1901 
THE RURAL NEW-YORfcER. 
5oi 
bie and indignation to the housekeeper, 
who is apt to blame the innocent build¬ 
er of the chimney unjustly. All this be¬ 
ing thus, what is to be done about it? 
It is evident that the short straight 
chimney afforoing the easiest and 
quickest outlet for the smoke and hot 
air, with the contents of both, will be 
the least troubled by this deposit or 
condensation on the inside of the chim¬ 
ney, and that a bending flue, by arrest¬ 
ing the passage of the hot air with these 
vapors, will be subject to most of this 
trouble. But the difference will be very 
little except in long chimneys. What is 
the remedy? This is simply to burn' 
only dry wood; to have the chimney so 
made as to afford the strongest possible 
draft; a straight one is plainly the best; 
and if it is impossible to stop the cur¬ 
rent of this pyroligneous acid and wa¬ 
ter, have a receptacle made in the in¬ 
side of the chimney like a trough, to 
catch it as it runs down the inside, and 
dispose of the accumulation at conveni¬ 
ent intervals. There is very little if any 
trouble with dry wood, and to have it 
so it should be cut in good season and 
well dried before the Winter. 
H. STEWART. 
Diseased Lilac. 
A. /■’., Troy, N. T.—Will you tell me what 
to do with a diseased lilac bush? This 
Spring was the first it blossomed; now the 
main trunk of the little tree exudes gum, 
and the trunk seems split open. One of 
the branches seems dead. What is the 
trouble and what the cure? 
Ans. —The lilac has few diseases, and 
it is not easy to assign a cause for the 
trouble without an examination of the 
diseased part. The best treatment would 
seem to be to cut away all dead 
branches and scrape out the split por¬ 
tion, dressing it with shellac, varnish or 
some quick-drying paint to keep out 
moisture until healing takes place. If 
the plant does not show signs of recov¬ 
ery by next year it should be rooted out. 
Raising Basswood from Seed. 
F. A. P., Dudley, Mass.—Give the best 
method of saving and planting seeds of 
basswood, caring for and transplanting 
young trees. 
Ans. —Basswood or linden seeds are 
generally stratified in moist sand as 
scon as gathered, and kept until the fol¬ 
lowing 'Spring. The box containing the 
seeds and sand may be kept in a moist 
cellar or buried a foot below ground in 
order that they may not dry out. The 
seeds and sand should be put in in al¬ 
ternate layers of an inch or more in 
depth. When the ground is fit to work 
next Spring the seeds should be thinly 
sown in drills, coveuing a scant half¬ 
inch in depth. The drills may be 20 
inches apart if hand cultivation is used, 
or three feet for horse tools. Pack the 
soil well above the seeds with a board, 
or by treading on the row. When the 
seedlings come up they may be thinned 
tc four or five inches apart, and kept 
well cultivated and free from weeds 
during the growing season. At the end 
of the second year they may be trans¬ 
planted eight inches to a foot apart in 
similar rows. Basswoods are also 
grown from cuttings of soft or new 
wood, also from layers. Named kinds 
are grafted on stock grown from seeds 
of ordinary varieties. 
Cure for Peach Curl. 
Reader.—1 see reference made to the fact 
that some peach growers in western New 
York will have good crops in spite of the 
“curl” disease. How do they account for 
this? 
Ans. —With the cold, wet weather of 
last Spring it was absolutely necessary 
to spray and spray early in order to 
check the curl leaf. I never sprayed so 
thoroughly as last Spring. Everything 
was blue, the trees, the ground, the men, 
the horses, and the sky. Many laughed 
because I sprayed, as they said, in the 
Winter, but my advice would be to spray 
the fii-st warm day in early Spring. I 
left 18 trees of Elberta without spray¬ 
ing, just to experiment, and every leaf 
curled and dropped, while the trees by 
the side of them that were sprayed are 
healthy and in fine condition. I think 
I get the best results by using six pounds 
of vitriol and eight pounds of lime to 50 
gallons of water. In this section there 
are but three orchards besides mine 
with a prospect of a large crop, and the 
owners, like myself, attribute their suc¬ 
cess to early spraying, jay e. alias. 
Orleans Co.. N. Y. 
An Apple Orchard on Rock. 
J. M’C., Salem, N. I intencl to begin 
to set out an apple orchard for commercial 
purposes. Will you tell me what Winter 
varieties you would prefer for this section? 
They will be on dry slaty soil with rock 
close to the top of ground. Is there any 
objection to starting the trees from seed 
where they are to remain? If not, what 
variety of apple would it be better to use 
for seed, and at what age should they be 
grafted? 
Ans. —We all know that it is possible 
to grow to maturity healthy trees on 
just such land, but whether it is pos¬ 
sible to raise an even, healthy and sat¬ 
isfactory orchard on such a location, is 
another question. If the rock is of a 
hard, flinty kind, and shows little sign 
of the weathering influences which we 
like to see, and besides this crops up un¬ 
pleasantly near the surface, I would not 
advise using it as an orchard site. On 
the other hand, if loose and shaly (rot¬ 
ten stone, so-called) and I wanted an 
oi'chard badly, and had a market for 
the fruits, then I should plant it. The 
ground ought to be thoroughly torn up 
previous to planting. It ought to be 
cropped with something which would 
leave it in a mellow condition. Good 
big holes, not niggardly pockets, should 
be provided for each tree. If the holes 
cannot be made big enough with a 
shovel and pick, then blast them out. 
