THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
359 
idOl 
HopeFarmNotes 
Still Cold.— I have heard of Winter 
lingering in the lap of May, but this year 
May had such a cold that she could hardly 
get up and dress. It is true that the plums 
burst into bloom about May 1, with the 
cherries a few days later, but the trees 
looked like men who put on straw' hats 
about three weeks too early. The apples 
are far behind their usual season. 
The rains have kept up, with cold, windy 
days between them. Our hard, cold soil 
has had no chance to dry or warm. We 
are planting potatoes slowly, but I don’t 
know that it is wise to put the seed into 
this cold soil. Corn planting will be very 
late this year.There is n<j use 
grieving over the weather. Both the just 
and the unjust are getting their full share 
of it. Far better consider the crops that 
are being helped by it. Our little peach 
trees are thriving. This wet soil just suits 
them. They are shaking out their leaves 
in great shape. The seedling cherry trees 
that were planted along the stone walls 
enjoy this weather. So do the rye. grass 
and Crimson clover. The cabbage plants 
are thirsty friends, and so are tlie newly- 
set strawberries. There are two sides to 
this weather question, and the live farm¬ 
ers will try to have something in the 
ground that will rejoice at anything the 
weather clerk sorts out. 
Farm Notes.— I love to see the little 
idants of Red clover pricking up among 
the oats. These green babies will work 
for the farmer when they grow up, and 
leave the soil better than they found it. 
our seeding is coming up finely. The damp 
soil has helped the clover.The 
oats are starting well. Of course we 
treated the seed with formalin. I am sure 
that this helps the plant from the very 
start. When the smut germs are in the 
seed they may begin their work at once 
as the sprout starts, and the little plant 
never has a fair showing. I have seen oats 
which paled and limped along from the 
start, never making a decent crop. This 
was largely due, 1 think, to smutty seed. 
The plants never had a fair show any more 
than a calf born with the germs of tuber¬ 
culosis in its body can hope to grow into 
a first-class cow. I am told that formalin 
is also used to prevent Onion smut. 
. . . . The most valuable thing thus far 
about our experiment with the Clark grass 
seeding method is the fact that we can see 
our mistakes. They are certainly written 
in green ink. Where we did the work just 
right the field looks like a thick lawn. 
What w'as “right?” Why, the stones were 
all picked up, the ground nicely graded 
and the seed evenly distributed. There are 
brown streaks and patches in our fields, 
,some of which stand as monuments to our 
own errors. In some places the stones 
were not picked up clean. The soil was 
all carefully fitted, but part of it was not 
graded. On every little lump and ridge 1 
notice the brown soil showing like the 
bald spots on a man’s head. We put the 
seed on carefully by hand, but with the 
wind blowing it was scattered more or less. 
I Tiow see why Mr. Clark wants to work 
the field several times with his light har¬ 
row after seeding. This mixes it up and 
makes it even. Where we did our full 
duly the grass is thick and strong—good 
evidence that the Clark method is O. K. 
Thorough Jobs.— But is it possible for 
the every-day farmer to go through all 
these motions and take such pains with 
his grass? He may have only one team, 
and there will be a dozen jobs pressing at 
once. We would not ask that question if 
we could have faith, and know that we 
can make one acre do the work of two if 
we would only take care of it. Most of 
us are in the habit of spreading our labor 
over a certain area. Work and weather 
catch us at the wrong time, so that we 
never can say that the crop was perfectly 
cared for. How many have actually tried 
the plan of cutting down the area and 
working fewer acres better? We shall try 
that this year with our potatoes. We lost 
a share of the crop last year because we 
could not get over it thoroughly. This 
year we shall have but little more than 
lialf the acreage, but that will mean nearly 
twice as much attention to bug, blight and 
weed. My conviction is that it will pay 
me better to seed down two acres each 
year on the Clark method than it would 
to scratch over live acres and half seed 
it—as is usually done. As a fellow grows 
heavy and feels the rheumatism in his 
joints he may be excused for thinking 
twice before he tackles useless jobs. If 1 
could be 20 again, and carry my experience 
hack with me, I would never make a mere 
smatterer-running and fooling after a lot 
ot different things, but 1 would master 
one of the common things of life or comi' 
as near to it as I could. Who in the world 
cares to listen to some ’prentice or ama¬ 
teur trying to play “Bisten to the Mock¬ 
ing Bird” or “Old Black Joe” on violin or 
piano? Nobody but his father or mother; 
but let some master of the instrument start 
these simple old tunes and we will gladly 
listen all night. Whyi? Because these 
players pour the soul right out through 
their Angers. In those few minutes they 
give us a taste of the mastery which they 
have won through years of fight and self- 
denial! It is about so with Mr. Clark and 
others who have fought for mastery over 
some crop or farm method. They show 
us the way to get out of ’prentice work 
and master the forces of nature. 
