622 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
September 2 
be bought for at home. These things should be kept 
in mind in our rush to feed and clothe the rest of 
the world. In spite of all that may be said for the 
foreign markets, the home market offers the best 
opportunities that can be provided. 
SHREDDING THE CORN FODDER. 
WHEN ONI,Y HALF CURED. 
How to Keep It in Mow. 
I have 20 acres of ear corn, and no storage for the 
Btalks except a 150-ton silo. I have, also, an ensilage 
cutter, but wish to husk the corn. I had thought of 
buying a McCormick husker and shredder, and commence 
In this corn about one week after cutting and shocking, 
so as to save the fodder before it is injured by exposure 
to weather, and get it out of the way by October 1. Will 
the shredded fodder, if put into the silo at this stage, 
keep In good condition, sweating out and curing like hay, 
or will it be like ensilage? I have read that corn stalks 
partially dried should be wet as put into the silo. Is 
there anything in this that applies to my case? e. a. h. 
Windham, N. Y. 
ANSWERED BY E. H. COLLINS. 
E. A. H. is trying to save his crop in an unnatural 
way. Fodder is quite sensitive to moisture, even from 
damp air. In this section, we put it up either damp 
enough to heat in the silo, or dry enough to keep like 
hay. I own a third interest in a McCormick shredder. 
It is a well-made machine, but does not shred quite 
as fine as two or three others. Many in this section 
think it doesn’t pay to shred if one hires it done by 
the bushel, say five cents a bushel. But if three or 
four farmers club and buy a shredder and take in a 
partner who has a thrashing engine for power, they 
can do much of the work themselves with their 
teams, and not be out so much cash. The first ques¬ 
tion asked by visitors when we are shredding is not 
"Does it shuck it clean?” or “Does it shell too much 
corn?” but they drift straight into the mow and ask, 
"Does it shred fine enough?” The new McCormick 
may shred finer. We tried to get the manufacturers 
to put a cutting knife following the shredder head; 
we tried it in a cutting box, separate, and the stock 
ate it all. E. A. H. is mistaken in trying to cure half 
dry^fodder in a silo or anywhere else. He can save 
it in his silo by wetting it as he suggests We turn a 
hose on it and fairly drown it. I do not think any 
shredder will shuck his half-green corn. If it did, 
there would be no way of pil'ng 'he grain up to keep 
it. I mean either corn or fodder. We wait till the 
latter part of October in the latitude of Indianapolis, 
and later if necessary, till the sap is out of the stalks. 
If once dry, we can shred with some recklessness as 
to outside moisture. Some hurry the fodder in by 
cutting into small shocks, say eight hills square. One 
can do much to hasten it by planting early. We put 
10 acres of fodder in a mow 24x30x6 feet, 4,320 cubic 
feet. It would settle more in a deep silo. 
If E. A. H. added water to half dry fodder, what 
would he do with the sappy corn? Our shrewdest 
men don’t shred first. The damage in the field is far 
less serious than in the mow. If he find his shredded 
fodder heating, the best thing to do is to let it alone. 
It will often cure out, but if stirred, will surely rot. 
It molds worse where the men stand to pitch back. 
Cattle eat it fairly well moldy. 
TENT CATERPILLARS IN TRAPS. 
Theory Against a Fact. 
In The R. N.-Y. of June 17, In an article by M. V. 
Sllngerland, in answer to one of Mr. J. T. Roberts, I 
think Mr. Sllngerland Is more at fault than Mr. Rob¬ 
erts in regard to the destruction of the Apple-tree tent- 
caterpillar, as I consider the traps he speaks of as be¬ 
ing very valuable for the destruction of the same. If 
the worm makes the moth, why is not the destruction of 
the worm equivalent to the destruction of the moths? 
I have one trap on a tree that measures 7 feet in cir¬ 
cumference, that caught over 300 by actual count, and 
in a neighboring orchard, the traps have caught them 
by the thousands; the owner thinks them invaluable for 
the destruction of the Apple tent-caterpillar, and would 
not part with them for any money. I think if Mr. 
Sllngerland would Investigate, he would change his mind 
in regard to them. I have great respect for Mr. Slinger- 
land’s opinions, but think he is mistaken in the matter. 
Orleans Co., N. Y. c. E. p. 
ANSWERED BY M. V. 8LINGERLAND. 
