562 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
July 4, 
FARMERS’ CLUB 
[Every query must be accompanied by the name 
and address of the wi-iter 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 piece of paper.] 
AN ILLINOIS ELM. 
The picture of the great elm tree 
shown on the first page was sent, us by 
Mr. J. S. Peironnet, of Illinois. It is 
60 years old, stands 61 feet high, with 
10 feet circumference of trunk and a 
spread of 82 feet. Men come to regard 
such a tree as a dear old friend. A 
man with gray in his hair who had seen 
the tree grow and develop would not, 
under any circumstances, have it cut 
down. He could not possibly place a 
suitable money value .on it. A few 
weeks ago we told how the love and 
sentiment for an old tree has grown so 
great in the East that people will pay 
for having the old veteran patched up. 
It is a good thing that the same senti¬ 
ment is growing in the West. An elderly 
man may well protect the old trees, and 
younger people may well plant new 
ones. 
WHEN TO CUT POTATO SEED. 
How long can seed potatoes be kept be¬ 
fore cutting after they are soaked to de¬ 
stroy scab germs? 
I have always used “formalin,” and 
with the best of results. For experi¬ 
ment I have treated the worst of in¬ 
fected seed, and always have raised 
smooth tubers from same. It has al¬ 
ways been handy for me to plant soon 
after having treated the seed; that is 
within a few days at the most, and I 
think I prefer that way, for if in the 
ground the seed is out of danger of 
becoming again infected with the germs, 
while on the other hand, if allowed to 
remain about I would expect the forma¬ 
lin to evaporate from the seed, and they 
being dry, might again take the germs 
from baskets, bags, or other utensils 
being used. I have never had my seed 
cut far in advance of planting, but have 
usually cut only as fast as wanted. 
Torrington, Conn. L. h. r. 
This Spring we soaked our seed 1 
hour in a solution of corrosive sub¬ 
limate, one ounce to seven gallons of 
water and at once spread (not heaped) 
them on the floor of an open chamber; 
windows on three sides of the room, 
which gave them plenty of light. Most 
of them were planted in two weeks, but 
about three bushels were kept for over 
a month. At planting the sprouts were 
green and tough and many of them an 
inch long. We cut and planted them, 
not using special care in handling. They 
came up quickly and evenly and are look¬ 
ing fine to-day. We always cut our seed 
as planted. If kept many days after 
cutting they dry up and are not satis¬ 
factory. M. L. C. 
Meadows, N. H. 
Questions About Lightning Rods. 
A. H. P., Hulberton, N. Y.—On page 806 
.T. S. Woodward replies to T. C. P. on 
lightning rods. Is there no flash when 
electricity is conveyed from the clouds to 
a lightning rod? Would enough rods in a 
vicinity prevent lightning flashes, taking 
the electricity from the clouds noiselessly? 
lias there been any test with electrical ap¬ 
paratus to know whether electricity passes 
noiselessly down these rods? If it does, 
could it not be utilized in storage bat¬ 
teries? 
Ans.—O nly in exceptional cases is 
there a visible discharge of electricity to 
a lightning rod; while a good rod dur¬ 
ing some showers may take enough 
electricity silently to wreck the building 
totally if coming as a stroke with no 
protection. Dr. Dionysius Lardner, in 
his essays on lightning, mentions a case 
where Napoleon had his large army on 
dress parade when a heavy thunder¬ 
storm came up. The soldiers were or¬ 
dered to “fix bayonets and shoulder 
arms.” As the clouds came over the 
immense presentation of sharp bayonet 
points raised the electricity was drawn 
off to such an extent that lightning 
ceased, but as soon as the clouds got 
beyond the influence of the sharp points 
the discharges were as terrific as before. 
The army thought Napoleon could con¬ 
trol the elements, and so he could, as he 
happened to know the law of electricity. 
When I was a student attending an 
academy on which was a good lightning 
rod which was so arranged that it could 
be disconnected near the ground, I 
have seen sparks passing half an inch 
or more and have received smart shocks 
to my knuckles when offered to the de¬ 
tached end of rod. I cannot say as to 
the practicability of storage of electricity 
by this means. j. s. woodward. 
Dodder in Clover. 
8. B. R., Pennsylvania .—Xfy neighbor has 
in his clover field a number of patches of 
a peculiar plant and I enclose a sample. 
What is it and what is the best way to 
get rid of it? We think it came in some 
foul western clover seed planted last year. 
We are afraid from its persistency it will 
spread and take possession of the ground. 
