624 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
September 2 
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.] 
Wintered-Over Cabbage and Celery. 
IP. Jf. II., Missouri Valley, Iotca —1. Are 
cabbage plants grown in Fall, and wintered 
over, earlier than plants grown in frames 
in early Spring? 2. Is it a good plan to 
grow lettuce in the Fall? 3. Does celery 
need as much cultivation as cabbage? 
Ans.— 1. Yes, cabbage plants grown in 
Fall and checked by cold, will continue 
for some time, if properly protected in a 
cold frame, to extend their root sys¬ 
tems, and store up energy in the stems, 
and are, therefore, likely to grow more 
rapidly, and head up quicker than plants 
of similar size from Spring-sown seed. 
2. The same may be said of lettuce; a 
considerable number of plants are usual¬ 
ly carried over each Winter for the ear¬ 
liest setting. Besides being stronger, 
the plants are so toughened by the Win¬ 
ter as to withstand severe changes when 
set in the open. 3. Celery should have 
frequent and thorough cultivation. Being 
usually grown at a season when weed 
growth is declining, the cultivation of 
celery is more likely to be slighted than 
that of other vegetables, except among 
experienced growers. 
Killing Forest Caterpillars. 
It. //., Grand Isle, Yt .—Can the Forest 
worm be lessened by burning fires at night 
to attract and burn the moths? I find that 
many other kinds sail in and are burned. 
The forest trees are too tall to spray. 
Ans. —I have no doubt that many of 
the moths which develop from the For¬ 
est caterpillars could be attracted to and 
killed by fires at night in early July. I 
doubt if enough of the moths could thus 
be killed to pay for the trouble, and no¬ 
ticeably to decrease the number of cater¬ 
pillars for the next season. My reasons 
for this belief are that but a small per 
cent of the moths thus killed would be 
females; this statement is based upon 
results obtained from an extensive trap- 
lantern experiment conducted by us sev¬ 
eral years ago. Again, many of the moths 
which might be caught would, doubt¬ 
less, have laid most of their quota of 
eggs, hence their destruction would ac¬ 
complish but little toward reducing the 
number of the pests. It is true, as B. H. 
states, that many other kinds of insects 
would “sail in” and be burned, but our 
extensive experiment with trap-lanterns 
again points out that many of these are 
friendly or beneficial insects. In brief 
then, I do not believe that fires in 
forests would pay for the trouble, and 
would not kill enough moths of the For¬ 
est worm noticeably to check the pest. 
m. v. s. 
Crowing a Big Pumpkin. 
A. M. N., Millington, N. J.—Is there any 
method of feeding pumpkins while on the 
vine to make them grow very large? I 
have seen in some farm paper directions 
for feeding through the stalk with milk to 
make them grow immense. Can it be done? 
Ans.— We are afraid the plan for feed¬ 
ing pumpkins with milk, or any soluble 
plant food, for that matter, through the 
stalk while on the vine, is only one of 
the numerous horticultural “fakes” al¬ 
ways floating through the columns of ir¬ 
responsible papers. These yarns are 
usually got up during the dull Summer 
months, when advertisements are scarce 
and space must be filled at all hazards. 
The only way a pumpkin vine can be 
fed is by absorption of plant food by the 
roots and its elaboration by the leaves in 
the usual manner. Milk, while contain¬ 
ing the elements of fertility, is unfit for 
plant feeding, as the sharp acids pro¬ 
duced by its fermentation are quite in¬ 
jurious to most root fibers. We once 
tried for experiment to nourish a pot 
plant on milk, but it proved a dismal 
failure; the soil became rankly sour in 
a few days, and the plant quickly died. 
