7o 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
January 29 
What Is the Best Method of Finding 
out Which Are the Most Profit¬ 
able Kinds of Potatoes ? 
A NEW METHOD PROPOSED BY THE It. N.-V. 
To be Tried During the Season of 1898. 
ALL OF OUIt POTATO-INTERESTED READERS, 
AND THE EXPERIMENT STATIONS 
SOLICITED TO COOPERATE. 
We know that many people hold that 
small trials of potatoes (two to a dozen 
hills e. g.) are worthless. They contend 
that trials should be made upon acres. 
Such trials are impracticable, even for 
the experiment stations. The writer of 
these notes has carried on “ baby ” tests 
for 20 years, and he is to-day as ready to 
judge the comparative merits of potatoes 
by the ‘ ‘ baby ” as by the field trials. 
During the past 20 years, or more, he 
has tried (to guess at it) 1,000 kinds of 
potatoes. These trials have been made 
using from three to a dozen pieces ox 
each kind. The reports have, from year 
to year, been printed in these columns. 
We can recall but few kinds that we 
have condemned that are now popular or 
have since the trials were made been 
popular. We do not recall any varieties 
that yielded heavily and were otherwise 
reported as meritorious, that have not 
been widely distributed and generally 
approved. 
If the soil in which three hills of pota¬ 
toes are grown varies so that we may not 
judge of the merits of a variety, as com¬ 
pared with the next three hills, why 
may not larger areas vary just the same? 
Certainly it is easier to furnish the same 
conditions of soil, fertilization and culti¬ 
vation to one-fortieth acre, to a smaller 
fraction of an acre, or to single hills, 
than it is to an acre or to acres. 
The Trench system, as has been stated 
again and again, has helped, as we be¬ 
lieve, to furnish equality of soil, etc., 
for trials of new varieties. 
Now it is our purpose to amplify the 
Trench system so as to furnish precisely 
the same conditions to all of the kinds 
to be tried. It is, so to say, to make a 
huge flower pot. It would not be diffi¬ 
cult so to mix a given quantity of soil 
that 100 flower pots, a foot or more in 
diameter could be filled with soil of just 
the same porosity and texture contain¬ 
ing just the same amount of plant food. 
Instead of the flower pots, we purpose 
making a huge flower pot of—say—one- 
fortieth acre of level, thoroug-lily drained 
soil. The soil is to be spaded over a 
dozen times or more, interchanging every 
portion, until all portions are as nearly 
alike as the soil could be made in the 
supposititious flower pots. The expense 
of this intermingling of the soil is not to 
be considered. If such a trial would 
answer the question for a given soil 
“ Which is the most profitable potato, 
old or new ? ” potato growers would not 
regard it. The answer would pay the 
cost many fold, and we could afford to 
try it again and again from year to year, 
or as long as extra-promising varieties 
are offered for sale. 
One-fortieth of an Acre. —This is 
ample for our purpose. One-eightietli or 
less would suffice for most of our readers 
who care to make the trial. Let us make 
the one-fortieth 33 feet square. The 
width or length of the plot each may best 
determine for himself. We are merely 
explaining our plan. We purpose to 
plant one piece a foot apart in this homo¬ 
geneous soil, the rows being three feet 
apart. We purpose to plant three pieces 
of each new kind, with many of the older 
kinds for comparison. Each piece is to 
weigh the same and to have, as nearly as 
may be, the same number of eyes to be cut 
from the same part of the tubers. Thirty- 
three feet square would give 11 rows, anc 
each row would receive 33 pieces, or II 
different kinds, if three of each be taker 
for trial. The 11 rows would, therefore, 
receive 121 different varieties. Of course, 
careful notes during the season should 
be taken as to size of stems, vigor and 
habit of plant, color of stems, leaves and 
flowers, when the foliage begins to 
change color and when it dies. All should 
be dug at the same time or not until the 
last vines die. Then the tubers are to 
be counted, the proportion of large and 
small tubers, the number and prominence 
of the eyes, the average shape, the color 
of the skin all noted and. finally, each 
kind is to be cooked separately. A quan¬ 
tity of each kind should then be stored 
in separate boxes in a suitable cellar so 
that their keeping qualities may be ascer¬ 
tained. 
