1905. 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
765 
Events of the Week. 
DOMESTIC.-—October 4 three persons were killed and 
several injured by lire in an apartment house in Brooklyn, 
N. V. The lire is supposed to bo incendiary. ... A 
man who says he is D. K. Tripp of New York city and 
Attorney Frank L. Rodgers of Fairfield. Conn, who has an 
office ai Bridgeport, were arrested Octolier 3, on a charge 
of swindling Henry G. Wheeler, a farmer of Stratford, Conn., 
out of $17,000. Charges have also been made against Wil¬ 
liam II. Sutphen of New York, said to be a partner of Tripp 
in the New York and New Jersey Bridge Building Com¬ 
pany. According to the complaint. Rodgers approached 
Wheeler several weeks ago with a mining proposition. lie 
represented that the mine was located in Mexico. Wheeler 
gave up several thousand dollars on the mining proposition 
and indorsed notes for $3 7,000 for both Tripp and Rodgers. 
It is alleged that the mine is mythical. . . The dam 
a! Brand Chenier, closing the Mermenteau River in Cameron 
Parish. Louisiana, was blown up October 3 with dynamite, 
exploded by electricity. The outrage was undoubtedly per¬ 
petrated by farmers and stock raisers of the neighborhood 
who complained that the dam flooded their lands. Ever 
since its construction, about a year ago, it has aroused 
bitterness in the neighborhood. The dam was constructed 
under an act of Congress, the Mermenteau being a navigable 
stream, for the purpose of furnishing a supply of water for 
rice growers. As the result of a prolonged drought, the 
Mermenteau changed from a fresh water to a salt water 
stream. The pumping of this salt water oh the rice de¬ 
stroyed the crop of that year. Congress and the Louisiana 
Legislature then authorized the construction of the dam to 
keep salt water out of the river. There was objection from 
those residents who are not rice growers and the question 
was carried into court. . . The steamer St. Paul, 
from Sait Francisco to Portland, Ore., went on the rocks 
at Point Cora, Ilumbo'dl County, October 5, and is a total 
wreck. Seventy-live passengers and the crew were safely 
landed. The vessel during the Spanish war served as a 
Oovernment transport and carried troops and supplies to the 
Philippines. . . . The Chicago Appellate Court decided 
October <> against Franklin Fnion. No. 4, and three of its 
members who were fined $100 each and sentenced to 30 
days' imprisonment by the Superior Court two years ago 
for violation of an injunction gotten by the Chicago Ty- 
pothetffi. By the injunction members of the Franklin 
Fnion were restrained from interfering with employees of 
several printing firms, all of which were members of the 
Chicago Typothette. After the Court’s order was issued 
Fred Kiteliel, Charles Smith and John Mucher were cited 
for contempt. They were lined $100 each and sentenced to 
thirty days imprisonment in the county jail. The cases 
were taken to (lie Appellate Court by Franklin Fnion No. 4, 
against whom a decree imposing a fine of $3,000 was also 
entered. This decree is also affirmed by the Appellate 
Court. . . . Nine officers of the Retail Coal Dealers’ 
Association of Illinois and Wisconsin, found guilty of con¬ 
spiracy to raise the price of coal and fined $300 each in the 
Criminal Court two years ago. will lie obliged to pay their 
fines, according to a decision of the Appellate Court at 
Chicago October 0. The indictment charged that in the 
formation of the Retail Coal Dealers' Association the dealers 
had combined to destroy and prevent competition in the sale, 
delivery and distribution of coal to consumers. The Court 
says': “The ultimate object of the combination was to give 
to its members a monopoly in the retail coal business in 
their respective localities, thus enabling the members to 
regulate the prices independent of legitimate and healthful 
competition. ... At Rhinelander, Wis.. October 4, prop¬ 
erty worth more than $600,000, including 40.000,000 feet 
of lumber, was destroyed. 500 persons were made homeless 
and a part of the eitv was laid waste by fire which started 
at noon and raged until nearly midnight. The fire-fighting 
forces of half a dozen cities were swept back before the 
flames, and for a time it seemed as though the end would 
not come until not a building was left in the city Entire 
blocks in the residence district, including two churches and 
two school houses, were wiped out. Rhinelander is the 
county seat of Oneida County and the center of a large lum¬ 
bering section. It has a population of about 6.000. The 
losses are partly covered by insurance. . . • After three 
trials, extending over three months, John Newton William¬ 
son, Representative in Congress from Oregon: Dr. Ian Ges- 
nor, his partner, and Marion R. Biggs, their friend and the 
United States Commissioner for the General Land Office at 
Prineville, have been declared to be guilty of the crime of 
conspiracy to suborn perjury. The indictment alleges that 
Williamson. Van Gesner and Biggs, of Prineville. on June 
3(> 3 602, entered into a conspiracy in the consummation ot 
which tliev were to suborn a large number of persons to 
commit perjury by inducing, them to file upon timber Claims 
under contract to* transfer the claims to the firm ot William¬ 
son & Gesner for $500 each as soon as the title had passed 
to the claimants from the Government of the Fnited States. 
