498 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
•Tilly 8 
; Ruralisms ; 
3 ^ w v w v ▼ ▼ ▼ » 
A COMPARISON OF CURRANTS. 
The Fay currant was originated about 
1865, by Lincoln Fay, of Portland, N. Y. 
Fifteen years later, it was propagated 
and introduced by Geo. S. Josselyn, of 
Fredonia, N. Y. The first portrait of the 
Fay appeared in a full-page engraving 
of The R. N.-Y., September 18, 1880. It 
jumped into popularity at once, the re¬ 
sult being a small fortune to both orig¬ 
inator and introducer. By the courtesy 
of Mr. Josselyn, several plants were sent 
to the Rural Grounds for trial, and there 
they are still. 
How much better is the Fay than the 
old Cherry currant? 
We should by this time be enabled to 
answer this question from the results 
of a ripe experience. Our answer now 
would not deviate materially, except in 
one respect, from The R. N.-Y.’s esti¬ 
mate of it when its portrait appeared. 
The berries are much alike in color and 
size. The average bunch of the Fay is 
a trifle longer than the average bunch 
of the Cherry, and the bush will yield a 
larger crop. The one deviation is that 
the Fay is a less upright grower than 
the Cherry. 
A number of varieties have since been 
placed upon the market. Chief among 
them are the Filler, introduced oy J. H. 
Hale; the Red Cross, introduced by C. 
A. Green; the romona, introduced by 
The Storrs & Harrison Co., the North 
Star and Wilder. 
Plants of the Filler were sent for 
trial to the Rural Grounds in April of 
1895 by J. H. Hale. In color and quality, 
it is much like Fay, ripening at the same 
time, the berries not quite so large. The 
bush is less inclined to sprawl, perhaps, 
and the currant borer seems less fond 
of it. 
The Red Cross was received October, 
1895. It requires a careful comparison 
to distinguish it from the Fay, because 
there is a general resemblance in every 
particular. The bush, however, is more 
upright in growth, the berry is less acid 
and of higher quality, the bunches will 
average somewhat longer, and we 
should say that, under the same con¬ 
ditions, the Red Cross would outyield 
the Fay. 
The Pomona, sent to the Rural 
Grounds in March of ’93, is, we are in¬ 
clined to say, tne most productive 
variety we have ever tried. The berries 
are a trifle larger than those of the old 
Red Dutch, but inferior in quality. The 
bushes, at this time (June 22), are so 
full that one sees about three times as 
much red as of green. 
The Wilder was sent to us during 
October of 1893, by S. D. Willard, of 
Geneva, N. Y. It is later than Fay, Po¬ 
mona, Red Cross, and Filler. The 
growth of this, also, is more upright 
than that of Fay, and it is fully as pro- 
line. The berries are nearly the same 
size. It is especially valuable for a late 
succession. 
The North Star bushes were received 
during October of 1895. When intro¬ 
duced, it was praised extravagantly as, 
in the main, superior to all other kinds. 
We have not found it so. On tne con¬ 
trary, it is inferior to the old Red Dutch 
in berry, size of bunch and quality. 
Our choice of currants to-day would 
be the Red Cross for early or main 
crop, and the Wilder for late. 
Morning Stab Pea. —This variety has 
been tried at the Rural Grounds this 
season for the first time, though it was 
introduced by John Lewis Childs, of 
Floral Park, New York, about five years 
ago. Mr. Childs makes these claims for 
it: “It is earlier by a week than any of 
the small round kinds. It is the earliest 
pea by nearly a week. It is exceedingly 
prolific, and continues to bear longer 
than any other early variety. It is a 
fair-sized wrinkled pea, therefore pos¬ 
sesses the same delicious quality of the 
late wrinkled kinds.” 
To the above, Mr. Wm. Falconer, a 
trustworthy authority, adds: “It aston¬ 
ished me by its earliness. It is the most 
reliable wrinkled pea for Fall use (sown 
August 1) that I have ever grown.” 
The Morning Star, Surprise and 
Gradus (or Prosperity) were planted 
April 25. On June 10, the first picking 
from the Surprise was made; the vines 
were 16 inches high, slender and un¬ 
productive. It was judged that they 
suffered more from drought than the 
others, because of a less favorable loca¬ 
tion among the plots. On June 18, tne 
first picking from the Gradus or Pros¬ 
perity was made. The vines suffered 
less from drought than those of the Sur¬ 
prise, though rather more than those of 
the Morning Star. The first picking 
from Morning Star was made June 14, 
and the last June 18. The others gave 
but one picking. The pods were small— 
from 2 to 2 x / 2 inches long, round and 
well filled with small, wrinkled peas of 
the finest quality. 