Ans. —This was one of the dodders 
which are parasitic on the clovers and 
other leguminous plants. It does great 
damage in Alfalfa fields. The seed so 
closely resembles that of clover that it 
often passes unnoticed in commercial 
clover seed, and in this way the pest is 
spread. It ought to be a prison offense 
to sell clover seecf from a field known 
to be infested with dodder. The seed 
germinates in the soil, but soon twines 
around the clover and loosens its hold 
on the ground, living on the host and 
sending its thread-like shoots in all di¬ 
rections. The clover at the starting point 
soon dies, but the dodder continues to 
spread. The badly yellowed spots should 
be cut separately and burned. Any in¬ 
fested hay saved should be put by itself 
and the manure from it put on fields 
that are to be kept in non-leguminous 
crops and cultivated several years. As 
a safeguard against this pest it is well 
to send samples of the seed before sow¬ 
ing to the State experiment station or 
the Seed Laboratory of the United 
States Department of Agriculture, 
Washington, D. C. 
Rye for Green Manure. 
71. I!. C., Middleport, Ohio .—I have about 
an acre planted to potatoes that I desire 
to plant to strawberries next year. The 
soil is a clayey loam, tiled, and I believe 
suitable for Gandy or Senator Dunlap. I 
am thinking of sowing rye, heavily fer¬ 
tilized, to be plowed down next Spring. 
What do you think of the plan ? What 
kind of fertilizer would you recommend? 
Ans. —Are the potatoes early or late? 
In our section (northern New Jersey) 
we can dig early potatoes before Au¬ 
gust 15 and then sow a combination of 
Crimson clover and Cow-horn turnips. 
In most years this makes a good growth, 
and when plowed under helps the soil. 
Late potatoes with us would not permit 
sowing Crimson clover. We should sow 
rye in that case. When potatoes are 
well fertilized at planting little addi¬ 
tional fertilizer is needed to grow a 
crop of rye. In using rye, however, you 
must plow it under early. This is one 
of the worst crops to take the moisture 
out of the soil. In a naturally dry sea¬ 
son, if you let it stand too long the crop 
will suck the soil dry, and following 
crops will suffer. We think it pays for 
the extra time and work to mow the 
rye and let it wilt before plowing it 
under. Then roll the ground firmly and 
work the upper surface fine. In this 
case we would use no fertilizer on the 
rye, but put 800 pounds or more on the 
strawberries, using two per cent nitro¬ 
gen, eight phosphoric acid and seven 
potash. _ 
“Every man should know himself,” 
remarked the Wise Guy. “Perhaps,” 
agreed the Simple Mug, “but in doing 
so he wastes a lot of time that might 
be spent in making more desirable ac¬ 
quaintances.”—Philadelphia Record. 
Rosendale, Wis., Mar. 23, '08. 
I have used a U. S. for 15 years. 
It has always been perfectly satisfac¬ 
tory and I never hesitate to recom¬ 
mend it to anyone. CHAS. L. HILL. 
CLEAN SKIMMING 
EASY RUNNING 
LONG WEARING 
DURABILITY 
This word is the secret in separator construction. Compare 
these two letters, please. Is not Mr. Kroyer's experience, with 
this '* cheap ” apology for a separator, sufficient proof to any 
fair-minded reader, about to purchase a separator, the wise 
move to make? Read Mr. Hill's testimony, please, and com¬ 
pare—15 years of perfect satisfaction as compared with 8 
months' use and “all played out." The ever-ready-to-use 
IMPROVED 
1 9 08 
U.S. 
CREAM 
SEPARATOR 
has more practical improvements than any other separator 
made, having a solid, low frame; most simple yet efficient 
bowl, waist low supply can and numerous other advantages. 
Send to^lay for catalogue No. 159, describing fully this 
labor saving, money earning, reliable separator. 
VERMONT FARM 
MACHINE CO. 
BELLOWS FALLS, VT. 
16 Diitrlbutln* Warehouses 
in U. S. and Canada. 
New Market, Minn., Mar. 19, '06. 
I bought an “Economy" Separator 
8 months ago and it is all played out 
now. Ordered a No. 6 U. S. and am 
now satisfied. A. KROYER. 
GREEN i MOUNTAIN 
SI1/OS 
Superior In design, material 
and workmanship. 
Simplest, strongest, most 
practical, most durable. 
Write NOW for money-sav¬ 
ing offer. 
Creamery Package Mfg. Co. 
220 West St., Rutland, Vt. 
FUNIA 
HPIIIfl A J! kills Prairie Dogs, 
m m m Woodchucks, Gophers, 
and Grain Insects. 
“Tiie wheels of the gods 
grind slow hut exceed¬ 
ingly small.” So the weevil, but you can stop their 
*with ‘‘Fuma Carbon Bisulphide” are doing. 
EDWARD R. TAYLOR, Penn Yan, N. Y. 
THE ENORMOUS YIELD of 50.000 quarts of 
* Strawberries now growing by iny system on 
one acre. Send for CHART. 
KEVITT’S PLANT FARM, Athenia, N. J. 
rUn OALE bushel; Cow Peas. $2.50 to $:i.0C 
JOSEPH E. HOLLAND, Milford, Delaware. 
