1896 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
67$ 
Those Two Western Strawberries 
Prof. J. L Budd, Ames, Ia. —To meet 
the requirements called for on page 638, 
I would select from the list doing well 
in that part of the West, Parker Earle 
and Charles Downing, and I would alter¬ 
nate them in the rows, as the Charles 
Downing does not seem to bear well 
where it does not hare a perfect sort be¬ 
side it. I know of no variety of its size 
and quality among the newer sorts 
doing well in the West. 
Strawberries in September. 
C. W. C., Sac City, Ia —Who ever had 
the pleasure of eating strawberries in 
September—strawberries grown in the 
open field V I have been picking a second 
crop of strawberries grown in our old 
bed fruited this summer, mostly Beder 
Wood, and fine, large berries. Last 
week, we picked about a quart, and had 
a fine strawberry shortcake, and we 
shall have as many more this week if 
the weather continue warm enough to 
ripen the green ones now set. I never 
had the like occur before, and would 
like to ask if others have, and the cause. 
Both old and new beds are looking fine, 
and we have an excellent prospect for a 
good crop another year. 
Apples for Oregon. 
F. W. M., Oswego, Oke. —My choice 
for late keeping winter apples for this 
section of the country is, Wealthy, 
Northern Spy, and Baldwin. The tree 
of the Wealthy resembles the weeping 
willow somewhat ; there is no breaking 
of branches and no propping up to do. 
The tree is hardy and a good bearer; 
the fruit is large and round, dark red 
and an extra good keeper. It sells as 
readily as any and with many is first 
choice. The other two varieties do well 
here ; the trees are hardy, and fruit of 
good size and color. I cannot see any 
difference between the eastern grown 
and those grown here, where the or¬ 
chard is well cared for, excepting in the 
Greening, which does not do well in 
this section. 
Another Large Pear Orchard. 
Geo G Groff, Pennsylvania. —Penn¬ 
sylvania has a pear orchard of 75 acres, 
a portion set eight or nine years. This 
orchard, too, like the one in Indiana, is 
of Keiffers, although in the later plant¬ 
ings, each tenth row is of another 
variety for the purposes of fertilization ; 
one of the Chinese russet pears has been 
used for this purpose. Since setting, 
these trees have produced one crop. 
They have made a remarkably fine 
growth. The problem of profit is by no 
means settled. The expense of caring 
for such an orchard until bearing is 
reached, is considerable, and in this par¬ 
ticular case, a disease has invaded the 
trees which may be an important factor 
in regulating the profits. Altogether, it 
is something like putting all the eggs 
into one basket. 
" Cherry Stones.” 
M. G. K., Ithaca, N. Y. —On page 632, 
the writer of “ Cherry Stones,” says that 
he hopes that the cherry tree “ is stand¬ 
ing there to-day, with its roots still 
deeper in that rock.” It is. It is now 
about 15 inches in diameter, and has 
forced the stone about two feet apart 
across the top. I have no doubt that 
some of the readers of the article, think 
that the story originated in the writer’s 
brain ; but the description is too accu¬ 
rate for a student of that college to mis¬ 
take it. It is to be regretted, perhaps, 
that the “good old days,” of which the 
writer speaks, are gone. The old foot¬ 
path by the stone is now overgrown 
with weeds. A trolley line has sup¬ 
planted the college “ bus.” But though 
the student now hurries past the old 
stone at the rate of 15 miles an hour, 
yet he is sure to see it, and hear the 
story of the cherry tree. 
The writer speaks of working his way. 
It may interest the readers of The R. 
N.-Y. to know that over 90 per cent of 
the students at that college work their 
way, and that of the class with which I 
was graduated, only two were city-bred 
boys, each of whom earned his own ex¬ 
penses. No one is looked down on be¬ 
cause he works his passage. A student 
is rated by his fellow students at his full 
value. Clothes and appearance don't 
rank highest. One student whom I 
know had only $2.50 when he had paid 
his first term’s fees. He was graduated 
at the head of his class, and now holds a 
good government position. 
The college is the oldest agricultural 
college in America, and gives a thorough 
scientific, agricultural, and mechanical 
education. It is the grandest workshop 
l know. Its product is men. broad¬ 
minded men; and in 1900, it will grad¬ 
uate its first class of women who cannot 
but be broad-minded also. 
To Poison Prairie Dogs. 
S. E H . Greeley, Col —Thirty grains 
of strychnine were placed in a four- 
quart pail, and a little vinegar turned 
over it to dissolve it quickly. To this 
were added two quarts of water and 
one-half cupful of sugar (to overcome 
the acidity), and the pail was tilled with 
sweet corn and left to soak 24 hours. 
