THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
October 29 
738 
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; Pluralisms ; 
Mr. H. K. Gilbert, of Columbus, N. J. 
on October G, sent us a burr of a seed¬ 
ling Japan chestnut. There were three 
chestnuts in the burr, each measuring 
five inches in its long circumference, and 
4% inches in its short circumference. 
The quality is sweeter than that of many 
of the Japan chestnuts already on the 
market, but not so good as that of either 
the Ridgely or the Paragon. 
Mr. A. W. Cheever, of Dedham, Mass., 
the accomplished editor of the New Eng¬ 
land Farmer, noting what was said of 
the Yellow-wood in these columns a few 
weeks ago, measured a tree growing by 
the street-side near his house. He has 
known it for 14 years. It is over six 
feet in circumference two feet from the 
ground. It now appears as healthy as 
the Rock maples in the same row. Mr. 
Cheever says: “The Yellow-wood is a 
beautiful tree, but I would not set one 
where I desired to cultivate the land. 
Its roots are like ropes. It does not 
bloom every year, but when it does it is 
very attractive.” 
We have already spoken of the tough¬ 
ness of its roots, and alluded to the fact 
that our specimen did not bloom fully 
oftener than once in three years. 
One of our Pennsylvania readers writes 
us interestingly regarding a variety of 
Sheep’s Fescue, known botanieally as 
Festuca ovina duriuscula, as being an ex¬ 
ceedingly valuable lawn grass. Three 
or four years ago, he noticed, on a slop¬ 
ing lawn which had once been sown 
with mixed lawn grass seed, some little 
tufts here and there of very green and 
very fine grass blades. As an experi¬ 
ment, he took some of them up, and pull¬ 
ing them into tiny bits set them in rows 
in a bed sheltered from hot sunshine and 
wind. All grew readily and soon, with 
the aid of some watering and clean cul¬ 
ture, formed belts of lovely verdure. In 
the Spring, these were moved to the 
edge of a flower bed, and a most charm¬ 
ing edging they made, with next to no 
trouble to keep in order. Like the June 
grass, it attempts to throw up flower 
spikes only once, but unlike that grass, 
it throws out no underground root 
stocks, and has no wandering habit, 
while in fineness and abundance of 
blades, and deep, pure green color, it ex¬ 
cels. Our friend sent specimens of this 
grass to the Pennsylvania State College 
where it was identified as we have above 
stated. Our grass authorities seem to 
agree that this variety of Festuca is 
most valuable for dry soils and situa¬ 
tions ; the price charged for the seed is 
$2 per bushel, 12 pounds to the bushel. 
The main lawn at the Rural Grounds 
was graded and sown 24 years ago with 
Blue grass and Red-top. Until about 
five years ago, the sod was all that could 
be desired. Then, however, it began to 
die out in patches, and numberless weeds 
—sour-grass, dock, chickweed, plantain, 
and the like—took possession of these 
patches ; these weeds, in spite of our 
best efforts to rid the lawn of them, are 
increasing, except the sour-grass, which 
seems to have been killed out by several 
applications of lime. Frequent and 
abundant applications of nitrate of soda, 
potash, phosphoric acid, wood ashes, as 
well as manure, have been made during 
the past five years without apparently 
having the slightest effect to restore a 
vigorous growth of the original grasses. 
During the past two seasons, however, 
this Festuca has put in an appearance 
on the north side of a tall evergreen tree 
(Retinispora pisifera), and also under the 
Yellow-wood which, as we have told our 
readers, was destroyed a few weeks ago, 
because half of the tree was dead. At 
various times during the past five years, 
we have liberally sown Red-top, Blue 
grass and White clover seeds. It must 
be that, among these seeds, there was a 
liberal sprinkl'ng of this Festuca, be¬ 
cause it was not sown separately. Upon 
the portions alluded to. the Festuca 
grass is as fine and beautiful as our 
Pennsylvania friend describes. It would 
seem, however, to be so very fine and 
soft that it could rot stand the wear and 
tear to which most lawns are subjected. 
