104 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
February 27 , 
Starting Grass on Hill Land. 
/•;. M. IF., Front Royal, Va. —I have a 
very, very poor farm, and want to get it in 
grass. It is hilly and a gravelly loam, and 
washes all to pieces when it is plowed up. 
It now has gullies you can bury a horse 
in easily, and I am at a loss to know how 
io get grass on it. Could I harrow, sow 
Orchard grass, sow lime and harrow all in 
and (hen manure it after the grass gets a 
start? 1 have a nice stand of Alfalfa three 
years old, I cut three crops last year, and 
want to lime it. When and how do I do 
it ? I turned 12 acres ol' cow peas in last 
Fall, intending to sow oats and Orchard 
grass in the Spring. Am I right, or should 
I sow the grass alone? Please advise me 
how to cultivate and cure broom corn for 
the market. 
Ans. —Your land is like a great deal 
of other soil in Virginia; washed in gul¬ 
lies because there was no place for the 
water to go but down hill. I have 
worked such land in Albemarle County, 
and I know that if you plow deep and 
subsoil deeper you can hold the water. 
Of course, such land should pe kept 
in grass so long as it makes good grass. 
But I would have a rotation and break 
the sod in time to prevent its running 
out. I have seen old pastures in Vir¬ 
ginia worse gullied than if they had 
been cultivated, for the cattle tracks 
start a gully, and it grows from year 
to year. I worked as steep lands in 
Albemarle as are anywhere. I never 
made a new gully, but cured old ones 
that are now in grass, simply by mak¬ 
ing a deep bed for the rain to sink in 
and not run off. I would break the 
land six to eight inches and run a 
subsoiler in the furrow six inches 
deeper, and put the land in oats and 
sow grass seed thickly, using 10 pounds 
of Orchard grass, live pounds of Red- 
top and five pounds of Timothy per 
acre. I use the Orchard grass because 
its big roots will hold the soil bet¬ 
ter than Timothy, and you can mow it 
and get a second crop of Timothy and 
Red-top, and finally the Orchard grass 
will he the sod. For pasture, I would 
leave out the Timothy and sow the Or¬ 
chard grass and Red-top and five pounds 
of Blue grass, and finally get a Blue 
grass pasture by liming occasionally. 
Let the broom corn alone. You can 
only make money with it with very 
rich land and on a large enough scale 
to build the drying sheds and the ma¬ 
chinery needed. \v. f. iiassey. 
Fertilizing Tobacco in Maryland. 
F. IF. H., Hollywood, M(l .—I have five 
acres of light loamy level land, seeded 
late in September to Crimson clover. Part 
was in cow peas and out for hay, and roots 
were well covered with nodules. Other part 
was in tobacco. I want to put the whole 
of it. in tobacco. A dry spell came just after 
the clover came up and left me a poor 
stand, and the growth has been small but 
still the roots have some nodules. I have 
the droppings from 150 fowls for six 
months, which I want to use together with 
200 pounds of acid phosphate to the acre 
as a top-dressing. Should 1 top-dress now 
or wait till Spring, and should I add sul¬ 
phate of potash now or in drill with acid 
phosphate at planting time? Am I likely to 
have an excess of nitrogen on the pea land 
that may cause the tobacco to cure dark, 
and if so can I check the darkening by 
adding potash and acid phosphate and if so, 
in what quantities? Land is lacking in 
humus. Is it worth the cost to apply potash 
and acid phosphate at seeding time, espe¬ 
cially if seeding is late? 
Ans. —In my experiments with tobacco 
at the North Carolina Experiment Sta¬ 
tion I worked out the following for¬ 
mula as best suited for tobacco. It is 
900 pounds of acid phosphate, 100 pounds 
of nitrate of soda, GOO pounds of dried 
blood and 400 pounds of high-grade sul¬ 
phate of potash. This for use on land 
where no peas had been grown and no 
clover. I was in your adjoining coun¬ 
ties at institutes recently. I found there 
that the general fault with Maryland 
tobacco was lack of body, much of the 
tobacco being very thin and papery. 
The effect of an excess of phosphoric 
acid seems always to tend to the mak¬ 
ing of thin leaves and thick veins. On 
land where no peas or clover had been 
grown I would use the above formula 
at rate of 600 pounds per acre. But if 
you have a good lot of the hen manure 
I would spread it now and let lie. Then 
I would turn the clover in bloom, and 
would use 300 pounds of acid phosphate 
and 25 pounds of sulphate of potash per 
acre and work them in in the prepara¬ 
tion of the land. About 25 pounds of 
nitrate of soda added to the above would 
be useful in giving the plants an early 
start. But I think that you will have 
an abundance of nitrogen in organic 
form from the peas, clover and manure. 
