190 ?. 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
125 
Celery Goes to Seed. 
F. H., Deerfield, Mont .—I have been hav 
ing trouble with my celery going to seed, 
especially when sown in open ground; also 
a neighbor, a market gardener. We both 
have tried to get the best, seed obtainable. 
I>ast year while I was at my old home 
near Philadelphia, Charles Downs, a market 
gardener, said it was the seed. We both 
dealt with the same seed house, but thought 
we might not have got the best, so we 
bought, enough for two or three years, but 
it. was no better. Most of our land has 
no manure or fertilizer; we irrigate, and 
can grow as finp celery as I ever saw, if we 
could only be free from seed stalks. Do you 
think if we would buy our seed as far north 
as we could it would make any difference? 
Sometimes we get half seed stalks. At first 
we were advised that it came from sowing 
in hotbed too early, so we sowed in open 
ground with same results. 
A ns. —We have had more or less ex¬ 
perience with celery running to seed the 
first season as described in this letter, - 
but only where the celery has met with 
unfavorable growing conditions. In our 
experience it is most likely to occur with 
celery which is started very early in the 
Spring, as the celery which is started 
from seed sown in the open ground in the 
Spring and grown in the ordinary manner 
seldom develops any seed stalks. As far 
as I have been able to judge from obser¬ 
vation, the trouble comes from the plants 
being checked or stunted in growth at 
some period of their development, this 
checking changing the growth of the 
plant from the production of fine large 
stalks to a premature development of the 
seed stalk and flower. The worst case 
of this I ever saw was where celery 
had been planted out early in the Spring 
on rather stiff clay soil, and after a period 
of dry weather the soil became baked and 
hard, and every plant started to throw a 
seed stalk, without developing the usual 
growth of outer or edible stalks. In the 
same season a lot of plants grown from 
the same lot of seed but of later plant¬ 
ing, and which was set out to come on in 
the Fall, gave us as fine celery as we 
ever grew. 
It is not likely that your correspondent 
had trouble from the dry weather as is 
instanced above, but the check or change 
in growth has probably come from some 
other cause; or it may be that the change 
in the character of growth of the celery 
was due to the surroundings and con¬ 
ditions of growth, being too favorable, as 
where plants are over-fed or over-watered 
they will occasionally develop a freak 
growth. It is quite certain that the 
trouble with this celery running to seed 
as described was not due to any fault 
in the strain of seed he purchased, as all 
seedsmen furnish seed to planters cover¬ 
ing a very large area and many widely 
different conditions, and should this trou¬ 
ble be in the seed complaints would be 
received from a great number of cus¬ 
tomers, and that particular lot of seed 
speedily condemned. As it is we do not 
receive more than one or two complaints 
in a season out of the thousands of cus¬ 
tomers to whom we supply celery seed, 
and we know that this is the same with 
other seedsmen. In this instance we 
think the best safeguard against this 
trouble would be to avoid getting the 
plants started so early in the season, or 
if it is an important feature to get the j 
plants as large and as well started as 
possible before they can be’ planted in the 
open ground, it would be desirable to, 
transplant the seedlings while quite small 
and give them ample room in which to 
grow and develop in the protected beds 
before they can be planted in the open 
ground, and furnish at the same time a 
full supply of fresh air whenever the 
plants can be ventilated without actual 
injury. If the seeds are started in a hot¬ 
bed as suggested the young plants should 
be kept well aired as soon as they are 
well started in growth, and should be 
transplanted to a cold frame as soon as 
they become large enough, or the cover¬ 
ing sash should be entirely removed ex¬ 
cept at night, and should be left off at 
night whenever the weather is warm 
enough to do this with safety. 
Pennsylvania. e. e. darungton. 
STARTING APPLE TREES. 
“I am thinking of setting 1,000 small ap¬ 
ple trees in the Spring to regraft to King, 
Twenty Ounce, Wagener and some other 
sorts. I will set them in nursery rows for 
two years or more and graft when of the 
desired size. I wish to graft about three 
feet from the ground, to form hardy trunks. 
