1901 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
325 
Tbe Coraell Reading Course. 
Edited by John Crabj, Professor of Uni¬ 
versity Extension, and Editor Farmers' 
Ueadiny Course, Cornell University, 
Ithaca, N. Y. 
DRY SEASOM EXPERJEMCES. 
Plow Early and Cultivate Late. 
Last Spring I planted 500 peach trees, 
very late, on land plowed very early and 
tilled until trees were set. One of iny 
neighbors set 350 trees two weeks before 1 
(lid, and on land plowed immediately be¬ 
fore the trees were planted. I lost eight 
trees out of the 500, and he lost over 50 out 
of his 350. We experienced very dry 
weather this year, and my crops were cut 
below what they would have been under 
favorable circumstances. 1 used the 
“weeder” on my wheat and oats, sugar- 
beets, beans, potatoes and corn, and find 
it valuable in secui-ing a surface mulch. 
My Syracuse lever spring-tooth drag does 
my digging and mellowing, and a Daisy 
wheeled cultivator-, which is also a spring- 
tooth implement, does my cultivation. In 
potato culture 1 made great use of a home¬ 
made coverer and hiller when potatoes are 
young, to be followed in a few days by 
weeder. Although 1 have no underdrains 
as yet, 1 drain the surface very thoroughly, 
always leaving open drains, made every 
night, when 1 am plowing, and re-opened 
after tillage, and also study to plow, to 
benefit the surface of the field by filling 
hollows arrd making water courses from 
them. I noticed a piece of beans planted 
June 13 last on land plowed early in Spring. 
They germinated (appeared at surface) in 
seven days. Another piece planted same 
day on land just plowed and fitted to re¬ 
ceive the crop did not show above the 
ground for over 24 days, and many never 
came. A rain broke the drought, or they 
would have been there yet. You cannot 
say too much in favor of early plowing or 
surface mulching by tillage. My laud is 
mostly sand, and 1 commence plowing be¬ 
fore frost is all out (on sod) and continue 
in as great haste as possible until land 
for my Spring crops is all turned over. I 
consider it a great weed-killing device or 
process, to limit meadows to one year, and 
two mowings at that. c. h. p. 
Sodus, N. Y. 
Here is strong argument in favor of 
early Spring plowing which lowers the 
water table; but which must be follow¬ 
ed by persistent surface cultivation to 
hold the moisture. Of course this prac¬ 
tice would not apply to heavy clays, 
which must be cautiously handled to 
prevent caking. 
The Budding Farmer. 
I decided some time ago to be a farmer. 
1 like the Reading Course very much. I 
think the last lesson is a dandy. I am go¬ 
ing to put the seeds in the flannel and try 
it. My brother and I have a flock of geese 
together. We sold two for $1 apiece, and 
would like to sell the rest for that much. 
I have $6.36 and my brother has $5.86 (he is 
eight years old.) We are going to invest 
it in black raspberry roots. When they 
get to bearing I think I shall be large 
enough to take care of them. I am most 
II years old now. I like to split wood and 
milk and hunt the eggs, but 1 don’t like to 
fill the wood box or clean the stables. I 
like to hoe in the garden, so you see I will 
enjoy taking- care of bur berry roots. We 
have five horses and 21 cows and 60 chick¬ 
ens. We have a silo and like it very much. 
I hope you will write again some time. 
Watkins, N. Y. R. a. 
I am very glad to get your newsy let¬ 
ter. You are going to be a farmer. 
That’s right! Many men are not fitted 
for farming; they are better suited for 
keeping store, arguing, or teaching other 
men how to be good. The best farm¬ 
ers are those who like their work. Of 
course there is not any farmer who likes 
all parts of his work equally well. I can 
remember when I was of your opinion 
regarding the filling of the wood box. It 
wasn’t a nice job and the sticks were 
heavy, but then I used to stop and think 
how comfortable it was in the evening 
when the stove was piping hot, while 
the wind went whistling by outside. You 
are furnishing comfort for all. That is 
the thought we ought to have in mind 
when we are filling the wood box. I 
hope you will be successful in growing 
your blackcap raspberries. Be careful 
10 secure one-year-old plants, unless you 
can get the tips at a nearby nursery and 
set them out yourself quickly; other¬ 
wise tiiere is a chance of losing many 
of them in the operation. You know 
that the blackcap multiplies in a curious 
way; the tips of the cane bend down and 
take root in the soil. These are called 
tip plants. If you plant these they 
should not be planted very deep; not 
more than two inches of soil should be 
put on top. If they are set lower than 
this they are likely to smother. 
