838 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
1 December 25 
All communications intended for this 
department should, for the next seven 
months, be addressed toE. S. Carman, No. 
5 West 82nd Street , New York . 
The Asparagus Pea (Lotus tetragono- 
lobus) was among the ornamental pea 
novelties sent out last season by W. 
Atlee Burpee & Co., of Philadelphia, 
Pa. It is praised in their catalogue, 
both because of its beautiful foliage, 
and the fine flavor of the young pods 
when cooked like asparagus or string 
beans. “The deep red or scarlet 
flowers borne in profusion make a pleas¬ 
ing contrast with the light green, clover¬ 
like leaves.” The seeds were planted 
April 17. On July 5, the vines were 
about one foot long, forming a thick 
mat upon the soil, the upright stems 
being six to eight inches in height. The 
flowers, generally in pairs, were the 
size of ordinary pea blossoms, shading 
from red to maroon. Leaflets three, 
wedge-shape or obovate, and about 1 to 
13^ inch long. July 10 , the vines were 
from 12 to 18 inches in length, lying on 
the soil, the laterals being not over 10 
inches high. They were then well cov¬ 
ered with blossoms, the petals turning 
to a bluish color as they fade. The 
flowers are odorless. September 19, 
many of the leaves were drying up as if 
from blight. Some plants were still in 
bloom. The matured pods were over 
two inches long, a quarter of an inch in 
diameter, four-winged, containing eight 
seeds, which were about half the size of 
early smooth peas. 
As to the quality of the pods when 
cooked like Asparagus, we cannot agree 
with the catalogue estimate. We found 
them tasteless and stringy. 
We neglected to examine the roots to 
see whether nodules formed upon them 
as they do upon many other leguminous 
plants. The growth of the plant is so 
vigorous and rapid that, if the Aspara¬ 
gus pea is a nitrogen gatherer, it might 
prove valuable as an intermediate crop 
for the enrichment of the soil. 
Several of our friends have kindly re¬ 
plied to our request as to their experi¬ 
ence with the Asparagus pea. Edward 
Wollister said that his plants bore 
leaves and blossoms, but no pods. 
A correspondent, J. A. B., of Austin, 
Tex., planted the seeds early in March 
between ordinary peas and snap beans 
—which bore a fair crop—and receiving 
the same treatment and care, the young 
plants did not reach six inches in height, 
never blooming, and finally blightingand 
dying. Some plants trailed close to the 
ground, gaining a diameter of eight inches 
or more. A second planting was made 
about September 1, at the same time 
with beans, but all the plants blighted. 
The beans were ready to pick October 
15. He concludes that the Asparagus 
pea is not suited to his climate. 
W. W. Cornwall, of South Wales, N. 
Y., sowed the seeds on ordinary soil with 
no fertilizer. They were, he says, a 
curiosity to everybody, both as to the 
flowers and foliage. The plants were 
loaded with pods containing about six 
peas each. “Cooked similar to string 
beans, they were not fit to eat.” 
Mr. Esau Russell, of Ida Grove, la., 
says that he has tried the Asparagus 
pea for two seasons, and his opinion is 
that it belongs rather to the flower than 
the vegetable garden. “ It makes a 
beautiful border plant; the pods and 
peas, when cooked, are worthless. 1 
Fbom the little Sir Walter Raleigh 
potato, which Mr. Russell received from 
The R. N.-Y., he harvested 27 pounds, 
22 of which were merchantable, though 
the season was so unfavorable that the 
general crop did not yield half what it 
would have done in a favorable season. 
He purposes to plant every eye next 
season. 
We do not find much in the New 
Alaska quince that makes it more desir¬ 
able than the Orange or Apple or Rea’s 
Mammoth. Our trees were planted in 
April of 1891, and are now something 
like 8 feet high and 10 feet broad. They 
bore a full crop the past season, but the 
quinces were neither larger nor better 
in quality than those of the older sorts 
above mentioned. 
Two blackberry plants were received 
from J. M. Mersereau, of Cayuga, N. Y., 
during the spring of 1896. The plants 
have made a strong growth, the canes 
being a green color like those of Taylor. 
The berries were as large as those of 
Kittatinny, and of a conical shape. The 
plants bore more berries than Eldorado 
set in 1894, a much-advertised variety in 
which, after what seems to be fair trial, 
we may say we are disappointed. On 
August 30, we made the following note 
regarding the Mersereau blackberry: 
“ Berries large and glossy, fully as large 
as those of Minnewaski, and of better 
quality, though not quite so firm.” 
