578 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
August 20 
Ruralisms ; 
AN EXCEPTIONAL SEASON. 
It isn’t often that we care to talk 
about the weather under liuralisms. 
We have too much else to talk about, 
and our space is necessarily limited. But 
we have lived at the Rural Grounds for 
nearly 28 years, and the present season 
is so far different from any of its pre¬ 
decessors that our readers may care to 
know about it. 
The early Spring, as we have said, was 
so cold, rainy and frosty that the first 
plantings of sweet corn and Lima beans 
were destroyed. The seed rotted in the 
soil. Tomato plants set out from May 
20 to June 1 were so retarded by the 
cold and rain that they made no growth 
until at least two weeks after, in usual 
seasons, they begin to grow and fruit. 
The first blossoms were blighted. We 
should have ripe tomatoes now (August 
1) but the first has yet to ripen. Sweet 
corn is now paying our market gardeners 
well. We heard of thousands of ears 
sent to market two days ago that were 
sold readily at $2 jier 100 ears. 
Here is a little record of the weather 
written from day to day since April 25. 
The record has been carefully made so 
that all the conditions which might 
affect our Potato Flower-pot might be 
presented : 
April 25, showers ; all the rain needed. 
Cold nights, some frost. 
April 28, a long, tedious storm, too 
much rain, with light frosts. 
April 30, clearing and warmer. 
May 7, since May 1, cold and rainy. 
May 8, rain continues and a flood is 
feared. Weather cold, a quarter of an 
inch of ice formed. 
May 15, clear, cold, some rain. A few 
shoots appearing in the Flower-pot. 
May 16, continued rain, potato rot 
prevalent. 
May 20, fair. Thermometer 86 degrees. 
May 24, steady rain, warm and sultry. 
Clear to June 12. Showers needed. 
June 18, dry, cool nights. 
June 25, showers, fine weather, heavy 
thunder-storm, thermometer 06 degrees. 
June 28, fine shower, hot. The ther¬ 
mometer in New York registered 107 
degrees on July 1, and on the 3rd 111, a 
record-breaker. 
July 4, fine rain, cooler. 
July 11, fine weather, cool, with 
occasional showers. 
July 14, ample rains, cold night. 
July 19, heavy and continued thunder¬ 
storms. 
July 24, generally cloudy with showers. 
July 25, cloudy and sultry. 
July 27, cloudy, showery, intense 
humidity. 
July 29, hot, showery, sultry, 
July 31, sultry, hot and showery. 
August 1, cloudy and sultry with 
showers. 
August 4, sultry with terrific showers. 
At this time, the walls of the Rural 
home are so wet that the drops of moist¬ 
ure may be wiped off as from a perspir¬ 
ing face. We have never before known 
such a combination of cold, frost, heat, 
rain and humidity. 
Strange to say we hear no more of 
potato rot ; in fact the yield of early 
potatoes is exceptionally good. Just 
what conditions of weather favor potato 
rot the writer, during his long experi¬ 
ence, has not been able to find out. If 
one factor, more than another, causes it, 
we would suspect the flea-beetle. This 
pernicious insect so weakens the vines 
by the many little holes it cuts into every 
leaf, that the vines become an easy prey 
to the blight fungus. 
The peculiar season seems to have been 
unfavorable to the development of Potato 
beetles. Not since the first season that 
this pest visited the East have there been 
so few. Still the comparatively few 
must have been remarkably prolific, since 
their larvae are at this time about as 
numerous as in ordinary seasons. 
Early Peas Planted Late. —Many 
years ago, we tried planting peas so as 
to have them in late August and Septem¬ 
ber. Our trials proved nearly a failure. 
The flowers did not “set” well. Few 
pods formed, and the seeds were few— 
from one to three to a pod. It did not 
pay to gather them. 
We were so much pleased with the new 
Gradus or Prosperity pea (Henderson's 
1897) as a first-early wrinkled pea that it 
occurred to us to plant them late—June 
20. The peas germinated readily enough, 
but the vines grew feebly. As will be 
seen by our record of the weather, they 
did not suffer from drought. The vines 
grew to a height of nearly six inches, 
yellow and feeble. Then they died, be¬ 
fore blooming. 