I am always glad to get such evidence as Mr. Post 
submits in regard to the effectiveness of wire traps 
against Apple tent-caterpillars. My article in regard 
to this matter in The R. N.-Y. of June 17, was based 
entirely upon my knowledge of the habits of the 
caterpillar, so that it was pure theory with me. My 
experience in thus theorizing in regard to what insects 
will or will not do, has oftentimes been upset by actual 
facts. I once devised a wire cage which, theoretically, 
was a perfect preventive of the attacks of the Peach 
borer, but in actual experience, it turned out that the 
trees thus protected were attacked by more borers 
than unprotected trees. I might give other similar 
instances to illustrate this point. As Mr. Post has 
found by actual experience that the wire traps do 
catch many of the tent-caterpillars, I must, of course, 
admit that my theory is at fault. 
I have seen many of the wire traps in operation, and 
have also seen many caterpillars collect under them. I 
have seen 100 or more green fruit worms and some 
of the various kinds of canker worms under a single 
trap. Of course, the caterpillars must be crushed 
by some means while they are under the trap, to ren¬ 
der its use of any value in reducing the number of 
such insects. I have not visited the traps during 
the tent-caterpillar season. The only caterpillars 
which such a trap could catch, it seems to me, would 
be those which had been blown or jarred from the 
tree, or those which had become full-grown and were 
wandering about to find a suitable place in which to 
spin their cocoons. In the latter case, of course, the 
insects would have done their damage for the sea¬ 
son; but as Mr. Post states, the killing of these cater¬ 
pillars even then would mean the prevention of the 
propagation of the species by the moths which 
DERRICK FOR STACKING CLOVER HAY. FlO. 234. 
would otherwise develop from these caterpillars. I 
would expect the traps to catch more of the Forest 
caterpillars than of the Apple tent-caterpillars, be¬ 
cause the former wander about more, and more often 
spin their cocoons on the trunks of the trees or in 
the leaves, whereas, the Appie tent-caterpillars 
usually stay in or near their nests during their life¬ 
time, and usually sek other places than trees upon 
which to spin their cocoons. 1 am always glad to get 
such facts, no matter if u.ev do seriously interfere 
with any of my pet theories. 
A TALK ABOUT LIMA BEANS. 
Benefits of Cutting Back. 
THE VARIETIES.—We have grown Lima beans in 
a large way for several years. The varieties hereto¬ 
fore used have been the Large White Lima for ear¬ 
liest, and Dreer’s Improved for late. The Large 
White Lima is, probably, the largest and most pro¬ 
ductive of any of the Limas. Dreer’s Improved is 
the best flavored of any of the pole Limas I have 
ever grown. The bush Limas are superior in flavor 
to the other beans, but I have not found them profit¬ 
able for commercial purposes. The Dreer is about 
WHOLESALE WEEDING IN BRITISH COLUMBIA. Fig. 235. 
one week later than the Large White, and is net 
nearly as large in circumference, but much thicker 
through, and more solid. This season, for the first 
time, we made a trial planting of 200 poles of the 
Extra Early Jersey Lima, planting in the same block 
with them 800 poles of the Large White Lima. I am 
agreeably surprised to find the Early Jersey five to 
six days earlier than the Large White. Our first pick¬ 
ing was made from the Early Jersey on August 14. 
From the 200 poles, we picked three bushels of beans 
in the green pods. They are now selling at $1.50 per 
bushel. If all of our 1,000 poles were of this variety, 
we would have picked 15 bushels of beans. As it is, 
we shall not be able to get marketable beans from our 
Large White for several days to come. In fact, we 
shall make at least two more pickings from the Jersey 
Early before we pick the Large White. The pods of 
the Extra Early are not as large as those of the 
Large White, neither do the vines seem quite so vig¬ 
orous or productive, but they are more valuable for 
market purposes on account of their earliness. I 
hope to plant them in a large way next season. How¬ 
ever, I shall not, by any means, discard the Large 
White, while for family use, where quality should be 
first considered, I would advise two-thirds of the 
planting of the delicious Dreer’s Improved. 