A "tourist trust." comprising nine Western States 
having the best scenery to offer, is to be organized to tight 
Europe and the fashion of going abroad in preference to see¬ 
ing the wonders at home. The idea is to corral the Ameri¬ 
can tourist and show him that the best and most profitable 
vacation can be spent in the West. The Salt Lake t otn- 
mereial Club fathers the movement and asks the Governors 
of nine Slates to join in advertising. . • The yellow 
fever scourge is drawing to a close. The following smn- 
marv gives the totals at the chief points of infection and 
conditions October 10: New Orleans, total cases 3,230; 
total deaths. 415: new cases for day. IS. I ensacola. total 
cases, 307: deaths, 43; new cases for day. 32. Natchez, total 
cases. 158; deaths, 7; new cases. 6. . . . S. Io;ed Nixon 
for seven terms speaker of the N. A. Legislature, died 
October 10 after an operation for appendicitis, lie was 
years old and had been in public life since the age 
DEPARTMENT OF AGRIFFLTFRE.—Secretary of Agri¬ 
culture Wilson has secured an opinion from the Attorney- 
• General to the effect that under the law the packers cannot 
be made to pav the cost of inspection, and yet Congress did 
not provide sufficient funds to inspect all the exported meats, 
lie proposes to meet this difficulty by 
pay for the tags which are attached 
the packages in which it is - 
tags have been furnished by the Government at a yearly 
cost ranging from $05,000 to $70,000. With this sa'ing 
in the appropriation if is proposed to employ additional 
inspectors, so that all the packers, large and small, who de¬ 
sire their services may be supplied without delay. he cost 
of the tags this year was <i-> cents a 1.000, but as the large 
packers constituting the so-called beet trust took 00 per 
cent of the 3 00.000.000 tags that were used last year they 
will be the chief sufferers by the proposed change. 
AMERICAN P0M0L0GICAL SOCIETY. 
Tart II. 
45 
24. 
making the packers 
to the meat and fin- 
contained. Heretofore these 
In “Cover Crops,” John Lloyd. Illinois, 
lieved in both cultivation and cover crops 
make this a matter of considerable study, 
side hills need special treatment. 1 hese 
in strips, sowing to clover, and alternating each year. 
said that he be- 
Some locations 
The washing of 
may be cultivated 
Some 
leave the clover all the time,but would disk enough to form 
a mulch, but not enough to kill the clover. the kind of 
coyer crop depends on many things—the age and 
of the orchard, etc. Vetch and clover 
ites A voting orchard generally needs plowing and a bear¬ 
ing'one can be disked. The rich black soils in the center 
leave the clover all the time, but would disk enough to form 
and disked in tho Spring. R.ve is a favorite on account of 
lateness with which it may be put in, weie it not 
heavy seeding in the Spring. Legumes are best 
South, where the soil lacks in nitrogen. 
condition 
most requis- 
Crab 
sown, and until 
their leaves, and 
grass makes a good 
for the 
in the 
..- -~ _The main objection 
to cow peas is' that they need to be put in before cultivation 
ought to cease, though this may be partly overcome^bv 
harrowing the ground after the peas are 
the plants are six inches high. They shed 
leave little Winter protection, 
cover, but lacks in nitrogen. 
"Cultivation of Orchards in , xl „ 
A. Burton. Indiana, was the plan of one who seeks the middle 
ground between the intensive culture of the scientist and 
the no-culture of many growers. Mr. Burton says the aver¬ 
age man cannot, and need not cultivate all the season. 
