1909 . 
THE RURAL IN EW-VORKER 
297 
Care of a Young Orchard. 
E. M. 8. Eortli Hampton, N. II .—I 
have a young apple orchard, trees set in 
Spring of 1908. in rows 38 feet apart, 
with trees 20 feet apart in the rows, one- 
half of the trees being tillers. Last sea¬ 
son the land was plowed and harrowed be¬ 
fore trees were set, and harrowing con¬ 
tinued till middle of August, when piece 
was sown to Red clover and Cow-horn 
turnips. The turnips made a fair growth, 
but the clover is small, and not over an 
inch or two high. My plan is to plow 
this Spring and plant Early Canada flint 
corn, taking care not to plant too close 
to the trees. I do not know of any corn 
of this variety having been planted in this 
vicinity, and I would like to know if it 
should be planted at same time as ordi¬ 
nary flint corn, which is usually planted 
May 8 to 15. I shall have little or no 
stable manure for the piece, and intend 
to use chemicals. What composition of 
fertilizer would you recommend on this 
ground, and how much in quantity per 
acre? The land has been under crops for 
several years previous to last year, and 
is in fair condition. I shall use fertilizer 
for the trees in addition to that used for 
the corn. I wonder if it would he prac¬ 
ticable to sow some cover crop at the last 
cultivation of the corn, and if so, what 
would be best to use? Otherwise the land 
would be bare through the Winter. I 
think we are too far north for Crimson 
clover. Would you advise broadcasting 
the fertilizer for corn, or would it better 
be applied in the hill? 
Ans.—W e have found flint corn one 
of the best crops for a young orchard. 
Be careful to leave a wide space be¬ 
tween the tree rows and the first rows 
of corn. The trees need air and sun¬ 
shine. Plant the corn as early as is 
safe in your latitude, and give the 
most thorough culture. The trouble 
with a late crop among young trees is 
that too much cultivation late in the 
season causes a late growth of tender 
wood, which is more likely to be killed 
in Winter. When trees are well fer¬ 
tilized and cultivated they make a 
strong growth. Unless that growth is 
checked in some way after August, 
there will be trouble. Most of those 
who practice high culture stop working 
the ground after July, and either let 
the weeds grow or sow some cover 
crop, which will take moisture and plant 
food that would otherwise go to the trees. 
One thing we like about mulching is 
that the trees make a slower and more 
solid growth than when cultivated. An¬ 
other reason for planting the corn 
early is that you can sow the cover 
crop earlier and get a larger growth 
before Winter. If you want to mix 
the chemicals yourself you can hardly 
do better than to follow the article on 
page 195. The mixtures given there 
are excellent for the North. If you 
buy a ready-mixed fertilizer try to get 
one with much the same analysis as 
given for corn. We should use at 
least GOO pounds per acre broadcast, in 
this way you will feed the trees, the 
corn and the cover crop. For the lat¬ 
ter we should sow rye at the last 
cultivation of the corn. 
Value of Fertilizers; Moon’s Influence on 
Planting. 
0. H. B., Hattiesburg, Miss .—IIow 
much nitrogen is there in 100 pounds of 
nil rate of soda and what is the commercial 
value of the nitrogen in the 100 pounds 
of nitrate of soda? IIow much phosphoric 
acid iu 100 pounds of ground bone, and 
what is the commercial value of the acid 
in the 100 pounds? IIow much potash in 
100 pounds of muriate of potash and what 
is the commercial value of the potash in 
the 100 pounds of muriate? Did the 
United States Agricultural Department is¬ 
sue any bulletin on the experiments in 
planting of seeds on the different phases 
of the moon, and if so tell me how I 
can get one? 
Ans.—T he average sample of nitrate 
contains 16 per cent of nitrogen—or 16 
pounds in 100. The commercial value 
depends upon the price. If a ton of 
nitrate cost $55, 100 pounds will cost 
$27.50, which means 17.1 cents per 
pound of nitrogen. An average sample 
of ground bone contains 25 per cent 
of phosphoric acid, and of muriate of 
potash, 50 per cent actual potash. Figure 
out the price charged for these chem¬ 
icals, and you will get the commercial 
value per' pound. We are not aware 
that the Department has issued a bul¬ 
letin on the moon’s influence. For 
these bulletins write the Publication 
Bureau of the Department. 
THE PERCENTAGE OF ERRORS. 
The American Florist prints the follow- 
ing reply to an article by our correspondent, 
J. II. Bollinger, of Ohio. Mr. Bollinger 
gives several instances where seeds have 
proved disappointing: 
“While Mr. Bollinger here mentions two 
aggravated cases of disappointing results 
from his seed purchases, he fails to name 
any general percentage of errors which he 
has experienced in dealing with seedsmen. 
It seems to us that this subject of error in 
the seedsman's work should be considered 
on the same basis as all error applicable to 
human effort in other industries. There is 
no dry goods merchant, grocer or druggist 
whose annual business will not show a cer¬ 
tain percentage of error. Cases will occur 
in which goods ordered aud paid for mys¬ 
teriously disappear and are never found, 
aud for which money must be repaid to the 
customer or order refilled. Cloths, ribbons 
and manufactured articles are often found 
deficient in qirality. Canned goods, sugar 
and cod fish are occasionally of poor quality. 
