1904 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
21 I 
EVERYBODY'S GARDEN. 
Unfrozen Rhubarb.— In regard to forc¬ 
ing rhubarb the article in The R. N.-Y. 
relative to freezing the roots is misleading 
in Manitoba- I have been forcing for 
about 12 years, and always And those that 
are unfrozen much the best. Upon read¬ 
ing “New Rhubarb Culture,” we let some 
of our roots freeze, but they were unsat¬ 
isfactory. If possible, we always bring 
them in the same day they are dug. Uast 
Fall we got them in the latter part of Oc¬ 
tober, put them in the same day they were 
dug. They were put under the green¬ 
house bench, and no soil or water was put 
on for a month. They were never touch¬ 
ed by frost, but are growing finely, and I 
never had such fine rhubarb; lots of the 
stalks weighing from eight to 12 ounces, 
and the ground is covered with rhubarb. I 
fail to see what good freezing can do 
them. In fact, it does them harm in this 
country. J • R> 
Portage, Manitoba. 
At first sight here seems to be a 
knockdown argument in favor of un¬ 
frozen roots, but other conditions very 
likely had far more to do with the mat¬ 
ter than the freezing. It is only neces¬ 
sary in walking through a field of grow¬ 
ing corn or potatoes and seeing a worth¬ 
less hill or row standing in the midst 
of luxuriantly growing crops to know 
that some causes beyond our ken are at 
work. The only fair test would have 
been to take the clumps promiscuously 
and frozen part, while the rest were left 
unfrozen, and set them side and side 
with other conditions exactly the same. 
On pages 8 to 11 of the hook referred to, 
a plan is suggested of growing in hot¬ 
beds and under greenhouse benches, 
without freezing the roots. It is only a 
makeshift, however, for getting a crop 
earlier than the roots could be frozen. 
None of the growers claim an equal 
yield from these unfrozen roots, but 
simply resort to the plan for the early 
Winter market. But the conditions as 
well as results of this plan are vastly 
different from those of the large com¬ 
mercial cellars. In the former, the heat 
(always fierce) is closely confined to 
the roots, while in the roomy space of 
the latter the rank heat is invariably at 
the top of the cellar, and thus removed 
from close proximity to the roots. What 
are thrown out as useless. I have 
rhubarb with almost total destruction 
of the roots. From the large cellars of 
frozen roots they are saved for propa¬ 
gating, while those from the hotbeds 
they are thrown out as useless. I have 
seen the experiment tried with large cel¬ 
lars full of unfrozen roots which proved 
a total failure, while other cellars with 
frozen roots within a stone’s throw were 
yielding large crops. You fail to see 
what good the freezing can do. Nature 
has failed to reveal the reason, but we 
know that it is a fact. English growers 
have written me that they also failed to 
see why the roots required freezing. But 
their plan is practically the same as 
growing in hotbeds. See also page 50, 
book referred to, Bulletin 55 Rhode Isl¬ 
and Experiment Station. These tests 
were made side by side. 
Other Queries.—How long should the 
rhubarb roots be allowed to freeze before 
putting them In the cellar? r. p. b. 
Massachusetts. 
The length of time does not particu¬ 
larly matter, whether Only a day or two 
or a month, only make sure that they 
are frozen through and through. You 
need not fear overdoing it. Nitrate of r 
soda is helpful, but better if applied in | 
solution (dissolved in water), and not 
made too strong. Liquid manure is also 
good. 
Melon Louse.— I noticed your answer In 
R. N,-Y. of October 3 last, where you use 
nitrate of soda on melons. We have an 
insect here that we call the black louse. 
It gets under the leaves, and they curl up 
and under side it is black. They come on 
one or two hills at first, but very soon the 
field will be full of them. Our way here 
is to pull the hills and bury them. Do you 
think nitrate of soda would kill them? 
Will the nitrate of soda lose Its strength 
if dissolved in water, or would it have to 
be prepared as it is used? Would it lose 
its strength if Paris-green were mixed 
with it? w. H. H. 
Afton Station, Mo. 
No doubt your trouble Is the Melon 
louse, very destructive in many loca¬ 
tions, but which we here have very 
fortunately escaped thus far. The same 
or very similar trouble used to occur in 
the hop yards of this section, and in a 
few hours great damage would result. 
