1911 . 
THE RURAE NEW-YORKER 
609 
Ruralisms 
GRASS FOR SOD GROWING. 
Seed Mixtures for Lawn and Fibre. 
F. C. S., Ridgewood, N. J .—Will you ad¬ 
vise me what kind of grass I could sow 
with Timothy so as to get a good close* 
heavy sod? It seems Timothy alone makes 
a very poor sod. I would like to sow some 
grass with it that makes a heavy, close and 
long-rooted sod. I use the sod in the green¬ 
houses, and as my soil is very light I want 
to get all the fiber I can with it. 
Ans.—T imothy is far from being the 
most suitable grass for producing fib¬ 
rous turf on light soils. Red-top, Ken¬ 
tucky Blue and the Bent grasses, such 
as Rhode Island and Creeping Bent, 
known also as Fiorin, are much to be 
preferred for the purpose. If Timothy 
is to be used, a mixture of 15 pounds 
Timothy and 25 pounds each Red-top 
and Kentucky Blue to the acre, followed 
by a separate sowing of 10 pounds of 
White clover, should give satisfactory 
results. A few pounds each of Rhode 
Island Bent and Creeping Bent grass 
would likely prove useful additions, as 
grasses grow better in mixture than in 
pure stands. Timothy is bunchy in habit 
and should be omitted in lawn sowing 
or where sod is wanted for other pur¬ 
poses than greenhouse compost. Most 
lawn mixtures are composed of the 
grasses above named, with the admix¬ 
ture of the stronger growing Rye 
grasses for immediate effect and of 
Sweet Vernal grass for its agreeable 
odor when cut. White clover is always 
useful as a nitrogen gatherer and on 
account of the binding effect of its 
creeping stems, though the spotty effect 
of its white blooms is sometimes con¬ 
sidered objectionable. 
Kentucky Blue grass is the most 
permanent and satisfactory of all dwarf 
grasses for turf making where it thrives, 
and usually ends by crowding out all 
other kinds, but requires several years to 
become well established, and is conse¬ 
quently seldom sown alone for the pur¬ 
pose. A mixture of equal parts by weight 
of Red-top and Kentucky Blue grasses at 
the rate of five bushels to the acre has 
been found to be about the most suit¬ 
able seeding for general lawn and sod¬ 
making purposes. This may well be fol¬ 
lowed before covering with White 
clover at the rate of 10 or more pounds I 
to the acre as above advised if this use¬ 
ful legume is not especially objected to. 
Sod growing for commercial purposes 
has been found profitable in many lo¬ 
calities where there is sufficient demand 
for lawn making, door-yard decoration I 
and even greenhouse compost. The 
price of good sods varies from one to 
2 Yz cents the square foot according to 
locality. Many a plot of suburban and 
village land has in recent years yielded 
more than its real estate value by the 
sale of its covering of marketable sod, 
which can usually be replaced in two or 
three years time and at a comparatively 
nominal cost for seed, fertilizer and 
labor. Sod and top soil are now recog¬ 
nized commodities where suburban de¬ 
velopments are extensively carried on 
and may often be seen in transport by 
the carload. As an acre of sod may re¬ 
turn over $400 at the very moderate 
price of one cent per square foot, it can 
be seen its culture is not without inter¬ 
est. The main requirements are deep 
plowing and thorough fining of the soil, 
liberal applications of fertilizer, either 
in the form of yard manure or appro¬ 
priate chemicals, including lime, care¬ 
ful seeding with adaptable grasses as 
above outlined, close and frequent mow¬ 
ing, and occasional heavy rolling. The 
last is quite necessary to counteract the 
loosening effect of frost and the dis¬ 
turbances caused by earthworms and 
moles. The covering of small grass 
seeds a£ter sowing is best accomplished 
by hand raking or the use of weeders 
and light harrows. v. 
Ants in Lawn. 
B. B. J., Flemington, N. J .—Will you tell 
me what to put on my lawn to drive away 
a large colony of black ants? They are at 
work under a young maple, so that I do not 
want to use anything that would kill the 
tree. The grass, of course, could be re¬ 
seeded if that was killed. 
Ans. —The best way to get rid of the 
ants is by using bisulphide of carbon. 
Notice where the ant-hill is; then with a 
stick punch several holes in the ground 
about 10 inches deep. Into each hole 
pour one ounce of the bisulphide, and 
immediately press the earth down tight 
with the foot. The poisonous gas from 
the bisulphide spreads all through the 
ant-hill, and is quickly fatal. It is rare 
that more than one application is needed. 
Remember, in using this substance, that 
it is extremely inflammable, and it is 
dangerous to bring it near a light or 
lighted cigar. 
Mice Gnawed Trees. 
