn .—How can I best con¬ 
struct a water tank out of plank, to be lined with 
galvanized iron? It would have to be raised 
seven feet from the ground, and be large enough 
to hold 7,000 gallons. I Intend to use a windmill 
and pump to fill it; what would be the best size 
of mill, pump and pipe to use ? Would a (5,000 or 
7,000-gallon tank be liable to freeze to any extent 
during the Winter? About what would be the 
total cost, exclusive of pipe and labor ? 
Ans. —if you wish a frost-proof tank, 
it would, probably, be cheaper for him 
to purchase a galvanized iron tank such 
as are made by various steel-tank manu¬ 
facturers, which are put on the market 
of various sizes in the knock-down con¬ 
dition, to be shipped more cheaply by 
freight, and which can be set up easily. 
This tank could then be jacketed with 
cheaper lumber on the outside, so as to 
protect it against the cold of Winter. 
But how much protection would be neces¬ 
sary to give this in order to prevent 
freezing, would depend upon how con¬ 
tinuously water was pumped into it and 
allowed to flow from it. If the wind¬ 
mill were allowed to pump all of the 
time during cold weather, and the water 
allowed to run from the tank, a single 
layer of one-inch lumber surroundimg 
the tank, and containing between it and 
the walls of the tank a layer of sawdust 
or cut straw four to six inches thick, 
would sufficiently protect it, if it be pro¬ 
vided with a warm cover, and stand upon 
a floor which is also built warm so as to 
shut out the cold from below. 
If it were not for the protection 
against frost, an all-wood tank could be 
used without lining with galvanized 
iron. It is doubtful, however, whether 
the amount of water pumped by the or¬ 
dinary windmill would prevent freezing 
in an unprotected wooden tank, as is the 
case with railroad tanks where large 
volumes of w.ater are pumped and used 
continuously. 
The safest estimate of cost for such a 
case can best be given by the manufac¬ 
turer of tanks, or tanks and windmills. 
If the distance to water is not more than 
20 to 50 feet, and the water is simply to 
be lifted into the tank, it is probable 
that an eight-foot windmill working the 
ordinary-sized pump for such a well, 
would answer the purpose ; but of course, 
everything would depend on the amount 
of water which is to be used per day. 
F H. KING. 
Feeding Out Ensilage. 
11. V., Kidds Store, Kij .—In answers to silo 
queries lately there seems to be no attention 
given to the area of a silo, compared with the 
number of animals kept. It was formerly con¬ 
sidered necessary to remove at least two inches 
per day from the entire surface, but I have not 
seen this mentioned for some time. Is this found 
to be unnecessary, and if so why, for both Sum¬ 
mer and Winter feeding? 
Ans.—I t is necessary that a certain 
amount be removed each day from the 
surface of exposed ensilage. The amount 
necessary to be removed will depend 
upon various conditions. If the corn 
was allowed to become too dry before 
being put into the silo, it will not settle 
so firmly as it would had it been cut at 
the proper time, and a larger amount 
must be removed daily from the exposed 
surface. There is no definite amount 
which can be fixed upon, and no general 
rule which can be given as to the thick¬ 
ness of the layer which must be removed 
from the surface. The thickness of the 
layer which must be removed will de¬ 
pend upon the weather and upon the 
solidity of the ensilage. At the present 
time, we are feeding from a stave silo 
the depth of which is 24 feet, and the 
top of the ensilage is about five feet from 
the bottom of the silo. At this point, 
the ensilage is so solid that one inch re¬ 
moved each day from the surface is suffi¬ 
cient. Were the top of the ensilage near 
the top of the silo, a thicker layer would 
need to be removed, because it would 
not have settled so firmly. If there is 
any rule which can be given that will 
apply to all silos and under all conditions, 
it is this: Watch carefully the ensilage, 
and see whether it is keeping well on the 
surface. If it is not,-then a thicker layer 
must be removed. l. a Clinton. 
449 
quently use salt at the rate of 200 to 300 
pounds per acre, when seeding in the 
Fall to gras3 or grain. The salt is 
usually broadcasted after plowing, and 
harrowed in before seeding. Just how 
it helps the grain is not known It is 
thought by some authorities to stiffen 
the straw, providing soluble silica. 
Others say that its best results are ob¬ 
tained on rich lanI, and that its action 
is to retard nitrification, so that the grain 
does not grow too rapidly. The chief 
benefit is obtained in the straw or stem 
rather than in the grain. The objection 
lousing salt on potatoes is that it is 
likely to injura their quality. 
Apple Orchard Not Blooming. 
E D. At., Cuyahoga County, 0 .—We have an 
apple orchard set out seven or eight years ago, 
on clay soil. The ground has been cropped fre¬ 
quently, but the trees look well- The last two 
years, there has been now and then a blossom, 
but they have never borne any fruit. They have 
never been trimmed. Is that the reason they do 
not bear ? 