It will be seen that the first picking 
from Morning Star was four days later 
than Surprise, and four days earlier 
than Gradus or Prosperity. The pods 
and seeds of Gradus were fully twice as 
large, though there were fully two pods 
of the Star to one of the Gradus. Then 
again, we have to consider that there 
were two full pickings from the Star, 
but one from Surprise, and one and a- 
half, so to say, from Gradus. Could we 
know before planting that the season 
were to be very dry, the Star would be 
our choice among Surprise, Station, 
Nott’s Excelsior, and the other early 
dwarfs and Gradus. Taking the seasons 
as they come, our choice for the earliest 
wrinkled peas would be Surprise, Morn¬ 
ing Star and Gradus. Were we confined 
to either Surprise (Station) or Morning 
Star, tne latter would be our choice. 
We should be glad to hear from any 
of our friends who have tried the Morn¬ 
ing Star. It may be worth one’s while 
to plant them in early August, as Mr. 
Falconer suggests. We fancy, however, 
that few readers will care for late peas 
when there is a plenty of the best varie¬ 
ties of sweet corn. 
The Japan Actinidxa Vine. —In 
Ruralisms of June 17, we tried to tell 
our readers about this remarkable vine 
—Actinidia polygama of the catalogues, 
A. arguta, in fact. The vine should be 
seen to be appreciated, because it differs 
from other vines in a way nard to de¬ 
scribe impressively. There is no other 
vine familiar to the writer that, in vigor 
or growth and amplitude of magnificent 
foliage, can equal it. 
We are writing of this Actinidia dur¬ 
ing the severest drought known to the 
Rural Grounds. Lawns are so scorched 
that one looks upon them sorrowfully. 
The leaves of many herbaceous plants 
droop as though the roots were partly 
severed from the stems. Roses jump 
from the half-open bud to full-blown 
flowers, the petals of which fade and 
fall in a few hours. But this Actinidia, 
though growing in the shallow soil 
which covers a stone-and-cement wall, 
is as bright and full of life as though 
it had a full allowance of food and 
water. There is not a dead leaf upon 
it, and it is growing at a rate that we 
have never seen equaled by any other 
plant whatsoever. It has reached the 
highest parallel wires, and the scores, 
if not hundreds, of leaders have made a 
growth of, in some cases, six feet, self- 
supported, perpendicularly, horizontally 
and at all intermediate angles, as 
though wandering for new supports. 
The shape of the leaves is well enougn 
shown in the engraving, Fig. 196, page 
495, which are among the smallest 
leaves. The largest would measure in 
length from six to nine inches. The 
upper part is slightly prickly, the color 
being an intense, darkish green. The 
underside is lighter and glossy. The 
stems are about two inches long, slight¬ 
ly prickly, and of a pink-red color. The 
buds appear in early June, in loose 
panicles of a dozen or less. T he color of 
the flowers is whitish, the odor 
“woodsy,” the size about an inch in 
diameter and somewhat bell-shaped. 
The illustration is imperfect because 
the original was plucked of necessity 
during the heateu perioa of June, and in 
spite of all care was in a state of col¬ 
lapse by the time it reached the pho¬ 
tographer. During the years we have 
had this vine, it has never been harmed 
by insects. We have never noticed an 
insect upon leaf or flower. 
BULLETINS BOILED DOWN. 
Readers who are interested in the poul¬ 
try experiment which was summarized on 
page 348 will find the complete experiment 
in the 10th and 11th reports of the Hatch 
Experiment Station, Amherst, Mass. These 
experiments were very carefully conducted, 
and in the same volume, will be found other 
digestion and feeding experiments with pigs 
and cows. The value of using potash and 
phosphoric acid with stable manure is also 
described at some length, and in a most 
conclusive manner. 
The Kansas Apple.— We have had a 
number of inquiries lately regarding the 
business of producing apples in Kansas and 
Missouri. This land is the home of the Ben 
Davis, and thousands and thousands of 
acres have been planted to apples. The 
Kansas State Horticultural Society has 
issued a pamphlet on the apple, in which 
is described "The luscious red-cheek, first 
love of the farmer’s boy, the healthful 
hearty heart of the darling dumpling." 
There is a good deal said about the Ben 
Davis in this volume, but we notice, when 
it came to voting for the best varieties, 
our friend Ben received 44 votes for 
market, but only 12 for family use. That 
vote seems to let out a little of the milk 
from the Ben Davis cocoanut. This volume 
also states that the average weight of a 
barrel of Ben Davis is 134 pounds, of Mis¬ 
souri Pippin about 137 pounds, and of Wine- 
sap about 145 pounds. It is a fact that 
apples, like men, are largely valued for 
their weight. 
The Massachusetts Horticultural Society 
holds each year a valuable series of meet¬ 
ings, some of the best-informed people In 
the country being invited to address the 
society. The society issues accurate re¬ 
ports of the transactions of these meetings, 
which are sent by the Secretary, Mr. Robi. 
Manning, Boston. 
Cassava in Florida.— Florida is the land 
of wonderful crop possibilities. The trouble 
is that most people in Florida undertake 
to raise tropical fruits, or else raise Sum¬ 
mer crops during the Winter, with a gamble 
on summer conditions. Jack Frost inter¬ 
feres with these arrangements. There is 
one crop, however, that seems to be re¬ 
markably useful in Florida agriculture. 
