206 
THE RURAL N E W-YOKKEH 
March 7, 
Ruralisms 
Trouble for Chestnut Growers.— 
Mr. Henry Hicks, the well-known nur¬ 
seryman of Westbury, L. I., furnishes 
the following interesting but not cheer¬ 
ful information about a new chestnut 
disease: 
A serious fungus disease is killing the 
chestnut trees in the forests of Long Is¬ 
land. It. frequently kills 20 feet of the top 
or may work lower down on tlie trunk. It 
starts from a spore in a crotch or wound 
which sends out: mycelium or roots of the 
fungus, penetrating the bark next the wood. 
In a few months it girdles Hie branches 
and the leaves turn yellow and drop. A 
tree apparently healthy in .Tune will lx 1 half 
dead in August. The fungus produces 
spores in orange pustules or jelly horns on 
the dead bark. There is no cure known 
except to cut o(T affected branches and cut 
out dead bark on the trunk and larger 
branches before they are girdled. Cut an 
inch or so beyond the edge, in similar 
work on Pear blight in California it is ad¬ 
vised to disinfect tools and wounds with cor¬ 
rosive sublimate, proportion one to one 
thousand. Neither this remedy, painting 
Hie cuts with tar, nor spraying with fungi¬ 
cides have been thoroughly tested. The 
cutting is practical on isolated trees but in 
Hie forest is very expensive. Dr. Haven 
Metcalf, Division of Forest Pathology, 
United States Department of Agriculture, 
is experimenting along these lines in the 
young orchard of It. Dudley Winthrop. 
Westbury Station, L. I. In this orchard 
and that of ('has. II. Steele, and in our 
nursery, lie finds the Japanese chestnut im¬ 
mune. The disease is new to science. Dr. 
Murrill, of New York Botanic Garden, 
Bronx Park, named it in 1000 Diaporthea 
parasitica. One hope is that like many 
other plagues, it will go in waves and later 
largely disappear. It may be a blessing 
in disguise. On many Long Island private 
estates the woodland will be more beautiful 
if gradually thinned out, according to the 
principles of landscape forestry. Ninety- 
nine per cent of owners have not Hie knowl¬ 
edge, imagination and courage to do it. 
Now Ihe melancholy trees have to be cut 
and the oak. hickory, tulip and dogwood 
will have a chance to develop into broad, 
handsome trees. 
We can scarcely take Mr. Hicks’ 
philosophic view of the matter. Oak, 
hickory, tulip and dogwood are very 
handsome and desirable trees, but chest¬ 
nut is in many ways more valuable than 
any of these. There is room for all 
our choice natives, and it is to 'be 
hoped that the chestnut visitation will 
prove a brief, if not entirely a local 
one. We are informed the pest was 
probably imported on Japan chestnuts, 
which are not strictly immune as above 
stated, but are so resistant, from long 
habituation, to the poisons elaborated 
by the fungus, that they do not seriously 
suffer from it. In fact it is a trifling 
affair on Japans, producing only small 
cankers, but quick destruction to our 
native species and likely in lesser de¬ 
gree to European varieties. This deadly 
new chestnut canker should be looked 
for on choice natives trees and promptly 
exterminated, w;hen found, by the 
means above mentioned. 
Pine Beetles and Fungus. —The For¬ 
est Service, United States Department 
of Agriculture, recently gave out the 
following encouraging account of the 
fungus that is checking the extensive 
ravages of the Timber beetle of the 
Dakota Black Hills. 
The bark beetle winch for several years 
has been working havoc in the valuable 
pine timber of the Black Hills, S. D., has 
apparently been given a check by a fungus 
which finds in the dying trees a congenial 
Pi a ce of lodgment, and at the same time 
kills tin- beetles in the bark. There is 
hope that the worst of the scourge in that: 
region has passed. For 10 years this beetle 
lias been sweeping through the Black Hills 
forests, every year Invading fresh areas. 
