1001 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
34 i 
The Cornell Reading Cottrse. 
Edited by John Craig, Professor of Uni¬ 
versity Extension, and Editor Fanners' 
Reading Course, Cornell University, 
Ithaca, N. Y. _ 
Reading Course Editor, Among His Pupils. 
The editor has just returned from a 
jaunt through Otsego, Herkimer, 
Oneida, Jefferson and St. Lawrence 
counties. It was a Reading-course ex¬ 
cursion and very delightful. One meet¬ 
ing with a club or Grange took place 
each day, and sometimes two. This is 
a busy season, yet the average attend¬ 
ance was good. The editor saw a num¬ 
ber of old friends, and made hosts of 
new ones. The social side of these meet¬ 
ings is quite as important as tne intel¬ 
lectual. The Grange can be and is being 
made a great institution for good. Farm¬ 
ers need cementing agents which will 
tend to bind and hold them together— 
influences which will enable them to 
act in concert. The Grange dinner— 
here is a part of the all-day programme 
appreciated by all. The writer’s knowl¬ 
edge of the products of cookery has ex¬ 
panded astonishingly during the week. 
His conception of the varieties of home¬ 
made pie, cake and pickled articles was 
much broadened, and his respect for 
certain kinds greatly increased. It was 
cheering to note everywhere a sincere 
and persistent desire to chase down un¬ 
derlying principles—to get at the why 
of things. This betokens the right spirit 
and promises well for the future. The 
season has been backward, but the land 
is drying rapidly, and seeding is being 
pushed with energy. 
Time to Sow Hairy Vetch in the Orchard. 
We would like to try some of the Hairy 
vetch. We could not very well plant it In 
August or early September, as at that time 
we are going over our ground picking fruit, 
but thought that possibly it could be plant¬ 
ed in June or July, and would get large 
enough so that walking over it in fruit 
time would not kill it. We handle our 
Crimson clover in that way now and find 
it works very well. Is six cents per pound 
a fair price? m- 
Lockport, N. Y. 
I think it entirely practicable to sow 
Hairy vetch as early as July 1. If you 
keep your ground in a good state of tilth 
up to that time, the seed ought to ger¬ 
minate promptly, and you ought to get 
a good heavy mat of foliage on the 
ground before fruit harvesting arrives. 
The vetch will stand tramping better 
than Crimson clover, and makes an 
ideal carpet for fruit-picking. If I had 
to choose between September 1 and July 
1 for sowing, I would certainly select 
the latter date. If you can secure the 
true Hairy vetch (Vicia villosa) for six 
cents a pound I think the offer is rea¬ 
sonable for this year. The seed seems 
to be scarce, and I have not been able 
to secure a better quotation. I have had 
better success in drilling the seed than 
in broadcasting, although if broadcast 
on freshly-harrowed ground and then 
rolled I have generally been able to se¬ 
cure a good catch. 
Root-Gall of the Raspberry. 
We have great difficulty in getting berry 
plants which are free from root-gall. Can 
you tell us whether there is any way of 
treating the plants before setting out, which 
will destroy the gall, so that we shall not 
be troubled with it on the stock grown from 
them? B. s. 
Stanley, N. Y. 
The life history of the root gall of the 
raspberry has not been satisfactorily 
worked out. Everyday experience has 
demonstrated the contagious character 
of the disease. I do not know any cer¬ 
tain way of treating the plants so that 
the gall would be destroyed, and the 
roots of the plants left uninjured. I do 
know that there is, at the present time, 
a very serious difficulty in securing 
healthy plants. It is now coming to be 
generally understood that the gall of 
the raspberry and that of the peach are, 
if not identical, very closely related, 
and probably transmissible; therefore 
bonsiderable time should be expended in 
examining the roots of raspberry plants 
which are to be set in young peach or¬ 
chards. If I purchased a lot of berry 
plants which I suspected of root gall, I 
would certainly take the precaution of 
dipping them in formalin before setting 
out. I would use the formula employed 
in treating potatoes for scab—namely, 
one-half pint of formaldehyde diluted 
with 15 gallons of water. While there 
are no experiments on record which go 
to prove that this would lessen the 
amount and growth of the gall, yet I 
believe it to be worth trying. The prin¬ 
ciple effort to be made should be in the 
line of securing healthy plants. 
