29o 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER.' 
April 80 
The Cornell Reading Course. 
Edited hy John Craig, Professor of Uni¬ 
versity Extension, and Editor Fanners' 
Reading Course, Cornell University, 
Ithaca, N. Y. 
INTRODUCTION. 
Many of Thb R. N.-Y. readers know 
about the Cornell Reading Course for farm¬ 
ers. This Is a correspondence course In 
agriculture. It Is a development of the 
last five years. It Is significant of sub¬ 
stantial progrress In farming. The fact 
that over 26,000 farmers of New York State 
think It worth their while to bother with 
the lessons—nay, more—study them care¬ 
fully, Indicates that the movement Is 
growing, and that the old-time prejudice 
against “book farming” is gradually dis¬ 
appearing. The question and answer de¬ 
partment of a school of this kind must be 
very instructive. While each farmer looks 
on his own difficulties as being peculiar to 
himself, they are In fact but a reflection 
of his neighbor’s troubles emphasized and 
colored by local surroundings. Interchange 
of thought and experience therefore can¬ 
not fall to be valuable. This column will 
be devoted to answering questions and ex¬ 
changing experiences in fruit and garden¬ 
ing matters. The R. N.-Y. has always 
given a prominent place to horticultural 
questions, and It Is fitting, and also a mat¬ 
ter of self-congratulation, that we find 
ourselves able to use such an excellent 
medium for exchanging confidences. The 
fruit Interests of the State are constantly 
enlarging; new problems are appearing, old 
problems recurring under new grulses, and 
the fruit grower finds that the price of 
success Is Industry, common sense and 
vigilance. A few readers will always find 
In the queries and experiences old material, 
but they will be new and instructive to the 
many. Come Into the circle, friends, and 
turn the searchlight of experience and 
science on dark places in farm practice. 
McPike Grape. 
Do you know the McPike grrape? De¬ 
scribe It and give your opinion of Its value. 
Medicine Lodge, Kan. J. i>. •. 
In August, 1900, while connected with 
the Iowa Agricultural College, I made 
a special trip to the grounds of the orig¬ 
inator of this grape, H. G. McPike, Al¬ 
ton, Ill. Mr. McPike informed me that 
the grape was grown from the seed of 
Worden. It resembles the parent in fo¬ 
liage and color of wood. The fruit is 
also like Worden in color and form of 
bunch. The berry is much larger, fully 
as large as the one-time famous Eaton. 
Most of the McPike vines in the origi¬ 
nator’s vineyard are on Concord roots. 
They were crown-grafted; they were 
fruiting heavily at the time of my visit, 
both on this root and on their own roots 
—although there were comparatively 
few vines in the latter condition. The 
original vine, eight or nine years old, is 
still standing in Mr. McPike’s vineyard. 
This variety appeared to me to have un¬ 
usual promise. Mr. McPike’s vineyard 
is favorably situated on the Missouri 
River bluffs, on well-drained loess soil. 
The possible weak points about this va¬ 
riety, as they appeared to me, were thin¬ 
ness of skin which might injure its 
shipping qualities and weakness of 
growth. Now the latter character was 
not apparent, it was only suggested. 
And the foliage in every instance was 
perfectly vigorous and almost entirely 
free from fungous disease. 
The Neglected Orchard. 
I have an orchard of Greenings and Bald¬ 
wins 25 years planted. It Is In sod, has not 
been cultivated or sprayed, and Is not giv¬ 
ing satisfactory returns. What course of 
treatment would you recommend? 
New Hurley, N. Y. h. m. o. 
If I had this orchard I would plow it 
as early as possible in the Spring. 
Throw the sod from the trees, and as 
you approach the trees plow lightly. 
Soon after it is plowed I would, with a 
disk harrow, cut up the sod as thor¬ 
oughly as possible. Where the piow 
would not reach, the sod should be re¬ 
moved with a mattock. After the disk 
harrow is used, the work of keeping the 
surface free of weeds and in a fine state 
of tilth can be best accomplished by 
using a smoothing harrow. The trees 
should be sprayed with Bordeaux Mix¬ 
ture and Paris-green before the buds 
open. Two or three applications of the 
same mixture should be made at inter¬ 
vals of two weeks after the blossoms 
fall. If the trees need pruning, it could 
be done any time between now and the 
beginning of active growth. I would 
not prune very heavily at this time, 
merely removing such branches as are 
STANDARD HDRSE-CARTS. 
Twelve Style s—2 and 4 
Wheel—Wide and Narrow 
' Tires—SteelAxles. Low rates 
of freight from our Works— 
Tatainy,Pa,—to aU points. 
