374 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
May 6, 
FARMERS' CLUB 
[Every query must be accompanied by 
the name and address of the writer to In¬ 
sure attention. Before asking a question, 
please See whether it is not answered in 
our advertising columns. Ask only a few 
questions at one time. Put questions on a 
separate piece of paper.] 
Draining a Wet Cellar. 
E. 8. K., Strykersville, N. Y .—How can 
I drain a cellar? The ground is grave), 
16 feet down to blue clay, and filled up 
with water within two feet of the surface. 
I have laid a drain of four-inch tile 900 feet 
long, which is running to its full capacity, 
and still 1 have 13 inches of water in the 
cellar. 
Ans.— If the drain of such length has a 
small fall, it will not carry very much 
water, and if it cpuld be shortened or 
given greater fall it might-answer the pur¬ 
pose for which it is intended. Your^cor¬ 
respondent will either have to increase tiie-^ 
water-carrying capacity of the drain or 
make the floor and walls of the cellar 
watertight by means of cement. With land 
which is so porous overlying an imper¬ 
vious clay it would be of great benefit to 
the cellar in every way to make the walls 
watertight. G - D. 
Various Questions. 
M. J. Q., McKee City, N. J. —1. I have a 
poor piece of ground that was plowed last 
Fall and was sown in rye. The rye did not 
make a very good showing. How would it do 
to plow it up and sow it with millet? This rye 
was fertilized last Fall when it was planted. 
If you think millet would grow on this piece 
let me know if it ought to he fertilized and 
how much to the acre. Let me know when to 
sow millet. 2. I have a fire hotbed which is 
full of tomato plants. I notice that some of 
the plants were wilting and I watered the 
bed. When I opened the bed the next day I 
noticed that the plants were very wet, and 
whdn closing in the evening I noticed that 
nearly all the plants had white spots on 
them. This has not been shaded, but I will 
shade it until I hear from you. Let me 
know the cause of this. 3. I have a poor 
piece of ground that has not been worked for 
two years grown up in weeds and grass. 
Ilow would it do to sow it in cow peas, cut 
for fodder, and plow the stubble under and 
sow it with clover this Fall? When is the 
time to sow cow peas? I sowed some aspar¬ 
agus seed last Spring and it came up very 
nicely. About August 1 noticed some bugs 
on it; these bugs or worms were about one- 
sixteenth inch thick by one-fourth inch long, 
black in color. I now notice a deposit on the 
plants left by the bugs; let me know what 
to do for them. Is it too late to manure 
asparagus? 
Ans.—1. We should let the rye grow 
until about the middle of May, then cut 
it for fodder and plow the ground and 
sow millet. This millet needs to be well 
fed. It grows rapidly, and is what is 
called a “surface feeder.” It quickly ex¬ 
hausts the soil, and it will pay to use at 
least 400 pounds of good fertilizer per 
acre. On the poor piece of land you can 
sow cow peas after the middle of May. 
About seven time out of io they make a 
fair crop under such conditions. They 
will grow fairly well without fertilizer, 
but will respond to a fair application. 2. 
Your tomato plants have probably been 
kept too close and have blighted. Thin 
out the affected plants, keep the sashes 
off and give all air possible. Shade when 
the sun is too bright, but give plenty of 
air. 3. The best means of controlling the 
Asparagus beetle that appears to be the 
pest affecting your plants is to dust the 
foliage in early morning, while wet with 
dew, with a mixture of Paris-green and 
flour, one tablespoonful of the green to 
two pounds of flour, well mixed. Dam¬ 
aged flour will do for the purpose, as it 
sticks to the fine, smooth leaves as well as 
good flour. Manure can he applied to as¬ 
paragus any time, but is best put on be¬ 
fore the plants start into growth. 
More About a Plant House. 
10 feet wide, three-fourths span, using hotbed 
sash, and everything has to be above ground. 
As we get very little cold weather here it 
would only be occasionally I would need arti¬ 
ficial heat in house, or only a moderate heat. 
Ans. —The small greenhouse or plant 
house, as it is usually called by those who 
use it, is usually built, as I said in a 
previous article, of hotbed sashes, or 
rather covered with hotbed sashes. With 
this idea in view, first select a good lo¬ 
cation, dry and protected somewhat if 
possible. It is essential to have a dry 
location, because you will have to exca¬ 
vate about four feet to make room for 
fire box, and of course this must have a 
drv bottom. Grade ground so you will 
have about one foot rise in 50 feet, or that 
proportion; then lay out building the size 
warned, long span facing south. The 
width will depend on size of sashes used. 
Here we use a sash 3x6 feet by using 
two sashes on long span, one on short, 
and continuing north roof near eaves with 
two sashes on long span, one on short, 
two or 2(4 feet of wooden roofing ma¬ 
terial, giving a house about 18 feet wide. 
