1899 
457 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKEK. 
Among the Marketmen. 
WHAT / SEE AND HEAR. 
Green Corn. —The first of this has 
put in its appearance from the South— 
and its appearance was not very pre¬ 
possessing either. It looked as though 
it had encountered a drying oven en 
route, and certainly looked as though it 
would not he very good eating ; but it 
was corn, and something new, hence 
will probably sell to some people. 
X t I 
Blackberries and Huckleberries. 
—Large quantities of these are seen in 
market now. Sales were very slow, so 
the dealers say, while the supply of 
strawberries was large, but now that 
the latter have fallen off, the blackber¬ 
ries will have a better chance. The 
larger part of those coming so far are 
from North Carolina, and the quality 
seems very fair. 
t X X 
Hothouse Tomatoes. —I saw quite 
a large shipment of these in one com¬ 
mission house, but many of them were 
overripe. They were of good size, 
smooth and nice, except for this fault. 
Probably the extreme heat had tended 
to ripen them more rapidly than is ordi¬ 
narily the case. They were selling for 
about a shilling a pound. The season is 
about over for them, however. 
X X X 
A Hot Week. —The past week has 
been one of extreme heat, and fruits 
and vegetables of all kinds have been 
affected to a serious extent. Marketmen 
have suffered considerable losses, and 
the quality of fruits has been injured. 
Sales are extremely slow, too, during 
such weather, for, while people must 
eat, their appetites seem to decrease in 
such heated spells, and in the aggregate, 
this makes a great difference in sales in 
the markets. 
X X X 
Marrow Squashes.—I saw a fine lot 
of these a few days ago, that came from 
Florida. They were of as large size and 
fine appearance as those we see in their 
season from nearby growers; still, the 
dealer said they sold very slowly, that, 
in fact, all vegetables Eold slowly be¬ 
cause of the extremely large supply of 
strawberries. The squashes selling for 
the highest price now are the yellow 
crook-necks. Both these and the white 
scallops have been in quite large supply. 
X t X 
Watermelon Time. —Again we see 
this luscious fruit corded up in the com- 
mission houses, and in front of the 
stores. It has been very welcome, too, 
for hot weather and watermelons always 
go well together. A cold spell in water¬ 
melon time will cut down sales one-half, 
while the heat increases sales to a like 
extent. It is reported that the water¬ 
melon crop from the South this year 
will be heavy, and the probability is 
that prices will go considerably lower 
than at present. 
X X X 
Strawberries Failing. —The decline 
in strawberry shipments during the past 
few days has been something wonderful. 
Unless the rains come in the producing 
territory, and that very soon, the straw¬ 
berry season will be at an end. Those 
arriving this week looked as though 
they had been through an oven, and 
were far from tempting in appearance. 
Many growers complain that the vines 
are already too far gone to have a rain 
do them any good, and m many cases, 
the vines themselves are dried up and, 
apparently, dead. 
X X X 
Florida Cantaloupes —These have 
arrived, and are now selling at very 
good prices. Reports are that Florida 
has a large crop this year, and that every 
State from Florida to New Jersey prom¬ 
ises an unusually large yield. Many of 
the southern peach growers have planted 
large areas to cantaloupes to make up 
for the failure of the peach crop, and it 
seems that this is the case all the way 
up. The reports from Rocky Ford and 
vicinity also indicate a large crop of 
melons in that region, and the probabil¬ 
ity is that the poorest of us will be able 
to eat our fill of cantaloupes this year. 
Let them come ! The more the better, 
and the better they are, the more we 
will eat. 
X X i 
The Georgia Peach Crop.—A 
Georgia peach grower was in the office a 
few days ago, and told us that the 
Georgia crop this year will be a medium 
one. He thinks that the Elberta peaches 
they grow there cannot be beaten any¬ 
where on earth, for size, appearance and 
quality. But he says that they have 
great difficulty in handling them. Hand¬ 
led ever so carefully, they show finger 
marks and bruises. He says that the 
peaches really are too high quality to 
make a good peach for shipment. They 
have great difficulty in getting help that 
will handle them at all as they should 
be, and then, when they come to ship, 
they have still more difficulty in having 
the packages properly handled. The 
result is that, for many of their ship¬ 
ments, they receive very meager returns. 
This is the complaint that comes from 
fruit growers everywhere, and it seems 
strange that the transportation com¬ 
panies cannot learn that their interests 
are identical with those of the fruit 
grower in this connection, and that it 
will pay them to exercise greater care 
in the handling of these perishable 
products. _ F. h. y. 