Drugs of materially different nature from 
those sold are sometimes delivered, all of 
which proves that so long as ‘to err is 
human’ there will be well grounded com¬ 
plaints made and adjusted in every mercan¬ 
tile house, whether that of the seedsman, 
druggist, or grocer. 
“The question then, as it relates to the 
seedsman, whose products from every part 
of the world number, with a large mail or¬ 
der house, 3,500 varieties, is whether these 
contain any larger percentage of items sub¬ 
ject to criticism and unsatisfactory to the 
buyer than do the hundreds of thousands 
of articles of merchandise handled by other 
trades. A further consideration must be 
given to the fact that many of these seed 
items are produced in foreign lands, labeled 
in a strange language, carried 5,000 miles 
or more and handled under different cus¬ 
toms. Conditions of soil, temperature and 
climate must also carry a further allowance. 
If. after considering all of the above, it is 
proven by well-conducted tests and by re¬ 
liable statistics of other trades that the sCed 
trade contains a larger percentage of un¬ 
righteousness than any other industry, then 
radical remedies should be sought, not 
sooner. And in spite of the present half 
crazy tendency to legislate, it seems to us 
that no legislative action affecting the seed 
industry bearing a prison penalty for error 
should be inaugurated without ample proof 
that this industry is so far out of line 
with the other merchandising of the coun¬ 
try, that it should be singled out and made 
a special target for proposed drastic laws.” 
C. S., Grand Ilaven, Mich., page 163, 
asks how to rid a piece of land of quack 
grass. He will find it a slow and tedious 
process with any hoed crop, as the quack 
is growing its best licks, root and branch, 
when it is impossible to do any hoeing, and 
every root cut off when hoeing, if any 
portion of it is left underground, will send 
up a new growth. If I had this quack to 
contend with I should plow the piece very 
deep about .June 1, and sow it to buck¬ 
wheat, li/ 2 bushel per acre, and when it 
got into full bloom and before any seed 
formed plow the whole crop under and sow 
two bushels of Winter rye and one peck cf 
Timothy seed per acre. If the land is a 
lose gravelly soil, T would givp jt a 
thorough rolling, and in the following 
Spring about April 7 I would sow eight 
pounds large Red clover or four pounds Al- 
sike seed to the acre; if the clover seed 
could be sowed on about one inch, of light 
new snow so much the better. As soon as 
the ground is settled after the Spring rains 
roll again. The rye can be cut green, or 
as soon as the grain is formed, and yet 
in the dough, and makes a very good 
quality of hay, or it may be left to ripen 
and harvested in the usual way for grain. 
Rye straw in bundles commands a good 
price in the city for bedding in fancy 
stables, as it wears and the horses will not 
eat it. Rye grain is worth from 50 to 75 
cents per bushel in almost any market. In 
plowing under the buckwheat, first hitch 
your team to the wliifiletrees and drive 
around the piece; this will knock down the 
buckwheat so you can get a start with 
the plow. Then fasten a heavy chain to 
the end of the evener next the buckwheat 
to be turned under, and the whole crop will 
be turned under. You will get a big crop 
of rye, a good catch of seeding, and your 
quack will be gone. F. D. SQUIERS. 
Jefferson Co., N. Y. 
For Quantify, 
and Quality 
Trade 
Mark 
Regis¬ 
tered 
e'-'ATsb 
It does produce 
more good material 
for the silo than any 
other variety. There is 
no doubt about it. Its 
record proves it. See 
the letters in our book 
from prominent grow¬ 
ers. 
It grows taller, often 
20 ft., is shorter joint¬ 
ed and produces more 
leaves and broader 
leaves and more ears 
than any other variety. 
64 Tons 
Per Acre 
is not an unusual crop 
with Eureka. It has 
been the standby for 
21 years and keeps 
getting better. Plant 
it this year, and you'll 
always plant it. First 
used most extensively 
in the east, it is now in 
demand in every stato 
in the Union. 
Don’t Be Deceived 
There Is only one genu¬ 
ine Eureka corn, and we 
control the entire stock of 
seed. And we never have 
enough to go round. The 
demand will be greater 
than ever this year. 
Order Early 
or your order may be re¬ 
turned unfilled. Many 
were disappointed lust 
year. 
Write today for a copy 
of our Free Book. Tells 
all about Eureka and 
other forage crops, gives 
prices and describes our 
Farm Implements, Tools, 
Seeds, etc. Send us your 
name and address now. 
Eloss Brothers Co. 
Worcester, Mass. 
DIBBLE’S 
SjgLQGjJl 
POTATOES 
See Salzer’s catalog page 129. 
Largest growers of seed potatoes and early I 
vegetables in the world. Big catalog free: or, 
send 16c in stamps and receive catalog and! 
1000 kernels each of onions, carrots, celery, 
radishes, 1500 lettuce, rutabaga, turnips, 100 
parsley, 100 tomatoes, 100 melons, 1200 
charming flower seeds, in all 10,000 kernels, 
easily worth $1.00 of any man’s money. Or, 
I send 20c and we add one pkg. of Earliest 
Peep O’Day Sweet Com. 
