200 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
March 7, 
SIMPLE DEVICE FOR TESTING SEED 
CORN. 
The accompanying illustration shows 
the box I used last Winter for testing 
several hundred ears of seed corn. 
Small tacks are driven into the edges, 
from three-fourths to l l / 2 inch apart, ac¬ 
cording to the space wanted for each 
test. Strings are stretched between 
these both ways, as shown, the box hav¬ 
ing been filled level full of sand (saw¬ 
dust or earth will do as well). Fig¬ 
ures are marked on the long sides of 
the box opposite the squares, and letters 
on the short sides; so that each square, 
containing two or more seeds, is easily 
designated for record thus—“J 13,” etc. 
This same mark is made on a slip of 
paper which is attached to the ear by a 
small rubber band (such as can be got 
for a few cents per ounce). This 
method proved entirely satisfactory and 
was so nearly no trouble that there is 
left no excuse for planting seed from 
dead ears. This year in this section we 
have no seed corn; and growers who 
have been improving their seed by selec¬ 
tion will have to start fresh; much of 
the corn was so poorly matured that it 
is not fit for horse feed. Only tested 
ears should be planted; and the stock 
for seed should be secured early. In 
out care; and the roots that were firm¬ 
est in the surface soil broke off. The 
sprouts rather shade the stem, but a 
close look shows that it is there. In 
fact the apple is intact with the minia¬ 
ture treefe coming from the top and the 
roots from the blow end. e. r. g.” 
Outdoor Sitting Room. —The picture 
at Fig. 84 shows what is done with 
shrubs and vines at the home of one 
of our readers. During the Summer 
such a vine-draped porch means an 
extra room, and one of the best in the 
house. 
Lesson in Tree Growth. —The tree 
shown at Fig. 83 stands in an Ohio 
field. It had room to develop, and thus 
had a chance to make a well-rounded 
head. We do not like trees in cultivated 
fields, but in pastures such a tree as 
this would be a blessing for the stock. 
Of course for timber the tree is a fail¬ 
ure, as the trunk is not long enough, but 
it is a good model for a fruit tree. 
Sweet Potato Bed. —The picture at 
Fig. 86 shows the starting of a sweet 
potato bed in South Jersey. Many peo¬ 
ple do not know how sweet potato plants 
are started. We had a blowhard work¬ 
ing for us once who pricked holes in his 
own balloon by telling of a great crop of 
sweets he grew by cutting and planting 
the seed just as he would for white 
potatoes! Pieces of sweet potatoes are 
put in a bed or trench and covered 
lightly with soil. With heat the plants 
start, and at the proper size are taken 
off and transplanted like cabbage and 
A SEED CORN TESTING BOX. 
spite of all the papers can do, many crop 
failures will result from neglect of this 
simple precaution to test every ear. 
Pennsylvania. a. s. haines. 
THE WEEK’S PICTURES. 
A life size specimen of the Roberts 
pear is shown at Fig. 85. John T. 
Roberts, of Syracuse, N. Y., found the 
tree growing by the roadside in 1901. 
The tree was protected and later by 
changing the road a better situation was 
given. There are no thorns on the tree, 
and foliage developed Well. The leaves 
are not large—about the same as Seckel. 
The tree bloomed for the first time last 
year and bore 18 fruit. Tn color the 
pear reminds one somewhat of Vermont 
Beauty. It seems to us one of the most 
beautiful fruits we have seen, and the 
flavor is high. This pear certainly 
seems a great acquisition. 
City and Country.— The pictures of 
children, Figs. 76 and 78, show in sharp 
contrast the life of the little country girl 
and the city child growing up amid 
brick and stone. Both pictures are 
taken from life—that showing the city 
child in the Italian quarter in New York. 
No word is needed to add to the con¬ 
trast. , , 
Apple Sprouts. —The picture at Fig. 
