502 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
July 20 
; Ruralisms 
NOTES FROM THE RURAL GROUNDS. 
Chickens and Tobacco. —Observant 
readers of this column may have 
noted a lack of comment on the progress 
of the greenhouse chickens mentioned 
on page 212. It is not agreeable to re¬ 
cord failure where success should be 
confidently expected, but an examina¬ 
tion into the conditions will usually re¬ 
veal an error or omission accounting for 
the lack of success. Those chickens 
failed to thrive after the first week. 
Their appetites grew less, until the 
daintiest food was regarded with aver¬ 
sion, the growth was checked, the skin 
became dry and harsh, and the feathers 
staring. They seemed to be feverish, 
and developed an insatiable thirst. 
There was generally an Idiotic appear¬ 
ance, if such may be attributed to a 
chick,while the usual apathetic lassitude 
was varied by sudden aimless starts. A 
general paralysis soon followed, and 
deaths began to occur. As the care and 
conditions of temperature seemed quite 
ideal the case appeared rather puzzling 
until the similarity of the symptoms to 
nicotine poisoning in young victims of 
the cigarette habit was noted. The 
benches of the greenhouse were crowded 
with tender plants, and the dull weather 
had favored the extension of green-fly 
or aphids so that repeated night fumiga¬ 
tions of tobacco stems were needed to 
hold the pests in check. While the 
chickens were always carefully removed 
during a fumigation, and not replaced 
as long as there was a visible trace of 
smoke, enough nicotine saturated the 
soil and air seriously to injure the 
chicks and keep them in a state of semi¬ 
intoxication. As soon as provision could 
be made elsewhere they were removed, 
and quickly recovered appetites and in¬ 
terest in life. With the exception of 
those manifestly too far gone before re¬ 
moval, all made good recoveries, but 
they remain stunted in growth. All who 
have closely noted the appearance of a 
youth addicted to tobacco will recognize 
the portrait. It has been well settled by 
medical authorities that tobacco is al¬ 
ways injurious to young and undevel¬ 
oped animals, human or otherwise, 
though it may be either indifferent or 
beneficial in a slight degree to the 
adult. The mother hens were not vis¬ 
ibly affected in this case, though the 
nervous system of the chicks was dis¬ 
ordered to the verge of paralysis. To¬ 
bacco in any form is a filthy thing, and 
it would be well if its consumption 
could be confined to its legitimate use 
as an insecticide. We shall try hydro¬ 
cyanic gas next Winter. Its use is at¬ 
tended with some danger and incon¬ 
venience, but at any rate the lingering 
and disagreeable odor of tobacco may 
be avoided. During the Spring of 1900 
there was less necessity for fumigation, 
and the broods of chickens under the 
benches got on splendidly, with no loss. 
Bush Fruit Prospects. —^The various 
bush fruits bloomed well, and generally 
set a good crop, though the early spe¬ 
cies, such as currants, gooseberries and 
Elaeagnus were adversely affected by the 
frequent rains at the flowering period. 
The fierce heat wave now on at this 
writing, July 3, has hurried the ripening 
of blackcap raspberries, and badly 
scalded exposed gooseberries. The Tri¬ 
umph gooseberry bush mentioned on 
page 498, 1900, yielded eight quarts of 
large and perfect berries. It has been 
planted four years, and is just getting 
into good bearing condition. Blackber¬ 
ries, red raspberries and dewberries all 
show great promise, but their ultimate 
performance greatly depends on the 
amount of rain they will get before 
ripening. Strawberries were sharply cut 
by the heat, the berries scalding in a 
are already bare of this popular fruit, 
making, together with the late begin¬ 
ning, one of the shortest seasons on rec¬ 
ord. Jesse B. Rogers, the veteran Jer¬ 
sey horticulturist, who has excellent 
sources of information, estimates the 
strawberry crop of the State at a 40-per¬ 
cent yield, sold at a 60-per-cent price, 
which is far from a cheerful condition. 
In our local market fair prices for good 
berries were obtained all through the 
season, but berries of this character 
were scarce. 
The Golden Mayberry. —This inter¬ 
esting offshoot from the Chinese Rubus 
cratmgifolius is again bearing a moder¬ 
ate crop. It wintered with but little loss 
of wood, and bloomed profusely, but the 
rains evidently hindered pollination. It 
ripens here during strawberry time, and 
is naturally later this year than last 
from the low temperature range of the 
Spring months. The berries are large 
and handsome, bright clear yellow in 
color, with a sweet and sprightly ilavor. 
