28 o 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
April 1, 
j*Ruralisms"[ 
NOTES FROM THE RURAL GROUNDS 
Steel Greenhouse Pipe. —Fig, 1X3, page 
270, shows in natural size a half section of 
steel pipe after 10 years’ exposure to drip 
from a greenhouse bench. 1 he upper 
half section is from new, unused pipe of 
same size. This sample of corroded pipe 
was cut from a comparatively sound por¬ 
tion of a length that had rusted through 
in several places, and was leaking so it 
had to be replaced 1. new material. It 
was so fragile that it crushed where 
gripped by the pipe-wrench when taken 
out. There is no corrosion on the inside— 
steel only rusts perceptibly when exposed 
to air and water alternately or in com¬ 
bination. 1 he pipes in hot-water systems 
are constantly ' filled with water from 
which air has been expelled by the heat 
of the boiler through which it circu¬ 
lates. There are several hundred feet like 
. this in the Rural Grounds glasshouse, as 
related on page 148, that must be replaced 
by new material, and we propose to in¬ 
stall the dependable old-style cast-iron 
pipes under the benches and in all situa¬ 
tions exposed to drip. 
The whole question of perishable Bes¬ 
semer steel products, such as nails, fence 
wire, pipes, etc., for farmers’ use is 
being thoroughly ventilated in 1 he R. 
N.-Y., and with promise of good effect. 
It may soon be possible again to buy arti¬ 
cles made of good wrought or puddled 
iron, or at least of decarbonized steel that 
will resist moisture reasonably. Some of 
the foremost dealers in greenhouse con¬ 
struction material now advertise wrought 
pipes, and at least one prominent glass¬ 
house construction firm recommends and 
offers cast iron piping in 3J/2-inch and 
larger sizes. It seems absolutely clear 
that carbon steel, though extremely use¬ 
ful for innumerable purposes, has very 
low resistance to corrosion. The thick 
rust flakes plainly seen in Fig. 113 shows 
how rapidly the metal is destroyed after 
the protection of the hard-rolled surface 
of the tube is eaten through. This hard 
surface protects the pipes for a season or 
two, after which corrosion steadily pro¬ 
gresses, always going deepest where there 
are portions containing an excess of car¬ 
bon. All pipe-handlers are familiar with 
the crystals or nuggets of highly carbon¬ 
ized steel that roll up, at times as large as 
a wheat grain, when cutting or threadin 
the sections. If such a nugget extends 
through the thickness of the pipe wall 
rust will quickly follow it through and 
start a leak, if in fence wire or in a nail 
it causes a break in that particular place. 
Troubles of Glasshouse Builders.— It 
is unfortunate that the greenhouse builder 
and owner must pay special tribute to 
three, if not more, of the great trusts or 
trade combinations, steel, glass and coal. 
Many are inclined to add the fourth great 
glasshouse requisite, lumber, to the group, 
but it is plain that there is freer compe¬ 
tition in timber products than in the other 
materials mentioned. He must pay the 
price demanded for the necessary steel 
and iron products, but is not at all cer¬ 
tain of getting the quality he wants. Glass 
is unreasonably expensive, owing to our 
prohibitory tariff, but the quality can be 
determined by inspection, and the builder 
usually gets what he pays for. All in 
the anthracite coal area know the hold¬ 
up prices we are compelled to pay for 
that indispensable fuel. There are glass¬ 
house cultivators so fortunately situated 
that they may use bituminous coal, natural 
gas or even wood, and thus measurably 
escape this unmerciful tribute. The ex¬ 
periments with petroleum fuels instituted 
during the great coal strike did not prove 
satisfactory, and in any event it would 
only be the change from the frying pan 
to the fire—from the coal combination to 
the oil monopoly. Glasshouse culture of 
flowers and vegetables seems just now to 
be pushed to the limit of profitable pro¬ 
duction of some staples—and there is evi¬ 
dent hard sledding for those who have 
too much capital in glass structure, but 
facilities for growing early plants are 
much needed by farmers and truckers. 
