734 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
October fi. 
uralisms 
NOTES FROM THE RURAL GROUNDS 
San Jose Scale Rampant. —There is 
little doubt that the lime-sulphur mixtures 
are practical failures as remedies for the 
San Jose scale near the Atlantic Coast. 
Partial success m clearing plum and peach 
trees of this dangerous pest is reported, 
but it is the general observation that it 
has been of little use on apple, pear and 
cherry trees. An experienced entomolo¬ 
gist says lie has never seen so great an in¬ 
crease of scale as there has been this Sum¬ 
mer in some orchards thoroughly sprayed 
with the lime, sulphur and salt combina¬ 
tion. Our trial of the liver-of-sulphur- 
lime wash is even more discouraging in 
result, as scales have over-run almost every 
tree sprayed with this material and we are 
sure the work was most carefully done. 
Where we used crude petroleum or strong 
whale-oil soap solution in the same orchard 
no living scales can be found. The plain 
caustic socia solution, so confidently 
boomed in certain quarters, was extensive¬ 
ly tested and so far as heard from has 
proved entirely useless as a scale killer 
though most effective in excoriating the 
hands and inflaming the faces of those 
who applied it. These failures of much 
vaunted remedies will cause many to go 
back to the soap and oil applications that 
have been at least partially successful in 
the past. They are not ideal preparations 
for the purpose but offer a fighting chance 
to stay the inroads of the scale, and may 
be counted on to do fair execution in the 
absence of more reliable remedies. 
Laundry Soap for a Summer Wash.— 
For a short period after our application 
of the liver-of-sulphur-lime wash, in the 
proportion of one pound each of potassium 
sulphide or liver of sulphur and stone lime 
to two gallons of water, we hoped the 
scales were destroyed, as reasonably close 
examination could not detect any living 
adults. When breeding time came iat 
June, however, the nymphs or young 
scales swarmed over the trees in astonish¬ 
ing numbers, showing that many adults 
survived. The lime and sulphur coating 
is supposed to prevent fixture of the 
nymphs, where it sticks, but all traces had 
long been washed off the trunks and 
branches by Spring rains, and they had 
a clear field for their development. A 
trial was made of common yellow laundry 
soap solution in the proportion of one 
pound soap to six gallons water. The 
soap was cut in shavings, dissolved in a 
small quantity of boiling water and the 
needed quantity of solution made up by 
adding sufficient warn, water. It sprays 
well at ordinary Summer temperature and 
is not barmiul to the foliage. We very 
thoroughly sprayed a number of infested 
trees with this mixture. Many young 
scales appeared to be killed and the ac¬ 
tive nymphs seemed paralyzed for a time, 
but in a few days could be seen moving 
about though in diminished numbers. 
Some good was done, as could be seen by 
comparisons with untreated trees, bill the 
results are not sufficiently encouraging 
to warrant further experiments. 
Back to Petroleum and Whale-oil 
Soap. —We have used petroleum and 
whale-oil soap solution for Pernicious 
scale on young orchard trees of every va¬ 
riety for the last four years, with most 
satisfactory results in clearing off the 
scales, and with little apparent harm to the 
trees. Some bloom buds have been killed 
and in the case of one apple tree a section 
of bark appeared injured by petroleum, but 
the wound is now nearly outgrown. We 
have applied these insecticides on apple, 
pear, peach, plum, cherry and quince trees 
as well as currant bushes and many orna 
mental shrubs with unvarying success. In 
every instance petroleum has killed the 
scales and prevented reinfection for one 
or two seasons, while whale-oil soap can be 
counted on to clean off the scales for the 
season of its application and is free from 
danger to the trees. We hope to spray 
every tree and shrub on which live scales 
can be found, with potash whale-oil soap 
solution in the strength of two pounds 
soap to the gallon as soon as the leaves 
fall and follow with an application of 
petroleum next March where the soap 
may not have been altogether effective. 
The objections to this treatment are the 
expense, petroleum costing over 15 cents 
a gallon and the soap five cents a pound, 
when bought in less than 100 pound lots, 
and the possibility of harming valuable 
trees with petroleum, but heroic treatment 
is needed and we do not care to risk again 
the uncertainties of the lime and sulphur 
combinations. If the Pernicious scale 
continues its present rapid increase and 
petroleum turns out to be the only reli¬ 
able remedy it will soon be necessary to 
provide official inspection for the mineral 
oils sold for the purpose. It is tolerably 
well agreed that heavy, old and greasy 
oils are dangerous as tree applications, 
but the small purchaser has at present no 
certainty of getting what he calls for in 
the way of fresh oils of light specific 
gravity. Tie can only take his chances 
and make light applications late in Spring 
when the wood is full of sap and the buds 
well swollen. 
