.1897 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
391 
On May 17, we received from Chas. A. 
Green, Rochester, N. Y., a raceme of the 
green fruit of the Red Cross currant 
measuring four inches in length. Mr. 
Green says, “It is a fair sample of young 
bushes growing at Rochester.”. 
Prof. Van Deman agrees with Rural- 
isms that the best sort of a label is one 
of zinc, the name being written upon it 
with an ordinary black lead pencil. 
This was the suggestion of Prof. Gale 
made in Tub R. N.-Y. in 1878. In 1879, 
August 20, we wrote the following upon 
a piece of zinc and wired it to the tree 
whose name we desired to commemor¬ 
ate : “ Ulmus gras. Written with lead 
pencil August 20, 1879.” That writing is 
perfectly plain to-day. The trouble is 
that all zinc is not alike. Some pieces 
of zinc will oxidize so that the pencil 
marks soon become quite illegible. This 
has often occurred in our experience the 
first season. We have lost the names of 
hundreds of our plants for this reason. 
Other pieces of zinc retain the name 
perfectly, as in the case of the Ulmus 
gras label. Now we ask Prof. Van 
Deman if that is his experience, and 
whether he can account for it. Is there 
any way to be sure that the zinc used 
will not oxidize? We have asked this 
question of our readers in general with¬ 
out receiving any reply. We would like 
positive information for their benefit as 
well as for ours. 
The P. D. Q. Insecticide. — A few 
weeks ago, we received from the Wor¬ 
cester Compound Company, Worcester, 
Mass., a package of P. D. Q. disinfectant 
insect powder or Cranberry Mixture, 
with the request that we test it and 
oblige the company with our opinion as 
to the results. It is claimed that the 
powder is not poisonous, is not explosive 
or dangerous to anything but vermin. 
It will not injure foliage or fruit; is 
especially prepared to adhere to plants, 
and after it has become thoroughly 
dried, will withstand several rains with¬ 
out washing off. The powder will destroy 
all insects that infest cranberry vines, 
potato, squash, rose, currant, canker, 
grape, tobacco worms, roaches and other 
insects. Further claims are made that 
P. D. Q. can be used on all animals and 
poultry without harm. “ Fleas and lice 
will drop dead before your eyes instantly 
after using it. It is also the best de¬ 
stroyer and preventive of moths and 
carpet bugs in clothing, carpets, furni¬ 
ture, etc. It does not soil or stain. It 
is the best disinfectant in stables, ken¬ 
nels, henhouses, outhouses, etc. It is 
healing to the sores of animals, does not 
smart or irritate and cures mange on 
dogs.” Following these claims are favor¬ 
able testimonials from those who have 
tried it. The price is 25 cents per 
pound. 
At 8:45 a. m., we placed a few potato 
beetles in a box and treated them to the 
P. D. Q. In three hours, the beetles 
seemed nearly dead. At 1:30 p. m., we 
placed 50 beetles in a box (with potato 
leaves), sprinkling some of the powder 
upon them. Some were feebly alive at 
noon the next day. At 3-6 o’clock some 
revived. 
At the same time (1:30 p. m.,) we cut 
off a short branch of a gooseberry bush 
infested with currant worms. At four 
o’clock, the worms seemed nearly dead. 
All were dead the next morning, but 
two or three. These moved feebly when 
touched. They were dead at noon. 
It will be seen that these are imper¬ 
fect tests. We are neither condemning 
the new powder nor commending it. We 
shall try it later upon rose bugs. As a 
potato-beetle insecticide, evidently it 
will not take the place of Paris-green, 
unless the price be greatly reduced, 
assuming that it is just as effective, 
which we have no right to assume at 
present. 
New [Radishes. —The new Leafless 
radish, introduced by W. Atlee Burpee, 
of Philadelphia, Pa., is a queer little 
plant. We would suppose that the few 
small leaves could scarcely give nourish¬ 
ment to the roots, which are ready for 
table use in 36 days. There are about 
five small leaves to a plant, about two 
inches high and three inches wide. They 
are peculiarly reticulated with mid¬ 
veins and stems much larger than ordi¬ 
nary kinds. It would seem that these 
mid-veins and stems must do much of 
the work performed by the leaves of 
other varieties. In shape, the radishes 
are roundish-oblong and of a bright red 
color. 