The point is that after trees become es¬ 
tablished on a site like this, they usual¬ 
ly get along well. There is unquestion¬ 
ably quite a large amount of unaccount¬ 
ed-for plant food and moisture in these 
rocky soils. Then, what about varieties? 
I would not plant on land of this kind 
Varieties that take half a generation to 
come into bearing. It is probable that 
you would not be able to give it the best 
cultivation. It is altogether, likely that 
borers would take advantage of the sit¬ 
uation, and the general outlook would 
be that trees would, more or less, have 
to get along themselves. With this 
thought in mind, I would plant hardy, 
early-bearing sorts. I should plant 
Wealthy because it bears well, is a vig¬ 
orous growei’, and is very productive. It 
is a Fall apple. I would plant Ontario 
for the same reasons; this is a Winter 
apple. I would also plant Ben Davis 
and Fameuse. I do not think I would 
set out Spy, Baldwin or Greening. 
There is no objection to starting an 
orchard from seed, if one can do it, but 
the thing is almost practically impos¬ 
sible. I feel quite sure that if a man 
did get an orchard in this way, he would 
have vigorous, healthy trees, and prob¬ 
ably the foundation of a long-lived, pro¬ 
ductive orchard. But the difficulties in 
the case are that a seedling apple is a 
tender thing, and a sr^ll plant the first 
year. Unless cai’efully tended during 
this period, it is likely to get “knocked 
out.” The same thing is true of the bud 
or graft which is inserted or ought to 
be set in the seedling at the collar the 
second year. These young and tender 
things, needing special care, can best be 
looked after in the nursery. Here is 
where intensive cultivation can be given 
and a vigorous frame produced in a 
short time. I believe in a general way 
that these rocky lands can be utilized 
for fruit-growing purposes if the grower 
uses intelligence and judgment in plant¬ 
ing and caring for his trees. Clover 
could be grown, cut and used as a mulch 
in lieu of cover crops and manure. 
Wood ashes could probably be secured 
in Washington County, and these could 
be used to supplement the nitrogen of 
the clover. I know of a large orchard 
enterprise which has been started in 
southwestern Quebec, not very far from 
the New York line, on land similar to 
that described above. The trees' were 
planted five years ago, and are doing 
remarkably well, but they have had 
good care. john cratg. 
Ithaca, N. Y. 
The Soap Fraud Once More. 
G. S. IS., Mays .Mill, N. T.—I inclose a 
wrapper from a bar of soap sold by an 
agent who has been through this town. 
He has samples of carpets, lace curtains 
and sets of dishes offered as premiums. 
His way was to sell a box of 100 cakes 
of soap for $5, promising that another 
agent would follow in two or three days 
with the premiums, but he never came. 
The soap is the most worthless you ever 
saw. 
Ans. —The wrapper is a dirty, poorly 
printed sheet describing “Gold Medal” 
soap. We consider it surprising if any 
reader of The R. N.-Y. has been fooled 
by this common fraud. We have de¬ 
scribed it again and again. The soap is 
usually worthless, if not injurious to 
clothing, and the rascals who sell it 
have no idea of giving carpets, curtains 
or any other premiums with it. They 
are simply after the $5, and we regret 
t(' say that they often get the money. 
Why farmers who are shrewd enough in 
deaiing with friends or neighbors will 
permit such slick-tongued rogues to get 
their money away from them is one of 
the great mysteries of farming. 
The “Deserted Farms” of New England. 
E. L., Leeds, N. D.—l have read in the 
papers several times about deserted farms 
In the Hast, and wondered whether a farm 
could support an industrious family. Our 
boys have longed for a farm since they 
were babies, and so have I, but the hard 
Winters and the naked prairie have kept 
us In town. If we could get a farm where 
nature was more generous in beauty, 1 
would gladly change home. 
Ans. —Most of the so-called “deserted” 
farms are in New England. It is pos¬ 
sible for an industrious family to make 
a living on such a farm, but fair capital 
will be required, and the members of the 
family must possess the ability to be 
satisfied with country life. These farms 
were “deserted” for various reasons. In 
most cases the old folks found it impos¬ 
sible to carry on the business of farm¬ 
ing—the boys and girls having moved 
away. Some of the desertions date back 
to the Civil War, when the boys went 
away to serve as soldiers. They were 
killed at the front or moved West or 
South after the War, leaving the old 
folks alone. The soil of these farms is 
usually strong, but very stony. The old 
pastures and many former meadows 
have grown up with brush or small 
trees, and would have to be cleared once 
more. The buildings are usually in fair 
condition. The roads are fair. A few 
years ago some of the New England 
States started to advertise and sell these 
farms, and they succeeded so well that 
few are now left. Write to the follow¬ 
ing parties for information: Hon. J. W. 