Perhaps inquirer’s needs would be fully 
met with one sash on each slope. This 
must be figured out by the individual him¬ 
self. There are a number of the^e small 
plant houses in use with no foundation at 
all, simply posts set in ground at suitable 
distances apart, then boarded down to 
the earth or a little below, but a more 
permanent job is secured by laying a con¬ 
crete foundation and starting on this as 
for any other building. Never use brick 
in foundation; mortar will not stay. The 
north side should be so planned that 
double boarding with paper between can 
be put on to guard against severe cold 
spells. Height 3(4 to four feet, I think, 
is ample at eaves. Walks can be sunken 
a foot or more to give head room. It is 
considered that buildings of this character 
should have about three inches fall to the 
foot on the long span, and more on short. 
If benches are to be used—and they gen¬ 
erally are in houses heated by this meth¬ 
od—a row of glass under plate on south 
side should be used to admit sunlight to 
the extreme front of the house. The raf¬ 
ters are the supports for the sashes, and 
sashes held in place either by wooden 
buttons on outside or hooks on underside. 
Ends, so far as possible, should be glazed, 
too. 
A furnace is built on low end below 
ground. The heat and smoke are taken 
from this through a flue of either brick, 
fire-clay tile, or vitrified drain tile, not 
less than eight inches in diameter. If 
vitrified tile is used, something else must 
first be used for at least to feet from fur¬ 
nace, because the sharp heat will crack 
the tile, and sometimes does at a greater 
distance than io feet. This flue is gener¬ 
ally (not always) carried all way around 
building and enters chimney over furnace. 
The builder should be particular that his 
flue has same rise all way around the 
building, or it will smoke. The chimney 
should be sufficiently high to give ample 
draft, and a damper placed between outlet 
and return so he can secure straight draft 
when lighting fires, etc. Benches are com¬ 
monly used in this style of house because 
there is no lost space; the flue pipe occu¬ 
pying the natural level would of course 
interfere with planting, but benches should 
not be too high above ground, as work 
has to be done over them. Ventilation is 
provided for in top by having upper row 
of sashes on south side loose, so as to 
slide or raise up. Such houses as these 
are quite cheaply built and answer every 
purpose for starting early vegetable 
plants. c. c. HULSART. 
Land Dying 1 ? 
Crops failing? Growing poorer each year? 
You’re taking the nitrogen from the soil, put¬ 
ting none back. Feed the soil, put nitrogen 
into it. Do it cheaper and better than with 
fertilizers—do it with 
NITRO-CULTURE 
Nitro-Cultnre inoculates the soil, puts germs 
into it that draw great quantities of free nitro¬ 
gen from the air. 
Makes great crops, enriches land wonder¬ 
fully. $2.00 worth increases yield per acre im¬ 
mensely. Simply sprinkle on seeds before 
planting. Write for catalogue S 2. 
NATIONAL NITRO-CULTUIIE CO., 
West Chester, Fa. 
A I CAI CA OH 11 from a vigorous growing field of 
nLlHLitt OUlL Alfalfa, three years old, $1 per 
hundred pounds; 10 per cent discount on 500 pounds 
or over. R. D. BUTTON, Canastota, New York. 
FINE QUALITY SEED. 
All Recleaned and Tested. Special Prices to Far¬ 
mers and Market Gardeners. 
Timothy, Red Clover, Alfalfa, White and Alsike 
Clover, lied top, Kentucky Blue-Grass, German Mil¬ 
let, Spring Rye, Barley Seed, Cow Peas, Soja Beans. 
Oats: Learning, Pride of the North, Mastodon, Cu¬ 
ban Giant and all kinds of Flint and Sweet torn; all 
varieties of Garden Peas; Mangel Beet; Essex Rape, 
Onion Seed. 1ST"Implements for Farm, Garden and 
Lawn. Catalogue free. OHAS. F. SAUL, 220-224 
James Street, Syracuse, New York. 
VEGETABLE PLANTS 
Large transplanted plants of Cabbage, Celery, 
Tomato, Pepper, Egg Plant, Cauliflower and Let 
tuce for the man that plants for profit. 
Our Cabbage Plants are transplanted in De¬ 
cember and are grown in a cool temperature all 
winter; they will head earlier than any other 
plants. Write for Price List. 
J. E. HUTTON & SON, Conyngham, Pa. 
VEGETABLE PLANTS ira&TSS 
Horseradish Sets; 1,000, $2,100,30c. Millions of Celery, 
Cabbage, Pepper. Eggplants and other Vegetable 
Plants. Price list free. Cash with order. 
LUDVIG MOSBAEK, Onarga, Ill. 
