THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
641 
1911. 
WHEN WINTER HURTS APPLE TREES. 
S. Androscoggin Co., Me .—What shall I 
do with my Wolf River apple trqes? The 
branches will turn black, bark split open 
and peel off, and then die; one-third of 
apples last season only got about one-half 
size, then would shrink and dry up. These 
trees are large yielders and about 20 years 
old. I would like to save them if possible, 
but they are badly affected. 
Ans.— The trees in question are prob¬ 
ably affected by Winter injury, though 
it is impossible to be certain of this 
without direct examination. The heavy 
bearing, with resulting weakened condi¬ 
tion, would increase their tendency 
toward such injury, and the symptoms 
are not those of fire blight, to which this 
variety is reputed to be rather resistant 
anyway. If it is Winter injury, very 
little can be done to save the trees. The 
most promising measures would be to 
prune out the dead and evidently injured 
wood, and to try to get more vitality into 
the remaining portions. This can prob¬ 
ably best be done with a moderate dress¬ 
ing of stable manure, about six or eight 
tons per acre, applied about when growth 
starts or slightly before. In the pruning 
the cuts should be made close to the 
parent branch, or just above a lateral 
in the case of removing a vertical 
branch, whenever this is possible. All 
wounds over one inch in diameter should 
be painted with a thick, pure lead paint, 
without any turpentine or “drier” in it. 
This is to reduce evaporation and avoid 
fungus attacks. Besides these opera¬ 
tions, it is essential in avoiding later 
Winter injury that the wood be properly 
ripened before Winter sets in. If the 
orchard is cultivated, this can probably 
best be done with a rapid-growing, frost- 
killed cover crop, such as large German 
millet. This plant remains erect and 
holds the snow, which is really the best 
frost protection for orchards, so far as a 
Winter covering is concerned. It should 
be planted so as to get about two months’ 
growth before frost usually comes. If 
the ground is not cultivated, and this 
is probably the safer plan where Win¬ 
ter injury is much of a factor, then the 
wood ripening is likely to take care of 
itself. It can be regulated somewhat, 
however, even under the sod treatment, 
by modifying the heights to which the 
vegetation is permitted to grow. 
Pa. Exp. Station. p. p. Stewart. 
Crows that Pull Corn. 
The season for planting corn in New 
England is approaching, and we would 
like to know what is the best thing we can 
ase to prevent the crows from pulling up 
corn. We find that corn does not come 
quite so well if thoroughly tarred, and we 
have had experience with crows that would 
pull up corn even if they did not eat it. 
Perhaps they had been upon the neigh¬ 
bors’ fields and had received such educa¬ 
tion that they had fixed the habit so thor¬ 
oughly that they would not desist from 
pulling ours, even if it was distasteful 
on account of tar we had put on. On 
small pieces we find twine quite success¬ 
ful, but when we plant fields of 15 to | 
25 acres we should have something that 
would not hinder so much the cultivating 
of the cornfields. We have put out suits of 
clothes stuffed with straw, boxes in which a 
man with a rifle could hide, nevertheless, 
the crows have pulled some corn every year 
for us. If you have a remedy that is sure 
will you be so kind as to give it to us? 
Maine. J. h. r. 
Nothing in our experience has been surer 
than tarring the seed and this does not 
always work. Crows are very bad with us. 
There appears to be a “roost’’ nearby. We 
are told that if you can catch a crow in 
a steel trap at the top of a pole, put a 
chain on his leg and fasten him in the field 
his cries will drive the rest away. The 
following advice is given by a number of 
correspondents : 
Feeding Crows on Com. 
I note you refer to tarring corn to save 
It from the crows. I want to enter a word 
of protest against this disagreeable prac¬ 
tice, and I believe it is wholly unnecessary. 
