5i6 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
August 7 
A BRIEF TALK ABOUT GRASS. 
Last fall, Mr. H. M. Cottrell, of Ellerslie Farm, be¬ 
came greatly interested in Mr. G. M. Clark’s system 
of raising grass. He prepared 30 acres of heavy land, 
following the outlined plan as nearly as possible, ex¬ 
cept that wheat was sown with the grass The object 
was to provide some soiling crops for the cattle in 
spring to take the place of oats and peas or ensilage. 
The following short conversation with Mr. Cottrell 
will give an idea of the result: 
“ What has been your experience with Clark’s New 
Grass Culture ? ” 
“ We followed it in every particular, except sowing 
wheat with it.” 
“ When did you sow the wheat ? ” 
“ Both wheat and grass were sown September 1.” 
“ llow much wheat did you put in ? ” 
“ A bushel and a half to the acre, and 1G quarts 
each of Timothy and Red-top.” 
“ Was the wheat seeded with the drill before the 
grass seed was sown ? ” 
“ Yes.” 
“ How much fertilizer did you use ? ” 
“ We used 40 tons of barnyard manure per acre, and 
500 pounds of a mixture of muriate of potash and dis¬ 
solved rock, giving an analysis of 12 per cent of avail¬ 
able phosphoric acid and 10 per cent actual potash.” 
“ What crop did you get 
from it ? ” 
“ The wheat grew to be 
four feet tall; the grass 
very thick, one foot tall. 
We mowed the field when 
the wheat was in the milk. 
The yield,by actual weight, 
was four tons of hay per 
acre.” 
“ Have you found wheat 
hay equal in value to Tim¬ 
othy ? ” 
“The cattle do not like 
it, but the horses eat it just 
as well as Timothy.” 
“ Are the chances good 
for a heavy second crop of 
Timothy ? ” 
“We never get a second 
crop.” 
“ What is the average 
crop of Timothy per acre ?” 
“ Two tons and a half.” 
“ What will be done with 
this hay in your feeding ?” 
“ It will be fed to horses 
entirely.” 
“ What is the value of 
this hay ?” 
“It is worth $10 a ton, 
which will give a value of 
$40 an acre this year.” 
“ How many tons of hay 
were there ?” 
“ Ten acres were cut for 
hay and 20 cut green. Green 
wheat is the only food we 
have found that would 
make milk equal to ensi¬ 
lage, and combining the 
two excels anything else 
we have ever tried.” 
“ I understand that you did not use a plow at all.” 
“The ground was plowed first; then worked with 
a Tornado Cutaway and harrow and smoothing board 
alternately 16 times.” 
“ Does the seeding seem to be good for another year?’ 
“ Excellent.” 
“ Do you think this system would be profitable in 
the West or in Kansas ? 
“I think this system of intense cultivation is the 
hope of Kansas.” _ 
MARSHALL STRAWBERRY FOR FANCY FRUIT. 
Much has been said about the value of the Marshall 
strawberry. Probably the majority of growers feel 
that other varieties are more profitable, but the few 
who continue to grow it are enthusiastic in its praise. 
Late in June, we received by express four boxes of 
the Marshall from F. G. Tice, of Oswego, N. Y. They 
reached us in excellent condition. They were of large 
size, deep, rich color and fine flavor, having “stood 
up” well through the shipment. Mr. Tice sends the 
following note about this year’s crop of Marshalls : 
“ The Marshalls sent were a fair sample of our fancy 
fruit, as we grade all our goods. Prices this season 
ran low, 8 to 12 cents per quart being obtained in the 
local and nearby markets, New York City, in some 
cases, going much lower. We put up some fancy 
cases similar to the one sent you, but holding six bas¬ 
kets, which sold at $2 per case or 33 % cents per quart. 
These were bought by different parties to be sent as 
presents to their friends. Cases of this kind were 
sent to Hon. Sam Sloan, H. Walter Webb, and others 
of like class. The weather during the entire season 
was extremely unfavorable to the strawberry, being 
wet and very cold. Frosts nearly every night for 
several weeks froze the new foliage off twice, and 
killed more than one-half the fruit buds before the 
flowers expanded and, in a general way, thoroughly 
stunted the plants. This weather continued up into 
and about one-half through the fruiting season, when 
it changed and became as hot as it had been cold, the 
thermometer going as high as 102 degrees in the 
shade, which about cooked the berries on the vines as 
well as every one handling them. We placed some in 
a chemical cooler here on July 3. which are now (July 
24), being sold. They are in good condition yet.” 
A VIEW IN THE RURAL GROUNDS. 
Our older readers have seen many pictures of views 
taken at the Rural Grounds—the summer home of one 
of the editors. Fig. 210 shows the front of the house 
and a part of the lawn. About 25 years ago, the place 
was a rough pasture with a little brook trickling 
through the lower part. The situation, at that time, 
was quite unattractive to the ordinary eye, yet there 
were great natural possibilities in the location, most 
of which have been realized. 
