1898 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
FARMERS’ GATHERINGS. 
(CONTINUED.) 
strawberry plants to all the children in 
the public schools of a certain part of 
the State, who would apply for them and 
promise to care for them. Over 2,000 had 
asked and received them. Some of the 
children in New York City had heard of 
the offer, and they had been supplied, 
too. This sort of contact with Nature, 
the speaker thought, would lead them to 
love the things of the country, and rural 
pursuits, and might, in the end, give 
great results. 
H. E. Van Deman suggested that it 
would be wise to move into the country 
the orphan asylums and other charitable 
institutions in which the city waifs were 
cared for and educated. He said that 
the property they occupy in the cities 
could be sold for enough to buy them big 
farms upon which the children might be 
taught to work. .That they would be 
more healthy, help to earn their living, 
and in some measure, relieve the cities 
of thdir congested pauper population, 
and in the end, add useful men and 
women to the rural classes instead of 
training them up and turning them out 
to be city loafers. Why should not the 
city authorities and the great philan¬ 
thropists adopt this plan ? 
Dr. L. L. Van Slyke, of the Geneva 
Experiment Station, gave the results of 
a series of experiments that were only 
partially carried out as yet, on Plant- 
food Demands in Fruit Growing. It had 
been learned from these experiments 
that something like an equal amount of 
nitrogen and potash was found in the 
leaves, wood and fruit, but less of phos¬ 
phoric acid. That it was quite well 
proved that chemical analysis is not a 
sure indication of just how much of each 
of the elements of fertility is needed in 
the soil, but that we must determine this 
by actual test of the trees and plants. 
Mr. Willis T. Mann gave an account of 
three years of experiments with fertiliz¬ 
ers in his orchard. He divic ed it into 
two parts, and applied 200 pounds of 
muriate of potash the first year and 150 
pounds in each of the other years to one- 
half, and to the other nothing. All was 
plowed and cultivated thoroughly. He 
could see no material difference in the 
size and character of the fruit, except 
that, one year, the manured part did 
show some advantage in one variety. 
Cultivation seemed to be of far greater 
value than fertilizing. 
Director W. H. Jordan, of the Geneva 
Experiment Station, talked in a forcible 
manner upon Food Values of Fruits, 
using charts showing tables of the an¬ 
alyses of many kinds of fruits, and of 
many grains, vegetables, meats, etc. It 
was plainly shown that, in their actual 
energy-giving properties, they are far 
less valuable than grains and meats. 
Cheese is one of the most strengthening 
in comparison to its cost, and so are lean 
meats, milk and eggs. Vegetables are 
even less valuable than many fruits. 
Both fruits and vegetables are very 
largely composed of water; but, while 
fruits may not be so rich in dry food 
matter as some other things, and in this 
respect may be more costly to the pur¬ 
chaser, they have other and higher values. 
They have certain qualities of palatabil- 
ity and digestibility that make them of 
unusual value. The doctors say that they 
are just what the animal system needs. 
The epicure wants them and will have 
them. He will pay a big price for them, 
too. He is the fruit grower’s friend, and 
should be supplied. 
Prof. I. P. Roberts, of Cornell Univer¬ 
sity, talked about Questioning the Soil. 
He said that we must talk with the 
plant, asking it how it is coming on, 
how it feels to-day. If it is sick, we must 
find out the cause. We must know what 
it likes to eat. We must take a few rows 
of trees and by sign language ask them 
if they want potash, pho sphoric acid or 
nitrogen. Find out if they like Crimson 
clover, cow peas, etc., after the latter 
are decayed in the soil. He suggested 
I l5 
that the fruit growers go home and try 
these suggestions, and come here next 
year, as Mr. Mann did this year, and tell 
us what they have learned by asking 
these questions of the soil. jay. 
(Concluded Next Week.) 
YELLOWS LEGISLATION IN MASSA¬ 
CHUSETTS. 
Progressive Massachusetts peach grow¬ 
ers are up in arms at another attempt on 
the part of Boston commission men. and 
nurserymen from outside the State, to 
foist upon the statute books a measure 
most odious to the interests most vitally 
concerned. For two successive years, a 
similar bill, proposing to destroy all trees 
affected by the so-called disease, and to 
prevent the sale of prematurely ripened 
fruit, has been defeated through the 
testimony of a few of the up-to-date and 
most scientific peach growers in the State 
before the joint House and Senate com¬ 
mittee on agriculture. 
