482 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
July 18 
Breeding Desired Sex a Fallacy. 
H. R., Faibmount, Ky. —Recent issues 
of The R. N.-Y. contain articles on the 
production of the desired sex by breed¬ 
ing for it. Various instructions as to 
how to proceed are given, and to sustain 
theories advanced, examples are offered, 
ranging from pollywogs to humans. 
This may be an interesting subject, and 
probably, will be an endless one, as 
ocular evidence to sustain, or disprove 
theories cannot be had. In their eager¬ 
ness to write, the authors overlook the 
axioms that dominate Nature in the pro¬ 
duction of animal life. Nature is not 
influenced by mercenary motives in the 
production of sex. Nature produces sex 
solely as the means to the reproduction 
of species. Nature has fitted the male 
organs of generation to give, the female 
to receive. Nature creates in the male, 
the animalculae which, entering the 
female, develop into the complete ani¬ 
mal. Nature creates these animalculae, 
male and female, and has not given to 
man control of her processes of repro¬ 
duction, and no feeding or fussing, pray¬ 
ing or cussing, on the part of the female, 
or any one else, can make them other 
than they are. 
The theory that the weaker or the 
stronger, the younger or the older ani¬ 
mal imparts the sex, or that it is con¬ 
trolled by the age of the moon, or the 
duration of the uterine fervor, is com¬ 
mon ; but such a theory is too flexible 
for a law of Nature. Nature’s laws are 
not like twigs that can be twisted to any 
desired shape, neither has Nature made 
a creator of man by giving to him the 
power to change or establish the sex of 
her creatures. The student of natural 
history who says that he nursed a brood 
of tadpoles, that by high feeding devel¬ 
oped more bull frogs than females, can 
learn that the little wigglers are hatched 
male and female, and that swapping 
their soon useless tails for a quartet of 
legs, does not transmogrify their sexual 
organs. 
August-Set Strawberries. 
Edwin Hoyt, Connecticut. —Straw¬ 
berry plants of the present season’s 
growth, set in August and well cared 
for, will bear a half crop next year. Of 
course, however, the plants should be 
carefully set on well prepared ground, 
and kept thoroughly cultivated. Mulch 
with coarse stable manure as soon as the 
ground is frozen hard, taking care not 
to put the manure on too thickly, as 
they are liable to be smothered if the 
manure covers the plants. The ground 
can be successfully enriched by the use 
of commercial fertilizer, if of a high 
grade. When the ground is prepared in 
August, put on at the rate of 1,200 
pounds to the acre, and in the spring, 
spread it about the plants at the rate of 
about 800 to 1,000 pounds per acre ; this, 
with the horse manure put on in the fall 
as a mulch, will make the plants vigor¬ 
ous, healthy and productive, and give 
satisfaction. If the weather is dry when 
the plants are set, water well and stir 
the ground frequently, as success de¬ 
pends very much in giving the plants a 
fine start before freezing weather. 
Beds set last season, which have pro¬ 
duced a good crop this season, may be 
made quite productive another year by 
mowing the tops off as soon as the fruit¬ 
ing season is over, cleaning out all 
weeds or grass and fertilizing well as 
above, both when the plants are cleaned 
out, and in the spring. Mulch well in 
the fall with horse manure, if at hand, 
and work into the soil in the spring 
with the fertilizer. No fruit will pay 
better for good feeding and care than 
the strawberry. Have all work done 
about the plants before any blossoms 
appear. Mulch the plants to keep the 
fruit clean ; this should be the last work 
done, just before blooming begins. 
Citrus Trifoliate in Virginia. 
J. C. 8., Oke Banks, Va. —The experi¬ 
ence of The R. N.-Y. with the Citrus 
trifoliata, as set forth in Ruralisms, 
page 419, coincides with my own. In 
1889, I set out a thriving plant of which 
I had great hopes; but it came out of the 
following winter in such a deplorable 
condition that I again took it up in 
order to be able to give it more careful 
attention. But there it stands among 
my flowers and shrubs, with small 
leaves and large thorns or spikes, a 
plant scarcely four feet high, small in 
diameter, and with no indications of 
ever intending to bloom. I, certainly, 
even in this latitude, would never under¬ 
take to make a hedge of it (for which 
purpose it has been recommended) even 
though the plants were given me. For 
indoor culture, it serves a good purpose 
for dwarfing other members of the 
Citrus family. I have now both oranges 
and lemons hanging on little bushes, 
scarcely more than a foot tall, that were 
budded on trifoliata stock. Where one 
does not care to have edible oranges or 
lemons, but enjoys the fragrance of 
orange blossoms, the little Otaheite 
orange will, probably, serve the purpose 
better than any other variety for north¬ 
ern latitudes. Owing to its small size, 
it requires but little room, is a profuse 
bloomer and bearer of tiny oranges, in 
themselves attractive, but where not 
wanted may be rubbed away as fast as 
formed, and in this way we sometimes 
prolong the season and profusion of 
bloom. 
