524 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
July 
FARMERS' CLUB 
te very 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.] 
SOME EXPERIENCE WITH ALFALFA. 
As I have seen considerable written 
about Alfalfa culture, I will endeavor to 
give my experience on Eastern Shore of 
Maryland. I selected a plot of one-third 
t>f an acre; land medium light, with some 
clay in it. The plot was well improved 
previous to sowing to Alfalfa. After 
plowing I limed heavily, manured with 
well-rotted manure, and drilled in 200 
pounds of good phosphate. I made a 
fine seed bed, and the last week of Au¬ 
gust, 1905, I sowed one-quarter bushel of 
seed, ran a light drag harrow over it, 
and in a few days it was up as thick as one 
could ask for, and made a growth of 
about eight inches before frost took it. 
About midwinter I top-dressed it with 
stable manure free from seeds. When 
Spring opened the Alfalfa sprang up as 
though it meant business. I was sure I 
had a stand, after it got about eight inches 
high I noticed it begin to turn yellow 
on about two-thirds of it; the remainder 
kept green so I thought I would make it 
grow and sowed nitrate of soda and 
muriate of potash over it, but no use. 
The yellow portion only dwindled away, 
so I determined to plow it up and let 
some one elso do the experimenting. It 
was about all a pair of good horses 
wanted to plow it. In several weeks an 
expert sent out by the Government came 
to see me, and wanted me to try a plot 
of Alfalfa as an experiment. I said, 
“No, it won’t grow for me,” but he in¬ 
sisted ; said he would send me 12 pounds 
of Alfalfa seed and inoculation free, so I 
decided to give it another trial. I did the 
same for the plot as in 1905, except I top- 
dressed with chicken manure in early 
Spring, and spread one course of ashes, 
which made its mark; in my judgment 
nothing could take its place. Now I have 
a stand of Alfalfa worth looking at; it 
stands two feet at this writing (May 22), 
thick as one could ask for, and no sign 
of heading yet that I can see. The ques¬ 
tion with me is, did I get the inoculation 
from plowing the Alfalfa under, or from 
the inoculation sent out by the Govern¬ 
ment? I am to make another trial plot 
to convince the expert. j. s. j. 
Greensboro, Md. 
R. N.-Y.—Very likely some of this suc¬ 
cess is due to the third of the field which 
did well. If the bacteria were there the 
harrowing would scatter them more or 
less over the whole field. 
Flea Beetles on Potatoes. 
TF. H. O., Medfield, Mass .—My early po¬ 
tatoes bave come up rank and strong, but the 
little flea beetles are very numerous. Will 
you tell me if there is anything that will 
stop their depredations? 
R. N.-Y.—We have found nothing that 
will “entirely stop their depredations.” 
They do not like Bordeaux Mixture. A 
good spraying with that will keep most 
of them away. A strong tea of tobacco 
made by boiling the stems will also help. 
Preparation for a Potato Crop. 
W. L. H., Brunswick, Me .—Do you think I 
can raise a good crop of potatoes next Sum¬ 
mer if I carry out this experiment: I have 
95 rods of ground which has not been plowed 
for 30 years. There is some moss and the 
grass is played out. I have plowed it, har¬ 
rowed it down fine, then I sowed 900 pounds 
high-grade sulphate of potash, 150 pounds 
basic slag, 100 pounds nitrate of soda, and 
harrowed again. Then I sowed 10 quarts of 
Japanese millet and did some more harrow¬ 
ing. The last of August I intend to sow 
Winter vetch and rye, to be cut in Spring fop 
fodder, and then plant to potatoes without 
any more fertilizer. 
Ans. —We should expect to raise a 
good crop if we used plenty of good fer¬ 
tilizer with the potatoes'. Japanese millet 
is a strong-growing crop, and takes much 
from the surface soil. Of course the rye 
will add nothing to the ground. What 
the vetch will do remains to be seen. The 
thorough working and the stubble from 
the millet and the rye ought to leave the 
soil fine and well filled with humus. That 
is just what potatoes need, and if you will 
use fertilizer you ought to have a good 
crop. 
Borers in Vinegar Barrels. 
Reader .—Is there any printed matter on 
the subject of “Vinegar and how to make it.” 
A more serious problem now presents itself; 
that of being able to hold the vinegar. Shot- 
hole borers (?) in almost countless numbers 
bore through the staves, invariably beginning 
at the edge of the hoop, or just under it 
where- hoop does not fit tight to barrel. Can 
you tell me how to hold vinegar in barrels? 
Cement cisterns are not satisfactory, neither 
are barrels unless borers can be kept out. I 
am told that a coating of paraffin on the 
barrels is the remedy. Is there not a more 
practical way? 
Ans. —The New York Experiment Sta¬ 
tion at Geneva, N. Y., issues an excellent 
bulletin on cider vinegar. The Virginia 
Station at Blacksburg has also done work 
in this line. A book by William T. 