BULLETINS BOILED DOWN. 
Notes on Plum Culture. —This Is the title of 
a 48-page bulletin issued by the Colorado Ex¬ 
periment Station (Ft. Collins), which contains 
besides, 19 plates of plum trees of various 
kinds, specimens of fruits and diseased leaves 
and twigs It treats of the propagation of the 
plum, particularly with reference to the climate 
of Colorado, also of pruning, different soils 
adapted for plums, irrigation, distances apart 
for planting, and arrangement of varieties. It 
contains plum blossom charts showing the aver¬ 
age plum blossom season at Denton, Md., and in 
the Station orchard. Some valuable notes are 
given on self pollination of plums; insects, and 
fungous diseases are also discussed. The be¬ 
havior of different varieties in the Station orchard 
is given, which must prove invaluable to plant¬ 
ers in that vicinity. The bulletin should be read 
by all plum growers of Colorado. 
A lfalfa in Colokado.— We think now and theD, 
at this end of the country, that we know some¬ 
thing about Alfalfa and its possibilities, but 
when the reports come in from Colorado and the 
Far West, it is evident that we are slightly out 
of the Alfalfa belt. The Colorado Experiment 
Station (Ft. Collins) has done a good deal of work 
in explaining the culture of Alfalfa. Several 
years ago, it printed a magnificent bulletin 
showing roots of this plant and its wonderful 
growth, both above and below ground. Now in 
Bulletin No. 52, it gives the results of pasturing 
sheep on Alfalfa, and these results are truly 
surprising. In the West, apparently, Alfalfa is 
often used as a pasture, although we judge from 
this bulletin that it is not entirely safe to let the 
stock run on it. Danger from bloating seems 
to be greater with Alfalfa than with almost any 
other green feed, and without doubt it pays best 
in the long run to cut the Alfalfa for hay. The Col¬ 
orado farmers are raising early lambs for mar¬ 
ket. The great markets like Chicago, New York 
and Boston are too far away for them, but Kan¬ 
sas City and Omaha provide a fair market for a 
limited supply. With the Alfalfa and sugar 
beets, the Colorado farmer has nearly a com¬ 
plete sheep ration without using grain, although 
the bran and middlings from the flour mills may 
well be used at home. If one wants to become 
Alfalfa crazy, we advise the reading of these Al¬ 
falfa bulletins of Colorado, for there is no doubt 
that they are strong and effective. 
Cattle Diseases and Remedies. —Bulletin 43, of 
the Delaware Experiment Station (Newark), 
contains a number of interesting facts about 
cattle diseases, milk legislation and fertilizers. 
Speaking of hog cholera, the bulletin says that 
the following powder recommended by Dr. Salmon 
has given fair results in Delaware: 
Pounds. 
Wood charcoal, powdered. 1 
Sulphur. 1 
Sodium chloride. 2 
Sodium bicarbonate. 2 
Sodium hyposulphite. 2 
Sodium sulphate. 1 
Antimony sulphide (black antimony) 1 
One large tablespoonful for each 200 pounds of 
live weight of hogs constitutes a dose. It is said 
that this remedy is known and prepared at the 
drug stores in many rural districts in Delaware. 
It must, however, be used with care and judg 
ment, as it contains both common salt and bicar¬ 
bonate of soda which, when given freely, might 
cause fatal results. This bulletin also speaks of 
the good results obtained from the use of basic 
slag as a source of phosphoric acid. This basic 
slag is a product of iron manufacture, and is 
largely used in France and Germany. The high 
price charged for it in this country has prevented 
its extensive use, but it has given surprisingly 
good results by the side of dissolved phosphate 
rock. We have noticed experiments with it at 
several of the experiment stations. It is used 
side by side with dissolved rock, crude rock and 
dissolved bone, and the basic slag gave an ex¬ 
cellent account of itself in every experiment. 
This phosphate ought to be sold for less money, 
and if it could be put on the market at a reason¬ 
able price, there is no doubt that it would find 
ready sale. 
Ropy Milk —Bulletin 16, of the Cornell Experi¬ 
ment Station (Ithaca), discussed the ropiness in 
milk and cream. This ropy or stringy condition 
of milk often gives a good deal of trouble to farm¬ 
ers and dealers. It does not depend for its cause 
upon the health of the cow. It is said to be caused 
by several different species of bacteria. These 
bacteria appear to be very tough animals, for 
they remain unhurt through ordinary washing 
of the cans. Thorough treatment with steam or 
boiling water is the best way to kill them, and 
this bulletin teaches anew the truth that the only 
way to be sure of clean, pure milk, is to keep the 
Mkns and utensils absolutely clean with boiling 
water or steam. 