Adopted by farmers, con¬ 
tractors. miners, irardeners, 
cemetery authorities, etc., 
wherever the bent is wanted. 
HOBSON & CO., Manufrs , 19 State St., New York 
weak or are interfering with each other. 
At the close of the season’s growth, 
which is usually about the first of Au¬ 
gust, I would seed the orchard to Mam¬ 
moth clover. If the ground has been 
kept in a good state of cultivation, suffi¬ 
cient moisture will have been preserved 
to ensure with favorable weather a good 
clover catch. This clover will form a 
cover for the ground and will return, 
when plowed under next Spring, a large 
amount of nitrogen. It also makes a 
good ground cover during picking time. 
Deep Versus Shallow Cultivation of Beans. 
The raising of beans has become quite 
an Industry In this part of the country. 
There are various opinions In relation to 
cultivating them. Some say that two cul¬ 
tivations are better than more on ac¬ 
count of destroying the roots; others think 
they need more. Late cultivation does In- 
RUBEROID 
■x'xxz: 
POULTRY-HOUSE 
ROOFING 
As a water-proof covering for Poultry- 
I Houses, llUBEROlDbas no equal. Keeps 
the houses cool during the warm weather. I 
and warm in Winter, and the chicks dry and [ 
I comfortahle. The sun cannot melt it. 
THE STANDARD PAINT CO., 
100 William Street, 
NEW YORK. 
Jure the roots somewhat. w. F. h. 
Brockport, N. Y. 
In dry seasons the success of the bean 
crop, like corn or other hoed crops, de¬ 
pends largely on the amount of moisture 
in the soil. Moisture can only be pre¬ 
served after the crop Is planted, so far 
as man’s efforts are concerned, by thor¬ 
ough tillage. I believe that we can cul¬ 
tivate so deeply as to Injure the roots of 
the plants, but thorough cultivation 
does not necessarily mean deep cultiva¬ 
tion. Surface tillage is nearly always 
preferable to deep tillage. If you. can 
use an Implement which will just stir 
the top of the soil and preserve the dust 
mulch, there can be no question about 
the benefit of this kind of tillage in dry 
seasons, but if large shovel cultivators 
are used, and run deep, then unquestion¬ 
ably the cutting off of the feeding roots 
of the plants will result in direct Injury 
and lessened yield. 
Getting a Catch of Alfalfa. 
I have a piece of clay loam (rather heavy) 
which was well manured and planted to 
corn last year, which I would like to try 
with Alfalfa this season. It Is not just 
the best soil for the crop, I expect, but 
It Is the best I have. What do you think 
I would best use for a fertilizer to get a 
good stand? The soil is not sour. 
Neills Creek, N. Y. o. w. a. 
If the piece of land you describe gave 
you a good crop of corn last year, it 
ought to be in good condition to give a 
good catch of Alfalfa this season. If 
you plowed it last Fall, I would work it 
with a spring-tooth or disk harrow as 
early as possible this Spring, and get 
the Alfalfa in while there was plenty of 
moisture in the ground. The Winter 
snow has been heavy and the Spring 
rains have been abundant. Our soils 
are soaked with moisture, and we ought 
to hear small complaint this season re¬ 
garding unsatisfactory stands of grass 
and clover seed. While it does not seem 
to me that this soil needs anything par¬ 
ticular in the way of a fertilizer or 
amendment, it might be desirable to 
dress it with a superphosphate at the 
time of seeding; 300 or 400 pounds per 
acre would be a liberal application. I 
would certainly use not less than 16 
pounds of Alfalfa seed to the acre. 
When you write advertisers mention The 
R. N.-Y. and you will get a quick reply and 
“a square deal.” See our guarantee 
Mr. W. H. Kennison, of Brownville, 
“FUMA 
00kills Prairie Dogs, 
' ' Woodchucks, Gophers 
and Grain Insects. 
" The wheels of the 
Gods grind slow but 
exceeding small.” Bo the weevil, but you can stop 
KDWARD R. TAYLOR, Penn Yan, N. Y. 
SAN JOSE SCALE, 
And other Insects can be Controlled by Using 
Good’s Caustic Potash Whale- 
Oil Tobacco Soap No. 6. 
Kegs, iiOlbs. ea., 654c. lb, 54 Bbl., aboiit275 lbs., 4c. lb 
Kegs, 100 lbs. ea., 5c. lb. Bbls., about 425 lb8.,3Jic.lb 
Kegs. 170 lbs. ea., 454c. lb. 
Large quantities Sipeclal Kates. Send for Circulars. 