AIACHIRES FOR PLUM! CURCUUO. 
Several Subscribers.—What machines are 
used in fighting the Plum curculio, and 
how are they used? 
The little picture (Fig. 133 shows the 
Johnson curculio machine, which, we 
understand, is a success. It is like a big 
inverted umbrella on wheels. There is 
an opening at the side, so that it can be 
THE JOHNSON CURCULIO MACHINE. Fie. 133. 
pushed up under the tree. One man 
wheels the machine under the tree, then 
jars the tree—and bags the curculio. 
The foliowing notes are from persons 
who have used the machine success¬ 
fully: 
We commence to use the macnine soon 
after the blossoms have fallen, and con¬ 
tinue using it once a day on each tree 
until tne plum pit gets too hard for the 
curculio to penetrate, unless the weather 
becomes very warm, which makes the 
insect more active, and then we use it 
twice a day to each tree. 1 would not 
try to grow plums in a commercial way 
without this machine. My experience 
tells me that this insect cannot be de¬ 
stroyed by spraying. n. e. kean. 
Geneva, N. Y. 
The machine being mounted on light, 
easy-running wheels makes the work of 
jarring and catching the curculios mere 
play compared with the old slow way of 
jarring on sheets. It could be improved 
by using oilcloth for covering in place 
of muslin, as the curculio would more 
readily roll into the receptacle below, 
but as it is we find it in every way prac¬ 
tical, and a great labor-saving device to 
plum growers. We have grown the 
plum 28 years, and were overrun with 
curculio from the start, but by persist¬ 
ent jarring every day that weather 
would permit while they are the most 
numerous we have usually raised good 
crops, but we must be watchful. Some 
seasons it is comparativeiy easy to raise 
a crop, and the next we may have to 
fight from the time they are out of the 
blossom until the fruit is nearly ripe. 
One brood follows another so rapidly 
that there is no let up, but we always 
gauge our jarring by the number of in¬ 
sects caught. J. K. SOUTHARD. 
Ottawa Co., O. 
We used to catch the insects with an 
old-fashioned machine, which had to be 
carried about by hand. The Johnson 
catcher being on wheels is a great im¬ 
provement in this respect, as one man 
can do more work with it than two with 
the old style, and much easier too. I 
think they shouid be made to fold up 
more easily than they do, as the large¬ 
sized machines are difficult to wheel 
through gateways, and if in going from 
one orchard to another there is occasion 
to travel on the road it is liable to 
frighten horses. The best time to jar 
the plum trees is in the morning or on 
cool cloudy days, as the insects are 
muen more easily caught, being more 
stupid. We sweep them and the plums, 
etc., which drop, into the box which is 
made for the purpose; if the day is 
bright this would need to be done quite 
often for fear the curculios would fly 
away. If they are not very plentiful we 
Often mash them on the canvas, which 
saves sweeping. The number of times 
the trees would need jarring depends 
very much on how thick the insects are. 
If quite plentiful I think every other day 
would do for two or three weeks, or un¬ 
til they begin to get scarce. Sometimes 
if the trees are loaded with fruit and 
there are not many curculios, a few jar- 
rings will be sufficient. We often have 
to thin the plums afterwards, but then 
it we did not jar at all there might be 
too many of tne plums stung. If neces¬ 
sary the machine can be used for 
peaches, too, or any fruit that is stung, 
if the trees are not too large. We pour 
hot water on the insects and plums to 
destroy them; often take a tight sack 
along to the field to empty box into. 
Tompkins Co., N. Y. edward wood. 
How and When to Feed Ducklings. 
On page 234, March 30, F. E. W. gives 
some good directions for raising and feed¬ 
ing young ducks. I wish he would also tell 
us how often to feed them. We tried a 
few last year, and out of about 20 hatched 
only raised two. Ought we to feed two, 
three, five or more times in a day? 
