1897 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
261 
years ago by an English house. They were made by 
mixing nitrate of potash, phosphate of potash and 
phosphate of ammonia in the right proportions. The 
phosphates of potash and ammonia are made artifi¬ 
cially by using phosphoric instead of sulphuric acid 
with potash or ammonia. This gives a phosphate in¬ 
stead of a sulphate. All these substances are soluble 
in water. Any large druggist can give you figures. 
How a Chicken Breaks the Shell. 
J. A. S., Lyons Station, Pa.— How does a developed chick get 
out of its shell? Does it peck and peck at the shell till it is 
through; or is its bill so placed by Nature that when it reaches a 
certain degree of development, its bill is forced through the shell? 
Ans. —After the chick becomes fully developed, it 
pecks its way out. If the shell is too dry or hard, for 
any reason, the chick sometimes dies, being unable 
to break through. 
Starting in the Poultry Business. 
A. J. A., Uazardville, Conn. —1. In starting poultry farming, is 
it better to buy eggs .and incubators, or fowls ? 2. How many 
can profitably be kept in one coop ? 3. Which are the best for 
eggs? 4. Which for weight? 
Ans. —1. We take it for granted that A. J. A. has 
had no experience, though he does not say so. We 
would advise him to get a few fowls to start with, 
and as he succeeds, increase the number, and then he 
will know better whether he wants an incubator. 
Some have started by buying a brooder and purchasing 
newly-hatched chicks from an incubator as a starter. 
2. Not to exceed 50, and 25 would be still better. 
3. Leghorns and Minorcas, though the breeders of 
Lt. Brahmas, Wyandottes and P. Rocks claim that 
their breeds will give just as many eggs, the year 
’round. The first two are more susceptible to frost 
on account of their large combs, and must be kept 
warm. He might also try Indian Games. 4. Brahmas, 
Langshans, Cochins, P. Rocks, and Wyandottes. Read 
the symposium on page 190. 
Soaking Potatoes to Prevent Scab. 
II. C. P., Albany, Oregon. —How can potatoes be handled in 
soaking in corrosive sublimate, as the stuff Is very poisonous ? 
Ans. —Dissolve two ounces of corrosive sublimate 
in two gallons of water, using a wooden bucket. Add 
this to 14 gallons of water in a wooden cask or tub 
and stir well. Put the potatoes into a coarse sack, 
lower into the liquid, let soak 90 minutes, lift out, 
drain dry and cut for seed or spread out in the light 
to sprout. They may be put loose into the liquid and 
shoveled out with a wire shovel. A pulley may be 
used to lower and raise the sacks of potatoes. 
Something About Dried Prunes. 
F. B. R., Cumberland, Md.— How are the prunes of commerce 
dried ? 
Ans. —A recent bulletin of the California Agricul¬ 
tural Experiment Station, at Berkeley, dealing with 
the “ frogging ” or bloating of prunes during the 
drying process, states that the fruit is first treated to 
a bath of lye, nearly boiling, and then passed through 
clear water. This breaks the skin into minute cracks, 
called “ checks ”, and properly “ checked ” prunes 
begin to dry immediately, wrinkling into minute 
folds. In some drying establishments, a pricking 
process is used instead of the lye-dipping, the fruit 
being passed over a series of needles in a pricking 
machine ; the prunes are sprayed with warm water 
while passing over the needles, but no lye is used. 
After this the fruit is spread on trays and put to dry 
out in the sun. The “ frogs ” are small, hard fruit, 
having a smooth skin devoid of checks, while 
“ bloaters ” are large swollen prunes with hollow 
interior. The first named are the result of small, 
undeveloped fruit, while the last are soft, over-ripe 
prunes which have become swollen through fer¬ 
mentation during drying. 
Growing Gladioli from Seed. 
G. R. W., Lyndon, Ky. —1. What methods do the florists use in 
growing the gladiolus from seed ? I find great difficulty in get¬ 
ting a good stand, the trouble being that when the plants get 
two or three inches high they die out. There are few places 
where the gladioli do better than here; this is especially true in 
regard to the development of the bulb and seed, for I have never 
been able to purchase seed as good as my home grown. 2. Is the 
Spircea, Anthony Waterer, perfectly hardy in open ground ? 
