444 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
June 4, 
FARMERS’ CLUB 
< 
| 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 not answered in 
our advertising columns. Ask only a few 
questions at one time. Put questions on a 
separate piece of paper. 1 
1 Vanls No Mote Steel Roofing. 
A. Y., Lyons, N. Y .—I see on page 395 
that C. G. I\, Stratford, Conn., says that he 
would not use any more steel roofing if it 
were given to him. Will he tell why he 
would not use It? 
Ans. —I am asked to give reasons for 
declining to use more steel roofing.' Brief¬ 
ly, because it has not been durable enough 
to satisfy me for the expense of purchase 
and trouble of laying. It was painted on 
both sides, and twice after laid within 
one year; was painted with metal paint 
said to be 72 per cent of iron, in lin¬ 
seed oil. Short of two years holes ap¬ 
peared in the sheets, and now, a year later, 
it is of little value to keep out water. 
C. G. P. 
Wireworms and Beans. 
J. A. L., Rixford, Pa. —Will wireworms de¬ 
stroy beans? Name the crops they will not 
destroy. 
Ans. —Yes, I think wireworms will eat 
bean roots, and beans on newly-plowed 
sod lands would be more likely to suffer, 
as sod lands are favorite breeding places 
of these pests. It is a common notion 
that crops of buckwheat, mustard and 
rape are not attacked by wireworms, and 
that these plants will starve out or drive 
out the pests. But we grew wireworms 
as well in cages of these plants as of 
the grasses. Very thorough cultivation 
in the Fall is the most effective method of 
ridding land of wireworms. 
M. V. SLINGERLAND. 
Weed Killer for Road. 
A. O. TF., Bingnamton, N. Y.—I have a 
macadam road leading from the highway to 
my barn. It is built the same as the ma¬ 
cadam road to which it leads. The grass is 
coming up in small bunches all over It as 
the road is used but little. I once read in 
some agricultural paper that copper sulphate 
would kill all vegetable matter so that no 
seeds would start in such a road or In a 
gravelled walk. I tried it once, but It did 
not entirely kill all vegetable seeds. Possibly 
I did not use it strong enough. I know It 
spoiled the tin watering pot. Can you give 
me a recipe that will effectually kill the grass 
in this road? 
Ans. —Sulphate of copper will not de¬ 
stroy all weeds and grass. The so-called 
“weed killers” contain arsenic. Dis¬ 
solve about a tablespoonful of caustic 
soda in a gallon of warm water, and add 
all the white arsenic that will readily dis¬ 
solve. Spray or pour this solution on the 
weeds. It may be necessary to repeat it. 
Remember that this is a deadly poison, 
and do not let stock or children handle it 
or touch the grass. 
Peach Seedlings. 
J. F. T., Patton, Pa.—The budded peach 
tree is no longer an experiment in most cases 
in this section. Such trees are a failure, 
while the seedling bears regularly. The cold 
of the last Winter has not damaged the seed¬ 
ling buds in the least, while our stocks ob¬ 
tained from nurseries are almost without any 
blossoms. Some of these trees are entirely 
killed. Does it make any difference which 
kind or variety of pits we plant? Is a large 
seed likely to produce a tree that will bear 
large fruit? 
Ans. —Some seedling peach trees are 
more hardy than those that are budded, 
but it is not so with all of them. It seems 
to be a law of nature that the tree be¬ 
comes more tender or less able to endure 
severe climatic changes as it increases in 
ability to produce good fruit, yet there are 
some exceptions to it. To return to the 
practice of our forefathers, in growing 
only seedling peaches, would be a mis¬ 
take, even if some losses do occur from 
severe Winters. Every variety of peach, 
and of every other kind of fruit, was 
once a single seedling tree. Propagating 
a variety by budding does not make it 
more tender. If seed from a tree bearing 
good fruit is planted the trees resulting 
may be as tender as the original; but the 
fruit on them will surely be of better qual¬ 
ity than on seedlings from a tree or trees 
bearing poor fruit. Large seeds are usu¬ 
ally found in large peaches, but this is not 
always the case. If one is determined to 
grow seedlings the proper thing to do is 
to select seeds from the hardiest trees 
bearing good fruit and plant them. 
H. E. v. D. 
Wealthy Apple; Dwarf Pears. 
