1896 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
529 
podded adzuki Soja beans. These beans are about 
two-thirds the size of Canada peas, and the plant is 
quite prolific, so that a comparatively small area 
would yield sufficient seed for planting - , at compara¬ 
tively little expense. We have not sown any of these 
seeds so late in the season as August 1, but they grow 
rapidly in warm weather, and if the soil be mellow, I 
see no reason why sufficient growth should not be 
made by them before frost to protect the soil from 
washing. Southern cow peas would, probably, serve 
the purpose, but the seed would cost at least SI a 
bushel, or the same price as Canada peas, and, at 
least, two or three bushels would be required so late 
in the season in order to cover the ground. Much 
more seed would be required fairly to cover the 
ground than if sown early in the spring and given 
more time to grow. Canada peas would have the 
advantage over Soja beans or southern cow peas, in 
that the first frosts would kill the latter while the 
former would grow well through the early fall 
months until severe freezing weather came on, per¬ 
haps, until the ground froze, so that their period of 
activity as nitrogen gatherers would be nearly twice 
as long as that of the tender varieties. 
Rhode Island Ex. Station. chas. o. flagg. 
Turnips for Soil or Pigs. 
As a winter cover, we much prefer rye to anything 
else we have ever used, as it gives a good, even coat¬ 
ing to the soil. If cultivation is possible early, or the 
land can be plowed, I think that it is the best thing. 
It can be safely sown as late as September 1. If the 
land cannot be plowed or cultivated, I would sow the 
common field turnip rather thickly, although the 
latter advice is scarcely necessary. It will form a 
thick, green mass, and will all die in the winter. Sow 
from August 1 to 15. If one wish to keep a lot of 
pigs cheaply through the winter, now is the time to 
sow field turnips in the corn field, or on early potato 
ground. In connection with bran or middlings, a 
large number of them can be fed to good advantage. 
We prefer the Purple-top variety. 
Connecticut. h. g. Manchester. 
Canada Peas and Buckwheat. 
If Crimson clover would live through our winters, 
this question would be, in a great measure, solved ; 
but not entirely, as I believe that the use of clover 
every year would supply too much nitrogen for some 
crops, such as peaches, and I would suppose that the 
land would become clover sick after a time. I am 
expecting to try 1% bushel of Canada peas, and IX 
bushel of buckwheat and oats mixed. The peas are 
already sown deep with a grain drill, and as we have 
had a nice rain since, and the weather is warm, I 
shall, within a day or two, sow the grain as shallow 
as possible, with the drill, the other way or across 
the peas. The cost is : 
\y« bushel peas. $1.8? 
1 Vi bushel mixed oats and buckwheat.75 
Total. $2.62 
This does not seem to be a very costly seeding if it 
will keep the land from washing, preserve the nitrogen 
already in the soil, and add some nitrogen. Where 
bees are kept, the peas and buckwheat will make a 
valuable late feed. I hope that M. Morse will try 
this, and report his success, as I also will. 
Connecticut. thos. j. stroud. 
Rye or Crimson Clover. 
The question is a difficult one to answer, as it is 
not stated for what purpose the land is used; but 
spring cultivation is mentioned. After August 1, 
either of two things can be used—rye, or Crimson 
clover. Rye will not die out, but it is easily plowed 
under in the spring, and if sown thickly, 23 £ bushels 
per acre, the roots will hold the soil well and prevent 
washing. As a nitrogen gatherer, nothing is better 
than Crimson clover, and if it does not die in the 
spring, is easily subdued by plowing under early, 
as any kind of a covering should be in an orchard or 
vineyard. Few plants will grow in the autumn 
sufficiently to fill the soil with roots that will pre¬ 
vent washing. For that purpose, Crimson clover 
should be sown as early as possible. Rye can be 
sown as late as September 1, as it grows rapidly in 
cool weather. geo. t. powell. 
New York. 
Secretary Gold Describes His Practice. 
This question has too many requirements to be met 
by one single plant. Peas would cover the surface, 
die, and prove an enriching crop ; but the roots would 
resist washing but little. Oats would hold the soil 
better and die. Rye would hold the soil still better, 
save the soluble fertility of the soil, laying hold at 
any time the ground was thawed ; but it would live 
to be in the way in spring culture. This could be 
met by close pasturing in the spring, so that only the 
roots would be in the way. In a young orchard I am 
keeping under the plow, I sowed peas in the spring, 
last year, turnips and rape in the summer, and 
pastured with sheep in autumn. This left no roots to 
hold the soil, and it washed badly, as the turf was 
decayed, and a part was a hillside. This summer, I 
have peas, and as soon as they come off, I shall sow 
rye and turnips, pasture with sheep, and sow peas 
again next year. t. s. gold. 
Connecticut. 
Outside Round Si/o. 
