20 
January 9 
FAR ME R S’ CLU B 
[Every query must be accompanied by 
the name and address of the writer to in¬ 
sure attention. Before asking a question, 
please see whether it is rot answered in 
our advertising columns. Ask only a few 
questions at one time. Put questions on a 
separate piece of paper.] _ 
WATER TROUGH OF CEMENT. 
H. II., Alberx, III — How can I build a 
stock tank of cement, that is of concrete 
having either stone or brick available? 
Would you advise building it long or 
round? How much cement and brick or 
stone does it take to build one holding 12 
barrels of water? 
Ans.—E xcavate the earth to a depth of 
18 inches, making the hole a little larger 
than you want your tank. Fill this with 
gravel or broken stone, pounded up fine. 
This will give a good foundation for your 
tank. We prefer a tank built in rect¬ 
angular form, say three feet wide by six 
or eight feet long. With good inch lum¬ 
ber first make a box the size you want 
the outside of tank, and from 20 to 24 
inches high. Brace it on the outside se¬ 
curely with inside smooth and straight 
up and down. Next construct another 
box six inches smaller all around at the 
bottom than outer box, sloping out at 
top two inches all round. Place this sec¬ 
ond box inside large box, raising it six 
inches from the gravel, and equal dis¬ 
tance all round from outer box. This 
inside box must have a solid bottom, 
and insert drain and supply pipes at 
bottom of tank where they will be most 
convenient. This may then be filled 
with cement and sand, when stone is 
not convenient but it is more economical 
usually to fill space between boxes with 
broken stone and then make a grout or 
thin mortar, one part cement to two of 
sand, and pour the mold full. It will 
settle and a second filling will be neces¬ 
sary. Allow this to stand till cement 
hardens, then knock off the mold and 
you have a good tank. The slope on 
inside is necessary to prevent tank from 
bursting in freezing weather. If you 
want to make a real nice finish, give 
both inside and outside a coat of cement 
plaster to hide the joint of the boards 
and give a perfectly smooth surface. It 
is also a good plan to round the top 
edge of tank, thus getting rid of square 
corners that are apt to get knocked off 
and disfigure same. An inch of sand 
spread between the rock foundation and 
tank mold will permit of tank being re¬ 
moved if ever desired, without sticking 
to foundation. This will last as long as 
a stone trough and is cheaper. 
Indiana. w. w. stevens. 
Peach on Plum; Handling Seeds. 
,1. P. 0., Ripm, Wi8 .—Will peach buds suc¬ 
ceed on plum roots? What is the best way 
to save and when to plant chestnuts and 
basswood seeds? 
Ans. —Peaches may be successfully 
budded on plum stocks of the Japan, 
Myrobalan and Marianna stocks; to a 
less extent on natives and on Domesti- 
cas, such as St. Julien. The general ef¬ 
fect is to dwarf the trees though this is 
less noticeable when Japan seedlings 
are used. Budding on plum is supposed 
to increase hardiness in the North by 
favoring early ripening of the wood, but 
does not render the flower buds more 
hardy. Borers do not trouble the plum 
roots to so great an extent but some¬ 
times do much damage in the peach 
wood above the union. Gather the chest¬ 
nuts as soon as ripe and keep them in a 
cool moist place for two or three weeks 
until the weevil grubs escape, then se¬ 
lect the sound ones, mix them with 
clean moist sand, store in boxes covered 
with wire netting to keep out vermin, 
and bury the boxes in a place where 
water does not stand in Winter, cover¬ 
ing with several inches of soil. The 
boxes may also be placed on the ground 
in the shade of a tree or building, cov¬ 
ered with a foot of soil and some ever¬ 
green boughs to keep from drying out. 
The nuts will not keep well in a cellar 
or situation where the temperature is 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
much above freezing. The chestnuts 
may be planted in early Spring in rows 
three feet apart, placing them six inches 
apart in the row and covering not over 
two inches deep. They may also be 
planted in the Fall, covering the row 
with boards to keep out mice and squir¬ 
rels. Basswood seeds are gathered fresh 
and stratified in sand in the same man¬ 
ner and sown in seed beds in Spring, 
covering very lightly. 
An Orchard from Root Grafts. 
