230 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
March 16, 
EASTERN MEETING OF THE NEW 
YORK STATE FRUIT GROWERS 
ASSOCIATION. 
Part I. 
The Eastern meeeting of this association 
was held in Poughkeepsie, Febuary 21 and 22, 
with the best attendance in the history of 
the society. G. G. Innsing spoke on “Trans¬ 
portation Problems and Adjustment of Dam¬ 
age Claims.’’ From this talk it seems that 
if the growers will work in harmony and be 
reasonable with the railroads they can get 
much better service, and by having a com¬ 
plete understanding with the roads to begin 
with and a representative to look after ship¬ 
ments at the market end of the line, the 
growers will get very good service and have 
no trouble In collecting damage claims. The 
Niagara Grape Company have in this way 
secured remarkably good service. This trans¬ 
portation problem was quite prominent in 
the question box that followed, and it was 
brought out that many of the failures in 
securing better service were due to not 
going to the proper officials, as the head of 
a department is the man to talk to. Shippers 
It seems have no trouble in collecting dam¬ 
ages if they go at it the right way; $72,000 
was paid the North Carolina strawberry 
growers as one season’s damages by the trans¬ 
portation companies. 
In answering a question in regard to San 
Jost* scale Prof. Parrott said he thought it 
very unsafe to depend on a spraying every 
other year. “Peaches” was the title of a 
paper by D. Maurice Wertz of Quincy, Pa. 
He said the peach is the queen of tree fruits 
and Its successful growing depends more on 
details than any other fruit, but anyone 
possessed of good common sense can succeed. 
A well-drained rather light soil on a hill, 
or plateau is preferred for a site, and altitude 
Is an Important factor. Prepare ground 
thoroughly before planting, plant medium¬ 
sized trees cut back to height of knee, and 
remove all side branches. Do not set too 
close; 18x20 is to be preferred to closer. 
Grow cultivated crops the first and second 
years. The knife is the best remedy for 
dew. Downing good for home use. What 
is the best soil for Cuthbert raspberries? 
Sandy or gravelly loam. It is very sensi¬ 
tive to wet. lias mulching peach trees 
proven satisfactory? Mr. Wertz never knew 
of a successful mulched orchard. What is a 
cheap and effective protection from rabbits? 
All the old remedies were recommended. 
Leaving clippings on ground, tarred paper, 
blood, lath, wire ^netting, etc. The destruc¬ 
tion is greatest during deep snows, when the 
rabbits can reach the lower branches. One 
grower in this vicinity lost 700 trees in one 
season. 
Prof. Iledriek then gave “Renovation of 
Old Orchards.” In a few introductory re¬ 
marks he said Governor Peter Stuyvesant 
was credited with planting the first orchard 
in the Hudson Valley. Trees now lack old- 
time vigor and need better care. The prevail¬ 
ing opinion that climatic conditions have 
greatly changed has very little foundation, 
but there have always been cycles of favor¬ 
able and unfavorable weather. Climatic 
changes need not Ik 1 considered in the future 
of hardy long-lived plants. Soil exhaustion 
is one great cause of many orchard failures. 
Grass is another. Lack of tillage is the 
greatest cause, still there is danger im cul¬ 
tivating too much. The increase in insects 
and fungi and the means of controlling same 
are Important factors in the successful 
orchards of the future, and take a prominent 
place in orchard renovation to-day. The 
orchardist can look continually for new ene¬ 
mies. 'the present nursery practices in 
propagation are responsible for many un¬ 
profitable orchards, and there is the same 
opportunity in plant breeding as there is in 
breeding live stock. Another cause of fail¬ 
ure is non-adaptation, and new creations are 
the downfall of many orchards. Uncongenial 
stocks influence the value of an orchard, 
and improper pruning has ruined many 
orchards. In regard to pruning, however, 
scarcely any two men fully agree on prun¬ 
ing principles. Lack of drainage causes 
much loss, and over-production weakens the 
trees. As conditions are always different, 
no rule can be laid down, but apply general 
principles with good common sense. Prune 
strong-growing trees lightly, and the slower, 
weaker-growing varieties more heavily. Study 
the meeds of plant food, and don’t buy cake 
when you already have bread in the soil. 
Renovate, spray, plow and cultivate; sow 
a yearly cover crop about August 1, rotat¬ 
ing clover with some non-leguminous crop. 