Liberty, N. Y. m. k. 
Farm Blaoksmithing. 
All llluxtratcd book writ¬ 
ten expres-sly for farmers. 
It tells all about making 
and tempering steel tools, 
making chains, hooks, 
rings, clevises, bolts, etc., 
etc. Filing saws, splicing 
rope, shoeing horses. 
Price 50c.. oloth bound, 
by mall post-paid. Address 
J. M. DREW. 
St. Anthony Park, Minn. 
TIIQIfC VO— Genuine M. Bronze, Bud Leghorns, 
I Ulind W BnS P. Rocks. Also eggs. Circu¬ 
lar. 8. J. B. DUNBAR, Blkhorn, Wls. 
Fowls of W. &Bd. Rook, W. & Bn. Leg.,W.Wyan.Tar8., 
Eggs $1 & 1.50 26. Stamps. Mrs. J. P.HelllngB,Doyer,Del. 
Dlanchard’s White Leghorns.—The leading 
strain of heavy layers. Eggs for hatching from 
Qnest stock, lll.clr.free. H. J. Blanchard,Urotou,N.Y. 
GGS for hatching, 6 cents each. First-class stock. 
Rhode Island Reds, Brahmas, Hamburgs and 
Rocks. W. Sherman, 26 Boulevard, Middletown, R. 1. 
Barred P, Rock, W. P. Rock and 8 
C. Brown Leghorn. 26 eggs, $1; 
100 eggs, $3. J. W. KILLEN, Felton, Del. 
INCUBATOR EGGS 
from purebred White Wyandottes, *3 per 100. 
81LAS DEAN, Oak Hill, N. Y. 
H. H. Mohr, Quakertown, Pa., breeds 
all varieties thoroughbred P. Rocks, Wyandottes, 
Brahmas, Leghorns, Langshans, Cochins, Mlnorcas, 
Hamburgs. Eggs, 15, $1; 40, $2. Catalogue. 
Ducklings, when first hatched, would 
best be fed every two hours, or five 
times a day, just what they will eat up 
clean in a reasonable length of time. If 
any is left take it away till next time. 
After they are about a week old, extend 
tne intervals so as to feed four times a 
day. If incubator birds, they will thrive 
best and be str nger if left in the ma¬ 
chine two days after the hatch is cleaned 
up, and not fed till placed in the brood¬ 
er. When grit is not convenient sand 
answers nicely. Have a dish of it al¬ 
ways accessible to the babies and stir 
about two tablespoonfuls into the feed. 
A good combination drinking vessel for 
small ducklings is a roast-beef and a to¬ 
mato can. Punch a hole in the latter 
inch from the open end; fill the can 
with water and place the dish over it, 
then reverse it. The water fills and feeds 
out to the ducklings as required; it 
avoids their getting wet and chilled, or 
clogged-up nostrils. For the first week 
or two the water should be tepid, other¬ 
wise either chicks or ducklings are li¬ 
able to have cramps. f. e. w. 
Chazy, N. Y. 
Why Not 
Preserve Wheat and 
Kye Straw Straight 
Bound In 
Bundles ? 
Please your custom¬ 
ers by saving barn room and ease of bandllng straw. 
We make a machine that we guarantee to thrash 
wheat perfectly clean and not bruise or break tbe 
straw, that will bind it again In bundles. Tbe same 
machine thrashes rye and preserves the straw, 
straight, bound In bundles, and is also changed in 15 
minutes to a spike-tooth oat and wheat thrasher 
8end for Catalogue B. Free 
GRANT-FBRRI8 COMPANY, Troy, N. Y. 
WE KNOW A MAN 
who has been using PAGE Fences for 15 years, and 
he never swore a swear during that time. His 
neighbors say so. Send for descriptions. 
PAGE WOVEN WIRE FENCE CO., ADRIAN, MICH. 
We Don’t Promise 
to do a thing—we do It. We don’t tell you a small 
size wire In a fence will last as long as a wire double 
Its size in the same fence because It won’t. The 
Frost Is an honest fence at an honest price. Send for 
catalog. 'Phe Frost Wire Fence Co., Cleveland, Ohio. 
pounds Mica Crystal Grit, $1; 6U pounds 
Gran. Bone or Ground Meal. $1. Bushel 
Potato Crates, lu for $1. Latest style. Send paper 
money at our risk. WISE & CO., Butler, Ohio. 
