4.48 
THE RURAb NEW-YORKER 
FARMERS’ CLUB 
[Every query must be accompanied by the name 
and address 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.] 
HORTICULTURAL SHORT STOPS. 
Ailing Boston Ferns. 
W. L., Brooklyn, N. Y .—I have some 
Boston ferns which are doing very poorly. 
When the fronds are about half grown 
the ends of them turn brown and die; 
they do not seem to be able to obtain 
their full growth without turning brown 
at the tips, and then the whole frond 
gradually dies. The plants have had 
plenty of fertilizer and have had enough 
moisture. The ferns were put in new pots 
last Fall. Possibly the ferns were not set 
deep enough in the soil. Can you suggest 
any cause for this trouble? 
Ans. —We fear the air of your house 
is too dry for the Boston ferns that 
are growing, or they may possibly be 
affected to some extent by leakage of 
gas, either coal or illuminating. It 
may also be possible that you are in¬ 
juring the root with too much ferti¬ 
lizer. Keep the ferns in as moist and 
airy a place as possible, frequently sy¬ 
ringe and wash the foliage, see that 
they have plenty of water, but are pro¬ 
vided with good drainage, so that the 
soil does not become sour, and they 
will probably renew tbeir growth un¬ 
less poisoned by gas leakage. 
When To Transplant Pines. 
E. II , Schenectady, K. Y .—I have a num¬ 
ber of White pines on my place, and 
would like to make wind-breaks of them 
around my barn. When is the best time to 
set them out, and the best way to make 
them grow quickly and all live? 
Ans. —It is a general experience 
that the month of May just as growth 
starts, is the most favorable time to 
transplant White pines and similar 
evergreens. They should be taken 
up with as little disturbance of the 
roots as possible, securing a good ball 
of earth around the mass of roots, if 
the nature of the soil allows, keeping 
it together with moist burlap or ferti¬ 
lizer sacks tied around the ball and 
the main roots while the trees are be¬ 
ing moved. They should be carefully 
set in large holes at the same level 
which they naturally grew, and good 
top soil well worked and rammed 
about the roots without bruising them. 
No manure or fertilizer should be put 
in the hole or about the roots, but a 
thick Vnulch of litter or strawy stable 
manure placed about the tree as far 
as the limbs extend after planting will 
do more to make the trees live and 
assure good growth than any other 
treatment that has been devised. 
Evergreens For Sandy Soil. 
II. J. T., Kent, 0.—What variety of ever¬ 
green would be best to plant on a sandy 
soil to grow for our fast increasing demand 
for Christmas trees? I have about two 
acres which I can use for the purpose. It 
is too broken to cultivate much. 
Ans. —The best evergreen for the 
purpose you desire for sandy soil is, 
without doubt, Norway spruce. Seed¬ 
lings are very cheap, and quickly grow 
to good-sized trees in light sandy soil 
if given proper care. They generally 
make well-shaped Christmas trees. 
Seedlings vary considerably, and quite 
a variety in habit may generally be 
noticed among a few thousand seed¬ 
lings. 
Bartlett Pear Blossoms. 
M. A. F., Manistee, Mich .—In looking 
over a catalogue in reference to the Bart¬ 
lett pear I seee it catalogued as follows: 
“Large, rich, melting, delicious; every¬ 
where successful. Blossom sterile, requir¬ 
ing other varieties planted nearby to en¬ 
sure fertilization.” As I have limited space 
to plant I would like to know if it is a 
fact. 
Ans. —Bartlett pear blooms are cer¬ 
tainly not wholly sterile. Many trees 
standing by themselves produce fair 
crops, but productiveness is, undoubt¬ 
edly, increased by having other varie¬ 
ties near by that bloom at the same 
time. Kieffer and Le-Conte are both 
good pollenizers for Bartlett. 
The Culture of Mushrooms. 
W. H. K., Ulster Fork, N. Y .—Could you 
tell me if there is any money in mushrooms 
if taken care of properly. Can you recom¬ 
mend a book on that subject? 
