6oo 
August 4, 
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 
A TRANSPLANTER; STRAWBERRY 
BEDS. 
F. E. H., page 538, describes his “gar¬ 
den transplanter.” The accompanying pic¬ 
ture shows one I made years ago, and 
have used it constantly since. The part 
marked a is heavy sheet brass welded, b 
is heavy brass wire, c brass wire, and d 
brass wire pounded somewhat flat, about 
one-half inch wide. Place a over any 
plant, and with foot at x force into the 
ground about four inches; pull it up and 
force the plant out by pressing on the 
handle y; d is made to slip inside of main 
cylinder a. Take your barrow load to the 
planting ground, and make your hole with 
the same transplanter, and drop your 
plant in, on a dry hot August day, and 
you will not find a wilt. 
T. M. White describes making a straw¬ 
berry bed. For practical work in a one- 
family garden T have six rows about 75 
feet long, renewing two rows each year 
in August. Plants are set about 18 inches 
apart with transplanter; second year al¬ 
lowed to make a matted row, third year 
after bearing dig up and replant. Lawn 
clippings are put between rows, and after 
bearing it is forked in. My bed migrates 
east or west, two rows each year, and 
you will see by the above plan I always 
have plants one, two and three years old. 
_ MAURICE. 
Eradicating Johnson Grass. 
C. R. G., Helena , Ark .—I have a farm, of 
which about 10 acres are being taken by 
the Johnson grass; five acres of it is a solid 
patch, the remainder scattered over the 
place. Can you give me any information as 
to the best way to get rid of the awful 
stuff? 
Ans. —The Department of Agriculture 
at Washington issues a pamphlet telling 
what to do. As this grass spreads by 
means of underground stems or roots it 
must be ripped out so that the roots will 
be killed. Various tools for doing this 
are described in the pamphlet. 
A Pole for Leveling Hay. 
F. J. B., New York .—Will W. E. R„ Mich¬ 
igan, who told about using a pole in the 
hay mow to help distribute the hay from the 
carrier, tell us more about it and describe 
how it works? 
Ans. —As said in former article, the 
pole is placed as high as possible in mow, 
so that when sling or forkful of hay goes 
back in mow, it will just nicely pass 
above the pole. The back end of pole, a 
tamarack, because light and strong, is 
fastened to one of the girths of the barn, 
so that when the hay drops on the pole, 
it [(the pole) cannot jam through the 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
siding of the barn. The front end of 
pole is held at the proper height (which 
should be a foot or a foot and a half 
lower), by means of a temporary post 
upon which the pole works. This tem¬ 
porary post is held perpendicular by 
means of ropes fastened to each side of 
the barn. I would not recommend us¬ 
ing the pole in a small barn, but in any 
good-sized barn it is worthy of a trial. 
w. E. R. 
Alfalfa After Oats and Peas. 
F. II. P. OtisviUe N. Y .—:I notice in Hope 
Farm Notes you speak of seeding to Alfalfa 
after oats and peas. As I am going to do 
the same thing I would like a little advice 
from you. I have already sown a small 
piece for an experiment, right alongside of 
where I expect to sow this Fall, about August 
25, and my experience so far would indicate 
certain things as follows: Plenty of lime must 
be used. I applied lime at the rate of 1,200 
pounds per acre. I do not think this is 
enough, as there are lots of horse sorrel grow¬ 
ing among the Alfalfa, and when I dumped 
the lime in a pile before slaking and spread¬ 
ing the horse sorrel is all killed out, and the 
Alfalfa plants, which are very scattering on 
this spot show a more healthy and vigorous 
growth than elsewhere. I also find more and 
larger nodules on the roots here than else¬ 
where. In addition to plenty of lime there 
must be an abundance of humus in the soil. 
My experimental patch was in potatoes last 
year, and quite a crop of weeds was mown 
off before digging. When the ground was 
plowed these were raked into the furrow 
every three or four times around, and plowed 
under. These furrows were easily distin¬ 
guished ever since by reason of a more vigor¬ 
ous growth. How about sowing Alfalfa after 
the oats and peas? This piece of ground re¬ 
ceived the same amount of lime as the Al¬ 
falfa. A good dressing of stable manure was 
applied last Winter, and it was my plan after 
the oats and peas were taken off to give an 
application of acid phosphate. But if humus 
in the soil is what it needs, why not plow 
under the crop of oats and peas? If this is 
done, would it be necessary to use more lime, 
or would the plowing under of so much green 
vegetable matter have the same effect? If 
you think it not necessary to use any more 
lime would you advise the use of the acid 
phosphate? 
