1897 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
Half-Sweet, Halt-Sour. 
E F. 15., Waitsbubg, Wash —There 
are more things in this world than were 
ever dreamed of in Mr. Van Deman’s 
philosophy. I have known the sweet- 
and-sour apple for more than 50 years. 
The first tree I knew was in the orchard 
of Chas. Gillett, about one mile north 
of Barton Center, Yates County, N. Y. 
I picked the tree for him in the fall of 
1847, and took from it 12 barrels of ap¬ 
ples. It was known as the Compound 
apple at that time. When fully ripe, it 
was striped with green and yellow, the 
green predominating. The green sec¬ 
tions were unmistakably sour, and the 
yellow sections were sweet, and unmis¬ 
takably so. There was the same old story 
about a nurseryman (name forgotten) in 
the town of Potter, same county, having 
split the buds and produced this variety. 
He was a young man, not so old as 
“Uncle Charley” Gillett’s tree was at 
the time. There was but one tree in his 
orchards. I regard it an impossibility 
for any one at that time to do the trick. 
I will not say that Prof. Bailey can’t do 
it now. It was simply a sport, but it has 
perpetuated itself, from all I can learn, 
but whether its flavor—sweet-and-sour 
—is as marked now as then, I don’t ven¬ 
ture to say. If your suggestion be car¬ 
ried out at the American Pomological 
Society meeting, I venture to say that 
it will be decided to be a compound. 
Various Farm Notes. 
A. J. E., Vermont. —The first article 
in The R. N.-Y., of July 3, “The Mys¬ 
terious Origin of Barn Fires,” gives food 
for much thought to property owners. 
The following hint relative to lanterns 
is submitted : Take a handful of large¬ 
sized barbed wire staples and cut off 
one prong from each so that but a half 
inch remains. At every place where 
there is a possibility that a lantern may 
need hanging, drive in one of these 
staples with the short prong uppermost, 
bending it down slightly so that the 
lantern bail can be dropped in. The 
lantern will never be knocked down by 
careless persons. 
Wash cakes of ice with warm water 
and a whisk broom, and the work is 
quickly and thoroughly done. A slat 
bench 2x4 feet and two feet high on 
which to lay the cakes when washing, 
will also facilitate the work. 
F. S. Heath, Johnson, Vt., is trying an 
interesting experiment this year. The 
high water in June nearly ruined his 
potato crop on the intervale. He plowed 
a piece of upland, and planted it to po¬ 
tatoes June 29, using phosphate. July 
31 these potatoes were as large as at the 
second hoeing, and would be in bloom a 
few days later. The piece looked very 
thrifty and even, and promised better 
results than most fields planted the first 
of May. A good example of “ get- 
there ” in farming. 
The Youths’ Companion tells of a little 
girl who, on her birthday, shook a 
couple of coins in her pocket, remark¬ 
ing, “My dollar would not jingle if it 
were not for my penny.” Farming oft- 
times seems to yield only pennies where 
other pursuits bring dollars, but it is 
what makes all other kinds of business 
jingle. The country prospers when the 
farmers prosper. 
Medicines for Pear Blight. 
Prof. W. B. Alivood, Virginia —The 
remedy for blight in pears proposed by 
I. H. B., page 532, contains no new 
statement. It is very well known that 
all fluids enter growing plants through 
the roots, and where these fluids are not 
harmful, they are readily taken up by 
the root system, like the instance cited 
where cochineal solution was taken up 
in the tissues of the pear tree. All 
551 
plants are able to exercise some selec¬ 
tion as to what substances are taken 
into the circulation, and up to a certain 
point, can reject injurious substances 
which may come in contact with the 
roots. But, if the injurious substance 
is present in such strength that it de¬ 
stroys the root, the plant is then injured 
as cited by I. H. B. 
As to whether any substance which 
may be furnished by way of fertilizers 
or otherwise to the roots of pears or 
other trees can enter into the circula¬ 
tory system, and thereby prevent or 
cure the blight, I am not prepared to 
say. From all my experience in study¬ 
ing this subject, I have been led to 
doubt very much such statements. It 
does not seem possible to me that any 
substance can be taken up by the plant 
in sufficiently strong solution to counter¬ 
act the effects of the germs in the sap 
which cause the disease so well known 
ARMSTRONG & McKELVY 
Pitleburifk. 
