354 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
May 14 
PLANTING THE BIG FLOWER-POT. 
How many of our readers are interested 
in The R. N.-Y. Potato Flower-pot ex¬ 
periment ? We would like to know— 
but that is asking too much. The writer 
of these notes is, and always has been, 
intensely interested in original work, 
whether it promises much or little. 
Original work is what the experiment 
stations should be after. Rut it isn’t the 
easiest matter to conjure up original 
work. In fact, it is the hardest sort of 
work to hit upon investigations that some 
one else has not gone through. When 
the plan of drilling in corn, fertilizing 
the soil upon the surface, and shallow 
and fiat cultivation struck us, we had no 
reason to think that anything w r ould 
come of it. But so much came of it as 
to induce quite a revolution in the cul¬ 
ture of corn, whether field or sweet. We 
know of no farmer who has thoroughly 
tried the system (“ Triplicate,” as we 
named it) that would go back to deep 
fertilizing or manuring, planting in 
hills, and deep cultivation. Deep culti¬ 
vation may do little harm in wet sea¬ 
sons, though we cannot conceive that it 
could do any good, while in dry seasons, 
it is harmful to a degree. This we know, 
or think we know, as a result of careful 
comparative trials. Planting in drills 
—the seed dropped one foot apart, it may 
be—will give more plant and larger ears, 
and more ears than in planting in hills 
where from two to four plants grow to¬ 
gether. This, too, we know, or think we 
know,as the result of careful comparative 
trials. The roots of corn grow near the 
surface, and spread out from row to row. 
We want the fertilizer or manure near the 
surface, therefore, so that the roots may 
feed on it. Shallow cultivation keeps 
the surface mellow, and opposes evapor¬ 
ation. Deep cultivation cuts the roots 
and favors evaporation. 
So, too, we had not the remotest idea 
that wheat and rye would cross. There 
is no account of its having been success¬ 
fully tried prior to The R. N.-Y.’s suc¬ 
cessful venture. Again, we did not sup¬ 
pose that the blackberry and raspberry 
would cross. It is true enough that the 
hybrid plants bore imperfect or worth¬ 
less fruit, but Mr. Burbank, it is said, 
has since produced hybrids of value. 
We did not suppose that anything of 
value would come from crossing well- 
known roses with Rosa rugosa. The 
Agnes Emily Carman (and several others 
which we exceedingly regret have been 
neglected) was the first result, the 
Georges Bruant the next—and more are 
on the way. 
The crossing of the ordinary tomato 
with the Peach and with the little Cur¬ 
rant gave little, if any, promise of im¬ 
proving tomatoes. Yet there are many 
who regard the Terra Cotta as of finer 
quality than any other tomato of the 
catalogues, and its keeping qualities and 
odd beauty are well known to those who 
have raised it. The result of the Cur¬ 
rant cross is yet in its infancy. One thing 
we have learned, however, viz., that with 
the Currant and its progeny for the 
mother plant, we finally secure strains 
as large as, and possibly, more prolific, 
than any of the catalogue tomatoes. 
Well, something may come of the Po¬ 
tato Flower-pot experiment. Something 
ought to come of it, barring blight or 
other accident. We want to know 
whether uniformity of soil and nutriment 
will not, in a measure, guarantee that, 
if the seed tubers be carefully selected, 
one hill will produce as many potatoes 
as another. We want to know which 
potatoes are really the earliest, which are 
the best and most productive intermedi¬ 
ate and late, and this can only be ascer¬ 
tained by giving the same conditions to 
the varieties planted. 
The last turning and intermingling of 
the soil was done in this way : Two wide 
basins were dug out a foot in depth, 
either within about 15 feet of the north 
and south boundaries. The soil was 
scattered as evenly as possible over the 
entire plot. Then soil was taken from 
all parts of the plot to form cones of soil 
on either of these basins, six feet high. 
Then this soil was redistributed over the 
plot. The surface was carefully leveled, 
the man using a long-handled rake so 
that it would not be necessary to tramp 
upon the plot. The distances for the 
rows were then marked out, and a 16-foot 
rod, marked off in foot spaces, showed 
where the seed pieces were to be planted. 
The soil was now so fluffy and spongy 
that the foot of the planter would have 
sunk several inches had he not used wide 
boards to stand upon. These were placed 
between the rows. In order to secure 
for every seed piece or tuber the same 
depth of planting, a Richards trans¬ 
planter was used. This, as we have be¬ 
fore described, is a galvanized iron 
cylinder four inches deep and nearly 
four inches in diameter. This was 
pressed into the soil and removed. The 
seed potato was then pressed into the 
bottom of this round hole so that the top 
of the potato should be even with the 
soil at the bottom of the hole. The soil 
held in the cylinder was then replaced. 
The boards were then removed, and 16 
pounds of high-grade potato fertilizer 
which had been previously mixed with 
an equal bulk of moist soil, were then 
spread as equally as possible over the 
entire plot, and carefully raked in, using 
the boards when necessary so as to avoid 
stepping on the plot and compacting the 
soil more in one place than in another. 
