1896 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
579 
FARMERS’ CLUB DISCUSSION. 
(continued.) 
are getting some excellent results from 
the use of various combinations of 
fertilizing materials, and hope to throw 
some light on many questions in this 
connection. 
R. N.-Y.—We saw this series of ex¬ 
periments in May. In many ways, 
we think it the most comprehensive 
series of fertilizer experiments ever 
started in America. 
Wheat Fertilizers in New York. 
Prof. L. L. Van Slyke, New York 
Experiment Station. —lam of the opin¬ 
ion that the use of fertilizers on the 
wheat crop is increasing. In any case, 
the number of different brands which 
are being used, has rapidly increased, 
and this is, undoubtedly, an indication 
that the total consumption is greater. 
I cannot state definitely the amount of 
fertilizer generally used per acre for 
wheat, but think that the tendency is to 
use too small quantities, and that the 
majority of farmers do not often apply 
more than 200 or 300 pounds per acre. 
They may have learned, from experi¬ 
ence, that this is the largest amount 
that can be applied profitably. The 
tendency, within the last year or two, 
has been to use more of the plain super¬ 
phosphates, with or without potash, 
rather than goods containing nitrogen. 
These statements do not represent any 
particular inquiry of mine, but are 
simply expressions of my impression as 
a result of talking with farmers, and 
corresponding with them. 
Don't Poison the Birds. 
G. G. G., Vail, N. J.—I have looked 
carefully through each number of The 
R. N.-Y., since the issue of June 27, to 
see an article condemning that of J. A., 
on page 434, but have failed to find it. 
Instead, in a recent issue, Prof. Slinger- 
land advocates the same method of 
what seems to me must result in whole¬ 
sale slaughter of birds of all or nearly all 
kinds. The cutworm, I know is a great 
pest; but I do not think that a man is 
justified in killing numberless birds 
which, with their descendants, would, if 
protected, keep in subjection cutworms 
and army worms and aid the farmer in 
many other ways. 
On page 501, you have a word to say 
in favor of “ Bird Day Of what use 
is Bird Day with the country full of 
“ J. A.’s ” and “ Prof. M. V. S.’s ” sowing 
poisoned feed within their reach ? Pro¬ 
tect the birds and those greatest of 
grub eaters, the skunks, and our insect 
foes will disturb us less and less each 
year, until their presence will be scarce¬ 
ly felt at all. I believe, moreover, that 
the skunk would aid us much in our 
warfare against the woodchuck and 
rabbit. 
R. N.-Y.—Fred Grundy came to the 
rescue last week. 
A New English Currant. — In the 
Gardeners’ Chronicle, London, of August 
1 , is an illustration of a new red currant, 
reproduced at Fig. 179, named Comet. 
It was exhibited before the Royal Hor¬ 
ticultural Society by M. H. Becker, a 
nurseryman of Jersey, and the illustra¬ 
tion was drawn of exactly the natural 
size. The chief advantages claimed are 
those of unusual productiveness, size of 
berry and length of bunch. As many as 
26 large berries have been counted upon 
one bunch. Who will be the first to in¬ 
troduce this new currant here ?. 
Our single bunch of Campbell’s Early 
grape passed through the rose-bug pe¬ 
riod in safety, and it is now protected 
against the birds, etc., by a paper bag. 
We want to say that, excepting the 
grounds of the originator, The R. N.-Y. 
was the first to fruit this variety which, 
as we are impressed, will prove to be the 
best hardy and healthy black grape, 
whether early or late, thus far produced. 
And we are glad that so good and worthy 
a man as George W. Campbell is the 
originator. 
Mr. Geo. J. Burch, of Reading, Eng¬ 
land, has been making experiments on 
plants as revealed by the Roentgen rays. 
Several flowers have been photographed 
with the Roentgen rays which showed 
the ovules of the ovary in an unopened 
bud ; the seeds with seed pods and the 
veins upon white flower petals. 
We are sorry to say that our Cupid 
sweet pea is an out-and-out failure. 
We have a row of about 25 feet. The 
seed did not germinate well, the plants 
are not strong, and have borne, up to 
this time, scarcely a dozen flowers. It 
is a dwarf pea, surely—every plant—but 
it does not take to our treatment. We 
shall be glad to hear from our friends as 
to its conduct with them. 