The total amount of pine destroyed by it 
is reckoned at not less than one billion 
feet board measure. At: the present stump- 
age price of green timber in South Dakota 
this loss would amount to $0,000,000. It 
now appears that its maximum destruc¬ 
tiveness was reached about two years ago, 
and it is now on the decline. Two years ago 
the discovery was made that a fungus was 
at work in the timber, killed h.v the beetles, 
in which the broods were passing their 
infant stages preparatory to taking flight to 
new forests. it was noted at that time 
that the fungus was fatal to the young 
beetles, but the full extent of the work 
done by the fungus has just: been made 
known in a report covering investigations of 
many months by the Forest Service. The fun¬ 
gus is a “bark peeler." Experts have 
claimed all the time that the beetles could 
ho checked if some way could he found to 
peel the trees in which the young broods are 
harboring. They live in the inner bark and 
next; to the wood. When the hark is sepa¬ 
rated from the wood their galleries are laid 
open and they die. Efforts have been made 
in the affected district to peel standing 
trees. Machinery lias been made for Hint 
express purpose, and trunks were stripped 
to a height of 20 feet. But so 
large are the affected areas that the few 
trees peeled were not a drop in the bucket. 
Efforts were made at different times to 
cut the dying timber. Tracts were sold to [ 
mil! men, and large quantities were cut, 
but: not enough to have any appreciable 
effect on the heelle invasion. Woodpeckers 
helped the -work along. They flocked to 
the dying trees by hundreds and stripped 
them of their hark and devoured the young 
beetles by the million. But that was not 
enough. The pest had gained such head¬ 
way that it was beyond 1 lie power of bark- 
peelers, log cutters, and woodpeckers. Mean¬ 
while the peculiar fungus was gaining 
headway and getting in its work. It ap¬ 
pears in the form of a grayish slime be¬ 
tween the hark and the wood. It makes the 
hark loose and it falls, leaving the trees 
bare, and bringing down the multitudes of 
young beetles to their certain death; or, if 
the bark still hangs on the trunks, the 
effect otf the beetles is equally fatal, for 
they die iti their galleries and larva mines. 
The habits and life history of this hark 
• beetle render it defenseless when attacked 
by the fungus. The parent beetle bores 
a gallery several Inches long in the inner 
layers of bark, grooving the wood. Eggs 
are deposited at intervals along both sides 
of the gallery, often as many as 60 to 70. 
These eggs hatch, and while in the larval 
state, they bore short galleries at right 
angles to the parent tunnel. They remain 
there a year, eating and growing. Their 
depredations kill the most vital part of the 
tree —the cambium—though the tops and 
needles do not succumb at once, and it is 
at that stage that the fungus appears and 
brings the career of the beetle brood to a 
close. In normal conditions it probably 
finds a few lightning-sfruck trees in the 
proper decline to suit its purposes, or it 
may attack storm-thrown timber, hut It is 
not numerous enough to kill trees, and its 
invasion cannot gain headway. But when 
some unusual condition- such as caused by 
a hurricane sweeping over a large timber 
area—provides a start, the beetles may in¬ 
crease in numbers until they are able to 
attack vigorous trees and kill them, and 
iii fact when the epidemic is at its height 
they almost invariably attack living trees. 
That is what has happened in the Black 
Hills. The invasion continues until some 
enemy reduces Hie beetles below the point 
where they are able to kill timber. That 
tints an end to the invasion. This is, ap¬ 
parently, what the fungus is accomplish¬ 
ing in the Black Hills at this time. 
To carry out a systematic scheme 
of compensation some enterprising 
eastern species of beetle should get to 
work on the new chestnut fungus, and 
either exterminate it or limit its rav¬ 
ages in a manner comparable to the re¬ 
versed process now going on in the 
Black Hills. In all probability some 
natural enemy will in time be found to 
take the sharp edge off the havoc now 
being wrought. This is, without doubt, 
the case with Asparagus rust, and to a 
much less obvious extent with San Jose 
scale. The Potato beetle is almost 
the only instance of an invading pest 
that has not developed a natural check 
but it is of all recent comers the most 
amenable to artificial control. We must 
meet the chestnut disease with stout 
hearts and use the best means that 
science provides for its immediate con¬ 
trol. 