I pity the boy or hired man that has to 
plant tarred corn on a warm day in May 
even when the corn is properly tarred, to 
say nothing of the filthy mess that is often 
prepared by some. For the boss I have no 
sympathy, for as the boys say, it is his 
own funeral. I have seen considerable 
damage from pulling where corn was well 
tarred, as the crows will try hill after 
hill even if they do not eat it, and in 
some instances I have seen thm eat con¬ 
siderable after hulling It. For the past 
four years I have had no trouble from 
pulling where I fed the crows unless the 
feeding was neglected until the corn was 
up, and we have had just as many or more 
crows in the fields these years as hereto- 
fore. A half bushel to a bushel of corn 
will protect eight or 10 acres in a good 
growing season, though more may be nec¬ 
essary in a cold backward season. Don’t 
get the idea that any old corn will do for 
crow feed, but take nice, bright sound corn, 
just as good as you would take to mill to 
have ground for family use, and scatter 
through the field just before the corn breaks 
the ground, and renew if needed until the 
corn is past the stage where the crows will 
pull it. Don't get the idea that the crows 
have to be poisoned, or be too economical 
in the feeding, aud if the first feed is sown 
in time I believe you will have no trouble 
from pulled corn. I use this method in 
protecting my breeding plots where a per¬ 
fect stand is very essential, and when 
properly carried out I have not had a 
hill pulled. It is not from any liking for 
the crows have pulled some corn every year 
but purely from a business standpoint of 
dollars and cents, and the satisfaction Oi 
having a perfect stand. However, I be¬ 
lieve the crow does not get full justice and 
lives under the ban of strong prejudice 
handed down from generation to generation 
of mankind. Now and then crows will 
catch chickens, and when they do there is 
no worse pest to the poultryman, and 
here I speak from experience : but I do not 
believe all crows contract this habit, and 
it would be just as fair to condemn all 
Smiths because John Smith is a thief as 
it is to condemn all crows because certain 
crows catch chickens. There is another 
thing in relation to corn planting that I 
never could understand, and this is why 
anyone should plant three and four or 
four and five kernels in a hill. The boss 
will give these instructions at planting 
time, at least this practice prevails in this 
section, and he will sometimes go one bet¬ 
ter and say, “put from three to five in a 
hill.” If three are wanted why put three 
to four or three to five? The same farmer 
would think his wife crazy if she should 
tell him to come to dinner from 11 to 1. 
GEO. R. SCIIAUBER. 
Preparation for Oats. 
I have a field in front of my house 
which I would like to sow to oats this Spring. 
The field has not, however, been plowed 
during the last 15 years, and now has a 
thick sod of worthless grass and weeds. 
My neighbors advise me not to sow oats 
on new ground. Do you think a satisfac¬ 
tory crop of oats can be grown there with 
proper fertilizing? Do you think that it 
pays to apply lime to the soil when lime 
costs $9 per ton? k. j. 
Iiudd Lake, N. .T. 
That is not the best soil for oats. We 
would rather plant corn, as the first crop 
on such land : still you can get a fair crop 
of oats if you will fit the soil, lime it and 
use a fair amount of fertilizer. We should 
in such case use lime at the price you 
mention. 
A 
Makes a 
Good Breakfast 
Better— 
To have some 
Post 
Toasties 
with cream or milk. 
For a pleasing change, 
sprinkle Post Toasties over 
fresh or stewed fruit, then 
add cream and you have a 
small feast. 
“The Memory Lingers” 
Postum Cereal Company, Ltd., 
Battle Creek, Mich. 
SAVE MONEY, TIME AND LABOR 
Before Building, Write for Free Booklet and Samples of 
Wall boardsheath iNG 
LJISHOPRIC WALL BOARD is cheaper and 
AJ better than Lath and Plaster; applied winter or 
Summer. YOU can easily nail it to studding. Ap¬ 
plied dry it is at once ready tor paint,paper or burlap, 
is clean and sanitary; guaranteed proof against 
dampness, heat, cold, sound and vermin. 
CONSTRUCTION 
Made of kiln-dried dressed 
lath, imbedded in hot Asphalt 
Mastic, andsurfacedwi th sized 
cardboard;is cut atthe factory 
into uniform sheets, 4x4 ft. sq. 
and three-eighths of an inch 
thick. These sheetsfdelivered 
in crates) are easilyandquick- 
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partitionsin old buildings, fin¬ 
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Applying Wall Board laundries, garages 
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f. o. b. factories. New Orleans, Cincinnati, or Alma, Mich. 
Write for Booklet and Free samples cf Wall Board, Sheathing and Roofing 
The Mastic Wall Board & Roofing Mfg. Co. 43 E. Third St. Cincinnati, O. 
T5ISHOPRIC SHEATHING saves 75 per cent in 
•L* materia 1 an d labor. Same as Wal 1 Board, bu t card¬ 
board surface of Sheathing is not recommended 
for decorative purpose;therefore costs less. Quick¬ 
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Shows weatherboards over Sheathing, I 
side exposed; also 
Bishopric Rooling / 
over Sheathing.) * 
smooth side 
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Makes smooth, solid job. Does away with building 
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Price$2.35 per square of 100 sq.ft, or $6 per crate of 256 
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Your Buildings 
Are Capital 
—just as much as your land. 
You would’nt think of 
letting your land run down. 
Do you neglect your build¬ 
ings? 
Where the paint has 
scaled off, the weather will 
soon work ruin. 
This spring protect your buildings with 
good paint. Be sure your painter uses 
“Dutch Boy Painter” 
White Lead 
and genuine linseed oil. You can find 
nothing so protective, lasting and econom¬ 
ical. Ask your painter. 
