454 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
June 29 
Ruralisms 
▼ V ▼ ▼ 
/VOTES FRO/V! THE RURAL GROUNDS. 
Effects of tjuq Petroleum Spray.— 
Soon after Prof. J. B. Smith, of the New 
Jersey Experiment Station, recommend¬ 
ed crude petroleum as a remedy for San 
Jos6 and other destructive scales, he was 
horrified to find successful users advo¬ 
cating it as a cure-all for the diseases 
affiicting fruit trees, so marked was the 
occasional increase of vigor following 
its application. It is true, many trees 
were injured or killed outright, but in 
all investigated cases, it was found that 
old or thickened oil had been used. The 
trees sprayed on the Rural Grounds last 
March, consisting of Abundance, Sat- 
suma and Bailey Japan plums have now 
the darkest and most luxuriant foilage 
of all. We do not think the oil can add 
anything to the vigor of the trees, but 
the thorough applications we gave, going 
over every twig twice, have not only ex¬ 
terminated the scales, but surely must 
have buried beyond all resuscitation any 
fungus spores that adhered to the bark, 
as the surface is still coated with paraf¬ 
fin, which will remain, according to 
previous experience, until -late next 
Spring. The incessant rains that pre¬ 
vailed through April and May favored 
the extension of fungus troubles, and the 
foliage of the best of the unsprayed 
trees of similar varieties show the result 
of their attacks. While Prof. Smith is 
the last authority likely to claim fungi¬ 
cide properties for petroleum and much 
I’egretted the early dissemination of all 
reports of increased vigor following its 
use it is quite possible that it may prove 
more efficient in this respect than he 
is willing to admit. Fungus spores, like 
seeds of higher plants, require moisture 
for their germination, and a coating of 
oil or wax may be as efficient in pre¬ 
venting growth as if there was some 
chemical action, which is highly im¬ 
probable. It is not safe to recommend 
an annual oil bath for trees affected 
with anything less deadly than the Per¬ 
nicious scale, but in view of its seem¬ 
ing persistence in keeping off dangerous 
bark-inhabiting insects and the possi¬ 
bility that it may cover up and ren¬ 
der inert the Winter spores of such de¬ 
structive fungi as the brown rot. Peach 
leaf-curl and the shot-hole disease of 
the foliage, some careful experiments 
are in order. Bordeaux Mixture, now 
the chief reliance for combating these 
minute pests, is effective where it hits, 
but is very fugitive in its effects, being 
easily washed off by a heavy rain, while 
oil persists for many months. There 
is yet much to learn about mineral oils 
as applied to dormant trees, but the 
main requisite is to ascertain its limits 
of safety. If increased vigor follows an 
application, it is not reasonable to credit 
it to a direct beneficial effect of the oil, 
but rather to the destruction of irritat¬ 
ing parasites. If it can be shown that 
petroleum either destroys or seals up 
fungus spores, so as to prevent their 
development for a season, the fact 
would prove a strong additional incen¬ 
tive for its use when dangerous scales 
infest the tree. Here is a chance for in¬ 
vestigation by our experiment workers. 
Tub IjAnce-Leaved Spiraea. —The 
true Spirmas are all desirable, low- 
growing, extremely hardy shrubs. They 
are of the very easiest culture, and re¬ 
main many years in good condition when 
once established. The season for flow¬ 
ering for the different varieties runs 
from the middle of May to nearly Sep¬ 
tember, while the colors vary from pure 
white to deep crimson in Anthony Wat- 
ceolata, often catalogued as S. Reevesi. 
When this flne sort blooms in June, we 
always think it the best of all, but pop¬ 
ular preference is usually given to the 
■elegant S. Van Houttei, flowering a 
week or two earlier. This is a variety 
of garden origin, and is supposed to be 
a hybrid. It is one of the most beauti¬ 
ful of all hardy shrubs when its droop¬ 
ing branches are hidden with great 
clusters of snowy blossoms. The flow¬ 
ers are single, however, and the petals 
fall readily, which is not good for cut¬ 
ting. S. lanceolata, especially in the 
preferred double form, is acceptable 
both as a garden and cut flower. When 
in bloom, the plant is completely cov¬ 
ered with little white rose-like flowers, 
shown in the engraving. The blooming 
period lasts nearly two weeks, and the 
plant always presents a neat appearance 
from the symmetrical arrangement of 
its narrow foliage. 