THE SALZER SEED CO., LaCrosse, Wia. 
•Sold 
Under 
Throe 
Warrants 
We Bell all onr seeds under three warrants 
which practically cover all risks. This is the 
reason the largest gardeners and planters in the 
country sow 
GREGORY’S Seeds 
They take no chances. Everyone Interested in 
vegetable and flower growing should send for 
Cregory’s Seed Dook—Id’s FREu 
Write to-day for a copy. 
■1- J- H. GREGORY & SON, Marblehead, Mass. 
All Northern Grown and 
guaranteed to be 99 per cent 
pure. Should produce hay 
at $-10.00 per acre annually. Write for Free Sample 
and instructions on growing. 
GRAIN AND GRASS SEEDS 
Northern Grown and of strongest vitality. Wo invito you to 
get Government Tests on our samples. Send for Cat. No. 23 
THE J. E. WING & J5ROS. SEED CO. 
Box 223, Mechanicsburg, Ohio 
FARM SEEDS. 
We are Recleaners and Dealers in Red, 
Alsike, Alfalfa, Crimson and White Clovers; 
also Timothy, Barley, Seed Oats and Corn and 
a full line of Farm and Garden Seeds. Write 
for price list and catalogue mailed free. 
The Henry Philipps Seed and Implement Co. 
115-117 St. Clair St., Toledo, Ohio. 
S OUTHERN White Hhrsc-Tooili Corn, is 
the Kecognized Seed for Ensilage.— Buy 
direct from 11 producer that lias a seed ot' 20 years’ 
successive selection. Single bushel, $2.00: carload, 
$1.50. Any quantity desired can bo furnished. For 
further particulars and information write to 
DR. J. H. HEWITT, Lynnhaven, Va. 
SEED POTATOES 
All the standard kinds, 
Six Weeks, Ohios, Quick Crop, 
Bovee, Fortune, Northers, Queens, 
Rose, Hebrons, Cobblers, Hountains, 
Maines, Carmans, Raleighs, Giants 
and many others. 
Also our four new potatoes, that are not 
only the best yielders out of over a thousand 
varieties tested,butaro pronounced absolutely 
BLIGHT-PROOF 
by several hundred- of our customers who 
have grown them during the last three years. 
Illustrated Catalog fully describing our 
Northern grown Seed Potatoes, Oats, Corn, 
Clover and Grass Seeds, and containing testi¬ 
monial letters from scores of our satisfied 
customers, sent FREE. 
EDWARD F. DIBBLE, Seedgrower 
Box C, Honeoye Falls, N. Y. 
W E have this year the largest and finest crop 
of CLOVER SEED ever grown. Write us 
for samples and prices. Address. 
S. BASll & CO., Fort Wayne. Ind. 
M SENSATION —Great yleliler, (weight 
B M** I 40 Urn. per bn.) Also seed Coni,Potatoes, 
— ® Alfalfa, Cow Peas and Clover Seed 
Samples and catalogue free. Theo. Burt A Sous, Melrose, Ohio. 
riHGLADIOLUS'^ 
BULBLETS 
200 for 25c 
Do you love (lowers? I do and 
I wanteveryonetohaveplenty. 
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. 
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’* Seed Book Free 
I wrote it myself—20 years ex¬ 
perience in it—just what you want 
to know about flowers, farm and 
garden seeds. Tells bow 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. ,J& 
You will be satisfied with the products of 
Burpee’s “Seeds that Grow” 
Shall we mail you our New Complete Catalog? 
W. ATLEE BURPEE & CO., Burpee Building, Philadelphia. 
errne at one-half 
E. \J City Seedsmen Prices S 
Let us send you our catalog of seeds—It’s 
different. It tells you facts, and why we can save you money, and give you a guaranteed 
SQUARE DEAL, Just drop a postal today and see the difference in buying your seeds in 
country or city. FORREST SEED CO., Box 34, Cortland, N. Y. 
ASPARAGUS 
Six varieties of Healthy, Thrifty, one and two year old 
Roots. Also a full line of Fruit and Ornamental Trees, 
Strawberry Plants, Vines, California Privet, Garden 
Tools, Spray Pumps and mixtures. Write for 
Catalogue and valuable Spraying Chart. It’s free. 
Arthur J. Collins. Box K, Moorestown, N. J. 
Big Sunflowers,— The seed from 
which these big sunflowers.—shown at 
Fig. 121, page 295—were grown came 
from Burpee. The plants were grown 
hy R. G. Bently, of Connecticut. The 
tallest plant is nine feet high, with a 
flower four feet, three inches in cir¬ 
cumference. Certainly “a big sun¬ 
flower.” 
O l&g S I IMp R°VED DANVERS 
m I \J ill YELLOW GLOBE 
A superior strain for market or private use. Heaviest yielder.best 
color, quick grower. Let us tell you more about the Seeds we 
have—our price's, etc. 1909 catalogue we mail for the asking. 
H. E. FISKE SEED CO., 
12 and 13 F&neuil Hall Square, BOSTON, MASS. 
