672 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
September 23 
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.] 
Various Fruit Notes. 
G. S., (No Address).— 1. Is Fall a good time 
to set peach trees? 2. Would strawberries 
grown in a peach orchard be an injury to 
the latter? 3. What causes apple trees of 
last Spring’s setting to blight; also plum 
and pear trees? e. s. 
Ans. —1. Fall is not a good time to 
set peach trees, except on the Pacific 
slope, and in some of the most southern 
States. 2. Strawberries will not injure 
a young peach orchard if they are kept 
well cultivated and manured. That is 
about as good a crop as can be grown 
on the land for the first two or three 
years. 3. Blight on apple and pear 
trees is the work of a disease germ that 
produces what is commonly known as 
fire blight. Every branch affected with 
it should be cut off carefully, and fully 
a foot below where any signs of the 
disease appear. Plum trees are not af¬ 
fected with this disease, but with black- 
knot, and several kinds of leaf blights. 
These may all be largely avoided by 
thorough treatment at the right times. 
Specific information can be had of our 
several State experiment stations and 
of the United States Department of Ag¬ 
riculture at Washington. 
Experience with Cow Peas. 
A. B. TV., Hightstown, N. J.— About the 
middle of July (after the removal of the 
wheat crop following corn) on fairly pro¬ 
ductive clay soil, we sowed with a grain 
drill, without fertilizer, about 1 % bushel 
per acre of Black cow peas, with the view 
of turning them under this Fall for wheat. 
We find no trace of root galls on any of 
these plants. If this gives any indication 
of the ingredients most needed in the soil 
for the coming wheat crop, we shall be glad 
to profit by your suggestion as to the kind 
of commercial fertilizer to use for this 
field. On another field, a few miles dis¬ 
tant, on quite sandy and light soil, we 
sowed broadcast, without fertilizer, at the 
same time, the same kind of peas, which 
have grown much more luxuriantly, and 
the roots are covered with red warty 
growths, some as large as marbles. No 
crop but rye has been grown on this field 
for several years. Last Spring, we plant¬ 
ed the field with peach and pear trees in 
the rye; later the rye, when in head, was 
turned under, and later plowed again and 
rolled after the peas were sown. For the 
benefit of the trees, should the peas be 
turned under green this Fall, or left till 
next Spring? 
ANSWERED BY PROF. E. B. VOORIIEES. 
The presence or absence of root galls 
on this plant is no indication of the 
needs of the soil in respect to fertility 
elements, but simply indicates that the 
bacteria which are responsible for the 
root galls are not present in one soil, 
and are present in the other. Besides, 
the presence of root galls indicates that 
the plant has more than likely obtained 
its nitrogen from the air, rather than 
from the soil, as it has been demon¬ 
strated that the nitrogen is appropriated 
from the air only when the root galls 
are present. In order that you may dis¬ 
tribute these bacteria, it is only neces¬ 
sary that soil from the field containing 
them shall be distributed over the field 
which does not contain them. A wagon¬ 
load spread over three or four acres 
would be sufficient to introduce the bac¬ 
teria. We have practiced this method at 
the College Farm with success, where 
we have not found the bacteria to be 
present everywhere. 
In the fertilization of the field for 
wheat, it seems to me that what is 
needed more than anything else is a fer¬ 
tilizer relatively rich in the mineral ele¬ 
ments, as the nitrogen in the cow peas 
would be likely to furnish a large por¬ 
tion of the nitrogen necessary. The fol¬ 
lowing formula would, in my judgment, 
be very good, applied at the rate of 200 
pounds per acre: 
Nitrate of soda.... 
Tankage .. 
Acid phosphate .. 
Muriate of potash 
. 50 lbs, 
250 “ 
650 “ 
50 *« 
In reference to the time of turning 
under the cow peas on your orchard, I 
have to say that, so far as obtaining all 
of the nitrogen in the crop is concerned, 
it would be better that they be plowed 
under this Fall, but inasmuch as late 
Fall plowing is not advisable in or¬ 
chards, I think it would be safer to al¬ 
low them to cover the ground during 
the Winter, and then turn them under 
early in the Spring. The trees should be 
fertilized then with about 300 pounds 
per acre of the following formula: 
Ground bone .250 lbs. 
Acid phosphate .450 “ 
Muriate of potash.300 “ 
Cheap and Easy Spraying. 
F. It., Pasco, O .—Several different papers 
state that three tablespoonfuls of potash 
in about five gallons of water, will kill all 
lice and insects on plants, including even 
San Jos 6 scale, without injuring tender 
foliage. Is there any truth in this? This 
would make spraying cheap and easy. 