I noticed some experiments in Prince 
George with lime. One lot that had 
had 1500 pounds of lime per acre was 
very dark and coarse, while another lot 
with 500 pounds per acre was a fine 
brown of good texture and good quality. 
The general opinion in Prince George 
and Calvert and Charles counties was 
that there is nothing better for Mary¬ 
land tobacco than a good sod of Crim¬ 
son clover. w. F. MASSEY. 
FLORAL NOTES FROM CALIFORNIA. 
If what is called the California poppy 
Eschscholtzla) is the State flower, the poin- 
settia (Euphorbia puleherrima) is certainly 
the dominant floral glory of San Diego. All 
the yards here are aflame with it, growing 
out of doors all the year round, massed or 
used as hedges or in tree shape. We saw 
one remarkable specimen, symmetrically 
grown as a standard, which was ablaze 
with at least 50 magnificent heads of vel¬ 
vety vermilion glory. We saw acres of 
poinsettia in bloom, grown in the open 
fields by local florists, and we thought of 
what, it: would sell for in New York City 
at Christmas. The Bougainvillea is here in 
use to a marked extent in the decoration 
of many of the better class dwellings and 
grounds. It is very effective and profuse 
with its showy masses of warm purple 
color. We here saw for the first time in 
bloom Bougainvillea spectabilis lateritia, the 
red variety, splashing the sides of several 
stately residences with great persistent 
avalanches of floral fire. We almost wanted 
to warm our hands by it, for the day was 
somewhat cool. j. vates peek. 
San Diego, Cal. 
AMERICAN ONIONS FOR EUROPE. 
Consul .T. L. Griffiths, of Liverpool, Eng¬ 
land, states that England imported last 
year $5,042,818 worth of onions. Most of 
them came from Spain and Egypt. England 
exported $432,106 worth of onions to this 
country. During the foregoing period there 
was not a single importation of American 
onions into England. At the present time, 
however, there is a decided shortage in the 
Continental supply, and the importers in 
Liverpool state that there will he a brisk 
demand for American onions urftil the last 
of March, 1909. There have recently been 
several shipments of American onions to 
this market, the prices ranging from $1.82 
to $1.95 per hundredweight (112 pounds) 
according to quality and condition. There 
will probably be an advance in prices in 
the immediate future for good-sized stock 
in sound condition. A lot of “first-class” 
damaged American onions sold at auction 
in Liverpool the first week in December 
for $1.82 per hundredweight. It is im¬ 
portant in the case of shipments to Europe 
that particular attention he paid to the 
selection of the stock and that great care 
he exercised in its packing. If the onions 
should arrive in poor condition they would, 
of course, he sold by auction, and only 
a low price might, under such circum¬ 
stances, he obtained. With the adoption of 
these precautions, there is no reason why 
Liverpool should not be until the first of 
April next, at least, a good market • for 
American onions. There is always danger 
of a market, being overstocked, and before 
shipments are made the local conditions as 
to supply and demand should be definitely 
ascertained. _ 
Starting Early Potatoes. —In 1SG9, on 
the old home farm in Washington County, 
Ind., I became a subscriber to The R. N.-Y. 
With the subscription 1 received two fair¬ 
sized Early Rose potatoes which I placed 
in a hotbed that I had made to sprout 
sweet potatoes for plants, covering them 
with about two inches of fine soil about the 
same as I did with the sweet potatoes. 
They soon sent up nice strong sprouts. 
When about three inches high I commenced 
removing them from the potatoes, being 
careful not to move the potatoes, and con¬ 
tinued as long as they sprouted, and set 
them out in nicely prepared garden soil 
about 12 inches apart in the rows, and 
kept them well cultivated with the hoe. 
From these I raised about a peck and a 
half of nice-sized tubers. I found it a 
very interesting experiment as well as a 
very profitable one to me, as they were 
the first Early Rose introduced in that 
neighborhood and being so far superior in 
earliness, productiveness and quality to 
anything in the potato line we had ever 
fried I had a great cal) for all that I 
could raise for seed at a good price. 
Polo, -III. F. Z. M. 