We beg those of our friends who may 
look upon this Big Flower Pot scheme as 
carrying with it a modicum of sense, to 
cooperate with us, if situated so that 
the doing of it would not put them out 
too much. Thus may be obtained a con¬ 
sensus of results showing that the varie¬ 
ties of potatoes which prove the most 
profitable at the Rural Grounds may or 
may not be so considered in other parts of 
the country. 
Japan Golden Russet Pear. —From 
Wm. Parry, of Parry, N. J., April, 1894. 
—The tree began to bear the second 
year, and has borne heavily since. All 
were ripe by September 25. The pear 
is almost round, with a smooth, even 
basin and cavity, a long stem, and only 
the trace of a calyx. The average size 
in circumference either way is between 
7 x /i and eight inches. The flesh is white, 
juicy, sweetish and coarse. For stew¬ 
ing or canning, they are valuable. This 
Golden Russet is a beautiful tree, the 
leaves being thick and large. It is 
especially showy from the time the 
smooth, shapely fruit begins to color. 
We have never noticed an imperfect 
pear upon the Golden Russet tree, either 
from crack, rot or insects. The speci¬ 
men shown at Fig. 27 was picked Sep¬ 
tember 29. Fig. 28 shows the leaf. 
The Eliot pear has borne at the Rural 
Grounds for the past five years. The 
tree was sent there by the late Mr. James 
Dougal, of Canada, about 15 years ago. 
Mr. F. W. Wilson, of Chatham, Ont., 
writes us as follows : “ As to the Eliot 
pear you write of occasionally, I bought 
the original stock from Mr. Dougal when 
(Continued on next page.) 
Rheumatism 
Is permanently cured 
By Hood’s Sarsaparilla 
Which neutralizes the 
Lactic acid in the blood. 
Thousands who were 
Sufferers write that they 
Have felt no symptoms 
Of Rheumatism since 
Taking Hood’s Sarsaparilla 
JAPAN PLUMS. 
Full assortment, choice varieties and grades. Best 
grading in the country. Get our.prices before order¬ 
ing. Catalogue free. 
C. F. MacNAIR & CO., Dausvllle, N. Y. 
STANDARD VALUE 
Counts for more in the selection of fruit 
trees than almost any other place. Why ? 
Because fruit trees are bought on faith. We 
have the standard kind of all the leading 
varieties. Fruit Tree*,Kerry Plant*, 
Evergreen#, etc,, etc* Strong, healthy 
trees free from Black Knot, Yellows, 
Blight, Scale, etc., etc. Do not place your 
spring order until you get our catalogue 
and prices. Sent free; write to-day. 
J.W. MILLER CO.Box 268, Freeport ,111. 
Large, perfect shape 
vigorous, prolific, 
drought-resisting. 
Best varieties Straw¬ 
berry Plants; also A s- 
paragusRoots, Peach, 
Apple and Plum Trees. 
Peaches grown from nat¬ 
ural seed In section free 
from scale and yellows. 
Write for latest*catalog—FREE. 
hIrBISOX’S NfRSEKlVs, 
Berlin, gd. 
ntfllitint-' .STRAWBERRIES 
VilVlUL FRESH DUG PLANTS. 
Nick Oiimkh, Margaret. Seaford, Ruby, Carrie, Etc. 
400,WO Civile, 130.000 Glen Marv, 400.000 Marshall Write for esti¬ 
mate on large lots. 100 varieties. CATALOGUE SENT FREE. 
C. X FLWSBIRGH, LESLIE, MICHIGAN. 
Ceflfl Porane - For the finest, largest Loui- 
WwvU - vvalid siana pecans for planting, 
address 8. H. JAMES. Mound, La. 
STRAWBERRY PLANTS 
—luu plants sent pre¬ 
paid for $1. 25 each of 
WM. BELT and BIS- 
CLYDE, GLEN MARY 
MARCH. Catalogue free 
ENOS W. DUNHAM, Stevensville, Mich 
THE NEW RASPBERRY 
l«»r “FANCY MARKET.” 
