458 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
June 2. 
: Rural isms : 
• ▼ ▼ T T y T T 
NOTES FROM THE RURAL GROUNDS 
The Dreaded Frost. —Temperatures 
hovering about the freezing point during 
the nights of May 11-12 occasioned much 
worry, and really caused considerable 
damage, though the estimate of a half 
million dollar loss in Monmouth County 
is doubtless wide of the mark. Early 
blooming strawberries were severely cut 
in low-lying fields, almost every blossom 
showing a blackened center. On slopes and 
elevations affording good air drainage 
little harm was done. Potatoes and eariy 
vegetables generally received a back-set 
that will need weeks of warm sunshine to 
remedy. Great fears were expressed for 
Kieffer pears, as they were just shedding 
blooms. Kieffers are quite an important 
money crop in this locality, and have not 
borne well for the last two years, thus re¬ 
ducing the surolus in the hands of the 
canners. The young fruits did not al¬ 
together escape injury from the frost, but 
except in a few badly placed orchards, any 
thinning likely to follow will rather be 
helpful than otherwise, as the trees had 
been loaded with bloom, and the set ap¬ 
peared greater than they could carry. 
Peaches were mainly in their bloom cases, 
and do not appear much harmed. There 
will be considerable thinning among Japan 
plums, and occasional losses of the crop, 
but a general abundance of young fruits 
still remains at this writing, one week 
after the frost. 
A Scarcity of Insects. —The season 
has, so far, been cool and dry, highly fa¬ 
vorable for the pollination of fruit bloom, 
but not so to insect life. Fewer grubs 
and cutworms are encountered in the soil 
than for many years. Potatoes have come 
up during the warm days succeeding the 
frost, without the usual accompaniment of 
beetles. The Currant worm and Aspara¬ 
gus beetles are the only regulation pests 
of the season to come forward. Oddly 
enough, the green native Currant worm 
is more abundant than the usual black- 
spotted imported species. They appear 
in number mostly on hybrid plants of 
native gooseberries, and seem to resist 
insecticides with more vigor than the im¬ 
ported kind. They do not feed in groups, 
but scatter widely, and from their uni¬ 
form green color are not easy to detect 
when small. The riddled foliage, how¬ 
ever, locates them, and treatment with 
hellebore or Paris-green and flour from 
the powder gun keeps them well under 
control. This native worm has never 
been credited with serious injury to cul¬ 
tivated currants or gooseberries, and may 
be headed off by extra watchfulness. 
Peach trees are quite free from leaf-curl, 
and young orchards from lice or aphids, 
two pests that are favored by chilly damp¬ 
ness. There is abundant time for many 
seasonable insect and fungus troubles to 
develop, but every week of freedom from 
pests is a relief at this busy time. We 
have hopes that the very vigorous fight 
against San Jose scale this Spring may 
not be without good results. Live scales 
are certainly difficult to find where dou¬ 
ble applications of soluble oils have been 
thoroughly made. There is a notable in¬ 
crease of ladybirds and Pentilea beetles 
on scale-infested trees in hedgerows and 
neglected places that may do good work 
in keeping the pest within bounds where 
insecticides have not been used. We do 
not recall the presence of Pentileas be¬ 
fore as late as May 10. 
3.30 P. M. Not Too Late. —The sa¬ 
pient writer in a new hysterical farming 
magazine, who advised his readers to cut 
strawberry runners in January, now is¬ 
sues a warning against cultivating to kill 
weeds later than three o’clock in the af¬ 
ternoon, as the sun will not kill the loos¬ 
ened weeds after that hour! Speaking 
from a rather lengthy experience, we may 
assure amateurs that 3.30 P. M., or even 
a few seconds after, is not too late. It is 
even conceivable that if the weather is 
dry and the prospects good for a full 
dose of ardent sunshine next day that 
the cultivator or hoe may, with advan¬ 
tage, be kept going until supper time! 
