322 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
April 30 
An inquiry comes to us whether corn 
(sweet or field) will show by color and 
otherwise the result of crossing the first 
season. This is an inquiry which The 
R. N.-Y. made many years ago. The 
answers to our question were by no 
means satisfactory. We received no re¬ 
plies that were founded upon actual 
trial. So it was that The R. N.-Y. un¬ 
dertook to answer the question for it¬ 
self. 
Sixty-three varieties (so-called) were 
planted in the same field—a field of 
about four acres. Some of the varieties 
were red, some yellow, some white, some 
variegated, some black, etc. Sweet corn 
was planted among the field kinds. The 
result was a grand mixture. The red 
crossed with the white and yellow, the 
sweet with the field kinds. Some ears 
showed half a dozen different kinds. 
We have some of those ears now. 
Later, we raised the question ourselves 
whether the pollen (tassels) of a given 
variety matures simultaneously with the 
silk (pistils). Many different kinds of 
sweet corn (field corn was not in the ex¬ 
periment) were planted, and the matur¬ 
ity of the silk and tassels carefully 
studied. We are writing from memory 
which, we fancy, will be close enough 
to the truth to serve our purpose. In 
most of the kinds, the silk was not re¬ 
ceptive when the pollen was ripe, so 
that the silk of all such plants was de¬ 
pendent upon the pollen of other plants 
for effective pollinization. 
Again, even when the pistils and pollen 
are mature at the same time, strong 
winds may blow the pollen from one 
plant to adjacent plants, so that the silk 
of a given plant may not receive the 
pollen from its own tassels at all; or 
some of the silky threads (pistils) may 
receive pollen from the male flowers 
above (tassels) while others receive it 
from other plants. The result is differ¬ 
ent kinds of kernels upon the same ear, 
if different varieties are growing to¬ 
gether. Crossing may thus occur when 
the plants are half a mile or more sep¬ 
arated. We have known a single or 
several black (Mexican Black) or red ker¬ 
nels upon ears of yellow or white corn 
when we could not ascertain that either 
black or red corn was planted in the near 
neighborhood. 
Intermediate crosses the first season 
are rare, in so far as the writer’s obser¬ 
vations go. For instance, if a cross be¬ 
tween sweet and smooth kinds occur, 
the sweet corn kernels will be wholly 
wrinkled, the black will be black, not 
an intermediate color. Now if these 
crossed kernels, the black, for example, 
upon a white or yellow variety, be again 
planted, the ears will be fairly divided 
between black and yellow or white. In 
our experience, it requires many years— 
10 perhaps—to establish positively a va¬ 
riety from such seeds ; that is so that all 
the kernels of the new kind shall be the 
same. 
Whether or not the kernels show the 
first season the effect of foreign pollen, 
we found to depend upon the pedigree of 
either parent. For instance, the Rural 
Thoroughbred Flint had, when we made 
these trials, been grown for over 40 
years upon a meadow far away from any 
other land where corn was raised. Not 
one kernel of this variety showed any 
evidence of a cross. The mother plant 
was so fixed in all its characteristics 
that the pollen from other varieties, not 
so well fixed by long cultivation, with¬ 
out the chance of mixing with other 
kinds, was not potent enough to change 
the kernels of the Thoroughbred Flint 
any way that the eye could detect. 
We once set out to produce a stable 
variety from seed which was the result 
of a cross (as we now remember) between 
Black Mexican (so-called) and a Shoe- 
peg variety known by the several names 
of Shoe-peg, Ne Plus Ultra, Country 
Gentleman and Zig-zag. After four sea¬ 
sons of trial, we gave it up, finding that 
we were no nearer to a uniform ear the 
fourth season than we were the second.. 