Three main objects were held in view from the 
first. A quiet and beautiful country home was de¬ 
sired, as well as a reasonably fertile soil in which to 
conduct experiments with plants and fertilizers. An¬ 
other object was to make a collection of the better 
ornamental shrubs and trees that would thrive in 
this latitude (Bergen County, N. J.), and arrange 
them on the grounds in the most effective manner. 
The bed of the brook was dug out and a dam 
was built at the lower end, thus making a beautiful 
miniature lake. The low places above the brook 
were filled in and graded so that the drainage from 
the house would be perfect. In a remarkably short 
time, the old pasture changed its dress and, to-day, 
one could hardly realize how it used to look, but for 
the fact that a few hundred feet above the stream 
may still be seen a similar field that has never been 
improved. 
Perhaps the most effective experimental results that 
have been obtained at the Rural Grounds are those of 
beautifying and changing the appearance of the 
original field at a comparatively small cost. Too 
many farmers are content to remain surrounded by 
bare yards without shade or lawns or flowers. 
A suitable variety and arrangement of trees and 
shrubs around any house will not only add to its sell¬ 
ing value, but make it more attractive and home-like 
to the members of the family. Our grandfathers 
built a big square box with holes in it for doors and 
windows, saved a narrow foot path from then grass 
and weeds, and felt that they had done their full duty 
in providing a home. Thousands of boys and girls 
have left the farm because they were starving for a 
taste of the beautiful things of life, which might have 
been brought right into the yard at home. 
The long story has been told about the work of orig¬ 
inating new varieties at the Rural Grounds. Much 
of this has been done on the farther side of the brook 
—behind the house on an area lees than an acre. 
There it is that the new varieties of strawberries, 
raspberries, blackberries, currants, gooseberries and 
grapes have been, and are being, tried ; and there, 
too, the several kinds of R. N.-Y. potatoes have 
originated. _ 
PLUMS IN WESTERN MICHIGAN. 
Plum growing in western Michigan, although 
assuming rather healthy proportions, is still in its 
infancy and, probably, not more than one in four of 
the trees now growing has ever borne fruit. Until 
within the last few years, a plum orchard of more 
than 100 trees was difficult to find, while now there 
are plenty of orchards numbering from 1,000 to 5,000 
or more trees. Many of the orchards occupy locali¬ 
ties which, on account of improper air drainage or 
other good cause, are not considered suitable for 
growing peaches ; still, a well-managed plum orchard 
is often as remunerative 
as a peach orchard. While 
the demand for the last 
few years has hardly kept 
pace with the increased 
production, the demand is 
increasing and, when we 
consider the susceptibility 
of the tree and fruit to the 
many diseases and insects 
so rapidly on the increase, 
I believe that the one who 
gives proper care will still 
receive his reward. 
Among the varieties most 
largely planted, the Lom¬ 
bard will head the list and, 
probably, nearly one-half 
of all are of this variety 
if one-half of the trees now 
set of this variety come to 
bearing, the market will 
be more than supplied 
as they are inclined to 
overbear and thus throw 
on the market a quantity 
of small, poorly - colored 
and nearly tasteless fruit, 
although, when properly 
grown, this is a good vari¬ 
ety. The public seems to 
want a large, dark-colored 
fruit, and the Bradshaw, 
which has been largely set, 
fills the bill well, but the 
tree is tender and often a 
shy bearer. The varieties 
I would select would be 
Field, Geuii, Black Dia¬ 
mond and Kingston for 
dark, and Coe's Golden 
Drop, a yellow variety, 
large, very rich and late ; 
the tree of the latter is a fine grower, good bearer 
and very hardy, the finest looking of any trees in my 
orchard. 
The manner of fertilizing orchards in this vicini'y 
is quite varied. Some have good success by applying 
a light dressing of stable manure over the entire sur¬ 
face, supplementing it with ashes and bone dust, 
keeping the ground constantly cultivated during the 
growing season, and not using the plow. Many de¬ 
pend on sowing rye about September 1, and plowing 
it in just as it heads out in the spring. My own plan 
is to depend on Crimson clover to supply nitrogen, 
using ashes and bone dust among the bearing trees. 
I have had good success with Crimson clover, espe¬ 
cially in connection with oats. I would sow six 
quarts of clover seed and one-half bushel of oats the 
middle or latter part of August, and if possible, 
just after a rain, as the seed will germinate so 
much better. 
This year, in my orchard, the crop is very light, 
and the trees are making a heavy growth. I shall 
not sow clover, but sowed the ground to oats, about 
1% bushel per acre, July 1; in fact, I would never fol¬ 
low a set rule. My object in sowing the ground thus 
early is to check the wood growth and develop fruit 
buds. I shall try sowing salt around a few trees to 
check nitrification. The plum crop through this part 
of the State is, probably, less than 30 per cent of a 
full one. l. j. post. 
Kent County, Mich. 
