1905 . 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
ii7 
Dry Rot in Potatoes. 
B. E. .1/., Sauk, Wash .—What is the cause 
of dry rot in potatoes, the kind that starts in 
little black specks in the tuber? Is there 
any remedy? Would planting affected seed 
tend to increase the rot? 
Ans.— Dry rot of the potato is caused 
by a fungus that gets on. the potatoes 
during growth, and develops when they 
are at rest in the cellar. The only known 
remedies are to plant in fresh soil where 
potatoes have not been grown for two 
or three years, dry the potatoes off well 
after digging, and sprinkle air-slaked lime 
over them as they are stored in bins or 
barrels in the cellar. Planting affected 
seed surely increases the rot. Only per¬ 
fectly clean seed should be used. It is 
well to dig soon after the tops die down, 
as potatoes left in the soil after ripening 
are more likely to become diseased. 
Securing Rural Delivery. 
R. N. H., Brooklyn, N. Y .—Will you give 
me information as to the proper steps to take 
towards securing a rural free delivery for a 
small village in New York State? The pres¬ 
ent system of depending on neighbors who 
might happen to be passing my place on the 
way from the post office is very unsatisfac¬ 
tory and uncertain. 
Ans.— Write to the Postoffice Depart¬ 
ment at Washington, tell what you want 
and ask for circulars and blanks. 'These 
blanks will enable you to make out an 
accurate description of the desired route 
You will have to obtain signatures of 
people who want the free delivery. The 
petition and description are sent to Wash¬ 
ington. An inspector is finally sent to 
look the route over and investigate. If 
his report is favorable the locality is list 
ed and will be given the service in its 
turn. Write your Congressman about it. 
Fumigation for Lettuce. 
G. K., South Park, Wash .—In using hy¬ 
drocyanic acid gas for aphids on greenhouse 
lettuce, what per cent of potassium cyanide, 
sulphuric acid and water should lie used for 
1,000 cubic feet? Our houses are three- 
quarter span, and are built on a sharp slope. 
Would the gas bank at the high end? The 
houses are moderately close, and we have 
used tobacco smoke with good success. The 
reason of the above question is the difficulty 
in obtaining sufficient tobacco stems for fumi¬ 
gation purposes. 
Ans.— Experiments have shown that the 
safest strength to use hydrocyanic acid 
gas for soft greenhouse plants, such as 
lettuce, is to allow one ounce potassium 
cyanide, 97 per cent strength, V /2 ounce 
sulphuric acid, and two ounces of water, 
for each 1,000 cubic feet of space of the 
house to be fumigated. Where there is 
much slope the gas will bank in the high¬ 
est part or end, but this can be prevented 
in a measure by using a number of jars, 
distributed along the length of the house, 
in which to start the fumigation. You 
doubtless understand that this gas is very 
dangerous to life, and should be used with 
caution. Fumigation is best done after 
dark at the temperature of not more than 
65 degrees. The acid and water should 
be distributed previously in proper pro¬ 
portion in glass or porcelain jars at dis¬ 
tances of not more than 30 feet through¬ 
out the length of the house. The cyanide 
should be accurately weighed, well 
wrapped in two thicknesses of paper, and 
either lowered in the jars by strings from 
the outside, or rapidly placed in by a 
quick and sure-footed individual, begin¬ 
ning at the further end, making his way 
way to the door, dropping the packages 
in each jar in rotation, and closing the 
door at once when he gets outside. On 
no account should one turn back, or even 
inhale a deep breath while thus placing 
the cyanide. Managed with reasonable 
care hydrocyanic acid gas is a safe and 
sure remedy for many greenhouse pests. 
COAL TAR FOR AN IRON FENCE. 
I. J. N., Danby, Vt., wishes to know 
about paint on the cemetery fence, which 
mu9t he an iron one. I would advise him to 
clean off all the rest well with sandpaper, 
then give it two coats of good shellac and 
paint with linseed oil. It will last, hut by 
all means don’t buy this oil of the wire trust; 
if you do you will be “stuck.” c. treptow. 
New Jersey. 
In answer to I. J. N., page 59, I have had 
no experience in painting with coal tar. but 
a neighbor who painted his barn roof with it 
had to have his barn reroofed in a short time. 
