786 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
September 4 
THE PENNSYLVANIA DROUGHT 
SEASON. 
At last the drought is relieved, according 
to the crop mongers, and here we had 
about three days of cloudy weather, seem¬ 
ingly trying to rain, but at no time resulted 
in more than a drizzle. After it was all 
over the soil was moist barely three inches 
in cultivated fields, so that in taking up 
potatoes the tubers remained in dry ground. 
Excepting the benefits of refreshing vegeta¬ 
tion to a small extent, and checking evap¬ 
oration during the cloudy days, the moist¬ 
ure precipitated was of no benefit to crops. 
The coast line and the Allegheny mountain 
districts appear to have had rain, but the 
arid district of Eastern Pennsylvania is not 
relieved. W. H. S. 
Pine drove, Pa. 
The drought, broken by a copious rain 
August 15th and 16th, has been unique in 
several particulars, and has broken several 
traditions. Until June 27 we had frequent 
rains evenly distributed, not enough at any 
one time to interfere seriously with culti¬ 
vation. On that date a few had begun to 
cut August-sown clover (a grand crop), so 
that a few loads were slightly spoiled by 
the shower. After that it was a regular 
dry season ; no rain and not even threaten¬ 
ing thunder showers to disturb tin 1 harvest¬ 
ers. But mid-July cornfields that had not 
been well cultivated looked bad. Some 
farmers, reading the warnings sent out 
from Harrisburg, began to cultivate; it 
was too late to ltegin. In order to loosen 
hard soil they cut deep and so murdered 
corn roots and increased the evil they 
sought to avert. The second-growth clover 
that had started splendidly stopped grow¬ 
ing. Potatoes began to show brown ; and 
all vegetation was at a standstill, A heavy 
shower on July 2.3 seemed to have broken 
the drought (as reported by the Hope 
Farm Man, later corrected by him) ; but 
there was hardly enough of it to count 
for much. Since then we have suffered. 
Corn half-grown blossomed and began to 
ripen tiny nubbins; pasture existed only on 
damp meadows, and on clover fields where 
the second crop was standing dead—not 
enough to rake up; potato vines died with 
no crop found; the roads were so deep in 
dust that no one drove for pleasure, and 
wells and springs went dry, many that had 
never been known to fail. The best farm¬ 
ers' prepared for the Summer seeding of 
Alfalfa and clover, grinding up plow shares 
rapidly, but most were afraid to sow on 
the dust. bed. Others waited for rain be¬ 
fore plowing. The situation was most 
tense: everybody looked worried. During 
the last two weeks there were good showers 
all around us. But our chance of getting 
anything from our tields was growing daily 
less. We had had a laid Winter; for milk 
was low all through the season when we 
mostly get best prices. The result showed 
at cow sales where for the first time in 
several years good fresh cows could be 
had almost at one’s bid. And then the 
rain came, a gentle music as it pattered 
down on the leaves ail night and all the 
next day; not tlie heavy downpour that we 
feared, but a soaking rain. Every drop 
counted : it came according to the most ex¬ 
acting specifications. The men who have 
said they would rather have no rain on 
1 heir corn from the time it was planted 
until harvest time aren't saying much. All 
are hustling in the grass seed and Alfalfa. 
All over this county men have been liming 
and fining the dust for Alfalfa. The 
farmer is an optimist! a. s. h, 
Chester Co., Pa. 
CLOSE PLANTING OF FRUIT. 
IF. It., Cortland Co., N. Y.—I have an 
old orchard that lias partly died out. I 
would like to put in young apple, frees 40 
feet one way and 80 feet the other, then 
put one row of cherries and one row of 
plums in between, set raspberries between 
them and cultivate. Is this a good idea? 
if so, what cherries, plums, and berries 
are best? 1 want them for home use and 
local traded I know nothing about the 
business. Can I graft quinces on thorn 
apple trees? If so, what kind will do best 
here ? 
Ans.—T his plan of intensive orchard¬ 
ing would not meet with general ap¬ 
proval among practical growers. It 
would be better to plant his apples 40 
feet each way, and keep the cherries 
and plums by themselves. Standard 
cherries or Hearts should be 25 to 30 
feet apart, while the Morellos would 
do at 18 to 20 feet apart. Plums 
should he 18 by 20 feet apart; better 
too far than too close, as they will soon 
need all the space to get air and light. 