At the renewal of the attack this 
year, it was decided to meet it with the 
most determined and overwhelming re¬ 
sistance that organized opposition could 
bring to bear. At a meeting of peach 
growers at South Framingham, in the 
center of the peach-growing district, on 
January 28, the few who have heretofore 
fought the battle alone, received the 
most cordial encouragement and support. 
Earnest speeches strongly opposing the 
contagion theory, and denouncing the 
motives of the petitioners for the bill, 
were made by Representatives Charles 
I). Lewis, of Framingham, II. C. Parker, 
of Holden (the latter a member of the 
House committee on agriculture), ex- 
Representative Dowse, of Sherborn, State 
Grange Lecturer, Abel Stevens, Turner 
J. Saunderson, William H. Johnson, 
Jonathan Eames and other large peach 
growers. An encouraging communica¬ 
tion from Prof. Samuel T. Maynard, of 
the Amherst Agricultural College, urging 
the fruit growers to stand by the truth 
and their rights, was read. He referred 
to the contagion theory of Peach yel¬ 
lows as mere “ personal opinion unsup¬ 
ported by proof when viewed in the light 
of the science of plant growth and plant 
diseases.” As affecting the market for 
superior fruit, he put scabby apples, 
small potatoes, moldy raspberries, mil¬ 
dewed grapes and yellowed peaches, all 
in the same class, urged fruit growers to 
refrain from sending such fruit to mar¬ 
ket as a matter of self-interest, and be¬ 
lieved that legislation to control the 
marketing of such products was unneces¬ 
sary, if not unconstitutional. 
A committee of five was appointed to 
perfect a permanent organization, if 
thought advisable, and to embody the 
views of the meeting in a circular letter 
to the Legislature, and urging peach 
growers throughout the State to be 
present at the State House hearing on 
1 ebruary 8. The following reasons were 
presented why yellows legislation is un¬ 
necessary : First, it is not called for by 
either the growers or consumers of 
peaches, but by commission men and in¬ 
terested nurserymen from outside the 
State. Second, a similar law in Connec¬ 
ticut has, after four years’ trial, just been 
repealed, and all fines remitted. Third, 
that yellowed peaches are not in any 
way injurious as human food, or to pub¬ 
lic health. Fourth, that the cause of 
the disease must be known before intel¬ 
ligent legislation can be had. Fifth, 
that contagion does not exist, as proved 
by the experiments of Prof. Erwin F. 
Smith, and the experience of other in¬ 
telligent experts. Sixth, that apparent 
contagion may be rationally explained 
under the assumption that the unfavor¬ 
able conditions which will cause the dis¬ 
ease in one tree may cause it in the 
next. In other words, it is the propin- 
quity of unfavorable conditions of tree 
growth and nourishment which causes 
the apparent “spread” of the disease, 
rather than the transmission of any dis¬ 
tinctive germ of disease. 
Peach growing in Massachusetts has 
become a precarious business for the last 
25 years, owing to changed climatic con¬ 
ditions. We no longer have the con¬ 
stant, deep, protecting snows through¬ 
out the Winter, and immunity from early 
and late freezing, respectively, before 
the trees are dormant, and after growth 
has started in the Spring. While the 
prevalence of yellows has correspond- 
increased, it is worthy of note that, 
in spite of increasing adverse conditions, 
there are still some large and successful 
growers who have overcome all difficul¬ 
ties, to a surprising degree, and whose 
continued success in the face of the fail¬ 
ure of others will, undoubtedly, give 
added weight to their opinions and testi¬ 
mony if presented before the Joint Com¬ 
mittee on Agriculture at the hearing on 
February 8 . frkd h. Johnson. 
Brown's Bronchial Troches ” are unrivaled 
for relieving Coughs, Hoarseness and all Throat 
Troubles. Sold only in boxes.— Adv. 
The Business Hen 
Her part is to lay the eggs. The Pineland Incu¬ 
bator and Brooder will successfully hatch and rear 
the chicks. Simplest to operate on the market, and most 
reliable hatcher of strong, healthy chicks. Practical 
poultrymen prefer them to all others. Send foi our 
illustrated catalogue before you buy. Address, 
PINELAND INCUBATOR AND BROODER CO., 
Jamesburg, New Jersey. 