We painted bur cemetery fence last year; it 
had not, to our shame, been painted for 27 
years, but was in a good state of preserva¬ 
tion. lb took a great deal of oil. We used 
ochre for priming and best white lead for sec¬ 
ond coat. We shall probably give it another 
coat next Summer, which will make it look 
well and last a long time. I think our friend 
would rue painting with coal tar. A white 
fence around a green sward makes a contrast 
that is attractive. May I have space in The 
It. N.-Y. to call the attention of our rural 
friends to our negligence of the country ceme¬ 
teries? We had neglected our cemetery until 
it looked as though we had no respect for our 
dead, which was far from l>eing the fact, 
but no one took the lead. When two or three 
made a start it was no trouble to raise funds 
and have it set in order. Now that it is 
done no amount of money would induce 11 s to 
have it look so disgraceful again. We feel 
better by showing that we have not forgotten 
our dear ones, and it adds to the value of all 
surrounding property. a. j. s. 
Pennsylvania. 
Regarding coal tar on iron fences, nothing is 
more durable if put on when weather is dry 
and hot. A negro and temperature of 90.de¬ 
grees in the shade is just the thing for it. 
Wheaton, III. j. s. p. 
On page 59. I. .T. N. asks if coal tar is 
good for painting metal. I can answer that 
it is the best and cheapest paint for metal 
rooting I have ever seen. I know of roofs 
which have been painted with it for about 
20 years, putting on a coat every two or 
three years, that look to be as good as 
new. There is no need of warming the coal 
tar. as a little gasoline well stirred Into it 
will soften it so it will be just right for 
spreading. Use about one pint of gasoline 
to three gallons of tar, and stir it thor¬ 
oughly. j. M. PACK. 
Kentucky. _ 
Fond Young Mother (with first born) : 
“Now, which of ns do you think he is 
like?” Friend (judicially) : “Well, of 
course, intelligence has not really dawned 
in his countenance yet, but lie’s wonder¬ 
fully like both of you.”—Punch. 
District V isitor : “I’ve j 11 st had a let¬ 
ter from my son Reggie saying he has 
won a scholarship. I can’t tell you how 
delighted I am. I-” Rustic Party: 
“I can understand yer feelings, mum. I 
felt just the same when our pig won a 
medal at the agricultural show.”—Punch. 
When you write advertisers mention The 
R. N.-Y. and you’ll get a quick reply and 
“a square deal." See guarantee, page 18. 
GREER’S SEED OATS 
Straw medium length, stiff and strong, Oats 
pure white, heavy yielder, 65c. bu. $6.00 for 10 
bus. Bags, 15c. 
Monster Spring Rye. 
$1.50 bu. $13.50 for 10 bus. 
Early Excelsior Potatoes. 
Two weeks earlier than the Ohio, and a better 
yielder than the late varieties. 
40c. lb. $1.00 for 3 lbs., postpaid. 
For 10c. we wi 1 send a packet of the earliest 
Tomato, O r Trojan, and- the new Giant Aster, 
Alice Roosevelt, and our handsome Catalogue. 
YOUNG & HALSTEAD 
3 Grand Street, TROY, N. Y. 
Aspinwall Machinery 
Insures Paying 
Potato Crops. 
In use all over the world. 
Thousands of users for over a 
quarter of a century, all en¬ 
thusiastic. With our machines 
seed is quickly cut to best. ad¬ 
vantage. Planting, Fertiliz¬ 
ing, Covering, all one oper¬ 
ation; any depth, any width of 
row. (Corn, pea, bean and en¬ 
silage attachment provided.) 
Digging and sorting made 
easy, pleasant work. 
Send for beautiful, Illustrated 
free catalog, giving valuable in¬ 
formation regarding economical 
handling of crop. 
ASPINWALL MFC. CO., Dept. K , 
27 Sabin St., Jackson, Mich. 
CHAIN-HANGING 
CATTLE STANCHION 
The Most Practical 
TTLE FASTENER 
ever invented, 
anufactured and for 
sale by 
H. ROIIKRTSON, 
Forestvllle. Conn. 
A 
Big 
Harvest 
and 
Less 
Labor 
is the outcome when the 
right machinery is used. 
Every labor saving de¬ 
vice known to science in 
combination with skilled 
workmanship and best 
materials make the 
Walter A. Wood 
MACHINERY 
the standard harvesting 
machinery of the world. 
Wherever there is a foot 
of tilled soil these ma¬ 
chines have shown their 
superiority. Our hand¬ 
some book fully explains 
the complete line. The 
“New Century” Binder 
is the highest type of har¬ 
vesting machinery. We 
will tell you of the nearest 
dealer—call and see it. 
