554 
July 14. 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
NOTES FROM THE RURAL GROUNDS 
Free Government Seeds. —At this writ¬ 
ing: the Agricultural Appropriation bill is 
still in the Senate committee, held up by 
the meat inspection agitation, but likely 
to pass, carrying the usual item of about 
a quarter of a million dollars for the 
free distributions by Members of Con¬ 
gress of tons of ordinary garden and 
flower seeds. A stiff fight against this 
abuse of the original law permitting 
the distribution of new or rare exotic 
seeds and plants was made by seedsmen 
and the horticultural press of the coun¬ 
try, and is likely to bear fruit next year, 
when Congress again considers the mat¬ 
ter. Much energy has been wasted in 
attacking the “principle” of the annual 
seed distribution instead of the perversion 
of the law, which only intended to facili¬ 
tate the introduction of interesting or use¬ 
ful plants not in general commerce, and 
difficult for individual planters to ob¬ 
tain in the ordinary course of trade. The 
principle of the Government giving to 
farmers common seeds, procurable in al¬ 
most every village in the land, is as 
sound or as unsound as that of giving 
valuable privileges or franchises to in¬ 
corporated associations of individuals. 
Both may be defended on the ground of 
general public benefit, and both may 
be subject to frightful abuses. If the 
public wants to vote itself free seeds or 
free merchandise of any kind it undoubt¬ 
edly has the power to do so through its 
representatives in Congress, but it has 
shown so little real desire for the ordi¬ 
nary seeds sent out by the Department 
of Agriculture that abandonment of the 
practice will be widely welcomed, and a 
return to the plan of distributing only 
new varieties of probable merit will put 
the whole matter on a dignified and use¬ 
ful basis. 
Government Seeds Not Bad. —The 
writer has never had much sympathy with 
attacks on the quality of the seeds dis¬ 
tributed. We have tested them from time 
to time for the past 20 years, and have 
found them just about as good as Ordinary 
store seeds, but not by any means as reli¬ 
able as those directly obtained from re¬ 
sponsible dealers. The distribution has 
undoubtedly accomplished good by get¬ 
ting valuable, even if common varieties 
of vegetables, cereals and flowers in out- 
of-the-way places where they were not 
previously known, but as now conducted 
has outlived its usefulness. The loading 
down of the agricultural appropriation 
with heavy charges for food inspection, 
which now seems imminent, will likely 
necessitate pruning off the less pressing 
items, chief among which is the Congres¬ 
sional seed distribution. 
Adverse Report on Philadelphia 
Rambler.—A writer in the London Gar¬ 
den thinks Philadelphia Rambler rose, 
which gained an award of merit last year 
from the Royal Horticultural Society, 
has been prematurely praised. He says 
the color is magnificent, but the trusses of 
bloom are few and small, but adds that 
the plants may improve with age. We can 
assure him, after nine years of experience, 
that if well situated they certainly will. 
Philadelphia is not as tall or rampant 
grower as the original Crimson Rambler, 
but after becoming thoroughly established 
is fully as free in bloom, and infinitely 
more beautiful. The blooms are larger 
and are borne all over the plant in clus¬ 
ters that equal those of Crimson Rambler 
in size, and exceed them in fullness and 
density. The absolute finish of the in¬ 
dividual flowers, their rich and glowing 
color, together with the early-blooming 
habit, and freedom from disease of the 
variety, mark it as entirely distinct. It 
is probably better adapted as a pillar than 
a wall rose, if large spaces are to be 
covered, but should always be planted in 
full sunlight. The following letter, one 
of hundreds of similar character, tells how 
a tiny mailing plant developed in two 
growing seasons: 
I write to tell you about the rose-bush I 
had from you as a premium. It was so small 
and dried up when it arrived that my wife 
made all manner of fun of it. She took 
good care of it, however, and this year it is 
a finely growing bush with 1,102 buds on it. 
I am very much pleased with it. 
New York. .chas. towxsend. 