A ■ Disappointing Strawberry. — 
When the “everbearing” European 
strawberry. Saint Joseph, was intro¬ 
duced, three years ago, great hopes were 
entertained that we had at last received 
a variety capable of bearing Autumn 
fruit. It was so highly recommended 
that many trials were made, only to end 
in disappointment. Saint Joseph makes 
a pitiably small plant, as compared 
with our best native varieties, though it 
does not lack vigor, and produces a few 
small, pale, but well-flavored fruits 
under ordinary cultivation. If strongly 
fertilized and irrigated during dry 
weather, it throws out a profusion of 
runners, the earliest of which bear 
fruit soon after rooting, thus it is possi¬ 
ble to get a limited supply of berries 
in the Fall. They have the agreeable 
taste of the Alpine strawberry, Fragaria 
elatior, and it is likely that this species 
was a factor in the production of the 
new variety. Realizing last season that 
the good quality of the Saint Joseph 
was a more important characteristic 
than its capacity for repeated cropping, 
we crossed it with the Greenville, a 
robust and proliflc native kind, of very 
indifferent flavor. The result as deter¬ 
mined by the seedlings already planted 
is the most complete blending of desir¬ 
able qualities we have yet seen in straw¬ 
berry hybrids. The vigor of the plant 
and proliflc tendency of the Greenville 
not only remains, but in some cases is 
apparently increased, while the sweet¬ 
ness and high flavor is fully retained. 
We have never seen such a promising 
lot of seedlings, yet it is highly probable 
that none may prove of commercial 
utility. A new strawberry must now 
possess many points of positive merit 
to justify an introduction to extended 
cultivation. Much experience has 
taught us that the high anticipations 
aroused by the first fruition of a hy¬ 
brid plant are too often rudely dissi¬ 
pated by more extended trials. It is too 
soon to ascertain whether the autumn¬ 
al fruiting tendency is to be retained 
in any of the seedlings. w. v. f. 
foliage, and very satisfactory, especially 
the latter, in some ways. With me Sut¬ 
ton is slow on its own trunk and liable 
to bark trouble, like King. It should 
be top-worked on Spy. In order of pref¬ 
erence I would say Baldwin, Spy, Sutton, 
Hubbardston, King, Ben Davis. 
W. «. HART. 
I would not recommend to plant Ben 
Davis in the Hudson River Valley. Be¬ 
fore the trees could come into bearing 
the millions of trees of that variety al¬ 
ready growing in the West and South¬ 
west, where it does far better than here, 
will fill the markets with all of this 
quality of fruit that will be wanted, in 
my opinion. I would plant Sutton, Haas 
and York Imperial. We may be too far 
north for the latter, but I would try it, 
as it is a long keeper. The Haas has 
sold this season for more money than 
any other kind, because of its beautiful 
color and size. The Spy is a grand apple 
when well grown, but under poor care 
it is one of our poorest apples, of no 
flavor or value. The King is not worth 
growing on its own roots in consequence 
of the blight of the bark next the ground 
which kills the tree just as it gets into 
full bearing. It should be top-worked 
on Spy or other hardy kinds. 
WALTER F. TABOR. 
I think Ben Davis is, and will be for 
some time to come at least, a profitable 
variety for this section. They are vig¬ 
orous growers, healthy foliage and early 
and abundant bearers of fruit that sells 
at the top of the market. So long as 
these things are true this apple is pre¬ 
eminently a money maker, and I raise 
them for that and not sentiment. If the 
time comes when they will no longer 
sell readily I shall top-work them with 
some variety that will, and then be 
many dollars ahead of the man who has 
been growing apples that have quality 
and* nothing else in their favor. I should 
not thing of setting either Spy or King 
for profit. The latter is too slow in 
bearing and too susceptible to scab and 
except in a few peculiarly situated or¬ 
chards that 1 know of is not a profit¬ 
able variety for this section. King will 
do if top-grafted on to Spy or Ben Davis 
stock; otherwise it is a very delicate 
and short-lived tree. The Sutton is first 
class, particularly when top-grafted; 
Hubbardston the same. I should also 
set R. I. Greening. I answer the above 
from a purely commercial standpoint as 
to Winter varieties. I think that the 
Fall Pippin, Maiden Blush and Olden¬ 
burg are all very profitable as Pall va¬ 
rieties. EDWARD VAN AMTYNE. 
APPLES IN THE HUDSON VALLEY. 
ShaH It Be Ben Davis ? 
There is no doubt that at present Ben 
Davis is a profitable variety of apple to 
grow. Whether it will continue to be 
so in the face of continued large plant¬ 
ings is now simply a matter of opinion. 
We have set no Ben Davis, and may 
have erred in judgment. In addition to 
Baldwin, King and Northern Spy, Jona¬ 
than does well and is a good market 
apple. Sutton is said to do well here 
and has hearty commendations. I don’t 
think that anyone who sets either of 
these varieties will make a mistake. 
