754 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
November 5 
; Ruralisms ; 
CUT TOBACCO STEMS AS A MULCH 
AND A FERTILIZER. 
Last June, we purchased half a ton of 
tobacco stems cut into pieces about two 
inches long, from H. A. Stoothoff, 315 
Madison Avenue, New York, at 817 per 
ton. A portion of this was spread upon 
a rose bed of about one-twentieth of an 
acre. The soil had previously been thor¬ 
oughly hoed and raked. It was strewn 
to the depth of two inches. As the early 
season was very wet, this mulch was not 
at all needed, but later on, the weather 
was exceedingly dry, and a full oppor¬ 
tunity was given us for testing its effi¬ 
cacy as a mulch. We have never used 
any material more effective for this pur¬ 
pose. At no time during the entire sea¬ 
son did the soil underneath the tobacco 
become dry. It remained moist and mel¬ 
low. Tobacco stems are exceedingly 
hygroscopic, seeming to attract moisture 
and to hold it for a long time. The color 
of tobacco stems is very like that of soil, 
so that there is no objection to them on 
this score. It is a notable fact that, dur¬ 
ing the entire season, neither grass nor 
weeds made their way through it—a 
fact not readily accounted for. Tobacco 
stems have considerable value as a fer¬ 
tilizer. They contain 2.25 per cent of 
nitrogen, .6 of phosphoric acid, and 6.4 
of potash. 
Tomato stems are rich in nitrogen and 
phosphoric acid, but very low in potash. 
Potato stems are very low in nitrogen, 
but contain somewhat more phosphoric 
acid and potash than do tomato stems. 
Here is the analysis : 
Nitrogen. Potash. Phos. acid. 
Tomato stems .. 3.00 . 32 . 07 
Potato stems 
(nearly ripe).. .49 .43 .16 
We do not suppose that either the stems 
of tomato or potato vines would absorb 
and retain moisture to the extent that to¬ 
bacco stems do. We are questioning, how¬ 
ever, whether it would not pay farmers, 
gardeners and small-fruit growers to 
gather the haulm of potatoes and toma¬ 
toes, and run them through a hay cutter, 
the cut stems to be spread upon the soil 
for the purpose of lightening and en¬ 
riching it between the rows of strawber¬ 
ries, etc., instead of allowing them, as 
many do, to dry up in the field and blow 
away. 
An Interesting Potato Report. —Mr. 
George S. Champlin, of Ashaway, Wash¬ 
ington County, R. I., made a careful com¬ 
parative trial of six different kinds of 
potatoes. The trial was made in com¬ 
pliance with the request of Mr. H. C. 
Marsh, of Muncie, Ind., the originator 
of the Early Andes potato which has 
been tried at the Rural Grounds. Mr. 
Champlin’s report follows: 
certainly a variable quantity, depending 
upon conditions of the soil and weather, 
and possibly fertilizers and culture, 
which the writer of these notes by no 
means understands. The same variety 
of potato unquestionably varies in qual¬ 
ity from season to season, some varie¬ 
ties, however, varying more than others. 
This is especially true of the R. N.-Y. 
No. 2 which, as we have raised it, is 
sometimes flaky and excellent, and some¬ 
times soggy. So, too, we have found 
that the Carman No. 3 varies. One sea¬ 
son we regarded it as simply perfect in 
quality, the next it was mediocre. Even 
the Rural Blush varies in quality from 
season to season. So, too, do such well- 
known varieties as Early Ohio, Beauty 
of Hebron and Early Rose. At present, 
all things considered—yield, shape and 
quality—we are inclined to regard the 
Sir Walter Raleigh as the best potato 
we have ever tried. 
Regarding the Sir Walter Raleigh, we 
have received the following note from 
Sam. B. Ilolfgen, Crawfordsville, Ind. : 
The Sir Walter Raleigh sent me in the Spring 
of 1897, weighing about two ounces, yielded six 
pounds of potatoes, which is an increase of 48 
fold. Last Spring, I planted the six pounds so 
as to plant a row 270 feet long. The tubers were 
cut to one eye. At the rate I planted, it would 
take five bushels and 22 pounds of seed to plant 
an acre in rows three feet apart. The yield was 
three bushels and three pecks, dug October 6. 
The yield was over 37 fold, and would have been 
greater, but the moles did some damage'. Not 
five per cent were unmerchantable among them. 
In the main, they averaged three potatoes to 
each seed piece planted. The quality is excellent. 
Grape Cuttings —A Reminder. —To our 
inexperienced friends, let us advise this: 
Make cuttings of grape vines now. Select 
stems half an inch in diameter. Let 
each one include two joints, cutting each 
just below and just above a joint, mak¬ 
ing the cutting about six inches long. 
Bury these in good soil of the garden at 
an angle of from 40 to 50 degrees, so that 
the top joint is just above the ground. 
As soon as the soil freezes, cover them 
with an inch or so of corn stalks, straw 
or coarse litter of any kind. Most of 
them will throw out roots by next June, 
when they may be transplanted. If one 
has no vines from which to make cut¬ 
tings, let him get them of those of his 
neighbors who are now pruning their 
vines, as the prunings are of no value to 
them. Select the best varieties of the 
neighborhood. 