Better success was met with by selec¬ 
tion. It is about 25 years ago that the 
Chester County Mammoth was first raised 
on the Rural Farm. At first, the objec¬ 
tions were that generally all the ears 
would not fully mature ; it suckered too 
freely; the ears (rarely more than one 
to a stalk) were borne too high. Selec¬ 
tions were made year after year, from 
plants bearing two ears—choosing al¬ 
ways the larger; from those maturing 
earliest, from those borne lowest upon 
plants that did not sucker. Along these 
lines, the variety improved notably in 
yield and time of maturity, until, as 
our older readers are aware, we raised 
during one season, 1880, an average of 
over 130 bushels of shelled corn per acre. 
There were seven acres. 
A year or so later, one of the leading 
Philadelphia seed houses published an 
account of the yield of a strain of Ches¬ 
ter County Mammoth upon a farm in 
Delaware. We have forgotten just the 
figures, but it was considerably greater 
than that of the Rural Farm. We con¬ 
cluded to try it. The result was that 
not half of the crop matured, and there 
were all the objections to this strain 
that there had been to ours during the 
early years of its cultivation. 
We were similarly successful in im¬ 
proving Blount’s Prolific, which gave us 
the same season that the Mammoth 
yielded over 130 bushels per acre, 128 
bushels on one acre. This variety bears 
from two to 10 ears per plant, if the 
plants are not too close together, though 
in the highest number, the ears are 
smaller and the lower ones often im¬ 
perfect. Our success lay in increasing 
the average number of ears per plant as 
well as the size of the ears. 
The Gill Gooseberry. —In The R. 
N.-Y. of October 2, of last year, we had 
this to say of a new gooseberry sent to 
us by Charles C. Hess, of Philipsburg, 
Pa., and planted during the Spring of 
1895 : “ Berries fully as large as those of 
Columbus, of much the same shape, often 
with a crimson cheek. Bush as product¬ 
ive as desirable. No mildew. July 5, 
softening; July 14, nearly ripe. Color, 
light green.” We may now give some¬ 
thing of the history of this promising 
gooseberry. About 20 years ago, Mr. 
John D. Gill, of Philipsburg, Pa., writes 
us that an Englishman gave him three 
plants, and he has grown the variety 
ever since. He has given and sold plants 
to some of his friends, Mr. Hess, who 
sent plants to the Rural Grounds, among 
them. Mr. Gill has now 1,000 plants. 
No longer able to work, he is relying 
upon the culture of gooseberries and 
sale of the fruit for a living. Fig. 138 
shows the remarkable prolificacy of the 
plants. Mr. Gill says that, in disen¬ 
tangling and tying up the bushes with 
fine wire, many berries were knocked off. 
He says that he has never seen a speck 
of mildew on bushes or berries ; that it 
is a vigorous grower, and never fails to 
produce a crop. There are frequent late 
frosts in his locality—the Alleghanies— 
that kill grapes and other fruits, but the 
gooseberries have never been injured. 
Having grown this variety for 20 years, 
Mr. Gill says: “If there is any other 
variety as good, I do not know it.” The 
leaves of tbe bushes were clipped off so 
that the immense crop of berries would 
show in the engraving. 
It strikes us that this variety, which 
we shall call the Gill, is as well worthy 
of trial as any with which we have had 
experience. It will be seen in the pic¬ 
ture that two branches of berries are 
suspended on either side of Mr. Gill. 
These branches are Houghton goose¬ 
berries. 
The Farmer 
Needs more than ordinary strength .and vitality 
to endure the labors and exposure incident to his 
calling, and the farmer’s wife, particularly, with 
her incessant toil, and numberless cares, requires 
a vigor which, unassisted, Nature often fails to 
furnish. Hood’s Sarsaparilla relies on its bene¬ 
ficiaries to proclaim its merits. Many of them 
are to be found in the farmhouses of the country, 
and their testimony proves Hood’s Sarsaparilla 
the best family medicine for the farmer. 
Hood’s Sarsaparilla 
Is America’s Greatest Medicine. $ 1; six for $5. 
Hood’s Pills cure biliousness, indigestion. 
