'TH K RURAL NEW-YORKER 
September 18, 
824 
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 pioce of paper.] 
Sea Mussels as Fertilizer. 
Reader, New Jersey .—What is the fer¬ 
tilizing value of mussels, and can they be 
safely used? Is five cents a bushel a fair 
price? 
Ans. —I do not know the weight per 
bushel, and, therefore, cannot advise you 
whether five cents per bushel would be 
too much or too little. The analysis 
showed the mussels to contain 0.9 per 
cent of nitrogen, 0.12 per cent of phos¬ 
phoric acid, and 0.14 per cent of potash 
—they also contained 15.84 per cent of 
lime. The nitrogen is evidently in very 
good form, that is, to decay quickly, 
and probably in quite as good form as 
in barnyard manure, since it contains 
twice as much nitrogen as manure, and 
one ton would be worth, for nitrogen, 
about twice as much as the manure. 
The mussels may be applied at the rate 
of six to eight tons per acre, and proba¬ 
bly in even greater quantity without in¬ 
jury. E. B. V00RHEES. 
New Jersey Exp. Station. 
Clover and Grass Seeding. 
IF. C. D. s New York —A field in Con¬ 
necticut from which oats were cut, 1 have 
rown with Crimson clover and Summer rye. 
I have also sown the clover alone in an 
adjoining field of corn. The clover is now 
about an inch high. The field was limed 
and fertilized before sowing. Will it be 
rny advantage to inoculate now? Where 
can I get inoculating material? A farmer 
living a few miles away, who lias great 
success with Crimson clover, says it does 
not need inoculating. In another field, in 
which I have grown Summer rye. millet, 
cow peas and buckwheat, I have used lime 
and fertilizer, and am about to sow Al¬ 
falfa inoculated with farmogerm and earth 
from a field of Sweet clover. Will a nurse 
«rop be advisable, and, if so. what kind? 
How late may grass seed be sown for 
meadow formation? Would it be best to 
wait until Spring? 
Ans. —We should not go to the trou¬ 
ble of inoculating for Crimson clover 
now. With the start you have we think 
i. will thrive. It is late for sowing Al¬ 
falfa. We want it in before August 15. 
We should sow it alone, without any 
“nurse” crop of grain. The natural 
time for grass seeding is in late Sum¬ 
mer or early Fall. We like to seed be¬ 
fore September 20, though much de¬ 
pends on the season. We have seeded 
grass up to October 20 and had a fair 
stand. 
Strawberries in Hill —I read the ar¬ 
ticle about clipping off the strawberry run¬ 
ners so as to keep them in hills. I have 
been doing that to date. I have about 
three-fourths of an acre. The hills are 
not growing big enough to suit me. I 
thought they would stool out more than 
they do. I think that the hills will not 
give vines enough for a large crop of ber¬ 
ries 1 ; so far I have always run the matted 
row. I shall not cut any more until I 
'•ear direct from you. I plant the Jessie, 
Bubach No. 5 and Marguerite; the rows 
r re t hree feet apart and plants are two 
feet in row. The soil is good and strong, 
gravel and some clay. I have cut the run- 
iv rs three times now. I have cultivated 
them both ways; it saves hoeing a great 
deal. I had about half an acre this sea¬ 
son ; the yield was large; picked over or 
near 4.000 quarts. I want larger berries 
that will self well; the vines are too thick 
in the matted rows. e. d. p. 
Herkimer Co., N. Y. 
R. N.-Y.—We think this matter of hill 
culture depends much upon varieties. Some 
are naturally slow to make runners, and 
these are best suited for hills. Others nat¬ 
urally run freely and these are better off 
in matted rows. We would not select the 
varieties you have for single hill culture. 
They will do better if permitted to make a 
few plants. We should take four or five 
of the best runners from each plant and 
let them make root around it like the 
spokes on a wheel. Cut off all the other 
runners and you will then have five or six 
strong plants at each bill, and this ought 
to give you a heavy crop. 
Foundations of American Grape Cul¬ 
ture, liy T. V. Munson, D. Re. No other 
name is so fully identified with the study 
of grapes and grape culture in America ns 
that of Dr. Munson, and in this book he 
gives the summing up of his 1 knowledge on 
this subject. The botany of American 
grapes is exhaustively discussed and also 
the characteristics of the dominant fami¬ 
lies used in hybridization. The subject of 
hybridization and care of seedlings is 1 very 
fully treated, and anyone who is seeking 
to improve the grape in this way will find 
the book very valuable. The chapter on va¬ 
rieties is most instructive. There is a long 
descriptive list which goes into the details 
cf character, constitution and parentage, 
and conveys much information not generally 
accessible. A number of fine plates give 
t-uthful pictures of the varieties discussed. 
