1901 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
145 
A Fungus on Radishes. 
0. D. P.t Orosatoick, N. J .—What Is the 
trouble with the radishes in my green¬ 
house? They seem to decay below the soil 
level. The soil is sandy, and from the 
bottom of barnyard after the manure was 
removed. I inclose some specimens. 
—The radishes received appear to 
be affected with ordinary “damping-off” 
fungus always to be feared when seed¬ 
lings are raised in a close, moist situa¬ 
tion such as a hotbed or glasshouse. The 
remedy is free drainage, abundant ven¬ 
tilation and exposure to as much sun¬ 
light as possible. Dry sand, previously 
heated to kill all germs, may be sifted 
over the young plants, and will go far 
to check the trouble. The soil you men¬ 
tion should grow good radishes if well 
drained. 
A Talk About Lime. 
C. B., Syracuse, N. F.—Strawberry bed 
was plowed up after picking and seeded to 
millet. After I cut the millet I plowed 
and seeded to Red clover. Now there are 
10 spears of Red sorrel to one of clover. I 
wish (to plant to late potatoes in the 
Spring. How much lime would you put to 
the acre? The ground is full of vegetable 
matter. 
0. T. if.. Lemon, O.—l have two acres 
loam well tiled that I expect to plant with 
strawberries this Spring. It was manured 
with 20 pounds horse manure and in corn 
last year. I have one ton tobacco dust to 
spread in rows where plants are to stand 
to furnish potash. Give me your opinion 
as to the use of lime spread right after 
being slaked in big earth-covered piles, 
say 50 bushels per acre spread Just before 
last harrowing. Will it be all right? I 
can get any amount in this part of Ohio 
for 15 cents or so per bushel on the cars. 
This is naturally a limestone region. I 
want to give the berries a first-class 
chance. I shall prepare plants as does L. 
J. Farmer before setting out. 
Ans. —Sorrel usually indicates a sour 
soil, and lime is the best medicine for 
that. It is also about the worst thing 
for potatoes. In most cases where lime 
is used on potatoes the scab is very bad. 
The reason for this is that scab is a skin 
disease coming from germs or bacteria 
and “spreading” somewhat like a sore 
on the skin of the body. When you put 
lime in the soil you sweeten or neutral¬ 
ize it and make the conditions just right 
for the spread of this scab disease. In 
a sour soil it is not so likely to spread. 
Do not put lime on the potato crop, but 
on corn, small grain, clover or grass. 
The use of lime and wood ashes on the 
strawberry crop has given contradic¬ 
tory results. In some cases they seem 
greatly to have helped the fruit, while 
in others the crop was actually smaller 
than where no fertilizer was used! These 
results are explained by the fact that the 
strawberry does best on a neutral soil— 
that is, neither very sour nor very alka¬ 
line. Potatoes are better on a sour soil 
—at least so far as the scab is concerned 
—while clover, grain and grass do much 
better where the soil is alkaline. The 
strawberry does best where the condi¬ 
tion is not pronounced either way. On 
a very sour soil lime or ashes will most 
likely benefit the crop, while in a neu¬ 
tral or slightly acid soil they would in¬ 
jure it. We would not use iime on straw¬ 
berries unless we knew surely that the 
soil was very sour. We think it better 
policy to put the lime on grain, clover 
or grass. How are we to know when 
the land is sour? The test with blue 
litmus paper gives a fair answer. 
What is litmus paper? 
Blotting paper soaked in litmus dye. 
This is obtained from lichens which 
grow upon rocks, and is very sensitive 
to acids. In the presence of acid the 
blue color changes to red, and with an 
alkali the red changes back to blue. 
How can this test soil? 
Take about a teacupful of soil—a fair 
sample—add enough water so that it 
will be firm but not pasty. Put a knife 
down into it. Then push the piece of 
blue litmus paper into the hole made 
by the knife and press the damp soil up 
around it. Let it stay there half an 
hour, then carefully pull it out and ob¬ 
serve the color. If the part that entered 
the soil is a bright red the soil is quite 
sour, since there is acid enough to 
change the color. If after drying the 
blue color returns or the red fades to a 
light tinge there is not acid enough to 
need lime. 
Do you call this a sure test? 
Yes and no. When the blue litmus 
turns red it certainly shows that the 
soil In the cup is acid. That sample, 
however, may not be fair for the whole 
field. A number of tests should be made 
from various parts. 
Would you put lime on a field intended 
for strawberries if it showed this red 
color? 
Probably not, especially if it had been 
manured, for manure is alkaline and will 
sweeten the soil. If seeding to grass or 
clover, or planting corn, we would cer¬ 
tainly use lime—from 20 to 25 bushels 
per acre. 