A. .7. S., Osivego County, iV. Y .—Is there any objection to build¬ 
ing a silo on the outside of a barn ? Will you compare the 
condition of the ensilage in outside silos, with that of those built 
inside the barn ? With first-class ensilage, is there any danger 
of injuring the cows in any way ? I have heard that the acid in 
ensilage injured the teeth and stomach of cows, but have never 
fed it. 
Ans. —There are no objections to building a silo on 
the outside of the barn. My experience teaches me 
that circular silos are far superior to square ones ; 
therefore, I would advise the building of two circular 
ones on the outside of the barn, and then erecting a 
cover over them ; or, in other words, I would build 
an addition to the barn, say, 14 or 15 feet wide and 30 
to 32 feet long. It may be covered with inch barn 
boards battened. Place the silos inside of this. As it 
is pretty cold in Oswego County, it would be well to 
fill the corners, during the winter, with straw, which 
could be used for bedding late in the season. I am 
well satisfied that this system is to be preferred to 
the old one with square corners, which require such 
heavy timber and so much boarding that they soon 
rot out, and the silos are never quite as tight as they 
should be. If it is possible to arrange these silos so 
that the material may be drawn on the second floor 
of the barn preparatory to being cut and elevated into 
the silo, so much the better. Daring the past year, I 
have seen several of these silos covered with straw 
thoroughly saturated with water, and the material has 
come out in a very satisfactory condition. There is 
SILO OUTSIDE THE BARN. Fig. 168. 
no danger of injuring the teeth or stomachs of cows 
by feeding them ensilage, even though it is quite 
acid. Forty pounds per cow per day are about the 
limit that can be fed. If the ensilage is not of the 
best, it should be fed in the evening, after the cows 
are milked. The dotted line in Fig. 168 shows where 
the old barn boarding might'be removed. The trian¬ 
gular space between the two silos at the front, would 
be ample room for temporarily storing material which 
was thrown out of the silo, or for any other similar 
purpose. I. P. ROBERTS. 
Have Patience With the Pear Trees. 
H. G. D., Loyalville, Pa.— I have 12 pear trees that are 10 years 
old, on good ground. They are very thrifty, but do not bear. 
There will be blooms coming out all summer. What is the 
matter ? 
Ans.—H. G. D. does not say what variety or varie¬ 
ties he has, or whether they are standards or dwarfs ; 
but it is quite sure that they are standard trees. As 
they are set in good soil, and are growing thriftily, it 
is no great wonder that, at 10 years old, they have 
not borne a crop, if they are of one or more of the 
late-bearing kinds. Pear trees often send out blooms 
now and then all summer. Be patient for a year or 
two more. h. e. y. d. 
Propagating Marianna Plums. 
F. M. M ., Peru, 0 .—For some time, I have been trying to propa¬ 
gate Marianna plums from cuttings. The method followed has 
been to store the cuttings in the cellar or out of doors, under 
manure, through the winter, and set them in the spring. They 
have been well cared for, but have nearly all died; not more than 
five per cent have grown, and, usually, much less, sometimes as 
low as one per cent. At the same time, I have noticed that a friend’s 
success has been as poor, and he has had good success with cur¬ 
rants, etc. What is the matter ? 
Ans. —The trouble with the Marianna plum cuttings 
is, that they root with great difficulty in the northern 
States. In most regions of the South, especially the 
lighter lands in Georgia and Texas, they grow quite 
readily. It is a common practice among northern 
nurserymen, to have Marianna stocks grown in the 
South, or to buy them of the southern nurserymen 
and have them sent north to be reset and used as 
stock upon which to bud other plums. h. e. v. d. 
Varieties of Sweet Corn, Peas and Tomatoes. 
D. J. S., Aitkens Ferry , P. E. I., Panada.— Wliat are the best 
varieties for cauniug, taking quality and productiveness into 
consideration, of sweet corn, peas and tomatoes ? 
Ans. —We would choose White Cory for first early, 
notwithstanding the claims made for many other 
kinds, that they are earlier. Extra Early Vermont 
comes in two days later, and is better in quality. Then 
we would choose Melrose, Moore s Concord, Stowell’s 
Evergreen and Black Mexican—the last for home use 
only. Peas : For home use, none of the first early 
smooth sorts ; Nott’s Excelsior, Station, Abundance, 
Heroine, New Life. Tomatoes: Thorburn’s Long- 
keeper, Stone. 
Some Carman No. 3 Potatoes. 
C. //. G., Black Hall, Conn. —I received a section of Carman No. 
3 potato last spring, rather late, but made three hills of it, which 
have done finely. It has a blue bloom. Some time later, I received 
a large potato claiming, also, to be Carman No. 3, from which I 
made 13 hills. But, while the vines are very similar, the blos¬ 
soms are white. Why is this ? June 9, I planted 38 hills of R. 