Trees, Plants. prices? 0 
For first-class stock, all Standard Varieties: Apples, 8c.; Hears, 8c.; Cher¬ 
ries, 7c.; Japan and other Blums, 9c.; Currants, 2 year, $15 per 1,000; Marlboro, 
Cuthbert Raspberries, $5 per 1,000; Strawberries, all good varieties. $2.50 per 1,000. 
packing. T. J. DWYER & SON, CORNWALL, N. Y. 
A TOO MANY STRAWBERRIES A 
unless we sell about four million more plants, and you will not have any next year, unless you set some 
NOW. Don’t put It off; order at once. Everything worth having in hardy fruits. Free catalogue. 
The Butler & Jewell Co., Cromwell, Conn. 
for BUSINESS TREES for BUSINESS FARMERS 
NURSERYMAN TO 
THE ItUSINESS FARMER. 
HONEST TREES at HONEST PRICES, write to 
ROGERS, DANSVILLE, N. Y. 
50,000 Peach Trees 
FREE FROM DISEASE, for Fall and Spring. 
Crawford Early, Crawford Late. Stump, 
Triumph, Chair’s Choice, Smock, Mt. Rose, 
, Oldmixon Free, Greensboro, Crosby, Hill’s 
Chili, Klberta, Sneed, Alexander, Champion, Globe, Beer’s Smock, Salway, Troth’s Early, Wheatland 
and lots of others. CHEAP. Catalogue Free. ARTHUR J. COLLINS, Moorestown, N. J. 
SURPLUS PLANTS AT SACRIFICE. 
We offer 200,000 Kansas, Hilborn. Palmer. Cuthbert Raspberries. Snyder, Taylor, 
Stone’s Hardy Blackberries. 5,000 Japan Wineberries, at prices so low, we would 
not care to quote publicly here. Also full line of other varieties—Raspberries, 
Strawberries, Currants, Gooseberries, Grapes. Asparagus, etc., at lowest possible 
prices. Send list of your wants for special prices, or inclose $1. $;>, $10. or whatever 
you wish to invest and leave the selection of varieties to us. As to our reliability, 
we refer to tbe editor of The Rubai,, to Bank. Postmaster, Express Agent or any 
business man in Pulaski. Write to-day. Catalogue free. Address 
L. J. FARMER, Box 20, Pulaski, N. Y. 
Plants 
land Trees. 
’ PEACH TREES (76 varieties); STRAW¬ 
BERRY PLANTS (60 varieties); PLUM 
[ TREES (Japan and European); APPLE 
; TREES (100,000); Pear f Quince, Apricot 
and Cherry Trees. BLACKBERRY 
PLANTS grown from root cuttings. 
| Raspberry Plants —a full list of Black, 
J Red, and Yellow kinds; also a full line 
| of Nursery Stock of every kind. Illus- 
[ tratedand Descriptive Catalogue free. 
JOS. H. BLACK, SON & CO., 
I Village Nurseries, - hightstown, N. J. 
* 
o 
o 
H 
(0 
(0 
3 
-I 
CL 
tt 
D 
(0 
m 
cS 
to 
ce 
W 
o 
o 
H 
CG 
H 
>5 
—H 
fa 
D 
CO 
UJ 
H 
< 
a 
h 
3 
£ O 
h 
< 
be 
a 
'E 
v 
ic 
o 
* 
o 
a 
a 
ce 
fa 
o 
fa 
is 
a 
is 
o 
a 
c6 
fa 
>. 