While not an advocate for a Blue-grass orchard he has one 
giving splendid results. This was merely disked twice in 
the Spring, running tho disk each way in order to roach 
between the tree rows, at each cultivation. He would not 
cultivate with any method late in the season, as this pre¬ 
Southern Indiana.” by .Toe 
vents tlie fruit from coloring up well. He prefers to stop 
all cultivation by middle of June at the latest, and allow 
crab grass to grow for a mulch and cover. One inch of 
cover crop inixed with two inches of soil makes a very 
effectual mulch. 
"Spraying” brought out much discussion. E. M. Poilard, 
Nebraska, had tried the old formulas with poor results. 
Parker Earle, from whom it is always safe to quote, said 
that the most effective and far flic safest poison for spraying, 
was Disparene, or arsenate of lead. It does not injure 
foliage or buds, and while it costs a little more will last 
much longer than others, lie has used arsenate of soda 
and done much damage by burning As there is a good 
deal of uncertainty in using many of the old formulas, whv 
not throw them all aside and use something that is abso¬ 
lutely safe and effective? 8. M. Crowioy, Rocky Ford, con 
siders spraying a most important matter. He saved 95 per 
cent of the fruit by spraying; finds nothing as good as the 
arsenate of lead or Disparene. 4 ue former -mils at 35 
cents per pound in 300-pound Legs, three pounds of which 
are added to 50 gallons of clean water, mixed and used. The 
formula is given on the package and no one need make a 
mistake. When spraying ginseng or onions, boil two pounds 
resin and one pound saisoda in two quarts of water till of 
a clear brown color, using an iron kettle. Add to 50 gallons of 
spray and ,1 will sti-a to anything. St ere I ary Craig on- 
sidered arsenate of lead quite exjrensive. and gets just as 
good results with arsenate of lime or soda, arid much 
cheaper. First apply when trees are bare of leaves, and a 
good application at this time is most important. 
"Grading and Inspecting Fruit." by C. FI. Williamson 
was to be a report of a committee .laving this work in 
charge Mr. Williamson said they were not in a position to 
determine the wisest way to place the matter before the 
meeting. They have a very positive idea of what should 
constitute a No. 1 apple, but the lower grades need just as 
positive defining, and they were not able to do so yet. and 
give justice to both sides. A No. 1 apple as now consideied, 
is of normal shape for the variety, of good color, free from 
the action of worms or break in the skin, or any fungus 
disease, hand-picked, and to be 21A inches in diameter for 
the large varieties, and 2Vi inches for the smaller kinds. A 
No. 2 is practically the same, only smaller. Fruit with 
worm in the blossom end should go into a third grade. 
One cf the most enjoyable features of the meeting was a 
lecture by ('. L. Watrous, Des Moines, on the subject of 
"Observations of an American on Japanese 1 orticulture.” 
It had been the dream of his boyhood to visit the Orient, 
and though it took 60 years for the dream to come 
true we cannot but feel that the wider vision and deeper 
capacity for observation and pleasure were well worth the 
waiting. So many things novel and interesting n those 
lands wherein nature has been so lavish and man so lazy 
were seen by the traveler before reaching Japan that one 
would fain have him pause at many places along the way. 
In Japan tlie amount of fertile land in proportion to the 
population is very inadequate, as viewed by American eyes. 
Only enough is produced to sustain life, and hard toil, the 
poorest food and most rigid economy is the portion of the 
many. Every foot of ground is cultivated to obtain the 
necessaries of life, and they do not have orchards in the 
sense that we know the word. The empire of the Japan 
plum is in America. The people there do wonders in novel 
and curious forms of horticulture. They show much sym¬ 
pathy for plants, and treat them with great respect. In 
fruits, the persimmons are the only ones we can satisfac¬ 
torily import. 