Commencing during the early morning 
of April 18, and finishing during the 
afternoon of the same day, the follow¬ 
ing varieties were planted: Gem of 
Aroostook, Farmers’ Favorite, Pingree, 
Alexander Prolific, Quick Crop, Mil¬ 
waukee, Read's Early Pink Eye, Yukon, 
Klondike, Read’s Early Snowball, 
Washington, Superior, Vigoroso, Pride 
of Michigan, Early Hurst, Sir Walter 
Raleigh, Bovee, Early Virginia, White 
Peacliblow, Burpee’s Extra Early, Thor- 
burn, Early Thoroughbred, Great Divide, 
Enormous, Carman No. 1, Sir Walter 
Raleigh, Early Andes, Pat’s Choice, 
Standard, Early Ohio, Carman No. 3, 
Uncle Sam, White Beauty, Bovee, Car¬ 
man No. 1, and Sir Walter Raleigh. It 
will be seen that we have planted some 
kinds more than once. For example : 
The Sir Walter Raleigh is first planted 
as No. 16 ; second, as No. 26 ; third, as 
No. 36, the last in the plot. The object 
was to show, in so far as we may, the dif¬ 
ference in the yield of different parts of 
the plot. The seed was selected with 
regard to weight and number of eyes 
with all care. For example : Of the Car¬ 
man No. 1 eight medium-sized tubers were 
selected, the smallest of which weighed 
three ounces. Several weighed a fraction 
over three ounces. In such cases a small 
part of the stem end was cut off so that 
all should weigh the same as the smallest 
tuber. 
In some cases, the tubers sent to us 
were too large. These were cut length¬ 
wise so that each portion should have, 
in so far as practicable, the same num¬ 
ber of eyes. For example : Four tubers 
of the White Beauty were sent to us 
weighing 18% ounces. These were cut 
into nine seed pieces, each piece having 
respectively four, five, three, four, four, 
four, three, three, three eyes. Again, 
three tubers of the Carman No. 1 weighed 
21 ounces. These three tubers were cut 
lengthwise in half, each half having re¬ 
spectively three, four, three, four, four, 
four eyes. Thus with every other kind 
planted, we were careful to secure the 
same conditions of weight of seed planted 
and number of eyes to every piece or 
whole tuber. Whether the “eyes” were 
dormant or sprouted was also noted. 
Since the completion of the Flower¬ 
pot, the following kinds of potatoes have 
been received : Thirty-day Triumph from 
The John A. Salzer Co., of La Crosse, 
Wis. It is a selection for five years from 
the earliest and largest-yielding plants 
of the Bliss Triumph (Stray Beauty) ; 
Secretary Wilson, a seedling of Salzer’s 
World’s Fair; Junior Pride, from E. H. 
Harrington [addressmislaid], Mass.; Mc¬ 
Kinley,from D. L. Passavant,Jumonville, 
Pa. ; Bryan, from same ; Early Dawn, 
from II. C. Marsh, Muncie, Ind. ; Alex¬ 
ander's Ex. Early, from 0. H. Alexan¬ 
der, Charlotte, Vt. These would have 
been planted in the Flower-pot had they 
been received in time. They were plant¬ 
ed in the usual way, and will serve for 
comparison. 
At this season of the year, the selling 
of sods in New York is a profitable in¬ 
dustry. This is especially so in the up¬ 
per town. The average “ back 3 'ard ” is 
about 30x20 feet. The grass-plot takes 
about 24x14 feet of this; then there is 
a paved path of 1 % foot, and finally a 
border of sod about 1 % foot. The grass- 
plot is used for drying clothes, so that 
the sod wears out in two seasons or so, 
and must be resodded. So, too, there 
are narrow borders of grass in front of 
many houses between the curb of the 
streets and the sidewalks. Those in 
front of the hotels and finer residences 
are resodded every Spring. So it is that 
an immense amount of sod is demanded. 
These sods are peddled out from low’ box 
wagons. The sods are cut in lengths of 
from four to six feet long and one foot 
wide. The price is two cents per foot 
for the sod, and if laid, four cents per 
foot. The little “ back yards” of many 
of the New York upper-town houses are 
very pretty. Vines of many kinds cover 
the fences, while roses, Verbenas, Geran¬ 
iums, etc., fill the narrow margins be¬ 
tween the fences and the grass-plot. One 
does not need to live in the country to 
en joy gardening. Thirty years ago, the 
writer of these notes took as much pride 
in one of these city gardens as he has 
since taken in the acres of his country 
home. 
Are You Tired 
Hood’s Sarsaparilla imparts to the blood the 
qualities it lacks when that tired feeling troubles 
you. It makes the blood rich, pure, full of vital¬ 
ity. It cures spring languor and eradicates all 
foul taints from the blood, thus guarding against 
future danger from fevers, malaria and other 
serious illness. 
Today Buy and Begin to Take 
Hood’s Sarsaparilla 
Is America’s Greatest Medicine. $1; six for $5. 
U/n DAY CASH each WEEK the year round, if 
TT t; I /A I you sell Stark Trees. Outfit free. 
