1905 . 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
93 J 
Hope F arm Notes 
Root Pruned Trees. —At Fig. 426, on page 
927, is a picture of two of our peacli trees to 
show how the roots start. These trees were 
planted in crowbar holes. June-bud trees were 
cut back so that about one foot of stem was left 
above ground. The roots were pruned so that 
not even a stub of a side root was left. 
We punched a hole with a crowbar right in a 
brush-grown field, where no plowing had 
been done for at least 30 years, 'the little 
trees were put down into the holes, and water 
and sand poured in, then packed down haul 
around the root. The white mark shows 
how far into the ground they were set. 
These trees did not receive the care they 
should have had, and they grew slowly at 
first. I have dug up quite a number of them 
to see what they were doing, and in every 
case thus far they have started like those 
in the picture. Their first effort seems to 
be a series of tap-roots, which dig straight 
down into the ground. The bottom of the 
root under favorable conditions forms a 
callus, and then sends out roots just about 
like a currant cutting. As will be seen in 
the picture these roots go down. I have 
traced them until I feel sure they reached 
nearly or quite to the water level. I take 
it that the chief object of this deep-rooted 
system is to supply water to the tree. That 
seems to explain why such trees are better 
able to stand drought or lack of cultivation 
than trees with most of the xmots close to the 
surface. I am led by the appearance of these 
trees to argue that if a man expects to suc¬ 
ceed with sod or mulch culture he should 
start with root-pruned trees aud, if possible, 
get this tap-rooted system. 
I have dug up a good many trees and have 
spent much time in orchards where dead 
trees are being pulled out These trees were 
all planted in large holes, with long roots left 
on them, and some pains taken to spread 
these roots out without cramping them. In 
such orchards I have never yet found a 
tree rooted as mine are. With the large 
hole and long roots I rarely find a tree with 
any useful roots much below two feet from 
the surface. On my root-pruned trees the 
tap-roots are often six feet or more under 
ground. Of course we all understand that 
the best feeding roots of the tree are in the 
upper foot or 18 inches. The fact that 
under this system these upper feeding roots 
are slow to start seems to account for the 
slow growth of these trees for the first year 
or two. Later, after the tap or what I call 
“water roots’’ are well fixed, the small feed¬ 
ing roots come out from below the crown 
of the tree, and growth comes rapidly. 
This is the result of planting in a crow¬ 
bar hole. I do not practice it now, but make 
a larger hole, and leave on more side root. 
Why? If this is a good thing why give 
it up? 
I do not give up the principle, but modify 
it. The crowbar hole is so small that you 
can never be sure that the air is kept away 
from the lower end of the root. It Is ab¬ 
solutely necessary to have this part of the 
hole packed tight—otherwise the root will 
not form a callus and will rot or dry out. 
Again, where no side roots are left, the 
tree as it forms a head and stops the wind 
will whirl about in the hole, form a large 
opening at the top and often fall over. It 
is possible to stake the little tree and hold 
it firmly, but I think it better to leave short 
stubs at the side of the roots, pruning them 
from the under side. We then dig a hole 
just large enough to hold the roots without 
cramping, and pound and pack the earth 
solidly around the roots. In this way we 
do not get just the root growth shown in the 
picture, but we do get, thus far at least, 
a much deeper start than where the tree is 
planted in a large hole with long roots left 
on it. Thus far I am unable to see any ad¬ 
vantage in making a great hole and leaving 
on the roots, and every orchard I see dug 
out stiffens my faith in the root-pruning 
method. I think any man who knows much 
about a tree wil say that such roots as 
I have pictured are more likely to bring 
water in time of drought than the surface 
roots which are found on most trees. This 
will explain why I compare a root-pruned tree 
to clover, and a long-rooted tree to Timothy. 
Observe the way these act in a “dry time.” 