The most practicable way to grow a 
prize pumpkin is to make a wide hill, 
six to twelve feet across, and spade in 
deeply a large quantity of well-rotted 
manure over the whole surface, besides 
dusting liberally with a good commer¬ 
cial fertilizer. After a thorough raking, 
tions and good soil for apples and plums 
in the mountain regions of Tennessee, 
north Carolina and the Virginias. Cat¬ 
tle and sheep do well there, too. The 
land is rough and rocky in many places, 
but all is not so. Some of this very 
High-Class Bulbs 
FOR FALL PLANTING. 
plant 15 to 20 seeds of the desired va¬ 
riety near the center. When up, guard 
carefully from all destructive insects; 
thin out as growth advances, until only 
one plant, the strongest, of course, is 
left. Cultivate carefully and train this 
plant in a circular manner about the 
hill, covering it with soil at the leaf 
joints, two or three feet apart, thus 
causing it to emit roots at these joints, 
which will greatly assist its growth. 
Water frequently with weak liquid ma¬ 
nure if the weather is at all dry, and 
nip off all but a single promising pump¬ 
kin, as fast as they set. This is about 
all one can do to produce a monster 
fruit. 
Heating a Brooderhouse. 
M. O. It., Albion * Mich .—I have a poultry 
house 12x24 feet, double walls, each wall 
papered, double windows and double doors 
Would it be practicable to heat such a 
building for a brooderhouse? What would 
be the probable expense? 
Ans. —We do not think it would be 
practicable to heat a building of this 
size by the common pipe system. There 
would necessarily be considerable out¬ 
lay for a heater, even of the smallest 
size; too much outlay, in fact, for the 
work that could be accomplished in a 
building of this size. Probably a cheap¬ 
er and better way would be to divide 
the house into pens, say six feet wide, 
and into each of these put one of the 
common indoor brooders, heated by a 
lamp. There are a number of these 
made that are very effective, and in a 
building constructed like this, they 
would be likely to do good work. Four 
brooders with lamps in a building of 
this kind, would heat it sufficiently, and 
make it comfortable for the chjcks to 
run in during the day. We would get, 
for this purpose, the 100-chick size 
brooders, but would put only 50 chicks 
in each brooder. The manufacturers of 
the different incubators and brooders 
will send catalogues and prices on ap¬ 
plication, and from these one may learn 
as to the cost and the style best suited 
for the case in question. 
What Ails the Tree ? 
E. D. G., Manchester, N. II.—I have an apple 
tree fairly well laden with a light-colored 
early fruit, the variety I do not know, a 
large amount of which seems to rot on the 
tree, or else scale off. The soil is, appar¬ 
ently quite rich. What is the trouble? 
Ans.—I t would be impossible to tell 
what is the trouble in this case without 
seeing the tree, and it might not be easy 
then. Apple scab and Codling moth (ap¬ 
ple worms in the core), may be the cause 
of the dropping, or it may be that the 
variety is one given to rotting on the 
tree. The best thing to do, it seems to 
us, is to send samples of the rotting 
fruit to B. T. Galloway, United States 
Department of Agriculture, Washington, 
D. C., and have an examination made. 
It will cost nothing but a little trouble 
in sending it. 
Where to Raise Fruit. 
W. F. C., Chattanooga, Tcnn— To what pari 
of the United States would you advise a 
young man to go for the purpose of raising 
fine apples, Japan plums, etc.; also a few 
cattle and sheep? 
Ans. —Perhaps right there in east Ten¬ 
nessee is as good a place as you could 
find. Within reasonable limits, there 
are good chances for growing fruit and 
live stock almost anywhere in our great 
country. Many people chase about try¬ 
ing to find where they can do better 
than where they are, or have been, and 
never find it. There is usually more in 
the man than in the location. We have 
such a wide and delightful country that 
it is almost or quite impossible to find 
“the best” place. There are objections 
to every place. Neither did the good 
Lord put all the good things in one 
place. There are plenty of good loca¬ 
rough land is the very best for fruit. 
The highest-priced apples that are ex¬ 
ported come from the mountain coves. 
There are great advantages for growing 
fruit on the Pacific coast, but it is a 
long way to market. Much depends on 
a wise selection of location and land, 
but more upon the ability of the man to 
adapt his plans to the conditions, and on 
his industry and perseverance. 