STARK NURSERY, LOUISIANA, MO., Stark, Mo., Rockport, 111., Dansvllk, N. Y 
500 
GARDNER 
BRANDYWINE 
STRAWBERRY PLANTS for *2. 
T. C. KEVITT, Athenia, N. J. 
QCDDV Dl IIITC From *1-12 per 1,000 ui 
DCnn I r LHI1 I O Send for price-list 
H. L. SQUIRES, Flanders. N. Y. 
HEADQUARTERS FOR COW PEAS. 
Soja Beans. Velvet Beans, Southern-grown Millet 
and Early Mastodon Seed Corn. 
PACKARD, Seed Grower, Dover, Del. 
S WEET POTATO PLANTS — Yellow Nanse- 
mond. $1.50 per 1.000. Write for Circular of other 
kinds. F. S. NEWCOMB, Vineland, N. J. 
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. BRAWLKY SEED AND 
IMPLEMENT CO., New Madison. Ohio. 
Berry Baskets. 
Quaits, Shorts, Pints, Thirds, etc. 
Peach Baskets. 
Sizes, 2. 4, 6 , 8 , 10, 12. 14 and 
10 quarts 
Grape Baskets. 
Sizes, 3J4, 5, 8 ,10 and 15 lbs. 
Peach Covers. 
Wood, burlap and cotton. 
Berry, Peach and Grape Crates. 
Crate stock and box shooks in all sizes, direct from 
the manufacturers. Special prices to dealers and 
car-load buyers. Write for catalogue. 
A. H. MONTAGUE & SON, 
Manufacturers and Agents, 
120 Warren Street. Nkw York City 
SURE DEATH TO BUGS. 
(SAKE TO USE—NO ARSENIC.) 
Pat. March Wand Nov.9,1897. 
Pat in Canada Nov. 2,1897. 
Kills Potato, Squash and 
Cucumber Bugs, Currant, 
Tomato Worms, etc. 
PREVENTS BLIGHT 
or Potato Rust. Use freely 
on Vegetables and House 
Plants. More freely used, 
better plant will thrive. 
Applied dry; no water to 
carry; will not blow or 
wash off. 
Apply to local dealer for 
free sample package. 
1-lb. package, 15c.; 3-lb. 
package. 35c.: 6 -lb. package, 
50c.; 121^-lb. package, $1. 
Perfection Shakers, 50c.; 
Rubber Atomizers, 75c. 
For sale by all local dealers 
DANFORTH CHEMICAL CO 
35 Spruce Street, 
■ )Leominster, Mass. 
^. inniii iiiiiiim nmn miinmiiiituiiiiiiiiiiiiimiiiiiiimiiniiiig 
WITH THE § 
GARFIELD 
KNAPSACK 
or tlie 
EMPIRE KING 
Perfect agitator*—HO scorching of 
j foliage—no leather CdMftbber valves* 
j Catalogue free. Agents wanted, 
j FIELD FORCE PUMP COMPANY, 
It Market 8U, Loekport, N. Y. 
! iiiiiiiiiiiuiuiiiiiiiiiniiiimniuiiiuiniivnnaiiTV 
Hood’s Pills cure indigestion, biliousness. 
LEGGETT'S 
<y fsp 
The Original 
Dry Sprayer. 
Dusts trees, bush or 
vine. Two rows of po¬ 
tatoes as fast as you 
walk. Extension tubes 
for Orchard Work with 
each. 
AGENTS WANTED. 
Catalogue Free. 
LEGGETT&BRO. 
301 Pearl Street, 
New York. 
ECLIPSE ATOMIZER 
Positively best on the market. 
Will Last a Lifetime. 
NOT 
CHEAP 
TIN. 
Morrill 
Money, 
Rug Killer 
on Earth. 
Salesmen 
Wanted 
Everywhere. 
Good profits; 
write quick for 
particulars. 
Sample, $1.50. 
Benton Harbor, 
Mich. 
PEPPLER and CLIMAX 
SIX-ROW 
SPRAYERS 
Horse power or hand pnmp. Most practical, simplest, most durable, , 
_most perfect sprayers ever built. Either will spray 6 rows of potatoes, . 
cotton or vegetables at one passage—30 acres a day—throw 2 < 
sprays in any part of a tree, or 4 or more sprays at once in the 
vineyard. Can be worked any where in any weather. Catalog, contains formnlas, 
spray calendar, etc., sent free. THUS. PEPPLER, Box,20, Ulghtstown, N. J. ' 
for BUSINESS TREES for BUSINESS FARMERS 
NURSERYMAN TO 
THE BUSINESS FARMER. 
HONEST TREES at HONEST PRICES, write to 
ROGERS, DANSVILLE, N. Y. 
A. TOO MANY STRAWBERRIES i, 
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. 
1,000,000 STRAWBERRY PLANTS 
For Fall and Spring. All Young Plants. All the leading NEW and Old Standard Sorts, grown on land 
never occupied by strawberry plants before. Prices right. Write for Special Price. Catalogue Free. 
ARTBUR J. OOlililNB, Moorestown, 3NT. «T. 