The new St. John’s Wort, Hypericum 
bicolor (H. A. Dreer, Philadelphia), is a 
delicate little shrub. We know little 
about it. The plant is not catalogued, 
and we may now say merely that the 
leaves are very small, and in color green 
and pink, yellow and pink and often 
white and pink without any green. 
Should it prove to be hardy, or even as 
a house plant, it is a dainty, delicately 
colored shrub. 
We have two dozen plants of the new 
strawberry, McKinley, sent to us for 
trial by Ellwanger & Barry, the in¬ 
troducers. They are potted plants, and 
will, doubtless, give some results next 
summer. 
Mr. Forrest Colby of Enfield, N. H., 
favors us with the following valuable 
notes: Loudon raspberry was not in¬ 
jured during the past winter, though the 
mercury fell to 24 degrees below zero. 
It promises to be, for this section, the 
most valuable raspberry. Royal Church 
and Cuthbert were killed to the ground, 
as was, also, Lovett’s Best blackberry. 
Taylor was injured a little; Snyder not 
hurt. Abundance and Burbank plums 
were not injured as to the tree, though 
95 per cent of the blossom buds were 
killed. Among varieties of Domestica, 
Moore’s Arctic alone escaped injury. 
The new Japan chestnut, Reliance, was 
not hurt. One tree, 3 % feet high, bears 
10 burrs. The Crosby, or any other 
peach, he says, will not stand the win¬ 
ters in northern New Hampshire. 
Mrs. Rogers is the queen of cannas, 
in so far as we are capable of judging. 
It began to bloom when a foot high. 
The petals are very broad, as broad as 
those of any canna we have tried, and of 
a lustrous scarlet color, edged with one- 
eighth inch of golden-yellow. We de¬ 
cidedly prefer it to the Queen Charlotte. 
The flowers are brighter and more en¬ 
during. The leaves are 18 inches long, 
of medium width and without any purple 
tint. 
Wiiat do our friends know of the new 
blackcap, Lotta? Plants were sent to 
us during April of 1895, by Frank Ford 
Sons, of Ravenna, O. They have made 
a prodigious growth—greater, perhaps, 
than any other cap we have ever tried. 
Many of the canes, August 10, were 
from 10 to 12 feet long. It is a fountain 
plant. After reaching a height of five 
Jeet, they droop and grow upon the 
ground like a dewberry. Prof. Bailey 
says that it is perfectly hardy and, as 
compared with Gregg, it is equally 
vigorous, fruiting earlier; the fruit is 
brighter in color, better flavored and 
equal in size which it maintains through 
the season. 
What other hardy variegated shrub 
is there that holds its variegation so 
steadfastly during the heat of summer 
as the Variegated California privet ? At 
the Rural Grounds, the plant is, or has 
been thus far, hardier than the species. 
The green portion of the leaves is not so 
dark a shade as that of the parent, the 
margins being alight yellow. Now and 
again, a green-leaved shoot grows among 
the variegated. It is odd that the leaves 
ol these shoots are a darker green than 
those of plain California privet. 
ARMSTRONG * McKELVY 
Pittsburgh. 
BEYMER-BAUMAN 
Pittsburgh. 
DAVIS-CHAMBERS 
Pittsburgh. 
FAHNESTOCK 
Pittsburgh. 
ANCHOR 
ECKSTEIN 
ATLANTIC 
BRADLEY 
BROOKLYN 
JEWETT 
ULSTER 
UNION 
SOUTHERN 
SHIPMAN 
COLLIER 
MISSOURI 
RED SEAL 
SOUTHERN 
Cinci: 
Cincinnati. 
■ New York. 
• Chicago. 
St. Louis. 
JOHN T. LEWIS A BROS.CO 
Philadelphia. 
MORLEY 
SALEM 
CORNELL 
KENTUCKY 
Cleveland. 
Salem, Mass. 
Buffalo. 
Louisville. 
T he mistress of the house 
is always interested in having - painting 
done, and the great variety of shades 
or combinations which can be produced by 
the use of 
P urc YV hite Lead 
and the Tinting Colors will afford her an 
opportunity to exercise her judgment and 
taste and secure the best and most durable 
paint. The brands shown in list are genu¬ 
ine. For colors use the National Lead 
Co.’s Pure White Lead Tinting Colors. No 
trouble to make or match a shade. 