On July 28, we planted Nott’s Excelsior 
and Nott’s Perfection. Later we may 
make another planting. But we are im¬ 
pressed that peas from late planting can 
have little value either for market or 
home use. 
We planted one tree of the Burbank 
plum last Fall. It has made a fine 
growth, being at this time 10 feet high 
and bearing one plum. A single Hale 
(Burbank) plum tree was planted during 
April of 1895. It bore well last year. 
This season, it was so loaded that severe 
thinning was necessary. At this time, 
the plums are beginning to ripen. All, 
however, are quite green in color. They 
are nearly round, and average a little 
over IX inch in diameter. Not one has 
been harmed by the curculio, so preva¬ 
lent in this neighborhood that the larger 
foreign plums never mature unless the 
trees are jarred. There is some rot, but 
not much if the rot-inviting season be 
considered. The tree is now 12 to 13 
feet high, spreading and vigorous. 
Brazilian Flour and Mexican June 
Corn. —We are observing the growth of 
these two varieties with interest. The 
Mexican June, as has been said, was 
planted in the middle of a round eight- 
foot flower bed. It should be remem¬ 
bered that the soil was thoroughly ferti¬ 
lized with manure water, potash, phos¬ 
phoric acid, nitrate of soda and mulch of 
tobacco stems. The seed was planted 
April 15, but it was slow to germinate, 
and afterwards for several weeks the 
tiny plants just merely lived without 
making any growth. Beginning with 
July 25, here is a record of the growth 
taken every 24 hours. All except two 
plants were destroyed. 
July 25, taller plant.5 feet 0*4 ineb. 
July 26, taller plant.4 feet 11*4 inches. 
July 27, taller plant.5 feet 5*4 inches. 
July 28, taller plant.6 feet 0!4 inch. 
July 29, taller plant.5 feet 7*4 inches. 
July 60, taller plant.5 feet 11*4 inches. 
July 31, taller plant.6 feet 5 inches. 
August 1, taller plant.7 feet 054 inch. 
August 2, taller plant.7 feet 5 inches. 
The other plant is but a few inches shorter. 
A seeming discrepancy will be ob¬ 
served. For instance, on July 28, the 
plant measured six feet and one-half 
inch. On July 29, it measured only 5 
feet 7% inches. This is because we 
measured to the tip of the new leaf. 
This leaf bends over the next day 
and a new leaf appears which is, of 
course, shorter than the other. At this 
rate of growth, we are hoping the plant 
may grow to the height of 20 feet before 
killing frost. The nodes or leaves aver¬ 
age seven inches apart. The old leaves 
average about four feet long and four 
inches wide. 
The Brazilian Flour Corn was 
planted not until June 7 and fertilized 
in the ordinary way, that is with a fair 
supply of high grade complete fertilizer. 
There are four stalks which now aver¬ 
age, August 3, six feet, seven inches 
high. The leaves are seven inches apart, 
and average three feet, six inches long, 
three and one-half inches broad. 
Our friends may assume that, con¬ 
sidering the difference in time of plant¬ 
ing and fertilizing, the Brazilian Flour 
corn has the better of it. But it must 
be considered that early planting this 
season gave no advantage. 
Disease of the Willard Plum. —Mr. 
A. I. Loop, of North East, Pa., writes as 
follows : 
“ I have lost three or four Willard plum trees 
this Summer in just the manner you describe on 
page 530. Do you think the affection contagious ? 
I have 100 Willards in the block where the dead 
trees are.” 
A letter, in reply to our inquiry, from 
the fungus expert of Cornell University, 
through Prof. Slingerland, leads us to 
suppose that the disease is caused by 
the ordinary plum Shot-hole fungus 
He says: 
If The R. N.-Y.’s Willard Wees have been 
thoroughly sprayed with Bordeaux this season, 
it is doubtful whether the “shot-hole” appear¬ 
ance is due to the fungous disease. On the other 
hand, if the trees have not been sprayed, it is, 
doubtless, the work of the fungus; and thorough 
work with the Bordeaux, three or four sprayings, 
would check the disease, and enable the leaves 
to remain on the tree. 
