1898 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
6o7 
ing disks were taken off, and I found that the loose 
soil in the bottom of the furrow fell back on the seed 
after the shoe just as it does in case of a corn planter. 
I thus got the seed four or five inches under the dead 
level of the ground, with an inch or more of damp 
soil on top of it. In order to firm the soil around the 
seed, a short section of the trunk of an apple tree was 
dragged in the furrow by a short chain attached to 
the planter. The plants came thrifty because near 
the light, and the furrows were filled in with weeder, 
harrow and cultivator as the plants made growth. 
Ohio. ALVA AGEE. 
Lessons from a Hailstorm. —On June 19, 1897, a 
downfall of hail caused great destruction over two or 
three square miles at Tyrone, Penn. The hailstones 
were large, many over an inch in diameter, and were 
driven by strong gusts of wind. Hundreds of birds 
and chickens were struck dead. In soxe spots, trees 
were entirely stripped of their leaves, and these are 
now all dead. Others, stripped only on the weather 
side, make some feeble growth. The bark was beaten 
off tender branches. Whether the fruit trees will in 
part, recover sufficiently in 1898 to form fruit buds 
and to bear some in 1899, remains to be seen. Evi¬ 
dently, the trees have suffered most from the sap 
being suddenly rendered stagnant in the heat of Sum¬ 
mer, and so becoming sour and poisonous. Where all 
the leaves were taken, there could be no evaporation 
of the sap exceptinga little from thedisbarked shoots, 
and these are now all 
stark dead. There are all 
grades and degrees of in¬ 
jury and recovery in other 
trees. 1 have seen none but 
some box trees that came 
through unhurt or un¬ 
marked. Walnut trees, al¬ 
though large - leafed, re¬ 
cover better than most 
others. The experience 
affords a lesson in tree 
culture, and it teaches 
especially the value and 
sacredness of the leaves. 
It is easy to convince people 
about here now that Sum¬ 
mer pruning is a thing to 
be let alone or confined 
to mere pinching of the 
tips of shoots, and that all 
daubing or bruising or 
crowding of the leaves of 
plants is injury. Cuttings 
of most sorts of trees and 
shrubs and vines, if set in 
sandy soil in a sheltered 
place with all their leaves 
retained, and kept sprink¬ 
led when needful for two 
or three days until they 
have yielded matter to film 
over the wound at the 
base, take root soon and 
sure. Buds of green wood, 
inserted wood and all, are 
liable to decay in the checked sap, but with the wood 
taken out so that union may quickly be formed, they 
connect and live. >v. r. 
Pennsylvania. 
FORCING THE EARLY PULLETS. 
[What would you do with a flock of early-hatched pullets in 
order to get them to laying during the Fall and Winter?] 
A Good Range ; Strong Food. 
Pullets intended for laying or breeding stock should, 
if possible, have a good range, preferably grass lands, 
in moderate-sized colonies. They may not begin lay¬ 
ing so young as birds confined, but will usually be in 
much better condition for a good Winter's work. I 
do not think any one is able to tell absolutely how 
they can be fed and handled to the very best advant¬ 
age, but I would follow rules about as follows : Feed 
liberally a ration having a nutritive ratio of about 
1:4. Let ground grain constitute the largest part of 
the ration, which should consist principally of corn 
meal and wheat bran, with some ground oats, wheat 
middlings and pea meal. Occasionally, if desired, 
feed also some old process linseed meal and gluten 
meal. Feed animal meal mixed with the ground grain. 
For con venience, use a mixture of which one-third or 
more is corn meal, and nearly one-third (more than 
one-quarter) fresh animal meal. Let the whole or 
cracked grain constitute less than half of the ration 
and be principally wheat and cracked corn with some 
barley and oats. If sweet skim-milk is available, less 
animal meal need be fed. If the birds are confined, 
feed liberally of green clover or some substitute in ad¬ 
dition to the ration mentioned. Give plenty of fresh 
water and sharp grit. Of course* where they are 
cheaply available, many other foods besides those 
recommended can be used to advantage. Have the 
pullets in their permanent quarters about a fortnight 
before they are expected to begin laying. 
Geneva Experiment Station. w. p. wheeler. 
Give a Good Range. 
For getting the most eggs from a lot of this year’s 
pullets during the Fall and Winter, I would begin at 
once to feed green cut bone, or a good quality of 
ground meat, all they would eat quickly once each 
day. When the weather is not too warm, I would use 
green bones about half of the time, and ground meat 
when not convenient to get the bones fresh ; they 
must be fresh, as the green they put on with age will 
make them rather unsatisfactory egg-producing ma¬ 
terial. I should induce all the ranging possible, 
where they will pick up a great variety of food of the 
most desirable kind. It should be looked after that 
their roosting quarters are large as compared with 
number of pullets, so arranged as to prevent crowd¬ 
ing, and kept clean enough to prevent strong odors 
from arising. It is very important to get them to the 
quarters they are to be kept in during the Winter, 
that is so far as the roosting is concerned. You may 
give them the best possible care, and have them about 
ready to lay or even have them laying well, change 
them to new quarters, and they will, in nearly every 
instance, stop laying almost at once, and wait a long 
time before beginning business again. I have known 
STERILE FLOWERS OF THE LOUDON-COLUMBIAN CROSS. Fig. 282. See Ruralisms, Page 610. 
of fine flocks of healthy fowls that were laying well 
when moved in the Fall, to do practically nothing but 
wait until early Spring. 