Continue this treatment several years, and 
give a little time for results. It does not 
pay to renovate stone fruit orchards. New 
trees must replace old. Take pleasure in 
the work if you would make the greatest suc¬ 
cess of it. No greater loss cam befall the old 
homestead than to lose its orchard. A coun¬ 
try without orchards is desolate indeed. 
k. c. c. 
borers, which should be Induced to work 
high as they are then easier to get at and 
do less damage. Cultivation is very import¬ 
ant, but it Is a question how long to cultivate 
to get the most out of the crop and still 
have the wood properly ripen to go safely 
through the Winter. Potash is the most 
essential fertilizing element, with phosphoric 
acid next—the yellows and little peach are 
more to be feared than the scale. Thinning 
is very important and should be done before 
pits form. Peach growers should thin their 
(neighbors’ trees instead of their own, or not 
enough will 15e removed Varieties depend 
on location and market, and must be learned 
by experience. For crown 'gall cut off and 
burn while looking for borers. Dipping trees 
in lime-sulphur wash Is preferable to fumiga¬ 
tion. Marketing is a bigger proposition than 
growing. It is not necessary to fertilize trees 
the first three years but after that use equal 
parts of bone and muriate of potash. 
Prof. Hedrick was then called on for the 
results of Michigan experiments. He said 
they fixed on five to eight pounds muriate 
of potash with seven to ten pounds acid 
phosphate applied in Spring. Use a cover 
crop, sowing from 15th to 30th of July 
and using oats or barley. Clover is not 
desirable in peach orchards generally. Heavy 
pruning while young is dangerous. Almost 
any soil is suitable if warm and well 
drained. 
Horace Roberts, President of the New 
Jersey Horticultural Society, was I lien called 
on. He said the scale drove the New Jersey 
growers out of business, but they are back 
and back to stay. He has 20 acres now 
where he had one before the advent of the 
scale. They control with the lime-sulphur 
wash, and have better results by leaving out 
the salt. He said: “We owe a debt of 
gratitude to one of your members for helping 
us to get started in fighting the scale. MY. 
Van Alstyne is worth his weight in silver to 
the fruit growers of New Jersey." He lias 
much confidence in commission men, and said 
if stuff is put up straight they will get good 
prices for you. It will pay to make friends 
with them. Ellierta is their favorite peach 
and they crop ground until they get paying 
crops of peaches; growing sweet potntoes 
and melons. 
The question box was then taken up, and 
the lime-sulphur wash the first question con¬ 
sidered. Can lime-sulphur be boiled too long? 
There is no gain in boiling over 45 minutes, 
and 30 minutes is sufficient if well lwiled. 
Prof. Felt said there were chemical changes 
taking place as boiling progressed, but this 
did not influence its effectiveness. It is pos¬ 
sible to evaporate some of the sulphur by 
over-boiling, and as the wash is reduced in 
volume by continued boiling there is a loss 
In this direction. Mr. Morrell bolls to a 
very dark brick color bordering on green, 
and thinks color a better indication than 
time for getting the best mixture. “Is it 
advisable to heat up after cold?" No. Better 
throw away and make new. “Which is the 
bettey flour.or flowers of sulphur?” Flowers: 
as it is in better mechanical condition, and 
will make a quicker combination with the 
lime, but If properly boiled the flour makes 
equally as effective a mixture. Sublimated 
sulphur Is the same as flowers of sulphur. 
Can scale be kept In check on currants? 
The opinions were, that it could, and.some 
thought more easily than on trees. Is King 
apple more immune than others from scale? 
It is one of the most resistant varieties. 
The general opinion was that a cone-shaped 
strainer was best for lime-sulphur. What 
kind of gooseberries are best for this section? 
Houghton was best in every way for Now 
Jersey and the speaker thought that it would 
prove the same here. Use Rordeaux for mll- 
iien you write advertisers mention The 
N.-Y. and you’ll get a quick reply and 
square deal." See guarantee, page 18. 
f Seed Offer of 1907 
SHELL'S 
Market Basket 
Collection 
For the purpose of Introducing our 
famous Northern grown seeds to 
thousands of new customers, we will 
Bend our Market flasket Collec¬ 
tion containing the following vege¬ 
table specialties: 
1 Pkt Sweet Corn, Premo, - - .04 
X Pkt Cabbage, Isbell’s Lightning 
Express, - - .10 
1 Pkt Lettuco, Isbell’s Veriflrst, .08 
I Pkt Radish, Crimson Giant, - .08 
1 Pkt Tomato, June Pink, - - .10 
1 PktCucumber, 10 Varieties Mixed, .01 
1 Pkt Beet, Detroit Dark Red, - .04 
'1 Pkt Muskmelon, Emerald Gem, _.04 
8 packets catalog price, ... .52 
and the following collection of old, fashioned 
flower seeds: 
1 pkt Bachelor’s Button, • » - • .04 
1 pkt Marigold, ...... .04 
1 pkt Asters (Comet), ..... .08 
1 pkt Pinks, (Double Mixed), ... .04 
1 pk t Zinnas. “ “ •• - • * .04 
5 packets catalog price, .... 
7fJr Worth Tested Vegetable and 
Flower Seeds for ONLY 
13 varieties tested flower and garden seeds, 
catalog price 76 cents, sent to any address, 
post-paid, for only 20c. , (stamps or silver), 
also our new 1907 catnlog. The above are full 
size packets and all the best on the market. 