F. W. P., Preston, N. Y. —1. I often see the 
Wealthy apple recommended for fillers. Is 
there any reason why It Is not desirable for 
permanent trees? 2. I understand that if 
dwarf pears are planted deep they will in the 
course of time become large trees. Are such 
trees as valuable as the regular standards? 
Ans. — I. The Wealthy apple tree is a 
very early and heavy bearer, and is apt to 
bear so as soon to become less vigorous 
than it should be to serve as a permanent 
tree. That is why it is so suitable to use 
between other trees. By thinning the ap¬ 
ples there would be less damage to the 
tree by overbearing and a better constitu¬ 
tion. 2 . Pear trees that have been plant¬ 
ed deep enough to send out pear roots 
above the quince stocks often make very 
good, thrifty trees, and some of them are 
equal to standards. They are apt to be 
uneven in size and vigor and cannot be 
depended on as the standards can. 
H. E. V. D. 
Protecting Chicks from Hawks. 
G. L. L., Brooklyn, N. Y .—Can you suggest 
a means of protecting young chicks from 
hawks? a large number of chicks have been 
lost on my farm this Spring from their dep¬ 
reciations. Scarecrows, strings with flutter¬ 
ing rags, a very active and watchful dog, and 
an occasional volley from an ever-handy shot¬ 
gun have all failed as protection. Only one 
yard, capable of holding from 200 to 300 
chicks, Is covered with netting. Is there any 
way to keep off hawks in others without it? 
Ans. —There is no way that I know of 
to save the chicks except by having cov¬ 
ered runs. The boldest depredator is the 
Pigeon hawk; he is too small to take a 
hen, but he will dive down and pick up 
a chick within three feet of you, and as 
he is quick as lightning, it is almost im¬ 
possible to shoot him. I keep all my 
chicks in covered runs, letting them out at 
about 5 P. M. for a run on the grass. 
After June the Pigeon hawks do not trou¬ 
ble much around here. It is said that 
Guinea hens will keep off hawks; they 
may hen hawks, but I don’t believe they 
will the Pigeon hawk. 
GEO. A. COSGROVE. 
Trouble with Little Chicks. 
J. M. R., Cornwall, N. Y. —I notice among 
my young chickens a fatal disease, which I 
fear will spread. The flock is from one to 
two weeks old, being from several hatches. 
Symptoms are frequent throwing the head 
up and back, false movements as if to pick 
up food from the ground, often made with 
unusual rapidity. After several of these lat¬ 
ter movements the bird staggers backward 
several steps; then scratches the ground as 
if worm hunting. Blindness sets in and the 
chicken runs against obstacles and falls like 
a horse with blind staggers. About the end 
of third day, during the last three or four 
hours of which the little chick seems dull and 
half unconscious, it dies; just sleeps away. 
No evidence of pain that I can see at any 
time. I am feeding pinhead oatmeal dry, 
and the chicks have free run on grass and 
among grapevines. 
Ans. —If they were mine I should 
change the feed and location of coops. I 
am not much in favor of pin-head oat¬ 
meal, or, in fact, of any one thing, as feed 
for chicks on grass. It is too wet early 
in the morning; they might as well wade 
through two or three inches of water as 
to run in grass before the dew is dried off. 
I feed mine for the first two or three days 
on hard-boiled egg chopped very fine in a 
chopping bowl, and mixed with stale bread 
dried in the oven and rolled fine, equal 
parts of each. Scatter the feed on clean 
sand, so they get grit with the feed. If 1 
had these chicks I should take equal parts 
of wheat bran and cornmeal, put in one- 
tenth as much powdered charcoal and one- 
fifth beef scraps, and sufficient warmed 
milk or hot water to make a crumbly 
mash, and if they did not eat it readily 
would let them go hungry until they did. 
I just made such a mash for mine to-day, 
for all sizes, from 10 days to six weeks 
old, and they eat it greedily, although it 
was black with the charcoal. Twelve 
days ago I put 118 chicks in one of my 
brooders. Two little weaklings have died 
—I expected they would—the rest are 
lively and bright and yell like so many 
wild Indians when it is time for meals. 
I feed a mash twice and sometimes three 
times a day; that is, when they have not 
eaten it all in two meals, but prefer to 
give a dry feed at night, those six weeks 
old getting cracked corn and wheat the 
same as the old hens. geo. a. Cosgrove. 
