322 
May 4 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
and it is safer to use only half this strength while the 
vines are small. A large excess of lime should not be 
used in preparing these solutions, as the application 
of too much caustic lime, either dry or as combined 
in Bordeaux Mixture is liable to stunt young musk- 
melon vines. (See page 20 of Bulletin 168, New York 
Experiment Station.) It is advisable for all growers 
to commence spraying their melons as soon as they 
are out of the ground with a weak solution of Bor¬ 
deaux Mixture, two pounds of copper sulphate to 48 
gallons of water (l-to-24 formula) and repeat this 
application every week until the beetles disappear. As 
soon as the plants commence to form vines, spray 
with a stronger solution, l-to-12, of Bordeaux Mix¬ 
ture, every 10 days or two weeks until the last settings 
of fruit are nearly mature. The early sprayings will 
discourage the beetle and leaf blights, while the late 
sprayings will help to keep off the Downy mildew and 
anthi'acnose. It is l)est to use the l-to-12 formula for 
spraying strawberries. 
THE "SEED END” OF POTATOES. 
In Mr. Brown’s interesting article entitled “Potato 
Growing in Central Illinois,’’ on page 285, he says: 
“The seed or blossom end of each potato should be 
cut off and thrown away,” and there he leaves the 
matter. Not a word as to the why and wherefore 
which we Yankees consider of the first importance. 
Every intelligent cultivator desires to give a substan¬ 
tial reason, backed up by facts, for whatever he does, 
and is seldom willing to “go it blind.” Apropos to 
this matter there will be found in the Massachusetts 
Agricultural Report for 1886 an account of an inter¬ 
esting series of experiments, covering six consecutive 
years, by Edmund Ilersey, of Hingham, Mass., read 
before the State Board of Agriculture. According to 
statistics the Nation has made a marvelous growth 
In 15 years. Can it be possible that the stem end of 
the potato has outstripped the seed end in the same 
ratio? Mr. Hersey’s experiments were accompanied 
by 49 photographic views of the plants June 28 and 
July 21, and the season’s product. These views show 
that the seed-end plants were more than double the 
size of the stem-enders on the same dates. Every 
year of the six the seed-enders started in advance and 
kept ahead of the stem-enders. 
Now for the results. “The seed end produced (in 
one year) of large potatoes, four pounds eight ounces, 
and one pound 10 ounces of small; total, six pounds 
two ounces. Stem end produced of large potatoes 
four pounds four ounces, and of small one pound two 
ounces: total, five pounds six ounces. For six years 
the 10 hills of each produced—seed end, 166% pounds 
of large potatoes and 47% pounds of small; total, 
213% pounds. Stem end produced 141% pounds of 
large potatoes and 47% pounds of small; total, 188% 
pounds—the seed end producing 25 pounds more 
large potatoes than the stem end, and about the same 
quantity of small potatoes. Rate per acre, seed end, 
408 1-3 bushels; stem end, 358 1-3 bushels.” Mr. Her- 
sey summarizes the results of his experiments as fol¬ 
lows: “Years of close observation and careful ex¬ 
periments lead me to the following conclusions: 
Whole potatoes will produce a crop from a week to 
10 days earlier than cut potatoes. Small whole pota¬ 
toes will produce for many years in succession just 
as good, if not better results, than large potatoes cut 
the size of the small whole ones. The seed end of a 
potato is better to plant than the stem end, because 
the plants start with more vigor, and produce larger 
and more potatoes. A large piece of a potato is bet¬ 
ter to plant in ordinary soil, and will produce a much 
better crop than very small pieces or single eyes.” 
And yet I am told that some of our Connecticut farm¬ 
ers insist upon cutting off the seed end of the pota¬ 
to and throwing it away when preparing the tubers 
for planting! n. u. noAUOMAN. 
Connecticut. 
SOME LAW AS TO TREES. 
A tree is wholly the property of him upon whose 
land it stands, notwithstanding the roots extend into, 
or the branches overhang, the land of the adjoin¬ 
ing owner, say the New York and other State courts. 