N.-Y. No. 2, putting one bushel cf hen manure in the 38 hills, well 
worked into the bottom with a hoe. I dropped a one-half pound 
potato well sprouted, in each hole, and covered by hand. Now 
they are two feet high, and in blossom, very strong plants all of 
them. A neighbor says that I will get big tops, but no potatoes. 
Is he right? 
Ans. —If the blossoms of the vines from the large 
potato are white, it is a sure sign that the variety is 
not Carman No. 3. These potatoes, evidently, need 
potash. There is not enough potash in the hen 
manure. 
The “ Old-fashioned ” Potato Beetle. 
G. C. B., Maplewood, Pa. —I send some of our new potato bugs. 
This is their first appearance with us. By their actions, they are 
worse than the old kind. They eat very rapidly, all the time, and 
are very spry on foot. Like the old kind, they can play ’possum 
when approached, and tumble off the vines. The large ones are 
the females, and the small ones the males. It has been reported 
to me that Paris-green has no effect on them, but it is a mistake ; 
Paris-green will kill them. When caught in the hands, they will 
discharge a little drop of liquid out of the joints of their legs on 
either side. 
ANSWERED BY M. V. SLINGERLAND. 
G. C. B.’s new “potato bugs” proved to be the “old- 
fashioned ” potato beetles, known as Blister beetles. 
I gave an illustrated discussion of one of these curi¬ 
ous beetles in The R. N.-Y. for August 24, 1895. The 
species now at hand lacks the stripes of the one there 
discussed, and is known as Macrobasis unicolor, the 
Ash-gray Blister beetle. These beetles were recog¬ 
nized as serious potato pests throughout the country 
for many years before the advent of the Colorado 
beetle in the East; but their outbreaks are, usually, 
local and irregular. The transformations which 
these beetles undergo are remarkable, both as to the 
changes in form, and in the great number of changes. 
One mother may lay from 400 to 500 eggs ; these she 
deposits in masses of about 130, in holes which she 
makes in the ground, and then carefully covers with 
earth. In about 10 days, long-legged, active grubs 
hatch from these eggs, and go running about on the 
ground searching for food. They are very fastidious 
in their diet, for nothing but grasshopper eggs will 
satisfy them. Should more than one grub get into 
the same pod or mass of grasshopper eggs, a deadly 
conflict sooner or later ensues, until one alone re¬ 
mains as an example of the “survival of the fittest.” 
The grubs feed on the eggs for several weeks, mean¬ 
while passing through several quite different stages, 
finally reaching a pupa-like stage in which the winter 
is usually passed. In the spring, another grub stage 
comes from this pupa-like object; this grub feeds but 
little, and soon enters the true pupa stage from 
which the beetles emerge in about a week. This 
complicated and interesting series of changes is only 
a fair sample of the wonderful stories these, to many, 
insignificant creatures—the insects—have to tell to 
those who care to spend some time with them. 
Thus these Blister beetles are decidedly beneficial 
as grubs destroying grasshoppers’ eggs, and are often 
very injurious to our crops as beetles; it is a note¬ 
worthy fact that the beetles are always more numer¬ 
ous the next season after a grasshopper year. This 
dependence upon grasshopper eggs for a living dur¬ 
ing their early stages, explains their great variation 
in numbers from year to year. The beetles are 
ravenous feeders, and are thus capable of doing much 
damage in a short time; thus we must be on the look¬ 
out for them, and be ready to fight them at once. 
The beetles were still alive when they reached me, 
and I had the pleasure of verifying G. C. B.’s interest¬ 
ing observation on the discharge of a liquid from the 
legs. When I pinched the body of one of them, it 
secreted from each knee-joint a small drop of a 
yellow liquid. This liquid is said to have a disagree¬ 
able odor, and to contain uric acid; it thus, doubtless, 
serves as a means of defense against birds or insect 
foes. The liquid has been shown to be the blood of 
the beetle. 
Oendrolene for Borers. 
G. G. G., Vail, N. J. —I have an apple tree about 14 inches in 
diameter, that is badly infested with borers—so badly that the 
bark is off and the wood dead more than half way ’round the base 
of the trunk. The foliage looks thrifty, and the tree has on it a 
fair crop of apples which seem to be developing all right. Will 
dendrolene save the tree ? If so, how much will it require ? 
Ans. —Dendrolene has not yet been tested suffi¬ 
ciently to warrant the definite statement that it will 
keep borers out of fruit trees. It is one of the most 
promising substances now under discussion for this 
purpose, I think. An extensive experiment with it 
against the peach bprer is now in operation here at 
the Cornell insectary, and next year, results of some 
kind will be forthcoming. At present, 1 do not feel 
warranted in strongly recommending it as a preven¬ 
tive against borers ; it may save G G. G.’s tree, and 
it may not. It is wortb a trial; four or five pounds, 
costing about six cents per pound, ought to be enough 
to treat the tree described. m. y. s. 