Why Is It?—I am often asked why these 
roots start as they do. I must say frankly 
that I do not know. Many a man who thinks 
he has put his roots squarely into knowledge 
finds them quickly chopped off by a good 
“why” ' The scientific men look wise, and 
generally say that later these roots will 
follow the natural habit of the tree and 
come to the surface. That satisfies me that 
they never saw a root-pruned tree dug up, 
and that science sometimes tries to climb 
over a stump by the aid of a guess. My 
theory is that the little tree in the small 
hole, with the earth packed hard around it. 
must send its roots along the line of least 
resistance, That seems to me the simplest 
explanation for this tap-root growth. When 
the tree is put in a large hole with mellow 
soil about the roots, it seems evident that 
the growth will naturally he into this softer 
soil, consequently we have a horizontal 
growth near the surface. It is the habit 
of the clover root to dig down for water, 
but not so, as I think, with the root of 
the transplanted fruit tree, which must be 
driven to it, if at all, by artificial means. 
Thus on damp soil where the water is close 
to the surface this close root-pruning might 
be just the thing not to do. while on out- 
dry bills it is an advantage. To make a 
human application, we might say that Robin¬ 
son Crusoe planted on his desert island was 
root-pruned and put in a small hole. H© was 
forced to root deeply and firmly, under bard 
conditions, or he would have died. A boy 
thrown out upou the world under hard con¬ 
ditions is root-pruned. If he grow into what 
is called a “self-made man” he will hnd that 
the self-denial and hard struggle of early 
life has made him root deeper into life prob¬ 
lems and human nature than he could othei 
wise have done. Yet this is not the best, 
way to start and bring up a boy. It developes 
some sides of character, but he misses some 
of the best parts of life, from the fact that 
childhood gave him too little hold upon 
home and human love. 1 think that trees 
are more like men than most of us think. 
My owu childhood was root-pruned closer 
than 1 like. My children shall have stubs 
on their childish days, though 1 know the 
folly of leaving those stubs too long. 1 er- 
haps that is one reason why I stub-prune 
the trees. 
THE CUTAWAY HARROW CO. 
CLARK’S REV. 
BUSH PLOW and HARROW 
i Cuts a track 5 feet wide, 1 
? foot deep. Connects sub 
\ soil water. Can plow a 
( newly cut forest, stump, 
£ bush or bog land. 
C LA UK’S Dbl. ACTION 
CUT 1 H AT Moves 18,000 
A Tons of Earth in a Day. 
tt' Send for Circulars, 
v HIGGANUM, CONN., U.S.A, 
Cider Machinery—Send for Catalogue to Boomer & 
Boschert Press Co., 118 West Water St.,Syracuse, N.Y. 
“Fireless Cook Stove.” —The following 
letter conies from Tennessee. I print it be¬ 
cause not only is the practical advice worth 
following but the principle of it teaches a 
good New Year's lesson. 
“I am very much interested in this simple 
and inexpensive way of cooking, and am 
anxious to tell all your readers about it. 
Get a tight wooden box, say about three feet 
long, one and one-hall' foot deep and one and 
one-half foot wide, (this is size ol mine) a 
candy bucket or steamer trunk would do. 
Fill this tight with hay or straw (straw is 
best). My box will hold three one-gallon 
granite buckets. In one bucket I put a 
young chicken, another potatoes sliced, an¬ 
other rice or evaporated peaches—put these 
on stove and let boil 10 minutes, then take 
off the fire quickly and bury in the box of 
hav. Put hay on top and all around tight, 
then fasten the lid down and double a quilt 
or blanket and put on top of box. lhen 
you have a nice window seat. I 1 or cooking 
navy beans and evaporated peaches soak all 
night or a few hours beforehand^—you can 
cook an old hen or pigs’ feet if you will 
take them and reboll 10 minutes.at the end 
or five or six hours, aud put them back and 
let them finish cooking. Things that are 
hard to cook I let stay in all night. I his 
way of cooking is fine where you have to 
economize in fuel, or when you want to go 
away and spend the day. I put. my six 
o’clock dinner ou when I am cooking break¬ 
fast then it is ready when I return—with 
a little heating up to make gravies. I cook 
my Sunday dinner in same way, put in hay 
box and when I return it is all done. The 
steam in the buckets, that cannot escape, is 
what does the cooking. Do try it; tins Is 
a fine thing. I am so anxious for the tireless 
cook stove to lie used and experimented with. 