Should I use grafted stoca, as Ben Davis 
or Baldwins, or should I use seedlings for 
stock? Which would bear fruit first and 
make the best trees, if any difference?” 
Although this would not be my way of 
starting an orchard, I should rather prefer 
the seedlings for making hardy trunks, al¬ 
though there Is no evidence to show why 
Ben Davis or Northern Spy stock would not 
be sufficiently hardy, and they would prob¬ 
ably be more available to the purchaser, as 
I think he would find it difficult to buy 
seedlings in the Spring unless he has pre¬ 
arranged it with some nursery man. As 
to which would bear fruit first, I doubt 
whether there would be any notable differ¬ 
ence, but to insure early bearing the scions 
should be taken from bearing trees of the 
best and most prolific tyDes of their kind. 
Seneca Co., N. Y. w. a. bassett. 
In planting 1,000 small apple trees with 
a view to top-grafting them to King or 
Wagener I would certainly not plant seed¬ 
lings, for they are variable in growth, and 
in many instances we might expect the scion 
to over-grow the stock. In the West, where 
vigor and hardiness are essential, we have 
found “Virginia crab” the ideal tree for top¬ 
working. While the fruit is of no value, 
the tree is of strong growth, and extremely 
hardy, and the finer apples form a perfect 
and permanent union when grafted upon it. 
Scions, top-grafted upon seedlings that 
chanced to be of dwarf habit, would doubt¬ 
less fruit first, but would very likely make 
shorter lived trees than those upon more 
vigorous stocks. m. j. gkaham. 
Dallas Co., Iowa. 
Plowing Straw Under. —The best imple¬ 
ment to plow under straw is a good two- 
horse steel-beam plow. Spread the straw 
thin enough so a broadcast crop of something 
will grow on it, and you will have no diffi¬ 
culty in turning it, and the land will be 
found In much better condition the next 
Spring. j. a. m. 
Child Labor. —There is one thing in Mr. 
Mapes’ note about child labor, page 56—I 
think they are carrying it too far. I have 
been In cotton mills at the South as fore¬ 
man and overseer, and think the children 
are not abused, they are not over¬ 
worked; I know that. I was in Alabama 
for some time, and in Mississippi; the same 
conditions exist there. As a rule the people 
have large families, and if the mills were not 
there I do not see how they would live. In 
the former mills there was one family with 
19 children, and 12 working out of that. It 
would have to be a good farm to find bread 
and butter for the whole. g. d. 
Connecticut. 
If you understand Modern Methods and 
Farm INTELLIGENTLY. 
Every Reader of The Rural New-Yorker 
who is interested in farming or gardening, in 
the growing of fruit or of flowers, is invited 
to send for a free copy of our 80-page catalogue 
and full information in regard to the Home 
Study Courses in Agriculture. Horticulture, 
Landscape Gardening and Floriculture which 
we offer under Prof. Brooks of the Mass. 
Agricultural College and Prof. Craig of Cor¬ 
nell University. 
THE HOME CORRESPONDENCE SCHOOL 
DEPT. 18, SPRINGFIELD, MASS. 
B *-* • 1 • •• - TT1—***" 
Farmers should use W. J. EMBRY & CO.’S 
EASILY DECOMPOSABLE SUN-DRIED FINELY 
GROUND PHOSPHATE ROCK 
and increase the value of their manure 60# clear of 
ihecostof the material. Pamphlet giving full infor- 
mation free upon application. Write to-day to 
VV. .1. Embry & Co., Box 134,Columbia,Tenn. 
Cider Machinery—Send for Catalogue to Boomer 
BoschertPressUo., 118 West Water St.,Syracuse, N. 
... THE TOWNSEND 
WIRE STRETCHER 
is the most easily attached or detached 
of any implement made. Stretches to 
last post as well as to any. Steel (crips 
that never slip, (’an begot at anv Hard¬ 
ware store. Write for circulars. Satisfac¬ 
tion guaranteed. 