You can have free our “Helps No. 1508 
which tell all you want to know about 
paint and painting. 
National Lead Company 
New York Cleveland Chicago 
St. Louis Boston Buffalo 
Cincinnati San Francisco 
John T. Lewis A Bros. Co., Philadelphia 
National Lead A Oil Co.. Pittsburgh 
Hay Unloader 
This Hoist is designed to 
meet the needs of farmers 
who have Gas or Steam 
Power, and is of especial 
interest for their use in un¬ 
loading hay and grain, and 
in filling the iee house and 
storing feed, etc. Write for 
full particulars and price. 
John Farrell. Newton, N. J. 
DIGS ALL THE POTATOES 
without rutting them—just enough adjustment to meet 
your conditions without currying too much soil. Saves 
enough more potatoes, even in small acrcnge to pay for 
machine in short time. 1‘erfect separation. Is ns light 
draft us any digger can bo. No neck weight. Two styles 
made Prices ip75.00 to $105.00. No. 1;>0 is the lighter 
machine, built on strong but very simple lines—a great 
favorite with growers. Separate bearings, easily removed 
and cheaply replaced. Operates entirely from the seat. 
ISONASE 
POTA TO 
_ DIGGERS 
—rears of actual use in all sorts ot 
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conditions have prove- 
Anniversary Catalog—complete line of potato tnnehin* 
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Box 102-D 
GRENLOCH. 
STAND 
ARD 
WELL AND PROSPECTING 
DRILLING MACHINERY 
43 years’ successfui operation. 
Used In nearly ali parts of the 
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of Drilling Machines and tools 
for every condition of earth 
and rock drilling and min¬ 
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catalogue No. 120 showing over 
40 styles of machines free. 
THE AMERICAN WELL WORKS 
General Office and Works: 
„ ^ Aurora, III. 
Chicago Office: First National Bank Building. 
INOCULATED ALFALFA SOIL 
75 cents per hundred, $10.00 per ton. F. O. B. Ash- 
ville, Pa. Semi for FRICK booklet "How to Grow 
Alfalfa.” Dr. H. SOMERVILLE, Chest Spvings, 
Cambria County, Pa. 
Farmers, 
Nitrate of Soda 
Sulphate of Potash 
the man behind the Plow wants a Good Fertilizer. For the 
Land’s sake give him the real Farm Chemical, such 
as; 
Muriate of Potash 
Kainit 
Our 40 years of experience, prompt service, best facilities, are back of every bag of these Genuine Materials. 
We advise to buy now, prompt service. Write us for Prices TO-DAY. Any amount from 200 -lb. bag up 
FARMERS UNITED CHEMICAL CO., 
Box 317, Reading, Pa. 
For Orchard and Farm\ 
All genuine “Cutaways” are intense cultivators and 
will increase your crops 25 to 50 percent. Our Double 
Action "Cutaway” Harrow is a wonderful invention 
—can be used in Held or orchard. Perfect center 
draft. Drawn by two medium horses will move the 
earth twice on every trip. We can prove it. 
“Intensive Cultivation,” our new catalogue is Free. 
Send for it today. 
CUTAWAY HARROW CO., 839 Main St., Higganum, Conn. 
Let Me Pay the Postage on 
My Big Free Buggy Book to You 
want you 
at home 
Though these books cost me 21 cents each, yet I’ll gladly send you one free because 
to know about Split Hickory Vehicles—made-to-order—sold direct from factory to 
on 30 Days’ Free Road Test—guaranteed 2 years. 
Book Tells How I Save You $25.00 a u n p d on Split Hickory Buggies 
—tells why I can save it to you and just where the saving comes in—also tells how I 
vehicles more vehicles than you could see in 10 big store rooms. ] 
of actual photographs of Vehicles and Harness of every description 
Iniyers Guide. It not onlv cnvr»«: fio«r»rir»fir>r»o nriooc 
[ Mb HBm. _ 
H, C. Phelps 
Vohiclec;-mDrl n ,f^ii t = t f C L yOU and where the saving comes in-also tells how I save at the same ratio on over 100 styles of Split Hickory 
Vehicles more veh cles than you could see in 10 big store rooms. Better send for this book, sit down of an evening and look it over. It’s full 
raplis of Vehicles and Harness of every description. It’s my latest and best book—for 1911-and it’s truly a 
arP hpttpr , ° nly eives descriptions and prices in detail, but also tells how good vehicles are made-why they 
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__ H. C. Phelps, President, 
THE OHIO CARRIAGE MFG. CO., STATION 290, COLUMBUS, OHIO 
Split Hickory 
Vehicles Sold f 
Direct fron 
Factory to 
Flome. 
from 
v to sC 
30 Days’ Free 
Road Test— "f. 
Two Years 
Guarantee. 
