1905. 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
131 
FOR A NATIONAL APPLE DAY . 
A few years ago, when the idea of forming an Apple 
Consumers’ League was conceived, the originators of such 
an organization builded better than they knew. The nov¬ 
elty of the society attracted attention, and in discussing 
its merits the apple was considered from many stand¬ 
points that had never before been suggested. The good 
the Apple Consumers’ League accomplished among many mil¬ 
lions in this country can never be even approximated. One 
of the most tangible results of the organization was shown 
in having Apple Day as a distinct feature of the World’s 
Fair in St. Louis last October. As is generally known, the 
chief part of the programme for that event was tire giving 
of an apple to every man, woman or child who would call 
and receive it. Those present on that occasion can 
never forget the long procession of thousands of people 
entering the l’niace of Horticulture forming in line and 
marching past the point of distribution where the promise 
of an apple was verified. For weeks prior to this event, 
tlie press generally discussed the proposition of Apple Day, 
and thousands of persons who received an apple when 
the day was observed had the value of an apple 
forcibly presented, and there are abundant evidences that 
by this means the apple came into frequent use on the 
table in families where previously its presence had been 
very unfamiliar. One of the great points reached was in 
leading the minds of the people to the fact that the apple 
is exceptionally wholesome food, and that if placed in con¬ 
stant use, bills for doctors and all sorts of medicines and 
drugs would be very materially diminished. The people 
also were impressed with the difference between enjoying 
a good quality of fruit and using that of an inferior sort. 
It would take much time and space to describe all the 
details of the beneficial effects in multifarious forms of 
having had Apple Day. It has generally been conceded if 
an Apple Day held only in one city, and limited in bene¬ 
fits chiefly to the visitors to that place, had such marked 
effects, the idea of having a National Apple Day to be 
made perpetual as an annual event, thus opening wider and 
grander possibilities for the apple, should receive earnest 
attention and the most cordial approval. I am glad to 
hear that the New York State Fruit Growers’ Association took 
a stand on this question by adopting a resolution at its 
last meeting in favor of having such an annual event. The 
Peninsula Horticultural Society of Delaware did itself great 
credit by seconding the motion, also adopting a resolution 
in its favor. In corresponding with many secretaries of 
horticultural associations all over the United States, I find 
their expressions are given in no uncertain manner in favor 
of having a National Apple Day. Among those who speak 
of tlie matter with marked enthusiasm are Prof. .1. It. S. 
Norton, secretary of the Maryland Horticultural Society; 
Ernest Walker, secretary of the Arkansas Horticultural So¬ 
ciety. and F. Cranefieid. secretary of the Wisconsin State 
Horticultural Society. No special plan is outlined for keep¬ 
ing tlie day by those interested in the movement. It has 
been thought best to concede the right of every National. 
State and local horticultural association to observe the 
day according to their own ideas. As for the time of hav¬ 
ing such a day, all sentiment is in favor of having the 
date when the late Fall and Winter apples are available, 
and it has been thought that the third Tuesday in October 
would always meet this requirement. Tt is also gener¬ 
ally known that there are more county fairs and farmers’ 
institutes held during the month of October than in any 
other month of the year, and this would give an oppor¬ 
tunity for placing an apple feature on programmes for 
such events. It can be readily seen that exhibitions at such 
times arousing a rivalry between societies and a competition 
between individuals could easily he given : added to this, 
such organizations no doubt would be glad to avail them¬ 
selves of an opportunity of hearing addresses on the sub¬ 
ject: of apples from experts. 