500,000 ASPARAGUS ROOTS 
♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦ CHEAP ♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦ 
ALL OTHER VEGETABLE PLANTS IN SEASON. 
I. & J.L.LKONARD, Iona, New Jersey. 
P LANT Northern Michigan Grown Seed Potatoes. 
Wonderfully productive, yield 560 bu. acre last 
year. Varieties Early Michigan, Ohio, Six Weeks, 
60c bu.; Late Beauty of Hebron, Superior, Carman 
No. 3, Uncle 8am, 50c bu.; 100 Bu. Lots Carman 
No. 3 or Uncle Sam. $40. H. BLEMHUBER & SON, 
Specialists, Marquette, Michigan. 
DHTATflEC grown especially for SEED. 15 
IV I H I Ukv varieties, price right, list free. 
GEO. H. COLVIN, Crest Farm, Dalton, Pa. 
Potatoes—Acme, Carman, Cobbler, Dela , Fortune. 
Ohio, Rose, 6 W’ks, 85 kinds. C. W.Ford, Fishers, N.Y. 
G ARDEN, Field and 
Flower Seeds, Clovers 
and Timothy, Beardless 
Spring Harley, Blue 
Grass, Orchard Grass, 
Red Top, etc. 
We can also offer Feeding Corn, and Oats in car 
lots track your station. Write for Field Seed Price 
List, also 1905 Annual Seed Catalog mailed free. 
THE HENRY PHILLIPPS SEED AND IMPLEMENT CO. 
115-117 St. Clair Street. Toledo, Ohio. 
QflTATflCC Vermont Gold Coin and 
I U I A I Utd Irish Cobblers, $3 per 4 bu. 
bbls.; White Mammoth and Carman No. 3, $2 per 4 
bu. bbls. GEO. A. BONNELL, Waterloo, New York. 
LONG ISLAND CABBAGE SEED,-Spring, 
Summer, Fall, Winter. Catalog and Sample Free. 
Four 10c. FRANCIS BRILL, Hempstead, N. V. 
rs. 300,000 E. J. Wakefield 
Summer. Very Strong. $1, 
file, Drawer 3. Chester, N.J. 
CABBAGE ST 
1000; $8,10,000. F.W. Rocln 
ran CAI C— CRIMSON CLOVER Seed, $5.50 
lUn OALu bushel; Cow Peas. $1.75 bushel; 
2nd growth Heed Potatoes, $3.00 to $3.50 barrel; Onion 
Sets, $3.00 bushel JOSEPH E. HOLLAND, 
Milford. Delaware. 
FRUIT TREES 
A full list of all kinds. Small Fruits. Strawberry 
Plants a Specialty. Ornamental Stock. California 
Privet and Fancy Stock. We will send a fully illus¬ 
trated Catalogue Free. Address all communications 
JOS. H. BLACK, SON & CO., Higlitstown, N. J. 
B EANS FOR SEED—Extra Leafless Pea Beans, 
Big Yielders, finest eaters. $2.65 per bushel, bags 
free. A. E. STACY, Elbridge, New York. 
YOUNG STRAW HERRY PLANTS at $1.50 per 
M.—Nick Ohmer, Wolverton, Saunders, Brandywine, 
Haverland, Seaford, Enormous, Win. Belt, Marshall, 
Excelsior, New York, Rough Rider, Senator Dun¬ 
lap. Fresh dug, well packed, 600 Wealthy, 300 York 
Imperial, 300 Rome Beauty, 2 yr. 5 to 7 ft. Grand stock. 
Low price. Arthur J. Collins, Moorestown, N. J. 
$180 THE 2d YEAR otETJT,, 
KEVITT’S PLANT FARM, Athenia, New Jersey. 
Peach Trees and 
Strawberry Plants. 
We have them by the 100,000, to¬ 
gether with general line of nur¬ 
sery stock. Prices low; quality 
best. Write for new 1906 Catalog. 
CHATTANOOGA NURSERIES, 
Chattanooga, Tennessee. 
Willowdale Nurseries 
We have bargains to offer in Apple Trees, in first- 
class. medium and light grades. Our list includes 
Stayman, Nero. Lankford and others of the best late 
keepers. Japan Plums, Sour Cherries and Peach, in 
medium and light grades at low prices. A full line of 
Fruit Trees, SinalT Fruits, Shade Trees, Evergreens 
and Shrubbery. Also a large stock of California 
Privet and Berberis Thunbergii, the best plants for 
Ornamental Hedging. Send list of wants for prices. 
RAKESTBAW & PYLE, Kennett Sq., Penna. 
STRAWBERRY PLANTS Beauty, Senator 
Dunlap and 50 other varieties. Send for price list to 
I). RODWAY, Hartly, Delaware. 