As our trees have not been sprayed, 
we may conclude that the disease is 
caused by the Shot-hole fungus. Other 
plum trees growing within 10 or 15 feet 
of the Willards have not, as yet, shown 
any evidence that the disease is con¬ 
tagious. 
Warm Weather 
Weakness is quickly overcome by 
the toning and blood enriching qualities 
of Hood's Sarsaparilla. This great medi¬ 
cine cures that tired feeling almost as 
quickly as the sun dispels the morning 
mist. It also cures pimples, boils, salt 
rheum, scrofula and all other troubles 
originating in bad, impure blood. 
Hood's parilla 
America’s Greatest Medicine. 11; six for $5. 
Hood’s Pills cure biliousness, indigestion. 
Peach Baskets. 
Sizes, 2, 4, 6, 8, io, 12, 14 and 16 qts. 
Peach Covers. 
Wood, Burlap and Cotton. 
Grape Baskets. 
Sizes, 5 , 8 , 10 and 15 lbs. 
Berry Baskets. 
Quarts, Shorts, Pints,Thirds, 
etc. 
BERRY, PEACH AND GRAPE CRATES. 
Crate stock and box shocks in all sizes, direct 
from the manufacturers. Special prices to deal¬ 
ers and carload buyers. Write tor catalogue. 
A. II. MONTAGUE & SON, 
Manufacturers and Agents, 
120 Warren St., New York City. 
Pot Grown 
Strawberry Plants 
■will bear crop next season. Fruit trees; 
celery, cabbage plants, etc. —everything 
in the nursery line. Send your address f<* 
our free Summer and Autumn catalogue 
T. J. DWYER & SON. Cornwall, N. Y. 
nnTTrn STRAWBERRY PLANTS. Price-List 
lU I I LU free. T. C. KKVITT, Athenia, N. J. 
1,000,000 
Peach Trees 
grown on the bank of Lake 
Erie, two miles from any 
peach orchards and guar¬ 
anteed free from Scale, 
Borers, Yellows, etc. Large 
stock of Pear, Plum, 
Cherry, Quince and immense supply of Small 
Fruit plants. Headquarters for Ornamental 
Trees and Shrubs. A quarter of a million of 
low down budded roses. 
32 Greenhouses filled with Roses, Palms, 
Araucarias, Ficus, Dracenas, Pandanus, etc. 
Will have immense stocks of best Holland Bulbs 
for fall. 45th year. 1000 acres. Correspondence 
and personal inspection solicited. 
THE STORRS & HARRISON CO., 
Box 8, Painesville, Ohio. 
The October Purple Plum. 
ITS A GREAT BEAUTY AND A 
SUPEIIB VARIETY. 
Mr. Luther Burbank's latest and best production. 
Superior to the Abundance, Burbank. Satsuma, 
Wiekson, Red June, Hale, Gold, or any of his many 
valuable varieties of plums. Send for circular giv¬ 
ing further information. Address 
STEPHEN HOYT’S SONS, New Canaan, Conn. 
T HE NEED of Potash to 
make a successful fer¬ 
tilizer is well known. 
Phosphoric acid 
and nitrogen 
without 
or 
Potash 
"without them, 
is not economy. 
Most fertilizers do not 
contain sufficient Potash. 
The amount required varies. 
See our hook. 
pi? EE_Our hooks contain the results of 
V actual experiments on various 
crops and soils in different sections of the 
United States. They have helped thousands 
of farmers to make comparatively barren fields 
yield profitable crops. Free to all farmers. 
Write for them. 
GERMAN KALI W0RK8, 93 Nassau St., N. T. 
Profits 
of Farming 
Gardening and Fruit Culture 
depend upon Good Crops and 
they in turn upon Good Fer¬ 
tilizers. The uniformly best 
fertilizer for all Crops and all 
soils is made by 
THE CLEVELAND DRYER CO., 
CLEVELAND, O. 
Materials supplied for “Home Mixing 
PHOSPHATE FOR WHEAT. 
Sold to farmers direct. We have no agents. 
Send for circular. Low prices for carload 
lots. York Chemical Works, York, Pa. 
Crimson Clover & Essex Dwarf Rape Seeds. 
