1897 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
IOl 
Grafting Crabs on Apple Stocks. 
R. F. W., Abington, Conn. —I have a nice young seedling apple 
tree. Can I graft or bud it .with crab apple scions and have it 
dwarf—not over 12 or 15 feet high ? 
Ans. —There is no difficulty in grafting crab apple 
on apple stocks, but the tree will not be very dwarf. 
Some varieties, like the Transcendent make large 
trees, others are somewhat smaller than ordinary 
apple trees. h. e. v. d. 
To Fertilize Wild Goose Plum. 
F. B. R., Cumberland , Md .—Which variety of plum is best to 
fertilize Wild Goose ? How would Abundance do ? My trees are 
16 feet apart each way ; which would be better, to top-graft on 
Wild Goose, or to plant the fertilizing variety among them ? 
Ans. —Newman and Smiley are the best to pollenize 
the Wild Goose plum ; Abundance has not, so far as 
I know, proved its ability to do so. As the trees are 
now set in the orchard 10 feet apart, it would be very 
unwise to set others between them, because the dis¬ 
tance is already quite close. It would be better to 
top-graft a leader in the top of each alternate tree 
with the pollenizing variety. n. e. v. d. 
Planting an Arbor-vitce. 
I. M. S., Shimerville, Pa .—I intend planting an Arbor-vita; hedge, 
but have had no experience .at all with hedges. Which is the better 
season for planting, spring or fall ? How shall I set the plants 
for the best results ? Do nurserymen have the plants for sale ? 
Ans. —Early spring is the best season for planting. 
We would not set the plants less than three feet 
apart, though nurserymen often recommend 18 inches. 
Asparagus and Strawberries ; An Early Potato. 
R. T. II., Hampton, Va.—t. How shall I treat an acre of aspara¬ 
gus to make it as good as possible ? It is four and five years old 
from seed, crowns one year old when put out. It has been 
manured and kept clean every year. Two years ago, we put 
about 12 bushels of salt sweepings on a part of it, and have just 
finished manuring again. In addition to the manure, I have 
applied 1,600 or 1,700 pounds of kainit to the lot, about one acre. 
2. What is best to top-dress my strawberries to make them as 
good as can be? They were set last spring, are well mulched 
with straw and were top-dressed-twice last season while working, 
with raw bone, hen manure and ashes, mixed and used as soon 
as mixed. What is best to put on them this spring, and when 
to apply it? 3. What do you know of Vaughan’s Improved Early 
Ohio potato ? 
Ans.—1. The R. N.-Y. has had a deal of experience 
in asparagus. What we think that our friend needs 
is just this : A liberal application of bone flour, say 
2,000 pounds to the acre. This will furnish what 
seems to be needed, phosphoric acid and nitrogen. 
An application of 200 pounds to the acre of nitrate of 
soda would, no doubt, help the crop. 2. We would 
sow upon the strawberry patch bone and potash in 
some form. This you seem to have done. We would 
not, however, use hen manure and ashes together. 
3. We have yet to try an Improved Early Ohio potato 
that is an improvement upon the Early Ohio itself. 
Plums and Pears for Central Ohio. 
./. ./. 8., Coshocton County, 0 .—Will you name live or six varie¬ 
ties of plums and pears most profitable for market in central 
Ohio? 
Ans. —Observation and experience for the past 40 
years in central Ohio would hardly warrant the 
recommendation of planting plums for profitable 
market use, except to those who have favorable loca¬ 
tions and are prepared to give their trees the best 
care, using the modern remedies both for the blight 
of foliage and destruction of the curculio. For those 
who can grow them successfully, Bradshaw, Lom¬ 
bard, Pond’s Seedling, German Prune, Fallenberg and 
Shropshire Damson are a good selection. Among 
pears which are popular and generally successful are 
Bartlett, Flemish Beauty, Angouleme, Anjou, Howell 
and Lawrence. Seckel might be added for exquisite 
quality, and Keiffer for canning and ordinary use. 
GEO. W. CAMPBELL. 
Mangels for Stock Feeding. 
A. C. L., Chambersburg, Pa.—Which is the best time to plant 
mangels, and the best ground, slate or low meadow ? I thought 
of putting them in ground of high cultivation, but it lies high. Or 
is it best to plant in ground which is a little spouty ? Which are 
the best varieties to plant ? 
Ans. —It is generally best to plant mangels early 
in the spring. One difficulty experienced by growers 
of this crop is to secure a good stand. If the ground 
can be well prepared early in the spring and the seed 
sown at that time, the chances for securing a good 
stand of beets are much greater than if the sowing 
be delayed until later. One serious difficulty in secur¬ 
ing a good stand of the beets when sown later in the 
season is that the young plants do not become estab¬ 
lished before the ground becomes so dry that they 
suffer, if they be not killed entirely from the 
drought. The Mammoth Long Red and the Yellow 
Ovoid have proved the most satisfactory with me. 
The Yellow Globe has not given so great a yield per 
acre as the varieties named. Mangels like a deep, 
rich loam that is quite warm and dry. A damp low¬ 
land will, sometimes, produce large yields of mangels 
of an inferior quality. A deep, rich loam in a high 
state of cultivation that is well drained is admirably 
suited for the cultivation of this crop. 
Pennsylvania State College. G. c. watson. 