Brannt, “A Practical Treatise on Vinegar 
Making,” can be obtained at this office, 
price $5. The question about borers was 
submitted to Prof. Slingerland, who says: 
“I do not know that any experiments have 
been made to prevent the work of Shot- 
hole borers in barrels or casks. Why not 
paint a strip around that portion of the 
barrel infested, using any ordinary paint? 
While a coating of paraffin might have 
some effect upon the beetles already in the 
barrels, it would soon get rubbed off in 
handling the barrels.” We shall be pleased 
to hear the experience of other vinegar 
makers. 
Quality in Pear Trees. 
G. M. C., Ostcego, N. Y .—Will you state 
the requirements of a first-class Bartlett pear 
tree from the nursery as to size, condition 
of roots, straightness of body, shape of top, 
etc? Are “cut backs” first-class trees? Also 
trees with no small roots, and but two or 
three short stubs, or when the center of tree 
was split between roots. How would these 
defects affect the price if first-class trees 
were purchased at $30? All of them are 
cut-backs and many of them have other 
defects. 
0 
Ans. —The inquirer does not state the 
age of the nursery tree to be described, 
but it is supposed that a two-year-old is 
intended. A first-class Bartlett pear tree 
of this age would be from four to five 
feet high, having a trunk half that height 
and the branches evenly balanced and not 
less than four in number. There should 
be no crook in the stem, except a ver^ 
slight indication of one where the bud 
became connected with the stock, just 
above the surface of the ground. The roots 
should be branched in some degree, and 
about a foot long, but there are not many 
fibrous roots attached to the main ones 
on a pear tree, as it is usually seen. They 
are not material if the large roots are 
healthy. There should be no splits, breaks, 
sharp bends that are unnatural nor insect 
or fungus signs on either root or top. Cut¬ 
back trees sometimes are very good, but 
more often they are not, and I would not 
like to accept such in case I had ordered 
first-class trees and paid $30 per 100 or 
even a less price. I would consider this 
a big price for good trees. There should 
be no lack of size or quality in them at 
that price, but rather extra good trees. 
If the trees are one year old they should 
be at least three feet high, straight from 
base to top, and usually without any 
branches, although at this age they are 
sometimes slightly branched. 
H. E. VAN DEMAN. 
DISTRIBUTE 
INSECTICIDES 
IN DUST FORM 
Leggett’s Dusters 
Save Crops when other Methods Fail. 
NO WATER TO HAUL 
LEGGETT’S CHAMPION 
CHAMPION ,nctnAMP,ulN 
.DUSTER 
dusts two rows of pota= 
toes as fast as you walk. 
The BEETLE 
(Horse Power) dusts four 
rows 
The JUMBO fjgf 
20-Page Spray Calendar gives information regarding Dusters 
Address of nearest dealer mailed on request. 
LEGGETT & BEO., 301 Pearl St., N. Y. 
4 % 
Simpson-Eddystone Prints 
en- 
Extraordinary fabrics of 
during quality; beautiful patterns 
and fast colors not moved by 
washing, sunlight, or perspira¬ 
tion. Some designs with a new 
silk finish. 
Ask your dealer for Simpson- 
Eddystone Prints. 
Three generations of Simpsons 
have made Simpson Prints. 
PRINTS The Eddystone Mfg. Co. (Sole Makers) Philadelphia. 
EDdystonE 
Let Me Quote You a Price On a 
CHA THAM 
FANNING MILL 
With Bagging Attachment 
They will aoparate oatm from wheat—a perfect 
aeparatlon at the rate of from 40 to 50 
buahela per hour 
You ought to own a first-class, high-grade Fanning Mill. 
It will save you a lot of money—and make you a lot of money. 
Before you think of buying a Mill anywhere you should write me a 
postal asking for book and prices on my celebrated Mills. It will 
take only a penny for a postal—and a minute of your time—to get my 
special prices on a 1907 Chatham Fanning Mill with Bagging Attach¬ 
ment. My book will tell you how good Fanning Mills and Bagging 
i Attachments are made—will tell you how I have, made over 250,000 
Celebrated Chatham Fanning Mills, which are giving good service 
all over the country. 
This book will tell you what you ought to know about clean 
seed—tell you a great deal about how to do away with the weed 
crop—will post you on the best way to make money out of your 
grain—will tell you how to grade up your crop—will tell you why 
it’s just as easy—and cheaper—to raise good graded crops that 
bring the highest prices, as it is to raise poor, uneven crops on 
Manson Campbell account of planting poor seed mixed with weeds. 
Chatham Fanning Miiis are Sold on 
Time—and on 30 DA YS P FREE TRIAL — 
FREIGHT PREPAID-GUARANTEED 5 YEARS 
That’s the story of the celebrated Chatham Fanning Mill 
We sell them on trial—pay the freight—and 
guarantee them for five full years. With proper 
care a Chatham Fanning Mill will last a lifetime. 