In no other way can we account for 
the decadence of this lawn, except by 
the spread of the roots of the central 
Yellow-wood, and of maples and other 
trees growing around the outside of the 
lawn. Judging by this one specimen of 
the Yellow-wood, it is by no means a de¬ 
sirable tree for a lawn after it has 
reached the age of about 15 years. The 
roots are too abundant and wide-spread¬ 
ing. They grow, also, too near the sur¬ 
face, and are, as said, exceedingly tough 
and hard. 
One of our friends writes us that 
Arundo donax has, in his aquatic garden, 
grown to the height of 20 feet this sea¬ 
son. It is an imposing reed and, if the 
roots are protected, will form immense 
clumps from year to year. We did not, 
however, know that it will thrive in 
water. 
HOPE FARM NOTES. 
Sweet-Corn Fodder.—We find this fodder 
much harder to cure than ordinary field corn. 
Last year we made the mistake of making the 
shocks too large. Then we hauled it to the barn 
too early, and the result was that part of the fod¬ 
der spoiled. This year we have made the shocks 
smaller, and let the stalks stand longer before 
cutting. The late, dry Fall has helped this, and 
the fodder now looks well. We shall haul it in 
slowly. Last year we made the mistake of neglect¬ 
ing to cut over the swamp before frost came. 
This year we cut it in August, and have a good 
lot of coarse hay. The horses pick it over and 
eat about one-third of it. The rest will make fine 
bedding or mulch. Speaking of sweet-corn fod¬ 
der again, I must say that our stock prefer it to 
field-corn stalks. As we raise it, we need a silo 
to get much good from it. We haven’t enough 
stock, however, to make ajsilo pay. 
Feeding Hogs.—We are learning much about 
pork making. We had no idea that a pig is by 
nature a grazing animal. Give him a chance 
and he will eat grass and other green food like a 
cow. We throw an armful of sweet-cornstalks 
over to the pigs, and they will eat it all. Rape, 
sorghum or turnips give them a good chance to 
stuff. I do not think our eastern farmers realize 
how cheaply they can make pork, when they shut 
the pigs up in a pen and feed them only swill and 
grain. I read the stories of those who fed pigs 
on rape and sorghum out West, but could hardly 
credit them until this year. Our pigs are very 
fond of the rape, and we have grown it with very 
little trouble. This idea of thinking that we 
must use so much grain for making our pork, is 
all wrong. We must learn that the hog is a 
grazer—and then graze him. 
A Feed Cooker.—We have just bought a cooker 
at Hope Farm, and shall use it for turning our 
waste products into hog and hen feed. From 
what I can learn, the experiments seem to show 
that it does not pay to cook the grain —except it 
may be the corn meal. The bulky food, though 
—like potatoes, turnips, clover hay, stalks and 
other refuse—is all helped by steaming or boil¬ 
ing. We expect to cook the smallest potatoes 
and turnips together, and mix with wheat bran 
or hog feed. Now and then a lot of sweet-corn 
stalks cut up and cooked and fed with bran may 
appeal to piggy- We shall try many of these 
things, and tell about them after trial. 
White Leghorn Pullets.—We did not expect 
to buy any poultry this year, but no one can tell 
what he will do when the right chance comes. A 
neighbor offered us a lot of poultry at 75 cents a 
pair. The lot contained about 30 fine White Leg¬ 
horn pullets and 10 yearling P. Rock hens. We 
took them right in at that price. The pullets 
were cheap at $1 each. Why were they sold so 
low ? I think we must thank the poultry writers 
for it. Our neighbors got the hen fever—prob¬ 
ably from reading in the poultry papers how easy 
it is to make a profit of $3 a bird. They did just 
what they were told—especially in the way of 
buying fine stock. The White Leghorns are ex¬ 
cellent in every way. Our friends, however, tired 
of poultry raising and country life in general. 