Late Fodder Crops. 
G. W. II., Rochester, Mass —I would 
prefer Hungarian grass to barley for 
a fodder crop. Each has been put in as 
late as the middle of July, and given a 
good crop ; but it’s much better to put 
either in earlier. If the hay crop is a 
failure or nearly so, it may be cut before 
that time, so as to make way for the 
millet. If too late, frosts may come in 
time to injure it. 
How to Treat Ivy Poisoning. 
My experience with poison ivy, poison 
oak, and poison sumac—the last I dread 
the most—has been very simple. Put 
sweet cream on a cloth and cover the 
affected part; renew as soon as it begins 
to get dry. This will draw all the 
poison out in a few days, put the skin 
in a healing condition, and the poison 
will never return. Simple as this remedy 
seems to be, it is, nevertheless, unfailing. 
H. A. W., Sherman, Wyo. —In my ex¬ 
perience and observation of over 30 
years, I have found a safe and sure 
remedy for poison ivy in toad plantain. 
Bruise thoroughly the leaves of the 
green plant in a mortar, and rub the 
juice over the parts where the poison 
from the ivy or sumac has begun to 
show its effects. I have never known a 
case where the second application has 
not effected a permanent cure. This 
toad plantain is found very abundantly 
in the States east of the Mississippi, and 
in many places, becomes a very persist¬ 
ent plant to spread. 
W. H. L., Menominee, Wis.—I f any 
one affected by poison ivy, will swallow 
two fresh leaves of the ivy, he will be 
free from its effects thereafter. By get¬ 
ting some one who is not susceptible to 
(Continued on next page.) 
^Ui^rclhuu'ou.s jUmtisimi. 
Now 
You should purify, enrich and vitalize your 
blood to avoid the debilitating effects of hot 
weather. Pure blood is the safeguard of health. 
Hoods 
Sarsaparilla 
Is the best—in fact the One True Blood Purifier. 
Hood’s Pills 
are the only Pills to take 
with Hood’s Sarsaparilla. 
CRIMSON CLOVER 
We are headquarters for Recleaned Seed, 
10c. per lb. to $3.50 per bush.; $5.50 per 100 
lbs. Sow 15 lbs. to an acre. Circulars free. 
HENRY A DREER (Inc.), Seedsmen, 
No. 714 Chestnut Street. Philadelphia, Pa. 
1,500 Bushels No. I 
CRIMSON C10VER SEED. 
My good seed and low price sells it. 
ARTHUR J. COLLINS, Moorestown, N. J. 
PDIUCnN PI fill CD— The largest handler 
vnimtfwll UkUVCn of American-grown 
Crimson Clover Seed in the United States, Is JOSEPH 
E. HOLLAND, Grower and Jobber. Milford, Del. 
Also, Cow Peas, Winter Oats. Timothy Seed, etc. 
pRIMSON CLOV ER "" m" 
I Crop. New Circular, ‘‘Reasons Why Every 
W Farmer and Trucker Should Plant Crimson 
Clover”; sent kkkk. We are headquarters for 
home-grown, hardy seed, and furnish at lowest prices. 
Also, Turnip, Spinach and other seasonable seeds. 
HOLMES & MacKUBBIN. Harrisburg, Pa. 
Summer and Autumn Catalogue 
of POT-GROWN and layer STRAW¬ 
BERRY PLANTS. 
CELERY AND CABBAGE PLANTS, 
FRUIT TREES, Plants, Vines, etc., 
mailed free on application. 
T. J. DWYER ■ Nurseries, Cornwall, N.Y. 
100 Potted Parker Earles 
for sti.oo. 
T C. KEVITT, - - ATHENIA, N. J. 
CELERY PLANTS 
Extra strong, all leading 
varieties, $1.50 per 1100. 
Write for prices on large orders. THEO. HARSCH, 
Narberth P. O., Montgomery County, Pa. 
CELERY AND CRIMSON CLOVER 
#1.25 per 1,000. 8LAYMAKER & SON. Dover, Del. 