Be sure you have granite buckets with lids 
fitting in tight. In taking buckets off tire I 
wipe them off with a wet cloth to prevent 
setting my hay box afire.” e. w. w. 
Nashville, Tenu. 
This principle of making the most of heat 
is well worth thinking about. When I was 
a boy I knew people to dig a hole in the 
ground, start a good tiro therein and when 
the wood burned down put a pot. of beans or 
a kettle of “boiled dinner" in the ashes, cover 
the hole over and go away. The heat was 
utilized to cook the food. Out on the plains 
25 years ago fuel was very scarce. Hay tied 
into knots and dry cow manure was largely 
used. 1 have seen a box packed with wool 
used. In the center, with the wool around it, 
was a deep iron cylinder. Boiling water was 
poured into this cylinder and a smaller one 
containing the food was put down into this 
water and covered. The whole thing was 
packed tight and left alone so that the hoat 
of the water cooked the food. This principle 
is not new, and can be made very useful 
just as our friend says. Explorers who go 
hunting for the North Bole sleep in skin bags 
with bottles of hot water inside. The applica¬ 
tion of it to human affairs is more useful yet. 
Most of us are wasteful of energy, while others 
waste love and charity much as housekeepers 
waste fuel and heat. We see what the heat 
of boiling water will do when it is confined 
inside the box so that it cannot idly escape. 
Think what a human life could accomplish 
if its energy and love could be utilized in 
this way—not wasted in experiment or idle 
purpose, but bravely and patiently devoted 
to one useful and true thing until that thing 
were done, so that it led to another. If 
I had the power to give a New Year's 
present to each of my friends I would see 
that during 1906 they took up this principle 
of the “tireless cook stove,” and stuck to 
opportunity as the heat in the box stays by 
the food. The world is suffering for lack 
of this strong, steady, patient work of band 
and heart. There are lots of good men who 
are trying to heat up the entire world, and 
they find it a cold job. If we could only 
box them in and save a good share of their 
heat thoroughly to cook the things in our 
homes anyone can see that the world would 
be better off for it. Let’s try aud make a 
good job of the thing close at hand before 
we branch out too much. 
Blankets Wanted! —IIeye we have a call 
which may stir up some one like a bugle 
blast: 
“This frostv weather puts me In mind of 
something; Did you ever in your travels 
run across what used to be called blanket 
sheets? When I was a bit of a boy I 
boarded one Winter with a Quaker family In 
Pennsylvania. The house was of stone, no 
fire except In the kitchen and on Sundays in 
the best room. The room I slept in was a 
little colder than outdoors, but I had a 
feather bed and blanket sheets, and I was 
warm from the moment I crawled in till I 
got out. These blanket sheets were thin 
blankets woven by hand in this case, and 
went into the wash every week same as 
linen sheets. My. but they were good to 
crawl into on a cold night: no shivers and 
shakes as with ordinary sheets. I like a 
cold room to sleep in. and I often long for 
some of those blanket sheets, but alas, I 
have never been- able to secure any. If 
you ever run across them In your wanderings 
let me know, for I would hail a chance to 
buy some with much joy. Another good 
thing was they didn’t cut them in two at 
the foot, so that when you once got in you 
couldn’t bv any chance stick your feet out 
T suppose they were harder to wash this way 
but it was worth It. I can guarantee them 
as a sure panacea for people who sleep cold 
especially if supplemented by a feather bed 
that lets you sink down until it shuts to 
on top of you like a warm wave. However, 
that’s not necessary, and the doctors say that 
feather beds are unhygienic.” 
I never saw one of these blankets. In 
my barn-storming days I often slept on corn 
husks with newspapers between sheet and 
blanket, and all the clothes I took off piled 
on top. I slept well too—better than some 
people can on $1,000 beds. If anyone knows 
where these blanket sheets may be found— 
why they have the floor! n. w. c. 
27 YEARS’ EXPERIENCE 
is behind every 
CALDWELL 
TANK AND TOWER 
WE BUILD. 
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Our Towers will Btaud in any storm. 