I would prefer burning the vines to 
burying. I am unable to say whether 
or not the nitrate of soda would be ef¬ 
fectual. It would be well to try it, being 
very particular to get it on to the under 
side of the leaves, which requires much 
care. The most common remedies are 
whale-oil soap, one pound to six gallons 
of water used as a spray. Kerosene 
emulsion is also much used. Dissolve 
a half-pound of ordinary bar soap in 
two gallons of boiling water, add two 
gallons of kerosene oil and stir violently 
until it has a cream-like consistency. 
Dilute with water to make 10 gallons, 
and apply with the sprayer. This also 
must be put on the underside of the leaf. 
I hardly think the nitrate would lose its 
strength if kept a reasonable time, but 
it is but little trouble to dissolve as re¬ 
quired, and this might be better. I have 
never used Paris-green with the nitrate 
of soda solution, but do not believe 
there would be any injurious effect. I 
hardly think the Paris-green would be 
of much use for the Melon louse. 
Michigan. J. k morse. 
Missouri Notes.— Winter seems to have 
let loose. Snow is gone, and the frost is 
out of the ground also, but It is very 
muddy. Repairing fences and getting up 
wood for the Summer occupies the farm¬ 
ers’ attention at present. Plowing for oats 
will commence soon If weather and ground 
are favorable, which I hope it will be, as 
oats are a poor crop with us unless sown 
early. Wheat looks about as poor as I 
ever saw it at this time of year, still, it 
may come out right. J. b. 
Jackson, Mo. 
Are YouWith Us? 
THE DEALER IS AGAINST US 
because we sell Advance Fence 
Direct to the Farmer at. W holesale 
Price*. There is quite a (Utterance 
between Wholesale and Retail prices 
on fence. You can save this differ¬ 
ence by buying direct from the 
manufacturer. We have been making 
and studying fence for the past fifteen 
years. It is not enough to know that 
_ you are getting a fence that weighs 
so many pounds to the rod. If you want to be a careful buyer you must study construct ion. 
Advance Fence is made of the best quality of galvanized steel wire. I he top and bottom 
consists of a two-strand cable. The stay wire is endless, being twisted into the cables trom 
one stay to the next. See how the stay wire is tied on to the line wires. It cant slip. e 
furnish the most powerful stretching machine on the market. 
You take no risk at all—we sell ADVANCE FENCE on 
THIRTY DAYS FREE TRIAL 
trial you can ship it back at our exi 
t perfectly satisfied after giving it a fair 
• expense. Our FREE FENCE BOOK tells all about Advance 
Fence and illustrates 23 STYLES; also Steel Gates to match the fence. Your name and 
address on a postal card will bring our Book and Wholesale Prices. Write today. 
7226 Old St., Peoria, III. 
ADVANCE FENCE CO 
• » 
ALL STEEL LAWN FENCE 
CHEAP AS WOOD 
Wo niako all kinds of 
Lawn, Farm, Park and Cem¬ 
etery Fence, AND SELL 
DIRECT TO YOU at manu¬ 
facturers' prices. SAVE 
AGENTS COMMISSION by 
writing for our FREE 
CATALOGUE. ~ 
V Ur- lU-UAAJGi 
985 North Tenth Street, Terre Haute, Ind, 
ALL FENCING IS LIABLE 
to meet with an accident and become broken and 
Bometlme, the wire nearest the ground will rust. 
See how easily and cheaply ours is repaired. Free 
ssmple and circulars. 
The Truss & Cable Fence Co., 1 2 Cuyahoga RMft.,Cleveland,0. 
WIRE FENCE 
.•Before you buy WIRE FENCE write u» 
for information that will save you from 30 
to 50 percent. We tell it FREE. *> 
KITSELMAN BROS. Box 83, Muncie, Ind. 
RSSirSliiSaamSi 
in ami vj k 1 -1 
W IDC ITC MO IT at Wholesale. AlMnch 
■ VIC. ■ UlUb stock fence K9c per rod. 