Seeds of Ruby Pearl (Burpee) were 
sown the same day with those of the 
Leafless. They were ready for use May 
23, also 36 days from time of planting. 
The radishes are nearly round, a little 
longer than wide, about an inch in diame¬ 
ter, with white tips. The color of the 
skin is that of a bright pink. The foli¬ 
age is ample. 
Seeds of the White-Tipped Early Scar¬ 
let Turnip radish (J. M. Thorburn & Co.) 
were sown April 21—four days later than 
the others. May 25, the radishes were 
about the same size as those of the Ruby. 
From this trial, we should judge it to 
be a somewhat earlier variety. The 
plants are about half the size. 
We reported a week or so ago that 
the Yellow Rambler rose planted last 
summer, started a feeble growth this 
spring. The plant is now dead. Pos¬ 
sibly it has been injured by digging 
around it, but we fear that it is not 
hardy, and that it will not prove to be 
the charming companion to the Crimson 
Rambler that, in all other respects, 
there was reason to hope it would be¬ 
come . 
The Strawberry-Raspberry Again. 
—We are only too glad to speak kindly 
words of -novelties when there is any¬ 
thing to speak kindly about. From one 
plant set in the Rural Grounds during 
April of 1895, there are now over 100 
plants, covering an area of at least 12 
feet in diameter. That is the way it 
spreads, if we may judge other plants 
by this one specimen. 
The first strawberries in The R. N.-Y.’s 
present collection of 125 kinds to ripen 
were borne by See’s No. 1 (EL S. & A. J. 
See, Geneva, Pa.). This-variety was the 
first to give ripe berries last year, though 
neither last season nor this have we had 
Beder Wood or Michel’s to compare with. 
The berries of See’s No. 1 are small this 
year. The first were of medium size 
last season. 
May 26. Last night there was a light 
frost at the Rural Grounds, enough to 
retard the tomato plants, though not 
enough to blacken the leaves. Rye never 
looked finer, and the grass crop is equally 
promising. All fruits are promising- 
The Buckeye 
Dash 
Lamp 
lights the darkest road 
200 feet ahead, and is 
equally good as a 
side lamp or hand lan¬ 
tern. Has a powerful 
reflector and bull’s- 
eye lens. Won’t blow out in the strong¬ 
est wind. Send for our catalogue. 
Buy it of your dealer. He has it, or can get it if 
you insist. Mention this paper. 
STEAM GAUGE & LANTERN COMPANY, 
Syracuse, N. Y. 
BOWEN 
CABLE STAY FENCE CO. 
<r I r» For a machine to build 
4 ) | (J the cheapest strongest 
and best fence made of wire. 
No royalties, no farm rights, 
machine easily and quickly 
operated by any farmer. 
Send for large circulars 
NORWALK.O. 
ARMSTRONG 4 McKELVY 
Pittsburgh. 
BEYMER-BAUMAN 
Pittsburgh. 
DAVIS-CHAMBERS 
Pittsburgh. 
FAHNESTOCK 
Pittsburgh. 
ANCHOR ) 
> Cincinnati. 
ECKSTEIN > 
ATLANTIC 
BRADLEY 
BROOKLYN 
JEWETT 
ULSTER 
UNION 
SOUTHERN 
SHIPMAN 
COLLIER 
MISSOURI 
RED SEAL 
SOUTHERN 
New York. 
| Chi 
Chicago. 
•St. Louis. 
JOHN T. LEWIS 4 BROS CO 
Philadelphia. 
M0RLEY 
Cleveland. 
SALEM 
Salem, Mass. 
CORNELL 
Buffalo. 
KENTUCKY 
Louisville. 
C ONSIDER THE COST. Suppose the 
building is 60x25x20. It will require 
to paint it, 14 gals, ready-mixed paint 
at $1.25 per gal.—$17.50. 
Or, four 25-lb. kegs of white lead, $6.00; 
five gals, pure linseed oil, $2.00 ; four cans 
tinting colors, 80 cts. ; pt. Japan dryer, 
15 cts. ; pt- turpentine, 5 cts. Total, 
$ 9 . 00 —a saving of $8.50 in favor of 
Pure White Lead without considering 
its greater durability. Examine the brand 
(see list). 