JAMES GOOD, 937 N. Front St., I’hlladeiphla, I’a. 
iNSErCTS 
other you? 
rs, Beetles, ai ^ shrubs, 
things on plants, trees a 
.... checks canker-worms; 
Jodlimc cheaper and moje 
dooF ^’lANMa'n, of Harvard, 
s'ecms an effectual, convenient 
,tection against noxious insects. 
Kill, fruit tree insects,pre 
PyrOX’\.tn‘!:.abandmt,an^^n.r« 
ge, writes : “ ‘ Pyrox ’ 
Vrattleboro Vt. . with the best 
all one can ask for. ‘ ^ i,. trees, 
ccess on my cattant l ,jj,g a garden 
id rose bushes. where I used it 
afford ‘u be-thouut. W „ 
n my apple trees me yy 
These and other 
ecticides and ® which 
n o“’^.‘'°'P.g|\‘^hInd-booK of injurious 
contains also a ^nd how to 
nsects and plant disc j ^le to 
jgh. them, mmled free. 
Ingrt™;.- V.lh=le» W •" 
__ ^-vi-ir.MICAL 
THE LIGHTNING COM¬ 
PRESSED AIR SPKAYBR. 
Patented 1900. 
Holds four gallons. Pump 
iH a little air with the 
pump which Is attached to 
the reservoir. No more 
labor required. Will kill all 
kinds of insects. Will spray 
two rows of potatoes at one 
time and as fast as the 
operator can walk. Big 
money for Agents. 
1). B. SMITH & CO., 
Utica, N. y., U. 8 A. 
OK 000 CUTHBERT RASPBERRY 
PLANTS. 50 cents per hundred. 
' G. L. A. QUINN, Olean, N. Y. 
STRAWBERRY PLANTS ‘.Ji'tL'rS,’*"'' 
Address PINE HILL FARM, Centerbrook, Conn. 
ni lUTC -Strawberry, cabbage, tomato, pep- 
■ LHII I dl por, sweet potato, cauliflower, celery 
and egg plant. Asparagus roots. Catalogue free. 
CALEB BOGGS & SON, Cheswold, Del. 
Plants and Trees Rath bun Blackberry: 
2.000 Pomona and Red Cross* Wilder Currant. Also. 
100,000 Fruit & Ornamental Trees at lowest rates. Write 
for prices. Lawrence Nursery Co., Lawrence, Mass.r, 
The Minute Man Strawberry. 
Best Northern-grown Strawberry Plants and Aspar¬ 
agus Roots. All sorts of Small Fruit Plants and 
Nursery Stock, grown and for sale by 
GEORGE M. WHEELER. Concord, Mass. 
■prices on l*each Trecsreduced. Trees kept dormant 
^ and in good condition until May 15. Llstofvar. 
on application. R. S. Johnston, B. 4, Stockley, Del. 
AEELE 
CIONS 
FROM BEARING TREES. 
Rome Beauty. Sutton Beauty .On¬ 
tario,Maiden Blush.Hubbardston 
J. 8. Woodward, Lockport, N.Y. 
TREES, PLANTS and SEEDS. 
Catalogue Free. 
T. C. FURNAS & CO.. Sheridan. Ind. 
pOK SALE—200 lbs. of Giant Argenteull Asparagus 
Seed. This variety of asparagus is the earliest, 
largest and most prollflc asparagus grown on the 
American continent. Price. $1 per lb. Address 
WM. C. GBRATY, Youngs Islana, 8. C. 
SI.OO 
per biish. forSweetCorn j OtherSeeds 
for l.OOOStrawb'rry Pits) and Plants. 
B. RICHARDSON, Berrien Springs, Mich. 
Packard’s Ensilage Seed Corn 
write to-day for circular and sample. My seed 
corn At.ways Grows. If you own a silo, you need 
my Early Mastodon corn. Makes one-third heavier 
crop than Learning. Other varieties. 
PACKARD, Seed Grower, Dover, Del. 
bn. Clover Seed & S6 to t7 per 
rOl wBIB bu.; 500 bu. Crimson Clover Seed ® 
16 per bu.; 2,000 bu. Cow Peas @ fl.26 to tl.75 per bu. 
J. E. HOLLAND, Milford, Del. 
Cabbage Plants. 
Large transplanted plants, well hard¬ 
ened ; will stand freezing weather. Early 
Jersey Wakefield, Charleston Wakefield 
and Henderson’s Ea. Summer, ready now. 
Price, per 100, 40c.; 1,000, S3. Write for 
catalog of transplanted vegetable plants. 
J. E. HUTTON & SON, Conyngham, Pa. 
especially for SEED, 14 varle- 
1 vlnlvuO early and late. Prices right. List 
free. GEO. H. COLVIN, Box 57, Dalton, Pa. 
