THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
January 27, 
62 
COPPER SULPHATE ADULTERATED. 
What Scientific Men Say. 
There have been complaints of damage 
done fruit trees by spraying with Bordeaux 
Mixture. Even at ordinary strength the 
Bordeaux seems to scald or burn the foliage. 
Some growers think the damage is due to 
adulterations in the sulphate of copper. The 
following notes do not indicate this: 
We have never found sulphate of copper 
adulterated. We have made but very few 
examinations of it, however. I cannot quite 
understand what adulterant that could be 
found in it could injure the trees, if the 
Bordeux Mixture were properly made and 
were alkaline when applied, k. h. jenkins. 
Connecticut. 
I have noticed no cases in this State 
where copper sulphate or the Bordeaux Mix¬ 
ture has produced any burning. I have 
heard of such instances elsewhere, however. 
1 had a letter a while ago from Ottawa, in 
which it was stated that some injury had 
been done to apple trees by spraying, but it 
is a question even here whether the injury 
was not due to frost effects upon the foli¬ 
age. G. E. STONE. 
Massachusetts. 
1 have never found any adulterations of 
sulphate of copper in New Jersey, and I do 
not see how it is possible to have an adulter¬ 
ated product, provided it is bought in the 
crystallized lump form. We have, however, 
had trouble, as others have had, in the burn¬ 
ing of the leaves and fruit, but think it is 
due rather to the solution being too strong 
or to some weather conditions at time of 
application, which may result in a too rapid 
concentration of the salts, e. b. vooriiees. 
New Jersey. 
This Station has made no examination of 
commercial sulphate of copper to determine 
whether or not it is adulterated. I might 
state, however, such examinations as have 
come to my knowledge have not indicated any 
serious defect in this material. Is it not 
more probable that the lime used in making 
the Bordeaux Mixture is not fresh, but 
largely air-slaked, so that a smaller quan¬ 
tity of the calcium hydrate than is requisite 
to make a mild Bordeaux Mixture goes into 
solution? The result- would, of course, be 
such measure of scalding as any undecom¬ 
posed sulphate of copper alone would 
produce. wm. frear. 
Pennsylvania. 
Many inquiries have come to the Station, 
and in response to the request of several 
parties I have examined samples of copper 
sulphate. We have yet failed to find a 
sample that gives any indications of adulter¬ 
ation. The copper sulphate crystals do not 
afford good opportunities for adulteration, 
and this is the form in which most of it 
is sold. Some years ago it was sold ex¬ 
tensively in powdered form, but as this form 
was easily open to adulterations it gradually 
was discontinued. In talking with the Sta¬ 
tion botanist about this matter, he thinks 
that the cause of the difficulty must be 
sought in some other direction, and the prob¬ 
lem will be taken up for systematic study 
by him. l. l. van slyke. 
Geneva, N. Y„ Station. 
I have had my attention called to this 
subject several times within the past two 
years or more. I have had some samples of 
copper sulphate supposed by the purchaser 
to have been adulterated submitted to me foi\ 
analysis, but so far have not found a sin¬ 
gle adulterated sample. The adulterant 
which might be looked for and may be used 
in some instances would be iron sulphate, but 
it would have to be in very small amounts, 
for on exposure to air copper sulphate loses 
water and becomes lighter blue in color— 
while iron sulphate (green vitriol) on ex¬ 
posure to air is oxidized to quite a consid¬ 
erable extent and turns brown. This brown 
color would attract anybody’s attention, so 
adulteration would be easily detected. 
Michigan Exp. Station, frank s. kedzie. 
We have had considerable experience in 
using copper sulphate in our experimental 
work. I have also used it largely on my own 
farm in commercial spraying, and have seen 
it used extensively over the country. How¬ 
ever, I have not, in most cases, been able 
to check up the purity of the copper sulphate 
we were using, and my information along 
this line has been obtained mainly from the 
chemists. Our understanding is that the 
large crystals of blue stone are more apt to 
be pure than the granulated or pulverized, 
but that this is not necessarily the case. 
