1908. 
CRAB APPLES FOR TOPWORKING. 
Promiscuous seedling apples are vari¬ 
able in hardiness, and behavior in the 
West, and we have to discard them. 
Rut it has been found that Jonathan 
does well and is very successful top- 
grafted on Haas; Grimes Golden will 
do finely, 50 per cent better top-worked 
on English Golden Russet. In crab 
apples in cultivation Fluke’s Virginia 
crab leads all for general list to top- 
work upon. This is not the common 
Virginia crab, but a western form in 
Iowa nurseries that is a fine very strong 
grower. It starts in nursery rows with 
a very short piece of seedling root 
grafted on scions, and it will root from 
scions like willow, almost be on own 
roots, and independent of seedling root 
if grafted right and handled right. This 
crab root is fine to stand severe western 
climatic conditions. The crab is a suc¬ 
cess up to St. Paul, Minn., and north, 
and the limbs grow peculiarly from it, 
spread starting downward a little and 
there is a strong collar formed around 
the juncture of limb and stem, and if 
you try to break a limb off the tree it 
will twist down. The fork is so it will 
not crack open and damage the tree, and 
the growth is vigorous and strong. I 
have tried it here, and Jonathan, York 
Imperial, Winesap, Ben Davis, Gano and 
Grimes all do well on it and are a suc¬ 
cess. The exceeding vigor of growth 
and roots seems to help the tops of apple 
to develop better fruit. The stronger 
growing power of the roots gets more 
and better use of the soil food for trees. 
In the Winter I cut bud sticks from 
healthy bearing trees of kinds of apples 
I want to top-work, and put the sticks 
in a buried box of moist leaves and 
leave them in it until May 15, and then 
bud the tops of the crab trees and 
cut back to buds. This I find easier 
than grafting and its attendant troubles 
here where we have high winds. Then 
budding is simpler, and so easy, and we 
can bud 200 trees a day, setting buds 
in limbs six to 12 inches from forks in 
trees. I think two kinds budded on 
same tops better than havi ig a top all 
one variety. The tops should be so 
mixed with varieties as to be helpful in 
fertilizing bloom of each sort. 
I®Wa. W. M. BOMBERGER. 
THE R URAL NEW-YORKER 
786 
LEARNED AT THE FAIR. 
r Conversation with farmers at the Now 
York State Fair brought out many useful 
and interesting suggestions. This is a 
good place to learn what farmers are think¬ 
ing about, and how their business is de¬ 
veloping. In most parts of New York the 
past season has been very dry, and crops 
have suffered severely. 
One man who came from a distance said 
be wanted to see a real good field of Alfal¬ 
fa. He was introduced tit once to a dairy¬ 
man who lives near Syracuse, and who is 
noted for his Alfalfa fields. This man said 
be had Alfalfa, but was inclined to apolo¬ 
gize for it this year, because even that 
deep-rooted plant had suffered in the 
drought. At the same time it grew so much 
better than other grasses tlint it has proven 
the salvation of many farmers. Wherever 
it was established farmers were prosperous, 
because they were able to make milk at a 
fair price. The New York Experiment Sta¬ 
tion had an exhibit, showing the effect of 
lime on Alfalfa. Many farmers looked it 
over, and said that it fully confirmed theif 
own experience. There seems to be no 
doubt that Alfalfa must have a soil con¬ 
taining lime; if it is not there naturally, 
the limie must hi* supplied, and even on Tin* 
limestone formation, it frequently happens 
Aiat an application of lime makes the dif¬ 
ference between fair success and failure. 
Most of these farmers while speaking of 
the short crop of corn or potatoes, men¬ 
tioned a fair crop of corn, which goes to 
show that the corn crop given good culture 
on strong land is pretty well able to take 
care of itself in a drought. One needs to 
have a season like this to appreciate how 
much the silo has added to dairying in the 
North. Without a silo in such a year as 
tills has proved to be. many a herd of cows 
on a New York dairy farm would be without 
food before March. As it is the cows will 
be cheap this Fall after frost. Many farm¬ 
ers have been obliged to begin feeding hay 
already, and they realize that they qannot 
carry all their stock through. They will 
sell what they think are their poorest cows 
naturally, and here will come in the advan¬ 
tage of knowing which really are the best 
cattle. 
All through Central New York the cabbage 
crap is reported light. Plants did not start 
well, many died in transplanting, and those 
that did grow arc small and not well de¬ 
veloped. Western New York farmers were 
talking from $20 to $25 a ton for cabbage, 
judging the crop from present appearances. 
Potatoes in most sections are also appar¬ 
ently a poor crop, yet here and there were 
men who had no fault to find, but were 
confident that they would dig about as large 
a crop as usual. Usually when such stories 
were analyzed we found that these men 
had planted potatoes on a good sod which 
had been packed down with a roller. The 
sod was either manured or a fertilizer was 
used, most thorough culture had been given, 
and Bordeaux Mixture was sprayed upon 
the vines. Every precaution possible was 
taken to keep the soil well filled with mois¬ 
ture. In a season like this a soil tilled 
with vegetable matter and well cultivated 
on the surface gives a fair protection 
against drought. A number of ginseng men 
report considerable success with that crop. 