F. K. TOWNSEND, Painted Post, X. Y. 
Get Your Order In Early 
For a Detroit Tongueless Disc Harrow 
Sold On Time—or For Cash 
ON 30 DAYS' FREE TRIAL 
Last year 1463 people waited toe long before ordering. We were all sold out—factory 
couldn’t keep up and we had to disappoint these 1463 people by returning their orders. Just 
couldn't make Disc Harrows enough to go round—that's all. Why? 
Well, if you are at all familiar with Disc Harrows, and will look at the picture in this adver¬ 
tisement, you will see some of the reasons why we could not make enough to meet our demands. 
There is no tongue to pound up horses—whipping back and forth. No pushing or crowding of 
the team on corners. No tongue weight to gall up the horses’ necks. No one horse pushing— 
and one pulling, on turns—just straight, even pulling ahead all the time. Perfect balance of 
frame makes Disc roll smoothly. Lightest draft Disc made. 
These are a few of the reasons why we sold so many Detroit Tongueless Disc Harrows last 
year. There are other reasons explained in our book—too many of them to give here. 
Now here’s a big patent feature for 1907—an additional feature over last year. 
OUR TRANSPORT TRUCK ATTACHMENT 
Notice the truck wheels just back of the Disc blades? You can attach them in a minute’s 
time to the Detroit Tongueless Disc Harrow—and Discs are raised from the ground—elevated 
on light running front and back trucks. 
This puts your Disc on wheels and you can drive anywhere—over rough roads—sand—gravel 
—stones—or bridges—without dulling the Discs or cutting up the surface. Strong brake 
makes driving down the steepest hill perfectly safe. 
It’s a great convenience—that patent TRAN SPORT TRUCK of ours! And it's found on no 
other Harrow on the market. 
Important. Now we have a big factory, and 
are running it to the very limit of its capacity, but 
Right now—'way in advance of the sea¬ 
son—half of our factory output for 
Spring is sold—and a flood of orders 
are coming every day. If you want one— 
and you will if you get our Book describing fully our 
various sizes and our direct-to-you selling plan 
(time or cash) and prices quoted you direct from- 
factory-to-station—you should send today for our 
Book, Plan and Price. 
Just write us on a postal—say 
'Send me full particulars of 
Detroit Tongueless Disc Harrows” 
—and we’ll send you our Book and 
other printed matter and quote you 
a direct price, at your station. 
Freight guaranteed—on our Free 
Trial Plan. 
American Harrow Company? 
W. W. Collier, Gent. Mgr., 
1647 Haatlngm St., 
Detroit, Mich. 
Note "—Do not confuse the Detroit 
Toogueless Disc Harrow with any 
other Disc Harrow made, of any kina. 
* 's a patented Harrow of our own—no 
one can sell you this Harrow—no 
dealer—or agent anywhere. You 
buy it direct from us—as we sell 
It only to farmers direct. 
THE 
OHNSTON 
MOWER No. lO. 
Requires least 
trouble to oper¬ 
ate of any mow¬ 
er on the mar¬ 
ket, is always 
ready for work. 
Runs smoothly, 
r cuts a clean swarth in 
light or heavy crop, 
on rough and smooth 
I A ground. The roller 
bearings and separate 
bashings, which do not 
run dry or heat, make 
r this the lightest in draft 
^ind the easiest mower on 
man and team. More good mower fea¬ 
tures in this machine than in any other 
mower on the market. 
In passing obstructions, turning cor¬ 
ners, avoiding stones or working on un¬ 
even ground, the raising lever, aided by 
the foot lever, raises the bar easily, to 
the necessary height and angle. Going 
to and from the field the bar folds read¬ 
ily and is securely held in place. 
Mower is built high for power, and 
wide for balance and even draft. 
The Johnston No. 10 Mower is fully 
described in our new 1907 Johnston 
Book, which we want to send free to 
A every farmer who i§ in- 
Gear vft terested in a new mow- 
Drive a er—the book describes 
also our complete line 
Of “Not in the Trust’ ’ 
tools for the 
farm, tools 
that every good 
farmer needs. 