Pulverized blue stone is made sometimes, I 
am informed, by simply grinding up the 
large crystals, but the granulated or pulver¬ 
ized blue stone is more readily adulterated 
than the large blue stone crystals. On this 
account I am somewhat inclined to favor the 
crystalline form. The method which I de¬ 
vised some years ago. of making up a stock 
solution by suspension in water, had especial 
reference to utilizing the crystalline blue 
stone. However, if one has a guarantee of 
purity, the granulated or powdered blue 
stone is more convenient to use, as it dis¬ 
solves quicker. I have never, myself, got 
hold of any copper sulphate which 1 thought 
was adulterated. However, there is some of 
the copper sulphate which has considerable 
Visoluble carbonate and perhaps other im¬ 
purities, which give it a greenish cast. My 
impression has always been that this was 
due to impurities in manufacture rather than 
actual intentional adulteration. 
Dept, of Agriculture. m. b. waite. 
Building a Small Greenhouse. 
O. S. li.. Mew Bedford, Mass .—I am going 
to build a greenhouse to grow plants for 
early setting without heating. I am told by 
an expert carpenter that a hip roof would 
give more heat in early Spring than a straight 
one. Will you kindly give me your views? 
Ans.— There would be no special ad¬ 
vantage in regard to sun-heat to be had 
from buildin" your greenhouse with a 
hip-roof, as indicated in your letter. In 
addition to this, it would probably cost 
more, owing to the extra labor in con¬ 
struction, and the joints are more likely 
to prove leaky than those on a straight 
roof. A straight roof with a rise of 
about eight inches to the foot is the most 
practical way to build a greenhouse, 
though a lean-to house, (as the one slope 
structure is commonly called) would not 
require so steep a roof unless the front 
wall were very low. A very light and 
easily constructed greenhouse may be 
made after the plan roughly indicated in 
diagram in which part of the front wall 
is of glass and part of boards. 
W. H. TAPLTN. 
potatoes—Carman, Coin Giant, Hustler, Reliance, 
‘ Ohio. Wonder. 85 kinds. C. W. Ford, Fishers, N.Y 
Seed Potatoes 
Oet the best. Pure 
seed. Northern 
- grown. Price list 
free. A. G. ALDRIDGE, Fishers, Ontario Co.,N.Y. 
POTATOES 
If you read our 1906 Booklet on 
‘ How to grow Big Crops.” 
■4 | c rann Get our prices on 
■* m!Cm Northern Seed. 
We grow our own Stock. Write to-day. 
The Peirson & Nysewander Company, 
LESLIE, MICHIGAN, 
UBHtUra 
’JmPmTOiS 
ana standard varieties. Promising new vari- 
from the Flower Seed Ball. Cannot be pro¬ 
cured elsewhere. Earliest Seed Com and 
Garden Seeds from the natural home of 
the potato, and the garden of Northern 
Maine. Catalog free. 
The Oeo, W. P. Jtrrard Co., Csrlhon, Maine. 
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 allthemoney-making 
varieties of Seeds and Nursery Stock. The Ford 
Plan saves you money. Guarantees satisfaction. 
Ford Seed Co., Dept. * 24, Ravenna, Ohio 
Cyv ppf fnrn 500 hush. Stowell’s Evergreen, 
OWCCl V/Ul II jjqj 5 p er bush; 800bush. Mason’s 
Favorite, an improved variety about 10 days earlier, 
with longer and sweeter kernels and more ears to 
the hill than any other similar variety, $2.00 per bush, 
and 300 bush. Country Gentleman, $2.50 per bush., 
cash. Special prices on large lots. This is grown 
from an extra fine selection for improving seed for 
canning purposes. Ludvig Mosbaek, Onarga, Ill. 
To Growers of our Wonderful New Corn •] 
NICHOLS’ GOLDEN CHIEF 
Record, 372 bus. per acre; also $100 for 
the largest yield of oar new WHITE 
COMET OATS. Record, 183 bus. per 
acre. Our Big 1906 Garden Guide de¬ 
scribes and illustrates the above, also 
world’s Largest Tomatoj weight, bibs. 
and2ozs. SeDd your name and address 
today for a Froo Pkt. of the Seed. We 
. sell 11 Pure and Sure " Seeds at whole¬ 
sale prices direct to the consumer. Our 
Catalog and the Tomato Seed is FREE. 