Lima Beans Poisonous?—A French 
economic journal lately published an ac¬ 
count of many cases of fatal poisoning 
of cattle in Belgium by unripe Lima beans, 
which, it seems, are quite extensively 
grown as cattle food. Lima beans do not 
mature their seeds in Northern Europe, 
but grow vigorously, and have hitherto 
been much esteemed as forage, but it ap¬ 
pears the beans are rarely used as human 
food, their place being taken by innumer¬ 
able varieties of common and runner 
beans. Examination has shown that these 
green European Limas, under certain con¬ 
ditions of culture and storage con¬ 
tain or rather generate by internal 
decomposition a dangerous quantity of 
hydrocyanic or prussic acid. The pro¬ 
portion is less in long-cultivated than 
in semi-wild varieties, which are much 
grown on account of their great vigor, 
but the poison is found in all. Methods 
of detecting the acid by chemical tests are 
given in the article. This is surprising 
news, assuming that the Europeans grow 
the real Lima bean, Phaseolus lunatus, 
which has long been a staple article of 
food in this country and generally 
throughout the tropics. Every gardener 
who has the space grows Limas, and 
even-one eats them, whether cooked green 
or mature, when they can be had, and no 
one has ever been harmed. With sugar 
corn thej' form the basis of our glorious 
national dish, succotash, and boiled ripe 
Limas are the standby of the vegetarian 
and health-food faddists, as a protein 
provider, and as a welcome relief from 
their sawdust-like cereal preparations. 
Mighty few cows get a chance- at Limas, 
green or ripe, over here—they are too 
highly regarded as table provender, and 
there is no record of any cattle dying of 
prussic acid poisoning after raiding the 
bean patch. Perhaps California, with her 
thousands of acres of Limas grown for 
seedsmen and general commerce, can fur¬ 
nish some experience. Lima beans differ 
slightly in chemical composition from 
the seeds of Phaseolus vulgaris and P. 
multiflorus, so universally grown in 
Europe. These always contain some oxa¬ 
late of lime in crystal form beneath the 
skin or outer covering, which is not found 
in the Lima. We do not know what ad¬ 
vantage it is in a culinary way, but if it 
prevents the formation of poisonous acids 
under European cultivation it is a most 
useful feature. Everyday experience con¬ 
vinces us that the cultivated Lima, in its 
numerous varieties, is a horticultural ben¬ 
efaction—far too precious to be grown for 
cattle. _ w. v. F. 
Cement for Chinking Foundation. 
F. E. G., Boston, Mass .—I wish to chink 
up an ell foundation with small stones and 
cement to keep the cold out in Winter. 
What is the proper proportion to mix the 
cement? The stones are not to he mixed 
in the cement. 
Ans. —If mortar has fallen out and this 
work is to take the place of the usual 
“pointing,” which means that the crev¬ 
ices are shallow and lack power of hold¬ 
ing, I would use one part Portland to 
three parts sand. If a “form” could be 
used and no great adhesive force neces¬ 
sary to hold it to place then perhaps one 
to five would do equally well. Where no 
strain is placed upon concrete w-ork it 
is surprising how little cement will hold 
sand in place, one to 10 will do it. We 
have just been putting down nearly 100 
barrels cement, and the grouting was 
made one to eight, using gravel, and 
sand mixed. This would harden in 48 
hours, so that one must use considerable 
effort to chisel it loose. We are filling 
in between studs in a boiler room with 
this poor mixture, and it is exceedingly 
hard. There is no object in using a 
mixture stronger than actually necessary, 
because of the danger of cracking. Mixed 
one to two one must watch out; mixed 
one to eight or as high as one to five 
there is little danger. If the questioner 
will therefore take these points into con¬ 
sideration he will have no trouble. Be 
sure that the sand and cement are thor¬ 
oughly mixed before water i's added, 
and that the small stones used are wet 
before the concrete touches them. An 
imperfect union often results from small, 
dry stones coming in contact with con¬ 
crete mixed dry, or with a minimum 
amount of water. If the surface of any 
work is rough with a lean mixture a very 
fine, almost marble surface, can be put 
on by wetting the rough surface and then 
plastering with a coat of cement and 
sand equal parts, not trying to get a 
thickness but just enough to make it 
smooth. Give this coat much troweling 
and a very attractive finish will result. 
H. E. COOK. 
THE CALDWELL 
Galvanized 
Steel Tanks 
Are cheaper than wood 
and do not rust. 8izes 
up to 1000 gallons capa¬ 
city shipped set up. 
Write for delivered 
prices and catalogue. 
W. E. CALDWELL CO 
Louisville, Ky. 