Fake Promises.—I And fault with some 
of these writers and speaker.s because they 
paint up one side of the thing in glowing 
colors and bury the other end In the 
ground. Their excuse is that if they did 
not tell a “big story” the farmer never 
would start. In some cases he would be 
better off if he didn’t. As an illustration 
of what I mean I w'ill say that we are 
starting in the milk business. We sell to 
neighbors who take at present six quarts 
per day, and want eight or 10 quarts later. 
We can get six and eight cents per quart. 
Now I might say this about our milk 
trade: “We have no trouble in selling all 
the milk we produce at six and eight 
cents per quart. This milk is so good that 
a gallon of it represents a pound of butter. 
When farmers say that they can get only 
two cents a quart, we judge from our ex¬ 
perience that it must be because they have 
poor milk or else they do not put brains 
into farming!’’ 
Now, 1 read many articles that are just 
about as sensible and helpful as that would 
be. It is true that we sell our surplus 
readily but it is only a small side issue 
with us. How foolish to apply It in the 
case of a farmer who makes milk for a 
living. We can sell a gallon of milk for 
25 cents and buy a iiound of butter with 
the money, l)Ut as I have put It above it 
appears that our milk contains 19 per cent 
fat! I submit that some of these folks 
who put up a wise bluff and keep all the 
shade out of the glowing pictures tliey 
draw have sometimes less of fact than I 
have in the above stalemetit. “Brains into 
farming!” Why, our milk could not com¬ 
pete in the New York market with that 
produced on the back farms! We would 
most likely starve to death if we tried to 
make a living on those milk farms! Some 
of these fellows dress up our honest 
friends the hen, horse, hog or cow—not 
to mention ai)ple and potato—so tliat they 
are truly wolves in sheep’s clothing luring 
farmers on to throw away their hard- 
earned dollars. 
Stock Notes. —The Hope Farm men, 
women and children think highly of their 
live stock, but we really can’t tell any 
very big stories about them. Julia is still 
kicking out veal and milk. Ape and Pril— 
the two calves born in April-are milking 
her and s<‘parating a large per cent of 
veal. Now that our little milk trade has 
started we feel more like taking the kick 
out of Julia, for she will make a peck of 
bran per day change into the grain needed 
by all the horses! .... The little Berk- 
shires are thriving. Here you have their 
weight records: March 19, 14 pounds; April 
1, 31 pounds; April S, 45 pounds; April 15, 
UUV^ pounds; April 22, 78 pounds; April 29, 
97 pounds. One little sow weighed 26 
pounds on April 29. They are very satis¬ 
factory. IJttle Billy Berkshire has a bob 
tail, but his hams and shoulders make up 
for any tail defect. I am told that this 
loss of the tail in little pigs is quite a com¬ 
mon thing. Speaking of weights a farmer 
in my own county sends me the following: 
“Bitter farrowed March 19, number of 
pigs when farrowed, Ave live and one dead; 
cross between Berkshire boar and grade 
Chester White sow of small size (about 
200 pounds), pigs of even size. Weiglit on 
April 27, 39 days old, 120 pounds (best one 
26 pounds); average 24 pounds. I will give 
you the weight of this litter next Saturday 
again; it was farrowed the same day as 
yours, and it is a line bunch of pigs of 
even size.” c. J. 
Our hens laid 674 eggs in April. Taking 
out sitters and loafers the Aock averaged 
45. In addition to shelling out these eggs 
the hens had dug and burrowed in the 
season’s garden. Their yard has been 
plowed twice and will be i)lowed again. 
Then the hens are turned out of it into 
another yard and their old runs planted 
in oidons, ijirna beans and sweet corn. I 
have said many hard things about the dog. 