R. N.-Y.—We expect to sow Alfalfa 
after cow peas—not oats and peas. The 
cow peas will be cut and, if the weather 
permits, made into hay. Plowing under 
the oats and peas would not take the 
place of lime. In warm weather this 
mass of green stuff would be likely to 
sour the land and make lime all the 
more necessary. We should use lime 
freely, and our own experience indicates 
that on most soils in the Hudson Valley 
potash is needed by Alfalfa even more 
than acid phosphate. 
Gladiolus Questions. 
P. 0. C., New Madison, O .—I have some 
trouble to get all Gladiolus bulblets (the 
little black hard-shell cormels) to grow. I 
see where some one through The R. N.-Y. 
advised soaking them in water before plant¬ 
ing. I suppose this soaking means just 
nicely moist, not swimming in water. How 
long might they be kept damp before plant¬ 
ing them without injury to the bulblets? I 
ask this question because rain and bad 
weather might cause one to keep the bulbs 
some time after they are made damp before 
planting. Gladiolus May and some other 
varieties incline to rust. Would soaking the 
bulblets and bulbs in a solution of corrosive 
sublimate (two ounces to 15 gallons water) 
do them any good? Would you fear any 
harm from the treatment provided no good 
was done. Is the solution I mention too 
strong? Do you know if the above or any¬ 
thing else has ever been tried for rust on 
Gladiolus bulbs? If I cannot find some cure 
for rust I shall have to drop some good 
varieties of Gladiolus from my list. 
Ans. —The hard-shell bulblets or cor¬ 
mels found at the base of most varieties 
of Gladiolus, are sometimes produced so 
late in the season that they do not have 
sufficient vitality to grow next season 
under any treatment. Varieties differ 
greatly in this respect. The cormels often 
have a very low percentage of vitality. 
When planting in Spring we have found 
a good practice to open carefully the 
hard shells with a knife just before plant¬ 
ing, or to soak them from 12 to 24 hours 
in lukewarm water, drained off slightly 
an hour or two before planting. They 
are best planted in newly-worked, moist 
soil, and should be quite thickly sown, at 
least 100 to the running foot, in a trench 
about three inches broad at the bottom 
and about the same depth. In soaking 
we cover them well with water, finding 
that ordinary sprinkling is not sufficient 
to penetrate the hard shells We have 
tried soaking cormels and large bulbs or 
corms in a weak solution of corrosive 
sublimate, not over one ounce to 12 gal¬ 
lons of water, for 10 to 15 minutes be¬ 
fore planting, as something of a preven¬ 
tive of Gladiolus rust or leaf disease, but 
it is not equally effective on all varieties. 
Sprinkling the bulbs and cormels with 
sulphur well moistened just before plant¬ 
ing is also a fair preventive. It is not 
well to grow Gladiolus in the same soil 
more than once in three or four years. 
Some varieties thrive in light or very 
sandy soil, while some thrive in rather 
heavy loam. Experience is the only teach¬ 
er in regard to these matters. 
The pictures of packing scenes shown 
on page 598 were sent us by Prof. Ka- 
rutz, of Martinsburg, W. Va. The sec¬ 
tions. of Virginia, Maryland and West 
Virginia centering at that place are 
growing famous for the production of 
Grimes Golden, York Imperial and 
other varieties of apples, and it has been 
found vitally necessary to pick, pack and 
handle in the most businesslike way. 
REMOVAL NOTICE. 
J. M. TH0RBURN & CO. 
(Late of 36 Cortlandt Street,) 
Have removed to their large new 
five story building at 
33 BARCLAY STREET 
extending through to 
38 PARK PLACE. 
Send for our BULB catalogue 
—ready in August—containing as 
usual, the largest assortment of 
high class bulbs in America. 
Mailed free on application. 
J. M. TH0RBURN & CO. 
3VTEW YORK. 
Founded in 1802. 
Basic Slag Phosphate. 
THOMAS PHOSPHATE POWDER 
The Best Phosphate for Seeding; Down 
to Grass, Wheat, and All Pall 
Sown Grains. 
Unequaled for Fruit Trees, Clover, 
Alfalfa, and Pasture Lands. 
THE PRICE IS LOW. 
THE COE-MORTIMER CO. 
Special Importers of Basic Slag, Nitrate of Soda 
and Potash Salts. 
Sole United States Agents for Genuine Peruvian 
Guano, Manufacturers of High 
Grade Fertilizers. 
