5 52 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
July 22, 
FARMERS’ CLUB 
| Every query must. l>e 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.] 
STRAWBERRY GROWER’S STORY. 
At the present time my principal money 
crops are strawberries, celery and onions. 
To start a strawberry bed, I select a plot 
of ground, and fertilize heavily the year 
before for onions. Early in the Spring 
prepare the ground thoroughly; then 
make the rows alternately two and three 
feet apart, which leaves one wide space 
for the pickers; setting tne plants about 
three feet apart in the rows, and alternat¬ 
ing one row of staminate with about four 
rows of pistillate. Cultivate continuously 
all Summer, allowing enough runners to 
take root to make single rows with plants 
six to 10 inches apart. Then keep all 
runners clipped off, the best tool for the 
purpose being a light, sharp sickle. When 
the ground freezes hard I mulch with 
enough coarse stable manure to about 
cover them. This manure has been gath¬ 
ered the previous Winter and Summer, 
and stacked or kept under a shed to keep 
it dry and burn the seeds out of it. As 
- soon as the plants show signs of growth 
in the Spring, open just a little over the 
crowns to let the plants grow out, and 
leave all the mulch on the ground. Tt 
will preserve the moisture and keep the 
berries clean. If any weeds appear be¬ 
tween this and fruiting time, have them 
all pulled and seedy ones removed. 
Immediately after fruiting weed thor¬ 
oughly by hand and with the point of a 
sickle pick up all runners and leaves, cut¬ 
ting off everything but the new leaves in 
the crown of the plant, and let everything 
but seedy weeds lie on the ground. Of 
late years I have not cultivated any after 
the first season. This work with the 
sickle can be done cheaply, usually when 
cultivated ground is too wet to work on. 
During the Summer, if mulch is thin and 
straw plentiful and cheap, I believe it 
would pay to add more. I keep the run¬ 
ners cut before they take root, and the 
rows clean until the ground freezes again, 
and then repeat the mulch. 
After the second year’s fruiting, if the 
crowns of the plants have grown very 
large, they may need some cutting out. 
I have carried them three years, and this 
year have left one row for the fourth 
year. At present it looks as well as any 
of them. The two-year-old plot did better 
this year than either the one or the three- 
year-old ones. When plants have passed 
the limit for profit, I mow them over, 
raking off the very coarsest stuff, plow 
and prepare the ground for celery, to be 
followed in the Spring by onions or any 
crop that requires a heavy dressing of 
fertilizer or manure. I do not like to 
put much fertilizer on the ground when 
setting strawberries; it should be already 
in the ground. I advise the use of very 
rich ground. As an illustration of its 
value, my first plot of berries, three- 
quarters of an acre, was set in 18f>7 or 
186f on a piece of new ground, fertilized 
for corn the year before with 40 loads of 
manure, and produced a perfect crop in 
spite of all the weeds. For 10 or 15 
years afterward T hunted the berries out 
of the weeds, but never in that time 
equalled the first crop. Then I began to 
try to improve methods, and with better 
cultivation in late years have surpassed 
my first crop many times. 
Mercer Co., N. J. thos. r. hunt. 
Vetch and Rye for Hay. 
ir. L. D., Meadow View, Va .—I am to 
sow some vetch this Fall, along with rye, 
to hold it up. If I let the vetch grow till 
the rye is ripe, will it be safe to cure it 
for hay and feed to horses and cattle? The 
beards are all I would fear. 
Ans. —To produce hay of satisfactory 
quality you should not allow the vetch and 
rye to mature, but the crop should be 
cut as early at least as the rye comes into 
the milk stage. Even then the rye hay 
will be somewhat woody and unpalatable 
for the stock. If allowed to mature it 
would become much more so. Vetch and 
rye thus grown and properly cured makes 
a most excellent hay. If run through a 
fodder cutter just previous to using and 
slightly moistened, and the grain that the 
animals rre to receive sprinkled upon it, 
it makes a most suitable and efficient food. 
Vetch hay by hself is one of the most nu¬ 
tritious hays produced. J. I- stone. 
Orcharding in New Mexico. 
A. D. Dexter, V AT.—I have come into the 
I’ecos Valley, where irrigation is practised, 
from Oklahoma, and am establishing a fruit 
farm. I intend to plant GO acres of apples, 
55 of which are to be of Winter kinds and the 
rest of early. I also propose to plant sev¬ 
eral acres of plums and cherries. I wish 
to know what varieties to plant and when 
to get trees, whether from eastern or west¬ 
ern nurseries; and those grown from piece- 
root grafts or from budded stocks. 
Ans. —No more beautiful nor better 
flavored fruits of their kinds are grown 
anywhere than those of the Pecos Valley. 
Irrigation, good soil and plenty of sun¬ 
shine seem to conspire to produce good 
fruit. Of Winter apples there is none for 
that section that excels the Rome Beauty, 
Jonathan, Grimes, York Imperial, Arkan¬ 
sas and Stayman. There are other good 
varieties, but these are known by trial to 
do well there. Of very early apples the 
Yellow Transparent and Early Harvest 
are profitable, and a little later the Will¬ 
iams, Randolph and Fanny. Among the 
good kinds that ripen in the Fall are 
Wealthy, Wine and Fall Pippin. There 
are so many good nurserymen, and some 
that are so tricky that definite advice as 
to who to buy from would he improper 
to state here. As a rule the nearest really 
good nursery should be the one to get 
trees from. A written guarantee that 
they are true to name should be required. 