W. D. BARNS. 
Ben Davis is certainly profitable at 
present, but may not be in the future, 
eier, the new variety of the pink Japan It needs the whole of a long season to 
The Hired Man.—A s I am a reader of 
The R. N.-Y. my attention was recently 
called to the article on an ideal farm 
hand. Do the farmers who advertise for 
an ideal man stop to consider that if a 
hired man is allowed good wages with fair 
treatment he will be encouraged to give 
more and better work? It Is not a one¬ 
sided affair, but there are duties on both 
sides. Prom personal observation I have 
found that help fairly treated has a more 
willing disposition to do well, and a man 
who is strictly reliable, and takes an inter¬ 
est in his work, surely ought to command 
better wages. It has become a well-known 
fact that men who employ help demand 
too long hours, with few privileges, and 
are not willing to pay for labor performed. 
It would be wise to remember the Golden 
Rule. A CONNECTICUT READER. 
When you write advertisers mention The 
R. N.-Y. and you will get a quick reply and 
“a square deal.” See our guarantee 8th pkge 
Buy a Good 
Spray 
Pump 
—d o n ’ t experiment- 
costs money. We have done 
the experimenting—used the 
common spray pumps in our 
own orchards, noted their 
defects — then invented the 
ECLIPSE. You get the bene¬ 
fit of our experience free. 
Send at once for catalogue. 
MORLEY, Benton Harbor, Mich. 
A Dry Sprayer 
No Water or Plaster. 
BUSTS TREE, BUSH 
OR VINE. 
Two rows of potatoes as 
fastas you walk,wide or 
narrowolanti ng. Agents 
wanted. Catalogue and 
spray calendar free. 
Leggett & Brother, 
301 Pearl St., New York. 
liH- 
If you want to double your crops, have 
large healthy trees and sotind fruit, spray 
them with a solution made from 
Black Soluble 
Insecticide Soap 
Greatest Success of the Century. 
Awarded on its merits Grand Prize at the Paris Ex¬ 
hibition, and Gold Medals at the International Exhi¬ 
bitions of Rome, Dijon and Turin; also a Diploma of 
Honor at Marseilles. Pamphlets, prices and other 
information furnished promptly on ai.pllcation. 
For sale by all reliable seedsmen. 
V. CASAZZA & BKO., 
Sole Agents for the United States and Canada, 
11)0 1{)3 Prince .St,, New York City. 
SAN JOSE SCALE. 
And other Insects can be Controlled by Using 
Good’s Caustic Potash Whale- 
Oil Tobacco Soap No. 6. 
>4 Bbl., abont27.')lbs.,4c.lb 
Bbls., about 425 lb8.,3^c.ib 
Kegs, 501b8. ea., 5i4c lb. 
Kegs, lUU lbs. ea., 5c. lb. 
Kegs. 170 lbs. ea., 4^c. lb. 
Large quantities Special Kates. Send for Circulars. 
JAMES GOOD, 937 N. Front St., Philadelphia, Pa. 
BERRY BASKETS 
Wire-stapled Berry Baskets 
are the best in the market, 
being unltorm In size and iin- 
equaled in strength. 
Special Price on Car Lots 
Write for Descriptive Catalog 
WEBSTER BASKET CO., 
Monroe Co. (Lock Box 43). 
WEBSTER, N. V. 
TWENTY-SEVEN 
Strawberry Basket 
and Fruit Package 
manufacturers de¬ 
pend on us to sell 
their output. Now 
is the time for you 
to place your orders 
to save money. 
Fruit and Farm Baskets ourSpecialty 
Send for new 1901 Catalogue. Established 1884. 
COLKS S: COMPANY, 
109 ifc ill Warren St., New York. 
1901 
THE SOUTH SIDE 
FRUIT CARRIERS AND BASKETS 
PETERSBURG, VA. 
WRITE FOR CATALOGUE AMD PRICE S 
$5.00 Oompressed Air Sprayer for $3.75 
fruit growers and farmers that my 5 ga’loii compressed air sprayer Is the 
it reduction is made lor a limited time only. Take advantage of the liberal offer— 
(>nm.pp ° wni opportunity to get the sprayer at the reduced price. *3 75 lor galvanized steel, *5.00 for 
fruit j 30 feet. Good pressure 20 to 30 minutes. The taUest 
fruit tree can be sprayed. Order to-day Salary to reliable men. Address 
JMLAKTIN WAUL Bochester, N. Y. 
species, S. Bumalda. Spiraeas are so 
varied in character that it is not easy 
to settle on the variety one really pre¬ 
fers. Pig. 190, on page 451, represents 
the double flowering form of Spiraea lan- 
develop as it should, and grew finely in 
1899. The flavor and appearance are de¬ 
pendent greatly upon foliage, which 
often deteriorates late in the season. 
Hubbardston and Sutton are strong of 
FERTILIZERS. From Factory 
to Farm 
We Sell You Direct. No Agent's Froflt. No Salesman’s Expenses. 
WBITE FOB POCKET MEMORANDUM BOOK, PRICES and SAMPLES. 
THE SCIENTIFIC FERTILIZER COMPANY, 
R. o. Box 1017. Pittsburg, Pa. 
