1906. 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
21 
KEEPING APPLES IN A CELLAR. 
As to keeping apples in New Jersey (page 
9:27) where cold storage is not available, let 
us first look for the cause of wilting and 
shrinking. Evaporation takes place from the 
apple as well as from the soil or a body of 
water, and more evaporates when it is dry 
and warm than when it is cold, also when 
there is a free circulation of air evaporation 
is greater than when the air is still or con¬ 
fined. TVe apple is mostly water, when the 
composition is taken into consideration, and 
as it evaporates the fruit must become 
smaller, and the skin has a wilted appear¬ 
ance and seems tough. Imperfect and scabby 
apples are much v orse than good ones. I 
would suggest that the cellar is too dry, too 
warm or too much draft, or the fruit is 
exposed too much to the air. I know that 
nay people say to place apples away in bins 
or on shelves in the cellar to keep for 
Winter use, but I do not think that the ideal 
way. We keep them in barrels mostly, and 
keep them headed up tight, so evaporation 
will not take place to any extent, and we 
always find them crisp till beyound their 
season. Did you ever notice the aroma from 
a barrel of good apples when it is first 
opened? As it has been kept closed it has 
retained its natural flavor and aroma, but 
if it had been left exposed to the air the 
same length of time you would not notice 
the aroma, or very little, and the fruit 
would most likely be withered somewhat. 
I)o not good cooks keep the vessels covered 
when they are on the stove so as to retain 
the best flavor? Isn't a roast better for 
being covered while cooking? As dust and 
germs are floating through the air all the 
time, should we not try to keep them off 
the things we eat? Keep them in a closed 
package, and if necessary place water in the 
room so it will evaporate to help keep the 
air moist, instead of from the fruit. 
Ohio. V. T. COX. 
From the statement on page 927, that the 
cold cellar is too dry to keep apples in best 
condition, I infer the regulation of the tem¬ 
perature of the cellar by opening the window 
probably increases the dryness and causes 
the wilting of the apples There is a general 
misapprehension regarding the atmospheric 
conditions best adapted to the preservation 
of apples in cellars Contrary to general 
belief, especially among city and town people, 
damnness of air does not harm apples in 
cellar storage, provided, of course, the air 
remains pure and cold. Some of the best 
apple cellars that I have seen are quite 
damp; in fact, not infrequently subject to 
partial flooding during wet weather, while 
some of them have springs of W'ater running 
through them. If there is no practicable 
method of increasing the humidity in the 
cellar in question, the douTile wrapping of 
the fruit, using an impervious wrap of paraf¬ 
fined paper outside of ordinary white im¬ 
printed newspaper, will retard wilting con¬ 
siderably. It is quite likely that the main¬ 
tenance of an open tub or barrel of water 
in the cellar would help somewhat, though 
an occasional spraying of the walls and 
floor would probably be the most effective 
way of increasing the humidity. 
WM. A. TAYLOK. 
TJ. S. Dept, of Agriculture. 
It is impossible to keep apples any length 
of time in a cellar without shriveling if 
the air in the cellar is too dry. Dry air, 
warm or cold, has a tendency to absorb 
moisture from apples, and under such con¬ 
ditions ventilation will often hasten the 
shriveling of the fruit just as a damp cloth 
will dry more quickly when the surrounding 
air is in motion or is frequently changed, 
bringing the drier air in contact with the 
damp surface. The furnace would tend to 
make the conditions unfavorable by making 
the cellar air drier and also warmer. The 
warmer the air the more moisture it is 
capable of holding. One remedy then lies 
in some method to prevent the dry air from 
coming in contact too freely with the fruit. 
The partition, preferably of brick, stone of 
cement, should lie airtight, and the fruit 
should be covered if in piles, or kept in 
barrels or boxes that will not allow too free 
circulation of air about the fruit. 
Geneva Exp. Station. o. m. taylor. 
Sowing Grass Seed Alone. 
What advantage do I get by seeding wheat 
and Timothy together? Would I not be able to 
sow more seed, separately, and get a better 
crop of each in same space of time? Of course 
after wheat harvest the ground is to be 
thoroughly prepared for Timothy. Could I 
not cut hay the following year? F. f. b. 
I’hoenixville, Pa. 