Ans. —Mushroom growing is often 
a difficult and uncertain business. A 
few experts find it profitable, but more 
failures are probably made in it than 
any other branch of gardening. Gen¬ 
erally speaking, it is not likely to be 
profitable to build a mushroom house 
or new structure for the purpose of 
commercial culture, but there are many 
instances where cellars, caves or old 
greenhouse buildings may be used for 
the purpose with good success. A 
number of carnation and other cut- 
flower growers, finding their usual pro¬ 
ducts unprofitable on account of the 
present poor demand, are now using 
their greenhouses for mushroom 
growing, and apparently with some 
success. Information regarding com¬ 
mercial mushroom culture may be had 
from the Department of Agriculture 
at Washington, D. C. The best book 
wc know of on the subject is ‘‘Mush¬ 
room Culture,” by Wm. Falconer, price 
$ 1 - _ 
Cornell Special Train At Ogdensburg. 
The special train of Cornell University 
reached Ogdensburg April 7 and held the 
exercises in the evening. As this is the home 
of Prof. Tuck it was partly in the nature 
of an entertainment and was very enjoy¬ 
able, although (he speakers spoke upon gen¬ 
eral lines only, and the time allotted to 
them was so brief that no discussion took 
place. The weather was not desirable and 
though the audience was large there were 
probably not ni„." than 10 or 15 per cent of 
them actual farmers. Prof. II. E. Cook, of 
Can.on Agricultural School, presided, and 
in his usual felicitous style made things 
pleasant and introduced Dr. Lyon, a young 
man who spoke upon the soil. The talk 
was upon the usual lines and but one or 
two points need but special mention, viz., 
that drainage lengthened the growing 
season and prevented the heaving of the 
ground by frost in Winter; these ideas were 
expressed very clearly and are worth think¬ 
ing of; also, that acidity of the soil is 
caused by the removal of chemicals by cul¬ 
tivation. In this he was not convincing 
and the writer’s experience inclines to an¬ 
other view. The next speaker was Mr. 
Van Wagenen upon social problems; a 
really good address. The speaker’s thoughts 
came so readily and his utterance is so 
rapid that somewhat of impressiveness is 
lost. Prof. Stone followed with a brief 
talk upon legumes. He told what he had 
time to tell; though some farmers would 
have liked to ask questions the lime did 
not seem to make it wise to do so. The 
next and last address was by Dr. Webber 
upon “Plant Breeding,’’ and was easily the 
most interesting of the evening. The illus¬ 
trations of the Timothy grass heads, upon 
the screen were particularly instructive, as 
well as the thought that adapting plants to 
climate had changed the geographical 
features of our country many hundred miles, 
tithe present writer remembers the 
wild apples that grow in Minnesota 50 
years ago, and we used to boil them in 
soda water to take off the acrid taste. Mr. 
Cook stated that an experiment in corn 
breeding would be attempted at Canton and 
he hoped that a flint corn would result 
tiiat would be as valuable in the East as 
the dent in the West. Prof. Tuck reluc¬ 
tantly came forward and spoke earnestly 
In regard to the farmers’ relation to the 
railroads. After adjournment there was a 
reception to the railroad officials. Every¬ 
body did well, not a bitch in the pro¬ 
gramme— only the farmers did not attend 
in such numbers as was expected, j. e. d- 
Dutch Labor Laws. — In Holland a mar¬ 
ried woman is considered a minor. Under 
a new Dutch law the wife may contract 
for a position and collect her wages with¬ 
out her husband’s consent, but she must 
obtain permission before contracting as an 
employer. Thus far a Dutch husband has 
had the sole right to dispose of his wife’s 
income unless another agreement was made 
before marriage. In order to prevent in¬ 
justice the new law prevents a husband 
from claiming his wife’s earnings—spend¬ 
ing them to suit himself—when the mar¬ 
ried woman states that such funds are 
spent “in the interest of her household ” 
“For the Land’s Sake use Bowker’s 
Fertilizers; they enrich the earth and 
those who till it. Write B’owker Fer¬ 
tilizer Co., Boston, New York, or Buf¬ 
falo, who make attractive propositions 
to farmers who will act as agents. 
Illustrated catalogue free.”— Aclv. 