Ans. —1. Gladiolus seed is best sown in wide drills 
(two to three inches), making the rows 18 inches or 
more apart. As the germination is slow, taking three 
or four weeks, it is quite necessary to cover the rows 
with some moisture-retaining mulch. In practice, 
nothing has been found better than excelsior, the fine 
basswood shavings used so extensively for packing 
and stuffing furniture. This material is cheap and 
abundant, and quantities may generally be had at 
any store as refuse packing matter. It is light and 
porous; does not pack down, while it freely admits 
rain and air. The seedlings are quite delicate at first, 
as they have very small roots, and are easily killed by 
hot sunshine or drying winds. The trouble with you 
is, probably, lack of shade. I found it impossible to 
grow gladiolus seedlings in the open air in the latitude 
of Virginia without considerable shade during the 
middle of the day. A series of frames about four by 
six feet made of plastering laths nailed an inch apart, 
proved very satisfactory. These frames may be sup¬ 
ported on a light railing at any convenient height 
from the ground. In default of shading frames, the 
seedbed may, of course, be made on the eastern or 
northern side of a building or tall fence. In sowing 
the seed, put it in thick enough to insure 100 to 
150 plants to the foot of row, and cover with not more 
than half an inch of fine, light soil, firming the ground 
well before putting on the mulch. It pays to have 
water handy and frequently saturate the soil in dry 
weather, as young gladioli are quickly checked by 
drought. Given good seed, rich, light soil, a mulch 
and shade during the heat of summer, there should be 
no more difficulty in growing seedling gladioli in 
Kentucky than ordinary onion setts. 2. Spiraea 
Anthony Waterer may be considered entirely hardy. 
Like its parent, S.Bumalda, late, soft shoots are some¬ 
times cut back by freezing, but the ripened wood is 
seldom injured. w. v. F. 
Hen Manure in Home Fertilizer Mixtures. 
D. B. B., Dormansville, N. Y. —I have purchased 1,000 pounds 
bone flour, 1,000 pounds muriate of potash and 500 pounds nitrate 
of soda. How shall I mix for small fruits ? Shall I put in plaster 
for a filling ? I have a quantity of hen manure; how shall I mix 
the chemicals with that, to make it best for berries, also for corn 
and potatoes ? Bone flour costs $26 a ton, nitrate $47, muriate $46 
and plaster $5.50 at the station. At these prices, cannot I mix my 
own fertilizers cheaper than to buy already mixed ? 
Ans. —If the hen manure is in such condition that 
it can be crushed or ground fine, we would fine and 
sift it and mix in about these proportions: 1,000 
pounds hen manure, 500 pounds fine bone, 300 pounds 
muriate of potash and 200 pounds nitrate of soda. 
This will make a good mixture for potatoes. For 
fruit, we would leave out 100 pounds nitrate of soda 
and use 100 pounds more muriate of potash. If the 
hen manure is not in such shape that you can fine 
and mix it, we would broadcast it on the corn land 
and harrow it in. If you can use the manure as sug¬ 
gested, you will not need the plaster. Dry, fine muck 
or dark soil would answer as well for such a simple 
mixture. Of the materials named, you have not 
enough bone to make a balanced fertilizer with the 
potash. As a rule, we advise the use of three parts 
bone to one of muriate for fruits. At the prices given, 
the home mixture would be cheaper than ordinary 
complete brands. 
OUR 1897 Catalogue 
°' FRUIT TREES vuS 
& Ornamental Stock. Stan¬ 
dard Varieties & Novelties. 
Prices Low. Stock first-class 
Mailed Free. -p. J. DWYEB, 
Orango Cc. Nurseries, Cornwall, N. Y. 
“A Thing of Beauty 
is a joy forever,” and may be cheaply and 
quickly had from an orchard of STAYMAN and 
PARAGON Apple Trees. No finer apples grow. 
We can supply you these and many other varie¬ 
ties at bottom prices, either whole root or piece 
root, any size or age. Write now. 
CHAS. WRIGHT, Seaford, Del. 
1,000 Peach Trees 
k —One year from 
bud, 2 to 3 feet, 
mostly branched, with freight prepaid to any station 
east of Mississippi River for 120; or 600 for $11.50. 
8ample prepaid, 25c. Other sized trees proportional 
prices. R. 8. JOHN8TON, Box 4, Stockley, Del. 
Small 
Fruit 
Plants 
and 
Spray 
Pumps 
PLANTS r.5.7 
Strawberry, Raspberry, Blackberry, 
Currant. Morrill & Morley’s Eclipse 
Spray Pumps. Send for catalogues. 
WALTER F. TABER, 
Lakeview Farm, Pokeepsie,N.Y 
12 Glen Mary Strawberry 
12 Clyde Strawberry - - 
12 Miller Raspberry - - 
CATALOGUE FREE. 
T. C. KEVITT, - - ATHENIA, N. J 
By Mail 
For $1.00. 
Tho “ RiHnouiQV A new Strawberry of 
I 11C n 1U y C W a y. great merit. For price 
of plants and free catalogue address 
M. H. RIDGEWAY, Wabash City, Ind. 
Columbian Raspberry £22 ESSS-SSS 
and cir. ad. C. L. Yates. Nurseryman, Rochester.N.Y. 
CITY 
lCE ^strawberry 
Finest flavor; large and solid. ^ 
I Bear enormously. Donald’s 
J Elmira Asparagus Roots; a 
/ new production of rare merit. 
Greensboro Peach, Japan 
V'Plums, .Small Fruits, Teun. 
_ -— Peach Seed. Catalogue FREE. 
H ARRIS ON’8 NURSERIES, KF. lt I.IN , Ain. 
HIM PH. 