Hedge Plants; Grafting the Mulberry. 
C. E. II., Bishop, 111. —1. What shrubs make the best lawu fence 
—the Arbor-viUe, Red cedar, or the California privet ? How 
many plants would it take to plant 10 rods to make a dense fence? 
2. When should I graft the mulberry ? What variety is the har¬ 
diest, the Downing or the American ? 
Ans. —1. Red cedar is worthless as a hedge plant. 
The Arbor-vitm is, perhaps, the best of the ever¬ 
greens. We have always contended that Arbor-vitas 
plants are usually set too close together. We gain 
nothing by setting the plants 18 inches apart as is 
often advised by the catalogues ; we lose in that the 
plants are less vigorous and shorter lived. We would 
not set the plants closer than three feet. Some years 
ago, we tried the experiment of cutting back an 
Arbor-vitm so as to confine its height to two feet; in 
four or five years, this plant made a lateral growth 
of about 10 feet. It was then removed on account of 
its interference with other plants. The California 
privet is a suitable plant for hedges, but we would much 
prefer the Japan quince. 2. Early in the spring be¬ 
fore the buds start. The American is hardier than 
the Downing mulberry, though the one is often sold 
for the other. 
Give Crimson Clover the Whole Ground. 
I. M. S., Shimerville, Pa.— Would it be advisable to sow Crimson 
clover with oats in the spring, cut the oats when ripe with a self- 
binder, plow uuder the remaining mat of clover and oat stubble, 
and sow to wheat or rye, without applying manure or fertilizer ? 
Ans. —Not in Delaware ; we would have no mat of 
clover to turn under. Not in Pennsylvania for best 
results, even though there were a mat to turn down. 
Crimson clover needs, for nearly all its life growth, 
full possession of the soil, with plenty of water and 
and plenty of time to send its multitude of roots deep 
into the earth after potash and phosphoric acid that 
are unavailable for such plants as oats, wheat and 
corn. The root system of Crimson clover is made in 
cold weather. Then in the spring, it merely finishes 
its life and leaves stores of fertility drawn from earth 
and air, for other crops to feed upon. Some good re¬ 
sults may be obtained by the use of Crimson clover 
in the rotation named, but I consider it a poor rota¬ 
tion and a poor opportunity for the clover to do itself 
justice. S. H. DERBY. 
AP.MF PULVERIZING 
HARROW 
AGENTS 
WANTED. 
Clod Crusher 
t Leveler. 
& 
SIZES UP TO 
13 1-2 FT. 
\ 
i 
Adapted to all Soils—all Work. Crushes, Cuts, Lifts, Pulverizes, Turns, 
Levels the Soil in one operation. Made entirely of Cast Steel and Wrought Iron. 
Practically Indestructible. Cheapest Riding Harrow on Earth—$8.00 and up. 
CriJT f|RJ TDIAI To be returned at my ex- ILLUSTRATED PAMPHLET MAILED FREE. 
OLIl I Ull I niML pense if not satisfactory. | Deliver Free On Board at Distributing Depots. 
DUANK II. 
MSU, Sole Mf 1 \, MILLINGTON, NEW JERSEY, and 30 SO. CANAL ST., CHICAGO. 
PLEASE MENTION THIS PAPER. 
WANTED! 
One live farmer in every place to write at once 
for special introductory price on our 
Success Anti-Clog 
WEEDER& CULTIVATOR. 
First buyer secures the agency. 
8 @r\Vrite quick. 
Teeth guaranteed. 
D. Y. HALLOCK & SUN 
YORK, PA. P. O. BOx, 805. 
LEAN’S 
No 
1 wood 
i to 
i rot. 
ALL STEEL 
No castings 
to break. 
i The simple lever adjusts the teeth to any angle. Slants ( 
forward to tear np the ground plants bark to*moolh the 
ground and to harrow growing crop.. Unequalled weed 
1 exterminator. Saves its cost Hrxt season. Address, ’ 
RODERICK LEAN M FG. CO. 6-1 Park St . MANSFIELD. 0.' 
sMoMoney 
until the machine is re¬ 
ceived. Six sizes. Send 
for circulars and prices on 
all sizes delivered at you* 
station, freight prepaid. 
EMPIRE MFG. CO., 
62 River St., Itock Falls,ill 
with the “PLANET JR., Universal Harrow and Orchard Cultiva¬ 
tor and the “PLANET JR.” Pivot-Wheel Cultivator and Plow. 
The most eflectivo and handiest two-horse machines ever put into 
the field. For making the ground ready for planting and culti¬ 
vating all kinds of crops. Lightness, strength and great adjusta¬ 
bility combined. Depth regulated by spring tension and a single 
lever. The “l’lanet Jr.” Book for '97 describes these and ail the 
other “Planet Jr.” Tools. Write for it—free. 
S. L. ALLEN *fc CO., 1107 Market Street, Philadelphia. 
Successful record of fourteen years. Acknowledged 
King of Potato Planters. Better to-day than ever. 
Automatically marks, drops and covers In one op¬ 
eration, doing ten men’s work. 
Send for Illustrated catalogue of Planters, Cutters, 
Sprayers, Sorters, eto. free. 
ASPINWALL MFG. CO., 62 Sabin St., JACKSON, MICH. 