A Beautiful New Astilbe.— The 
hardy flowering plants known to flor¬ 
ists as herbaceous Spiraeas are by 
botanists classed as Astilbe and Arun- 
cus. They are very decorative in the 
garden but of especial value for Win¬ 
ter cut blooms, as they force readily. 
Astilbe Japonica has long been a favor¬ 
ite for its abundant fleecy white flow¬ 
ers, but has lately been supplanted by 
several beautiful new hybrids. The va¬ 
riety known as W. E. Gladstone, more 
compact and floriferous, is now largely 
imported in place of Japonica. “Blon- 
din,”a fine pot-grown plant of which, 
greatly reduced in siz« is shown in 
big. 75, first page, is claimed to be 
superior to Gladstone. The bloom is 
glistening milk white in color. Other 
good new hybrids, more suitable for 
garden use, have been produced by 
crossing the pink A. Chinensis and even 
the new purple A. Davidi, with Japon¬ 
ica. The colors are blush white and 
silvery pink. The Davidi crosses run 
more to lilac shades. A splendid new 
white flowered species, from western 
China, not yet introduced in this coun¬ 
try, is A. grandis. It is claimed to grow 
six feet high in rich, moist soil and 
bear panicles of bloom feet long. 
The showy leaves arc also over two 
feet in length. Doubtless hybridizers 
will use it as soon as it becomes avail¬ 
able. w. v. E. 
CUTAWAY TOOLS FOR LARGE HAY CROPS 
A Clark’s Reversible 
Bush & Bog Plow 
eGrayvy, Cuts ii track 5 ft. wide, 
1 ft. deep. Will plow 
a new cut forest. His 
double action Cutaway 
Harrow keeps land true, 
!moves 1H00 tons of earth, 
cuts 30 acres per day. 
Iiis Rev. Disk Plow cuts a 
furrow 5 to 10 in. deep. 14 
in. wide. All Clark's ma¬ 
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KSl wild mustard, charlock, 
hardhack, sunflower, milk¬ 
weed, thistle or any foul 
plant. 
A WONDERFUL INVENTION 
Clark’s Mould Board Disk Plow 
From 2 to 12 ft. wido. The only disk plow that will 
turn sod ami stubble land. Send for circulars to the 
CUTAWAY HARROW CO., 39 Main St., Hlgganum, Ct. 
Snow and Ice 
cause more damage to a 
roof than any other 
weather conditions. 
vTk/O' To protect your build- 
'/Vir a g a i nst injury from these 
elements, cover them with 
eeoFiNo 
Trade Murk Rig, U. S. Pat. Off. 
It insures a perfectly water-tight roof under 
all conditions. Contains no tar, rubber or 
paper; will not melt, rot, crack or rust. Costs 
less than metal or shingles and wears longer. 
Ready for laying. A handy man with a ham¬ 
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Write for Samples and Prices. 
THE STANDARD PAINT CO., 100 William St., N. Y. 
Clucago, St. Louis. Katinas City, liostOuU’U.iaUclplua, 
New Orleaufl, 1 
2 
Good Walter A. Wood 
Harrows 
Those are two Implements that are liked by the farmer 
who wants something a lit 1 bettor than anything else in 
this line. They do good work und all conditions and 
endure severest strain. The I beam steel composing their 
frame's has no equal for strength In proportion to its bulk, 
while nothing makes as good a tooth bar as the U bar 
steel we use, as it is the only material that yields proper¬ 
ly to the st rain of the teeth. The tooth holders have no 
equal for the grip they get on the teeth. The relief springs on the a<: 
SPRING TOOTH 
HARROW 
equal ror the grip they g _ _ ,__ 
Wood feature) allow the levers to yield to unusual strain on teeth, sav 
SPIKE TOOTH 
HARROW 
Dusting bars (exclusive 
ring the entire harrow 
from injury and greatly prolonging its life. The triangu¬ 
lar tooth on the spiko harrow cuts the soil easier and stirs 
more of it than any other; has three sharp edges to bo 
used in succession and is held more firmly against the 
tooth bar than any other kind. The steel runners on the 
spring tooth harrow have renewable shoes, allow adjust¬ 
ment of height of harrow frame, saving it wear, prevent¬ 
ing gathering of trash. You should road about these har¬ 
rows in our catalogue. Write for it. Ask for catalogue 
A and name of nearest dealer. 