It is further suggested that the schools all over the 
United States would not let the day pass without some 
recognition. We would all be glad to see every child in the 
United States have an apple on that day, and the teachers 
of the public schools would do well if they had some com¬ 
petent person to visit the schools on that day and in¬ 
terest the students by giving them some, very valuable and 
useful information on orcharding. It is fair to presume 
that in every community some horticultural society or 
public-spirited person would offer prizes to pupils for' best 
essays on apples. The glory of every community centers 
around its public schools, and yet while the students are 
following their investigations of mathematics, languages 
and various sciences, all of which are essential, how little 
do they know about what is happening perhaps in their 
own door yards. How many of them, for instance, could 
show any correct ideas as to what causes a tree to grow, 
how its formation is produced, and as to the quality and 
different kinds of food it needs for its sustenance? How 
few could draw any distinction between the nutriment 
needed for the woody growth of the tree and that needed 
for its fruit and what is essentially necessary for form¬ 
ing foliage? Such questions could be followed on indefi¬ 
nitely as to the nature and character of the soil best 
adapted to growing trees, and the best methods for ex¬ 
tinguishing the enemies of a tree. There have been many 
radical changes in horticulture during the past few years, 
and it can be readily foreseen that there will be some 
striking changes in coming years. 
In some parts of the country the people are becoming 
discouraged with the industry of planting commercial or¬ 
chards : In others old orchards are being allow'ed to languish 
and die, and then, on the other hand, the large extent 
of country in the West, which has been known as the 
American Desert, is showing wonderful life and fruit-pro¬ 
ducing power as it is being regenerated by irrigation. Those 
who visited the Palace of Horticulture at tlie World's Fair 
last, year were astonished at the products sent in from a 
part of the country which in the minds of many had been 
looked upon as barren. In spite of all changes that may 
happen, there is a moral certainty that the United States 
will continue to make an average of great crops of apples, 
and they will form a resource of the richest revenue if 
intelligently directed. But to have a clear comprehension 
of this subject will require something more than passing 
thoughts or carelessly expressed opinions. Nothing short 
of the most earnest attention and careful investigation will 
reach desirable results. 
In closing an appeal for Apple Day. an important feature 
must not be overlooked. AVith such a day established there 
is no doubt that there would be a general diet of apples 
all over the United States, perhaps all over tlie world, on 
that day, and this would mean a tremendous sale of apples 
for that time. The people everywhere would become fa¬ 
miliar with the wholesome qualities, and this would cause 
continual use of the fruit. Tt would not be possible accu¬ 
rately to forecast the amount of extra apples that would be 
used on such a day, but I have not discussed the proposi¬ 
tion with any wholesale dealer well informed on such 
matters, who has placed the consumption of apples for 
such a day in the United States at less than a half million 
barrels. jambs handly. 
Illinois. 
REMARKS ABOUT GALVANIZED WIRE. 
In answer to “W.,” of Pennsylvania, in regard to fence 
wire (page 8fi), years ago charcoal iron was used entirely 
for making fence wire. At present, all fence wire used 
is made of Bessemer steel. This has a large amount of 
free carbon, both being galvanized with zinc. Carbon, 
zinc with dilute sulphuric acid make the electric battery 
you use in your telephone. The carbon in the wire with 
coating of zinc and the great amount of coal consumed, 
smoke and gases discharged in the atmosphere, complete 
the conditions for a perfect electric battery: our gal¬ 
vanized coating is soon destroyed, and your carbon steel wire 
will soon rust out. The less carbon in wire the longer U 
will last without rusting. Remedy : Charcoal iron wire with 
double A galvanizing. f. j. baii.ey. 
Michigan. 
BUSINESS BITS. 
A t*ooit tank is always a source of annoyance and worry. 
t’he \\'. E. Caldwell Co., Louisville, Ky., is headquarters for 
tanks of the right sort—red cypress, white pine, galvanized 
steel, etc. Ask for illustrated catalogue when you need any¬ 
thing in this line. 
So much has been said in our columns regarding the value 
of draining the soil that no argument is necessary on the 
subject. Those contemplating jaying drains the coming 
Spring will do well to write the well-known drain tile manu¬ 
facturer, John H. Jackson, Albany, N. Y. A treatise on 
drainage will be sent free. 