Grape Knots. 
A number of my Niagara vines are af¬ 
fected by swellings or knots like the sam- 
pies I enclose. What is the cause, and is 
there any remedy? R- m. j. 
Portland, N. Y. 
The canes received bear irregular 
swellings, rough and warty, quite like 
black knot of the plum and cherry. 
These knots are not uncommon, and yet 
they are not so widespread as to have 
caused in any one place, a great deal of 
damage. The cause of these excrescen¬ 
ces is not known at the present time. 
While they resemble in quite a remark¬ 
able manner the general appearance of 
the black-knot fungus, botanists claim 
that they are in no way related. French 
scientists have studied the matter care¬ 
fully without reaching decisive conclu¬ 
sions. In this respect the trouble re¬ 
sembles reach yellows, because its con¬ 
tagious character seems to be satisfac¬ 
torily proved, but the fungus or germ 
has not been discovered. Some growers 
do not hesitate to say that the knots are 
due to unfavorable climatic conditions, 
but they also agree that when once they 
have started, they continue to grow and 
spread. Recent experiments published 
in an English journal claim that the 
trouble may be overcome by good till¬ 
age, close pruning and heavy fertiliz¬ 
ing. This is a general principle in treat¬ 
ing diseased plants. While it is true 
that Concords are much less susceptible 
to this malady than others, there is no 
guarantee that they will not finally be¬ 
come infested. I would cut out the dis¬ 
eased vines at once and seek to stimu¬ 
late the vigor of those in immediate 
proximity, by good tillage, light dress¬ 
ings of nitrate of soda and wood ashes. 
If the vineyard has not had any barn¬ 
yard manure for some time give it a 
dressing of the homemade article. 
A Silo in Northern New York. 
How can I build a silo in northern New 
York? Can I use green lumber? How sliall 
1 plant the corn, what distance apart and 
at what stage cut it? R. n. h. 
lOllenburgh, N. Y. 
A copy of the bulletin issued by the 
Cornell Experiment Station on the con¬ 
struction of the stave silo has been sent 
to your address. Green lumber can be 
used for staves, but we would prefer 
lumber which was at leswat partially sea¬ 
soned. If you have made up your mind 
to build a silo next season it would be 
well for you to get out the lumber at 
once and have the planks cut two inches 
thick and one foot wide. The wide 
plank will season without warping out 
of shape, as will plank only six inches 
wide. Just before building the silo the 
plank should be taken to the mill and 
split in two, making the staves six 
inches wide by two inches thick. Corn 
should be planted for the silo but little 
thicker than it is ordinarily planted 
where a crop of grain is to be harvested. 
Best results seem to be secured when 
the rows are about 40 inches apart and 
the hills in the row from 20 to 22 inches 
apart, and not more than two stalks of 
corn left to the hill. The corn should 
be cut when the kernels are in what is 
known as the early glazing stage. The 
mistake is often made of cutting the 
corn when it is too green, and the mis¬ 
take is also made of leaving corn until 
it is too ripe. Both should be avoided. 
L. A. CLINTON. 
Round Silos of Rough Staves. 
Do you know of anyone who has built 
a round silo without having the staves 
matched or jointed, and who has used it 
for several years? Advice has been given 
to build with unmatched staves, and with 
matched. I would like to know which has 
proved the more satisfactory way of buiid- 
ing. J. s. w. 
Morris, Conn. 
I have known of several round silos 
built where the staves were neither 
matched nor jointed, and where they 
were not even beveled, if the silo is to 
have a diameter of more than 12 feet it 
may very safely be constructed without 
beveling the staves or without tongueing 
and grooving them. If the diameter of 
the silo is to be less than 12 feet the 
staves should be either slightiy beveled 
or else they should be of material not 
more than four inches in width. I have 
recently talked with several farmers, 
one of whom has had a stave silo in use 
for more than seven years. The staves 
of his silo are not beveled and he would 
not have them beveled, believing that 
they are better suited for the purpose 
as they are. l. a. olinton. 