Carman No. 3 
Seed Potatoes 
First-class, large size, 4Rc. 
per bu. A. L. MAXSON. 
Little Genesee N. Y. 
SWEET POTATO SEED .^ 
Bush and other kinds. Write for olronlar. 
F. S. NEWCOMB. Vineland, N. J. 
carman No. 3 $3.00 
sir Walter Raleigh and Early Bovee S4.00perbbl. 
all bbls. 4 bu. Dewey, the great cropper. Wholesale 
llst/ree. GEO. A. BONNELL. Waterloo. N. Y. 
Imes* 
Bligbt - Proot 
Seed Potatoes 
1901 Catalogue, Free, 
gives particulars. 
The best field and garden seeds 
at Wholesale Prices. The best 
90-day CORN KNOWN. Seed Po¬ 
tatoes that are unequaled. 
The W. E. Imes Seed Co., 
Smith, Mich. 
SEED POTATOES 
Bovee, 8. W. Raleigh, Carman’s and other standard 
varieties at very reasonable prices. Price-list. F. U. 
THOMSON, FalrvlowFarm, Holland Patent, N. Y. 
BEST EARLY POTATO-JUNEEATINB 
Largest yield of 50 varieties. Send for catalogue. 
Small Flock of Selected S. C. W. Leghorns. 
Eggs for hatching. $5 per 100. Egg and show strain. 
C. E. CHAPMAN, Peruvlll*. N. Y. 
Me., writes: “I gave my potatoes three 
sprayings with Bowker’s ‘Boxal.’ As a 
result, I got one-third more potatoes 
than I have had for four years pre- 
vicious.”— Adv. 
EVERGREENS 
Largest stock In Amer¬ 
ica, Including 
Colorado Blue Spruce 
and Douglas Spruce 
of Colorado, 
Also, Ornamental, 
Shade and Forest Trees, 
Tree Seeds, Etc. 
B. DOUGLAS’ SONS, 
Waukegan, 111. 
Cow Peas. 
The Famous 
Forage Crop 
and Soil 
Improvers. 
WE ARE HEADQUARTERS for these and all 
Southern specialties, including Soja Beans, 
Velvet Beans, Pearl or Cat-tail Millet, Tcosinte 
Bermuda Grass, Ensilage Corn, Spanish Pea¬ 
nuts, Chufas, Sorghums, etc. ^ , 
Write for prices, and our interesting Catalogue 
giving full information about these crops. 
, C5T. 'WOOD & SONS, - Richmond, Va. 
BURPEE’S 
FARM ANNUAL 
F 0‘R 
1901 
n 
QUARTER-CENTURY EDITION” 
A Grand New Book of two hundred and twenty pages. 
■ ■ An - 
Entirely rewritten at our fanious 
New Directions for culture, New 
FORDHOOK FARMS— the largest Trial Grounds in America, - - 
Leaflets, New Novelties of unusual merit in both Vegetables and Mowers, Elegant New Colored 
Plates. The Quarter-Century’s Record of Progress, New Cash Prizes, and other New Features,' 
The largest, most complete, and BEST SEED CATALOGUE ever published. Mailed for ten 
cents, which is less than cost per copy. Name this paper, send ten cents (silver or stamps) and with 
this great catalogue we shall send a 15-cent packet of either Burbank’s Unique Floral Novelty 
or Burpee’s wonderful, new, dwarf, meaty, bright-red, earliest Tora-ato,—"Quarter-Century 
Should you object to paying ten cents for a seed catalogue (even though it is worth a dollar), 
I card for Burpee’sSEED-SENSE^’ for 1901,—a “strictly business’ 
W. ATLEE BURPEE A, CO., PHILADELPHIA, PA. 
then write a postal 
catalogue of ninety pages. 
Grass Seed 
CHOICE RE-CLEAHED SEED FOR ALL PURPOSES 
Dreer’s Permanent Pasture Mixture cannot be exceliea 
for producing abundant hay crops, and luxurious after¬ 
math. Full line of all Grasses and Clovers, also special 
mixtures for Lawns, Golf Links, etc. Circular and prices 
on application HKNRY A. DKKEK, I’hlla., !’»• 
STRAWBERRY PLANTS THAT CROW/’ 
LUTHER—Most promising Extra Early, K.60 per M. ROUGH cATiSbOGUB with 
ler Strawberries. Also, Raspberry and Blackberry, Currant ai^ w^tttkN Mich. 
LTURAL INSTRUCTIONS FREE. C. E. WHITIEN, Briagnmu, 