Leggett’s Dusters rl™, 
saving Fruit and Vegetable Crops when other 
methods fail. 
NO BARREL OF WATER TO HAUL 
LEGGETT'S Potatoes dusted^as fast as 
, CHAMPION Several styles for 
, DUSTER GARDEN, 
FIELD 
gHH ORCHARD 
(hir Spray Calendar gives concise information regarding 
Spraying, Dusters and Materials. Mailed free on request. 
.ircrt.tt fic Urn .101 Pearl St.. New York. 
SAN JOSE SCALE 
and other INSECTS killed by 
GOODS 
Caustic Potash Whale-Oil Soap No. 3 
Endorsed by U. S. Dept, of Agri. and State Experiment 
Stations. This soap is a Ferti lizer as well as an Insect i¬ 
cide. 5'>-lb. kegs. $2.50; 100-lb. kegs, $4.50; half barrel, 
270 lb., 3?fc per lb; barrel,425 lb.,3^c. Send for booklet. 
JAMES GOOD, Original Maker, 
939-41 N. Front Street, Philadelphia, Pa. 
gQTons 
HAY 
In Ten Hours 
We can prove it. 
Ask for free 
catalogue. 
Columbia 
Baler. 
Ann Arbor Machine Co. 
Box 64, Aim Arbor, Mich. 
HEAVIEST FENCE MADE: 
AH No. 9 Steel Wire. Wei. Os. ’ van i zed. Weighs , 
v Vi more than most fences. 16 to 85c per rod i 
k delivered. We sell all kinds offence wire at A 
A wholesale prices. Write for fence book show- 
lag llOstyles. The Brown Fence 
S&w Wire Co., Cleveland, 
THEY LAST FOREVER 
STANDARD 
STEEL FENCE POSTS. 
Are to be Driven 
ONE-THIRD CHEAPER 
THAN WOOD POSTS. 
Can t*e used with plain, barb or 
woven wire fencing. Posts made 
f«»r all requirements. Over 75,000 
sold. Twenty miles of fencing 
erected on one estate. Write for 
circularsjprice list and reference to 
J. H. DOWNS. 
235 Broadway, N. Y. 
Factory near Pittsburg. 
No More Hand Pumping 
No coal. No steam. No oil. No packing or labor. 
No Cost for Motive Power 
NIAGARA AUTOMATIC PUMP 
i nydraulic Ham) 
works night and day on any brook, 
creek, riveror running water. 
Used and endorsed by Gov¬ 
ernments. railroads and 
public Institutions, farmers, 
owners of factories, country 
homes and mines. Write 
day for free booklet. 
Niagara Hydraulic Engine Co. 
140 NASSAU STREEET, NEW YORK. Factory; Chester, Pa. 
“WILLIAMS” Write forspecialoffertointroduceoar 
PUMP _^ patented pumps. A Wooden 
“NoTrix" Pump m»<le of iron. Guaranteed. 
_ xy- All repairs done quickly above ground. 
“Williams” Pump Co., 409 
St. Indianapolis, Ind. 
Simple, strong,alwavsIn Vv/TV]' order. Works 
In all soils, all depths, hill- 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. 
Dowden Mfg. Co., Boi 622, Prairie City. Iowa. 
CIDER 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 
INDRUROI 
ROOFIN 
Requires no Coating- 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 samplos, prices aud 
circulars. 
H. F. WATSON CO. 
ERIE, PA. 
Chicago, Boston. 
Mention R.N.-Y. 
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 bring 
higher prices; the extra 
yield soon pays for the 
press. We make 
HYDRAULICS", 
in all sites. hand or power. 
25 to 300 barrels per day 
Also Boilers, Saw-Mills, 
Steam-Evaporators, Apple- 
butter Cookers, etc. Fully 
guaranteed. Catalog FREE. 
The Hydraulic Press Mfg. Co. 
|2 Main St., Mt. Gilead, Ohio 
or Room 124 f 39 Cortland St., New York, N. Y. 
HUBBARD’S 
The Fertilizer that holds the record for BIG GRASS, 
since 1S91. 
Our Book, “ Hubbard’s Fertilizers for 1906,” sent free to 
any address. 
THE ROGERS & HUBBARD CO., MIDDLETOWN, CONN. 
CRASS AND CRAIN 
FERTILIZER 
FOR FALL SEEDING 
O c 