Thomas MeKlroy, European Seed Commission Mer¬ 
chant. 0 Harrison Street, New York, offers a few lots 
of Crimson Clover and Essex Dwarf Rape Seeds 
Samples and prices on application; dealers only. 
Primcnn Plnunr - 1>900 bu. home-grown Crimson 
U Mill bull UIU TCI Clover Seed for Sale. 
JOSEPH E. HOLLAND. Milford. Del. 
RUDY SEED WHEAT Bearded 
20 acres averaged over 45 bu. per acre In 1897. We tried 
over 30 varieties the last few years, and Rudy seems 
the surest against fly and rust, has very bright, stiff 
straw, grain long, very hard and heavy. Price, $2 
per measured bushel of 03 to 05 pounds. Seed pure. 
JOHN HERR SHKNK. Lancaster, Pa. 
Also. Irish CobblerSeed Potatoes. 5c. ¥ lb.,$4.50 V bbl. 
Jones Wheats. 
My wheats are noted for strong straw, large yield, 
and are the most popular and protitable grown. New 
Light Amber Longberry has a record of 54*4 bushels. 
Originator of Early Arcadiau, Diamond Grit, Oenesee 
Giant, Bearded Winter Fife, Early Red Clawson, 
and others. Send for catalogue to 
A. N. JONES. Newark, Wayne Co., N. Y. 
SEED WHEAT . 
Send for circular. MAHLON SAG ELL, Orangeville,Pa 
CHOICE WESTERN 
NEW YORK 
Seed Wheat 
White, bald head,-‘Gold Coin” and “No. 6,’’Red, 
bearded, “Golden Cross,” three or more bushels, in¬ 
cluding new bag, $1 per bushel. Sample free. Cash 
with order. Money order office, Caledonia. N. Y. 
Also, A. J. C. C. Calves, bull and heifer, will sell 
cheap. D. C. MePHEKSON SEED CO.. 
Garbutt, Monroe County, N. Y. 
Fall Seeds and Bulbs^o 1 ™^ 
SPECIAL!’ V. Do you want any of the above ? If so, 
write for my i 1 I’d circular describing them. I am 
headquarters for home-grown seeds, and am prepared 
to quote low-down prices for all these Seeds and 
Bulbs in quantities. See my exhibit at Williams 
Grove, Grangers’ Picnic. Circulars mailed free on 
application. HARRY L. HOLMES, Harrisburg, Pa. 
HOW TO GROW MUSHROOMS 
buyers or intending buyers of spawn; to others, 10c. 
New supplement on out-door culture by Jons G. 
Gardner, included. First importation of the new 
spawn due at this port Aug. 25. Prices on application. 
G. C. Watson, Juniper & Walnut St., Pliila., Pa. 
W!~ DAY CASH each WEEK the year round, if 
YY I /\ I you sell Stark Trees. Outfit free. 
STARK NURSfRV, LOUISIANA. MO., Stark, Mo., Rockport, III., Dansville, N. V 
TREES 
Prices low. Fall catalogue free. 
Established 1869. 150 acres. 
TheGeo. A.Sweet Nursery Co. 
Box 1605, Dansville, N. Y. 
r 
WE SELL DIRECT TO FARMERS. 
Farmers be Wise, deal with Us and Save 40 pen C t. on your Fertilizers. 
Analysis. Phos. Acid 
Per cent. 
Pure Raw Bone Meal. 22 to 25 
Fonr Bold Fertilizer. 9 to 10 
Smoky City “ ... 8 to 10 
Big Bonanza “ ...._... 9 to 10 
Potato Special “ 9 to 10 
Tobacco Special “ 11 to 12 
Bone and Meat. 13 to 15 
For samples and pamphlet, write WALKER SJRATMAN & Ct) 
Ammonia, 
Per cent. 
4 to 5 
Actual Potash, 
Per cent. 
»az.oo 
3 
to 3 
2 to 3 
x6.oo 
1> 
4 to 2*4 
IX to 2 y . 
15.00 
2) 
4 to 3*4 
4 to 5 
40.00 
3* 
'a to 
6 to 7 
23.00 
S 
to 4 
4 too 
21.00 
4 
to 5 
18.00 
Herr’s Island, Pittsburg. Pa. 
