85o 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
December 26 
Notes from Rural Grounds. 
POTATO TRIALS FOR 1896. 
The past season was an exceptionally 
favorable one for the growth and matu¬ 
rity of potatoes. There was no check 
by drought, no rot by too much rain. 
As has been already stated, we used 
flowers of sulphur in the hope of get¬ 
ting more positive evidence as to 
whether it does or does not prevent rot. 
As there was no rot in any of the plots, 
we are no nearer the solution of the 
question than we have been, a question 
we have tried to solve for 10 years. For 
the benefit of our later subscribers—we 
have told the story many times—our 
method of cultivation is known as that 
of the Rural Trench System. In the 
garden the trenches are dug a foot wide 
and about six inches deep. A portion of 
the soil (two inches perhaps) is raked 
back ; the pieces, having from two to 
three eyes or more, are placed upon this 
soil one foot apart, varying one way or 
the other as the variety is more or less 
rank in its growth. If the tubers are 
inclined to grow too large, the pieces 
should be placed closer together. We 
make the trenches three feet apart in 
our trials, no matter what the variety 
may be. Two inches of soil are raked 
upon the seed pieces in the trenches and 
at the rate of 1,000 pounds of a high- 
was white and mealy — of excellent 
quality. 
Satisfaction.— Also from B. H. Shee- 
ley, who says that it is from the 
same seed as the Acorn and super¬ 
ior to any other he has originated 
or grown. He further says that it 
matures with Carman No. 1 and that, 
last year, six hills yielded 28 pounds, 
while six hills of the Carman No. 1 
yielded but 18 pounds. With us, the 
vines grew no larger than those of the 
earliest kinds, being of medium vigor 
and bearing white flowers. The vines 
were dead August 14. Dug August 18 ; 
three pieces yielded 20 tubers of medium 
size, 14 small, weighing 6^ pounds. 
This would be at the rate of 504.16 
bushels per acre. Size oblong, eyes 
medium, buff skin. Eaten October 5. 
Mealy, white flesh of fair quality. 
Wide Awake. —Also from Mr. Sheeley, 
who says that the tubers sent to us were 
three years from the seed of Burpee’s 
Extra Early. He says that “ it is late. 
It out-yielded both Carman No. 3 and 
Columbus. It seems to be absolutely 
drought-proof.” June 29, vines of 
medium vigor, upright habit, purplish 
stems, white flowers. Vines dying. Dug 
September 7. Three pieces yielded six 
medium and 15 small tubers, weighing 
21^ pounds. This would be at the rate 
of 181.50 bushels per acre. Skin pink¬ 
ish, variable shape. 
Salzer’s Quality. —From John A. 
Salzer, La Crosse, Wis.—June 29, vines 
of extra vigor, no bloom. August 14, 
vines dead. Dug August 18. Three pieces 
yielded 24 medium, 16 small tubers, 
grade potato fertilizer is strewn upon 
this soil. We began 17 years ago with 
the Mapes potato fertilizer, and we have 
used that fertilizer since in order to 
make the conditions as nearly the same 
as possible. Shallow cultivation is given 
as often as needed in order to destroy 
the weeds and to keep the soil in a 
mellow, receptive condition. We have 
always used Paris-green, diluted with 
plaster, using about two pounds of pure 
Paris-green to a barrel of plaster. Of 
late years, we have used a Leggett gun 
for distributing the mixture. 
Fungiroid, as our readers have been 
told several times, is a dry Bordeaux 
Mixture. Our choicest seedling potatoes 
are raised in our garden, where the flea- 
beetle is far more destructive than in 
the field. For the past two or three 
seasons, we have used the Fungiroid 
powder upon these vines. During these 
few seasons, the flea-beetle has done 
comparatively little injury. In the field, 
also, the vines which were sprayed with 
Fungiroid and Paris-green were much 
less infested than those vines which 
were sprayed with plaster and Paris- 
green. Further trials are necessary to 
determine whether the dry Bordeaux 
(Fungiroid) is more effective in prevent¬ 
ing blight than the liquid Bordeaux. 
Acorn. —Sent by B. H. Sheeley, Gra- 
hamsville, N. Y.—This, it is claimed, is 
a seedling produced two years ago from 
Early Sunrise crossed with Brownell’s 
Winner. The originator says that it is 
a little later than Sunrise, and he thinks 
that the tubers will average as large as 
those of Carman No. 3. June 29, vines 
of medium vigor. July 29, vines dying. 
Dug August 18. Three pieces yielded 15 
tubers of fair marketable size, 12 small, 
weighing all together four pounds. 