Many hardened workers in the soil may 
even contend that a weed severed from 
the soil at any hour, day or night, sun 
or shade, has its chances of pernicious 
activity very much reduced. We have 
known home gardeners so busily em¬ 
ployed during the day that they could 
only work their plots in late evening, and 
the weeds thereabouts were extremely 
dead weeds. It is not always well to cul¬ 
tivate when the soil is soggy with mois¬ 
ture, but banking hours, even in weed 
killing operations do not “go” on the 
farm or in the busy garden. 
Freesia Purity Produced dy Hybridi¬ 
zation. —Rudolph Fischer, Great Neck, 
L. I., furnishes the following account of 
the origin of the fine Freesia variety Pur¬ 
ity described on page 442 : 
“Freesia Purity' is a seedling produced 
by hybridization. I got it in the follow¬ 
ing manner: When I started in business 
about 15 years ago I received from my 
former employer several thousand Free¬ 
sia bulbs for planting on my own place. 
These bulbs were an unusually good strain 
of the original F. refracta alba. My em¬ 
ployer got from Europe a lot of very 
small bulbs, early in the eighties, before 
the variety was introduced in this coun¬ 
try'. He multiplied his stock from these, 
without buying any' more from any out¬ 
side source, and in this way he kept his 
stock pure. When I grew them I start¬ 
ed to hy'bridize between the best, and 
produced 1 a number of good ones, which 
were ahead of the general run. These I 
hybridized again, and among the latter 
seedlings was Purity. It showed its su¬ 
periority from among the rest so promi¬ 
nently that after another year I separated 
them, and then grew them by themselves.” 
_ W. v. F. 
Transplanter for Strawberries. 
G. TF. F., Durand, III .—What Rind of 
transplanter has E. G. Tufts found success¬ 
ful in planting strawberries? He spoke of 
one in his article on page 305. 
Ans.— If anyone has many plants to set 
each Spring he is often met with the per¬ 
plexing question of how to get the work 
properly done, and as early in the season 
as possible. Competent help is usually 
scarce. Often it is difficult to get the plants 
set properly, and unless a strawberry plant 
is set just right it is better not to have 
it set at all. In setting by hand in some 
seasons the ground dries out rapidly, and 
often the plants fail to live. I find that 
with the transplanter the plants can be 
set better; each plant is watered, thus in¬ 
suring them to live. They commence to 
grow at once and make a better growth. 
It does not matter if the ground does get 
somewhat dry on top. Every row is the 
same distance apart, thus making the 
cultivation easier, and allowing the soil 
to be stirred closer to the plants, which 
means less hoeing, which greatly reduces 
the cost of growing the berries. The 
plants can be set later in the season and 
yet be assured of growing and doing well. 
Any kind of plants can be set with these 
machines. I set cabbage, tomatoes and 
strawberries. A potato planting attach¬ 
ment can be secured with them and thus 
be used in planting potatoes. There are 
several different makes on the market. I 
use the McSherry, made at Middletown, 
Ohio. ELMER G. TUFTS. 
Indiana. _ 
Not a New Pear.— I notice on page 405 
you give an illustration of a “new” pear, 
Doyenn<5 du Cornice. I have grown this pear 
for 30 years, and it has been exhibited in 
Massachusetts Horticultural Societv every 
year. I find it fruits on the tip end of the 
branches, as a rule, so that great care must 
be used in pruning. I consider it one of the 
best, if not the very best pear I have. 
Boston, Mass. e. w. h. 
Value of Orchard Trees.—I call the 
value of a tree one year old .$1. gaining a 
dollar each year for 20 years. I base this 
value on the fact that the trees will pav a 
fair rate of interest on this valuation.’ I 
think many are planting too many trees 
per acre. I believe 40. well taken care of. 
will he a better investment than 100 as some 
are planting. I begin to realize that a' good 
many apples’ will grow on 40 good trees. 
New York. grant g. hitchings. 
When you write advertisers mention The 
R. N.-Y. and you’ll get a quick reply and 
“a square deal.” See guarantee, page 8. 
THE FIRST 
Hartman Stockade Woven 
Wire Fence 
Ever built was erected 17 years ago and is still in 
use as durable and strong as when first put up. 
