THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
March 31 , 
280 
FARMERS’ CLUB 
[Every query must be accompanied by 
the name and address of the writer to in¬ 
sure attention. Before asking a question, 
please see whether it is not answered in 
our >advertising columns. Ask only a few 
questions at one time. Put questions on a 
separate piece of paper.1 
NOTES ON GARDENING. 
Tomatoes.— If we have not yet made 
that hotbed for our tomato, egg and pep¬ 
per plants, no time should be lost in get¬ 
ting it ready for them. From the middle 
to the end of the month of March is the 
best time to sow these seed in hotbeds. 
Very little is gained by starting them too 
early; they are sometimes checked in 
growth before they can be set in the open 
ground, and when in this condition they 
are seldom as good and thrifty as those 
started later in the season, when they can 
he planted out about May 15 without re¬ 
ceiving any setbacks. The tomato is es¬ 
sentially a plant of the tropics, and should 
under all circumstances be provided with 
the necessary high temperature. If any 
vegetable is grown in the family garden 
it is almost sure to be the tomato; those 
who have a few feet of ground at their 
disposal manage to cultivate a dozen or 
two tomato plants. The best varieties to 
cultivate in private gardens are the Quar¬ 
ter Century or Dwarf Stone; these appeal 
to be identical in every respect. It is the 
first decided break from the well-known 
Dwarf Champion, which it resembles in 
habit and foliage, but the fruit is of large 
size, bright scarlet, very smooth and of 
the finest quality. It requires richer soil, 
however than other tomatoes, but it can 
be grown close in rows or in hills three 
feet apart each way. I have grown this 
variety for six years and usually pick the 
first ripe tomatoes about the first of July. 
The Earliana and Maule’s Earliest of All 
are grown for market to the entire exclu¬ 
sion of all others in central New Jersey, 
and they are without doubt the earliest 
and most profitable for the wideawake 
gardener. The Stone, Paragon and 
Matchless, and others of this type are the 
best for late or general use. 
The Egg Fi.ant is always interesting to 
cultivate, being worthy of a place in every 
well-arranged garden. It is also a native 
of the tropics, and peculiarly tender. We 
find the seeds will not germinate freely 
under a temperature of 65. degrees, and 
therefore nothing suits them so well as 
a warm hotbed. There are not many 
varieties of eggplants, and but little im¬ 
provement has been made in the way of 
introducing new sorts. The Black Pekin 
is the best flavored variety, but the most 
prolific and best for market is the New 
York Improved or Spineless. Black 
Beauty is of recent introduction, and is 
quite distinct in appearance, but not as 
prolific as the New York Improved. 
The Pepper is sown and cultivated in 
all respects the same as the eggplant ex¬ 
cept that it does not require as rich soil 
or as much manure to the hill. By long 
experience I have found the pepper can 
be grown very satisfactorily on ordinary 
farm land with light applications of com¬ 
mercial fertilizers. The varieties of pep¬ 
pers, unlike the eggplant are numerous, 
and therefore have been greatly improved 
of late years. The new Upright Sweet 
Salad is of recent introduction, and no 
variety with which I am acquainted has 
such uniformity of size and shape. Bright 
scarlet in color, mild and sweet Magnum 
Dulce is by far the largest pepper in cul¬ 
tivation, and the most prolific, no other 
variety gives us such large specimens. We 
raised over a hundred barrels of this pep¬ 
per in 1905, and we very frequently found 
fruits 16 inches in circumference. It is 
very sweet and perfectly reliable. Ruby 
King is one of the standards and has for 
many years been deseryjfig of first place 
among the varieties of peppers, but in 
many respects it is not the equal of the 
above described kinds. Chinese Giant is 
very large, but not as prolific as some of 
the other large varieties, t. m. white. 
Monmouth Co., N. J. 
Value of Tobacco Stems. 
T. 8. G., Wilsonburg, IV. Va .—I would 
like to know what value tobacco stems have 
as a fertilizer, and if any, the best and most 
practical way to use them? 
Ans. —Roughly stated, tobacco stems 
arc worth about four times as much as 
an equal weight of stable manure. They 
can be spread and .plowed under like ordi¬ 
nary manure, or worked into the compost 
heap. They make a good mulch to put 
around fruit trees, and are good around 
such crops as melons or squash. 
Apple Pomace for Fertilizer. 
C. A. 8., Hamden, Conn. —Can well-rotted 
apple pomace be used as a fertilizer, and if 
so for what plants? Would it be any good 
as a mulch for young apple trees? 
Ans. —We prefer to mix all such sub¬ 
stances with manure before using them. 
