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THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
April 17, 
FARMERS’ CLUB 
[ livery query must he accompanied by the name 
and aduress of the writer to insure attention. Be¬ 
fore 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 VARIETIES OF STRAWBERRIES. 
Could you loll mo what kind of straw¬ 
berries to select for market and family use? 
Should the plants be put in water, and how 
long a time? Should the plants be trimmed, 
leaves or r6ots? What time in the Spring 
should they be transplanted? IIow should 
strawberries be cared for the first two 
years? L. D. k. 
Cobleskill, N. Y. 
It is very difficult to advise varieties 
even when conditions are known, and with 
growing experience 1 become more reticent 
on tHis subject each year. There are cer¬ 
tain varieties that seem to adapt them¬ 
selves to almost any condition, but it is 
much safer for one starting in the busi¬ 
ness with no experience to make inquiries 
in ids immediate vicinity and be guided by 
tiiis local advice for his main planting. lie 
can try other varieties in a small way, and 
should do so, hut should never set the bulk 
of bis planting to any new variety, no 
matter bow highly recommended, until lie 
lias first fruited it under his own condi¬ 
tions. Some of tiie best varieties for fam¬ 
ily use are of little value for market, but 
many of the best market varieties are of 
good quality. Individual taste lias much 
to do with the determination of quality in 
any fruit. My first choice is the sprightly 
Brandywine, while others prefer the rich, 
sweet Marshall and still others think the 
very mild varieties, that to me are per¬ 
fectly insipid, are just right. William 
licit is high in quality but not as rich as 
Marshall. Sample is fair in quality and 
one of our very best market varieties. I 
know several growers near Cobleskill who 
are growing Brandywine and Sample. 
Plants should not be left in water any 
length of time, but it is well to dip the 
roots just before setting. Leaves should 
bo mostly removed and the roots shortened 
to three or 3V& inches before setting and 
the earlier in the Spring that tfie straw¬ 
berry can lie transplanted the better the 
chances of success provided always the soil 
is fit to work. The last question would 
require a small volume to answer fully but 
to sum up briefly, keep well cultivated 
throughout t ho growing season and free 
from weeds and mulch thoroughly in early 
Winter. The second season’s treatment will 
depend on the system adopted, always re¬ 
membering that no weed partnership will 
succeed in the strawberry lnisinesss. 
G. R. S. 
Perfect Strawberries. 
On page 333. under “Sox of Strawberry 
Plants.” it leaves tiie impression that Sen¬ 
ator Dunlap is an imperfect flower, while 
in fact it is tho best pollenizer 1 ever used ; 
season early to late, and in itself is the 
best all-round strawberry I have ever 
tested. a. j. yr. 
Mystic, Iowa. 
R. N.-Y.—The note was a quotation from 
a Geneva Experiment Station bulletin. 
Even file perfect flowered varieties receive 
pollen from others when such varieties are 
planted near or around them. 
WHY FRUIT TREES ARE BARREN. 
To my mind there are a number of fac¬ 
tors which affect the setting and growing 
of young fruit after a full bloom. First we 
would have weather conditions, for every 
orchardist realizes the effect of frost or 
even severe cold weather, or a long storm 
at the blossoming period. No one would 
expect as full a set of fruit under such 
conditions as in fair and pleasant weather. A 
few years ago there was a light crop of 
pears, especially Bartletts; this was not 
confined to a few local communities but a 
large section of country, and we well 
remember a writer who came out 
with the statement that he had 
two orchards, one of Bartletts the 
other of mixed varieties. Ills Bartletts 
boro fairly good crops, but for some reason 
Bartletts that year were not able to fer¬ 
tilize their own blossoms, yet that very 
season we had exactly opposite results. An 
orchard of all Bartletts bore the most and 
better fruit of that variety, but the trees 
wore younger and in better condition to 
stand unfavorable conditions than the 
others, yet we always felt that the Winter 
weather had from some cause weakened 
the buds as well as tiie trees in a measure, 
ns we had some that were injured from 
some cause. A good strong tree properly 
fed and grown certainly has an advantage 
over its weaker neighbor. 
Second, previous overhearing of the tree. 