Home Water Works 
Have running wateT where and when you want 
it. Use the nearby brook, spring or pond. 
POWER SPECIALTY CO. RAMS 
rtl8« traier to an? height, in ar y 
Reliable, economical, to 
expense or trouble to operate. Free 
Catalog gives raluable eaggeatious. De¬ 
scribes and illustrates Rife and F<«ter 
Hydraulic Rams. We Guarantee Satis¬ 
faction. W rite today. 
POWER SPECIALTY COMPANY, 111 Broadway. Raw York Clt| 
RUNNING WATER ON THEFARM 
Plenty of it in the house and at the barn, 
lots of It for irrigating unproductive land, 
can be had by installing a 
Niagara Hydraulic Ram 
Saves labor of hand pnmping. Cheaper 
than a gasoline engine or windmill. 
Write for catalogue AG and esti¬ 
mate. We furnish Caldwell Tanks and 
Towers. NIAGARA HYDRAULICENGIKECO. ’ 
140 Nai.au Street, NenYork. Eaeteryi Cheater, Pa, 
SEPARATORS from * to to borse. Steam and Carolina 
Engines, mounted and Stationary, r, a and 3 H. Tread Powers, a 
to 8 Hoise 
Sweep 
Powers,HaDd 
and P o w er 
Corn Shell cn. 
Feed and Ensilage 
Cotters. Wood Saws > 
Steel and Wood Land 
Rolleis. „ 
The Mcsaingcr Mfg. Co. Box 1 » TaUuuj , 1* 
CABBAGE PLANTS—All Seasons, Premium 
V pi n . 
Flat 
. . per 
BASIL PERRY, Cool Spring, Del. 
nn CDY and cabbage plants only 
UkLClII $ 1.00 to $1.25 per 1,000. Price 
list free. SLAYMAKER & SON, Dover, Del. 
IT I CDY PLANTS.—Perfection, White 
■ Plume, Giant Pascal and Winter 
Queen, $1.25 per 1,000; 5,000 for $5. Premium Flat 
Dutch and Surehead Cabbage, $1 per 1,000. 
CALEB BOGGS & SON, Cheswold, Del. 
pci CDY PLANTS—Strong, stocky plants. 
MEaLkll I Raised in rows on rich ground and 
hoed like onions. All rows are thinned by hand to 
give the plants an average of 4 square inches of 
space each over the whole field. $1 per 1,000, $9 per 
10,000, 500 70c. Golden Self BleaehingfFrench Seed), 
White Plume, Winter Queen, Golden Heart, Giant 
Pascal. Cabbage plants. F.W.Rochelle,Chester,N.J. 
s-WILL-KILL-FLIES 'n 
You couldn't fight flies and do your best 
work; neither can a cow. Protect your stock 
with “ Will-Kill-Flies.” It is a wonderful 
new spraying oreparaUon that increases the 
production of niillc and 
eggs by killing the insect 
pests that annoy your 
stock and poultry. Easy-, 
safe and economical to use. 
Try it at our risk. Your 
increased profits will 
amaze you. 
Trial gallon, with 
sprayer, 82.00, express pre¬ 
paid to any point east of the Rocky Moun¬ 
tains. Satisfaction guaranteed, or money re¬ 
funded, and goods returnable at our expense. 
Trade discount to agents. 
EUREKA MOWER CO., Utica, N. Y. 
Full line of Spraversfor all purposes. 
MORE 
EGGS 
MORE 
MILK 
CABBAGE WORMS 
Destroyed by Dusting with 
HAMMOND’S SLUG SHOT 
g Q use( j f or j} years. Sold by All Seed Dealers. 
For pamphlets worth having write B. HAMMOND, Fishkill-on-Hudson, New York. 
CRIMSON GLOVER 
The great soil improver. Valuable 
also for early green food, grazing and 
hay crop. Special circular free; also 
sample and price of seed on request. 
HENRY A. DREER, 
714 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, Pa. 
$250.00 For a Prize Story 
The Rural New-Yorker offers $ 250.00 for the best story of 
AMERICAN FARM LIFE 
of about 50,000 words, submitted by September 15 , 1908 . We 
want a strong, wholesome story depicting the highest ideals of farm 
life. We invite the competition of the fiction writers of the world 
with or without experience. These stories will be judged solely on 
their merits by judges who will have no knowledge of the authors 
of the manuscript. We prefer to have the copy in typewriting 
though this will not be necessary. Send full name and address on 
separate sheet accompanying the manuscript. Manuscripts not 
winning prize will be paid for separately or returned for which 
postage should be sent. This competition is open freely to all who 
may desire to compete, without charge or consideration of any kind. 
Prospective contestants need not be subscribers for The Rural 
New-Yorker in order to be entitled to compete for the prizes 
offered. Address copy to 
PRIZE STORY DEPARTMENT, 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER, 409 PEARL ST., NEW YORK. 