Small greenhouses, economically built of 
good materials, and carefully managed, 
are likely to prove both interesting and 
profitable, if there is a fair outlet for the 
products. We hope the time is near when 
reliable glasshouse construction material 
can be had at more reasonable prices, so 
that there will be encouragement among 
farmers to undertake the care of these 
modern cultural conveniences. The ten¬ 
dency is to build more permanent struc¬ 
tures. Cement is used for foundation, 
and to some extent for benches. Posts 
are made from locust, cedar or osage; 
sash bars, benches and lumber construc¬ 
tion generally, of cypress or cedar. These 
are very lasting materials. Glass, of 
course, does not decay, and this leaves the 
steel pipe and fittings as by far the most 
perishable articles used. By the substi¬ 
tution of iron for steel, wherever exposed 
to continuous dampness, a very durable 
structure may be erected. 
The Pitless Plum. —In the review of 
seedless fruits on page 256 the pitless 
plum was overlooked, yet this strange 
freak has been known for centuries, and 
is a worthy •companion in antiquity with 
the seedless apple. European nurserymen 
have grown from the earliest times and 
sold as a curiosity, under the name of 
“Prunier sans noyau/’ a plum bearing 
small Damson-like fruits, having the seed 
only partially covered by the stone. Some¬ 
times the bony covering was absent, thus 
making a real stoneless plum. Luther 
Burbank has bred from this ancient mon¬ 
strosity a fruit described as the “Miracle 
plum” (see R. N.-Y., August 22, 1903, 
page 504.) that is practically stoneless, 
having only an occasional scale or sliver 
of shell lying between the pulp and the 
seed. This plum is of good size and fine 
quality. Mr. Burbank says the tree is 
vigorous and productive, and that still 
better stoneless varieties are in prospect. 
The Miracle plum has not yet been dis¬ 
seminated. 
It will be noted that the Miracle and 
other pitless plums are not seedless. The 
seed or kernel is quite normal, but the 
hard, stony covering has been nearly 
eliminated and the seed lies embedded in 
the flesh or pulp. As long as quality 
is not lowered we can dispense with the 
stone in the plum and similar fruits. The 
presence of the actual seed is not objec¬ 
tionable and may even add piquancy of 
flavor for some culinary purposes. 
_ w. v. F. 
Budding Peach; Apple Scions. 
J. B. E., Alabama. —1. I wish to bud 
2,000 peach trees next June. I have no ex¬ 
perience in budding. I wish to know how 
to select buds without getting the fruit 
bud. 2. Having obtained from tl\e West 
some No. 1 apple seedlings 12 to 14 inches in 
length. I wish to know what length to cut 
the scions, also what length to cut the roots, 
or shall I cut the roots at all? 
Ans. —1. There is one unfailing rule 
about selecting peach buds for budding, and 
it is easily understood and can be worked 
out without trouble. Where there is only 
one bud at a place it may be and is 
often a fruit bud; but where there are 
two or more buds at one place one of 
them is sure to be a growth bud. If 
there are three buds it is the center one 
that will make the growth. This never 
fails to be the case. The fruit buds are 
plumper and more blunt on the point 
than the growth buds. The same, is true 
of plum buds. 2. Scions for making root 
grafts should be cut into pieces from five 
to six inches long. The seedlings should 
be cut off at the junction of the root 
and top, and from four to five inches of 
the top of the root cut off. This is called 
the “first cut” and is the best for grafting. 
A second and even third cut is also 
used, and these often make good trees. 
They do very well if not over three or 
four inches long. h. e. van deman. 
For All Leaf Eating Insects 
spray with 
SWIFT’S 
Arsenate of Lead 
It will not burn. It sticks 
and will not wash off. 
MADE ONLY BY THE 
MERRIMAC CHEMICAL 
BOSTON, MASS. 
CO., 
Be sure and get Swift’s. If your dealer 
does not handle it, write direct to us. 