One session was devoted to the Horticultural History of 
thi‘ States west of the Missouri. Secretary Barnes submit 
ted a fine resume of past work. Kansas is now known as 
a great apple State. The valley of the Arkansas for 240 
miles or more is now known as a great apple section. Judge 
Fred. Wellhouse was the pioneer in large planting, and lie 
and his' 1,63-7 acres of apple orchards are known the world 
over. Many other orchards of from one to 2,000 acres are 
now to be found. Later and valuable statistics show that 
the State has 240.000 acres devoted to fruit trees at the 
present time. Prof. Emerson. Nebraska, gave history of 
early trials and triumphs, and said that while commercial 
planting is at a standstill home plantings are rapidly increas¬ 
ing. There is no reason why every farm in the State should 
not have some kind of fruit. More than half of the nursery 
stock is shipped out of the State at the present time. 
Fabrian Garcia, New Mexico Agricultural College, gave 
an interesting history of the first work done in that country. 
There is no lack of soil and climate conditions there. Rain¬ 
fall is insufficient in many places irrigation is practiced. 
Pear blight is unknown. Texas was represented by T. V. 
Munson, who said that the development of commercial fruit 
growing was not great before 1876. Soon after this time 
shipments began to be sent out, and the results were such 
that the industry had made rapid strides. Texas is still 
in her infancy, and the future years will astonish the 
world. Prof. Dutcher. Warrenburg. Mo., gave the history 
for Missouri. The State society, first organized in 1850. 
has been a great power in the development of the State, 
not only in her fruit industry but allied interests. The 
geographical position, together with the loess formation 
along the rivers, and the red clay porous shale of the Ozark 
uplift, combine ‘to make Missouri one of the first fruit 
States in the union. In the Ozark region alone there are 
more, than 100,000 fruit trees and 7,000 acres in com¬ 
mercial strawberry fields. W. S. Coburn. Hotchkiss, Col., 
gave practical demonstration in grafting old orchard trees. 
Large limbs are as successfully treated as small ones. The 
full plan will be given in the printed reports. 
ALMA L. MOORE. 
THE FRUIT EXHIBIT AT THE STATE FAIR. 
Judged from almost any standpoint the fruit exhibit at 
the New York State Fair was an excellent one. The prod¬ 
ucts shown were extra fine, only the apples, among all the 
fruits, were below standard: they were lacking in color 
and size. The varieties were numerous and representative, 
giving good opportunities for studying them. The exhibits 
were attractively arranged and must aid in stimulating the 
demand for fine fruit. Quite as valuable to the producer 
as the display of fruit was the opportunity to meet fellow 
fruit growers', fruit buyers, nurserymen, newspapermen and 
experts from colleges and experiment stations, whereby ideas 
could be exchanged on all horticultural matters, markets 
discussed, and horticultural friendships made. The ex¬ 
hibit was one of the largest ever made at a New York 
State Fair, about 2,000 sorts being on exhibition. In look¬ 
ing over this immense number of fruits one could not but 
be impressed with the influence which locality seems to 
exert upon fruits and varieties. It was plain to be seen 
that certain localities are adapted to certain fruits and 
varieties, and the conclusion to he drawn was equally plain : 
namely, that growers should plant only those fruits and 
varieties to which their soil, climate and method of eul 
ture are best adapted. 
It seemed to the writer, who was visiting the New York 
State Fair for the first time, that too little attention was 
given by the Fair authorities to securing the exhibits of 
amateurs. Without question the commercial fruit growers 
should be given the greatest inducements, but the farmer 
and the village horticulturist should be made to feel that 
their exhibits are welcome, and that the Fair is for them 
as well as for the large fruit grower. Probably the Fair 
management is not at fault in this matter as much as 
are the amateurs themselves, in which case extra induce¬ 
ments should be made to the latter to have them show their 
wares. I was disappointed in the exhibits of grapes from 
the grape regions, and saw no exhibit of grape products 
worthy of the New York grape industry. It is somewhat 
deplorable that the gre.a'l majority of the grape premiums 
went out of the State, though no one could question that 
the magnificent collection of grapes from New Jersey de¬ 
served all the prizes given it. The collection in question 
showed well what can be done with native grapes under 
the best possible culture. The fine grapes shown from New 
.Tersev were grown by giving special attention to pruning, 
fertilizing, thinning and bagging. I suspect that in com¬ 
mercial plantations one could not possibly give the high 
culture needed to produce such specimens as those shown, 
but the commercial grower can work toward the standard 
set by these extra fine grapes. I spent considerable time in 
attempting to identify fruits much of which came to me from 
the pocket of the producer. It might be an excellent plan 
to have a place in the exhibition hall where unnamed and 
new varieties of fruits can be exhibited, so that all mav 
have a chance to see them, and where the grower of such 
fruits may more readily ohlain information in regard to 
them. 