Seed Corn— Northern Grown 
Wc raise very fine seed corn here on our farm 
within a few miles of Lake Ontario. It is early 
and will mature anywhere in this country. 
We have some New Varieties that are far 
superior to ordinary kinds. Also corn for fod¬ 
der and ensilage. Percentage of germination 
marked on the tags—an advantage you don’t 
get elsewhere. Ask for catalogue and wholesale 
price list of seeds. 
JOSEPH HARRIS CO.. Coldwater, N. Y. 
SEED POTATOES, SEED OATS 
Seed Corn, Clover and all other [Garden and 
Field Seeds, sold under our guarantee. 
Catalog Free. Write today. 
KIKENBEKKY HBOS., Camden, Ohio. 
A SENSATION— Great ylelder, (weight 
■ ■ I 40 lbs. per bu.) Also Seed Corn,Potatoes, 
I Alfalfa, Cow Peas and Clover Seed. 
Samples and catalogue free. Tlieo. Burt & Sons, Jlolrose, Ohio. 
Potatoes, Oats, Corn, Garden Seed and 
bee supplies. Catalog free. Send for it. 
McAdams Seed Co.. Columbus Grove.O. 
CHOICE CLOVER AND GRASS SEEDS 
Sold Direct to the Farmer. 
Samples and prices will be sent upon application. 
N. WERTHEIMER & SON S, Ligonier, Ind. 
ISBELL’S SEEDS 
Twenty Years* Experience has 
taught us just how to please you. 
If you are interested in Growing 
Vegetables, Corn, Oats, Barley, 
Grass, etc., you will be the loser 
if you do not see Isbell's Seed 
Annual. It is FREE. 
S. M. ISBELL & CO., Seedsmen 
Box 21, JACKSON, MICK. 
GREGORYS 
been the standard for purity'and reliability. 
Gregory’s Seed Book— FREE 
to everyone who writes for a copy. It is 
full of practical instruction. One of the 
‘ most valuable books for 
farmers and gardeners ever 
given away. 
J. J. H. Gregory S Son 
Marblehead, llui. 
ILADIOLUS*^ 
BULBLETS 
200 for 25c 
Do you love flowers? I do and 
I wantevery one to have plenty. 
My special hobby is the Gladi¬ 
olus, and I have one of the 
finest collections in the 
world. I have nearly 1.000 
varities, many of them 6 
inches across—every color 
of the rainbow—will grow 
anywhere. 
k/ 
Just for a Starter 
Send me 25c and I will mail 
you 200 bulblets of my 
finest varities (1,000 for 
$1.00) postpaid, with full 
cultural instructions. Some 
will bloom this year, and 
all will make large bulbs 
which will bloom and mul¬ 
tiply next year. Large 
bulbs ready to bloom, 30c 
per dozen. Rare varieties 
more. 
Field’s Seed Book Free 
I wrote it myself—20 years ex¬ 
perience in it—just what you want 
1 to know about flowers, farm and 
garden 6eeds. Tells how I test 
and guarantee them to make good. 
Write today before the bulbs a nd 
books are gone. 
Henry Field Seed Co. 
Box 26 Shenandoah, Iowa. 
“LION BRAND” 
SPRAYING MATERIALS. 
For 20 years we have been manufac¬ 
turing spraying materials—our reputa¬ 
tion and experience insures you the 
lowest prices consistent, with 
STANDARD UNIFORM QUALITY. 
Why risk injuring your trees and plants 
with untried mixtures ? Always use 
Lion Brand Arsenate of Lead 
Lion Brand Pure Paris Green 
Irion Brand Lime Sulphur Solution 
Lion Brand Concentrated Bordeaux 
Mixture 
Our Lime Sulphur Solution for San 
Jose Scale is all ready for use—no 
disagreeable boiling necessary—just 
mix with water. 
Send at once for our Free Booklet— 
When, Why, How to Spray, 
and What to Spray With. 
THE JAS. A. BLANCHARD CO., 
Cortlandt Terminal Building, 
New York City. 
The Wizard of Horticulture 
Mr. Luther Burbank says: 
“The Delicious apple is correctly named. 
It is the best in quality of any apple I have 
so far tested—it is a gem,” and he knows. 