In Vermont is was held that the location and prop¬ 
erty of the tree should be determined by the position 
of the trunk or body above the soil, rather than by 
the roots within or branches above it. Permitting the 
branches of trees to extend beyond the soil of the 
owner is said to be an unequivocal act of negligence, 
warranting the party injured in abating the nuisance 
by clipping the branches back to his line of ease¬ 
ment. It seems that he may also abate the roots pro¬ 
jecting into his soil, at least if he has suffered*actual 
damage. But here the law makes a curious distinc¬ 
tion. After clipping the branches he cannot carry 
them, and the fruit they contain, away and convert 
them to his own use. There is no authority In any¬ 
one to treat as a nqisance that which is not so, and 
anyone assuming to abate as a nuisance that which 
is not so, acts at his peril. An adjoining owner may 
sue for damages, but unless the tree or trees are poi¬ 
sonous or noxious in nature, there must be proof of 
some real sensible damage to authorize him to main¬ 
tain such action. In the case of C. vs. L., 24 Horn. 
(N. Y.) 405, the complaint alleged that in consequence 
of the overhanging limbs the plaintiff’s crop was di¬ 
minished by reason of shade. The court held that the 
plaintiff’s remedy was by clipping the branches, espe¬ 
cially if the owner of the tree refused to do so when 
requested. 
It seems that a land owner is liable for damages 
growing out of his having planted on his own ground 
a yew tree (poisonous to horses) so near to his neigh¬ 
bor’s lot that his horses while feeding on the branches 
overhanging were poisoned and subsequently died 
from the poison contained therein, solely on the 
ground that the tree was poisonous. But where a" 
land owner clipped a yew tree, knowing it to be poi¬ 
sonous, and took so little care of the clippings, as to 
allow them to be placed on land not occupied by him, 
whereby the horses of plaintiff were poisoned, the de¬ 
fendant was held not liable. 
An adjoining owner has no title to the fruit grow¬ 
ing upon the branches of the trees which overhang 
his land, and will be liable in trespass for gathering 
it, say the Connecticut and New York courts. And 
further, says the court: “And he will be liable for an 
assault and battery for using violence to prevent the 
owner of the trees from gathering it, provided the 
latter cannot do so without committing a trespass.” 
Even though fruit falls from the overhanging 
branches upon his land, the owner of the trees may 
go upon the land and take it away without being 
liable for trespass. But here the law exhibits another 
curious distinction, in that if, when pruning the trees, 
the loppings fall upon the adjoining land, the owner 
cannot enter and take them away, if by using due 
caution their falling there might have been prevented. 
So, if one’s tree be blown down and falls on the land 
of his neighbor, he may go and take it away, and 
the same rule prevails where fruit falls on the land 
of another; but if the owner of a tree cut the lop¬ 
ping branches so that they fall on another’s land, he 
cannot be excused for entering to take them and the 
fruit thereon away, on the ground of necessity, be¬ 
cause he might have prevented it. R. n. f. 
EVERYBODY’S OARDEN. 
PLANT PROTECTORS.—An indispensable adjunct 
to growing first early vegetables is a supply of plant 
protectors. Heavy tarred building paper, everything 
considered, is the most desirable material. It is sold 
here at 75 cents per roll, and the protectors can be 
made, labor Included, for from 1% to three cents 
apiece. Cut the material lengthwise or crosswise of 
the breadth, as will cause least waste, any length or 
diameter desired. Bind the strips round with one 
inch lap; with a sharp knife make an incision 
through both ends and fasten with brass paper fasten¬ 
ers. Covers of the same material are made by cut¬ 
ting into squares a little larger than the diameter of 
the protector. They are very useful in windy weather 
to prevent the plants from whipping, and plants thus 
protected when cold and stormy may with safety be 
set 10 days or two weeks earlier than otherwise. When 
desired for use, the covers may be held in place by 
slightly weighting with earth. When through using, 
the fasteners may be removed, and the strips packed 
away under w'eights. They will many times repay 
their cost each year, and low ones (say four or five 
inches high) left permanently around the Hubbard 
squash hills are almost a guarantee against the Black 
squash-bugs. 
NOVELTIES.—Much pleasure and profit may be 
gained by testing some of the novelties sent out by 
reliable seedsmen. Give the boys and girls a little 
space in which to grow them. Substantial prizes are 
offered for fine specimens, good reports, names, etc., 
and there is no better way in which to interest all 
members of the family in garden work than striving 
to carry off some of the prizes. 