This was scattered over the ground 
where a colony of prairie dogs lived, 
and they all disappeared—probably died 
in their holes, as no dead animals were 
found. Wheat treated in the same way, 
they refused to eat; it was left to germ¬ 
inate and grow. Then we tried sweet 
corn with the result given. 
Cutworms ; Poison ; Song Birds. 
B. T. W., Rochester, Mass. —I wish 
very heartily to indorse the views of F. 
Hodgman, on page 606, so far as they 
apply to song birds. I suppose that 
all people enjoy the songs of birds, but 
if Fred Grundy (or anybody else) is de¬ 
pendent upon the products of his gar¬ 
dens for a living, he may regard practi¬ 
cal facts as well as mere sentiment. Last 
fall, I set about one-half acre to a dozen 
or more of the newer kinds of straw¬ 
berries. The season was very dry, but 
I took great pains with the plants, and 
got them through the winter in fairly 
good shape. I did not expect much of a 
crop, but I did expect to get enough 
fruit to judge of the quality and merits 
or demerits of each kind. The plants 
bloomed and fruited quite well, but on 
the whole half acre, not a quart of fruit 
could I get. Of the large berries, such 
as Timbrell, Marshall, Greenville, Iowa 
Beauty, etc., notone was permitted to 
ripen fully. As soon as one side of a 
big berry ghowed red, just so soon a 
robin was on hand to spoil it. If these 
pests would eat the whole berry instead 
of picking 100, it would be less annoy¬ 
ing. I have watched robins for many 
hours, at different times, and the only 
“ insects ” I ever saw them trouble were 
earth worms, and these, so far as I know, 
are entirely harmless. 
In going over my strawberry beds, 
especially those where the fruit was not 
heavy, and finding so large a proportion 
of the best berries spoiled, I have often 
threatened to have every robin on the 
place shot. I never have, however, and, 
probably, never shall; but I would rather 
have 100 despised crows than one robin 
on the place. “ The protection of song 
birds,” so far as robins are concerned, is, 
in my opinion, a matter of sentiment 
only. We have a great variety of birds 
in this locality, and several kinds, robins 
especially, are very plentiful; but in¬ 
sects of many kinds and all, or nearly 
all, kinds of destructive worms were 
never more plentiful or more destructive 
than during 1896. And now the army 
worm is here, not satisfied with eating 
green food, but devouring in great quan¬ 
tity fodder corn that has been cut sev¬ 
eral days, and is in process of curing. If 
a mixture of molasses, bran and Paris- 
green will destroy cut-worms, I shall 
risk its destroying robins. 
ARMSTRONG & McKELVY 
Pittsburgh. 
BEYMER-BAUMAN 
Pittsburgh. 
DAVIS-CHAMBERS 
Pittsburgh. 
FAHNESTOCK 
Pittsburgh. 
ANCHOR •) 
> Cii 
ECKSTEIN > 
ATLANTIC 
BRADLEY 
• Cincinnati. 
I T IS JUST AS EASY, and a heap more 
sensible, to use a little care in the se¬ 
lection of materials when having- paint¬ 
ing done and secure the best result as it is 
to take chances and use m xtures of which 
you know nothing. To be sure of getting 
BROOKLYN 
JEWETT 
ULSTER 
UNION 
SOUTHERN 
SHIPMAN 
COLLIER 
MISSOURI 
H-iD SilA.L 
■ Now York. 
• Chicago. 
- St. Louis. 
SOUTHERN ; 
JOHN T. LEWIS & EROS.CO 
MORLEY 
SALEM 
CORNELL 
KENTUCKY 
Philadelphia. 
Cleveland. 
Salem, Moss. 
Buffalo. 
Louisville. 
I Pure White Lead 
I examine the brand (see list genuine brands). 
Any shade or color desired can be easily ob¬ 
tained by using National Lead Co.’s brands 
of Pure White Lead and Tinting-- Colors. 
o 
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. 
HLEMP’S 
Manure Spreader. 
15 Years on the Market. 
Improved for 1896. 
Spreads any kind of manure in any quantity to 
the acre, and does it better than hand work, 
even if a man si ends 10 hours on what the ma¬ 
chine will do In two minutes. Sent to anv 
responsible party subject to a .proval. «ho will 
furnish satisfactory references or rating of 
responsibility, iff Illustrated catalogue free 
Largest and Oldest Manufacture-s 
of Manure Spreaders In the World. 
KEMP & BURPEE MFG. CO., 
Box 38, SYRACUSB, N. Y. 
Do You Want a Watch ? 