By sowing grass and grain together you 
save one working of the ground and, under 
some conditions you get a better stand of 
Timothy. We believe that in the majority 
of cases it will pay better to sow the wheat 
alone and harvest it at the usual time. Then 
work up the stubble and fit the land thor¬ 
oughly and sow grass seed alone. In our 
experience, when this is done the grass is 
not as high the first year as when seeded 
with grain, but is so much thicker that the 
yield is heavier. In most cases the wheat 
does the young grass more harm than good, 
and U Is never possible to obtain a perfect 
seeding of grass when started with grain. 
Most farmers object to the double working 
required to fit the ground for grass seed, but 
we believe such time is well spent. 
farming with Chemicals. 
Can you cite any cases where men have 
made a good investment by raising crops for 
sale, keeping no live stock except the teams 
necessary to do the work, and maintaining 
or increasing the fertility of the farm by the 
use of commercial fertilizers and green 
manures? If a man likes farming, but does 
not like the care of live stock, and is sit¬ 
uated in southeastern Pennsylvania, can he 
make money by the method above outlined? 
It is supposed he has as much skill and 
business ability to raise and market his 
products in o; " case as the other, and is 
equally indutrious in either case. R. G. M. 
Madison, Wis. 
We have described dozens of such cases 
during the past 10 years. On I.ong Island 
and in many parts of New Jersey it is very 
common for farmers to operate farms with 
a definite rotation with only work horses 
and one or two cows. These rotations gener¬ 
ally include grass, potatoes, corn and various 
kinds of vegetables or fruit. Most of the 
chemicals are usually»put on what is called 
the “money crop," such as potatoes, aspara¬ 
gus or fruit. A favorite rotation of farm 
crops is corn planted on sod, potatoes, wheat 
and two years of grass. In such a rotation 
probably 80 per cent of the fertilizer will be 
used on the potatoes. Such farming has 
been and is successfully carried out. No 
one could guarantee that a man can “make 
money” at it. for great skill and care are 
required. It is a more risky business than 
keeping live stock, because It means a cash 
outlay for fertilizer, while with stock a 
man’s labor counts for more. The coming 
articles by Mr. Garrahan will discuss the 
subject fully. 
Pewaukee, Ikey and Wisconsin Spy. 
E. J. C., Glenville, Md —Will you tell me 
what is thought of the Pewaukee, Ikey and 
Wisconsin Spy apples? Are they desirable 
varieties? 
Ans.—T he Pewaukee and Wisconsin 
Spy are seedlings that originated in Wis¬ 
consin and are desirable in that State 
and in other sections where the Winters 
are very severe, because of their hardiness. 
In Maryland I would not advise their 
planting; for they are only Fall apples 
there, and their quality is poor; especially 
is this so of Pewaukee. The “Ikey” I 
have never heard of. and am not sure that 
there is such a variety. H. E. v. d. 
WANT TO KNOW. 
Timber for Fence Posts. —As chestnut, 
oak and cedar posts are becoming very scarce 
and high in price about here, I would like 
to know whether any of your readers have 
had any experience of the lasting qualities 
of other woods when used as posts, such as 
elm, hickory, willow, ash, maple, etc. r. 
Stone and Cement Cei.i.ar Wall. —If a 
house cellar wall is built from the bottom to 
the frost line, with hardheads, and from 
there to the sills with hollow cement blocks 
or hollow cement wall, will it be liable to 
freeze in cellar any more than where we 
have a stone wall, then air space and inside 
lath and plaster? J. r. o. 
Ripon, Wis. 
A Cob-House Silo. —What kind of silo 
is best to build? Some silos here are built 
octagon framework lined with half-inch 
lumber lathed and cemented. Would they 
lie better than staves? IIow would one be 
built of 1V, x 3 inch, cob-house style, filled 
between with cement and cement inside and 
outside. Would it be durable? Has any 
one had experience with that kind? With 
regard to cost and durability, which kind 
would be cheaper. w. i. h. 
Pennsylvania. 
WONDER ELECTRIC LIGHTING OUTFIT. 
For the Farm, Shop, Cottage or Pri¬ 
vate Residence. So simple anyone 
can operate them. Thisisthe 
first ontfll over offered for sale 
at such a price that you can¬ 
not afford to be without one. 
Think of It; only 
one-tenth of a 
cent per hour 
for each 1(5 
C. P. lamp. 
You can also 
use engine 
during the 
day for other purposes. A 12-light outfit on ly $100.00. 