How to Kill Black Ants. 
J. I. G., Westminster, Md .—What will keep 
large black ants out of the pantry? M' - 
pantry is alive with them! 
Ans. —The following method of com¬ 
bating ants in houses has been success¬ 
fully tested by good housekeepers. Soak 
one or more large sponges in sweetened 
water, and put them in the places which 
the ants frequent. The ants will soon 
find the sweet feast, and will spread the 
news among the ant families, with the 
result that soon the sponges will be 
alive with the ants. When the sponges 
are thus well inhabited, quickly drop 
them into hot water, thus killing the 
ants. Again sweeten the sponges, and 
repeat the operation until the* ants get 
scarce. It is reported by those who 
have tried it that one can quickly rid 
the house of ants in this way. It is sus¬ 
pected that the whole colony of ants is 
not exterminated, but that the ants soon 
discover that their relatives disappeai 
very mysteriously, and this decides the 
rest that it is not a safe place to venture 
(into, and they vacate that house for a 
time. The method is so simple that any 
one can test it. Faithfully follow direc¬ 
tions, and 1 feel sure that it will result 
in your committing many “anticides,’ 
and in ridding your home of the pests. 
M. V. S. 
“A Caution to Rose Growers."- Under 
the above head, American Gardening has 
this to say of a recent bulletin issued b> 
the Oregon Experiment Station: “Rose cul¬ 
ture in' Oregon is the title of a recently- 
issued bulletin of the Oregon Agricultural 
Experiment Station, to which we call at¬ 
tention at this time in order to counteract 
the bad teaching it contains. The plates 
which are put forth to show how a rose 
should be pruned, in reality represent very 
badly and improperly-handled plants, evi¬ 
dently the work of a beginner in hardy 
rose culture. The grower has not had the 
courage to handle the knife with sufficient 
freedom. The photographs showing beds 
of roses look as though the plants have 
been topped by a light use of the shears.” 
Pedigree Strawberries 
Recommended to all strawberry growers by Kurai 
New-Yorkku March 11,’119, and praised by it July 17 
’97 and Ju.y 16. ’98. WeotTe JOE,CARRIE SILVERS 
STELLA and REBA in pot-grown plants at 25c each 
$2 per doz.. $5 per luO; and BOBBIE and NETTIE, tbi 
best late Btrswberries yet introduced, at 25c. each, $2 
per doz , *6 rer 100. Plants to be all pot-growD and t< 
be delivered after July 1st. Orderquick; stockllmite> 
JOS. H. BLACK\ SON & CO , Hightstown, N. J. 
Grape Vines 
Descriptive and Price hist free. 
Currants, Gooseberries and other Small 
Fruit Plants. Extra quality. Warranted true 
T. S. HUBBARD CO., FUEDOSIA, N. V. 
The President Wilder Currant 
Our catalogue is now 
ready, and will be mailed 
free on application. It 
contains a complete as¬ 
sortment, with descrip¬ 
tions, illustrations and 
full cultural directions 
and a beautifully litho¬ 
graphed colored cover. 
J. M. THORBURN & C0„ 
36 Cortlandt St., New York. 
DRECR’S 
Pot-Grown 
STRAWBERRY PLANTS 
planted thisSummer will produce a full 
crop of berries next June. Our Mid- 
Hummer catalogue, Just out and mailed 
free, offers plants of the best varie¬ 
ties, Including the wonderful new Per¬ 
petual or Everbearing Strawberry, 
“St. .1 oseph,” which bears fruit 
all Summer. Price,75cts. per 
doz.; $6.00 per 100. 
HENRY A. nitEER, 
1'hilailrlphia, Pa. 
P OTTED STRAWBERRY PLANTS- Glad¬ 
stone and Sample. 50c. per dozen. Standard sorts, 
41 jier 100. Miller Raspberry and LucretiaDewberry, 
$5.50 per 1.000. SLA5 MAKER & SON. Dover, Del. 