There are plenty of theoretical arguments 
on both sides of the controversy about 
root-grafted or budded r pple trees. No 
doubt there are plenty of poor ones of the 
former kind, and I know there are many 
good ones. I have grown many thou¬ 
sands in this way, and for economy of 
time and labor in propagating 1 prefer 
them to those grown by budding, and they 
are just as good as the latter, unless small 
and inferior roots are used in making the 
grafts. I have also seen plenty of poor trees 
that were grown by budding on poor seed¬ 
lings in the nursery. If a good tree, no 
matter how nroduced, is set in a good 
location and in suitable soil and then well 
cared for, there will almost surely be suc¬ 
cess in growing it in the orchard. Those 
who usually do the most complaining 
about trees are those who do not set 
them where they should be, or do not 
properly care for them. 
H. E. VAN DEMAN. 
Cabbage Maggots and Fertilizer. 
A. A. It., Merchantville, N. J .—I am meet¬ 
ing new (to me) conditions in the fight we 
are continually having in this truck coun¬ 
try with the various insect pests. I have 
about three-quarters acre of early cabbage 
set out, April 7, and fertilized in the row 
with 700 pounds guano, 10 per cent am¬ 
monia, live per cent phosphoric acid and 
four per cent potash t no manure used, 
neither was there any used last year. About 
midway of piece I left out the guano for 
a piece of a row, probably 50 plants, and 
while fully 50 per cent of the remainder of 
the plants have been destroyed by maggots, 
every one in that check row is standing, 
and fails to show any signs of the pests. I 
want to know whether the maggot “seed” 
were furnished “free gratis” by the fer¬ 
tilizer company in the organic matter, or if, 
as I suspect, the eggs were laid after the 
plants were set? Does the “varmint” that 
lays them select the fertilized plants because 
of the decaying tankage, etc., underneath? 
The plants in the unfertilized piece of row 
are not half the size of the others, but look 
healthy, and as though they had never 
heard of maggots. 
Ans. —I doubt whether the fertilizer 
had anything to do with the appearance 
of the Cabbage root-maggot in the cor¬ 
respondent’s field. Early cabbages are a! 
ways more seriously infested by this pest 
than later varieties. I think the expla¬ 
nation of the condition described is that 
the fertilizer enabled the cabbages to make 
growth enough to feed the maggots and 
yet develop the plants. I doubt if the 
fertilizer had any other effect. It would 
seem that just about the right combination 
of fertilizer was hit upon for the soil on 
which the plants were set. I think there 
is a good deal in the notion that one can 
grow beyond injury by thoroughly culti¬ 
vating and feeding the plants. 
M. V. SLINGERLAND. 
“Bone-Ail”; Winter Fodder. 
IF. C. L., Glcasondale, Mass .—Will some 
of your cow experts please tell me what is 
the cause and cure for the trouble in cat¬ 
tle known as bone-ail? Bunches come on 
the outside of hind legs above the knee- and 
become somewhat hard. Have been told that 
turpentine and sulphur rubbed in well is 
good for it. 2. What fodder crops for Win¬ 
ter feed can be grown after peas and oats 
on same land to advantage? Teas and oats 
are backward on account of dry spell. Can 
seeds be disked in on peas and oats stubble 
without plowing? What fertilizing is rec¬ 
ommended ? Land is medium clay hill loam. 
Ans. —I must confess I never heard of 
“bone-ail,” and out of curiosity I asked 
a veterinary surgeon what it was, and he 
had never heard of it. The bunches you 
refer to I suppose, are the ones coming 
out on side of leg near the hock joint. 
These are sometimes caused by lying on 
floors that have a ditch behind, and the 
floor not quite long enough for the cow to 
lie down comfortably without part of the 
hind quarter hanging over; also from ly¬ 
ing on steel gratings. See if cow has 
the right length stall. Turpentine and 
sulphur might help the trouble. Any good 
liniment will help, and well rubbed in fre¬ 
quently may cause it practically to disap¬ 
pear, though the rubbing may be as bene¬ 
ficial as the liniment. Hot water well 
rubbed in is a very good liniment. 2. We 
should use barley or rye for a fodder crop 
after your oats and peas. Buth grow 
quickly, make a lot of fodder, and will 
stand considerable frost. You can also 
raise a big crop of field turnips, but the 
labor of harvesting, storing and cutting 
costs quite a little for a food that is not 
extra good to start on. We have planted 
corn as late as July 10, and had a fine lot 
of fodder six to eight feet high. We 
never broadcast corn, preferring always to 
plant in drills. h. g. Manchester. 
When you write advertisers mention The 
It. N.-Y. and you'll get a quick reply and 
“a square deal.” See guarantee, page S. 
next June, if planted this Summer. 