BEYMER-BAUMAN 
Pittsburgh. 
DAVIS-CHAMBERS 
Pittsburgh. 
FAHNESTOCK 
Pittsburgh. 
ANCHOR v 
> Cincinnati. 
ECKSTEIN J 
ATLANTIC 
BRADLEY 
BROOKLYN 
JEWETT 
ULSTER 
UNION 
SOUTHERN 
SHIPMAN 
Now York. 
J Chi 
Chicago. 
St. Louis. 
COLLIER 
MISSOURI 
RED SEAL 
SOUTHERN 
JOHN T. LEWIS & BROS CO 
Philadelphia. 
MORLEY 
Cleveland. 
SALEM 
Salem, Mass. 
CORNELL 
Bullalo. 
KENTUCKY 
Louisville. 
P RACTICAL painters every¬ 
where use and recommend 
Pure White Lead (see list ot 
brands which are genuine) and 
Pure Linse ed Oil b ecause they 
make not only the cheapest but 
by far the best paint. In fact 
you cannot afford to use any¬ 
thing else. 
r~t |~\ r-t r* By using National Lead Co.’s Pure White Lend Tinting Col- 
l“< I""* I - * 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. 
as pear blight. I am myself working 
upon a similar theory, and am applying 
the chemical preparations about the 
tree as one would apply fertilizers, but 
as yet, I cannot give any statement of 
results, and am doing the work more 
from curiosity than from any belief that 
it can be successful. If it should prove 
successful, I will be happy to give the 
results in due time. 
I take this opportunity to say that, 
during the last nine yeais, I have had 
but one pear tree die from blight on our 
experiment grounds, where a large num¬ 
ber of varieties are growing, yet pear 
blight is very common in the immediate 
neighborhood. My effort has been con¬ 
stantly to keep these trees in a healthy 
condition, and to spray them thoroughly 
in the early spring so as to prevent, as 
far as possible, the growth of the blight 
germs on the tender growing points of 
the twigs, or in the fruiting stems, or 
where abrasions may occur on the twigs. 
In our case, this sort of treatment ap¬ 
pears to be very successful. 
Keeping Rabbits from Trees. 
H. L. D., Morristown, Tknn. —Tell 
Connecticut Reader, page 514, when he 
gets that young apple orchard replanted, 
to go to the slaughter house early next 
fall with a bucket, and fill it with blood. 
Then saturate a large cloth with the 
blood, and rub the trees from the ground 
up the trunk for a distance of three feet. 
Rabbits being strictly vegetarians, even 
the smell of blood will cause them to 
leave, and it is, therefore, not essential 
that every part of the trunk should be 
rubbed, though possibly it is best to do 
so. 
Outdoor Light 
Nothing adds so much to the attractive¬ 
ness of a village or home, 
and safety from night prowl¬ 
ers, as well lighted streets 
and grounds. This is 
secured by the Steam 
Gauge & Lantern Co.’s 
Tubular Globe Street 
Lamp, which is cheap, 
ornamental, burns 4 hours 
for a cent, and almost takes 
care of itself; will not blow out. 
We make Tubular Porch, Carriage and Stable 
Lamps besides, and all of them are as good as the 
Street Lamp. Your dealer has, or can get them. Send 
to us for detailed description. Mention this paper. 
STEAM GAUGE & LANTERN COMPANY, 
Syracuse, N, Y. 
RICHARDS’ TRANSPLANTERS. 
Price, $2.50 per set. Send for Circular. 
F. RICHARDS, FREEPORT, N. Y. 
for farmers. 
“ 
. 
R unyon’fTi’at. Gauge 
& Lock Wire Fence. 
New plan by which farm¬ 
ers can build and weave 
fences cheap and rapidly 
without machine. Money 
made fast selling farm 
rights, or building fence 
Lewis M. Runyon, Allamuchy, N. J.a 
0, National Lead Co., 1 Broadway, New York. , . 
Those “Pesky” Weeds 
will bother you this year again, unless you keep them 
down with an Acme Weeding Hoe. No other weeding ? 
tool approaches it in shape and effectiveness. Strong, g 
light; designed and put together with the careful thor- m 
oughness that have made the W. &, C. Farm and Garden g 
Tools famous wherever hoes, rakes, forks and wheel-^ 
barrows are used. The IV. & C. Book is interesting and % 
profitable reading. Send for it and learn how to do • 
your work easier aud better. Mailed free. 9 
THIS a FACT 
All plants take their food-nourishment in sol- 
ut Ion. The more nearly manure is reduced to a 
solution the more quickly it becomes available 
as plant food. Therefore coarse manure is poor 
plant food. Fine manure is good plant food. 