Send for complete catalog. The JR. M. Cornwell 
Co., 444 So. Saliua 8t., Syracuse, N. Y. 
Book No. 17 on 
NITRO- 
CULTURE 
the wonderful 
soil and seed bacteria. 
Enrich your farms. 
NATIONAL NITRO-CULTURE CO., 
West Chester, Pa. 
No Smoke House. Smoke meat with 
KRAUSER’S LIQUID EXTRACT OF SMOKE. 
Madefrom hickory wood. Glvesdeliciousflavor. 
Cheaper, cleaner than old way. Send for cir- 
b cu!»r, E, Krauser & Bro., Milton, Pa. 
When you vs ?ite advertisers mention Tiih 
I t. N.-Y. and you'll get a quick reply and 
“a square deal.” See guarantee, page 8. 
FOR 1906 
contains 15 2 
large pages 
full from cov¬ 
er to cover of 
illustrations 
and descrip¬ 
tions of the 
best and new¬ 
est things 
known in 
horticulture. 
No market 
gardener, far¬ 
mer, or any¬ 
one interested 
in flowers can 
afford to be without this book, which 
will be sent free to all sending me their 
address on a postal. 
WM. HENRY MAULS 
1713 Filbert St. Philadelphia, Pa. 
POTATO GROWERS 
WANTED 
To send for Dibble’s Farm Seed Catalog describing 
our three new blight resisting potatoes, an early, in¬ 
termediate and late, pronounced by 75 farmers who 
grew them last year as absolutely blight proof. Our 
potatoes are recommended by various State Experi¬ 
mental Stations and the Department of Agriculture of 
the United States and Canada. We are Headquarters 
for Seed Potatoes. All the standard kinds, Northern 
Grown raised especially for Seed and from fields that 
were fiee from blight and rot. 50.000 bushels in stock 
and the price is right. You can’t afford to plant poor 
diseased run out seed from blighted fields when you 
can get the very best vigorous healthy seed from us 
at live and let live prices. Send for Catalog and 
send to-day. 
EDWARD F. DIBBLE, Seedgrower, 
Honeoye Falls, N. Y. 
Earliest Sweet Corn 
Is MALAKHOFF. The finest quality early is 
FORD’S EARLY. One pkt. each of these by mail 
10 c. Send for our catalog of allthe money-making 
varieties of Seeds and Nursery Stock. ThePord 
Plan saves you money. Guarantees satisfaction. 
Ford Seed Co., Dept. 24, Ravenna, Ohio 
A 
if 
ERCKHANS TREES 
Are as good as the best. 50 years'in 
business is our guarantee. 
Catalog Free. 
P. J. BERCKMJiHS CO., Inc.. 
Fruitland Nurseries. AUGUSTA, GA. 
460 acres in Trees and Shrubs. Established 1856. 
. a - ' J—' -—' -—,,—. -—. .—, . 
V1CKfS« 
GARDEN AND 
FLORAL GUIDE FOR 1906; . 
FREE FOR THE ASKING. eMm 
430 'MAIN ST :ftOCHES TE ri Ny ^ 
Don’t buy any seeds for your garden 
until you get a copy of 
Johnson & Stokes 
Garden and Farm 
Manual -( Sent free ) 
and see the actual photographs of choice 
vegetables and flowers you can raise 
from our tested thoroughbred seeds. 
June Pink Tomato 
is one of our newest varieties. 
A fleshy, heavy, bright, dainty pink 
tomato. Smooth and well shaped —no 
cracks or green core—and ripens as early 
as the Celebrated Sparks’ Earliana. Has 
no tendency to blight, yields clusters of 
six to ten tomatoes both at crown and 
forks of branches, and bears until frost. 
1 pkt. (40 seeds) 20c.; 3 pkts. 50c.; 7 pkts. $1. 
Many other equally good novelties in veget¬ 
ables and flowers. 
JOHNSON & STOKES, Dept. R. 
11 Seedsmen to the Money-makers ” 
217-219 Market Street, Philadelphia 
TREES 
All First class. Freshdug. Nocold 
storage stock. 38th year. 80-page 
catalog. G. C. STONE’S WHOLE 
SALE NURSERIES, Dansville.N. Y 
THE WORLD’S LARGEST 
TOMATO 
WEICHT, 8 LBS. AND 2 OZ. 