Special attention should be called to the three large ex¬ 
hibits made by the Western New York Horticultural So¬ 
ciety, tlie New York State Fruit Growers' Association and 
the New York Experiment Station. All throe were splendid 
collections, most pleasing and most instructive, and on the 
whole well displayed. While little but good can be said of 
them, yet all could have been Improved by a system of 
labeling which would have shown the names of the fruits 
more plainly: by giving more space for the plates; and 
by low Installation, whereby the plates could all have been 
equally exposed to view, instead of high installation con¬ 
sisting of shelves in two or three tiers upon which the higher 
tiers of fruit could not be seen to advantage. I’eople visit¬ 
ing the exhibit could have got much more out of it had 
the fruit been in a larger and better lighted hall, or could 
the Fair have been hold longer. Fnder present conditions 
part of the time at least if was almost impossible for one 
who wished to do so to study the displays without hin¬ 
drance from the crowd. u. r. hendriok. 
New York Experiment Station. 
REPORT ON THE ONION CROP. 
The Jerome B. Rice Seed Company make the following 
estimate for September : 
Acreage. 
Y’ld tier 
acre. 
Total crop, 
bushels. 
State. 
1005 1004 
1905 3004 
1005 
1004 
Ohio . 
4.611 4,163 
105 
218 
910,605 
008,065 
New York.. . 
3,325 •3,177 
273 
283 
000,375 
001.875 
Indiana . ... 
1.8.33 1.423 
23.3 
363 
427.605 
516.683 
Mass. 
1,300 1,200 
250 
275 
325,000 
330,000 
< 'mm. 
1,100 1,000 
225 
240 
247.500 
240.01>0 
Minn. 
266 354 
284 
40!) 
75,650 
144.750 
Michigan .. 
444 363 
110 
304 
52,752 
142.020 
Illinois ... 
500 500 
220 
220 
110,000 
110,000 
Wisconsin 
220 260 
245 
240 
53,875 
56,250 
Rhode Isl... 
250 225 
225 
250 
56,250 
50,000 
Iowa . 
125 125 
400 
400 
50.000 
62,450 
Vermont . . . 
25 20 
300 
200 
7.500 
4.000 
Totals ... 
14,003 12,810 
230 
271 
3.226,202 3 
,466,003 
A general 
complaint is made, of 
an 
unsatisfactory yield 
caused by excessive wet weather. A great many fields have 
blighted badly and onions ripened prematurely. Considerable 
replanting was done which will make many fields very late 
and not of the best qualify, really choice storage stock not 
being overly plentiful. Prices from the fields are ruling from 
40 to 55 cents per bushel for reds and yellows, and 50 to 
75 cents for white onions, depending on the quality. While 
this year's report indicates a shortage of some 240,000 bush¬ 
els, is must be taken into consideration that the past wet 
season has been an ideal one for tlie small gardeners to 
grow onions in small patches on the upland and often these 
small acreages supply many of tlie town and city markets 
for a considerable time, and again a short crop is not al¬ 
ways an indication of a high price. 
11 ore in the Pecos' Valley apples bring from 75 cents to 
$1.50 a box; small undersized but sound apples bring lower 
price; best uniform box faced in packing, higher price. 
Crop in valley estimated at 175,000 boxes; most of crop 
goes south to points in Texas, as far east as New Orleans: 
a few carloads of very choice go north. Boxes cost about 
eight cents each by car lot. Apple packers get $1 a day 
with board, $3.50 without; shade trees or sheds to work 
under. a. p. 
Dexter, N. M. 
FLORIDA NOTES.—The rainy season is soon over, and 
farmers will commence saving peavine hay next week. 
String beans for November use are just up. and gardeners 
are now planting small potatoes whole for the Winter crop 
to he dug as wanted in January and February. The main 
potato crop is planted in January. Many berry plants are 
set out in October which yield a nice crop in March , April 
and May. In October we plant turnips for January, Feb¬ 
ruary and March market, shipping them in barrels with 
green tops on. Lettuce and cucumbers are being planted 
and tomatoes for November and December market are grow¬ 
ing nicely. Sweet peppers and okra are being shipped and 
will continue until frost, which is not usual before December 
It) at this point and often not till January. Peaches, pears, 
plums, oranges, grape fruit and Kumquats do well. w. e. e. 