The seeds are very small. Fig. 213 shows 
some good specimens from our plants, 
taken natural size. There is no doubt 
of the desirability of this berry if it 
could be grown in sufficient quantity, 
but as we have only known the plants 
to fruit twice in seven years it can be 
imagined they are of no practical value 
where Winter temperatures approaching 
zero may be expected. The Mayberry 
ought to be thoroughly tested in the 
South, where it may prove really useful. 
Prof. George B. Groff stated in a paper 
read at the last meeting of the Pennsyl¬ 
vania State Horticultural Association, 
that the Mayberry is the only bush fruit 
cuttings should be frequently sprayed 
on bright days, and the sand kept con¬ 
stantly moist. If all goes well the cut¬ 
tings will begin to throw out roots in 
about six weeks, when they must be 
potted off singly, using pots not more 
than 2*^ inches in diameter. Cuttings 
from wood grown under glass always 
succeed best under similar conditions. 
Rose branches may be pegged down to 
form layers at any time in Summer, but 
July and August are probably the best 
months, while branches are still grow¬ 
ing. 
Manuring Asparagus in the Fall. 
The asparagus crop has been a short one 
In this section this Spring. I have a plan¬ 
tation that has not produced very heavily. 
How would it do to apply a good dressing 
of stable manure when the cutting season 
is over, and cultivate it in during the 
Summer? Would it not result In stronger 
shoots next year? Do you think excessive 
manuring might tend to increase the rust 
on the plants? h. c. c. m. 
Milford, Conn. 
It is usual to fertilize asparagus in 
late Winter or early Spring, spreading 
the manure and cultivating it in as soon 
as the soil may be safely worked, but 
on the principle of better late than never 
it will do immense good to fertilize im¬ 
mediately after cutting. Asparagus 
roots deeply, and it requires consider¬ 
able rain to wash the soluble constitu¬ 
ents of manure deep enough to be avail¬ 
able, so that a late fertilization may not 
be as effective the first growing season 
as an early one, though some surplus 
may remain until the following year. 
Long Island Note. —The Pea louse ar¬ 
rived here about the end of June this 
THE GOLDEN MAYBERRY. Fig. 213. 
he heard of in a two years’ residence in 
Porto Rico. It had been introduced 
locally soon after its dissemination in 
1894, and was spreading wilu some 
rapidity out of the bounds of cultiva¬ 
tion. The Porto Ricans prize it highly, 
and find a ready market for all the ber¬ 
ries that can be had. It is possible that 
several other tender Oriental species of 
Rubus may prove desirable in this 
tropical Island, as our northern oerries 
do not thrive under such conditions of 
uniform high temperature. w. v, f. 
wholesale 'manner. The local markets 
Starting and Growing Rose Cuttings. 
When shall I cut and how start and care 
for rose cuttings? When la best time to 
put limbs of roses down to root to get 
layer plants? j. p. d. 
Denmark, N. C. 
Very few roses root well from cut¬ 
tings made from wood grown in the 
open air. The everblooming varieties 
included in the Tea, Bourbon and China 
classes are most easily propagated in 
this way. The cuttings should be made 
from branches that have lately bloomed, 
or still in flower, and may have two or 
more buds or “eyes.” They should be 
cut smoothly with a sharp knife, about 
half of the foliage trimmed off, and im¬ 
mediately inserted in wet sand. The 
sand should be very firmly packed and 
freshly watered. The hole for the cut¬ 
ting may be made with a small stick, 
the cutting inserted, leaving but one 
bud and leaf out, and the sand packed 
with the same tool. The propagating 
tray or bench should preferably be un¬ 
der glass, where it can be partially 
shaded and protected from drafts. The 
year, and the intensely hot weather 
further hindered its breeding work, so 
it did not do any harm. The best pea 
for quick maturing, good crop and 
healthy growth was the Excelsior. It 
matured 10 days earlier than the long- 
vine peas sown the same day. The wea¬ 
ther from about the middle of June till 
July 2 was dry and intensely hot around 
here. Potatoes will feel it most, al¬ 
though small carrots and late beets were 
injured. Since the rains large areas are 
being planted with cabbage. Fields of 
tomatoes set out “on water” during the 
hot spell died. All about here there 
were dozens of people planting still on 
the Fourth. Ea^ly corn Is looking well 
and promises a good crop. The only 
grain grown about here is a piece of rye 
for bedding. Some sow millet after 
early peas. Corn and stalks are the 
chief home-produced horse feed. a. c. 
Nassau Co.. N. Y. 