u 
u 
v 
fa 
is 
ce 
h 
** 
CG 
bo 
a 
% 
o 
to U> 
B ^ 
fa 4> 
t. > 
0 a> 
CD 
V 
► 
ce 
fa 
Per 1,000 
20.000 Anna Kennedy.$2 50 
500.000 Brandywine. 2 25 
100.000 Brunette. 2 50 
20 000 Bismarck. 4 00 
100,000 Bubach. 2 50 
10,000 Blonde. 4 00 
100,000 Barton’s Eclipse. 2 00 
50,000 Beder Wood. 2 00 
50.000 Clyde. 8 50 
50,000 Crescent. 2 00 
10,000 Drouth King. 4 00 
20.000 Dayton. 2 00 
10,000 Evans. 3 00 
100,000 Glen Mary. 0 00 
10,000 Giant. 3 50 
20,000 Gardener. 3 00 
20.000 Hall s Favorite. 10 00 
60.000 Hoffmann. 2 00 
20.000 Jersey Market. 8 00 
10,000 King Worthy. 8 00 
10,000 Lehigh. 2 00 
10,000 Manwell . 8 00 
100 000 Marshall. 3(H) 
20,000 Murray. 2 25 
5,000 Margaret. 15 00 
100,000 Michel’s Early. 2 00 
20,000 Meek's Early. 2 00 
20.000 Ocean City. 2 50 
10.000 Patrick. 4 00 
20,000 Princess. 2 50 
50.000 Paris King. 2 25 
2,000 Ruby. 30 00 
50,000 Ridgeway. 5 00 
100,000 Saunders. 2 25 
150,000 Splendid. 2 00 
3,000 Star. 18 00 
25,000 Satisfaction. 3 00 
20,000 Sparta. 2 50 
10,000 Sharpless. 2 50 
20,000 Staples. 2 00 
10,000 Seek-No-Fart her. 3 00 
50,000 Tubbs. 2 00 
50,000 Tennessee Prolific. 2 00 
100,000 Warfield. 2 (HI 
10,000 Wilson. 2 50 
30,000 Woolverton. 2 50 
HIT No less than 500 ot a kind at 
these figures 
This is all FIRST-CLASS STOCK, as 
fine as can be grown and strictly true to 
name. Send in your orders at once. Per¬ 
sons ordering 5,000 or more plants may 
deduct five per cent. Persons ordering 
10,000 or more plants may deduct 10 per 
cent. No other discounts from this list. 
Satisfaction Guaranteed. Address 
W, F. ALLEN, JR., Salisbury, Md. 
DC AOIJ TDCCC 4 tot; ft., at2c.; 3 to4 ft., at 
r uAufl I ntbw U4c.; all 1. yr„ from bud, 
healthy and thrifty, no scale. Official certificate 
accompanies each shipment. Sample by express if 
wanted. Can ship any time. Trees kept dormant 
till May 10. R. S. JOHNSTON, Box 4, Stockley. Del 
IHMATUAM ADDIE lhe 8 reat money-maker. 
JUHAiriAll HllLC Fine stock. Also full line 
of Fruit and Ornamental Trees, Grape Vines, 
Shrubs, Roses, etc. Prices reasonable. Send for 
free catalog. Over 150 acres In nursery. Established 
in 1809. Address THE GEO. A. SWEET NURSERY 
CO„ Box 1006, Dansville, N. Y. 
KEVITT’S IDEA 
to wrap each box of ber¬ 
ries in wax paper. Hale 
says it is a mighty good thing. Send 10 cents for 
sample sheets. T. C. KEVITT, Athenia, N. J. 
r OR THE BERRY GRO WER 
Woeupply the beat plant* of the beat varietlea. 
It’s our specialty, we do only that. Strawberrl**, Raip- 
berrlen, Illaekberrirt, Currant*, (Jooieberriet, etc. Writ* for 
prices and circulars, 
R. J. Sfahelln, Box 4 Bridgman, Mich. 
NORTHERN PLANTERS 
should get our catalogue of tested 
varieties of Strawberries, Rasp- 
'berries, Currant*, Asparagus. Frnlt 
and Ornamental Tree*, Seed Cora 
and Potatoes Write today—free. 
Coe AConverme,No.9, FwtitUnoi,ffk 
Seed Potatoes Cheap. 
To close out 5,000 bushels, I quote you: Maule’s 
Early Thoroughbred, Early Norther, Early Fortune, 
Early Six Weeks, Early Rose, $2.50 a barrel first size; 
second size, $1.50 a barrel: Bovee, $2.75 first size; sec¬ 
ond size, $1.00. Sir Walter Raleigh, Uncle Sain and 
Carman No. 3. $2.90 a barrel, f. o. b. Cash with order 
Five per cent discount on 10-barrei lots. 