Orchard Questions. 
O. A. B., Syracuse, O. —1. What are the 
best three peaches for commercial purposes, 
taking the United States over, that do not 
come too close together to overlap in ripen¬ 
ing? 2. Is there anything new on Peach 
yellows? 3. What do you know about Burr 
grass? I find it growing in my plum or¬ 
chard, and it seems to be hard to dig out. 
Will it spread and prove a nuisance? 
Ans. — 1 . Three of the best peaches 
for commercial planting in the country at 
large, and of different seasons of ripening, 
are Elberta, Chairs and Salway. Another 
good trio is Mountain Rose, Elberta and 
Fitzgerald. 2. Peach yellows is a bac¬ 
terial disease that has so far baffled all the 
endeavors of scientific students and ex¬ 
perimenters to learn its. true cause, nor 
has there been anything new of late learned 
about it, so far as I know. The particular 
germ that does the mischief is not known, 
but the means of destroying it are known. 
This is to cut out and burn every part of 
the affected tree above ground. Great 
care should be used not to allow any of 
the branches of the diseased trees to touch 
those yet standing in the orchard in re¬ 
moving them; for there is great danger of 
contamination. 3. By “Burr grass” is 
probably meant what is more commonly 
known as “Sand-burr” grass. It is a very 
bad weed to have on the farm, because 
of its spiny seed heads and the difficulty 
of killing out all the plants. The seed is 
easily spread by sticking to almost every¬ 
thing that it touches. There should be no 
trifling about destroying every plant that 
is seen. h. e. v. d. 
from FACTORY 
to KITCHEN 
at wholesale prices. 
$ 3 . 2 ° 
upwards. 
Hoosier 
Kitchen 
Cabinet 
modernizes kitchen system. Saves thousands 
of steps. Store room—work table—pantry in 
one. Well arranged, compact, dust and mouse 
proof. Casterea; easily moved. Hardwood; 
made with experienced skill. Sold under 
written guarantee of “ perfect satisfaction or 
your money back.” 
Shipped direct from Our Own Factory. No 
middleman’s profit added. TV rite for catalogue 
of Cabinets, card, sewing and folding tables. 
The Hoosier Mfg. Co., P.0. Box 12G New Castle, Ind. 
'ts 
On gin* tor* and piouter maker* of Kitchen Cabinet*. 
USE THE CARMAN STRAWBERRY PICKER 
and get highest price for 
your fruit. No bruising, no 
caps pull off. Stems of uni¬ 
form length. Picks one-third 
faster than by hand and 
vines are not injured. In¬ 
vented by a grower Of 40 years experience and thor¬ 
oughly tested by him and others before it was placed 
on the market. Send for circular, or enclose $1 and 
receive Picker postpaid. One Picker free with first 
order trom each township. ISAAC CABMAN, Gem 
Tocl Works, 18 Dunham Place, Brooklyn. N. Y. 
NEW CALEDONIAN BEAN 
HARVESTER AND BUNCHER. 
Pays for It 
self with two 
days’ use. 
Dumps auto¬ 
matically, 
and leaves 
the BEANS 
FREE from 
WEEDS, 
DIRT and 
STONES. 
White To-Dav 
FOR CATALOG. 
CALEDONIA BEAN HARVESTER WORKS 
CALEDONIA, N. Y 
$2511 WORTH CABBAGES 
PRODUCED BY ONH POUND 
VAN RAMEN'S EXCELSIOR HOLLAND GROWN 
Cabbage Seed, late large, round, solid white heads: 
highly recommended. Packet, 25 cents; quarter 
pound, 75 cents; pound, $2.00. 
C H. JOOSTEN, Importer, 
201 WEST STREET. NEW YORK. 
FIVE MILLION VEGETABLE PLANTS 
CABBAGE.—Special Imported Danish Ballhead 
Winter; the best winter cabbage grown vet. Also, 
Wakefield, Allnead, Early Summer, Late Drumhead, 
Red Rock, and WHITE PLUME CELERY, 10,000, 
$8 50; 1.00011; 100,15c.; transplantedplants,$2 perl,000. 