Seme of them I will stand by as long as I 
live, and will invent words to make them 
stronger. I must admit, however, that 
there are dogs that are gentlemen. Shep, 
(Uir Scotch collie, is a nobleman in fur. 
He, like old Major, Jersey and Peter will 
end his days on Hope Farm. The intelli¬ 
gence and loving character of this dog 
have astonished me. Many a day while 
wandering over the hills alone Shep has 
followed, snuggling U]) against me like a 
child whenever 1 stop for a moment’s rest, 
if every farm family could have a dog 
like Shep the world would be better off. 
That is strong language for a man who 
has insulted the dog as often as I have! 
H. w. c. 
When you write advertisers mention The 
R N.-Y. and you will get a quick reply and 
“a square deal.” See our guarantee 8th page. 
What is Black Knot ? Its Cure. 
We often receive questions from readers 
who ask about the disease known as black 
knot. Tlie following simple statement by 
Prof. C. O. Townsend, of the Maryland 
Experiment Station, seems to answer such 
questions fully: 
Black knot is a fungous disease affecting 
both wild and cultivated varieties of plums 
and cherries. It is an American disease 
Choice Vegetables 
always bring high prices. 
To raise them success¬ 
fully, a fertilizer con¬ 
that has been known for more than 100 
years, and so lar as can be determined had 
Its origin in the eastern part of the United 
States. For a long time the knots were 
supposed to be due to stings of insects, but 
careful examination has shown that they 
are due to a distinct and well-known fun¬ 
gus (Plowrightia inoibosa>. In appearance 
the knots are at last light brown in color, 
but gradually deepen wiiti age until they 
become pertectly black. The Arst indi¬ 
cation tliat a knot is forming is a slight 
swelling under the bark, the swelling in¬ 
creases until the bark splits and tlie brown 
surface of the knot appears. These ab- 
norinal growths may form on any part of 
the tree, i. e., either upon the branciies or 
upon tlie trunk. The fungus that produces 
the black knot forms two sets of spores; 
one set Known as Summer spores is pro- 
uuced early in the Spring, usually in May, 
the other set, called Winter spores, is 
formed in the late i''all or early Winter, 
usually in December, 'i’he Summer spores 
are capable of germinating just as soon as 
coiiuuions are ravorabie; neiiee, it they 
chance to lodge in a suitaoie place upon 
the tree they will, toriu new knots, ’i’he 
Winter spores uo not germinate iniineui- 
ateiy, but retain tneir vitality until the 
warii’i, moist Uays or Spring come, wlien 
Liiey geiimnate ana piouuee new knors 
siiiiiiar to those proaueed by Suninier 
siioies. rhe lact that this fungus forms 
two sets or spores accounts for its rapiu 
spreau aiiu for its very uestruetive nature. 
’I lie spores seem to be able to chug to al¬ 
most any parr of the tree, especially wliere 
tile bark is rough, iieiice we And the knots 
forming most frequently in tlie crotches of 
tile branches. The fungi produced from 
tnese spores are aoie to penetrate the bark 
at ail points, even on the trunks. After the 
lungus has penetrated the bark and pro- 
uuced a knot it grows between the bark 
and the wood for several inches beyond 
the visible knot, so that the removal of 
the knot does not remove all of the fungus. 
With these facts in mind the remedy for 
the trouble readily suggests itself. In file 
tirst place the knots themselves should be 
cut off and burned. If they a.re growing 
upon twigs or branches, the affected parts 
should be cut off several inches below tlie 
knots, in order to remove all of the knot- 
producing fungus. If the knots are grow¬ 
ing upon the trunk or upon large limbs 
they should be cut off, and the bark for 
several inches in all directions should be 
removed and burned with the knots, and 
the surface should be washed with a fun¬ 
gicide (iron sulphate, one pound in 20 gal¬ 
lons of water). If the trees are very seri¬ 
ously infested they should be cut down and 
burned completely and promptly. Having 
removed and burned all the knots the next 
step consists in spraying the trees thor¬ 
oughly with some fungicide in order to 
destroy any spores that may be lodging 
upon the branches. Probably the most 
satisfactory fungicide is Bordeaux Mix¬ 
ture, which should be applied just as soon 
as the trees can be freed from knots. The 
spraying should not be conlined to the dis¬ 
eased trees, but all plum and cherry trees 
in the same vicinity should be sprayed in 
order to destroy any spores that may be 
lodging upon them. This treatment should 
be repeated several times through April, 
May and June. In spraying after the foli¬ 
age appears it must be remembered that 
full strength Bordeaux Mixture is liable to 
injure the leaves of Japan plums, hence a 
mixture containing a small amount of 
bluestone (two pounds in 40 gallons of 
water) and a large excess of lime should 
be used at that time. The earlier the knots 
can be cut out in the Winter the better, 
and they should by no means be left until 
the foliage appears, as they are then ob¬ 
scured, and sometimes hard to And, especi¬ 
ally when they are small. 