Get our references in your Hection. Also 
our illustrated catalogue and pricelist. 
W. IS. CALDWELL CO. 
Louisville, Ky. 
BEATS THE 
Grindstone 
Ten Times Over. 
Grind any tool, knife to mower 
sickle, with the 
Practical 
Grinder. 
3.000 revolutions of 
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per minute. Greatest 
abrasive known. No 
pressure needed, does 
not draw temper or' 
heat tools. Every 
home needsit. Write 
for price and circu¬ 
lar. A few good 
agents wanted. 
ROYAL MFC. CO., 2?@ E. Walnut St„ Lancaster, Pa. 
CHAMPION EVAPORATOR. 
For Maple, Sorghum, 
Cider and Fruit 
Jellies. 
CHAMPION 
EVAPORATOR 
CO. HUDSON, 0. 
Write 
for 
cata¬ 
log giving 
number of 
trees you 
tap. 
MAPLE EVAPORATORS 
Most Durable, Most Economical, Cheapest. 
Syrup Cans and Sap Palls. 
McLANE-SCHANCK HDW. CO., LlnesvIIIe, Pa. 
Also, Mfrs. of the “Sunlight” Acetylene Gas Machine 
100 Per Cent INVESTMENT. 
Wo can prove to anvfair minded man that 
Wonder Gasoline Engines 
aro 100 per cent. Cheaper, 100 
per cent. LIGHTER and 100 per 
cent. SIMPLER than any other 
make of Engines anywhere, 
and we'll prove it by a Free 
Trial on your own farm. 
Write and ask us. It. M. 
CORNWELL CO.,444 So. 
Salina St., Syracuse, N.Y 
& 
> Kvfl £ 
Making Winter 
Money. 
In this country there is a vast Oppor¬ 
tunity for the man on the farm to turn 
i his winter days into money. There is 
work everywhere for a man who owns 
and knows how to handle a good, service- 
I able power. And it does not take a tech¬ 
nical man, a trained mechanic to make 
money in this way. We do the technical 
part. We study the thing out and put it 
| up to you. Then you make money all 
through the winter days when most of 
your neighbors are idle. That’s what 
makes men prosperous and powerful in 
this country—taking advantage of the 
i opportunities that lie right at their door. 
I Take the matter up with our Farm 
I Power Men. Write about the work in 
I your neighborhood and let us lay out a 
money making campaign for you. Itwon’t 
cost you anything to see what we can sug¬ 
gest. And don’t wait. Write now. Let us 
send you our free book on Farm Power. 
ADDRESS 
Fairbanks Farm Power Men. 
THE FAIRBANKS CO.. 
NEW YORK. 
I Scales, trucks, valves and fittings, gas and 
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Albany, New Orleans, Baltimore. 
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A SIMPLICITY GASOLINE ENGINE 
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WESTERN MALLEABLE & GREY IRON MFG. 
CO., 30 Chase St„ Milwaukee, Wis. 
CAPITAL 
GAS & GASOLINE 
ENGINES 
We will sell a 
sample 3H> H. P. 
engine at half 
price. __ 
C. H. A. Dissinger & Bro 
400 Cherry Street 
Wrightaville, Penna. 
THE WATERLOO 
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A POPULAR 
ENGINE AT THE 
RIGHT PRICE 
Write to-day, 
Waterloo Gasoline 
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WATERLOO. IOWA. 
YOUNG MEN WANTED —To learn the 
Veterinary Profession. Catalogue sent 
free. Address VETERINARY COLLEGE, 
Grand Rapids, Mich. L. L. Conkey. Prim 
There is no gas engine as simple as an Olds—compare It with others and this 
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very simple to make. Exact duplicates of any part can be furnished at once, perfectly 
machined and ready to put on. This is important In case of accident. 
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it will reduce fuel cost 75 per cent.) 
Celebrated Picture Free. , 
For 4c in stamps to pay cost of mailing we will also send you Rob. . Bonheur s Horse 
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OLDS GASOLINE ENGINE WORKS. Lading. Mich. 
908 Chestnut Street. 