ST. LOUIS SEED CO. 
608-610 N. 4th St. ST. LOUIS, MO. 
— C3 
PAPER POTS. 
P. B. CROSBY, I 
CATONSVILLE, MD. 
Northern Grown Potatoes 
Legume and Grain Seeds 
Ogemaw Grain & Seed Co.,West Branch, Mich. 
Crawford’s Strawberry Catalog 
.WILL BE READY FEBRUARY FIRST. 
m. cnawFORO co 
Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio 
SPRAYING FRUIT TREES. 
The question of spraying fruit trees to prevent the 
depredations of insect pests and fungus diseases is 
no longer an experiment, but a necessity. 
Our readers will do well to write Wm. Stahl Sprayer 
Co., Box 70J, Quincy, Ill., and get their catalogue 
describing twenty-one styles of Spraying Outfits and 
full treatise on spraying the different fruit and 
vegetable crops, which contain much valuable in¬ 
formation, and may be had free. 
¥ 
ANDFLORAL GUIDE F 
Contains many new Premium Offers. You 
should know about Vick’s Violet King 
and Mikado Asters, now offered for the 
first time. Send ten cents and receive a 
packet of Vick’s Branching Aster in 
Six Colors, and coupon good for 10 cents 
on purchase of $i.oo or over from 1906 
Guide. Send for the Catalogue anyway; 
St’s free. 
JAMES VICK’S SONS • 
430 Main St. Rochester, N. V. 
A PERFECT POTATO 
A new and wonderful dis¬ 
covery in potato breeding 
—resulting in “SKI BA’S 
IMPROVED EARLY 
OHIO, the best variety of 
... potato in tlie United 
;5j States today. Send for a 
“ few pounds for seed. 60 
cents per pound, charge* 
prepaid; free circular. 
Reference— Merchants’ 
National Bank of St. Paul, 
Minnesota. Address SKI BA POTATO SEED COM- 
PANY, Department “U ” National German- 
American Bank Building, St. Paul, Minnesota. 
New Pansies, Sweet Peas, Carnations, 
5 pkts, 6 colors, 10 cts.; 15pkts, 25c. 
Did you ever see 5 itraight or circular rows of 
Pansies sideby 6 ide, each a different color ? If so, 
you know that the effect is charming. Did yon ever 
see Childs’ Giant Pansies, marvels in beauty and 
true to color? If not, you have not seen the best. 
Same with our new Sweet Peas and Carnations. 
An » Trial Offer we will for lOcts. mall 5 
Pkts. Giant Panalei, SNOW WHITE, COAL BLACK. 
CARDINAL BED, PURE YELLOW, AZURE BLUE; also 
Five Pkts. New Giant Sweet Pean for IO ct*., 
WHITE, PINK, SCARLET, BLUE, YELLOW; also 
Five Pkts. new early flowering Carnation Pink* 
for IO eta., SCARLET, WHITE, PINK. MAROON, 
yellow. A Booklet on Culture, big Catalog, and 
All IS Pkts. for 25 cts. 
Will make 5 lovely rows of Pansies, 5 sliowy clumps 
of Peas, and 6 beds of Sweet Pinks that will bloom 
all summer in the garden and all winter in pots. 
Onr Catalogue for 1900— Greatest Book of 
Novelties,—Flower and Vegetable Seeds, Bulbs, 
Plants and New Fruits, 156 pages, 600 cuts, many 
plates—will be mailed Free to all who ask for it. 
JOHN LEWIS CHILDS, Floral Park, N.Y 
Knapsack # 
Spramotor 
destroys all insects or fungi on 
potatoes, berry bushes, trees 
plants or vegetables. 
"£■* Copper tank $15. galvanized 
$12. Agents wanted. 
Ask for 86'page treatise Ki 
SPRAMOTOR CO., 
BUFFALO, N, Y, LONDON, ONT. 
Book No. 17 on 
NITRO- 
CULTURE 
the wonderful 
soil and seed bacteria. 