Field Corn, 
Cow Peas 
and 
Soja Beans 
It will soon be time for planting field corn, 
while soja beans.and cow peas should be 
sown now,—just as soon as the trees are out 
in full leaf. Cow Peas and So.ja Beans 
have been most satisfactory not only as 
forage crops but also as soil enricbers. We 
could tell of .some wonderfully good work 
these two legumes have done on our Sunny- 
brooii Farm in Southern New Jersey.’ The 
past season we harvested fine crops of field 
corn and all other agricultural seeds. As the 
season is now opening rapidly we quote here 
prices on some leading varieties of field corns 
and cow peas: — 
f.lnv four Pan especially adapted for sow- 
Uldy LUW red, ingln the Northern States, 
at #3.75 per bushel, or #5.25 for two bushel 
sack. 
Whip-Poor-Will Cow Pea, ^ ri ^ rl buTh 
variety, at #2.7 5 per bushel, or #5.25 for 
two bushel sack. 
Rp>nnc at #2-75 per bushel; #5.25 
ucdii5, p er 8ac k G f two bushels. 
At #1.00 per bushel shelled or #3.00 per 
sack of two bushels, we offer the following 
field corns.— 
Chester Conn ty Mammoth. Im proved 
Learning, Mastodon Early Dent, Pride 
of the North, Held’s Yellow Dent (this 
is very popular in the so-called corn belt of 
the middle west), and White Cap Dent. 
At Fordhook we find Pride of Indiana 
to be one of the best white dent varieties of 
field corn we have ever grown; of this we 
offer choice seed at #2.2 5 per bushel shelled, 
or #4.25 per sack of two bushels. Please 
hear in mind that sacks are furnished free. 
As long as our stock lasts we will supply 
Clin fas at #4.25 per bushel, or #8.25 per 
sack of two bushels. 
If you have not received a copy of 
Burpee’s Farm Annual for 1909 you 
should write to day, provided vou wish to 
obtain BURPEE’S THE SEEDS THAT 
GROW. If you are in the market for large 
quantities of any of the seeds offered in this 
advertisement, or any other varieties of seed, 
before placing your order you should write us 
for special prices. 
W. ATLEE BURPEE & CO. 
PHILADELPHIA, PA. 
DO YOU SHIP PEACHES? 
If so—send for our 
Catalogue of Standard Carriers. 
SOUTH SIDE M F C CO., PETERSBURG, VA. 
Thielmanns-the Seedsmen—carry a full line of 
Garden and Field Seeds. Onion Seed a specialty. 
Write today for tbeir catalog and Special Prices. 
The Thielmann Seed Co., Erie, Pa. 
THE FAMOUS 
FENDALL STRAWBERRY 
HIGHLAND, NORWOOD, GOLDEN GATE, 
and other Choice Varieties. 
Send for Catalogue. It’s Free. 
CHAS. E. FENDALL & SON, Towson, Maryland. 
P APER POTS—Melons and cucumbers started in 
paper pots are ready for market two weeks ear¬ 
lier, and they are tine for tomatoes, peppers, etc. 
3 in. pots $1.25 a 1,800, $5 for 5,000: i in. pots $1.75 
a 1.000, $7.50 for 5.000. Orders shipped same day 
received. P. B. CROSBY &SON, Catonsville, Md. 
S EED COHN—Mammoth Yellow Dent; great yield- 
er ; produces 100 bu. shelled corn per acre: hand 
shelled, at $2.50 per bu. Amos Zigler, liowenna, Pa. 
m C* I C—Medium Clover Seed, $.0.50 to $7.50 bu.: 
vnbC Crimson Clover Seed. $3.50 to $4.60 bu.; 
Onion Sets, $2.50 bu.; Cow Peas, $1.75 bu.; Cow-horn 
Turnip Seed, 10c. lb. Joseph E. Holland, Milford, Del. 
THE BEST CORN FOR NEW YORK. 
Also high bred ensilage seed. Write to-day. 
CLIFTON-HILL FARM, Ballston Lake, N. Y. 
300 Strawberry Plants SI. 
Free. WM. PERRY, Cool Spring. Del 
April 24, 
Our Catalogue 
—the acme of perfection in catalogue¬ 
making—is the most instructive, the 
most useful, the most concise, and 
contains th« least extravagant des¬ 
criptions of any seed annual published. 