When we went out this Spring to prune 
our young apple trees we found that the 
field mice had girdled four trees entirely, 
four almost entirely, and had gnawed some¬ 
what on nine others. I happened to have 
L. H. Bailey's book on pruning, and as 
there are others to whom this book is not 
accessible, and who. like myself, may find 
their trees injured, I will copy the remedy 
for It: 
“Trim away the rough edges of the bark, 
apply an antiseptic (a wash of Bordeaux 
mixture is recommended). Then cover the 
entire surface with melted wax and bind it 
up with cloth bandages." Foot note to 
above : “The following recipe for tree wax 
is excellent: Into a kettle place one part 
by weight of tallow, two of beeswax and 
four of rosin. When completely melted 
pour Into a tub or pail of cold water and 
work with the hands, which should be 
greased, until it develops a grain and be¬ 
comes the color of taffy candy. 
“Fruit trees may be saved in this way, 
even if the girdle completely encircles the 
tree and if they are as much as a foot 
long, if the treatment is applied before the 
wood becomes hard and dry. If the tree is 
particularly choice, or if the girdle is un¬ 
usually serious, or of long standing, espe¬ 
cially if the wounds extend into the wood. 
It may be advisable to supply a connection 
between the’ separated parts and the trunk. 
The edges of the girdle are trimmed and 
scions are inserted under the bark, so as to 
bridge the wound. These scions are cut to 
a wedge shape on either end, as for or¬ 
dinary cleft grafting, and are inserted be¬ 
tween the bark and the wood. A cloth 
bandage is tied around each edge of the 
wound to hold the bark in place over the 
scions, and melted wax is then poured over 
the entire work, covering the exposed wood 
and also the edges of the bark, for a couple 
of inches or more back from the wound. It 
will do no harm if the scions are burled in 
the wax. Care should be taken that the 
scions do not send out shoots from their 
buds.” E. E. D. 
When you write advertisers mention The 
R. N.-Y. and you’ll get a quick reply and a 
“square deal.” See guarantee editorial page. 
FEED YOUNG GIRLS. 
Must Have Right Food While Growing. 
Great care should be taken at the 
critical period when the young girl is 
just merging into womanhood that the 
diet shall contain that which is upbuild¬ 
ing and nothing harmful. 
At that age the structure is being 
formed and if formed of a healthy, 
sturdy character, health and happiness 
will follow; on the other hand unhealthy 
cells may be built in and a sick con¬ 
dition slowly supervene which, if not 
checked, may ripen into a chronic condi¬ 
tion and cause life-long suffering. 
A young lady says: 
“Coffee began to have such an effect 
on my stomach a few years ago that I 
finally quit using it. It brought on head¬ 
aches, pains in my muscles, and 
nervousness. 
“I tried to use tea in its stead, but 
found its effects even worse than those 
T suffered from coffee. Then for a long 
time I drank milk at my meals, but at 
last it palled on me. A friend came to 
the rescue with the suggestion that I try 
Postum. 
“I did so, only to find at first that I 
didn’t fancy it. But I had heard of so 
many persons who had been benefited 
by its use that I persevered, and when I 
had it made right—according to direc¬ 
tions on the package—I found it grate¬ 
ful in flavour and soothing and strength¬ 
ening to my stomach. I can find no 
words to express my feeling of what 1 
owe to Postum! 
“In every respect it has worked a 
wonderful improvement—the headaches, 
nervousness, the pains in my side and 
back, all the distressing symptoms yielded 
to the magic power of Postum. My brain 
seems also to share in the betterment ol 
my physical condition; it seems keener, 
more alert and brighter. I am, in short, 
in better health now than for a long 
while before, and T am sure I owe it to 
the use of your Postum.” Name given 
by Postum Company, Battle Creek. Mich. 
“There’s a reason.” 
Ever read the above letter? A new one 
appears from time to time. They are genu¬ 
ine, true, and full of human interest. 
This Little Insect 
Causes all your 
Wormy Apples 
I N case you do not spray, 20 to 40 percent, of your yield 
is likely to be lost on account of the codling moth. 
Swift s Arsenate of Lead will save you po per cent 
of what you would otherwise lose. In hundreds of orchards 
sprayed last year with Swift’s there was hardly a wormy apple. 
One spraying with this wonderful 
insecticide outlasts two to four with 
old-fashioned materials, because it 
sticks through even heavy rains. 
It is fatal to leaf-eating worms 
and insects. Easy to apply. 
Write for our new book. It covers 
apple culture from planting the 
trees to gathering the fruit. Clear, 
plain, simple and reliable. It is free. 
Give your dealer’s name. 
nierrimac CHEMICAL CO. 
31 Broad Street, Boston, Mass. 
SPRAYERS 
Test 
These 
Sprayers 
With Your 
Money in 
Your Own 
Pocket. 
f v™°7 ER k potato and orchard 
>■ ER J 0T bl 8 growers. Most powerful 
JS. a ,lf I « e », niade ’ an( * 10<> gallon tank for one 
xT 0 „ rsp , 8 ' lump has all brass working 
rmwp’n adjustable to rows as machine 
Cyo , lo , ne agitation, automatic 
f^jaf^alve. Powerful pressure produces vapor 
spray that prevents blight and kills bugs. V 
Trial Costs You Nothing 
made. High pressure, perfect agitation, 
brass ball valves,plunger, strainer, etc. Works 
automatically as you push it along. Saves labor 
and time and will pay for itself first season even 
on one acre. 