The Hartman is a perfectly woven wire fence that 
is strong enough to keep in the maddest bull and 
tine enough to keep out the chickens. It is made 
of the best quality galvanized steel wire and con¬ 
tains much more material than fences more cheap¬ 
ly constructed. That’s why it lasts so long. If 
your dealer doesn’t handle it, write for catalogue 
and prices. Address 
GLEN MFG. CO., 110 Mil? Si., Ellwood City, Pa. 
Also Mfrs. Hartman Steel Picket Fence, Hart¬ 
man Flexible Wire Mats and Glen (Steel Mat 
FOR SALE 
STEEL FENCING 10 c. per rod, while it lasts. 
Rochester Radiator Co., 268 State 8t., Rochester, N. Y. 
LAWN FENCE 
Many designs, any 
height up to 6 ft. for 
Parks. Our price, freight 
paid, will interest you. 
Cyclone Fence Co. 
Waukegan, 111. 
Holly, Mich. Clevelaud, O. 
iSfiOMsBStUf, 
HEAVIEST FENCE MADE] 
All No. 9 Steel Wire. Wei. xAz^vanized. Weighs 
Vs more than most fences. 1 to 86c per rod ' 
delivered. We sell all kinds offence wire at 
wholesale prices. "Write for fence hook show- 
llOstyles. The Brown Fence and- 
re Co., Cleveland, i 
THEY LASTF0REVER 
Standard Steel Posts 
Are to be Driven 
ONK-THIKP CHEAPER 
THAN WOOD POSTS. 
Can be uned with plain, barb or 
woven wire fencing. Posts made 
for ail requirements; will last for¬ 
ever. For Krape lields they have 
no equal. Thousands in use and 
thousands sold for immediate de¬ 
livery. Write for circular, price 
list and reference to 
J. H. DOWNS, 
235 Broadway, N. Y. 
Fartnry near Pittsburg. 
WALRUS 
ROOFING 
Tough and tight as a walrus 
hide, and just as pliable and 
lasting. Summer sun. winter 
ice, won’t affeet it. It can’t rust and won’t 
crack. Anybodycan lay it. Send for sample 
NO REPAIRS OR PAINTING 
required when 
you use Arrow 
Brand Asphalt 
Ready Roofing. 
Is surfaced with gravel and can be laid on 
old shingles or other surfaces easily. 
Send to Department T for Catalogue G. 
ASPHALT READY ROOFING CO., 80 Pine St., N.Y. City 
Beware of cheap imitations made from Tar. 
INDRUROID 
ROOFING 
Requires no Coatine’ or 
Paint. 
Acid, and Alkali Proof. 
Elastic and Pliable 
Always. 
Strong- and Tough. 
Absolutely Waterproof 
Climatic Changes Do Not 
Affect It. 
Practically Fire Proof. 
Can Be Used on Steep or 
Flat Surfaces. 
Any Workman Can Put 
It On. 
No Odor. 
Will not Shrink or Crack 
Light in Weight. 
Does not Taint Water. 
Write for samples, prices and 
circulars. 
H. F. WATSON CO. 
ERIE, PA. 
Chicago, Boston. 
Mention R.N.-Y. 
ffoNE 001 ^ Never Slip Wire Stretcher 
with dr and Staple Puller ^rJlnd^o 
the staple without assistance. Stretches every 
kind of wire to the LAST post in a straight line or 
around haystacks. No teeth to injure wire. Hickory 
handle, malleable jaws, forged steel staple puller. 
Nothing to get out of order. It is as simple as a pair of 
tongs. We will send the Stretcher and Puller to you by 
express carefully packed for $1.00, P. O. or express M. O., 
if you will also send us the name of your dealer. 
Special. For 25 cents we will send prepaid our new steel 
staple puller. Just out. The handiest tool you ever owned. 
Never Slip Wire Stretcher & Nov*)tjCo. ( West Farmington,Ohio 
DIRECT FROM MAKER TO USER. 
at lowest manufacturers prices. 
