656 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
September 16 
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.] 
Van Deman’s Fruit Notes. 
AI.L SORTS OF qUESTIONS ANSWERED. 
The Taylor Blackberry. 
Is the Taylor blackberry large and late, 
and a good bearer? Is there a variety 
called the Taylor Improved? If so, Is It 
early or late? w. k. 
North Vineland, N. J. 
The Taylor blackberry is late in ripen¬ 
ing, and hardy in plant, but the fruit is 
only medium in size. However, it is a 
good berry, and worthy of being plant¬ 
ed. So far as I know, there is no 
variety bearing the name Taylor Im¬ 
proved, but there may be one. The 
usual price is about $1 per 100, and $8 
per 1,600. These are prices at the nur¬ 
sery, the purchaser to pay transporta¬ 
tion. A good way to proceed to buy 
nursery stock of any kind is to corre¬ 
spond with the nurseries that advertise 
in The R. N.-Y., and deal with the one 
that seems to be best, although it may 
not be the cheapest in prices. 
Budded vs. Grafted Trees. 
What advantage has a budded tree of 
apple, peach, plum, cherry or pear over a 
root-grafted tree? 3. c. K. 
Ligonier, Ind. 
The only advantage, so far as I can 
see, that a budded tree has over one that 
was root-grafted is that the budded one 
is made by setting a bud in a seedling 
standing in the nursery row. The seed¬ 
ling has the whole of the root system 
intact, and if it is a good one, the tree 
when ready to transplant, ought to be 
a very good one. Most of them are, but 
not all, for there are poor seedlings as 
well as good ones. By using the upper 
five or six inches of a good apple seed¬ 
ling, and a healthy scion of suitable size, 
a root-graft can be made that will pro¬ 
duce as good a tree as any; it has, also, 
been proved by careful experiments that 
large second cuts from strong roots 
make equally good trees. The main 
point is to get strong, vigorous trees, 
with normal root systems, and if this 
end -is attained, it matters not just how 
they are produced. Many of the root- 
grafted apple trees, as they are found in 
the trade, do not have good root sys¬ 
tems, and cannot make good orchard 
trees. Pear, peach, plum and cherry 
trees are not produced by root grafting, 
except very rarely, and the question at 
issue cannot be properly applied to 
them. 
Grafting Over Baldwin Trees. 
I have a Baldwin orchard 20 years old, 
which has made a big- growth, but no show 
In the way of fruit, although it has always 
been kept well cultivated and cared for. 
Will you give a brief description of Hub- 
bardston, Sutton, Rome Beauty and York 
Imperial, and state which would be best 
adapted to this locality; also, which kind 
would come earliest into bearing, and 
which would be an annual bearer, and 
most profitable? I also have 25 German 
prune trees set five years ago, which make 
a slow growth and give no signs of fruit¬ 
ing. Would it not be well to replace them 
with Kieffer or some other early-bearing 
kind of pears? J- B - 
Albion, N. Y. 
To say anything discreditable to the 
Baldwin apple is, to the set notions of 
some persons, like Paul’s preaching 
against the goddess Diana, and likely to 
arouse a clamor in its favor. Doubtless, 
it is a good apple, and has yielded a 
large revenue to many orchardists. But 
■it has its faults, one of them being fail¬ 
ure to bear for several years, and then 
so to overload that there is scarcely sale 
for the apples at any price, and this de¬ 
bilitates the trees so that they cannot 
bear for several years to come. All of 
the four varieties suggested for use 
in top-grafting are very desirable Winter 
apples of subacid flavor, regular bearers, 
and such as begin to bear within reason¬ 
able time. Rome Beauty is the only one 
that I feel at all doubtful about for west¬ 
ern New York. It 'is very good in some 
sections farther south, but has never 
been extensively tested in New York, so 
far as I know. It is medium to large, 
oblate conical, smooth and even in sur¬ 
face, beautifully streaked and splashed 
with carmine over a yellow ground. The 
quality is very fair, and keeps well when 
grown so far north as New York. I 
would not be afraid to plant or graft it 
there. Hubbardston is one of the most 
dependable bearers, one year with an¬ 
other, and the fruit is of good size. The 
color is not so brilliant as that of some, 
being a smoky mixed red over a large 
part of the surface, the ground color 
being yellow when the apple is fully 
ripe. The quality is excellent—far bet¬ 
ter than Baldwin, and some better than 
any of the others mentioned. The flesh 
is firm, crisp and, juicy to the last. Sut¬ 
ton is only medium size, but is round 
and even in shape, and regular in size. 
The color is mixed red over yellow, and 
makes an attractive appearance. The 
quality is good. This is, perhaps, the 
earliest to begin to bear of the four 
kinds. York Imperial has been less test¬ 
ed in New York than any of the lot, but 
it has been planted extensively in Penn¬ 
sylvania and westward to the Pacific, 
where it stands almost at the head of 
the Winter list. The size is medium to 
large, and the shape varies from nearly 
round to flat and rhomboidal. The varia¬ 
bility in size and shape is the main ob¬ 
jection to the variety. The color is 
mixed red and yellow, looking very 
handsome. To the taste, this apple is 
very good. It is a late keeper, and has 
a good reputation in the home and for¬ 
eign markets. 
