774 
October 2S, 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
house. Soon as it dries somewhat pile it back in a 
corner. Later on. when there is leisure, the corn is 
looked over and the small kernels shelled off. and any 
ears that are not up to my idea of a seed ear are re¬ 
jected. Some time when the power sheller is set up in 
the Spring for work 1 carry the seed corn out and shell 
i‘ ; put it iu barrels in the granary; then it is ready 
when needed. I have taken a bag and gone in the corn¬ 
field before busking time and gathered corn for seed, 
carrying it out, tying it together by the busks, and 
hanging it up, but this was tedious, undesirable work 
and the seed was none the better for it. so abandoned 
that way Next wa c to gather a load for seeding before 
busking commenced, and save the seed from that, but 
then one did not have large enough variety to select 
from. Next was to pick out seed when I was unload¬ 
ing (we unload our corn with a scoop shovel, not pick 
it up, sort it, and carry it into the crib in baskets as 
eastern farmers did when 1 was among them), but it 
took time. The next plan was the seed corn box on 
the side of the wagon, and that always stayed with me. 
In selecting seed corn have a certain type of corn that 
you wish to propagate, then have an ideal ear in your 
mind. It is not enough for me to see the ear; I want 
to see the stalk that it grew on. It must be rather a 
short stalk, must not show any signs of smut, must 
stand up well with no suckers and only one ear; then 
if the ear is up to the standard it is put in the box for 
seed, and this is the best way I have found to get the 
best ears with the least time spent. h. c. greene. 
Cedar Co., Iowa. 
THE LAND OF COW PEAS AND CLOVER. 
Farming on the Delaware Peninsula. 
Part I. 
Not long since 1 received the following letter from 
a reader in Delaware: 
If Alfalfa will not grow on ordinary land that will grow 
from 30 to -it) bushels of corn per acre, is it worth the time 
and expense of preparing the land to grow it ? 1 can grow 
Scarlet clover well on such land. In what way is Alfalfa 
better than Scarlet clover? Some say it will enrich the 
land, others say it will not. We know Scarlet clover will 
increase the yield of corn from 30 to .10 per cent. w. c. L. 
I had just returned from a trip as far south as 
Salisbury and Berlin. We have tried for four years, in 
half a dozen different ways, to obtain a stand of Alfalfa. 
It lias become our best farm ambition to obtain 10 acres 
of thick, permanent growth. Yet after seeing the re¬ 
sults of cow peas and Crimson clover on the Peninsula 
I would be inclined to let Alfalfa alone if we lived 
in that country. The farms around Syracuse N. \., 
are growing stronger and more productive as the result 
of Alfalfa growing. This strength shows in every crop 
of the rotation, and yet it must be admitted that Dela¬ 
ware farms show an even greater increase as the result 
of clover and peas. In the 10 years since I first saw 
this cow-pea farming, this light, sandy soil has greatly 
improved in color, texture and fertilitv. In some cases 
where little or no stable manure has been applied the 
soil seems to have all the life and strength that we 
find where the manure from dairying or stock feeding 
is crowded upon a few chosen acres. 
W. F. Allen, of Salisbury, in former years bought 
large quantities of stable manure, bringing many carloads 
from New York. He says that the continued use of 
cow peas has greatly reduced the manure bill. Mr. 
Allen estimated the growth of Whippoorwill cow peas 
on an acre as equal to at least seven loads of good ma¬ 
nure. or nearly $20. When we understand that this 
crop is made after grain or strawberries, that it grows 
without extra fertilizer, and can be followed by rye. 
we realize what the cow pea means. Mr. Allen 
feeds his horses on cow-pea bay. This fodder looks 
to a northern farmer like dried bean vines—that is just 
what it is. Yet the horses eat it greedily, grinding the 
pods and beans as they would corn. We have been 
taught that while sheep will eat bean vines few other 
animals care for them, yet here were horses with no 
roughage but these dried vines, keeping fat and sleek at 
hard work. I remember that 10 years ago. while these 
farmers used some cow pea hay, they did not seem to 
value it as they do now'. Continued use of the plant 
has shown greater value in it both for feeding and for 
green manurit.g. The use of the cow pea is constantly 
increasing. In addition to the local supply, two carloads 
of seed were brought to Salisbury from Georgia last 
Spring and all sold. The Georgia seed is excellent, and 
great quantities are saved in that State probably because 
labor is cheap. f or cow pea seed must all be picked 
by band. 