SWEET POTATOES.—Yellow Jersey, $1.25 per 
1.000; $10 per 10,000. Pepper, transplanted, $3 50 per 
1.000. TOMATOES.—Seed b-d, $1 to$1.50 per 1.000; 
strorg transplanted, $2 50 and $5 per 1,000. Pricelist 
of other vegetable plants ms lied free. 
LUDVIG MOSBAEK, Phone 105, Onarga, Ill. 
CHOICE CELERY ^GARBAGE 
PLANTS, only #1 per 1,000. All good sorts ready 
in July.. SLAYMAKER & SON, Dover, Del. 
THUITA Dl AIITC Strong,transplanted. 
I Uni A I U ■ LAN I Ol Matchless, Kariiana, 
Chalk’s Early Jewel and Dwarf Stone. $1 per 100; 
$7 50 per 1,000. K. L. WATTS, Scalp Level. Pa. 
CWEET POTATO PLANTS—Big 8tem, Up- 
*-> liiver and Pierson, $1.25 per M. Plants ready 
May 20th JOHN CASAZZA, Vineland, N. J. 
ONION SEED—Southport Globe 
MEEKER’S SMOOTHING HARROW 
Send for prices and catalogue. 
THE C. O. JELLIFF MFG. CO.. Southport, Conn. 
rnQ Q A I c— Crimson Clover Seed, $4 per bushel: 
rUn uALL Cow Peas,$1.75 and $2 per bushel; Seed 
Sweet Potatoes, $1 per bushel. 
J. E. HOLLAND, Milford, Del. 
POTTED STRAWBERRY PLANTS. KK 
T C. KEV1TT. Atheuia, N. J. 
erm 
Al|f FruitB 
W'stark br 
L»r|^rtNur»ery. 
SUCCEED WHERB 
OTHERS FAIL 
Book Fre*. Reiultof 78ye»r«’*xperi«ic* 
BRO*. LmIiUm. M».: Dusville. N.Y 4 EI 4 
HOYT'S TREES 
have a reputation of more than 60 years back of 
them. Our nurseries are the largest In New England. 
More than 500 acres of strong, rugged soli planted 
to everything that is best In Fruit Trees, Shade 
Trees, Plants and Ornamental Stock. All 
stock guaranteed healthy and true to name. 
Full Catalogue Free. 
THE STEPHEN HOYT'S SONS COMPANY, 
NEW CANAAN, CONN. 
100 
and winter. 
KINDS APPLES 
_ All varieties for summer, fall 
and winter. Ben Davis, always a fa* 
vorita, Baldwin, Wine Sap, etc. Trees strong 
and well rooted, nealthy, shapely. Ours Is the 
best climate in the world for fruit treo develop- 
m**"* Write for free 1904 catalogue, 
liarrlhon’s Nurseries, Bx 29, Berlin, 9!d. 
APPLE BARRELS.—Made of seasoned stock 
** gunr-nteed to stand. You will need them; buy 
now and save money itobt. Gillies, Marlboro, N. Y. 
Grimson Clover 
HENRY A. DREER, 714 Chestnut St., Philadelphia, Pa 
In sowing this valuable clover it is impor¬ 
tant that American seed is used. He 
supply genuine Delaware seed only. Our 
special circular describing uses of Crimson 
Clover is mailed free. 
YOU’LL REAP 
the best results when it comes to the question of roofing 
your farm buildings, if you use 
R eX iyiiretKate ^Roofing 
TRADt MARK Qj 
Because it’s easily and quickly laid at a reasonable price and 
with a minimum of labor. 
Because it outwears and outclasses all other roofings. 
Because it’s the ideal roofing for the complete protection of 
your stock, keeping them warm and dry in Winter, cool and 
comfortable in Summer. 
Because it resists fire, and is waterproof. And 
Because it combines more desirable features than any other 
roofing on the market. Each roll contains nails, caps and 
cement sufficient for laying. Every farm owner should send 
for our book. It is free. 
A. &. W. BIRD & CO., 70 India St., Boston, Mass. 
USED FROM OCEAN TO OCEAN FOR 20 YEARS. 
Sold by Seed Dealers of America. 
Saves Currants, Potatoes, Cabbage, Melons, Flowers, Trees and 
Shrubs from Insects. Put up in popular packages at popular prices. 
Write for free pamphlet on Bugs and Blights, etc., to 
B. HAMMOND, • FisbkUI-on-Hudson. New York. 