They were of fairly good shape, oblong, 
eyes medium, buff skin. This yield 
would be at the rate of 322.67 bushels to 
the acre. Eaten October 4. The flesh 
weighing 6% pounds. This would be at 
the rate of 544.50 bushels per acre. 
Variable in shape, eyes rather deep. 
Eaten September 30. Flesh darkish in 
parts, mealy on the surface. From this 
one trial, we would not consider this of 
first quality. 
Salzer’s Earliest. —June 29, spread¬ 
ing habit, medium vigor; no flowers. 
July 6, vines mostly yellow, more so 
than any other variety in the collection. 
Three pieces yielded 24 medium-sized 
tubers and 16 small, weighing 5% pounds. 
This would be at the rate of 465 75 bush¬ 
els per acre. Red skin, round form. 
Champion of the World. —Also from 
the Salzer Co.—June 29, vines of extra 
vigor, somewhat spreading habit, white 
flowers. August 14, vines dying. Three 
pieces yielded 19 medium and 9 small 
tubers (a number badly eaten by grubs 
or mice), weighing 5% pounds. This 
would be at the rate of 423.50 bushels to 
the acre. Eaten September 27. Yellow¬ 
ish-white flesh, mealy and of very good 
quality. 
Six Weeks. —Also from the Salzer Co. 
—June 29, vines of medium vigor, no 
bloom. July 6, turning yellow. July 
29, dead. Three pieces yielded 14 large, 
5 small tubers, weighing four pounds. 
This would be at the rate of 322 66 bush¬ 
els per acre. The skin is the color of 
Early Rose ; shape, roundish oblong. 
A smooth, handsome potato. Eaten 
August 1. Flesh white, mealy, flaky and 
dry—first quality. 
King of the Earlies. —Also from the 
Salzer Co.—June 29, vines of medium 
vigor, spreading ; no flowers. July 6, 
vines turning yellow. July 28, vines 
dead. Dug July 30. Three pieces yielded 
21 large and eight small tubers, weigh¬ 
ing 6% pounds. The color is that of 
Early Rose ; the shape is that of Beauty 
of Hebron. Eyes medium in prominence 
and number. Eaten August 1. Flesh 
mealy, white and excellent. Fig. 280, 
from nature, shows the characteristic 
shape. 
World Beater —Also from the Salzer 
Co.—June 29, dark green foliage of me¬ 
dium vigor, upright habit, purplish 
stems, purple flowers. (Have any of our 
friends noted whether light-green stems 
and foliage ever bear purple flowers ? ) 
The vines and flowers resemble R. N.-Y. 
No. 2. August 14, vines dying. Dug 
September 7. Three pieces yielded 16 
marketable, 17 small tubers, weighing 
5% pounds, which is at the rate of 443 66 
bushels to the acre. Buff skin, oval, 
flattened shape, few eyes. Eaten Sep¬ 
tember 29. Mealy, white flesh, fair qual¬ 
ity. Many hollow hearts, even among 
the smaller sized potatoes. Fig. 279 
shows the typical shape. 
P otash 
is a necessary and important 
ingredient of complete fer¬ 
tilizers. Crops of all kinds 
require a properly balanced 
manure. The best 
Fertilizers 
contain a high percentage 
of Potash. 
(Continued next week.) 
Short-Lived Potato Wanted. 
AH about Potash—the results of its use by actual ex¬ 
periment on the best farms in the United States—is 
told in a little book which we publish and will gladly 
mail free to any farmer in America who will write for it. 
S., Bradford, O.—I have been a potato 
grower for many years, and am very 
well pleased with the R. N.-Y. No. 2, of 
which I have about 25 bushels from one 
bushel of seed. Also the Carman No. 3, 
of which I have 11)4 pounds from the 
seven eyes you sent me last spring. All 
are good, smooth, salable potatoes and 
good eaters besides ; but they take too 
long to grow to suit me. There are too 
many kinds of bugs, and too many hot 
spells, like the one we had last summer. 
We want a potato that will ripen and 
make a crop very quickly ; that is all 
that has made the Early Ohio so popular 
in this country. 
Experi- 
inents are expensive. It is no experiment to 
take the medicine which thousands indorse as 
the best—which cures when others fail, namely 
Hood’s 
Sarsaparilla 
The Best—in fact the One True Blood Purifier. 
T-Trw-w-l’e Pi 11c- cure nausea, indigestion 
AAUUU A lllo biliousness. 25 cents. 
How to Make a Fortune! 
CONTINUAL AND CHEAP MUSHROOM BEDS 
BEARING AT ANY SEASON. 