We Guarantee All Our 
Sprayers For 5 Years 
and ship them on FREE TRIAL without a cent in 
advance. Write us acard or letter today and sav 
which sprayer you are interested In and we’ll 
send you FREE our 
catalog and spraying 
guide and special free 
ofter for first in your 
locality this season. Be 
first to write and save 
money.- Wo pay freight. 
The H. L. Hurst Meg. Co. 
2815 NORTH ST., CANTON,OHIO 
Don’t Put Off Painting— 
It Will Prove Costly 
The longer you put off painting 
the more oil and lead the job 
will take. 
While yon wait your buildings 
rot, exposed to the weather. 
The cost of paint made of 
^ ^ ^'i “ Dutch Boy Painter” 
white lead and pure linseed oil is not 
so high as you may think. 
For an average house, the cost now 
of tiiis genuine old-fashioned, mixed- 
to-order pure white lead paint is not 
more than $4 or $5 greater than it 
used to be. Much cheaper than 
repair bills. 
Write for our free 
"Painting Helps No . 1808 ” 
NATIONAL LEAD 
COMPANY 
NewYork Cleveland Chicago 
St. Louis Boston Buffalo 
Cincinnati San Francisco 
^ (John T. Lewis A Bros. Co.. 
- Philadelphia) 
(National Lead and Oil Co.. 
Pittsburgh) 
Q PR A Y Adopted by the N.Y .State FruitGrowers’Aa.’n 
OrnAI IT WILL BAY YOU TO USE EITHER. 
u 
PASTE OR POWDERED 
FOR ALL LEAF EATING INSECTS 
RESPONSIBLE DISTRIBUTERS ahoAGENTS WANTED 
KEY BRAND 
RIGHT PRICE and MATERI AL 
^FUNGICIDE and INSECTICIDE 
USE 
INTERSTATE CHEMICAL CO. 
14 BAYVIEW AVE..JERS EV CITY. N J 
WRITE FOR PRICE5.CIRCULARS ETC. CORRESPONDENCE SOLICITED! 
$192* 
and up 
BREEZE 
Motor- Vehicle 
Special Agency Offer 
To establish fifty new agencies we 
are making a special summer offer. 
Write today for full particulars—a 
chance to enjoy life and make money. 
The Breeze is a reliable 
automobile for$ 192.50 and up; 
runs anywhere you'd send 
a horse and buggy ; 1 ow up¬ 
keep; simple, speedy, safe. 
The Jewel Carriage Co. 
Dept. I. Cincinnati, O. 
SPRAY 
FRUITS AND 
FIELD CROPS 
l and do whitewashing in most effectual, economical, 
rapid way. Batigfaction guaranteed. BROWN’S 
POWER R Auto-Sprays 
I ie fin * d wl,h -8uto-1*op Nozzle- 
r 0rdin \'T »pr»jer». Endorsed u. Ex- 
I ponment St.tionB »nd 300,000 others, do etyles and 
) fj-f* °* h “ d » n<1 , Bpnjers—also price. 
1 w V ,! 1U '' bl * a P r M in g Ktilde in our Free Book. 
Wrlto postal now. 
THE E. C. BROWN COMPANY 
28Jay at, Rochester, N. Y. 
Steel Wheelsn 
That’s So! Hired hands are 
getting scarcer every day: 
but LOW DOWN STEEL 
WHEELS will help to take 
their place. Then, too, the 
sun don't affect a steel wheel 
[tlike it does the best of hired 
[help. More bi’ain and less 
muscle nowadays. Cata¬ 
logue free to you. 
HAVANA METAL WHEEL CO. 
Box 17, Havana, 111. 
BEES 
1IOW TO MAKE THEM PAY. 
The pleasures, the work and the 
. . profits of bee keeping are fully covered 
j in “Gleanings in flee Culture." Six months' trial sub¬ 
scription, 2o cents. Write tor book on Bees and free 
catalog—both free. 
THE A. I ROOT COMPANY, Box G5, MEDINA. OHIO. 
INOCULATED ALFALFA SOIL 
75 cents per hundred. $10.00 per ton. F. O. B. As 
ville, Pa. Send for FREE booklet “ How to Grc 
Alfalfa.” Dr. H. SOMERVILLE, Chest Sprint 
Cambria County, Pa. 
HARVEY BOLSTER SPRINOS 
Soon save their cost. Make every wagon a.prinfi 
wagon, therefore fruit, vegetables, eggs, etc.,f 
■bring more money. Aslc for special proposition. I 
UuntJ Spring Co., Uy-lJthSt., Haifa., WU.| 
GUARANTEED 
vY'V- 
bZrm 
(>< ‘ 
Dreer’s Garden Supplies 
A full line of Garden Tools, Spraying Implements and 
Materials, Lawn Mowers, Rollers, Rakes, etc., also 
Fertilizers for lawn and garden. Write for catalogue. 
Henry A. Dreer, Philadelphia, Pa. 