Kemp’s Manure Spreader 
makes all kinds of manure lino and spreads it 
evenly. 16 years on the market. Improved 
for 1HS>7. Catalogues and circulars FREK. Address 
KEMP & BURPEE MFC. CO., BOX 38, SYRACUSE N. Y. 
HENCII «fc DROMOOLD’S 
FORCE FEED 
GRAIN & FERTILIZER 
DRILL 
Positively the 
neatest, lightest, 
and strongest grain 
drill on the market. 
Many points of su¬ 
periority; it is 
geared from the cen¬ 
tre. Quantityof grain 
and fertilizer can be 
changed while 
i ii operation 
without the use of 
gear wheels. Fully 
guaranteed. Posi¬ 
tively accurate in quantity. Give one a trial and 
be convinced. Agents wanted. Circulars free. Address 
llENGII & lfltOiYIGOLil), dlir’s, York, Pa. 
The Wheat 
Cutaway. 
On wheat Helds prepared by the new 
WHEAT CUTAWAY, the crop In¬ 
creased from 5 to 15 bushels per 
acre. Send for new Descriptive Circu¬ 
lar with Testimonials. 
The Cutaway Harrow Co 
• » 
BREAKS ALL RECORDS. 
Last year wo told of a Michigan agent who could 
walk over 35 adjoining farms, all uslug Page 
fence. This year’s sales have increased the num¬ 
ber to 51, with only one exception. Theso fanners 
have known the Pago for many years—would they 
keep on buying if not satisfied It was the best and 
cheapestr Write us for proof. 
SOLE MANUFACTURERS 
HIGGANTJM, OONN. 
PAGE WOVEN WIRE FENCE CO., Adrian, Mich. 
2 ONOE IN A LIFETIME 2 
• is often enough to do some things If dono • 
■ properly in the first place. To build a Key- 1 
• Stone Fence Is doing the thing right In tna * 
• beginning. 25 to 58 Inches high. For the • 
J farm, lawn, park and cemetery. Our • 
• catalogue contains convincing arguments. 
« KEYSTONE WOVEN WIRE FENCE CO., • 
No. 19 Rush St., Peoria, III. • 
«»««*«••*••••••«•»•*«**•••••• 
ss 
i*i 
n 
>- 
i*i 
\ 
• 
< 
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web el picket lawn'fence. 
FOR LAWNS AND CEMETERIES ALSO. 
Steel Posts, Steel Rails and Steel Gates: Steel Tree, 
Flower and Tomato Guards; Cabled Field and Ilog 
Fence, 24 to 68 in. high; Poultry, Garden and Rabbit 
Fence; Steel Wire Fence Board, etc. Catalogue free. 
DeKALB FENCE CO., 315 High St., DeKalb, III. 
“Eli” Baling Presses 
88 Styles & Sizes for Horse and Steam Power. 
?s» 46 Inch 
Feed Opening 
Hay or 
Straw 
Bell 
_ 1 Power Leverage 64 to 1 STEEL 
Largest line In the world. Send for Catalog. 
COLLINS PLOW CO., 1111 Hampshire St.,Quincy,IIL 
H KNDKICK’S Hay and Straw Balers. Best, cheapest 
on market. Upright & Perpetual. 18 styles and sizes. 
Manufactured by Lb B. HENDRICKS, Kingston, N. Y. 
BOWEN 
CABLE STAY FENCE CO, 
<P I r» For a machine to build 
4 > I U 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. 
WOVEN .WJBE.FENCE 
IWiWiWAVA 
ItatatataVatataY 
yayawawaya 
ayayayayayayayayay 
ayayayayayayayaya 
ayayayayayayayayay 
■lent on Karth. Horne-high, Bulb 
atrong, Pig and Chlehen-tlght. With 
Our DUPLBX AUTOMATIC Machine 
— 
you cau make 60 rods a day for 
12 to 20 cts. a Rod. 
Over SO atylea. Catalogue Free. 
KITSELMAN BROS., 
Box too. Ridgeville, Ind. 