UVnDATCn I IU[ For mixing with kerosene 
niUnAlLU LIiYIL andwaterto kill the San 
.Jose Scale. Spray the trees and roses on lawn, in 
garden or field. Cleans the trees and bushes Ef¬ 
fective, sure death to scale. Save the trees Cata¬ 
logue Free. _ _ 
ARTHUR J. COLLINS, Moorestown, N J 
SALIMENE 
KILLS SAN JOSE SCALE 
Write for circulars and testimonials. 
DRY OR LIQUID FORM. 
Monmouth Chemical Works. Shrewsbury, N. J. 
\Q>KEI}’S 
THE 
GRAND! 
PRIZE., 
^SH NttiP 
WATERPROOF 
OILED CLOTHING 
RECEIVED THE" 
HIGHEST POSSIBLE AWARD 
AT THE ST. LOUIS WORLD S PAIR. 
A 
Send us the names of dealers in 
your town who do not .sell our 
(Joods, and we v^ill send you a 
collection of pictures, in colors, of 
famous towers of the world. 878 ~ 
A. J. TOWER CO, ESTABLISHED 1636. 
BOSTON. HEW YORK. CHICAGO. 
TOWER CANADIAN CO.. Limittd, TORONTO CAN. 
AUTO-POP, 
AUTO-SPRAY. 
Great cleaning attachment on per¬ 
fect compressed air sprayer. Note 
how easy—cleans nozzle every time 
used, saves half the mixture. Brass 
pump, 4 gal. tank. 12 piungerstrokes 
comprcBBos air to Bpray ft aero. Wo manu¬ 
facture the largest lino in America of high 
grade hand and power sprayers. Catalog free. 
Write us if you want agency. 
E. C. BROWN & CO. # 
268 State St., Rochester, N. Y. 
% 
Hardie 
Spray Pumps 
are the fruit growers best 
protection against all In¬ 
sects and diseases which 
attack fruit trees. The 
Hardie Spray Pump is the 
simplest, strongest, most 
durable andhighestpres- 
sure spray pump made 
and “It works so easy.” 
Send today for our free 
book on Spraying giving 
all the best formulas and 
Information about how the successful fruit 
growers make big money. Just a request on a 
postal will bring this valuable book. 
HOOK-HARDIE CO. 
XXI MECHANIC ST. HUDSON, MICH. 
Pear affected by the San 
Jose Scale which annual¬ 
ly destroys $30,000,000 
worth of fruit. 
PRAYING 
brings fruits and flowers. We make 
the right appliances. Special adapta¬ 
tion to every need. 
HAND. BUCKET, BARREL KNAP¬ 
SACK an J POWER SPRAYERS. 
20styles. Nozzles, hose,attachments,formulas, 
every spraying accessory. Write for free cataluf. 
,The Doming Co., Salem, O. 
Western Aijente, Hen\on ft Hubbell, Chic+ff*. 
A5ton Scale for $15.00. 
$15.00 cash, and $5.00 per month, before yon know it will 
pay for the best Five Ton Farm and Stock Scale ever made. 
Has beam box, ■ - brass compound 
beam without 'ffipSHMSttfl weights, rein¬ 
fo reed double ?E 5iPWI— trussedrolled 
steel levers, cop- per plated rust¬ 
less pivots aud bearings, plat¬ 
form 15 x 8 ft. and >hr||ggjjgM a written guarau- 
“JONES HE PAYS THE FREIGHT”. Extra induce¬ 
ments for full cash. Buy now and let your scale pay for 
itself. Write on a postal “Send facts about time and cash 
offer on wagon scales.” Mail it to Box 252 
• JONES OF BINGHAMTON, Binghamton, N. Y. 
can be raised profitably only in soil 
containing plenty of Potash. All 
vegetables require a fertilizer con¬ 
taining at least io per cent, actual 
Potash 
Without Potash no fertilizer is com¬ 
plete, and failure will follow its use. 