79 is taken from a “curiosity” found in 
Pennsylvania, described as follows by 
our correspondent: “Last Spring I 
found it under an apple tree in the yard 
and after showing it to many people 
who had never seen such a thing I de¬ 
cided it was unusual enough to be some¬ 
thing of a curiosity. The sprouts stand 
just as I found them, but I broke off 
some of the roots. Not knowing they 
were there I picked the apple up with¬ 
tomatoes and similar plants. 
“Middlemen.” —The two pictures of 
market scenes, Figs. 80 and 82, were 
taken on the East Side of New York 
among the Italians. The man with the 
long string of garlic around his neck 
does a large business. The apple seller 
is not only a merchant but a mission¬ 
ary, for he is teaching foreigners the 
virtues of the American apple. Many 
foreigners come here knowing little of 
apples, but eating oranges and bananas 
freely. When once taught to eat apples 
they become good customers and in¬ 
crease the demand for that fruit. 
These two plows 
have made ^‘Sar- 
gent”famous where- 
ever they have been 
pet more popular every year. 
>nter—a beautiful tool—for 
is the easiest draft, wood 
beam, landside plow 
ever produced. 
It does splendid 
work in clay soil 
and is equipped 
with straight cut¬ 
ter, jointer, or rolling coniter and wheel to 
suit purchaser. The mouldboard is steel 
and the point and landside chilled. With 
steel edged point and rolling coulter it will 
plow wild grass and bogs nicely and easily. 
The Ideal Mow is a very popular plow 
wherever it goes. Has steel beam, mallea¬ 
ble iron standard, steel landside ana mould- 
board, chilled point and shoe, and is 
equipped with either jointer, 
rolling coulter or 
straight cutter. 
It is a dandy to 
handle, strong as 
an ox and turns a nice, 
smooth, even, flat furrow that is a delight 
to the plowman. 
Write today for catalog describing these 
two popular plows. Don’t buy till you get it. 
S. R. SARGENT & SON, 
100 Main St. Custleton, Vt, 
LAND 
PLOWS 
1 
Fo r Market Growers— 
Fruit Growers 
Onion Growers 
Potato Growers 
Gardeners 
EVERYWHERE NEED THE WEEKLY 
MARKET GROWERS JOURNAL, 
A Distinctive Journal, 
Tlio ONLY Journal edited espec¬ 
ially for men who grow vegetables 
and fruits for market. 
Departments each week for TIMELY SUG¬ 
GESTIONS, ORCHARD AND SMALL 
FRUITS, GENERAL FARM PRACTICE; 
GREENHOUSE CULTURE: series of invalu¬ 
able articles on FERTILIZATION written 
especially for this Journal; reviews of Experi¬ 
ment .Station Bulletins: MARKET REPORTS 
from principal markets; acreage, yield and 
shipment of crops from all growing sections; 
PRACTICAL ARTICLES on LIVE topics by 
PRACTICAL men. 
We pay our contributors higher 
rates than any other agricul¬ 
tural publication. 
If you grow vegetables, potatoes, onions or 
fruits for market you need this BUSINESS 
JOURNAL for BUSINESS FARMERS: no 
other paper like it; not an ordinary farm 
paper; every line vital with influence for better 
gardening and l>ettor farming. If you doubt, 
send for the sample copy that “ TALKS FOR 
ITSELF.” 
Subscription Price—$ 1-00 a year- 
53 Issues of 33 pages or more. 
It is worth the money and more. George F. 
Gardiner, of Hornell, N. Y., says: ‘‘After read- 
it through carefully I consider the articles on 
* Timely Suggestions ’ and ‘ Growing Early 
Vegetable Plants,’ well worth the subscription 
price of the paper.” Many others just like 
that. The paper stands on its merit, but, be¬ 
lieving that if you will once subscribe you will 
want to be a subscriber always, we make this 
SPECIAL OFFER. 
Send us 50 cents (stamps or money order, no 
checks) and mention THE RURAL NEW- 
YORKER, and we will send you the WEEKLY 
MARKET GROWERS JOURNAL from the 
date your order is received until January 1,1909, 
and stop it then unless you renew. The sooner 
you send your order tlie more you get for 50 
cents. Address 
MARKET GROWERS JOURNAL 
510 Illinois Life Building, 
LOUISVILLE, KY. 