Some of them said that the disease or 
blight had destroyed ginseng, and that they 
had overcome this disease by spraying with 
Bordeaux. The price of the cultivated gin¬ 
seng has risen and is now classed with that 
of wild root, for good specimens. 
As for the apples a fair crop was re¬ 
ported in Wayne and some other sections 
of western New York, in Wayne County 
fair prices, in some cases $2 a barrel, were 
reported as offered by the buyers. There 
has been the usual stand-off between buyers 
and growers, the former being more cautious 
than usual on account of what they got last 
year. In this way the growers seemed to 
have had the advantage this year, and 
prices are likely to rule fair or high. 
There was great Interest taken in gaso¬ 
line engines, there probably never were so 
many different motors exhibited at the State 
Fair as this year. A few weeks ago Tub 
B. N.-Y. showed a picture of a homemade 
motor; that is. a gasoline engine mounted 
on the trucks of an old grain binder. This 
machine had been brought to the Fair. 
Several times each day a driver mounted 
it and drove it about to show farmers what 
if would do. There was a big ditch near 
the tent where this motor was shown, and 
in order to show how practical it was. the 
operator would stop it with both hind or 
front wheels in this ditch, and then demon¬ 
strate how easy it could travel out. This 
motor carries only live horse-power, and 
many were surprised to learn that with 
it a fair job of plowing was done. No 
doubt a 10 horse-power would be more 
practical on the average farm. There seems 
to be no doubt that these motors are to 
come into use rapidly in the next few 
years, and on the level farms a large 
amount of plowing, harrowing ami similar 
work will he done with them. 
One man told the following story; He 
went to Europe, for as he said. Alfalfa 
farmers can now do almost anything they 
want to. On his way homo lie found him¬ 
self with some express money orders, which 
could not be cashed on the boat. Conse¬ 
quently be was among strangers with 
practically only a few cents in cash. While 
he was wondering what lie should do. a 
good man in the person of a Methodist 
minister came forward and offered a loan 
of money until lie could get bis paper 
cashed. Tills farmer said lie wanted to re¬ 
member Hint man with something worth 
while, and which would keep him regularly 
in mind, and so bo sent him a year’s sub¬ 
scription to The R. N.-Y. 
As usual farmers came to the State Fair 
with many hard problems in mind. There 
were young men struggling with debt and 
attempting to pay for their farms, who in 
this hard season did not quite see their 
way dear; there were older men who felt 
that they had done most of their hard 
work, yet they did not like to leave the 
farm, but not being quite sure were wonder¬ 
ing just how they could manage to keep 
the farm going properly. There wore 
younger men who bad the interests of their 
children in mind. One man told me bow 
be had started out with a definite idea of 
developing a dairy farm in connection with 
a herd of purebred cattle. While Ids be¬ 
ginning was small, with limited eanltal. lie 
could see now that be was making out, 
and that if Ills health was spared be should 
have in time a good business. His plan 
was to educate Ills boys, if possible, so 
that they would want to come and take up 
the work with him and carry it on when 
be was done. There certainly could not 
be anything pleasanter or brighter for a 
man who loves to live in the country than 
this idea of building up a business on an 
old farm and developing it so that ho would 
take pride In finally leaving It for Ills 
boys to carry on. 
RUNNING WATER ON FARM cr 
THE AERM0T0R GASOLINE ENGINE 
1h <l«fllRnc<l to Hupply water for the farm 
Imllrilnff. Thin outfit iiihurea anuppiy of 
water at all timen and the price ia within 
the reach of every farmer. Pump cap .—1600 
Kale, per hour, 16 ft. elevation; 800 Rale. ,26 
ft.; >100 gala., 60 ft. $42.60 Delivered at 
K.K. Nta. Write for descrip¬ 
tive Catalogue No. 6 giving 
full information. 
J. H. EDWARDS* 
59 Park Place* N. Y. 
National Field and Hog Fence 
gives best service, lasts longest, anises no trouble. Don’t 
buy a fence until you have written about this, our 
M. M. S. Poultry Fonce, 
Steel Web Picket Fence, 
or Hanger Barb Wire. Tell 
us what you require and 
DoKalb Fonco Co., DoKnlb, III. Kansas City, Mo. 
RANGER ^ 
. HUMANE 
RtVOLVINGf" 
(barb wire 
WAGON SENSE 
Don’t break your back and kill your 
horses with a high wheel wagon. 
For comfort’s sake get an 
Electric Handy Wagen. 
It will snvo you time and inonoy. A 
sot of Eleetrlo Stool Wheels will 
make your old wagon now a', small 
cost. Write for catalogue. It is free. 
ELECTRIC WHEEL CO.. Boi 88. Quiacj.lU. 
Farmers’ Handy Wagon 
Absolutely tho best wagon built for every kind 
of farm work, and the cheapest you can buy. It Is 
low down, tins wide steel wheels and wide tires, and 
will lasta lifetime without repairs. Can ho depended 
upon to haul any kind of a loud. Guaranteed In 
every respect. 