O. E. C., Newark, O.—I wish to plant sev¬ 
eral acres to apples but wish to Improve 
the orchard site and cannot plant it for 
two years yet. Would it be any advantage 
to buy root-grafts or yearling trees and 
grow them on my place until ready to 
plant? Will second-class trees give as good 
results as first-class? Our nurseryman 
catalogues first-class 6-7, 20 cents; 5-6, 15 
cents, 4-5 feet, 10 cents; second class, 3-4, 
eight cents; 2-3, $2.50 per 100. Which of 
these would you plant for quickest and best 
results? We have planted peach trees one 
foot high that were as large at three years 
as four-foot trees planted at same time. 
Will apples do the same? We are interest¬ 
ed in the apple, as there are but few or¬ 
chards being planted through here, and ap¬ 
ples are shipped in here by the carload. 
Choice ones sell now at from 60 cents 
wholesale to $1 per bushel retail, and it 
was no trouble to sell good drops earlier in 
the season for 30 and 40 cents. We think 
this will pay better than corn and wheat 
on our hills. 
Ans. —It Is entirely practicable to 
grow good trees on the farm from root- 
grafts, but there must be no trifling 
with them because of the pressure of 
other work. They must be set about 
when potatoes are planted in the Spring 
and kept perfectly tilled all the growing 
season. The grafts will not cost much, 
rarely over $4 per 1,000, and there is no 
special secret about their treatment. 
They must be set with dibbles nearly to 
their tops and the soil pressed firmly 
about them, in planting. Any good tools 
for garden cultivation are all that are 
necessary afterwards, and much of the 
work can be done by horse power. To 
get trees cheaply this would be much 
better than to buy inferior grades from 
a nursery. The fact that a tree Is second 
or third class is evidence that there is 
probably something constitutionally bad 
about it, and I would much rather have 
a better tree at a higher price. Plant 
the best trees you can get, Is a safer rule 
than taking the chances of bringing poor 
ones up to the higher standard after they 
are set in the orchard. Peach trees are 
far less permanent than apple trees, and 
yet I have usually found the larger trees 
to give better results than the small 
ones, and I have planted all kinds from 
nurseries that I grew on the farm. There 
is no doubt of the permanent value of 
good apple orchards almost anywhere 
that they can be grown, and, I think, 
from what I have seen in northeastern 
Ohio, that there is a good future for 
annle growing there. h. e. v. d. 
prim TIC U/CT jersey seed- 
UlN L Ul YilI) ling strawberry 
“ The best one on your farm to-day”; statement by 
Fred. Tuezner, of Ked Bank, N.J., June, 1903. Ournev 
catalogue Free. Kevit.t Plant Fa-m Aiimr,:,, v 
iujv TREES STOOK# ■m 
W V Umit Nurnery. " I IlbKS r AIL 
_ Fruit Book Free. Result of 78 years* experienn, 
sTaRK BROS. Louisians. Mo.: DansviHe. N Y : Rl 
'TYTMl'C' and’PLANTS at Wholesale Prices 
Kb Apple, Pear andPlum, *8 per 100. Cat. free 
lvUljwJ reliance Nfkskky. Box U).Geneva.N.Y 
Sweet’s 
Genesee 
Valley 
Trees 
Are 
Famous 
ii 
Trees That Please” 
We grow them and they have given 
us a constantly increasing business 
for 35 years. Buy once, always a pa- 
tron. Right now our great nurseries 
are filled with the smoothest, health- 
i est, best rooted tree stock in the 
world. All the fruits, all the approved 
varieties, with vines, shrubs, etc. 
Write for latest catalog. Estab. 1800. 
GEO. A. SWEET NURSERY CO.? 
20 Maple Street, DansviHe, N, Y 
r~ THE TREE OF LIFE —\ 
is one budded upon a branched root seedling, puds 
taken from bearing trees, grown upon the famous 
Michigan fruit land, dug by our root protecting 
tree digger and handled in our mammoth storage 
cellars. Small fruits and everything in nursery 
and greenhouse lines true to name at wholesale 
prices. t3T We guarantee safe delivery. 
Catalogue FREE. Write to day. 
CENTRAL MICHIGAN NURSERY, Kalamazoo, Mich. 
Michigan’dMammothXumeriet —■! I It 
n A I nilflil Apples, Bartlett Pears. Montmorency Cherries. Large German Prunes. Elberta 
A Lb §J W I HI Peaches and other leading business varieties of fruit trees bred from famous 
bearing orchards. The Tree Breeder tells the rest. It’s FREE. .. v 
THE TREE BREEDERS. ROGERS ON THE HILL, PANSVILLE, N. Y. 