Ans. —The idea that three tablespoon¬ 
fuls of potash dissolved in five gallons of 
water will kill any insects on plants, 
even the tenderest plant lice, I believe 
to be pure nonsense. I have seen plant 
lice sprayed with a similar solution, and 
afterward saw some of them carrying 
around on their backs small crystals 
which had formed from the evaporation 
of the liquid. The writer does not state 
what kind of potash, whether it is the 
muriate of potash or the potash lye. 
The former would have no effect upon 
the insects, while the latter would have 
but very little used in the quantity 
stated, but might kill some insects if 
used much stronger, but there would 
then be danger of injuring the foliage. 
The only way for F. R. to satisfy himself 
is to get some of the potash and try it. 
M. V. SLINGEBLAND. 
Bringing Up Worn-Out Land. 
G. F. I., Dresden, N. Y.—I have a piece of 
land of about 25 or 30 acres, that was 
bought as an addition to the farm I now 
own. Before its purchase, the hay had 
been cut off for 15 or 16 years, and sold 
off, nothing being replaced, and scarcely 
anything plowed. It was not pastured at 
all. Finally the grass ran out, and since 
I have owned it I have plowed it and put 
on what barnyard manure I could, trying 
to get. it. seeded down to grass again, but 
I find it almost impossible to do this. If 
there is any such thing as land being 
robbed, this land has so suffered. Old 
residents in this place tell of what good 
land it “used to be,” but I tried one piece 
last year, and drew nearly 100 loads of 
manure upon about five or six acres as a 
top-dressing, after I had the oats harvest¬ 
ed (the grass seed being sowed in the 
Spring, when the oats were sowed); and 
this year there was no hay on it, only now 
and then a few roots of clover. The land 
is clayey, and in nice shape to work, 
but I cannot put all the manure I have 
on it every year, and I do not feel like 
buying very much fertilizer. Can I bring 
it back by sowing cow peas and Crimson 
clover? How should I go to work? 
Would it be best to turn it into pasture? 
Ans. —We dislike to give advice about 
cow peas and Crimson clover for lati¬ 
tudes north of New York City. If we 
had that land in New Jersey, we should 
assume that it needs lime and organic 
matter. In our experience, such land is 
quite likely to be sour, although most 
farmers think that land is seldom sour 
unless it is heavy and wet. We would 
plow the land tnis Fall and broadcast 
at least 1,500 pounds of air-slaked lime 
per acre, harrowing it in after plowing. 
Then we would sow rye. Next Spring 
this rye would either be cut while very 
green, for cow feed, or all plowed under 
about the middle of May and packed 
down with a heavy roller. We would 
then sow the Early Black cow pea, pref¬ 
erably in drills, 30 inches apart. This 
can be done with an ordinary grain drill. 
From past experience we would broad¬ 
cast just before sowing the peas, all we 
could afford of a mixture of one part 
muriate of potash and five parts of dis¬ 
solved phosphate rock. If drilled, we 
would keep the ground well cultivated, 
and at the last cultivation sow Crimson 
clover among the cow peas at the rate 
of 12 pounds per acre. There is only 
half a chance that this clover will make 
much of a stand in tbe cow peas, but 
we have found that it pays to take this 
half a chance. In our practice the cow 
pea vines and clover would be plowed 
under in the Spring, and the field plant¬ 
ed to either early sweet corn or early 
potatoes, using a fair quantity of fer¬ 
tilizer in the hill or drill. We usually 
seed to grass or grain after potatoes, 
and where the potatoes are dug with a 
heavy digger and then worked over with 
the Cutaway harrow, the soil is left in 
excellent condition. We would prefer to 
sow grass seed alone, and would add 
clover in the Spring. Ours is not an oat 
country, and our rotation is a short one, 
not requiring much grass. We feel sure 
that such soil as you describe can be 
made productive by me use of lime, 
cow peas and clover, with potash and 
rock fed to the cow-pea crop. Some of 
the results with this system on poor 
ground are almost miraculous, but we 
hesitate to recommend the cow pea to 
northern growers, and can only advise 
a careful trial on a small scale to begin 
with. South of New York City we con¬ 
sider it well settled that with lime, cow 
peas and the mineral fertilizers, any 
worn-out soil that is reasonably well 
located, can be brought back to useful¬ 
ness. 
What Varieties of Small Fruits ? 
M. O. R., Allion, Mich .—If planning to set 
out two or three acres to bush fruits, to 
sell locally and to ship, what varieties 
would you select? When is the better 
time to set them out, this Fall or next 
Spring? 
Ans. —The matter of varieties of bush 
fruits depends a good deal on locality 
and market. With us, in New Jersey, 
we would set out Kansas and Gregg 
blackcaps largely. Cuthbert and Lou¬ 
don raspberries are excellent for reds. 