Some Popular Bulletins.— The New York Ex¬ 
periment Station (Geneva) has just Issued three 
popular bulletins which are very helpful in their 
way. Bulletin 156 discusses the value of spray¬ 
ing in connection with the pickle crop. The Sta¬ 
tion people seem to prove that spraying does 
pay, and that the pickle crop is a profitable one 
on Long Island, if grown on good soil, well cared 
for and sprayed. Where not sprayed, the various 
mildews that attack the plant are pretty sure to 
get most of the pickles. The Ohio Station 
(Wooster) has also issued a short bulletin show¬ 
ing the advantages of planting pickles early, 
and also spraying for Leaf blight and Downy 
mildew. Bulletin 157, of the New York Station, 
explains why some plants fail to fruit. Some of 
them appear to be naturally sterile, and others 
have such short stamens that pollenization is 
hardly possible. Varieties with naturally short 
stamens are pretty sure to be self-sterile, but at 
the same time, not all varieties with long sta¬ 
mens are self-fertile. 
Bagging grapes has been practiced consider¬ 
ably at the Station, mainly with a view to learn¬ 
ing whether varieties were self-fertile or not. 
Bulletin 158, of the Geneva StatioD, tells how to 
handle the Striped beetle on cucumbers. The 
habits of the beetle are described, and the life 
history given. Many poisons were tested, in¬ 
cluding Paris-green, Laurel green, green arsenite 
and lead arsenite. They were applied dry, in 
water with Bordeaux Mixture, and other com¬ 
binations. Green arsenite applied dry gave the 
best results. It was found to be a waste to use 
the poisons in connection with Bordeaux Mixture. 
When applied in water, the poisons are liable to 
burn the plants. 
In these experiments, Bordeaux Mixture was 
sprayed upon the cucumbers just as they were 
well out of the ground, again when they showed 
the third leaf, also just before the plants com¬ 
menced to form runners. The object was merely 
to protect the young plants until they were 
strong enough to stand the injury from the 
beetles. The Bordeaux Mixture does not kill the 
beetles. Trap crops are needed to do this. Rows 
of squash are planted in several rows around 
large fields about four days before the cucum¬ 
bers or melon seeds are sown. When these trap 
plants are up and the beetles appear about 
them, dose about half the plants with green 
arsenite. Leave the other half for use in case 
rain or heavy dew makes the poison soluble, 
and kills the vines. The beetles will be attracted 
by the squashes, and will feed upon them and be 
poisoned by the arsenite. When the cucumbers 
or melons are up, unless they are protected by a 
cover, spray with Bordeaux Mixture, and poison 
more of the squash vines Beans are sometimes 
used with some success as a catch crop for the 
Fall. They may be planted in the cucumber or 
melon field. When the beeiles leave the old vines 
to feed upon the fresh bean plants, they may be 
poisoned as described with the squash vines. 
A Hog Case.— Several weeks ago, we spoke of 
the celebrated hog case in Illinois. The breeder 
sold a Poland-China hog known as Kleever’s 
Model. It was bought by a company of men, who 
gave notes for 85,100 in payment. When the notes 
became due, these men refused to pay them, on 
the ground that the original hog died, and 
another had been put in his place. The case 
came before the court, and has just been decided 
in favor of the breeder, the jury deciding that he 
did sell the original hog. In the meantime, the 
blood of this hog has been introduced into many 
herds, but breeders are afraid of it, and some of 
them are in favor of having pedigrees contain¬ 
ing Kleever’s Model thrown out. The whole thing 
is likely to prove damaging to the Interests of 
Poland-Chinas. One thing about this trial was 
the difficulty in getting men to swear to the 
exact description of an animal. It seems that 
the herdbook description rarely serves as an 
exact identification. Most people who see an 
animal day after day for months cannot agree 
as to spots and marks, and it all goes to snow 
how lacking in observation many people are. 