They quit and are willing to let the birds go at 
half their value. Here is a case where the 
poultry experts have helped us, though not just 
as they intended. Our plan is to match these 
Leghorn pullets against an equal number of our 
black pullets, and see which will lay the greater 
number of eggs. 
Our School System.—Speaking of schools 
last week makes me think what a wonderful 
thing our public school system is for ambitious 
young men and women who are anxious to get 
on and earn money for wise and good purposes. 
The Cutting is studying hard, and working at 
school to try to make a good teacher some day. 
The vast sums of money spent on public educa¬ 
tion provide opportunities for such ambitious 
girls and boys who can teach and thus earn their 
way to a better education at some higher school 
or college. I am always thankful that such op¬ 
portunities are offered. All I want is that these 
young folks should realize that, if the State is to 
pay them good money for teaching, the State has 
an equal right to demand from them their very 
best thought and example. If they are to teach, 
let them give the best that is in them to the little 
GRINDING MILLS. 
Before purchasing a mill lor 
grinding FEED or M EAL, or any¬ 
thing thai can be ground on a 
mill, write us for catalogue and 
discounts. Address 
SPROUT, WALDRON 
& CO., 
Muncy, l'a., Manuf’rs 
of French Burr Mills. 
Crushers, and full line 
Flour Mill Machinery 
ones who will look to them for help and instruc¬ 
tion. Then the public money they draw will be 
a blessing indeed. 
A Kicking Horse.—People still seem to be in¬ 
terested in old Major’s lame leg. Here is a letter 
from Colorado: 
“ I notice that H. W. C., in Hope Farm Notes, 
asks whether any of the readers ever noticed any 
spirit of revenge in horses. I had a little experi¬ 
ence. Among others, I had two horses, a Buck- 
THE PENNSYLVANIA STATE COLLEGE. 
Winter Course 
in 
Agriculture. 
January 4 to March 29,1899. For particulars address 
GEO. C. WATSON, 
Professor of Agriculture, State College. Pa. 
the bunch. One day, he got cut in the fence, and 
was laid by for a time. When he was turned into 
the bunch again, Brown beat him, and for the 
first time in my life, I noticed a spirit of revenge 
in a horse. He would not let Buckskin come to 
the feed rack at all, hardly let him come into the 
corral. While he seemed to be vicious to some 
of the other horses, he had a spite against this 
one, so much so that I had to put him under re¬ 
straint. After a time, the tables were turned 
PRESIDENT WILDER! 
The Prize Currant. 
PLANTTHE MONEY-MAKER. 
Plant in Autumn. 
1 y Prices given on application. 
S. D. WILLARD, Geneva, N. Y 
again and Buckskin was boss, but I could detect 
no sign of revenge in him.” g. d. rider. 
That is about the'dearest case of revenge of which 
I have heard, and it also shows that Buckskin 
was about as noble as Brown was mean. We 
must expect that animals will strive for the mas¬ 
tery, since men will do the same thing. The great 
Grape Vines™ 
Low prim. DesrrtptlT. Hit fro*. Yiriellei. 
Extra fine stock CURRANTS, Gooseberries, 
CAMPBELL'S EARLY Grape. Quality extra. 
Warranted true. T. S. HUBBARD CO., k redonla, N Y. 
test comes, however, in deciding what to do with 
this mastery when it is once gained! 
Plowing Sod in the Fall.—The old question 
comes up every year as to whether it pays to 
( Continued on next page.) 
BISMARCK 
apple we believe to be the most valuable apple for 
market or garden that has ever been introduced. 
Hundreds of trees, two years old. full of fruit. 
C. F. MacNAIR & CO., Dansville, N. Y. 
Scrofula 
Our Descriptive and Illustrated Catalogue 
of Fruit Bearing Fruit Trees and Plants mailed 
free. W. M. PETERS' SONS, Wesley, Md. 