Bend for pricelist and FREE catalogue of Wire 
Fence and full line of Fence Supplies . 1 
W. U. MASON & CO., Box 67 Leesburg, Ohio. 
REMEMBER 
FROST™ 
BEST* 
.CHEAPEST 
That the Frost Fence Is made of hard, heavy guage 
wire throughout. It ought to last three times as 
long as soft wire of flimsy woven wire fence, l ry it- 
Catalogue free. „ 
THE FROST WIRE FENCE CO., Cleveland, Ohio 
9 Write our house nearest you for prices | 
on wire fence, plain and barbed wire, 
j Shipments prompt,* freight rates low, 
I goods guaranteed. 
CYCLONE FENCE CO. 
Waukegan, IlL HOLLY, MICH. Cleveland.0. 
UNION^LOCK poultty 
Fencing 
has been fully tested 
and found superior 
to all others. 
Has Fine Mesh at 
Bottom for Small 
Chicks. 
This feature adds greatly to the valuo of the 
fence, and places It In a class by itself. 
Every Part Stretches Perfectly ; 
does not sag between posts, and will fit uneven 
ground without cutting. 
UNION LOCK POULTRY FENCING 
is made at mills In Connecticut, Illinois and Cali¬ 
fornia. Wo pay freight, and allow 30 days free 
trial. Send for FREE catalogue of Farm, Lawn 
and Poultry Fencing. Do It to-day. 
'CASE BROS., COLCHESTER, CONN. 
AGENTS WANTED 
“MEND-A-RIP.” 
DOES ALL KINDS OF LIGHT AND HEAVY 
STITCHING. DOES ALL KINDS OF 
LIGHT AND HEAVY RIVETING. 
AND RIVETCH 
—» CDMB1MCO 
WILL SAVE THE PRICK 
f OF ITSELF MANY TIMES A YEAR. 
I To show It moans a salo. Agents make from 
1 93 to 915 a day. One agent made 920 the 
I first day, and wPtes us to hurry more ma¬ 
chines to him. Write for terms to agents. 
J. C. Foote Foundry Co., Frederloktown, Ohio. 
IF A HEAVY HORSE 
sss?.«,.ir 
PAGE WOVEN WIRE FENCE CO., Adrian, Michigan. 
Dural il <,S| Many new routes will go In this year. We 
nurd I nidi I want name and address of every man who 
sends 1 n a petition. DAY CDCC to first one sendi »g 
We will send a DUX I FILL us full information. 
BOND STEEL POST CO., ADRIAN, MICH. 
THIS LITTLE POWER 
costs little to begin with, little to run, occupies little space, but 
it is a mighty handy and effective engine on the farm. It 
develops \%. full h. p. Note Its platform mounting lor con 
venient carrying to Its work. We show it equipped with our 
pumping attachment. That’s why wo call it the 
HOOSIER BOY PUMPING ENGINE. 
It starts almost Instantly at full speed and meets every demand 
for household, stock, reservoir and garden irrigation purposes. 
Little attention required, its safety Is absolute. Detach pump¬ 
ing attachment and It’s a convenient power for churning, 
sawing,separating cream and all like duties. We make all kinds 
Gasoline Engines, 1 % to 70 h. p. in Stationary; 2 to 15 In Po t- 
able. 13 years active service to recommend them. Ask for free 
catalog and see the line. 
A. LAMBERT GAS Sc GASOLINE ENGINE CO., ANDERSON, j^NDI AN A. 
HAVE RICH MELLOW LAND, 
AGRICULTURAL DRAIN TILE. For 45 y 
and Sewer Pipe, Red and Fire Brick, Oven T: 
and Tops, Encaustic Sidewalk Tile, Ac. Supp 
Cement <Ssc. Write for prices. John H. Jackson, 
That condition is sure to 
follow through draining 
with JACKSON’S Round 
79 3rd Av. Albany. N.Y 
SEE FULL PAGE ADVERTISEMENT IN RURAL NEW-YORKER MARCH 5, BACK COVER. 
URGE PROFITS ■ VARIED SOILS 
WITHOUT FARM MANURE 
FRUIT, TRUCK AND SPECIAL CROP GROWING ON A LARGE SCALE 
In many cases some of these soils are of the lightest sandy character. Some in Florida have been 
described as “looking under a pocket magnifier like powdered window glass.” They have 
little plant food resources of their own. All has to be supplied in the fertilizer. 
In sending for Pamphlets, please stale the Crops in which you are particularly interested. 
THE MAPES FORMULA AND PERUVIAN GUANO CO. 
9 