Where trees are allowed to mature ail the 
fruit they set under favorable conditions, 
few varieties will produce a crop the suc¬ 
ceeding year, even should they show a fair 
or full bloom. Yet with severe thinning 
many varieties will yield fruit practically 
every year. Different people look at things 
quite differently. We were once told by 
a man his fruit was all falling off. On 
looking at them we found tiie ground well 
covered by the first or early drop, but told 
him that if his trees ma fit red half tiie 
fruit then on them it would be more than 
they could profitably carry, A tree with 
a top never thinned or cut hack, which sets 
a full crop of fruit, and has to hunt 
around for something to cat where it lias 
been feeding for 10 to 20 years, with noth¬ 
ing ever added by its owner, lias a big 
job. 
Third, tiie fertilizing of the blossoms is 
a broad subject, and pollen to do so prop¬ 
erly is a necessity, yet we doubt there are 
hut few varieties of fruits that cannot 
properly fertilize their own blossoms. A 
few years ago this subject was carried to 
extreme lengths by many of our so-called 
horticultural teachers, and much poor ad¬ 
vice was given fruit growers who adopted 
their theories. Just how large a share the 
honeybee plays in fertilizing fruit blos¬ 
soms would lie a hard matter to determine. 
I remember one season a friend told me 
lie raised no cucumbers, as no bees came to 
liis blossoms, as there were no bees near 
him. Naturally his fruit trees were not 
visited by honeybees, yet would be by other 
insects or bees more or less. My experience 
lias been that young and very thrifty trees 
are not as liable to set a full crop of 
fruit as older and more mature ones mak¬ 
ing a moderate healthy growth. I see no 
reason why the same principle might not 
apply to trees, as to tiie grape, where tiie 
largest rankest canes do not produce the 
most or best fruit. Personally I have had 
little trouble with my own trees from 
causes not easily explained. I try to keep 
my trees in a good healthy condition, not 
forced into a rank growth, but will every 
season make a moderate stocky one. I 
have always kept some honeybees on my 
farm, and believe them a profitable part of 
a fruit growers' outfit, as with the millions 
of flowers in bloom on our fruit trees bees 
need not travel so far from home as later 
in the season. h. O. mead. 
INVESTMENTS IN CUBAN ORANGE 
GROVES. 
We are oflen asked about the possibil¬ 
ities of orange growing in Cuba. Land 
companies have sent their “literature” 
broadcast through the country and- many 
have invested. In the Daily Consular Re¬ 
ports for March 15 Consul-General James L. 
Rodgers, of Havana, gives certain facts. 
He says it' will cost: between $4,000 to 
$5,000 in equipment, fertilizer and labor 
through six years to bring a 10-acre grove 
of oranges to bearing. In some cases it 
will cost more. Only a small proportion 
of Cuban groves are in hearing, while the 
American crop from California, Florida and 
Texas is constantly increasing. The 
average New York price on Cuban oranges 
of good variety runs from $1.50 to $2 per 
crate of .so pounds. Tiie cost of this crate 
is given as follows : 
“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 
PURE PARIS GREEN 
LIME SULPHUR SOLUTION 
CONCENTRATED BORDEAUX 
MIXTURE 
Our Lime Sulphur Solution for San 
Jo.se 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. 
ORNAMENT YOUR LAWN 
There is no reason why the farmer's yard should 
not be as handsome as that of his city cousin. 
A Few Trees Along (he Fronl and Down the Lane and a 
Well Selected Clump of Shrubbery Helps Wonderfully. 
Let us fix up that lawn of yours for you. 
A full descriptive catalogue free. 
JOS. H. BLACK, SON & CO., Hightstown, N.J. 
HARRISON’S NURSERIES. Berlin, Md. 
1100 acres trees a>:d plants. Catalog free. 
Fruit, Shade, and Ornamental Trees, 
Shrubs, Roses and Plants of all kinds at 
CALL’S NURSERIES, PERRY, O. 
Call deals direct with his customers and 
thousands of the best fruit-growers are 
his customers. Write him for Price 
List. 
Peach Trees 
$3 to $7 per 
too. 
Mvkr & Sox, 
mtileevUle, Del. 
When yon write advertisers mention Tub 
R. N.-Y. and you’ll get a quick reply and 
“a square deal.” See guarantee page 16. 
FROM GROWER TO PLANTER 
EUwanger 
& Barryji 
7RELS 
Shrubs, Roses 
Evergreens 
and 
Hardy Plants 
Are Famous 
The World Over 
Best stock at reasonable prices. No 
agents. Commissions saved. Collections 
unequalled. Beautiful illustrated cata¬ 
logue mailed free on request. 