By using National Lead Co.’s Pure White Lead Tinting Cob 
\\ ors, any desired shade is readily obtained. Pamphlet giving 
^ valuable information and card showing samples of colors free; 
also cards showing pictures of twelve houses of different designs painted in 
various styles or combinations of shades forwarded upon application to those 
intending to paint. 
National Lead Co., 1 Broadway, New York. 
en 
o 
You can Pitch more"; 
and do it easier with a W. & C. ACME FORK than with any other fork you ever • 
^ Mried. The bent V-shank and straight tines give it a “ hang” like a shovel and • 
jThe easiest possible delivery. Best crucible steel; extra ash handles. The O 
Acme Manure Fork is on the same principle—same materials. • 
There are nearly a hundred more kinds and styles of W. 
C. Farm and Garden Tools— hoes, rakes, tool 
handies, wheelbarrows, etc.—and a book about them that 
it will pay you to write for. Sent free. M 
■v. 
Staggered Oval Spokes. 
'buy a set to fit your new or olo wacos 
CHEAPEST AND BEST 
way to get a low wagon. Any size 
wheel, any width tire. Catal. frek. 
ELECTRIC WHEEL GO., Quincy, III. 
EXPANSION and is what destroys ^ 
CONTRACTION • 
completely overcoming this difficulty in the : 
construction of tho KEYSTONE FENCE. T 
That’s one reason why it outlasts all others, r 
Full particulars in our book on fence con- * 
construction —free. 
KEYSTONE WOVEN WIRE FENCE CO., p 
No 19 Rush Street. Peoria, Ill. )» 
All horizontal lines are cables; not affected by heat 
and cold; adjusts itself to hilly ground without 
buckling. Built for service and durability. Write 
for full information. 
UNION FENCE CO., DeKalb, III. 
LOW 
Metal Wheels 
with Wide Tires. Any lit, and 
width of tire wanted. Hub, te It 
Any axle, lava* labor. No reaattlng 
tirsa. Oatalocno free. Addraaa 
BMP IRE MFG. CO., Qnlnoy, HI. 
T 
I 
JT} 
£ 
E 
5s 
£ 
A Conscientious Farmer. 
He lives in Indiana. After some one had per¬ 
suaded him to buy another coiled spring fence, he 
satistied himself that it infringed on the Page 
Company’s patents. Then he wrote asking us to 
name a reasonable royalty, on payment of which he 
might bo allowed to use it. and hereafter he will 
buy of the rightful owners. 
PAGE WOVEN WIRE FENCE CO., Adrian, Mich. 
I WOVEN .WIRE.FENGE 
I i A A A A A A'7\ A A i Best on Karth. Horse-high, Ball- 
It L U l U U J \J II __ni.. J I'L I.L-iin.t llrhi With 
' , Best on Karth. Horse-nign, Hall- , 
■I strung. Pig audChlehm-tlghL With ( 
J our DUPLEX AUTOMATIC Maohine ! 
j you can make 60 rods a day for , 
12 to 20 cts. a Rod., 
, Over 60 styles. Catalogue Free. 
\ KITSELMAN BROS., 
Box in«. Ridgeville, lnd._ 
WHO’S SHELLABERGER ? 
He’s the Wire Fence Man, of Atlanta, Ga., and sells 
the bobt and cheapest fencing in existence for all pur¬ 
poses. Freight paid. Catalogue free. Write for It. 
K. L. SUE LI, ABE KG EH, 75 F St., Atlanta. Ga. 
HARTMAN’S STEELP! 
Free Cataloi 
Circulars 
PICKET 
ENCE 
Is constructed of such material and on such lines that it is 
STRONGER THAN IRON —CHEAPER THAN WOOD 
HANDSOMER THAN EITHER. 
Protects all grounds and at the same time adds to their 
beauty. Cannot blow down or burn up. Will not 
harbor weeds. When built with our ornamental 
Steel posts it is a thing of beauty and true worth. 
ms?| HARTMAN MFG, CO., Eliwcod City, Pa., or { Manhattan Building; Chicago! 