HARRY N. HAMMOND, 
Seedsman. Decatur, Mich. 
Extra Choice Seed Potatoes. 
Grown expressly for seed, free from scab. To close 
out, will sell Carman No. 3, Early Ohio. Early Sun¬ 
rise, Sir William, Money Maker, Great Divide, Peer¬ 
less Jr., Rose No. 9, Honeoye Rose and Clay Rose, at 
85 cents per bushel. Everitt's Early Thoroughbred, 
American Wonder, 80 cents per bushel. Sir Walter 
Raleigh, Uncle Sam, Early Norther. Maule's Early 
Thoroughbred, $1 per bushel. Second size: Carman 
No. 1, American Wonder, World’s Fair and Early 
Thoroughbred, 55 cents per bushel, put up in three 
and four-bushel barrels. Mammoth Yellow Flint 
Corn, 90 cents per bushel. Mammoth Early Sugar 
Corn, $1 per bushel. Rags free. Cash with order 
Money-Order Office, Caledonia, Livingston Co., N. Y. 
D. C. McPherson Seed Co., Garbutt, Monroe Co., N.Y. 
C ARMAN No. 3 tt/i.OO 
SEED POTATOES. aJ f^Tperbbl 
Sir Walter Raleigh and Early Bovee $0 per bbl. All 
bbls. 4 bu. 25 varieties at lowest prices. Wholesale 
catalogue free. GEO. a. BONNELL, Waterloo, N. Y 
Choice Seed Potatoes 
by the bushel, barrel or car-load, including the best 
new and standard varieties: prices right. Write for 
catalogue. THE C. C. BRAWLEY SEED AND 
IMPLEMENT CO., New Madison. Ohio. 
L ATE Grown Unblighted Seed Potatoes. 
Extra strong and vigorous: free from scab. 
Planted and grown after J uly 1.1897. Much better for 
seed than early grown. Sir William, $1 bu.; $2.50 bbl.; 
R. N.-Y. No. 2, $1.25 bu. Order before they are all 
gone. E. C. GREEN, Medina, Ohio. 
Vegetable Plants Cheap. 
Cabbage and Celery Plants ready April 1. Tomato, 
Mango Pepper, Cauliflower and Egg Plants ready 
May 1. The above are all One, large transplanted 
plants, well hardened and true to name. Write for 
circular and prices. Address 
J. E. HUTTON, Conyngham, Pa. 
Choice Seed, $1.35 per bushel. 
UQW iChS boxed and delivered to depot. 
For 25 cents, will send by mail postpaid enough 
seed to grow four bushels. 
H. H. McMUKTKIE, Sparta, Tenn. 
HEADQUARTERS FOR COW PEAS. 
Soja Beaus, Velvet Beans, Southern-grown Millet 
and Early Mastodon Seed Corn. 
PACKARD, Seed Grower, Dover, Del. 
Paragon Chestnut Crafts 
FOR SALE. Address 
D. C. W1NEBRENER, Frederick, Md. 
\\/_ D A V CASH each WEEK the year round, if 
TV “ I t\ I you sell Stark Trees. Outfit free. 
STARK NURSERY. LOUISIANA. MO., Stark, Mo.. Rockport, III., Dansville, N. Y 
nr I nil TREES, 3c. All kinds of stock cheap, 
rLnUll Reliance Nursery, Box 10, Geneva, N. Y. 
15,000 QUARTS PER ACRE proved Parker 
Earle Strawberry will yield it. The most productive 
Strawberry on earth. Plant no other. Write for my 
catalogue J. L. ARNOUT, Plalnsville, Pa 
Agents 
Wanted. 
A Twelve- 
year-old Boy 
can do more an<* bette. work with 
this Hand Cultivator than three men can do 
with common hoes. If you can’t get tho 
Hand Cultivator 
of your dealer, send 70 cento for (ample, 
Farmera' Handy Tool Circular mailed free. 
ULRICH UFO. CO., 20 River St., Boek Falla, IU. 