Paints and Varnishes for All Purposes, 
i Made pure to preserve as well as lo l>eautify. Send for color cards 
and price list, stating your requirements. NEW CASTLE PAINT 
AND VARNISH COMPANY, N«*w Castle, Penn. 
MORE GOOD CIDER * 
can be made from a given amount 
of apples with one of our presses 
than with any other. The 
juice will be purer and br! 
higher prices; the extra 
yield soon pays for 
press. We make 
HYDRAULIC 
In all sizes hand or power. 
25 to 3*H) barrels p**r day 
Also Boilers, Saw-MHU, 
Steam- Evaporators, Apple- 
butter Cookers, etc. Fully 
guaranteed. Catalog FREE. 
The Hydraulic Press Mfg. Co. 
1 2 Main St., Mt. Gilead, Ohio - 
^ or Room 124 p 39 Cortland St., New York, N. Y. 
the 
MACHINERY 
O IDE 
Best and cheapest, 
Send lor catalogue. 
BOOMER & BOSCHERT 
PRESS CO., 
118 West Water St,, 
SYRACUSE, N. Y. 
fHDER AND WINE PRESSES 
HAND and POWER 
Manufactured by 
THE G. J. EMENY CO., 
FULTON, N. Y. 
Successors to 
Empire State Press Co. 
Send for free Illustrated Catalog 
Monarch 
Hydraulic 
Cider Press 
Great strength and ca¬ 
pacity; all sizes; also 
gasoline engines, 
steam engines, 
saw mills, thresh- 
— ers. Catalog free, 
■onareh Machinery Co.. Reom 161,39 Cortlandt St„ New York. 
SPRAY, SPRAY, 
SPRAY 
your trees for the 
Codling Moth and All Leaf 
Eating Insects with the 
Best and Safest Poison 
which is 
Swift’s 
Arsenate of Lead 
IT WILL NOT BURN AND 
IT STICKS 
MADE ONLY BY THE 
Merrimac Chemical Go., 
33 Broad St., Boston, Mass. 
Write for tree booklet. 
FOR SALE BY 
W. S. Stevens, Grand Rapids. Mich. 
Benton, Hall & Co., Cleveland, Ohio. 
Williamson Produce Co.,Quincy. Ill. 
McPike Drug Co., Kansas City, Mo. 
C. S. Martin & Co., Salt Lake. Utah. 
Woodward, Clark & Co., Portland, Ore. 
Langley, Michaels Co., San Praneiseo, Cal. 
San. Monte Fruit Co., Watsonville, Cal. 
INSIST ON HAVING SWIFT’S. 
E.C. Brown Co.. 
6 rows at a time, any 
width, with 
Rrnuin’e traction 
DrOWil S COMPRESSED 
AIR SPRAYER. 
Constantpressureuptol50 lbs- 
Power costs nothing. 100 gal¬ 
lon cypress tank, all brass 
pump. Perfectly adapted also to or¬ 
chard work. Wo are the largest man¬ 
ufacturers of spray pumps in the 
world, hand and power .including the 
famous “Auto-Spray.” 
Send for Catalogue. 
28 JaySt., Rochester, N.Y. 
SAN JOSE SCALE 
and other INSECTS killed bp 
GOOD’S 
Caustic Potash Whale-Oil Soap No. 3 
Endorsed by U.S.Dept. of Agri. and State Experiment 
Stations. This soap is a Fertilizer as well as an Insecti¬ 
cide. 50-lb. kegs. $2.50; 100-lb. begs, $4.50; half barrel, 
2701b.,3?4cper lb; barrel,4251b.,3)^c. Send for booklet. 
JAMES GOOD, Original Maker, 
939-41 N. Front Street, Philadelphia, Pa. 
The Potato Digger 
For Fast Clean 
Work 19 the 
DOWDEN 
Simple, strong, always in order. Works 
In all soils, all depths, hill- NjHYr side and level. 
No cutting and none missed. Potatoes al¬ 
ways clean, lying on top of ground. Works well 
in heavy tops. Send for free catalogue. 
Bowden Mfg. Co., Bo* 622, Prairie City, Iowa. 