Everv farmer should have our valuable books 
on fertilization—they are not advertising 
matter booming any special fertilizer, but 
books of authoritat ive information that means 
large profits to the farmers. Sent free for the 
asking. 
GERMAN KALI WORKS 
98 Nassau Street, New York. 
CDCC WITPflRPW Why waste money on 
I (ILL minUULIl. commercial fertilizers? 
Air is four-fifths nitrogen. LET JtACTERI A 
GATHER IT FOR YOU! Inoculate your soil 
and seed with Nitrogen Fixing Bacteria. 
Safe and easy—anyone can do it. Used on alfalfa, 
clover, peas, sweet peas, cow peas, beans, etc. One 
treatment lasts for years! Half acre package $1; 
one acre $1.50. 
Vermont Soil Inoculation and Seed Co. 
43 Colchester Avenue Burlington, Vt. 
GETTHEBEST 
A Good Spray Pump earns big 
profits and lasts for years. 
THE ECLIPSE 
is a good pump. As 
practical fruit growers 
we were using the com¬ 
mon sprayers in our 
own orchards — found 
their defects and then in¬ 
vented T1JK ECLIPSE. Its 
success practically forced us 
into manufacturing on a 
large scale. You take no 
chances. We have done all 
the experimenting. 
Large fully illustrated 
Catalogue and Treatise 
on Spraying—FREE. 
MORRILL & MORLET, Benton Harbor, Mich. 
Millions of Bushels 
,rs, peaches and plums in 1904 rendered 
■MiBBa B 
fungi and worms, could have 
of apples, pears, pea 
unsalable by scale, 
if sprayed witli EXCELSIOR SPRAYERS. 
- Write for money saving catalog. 
WM. STAHL, 
70 A Quincy, III. 
.mi EMPIRE 
,be KING 
. or GARFIELD KNAPSACK 
r PERFECT AQITATORS. No scorching foliage. 
No leather nor rubber valves. All styles of Spray 
Pumps. Valuable book of Instructions free. 
| FIKI.1I FORCE PUMP CO., ii 11th St., Elmira, S. Y. 
The Perfection Sprayer 
Sprays Every tiling—Trees, potatoes, etc. Fur¬ 
nished complete with Cart and Barrel. Combined 
band and horse power. Don’t buy until you get my 
catalogue, FREE. 
Thomas Peppier, ox 45, Hightstown, N. J 
MADE$1725f? 
In spare time and home coun¬ 
ty. You may do as well. 
Orders come fast for the 
“Kant-Klog” Sprayer 
with new spring shut-off. Catch a 
good thing quick. Write for free 
sample plan and full particulars 
Rochester Spray Pump Co., 16 East Ave.,Rochester,N.Y. 
stillleads all others. Sows ail Clovers, Alfalfa, Timothy, 
Red Top, all kinds of Crass Seeds, Flax, etc. Special hop- 
perfor Crain. Sows20to40 acres per day. Hopper being 
close to the ground the wind can not blow the seed away. 
Used thirty years. 200 thousand sold. Catalogue free, (v 
0. E. THOMPSON & SONS, YPSILANTI, MICHIGAN. 
THE JUNIOR, No. 2 
Meets the demands of parties who, for a small investment 
wish to engage in the Cement Stone Business for the mar¬ 
ket, or purchase machine for their individual use 
It is so simple and easy of operating and change for 
different sizes that it can be successfully used by in¬ 
experienced operators, 
ft is thoroughly adapted to any and all kinds of con¬ 
struction. business blocks, factories, dwellings, barns, 
foundations, porches, yard fences, chimneys, etc. 
It not only makes hollow blocks, but by using a parting 
board will make veneer or partition walls, four- inch bed 
or thickness and two stones at one operation, one ot 
which can be rock or bevel edge, smooth. Manufactured by 
Brady Cement Stone Machine Co., Ltd., 
Jackson, Michigan, U. S. A. 