The chapters on adaptation and selection 
cf varieties, and on protective treatment 
against insect and fungus attack will be 
found especially valuable to all growers. 
The hook is published by T. V. Munson & 
Ron, Denison, Texas; price $3. 
A SENECA COUNTY PEACH ORCHARD. 
We spoke last week of the peach orchard 
of T. II. King of Trumansburg, N. Y. Mr. 
King’s farm is on the west shore of Cayuga 
i>ake. At this point the hills rise abruptly, 
giving good air drainage, while the* lake 
gives protection from frost. Mr. King and 
his sons have developed large fruit inter¬ 
ests. and are constantly adding. The boys 
have a vineyard of 20 acres of grapes and 
a successful field of gooseberries. This crop 
is not generally liked by fruit growers, but 
the Kings have been able to keep off the 
mildew, and as the crop can lie picked by 
children it has given a good profit. Young 
apple orchards are growing on this farm, 
but the peaches are at present the mainstay 
and they are yielding abundantly this year. 
As stated last week. Mr. King expects 
to pick 10,000 baskets of Klbertas alone. 
One orchard of 11-year-old trees was a 
model of shape and color. This orchard 
had been thoroughly cultivated this year, 
and at the time of m.v visit most of the 
cultivated orchards had been seeded to 
cover crops 1 of buckwheat and Red clover. 
Mr. King says he has not tried Cow-horn 
turnips, and that Crimson clover did not 
serve his purpose. When an orchard is 
seeded to buckwheat and Red clover of 
course the buckwheat dies in Winter, but 
the clover lives for several years, lieing cut 
and left on the ground as a mulch. I saw 
several orchards where this was being done, 
and they were thrifty and green. The El- 
berta orchard I have mentioned was kept 
three years in clover sod previous to this 
season. Last year the New York State 
Fruit Growers came to see this orchard in 
a time of fearful drought. It had been in 
sod for three years, and was then the pic¬ 
ture of health—as it is now. Some of 
these fruit growers could not understand 
how this sod culture gave such results. Otic 
well-known grower said that when he 
plowed the sod he nearly ruined the peach 
orchard. Yet here were Mr. King’s trees 
after three years in sod and one year of 
good tillage loaded to the tips with fine 
fruit, and perfect in appearance. 
The supply of manure on the King farm 
is not large enough to feed even a small 
part of the orchards. I saw here and there, 
as we do in all peach orchards, trees that 
seemed sick, and for no apparent reason. 
It was not scale or “yellows” or borers, 
but yet the foliage was light colored and 
the growth was shorter than in the others. 
I noticed that these sick trees were being 
nursed and helped along, not only by fer¬ 
tilizer, but by manure which had been 
spread under them. Mr. King said he 
thought these trees had been injured by 
last year's drought and had not yet recov¬ 
ered from it. With extra care and feeding 
they would come through. I am sure that 
several of my own trees over a rocky ledge 
have had the same trouble, and now after 
acting “sick” through .the season they are 
coloring up and growing. Mr. King’s trees 
are liberally fed; that is they get five to I 
ten pounds each of a mixture of 100 pounds I 
nitrate of soda, 100 pounds of muriate of 
potash, and 300 of either acid phosphate 
or basic slag. As to which of the latter is 
the better source of phosphoric acid, there 
are no definite results yet. In this year’s 
crop at least the slag gave as good results 
as the phosphate, and I think the lime will 
prove useful also. Mr. King has a number 
of interesting experiments under way with 
different chemicals and mixtures. I have 
heard critics say that it is not a wise plan 
to use all the nitrogen in the form of 
nitrates. There ought to be some organic 
nitrogen. They must remember that Mr. 
King uses clover and at intervals 1 keeps the 
orchards in a clover sod. This supplies 
organic nitrogen as well as if he used dried 
blood or tankage. 
Mr. King thinks well of Ralway—a peach 
which does well in his locality and ripens 
at a good season. Most of us know what 
it means to put peaches on the market 
during the Elberta season. Everyone seems 
to have planted that variety. It comes in 
multitudes from the large peach districts, 
and the market is usually filled up for a 
time. I can make more by getting out of 
the Elberta season and growing Carman and 
Salway, or Iron Mountain or Smock. The 
Ralway trees on Mr. King’s farm were in 
fine condition, but he is up against a case 
of varieties untrue to name. In one orchard 
bought for Salways and handled with great 
care only a small proportion are true. 