Stockwell, Boston, Mass.; N. J. Batch- 
elder, Concord, N. H.; Dr. G. M. Twit- 
chell, Augusta, Me.; James F. Brown, 
Stonington, Conn. 
Fra®. 
SPECIAL PRICES 
Trial. Guaranteed. 
and Oombinatlon B«anv, 
OSGOOD 
Writs^w. BINGHAMTON,N.Y. 
*• Don't you think It some risk to send your money 
to Jones of Kinghamton, N. for a scale bsiore you 
see it'/” ‘ No, sir. I came from Broome County, and 
know his reputation.” “ Weil, what if the scale Isn’t 
right?” "Hell make it right, and there 11 be no 
dodging, and Jones he pays the freight.” 
ASK ANY HORSE 
which fence he damages least, or least damages him 
when he runs Into It. He will say, ‘ ‘PAGE. ” 
P A 0 K WO V EN WIUE FENCE CO., A l> KIA N, MICH. 
Beautiful Strawberries in 1902 
We can furnish you with 
pot-grown Strawberry Plants 
that will bear a full crop of 
fruit next year. Celery and 
Cabbage Plants. Full line of 
Fruit and Ornamental Stock. 
Write at once for our Summer 
and Autumn catalogue. It 
explains all. Fiult packages 
of all kinds for sale at low 
prices. T. J. DWYER & SON, 
Orange County Nurseries, Box 1, Cornwall, N. Y. 
Plants 
Pot-grown Strawberry, Celery 
and Cabbage. Thousands of 
them. See our price-list. 
CALEB BOGGS & SON, Cheswold, Del. 
SUCCEED WHERE 
Largest Nursery. OTHERS FAIL. 
Fruit Book Free. Result of 16 years’ experience. 
BUDS IN SEASON 
Peach, Apple, Pear and Plum. Write for 
prices, giving quantity wanted. 
HARRISON’S NURSERIES, Box 29, Berlin, Md. 
Headquarters 
for the October Purple Plum and 
Greeu Mountain Grape. The largest 
New England nursery. 500 acres. Strong 
stock of all fruits, ornamental trees and 
shrubs. Catalogue free. 
STEPHEN HOYT’S SONS, New Canaan, Conn. 
ginseng stock for Sale. My own growing. Orders 
booked now lor delivery September 1. Send stamp 
for catalogue. GKO. MDDGETT, Johnstown, Pa. 
Prrn \A/UC AT^ Description of best and poorest. 
uLLU Ii iILA I u Many varieties entirely ruined. 
Write to-day. Smith's Wheat Farm, Manchester.N Y. 
nr I CQY Cabbage Plants only per 1,000. 
UuLLn I 100 Strawberry Plants In pots for il 
Crimson Clover Seed of our own growing. Catalogue 
free. 8LAYMAKER & SON, Dover, Del. 
Celery and Cabbage Plants for Sale 
Leading varieties, carefully packed with moss In 
baskets, f. o. b. here. 250 plants at tiOc.; 500 for 90c.; 
1,000 for $1.50. Special price on quantities over 6,000. 
Cash with order. Plants reaoy 15th to 20th of June. 
WOODLAND FARM, Canastota, Madison Co., N. Y 
CRIMSON CLOVER SEED'?" .■’Tot “.r. 
R. 8. JOHNSTON, Box 100, Stockley, Del. 
Delaware Crimson Clover Seed 
Send for sample and prices. I am not a dealer, but 
otter only choice seed of my own growing. 
R. H. VAN DYKE, Dover, Del. 
PEDIGREE CRIMSOH CLOVER SEED. 
Kigbt successful years In succession. Only i'lO 
miles south of Cleveland. Ohio. Try It. Price, 
per bu.; $180 per peck. Sacks. 8c. per bushel, 
A HUKSH, Burton City, Wayne Co , Ohio. 
Home-Grown Crimson Clover Seed. 
Choice Japanese Buckwheat. Seed Wheat and Win¬ 
ter Oats. J. K. HOLLAND, Milford, Del. 
1901 CROP CRIMSON CLOVER SEED. 
Ready now. Pedigree seed of my own growing 
Clean and pure. Send stamp for sample and price 
when ready to buy. 
E. G, Packard, Seedsman, Dover, Del. 
In sowing this valuable clover It Is Im¬ 
portant that t merican seed is used. We 
supply genuine Delaware seed only. Our 
special circular describing uses of Crimson 
HENRY A. DREER, 714 Chestnut St., Philadelphia, Pa. 
The New Horticulture 
BY H. Af- STRINCF^ELLOW. 
We do not hesitate to say that this is one of the most 
interesting books on horticulture that ever was printed. 
Most reading farmers have heard of the now famous 
“Stringfellow Method” of planting trees, but few 
understand clearly what it is. This book tells the whole 
story in clear cut, forcible style, which all can under¬ 
stand. Not only is the theory of close root-pruning 
carefully explained, but the general principles of garden¬ 
ing and fruit-growing are discussed. Mr. Stringfellow 
is a practical gardener, and he gives his own experience. 
We commend the book to all without reserve. New 
Edition, paper covers, 50 cents. 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER, New York. 