Tomatoes, 
Cucumbers and Cabbages 
should be forced rapidly during their 
early periods of growth by a liberal use of 
Nitrate of Sodam 
When judieiously applied, these crops 
will be ready for market two weeks or 
more ahead of those not properly 
treated. The best results of titrate of 
Soda are obtained when used in combin¬ 
ation with phosphates and potash salts. 
For particulars and iorlMofdealerw 
address Jolin A. JHyers, 12-0 John 
St., New York City, No expense to you. 
SPRAY PUMPS. 
AH BRASS; three BEST made. 
New Wonder, with air chamber, $7; Little 
Giant, lever pump, one line hose. $9: Defender, 
lever pump, two lines hose, $12. Express prepaid. 
Satisfaction guaranteed, or money refunded. Write 
for Catalogue and get treatise on Spraying. Mention 
this paper. J. F. GAYl.OHO, 
(Successor to P. C. Lewis Mfg. Co.;, Catskill, N. Y. 
Fowls of W. & Bd. Bock, W. & Bn. Leg.,W.Wyaa.vars., 
Eggs $1& 1.50 2«. Stamps. Mrs.J.P.Uelllngs,Dover,Del. 
Dlanchard’s White Leghorns.—The leading 
strain of heavy layers. Eggs for hatching from 
Qnest stock, lll.clr.free. H.J. Blanchard,Groton,N.Y. 
H. H. Mohr, Quakertown, Pa., breeds 
all varieties thoroughbred P. Bocks, Wyandottes, 
Brahmas, Leghorns, Langshans, Cochins, Mlnorcaa, 
Ham burgs. Eggs, 16, $1; 40, $2. Catalogue. 
B uff and BABBED Plymouth Bocks. 
DFF Cochins, Bose-Comb Brown Leghorns. 
E XTBA-FINE Cockerels and Pullets for Sale. 
GGS in Season. Satisfaction guaranteed. 
Catalogue free. J. L. HERMAN, Le Moyne, Ohio. 
EGGS 
from choice heavy laying 8. C. 
White Leghorns, Silver Wyan¬ 
dottes and Buff P. Bocks. $1 00 
per 15; $2 per 30. Safe arrival and good fertility guar¬ 
anteed. T. D. GOODWIN, Columbia Station, Ohio. 
|P A sitting 
or hundred. 23 varieties of prize-wln- 
nlng land and water fowls. Big Cata¬ 
logue free. Our guarantee means something. 
PINE TBEE FARM, Box T, Jamesburg, N. J. 
INCUBATOR EGGS 
from purebred White Wyandottes, $3 per 100. 
SILAS DEAN, Oak Hill, N. Y. 
Hatch guaranteed. Barred Bocks, 
White Bocks, Black Minorcas, 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 
Breeoing Yards. Orders filled promptly WHITE OAK 
RIDGE POULTRY YARDS, East Grange, N. J. 
I 
ILVER WYANDOTTES WANTED AT $8 EACH 
See Rural New-Yorker. March 30, page 234. 
BEAVER HILL FARM, Beaver, Pa. 
Our W. Wyandottes and B. Leghorns 
are giving us eggs in such numbers, that we have de¬ 
cided to give our friends the benefit of the over¬ 
production, and reduce the price to $1 per 15; or $6 
per 100. J. E. STEVENSON, Columbus, N. J. 
S. C. White Leghorn Hens That Lay 
We breed only from the large true egg type. Six 
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 & BICE, Lock Box A, Yorktown, N.Y 
INCUBATORS 
From BS.OO Up. 
BBOODEB8 FROM 13.80 DP. 
Free Catalogue. 
L. A. BANTA, Llgouler, Ind. 
Death to Lice 
on Hens and Chicks 
_ t!4-page Book FREE. 
D. J. LAMBERT, Box307, Apponaug, R. I. 
VICTOR 
W INCUBATORS \ 
Hatch ererj fertile egg. Slmpleet, | 
moat darable, oheapeet firat-oiaei . 
hatcher. Money back if not poaltlTtly ^ 
aa repreaented. Circular free; oati^ s 
logne 00. QIO.IBTIL CO., Qalaey, HI. ^ 
“FUMA 
QUkills Prairie Dogs, 
' ' Woodchucks, Gophers 
and Grain Insects. 