Various Orchard Questions. 
E. E. Z., Norwich, Conn.—I have a farm 
of about 30 acres of rather light, sandy 
soil, with about 10 acres of apple trees. 
For the past five years it has been left to 
take care of itself, or nearly so. What 
crops can I profitably raise in the orchards 
and what can I plant for forage crops that 
will do well here in this climate. I have a 
limited amount of pasture land. What is 
the analysis of average hen manure? 
Would you advise a small piece of Alfalfa 
for trial? 
Ans.— When apples are grown for 
profit the best authorities agree that no 
other crop should be grown on the land. 
Clean and shallow cultivation should be 
kept up from Spring until midsummer, 
when a cover crop of clover. Winter 
vetches. Alfalfa, or if the land is too 
thin for legumes, oats or rye may be 
sown to hold the soil during Winter. If 
apples are only a side issue well-fertil¬ 
ized hoed crops, such as potatoes, beans 
and garden vegetables, will keep the soil 
in order, and not exhaust it unduly. It 
would be well to experiment with the 
earliest varieties of cow peas, putting 
them in in early June. Oats and peas 
and corn do well for cattle—rape for 
hogs and sheep. See the hen manure 
article on page 105. 
HAMMOND’S 
Mammoth Tomato. 
Michigan tomato seed Is best on earth. Hum- 
mond’s Mammoth mode a specimen last year 
weighing lbs. Largest tomato that grows.Ham- 
mond’s Earliest Tomato on Earth has eclipsed all 
others In earliness. Hammond’s Great Tall Tree, 
Hammond’s l>warf Tree, Hammond’s Golden 
Beauty, and Hammond’s ProllllcBush are novel¬ 
ties of wonderful merit. Handsome illustrated cat¬ 
alog of Tomatoes. *1000 in prizes for 1901, and all 
pleading varieties of Potatoes, Field, Flower and 
^Vegetable Seeds mailed FKEE on request. 
HARRY N. HAMMOND SEED CO. 
Formertyt^ FiJUld. 
SALZER’S SEEDS 
WILL MAKE YOU RICH” 
This is a daring statement, but Sal- 
zer’s seeds bear it out every time. 
Combination Corn. 
Greatestcorn on earth. Wi 11 positively j 
revolutionize corn growing. 
Billion DollarCrass. 
■ I the 
Greatest marvel of the age, 
12 tons of hay per acre. First 
crop six weeks after sowing^ 
WhaTF It ?, 
Catalogue tells. 
FOR lOc. STAMPS 
and this NOTICE we mall 
‘ big seed catalog, 10 Grain 
Samples Includingabove, also j 
,, , Spellz <80 bu. per A.) Oats, I 
215 bushel per A.) R'ipe, 
I Barley,(173bu.perA) Teaoat, etc.\Vorth$lO.togeta0tirt. 
John A. Salzer Seed Co. La Crosse, WIs. 
'M ■- 
SEEDS CHEAP 
•BEST on Earth. 
Only Ic to 3c per pkg. 
Postpaid & all TEST ED. 
IGRANDSS® 
I control large Plantations 
many States, and Europe. 
, Rare & New sorts cheap.' 
■ Seed in bulk by tt). & bu.. 
' cheaper than any grown.^ 
Fruit Trees & Field Seed 1 ow.r 
T?'T>Tr'T7' Great! Grand! j 
Jj JLvXbXbilUistrated Hig 
Catalogue. Send address. 
Also those who want SEEDS. 
R. H. SHUMWAY, 
ROCKFORD, ILLINOIS. 
7^£6 
Fruit Trees, Small Fruits in¬ 
cluding Grapes. Ornamental 
Trees, Evergreens and Flower¬ 
ing Shrubs for public and 
private grounds. Shade Trees 
for streets. Hardy Roses, 
Hardy Plants, Climbers, etc. 
Our beautifully illustrated 
catalogue contains accurate and 
trustworthy descriptions of the 
choicest varieties, and is replete 
with practical hints indispen¬ 
sable to planters; it will be 
mailed free on application. 
ELLWAHGER & BARRY, 
Mt. Hope Nurseries, ROCHESTER, N. Y. 
EstabUshed over 60 VearB. 
Mention this publication. 
SUCCEED WHERE 
Largest Nursery. OTHERS FAIL. 
Fruit Book Free. Result of 76 years* experience, 
STARE BROS., Louisiana, Ho.; DansviUe, K.Y. 
ASPARAGUS 
Roots. 
Address CHA8. H. MATHIS, 
Blackville, 8. C. 
Mention this Paper. 
Our Nursery Stock-'is the best, prices 
the lowest. Everybody send for catalogue and save 
money. ERNST’S NURSERIES, Moscow, O. 