For the land’s sake, use Bowker’s Fer¬ 
tilizers. They enrich the earth.— Adv. 
taining at least 8 % 
Potash should be used. 
Our books furnish useful information on 
SPECIAL PRICES 
Biwif 
Trial. Guaranteed. Ite«b„ 
and Oombinatlon Beam, 
_ OSGOOD 
OataloK Free. Wrlte^ow. BINGHAMTON.N>Y« 
LAND DRAIN TILE 
(Car-loads or less). 
Sizes, 3, 4, 5 and 
6-lnch. 
WILLIAM T.LEGGETT& CO. 
102.5 Liberty Avenue, 
Pittsburgh, Pa. 
We are the largfest mano- 
facturers of Steel Wheels 
and Truck Wagons in the 
World. Write for Catalogue. 
Havana (III.) Metal Wheel Co. 
THIS ISO 
TOP BOGGT 
50 
YOU CAN BUY FROM US AT FACTORY PRICES 
BtlGGIES, PHAETONS. SURREYS, WAGONS, ALL KINDS OF HARNESS. 
We win sell direct to you a vehicle or harness as cheap as dealer, 
buy their goods in carload lots. Don't pay profits to niiddleiiieru 
Our work is all high-grade, correct .tyle, and elegantly finished. 
FREE CATALOGUE 
All Work Ouarnnteed and 
SHOWING LARGEST LINE 
VEHICLES AND HARNESS 
IN THE UNITED STATES. 
Shipped on Approval. 
CONSUMERS CARRIAGE & MFG. CO.. 
282 go. Desplaines gtr«ot. CHICAGO, ILL, 
THE STVDEBAKER 
Used for 35 Years. 
If requested we will send you the 
endorsement of a man wlio has used 
his Studebaker Wagon for thirty- 
five years. We build all our own' 
vehicles w ith that point—durability 
—in view and Armly believe The 
Twentieth Century Studebaker is 
the cheapest wagon for you to use. 
Ask your dealer for it, insist upon 
it. If he does not sell them, write 
to us direct and we will tell you who 
does sell them in your locality. 
STUDEBAKER BROS. MPa CO. 
South Bend. Ind., U. S. A. 
Only MO 
THE CREATE 
OM EARTH Keeps our competitors awake 
1 uights to tell how wo do it. 
DESCRIPTION— Selected second growth hickory 
wheels and gears; Norway iron clips and bolts; inch axle 
double collars, full length body loops, long body, any width. 
Solid spring beliows back, with Ideal spring cross bar fspring cushions 
furnished in place of cross bar if preferred) trimmed in dark green, tan or 
maroon leather, cloth or plush^it All wool ton lining, leather quarters and 
backstays.curvedtopjoints (see cut), complete with storm apron, side cur¬ 
tains. boot and full length carpet. Nickel dash rail, hand rail and lazy back 
rail. Send for Big Free Catuiogi.e of VeUleles and Harness In Colors. A 
buggy factory sel ling 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 us before buying. The only plow factory in the world selling direct to 
tho consumer. HAPCOOO MANUFACTURING CO.^ BOX 334. ALTON, ILL. 
BREED’S 
Universal Weeder 
is the best weeder ever made for all con¬ 
ditions of soil. For kUllng weeds and pul¬ 
verizing the soil It has no equal. 7 feet 6 
inches wide, permanent tooth, and best of 
material and workmanship. Former price, 
18; we will send It direct to farmers for 14 
f.o.b., Boston. No agents. You get the bene¬ 
fit. Order at once. The supply ts limited. 
UNIVERSAL WEEDER CO., 
82 8. Market Street, BestOB, Mass. 