Ans —The trees are not old enough to 
bear much yet. The lack of pruning is 
not the cause of the tardy bearing, but 
p-obably, the trees are growing so vigor¬ 
ously that they are making wood, and 
will soon make up for all lost time. It 
is far better to have a tree grow well 
and become able to bear good crops be¬ 
fore it begins, than to stunt it and cause 
premature bearing There are differ¬ 
ences in the time at which varieties be¬ 
gin to bear, and it may be that these 
trees are such as do not bear until they 
are rather old. Exercise patience, and 
do not slacken in the care of the t-ees. 
H b v D, 
I 
♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦i 
IS 
:s 
| 
:N 
:N 
: S 
: N 
N 
Crop Failures 
arc practically impossible where 
Nitrato of Soda is used as 
a fertilizer. It’s use has made 
an exact science of crop growing. 
You can always rely upon a good 
crop when it is used singly or in 
proper combination with other 
elements of plant food. Send to 
John A. Myers, 12—O John St., 
New York, for free copy of 
book, “Food f hr Plants.” Nitrate 
for sale by 
BALFOUR, WILLIAMSON & CO., j 
27 William St., New York. I 
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ 
RIMSON 
LOVER 
Headquarters for strictly first-class seeds. Prices upon 
application. Circular describing its uses, sent free. 
HENRY A. DREER, Philadelphia, 
THE SHORT HAY CROP 
due to the 
B ww __ mmwm _ ___dry Spring 
means that you wiU need to raise forage. 
TKV JAl’ANESK BARNYARD M ILL K1 
75o. ¥ peck; $2 ¥ bu. VVM. 1*. HROJK3. Amherst,Mass. 
The Carman Potatoes. 
F.F. V., Clifton Springs, N. Y.— 1. It is claimed 
by a farmer in this locality that the potato 
called Carman No. 3, always has a white sprout, 
while the R. N.-Y. No 2 has a purple sprout. 2. 
He also claims that there has never been but one 
R. N -Y., and that is the No. 2, while it is gener¬ 
ally understood that there is a potato known as 
R N.-Y. No. 1. We have grown a potato which 
we supposed to be Carman No. 1, which has a 
white sprout with the tip just tinged with pur¬ 
ple, while my neighbor has grown what he sup¬ 
posed to be Carman No. 3, having a decided pur¬ 
ple sprout. 
Ans. —1. Carman No. 3 has a purplish 
sprout, and the stems are lined with pur¬ 
ple. The same is true of the R. N.-Y. 
No 2, and of the Sir Watler Raleigh. 2. 
There has never been but one Rural 
New-Yorker potato, and that is the No. 
2, though all were originated at the 
Rural Grounds by the editor of this 
paper. The No. 1 is the Carman No. 1. 
This has light green sprouts and a 
spreading habit. The others have pur¬ 
plish shoots and upright habits. 
Salt on Grass and Grain. 
It. P. C., Millerton, N. Y .—I have a considerable 
quantity of land salt. Would I be benefited by 
applying it on my oat and potato fields ? Will 
it not help their growth ? At what rate should I 
sow ? 
Ans. —We would not apply the salt to 
potatoes under any circumstances. It is 
too late now to use the salt to advantage 
on the oats. Farmers in the West fre- 
PLANTS 
Tomato, 
Cabbage, 
Celery, 
Peppers, etc. 
Cheap in large lots. 
J. S. LINTHICUM. Wood wards vllle, A. A. Co., Md. 
CELERY PLANTS FOR SALE 
Leading varieties, carefully packed In baskets, 
and delivered here at Wxprcss Offices; 250 plants for 
00c.; 500 for 90c : 1,000 for $1.50. Special price on 
quantities over 0,0)0. Cash with order. 
WOODLAND FARM, Canastota, Madison Co., N.Y. 
100 POTTED 
GLEN MAUY for 50o. 
T. C. KKVl'I'T, Athenia, N. J. 
FRUIT PACKAGES'LL 
Also Beekeepers’ Supplies. 
Order now before the busy sea¬ 
son catches you. Catalogue and 
price-list free. Address 
RERUN FRUIT R0X CO. 
Berlin Heights,Box B,KrieCo.,0 
(jood Fruit 
always finds a ready market, but to bring top 
prices it must be put up in neat, attractive 
and substantial packages. We have every¬ 
thing in the basket line. All sizes of 
Berry 
Baskets, 
Peach and Grape Crates. 
Buy direct from the manufacturers and 
save money. Write to-day for catalogue and 
new price list Special price in carload lots. 
A. H. MONTAGUE & SON, 
120 Warren Street, New York City. 
□ Business Trees 'll Best Trees 
flaco H W 8 buy KKK TUE ROGERS NtHtSERVEsf'DansvUlerNe^YorkL 