I’m going after the Fanning Mill business of 
this country this season—and I intend to get jt on 
a great big value in a machine—at a low price. 
Chatham Fanning Mills are fitted with 17 
screens and riddles—they will clean—and 
Erode —all kinds of seed—from the largest 
to the tiniest. They will clean and grade 
Seed corn —they will take weed seeds and 
all kinds of foreign matter out of your seed. 
Now don’t think of buying a Fanning 
Mill anywhere until you get my book and 
my prices—and then decide. 
With the immense amount of money— Five 
Hundred Thousand Dollars—that we have Invest¬ 
ed In the Fanning Mill manufacturing business, 
we are Bure to give our customers every im¬ 
provement worth having In the Chatham Fan¬ 
ning Mill, and we are bound to please every 
customer who buys from us. 
Manson Campbell, President 
The Manson Campbell Company, Ltd., 
339 Wesson Avenue, Detroit, Mich. 
Dept 339Topeka,Kan. Dept 3S'J Albany,N.Y.1, 
Dept. 339St. Paul,Minn. Dept839NashvlUe,TenttJ 
In writing, address nearest branch house. 
We carry a full stock of 
Chatham Fanning Mills at all 
branch houses, which are 
located in leading trade 
centers throughout the 
country 
Write today for book and 
prices without fail 
P o.t t e.dfS kaw berry 
" i r^' Plants 
- The best varieties, both * 
new and old, and the best 
methods of planting to raise a 
full crop of strawberries next 
year, are fully particularized in 
Mid-Summer Catalog 
Also describes and prices the best 
strains of Celery, Cabbage and other 
vegetable plants. 
A select list of the best Palms, 
Ferns, and decorative plants. 
Seeds of old-fashioned Hardy 
Perennials and other flowers for 
summer sowing. 
Write today far a copy and please 
mention this magazine— FREE. 
HENRY A. DREER, - Philadelphia. 
ALFALFA 
—Best seed for sale. Write 
forsamples, prices, andFREE 
directions “23” on growing. 
J. E. Wing & Bros., Box 23, “•Sffir.’V' 
Pill I PROP 1908 PROM OUR MID-SUMMER 
TULL unur STRAWBERRY PLANTS. Send 
for List. Kevitt’s Plant Farm, Athenia, N. J. 
FRUIT and 
ORNAMENTAL 
Evergreens, 
.Shrubs, Roses, 
Hardy Plants. 
Illustrated Descriptive Catalogue (144 pages), also De¬ 
scriptive List of Novelties and Specialties, incl ding the 
New Hardy White R se SNOW QUEEN (Erau Karl 
Druschki), mailed FREE on request. 
ELLWANGER & BARRY, 
Mount Mope Nurseries Nurserymen—Horticulturists, 
Established 1840. Rochester, New York. 
F OK SALE—Crimson Clover Seed, $4.50 bushel. 
Red Clover Seed, #7.50 and #8.00 bushel 
Onion sets, #2.00 and #2.50 bushel, Cow Peas 
#2.75 to #3.25 bushel. Joseph E. Holland, .Mill'ord, llel. 
CABBAGE PLANTS“SrdS“S ' !1 p " 
E. M. PATTINGTON, Scipioville, New York. 
I nnn nnn cabbage and Celery Plants. 
■ UUUjUUU Send for Price List. 
CALEB BOGGS & SON, Cheswold, Delaware 
CELERY and CABBAGE 
PLANTS.—4,000,000 stalky plants. Fine large roots. 
Plants taken up with forks to preserve all the roots 
on each plant. A customer who ordered 40,000 plants 
last year wrote: "The plants you sent me were the 
finest I ever saw come into this place.” Celery— 
Golden Self-Bleaching (French Seed), White Plume, 
Winter Queen, Giant Pascal, and Golden Heart. 
Cabbage—Danish Ballhead, Surehead, Fiat Dutch, $1 
per 1,000; 5.000, $4. F. W. ROCHELLE, Chester, N. J. 
66 
FUMA 
91 
kills Prairie Dogs, 
’ Woodchucks,Gophers, 
and Grain Insects. 
“The wheels of the 
gods grind slow but 
exceedingly small.” So the weevil, but you can stop 
theh gund ‘<p uma carbon Bisulphide’^doing! 
EDWARD R. TAYLOR, Penn Yan, N. Y. 
APPLE TREES 
NOTHING BUT AjPPLES 
ROGERS ON THE HILL, Dansville, N. Y. 
TILE DRAINED LAND IS MORE PRODUCTIVE 3SSSS 
1 j .-v’k creases the value. Acres of swampy land reclaimed and made fertile. 
j- 1 Jackson's Round Drain Tile meets every requirement. We also make Sewer 
Pipe, Red and Fire Brick, Chimney Tops, Eneaustic Side Walk Tile, etc. Write 
for what you want aud prices. JOHN U. JACKbUK, 16 ’it in! Am, Albsaj, K.R. 