Dade City, Fla. 
NOTES FROM THE PENINSULA.—I see on page 733. N. 
P. C., Burlington Co., N. ,L, says Ivieffer pears were selling 
from 75 cents to $3 per barrel in the orchard. Just send 
me a buyer at any such price; I have from 15.000 to 20,- 
000 %-bushel baskets of Kieffer pears awaiting a buyer. 
The best offer I have had is 12 cents per %-bushel basket: 
pears fine. I have one block of 1.500 trees that I think will 
run from six to eight % baskets per tree. I have trees 
that are 3 7 years old that will pick 20 to 25 baskets per 
tree. Apple crop very light in the upper part of our State. 
Not far from Wyoming station on Delaware R. R.. you will 
find some fine orchards owned by men who are making 
apples pay. If anyone wants to see apples that are apples 
they need not go to the Ozarks or the valleys extending 
along the Blue Ride Mountains' in Pennsylvania. Maryland 
or Virginia. We have good crops of wheat, corn and hay. 
plenty of Fall pasture. Everything has grown this year; 
late potatoes also a fine crop. Plentv of fields of corn 
will average from 60 to 75 bushels of shelled corn per acre. 
Wheat has averaged from 25 to 30 bushels per acre in my 
neighborhood. J. T. s. 
Middletown, Del. ________________ 
BUSINESS BITS. 
It may interest many of our people to know that the large 
live stock commission houses of Chicago and other western 
cities have opened a branch at East Buffalo. N. Y., and are 
now prepared to handle consignments at this point. 
The Globe Trotter’s Dictionary is a handy little book 
issued by The Nitrate of Soda Propaganda. 32-16 John 
St.. New York. It is designed to aid those who travel, 
and is really a little dictionary, giving English words most 
commonly used and their equivalent in German, French, 
Spanish and Italian. The book will be a great help to 
travelers or those who are interested in comparing lan¬ 
guages. The edition is limited, and is sent only to those who 
are interested in agriculture. 
Anyone who has not experienced the pleasures of riding 
on a bolster spring after having become accustomed to the 
old iolting way. has a pleasure to look forward to. The 
pleasure is increased tenfold when one considers the saviyg 
of jolt to load and wagon, and strain on horses and harness. 
Any one of these items will, in a short time, pay the cost 
of a pair of the, Harvey bolster springs, probably the best 
known and most satisfactory of any on the market. Write 
to the Harvey Spring Co., 101 N. Murray Ave., Racine 
Junction. Wis. 
Among the different hay presses manufactured the line 
built by .1. A Spencer at Dwight. Ill, deserves special atten¬ 
tion. These presses represent the most advanced ideas 
of hav press manufacture and are unequaled for speed, accu¬ 
racy and economy of operation. Mr. Spencer manufactures 
several types of hay press, each of which possesses distinc¬ 
tive features which make it specially adapted to the pur¬ 
pose for which it is intended. Anyone sending a request 
to .1. A. Spencer. Dwight. Ill., will be furnished with an 
illustrated catalogue fully describing these excellent ma¬ 
chines. 
The Kalamazoo Stove Co. plan of selling their entire 
product direct from the factory to the user is well known. 
They not only do not belong to the mail order class, but 
they distribute nothing whatever of their product through 
mail order houses. Kalamazoos go straight to the users 
from the factory. The Company has a paid up capital of 
$315,000. Their long-time approval test, their bank guar¬ 
anteed bond, the saving in price, prepayment of freight, re¬ 
turn privileges, and other characteristic features of their 
methods of doing business are familiar to our readers from 
having so often read them in the advertisements. The 
Company publishes a large and elegantly illustrated cata¬ 
logue. describing their entire tine of stoves and ranges and 
giving in detail their plan of doing business. This cata¬ 
logue is sent free to anyone who writes for if. It is free 
from the big promises and extravagant statements found 
in so many. Address Kalamazoo Stove Co., Kalamazoo, MlQli, 