133-137 Front St., New York City. 
DREER’S 
Mid-Simmer Catalogue 
ofTers a choice line of these; also Celery, 
Cabbage, Cauliflower and other season¬ 
able plants. Write for copy, FREE. 
HENRY A. DREER.714 Chestnut St., Phila., Pa. 
0NE of ART STRAWBERRIES 2% 
plant guaranteed or money returned. Send for my 
mid-summer catalog. T: C. KEVITT, Athenia, N. J. 
PCI CDV Dl AUTC All good sorts only 
UCLCfl f rLAIl I dl $1 to $1.25 per 1000. 
SLAYMAKER & SON, Dover, Delaware. 
RATEKIN WINTER SEED WHEAT! 
Ratekin’s Imported "Malakoff,” yields 62 bu. per 
acre: “Turkish Red,” 58 bu.; “ Iowa Wonder,” 59 bu. 
All extremely hardy. Samples and circulars free. 
RATEKIN’fj SEED HOUSE, Shenandoah, la. 
. TREES ARE FAMOUS 
'wherever planted; are planted 
"everywhere trees are grown. Free 
Catalog of superb fruits—Black Ben, 
King David, Delicious, etc.-StarkBro’s, Louisiana, Mo. 
ROGERS TREES ARE 
DIFFERENT 
FROM OTHERS. 
ROGERS ON THE HILL 
Dansville, N. Y. 
APPLE BREEDERS. 
60 Bus. Winter Wheat Per Acre 
That’s the yield of Salzer’sRed Cross Hybrid Winter 
Wheat. Send 2c. in stamps for free sample of same,, 
as also catalogue of Winter Wheats, Rye, Barley, 
Clovers, Timothy, Grasses, Bulbs, Trees, etc., for fall 1 
planting. John A. Salzer Seed Co., LaCrosse, Wis. 
BEST SEED WHEATS 
that grow. Some wonderful new ones that will 
double your yield. Our free catalogue No. 26, tells 
why ours are best, and how we have become the 
leading Seed Wheat growers of America. Write 
to-day. It’s worth dollars to you. MAPLEWOOD 
SEED WHEAT FARMS, Allegan, Mich. 
FOR SALE 
—Crimson Clover Seed, $5.50 perbu. 
Five-eighths Peach Baskets,$35 per 
1000. JOSEPH E. HOLLAND, Milford, Del. 
NURSERY STOCK. 
WRITE TO 
Bacon&Co. 
A FULL, DINE OE 
FRUIT TREES, BERRY PLANTS, 
and General Nursery Stock. Catalogue Free.- 
JOS. H. BLACK, SON <fc CO., Hightstown, N. J. 
APPLETON, N. Y. 
for their Catalogue of 
Basswood Ladders, 
MONEY IN GROWING PEONIES 
For Cut Flowers. No “GET-RICH-QUICK-SCHEME,” but a 
certain moderate annual profit without a penny for running 
Crates, Baskets 
and Fruit Packages 
It’s yours for the asking. 
expenses. The Industry In its Infancy. Wonderful Pos¬ 
sibilities. We’ll prove it if you'll sond us your name on 
a postal card. NOW IS THE TIME TO PUNT. 
Mohican Peony Gardens 
Sinking Springs, Penn. 
\ 
Dwyer’s Pot Grown Strawberry Plants 
Strong, healthy plants from selected stock of choicest fruiting varieties sure to give 
satisfaction and PRODUCE A FULL CROP IN 1907. 
r? also hav ® a f ul1 line of Fruits and Ornamental Trees, Plants, Vines, etc., for 
L all Planting. We do Landscape Gardening in all its branches. Catalogue Free. 
T. J. DWYER & CO., P. O. Box I, Cornwall, New York. 
TREES 
$5 PER IOO. FREIGHT PAID A pp , le ' P 2. ar ’,£ lnm ' Cherry, Peach aim Carolina 
iwv, rilLIHIll rHIU Poplars, healthy, true to name and fumigated. 
AUkindsof trees and plants at low wholesale prices. Rememberwe beat all other reliable 
Nurseries in quality and price. Catalogue free, Reliance Nursery', Box 10, Geneva, N Y 
THE BOSS POTATO DIGGER 
works well in 
stony ground and 
on side hill. Digs 
every row. WARRANTED. 
Thousands in use. Write for 
prices. Manufactured by 
E. R. ALLEN FOUNDRY CO., 
Corning, N. Y, 
A 