I wish it were possible to describe the results from 
this wonderful manorial crop, so that farmers who 
lack faith in it could understand. These results must 
be seen to be appreciated, and we must see the thin 
soil improve and take on color and character from year 
to year in order to understand the full blessing that 
conies with the cow pea. The Delaware Experiment 
Station found in the cow pea vine and roots, growing 
on one.acre 09 l / pounds of nitrogen, 49.8 pounds of 
potash, and 18.9 pounds of phosphoric acid. This gives 
as much nitrogen as a ton of high-grade fertilizer, and 
it may be grown in Delaware between two other crops, 
like an early truck crop and rye, and the bare state¬ 
ment of this amount of fertility does not begin to tell 
LE CONTE PEAR. NATURAL SIZE. Fig. 330. 
See Ruralisms, Page 778. 
the story, because the cow-pea vines rot quickly and 
have an excellent effect upon the soil. On my own 
farm in New Jersey the cow pea, when it made fair 
growth, has given what I may call a better soil effect 
than any other form of green manure. If I could grow 
this crop and Crimson clover as they do on the Penin¬ 
sula the onlv reason 1 would have for sowing Alfalfa 
would be the long life of the latter, which would make 
SECTION OF LE CONTE PEAR. NATURAL SIZE. Fig. 331. 
See Ruralisms. Page 778. 
annual plowing unnecessary. It seems to me that north 
of Philadelphia the cow pea is out of its true latitude. 
On the warm, sandy soils it will thrive in some sea¬ 
sons, but seldom as it does in the South. It does not 
seem to me that the southern people realize yet what 
this climate monopoly of the cow pea means to them. 
For example', wheat growing. Years ago Maryland and 
Delaware were noted for the production of wheat and 
corn. Grain growing was largely given up in many 
sections when the cheap grain from the West tlooded 
the markets. Now the price has gone up again, and 
new fertilizing possibilities have come to the Peninsula. 
It is possible to sow wheat at the usual time and har¬ 
vest it as usual. Then by disking the wheat stubble 
cow peas can be seeded. They will make a heavy yield 
by the time wheat is seeded again. The vines may be 
plowed under, or if this is not desirable the crop may 
be cut for hay and the stubble disked for wheat once 
more. If potash and acid phosphate are used with the 
cow peas we can easily see how the wheat is fed. It is 
just like giving the soil a fair coat of manure for the 
wheat and giving two tons or more of good hay per 
acre. This is but one illustration of the way in which 
cow peas can be used in the South. The best Delaware 
fruit growers understand the situation, and are utilizing 
the plant fully. h. w. e 
AMERICAN P0M0L0GICAL SOCIETY, 
Part III. 
“Plan of Fruiting Grapes," by T. V. Munson, Denison, 
Tex., was most interesting. His trellis system seems ideal, 
and was evolved after trying all known systems. The 
posts - are set 4 feet apart; the end posts should be good 
and strong, and set in the ground for four or more feet, 
this manner of bracing being much preferable to any 
kind of anchoring known. The intermediate posts are set 
two feet in the ground, and are not braced. In this coun¬ 
try they should about 4 feet above ground. In very 
moist places they may be raised to five or feet, and 
where very dry lowered to three feet. A hole bored 
through the post five inches from the top per¬ 
mits the center and lower wire to pass through, 
where it is drawn tight and fastened. The side 
wires’ need not be put up until the second year. Arm 
pieces of 3x4 timber arc sawed in 24-inch lengths; a small 
hole Is bored in the upper corner of each end, and a notch 
cut in the center to the lower side. This piece is not 
nailed iu any way. Place the notch upon the center wire 
which is in place, and wire the arm tightly to the post. 