Some “Clark” Grass.—I went to see 
George M. Clark’s grass Held last 
week and was rather disappointed in 
not finding 16 acres of grass instead of 
about five or six. The grass that was 
across the brook on the north side of the 
field was very fine; in fact, it all looTced 
well. I had a long talk with Mr. Clark 
in regard to his grass, and have come to 
the conclusion that the average farmer 
cannot raise as much grass as he can, 
and have my doubts as to whether it pays 
with fertilizers at $40 per ton. I tried his 
treatment last Pall on four acres with his 
kind of tools, and followed out directions 
as nearly as I could; bought the same 
kind of fertilizer as he uses, and my grass 
is about one-half as tall and as thick on 
the ground as his was. I looked at mine 
one day and his the next, and in one cor¬ 
ner of the lot I sowed Canada wood ashes, 
and it looks much better where the ashes 
were sown than where soda, potash and 
bone were used. If anyone can tell why 
that is so 1 should be glad to know 
Carmel, N. Y. t. f. k. 
R. N.-y.—The only guess we can make 
i.s that your soil needs lime. The ashes 
contain about one-third lime, and we do 
not see what else could make the differ¬ 
ence. ^_ 
For the land’s sake, use Bowker’s Fer¬ 
tilizers. They enrich the earth.— Adv. 
eastern MFG. CO., 267 South 5th 8t.. Phila., I*a. 
SHAFT HOLDER 
and ANTI-RATTLER. 
Keep shafts In upright position when 
not In use; no weighton horse s hack- 
prevents rattling; only (i Inches long- 
can be put on by anyone In lOniln- 
utos; warranted; $1.25 per pair 
charges prepaid. Territory for sale’ 
Big Inducements to Agents* Dealers 
Mention this paper when writing. 
City Shaft Support Co.. 
UAUTWELL, OHIO. 
How to uram Lana Profitably. 
On every farm there Is probably some land 
that could be made more productive by under¬ 
drainage. Properly drained land can always 
be worked earlier, and more profitably. Tiie 
best and most 
e-onoinical way 
to drain is ex- 
pl.'tined in the 
book, “Benefits of Drainage and How to Drain,” 
which is sent free by JOHN U. JACK.SON, 
76 Third Avenue, Albany, N. Y. 
BALES 
«& Tont 
a Day 
HAY1 
The Gem Fnll-Oircle >UJC^Baler, lightest, 
•trougest,cheapest baler. Made of wrought steel 
Operated by 1 oi 2 horses. Bales 10 to 16 tons a day 
tjold on b days trial. Catalogue free, Addresa 
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'OUl *^IIAIinY IIAH” OA 8 UL 1 NE ENGINE 
I HWHIp I IvIMIr works a walking btam pump 
jack, grinds, sbslls, cots teed,separates 
cream, churns, cuts bone, etc. Easy to 
disconnect and put on belt. Engine 
$14 actual h , p, Kaey to learn, easy 
to operate, most economical. Gasoline 
snpplytank. Engine and al 1, on one 
bane. Send for our Illustrated catalog. 
WEHSTER MANI FAOTPRISO CO. 
109 J W. 16th St., Chicago, Ill. 
N. Y. office 38 Dey SC, N. Y. City. 
THE MIETZ & WEISS 
Kerosene Engines 
Cheapest, and Safest Power 
Known. For pumping and 
electric lighting, grinding 
corn, separating cream, 
sawing wood, and all pmver 
purposes. Send tor Catalog. 
A. MIKTZ, 
128 Mott Street. New York. 
CHARTER 
Gasoline Engine 
I T r* i\ Any Place 
I J \ p 11 By Any One 
For Any Purpose 
' StaHonariea, Portables, Engines 
and Pumps, Hoisters 
Send for Illustrated Catalogue and 
Testimonials. State your Power Needs. 
Charter Gas Engine Co., Box 26, Sterling, III. 
BUBEROID 
THE 
POULTRY-HOUSE! 
ROOFING 
As a water-proof covering tor Poultry- 
Houses, RUBEliOlDhas no equal. Keeps I 
the houses cool during the warm weather,! 
and warm In Winter, and the chicks dry and | 
I comfortable. The suu cannot melt it. 
THE STANDARD PAINT CO., 
100 William Street, 
NEW YORK. 
A Dry Sprayer 
\y No Water or Plaster. 
' i-go TliEK, HUSH 
« . OH VINE. 
yiMJfi. Two rows of potatoes as 
fastas you walk,wide or 
narrowolantliig. Agents 
wanted. Catalogue and 
spray calendar free. 
Leggett & Brother, 
3011'earl St., New York. 
SLUG SHOT 
Kills Cabbage and Other Worms 
in the garden safely and clieaply. 
SOLD BY SEED DEALERS, 
For Pamphlet address 
B. Hammond, Flshklli-un-lludsou, New York. 