Big Potato Crop 
at Least Expense 
Write now for Free Book that tells how 1 
r to increase your Potato Crop 40 to 75% and 
how to cut out labor and expense by using 
Aspinwall Potato 
Machines 
which cut, plant, cover, 
fertilize, spray, dig ana 
sort potatoes. Practical 
Success guaranteed and 
proven.by our 25 years’ ex¬ 
perience in potato ma¬ 
chine building. Write 
this day to the 
Aspinwall Mlg. Co. 
312Sabin St., Jackson.IV 
TO GROW A GOOD 
GARDEN 
good cultivation is absolutely neces¬ 
sary, but it can’t be done with poor 
tools. Here’s an Iron Age Tool 
especially made for garden work. It 
not only does good work, but it is 
easy to operate. The boys 
and girls can do the 
gardening and pro¬ 
duce big crops, if 
you’ll equip them 
with Iron Age 
Tools. Send 
for our 
1908 cat¬ 
alog. 
Bateman Mfg. Co., Box 202(1 Grenloch, N. J. 
Pedigreed Seed Corn §sS^.?S'. ,lo p r mri 
every State Fair where exhibited. Pronounced 
by Government Experts best corn yet produced. 
Free corn booklet tells of contests won and none 
lost. W. Oscar Collier, Corn Specialist, Easton, Md. 
ISBELL S SEEDS 
The SEEDS you plant are GREAT FACTORS 
in your SUCCESS or FAILURE. Our Battle Cry 
is QUALITY, and we are WINNING. Our 1908 
Seed Annual, 90 pages, Lithographed Covers, 
Illustrated Truthfully, is Free on Request. 
ONE TRIAL IS ALL WE ASK, 
S. M. ISBELL & CO., Box 21, Jackson, Mich. 
QCCflQ THAT 00 not disappoint 
Lr II «j Sold on The Ford Plan, which guar- 
w antees satisfaction and saves you 
money on every purchase. Our catalog tells about 
it, gives descriptions and low prices on Best varie¬ 
ties, Garden,Flower & Field Seeds,Potatoes. Bulbs, 
Trees, Shrubs and Small Fruit Plants Contains 
lots of testimonials from our customers. It’s free. 
FORD .SEED CO., Dept. 24, Ravenna,Ohio 
ALFALFA 
Choice, selected and tested American Grown, 
New Crop Seeds. Let us show you sample and 
quote present price on quantity needed. Fora num¬ 
ber of years the price at this season has been less 
than in the spring. We believe it will pay farmers 
to invest in this seed now before spring demand 
causes prices to advance. Ask for large seed catalog. 
Livingston Seed Co., box 170 , coiumbu*. 0 . 
ALFALFA "“GRASS seeds 
m ■■■■ ■»■■■ ■ ■ Northern Grown and of strongest 
vitality. 99 per cent pure. Write for Catalogue No. 23 
J. L. WING k BROS., Box 123 MECUAMC8BURG, OHIO 
open Oats, Corn, Potatoes-^.^.Y^ 
UkkU McADAMS SEED CO. Columbus Grove, Ohio. 
ELDORADO OATS 
upright, heads 10 to 12 inches long, filled to tip 
with plump white oats weighing 44 lbs. to the 
bushel. 204 bushels have been grown on one acre. 
Send for sample. CHA8. CODNKIi, Owego, N. Y. 
POTATOES—Bovee, Carman, Divide, Fortune, Green Mt., Har- 
1 vest, Murphy, 8ix Weeks. 85 kinds. C.W.Ford,Fishers,X.Y. 
ENSILAGE SEED CORN, SS 
Thoroughly reliable seeds. No fancy prices. 
PACKARD, Heed Grower, Dover, Del. 
netligree Seed Potatoes—Best early and late 
1 kinds on earth $8 per bbl. Potato circular free. 
EARL COOK, Munnsville, New York. 