The danger is that they may sour the 
land. As a mulch for apple trees the 
pomace ought to answer, but we should 
use lime in connection with it. 
Alfalfa on Fough Land. 
J. C. 8., Jermyn, Pa, —I have a rather 
rough piece of land that I have used as 
night pasture for about 18 head of cattle 
for one year. I plowed it last Fall; the 
ground is rod shell and very rich. Do you 
think I could grow Alfalfa on this land, and 
if so what will be best for a top-dressing? 
When is the best time to sow the seed, in 
the Spring or Fall? 
Ans. —Judging from our experience this 
plan would be sure to fail. The young 
Alfalfa is very tender, and weeds and 
coarse grass will soon kill it out. With 
us it seems necessary to subdue the land 
before Alfalfa will grow. Some hoed 
crop kept clean is best to put in before 
the Alfalfa,—potatoes or corn in hills. 
We consider the first 10 days in August 
the best time to sow Alfalfa. 
Hen Manure and Chemicals. 
C. O. R., East Princeton, Mass .—What is 
the right amount of potash, land plaster and 
hone black to he mixed with hen manure in 
bulk? 
Ans. —You can use the following mix¬ 
ture : 100 pounds fine hen manure, 25 
pounds muriate of potash, 60 pounds dis¬ 
solved bone black and 15 pounds of plas¬ 
ter. Of course the manure must be 
crushed or sifted fine. The only value of 
the plaster is to keep the mixture dry 
and open. This might do on rich land, 
but on ordinary soils you need more nitro¬ 
gen. We would substitute 20 pounds ni¬ 
trate of soda for 20 of hen manure. 
Fertilizers for Cabbage. 
M. IF., Hannibal, N. 7 .—With 30 loads 
of stable manure to the acre, what will be 
the best kind of fertilizer to put on for cab¬ 
bage? Will nitrate of soda be a great help? 
Ans. —Your 30 loads of stable manure 
will give a large amount of nitrogen, but 
not enough potash and phosphoric acid in 
proportion. We would not use nitrate of 
soda, for that will give nothing but nitro¬ 
gen. Use if anything 150 pounds muriate 
of potash and 300 pounds acid phosphate. 
Rural Mail Box on Wires. 
O. IT. 8., Little Valley, N. Y.—Is there 
such a thing in existence as carrying a R. 
F. D. mail box by wire or cable from the 
house to the road or from the road to the 
house? If so please illustrate it in The 
R. N.-Y. 
Ans. — A few years ago we asked this 
question, and learned of several boxes 
which were run upon wires from the road 
to farmhouses. If anyone has such a 
scheme that has stood the test of experi¬ 
ence we would like to know what it.is. 
Sugar Beefs and Wireworms. 
A. B. S., Lancaster, O .—I have an acre of 
low ground that is so badly infested with 
wireworms that I cannot raise corn or pota¬ 
toes on it. Beans and pumpkins are not af¬ 
fected by them. Can I venture to plant part 
of the piece in sugar beets for stock feeding 
the coming season? It is very fertile ground, 
and beets should do well if they can escape 
the worms. 
Ans. —I would not advise one to attempt 
to raise sugar beets in ground so badly 
infested with wireworms that corn or 
potatoes cannot be grown on it without 
being seriously injured. I think the wire- 
worms would attack the sugar beets as 
readily as the crops just mentioned. One 
can often reduce the number of wireworms 
below the danger limit by thoroughly culti¬ 
vating the soil in late Summer or early 
Fall, when the worms are transforming 
through the very tender pupa stage into 
the adult insects known as click beetles. 
One cannot hope to eradicate them with 
one season’s work of this kind, but if it 
is persisted in for two or three years the 
pests can be practically eradicated. 
M. V. SLINGERLAND. 
Good Old Fence Wire. 
IF. 77. L., Menomonic, 1 Vis. —I am sending 
a sample of fence wire that I put up in the 
Summer of 1877, and which has been doing 
service ever since. The wire was called the 
Kelley steel barbed and cost 12% cents a 
pound in Chicago. It was painted, so you 
see that the galvanizing is not to blame for 
all of the poor wire. The fence has had 
to be patched in places of late years with 
other wire, but considerable of it is serv- 
iveable yet. The fence was about half a 
mile long, up hill and down, and has out¬ 
lasted three sets of oak posts. More painted 
wire is used for fencing here than galvan¬ 
ized; meaning barbed wide; it being less in 
price and as durable nearly. The discussion 
in The It. N.-Y. of the cause of poor fence 
wire induces me to send you this piece of 
wire for an object lesson. 