W HEN the prices of Watches were reduced during the panic of 
1893 and the following year, we thought that surely they 
would go up again promptly. But we find that we are still 
able to buy them at panic prices, and some grades even cheaper than 
ever before. We urge no one to buy these watches of us. We 
simply know that retailers are obliged to make good profits on 
watches, no matter where they are located, and we are simply buy¬ 
ing these, as we want them, at wholesale prices, and add enough to 
cover cost of correspondence and postage, so that our readers, who 
want watches of any grade, can get them at practically wholesale 
prices. Every watch is guaranteed to us, and we, in turn, guarantee 
them to purchasers. We will return the money in any case of 
dissatisfaction. We, however, sell these watches only to subscribers. 
All Around Reduction in Waltham and Elgin Watches. 
Offer No. 200. “Crescent Street.” 
Elgin or Waltham Watch—Men’s Size, $4.50. ) Waltham Watch—Men’s Size. Pride of the Wal- 
No. 200 is a handsome Elgin or Waltham Watch, l tham Factory, 
men's size. The works contain seven jewels, com- \ The best full-sized Waltham watch is called 
pensation balance, safety pinion, stem winding) “Crescent Street.” This watch is made from the 
and setting apparatus, and all he greatest im- / very finest materials, each part beiDg selected by 
provements. The case is open face only, and is ( expert workmen. Every wheel is perfect, every 
made of a composite that wears just like silver. ) jewel is a precious stone, every pinion is polished 
The case is made by the Keystone Watch Case . to the highest degree. In fact, this watch is, as 
Company and guaranteed in every respect. The } the Waltham Company guarantees, “ perfect in 
case is made on the thin model plan. Price, $4.50. ( construction and finish.” The Company also says 
j in its catalogue that this is “ the finest full-plate 
Offer No. 201. J movement in the world.” The full plate is a re- 
Elgin or Waltham Watch—Men’s Size, $10. ) cent improvement in watchmaking. It is a metal 
No. 201 is a gold filled open face case, dust > ca, P’ covering all the mechanism, excepting the 
proof; guaranteed to wear like solid gold for 15, balance, thus saving many bills for cleaning, 
years. The movement is seven jewels, stem wind These celebrated works lire full jeweled with red 
and set, and contains all the latest improvements. \ ru hy jewels in solid gold settings. They contain 
Sent delivery guaranteed by registered mail for ) compensation expansion balance, safety pinion, 
$10. Hunting case, $3 extra. ) stem winding and setting apparatus, patent 
) Breguet hair-spring, hardened and tempered in 
Offer No. 202. < form, patent regulator aud double sunk dial, 
Waltham Watch—Men’s Size, $13.50. ) made expressly for this watch. The dial is 
) genuine. 
The AmericauWateh Company, at Waltham, has ( XT . 
, , ., . ., . *’ . ’ ■ / No. 203. Crescent Street, Solid 14k., 40 dwt. 
made a reduction in the price of its 15-jewel move- > (Hunting ease only).$52.90 
ments. We take the first opportunity to give our ) No. 204. Crescent Street. Gold filled, 20-year 
readers the advantage of the new price list, and ( Hunting or Open Face case. 37.00 
offer the following-described bargains. ( No. 205. Crescent Street. Gold filled, 15-year. 
No. 202 is an open face, 15-jewel in settings, com- > Hunting or Open Face case. 33.25 
pensation balance, patent Breguet hair-spring, ) ^°'-206. Crescent Street, 2-ounce Coin Silver. 
f , , . , . . “. 1 6 ’\ Hunting or Open Face case. 27.85 
hardened and tempered in form. White porcelain X7 ,, .... . _ . ... , , 
, , , .. ) No. 207. Crescent Street, Solid Nickel Silver, 
dial, stem wind and pendant, set in a gold-iilled, ( Open Face dust-proof case. 25.00 
engraved or engine-turned pattern case. War- S 
ranted to wear like solid gold for 15 years. We Offer No. 208. 
will send this watch to any address, delivery ; Ladies’ Solid Gold Waltham or Elgin Watch, $20. 
guaranteed, for the sum of only $13.50. \ The works are manufactured at Waltham or 
Offer No 209 Elgin. They are made of the finest materials, 
carefully selected. The jewels are all cut and pol- 
Ladies’Gold Filled Waltham or Elgin Watch, $13.50, ished in Europe, where secret processes are 
No. 209 is a Ladies’ Gold-filled Engraved Watch, handed down from generation to generation. The 
guaranteed by the manufacturer to wear 15 years, dial is made of the finest porcelain and the hands 
The works contain seven jewels, exposed pallets, of blue tempered steel. The case is solid 14k. 
safety pinion and all improvements. Price, de- United States Assay, handsomely engraved. We 
livery guaranteed, $13.50. will send this watch, delivery guaranteed, for $20. 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER, NEW YORK. 