DREER’S 
Mid-Summer Catalogue 
offers a choice line of these; also Celery, 
Cabbage, Cauliflower and other season¬ 
able plants. Write for copy, FREE. 
HENRY A. DREER, 714 Chestnut St., Phila.,Pa. 
Potted Strawberry Plants 
Garden Tools, Spray Pumps, 
Spray Mixtures. Booklet free. 
ARTHUR J. COLLINS, Moorestown, N. J. 
STRAWBERRY PLANTS SUSSSU 
plant 1906. $1.00 per 100. List free. 
KEVITT'S PLANT FARM, Athenia, N. J. 
c 
RIMSON CLOVE! 
o 
Nature’s Fertilizer and Ideal Hay 
Crop. New circular describing its I m 
merits and why every Fanner and 
Trucker should plant it, mailed FREE. Write for 
prices, also new wheat circular. 
HOLMES SEED COMPANY, Harrisburg, I’a. 
C? ft B C— Crimson Clover Seed, 
l ink VJfn la Ea $5.50 per bushel: Cow 
Peas, $1.75 bushel. J. E. HOLLAND. Milford, Del. 
, shows in NATURAL COLORS and 
accurately describes 216 varieties of 
.. fruit. Send for our liberal terms of distri¬ 
bution to planters.— Stark Bro’s, Louisiana, Mo. 
What is BONORA? 
“BONORA ” is the new wonderful discovery by the English chemist, 
Mr. Edward Earnshaw. 
“BONORA” creates new life to all vegetation, lawns, shrubbery, fruit 
and shade trees. 
“BONORA” is exceedingly valuable for garden use, and when applied 
to vegetables, roses or any variety of plant life, causes them to mature 
two to three weeks earlier, encourages a strong, quick growth, and 
increases the quantity and quality. It is especial y useful for Peas, 
Cauliflower, Lettuce, Beans, Beets, Spinach, Radishes, Asparagus, etc., 
where a quick growth is desired. Two or three applications after the 
seed first comes up, applied at intervals of a week or so, wi 1 produce 
marvelous results. A row of Tomatoes treated with “ BONORA* 
last year, came into bearing three weeks earlier, and produced nearly 
twice as much as a i ow where it was not applied. 
“ BONORA ” has a magical effect upon grasses. For grass plots there is 
nothing to equal it, on account of its cleanliness, ease with which it is 
applied, and the quick results from its use, 
BONORA” is used in all the parks of Greater New York. 
BONORA” is endorsed by President Frarcis of the St. LouisWorld’s Fair. 
BONORA” is used on the principal public groundsof Washington,D. C. 
BONORA” is used on the estates of Cornelius N. Bliss, Jacob 11. Scliiff. 
M. C. D. Borden, W. F. llavemeyer, Daniel O’Day, S. R. Guggenheim, 
Samuel Sachs, H. W. Poor, S. M. Colgate and many others. 
Cutworms, Bugs, Wireworms, etc., cannot live where “BONORA” is used. 
“BONORA” is made in liquid form,put up in 1, 3, 5 and 10 gallon kegs, at 8*3 
per gallon ; half barrels, containing 35 gallons, at 81.75 per gallon, and baneis, 
containing 50 gallons, at 81.50 per gallon. For using “ BONORA ” is diluted 
with lOO parts of water and sprinkled on the plants so that it may reach the 
roots. Send in your orders. Satisfaction guaranteed or money refunded. 
BONORA CHEMICAL COMPANY, 586 Broadway, New York. 
Factory and Laboratory, Kearney/N. J. 
DWYER S POT-GROWN STRAWBERRY PLANTS 
Strong, healthy plants from selected stock of choicest fruiting varieties, sure to give satisfaction and 
Dmriure a Pull f*r* in IQOR Some of the finest berry patches in America owe success to 
riuuutca run viujj mi law our vigorous stock. Pot-grown plants have been our specialty 
for many years. If you want fruit next season, order now. We have a full line of FRUIT ANI) ORNA¬ 
MENTAL TREES, PLANTS, VINES, ETC., for Fail planting—all grown on our home grounds and 
guaranteed healthy and true to name. We also do LANDSCAPE GARDENING in all its branches 
Our catalogue mailed free. Write now. T. J.DWYER& COMPANY, P. O. BOX 1, CORNWALL, N.Y 
Grown STRAWBERRIES 
We shall have our naual supply of fine plants ready about August 1. Plants set out In August 
will yield a good crop next season. A list of the best varieties with correct descriptions mailed 
on request. 65th Year. 
ELLWANCER A BARRY, Mount Hope N urseries, Rochester, N. Y. 
TP’rt 1" ■■ (t C BCD mn CDCIfiUT DAin Apple, Pear, Plum, Cherry, Peach and Carolina 
^ >!>0 run ILMJ 7 rnulun I lAlu Poplars, healthy, truejto name and fumieated. 
K ^ J" JV All kinds of trees and plants at low wholesale prices. Remember we beat ail other reliable 
| IhLi Nurseries in quality and price. Catalogue free, Reliance Nursery, Box 10, Geneva, N.Y. 