TREES AND SHRUBS 
IN GREAT VARIETY. . 
WELL GROWN, HEALTHY AND TRUE 
TO NAME. Many New* and Rare Plants 
Largest Stock in the South. 
Illustrated Catalogue Free. 
P. J. BERCKMANS CO. (INC.) 
Fruitland Nurseries, Augusta, Ga. 
Established in 1856. Over 400 acres in Nurseries. 
>. STARK GRAPE NURSERIES are In the heart of the famous Chautauqua 
Grape Belt, which produces the finest vines grown in the U. S. We have 
1 an immense stock of all leading sorts; quality perfect; prices low as those ol 
any reputable grower. Send us your orders—one vine or a car load. A com- 
\/IIVF^ v 
Till LfO fruits, etc- Price List free, 
plete line of fruit trees, small 
STARK BRO’S 
PORTLAND, N. Y. 
Louisiana. Mo. 
r 
Strawberry Culture 
A 60 page book, makes you un- 
S?^»»derstand the whole subject. Sent 
postpaid on receipt of 25c, silver 
or lc stamps. Worth four times 
the price Money back if you don t 
think so. Beautiful illustrated 
Strawberry Catalogue Free. ( 
W.F. ALLEN. SALISBURY, MD. 
40 Plants for only $< 
Prepaid. 12 Echo and 12 Rrandywine Strawberry, 6 
Wood’s Cuthbert Ra«pberry, 4 Erie Bl»crb«TTY, 3 Fay’s Currant, 1 
Pearl Gooseberry, 1 Concord and 1 Niagara Grape. Well rooted strong 
fruiters. Aslt for circular of 11 other special bargains, also catalog, free. 
Allen L. Wood, Wholesale Grower, Rochester, N. Y. 
EDUCATED TREES 
BRED FOR BEARING 
TRUE TO NAME because ^11 our Buds 
a r e cut from our own ‘ Fruit Belt” 
Bearing Trees. Illustrated Catalog free. 
West Michigan Nurseries, 
Box 54, BENTON HARBOR, MICH. 
HOYT’S TREES. 
The man behind the tree is the best 
guarantee that it is true to name, healthy 
and will grow into a strong vigorous 
bearer. “Hoyt” has stood for the best 
there is in tree growing for more than 50 
years. Shade Trees, Ornamentals, Fruit, 
Vines and Plants. 
Catalogue free. Send your name. 
THE STEPHEN HOYT’S SONS CO. 
NEW CANAAN, CONN. 
SEED 
T D CTE FI garden,:f.arm 
1 Co 1 Cl/AND FLOWER 
Agricultural Implements, and Poultry Supplies 
Send for Catalogue. 
YOUNG & H ALSTEAD, 2 and 4 GrandSt., Troy, N. Y. 
25 °° WORTH or 
SEEDS FREE. 
_ want „ 
get in touch with every 
buyer of seeds. My plan of giv¬ 
ing $5 worth of tested seeds free, 
is worth knowing. It includes * 
chance to make more dollars. Send 
for catalog and get packet of choice 
flower seeds FREE. A postal will do it. 
HENRY FIELD 
Box 26 
Shenandoah, la, 
« Tht Ear-fkcd-Corn 
Man.'* 
LEcotthShSV! 
5HTN^f 
Prices of Seeds. - 
Fvery sensible man wants the highest 
class seeds he can get, but he does not 
want to pay any more for them than 
necessary. We raise seeds on our own 
farm and keep the quality up to the 
highest standard and our prices are 
low. We raise all kinds of vegetable 
seeds, as well as Potatoes, Field and 
Sweet Corn, new varieties of Oats, 
etc. Catalogue tree. Drop us a card 
to-day. JOSEPH HARRIS CO., Moreton 
Farm, Coldwater, N. Y. 
Quality First Consideration 
Full of life, sure to grow. We grow in the North what 
develops best there. All our seeds come to you from their 
own special climates, whether North, East, South or West. 
We sell freshness, strength and the vigor that comes from 
the seeds* own climate. We also handle 
FARM, GARDEN, DAIRY & 
POULTRY SUPPLIES 
You'll find it convenient to buy all supplies from one re¬ 
liable house. It keeps us busy and we can make you let¬ 
ter prices. Weissue a great catalog of such utilities. See 
i t for bargains. Get FREE general catalogue Wo. 12. 