Two brace wires are fastened with a staple. Two more 
brace wires run each end of the arm to the post In front, 
and are fastened to that post near the bottom. This sys¬ 
tem will be found to bold the arm securely in place with 
no danger of twisting out of shape. When the vines are 
planted, a small stake is driven by each, to which a string 
is attached, and conducts the vine up till the wire is 
reached, where it is tied, the end pinched, and two side 
shoots' allowed to grow. After the vine is strong enough 
two shoots on each side are permitted to grow, and the 
pruner cuts these back and gently twists them in opposite 
directions, tying the ends. These arms furnish the shoots 
for fruiting the following season. The shoots coming out 
at each bud first stand upright, then fall over the wires at 
each side, forming a perfect canopy, which admits of a 
large surface to gather sun and light, and the fruit hang¬ 
ing down beneath is properly shaded. All other shoots 
are kept off except those coming out near the crotch, which 
are left for fruiting the following year. Any fruit appear 
ing on these shoots is removed, that they may gather much 
vigor and vitality for next season's fruiting. The old bear¬ 
ing wood is removed each year. Bagging grapes is all 
right for home use, but impracticable for the commercial 
grower. Prof. Munson considers spraying essential. 
On the subject of "Marketing Fruits," C. E. Bassett. 
Fennville, Mich., said that marketing requires quite as 
much tact and brains as the growing and packing. Some 
better method of distribution is needed, and the best thing 
that presented itself at the present time was some plan 
similar to the one now followed by the meat companies and 
the watermelon growers of the South. A car attached to 
the local freight, with the privilege of opening the car at 
each station, selling the amount wanted for use at that 
place, would put the fruit just where wanted, in much bet¬ 
ter condition and cheaper than when it must be taken out 
of refrigerator car and reshipped by express to these points. 
In "Apple and Pear Growing in New Mexico.” Parker Earle. 
X. M.. said they have been planting fruit comparatively few 
years in that country, but enough has been done to show the 
value of new and better conditions than found in some old 
States. There is good orchard soil in all the States, but 
climate is a great factor in fruit growing to assure suc¬ 
cess. Where the air is almost always dry, and there is 
sunshine 300 days in the year, you will find that you have 
left most of your troubles behind you. Where humidity 
exists - , fungi of various kinds grow in the same air that 
nourishes the fruit. The Pecos and Rio Grande valleys are 
plains with mountains around them, with an altitude of 
4.000 to 5,000 feet. They are 10 to 15 inches of rainfall, 
and growers practice irrigation. The soil is fertile and 
strong, and grows perfect trees and fruit. The first thing 
that attracts attention is the cleanliness of trees and foliage: 
no scale, lichens or anything of that kind. Fruit always 
matures. Good orchard management in the best parts of 
New Mexico secures five crops out of six : not a total failure 
in 21 years. Apples are perfect when Codling moth is kept 
in check. Pears are the supreme triumph of horticulture, 
and they can be produced as - easily as apples. There is a 
good promise for the grower of Winter pears which sell for 
several times more than apples. There are many good 
things in New Mexico: good soil, sunshine and the sweetest 
cleanest air in the world; good health and opportunities. 
The territory needs men with money and z.eal for orchard 
work and for such men there is a perpetual welcome. 
Notes on New Fruits, by Col. Brackett. Washington, will 
be printed in full in the reports..He said it was not best 
lo add varieties to present list unless better than those 
we now have. What we need is the improvement of those 
varieties rather than the addition of new ones. This we 
shall get by intelligent selection and breeding. Selection 
from chance seedlings has given some good results.. The 
need is for live workers to improve fruits - in various ways 
with the view of combining many qualities into one vari¬ 
ety. Hybrids in nature are largely the result of conditions, 
and careful selection may give some valuable fruit. 
Officers were elected as follows: President, I.. A. Good¬ 
man. Kansas City. Mo.: vice-president. T. V. Munson. 
Denison. Texas: secretary. John Craig, Ithaca. N. Y.: treas¬ 
urer, L. R, Taft, Lansing, Mich. alma l. moore. 