LUCRETIA DEWBERRY PLANTS 
Clean healthy plants from root cuttings. Send for 
lowest price. JOHN CASAZZA, Vineland, N. J. 
CH D C A 1 C— Crimson (’lover Seed, $3.50 to $4.50 
lUn OHLL bushel; White Onion Sets, $3.00 
bushel; Yellow Onion Sets, $2.50 per bushel. Gar¬ 
den Peas, Cow Peas. Clover Seed, Seed Potatoes, 
etc. JOSEPH E. HOLLAND, Milford, Delaware. 
CCItin CflD nil D IQnQ 0ATA, ' 0(i,:E ofSee<ls, Bulbs aud 
OLllU lUn uun 1 9 U0 Plants. Dahlias a specialty. 
MILLS & CO. Mamaroneck, N. Y. 
\SAl ASPARAGUS 
The Asparagus for which Long Island Is famous 
Is the French Argenteuil strain modified by 
local influences of soil and climate. 3-year-old 
roots of this well tried, superiorvariety $1.00 per 
100; 40 for 50c. Directions for cultivation by the 
Long Island Method sent with each order. Send 
today for our 1908 catalog which contains our 
$45 FREE Prize Offers. 
BINGHAMTON SEED CO., 
110 Court St., Binghamton, No Yo 
r What’s YOUR Favorite ’ 
Flower? 
We are Specialists in 
Imported Flower Seeds 
and wish in this way to find out what kinds 
are most popular. 
If you will answer above question (a postal 
will do) we’ll send you our interesting circular 
which tells WHY those seeds give best flowers 
together with a check good for a big full size pkt. 
of them free with any order however small. 
^ Import Seed Co., 1181 Broadway, N. Y. 
pEACH TREES—4 cts. each, Elberta, etc: free 
* catalogue of all kinds of Nursery Stock. Wood¬ 
bine Nurseries, W. A. Allen & Son, Geneva, Ohio. 
Good Trees! Good Fruit! 
Good fruit conies to him who plants good trees. 
I have the good trees; do you want the good fruit? 
Catalogue and instructions, “How to care for trees 
and plants for best results” free. Address, 
MARTIN WAHL, Nurseryman, Rochester, N. Y. 
I AM HEADQUARTERS for the Cumberland 
and Kansas Black Cap and .Miller Red Rasp¬ 
berry,- Lucretia Dewbeny and Rathbun Black¬ 
berry Plants. 500,000 Btibach, 500,000 Gandy, 800,000 
Success. Lots of other Strawberry Plants for 
sale; two farms for sale, all in fruit, 41 acres in one, 
70 acres in the other; nice buildings on both farms. 
Before placing your order get m v catalogue; it is 
free. D. VV. MOSLEY, Dover, Del. 
SEED OATS 
NEW KHERSON, Sensation : Texas Red Rust¬ 
proof ; Early Champion and all the best varieties 
grown, at farmer prices. Big illustrated Catalog of 
Seed Corn and all farm and garden Seeds mailed 
FREE if you mention this paper. 
RATEKIN’S SEED HOUSE, Shenandofkhjowa 
Seed Potatoes That Will Satisfy You 
My success in this business Is due to my sending my customers seed potatoes that are satisfactory 
to them. Every care and precaution possible is taken in filling an order and you are also receiving the 
benefit of Thirty-three Years’ experience. Send today for free catalogue containing every standard 
variety grown. Established 1876. S. J. CONNOLLY, Fishers, Ontario Co., N, Y. 
The BURPEE IDEA 
is “to try all things, hold fast to those that 
are good,—and then make them better!” If 
you would have pleasure or profit from your 
garden you should plant 
the BEST SEEDS that Can be Grown! 
Shall we mail you a copy of “The Leading American Seed Catalog;”! It is an elegant 
book of 172 pages and is mailed only to those who can appreciate the BURPEE QUALITY 
in Seeds. Most Important Novelties for 1908 —sixteen of which are shown painted from 
nature. Write TO-DAY: 
W. ATLEE BURPEE & CO., Seed Growers, PHILADELPHIA, PA. 