A Fight to the ITnish. —It is evident 
the scale has the upper hand this season. 
There seem to be no effective natural 
enemies at work and the general abandon¬ 
ment of fairly successful remedies like 
petroleum and whale-oil soap, for the un¬ 
reliable lime-sulphur washes has given it 
the upper hand. It is now a fight to the 
finish in infested districts for fruit grow¬ 
ers who wish to continue in the business. 
Thorough work must be done with the 
best means at hand. The Chinese lady¬ 
bird brought over by the Department of 
Agriculture does not appear to be a very 
strenuous scale hunter in this country. 
Already a local parasite has been noticed 
to destroy it faster than it destroys the 
scale. The latest report shows that a 
colony or two has been established in the 
South, but in the North it is not likely to 
maintain itself. We must fight the scale 
by every promising means at our com¬ 
mand. The lime-sulphur washes have 
proved their efficiency against the peach 
leaf-curl and appear to be fairly service 
able as scale killers on peach and plum 
but their failure on apple and pear trees 
this year makes us regard them as any¬ 
thing but reliable. 
Better Petroleum Nozzle Needed.— 
The ordinary Vermorel and Bordeaux 
nozzles are too wasteful when pure pe- 
trolum is used. A light film only is 
needed to coat the bark and penetrate the 
scale-crusts, if oil is permitted to run 
down the trunk and accumulate about the 
collar some damage may follow. The me¬ 
chanical emulsion pumps are not wholly 
satisfactory—the mixture varies as it 
reaches the trees and the water certainly 
does not aid the oil to penetrate the scale 
crusts, while it bolds it longer to the tis¬ 
sues of the tree. A nozzle is needed that 
will distribute the oil in a misty spray 
under moderate pressure and thus render 
it possible to coat the branches without 
saturating the earth and adjacent atmos¬ 
phere with the high priced petroleum. 
W. V. F. 
• •• U »• A, 1IV.I V O 1VUI. ^lUkVUUV/li| 
more t’ au protection—there’s long 
wear in the 
BUCKSKIN BRAND 
Rubber Boots & Shoes. 
Get the genuine—there are substitutes that 
are but part rubber, made to sell cheap. 
Buckskin is all rubber, pure, new rubber, the 
only thing that wears IOC reduction means20L 
less wear. Insist on seeing Buck- 
skin Trademark—it's on every 
pair. We sell retailers by cata¬ 
log; cut out jobbers’ and travel¬ 
ing men's expense and put that 
money Into quality. Write us if 
your dealer doesn't handle the 
Buckskin. A special offer to you 
to introduce in your locality if 
you are the first one writing. 
NOT MADE BY A TRUST. 
Write today. 
BANKER RUBBER CO. 
280 Bittner Street, St. Louie, Mo. 
r- 
i. ? 
« r 
C utfct III |g 
t.ml !m 
THE PARSONd 
“LOW-DOWN” WAGON 
hus many 
imitators, 
but there 
are NONE 
JUST AS 
GOOD. 
Can have 
Rubber 
Tires and 
Boiler 
Bearing 
Axles if 
desired. 
Catalogue 
Fit KB. 
is as necessary to 
the healthy growth 
of grain as grain 
is to the health of 
man. 
Our valuable books on 
“Fertilization,” sent free 
to farmers upon request. 
GERMAN KALI WORKS 
93 Nassau Street New York 
CANADA HARDWOM ASHES 
Do you want to seed down a Held to grass this year? 
Or do you want to grow a big crop of Rye or Fall 
Wheat? Then use the Joynt Brand of Pure Un- 
leached Hardwood Ashes, and use one to two 
tons to the acre " according to the condition of 
ihesoll' before seeding, and you are sure to get large 
returns for your money. Write for delivered prices 
and Information and address, 
JTOHN JOYNT, Lucknow, Ontario, Canada. 
Reference—Dominion Bank, Wingham, Ont. 
BORDEAUX MIXTURE V c r°a n t c e e 0 L 
To 1 gal add 49 gallons of water and ready for sprayiug 
CON VENIENT and EFFECTIVE. Cost only H 
MONEY ORDER, REGISTERED LETTER or CHECK 
SMEDET CHEMICAL COMPANY, 
S. E. Cor- 11th and Master Streets, Philadelphia, Pa. 
JOHN R. PARSONS, Manager, Earlville, N. Y. 
CIDER 
PRESSES. 
Investigate the •* Monarch” 
Hydraulic Press before 
buying. Special Con¬ 
struction, Added Con¬ 
veniences, Maximum 
Capacity and Results. 