MOUNT HOPE NURSERIES 
Established 1840 Box AT, Rochester, N. Y. 
FARM SEEDS. 
We are Reeleaners 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. 
115-11 7 St. Clair St., Toledo, Ohio. 
Thielmanns— the Seedsmen—carry a full line of 
Garden and Field Seeds. Onion Seed a specialty. 
Write today for their catalog and Special Prices. 
The Thielmann Seed Co., Erie, Pa. 
Qrrn PflDKIImproved White Gap. 
OLLU UUnn Acclimated to Pennsylvania 
soil, a few bushels selected from the stock, oat of 
a00 acre field that made 100 bushels to acre. Get 
the Dest before it is all gone. Address 
SHENA.NUO UIVKlt FARMS. Transfer, Pa. 
PEACH TREES 
Fine stock, 2—3 ft. $1.00 a dozen, $5.00 a hundred. 
Champion. Early Crawford, Late Crawford, 
Mt. Rose, Niagara, Old Mixon. Stump, 
Waddell and Mayflower. 
ASPARAGUS ROOTS 
$4.00 per M. Conovers, Palmetto and Barr’s. 
Satisfaction Guaranteed. Prompt Shipment. 
BURR Nl'RSliRIKS, Manchester, Conn. 
CflD C A I C —Wilder Currant Bushes. 3,000 2-vear, 
lUn OHLE 10.000 l-year._ 20.000 No. 2, 5.000 itul.y 
Raspberry Plants. 
.1. F. WYGANT, Marlboro, N. Y. 
Something Entirely New in Strawberries 
The Gore* bus the remarkable property of coloring uniformly all 
over before ripe—ripen* perfectly after picking. Splendid 
keeper, can tier, shipper, Hue for home use. Extra line flavor. 
Sweet, prolific, healthy, perfect flower. $1,00 per dozen 
postpaid. S. W. UNDERHILL, Crotun-on-Hudson, N. Y. 
THE FAMOUS 
Crate .:.$0.18 
Nails, clamps and paper.10 
Picking, wrapping and packing.15 
Cartage, packing house to railroad.. .02 
Freight to Habana.09 
Cartage or wharfage at Ilahana.02 
Handling at wharf.01 
Lighterage to steamer.03 
Primage .01 
Brokerage at Habana.01 
Freight to New York.30 
United States duty (I cent per pound 
less 20 per cent).04 
Consular invoice fee proportion.01 
Clearance fee proportion.01 
Cartage in New York.05 
Commission in New York.10 
Total.$1.73 
This does not include any item of cost 
of cultivation, taxes or interest on invest¬ 
ment. 
To sum up Mr. Rodgers says: 
“To recapitulate* as to oranges grown in 
Cuba, there would seem to be but little if 
any possibility of success in the American 
market as long as the expense necessitated 
by shipping and landing charges, by ocean 
and railroad freight, and by the American 
tariff continues. If the local market is 
not big enough and if the Canadian and 
European markets, which are now being 
sought, cannot take all the product of the 
present and future, it would seem that the 
majority of large and small Cuban orange 
groves at least must languish, and those 
who have put their time and money into 
such an endeavor must consider that there 
lias been a mistake and misrepresentation. 
Many are reaching that conclusion, many 
have realized it already, and many may 
come to it in time, despite their present 
hope of success. It is certain that in 
anticipation many groves are being 
neglected and the sale of land for such 
purposes is growing somewhat more diffi¬ 
cult.” 
“For the Land’s Sake use Bowker’s 
Fertilizers; they enrich the earth and 
those who till it. Write Bowker Fer¬ 
tilizer Co., Boston, New York, or Buf¬ 
falo, who make attractive propositions 
to fanners who will act as agents. 
Illustrated catalogue free.”— Adv. 
850,000 
GRAPEVINES 
69 Varieties Also Small Fruits, Trees, Ac. BestRoot- 
edStock. Genuine, cheap. 2 sain pie vines mailed for 10c. 
Descriptive price-list free. LewiaKoeMb,BoxK ,t'irdoni^N.v 
VEGETABLE PLANTS 
.4NI) FLOWERS. Send for Rrice List of Trans¬ 
planted, Well-Hardened Plants 
THE J. E. HUTTON CO., Conyngliam, Pa. 