Ans. —This wire is still in first-class 
condition—far better than some we have 
seen which has only had four years’ 
service. There can be no question about 
the cause of poor wire. It is not entirely 
in the galvanizing, but in the metal itself. 
When you write advertisers mention The 
I t. N.-Y. and you'll get a quick reply and 
"a square deal.” See guarantee, page 18. 
BARREL SPRAYER "FREE 
11 
r 
f Write today to find out how to se¬ 
cure a Hurst “FITZ-ALL” Spray¬ 
er FREE; fits all sizes barrels and I 
tanks. Sprays all solutions, has I 
bronze valves, brass cylinder and [ 
plunger, strainer cleaner and three I 
agitators. More economical, I 
and easierto operate than any I 
other sprayer on the market. 
GUARANTEED for 5 YEARS.) 
Special offer on first one in I 
each locality, to intro -1 
, duce. Full information | 
j furnished. 
H. L. HURST MFG. CO. 
1401 North St. Canton, 0^ 
I Sprayers to Spray “everyth ing”-( $2 to $ too.) Sent j 
on 10 days’ trial. A t wholesale where no agent. 
SAVE YOUR TREES 
from the Ravage of SAN JOSE, COTTONY 
MAPLE SCALE, PSYLLA, Etc. 
ale you need is 
“SCALECIDE,” Water, $$&*$§££ 
Simple, more effective and cheaper than LIME, 
SULPHUR and SALT. 
For sample, testimonials and price de¬ 
livered at your Railroad station, address 
B. G. Pratt Co.,11 Broadway, NewYork, N.Y. 
MI IT TD E CC Japan Chestnuts and Walnuts, Paragon 
liu l l IILLO Chestnuts, Ridgely and American. 
MANCHURICA WALNUTS. 
CALIFORNIA PRIVKT, extra fine and cheap. 
Fruit trees and small fruits in every kind worth fruit¬ 
ing. Catalogue free. Address, 
JOS. H. BLACK,SON &CO,, Hightstown.N, J, 
FRUIT TREES THAT GROW 
and bear fruit true to label. Fine assortment of stock. 
All conveniences for packing FRUIT GROWERS 
and I)EA I.ERS ORDERS. Can save yon 15 to 30 
per cent on large or small orders. Get my prices and 
free catalogue without delay. 
Martin Wahl, Nurseryman, Rochester, N. Y, 
Potatoes 
K FRUIT BOOK 
shows in NATURAL COLORS and 
accurately describes 216 varieties of 
fruit. Send for our liberal terms of distri¬ 
bution to planters.—Stark Bro’s, Louisiana, Mo. 
FOR <vAI F- 8EKD CORN. Glenns Learning: 
run vHLk a yellow dent. 20 days earlier than 
any other. Pedigree and prices on application. 
F. P. MADDQC KS, ALLEGAN, MICHIGAN. 
Ruby Raspberry Plants. 
L. E. WARIJLLL, Marlborough, New York. 
Write for Net Price Illustrated Implement Cata¬ 
logue. Robert C. Reeves Co., 187 Water.st., N.Y. City. 
Prize, Michigan, Eureka, Cobbler, 
Reliance, Gold Standard. List Free 
GEO. II. COLVIN, Crest Farm. Dalton, Pa. 
Qtrau/horrioe Buy your plants of a specialist. Over 
Oiianucillco 100 varieties. Best Nrr. grown. < ata- 
loguefree. G.It. Schaubcr, Box R.Ballston Lake.NY. 
DAHI IAQ 20 Kinds, Wl. Awarded GRAND 
UHnLlHO PRIZE at St. Louis, GOLD MEDAL at 
Buffalo. H. F. BURT. Taunton, Mass. 
con SALE—Cow Peas, $1.50 Bushel: Crimson 
■ Clover Seed, $5.50 per Bushel: 2d Growth Seed 
Potatoes, $3.50 Rag; Seed Sweet Potatoes. 
J. E. HOLLAND, Milford. Delaware. 
GRASS SEED. 
Timothy Seed, all kinds of Clover. Blue Grass, Red 
lop. Orchard Grass, Seed Oats. Ask for prices and 
samples on what you want. U. J. Cover. Mt. Giles, i, Ohio. 
AATC Sensation—Enormous Yielder, Heavy, re- 
UH I O cleaned 60c. bu.;seed corn, $1.25 bu,: cat & 
samples free. Theo. Burt & Sons, Melrose, Ohio. 
Alfalfa Seed, 
Beardless Barley. 
J- E. WING & BROS., Mechanicsburg, O. 