Regarding the German prune trees, I 
would advise patience. At five years 
from setting, one could hardly expect 
much of a crop in New York, but in the 
Far West, prune trees bear earlier. It 
is possible that the particular variety 
of “German” prune in this case may not 
be a prolific one, for there are several 
varieties being sold under this name, of 
which Fellenberg and York State seem 
to be two of the best, after repeated 
tests in New York and elsewhere. 
Nut Trees in Western Michigan. 
The place to which I refer is situated in 
Oceana County, Mich., about six miles 
from Lake Michigan. It lies high, and 
the high winds which prevail are from the 
west. About 30 years ago, the place was 
heavily timbered with pine, hemlock, 
birch, oak and maple, but all but a few 
birches have been removed. The soil, 
which is a light, sandy loam, readily re¬ 
sponds to cultivation, and peach, plum, 
apple and cherry trees grow readily. We 
have planted for shade and ornamental 
purposes, about 50 feet apart, Black and 
Japan walnut, butternut and chestnut 
trees. The chestnuts are not doing well, 
and some have died; perhaps.it is because 
we have cultivated around them. How¬ 
ever, none of the nut trees grows fast 
enough to suit us, and we wish to set be¬ 
tween them, until the nut trees have made 
a good growth, trees that will make a 
quick growth. What kinds would you 
suggest? Can they be obtained at the 
regular nurseries? Should they be culti¬ 
vated, that is, the soil stirred around 
them? Would Fall or Spring planting be 
better? c. j. N. 
Pullman, Ill. 
Nut trees are always slow about start¬ 
ing, and 'it is not surprising that those 
mentioned are not growing rapidly. 
Fifty feet apart gives abundant room to 
plant in other trees that shall be tem¬ 
porary, and finally, be cut out when the 
nut trees want the room. But nothing 
must be planted that will overgrow and 
stunt the nut trees. Japan plum trees 
would answer the purpose very well. 
They would soon come into bearing, and 
be ready to cut away within 10 or 12 
years. There is room for two such trees 
within the 50 feet. Almost any of the 
varieties would suit. Burbank is most 
spreading in habit, while Abundance 
and Red June are very upright, and will 
take less room. The soil seems well 
enough adapted to the culture of the 
chestnut. I have seen chestnut and 
other nut trees at South Haven, Mich., 
and much nearer Lake Michigan, that 
were doing fairly well, the land being 
quite sandy and not naturally rich. The 
chestnut especially wants loose land. 
Cultivation has not, and will not, injure 
nut trees in any way. It helps them 
very greatly. A plan that I have fol¬ 
lowed, and would advise in the treat¬ 
ment of these trees, is to cut them all 
to the ground when they are three or 
four years set, and train a single sprout 
from each. By this means, straight 
trunks of good height can be secured, 
which is not possible by ordinary meth¬ 
ods of pruning in very many cases. 
Spring planting 'is very much better 
than Fall planting in western Michigan. 
Apples of Good Quality. 
A friend intends planting three acres to 
apples for the purpose of supplying the 
local trade. What varieties and what 
number of each would you recommend as 
being best adapted to northeastern In¬ 
diana, the considerations being quality, 
productiveness, keeping and healthfulness 
of tree, and to include Summer, Fall and 
Winter varieties, the larger portion Win¬ 
ter? J> c - 
Wolcottville, Ind. . 
In a commercial apple orchard in 
northeastern Indiana, I would plant but 
few Summer and Fall varieties. In an 
orchard of three acres, there should be 
150 permanent trees. My plan would be 
to set them two rods apart each way, 
and fill in between them one way, that 
is, in the rows running north and south, 
with early-bearing kinds that may be 
cut out when the other trees need more 
room. No other trees than apples 
should be used as fillers, for there are 
too many objections to the use of peach 
and other trees for this purpose. For 
permanent trees, I would select about as 
follows; Fanny, 10; Jefferis, 10; Wine, 
10; Grimes Golden, 10; Jonathan, 30; 
Hubbardston, 30; and York Imperial, 50. 
These 150 trees will give a succession 
from early (not the earliest) until the 
latest. All are of good quality and 
handsome appearance. Nothing in the 
way of apples could better suit the taste 
of a customer who loves good fruit than 
Jefferis, Grimes Golden, Jonathan and 
Hubbardston. For fillers, I would use 
Yellow Transparent, 30; Oldenburg, 60; 
Wagener, 30; and Northwestern Green¬ 
ing, 30. These all begin to bear very 
early, and will soon yield a revenue. 