[STEEL WHEELS 
for farm wagons 
I —any size to lit 
I any axlo. Send 
'for our free 
booklet before 
you buy a wagon 
or a sot of wheels. 
EMPIRE MFC. CO.. Box 70 AH, Quincy, III. 
Quality in Tools 
Tools for the workshop, farm or home must be tools of quality. 
A plane, for instance, to smooth a board properly, must have a 
keen blade, carefully adjusted—its surface must be true and it 
must fit the hand. 
men mm 
Tools anti Cutlery 
are carefully inspected, adjusted and tested before 
leaving the factory. 
Look for the Keen Kutter trademark on every tool 
you buy—it guarantees the tool to be satisfactory or 
money refunded. 
The name Keen Kutter covers a full line of tools for 
shop, garden and farm, as well as scissors, shears, 
pocket knives, razors and table cutlery. 
If not at your dealer’s, write us. 
SIMMONS HARDWARE COMPANY (Inc.), St. Louis sno New York, U. S. A. 
Freight Prepaid 
on B-B Rubber 
Roofing 
Lowest Factory Price- 
Freight Prepaid 
Freight Prepaid on 100 lbs. or more. See below. 
Per 35-lb. Roll—108 Sq. Ft.— ^ 
Per 45-lb. Roll—108 Sq. Ft.— 4 Off 
2- Ply ..... l*Ov 
Per 55-lb. Roll-108 Sq. Ft.— O Off 
3- Ply - 
Order today or write lor Free Samples and Bcoklet 
Order i»t once to save time and get this most extraordinary Special Price Proposition ever 
made on guaranteed, first-quality roofing. We know that no Storekeeper. Catalog House, or 
anybody else can meet these bottom Factory Prices. 
Look at the prices quoted and remember that the low price we give you includes all Freight 
Charges, and that price is the actual cost to you of genuine "B-B” Rubber Roofing laid down at 
your railroad station. 
Every roll of long-lasting “B-B" Roofing carries our absolute guarantee to bo water-proof, fire- 
resisting and durable. It’s made of long-fibre Wool-felt, saturated in Asphalt by special "B-B" 
Process, heavily coated both sides with Flexible Water-proof Compound. Can’t crack, wrinkle 
or leak. Costs one-fourth as much as shingles and lasts twice as long. 
Write lls for Three Free Samples to Test—and Booklet 
Cement and Special Roof- 
Ing Nalls inclosed la 
(Jot our froo liberal samples of 1-ply, 2-ply and 
S-pty “B-B” ltooilng. Then put “B-B” to any con¬ 
ceivable test to prove positively that it lias every 
one of tho good points that wo claim for It. No use 
wasting mimi'i on high-priced rooting when, with¬ 
out spending a cent, you can prove tho complete 
superiority of low-priced, guaranteed “B-B” Kul>- 
lior Booling. We pay all Freight to points east of 
Missouri River and north of the south llneof Ten¬ 
nessee. If you 11 vo beyond,we pay freight that far. 
Longest Guarantee, and Prompt, Sale Delivery 
Write us on a postal, or order from this adver¬ 
tisement on our guarantee to glvo satisfaction or 
money buck. TlilB remarkable low-prim offer 
may never appear again. Take advantage of It 
anu write tills very day—at once. 
The Breese Bros. Co. 
Roofing Pept. 11. Cincinnati. O. 
Gaboon Seed Sower 
Sows all kinds of grain and grass seed. The most correct, simple and durable broad, 
cast sower made. Lasts a lifetime—made of steel, iron and brass. Guaranteed to do 
more and better work than any other hand seed sower. You save time and seed and get 
bigger crops with the Cahoon. Pays for itself many times over every year. Ask your 
dealer for the Cahoon. Send to-day for the Seed Sowers’ Manual. It tells how to save 
teed and have bigger crops . It’s free. 
GOODELL CO.. 14 Main St., Antrim, New Hampshire 
One Gall on of Wafer.Per Horse Power 
Is all that is required to properly cool ™ 
The Abenaque 
Gas or Gasoline Engine 
Note those Cooling Tanks. Write for catalog O. 
ABENAQUE MACHINE WORKS, Westminster Station, Vermont 
VOVlY>'C->V 
VATTVIYA. 
CARR^ r 
No More Wheelbarrows 
Simply 1111 it pa Louden Litter Carr ter 
inside of the barnandjriveit a shove. No 
matter how heavy the load it runs along 
smoothly over the wire or track, over 
_ switches and around curves if necessary, and _ 
ilumps itself any place in the yard you desire, and re¬ 
turns automatically. No necessity of having a manure pile near 
the door, always in the road. Tho Louden Litter Carrier is 
made of heavy steel; the water-tight box can bo raised or low¬ 
ered. Can be used for carrying anything that needs carrying 
around tho barn. Without a doubt the greatest labor saver on 
the up-to-date farm. Prices—low enough for one to bo on 
every farm. Valuable Manure Book and catalogue Free. 
Also full line of Hay Carriers, Tracks, Sllugs, Forks, Stackers. 
Itlckcra and Floxlblo Door Hungers. 
Louden Machinery Co. 601 Broadway. 
Fairfield. Iowa. 