SEED COHN 
MAMMOTH YELLOW FLINT-Largest Flint 
Corn Grown, very early, matures in 100 days, 
EIGHTY-DAY DENT—Earliest dent corn yot in¬ 
troduced. DIBBLE’S IMPROVED LEAMJNG-Two 
weeks earlier than other largo dents. All corn 
tested germinates 9.5 to 98 per cent. Bushel, $2: 2 bu. 
bag,S3; 10 bu.. $12.50. Special price on quantities 
Samples and catalog free. EDWARD F. DIBBLE 
Seedgrower, Box C, Iloneoye Falls, New York. 
FRUIT TREES 
that are sound, solid and safe is what every planter 
wants for spring of 1906. We offer you trees of that 
kind: selection perfect. Heavy stock of Apple, Pencil 
Plum. Pear and Cherry, also full line of other fruits 
Write ns today for our catalogue and price list, it is 
valuable and will tell yon the rest. THE RIVERSIDE 
NURSERY CO., Confluence, Somerset Co., Pa. 
P OTATOES—Bliss, Bovee,Carman,Cobbler,Noroton Beauty, Ohio 
Hose, Longfellow. Six Weeks. 85 kinds. C.W. Fnnl,Fishers,N. v! 
Reduced Prices on Peach Trees one year from hud 
general assortment varieties; medium size 2c.: No 
1 3 4 C. each. Trees kept dormant until Mav 16th,’if 
not sold earlier. R. S. Johnston, Box 4, Stock ley, Del. 
Strawberry Plants 
1000 up. Sf 
DAY 
New and choice vari¬ 
eties. From $1.25 per 
Send for my new catalogue FREE to-dav. 
II) RODWAY, Hartly, Delaware. 
S TRAWBERRY' PLANTS true to name, both new 
and old varieties. Write for catalogue and get 
your order in early. J. K. LOSES, Einora.N. Y. 
jpe Get best plants of all good 
L1 cl DC! 1 Its soits at lowest grower’s 
prices, 24th Annual Catalogue Free. 
SLAVMAKER & SON, Dover, Delaware. 
SEED POTAfOEST 
Early and Late. A Square Deal Guaranteed. 
O. W. BURNETT, Phelps, New York. 
I OOK! LOOK1 800,000 BUBACH STRAWBERRY 
PLANTS. Lots of other varieties. Rathbun and 
1 ucretia.Dewberry and Wilson Jr Blackberry plants, 
Kansas Black Cap and Miller Red Raspberry Plants 
and Cabbage Plants. Catalogue Free. 
D. W. MOSLEY, Dover, Del. 
‘REES-A11 kinds, cheap. Freight paid, 
a » fa.. Catalog free. Agents wanted. 
MITCHELL’S NURSERY, BEVERLEY, O. 
O C FINE 2 YEAR TREES $2.50. Peach, Pear, 
v Plum, Cherry, etc. Catalogue free. 
WOODBINE NURSERIES, No. 3, Geneva, Ohio. 
WANTED 
50,000 Columbian Raspberry Plants. 
QUOTE LOWEST PRICE ON THE AMOUNT YOU CAN FURNISH. 
LOCK BOX 33(5, GENEVA, NEW YORK. 
EUREKA CORN. 
Hie Greatest Ensilage 
Variety Known. 
We have been selling this wonderful corn for the past 
eighteen years among the farmers of New England and 
New York, It has proved to be such an unqualified 
success that for the past two years it has been in de¬ 
mand in practically every State in the Union and many 
orders had to be returned unfilled. 
65 TONS PER ACRE. 
This is not an idle claim. We have letters from farm¬ 
ers who claim they raised this amount on one acre and 
from others who claim even more than that. The corn 
grows to a surprising height, many times reaching 18 or 
20 feet, and is filled with broad leaves from near the 
root to the tassel. 
More Ears to the Stalk. 
If planted thin, it will produce 3 to 5 ears to the stalk and they are 
in the milk at time of cutting. 
Beware of so-called Eureka Varieties. 
We have made a specialty of this great ensilage corn for many years 
and our seed is the only genuine on the market. The wonderful suc¬ 
cess it has had has led others to selling common kinds under the name 
of Eureka. We ship this corn either _ 
on the ear, crated, or shelled, in one 
or two bushel bags under our trade 
mark.. Send for free catalogue giv¬ 
ing prices, also other forage crops and 
a full line of farm machinery. 
ROSS BROS. COMPANY, 
Worcester, Mass. 
I: ROSS BROS.PURE BRED5EED C0RM 
i i 
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