758 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
November 20 
TRIAL OF THE AUSTRALIAN SALT¬ 
BUSH. 
About 15 years ago, Baron Von Mueller, 
of Melbourne, sent to the University of 
California Experiment Station seeds of 
this Salt-bush, -where it has been given 
a thorough trial. The report says that 
it is a perennial herb very much liked 
by sheep. It is pronounced by some 
correspondents as wonderful for its 
productiveness and drought-resisting 
powers. Unlike most other Salt-bushes, 
the report continues, this plant has a 
prostrate habit, covering the ground 
with a green cushion from eight to ten 
inches thick. Single plants form wheel¬ 
shaped masses with rather small leaves, 
but thickly set on slender branches, 
as shown at Fig. 31G, page 754. The 
flowers are inconspicuous, the fruit, 
which is heart-shaped and about one- 
tenth of an inch long, is of a brownish- 
red tint and produced abundantly. When 
the plant is cut, it continues growth 
very soon from the same root. At the 
experiment station, near Tulare, Cal., 
the herb has been grown with excellent 
results in some of the worst alkali spots 
on the station grounds, single plants 
having reached the diameter of 16 feet 
in one season, as was stated in The R. 
N.-Y. of October 30. The report states 
that the yield of a full cut is about 20 
tons of green material, or about five tons 
of dry matter, per acre. According to 
Mr. Forrer, the foreman of the Tulare 
Station, a long season would permit of 
two such cuts. In feeding the Salt-bush, 
it was used in conjunction with hay, 
about 73^ pounds of green Salt-bush to 
2}4 pounds of hay to one feed. Sheep 
and hogs eat it readily, and horses and 
cattle soon get used to it, if fed mixed 
with other feed at first. In every 100 
pounds of air-dried material, there were 
found to be over 19 pounds of pure ash. 
Assuming the water in the fresh sub¬ 
stance to be about 75 per cent, every 100 
pounds of dry matter corresponds to 
400 of green. Each ton of green mater¬ 
ial is equivalent to 500 pounds of strictly 
dry material, or 550 pounds of air-dried 
matter, containing about 110 pounds of 
mineral ingredients. Of this extraordin¬ 
ary amount of ash, nearly 40 percent, or 
44 pounds, is common salt, and about 15 
per cent, or 17 pounds more, is soda in 
other combinations. The amounts of 
potash, lime and phosphoric acid are 
relatively small, thus rendering the Salt¬ 
bush excellent for ‘‘desalting” or free¬ 
ing the soil from obj actionable sodium 
compounds. In the ash from a ton of 
air-dried plant, there are about 14 
pounds of potash, and 3 5 pounds of 
phosphoric acid available for plant food. 
Seeds of the Salt-bush were sown at 
the Rural Grounds April 21. Tney were 
sent to us by W. Atlee Burpee & Co. 
The seeds sprouted readily enough, and 
the plants made a quick, vigorous 
growth. In early September, the vines 
were from two to three feet long, about 
one foot high, prostrate, very branching 
and rather woody. The leaves, as shown 
in Fig. 316, are variable in shape, about 
two to three inches long by one inch 
wide, irregularly toothed or scalloped. 
On October 13, we fed the green leaves 
and stems, which had not been harmed 
by several frosts, to five cows, two pigs 
and two horses. Ail but one of the 
horses seemed to relish them. 
Mr. Burpee says that the seeds may 
be sown among our native grasses, and 
that the combination increases the ap¬ 
petite of grazing animals. The flavor 
of the leaves is perceptibly salty, similar 
to that of the well-known Goose-foot, 
Salicornia herbacea, which grows abund¬ 
antly in many of the salt marshes from 
New England to Georgia. The botanical 
name is Atriplex semibaceatum, of the 
order Chenopodiaceaa. 
Daisy Pea. —A Minnesota correspond¬ 
ent sends us a box of Carter’s Daisy pea, 
stating that there must be two varieties 
sold under this name. One seedsman 
describes the vines as growing three 
feet high, while the vines of the variety 
that he planted grow but 18 inches in 
height. We planted seeds of the Daisy 
which were sent to us by James Vick’s 
Sons during the season of last year, and 
the following note appeared regarding 
this variety on page 483: “Vines 
grow two feet high, leaves large, pods 
large, broad and well filled with about 
eight large seeds. Productive. We re¬ 
gard this as the best dwarf or half-dwarf 
pea in our collection.” 
We again planted Carter’s Daisy the 
past season, the seeds coming from 
Burpee & Co. The vines grew 1% foot 
in length ; otherwise there was no dif¬ 
ference, and the difference in height 
may be accounted for by the dif¬ 
ference of the two seasons. It is a 
splendid pea in every way, and we shall 
give illustrations and a full description 
of its behavior during the past season, 
later, or, at about the time when our 
readers would naturally be considering 
the best kinds of peas to plant next 
year. .. 