The Honor Bright Tomato Again.— 
We have the following from Mr. E. C. 
Green, of Medina, O. : 
I have watched the Honor Bright tomato closely 
for the past three years, the first year on the 
grounds of the introducers, and the past two 
years in my own garden. It is certainly one of 
the most unique and distinct new tomatoes I have 
ever seen. As to its value, I cannot be so posi¬ 
tive. Its keeping qualities for which it is recom¬ 
mended, I am inclined to think are overestimated. 
Last season, I tried a very careful experiment 
with it, picking the fruit in three different stages; 
wrapping each specimen carefully in paper, I 
placed them in the best places I could find to 
keep. I was somewhat disappointed in the re- 
-Yield- 
Weight Weight 3 Yield 
Early Andes . 
Lbs. 
No. 
hills. 
Lbs. 
No. 
tubers. 
No. 
large. 
No. 
small. 
of 
large. 
. Lbs 
of 
small. 
Lbs. 
largest 
tubers. 
Oz. 
per 
acre. 
Bush. 
No. 
lai-ge. 
Bush. 
No. 
small. 
Bush. 
1 
30 
21*4 
153 
102 
51 
I72£ 
3% 
18 
87 
70 
17 
Bovee. 
1 
28 
43 
192 
138 
54 
40 
3 
21 
185 
171 
14 
Early Ohio. 
1 
28 
45% 
270 
186 
84 
40 
5% 
24 
194 
170 
24 
Early Six Weeks. 
1 
23 
14% 
69 
39 
30 
12% 
2 
21 
76 
64 
12 
Early Fortune.... 
1 
25 
30 
175 
127 
48 
274 
2% 
24 
145 
129 
16 
Ea. Thoroughbred 
1 
30 
38% 
250 
159 
91 
334 
54 
33 
242 
202 
40 
Planted May 10, dug August 14. Vines began 
to die on Early Andes the middle of July, entirely 
dead, August 1, and were the earliest to die by 
one week of any of the six varieties. Early Six 
Weeks, Early Fortune and Bovee were about a 
week behind Early Andes, ripening in the order 
named. Early Ohio and Thoroughbred were the 
last to ripen. They were grown on light land of 
fair fertility, and in two rows across the piece 
side by side. No manure was used, but fertilizers 
of my own mixing containing four per cent nitro¬ 
gen, eight per cent phosphoric acid, 10 per cent 
potash, all from pure nitrate of soda, bone and 
sulphate of potash. All fertilizer was put in 
the furrow one-half below seed and one-half 
above; planted in rows three feet apart and two 
feet in row. 
Dr. W. I. Chamberlain, editor of the 
Ohio Farmer, pronounces the No. 3 by 
far the best of the Carman potatoes— 
“ chiefly because it is the best in quality.” 
This matter of quality in potatoes is 
suits; none of them kept longer than ordinary 
tomatoes should. My experiment was at fault in 
not having some of the better-keeping tomatoes, 
such as Thorburn’s Longkeeper to compare them 
with. But I do not think they will keep longer 
than the common kinds of tomatoes. The re¬ 
markable change in color may be of value as an 
index when to pick, but adds nothing to their 
keeping qualities; for when you pick them in the 
white or yellow stage, you pick only unripe fruit, 
and an unripe tomato of any kind will keep much 
longer than those fully ripe. But the quality is 
not so good. 
Mr. A. W. Palmar, gardener for Mr. 
Searles, of Methuen, Mass., states that 
he never saw such tomatoes as those he 
raised in Jadoo fibre during the past 
season. The yield was very large, while 
the tomatoes were very solid. Some of 
these tomatoes were on exhibition in the 
window of Schlegel & Fottler, of Boston, 
Mass., and they were pronounced by all 
who saw them the finest tomatoes ever 
seen in that section of the country. 
The potatoes grown in the fibre were 
exhibited at the late American Institute 
Fair, and they were certainly splendid 
specimens. 
The report as to our trials the past 
season of both Jadoo fibre and Jadoo 
liquid on corn and tomatoes, is before 
our readers. The American Jadoo Com¬ 
pany requests us to repeat our experi¬ 
ments under instructions from the com¬ 
pany as to how the fibre is to be used. 
This we shall be pleased to do. 
Having found the fruit inferior, we 
shall destroy our several trees of the 
Japan plums, Satsuma and Willard. All 
that may fairly be said in their favor is 
that they are nearly curculio-proof. 
T r e e S — also small 
fruits — our specialties. 
Order early for fall 
shipment and get 
special low prices. 
JOS. H. BLACK, SON&CO., 
Village Nurseries, 
TIIOIITSTOWN N. J. 
PRESIDENT WILDER. 
The Prize Currant. 
PLANT THE MONEY-MAKER. 
Plant in Autumn. 
t3f~ Prices given on application. 