ILLINOIS 
Incubators A Brooders 
embody in their construction the 
following principles which lusuro 
success! Tho proper application of 
heat; perfect ventilation; complete 
control of moisture; large, roomy egg cham¬ 
bers and a nursery for the little chicks. The 
Illinois Incubator cannot catch on lire from the lamp. 
It’s tire proof, being covered with a metal cosing. Hot Water 
or Hot Air, as you prefer. Handsome Illustrated Catalogue sent 
HlitE* J. II. JOAE8, JtoxlO?, Strcutor, Illinois. 
WITH THE 
EMPIRE KING 
or Garfield Knapsack 
Perfect agitators—no scorching of foliage 
—no leather valves. 14 styles spray pumps. 
Catalogue free. Agents wanted. 
FIELB FORCE PUMP CO., 13 Market St.,Loekport, R.Y. 
Years of Prosperity 
are surely coming, so 
wake up. Buy an 
ECLIPSE 
SPRAY PUMP, 
and save your fruit crop. “ It la 
better to be wife than sorry” 
In fruit growing as well as in any 
other business. 
Send for our 1808 catalogue. 
MORRILL & MORLEY, 
Benton hauboh, Mich. 
KEROSENE Sprayers 
1 In simple Indeed. Kerosene Emulsion 
made while pumping. Send for pho- 
, togranh of our NEW PEERLESS 
ORCHARD SPRAYER, with HOR- 
DEAIIX NOZZI.E, the world’s best, 
THE DEMINQ CO. SALEM, OHIO. 
MAKING MONEY 
BY SELLING OUR 
Cyclone Sprinkler 
SELLS AT SIGHT FOR $1.00. 
One of our agents writes us : “ Send me 6 dozen 
Sprayers by express, last order (4 dozen) was a 
small one.” 
We want agents In every county in the United 
States. Agents’ prices very low. Write us. 
THE DAVIS & STEVENS MEG. CO., 
Seneca Falls, N. Y. 
Sold ^ ON TRIAL 
Imperial 
Pulverizer, 
Clod Crusher, 
Holler and 
Leveler. 
'MWAi, 
Farmers 
may try It 
before buying. 
Plainly i 
scribed in eir< 
lar, SENT FKK 
Peterson Mfg. Co., Kent, Oh, 
LET THE WIND BLOW WHILE YOU SOW 
MICHI6AN SEEDER, 
machmo in every respect. Garden cultivator for same FREE. 
Write for catalogue. 
SEEDER & HAMMOCK CHAIR CO 4 Depot St. Homer. Mich. 
PLANTING PAYS, 
setter von rlr> it tho hotter if non u ____ . / 
^ The better you do It, the better It pays. The Gardener who uses the 
Planet Jr. No. 5 IIill Dropping Seeder gets most for his labor, 
because he can do the most work with the least labor. With one of these 
1 drills the work of two days is accomplished in one. The seed is 
planted better, grows better, produces most. This drill works 
automatically, dropping the seed continuously or In hills, 
—- J covering, rolling down and marking the next row 
All you have to do la to guide the machine, 
and a boy can do that. There are many other 
"Planet Jr." Machines for many other uses 
If you would know all about thorn, 
•end for the "Planet Jr." Book for 1898 
8 .L. Allen A Co. 1107 Market St. Phlla. 
Why walk when 
you can ride 
without increas¬ 
ing - tiie labor of 
your team ? 
THE EMPIRE Wheel Ham «- 
■ ■ ■ ™ » ■■■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■■ WITH RIDING ATTACHMENT. 
ORIGINAL AND NEW. 
The Riding Attachment is practically independent of the Harrow and the 
draught direct from the evener. It overcomes the objections that exist in 
other Spring-Tooth Harrows, and will work in 
trash, stones and soils where other Harrows 
fail. Either section of the Harrow can he 
lifted, and the levers operated from the seat. 
Runs Easily. 
Simple and Very Strong-. 
Patents AppliedOFor. 
—\\ e have six patents pending, covering alt 
apl the novel and new features in wheel and riding 
attachments. Ask your dealer for it, or write 
for circular to 
THE STANDARD HARROW CO. 
General Office and Works: 
UTICA, N. Y., U. S. A. 