WALTER A. WOOD 
Mowing and Reaping Machine Co. 
Hoosick Falls, N. Y. 
When you write advertisers mention The 
B. N.-Y. and you’ll get a . quick reply and 
“a square deal." See guarantee, page 18. 
“Signs of the Satisfied Farmer” 
SHOWN IN PLANO 
YEAR BOOK. 
The Plano catalog for 1905 is a beautifully illus¬ 
trated book replete with interesting descriptions of 
Plano machines. 
Miniature reproduction of Plano catalog cover. 
The artistic border designs, text, and reproductions 
of machines arc printed in a pleasing combination of 
buff and blue inks. On the double center pages are 
shown actual photographic reproductions of field 
scenes from different parts of the world. These 
illustrations are appropriately entitled “Signs of the 
Satisfied Farmer.” 
This catalog is well worth having for its beauty 
alone, and may be secured from Plano agents who 
carry complete stocks of Plano repairs, and who art; 
always glad to have an opportunity to show and 
explain the Plano machines. 
CHAIN 
HANGING 
STANCHION 
Be PRO¬ 
GRESSIVE 
Subsoil Plow 
Built on scientific principles for 
countries where Kain 
Fall is not sufficient. 
Bet the most from 
your lands. 
Investigate the 
merits of this plow. 
It will pay you BIG 
GRAND DETOTJR PLOW COMPANY 
Dixon, Illinois 
WARRINER’S 
HOLDS THE 
ANIMALS AS 
FIRMLY 
AS RIGID 
STANCHIONS. 
W. B. CRUMB, 73 Main St., Forest ville, Conn. 
Cider Machinery—Send for Catalogue to Boomer& 
Boschert Press Co., 118 West Water St., Syracuse,N.Y 
The WAGON to BUY. 
Properly con¬ 
structed. Saves 
labor, annoy¬ 
ance and expense of repairs. 
STEEL WHEELS ^aTo a n l s l 
Your address on a postal will bring yon free catalog. 
The Geneva Metal Wheel Co., 
Box 17, Geneva, Ohio. 
$50,000,000 WORLD’S FAIR, ST - 19 L JS" S 
We Own All the Vast Quantity of Material Used in it’s Construction and Equipment 
100,000,000 FEET OF HIGH GRADE LUMBER FOR SALE 
SEND US YOUR LUMBER BILL FOR OUR ESTIMATE 
SAVE FROM 30 TO 40 PER CENT. Also Sash, Doors, Roofing of all kinds, Ripe of all kinds. Wire Fenc¬ 
ing Hardware Machinery Household Goods and Furniture of every description, besides thousands of other 
items. ASK FOR OUR CATALOGUE NO. 67. We purchased every Exposition of modern days. 
CHICAGO HOUSE WRECKING CO., Exposition Grounds, St. Louis, Mo. 
FIRST PREMIUM AWARDED Jan. 11, 1905, by* the Vermont 
Maple Sugarmakers’ Association. Users of Champion Evaporators 
were also awarded the first premium on maple sugar. The Grimm 
Spout produces more and better sap. Learn the Grimm System. 
Circular “G” tells It all. It and sample Spout free. Save your 
trees and increase your income. One-fourth more sap guaranteed, 
c Factories at Rutland, Vermont, Montreal, Canada and Hudson, Ohio. 
Address G. H. GRIMM, Rutland, \ t. 
Iron Age 
(Impr.ted Hobbies) 
l’utsto Heater. 
IRON AGE 
Implements 
are made to stand the wear 
and tear of hard service, 
and may be used for other 
purposes than those here 
designated. Wherever these implements are used 
better work and more of it is possible. They save 
time, labor and money. “Iron Age,” our new/ree 
book, describes in detail all Iron Age Implements, ■ 
Including Wheel Hoes, Beet Drills, Drill Seeders, 
Horse Hoes, etc. Send for the book without delay, as 
it contains valuable information. 
BATEMAN MFG CO., Box 102, Grenloch, N. J. 
Plant, Cultivate 
and Spray 
Here are three good implements, all essential to suc¬ 
cessful potato culture. The Planter drops 100 per cent. 
of seed correctly; no doubles, 
no misses, no bruised seed. 
The Iron Age Riding Culti¬ 
vator is adapted to the best 
care of the growing crop at al 1 
times. The Sprayer will pre¬ 
vent blight and the ravages 
of the dread potato beetle. 
Sprayer also has an or¬ 
chard attachment. 