The only Yellow 
Freestone PEACH 
Ripening with Amsden. 
r r Descrlptive Catalogue FREE 
’'plates, send 10c. for three-colored plates of New Fruits and one Triumph Peach, 
JOS. H. BLACK. SON 4. CO.. Village Nurseries, HIGHTSTOWN, N.X 
PEACH TREES 
75 Varieties in Stock. Largest 
75 Varieties in Stock. Largest 
stock of Peach Trees in the coun¬ 
try. PRICES are all right for the times. 
If you have never received our three-colored 
DO YOU WANT 
some strictly first-class Trees and Plants at extremely 
_ low prices ? If so, drop us a postal card. In the next two 
weeks we want every reader of The Rural New-Yorkeb, to send for our new catalogue and ask for 
our SPECIAL OFFER. No matter if you have already ordered stock elsewhere, it will pay you to 
write us at once. We have a proposition to make you now, which you cannot afford to miss. Write 
us to-day, and mention Special Offer. Address 
THE 0E0. A. SWEET NURSERY CO., Box 1019, DANSVILLE, N. Y. 
You Can Hat 
Campbell’s Early Grapes without eating the seeds. The pulp Is sweet to centre, so the seeds are 
easily separated without making the tongue sore, as common grapes do. 
CAMPBELL’S EARLY CRAPES 
are unusually hardy and vigorous. Largest clusters, finest quality. Ripen early and keep late. 
None genuine without our seals. Elegant Catalogue free. 1 
CEO. S. JOSSELYN, FREDONIA, NEW YORK. 
CAR-LOAD 
after car-load of ROGERS FRESH-DUG BUSINESS TREES are now 
going to Business Farmers, Readers of The Rural New-Yorker. 
Rogers is too busy to talk much now, but his trees are speaking for 
themselves wherever they go. If your order has not already been 
sent, better write to-day. We are all hustling, and will give it prompt and careful attention. Rogers 
is the man who has a record for square dealing, and Dansville has a record for best trees, so you 
are sure to be right when you place your order with 
THE ROGERS NURSERIES, DANSVILLE, N. Y. 
450,000 . TPFF.S 
800 varieties. Also Grapes.SmalH rulU,et^lest root¬ 
ed stock. Genuine, cheap, 2 sample currants mailed for 
10c. De»C. price list free. LEWIS BOK8CH, Fredoali, N. Y. 
FRUIT TREES! 
■ It I I SMALL FRUITS, Etc. 
Strawberries, Raspberries, Grapes. Currants 
and Gooseberries, at prices away down. Buy 
direct and save one-half. Price-list mailed free. 
D. B. GARVIN’S SONS, Wheeling, W. Va. 
RARE TREES 
SHRUBS, FLOWERS AND FRUITS. 
Most complete General Collection in America. Three 
thousand varieties described in a 200-page(FUEE) Catalogue 
“ k The Leading New England Nursery.” JACOB W. MANNING, Beading;, Mass. 
BUY DIRECT and pay but one profit, Our assortment Is one of the best 
and most complete in 
Fruit and Ornamental Trees, Shrubs, 
Plants, Roses, Vines, Bulbs, Seeds. 
) Rarest new, choicest old. Send for our catalogue 
today; ittellsit all; an elegant book, 168 pages, a. 
magazine size, profusely illustrated, free. & 
Seeds, Plants Bulbs, Small Trees, etc. by mall post- * 
g aid, safe arrival and satisfaction guaranteed, larger 
y express or freight. 43d Year. 32 Greenhouses. 1,000 Acres. 
THESTORRS & HARRISON CO., Box 345, Painesvllle, O. * 
I—,. - >»v*^ 
line 
rii its 
come from the best trees. 
The best trees are grown 
in the far North. The 
very best trees come 
from our great Minne¬ 
sota N urseries — abso¬ 
lutely the best and hard¬ 
iest that money will buy. 
We sell millions of 
trees and plants every 
year. This season we 
want to sell more than 
ever. Nobody at any price can sell you 
as good trees as we can at a low price. 
The thing to remember is that our trees 
and plants grow. And they bear fruit. 
All we ask is your name and address, 
so we can send you a great deal of valu¬ 
able information free. Tell us where you 
live, and we will tell you about our trees. 
THE JEWELL NURSERY CO., 
Box 15. LAKE CITY, MINN. 
Kansas Raspberries^™^"?;! Thi&2 ““ 
packing first-class. Plants pure and true to name. 
K. JOHNSTON. Shortsville, N. Y. 
^GRAPEVINES 
100 Vurletlen. Also Small Fruit*, Tree*, Ac. Bestroot- 
ed stock Genuine, cheap, it sample vines mailed for 10c. 
Descriptive price-list free. LEWIS UOESCU, Frwlonla, Ji. X. 
099,999 Strawberry Plants at prices that will 
sell them. Also Novelties in Hardy Vines and Climbers. 
Water Lilies (all colors), Celery Plants, Asparagus, Boots, 
etc., etc. Send for my illustrated Catalogue before 
ordering elsewhere. I have a reputation of thirty years 
back of me. C. S. PItATT, Reading, Mass. 