FrPP ratalnrillP Small Fruit and Vegetable 
1 ICC uaiaiuguc plants. Cabbage, Lettuce. Caull- 
Hower, Pepper. Egg Plant. Sweet Potato, Tomato, 
Celery and Cady Garrison Strawberry. 
CALEB BOGGS & SON, Cheswold, Del. 
i QIH PtltillndTID Trees and Plants free. 
17U1 tdlOlUgUC T, c. KBVITT, Athenla. N. J. 
Taw Doae—Early Black, Whippoorwill and New 
OUW redo Bra. C. C. BROWN, Brldgevllle, Del. 
■p ELIABLE ENSILAGE SEED CORN.—Early Mas- 
todon, $2, bag of 2 bn. Canada Peas, $1.25 bu. 
Cow Peas. State quantity wanted and send 2c. for 
sample. E. G. PACKARD, Dover, Del. 
A New Vegetable 
" CRIMSON WINTER 
The GREAT VALUE OF RHUBARB has always 
been Its earliness. CRIMSON WINTER is fully 
six months earlier than any other Rhubarb. 
“OPULEN'T” Peach, “FIRST” Plnm 
and other new fruits. 
For descriptive catalogues address 
Burbank's Experiment Farm, Santa Rosa, Cat. 
Seed Potatoes 
—18 kinds. $3 a barrel. Cir. Free 
R. FINCH, Box R, Clyde, N. Y. 
PROP Seed Potatoes. Earliest and best 
OCvvi'l/-vlVV/r seed grown. Catalogue free. 
A. A. WUIT'ITNGTON, Marion Sta., Md. 
TQggQ—Young budded Apple, Pear and Plnm, 
I need He. each. Send to G. C. STONE'S 
Wholesale Nurseries, Dansville, N. Y., for 80-page 
Catalogue. Secure varieties now; pay In Spring. 
OUR FRUIT TREES GROW. 
We have thousands of all the best varieties of 
TREES and PLANTS. APPLES 8C., PEARS 9c., 
PEACHES -Ic., etc. We can save you money. Hand¬ 
some illustrated catalogue FREE. ISend for it to-day. 
Highland Nukskkv Co.. Dept. D, Rochester, N.Y. 
A PRIME FAVORITE 
Select your trees for their fruit os well 
as for hardy vigorous qualitiea The 
VOKK IMPBKIAL satisfies the mott 
fastidious. High color, bright red, Urge winter 
apple; good quality, good keeper, robust, 
heavy bfarer. Thirty-five others, peaches, 
pears, etc. Qitalogue free. 
UarrUon's Nurseries, Box 29 Berllii. Sid* 
The Lincoln Pear 
“The best pear we ever tasted” is what every 
one says about the Lincoln. Annual bearer, very 
hardy, Fnilt large, solid, golden yellow, juicy 
and aromatic. Season, August and September. 
Very proUfle. Handsome catalogue, free. 
Agents wanted. Introduced and sold under 
copyrighted label exclusively by 
W. E. Jones Co., Lincoln, III. 
Everblooming Hardy Roses. 
I grow them. Don’t bother with little mall-size plants. 
Get strong three-year old fleld-grown hushes— 
vigorous and hardy! I have them. Try this half 
dozen—all perpetual bloomers: Mrs. John Laing 
soft pink; Anna Diesbach, bright rose; Coquette des 
Alpes. finest white; Gen. Jaequemlnot. crimson scar¬ 
let; Baron Bonstettln, dark velvet; Paul Neyron. 
largest and finest of all. Too heavy to go by mall. 
Big, strong bashes that will bloom profusely the first 
season. By express, prepaid. $2. Order to-day. 
J. A. CAI.I 1 I 8 ON, Rose Grower, 
Grand View Station, Des Moines, la. 
SEEDS, PLANTS, 
Robcb, HulbB, vine.. 
. Shrubs, Fruit and Orna- 
^ mental Trees. The beat 
by 47 years test. 1000 acres, 
m in Hardy Roses, 44 
Greenhouses of Plants and 
lEverblooming Roses. Mail 
[size postpaid, safe arrival 
guaranteed. Try us, our 
pods will please you and 
irect deal will save you 
money. Valuable l(i 8 -page 
Catalogue Free. 
TTBE 8TOBRS As UARRISON CO., 
60X244 PAINSVILLEv OHIO. 
nil..”-,/ 
Ur... J 
KGRAPEVINES 
TOO Varletlea. Also Small Frolto, Trees,Ae. Beetroot 
ed stock.Gennine, cheap. 9 sample vines mailed for lUr. 
Dseorinti .'e price-list free. LEWIS BOKSCU, Crwlonia, N. 1 
Ceo. S. Josselyn 
Fredonia, N. Y. 