A V eritable Mine of Information 
You will agree with us when you have 
secured a copy. 
Mailed Free Postal Sufficient 
All the imported and Natural Grasses. 
Highest Grade Only. 
J. M. THORBURN & CO. 
Department Y 
33 Barclay St. : : New York 
107 YEARS IN BUSINESS IN NEW YORK CITY 
Grass Seeds 
That Give Results 
are the kind for farmers to sow. If you 
have been using the ordinary quality of grass 
seeds, try CONKLIN’S this spring. (They are 
different— because they are the best.) And 
thereby give your land a chance to show you 
how much better crop it can produce with 
the BEST SEEDS. 
CONKLIN’S SHEDS cos Ik no more than die “ordinary 
quality," and are by far the cheapest for they are abao- 
luteJy free from weeds and ditt. inaiat on your dealer 
getting them Tor you. It I!. lilt.VNb PURE TIMOTHY, 
1. X. I.. II It AVI) PI ItE CLOVER. 
E. W. CONKLIN & SON, Inc., Wholesale Grass Seeds, 
Binghamton, N. Y. 
cause of its large growth and 
monstrous yield. Carefully 
grown, carefully selected and 
each ear is tipped and butted 
(seecut) before being 
shelled which removes all 
smali and imperfect grains. 
GROW BIG CROPS 
You can and ought to do it 
Seepages 40-43 of our New Big 
Catalog. Write your name on 
a postal and get it. Send today 
THE BATCHELORSEED STORE 
48 La Fayette Si., Utica. New York. 
n A {4 I |AC— -0 kinds (my selection) $1. Satis- 
UH11 Lind faction guaranteed. Write for full 
particulars. H. BUST. Taunton. Mass. 
Opjrn p AQ Kl—I in pro veil White Cap. 
wCCU UUnn Acclimated to Pennsylvania 
soil, a few bushels selected from the slock, out of 
a GO acre field that made 100 bushels to acre. Get 
the best before it is all gone. Address 
SB ENANGO K1YEK FARMS, Transfer, Pa. 
C hoice clover and grass seeds sold 
direct to the fanner. We have reduced our 
choice seeds to the present market value. Write 
for samples and prices at once. Address 
N. WERTHEIMER & SONS, Ligonier, Ind. 
FARM SEEDS. 
We are Iiecleaners 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 Go. 
115-117 St. Clair St., Toledo, Ohio. 
STRAWBERRY PLANTS. 
GEO. R. SCHAUBER, Box R, Ballstou Lake, N. Y- 
PEACH TREES AND DWARF APPLES 
We have a surplus in some leading 
varieties Of Peach including Champion, 
Stevens. Brays, and Greensboro and have 
_nearly all other varieties in medium and 
smali grades just right for orchard planting. A nice selection of Dwarf Apples and some bargains in 
sweet and sour cherries. Quinces, California Privet and other stock. Write for catalog and surplus list. 
BARNES BROS. NURSERY COMPANY, Box 8, Yalesvillc, Conn. 
|(1 W- ■ SPECIAL VALUES CA 50 CHERRIES CK C 
1 M* r 1 ■ ■ fi FOR 30 DAYS. 50 PLUMS a O 
Beautiful well formed, well rooted 2 year trees, V/, to 5 ft. Your choice Delivered to all New Kugland points; also in N. Y., 
X. J., Pa., Ohio, Mich., Ind. and 111. Many other attractive offers In our complete catalogue—it is free. Hundreds of litiral read¬ 
ers are familiar, by test, with the values we have offered through these columns for nearly a quarter of a century. Let ns send 
you the history of one of the most productive 11 year old Apple orchard* in Wcatcrt) New York, planted on the 
Filler System. Kstahlished 1S-I7. H. S. WILEY & SON, Bo* 13, Cayuga, New York. 
STRONG, HEALTHY, CHOICE NURSERY STOCK 
We offer for Spring of 1909 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 on yottr list and can give you the 
right figures for the right stock. 
>V* do Landscape On rdf nine in ull Ha branches. Don’t place your order until you get our price. 
T. J. DWYER & CO., P. O. Box 1, Cornwall, New York. 