Enrich your farms. 
NATIONAL NITRO-CULTURE CO., 
West Chester, Pa. 
FRUIT TREES 
Fruiting. Free Catalogue 
The Cheapest because the best. Proof furnished by 
many readers of this paper who have been our Cus¬ 
tomers for years, and have thousands of our trees in 
H. S. WILEY & SON, Drawer 5, Cayuga, N. Y. 
SURPLUS APPLE, PLUM and CHERRY TREES 
and other fruit trees and plants. Send for our catalogue that tells the best varieties and how to plant for 
profit. If you wish to lead in the race buy your stock of Barnes’ Nurseries and set the pace. 
‘BARNES BROS. NURSERY CO., Box 8, Yalesville, Conn. 
FLOWER AND VEGETABLE SEEDS 
_ We have built up our reputation on the quality of our 
seeds. Gardeners all over the country use Arlington Seeds because they have 
proven themselves to be seeds that grow. 
<J ARLINGTON TESTED SEEDS 
are always true and reliable and bring the most satisfactory results. Write for our 
1906 Catalogue describing many specialties and new varietiesof flowers and vegetables. 
W. W. RAWS0N & CO., 12-13 Faneuil Hall Square, BosroN, Mass. 
THE BEST SEED POTATOES 
Are Northern Grown, vigorous, free from disease and grown especially for seed purposes by potato special¬ 
ists and saved from fields not affected by blight or rot. We have in store 50,000 bushels of just such Seed 
Potatoes, the very best obtainable and we sell them direct to you at the lowest possible prices consistent 
with the highest possible quality. All the standard kinds, and three new ones pronounced absolutely blight 
and rot proof by seventy-five of our customers who grew them last year. The testimonial letters are pub¬ 
lished and full descriptions in our 1906 catalog, the handsomest Farm Seed Book of the year. It's free. 
Send for it to-day. Address 
EDWARD F. DIBBLE, Seedgrower, Box C, Honeoye Falls, New York. 
TONS «f CRASS 
BAMA1N LIST 
The year of 1905 on our seed farm* was one of prodigal plenty. 
I The result is enormous stocks of Northern grown pedigree seed Oats, Wheat, 
Barley, 8 peltz, Potatoes, Grasses, Clovers, Timothy seed, etc., etc. 
Saber's Bargain Seed Book 
Is brim full of bargains in Seeds at bargain prices, way below any ever offered. 
This Bargain Catalog with sufficient grass seed to grow on your own lands this 
summer 
5 TONS OF NUTRITIOUS GRASS 
is sent free for the asking. Or, if you prefer Radishes, we will send you free, 
enough Beed to keep you in Radishes ail summer long, and our Bargain Catalog. 
Simply send us this notice, sign your name and address and the free pack¬ 
age of Grass Seed or Radish, as yon select, together with this new, interesting 
Bargain Catalog with all of its bargain offers, all of its bargain surprises in 
flowers, vegetables and farm seeds, all the valuable information showing our 
wonderfully low prices, all will be sent you by return mail postpaid. 
If you send 4c. we add a big package of Cosmos—the moBt beautiful fashion¬ 
able annual flower. 
JOHN A. SALZER SEED CO., Lock Box 44, La Crosse, Wis. 
Strawberries 
Almo is the most prolific grown. 
Plant this and our standard 
list like Excelsior, Tennessee, 
Haverland, Bubacli, Star, 
Gandy, New Home, Seven 
million plants. 
New catalogue in colors gives full descriptions. Lists Grapes, Pears, Plums, Cherries, etc. 
Apple Trees. 
We have over half million; 
Baldwin, Rome Beauty, Grim¬ 
es, Wine Sap, Jonathan, Stay- 
man’s, M. B. Twig, Greening, 
King and 100 other varieties. 
Well rooted, smooth and 
healthy. 
I ISON ’ 
A FAMOUS PEACH 
Of Chinese strain; regular bear¬ 
er, excellent shipper, good color. 
Also Reeves, Crawfords. 
Chairs and 100 other varieties 
in fine condition. 
FREE. 
N UI 
RL1N, MARYLAND. 