These are well loaded with fruit. The oth¬ 
ers carry only a few scattering peaches of 
some late, unknown sort. There are several 
hundred trees that proved almost a complete 
loss thus far. If they were all Salways, 
like the few true ones, there would be near¬ 
ly .$1,000 worth of good peaches to be sold 
this year in addition to the present crop. 
Here is a case where the nurseryman is at 
fault—and we find many such cases. Either 
the trees were mixed in packing or the buds 
were mixed. At any rate it means disap¬ 
pointment and loss to the grower*—after 
years of expense and labor. Tn most cases 
of this sort the nurseryman falls back upon 
a clause in his contract or catalogue, in 
which he states that he will replace all 
trees found untrue to name, but these new 
trees probably would not be guaranteed any 
more than the others. Again, suppose more 
young trees are sent, what becomes of the 
five years’ time and the labor and fertilizer 
required to grow these poach trees on Mr. 
King’s place to fruiting? If the nursery¬ 
man’s mistake is responsible for this loss 
should Mr. King l>e expected to meet the 
whole of it ? Here is a case which brings 
the matter right to a head, and we would 
like to get some standard for settling it. 
II. w. c. 
p WoexTs Descriptive G 
Fall Seed Catalog 
now ready, gives the fullest 
information about all 
Seeds for the 
Farm and Garden, 
Grasses and Clovers, 
Vetches, Alfalfa, 
Seed Wheat, Oats. 
Rye, Barley, etc. 
AIeo tells ail about 
Vegetable & Flower Seeds 
that can be planted in the fall to 
advantage and. profit, and about 
Hyacinths, Tulips and other 
Flowering Bulbs, Vegetable and 
Strawberry Plants, Poultry 
Supplies and Fertilizers. 
Every Farmer and Gardener should 
have this catalog. It is invaluable in 
its helpfulness and suggestive ideas for 
a profitable and satisfactory Farm or 
Garden. Catalogue mailed free on 
request. Write for it. 
T. W. WOOD & SONS, J 
^) Seedsmen, - Richmond, Va. C> 
Rubbing The Clothes As Grandmother Did 
is a senseless waste of fabric and energy. The 
Syracuse “ EASY ” Washer means modern methods 
and greatest, possible economy of time, labor and 
fabric. Ask for our booklet. It’s worth dollars to 
you and is free. 
DODGE 8 ZUILL, 224-M Dillaye Bldo., Syracuse, N. Y. 
HENDRICKS HAY PRESSES 
You have seen them advertised for 
years. It’s the same reliable, reason- 
able-priced press that 
it always has been. 
We have a new free 
catalogue and your 
name on a postal 
mailed to us will 
bring it to you. 
Hendricks liny Press Co. 
Cornell St., Kington, 8;Y. 
HAY PRESS 
for greater capacity and profit making. Wo 
p osi tivel y guarantee Spencer s Press to d o every- 
thijg our new illustrated catalog F claims or 
WHEELS, FREIGHT PAID $8.75 
for 4 Baggy Wheel*. Steel Tire*. With Rubber Tires, $1SJ*. I 
mfg. wheels K to 4 tn. tread. Baggy Tops $5.60, Sh*fLs $2.00. Top 
Dagfics $22; Baroess,$S. Lear* how to toy direct. Catalogue Pree. Repair 
Wheels, $6.60. Wagon Umbrella KREE. W R BOOB, CUdauli, 0. 
THE MILD CLIMATE OF VIRGINIA_ 
Offers splendid opportunities for farming, 
stock raising, dairying and fruit growing. 
Winters are short. Climate healthful. Mar¬ 
kets near. Lands reasonable but advancing 
each year. Write for information to 
G. W. KOINEFL 
COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE, RICHMOND, VA. 
HONEY BEES WHITE HONEY 
Gathered in Southern California from sage. Packed 
in 5 gallon cans, 2 in case. Prices freight prepaid, 
case $12.00, can $7.50. Particulars and sample 10c. 
R, M. SPENCER, Nordhoff, Cal. 
PUCDDY TDCCC - ° ur supply is large 
untnn 1 I nttv and quality extra fine. 
Special Prices on Aug. and Sept, orders. Catalog free. 
W. P. RUPERT & SON, box 15, Seneca, N. Y. 
California Privet. 
Nothing makes a more ornamental border along 
a walk or fence on the line than this beautiful and 
hardy hedging plant. Very finest two-year stock 
only costs from $2.00 to $4.00 per 100. Our beautiful 
descriptive catalogue tells all about it. 