50,000 QUARTS OF STRAWBERRIES 
now growing ou one acre, my system. 
Come June 10. see me win or lose, as Colliugwood 
says. T. O. KEV1TT, Athenia, N. J. 
S TRAWBERRY PLANTS—Reliable.money-making 
varieties, only $1.50 and $1.75 per 1000. New 1909 cata¬ 
logue Free, S. A. VIRD1N, Hartly, Del. 
STRAWBERRY PLANTS. 
GEO. R. SCHAUBER, Box R. Ballston Lake, N. Y- 
S trawberry Plant* —Chipman, a leading variety. Also all 
other reliable varieties. Send for liiv free 1909 Catalogue. 
Prices from $1,50 up. DAVID HODWAY, Hartly, Del. 
Prize-Winning Market Strawberry 
PAUL JONES 
$1 per dozen, $3 per hundred. Circulars from 
originator. 
R. W. JOHNSON, Northboro, Mass. 
FENDALL STRAWBERRY 
HIGHLAND, NORWOOD, GOLDEN GATE, 
and other Choice Varieties. 
Send .for Catalogue. It’s Free. 
CHAS. E. FENDALL & SON, Towson, Maryland. 
300 Strawberry Plants $1. Xo"“S 
Free. WM. PERKY, Cool Spring. Del 
STRAWBERRY PLANTS 
30 of the Rost Varieties. 
Illustrated Descriptive Catalogue Free. 
BASIL PERRY, Box 18, Cool Spring Bel. 
HFRITARF <‘ l,, d other strawberry plants. Fruit 
liLMlIrtUL and shade trees. Evergreens and 
California privet hedging. Price list free, SAMUEL 
C. DE COU, Moorestown, Burl. Co., N. J. 
cn nnn bark’s and conover. Nice 
UU,UUU one year old Asparagus Roots, 
50,000 Tennessee and 40,000 Myers No. 1 Strawberry 
Plants, all at $2 00 per 1,000. 
CALEB BOGGS & SON, Cheswold, Del. 
P APER POTS-Melons and cucumbers started in 
paper pots are ready for market two weeks ear¬ 
lier, and they are fine for tomatoes, peppers, etc. 
3 in. pots $1.25 a 1,000, $5 for 5.000: 4 in. pots $1.75 
a 1,000, $7.50 for 5.000. Orders shipped same day 
received. P. B. CROSBY & SON, Catonsville, Md. 
STRONG, HEALTHY, CHOICE NURSERY STOCK 
We offer for Spring of 1900 the finest and largest assortment of Fruits and 
Ornamentals that we have ever grown and they cannot be surpassed. 
Write today for our Free Illustrated Catalogue which will show you just what you 
want for your Spring Planting. 
We are always pleased to quote special prices ou your list and can give you the 
right figures for the right stock. 
do l.andsenpo Pardoning in all Its In-nuthe*. Don't place your order until you get our price*. 
T. J. DWYER & CO., P. O. Box 1, Cornwall, New York. 
m-O TT B TT H d SPECIAL VALUES C/N 50 CHERRIES 
B g C FOR 30 DAYS. 3>OtGU 50 PLUMS 
Beautiful well formed, well rooted 2 year trees, 3^ to f>ft. Your choice Delivered to all New England points; also in N. Y., 
N.J., Pa., Ohio, Mich.. Ind. and 111. Many other attractive offers in our complete catalogue—It is free. Hundreds of Rural read¬ 
ers are familiar, by teat, with the values we have offered through these columns for nearly a quarter of n century. Lei us send 
you the history of one of the most productive II year old Apple orelmrdM In Western New York, planted on the 
Filler System. Iestablished 1817. H. S. WILEY & SON, Box 13, Cayuga, New York. 
PEACH TREES AND DWARF APPLES 
We have a surplus In some leading 
varieties of Peach including Champion, 
Stevens. Brays, and Greensboro an*' have 
nearly all other varieties in medium and 
small grades Just right for orchard planting. A nice selection of Dwarf Apples and some bargains in 
sweet and sour cherries. Quinces, Cnlifo-nin Privet and ethe'* stock. Write for cntnb'g and surplus list. 
KARNES BROS. NURSERY COMPANY', Box 8, Yalesville, Conn. 