Hay in New England.— The New England grass 
crop will be nearly a failure. The last two years 
have been very wet, and the better grass crops 
have grown themselves to death. The talk among 
farmers is that it is “ so dry ” this Spring. That 
is a part of the trouble, but the main trouble 
comes from the fact that Timothy and Red-top 
fields of the last two years have been so thor¬ 
oughly watered they have grown themselves out, 
and Timothy, Red-top and the fine English 
grasses, with the large amount of water, have 
exhausted their entire force, and immediately 
after the harvesting of the last crop, they went 
to decay. When those fields recovered, which 
was later in the season, they took on their old or 
natural grass. Had they been fertilized fairly 
well immediately after the last harvest, they 
would have retained their status, and been grow¬ 
ing—if well cared for—a large crop of the finer 
grasses to which they were sown. Some of the 
fields in this section had better care, and will 
produce a fine crop. Many of us have found that 
sunshine, aeration, and proper fertilizers at the 
right time, will continue fine grasses for almost 
an indefinite period; if one try to make large 
crops for any extended period on water alone, it 
will be a failure. oeorge c. clark. 
Connecticut. 
Some Fruit Notes —If the man who failed to 
can Kieffers properly were to eat some that were 
properly canned, he would change his opinion of 
the most valuable tree fruit in this section of 
the country. The KiefTer is first-class, A No. 1 
to market, or to use on one’s own table. There 
is but one opinion on Kieffer here. In one row 
of 27 Bartletts planted in 1894, one tree died and 
a Kieffer was set in the Spring of 1895, to replace 
it; last year the Kieffer was worth more money 
in fine pears than the 26 Bartletts, and this year 
indications are doubly so. I made the mistake 
in planting other varieties at all, save possibly 
a tree each of other varieties of different sea- 
eon for house use. In Kieffer season, we want 
no other. 
I have beeD much interested in Mr. Stringfel- 
low’s method of planting trees, and have prac¬ 
ticed it for three years with entire success on 
Oriental pears, apples and plums % to 114 inch 
in caliber. This year, I just put my foot on a 
stiff spade, pushed it in as deep as possible, 
moved back and forward a little, pushed the 
trees down the crevice, and they are all doing 
all right. I had the top cut entirely off at the 
nursery 30 inches from the root, and I trimmed the 
roots off myself. E. s. H. 
Riverton, N. J. 
Cupid’s work is done when the baby 
comes. The soft, little, clinging, helpless 
mite is the crown of love. Its coming 
marks the completion of 
object. Cupid brings two 
loving souls together—the 
baby holds them together. 
A woman is never so 
womanly, so beautiful, so 
happy as when she is a 
mother. Yet motherhood 
is denied to some women 
and feared by others. 
The fear of motherhood is rapidly passing 
away and nothing has done so much to 
drive it away as the record of Dr. Pierce's 
Favorite Prescription. 
Dr. Pierce has held that danger and pain 
at the time of parturition were really un¬ 
necessary and unnatural, and that if every 
woman were healthy and strong as Nature 
meant her to be this function would be per¬ 
formed painlessly and safely. The abuse 
of centuries of corsets—of health destroy¬ 
ing inactivity—of de¬ 
bilitating artificial life 
have made it impos¬ 
sible for some women 
to fully return to the 
perfect healthfulness 
of a natural state but 
every woman may be 
helped to a large de¬ 
gree. The organs di¬ 
rectly involved may 
be strengthened, pu¬ 
rified, invigorated for 
the time of trial and 
for this purpose Dr. 
Pierce’s Favorite Pre¬ 
scription has been 
used with success 
by hundreds of thou¬ 
sands of women. It 
is the product of the 
skill and experience 
of a regularly gradu¬ 
ated physicia n—a 
skilled specialist who 
for over thirty years has successfully 
treated the diseases of women. 
Unlike many modern medicines Dr. 
Pierce’s Favorite Prescription contains no 
whisky, alcohol, sugar, syrup, opium or 
narcotic of any kind and its use does not, 
therefore, create a craving for stimulants. 
Mrs. Annie Blacker, of 629 Catherine St., Syra¬ 
cuse, N. Y., writes: “ Your medicines have done 
wonders for me. For years my health was very 
poor; I had four miscarriages, but since taking 
Dr. Pierce’s Golden Medical Discovery and ‘ Fa¬ 
vorite Prescription ’ I have much better health, 
and I now have a fine healthy baby.” 
Wherever the pain may he, 
there is the place for an 
AS I cock s 1‘IASTtKS 
MEN AT WORK 
OR ON 
PLEASURE BENT 
are always 
subject to some 
ACCIDENTAL HURT 
OR 
PHYSICAL STRAIN. 
ST. JACOBS OIL 
is a good friend in such 
times of need ; it cures surely. 