"The wheels of the 
Gods grind slow but 
exceeding small.” Bo the weevil, but you can stop 
Blsulphlde".?’e5‘X’ 
BDWARD R. TAYLOR, Penn Yan, N. Y. 
Farm Blacksmithing. 
An illustrated book writ¬ 
ten expressly for farmers. 
It tells all about making 
and tempering steel tools, 
making clialns, hooks, 
rings, clevises, bolts, etc., 
etc. Filing saws, splicing 
rope, shoeing horses. 
Price 60c.. cloth bound, 
by mall post-paid. Address 
J. M. DREW, 
ORNAMENTAL FENCE 
S5 designs, all steel. 
Handsome, durable.— 
Cheaper than a wood 
fence. Special induce¬ 
ments to church and 
cemeteries. Catalogue fre», 
KOKOMO FENCE 
MACH INK CO., 
4r>.l North St.« 
Kokomo, Indians. 
Why Not 
Preserve Wheat and 
Rye Straw Straight 
Boaud in 
Bundles? 
Please your custom¬ 
ers by saving barnrooni and ease of handling straw. 
We make a machine that we guarantee to thrash 
wheat perfectly clean and not bruise or break the 
straw, that will bind It again In bundles. The same 
machine thrashes rye and preserves the straw, 
straight, hound In bundles, and is also changed in 15 
minutes to a spike-tooth oat and wheat thrasher 
Send for Catalogue B. Free 
GRANT-FERRIS COMPANY. Troy, N. Y. 
ISN’T IT AWFUL 
how other coinpiinies’ agents “go on” about the 
PAGE, trying to sliow how tlieir fences are just as 
good, or better? They’ve got a hard job. 
PAGE WOVEN W IKE FENCE CO., ADRIAN, MICH. 
RUBEROID 
THE 
POULTRY-HOUSE 
ROOFING 
As a water-proof covering for Poultry-1 
I Houses, RUBEROID has no equal. Keeps 
the houses cool during the warm weather, 
and warm In Winter, and the chicks dry and | 
I comfortable. The sun cannot melt it. 
THE STANDARD PAINT CO., 
lOO William Street, 
NEW YORK. 
Only MO 
THE GREATEST 
ON EARTH Keeps our competitors awake 
I nights to tell how we do it. I 
DESCRIPTION —Selectod second Rrowth hickory 
wheels and gears; Norway iron clips and bolts; inch axle 
double collars, full length bo<ly loops, long body, any width. 
Solid spring bellows back, with Ideal spring cross bar (spring cushions 
I furnished in place of cross bar if preferred) trimmed in dark green, tan or 
maroon leather, cloth or pluah,v< All wool too lining, leather quarters and 
b ack stays, curved top joints (see cut), complete with storm apron, side cur¬ 
tains, boot and full length carpet. Nickel dash rail, hand rail and lazy back ; 
rail, ^^end for Hig Free Cutulogi.e of Vehicles and Harness in Colors# A < 
buggy factory selling direct must pay all of their expenses, salaries, etc., out of a few thousand buggies. Our / 
expenses are all paid out of our agricultural implement factory. A buggy factory would starve to death on the \ 
small profit we get on a buggy. Write qs before buying. The only plow factory in the world seUing direct to C 
the consumer. HAPCOOD MANUFACTURING CO», BOX 334^ 
' Chain Gear 
American. 
Hay Tedder 
Planter and Fertilizer 
STAR PATTERN 
BILLINGS 
It Is the latest, and it drops at 
twelve different distances. 
>It is the only perfect 
machine for turning 
or tedding hay. 
No breakage of forks and Arms. 
_ For Corn, 
Beans, 
Peas and 
Beet 
Seeds.... 
If you want them, we furnish Marker and Trip attach¬ 
ment for rowing both ways. Send for circular.. 
AMES PLOW COMPANY, BOSTON AND NEW YORK. 
NEW UNIVERSAL 
Hand Double Wheel Hoe. 
Also Seeders | 
and Horse J 
Hoes., 
80- 
page I 
catalogue of our Agricultural, 
latwr saving specialties. 