CUTTING BACK.—We were obliged to cut back the 
top growth of our Limas two weeks ago. The fre¬ 
quent rains urged them on to make vine growth 
rather than to bloom and mature the pods already 
formed. We went over the entire 1,000 poles in less 
than two hours, with a large butcher knife. We 
pruned them back even with the top of the poles, and 
any excess of lateral growth was treated in the same 
manner. In this way, we were able to gather beans 
several days earlier than we could had we not given 
nature this needed assistance. The Lima is a peren¬ 
nial, and in warm climates, produces several crops 
from a single seed planting. This statement will, 
probably, make it clear why pruning back is a benefit 
on the whole here in our climate, and why it is neces¬ 
sary to do this pruning to promote earliness, more 
especially when we have an abundance of rain such as 
we have had for the last five weeks. It is not too late 
to prune back yet, if the vines need it. We shall, 
probably, prune back again in a few days’ time. 
PRUNING TOMATOES.—We are growing about 
1,000 tomato plants, principally the Dwarf Champion 
and Acme, with several other varieties side by side 
for comparison. We have already pruned back these 
tomatoes twice. We had the first ripe tomatoes to sell 
in this locality. One first-class store here paid us 
eight cents a quart for all we could bring them. The 
first pruning was done when the tomatoes were about 
as large as a door knob. The effect was almost mag¬ 
ical. They grew a little larger, and then ripened very 
fast. Of course, we destroyed the blossom promise for 
a lot of fruit, but new blossoms soon formed from 
the lateral branches,.and will come on later. It is 
the early tomatoes we want for profit, and the vines 
nearly always bear until they are killed by heavy 
frosts. The second shortening back was done two 
weeks later than the first. We found an excessive 
vine growth again, some of it, in fact, four feet high. 
Wife and myself went out with our large knives, and 
went over the 4,000 plants in 2 y 2 hours. We took an 
occasional rest under the trees to talk about old 
times, and to discuss many little matters relating to 
the children and the household. Pruning back 4,000 
tomatoes is a much lighter job than one would ex¬ 
pect. One w.H be well repaid for the time used. 
Orange Co., N. Y. t. j. dwyer. 
According to recent statistics, the English apple crop 
is far below the average, and pears are also giving a 
small crop. Plums are very poor. 
Seeds of common vegetables are said to have germi¬ 
nated readily, after being exposed to a cold of 300 degrees 
below zero. Liquid air was the medium for producing 
this intense frigidity. 
Second-Crop Seed.— My Bovee potatoes were clug early 
last Summer. Here and there a little one was left in the 
ground, and a half-dozen or more came up and grew until 
killed by the frost. From them, I saved about a pint of 
tubers less than an inch in diameter. Last Spring, I 
planted them with the others. They came up slowly, but 
grew well, and when dug, were the best potatoes in the 
field—not as many in a hill as those from the first crop 
seed, but all good size. m. d. h. 
Columbia Co., N. Y. 
I have a field of red raspberries on a clay loam soil, in 
rows five feet apart, which every year have been affected 
by drought during the picking season. Last Fall, I 
thoroughly cultivated between the rows, and sowed to 
Crimson clover. It grew very rank, and I left it as a 
mulch. My berries this year were a success, and plump 
up to the last, and the soil is greatly improved. I shall 
continue the experiment this year. Loudons are my best 
berry, Cuthbert following. H. m. l. 
Camillus, N. Y. 
Illinois Melons.— White County, in the southern part 
of Illinois, leads in the watermelon industry of that State, 
the principal shipping points being Carmi and Epworth. 
One firm is said to have 200 acres in watermelons. The 
varieties principally grown are Hoosier King, Black Dia¬ 
mond and New Triumph. The shipping season continues 
until about the end of September, when seed-gathering 
begins. Children go through the fields, slashing the 
melons and collecting the seeds in pails, which are 
emptied into a wagon. After seed-gathering, the fields 
are turned over to hogs. 
Picking Cow Peas.— Many of our readers are raising 
cow peas for the first time this year. Questions are com¬ 
ing in as to the best way of gathering the seed. The 
southern growers almost entirely pick the seed by hand, 
waiting until the pods are quite ripe. They are then 
thrashed out in a bean-thrashing machine, or with flails. 
Labor is cheap in the South, and hand picking pays bet¬ 
ter than any attempt to cut the vines with a mower. 
We don’t advise the use of cow peas tor hay in the North. 
Yet, this year, many persons will, evidently, cut and cure 
the vines. The latter are hard to pitch off the wagon. 
In the southwest, they frequently take a hay knife and 
cut through the load the long way, and cross-cut it two 
or three times. The blocks cut out in this way will pitch 
as easily as hay. 