Walter A. Wood Mowing & Reaping Machine Co. 
Hoosick Falls, N. Y. 
No. 4 
Why depend on slow, expensive arm help—which 
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and dottle work ofthree to six men that plant or hoe by 
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Seeders. Wheel-Itoes, Horse-Hoes, ^ 
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BB 
No. 4 Planet Jr. Combined Seeder | 
and Wlieel-Hoe saves time, labor, seed, 
and money. Almost all useful garden 
1 mplcments in one. Changed In a sec- 
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Seeder, Continuous Drill Seeder, Sin 
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Weeder, or Wheel Garden Plow—ea. h 
tool the finest ofits kind. Pays for itself | 
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No. Iii Planet Jr. Double Wheel 
Hoc, Cultivator and Plow—the hand 
Icstimplcment ever made for garden¬ 
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carhon steel to keep keen edge. 
Specially designed to work extremely 
close to plants withouttujury. 
Abenaque Gasoline £nglne 
— 30 DAYS FREE- 
In order to lot you prove, to your own satisfaction, 
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—tho most economical 
—tho most durable 
farm enndno made, wo will send you any size yon 
nmyselccton 30 days free trial, nomoney In advance. 
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It’s the engine that requires no foundation, no 
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machine with noscparato| 
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ABENAQUE MACHINE WORKS, WoKmln.lor kl.tl.e * 
t unfits. Grinders. Sawmill Machinery” l*ay Presses, etc. 
200 Styles 
of 
Vehicles 
65 Styles 
of 
Harness 
Sold Direct 
from our 
Factory 
to 
User 
No. 66914. Fancy Car Plush Trimmed 
Buggy with auto scat, fancy padded wing 
dash, bike gear and rubber tire. Price 
complete, S78.00. As good as sells for 
(25 more. 
Buy Direct From Our 
Factory 
Saving all expenses and profits of tho dealer. 
Elkhart Bundles and Harness have been sold direct 
f rum our factory to the user for 35 years. We are 
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Belling to the consumer exclusively. We ship for 
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quality and price. Send for new free catalog. 
Elkhart Carriage & Harness Mfg. Co. 
Elkhart, Ind. 
No. 313. Light 
Surrey with Canopy 
top and fine auto 
seats. Price complete, 
978.00 
= O 
WIDE TIRES 
For Farm Wagons 
No 0110 thing pays better 
lit actual dollars ami cents 
than wiUo tiro wheels for 
farm wagons. Inereaso 
carrying capacity of wagon 
more than half with same 
horso power. Last a lifetime 
=|e=? without repairs; hence save 
money as well as earn it. Wo 
furnish wide tiro steel wheels any 
size to litany axle; a set will make ■= 
your old wagon as good as new. 
1 —5 Write for free catalogue telling about 
E# wide tire wagons and how they pay. 
” EMPIRE MFG. CO., Box 70 X, Quincy, III. 
» : s 
BUOB&SCHEU 
T op Buggies 
Runabouts^32.^? 
GUARANTEED 
FROM OUR FACTORY 
DIR ECT TO YOU. 
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408 G COURT STREET 
CINCINNATI,OHIO. 
29 1 
WIRE FENCE 
48-lu. stock fence 
per rod only _ 
Best high carbon coiled steel 
spring wire. Catalogue of 
fences, tools anil supplies 
VKKK. Huy direct at whole¬ 
sale. Write to-day. 
MAHON FENCE CO., 
Ilex 117, Leesburg, O. 
A 