8. D. WILLARD, Geneva, N. Y 
Our Descriptive and Illustrated Catalogue 
of Fruit Bearing Fruit Trees and Plants mailed 
kree. W. M. PETERS’ SONS, Wesley. Md. 
PEACH 
APPLE 
PEAR 
The Largest Cucumber Grown in the 
Open Ground. —Mr. Chas. A. Wells, a 
market gardener, of Goderich, Ontario, 
Can., favors us with the following state¬ 
ment : 
I read on page 642, in Ruralisms, an item on 
cucumbers, stating that the writer picked a 
cucumber weighing 3 % pounds, measuring 15 
inches long, 11 inches in Its widest circumfer¬ 
ence and nine inches in its thinnest. The writer 
wanted to know whether he holds the record. I 
raised some cucumbers in my garden last Sum¬ 
mer that beat his record all to pieces. I exhibited 
six specimens at our Fall show held here, the 
largest of which was 21% inches long, 13*4 inches 
in circumference at its largest end, and 10 inches 
at its thinnest, and weighed five pounds. Those 
cucumbers were grown out in the open air. I 
wish, also, to state that a friend in Goderich 
raised a squash this season which weighed 388)4 
pounds. 
The Best 
Medicine Money Can Buy 
Is Hood's Sarsaparilla. It contains more 
curative power, is prepared with greater 
care by educated and experienced phar¬ 
macists. It has the greatest sales and 
effects the greatest cures. It is the medi¬ 
cine you should take to purify your blood 
and make yourself strong and healthy 
before colder weather comes. 
Hood’s Sarsaparilla 
Sold by druggists. $1; six for $5. Get Hood’s. 
PEACH 
TREES, 3c. All kinds of stock CHEAP. 
Rei.iance Nursery, Box 10. Geneva N.Y 
100 LOUDON 
Raspberry Plants, by mail for $1 
T. C. KEVITT. Athenia, N. J. 
NEW STRAWBERRY’ 
(JOHNSON’S EARLY 
has four requirements. 
Large. Early, Firm, Prolific. Its price in New 
York City last Spring was nearly double that of any 
other berry from my section. One grower has ordered 
40,000 plants. Send for circular. 
O. A. JOHNSON, Upper Fairmount, Md. 
WE’LL BUY OR SELL 
TIMOTHY, CLOVER, ALSIKE 
SEEDS 
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 therefore 
pay fair prices for seeds—every quality— and can sell 
clean seeds at dose prices. Booklet 8 kkd Sense free. 
THE WHITNEY-NOYES SEED CO.. BUFFALO, N. Y. 
CABBAGE PLANTS. 
Cheap in large lots. 
J. S. LINTHICUM, Well ham’s, A. A. County, Md. 
Spare Time or Permanent Employment 
for local or traveling salesmen, on salary or com¬ 
mission. Write for terms. Established 1840. 
500 acres. 10,000 square feet under glass. 
THE M. II. HARMAN COMPANY, 
Nurserymen, Geneva, N. Y 
Canning and Preserving Fruits and 
Vegetables, and Preparing Fruit 
Pastes and Syrups. 
The experience of practical workers. The best 
methods by which the surplus fruits may well 
be saved for home use and for the large mar¬ 
ket demand. Hundreds of tested recipes from 
famous preservers. Evaporation of fruits. 
Paper.20 
Hood’s Pills cure indigestion. 
25 cents. 
The Rural New-Yorker, New York. 
MOTHER NATURE 
can be depended upon to do her work right. 
depended upon for SUCCESSFUL FALL PLAN riNG, as tuey are now RIPENED NATURALLY ready for 
shipment. Is there anything we can do for you ? 
¥HP b e u r sL m e e s n s t fSr M e R . THE ROGERS NURSERIES, Dansville, N. Y. 
THE STORRS & HARRISON CO., Box 48 , PAINESVILLE, OHIO, 
leading American nurserymen, offer one of the most complete assortments or ’ 
FRUIT AND ORNAMENTAL TREES, SHRUBS, ROSES, BULBS, SEEDS. 
45th year. 44 greenhouses. 1000 acres. Write for valuable catalogue free. 
SHRUBS, FLOWERS AND FRUITS. 
Most complete General Collection in America. Three thousand 
varieties described in a 200-page (fbee) Catalogue. “THE 
LEADING NEW ENGLAND NURSERY.’* 
JACOB W. MANNING, Reading, Mass. 
High-Grade BONE FERTILIZERS are best, most per¬ 
manent and cheapest. Our goods are especially adapted to 
spring crops. Special brands for potatoes, corn and oats, 
supplying plant food available for immediate use, and leaving 
something for future grass crops. None better or cheaper. 
I. P. THOMAS & SON CO., 
JADOO iHBRE and 
JADOO LIQUID 
ARE INVALUABLE TO THE GROWERS OF 
Vegetables, Fruit, Plants or Flowers 
SEND FOR CATALOGUE AND RRICES. 
For Sale by all prominent Seedsmen, and by 
THE AMERICAN JADOO COMPANY, 
815 Fairmount Avenue, Philadelphia, Pa. 
POTATOES^ 
TRUCK I 
CORN 
OATS 