Money in it. Catalogue free. 
W. N. 8CAHFF, New Carlisle, Ohio 
BIG 4 
13 of each Glen Mary, Ridgeway. Parker 
Earle Jr. and Free Silver. Big catalogue free. 
T. C. KEV1TT, Athenia, N. J. 
TDCCQ AND PLANTS AT VERY LOW PRICES. 
IriLLOAppie. Plum. Cherry, 5c. Peach, 3c. 
Cat. free. Reliance Nursery, Box 10. Geneva, N.Y. 
Peach Trees 
a specialty. Other 
stock, too. Don't 
buy without first seeing our catalogue. Send for it. 
W. M. PETERS, Wesley, Md. 
Large stock of best 
varieties at lowest 
rates. Full assort¬ 
ment of Trees and 
Plants. Get our prices before ordering elsewhere. 
Catalogue free. Established 1809. 150 acres. The 
Geo. A. Sweet Nursery Co., Box 1005, Dansville, N. Y. 
JAPAN PLUMS 
NORTHERN PLANTERS 
should get our catalogue of tested 
varieties of Ktrawberrien, lliiHp- 
berr!c»,Ciirrttnt#s AnpiiraguR-Frult 
and Ornamental Trees, Seed Corn 
and I’otatoe* Write to-day—free. 
Coe k Convene, No. 9, Fort Atkinson, Wis. 
SBGBAPE VINES 
100 Varieties. Also Small Fruits, Frees, Ae. Best root¬ 
ed stock. Ueuuine.cheap ti sample vines mailed for 10«. 
Descriptive price-list free. LEWIS koesUi, FredonU, Ji. i. 
Seeds! Seeds! 
74th Annual Priced Catalogue of 
VEGETABLE, FARM AID FLOWER SEEDS, 
is now ready and mailed FREE to all applicants. 
BRIDGEMAN’S SEED WAREHOUSE, 
37 East 19th Street, New York City. 
Clover and Timothy Seed Z 
PAUL 8. STEARNS Prairie City, 111. 
FARM 
SEEDS 
Saber's Seeds arc Warranted to Prodnce. 
E. Walter, LeRaysville. Pa., astonished the world 
by growing250 bushels Salzer's corn; J. Breider, 
r Mishicott, Wis., 173 bush, barley, and P. Siunot, 
' Randalia, Iowa, bv growing 196 bush. Salzer’s oats 
per acre. If you doubt, write thorn. We wish to gaiu 
150,000 new customers, hence will send on trial 
10 DOLLARS WORTH FOR 10c. 
11 pkes of rare farm seeds. Hog Pea, Sand Vetch, 
‘40c. Wheat,' Sheep Rape, Jerusalem Cot n, etc., in¬ 
cluding our mammoth Seed Catalogue, telling all 
about the $100 gold prizes for best name for our 
new marvelous corn and oats, “Prodigies," 
also sample of same, all mailed you upon 
receipt of but 10c. postage, positively 
worth $ 10 . to get a start. 100.000 bbls. 
Seed Potatoes at $1 50 a bbl. A 
35 pkgs. oarlii-ot vegetable 
_ t seeds, $1.00. ^ 
Please - - - r 
Bendt im alone, 5c. 
adv. along. No. ni 
Government 
Free Seeds 
aresimply “not in It.’ 
To Introduce the Best Mic higan 
Northern Grown New Land Seed 
I otnloee. Farm, Garden and Flower 
Seed, everywhere. I will givo away. 
absolutely free 
500.000 Packets ofchoice 
Vegetable and FlowerSeed. 
Yourname on a postal card gets my Free 
Seed Book from which vou may 
select Free your supply of seeds for 
an entire garden. Write to-day. 
HARRY N. HAMMOND. 
Seedsman, Box 1 2 
Decatur, Mich. 
ELL SEEDS 
that “Grow” do not 
PAY TO GROW. 
Ours do. For proof, 
see our catalogue 
pages 1& 2. Send for 
it. It tells all about 
Seeds and How to 
Make Them Pay. 