Catalogue free. 
MONARCH MACHINERY COMPANY, 
41 Cortlandt Street, New York. 
o 
fruit into a salable product 
cider for instance. If clear and 
pureit sells readily at a profit. 
The best is produced by a 
HYDRAULIC C, H SS 
Made in varying sizes, hand 
power. Catalogue free. 
HYDRAULIC PRESS MFC. 
38 Cortlandt St., Now 
New Insect Pest. —Although the nurseries 
of New York Slate are inspected, and no 
doubt most carefully inspected, a shipment of 
Carolina poplars came to Minnesota last 
Spring among which were found numerous 
specimens of the Imported Mottled alder and 
willow borer, Cryptorhyncus lapathi, Linn., a 
picture of which I enclose, Fig. ,‘>27. This is 
THE MOTTLED WILLOW BORER. Fig. 327. 
a most dangerous insect, and threatens to de¬ 
stroy a tree which is becoming very popular 
as a windbreak. Minnesota is not anxious to 
receive this unwelcome visitor, and may I, 
through your columns, urge upon inspectors 
of nurseries in New York the need of most 
rigorous treatment in this direction? 
r. I,. WASHBURN. 
State Entomologist of Minnesota. 
Summer I’ruxixg. —In theory the best 
time to prune is at or just before the period 
of most rapid growth, that is, in Spring or 
early Summer, so that the wounds will heal 
as quickly as possible. lu practice there 
doesn’t seem to be very much difference. I 
have pruned at all seasons, and have not ob¬ 
server any difference in efficiency. We do 
more or less pruning in August and Septem¬ 
ber every year when we hunt borers, not be¬ 
cause we thins that is the best time, but be¬ 
cause then we inspect every tree with a sharp 
knife in our hands. Not nearly so much 
pruning is practiced here as in the East. The 
blazing hot sun of August makes a denser 
head necessary than is desirable in the East, 
where the climate is inoister and cooler. 
When we make a job of pruning, however, 
we usually do it in February or March. I 
do not think anything special is to be gained 
by pruning in August and September. 
Kansas. w. i>. cellar. 
SEED DOWN THIS FALL WITH 
HUBBARD’S 
FERTILIZER 
EOR CRASS AND CRAIN. 
TOE-DRESS NEXT SERINC WITH 
HUBBARD’S FERTILIZER 
EOR OATS AND TOE-DRESSING. 
These are the Famous Hay Makers used and recommended by Hon. Geo. M. Clark, of Higganum, Ct. 
MANUFACTURED BY 
Til© Rogers cfc? Ilutoliard. Co., 
Middletown, Coxmeotiout* 
mm 
PEERLESS SCALES, $29.00 
“PEERLESS” U a 6-ton Compound Beam, Wagon and Stock Scale. Its 
material and workmanship is of the best obtainable, and each Scale is guaran- 
— teed for 6 years, This la not an inferior Scale and in order to con¬ 
vince, will send it on 30 days’ trial. Send for our catalogue. Adareai 
PEERLESS SCALE COMPANY, 
Milwaukee and Ft. Scott Aves. Dept. Z, Kansas Cltf, 
Ohio Shredder Blades 
{Patent Applied for) 
make efficient shredders out of "Ohio” Feed and Ensilage 
Cutters. The New Shredder Bla.de is the regular “Ohio" 
knife with solid integrally projecting bits which cut and 
tear corn stalks into a nicely shredded condition, as shown 
in the picture. It makes corn-hay of the fodder. 
Shredder BIa.des are interchangeable with knives on all 
sizes “Ohio” Cutters. They successfully reduce fodder to 
the proper condition and do not pulverize the leaves like 
other styles. They shred with the same power, speed and 
capacity as “Ohio” Cutters, and either the Chain or Blower 
Elevators handle the shredded corn perfectly. Speed, 600 
to 700 revolutions. Power, 2 Horse Tread up to 12 h. p. 
Engine according to size. Let us send the 1904 catalogue 
of “Ohio” Cutters and Shredders. "Modern Silage 
Methods” 10c, coin or stamps. Manufactured by 
THE SILVER MFG. CO.. Sadem, Ohio. Established iSst- 
NEW 
AMERICAN 
MANURE SPREADERS 
hold from 50 to 100 bushels. Spread just as thin or 
thick, fine or coarse as ground requires. Don t have to 
stop team to make change. Most substantial, largest 
capacity, lightest draft. 
FINE ILLUSTRATED CATALOGUE FREE. 
American Harrow G® 
flFTROIT. MICH. 
li)b» 1 