SPROUTING SWEET CORN.—April 10, 1899, found 
considerable frost in the ground in this locality. On 
April 20 sweet corn (Early Sheffield) was planted, 
which was well up and cultivated on April 28. The 
corn was sprouted before planting by placing a layer 
of sand in shallow pans. Over this cheesecloth was 
spread, and the corn placed on the cloth; another 
layer of cloth was placed on top of the corn, and the 
whole covered with a light layer of sand. It was kept 
in a warm place, and well watered, and was nicely 
sprouted in five days, and planted on above date. July 
8 we had corn for table use, and began marketing on 
July 15. The chief advantage of sprouting is that 
it can be planted much earlier without danger of rot¬ 
ting before germination takes place. This variety is 
very desirable, extra early, very hardy, withstanding 
some frost, and nearly free from smut. The ears are 
large and very fine in flavor. 
EARLY TOMATOES.—With the hotbed and plant 
protectors, the problem of early tomatoes is solved. 
Sow early in the hotbed and transplant when the sec¬ 
ond leaves appear into rows two or three inches apart; 
they will find room to grow without crowding for 
some time to come. When grown sufficiently to begin 
to crowd transplant into pots. With broken bits of 
pot placed in the pots for drainage, fill them one- 
third full of rich soil; as the plant is placed in the 
pot place a small handful of Jadoo fibre under and 
around the roots. Add soil enough to hold the plant 
in place and firm down well around the roots, and 
fill up with loose soil. Do not pack or firm the soil 
about the stems. Place the pots in a tub partially 
filled with water which has been exposed to the sun, 
and when thoroughly soaked from the bottom up¬ 
ward place in the cold frame. With frequent water¬ 
ing and uncovering on warm days they will make the 
stem and root growth so essential to early fruiting. 
Jadoo fibre is an ideal preparation for potting, and 
when picked up and fined by working through a 
coarse sieve has no equal within my knowledge. 
When ready for the open ground, dig holes large and 
deep enough to hold the entire contents of the pots. 
Soak the pots thoroughly and jar out; if carefully 
done the roots now grown through the entire mass 
will hold it intact. Place in the hole and fill up with 
loose soil. Set out in this way, the work may be done 
under the hottest sun, and the plants will never wilt 
or change color. They will receive no check, and 
with the plant protectors for cold days or cold storms 
they may be safely transplanted two weeks earlier 
than they otherwise could. Compared with reports 
from the Lansing (Mich.) Experiment Station, we 
ripened same varieties fully three weeks earlier, from 
seed sown from three to six days later than theirs. 
Michigan. j. e. morse. 
CUT AND DRIED. 
A New Form of (Hock. 
The American Inventor describes a new clock—a pic¬ 
ture of which Is shown at Fig. 129. Instead of having a 
hand passing around a dial this clock prints the time, 
minute by minute. In plain view. Those who have seen 
the registers on electric cars will understand how the.se 
figures appear. The picture gives an Idea of the “works" 
of this clock. It seems to us that there Is every reason 
why this system of Indicating time Is better than the 
old dial plan. 
The Bahlwin Apple uiul Spraying. 
In New England, when the hill farmers wish to give 
you their best, they will bring you a dark red, solid, rich 
Baldwin apple. Some things grow better as they go 
away from home, but this Is not true of Baldwin. It 
was born In Ma.ssachusotts, and It still reaches its highest 
perfection on the hills of Its native State. During the 
early Winter many of the cellars under the New Eng¬ 
land homesteads are great pits of perfume. They are 
well stuffed with apples, and as you open the door a 
flood of fragrance rushes out. Western New York Is a 
great apple country—settled originally by Yankees. The 
Baldwin apple Is largely grown there, too, yet It has not 
been regarded as a first-class eating apple until recently. 
"Why,” said a large grower In Orleans County, “up 
to this year none of our best farmers thought of storing 
Baldwins for their own eating. They were good enough 
to sell, but not good enough for home use.” 
“What do they use?” 
"Spltzenberg, Northern Spy and Greening are the 
favorites.” 
"Did you say some of them have eaten Baldwins this 
Winter?” 
“Yes, continued spraying has greatly Improved Bald¬ 
win—there Is no question about It. It has improved In 
size, quality and appearance!” 
"What else has It done?” 
“That ought to be enough, but the trees are becoming 
more vigorous. You will see whole orchards which now 
hold their leaves until after heavy frost, where five years 
ago the trees were bare as poles before frost came. This 
is due to si)raying, which has kept the leaves green and 
thrifty all through the season. Several ye.ars of this have 
given the old trees new life and vigor. We are satisfied, 
too, that spraying and cultivation have prevented the 
off year in OU'' Baldwins. They now bear every year. 