Pamphlet giving valuable information and card showing samples 
of colors free; also cards showing pictures of twelve houses of different 
designs painted in various styles or combinations of shades forwarded 
upon application to those intending to paint. 
NATIONAL LEAD CO., 
1 Broadway, New York. 
J 
i 
I 
A, 
DON'T POT YOUR PLANTS! 
but use RICHARDS’ TRANSPLANTERS instead, as it is a much 
better and cheaper way. Send postal for circular telling all about it. 
Price of complete set of six Transplanters, one Excavator, and one 
Ejector, $2.50. Extra Transplanters, 20 cents each. Agents Wanted. 
F. RICHARDS, Freeport, N. Y. 
Your Potato Profits 
can be increased by quick, accurate sorting. 
The “Champion” is better in a dozen ways 
than any other potato sorter. Sorts faster 
and easier—on a new principle. Simple, 
practical, durable. Every potato grower 
should send for the book that describes and 
illustrates the 
CHAMPION POTATO SORTER 
It’s mailed free to anyone that writes for it. 
American Hoad Machine Co., Kennett Square, Pa. 
“SUCCESS V Jr. 
*A L improved 
DIGGER 
IpotAto 
DIGGER 
YOU WANT a digpei 
that will please you. W< 
want to put 10,000 samplei 
ON TRIAL 
for introduction. 
FREIGHT PAID. 
If your dealer cannot 
show you our improved 
_ SUCCESS’* send at once for particulars 
D. Y. HALLOCK 4. SON, Box805 York, Pa. 
The Cream, Please! Thanks! 
We sell fence for the best railways in the 
country, hundreds of miles each, in many 
cases. Sell the National, State and City 
Governments for parks, etc. Have also a 
long list of millionaire customers with game 
preserves, and country residences, yet more 
than two thirds of our immense output 
goes to practical every day farmers. Through 
no fault of ours, they are of the more intelli¬ 
gent and successful class. Write for evidence. 
PAGE WOVEN WIRE FENCE CO., Adrian, Mich. 
RANDALLS FENCING, 
A three-ply cable on each edge. Always taut. Will 
not buckle or sag. Handles like a roll of carpeting. 
To erect, simply strain cables. The only fence suit¬ 
able for Lawn, Garden, Orchard, Park and Cemetery 
Fencing. Address 
RANDALL FENCE CO„ Le Boy, N. Y, 
POTATO 
DICCER 
Price Reduced for 1896 
HOOVER, PROT7T & CO., Avery, O. 
—THE— 
‘HOOVER’ 
A 16-page pamphlefcfree 
Mention this paper. 
; L > 1 
*—■ 
— 
— ■-- 
'-J 
Gabled 
Fie 
=b 
ld< 
me 
IH 
ogF 
=== 
ence, 
24 to 58 Inches high; Steel Web Picket Lawn Fence; 
Poultry, Garden and Rabb't Fence; 8teel Gates, 
Steel Posts and Steel Ralls;Tree,Flower and Tomato 
G uards; Steel W1 re Fence Board, etc. Catalogue free. 
DeKALB FENCE CO., 17 High St, DeKalb, lit 
sSrongWATER PROOFS SSE* 
No RUST nor RATTLE. Outlasts «* or iron. 
A Durable Substitute for Plnster on walls. 
W ater l'root Sheathing of Bame material, the 
best and cheapest in the market. Write for samples. Ac 
The FAY J1A.MLLA ItOOFIMi tO., CAJIJDKIiJi 
SPRAYING CROPS: Why, 
When and How to Do It —By Prof. Clar¬ 
ence M. Weed. Illustrated. 
This little book tells in plain, understandable 
English, just what the ordinary farmer and fruit 
grower most needs to know. It describes all the 
insecticides and fungicides used in spraying; all 
the principal appliances used ; tells when to 
spray; what precautions to observe ; describes 
the insects and fungi against which it Is neces¬ 
sary to guard; in fact, is a complete, condensed, 
convenient handbook on the whole subject. Price 
in stiff paper covers, is but 25 cents, postpaid. 
THE BUBAL NKW-YOBKEB. 
Corner Chambers and Pearl Streets, New Tor 