JOS. H. BLACK, SON & CO., 
Hightstown, N. J 
One customer writes un¬ 
der date of March 30th, 
this year: 
“ Dutch Bulbs purchased of 
you last fall are producing 
beautiful blooms.” 
Buy of the direct im¬ 
porter and you will no 
doubt get the same results 
next spring. 
Beautifully Illustrated Catalog Mailed Free. 
Dept. Y 
J.M.THORBURN&CO. 
33 Barclay Street and 38 Park Place 
NEW YORK CITY 
■ —i ■ i—— i in gg -v-1 —1—1 1 - __ 
APPLE BARBELS AND PEAR KEGS 
C. I). BOSTWICK, Ithaca, New York. 
APPLE BARBELS 
— Car lots or less 
ROUT. GILLIES. 
Medina, N. Y.- 
Strawberry Plants 
of the Best Varieties. 
„ _ Descriptive Catalogue 
free. BASIL PERRY’, Box 18, Cool Spring, Del. 
STRAWRFRRY., a .’i (i Asparagus Plants. Catalog. 
O I IlHif DLiin I l Amoreaux Nursery Co.,Schoharie,N.Y. 
BTf|n Cfll C—CRIMSON CLOVER SEED, SO.0(1 
a MR OHLL bushel. COW-HOUN TURNIP 
SEED. 40c. pound 
JOSEPH E. HOLLAND, Milford, Delaware. 
LONGHEAD WHEAT 
red, hard, boarded. There is none better. $4 00 
for two bushels. MYRON CLOSE, Cato, N. Y. 
FULCASTER WHEAT 
No Better Cropping; or Milling Variety. 
YVe offer only this one variety, grown on our own 
farms under careful supervision and especially 
prepared for seed. Write for sample and prices. 
The National Farm School, Farm School,Dept.B, Bucks Co.,Pa. 
C hoice clovkr and crass seeds sold 
direct to the farmer. We have reduced our 
I choice Hungarian and Millet seeds to the present 
j market value. Write for samples and prices at 
once. N. WERTHEIMER & SONS, Ligonier, Ind. 
W E OFFER our Special Quality of WHITE 
WINTER RYE, growD in Indiana, at $1.15 
per bushel, delivered at your railroad station. 
Please write for samples. 
N. WERTHEIMER & SONS, Ligonier, Ind. 
j HARRISON’S NURSERIES, Berlin, Mil, 
1100 acres trees and plants. Catalog freo. 
1 uuunuonwii ITa ,t 19U 
Send for Catalogue and Prices. 
T. C. KEY ITT. Athenia, N. J. 
C HOICE TIMOTHY, $2.15 per bu : order now. ( ire. and 
sain. free. Click’s Seep Fa kms. Lancaster, Pa. 
FERTILIZER LIME„f r ,rS 
WALTON QUARRIES, Harrisburg, Pa. 
CE.N D for Circular to originator of Jones’ Winter 
Wheats, which are leaders wherever known. 
A NEW ONE FOR 1909. Address JONES, 
THE WHEAT GROWER, Batavia, N. Y. 
THE MICHIGAN-INDIANA 
LAND COMPANY 
Are offering for sale from 40 to 65 of tlie nicest 
improved farmlands in the best section of the 
southern part of Michigan, in the following 
counties: Allegan, Barry, Montmorency and 
Kalkaska. Also, from 40 to 50 farms in the 
very best section of Indiana, located in Noble 
County, Whitley (. ounty and Elkhart County. 
Please write for description, maps, price and 
terms. Address 
MICH1GAN-INDIANA LAND COMPANY, LIGONIER, IND 
AIITnMflRI! R bought and solo on a strictly honor- 
HU I UIYIUDIlLO able and business-like basis. Write us for 
free sample copy of the 20th Century Auto Review.” Con¬ 
taining inside information to buyers and sellers. SlOth Century 
Automobile <’o., 1615 Rroadwav, Cor. 49th St., New York. 
Every Farmer Should Have His Own Thresher 
“Little Giant" Thresher runs with light power and will clean all kinds of grain— 
wheat, rye, oats, rice, flax, barley, kallir corn and grass seeds. Attachments for 
threshing cow peas and for “polling” peanuts. Made in three si?.es—for 3, G and N 
H. P. Gasoline Engine. Any power can be used. We also make Level-Tread Powers, 
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ISEEKNEU A; SONS, ttgltroiul St., Lansdale, l»a. 
Fifteen Kinds of Work With One Set of Tools, $3?!fi 
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CURRIER KOETH MFG. CO., Dept. 21, Coudersport, Pa. 