We have an instructive communica¬ 
tion from Louis Meyer, of Malvern, 
Ark., regarding the behavior of certain 
of the Japan plums in that part of the 
country. His Abundance trees were 
planted during February, 1892. They 
bloomed profusely in 1893, but set no 
fruit. In 1894, a late frost caused all 
of the blossoms to fall before the fruit 
set. In 1895, a heavy crop matured. In 
1896, frost again destroyed the blossoms. 
The past year, a heavy crop matured, 
many of the plums measuring six inches 
in circumference. Notwithstanding 
that half the fruit was thinned out, 
the trees were so heavily laden that 
the branches broke. Many of the plums 
showed the curculio crescent mark, but 
they ripened perfectly. 
Trees of the Burbank were planted 
during November, 1894. They bore 
heavily during the past season, and the 
plums were very large and showy, 
though the quality was not as good as 
that of the Abundance. The curculio 
did not seem to hurt the fruit ma¬ 
terially, though many of the plums 
rotted. 
Red June, planted in the fall of 1894, 
fruited during the past season. Mr. 
Meyer describes the plum as of goodly 
size and flavor, and of a deep, rich color. 
It hangs a long time on the tree after 
ripe, and should prove an excellent 
market fruit. 
Gold was planted in the fall of 1895, 
and the trees bore about half a crop 
during the past season. We quote from 
Mr. Meyer’s letter : “ Gold is surely the 
right name for this wonderful plum. It 
haDgs on the tree until one thinks it 
will never ripen, then a faint crimson 
blush appears on the upper portion, and 
in a few days, it is a mass of delicious 
jelly. Eaten before this time, the^qual- 
ity is inferior.” 
He placed a dczen of these plums in a 
closet where they remained three weeks, 
at the end of which they were just as 
sound 'and fresh as when they were 
place d,there. thus proving this variety 
to be a remarkable keeper and shipper. 
He believes that the Japan plums will 
become more favorably known and ap¬ 
preciated as time goes on. 
Potato Points from Pennsylvania. 
G. H. B., Huntingdon County, Pa.— 
Experiments with potatoes are interest¬ 
ing, if notalways profitable. On May 10,1 
planted the six varieties named below, 
side by side, in rows three feet wide, 
placing the sets, which were cut to single 
eyes, exactly 12 inches apart. The yield 
was very small, as the soil was capable 
of producing 400 to 500 bushels per acre 
in a good season : 
Date of Rate per 
ripening. acre, bushels 
Stray Beauty. July 20 184 
Early May. July 28 140 
Bovee. July 28 159 
New Queen. July 28 176 
Early Harvest. Aug. 5 256 
Carman No 1. Aug. 30 263 
Sir Walter Raleigh. Aug. 30 133 
The Bovee I purchased from a prominent 
seed firm of New York, who claimed to 
control the entire stock, and boomed it 
as being away ahead of any other extra 
early potato. Its appearance in growth 
of vine and tuber was exactly like the 
New Queen, and not one minute earlier 
When dug and placed beside the New 
Queen, I offered my brother (who is con¬ 
sidered an expert gardener in this sec¬ 
tion) the Bovee pile, if he could teli 
which was which, but he gave it up. If 
one more trial shows them to be so 
nearly alike, one bin will hold both 
varieties hereafter. 
The Early May I bought for an unusu¬ 
ally early potato. It is a fine-looking 
potato, but not so very early as claimed 
by a grower in western New York, 
who says, “ It was planted later than 
any other variety on the farm, but got 
ripe 10 days earlier than the other varie¬ 
ties hitherto considered the earliest pota¬ 
toes.” The three-ounce Sir Walter Ra¬ 
leigh tuber was presented by The R. 
N.-Y., and produced 5% pounds of aver¬ 
age-sized potatoes. The Carman No. 1 
is my standard, for quality and quantity. 
I grew the past season, under ordinary 
field culture, 46 tubers of this variety, 
that measured a level bushel. 
Had Catarrh 
Two-Hole 
Corn Shelter. 
Capacity. 20 to 60 bushels per 
hour. Cleans corn ready for 
market. Write for description 
and price. SPROUT, WALDRON 
& CO.. Muncie, Pa..Mfrs. French 
Burr Feed Mills and Com Ear 
Crushers. 
PEACH TREES 
75 Varieties in Stock. 
Largest stock of Peach Trees in the 
country. Descriptive Catalogue FREE. 
JOS. H. BLACK, SON & CO., 
Village nurseries, HIQIITSTOWN, If. J, 
HARRISON’S 
BERLIN, HID., 
have one and a half million 
PEACH TREES 
grown from natural seed. Send for prices. 