Have any of our readers observed that 
those varieties of blackberries which 
have green canes are hardier than those 
which have canes of the usual color, 
like those of Kittatinny, Lawton, Minne¬ 
waski, Early Cluster, Early Harvest, 
Erie and Wilson ?. 
Benjamin Buckma.n, of Illinois, al¬ 
ludes to the interest which is centered 
in the two new grapes, McPike and 
Campbell’s Early. He thinks that it will 
take half-a-dozen years to measure their 
merits . 
Mb. J. H. Van Deb Vobt, of Hudson, 
Mich., favors us with a few interesting 
notes in regard to late potato planting 
which were suggested by the remarks 
of H. G. Manchester, in The R. N.-Y. of 
November 6 . He has given late potato 
planting three trials, and favors it more 
and more with every succeeding trial. 
He plows the soil early, and keeps it 
cultivated until about the first of July. 
This conserves moisture, and makes less 
later hoeing necessary. In 1895, he 
planted Chas. Downing about July 6 , 
which gave him the only good crop he 
raised that season. In 1896, he planted 
R. N.-Y. No. 2 and Early Maine on June 
27. A fine crop was the result. In 1897, 
he planted No. 2 , Early Maine and Chas. 
Downing. A fair crop of fine quality 
was the outcome, while early planting 
near him was a failure. In 1897, he 
planted on June 29. An ample rain fol¬ 
lowed on July 1 and 2 , the only one that 
fell until nearly November. He does not 
state the result, but we are left to as¬ 
sume that it was satisfactory. 
Mr. V. says he can not raise paying 
crops of early potatoes on high land be¬ 
cause of the blight that is sure to attack 
the vines. He planted over an acre on 
low ground—a rich, sandy loam (clover 
sod)—using selected seed which had been 
treated for scab. “ On July 1,” he says, 
“the vines were as fine a sight as one 
could wish to see.” In a few days there¬ 
after, the tops'were all dead, the tubers 
being only “the size of eggs.” There 
are no varieties, early or late, that on 
high land, will resist the blight. Has 
our friend tried spraying with the copper 
sulphate or dusting the vines freely from 
time to time with Fungiroid ?. 
Mb. Van Deb Vobt tried mulching 
strawberries in two ways. On part of a 
patch, dark-colored, strawy manure was 
used early in the winter. The remain¬ 
ing rows were mulched in February with 
bright, clean straw. The result was that 
the plants of the part mulched with clean 
straw were a week or more later than 
the other portion alongside. This is in 
keeping with many similar experiments 
that have been made. The dark-colored 
material absorbs heat, the bright reflects 
it. 
Mb. Jas. A. Reagan kindly sends us 
a few seed balls of the Sir Walter 
Raleigh potato. This is one of many 
similar instances in which friends have 
sent us balls of The R. N-Y. No. 2 
which contained no seeds. The “apples” 
were seedless fruits. 
Some Bovee potatoes were eaten August 
13, only a few days after being dug. 
The flesh was extra white and floury, 
and of the first quality. There is often 
a great difference in the quality of the 
same variety of potato early in the sea¬ 
son and late in the season. Some are 
best early, some later, and others just 
before they begin to sprout in the spring. 
To the last class, the Blush belongs, 
though really it is always an excellent 
potato. 
Mb. Geobge F. Gbayes, of Newport, 
N. Y., writes us that, of the six-leafed 
form of clover, he has found but two 
(Continued on next page). 
Rheumatism 
Is permanently cured 
By Hood’s Sarsaparilla 
Which neutralizes the 
Lactic acid in the blood. 
Thousands who were 
Sufferers write that they 
Have felt no symptoms 
Of Rheumatism since 
Taking Hood’s Sarsaparilla 
It will cost you only 
ONE CENT 
to send your address on a pos* 
tal and receive free by return 
mail copy of THE OHIO FARMER, 
clearly the leader of the Agrb 
cultural Press of America. 
“Up to date” in every way. 
Helps make the farm pay. 20 
pages every week in year. All 
original matter Offers great 
bargains with other papers. 
address THE OHIO FARMER, Cleveland, O. 
intensive Cultivation is the Keynote to Success I * 1 
SUCCESS 
Waits on all who subscribe to 
fERHljWNIi 
* * $1.00 a Year. ^ Every Saturday. 
A Complete Practical Guide to Every Phase of 
Plant Culture in the Open and Under Glass 
and the Development of Land and Homo. 
THE SOIL’S PRODUCTIVENESS INCREASED. 
Send $1.00 for a year’s subscription; it will earn 
you $100 before the twelve months are up. A 
premium to every subscriber. Sample copy free. 
State where you saw this advertisement and address 
AH. tiAHDENING, P.0. Box <697, New York. 