I would feed as great a variety of grains as I could 
get, feeding dry grain at night only, and all they will 
eat with a relish. I would give them a very light 
feed in the morning, of wheat bran, hominy chop, 
oat feed, or ground oats, equal parts, with about five 
per cent of ground charcoal, and a liberal handful of 
salt to each half-bushel of feed, all well mixed and 
moistened with milk if convenient. If milk is not to 
be had, water will answer the purpose. Give them 
only what they will eat quickly and ask for more. 
The meat may be fed with the soft feed or at noon, as 
is most convenient. Last but not least, keep plenty 
of sharp grit and oyster shells where they can reach 
them, and clean, fresh water at least twice daily, 
rinsing the water vessels well during warm weather. 
New Jersey. j. e. s. 
March Leghorns Already Laying. 
To get pullets to laying, I would give them good 
care. I am feeding a mash in the morning, composed 
of bran, rice meal, and corn meal with a portion of 
animal food, wet with milk. I feed no more than 
they will eat quickly, then give them grain at noon 
and night, such as wheat, oats and corn, changing 
frequently. I would give them their entire liberty 
if 1 could ; if not, and they had to be kept in yards. 
I would give them plenty of green food, and keep 
part of the yard plowed frequently for exercise. I 
have Leghorns laying that were hatched in March, 
and Minorcas nearly ready to lay, with Plymouth 
Rocks following closely. d. a. mount. 
New Jersey. 
THE CURRANT CROP OF 1898. 
IN THE HUDSON RIVER VALLEY. 
The currant crop has been an important one. There 
were few growers of grapes or other small fruits that 
did not have a field of currants. A large proportion 
are grown in vineyards or young orchards of peach, 
apple or pear trees. The crop of 1897 was one of the 
largest ever grown, and prices realized lower than 
ever before. 
Comparative Prices.— Here are the prices re¬ 
ceived for red currants, after deducting cost of express 
or freight, cartage and commission, for the past five 
years. The varieties were mainly Fay, Cherry and 
Versaillaise, with a very few Red Dutch that were 
mixed among plants of other varieties when bought : 
1894 average price, 6 cents per quart. 
1895 “ “ 7 cents “ «• 
1896 “ “ 414 cents “ 
1897 “ “ 3 7-10cts. “ 
1898 “ “ 5 54-100 cts.“ 
Yield of —The crop this season was the 
lightest ever grown. This result can hardly be 
traced to a single cause. The following are some of 
the conditions that, I believe, brought about the fail¬ 
ure. Last year the crop was a very large one, and the 
bushes being somewhat exhausted, most of the leaves 
were dropped very early in the season. Cold rains 
and, in some locations, frost, prevailed at the time of 
blooming, and early in the season it was evident that 
the set of fruit was very 
light. One of my neigh¬ 
bors reports his crop in 
round numbers this year 
as 600 quarts, as against 
5,000 last year, being just 
12 per cent. Our own crop 
this year was 27 per cent 
of last year and, probably, 
was as good as any grown. 
Varieties and Ki pen- 
ins'. — In 1888, we set Fay, 
Cherry, and Versaillaise; 
these are now deteriorat¬ 
ing, and will soon have to 
be removed. Since then, 
we set more Fay every 
year or two till 1892, when 
we set a block of Victoria. 
In 1893. we set a few Pres¬ 
ident Wilder and Prince 
Albert, and a large lot of 
Fay. The yield of all our 
Fay, Cherry, and Versail¬ 
laise this year was 16 per 
cent of that of last year. 
The Victoria gave 52 per 
cent, President Wilder, 150 
per cent, and Prince Albert, 
143 per cent. As the two 
last named were then but 
four years set, they may not 
have been of an age to yield 
a full crop last year; but the 
condition of their foliage 
last Fall, as well as their 
full crop this season, shows both to be very hardy 
varieties. Knowing that the currant crop was very 
short, we concluded to hold late before marketing, 
hoping to realize better prices. Usually, we put part 
of our crop on the market as soon as the fruit is col¬ 
ored. This season, the fruit did not keep as well as 
usual, doubtless owing to the weak condition of the 
plants. I therefore, give the season of marketing the 
different varieties last year: Fay, June 29 to July 
30 ; Victoria, July 31 to August 9 ; President Wilder, 
August 10 ; Prince Albert, August 10 and 11 . It will 
be seen the season under favorable circumstances with 
us for marketing currants is a little over six weeks. 
New Varieties anil Insects. — The President 
Wilder is of recent introduction, and we think, very 
valuable. It is a strong, upright grower, with very 
healthy foliage. The clusters are long, fruit large, 
good color and of excellent flavor. It has the longest 
season of any variety. The Prince Albert, though 
little known, is an old variety. It was described by 
Downing more than 40 years ago. It is a heavy crop¬ 
per, though it does not commence bearing as early as 
other varieties. It is very late ; the Victoria is fit for 
market before the Prince Albert begins to color. The 
fruit is large and attractive-looking, and is said to be 
one of the best varieties for making jelly. The Cur¬ 
rant worm commenced his work early, as usual. We 
spray with Bordeaux Mixture and Paris-green, and 
usually wait till the foliage has nearly grown, even 
though the worms are getting plentiful, then take 
time to do the work thoroughly, so as to cover every 
leaf Should any worms escape so that the second 
brood appears, there has always been enough poison 
remaining on the foliage to destroy them. Fay and 
Victoria now seem affected with mildew of the leaf. 