TREES. 
APPLE. PLUM and CHERRY, for Fall 
planting. 185 per 100. 
C. F. MACNAIR k CO., Dansville, N. Y. 
PmpIi TfPPC *° r everybody. Wholesale and retail. 
I Cubit 1 ILCj H g Johnston, Box 4, Stockley, Del 
PLANT CURRANTS IN OCTOBER. 
Plant President Wilder. 
Prices will be given by the Introducer. Address 
S. ». WILLARD, Geneva, N. Y. 
Have You Seen Pineapples Crow? 
I will send free, by mall, a plaDt of the finest 
variety, guaranteed to fruit. 50 cents each, two for 
75 cents. FliED. C. THOMAS, Orlando Pineries, 
Box 394, Orlando. Fla. 
GROW BISMARCKS IN POTS. 
Wonderful Midget Bismarcks bear 
beautiful large Apples in Pots or 
Garden when two years old. One 
Dollar Each. Crimson Ram¬ 
bler Roses. Magnificent Climber 
for Porch, 50c each, prepaid. 
Send for beautiful colored Litho¬ 
graphs giving descriptions. Address 
MANHATTAN NURSERY CO., 
47 L Dey St., New York. 
COLUMBIAN TIPS AND TRANSPLANTS. 
200 OOO Tips for this Fall, and Spring, 1898. Larg¬ 
est Berry Growers in the State. Prices right. 
J. H.TEATS & SONS, FrultGrowers.Williamson.N.Y. 
12 Loudon Raspberry ) 
12 King Raspberry j For50c - 
T. C. KEVITT, - - ATHENIA, N. J. 
Hood’s Sarsaparilla Strengthens 
the System and Cures. 
“ I was afflicted with catarrh and was in such 
a condition that every little draught would cause 
me to take cold. After having taken a few 
bottles of Hood’s Sarsaparilla I have been 
strengthened and I am in better health than I 
have ever been before.” John Albebt, 79 James 
Street, New York City, N. Y. Remember 
Hood’s Sarsaparilla 
Is the best—In fact the One True Blood Purifier. 
Hood’s 
Pills 
are the only pills to take 
with Hood’s Sarsaparilla. 
COLUMBIAN 
Raspberries, 8,000 quarts per 
acre. 50,000 sets. 
T. G. ASHMEAD, Nursery, Williamson, N. Y. 
Agents Wanted 
by the CELEBRATED GENEVA NURSERIES. 
Established 1846. GOOD PAY. Success insured to 
WORKERS. Address W. & T. SMITH, Geneva, N. Y. 
PURE ALFALFA SEED. 
Guaranteed and of prime quality, $4 per bushel, in 
two-bushel sacks, delivered on track at Lakln. 
GEO. G BAHNTGE, Lakin, Kearney Co., Kan. 
WjQw DAV FOFIFHT BOX and Pack free. PAPER line all boxes. REPLACE 
7T 6 T/\ I I l\LlUn 1 free. Give BUYER’S choice; low WHOLESALE prices 
orders largeor small; 10 trees at 100 rate, 300 at 1000 rate. Guarantee SAFE ARRI¬ 
VAL, trees TRUE to name, FREE from SAN JOSE scale, and of BES1 quality. Guarantee 
SATISFACTION,— write for lists, photos and FULL particulars of foregoing Stark 12 
CHALLENGE Points. STARK BROS, Louisiana,Mo., Stark, Mo., Rodport, III., Dansville,N.Y. 
5,000 KEIFFER PEAR TREES 
Three years. Clean, bright, healthy, thrifty. Just the kind to plant a new orchard or REPLANT an 
old one. All the leading sorts of Fruit Trees and Plants. PRICES RIGHT. Catalogue Free. 
ARTHUR «T. COXiLiIUS, Mooroatown, 2\T. J. 
3 Big Business Japs 
It’s free, and it tells the truth 
are RED JUNE, BURBANK and WICKSON. Our new 
catalogue for fall will tell you about these and other 
“Business Trees"; also about Successful Fall Planting. 
“Get it aiid come out of the dark." Rogers Nurseries, Dansville, N.Y. 
» 
THE S. & H. CO- 
desire to enter into correspondence with all contemplating the purchase of any thing in their 
line. They think they have one of the most complete assortments of strong, smooth, healthy, 
I 
FRUIT AND ORNAMENTAL TREES 
? Small Fruits, Vines, Shrubs, Roses, Bulbs, Hardy Herbaceous A 
5 Plants, Greenhouse Stock, EtC., on the market and invite all buyers to come T 
and see for themselves. They are to be found at the old stand where they have labored W 
faithfully for the past 43 years to build up a reputable business. Catalogues free. 
Address THE STORRS & HARRISON CO,, Box I, Painesvllle, O: f 