With us the old Cuthbert has proved 
very satisfactory, and for our local con¬ 
ditions it is fully equal to the newer 
reds. Columbian is a strong, vigorous 
grower and heavy yielder, but the fruit 
is not satisfactory to customers at first 
sight. It has a dull, musty appearance 
not relished by customers. After the 
market becomes used to it, however, it 
sells fairly well, and for canning it has, 
probably, no superior. For blackberries, 
Early Harvest has proved most profit¬ 
able with us, but we would not advise 
planting it heavily, as it is too tender in 
most northern latitudes. Snyder and 
Kittatinny have done well for us. For 
currants, Wilder and Fay have proved 
very satisfactory. A few White Im¬ 
perials may be profitable, although there 
is not a large demand for this variety; 
in fact, currants with us have not proved 
profitable. We snould set largely to 
blackberries and blackcap raspberries, 
as we think these fruits are on the 
whole most profitable. Blackberries, in 
some localities, do not pay, as they come 
into competition with the wild fruits, 
and will not bring high prices. One year 
with another, the blackcaps are, prob¬ 
ably, the most profitable. There is, how¬ 
ever, much in the locality and market 
to govern the selection of these fruits, 
and one muse know the local market 
well before setting them out. We would 
set these fruits in the Spring. 
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. 
TryThem 
Heats 
EADERS 
AND SEE 
Most popular, largest yielding, and strongest-strawed 
sorts grown. Clawson Longberry. Jones Longberry, 
No. TOatka. Pedigree Genesee Gtant Early Arca¬ 
dian, and others. Send for descriptive price-list to 
A. N. JONES, Newark, Wayne County, N. Y, 
Graded Harvest King Seed Wheat, 
a heavy-yielding, red, smoo’h chaff variety. 
A. H. HOFFMAN, Landisville, Pa. 
Seed Wheat —Gold Coin. 81 10. Baj?s 
free. G. E. NORTON, Clinton, Oneida C®.. N. Y. 
Paragon Chestnut 
Seedlings 
the best stock on which to graft the improved varie¬ 
ties. All sizes up to eight feet. Wiite for prices. 
U. M. ENGLE & SON, Marietta, Pa. 
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. 
R ural New-Yorker Grape ColUeetion: Three 
Campbell's Early. Fine, one year, and three 
Moore’s Diamond, two-year, No. 1, by express. $1; six 
each forS1.76. By mail, two cents per vine extra. 
THE ROGERS NURSERIES. Dansville. N. Y. 
TREES 
at. Wholesale prices. Apple, Plum and 
Pears, 16 per 100; Peach, 3c. Cat. Free 
Reliance Nursery, Box 10. Geneva. N. Y. 
■ I TOTTED .STRAW’BERRY PLANTS.- 
A I Northern grown. Will fruit next season. Also 
layer plants List free. P. SPEER, Passaic. N J 
N EW’ STRAWBERRIES. Send for list. THE 
Epizaheth Nursery Co . Elizabeth, N.J. 
|/> NEW YORK STRAWBERRY PLANTS by 
I & mail for $1. T. C KKV1TT, Athenia, N. Y. 
500 BrandywineStrawby Plts$l. FruitTree65to9c. 
ca. Cat.free. C. A. Hyait, Croton-, n-lludson, N. Y. 
wsr/eWmBm ssHlglgaSfegfft 
[New Red Cross 
Currant Plants for sale 
At $12.50 per 500 
For early planting. Order now. Rural 
New Yorker says . *' Red Cross Is the best 
of al l old or new. currants for midseason.*’ 
N. Y. Kxperimeut Station says It Is large 
mil RQ for Fall Planting 
WktJ Bn BbI from the best growers in Holland. Catalogue on request. 
ELLWANCER &. BARRY, Mount Hope Nurseries, Rochester, N. Y. 5»th Year. 
is here. Will you let us help to make your Fall 
■ ■ ■ ■ ■ w plantinga A SUCCESS? Did you over hear about 
tree breeding 1 Our new Fall catalogue tells about it. and it will interest you. 
It’s the tlr6t and only one of the kind ever published about trees. Don't miss it. 
Tree Time 
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 
Irie two miles from any peach orchards, guaranteed free from scale, 
orers. yellows, aphis, etc. Large stock of Pear, Plum, Apple, 
llierry, Qui-iee, Ktc. Immense supply of Small l<rmt Plants, 
luudred of Carloads of _ 
Ornamental Trees and Shrubs. 
0 Acres Hardy Hones, none better grown. 44 greenhouses filled 
-ith Palms, Flei!**, Ferur, Hoses, Etc. Large importation moi- 
itud Bulbs in se son. ... years. 1000 Acres. Correspond co and per- 
THE STORRS & HARRISON CO., PainesvUle, Ohio. 