Red raspberries should be planted about 
three feet in the row, and the rows 
five feet apart; black raspberries three 
feet in the row. and the rows six feet 
apart. Raspberries could he planted 
between rows of trees if kept well 
fertilized and well cultivated, but some 
hoed crops would be better for the 
trees, as the berry plants would ab¬ 
sorb so much of the moisture that the 
tree needs, that it is not best to plant 
such crops in young orchards. Not 
knowing the kind of soil W. B. has, or 
the needs of his local market, it is not 
easy to give a list of varieties to plant 
for Cortland County. The following 
apples, pears, plums and raspberries 
should do well. Apples, Summer, 
Benoni, Early Harvest, Red Astra- 
chan. Autumn—Duchess of Olden¬ 
burg, Alexander, Wealthy, Grimes 
Golden. Winter—Baldwin. Esopus, 
Northern Spy, King of Tompkins Co., 
Stayman, R. 1. Greening, Rome Beau¬ 
ty, Lady Sweet. Sweet cherries— 
Windsor Red, Yellow Spanish. Sour 
cherries—Early Richmond, Montmor¬ 
ency. Japan plums—Abundance, Bur- 
hank. European plums—Bradshaw, 
German Prune, Lombard, Bavay’s Green 
Gage, Imperial Gage. Red raspber¬ 
ries, Cuthbert, Loudon. Black rasp¬ 
berries—Cumberland, Black Diamond, 
Gregg. The quince can be root-grafted 
on the thorn or any small .piece of apple 
root. See article on root grafting in 
R. N.-Y. of November 7, 1908, which 
gives instruction about grafting the 
quince. e. s. black. 
Immigrant Farm Help. 
Do foreigners just landed in the United 
States make good farm tenants? If so, 
what nationality is the best farm workers? 
chilo, Ohio. k. s. m. 
Some of them do—it depends upon the 
man, his habits and his bringing up and 
what brought him here. All foreigners 
who come here are not fitted for farm 
tenants any more than all Americans are. 
Those from the north of Europe are usual¬ 
ly best, Danes, Norwegians and Swedes 
give good satisfaction usually. 
For Best EXTENSION LADDER at f ^K ice8 
JOHN J. poTTI!It, n Mill St., Binghamton, N. Y. 
Fence 
Buyers 
I Want to Send 
This Free Book 
you buy a rod of 
Take my word for 
it. it will pay you to give 
me the chance. It’s a 
book about 
EKSFERE 
Atl-No.-9 Big Wire Fence 
I've had tny say about fence In this 
book and I want you to read it. Moat 
prolltable fence in the world to buy, 
as I’ll show you. 
THERE'S A NEW THING ABOUT IT 
It’s now sold delivered to fence-buyers every¬ 
where—not just In certain sections, but every¬ 
where In the U. S. Plainly priced in the book 
(factory prices) and the factory pays the freight 
to your railroad station. 
Send me a card or letter for book right away. 
I’m going to send out <5.000 of these books to 
farmers tills fall, but I'll get them out promptly. 
Address FARMER JONES, Fence Man for 
BOND STEEL POST CO. 
23 E. Maumoo St Adrian, Mich. 
WARD FARM FENCE 
40 carbon spring steel, 
extra heavily galvauiied. 
SO days’ free trial. Fkkk: 
Farm and Poultry Fence, 
and Ornamental Wire 
and Wrought Iron Fence 
Catalogues. Write for 
Sped it I 4Mfer. 
The Ward Fence Co. t 
Box542 Decatur. Ind. 
HARNESS m aI l 
Yon can buy custom-made, oak-tanned harness 
direct from our factory, at wholesale prices. Save 
the dealers' profits. All our harness guaranteed. 
Money back If not satisfactory. Write for illus¬ 
trated Catalogue *‘F’ and pricelist. Every farmer 
should have this booklet. 
THE KING HARNESS CO., « Lake St., Onego, Tioga Co., N. Y. 
RUNNING WATER ON FARM 
THE AERM0T0R GASOLINE ENGINE 
Is designed tr> vupnly xvAter for the farm 
building. This outfit insures a supply of 
water at all times and the price is within 
the reach of every farmer. Pump cap.—1600 
gals, per hour, 1 r» ft. elevation; 800gals. ,25 
ft.; 400 gals., 50 ft. Complete outfit $37.50, 
or del. at It. It. Stu. $42.50. 
Write for descriptive Catalog 
No. 5 giving full information. 
J. H. KDYVAKOS, 
59 Park Place, 
Unlimited Wealth May Be Yours 
below the surface of 
t he ground in deposits 
of coal, oil, gas, ores 
motals. The surest 
and most economical 
way todeterminowhat 
tho ground contains 
is by means of the 
“American” 
Machine 
1 remove a 
core of any size, aDy 
depth, thru any kind of shale or rock 
formation cheaper than by any other 
method. Our new catalog describes every method 
of well sinking and mineral prospecting— FKKE. 
The American Well Works, onicc a Work., Aurora, III. 
Firet Nat. Bank Bldg., Chicago. 
Ohas. B. Corwin,(Export) 12-25 Whitehall St.,N.Y.| 
WithEvervRoll 
of 
Bond 
Fully Protects You 
OTS of manufacturers are keen to tell 
you what their goods are made of. 
They give you a beautiful word picture of a 
marvelous and mysterious “gum*’ that only they can 
produce. Others tell you of the real “rubber’ that 
they use—and so on. 
RegardingCongoRoofing.we have only two statements to make: 
First —We believe it is the best ready roofing made. 
Second —Because we believe that, we give a genuine Surety Bond 
with every roll, which guarantees three-ply Congo for 1 0 years. 