EGGS 
from choice heavy laying 8. C. 
White Leghorns, Sliver Wyan¬ 
dottes and Buff P. Rocks. $1 UU 
per 15; $2 per 30. Safe arrival and good fertility guar¬ 
anteed. T. D. GOODWIN, Columbia Station, Ohio. 
B uff and barred Plymouth Rocks. 
UFF Cochins, Rose-Comb Brown Leghorns. 
E xtra-fine cockerels and Pullets for Sale. 
GGS in Season. Satisfaction guaranteed, 
catalogue free. J. L. HERMAN, Le Moyne, Ohio. 
Ef guaranteed. Barred Rocks, 
White Rocks, Black Mlnorcas, In¬ 
dian Games, Buff Cochins, White Wyandottes, Pekin 
Ducks, $2 per 15, each variety. Winners In Madison 
Square and Orange Snows, 1901. Eggs from my own 
Breeding Yards. Orders filled promptly WHITE OAK 
RIDGE POULTRY YARDS, Bast Orange, N. J. 
s 
ILVER WYANDOTTES WANTED AT $8 EACH 
See Rural New-Yorker, March 30, page 284. 
BEAVER HILL FARM, Beaver, Pa. 
Partridge Wyandotte Hens. 
The Large Money Makers. 
Write for circular. C. G. LORING, Dedham, Mass 
gROOKSIDB’S WHITE WYANDOTTES please 
every one because they are carefully bred for 
business as well as fancy. Eggs that hatch from the 
choicest matings, $2.00 per 13. Almost their equals 
for business, $1.00 per 13, $5.00 per 100. 
J. K. STEVENSON, Columbus, N. J. 
S. C. White Leghorn Hens That Lay 
We breed only from the large true egg type. Sir 
hundred to select from. Only one breed. We try to 
make that the best. You get the benefit of our years 
of careful selection and feeding. 
WHITE & RICE, Lock Box A, Yorktown, N.Y 
Death to Lice 
on Hens and Chicks 
64-page Book FREE. 
D. J. LAMBERT, BozlOT, Apponaug, R. I. 
“FUMA 
Vpkills Prairie Dogs, 
Woodchucks, Gophers 
and Grain Insects. 
“ The wheels of the 
Gods grind slow but 
exceeding small.” Bo the weevil, but you can stop 
““'iiffi"'’ '‘Fnma Carbon Dlsnlphiile'’.'S?<IiSL" 
BD'VirABD B. TATLOB, Penn Y»n, N. Y. 
INCUBATORS 
Prom 90.00 Up. 
BROODERS FROM $8.80 UP. 
Free CataUogue. 
L. A. BABTA, Llgonler, Ind. 
VICTOR 
W INCUBATORS 
Hatch erer/ fertile egg. Bimpleit, [ 
most durable, oheapeet firel-claes : 
hatcher. Money back If not pedliTely | 
ae repreaented. Oiremlar free; ealik $ 
legne 6e. eiO.IETIL CO., QaJ^, m. \ 
www w wmmmwmwmmm9mwm m wmmmm\ r 
SPECIAL PRICES 
for next 80 days on MATCH-ALL INCUBATORS 
and WARM-ALL BROODERS. Send at once 
for free Catalog No. E-38L It will surprise you. 
Hatoh-AII Inoubator Co. Toledo Ohio. 
BOTH THEORY AND PRACTICE PROVE 
The Superiority of the United States Separator 
In Theory Hs (^ne-Piece Frame, Enclosed Gears Running in 
Oil, Few Parts, Three-Separators-in-One Bowl, and 
Superior Construction in general make it the 
CLEANEST SKIMMING, MOST SUBSTANTIAL, SAFEST, 
EASIEST OPERATED, and MOST DURABLE Separator made. 
In Practice It is daily proving the correctness of our theory, as 
testified to by pleased users all over the country. 
If interested write for illustrated catalogues containing 
hundreds of letters to this effect. 
VERMONT FARM MACHINE CO., - 
2i6 
BELLOWS FALLS, VT. 