STRAWBERRY PLANTS ft* 
PTNE HILL FRUIT FARM. Center Brook, Conn. 
FRUIT CANNING 
Machinery, 5 sizes, $10 and up. Cheapness and ca¬ 
pacity will surprise you. Save the fruit, w-ork at 
home. Sell to stores at better prices. Booklet free. 
W. S. Ritchie, Bridgeport, Ala., or Corona, Cal. 
KFRUITBOOK 
_ shows in NATURAL COLORS and 
accurately describes 216 varieties of 
, fruit. Send for our liberal terms of distri- 
hnHon r»l«nt.prs.——Sfark Rrn’s. Louisiana. Mo. 
TREES 
SHRUBS 
ROSES 
The largest and most com¬ 
plete collections in America, 
including all desirable nov¬ 
elties. Illustrated descrip¬ 
tive catalogue free. Gold 
Medal—Paris, Pan-American, 
St. Louis. 102 prizes New York 
State Fair, 1904. 
ELLWANGER & BARRY 
Mount Hope Nurseries, 
Drawer 1044— I, Rochester, N.Y. 
Established 1SJJ)- 
FRUIT TREES. 
A Large Assortment of the Finest Quality 
of Fruit, Shade and Ornamental Trees, 
at very Low Prices. We make a Specialty 
of dealing Direct with the Farmers. 
Write for Price List. 
CALL’S NURSERIES, Perry, O. 
$5 Per 100. 
Apples, Pear, Plum, Cherry, Peach and Carolina Pop¬ 
lars. Healthy, true to name and Fumigated _ All 
kinds of trees and plants at low wholesale prices- 
Remember we BEAT all other reliable Nurseries in quality and prices. Catalogue free. 
RELIANCE NURSERY,.Box 10, Geneva, New York. 
FRUIT TREES 
Plants, vines, and ornamentals are grown in 
large numbers at Hoyt’s 500 Acre Nursery. 
We have on hand THE FINEST STOCK 
EVER GROWN IN NEW ENGLAND. If you need anything in the Nursery line write us. Catalogue free. 
STEPHEN HOYT’S SONS CO., New Canaan, Conn. 
FRUIT & ORNAMENTAL TREES, 
SHRUBS, VINES & ROSES, 
All the best and hardiest varieties. Illustrated Descriptive Catalogue EH EE 
on request. T. J. DWYER & CO., Box 1, Cornwall, New York. 
POTATOES 
A fine lot of EARLY NORTHERS grown on 
soil. $1 per bushel: $2.50 per barrel while they 
T. DRISCOLL, Kauneonga.Sull. Co., N. Y. 
virgin 
last. 
CRIMSON CLOVER 
price of seed on request. 
The great soil improver. Valu¬ 
able also for early green food_ 
grazing and hay crop. Special 
circular free, also sample and 
HENRY A. DREER, 714 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, Penna. 
R. J. M., Hammond, La ,—I am much inter¬ 
ested in the greenhouse vs. hotbed topic, and 
my experience with hotbeds here is the' same 
as P. B. Crosby's, Maryland. I got a poor 
stand of tomatoes from first sowing; watered 
and waited; sowed again, and about the time 
second sowing was ready to germinate, we 
had our coldest weather. Second sowing 
never came up, so all I have to show from 
hotbed 8 x 6 Is about 200 large tomato 
plants. Would C. C. Hulsart describe more 
fully how these small greenhouses are built 
with flues? I thought of building one about 
Hammond’s Slug Shot for Potato Bugs, Currant, Cabbage Worms, Etc. 
To THE EDITOB OF AMERICAN GARDENING: 
In your issue of June 18, on page 399, I notice a good article on the Colorado Beetle or Potato Bug. For 
the benefit of yo^$ numerous readers I would advise them to try Hammond's Slug Shot. I have used it here 
this season with excellent results, on Potatoes, Egg Plants, Cucumbers and Squash, for Potato Bugs and also 
for Striped Beetles, and it is the best remedy I know of, 6imple and effective. I purchased two of the Dusters 
which he advertised in your paper, and they are very useful articles. The best time to dust the plants is early 
morning, as the substance adheres much better when the dew is on. A light dusting is sufficient, and woe bet.de 
the bugs or the larvae. Once they get a taste of it they shrivel up right away. 
GEORGE STANDEN, Gardener to Col. D. S. Lamont, Mlllbrook, New York, 1904. 
Sold by Seed Dealers and Merchants all over America. 
Send for Pamphlet on Bugs and Blights to Benj. Hammond, Fishkill-on-Hudson, N. Y., for information about solution of Copper, Bordeaux Mixture, 
Grape Dust and Cattle Comfort. 