^ ■ Medium Bed, $3 60 per 
ufiRD bu.; Mammoth, $3 75, 
'^'*'*** carefully recleaned. 
Sacks free. Sample of either for 2-cent stamp. Bovee 
Potatoes; $2 per bu., 2nd size. $1 60; other varieties, 
Slperbu. J. M. FLUKE, Nankin, Ohio. 
\\f~ rj A V CASH each WEEK the year round, if 
TV G I f\ I you sell Stark Trees. Outfit free. 
STARK NURSERY, LOUISIANA, MO., Stark, Mo., Rockport, III., Dansville, N. Y 
#5 for 1,000 Glen Mary Straw. Pits. Offer good till 
Jan. 1,'98. Sent spring '98. T. C. Kevltt, Athenia, N. J. 
COLUMBIAN 
Ltaspberrles, 8,000 quarts per 
_ acre. 60,000 sets. 
T. G. A 8 HMKAD, Nursery, Williamson, N. Y. 
nr I nil TREES, 3c. All kinds of stock cheap. 
rtAUn Reliancenubseky,Box 10,Geneva.N.Y 
Grape Vinesls- 
Extra fine stock of CURRANTS, Including the 
new and unrivalled WILD JJ R.Lowest rates .Quality 
Metro. Warranted true. T. 8. hl'bbakd CO., induU, 1.1, 
ej" —You can secure 25 to 100 
I IrC tSm t Q»Treesfree,orearn$ioto$i 5 
weekly this winter taking orders. I pack free.pay 
freight,and replace what dies. Reasonable prices. 
Honest goods. Particulars free. Write me. 
CHARLES H. CHASE, Nurseryman, ROCHESTER, N. Y. 
50,000 Peach Trees 
FREE FROM DISEASE, for Fall and Spring. 
Crawford Early, Crawford Late, Stump, 
Triumph, Chair’s Choice, Smock, Mt. Rose, 
Oldmixon Free, Greensboro, Crosby, Hill’s 
Chili, Elberta, Sneed, Alexander, Champion, Globe, Beer’s Smock, Salway, Troth’s Early, Wheatland 
and lots of others. CHEAP. Catalogue Free. ARTHUR J. COLLINS, Moorestown, N. J. 
Mil I ft I (■ to plant for business and for profit, are Montmorency, English Morello, 
II I I w® I II L V" V* Louis Philippe, Black Tartarian. Black Eagle, Napoleon and Windsor. 
I I I 111 | We have others, but these are the ones vou want. Our catalogue will tell 
U I# V11 1 !■ W you our prices for these and other fresh-dug business trees. We have no 
novelties, no catchpenny schemes, offer no chromos, do not pay 50 cents 
n I ■■ freight, and add $5 to price of your trees, but we give full value In 
liMIIJ II I I V" trees for your money. All stock young, healthy and thrifty. Certificates 
UllLnillLO CT«jEpm°n ”! 111 R °S ers Nurseries, Dansville, N.Y. 
TDCCC SHRUBS, FLOWERS AND FRUITS. 
Most complete General Collection in America. 3,000 
■ I I ■■ ■■ varieties described in a 200 -page (free) Catalogue. 
**The Leading New England Nursery.” JACOB W. MANNING, Reading, Mass. 
etc. advertise themselves. The best 
always cheapest. Can supply all your wants 
from Flower and Vegetable Seeds to 
Street Trees at low rates. We publish one ol 
the leading Seed, Plant and Tree Cata¬ 
logues Issued which we mail free. Try us, 
our stock and prices will please you. Can refer 
you to customers in every state and territory in the Union. 43 years of square dealing has made ui 
patrons and friends far and near. Have hundreds of car-loads of FRUIT AND ORNAITIEN. 
TAL TREES, SHRUBS, ROSES, PLANTS, ETC. We send by mail postpaid Seeds. 
Plants, Bulbs, Roses, Small Trees, etc., safe arrival and satisfaction guaranteed, larger by exprest, 
or freight. 44 th year. 32 Greenhouses. 1,000 acres. 
THE STORRS & HARRISON CO., Box 26, PAINESVILLE, O. 
is one of the three im¬ 
portant ingredients of 
a complete fertilizer; 
the others are phos¬ 
phoric acid and nitro¬ 
gen. Too little Potash is sure to result in a partial crop 
failure. 
An illustrated book which tells what Potash is, how it 
should be used, and how much Potash a well-balanced 
fertilizer should contain, is sent free to all applicants. 
Send your address. 
GERHAN KALI WORKS, 93 Nassau St., New York, 