These bonds are issued by the National Surety Company, and 
they are as good as a government bond. 
No other roofing manufacturer dares give such a guarantee. 
You take no chances when you buy Congo. 
There is no “gum” in it to make it sticky; there is no rubber in it 
to get brittle. It is made of the best roofing materials that it is possible 
for us to purchase under the best manufacturing conditions. Because 
it is made right, it gives such satisfactory service that we are not afraid 
to issue a Guarantee Bond to back up every statement we make. 
Ask any other manufacturer for a Real Bond and see him squirm. 
booklet and samples of Congo free on request. 
UNITED ROOFING AND MANUFACTURING CO. 
Successor to Buchanan- Foster Co. 
532 WEST END TRUST BUILDING, PHILADELPHIA, PA. 
CHICAGO SAN FRANCISCO 
4 
CLARKS 
CUTAWAY 
TOOLS 
t 
CUTAWAY” HARROW 
DOUBLE ACTION 
WITH EXTENSION HEAD. Is made especially for Orchard 
work. It will increase youi crops 25 tool) percent. This machine 
will cut from 28 to 30 acres, or wBl double-cut 15 acres in a day. It 
is drawn by two medium horses, it will move 15,000 tons of earth 
one foot in a day, and can be set to move tho earth but little, or at 
so great, an angle as to move all the earth one foot. Runs true in line 
of draft and keeps the surface true. j_ 
All other disk harrows have to run 1 
in half lap. .g— 
The Jointed Pole Takes Ail the Weight Off the Horses' Neck Si *et 
and keeps their heels away from the disks. 
We make 120 sizes an<! style* of IMsk Harrows. 
Every inucliiue fully warranted. 
Send for EH EE booklet with full pnrtleulsr.. 
CUTAWAY HARROW COMPANY, 
839 Main., St., HI6GANUM, CONN. 
1 
tACIION XT CNSIOHMf AD .CUTAWAY HA0RO; 
BIG 
, CROPS 
DOUBLE 
ACTION 
HARltOW 
The* “BOSS” POTATO 
E. R. 
Has nev¬ 
er been 
beaten in 
trials. 
We can 
f urn ish 
t estimo- 
nials, on 
r e quest, 
from all parts 
of the country. 
Write for cat¬ 
alog;, prices. &c. 
This .Ma¬ 
ch i n e is 
not a neiv 
tiling, but 
has been 
thoroughly tested in all 
kinds of soil, and under all 
conditions, and pronounced 
—as its name implies—the IKlss OF 
AI, I, lMKLFliS. and to-day is in use 
by the best potato raisers in the conn 
try. It weighs about f>00 (founds, and 
is easily handled by TWO llOI,‘sI>. 
It is so adjusted that the operator eau 
dig every row and deliver them on one 
side of the field, making them easy to pick up. it 
will dig an uneven surface, and on side hill as well 
as on the level, making a complete separation of the 
tubers from the soil and the weeds, it is made 
strong durable, will do good work on stony ground. 
ALLEN FOUNDRY CO., Corning, N. Y. 
(CELL 
■ RON 
steel and rsibiN. 
Send today for Free liook and bottom 
Factory l'rlecu on Metal Roofing and 
Biding. Made in our own factory, 
better than you can buy elsewhere at 
any price. Shipped at our risk. You 
Send No Money 
1 „ „ so vou take no risk. Our guarantee 
BjE and see-wliat-you-buy-before-paylng- 
S| Flan specify you pay nothlngunless 
■ a fully satisfied. Lowest prices on all 
|{ roofing and roofing supplies sold 
Sel straight to vou from Factory ut real 
itory Prices. Don't buy till you get our prices and 
EE Roofor * 1 Guide— Write for this Book today. 
> United Factorlea Co., Deot. 31 ■«, Cleveland, O, 
FERTILIZER LIME .MS 
WALTON O U A It KI ICS, Harrisburg, I n. 
Make If Yourself 
If you have timber, S3\e money 
and make money sawing fur 
others, with a l’urtable 
American Saw Mill 
Simple, reliable, little power 
needed, no experience necessary, 
free. A Iso describes wood* 
ng machinery of all kinds. 
AMERICAN SAW MILL MACH'Y CO. 
129 Hone St., HackettUewn.N.J. 
Farmers 
ELLIS 
CHAMPION 
THRESHERS 
are equally well suited to threslierme 
and grain growers desirous of doing their 
own work. Herewith is shown Kill, t'linni- 
p I mi No. 2 complete with stacker, tailing- 
elevator and grain bagger; operated by gasoline, 
steam or trend power. No clogging of straw in tnesi 
threshers. Made in different sizes to meet all needs. 
We also make Tread and Sweep Horse-Power, circular 
ami drag saws, ensilage cutters, corn shellers. etc. Send 
for catalog giving full information about these machines. 
ELLIS KEYSTONE AGRICULTURAL 
Do Your Own Threshing ! 
You can save the cost of a rig 
in a few years besides doing the 
conveni¬ 
ent time 
works , 
Rottstown, Pa. 