Impure Blood 
This disease affects nearly every one in 
a greater or less degree, and unless it is 
wholly expelled from the system, it is 
nr Anil TREES, 3 c. All kinds of stock CHEAP. 
1 LnUn reliance Nursery, Box 10. Geneva N.Y 
inn 1 niinnw Raspberry Plants, by mail for *1 
1UU LUUUUil T. C. KEVITT. Athenia. N. J. 
liU/lile to ii pjiLtii at till j time. Hi soi cs, 
eruptions, hip disease, or in some other 
form. Hood's Sarsaparilla cures scrofula 
and eradicates all poisonous germs from 
the system. 
Hood’s Sarsaparilla 
Is America’s Greatest Medicine. $1; six for $5. 
WE’LL BUY OR SELL 
TIMOTHY, CLOVER, ALSIKE 
SEND SAMPLES FOR OUR BIDS. 
New methods of cleaning enable us to save all the good 
seeds and remove all the weed seeds. We can ffierefore 
v fair prices for seeds—every quality—ana can sell 
clean seeds at close prices. Booklet Seed Sense free. 
THE WHITNEY-NOYES SEED CO., BUFFALO, N. Y. 
Hood’s Pills cure constipation. 25c. 
CABBAGE PLANTS. 
Cheap in large lots. 
J. S. LINTHICUM. Wellham’s, A. A. County, Md. 
The October Purple Plum, 
SUPERB VARIETY. 
Mr. Luther Burbank's latest and best production. 
Superior to the Abundanoe, Burbank, Satsuma, 
Wlokson, Red June, Hale, Gold, or any of his many 
valuable varieties of plums. Send for olroular giv¬ 
ing further information. Address 
STEPHEN HOYT’S SONS, New Canaan, Cnnn. 
Spare Time or Permanent Employment 
for local or traveling salesmen, on salary or com¬ 
mission. Write for terms. Established 1846. 
500 acres. 10,000 square feet under glass. 
THE M. H. HAKMAN COMPANY, 
Nurserymen. Geneva, N. Y 
DWYER'S TREES, PLANTS 
land all NURSERY STOCK that can be planted with safety during the Fall 
months, are now ready for shipment. CATALOGUE of first-class stock mailed 
free to all who write for it. _...... . .. 
T. J. DWYER &, SON, CORNWALL, N. Y._ 
a jm ~w— m jr ■! ji 'f— * i m—m r? can be depended upon to do her work right. 
Yl C_J I M tz tx A \ IX I UrXC and ROGERS BUSINESS TREKS can be 
ependedupon for SUCCESSFUL FALL PLANTING, as they are now RIPENED NATURALLY ready for 
ttlpment. Is there anything we can do for you ? rrv n <n 11 \j 
‘he'eujsTn'ess Iarmer. THE ROGERS NURSERIES, Dansville, N. Y. 
Finest lot of PEACH TREES in the country, free from borers, scale, yellows, 
etc. Large stocks of Pear, Plum, Apple, Cherry, Apricot, Quince. Immense 
supply of Small Fruits. Headquarters for 
Ornamental Trees, Roses, Shrubs. 
i Extra fine lot of Teas Weeping Mulberry, Kilmarnock, New American and 
i Wisconsin Weeping Willows, Camperdown Elm and Cut Leaved Weeping 
Birch. 44 greenhouses filled with Roses, Palms, I tcus, Geraniums, etc. 
Correspondence and personal inspection solicited. Catalogue and price list free. 4uth year. 
44 greenhouses. 1000 acres. . 
THE STORRS fit HARRISON CO., Box 42, Painesville, O. 
AND 
JADOO FIBRE 
JADOO LIQUID 
are invaluable to the growers of 
Vegetables, Fruit, Plants or Flowers 
SEND FO R CATALOGUE AND PRICES. 
For Sale by all prominent Seedsmen, and by 
HE AMERICAN JADOO COMPANY, 
815 Fairmount Avenue, Philadelphia, Pa. 