CRIMSON CLOVER SEED “ on ‘ e '‘" 0 " n 
ready. 
rop of 1800 now 
R. S. JOHNSTON, Stockley, Del. 
Plant Breeding. 
By L. II. Bailey. (Cross-breeding and Hybrid¬ 
izing, revised and enlarged.) Contains the 
Facts and Philosophy of Variation; the 
Philosophy of Crossing Plants; Specific 
Means by which Garden Varieties Originate; 
Detailed Directions for Crossing Plants. 
Cloth, $1. 
THE RURAL NEW-VORKKR Vtw York. 
HEADQUAhTlRS FOR GENUINE HARui 
Crimson Glover 
JOHNSON & STOKES, 
The most valuable crop in existence. 
It heads the list for Green Manuring equally 
valuable for Hay, Pasture and Silage. Our home¬ 
grown acclimated seed succeeds everywhere, 
and on all kinds of soil when sown in July. Au¬ 
gust or September. We have the largest crop of 
seed ever grown In this country. It will pay you 
to get our prices before ordering, and ask for our 
descriptive circular, mailed FREE. 
growths, Philadelphia, Pa. 
mckinley 
OUR 1896 
STRAWBERRY 
mckinley 
Now offered for the first time: large, crimson; quality very good. Vigorous, 
healthy, and a great yielder. We can confidently recommend it for garden and 
market culture. Flowers perfect. Pot-grown plants, ready August 1. 
Price, $1 per dozen; $5 per hundred. Descriptive Circular on request. 
ELLWANGER & BARRY, Mount Hope Nurseries, Rocheste , N Y. 
4f BUDS 
Of Bismarck, Starr, Parlins and other Apples. Koonce, Lincoln Coreless, 
Angel and other Pears. Wickson, Juicy, Red June, Milton and other Plums. 
Triumph, Greensboro and other Peaches. Cherries, Quinces, Chestnuts, etc. 
CATALOGUE FREE. 
PARRYS’ POMONA NURSERIES, PARRY, N. J. 
TREES THAT TALK. 
Davisburgii, Mich., 6 ( 29 / ’96. 
Isaac C. Rogers, Dansville , N. 7.: 
The trees you sent me were the finest I ever saw, 
so straight and smooth. While I was setting them 
two tree agents came to see them, and they said they never saw so fine Richmond Cherry Trees 
I like your stock, and I think you intend to deal straight, and do what is right. 
Very respectfully, J. W. A-, (Rural Reader). 
Remember FRESH-DUO TREES, SUCCESS and si)CERS, DAN&VILLE, WfcW YORK. 
TRIUMPH 
The only Yellow Freestone PEACH 
Ripening with Amsden. 
The Latest and Largest 
Yellow Freestone PEACH, 
EMPEROR 
MERCER { 
The only Sure-Bearing, 
Non-Rotting CHERRY. 
For full descriptions send for Catalogue (ioc.) We will send our Beautifully Jllus. Catalogue with 
the Col’d Plates of the 3 Wonderful New Fruits, and 1 Emperor Peach June Bud bi 
mail, postpaid,for 10c. JOS.li. BLACK,SON & CO., Village Nurseries, llightstowa.ib J 
The Old Soluble Pacific Guano. 
The farmers’ friend and producer of large crops. Every farmer 
should use it this fall if he wishes a large crop. If your 
storekeeper does not keep it you can write us direct. We 
want agents—probably we can make you one. 
OFFICES: 
PITTSBURGH, PA. 
ROCHESTER, N. Y. 
CLEVELAND, OHIO. 
PACIFIC GUANO COMPANY, 
43 Exchange Place , New York City. 
Lay aside your prejudices and do that 
which experiment and experience has 
determined to be the best. Your soil 
may have been robbed of its fertility by 
the past system of agriculture. It can 
be restored and made fertile and pro¬ 
ductive easier, cheaper, quicker and 
more lastingly so by a liberal , use of our 
standard brands of 
COMMERCIAL FERTILIZERS 
than by any plan known/ 
They are suited to every variety of crop, 
and in them the various chemical con¬ 
stituents ate proportioned to the require¬ 
ments of all classes of plants. They 
are uniform, dry and drillable. Every 
brand is guaranteed to be of best qual¬ 
ity and carries its analysis with it. 
stamped on the bag. Our prices are 
very reasonable—quality of goods con¬ 
sidered. We also carry a full line of 
high grade Agricultural Chemicals to| 
supply those who wish to mix their 
own fertilizers.' Write us. 
CLEVELAND DRYER GO.. Cleveland. 0. 