The U. S. Pomologist 
Col. George B. Brackett, says: 
11 1 always told you I consider Delicious 
best of all ‘varieties you hegve introduced ” 
A Free Sample 
of this famous Delicious apple will be sent on re¬ 
quest. It is the greatest quality apple of the age. 
selling at 50% more than Jonathan. No orchard 
is up-to-date without Delicious trees. Stark Trees 
are always best; always bear fruit and every tree 
has our reputation of 84 years backing it. Our 
stock is complete; all lines in full assortment. 
Write today for the free sample apple, also for 
the Stark Fruit Book and ‘‘The Apple Stark De¬ 
licious”—a wonderful new book showing De¬ 
licious and King David in nature’s own colors. 
Stark Bro’s Box 35, Louisiana, Mo. 
PEACH TREES. 
Southern grown. No disease. True to name. 
Brices right on spring shipments. 
A full line other nursery stock. Catalogue 
FREE. Write us. 
J. VAN LINDLEY NURSERY CO. 
Box 109, POMONA. N. C. 
P EACH TREES—Orchard size. 4 and 5 cents each. El- 
Ijcrta, Etc.; write for free catalogue. Woodbine Nur¬ 
series, W. A. ALLEN, <fe SON, Geneva, Ohio. 
PLUMS! PLUMS! PLUMS! PLUMS ! 
From Chestnut Grove Nurseries. 
100,000 two year plum trees for sale. The land 
must lie cleared for other crops and while they 
last you can have them 3 to 4 feet at $2.00 per 
dozen. $15.00 per hundred. 
E. S. MAYO & CO., ROCHESTER, N. Y. 
Since 1880. 
We have other bargains. Write for free catalogue. 
BARTLETT & CLAPPS PAV. PEAR 
Our trees are fresh dug in the Spring and we 
guarantee satisfaction. We grow all varieties of 
Fruits, Asparagus, etc. Send for colored plate of 
the GREELY, the best Blum there is. Address 
L’AMOREADX NURSERIES, Schoharie, N, Y. 
M l I nnlf I Strawberry Plants For Sale. 
• LUUH i 600.000 Bubaeh, 100,000 Chipinan, 
200,000 Gandy, 50,000 Alto Strawberry Blauts. lots 
of others too numerous to mention. Kansas Black 
flap, Cumberland Black Cap. M iller Red Raspberry 
Before placing your order anywhere get my catalog, 
it is free. D. W. MOSLEY, Dover, Del. 
QFUII for our special prices of Farm Seeds, 
OkliU Oats, Corns and Potatoes. Fine Stock. 
SMITH BROS., Seedsmen, Auburn, N. Y. 
500,000 Fruit Trees SUSSSSfkKS! 
Free from Scale and strictly true to name, ('ale- 
log Free. REILLY BROS.. Box O, Dansville, N Y. 
TREES THAT “FIT THE LABELS.” 
Are the only trees you can afford to plant. We offer you the safe kind BUSINESS 
TREES. Our catalogue will tell you about them. 
THE ROGERS NURSERIES (Alton E. Randall, Successor), DANSVILLE, N Y 
TREES 
Samples of 
Green’s Prices: 
25 CENT OFFER. 
One Crawford Peach tree, 1 best New Diploma Currant, 
1 Niagara White Grape, 1 Live Forever hardy Rose¬ 
bush, all delivered at your home, by mail, for 25 cents. 
PDECIHH nm ■ ID flCCCD Fourteen trees for $1.00, as follows: 
Unttlt O UULLAIl Ur I Lit. 8 Plum trees, 2 Burbank, 2 Lombard, 
2Thanksgiving and 2 Abundance; 1 Bartlett Pear, 2 Elberta Peach, 1 Rich¬ 
mond and 1 Montmorency hardy Cherry trees, 2 Live Forever Rosebushes. 
Express Collect. AH for SI .00. Trees about 4 to 5 feet high, 2 years old. 
ftnccipc n|A flCCCD Fifty Plum trees, your choice, about 4 to,5 
Ultttn w Dill UrrCn. feet high, 2 years old, for $3.00. 50 Cherry 
trees, your choice, about 4 to 5 feet high, 2 years old, $5.00. Cash with order. 
Send to-day for our 72-page FItIJIT CATALOG, 137 fruit pictures, 
etc., and a copy of BIG FRUIT MAGAZINE, all a gift to you. Estab¬ 
lished 30 years. Capital, $100,000. 
BOOK WORTH A DOLLAR FOR 10 CENTS. Send 10 cents for 
postage and mailing Green’n Boole on Fruit Growing. 
GREEN’S NURSERY CO. Box 40, Rochester, N.Y. 