The new principle of oil lighting employed in the Angle 
lamp is fast displacing gas and electricity, as the light is 
soft, mellow, restful to the eyes and economical. The light 
is as strong as gas or electricity, and runs on about, one- 
eighth of their cost. The combustion is perfect, insuring 
no smoke or smell, is lighted and extinguished like gas, 
and is absolutely free from danger. Send to the Angle 
Lamp Mfg. Co., 80 Murray Street, New York City, for the 
Angle Lamp book No. N.N. 
No better commendation can he had for a piece of ma¬ 
chinery than that given the “Iron Age" (Improved-Bobbins) 
potato planter by John Watson Co., Boulton. Me. On De¬ 
cember 3, 1004, this company ordered 12 carloads (312 ma¬ 
chines) of these planters. This order is particularly sig¬ 
nificant from the fact that the planter is so well known in 
this great Aroostook potato growing region, the same firm 
having sold six carloads last season. The planter is only 
one of the many “Iron Age” farm and garden implements 
which are famous for their performance in the field. Send 
for “Iron Age” book for 11)05, which tells all about them. 
Address Bateman Mfg. Co., Box 1021, Grenloch, N. J. 
Mr. S. L. Broughton, of Moriah, Essex Co., N. Y"., writes 
the Mineral Heave Company, IMttsburg, Pa., on November 28, 
1004, as follows: “I have a four-year-old gelding that was 
completely cured of heaves by two doses of your Mineral Heave 
Remedy. I noticed last Spring that my horse was suffering 
from heaves. On October 20 I received a dollar package of 
your remedy and administered it twice. At this writing. 
November 28, no one could tell that my horse had ever had 
the heaves. Although I have been working him hard and 
feeding dry hay, there is not the slightest indication of a 
return of the trouble. Your remedy has mv most cordial 
endorsement. I feel that after what it has done for my 
horse I cannot say enough in your behalf.” 
AVe believe it would pay every reader of The R. N.-Y. to 
write to the Ohio Cultivator Co., Bellevue, Ohio, and get 
their hay press catalogue. The Ohio hay press is a fine 
piece of machinery and a money maker for the farmer. 
If there are any special questions you may want to ask 
about hay presses the Ohio people will be glad to answer 
them. They have experts who can give you definite infor¬ 
mation regarding any point about hay-baling machinery that 
you may be interested in. The Ohio Cultivator Co. are not 
only manufacturers of hay presses, but in addition to this 
manufacture a large line of sulky and walking cultivators, 
disk harrows, land rollers, etc., and will he very glad 
to give you information pertaining to the same. 
The value of tools calculated to save time, labor and 
energy on the farm c<\n hardly be overestimated. Just as 
the self-binder has superseded the hand sickle as a harvest¬ 
ing machine, Planet Jr. tools take the place of the hand hoe 
and hand methods of planting and cultivating. With these 
admirable tools time is saved, better work done, more of it. 
and the fact that work can be hurried at critical moments 
beyond the use of the ordinary implements, their value on 
the farm or in the garden will he all the more appreciated 
by the progressive agriculturist. Every reader should secure 
the Planet Jr. illustrated catalogue for 11)05. This book will 
he of much interest to every man or woman who tills the 
soil for pleasure or profit. It may be had by sending a 
postal card to S. I,. Allen & Co., Box 1107 A r , Philadelphia, 
Pa. 
IT TAKES $20,000 
worth of postage stamps to mail The MAULE SEED 
CATALOGUE for 1905. It contains 152 large pages, 
full from cover to cover of illustrations and descrip¬ 
tions of the best and newest things known in horti¬ 
culture. I am to-day doing the Largest Mail 
Order Seed Business in this Country, and 
I know what I am saying when I make the state¬ 
ment that never before have I offered so many nov¬ 
elties in flower and vegetable seeds of real merit. 
No gardener can afford to be without this book, 
which will be sent free to all sending me their ad¬ 
dress on a postal card. 
Wm. Henry Maule, Philadelphia, Pa. 