This is cassava. The Florida Experiment 
Station (Lake City), has issued a bulletin 
entitled, Cassava As a Money Crop, in 
which Prof. Stockbridge gives a very inter¬ 
esting account of this root, and tells some 
of the possibilities connected with its cul¬ 
ture. As a source of starch for human or 
brute feeding, this cassava seems to be a 
godsend to Florida. It can be used for a 
great variety of purposes, and especially 
as a stock food, it seems to be just what 
Florida people have been looking for. It 
will fatten pigs and cattle, besides furnish¬ 
ing a palatable and nutritious human food. 
Dairy Salt.— The Wisconsin Experiment 
Station (Madison), has issued Bulletin No. 
74, entitled, A Study of Dairy Salt. This 
gives an interesting account of the use of 
salt, and also takes up the different dairy 
salts on the market, and carefully compares 
them. Prof. Woll, who writes this bulletin, 
declares that, to civilized man, living on a 
mixed diet, the supply of salt to the food 
is as essential as is water or food itself. 
The average per capita consumption of salt 
in Great Britain is 62 pounds per year; in 
the United States, 45 pounds. In Spain and 
Portugal it is only 19 pounds. Possibly this 
low consumption of salt in Spain accounts 
for the fact that Spanish statements must 
usually be taken with a grain of salt. Prof. 
Woll says that, during the war in Para¬ 
guay, men who had been without salt for 
three months, when wounded, were almost 
sure to die, as their wounds would not heal. 
To show the immense quantity of dairy salt 
in this country. Prof. Woll quotes figures 
from the last census, and shows that, in 
the butter and cheese made in that year, 
81,863,321 pounds of salt were required, 
which were worth over $800,000. The bulle¬ 
tin goes on to tell how salt is manufac¬ 
tured, and gives an accurate statement 
of its properties, and what it does when 
used in food. We advise dairymen who use 
salt to secure this bulletin. It is almost 
impossible to give a condensed synopsis 
that would do justice to it. One object 
of these bulletin notes is to call attention 
to the most important work done at our 
experiment stations, and leave the reader 
free to continue the investigation if he de¬ 
sire to do so. __________ 
Arsenic as an Insecticide. 
Several readers have asked just how 
farmers use white arsenic as an insecticide. 
It sometimes happens that the directions 
given by the experiment station people are 
modified in actual field practice. The fol¬ 
lowing note from Geo. E. Boggs, of North 
Carolina, well known as a grower of fine 
apples, gives his experience: 
I notice in The R. N.-Y. commendations 
of the new substitute for Paris-green as 
an insecticide. This season I have used 
arsenic, and find it very effective. I put 
a pound of arsenic and two pounds of 
unslaked lime in two gallons of water, 
and boil half an hour. I put a quart of 
this in a barrel of Bordeaux Mixture. I 
cannot as yet say what effect it had on 
the Codling worm, but it was quick 
death to some caterpillars on a few of 
the trees. Finding my young potato 
plants infested with beetles, I sprayed 
them with the combined Bordeaux and 
arsenic mixture, and the next day, no 
live slugs could be found; there has been 
no return of them, and my plants have a 
more healthy, thrifty appearance than 
they have had in several seasons. As to 
cost, I paid 4 y 2 cents per pound in New 
York for the arsenic, or say 5 cents 
here. I pay $1 15 per barrel for lime. 
It costs, therefore, less than a cent to 
poison a barrel of Bordeaux. I formerly 
used a quarter of a pound of Paris-green 
at a cost of 18 cents per pound. Last, 
but not least, the arsenic mixture re¬ 
mains in suspension a long time, which 
is a matter of the greatest importance, 
as it insures uniform distribution. It 
also avoids any danger of scorched foli¬ 
age. 
“Durability is 
Better Than Show” 
The wealth of the multi-millionaires is 
not equal to good health. Riches without 
health aie a curse, and yet the rich, the 
middle classes and the poor alike have, in 
Hood's Sarsaparilla, a valuable assistant 
in getting and maintaining perfect health. 
IT’S THE TEMPER 
of a horse makes him valuable—the average of 
faculties. Wire fence should have more than oue 
strong point. Ask the judges about The Page. 
PAGE WOVEN WIRE FENCE CO., ADRIAN, MICH. 
EXPENSE OF REPAIRS. 
The repairs of an inferior 
article soon make it cost 
more than the first price of a 
good article. When you buy 
PITTSBURG 
WOVEN WIRE FENCE 
you stop all repair. Itdoesn’t 
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durable and lusts Indefln. 
_ ltely. We want an agent in 
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'secures township agency, 
^Terms and circulars free. 
PlRoKupff U’nv»n W’irp P»nr# Cfi« 
It Adjusts Itself 
The handsomest, handiest and best 
woven wire fence for parks, lawns, 
cemeteries or fields is the Ita.ndu.ll Wov 
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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. 