You will find in ev¬ 
ery Catalogue a Cer¬ 
tificate for 
50 CENTS' WORTH OF FREE 8EEDS. 
HEMAN GLASS, Seed Grower, Rochester, N.Y. 
BOVEE AND SIR WALTER RALEIGH 
Seed Potatoes, from stock that yielded 94 bushels to 
the bushel. Carman Nos. 1 and 3. Choice stock true 
to name, and free from disease. Great Northern Seed 
Oats. Write for lowest prices to 
NORMAN NELSON, Laney, Wis. 
Clover Seed 
Medium Red, $3 50 per 
bu.; Mammoth, $3 75, 
carefully recleaned. 
Sacks free. Sample of either for 2-cent stamp, liovee 
Potatoes; $2 per bu., 2nd size. $1.50; other varieties, 
$1 per bu. J. M. FLUKE, Nankin, Ohio. 
4 
.4-7 
HIGH CLASS SEEDS. 
Our NINETY-SEVENTH ANNUAL CATALOGUE is now ready, and 
will be mailed FREE on application. It contains the 
Largest Collection in the World of 
VegetableJIower and Farm Seeds, 
Including every Standard Variety and every 
Novelty of Established Merit. 
For Nearly a Century the Leading Seed House of America. 
J.M.THORBURN & Co, 15 JOHN ST.NewYork 
\I/ A DAY rDnniT 1S only one of Stark 12 Challenge Points—the 
TV C i/AI I |%L lull I full 12 plainly show WHY Stark Bro’s grow and 
sell the most trees. Then, we will not cut guality no matter how LOW our price 
If interested in trees or fruits drop postal for C<nn 1 ni/ PPIIIT DAA17 
new edition; finest, most complete yet issued 01/lI\I\riYUlI GUl/IY 
sent free. STARK BROS, Louisiana. Mo. Stark, Mo. Rockport, 111. Dansville, N.Y. 
iniiiiiuiinmmiiimmmiiiMiiiiiiiiiiiiimiiuiiiiiiiiiiimiiiiiuiuMiiiiiuiiiimiiimiiiiiiiiiiiiimmmMimiiiimiiimiiiiiiiimiiiiuii 
! CAMPBELL’S EARLY Be Swallowed. I 
s “First of all Grapes..” says Rural New- Yorker. Scaled 96 points in possible 100. “Will | 
s ship round the world.” Early or Late. Insist on our Seals and get what you buy. S 
a Largest stock of other Grape Vines, Small Fruits. Elegant Catalogue FREE 
CEORCE S. JOSSELYN, FREDONIA, NEW YORK. 
DWYER’S 1898 CAIALOGUE. 
of FRUIT TREES, PLANTS, VINES and ORNAMENTAL STOCK. Standard 
Varieties and Novelties. Prices low. Stock first-class, mailed free. 
T, J. DWYER & SON, tel?,?!; CORNWALL, N. Y. 
1,000,000 STRAWBERRY PLANTS 
For Fall and Spring. All Young Plants. All the leading NEW and Old Standard Sorts, grown on ea.e 
never occupied by strawberry plants before. Prices right. Write for Special Price. CatalogueFndrl 
A.H.TII U JH «T. OOUliINS, Moorestown, TV. «T. 
IFYOU WANT STRAWBERRY PLANTS 
WILL GROW 
SEND YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS 
TO W. F. ALLEN JB 
SALISBURY. MD. 
, AND HE WILL SEND YOU HIS 
’32 PAGE STRAWBERRY CATALOGUE 
^CONTAINING 17LARGE NEW STRAWBERRY 
flLUISTRATIONS-FREE-ALSO SAMPLECOPY 
roFTHE STRAWBERRY CULTURIST 
AND SMALL FRUIT GROWER • SEND NOW.IT WILL PAY YOU. 
ARE RELIABLE. 
_ Everything grown in Reid’s Nurseries Is 
healthy, well-rooted and true to name. Every effort , 
made to save expense to customers. We sell direct and ship 
direct, saving fifty per cent, on Trees, Shrubs, Vines. Write for cata- w 
logue, estimates or suggestions. Try Star Strawberry, Eldorado 
Blackberry. ' REID’S NURSERIES, Bridgeport. 