INTRODUCER OF 
Campbell’s Early.The best Grape. 
Josselyn ..The best Gooseberry. 
Fay .... The best Onrrant. 
Large list of GrapeVines and Small 
Fruit Plants. Catalogue free. 
■p'ARLY OHIO SEED POTATOES.—Pure, choice 
seed. Price. $3 per barrel, of 4 bushels each. 
Address L. NORMAN NELSON, Laney, Shawano 
Co., Wis. Postal Money Order on Seymour, Wis. 
Seed Potatoes. —Dovee, White E. 
Ohio, Peachblow, Minister's Commercial and others 
Sample tuber 6 cts., lb. 20 cts. List free. 
J. W. HARTMAN, Sllgo, Pa. 
r J|nUFnQ Bovee, Carmans, Cobblers, Blush, 
I AlllHClfvk.Fortune.Maule’sCommercial.Star 
Oats. Sample Corn. B. P. Rocks & X.eg. Eggs. Prices 
now. Smith’s Potato Farm, Box B, Manchester, N.Y. 
Caw CaIa AboutSOO bushels Extra Choice Early 
I Q| wqIC Bovee Potatoes, free from disease 
and scab. 
J. D. 
For prices etc., address 
MILTON, Seneca, Ont. Co., N.Y. 
U Acme, Early Harvest, Hebron, 
r OlfllllCS Ohio, Rose, Bovee, Cobbler, Queen, 
King, Carman. Astonlsher, Ohio Jr., Stump the World, 
Uncle Sam. 85 kinds. C. W. Ford & Co., Fishers, N. Y. 
H EADQUARTERS for 2nd-crop Seed Potatoes, 
the best seed that grows. My 1901 free cata¬ 
logue sets forth the merits of 2nd-crop Seed. 
B'ull of valuable Information. Strawberry, 
Raspberry, Blackberry, Asparagus Roots, Seed 
Corn, etc. J. W. HALL, Marlon Station, Md. 
Choice Seed Potatoes. 
Bovee. Sir Walter Raleigh, Carmans and other 
standard varieties, grown and packed under my 
personal supervision. Send for price-list. 
F. H. THOMSON, Holland Patent, N. Y. 
SEED potatoes 
mm Grown by us in Maine. 
HENRY ELWELL & CO., 
310 Washington Street, New York. 
Mention this paper. 
American Gardening. 
Ten Sample Copies, separate issues. 10 cents. 
Published at I'Je Liberty Street, New York. 
PlSnt&V Sultan, the new Japan Plums. 
UI iniCl A Evergreens and Shade Trees. Catalogue. 
ROCKLAND NURSERIES, Blauvelt, N. Y. 
ne Blocks of- Price List Free 
PLANTS. C. C. NASH, 
Three Rivers, Mich. 
Columbian Raspberry. 
40,000 first-class plants, grown by the ORIGINATOR, 
awaiting orders. $7 M. $1 Hun. Order quick to 
secure plants. J. T. THOMPSON. Oneida, N. Y. 
Do You Want the Best Strawberries for 
Home use or Market? Then plant your beds from 
my extra fine stock. 
WM. PERRY, Cool Spring, Del. 
STRAWBERRy Robbie, Sample and 
other new and standard varieties. Cat. free. 
B. KING, Tewksbury, Mass. 
Twenty I 
RASPBERRY 
ROUGH RIDER, 
SEN. DUNLAP, 
and other 
CUMBERLAND 
Rough Rider Strawberry. 
Best shipper, best keeper, best seller, 11,150 from 2Ji acres last year. We are head¬ 
quarters for plants, having 7 acres to dig from. Order direct from the Introducer and 
get the genuine stock Agents wanted In all great strawberry sections. Catalogue free 
L. J. FARMER. Nurseryman, Pulaski, Oswego Co., N. Y. 
In addition to a good assortment of all kinds of Nursery Stock, I am pleased to quote as follows: 
Klefler, extra, to 1 inch.$25 per 100 | Plum, extra, ^ to 1 Inch.$15peTlOO 
Apple, extra, Htol Inch.$16 per 100 | Peach, extra, 4 to 6 feet. $5 per 100 
Asparagus Roots. 2-year, $2 50 per 1,000. Send for mv 1901 Catalogue. 
C. A. BENNETT, Proprietor of the Robbinsville Nurseries, ROBBINSVILLE, N. J. 
IKEES AND PLANTS 
standard sorts of Trees and Plants. 
—Choice new varieties, such as Premo 
Dewberry, Brilliant Raspberry, Bobo¬ 
link and Marie Strawberries. Old 
Free catalogue telling about them. MYBB A SON, Brldgevllle, Del. 