CRIFFITH a. TURNER COMPANY, 
205 N. Paca Street, Baltimore, Md. 
100,000 Apple, 200,000 Peach, 
BOM. SOUR CHERRY. Low Prices. Catalogue. 
»OOI>v iKW NURSERIES. B 2. Mt. Holly Springs.Pa 
NORTHERN 
GROWN TREES 
BEST climate. BEST soil. 
BEST for the Fruit Grower. 
BEST for Agent and Dealer. 
BEST Catalogue. BEST Prices. 
My treatment and Trees make permanent 
customers. 
Once Tried. Always Wanted. 
Catalogue Free. Instructive ; Interesting, 
MARTIN WAHL, ROCHESTER, N. Y. 
In the [ 
Nursery Row 
at Harrison’s Nurseries where 
an apple tree cli mate and right 
methods of propagating com¬ 
bine to produce the best, there 
stand over 
500,000 APPLE TREES. 
When nug for planting they will show up the best 
rooted, strongest growing, smoothest trees in the 
world Every kind for summer, fall and winter, 
over a hundred varieties. If you'd t.lant trees tha t 
are full of life and brod to bear,send for Harrison s 
catalog. It’s our only sales agent. Trees guaran¬ 
teed under our packing to come in the pink of con¬ 
dition to any point in the United States. Also large 
stock of peach, cherry and pear trees, strawberries, 
grapes, etc. 
HARRISON’S NURSERIES, Box 29. Berlin, Md. 
AINE SEED POTATOE 
m 
Prices given on any quantity delivered in New 
York Catalogue CARTER k CORFY Presque 
Isle Aroostook Co Maine Over fifty varieties. 
Vegetable and 
Flower. In fact 
everything iu the 
jNur*erjraud Flor¬ 
ist line. We send by 
mail postpaid Seeds, 
Plauts, Hoses, Bulbs, 
- Small Trees, Etc., safe arrival ana 
satisfaction guaranteed, larger by express 
or freight. Send for our elegant 168 page free 
catalogue and see what values we give for yonr 
money. Correspondence solicited. 50 years, 
44 greenhouses, 1000 acres. 
THE STORKS A HARRISON CO., 
Box I 70, PAINESVILLE, OHIO. 
10,000Plants for 16c 
More gardens and farms are planted to 
Salzer’s Seeds than any other in 
A merica. There is reason for this. 
We own and operate over 5000 acres for'' 
the production of our warranted seeds. 
In order to induce you to try them, we 
make you the following unpre-i 
cedented offer: 
For 16 Cents Postpaid 
1000 Karly, Medium and Late Cabbages, . 
2000 tk-licluus, Carrots, I 
2000 lilancl.ing Celery, 
2000 lllrh Nutty Lettuce, 
1000 Splendid Onions, 
1000 ltare Luscious Radishes, 
1000 tiloriously Brilliant Flowers. 
Above seven packages contain suffi¬ 
cient seed to grow 10,000 plants, fur¬ 
nishing bunhels of brilliant flowers 
and lots and lots of choice vegeta- . 
bles.togetlier with our great catalog, | 
telling all about Flowers, Roses, 
Small Fruits, etc., all for 16 c in 
stamps and this notice. Mam¬ 
moth 140-page catalog alone, 4c. 
JOHN A. SALZER SEED CO., 
F, La Crosse, Wis. 
MEET 
ALL 
NEEDS 
Experience has established it as 
a fact. Bold by all dealers. You 
sow — they grow. 1904 Seed 
Annual post paid free to all ap¬ 
plicants. 
D. M. FERRY & CO. 
DETROIT, MICH. 
BURPEE’S Farm Annual for 1904. 
U V 111 ■■ W LEADING AMERICAN SEED CATALOGUE 
M - 1 _ -J rprr 4- n ~ 1 I who want the BEST SEEDS ! 
3 I ICQ r n EL El TO all An elegant new book of 178 pages, 
with hundreds of illustrations and six superb colored plates, it is now brighter 
and better than ever before. Many new features for 1904 ,—including valuable 
R.AR.E NOVELTIES which cannot be had elsewhere. Write TO-DAY! 
A postal card will secure, a copy by first mail—provided you intend to purchase 
seedsotherwise the price is ten cents, which is less than cost to us. 
W. Atlee Burpee & Co., Philadelphia, Pa. 