_ r REE SEED 
Send usyour name and address today lor 
a Free Pkt. of this Mammoth Tomato 
Seed, together with oar Big 1906 Catalog of 
"Pure and Sure” Seeds. It describes every¬ 
thing needed for the Field, Garden and Lawn 
at Wholesale Prices direct to the consumer, 
us well as our New 372 Bus. Per Acre Corn, 
“Nichols’ Golden Chief,’’ for which 
we offer to pay $5.00 per ear to Growers 
this season. It is the handsomest 
Garden Guide ever Issued—mailed 
Free. Write Today 
1ST. JLOUIS SEED CO. 
608-610'N. 4th Street St. L,ouis, Mo. 
CHAMPION EVAPORATOR. 
For Maple, Sorghum, 
Cider and Fruit 
Jellies. 
CHAMPION 
EVAPORATOR 
CO. HUDSON, 0. 
Write 
for 
cata- 
iving 
er of 
trees you 
tap. 
A MAN SAVED 
BY U8INQ A FOLDING SAWING MACHINE. 
Oa. man ess saw more 
wood with it than two 
In any other way and 
dolteasier. 0 CORDS 
IN 10 HOURS. 8»wa 
any wood on any 
ground. Saws trees 
Sown. Catalog free, 
flnt order secures sgencyt 
b olding Sawing Mach. Co., 158 E. Harrison St., Chicago, 111 
AGENTS 
WANTED 
For Mend-a-Rip 
Greatly improved. Better than ever. 
Does all kinds of light and h«avy 
riveting And 
stitching. 
Saves Its 
cost many times a year. A per- 
| feet Hand Sewing Machine and Riveter 
" combined. Notice the Automatic Spacer 
which makes neat, even stitching. To 
^ show it mean* a Bale. Agents make 
$3 to $15 a day. One agent made $20 first 
day and writes to hurry machines to him. Write forspeo 
agts. pric. J B. Foote Foundry Co.Dep. Ml Frederlcktown.O 
(The Great Agents Supply House) 
DOUBLE THE STRAWBERRY CROP 
No extra expense for new plants or fertilizer. Full story in catalog—lifetime experi¬ 
ence of largest fruit-grower in America. To old friends and new wanting Berries, 
Peaches, Plums, Asparagus, Rhubarb, etc., it’s free. J. H. HALE, SO. GLASTONBURY, CONN. 
RIIDPEE’C Farm Annual for 1906 
VUIeI ImLi “The Leading American Seed Catalogue." 
Mailed FREE to all who want the BEST SEEDS that Growl 
This Thirtieth Anniversary Edition is a bright book of 168 pages and tells the plain truth. With 
Cover and Colored Plates it shows, painted from nature , Seven Superb Specialties in Vegetables of 
unequaled merit and Six Novelties in Flowers, including Luther Burbank’s New Floral Wonder. 
WRITE TO-DAY !—the very day you read this advertisement. Mention this paper and address 
W. ATLEE BURPEE & CO., Seed Growers, PHILADELPHIA, PA. 
SEEDS FROM GROWER TO SOWER. 
We KNOW -we could sell you all your seeds if we could meet you face to face, and take you 
through our storehouses and out over the farms where our seed is grown. We could show you the 
enormous difference bet ween our expenses acd that of ihe city seedsman, and howIOU get the 
benefit of that saving; how we make our own low prices as we belong to no combination or association 
for keeping prices up, and save you the middleman’s profits. We repeat, if we could meet you here 
we could show you why we save you about one-half of your seed money, and you would krow that 
our present big business must be the result of Honest Seeds at Honest Prices. However, we can’t 
meet you all here, so we want you to have our catalog which talks to you face to face and tells you 
a lot of plain truths about GOOD seeds at RIGHT prices. It’s free to everybody. 
To show you our Honest Seeds in Honest Packets, w T e will send 
50c I ) 16c 
m { Vesotablo Seeds dTor ) 1 w 
E. B. Turnip Beet, Rosy Gem Radish, Prize Head Lettuce, Crookneck Squash, 
E. J. Wakefield, H. C. Parsnip, N Heauty Tomato, Long Orange Carrots 
Sweet German Turnip, Rocky Ford Muskmelon. 
FORREST SEED COMPANY, Box 34, CORTLAND, NEW YORK 