8. M, ISBELL & CO., 131 Pearl St., Jaokson, Mich. 
Ferry 
B^^are not an cxneri- 
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lr vation, they assure success’ 
’ from the start. Users have no 
doubts at plantiug nor disap- 
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for biggest, surest, best cropg- 
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50 years. 1007 .Seed Annual 
x free on request. A 
D. M. FERRY &. CO.,^S 
Detroit, 
If yon have never planted them, 
try them this year. They never 
disappoint —they grow —they 
yield. Always sold under three 
guarantees, insuring freshness, 
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gardeners and planters, both in 
the United States and Canada, 
plant Gregory’s Seeds exclu¬ 
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Catalog contains 
many suggestions Arxy^. 
and directions—the » £r.£y 
fruit of fifty years’ 
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seed business. 
i.i. II. Gregory It Nonl 
Harblehcad, 
Vaughan’s New 
Canteloupe — HOODOO • 
The HOODOO is the ideal basket and crate melon. The fruits average 
1 lbs., are thickly netted, as hard as a bullet, extra strong at the blossom 
end, of a very handsome appearance. The flesh is very thick, of fine, firm 
texture, not stringy, rich orange in color, and of the sweetest flavor. The 
seed cavity is very small; it is a scant seed producer—30 melons yielded 
hut one pound of seed. The well netted rind is very tough and rubber¬ 
like. The vines are vigorous, healthy, and the most blight-resisting of 
any we have seen. The Rural New Yorker says: 
“ We have grown HOODOO four seasons, both in field and under glass. Far from bringing 
11 s bad luck, it lias given us our best melons every year, holding off blight ten days longer than 
Emerald Gem, Paul Rose (Petoskey) or Rocky Ford Netted Gem. It would seem Mr. Rose lias 
achieved complete success, and wo feel certain this new variety will not HOODOO its growers.” 
(The Vaughan Company were the original Introducers of many noted melons—Osage, 
Petoskey (Paul Rose) and Osage-Gem. Editor Rural New-Yorker.] 
Asparagus—Bonva I let's Giant 
The Asparagus to plant for both home and market garden. This Aspar¬ 
agus is the quickest yielding (a year ahead from seed of other sorts), 
heaviest producing, finest quality, and most disease-resisting of any variety 
now sold in America. Its favorable points are rust resistance, earliness, 
high productive power and lasting quality, for since the crown does not 
divide, it yields large shoots for a longer time than any of the older kinds. 
We arranged three years ago for the growing of a large quantity of 
plants from seed, so that this season we hope to have a sufficient number 
to meet the demand. 
The 1907 Catalogue of Vaughan’s Seed Store 
will be mailed free with every order for HOODOO seed. Our 30th annual edition more complete 
than ever. A Mirror of Horticulture. Four Complete Departments in Gardening. The Best 
Flower Seeds in America. 160 pages. Price for HOODOO Melon Seed, one packet, 20c.; three 
packets for 50c., prepaid, with catalogue. For market gardeners, *i lb. sealed packet prepaid for 
$ 5 . 00 . While the supply is limited, wo hope to see a few seeds sown in every good garden for 1907. 
VAUGHAN'S SEED STORE 
A BSOLUTELY the best 
^ there are—unequalled 
for purity and germination 
and no more expensive 
than others. 
If you have not already 
received our Catalogue 
send for it now. It costs 
you nothing. 
J. M. THORBURN & CO. 
33 Barclay Street, 
Through to 38 Park Place, 
NEW YORK. 
Established 1802. 
The Most Feed Per Acre 
ofthe beet and most nutrition. bind 
can be secured by growing our improved 
Eureka Ensilage Corn. 
It is the result of fifteen years rigid and 
careful selection from the best variety of 
true Southern Corn. We have thus pro¬ 
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blluge and largest number of 
earn. Early enough to bring the cars 
into milk by cutting time—just when 
it is best for ensilage. Customers have 
grown 64 tons of “Eureka” per 
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Remember—we control the entire 
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ofEarm Machinery Implements, Tools, 
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ROSS BROTHERS, WORCESTER, MASS. 
Oats 
. Largest Growers of Oats, 
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in America. 
FREE 
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free to all intending buyers, or 
send 6 c. In stamps and receive 
free samples of new Two Foot 
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audliigSeedCatalogueEree. 
JOHN A. SALZER SEED CO. 
La Crosse, Wis. 
CHEAP 
be !ver grown 
A wonderful big catalog CDEC 
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R. H. SHUM WAY, Rockford, Illinois. 
ALFALFA 
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directions “23” on growing. 
J. E. Wing & Bros., Bo* 23, *’«£'&.*• 
FIELDS SEED CORN 
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