■ 1 POTTED STRAWBERRY PLANTS.- 
H I Northern grown. WiD fruit next season. Also 
layer plants. List free. I’. SPEER, Passaic, N J. 
100 
ABUNDANCE PLUM, first-class, for *12. 
List free. T. C. KKVITT. Athcnla, N J. 
CELERY PLANTS 
‘—We offer surplus 
_ stock, until sold. 
Strong plants, best varlei ies at *2 per 1.000. 
HENRY A. DREEK, PHILADELPHIA, PA. 
FOR SALE 
—500 bushels home-grown Crimson 
Clover Seed. 
J. E. HOLLAND, Milford, Del. 
Seed Whfat—G old Coin. 81 10. Bat?8 
free. G. E. NORTON, Clinton, Oneida Co.. N. Y. 
Rudy Seed Wheat.— 1,200 bushels, 
guaranteed pure, *1.25 per bushel. 
JOHN HERR 8UENK, Lancaster. Pa. 
Caa rl Ul|a aa 4~Gold Coin and Poole Seed 
OcBQ TV IlCcaT Wheat, f.o.b. In new sacas. 
*1 per bu. LINCOLN HUSTON, Fox, Ohio. 
Caa*I U/Lnai~ Pedigree Seed Wheat, grow a 
OcGQ nneaT from hand-assorted seed. Send 
for circular before buying common seed 
MAHLON SAGER, Orangeville, Pa. 
CCCVt UfllCAT -DA W80N ’ 8 0 0LDKN 
OCtU TV VI11A I CHAFF. Last year's yield 
47k> bushels per acre. Price,'ecleaned: Two bushels 
*2.20; four or nice bushels *1 per bushel and pay for 
bags, 15c. each; f. o. b. at Grafton Oh o. Cash * ith 
order. JAMES T. DENHAM, Pe nlield.O. 
Gold Coin Wheat. 
and other choice new fruits can be had at 
bottom prices of the subscriber. Send 
for descriptive list and prices to 
S. D. WILLARD, Geneva, N. Y 
TDCCC fl. Dl AftITC at low prices. Apple. Pear, 
Intca W r LHH I » and Plum, lie. Peaches,3c 
Cat. free. Rei.ianceNcjrskrv. Box 10. Geneva, N.Y. 
Most popular, largest yielding, and strongest-strawed 
sorts grown. Clawson Longber/y. Jones Longberry. 
No. 1 Oatka. Pedigree Genesee Giant Early Arca¬ 
dian. and others Send for descriptive price-list to 
A. N. JONES, Newark, Wayne County, N. Y, 
We offer a limited amount of this best 
of all Wheat, specially cleaned, at 81-50 
per bushel. Cash with order. 
W. & T. SMITH CO., GENEVA, H . Y. 
INTRODUCE A NEW WHEAT. 
If one farmer in each neighborhood 
would sow a valuable new variety of 
wheat this year, he could sell the crops 
for two or three years at extra prices. 
The country is greatly in need of im¬ 
proved varieties of wheat. Send to J. Q. 
Everitt, Seedsman, Indianapolis, Ind., 
for free samples of remarkable varieties, 
and mention this paper. 
FryW 
HEATS 
Leaders 
D SEE 
No finer lot of Peacli Trees in the U. S., grown on the bank of Lake 
Erie two miles from any peach orchards, guaranteed free from scale, 
borers, yellows, aphis, etc. Large stock of Pear, Plum, Apple. 
Cherry. Qultice, Etc. Immense supply of Small Fruit I laiits. 
Hundred of Carloads of 
Ornamental Trees and Shrubs. 
40 Acres Hardy Koses, none better grown. 44 greenhouses filled 
with Paling, Plcin*. Perm;, Boses, Etc. Large importation l*ol- 
land Bulb* in season. 45 years. 1000 Acres. Correspondence and per¬ 
sonal inspection solicited. Catalogue and Price List freo. 
THE STORES & HARRISON CO., Painesville, Ohio. 