Own supply combined with a profitable steady in¬ 
come. Little work, easy to handle. Reasonable 
rates for making up beds. Circulars and estimates 
free of charge to all countries. E C. FISCHEK. 
Civil Engineer. Specialist and Establishes 76 East 
Fourth Street. New York City. 
PDIIICOII PI flllED-Tbolargokt handle, 
UnilHdUII ULUVCn of Amerlcan-growi 
Crimson Clover Seed in the United States, is JOSEPH 
B. HOLLAND, Grower and Jobber, Milford, Del 
Also, Cow Pe&s, Winter Oats. Timothy Seed, eto. 
TREES AND PLANTS Varieties. 
Blackberries, Strawberries. 
miller DACDQEQQIt? the great 
loudon nHorDCnniLO market reds. 
Triumph Peach, Wickson Plum. Our catalogue, free, 
will save you money. M YER & SON, Bridgevllle. Del 
GERMAN KALI WORKS, 
93 Nassau St., New York. 
We can show prices for cherry trees, $5-75 
per ioo ; plum trees $7.25 per 100 ; Dwarf 
pear trees $6.00 per 100 ; Standard pear 
trees $7.50 per 100 ; apple trees 86.00 per 
100. Our largest trees come a little higher. 
Other stock at similar prices. Send for free 
catalogue, and particulars. Stock must be 
sold to clear grounds. Green’s Nursery 
Company, Rochester, N. Y. 
! Stark fruit Book I 
contains new and copyright 
colored plates of over' 
IOO rare fruits, etc.—write 1 1 
for particulars. Ask for list of ( 1 
Stark Trees— 3 >er IOO and * 
up. Stark Bro’s, Stark, Mo. * 1 
GOOSEBERRY 
AND CURRANT—50.000. 
Other Nursery Stock. 
T. G. A8HMEAD. Nursery. Williamson, N. Y. 
TREES AND PLANTS. 
Full assortment. Special prices on PEACH TREE8, 
Large stock CALIFORNIA PRIVET. NORWAY and 
SILVER MAPLE. 
N. P. BROOKS, Lakewood, N. J. 
GREENSBOR 
The finest white flesh peach in ex¬ 
istence. Ripens before the Alex¬ 
ander. Extra large, fine flavor. 
4 Donaldson’s Elmira As¬ 
paragus Roots. A new pro¬ 
duction of rare merit. Straw¬ 
berry Plants, Jaimn PliimH. 
Small Fruits, Tenn. Peach 
Seed. Catalogue free. 
HARRISON’S NURSERIES, 
PEACH 
erlin, Hid. 
BURPEE SEEDS 
BURPEE’S FARM ANNUAL 
Leading American Seed Catalog, 
mulled FREE to any address. 
W. ATLEE BURPEE &. CO., 
Philadelphia. 
Buy direct and pay but one profit. No nursery carries 
a more complete assortment of the best in 
Fruit and Ornamental Trees, Shrubs, 
Plants, Roses, Vines, Bulbs, Seeds. 
Don’t buy trash. Don’t pay two prices. But send for 
our free catalogue today, it tells It all, an elegant book 
Of 1(18 pages profusely Illustrated. Seeds, Plants, 
Bulbs, Small Trees, etc. sent by mall postpaid. Larger 
by express or freight. 8afe arrival and satisfaction 
guaranteed. 13d Year, 32 Greenhouses, 1000 Acres. 
THE STORRS & HARRISON CO., 
BOX 29. PAINESVILLE, OHIO. 
WE ARE 
READY 
now to talk about the trees and plants you want next spring. Write now 
before the rush comes on. It’s impossible to be too early , but it’s easy to be 
too late. We make easy terms for early orders, and early orders bring suc¬ 
cess. Our uew catalogue will be mory valuable than ever. It has paid thou¬ 
sands of others to send for it, 
and we know it will pay you. 
ROGERS NURSERIES, Dansville, N. Y. 
TRIUMPH 
The Latest and Largest 
Yellow Freestone PEACH, 
^EMPEROR 
MERCER { 
The only Yellow Freestone PEACH 
Ripening with Amsden. 
The only Sure-Bearing, 
Non-RottingCHERRY. 
For full descriptions send for Catalogue (lOe.) We will send our Beautifully Blue. Catalogue with 
the dol’d Plates of the 3 Wonderful New Fruits, and 1 Emperor Peach June Bud by 
mail, postpaid,lor 10c. J0S.il. BLACK,SON & CO., Village Nurseries, llighlstowiv.N. J. 