Wagener is the only one of good qual¬ 
ity, and it 'is the only Winter variety 
among them. Yellow Transparent ripens 
very early, and is followed by Olden¬ 
burg, and later by Northwestern Green¬ 
ing. They are all good market varieties. 
If you are a farmer or want to be one, 
send for the “Western Trail.” Published 
quarterly. Full of pointers as to settling 
in Kansas, Oklahoma and Indian Terri¬ 
tory. Handsomely embellished and con¬ 
cisely written. Mailed free. 
Address by postal card or letter. 
John Sebastian, G.P.A., Chicago.— Adv. 
SEED WHEAT 
DOES YOUR 
WHEAT 
CRINKLE? 
Circular compares yields Of 17 varieties. If so, do 
not order a bushel until you see it. 
8. J. SMITH’S POTATO FARM, Manchester, N. Y 
Pedigree Strawberries 
Recommended to all strawberry growers by Rural 
New-Yorker March 11, '99, and praised by it July 17, 
'97. and July 16. ’98. We offer JOE, CARRIE SILVERS, 
STELLA and REBA In pot-grown plants at 25o each. 
$2 per doz„ $5 per 100; and ROBBIE and NETTIE, the 
best late strawberries yet introduced, at 25c. each, 12 
per doz., $6 per 100. Plants to be all pot-grown and to 
be delivered after July 1st. Order quick; stock limited, 
JOS. H. BLACK , SON & CO , Hightstown, N. J. 
■ < POTTED STRAWBERRY PLANTS_ 
A I Northern grown. Will fruit next season. Also 
layerplants. List free. P. SPEER, Passaic, N. J. 
N EW STRAWBERRIES. Send for list. The 
Elizabeth Nursery Co , Elizabeth, N.J. 
500 Brandywine Strawby Pltsll. Fruit Trees 5 to 9c. 
ea. Cat. free. C. A. Hyatt, Croton-vn-lludson, N. Y. 
Grape Vines 
Descriptive and Price List free. 
Currants, Gooseberries and other Small 
Fruit Plants. Extraquality. Warranted true. 
T. S. HUBBARD CO., PREDOS1A, N. Y. 
The President Wilder Currant 
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. 
f) Red Cross Currant T. C. Kevitt, Athenia, N.J 
TDCCC fi. Dl 1 UTC at low prices. Apple, Poar, 
I nCL3 K « LMfl I « and plum, 6c. Peaches, .ic 
Cat. free. Reliance Nursery, Box 10, Geneva, N.Y. 
Seed Wheat —Gold Coin. $1 10. Bags 
free. G. E.^NORTON, Clinton, Oneida Ce„ N. Y. 
C A A rl IlfU a a# - I>e<ilKree Seed Wheat, grown 
OGBU TV IlCal from hand-assorted seed. Send 
lor circular before buying common seed. 
MAHLON SAGER, Orangeville, Pa. 
Graded Harvest King Seed Wheat, 
a heavy-yielding, red, smooth chaff variety. 
A. H. HOFFMAN, Landisville, Pa. 
Heats 
D SEE 
Most popular, largest yielding, and strongest-strawed 
sorts grown. Clawson Longberry. Jones Longberry, 
No. 1 Oatka, Pedigree Genesee Giant, Early Arca¬ 
dian, and others. Send for descriptive price-list to 
A. N. JONES, Newark, YVayne County, N. Y, 
High-Class Bulbs 
FOR FALL PLANTING. 
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 litlio- 
graphed colored cover. 
J. M. THORBDRN & C0„ 
36 Cortlandt St., New York. 
RULRS for FaM Planting 
■V Hi from the best growers in Holland. Catalogue on request. 
ELLWANCER Sc BARRY, Mount Hope Nurseries, Rochester, N. Y. S»th Year. 
The October Purple Plum. 
Luther Burbank’s latest and best production. We are 
the introducers and can furnish first-class stock at lowest 
prices. We have 500 acres in nursery stock—shade trees, 
fruit trees, ornamental trees, shrubs and small fruit plants, in 
fact anything you can ask for. Catalogue, with colored plate 
picture of October Purple Plum, free. Write to-day. 
STEPHEN HOYT’S SONS CO., Box 10, New Canaan, Conn. 
finer lot of Peacli Trees in the U. S., grown on the bank of Lake 
rie two miles from any peach orchards, guaranteed free from 
>rers, yellows, aphis, etc. Large stock of Pear, Plum. Apple, 
berry, tluiuce, Etc. Immense supply of Small Fruit 1 lams, 
undred of Carloads of 
UnamAnbl Trope and Shrubs. 
40 Acres Hardy Hoses, none better grown. 44 greenhouses filled 
with Palms, Ficus, Feme, Hoses, Etc. Large importation Hol¬ 
land Bulbs in se-.son. Ci years, 1000 Acres. Correspond co and per¬ 
sonal inspection solicited. Catalogue and Price List free. 
THE STORRS & HARRISON CO., Painesvolle, Ohio. 