Write for the 
book today. 
The 
Johnston Harvester 
Box 601, Batavia, N. 
Make Your Own Gate for $3.00 
We furnish patented 
attachments with which 
you can make a slide 
and swing gate that does 
not bind, sag or have to 
be carried. Can be oper¬ 
ated as easily as opening 
a door. No strain on 
post and no need of extra 
walk gate. Endorsed by 
hundreds of farmers and Railroads. 
We also sell full line of complete gates in galvan¬ 
ized, steel or wood. Sold on 15 days time. 
Special prices and freight paid on large lots. Write 
today for catalogue and full information. 
WESTON GATE COMPANY, Box 22, N. Dover, 0. 
TU. SUPERIOR LOCK 
is a simple thing, but it is 
the neatest, strongest and 
cheapest lock made. It has 
made the 
SUPERIOR WIRE FENCE 
a* 
the most popular fence In the world. 
Get our free catalog Shows 114 styles 
of fence and standard sizes of gates. 
Freight prepaid. 
THE SUPERIOR FENCE CO. v Cleveland 
|UflU POST HOLE & 
in AH WELL AUGER! 
for fence and telephone post holes, 
wells, etc. Usedbyu.S. Government. 
Three times the work accomplished 1 
with an I wan Auger than with any other 
auger or digger. Makes hole smoothly, I 
- quickly, empties easily and is very 1 
I durable. Sizes 3 to 14 inch. Inquire of 
hardware or implement dealer. Send j 
for our book Easy Digging. It’s free ' 
I WAN BROS., . 
fHdw. Mfrs., Dept. 4 Htreator, Ill.] 
PURE Unleached HARDWOOD ASHES 
NATURE’S PLANT FOOD. 
The best Fertilizer to Build up the Land. You get 
the best in The Joynt Brand. Write for prices to 
JOHN JOYNT, Lucknow, Ontario, Canada. 
Wire Fence 90r 
48-in. stock fence per rod only ' . 
Best high carbon coiled steel spring wlr^W 
Catalog offences, tools and supplies FREH 
Buy direct at wholesale. Write today. 
MASON FENCE CO. Box (17. Leesburg. Q> 
ANTI-RUST FENCE 
We mail samples 'for 
testing and deliver goods 
FREE of charge any¬ 
where. Ask for catalog 
SENECA WIRE &MFG CO. 
FOSTORIA, OHIO. 
nchor Fence 
Combines strength and 
beauty with long life. 
Large hard steel wires. 
Heavily galvanized. 
Farm and 
Ornamental 
Handsome, easy to build, always 
stands erect. AHk for Fence Book b. 
ANCHOR FENCE A MFC. CO. 
Cleveland, Ohio. 
The Frost Wire] 
Fence never gets] 
loose or baggy. You| 
can bay the 
FROST WiRE FENCE] 
made of heavy, hard steel wire, I 
clamped with the Frost Steel Lock,! 
for what a light woven wire fence costs.] 
Booklet free. We pay freight. 
THE FROST WIRE FENCE CO., Cieveuhd. Ohio. I 
H. B. DRAKE A Co., 29 Broadway, Mew York. 
l_l 
FENCE tSSSS? 
Made of High Carbon colled wire. We 
have no agents. Sell direct to user at 
factory prices on 30 days free trial. 
We pay all freight. Catalog shows 37 
styles and heights of farm and poultry 
fence. It’a free. Buy direct. Wrlte today 
COILED SPRING FENCE CO. 
Box J63. WINCHESTER, INDIANA 
saMPLE 
Every wire— 
both strand and stay—No. 9 grange. ' w tS 
I Thickly galvanized. Best grade steel. We mall free sample 1 
I for inspection and test A moreisubstantial, stock-resist- 
’ * ' ; fence was never stapled to posts We | 
I5 T0 35CT3. 
PER ROD 
DEUVCREB 
