684 
FARMERS’ CLUB 
[Every query must be accompanied by the 
name and address of the -writer to insure 
attention. Before 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.] 
Spiders vs. Borers. 
R. A. M., flew York .—As I am much in¬ 
terested in anything that would be of use 
to the patrons of our It. N.-Y., I thought 
the following might be of some benefit to 
orchardists or any one with young trees to 
care for. Having read in several agricul¬ 
tural papers that there was no effectual 
remedy for the borer in trees, my attention 
was called to a nine-year test of this meth¬ 
od in an orchard of apple and peach trees 
joining an old infested orchard. The young 
trees were the finest I have seen for 
some time and never a tree lost through 
borers. The trees had a piece of tar paper 
12 or 16 inches high around the trunk, ex¬ 
tending two inches or so below the ground, 
but instead of being closed at the top the 
paper should be from l]/ 2 to two inches 
away from the tree forming a funnel in 
shape and fastened so as not to be dis¬ 
turbed again. This forms a house in which 
Mr. Spider will not be long in taking pos¬ 
session and getting his web over the open¬ 
ing at the top, where he is then ready for 
all insects or larvae that come his way, also 
working up and down the tree trunk for 
other insects. Notice the importance of 
plenty of space for him to live in. On 
opening several of the wrappers we found 
Mr. Spider at home. 
Ans. —In a careful series of experi¬ 
ments made at the Cornell Experiment 
Station some y^ears ago, the tarred 
paper bandages for preventing borers 
in peach trees were carefully tested. In 
all, 74 young trees were banded. The 
experiment was carried through a period 
of three successive years and a careful 
record of the results made every year. 
In the first place, no injury resulted 
from the use of the tarred paper band¬ 
ages for three successive years on the 
same trees. On the other hand, Dr. 
Smith, of New Jersey, and others have 
injured trees with these bandages. In 
the second place, the bandages kept out 
from one-half to seven-eighths of the 
borers as compared with the untreated 
check trees. Evidently tarred paper 
bandages, alone, cannot be depended on 
to keep out all of the borers from all of 
the trees. These bandages were wrapped 
around the trees twice and tied tightly 
with twine. They were made especially 
tight around the top so that the small 
borers could not enter. The paper ex¬ 
tended beneath the soil and about one 
foot up the trunk quite similar to the 
bandages described in the foregoing 
letter. In regard to the aid of spiders 
in preventing borers I know of ua 
definite experiment along that line. It 
would seem from our knowledge of the 
habits of the moth in laying her eggs 
on the tree trunk that the bandages 
open at the top would offer a fine place 
for the borers to enter. I suppose the 
writer of the foregoing letter holds that 
the spiders will catch the borers as they 
hatch from the eggs. If every trunk 
could be kept supplied with two or 
three spiders so that the trunk might be 
patrolled all around the tiny borers 
might be caught. There would still be 
some borers that enter the bark at once 
right by the egg that might Very prob¬ 
ably steal their way by the watchful 
spiders inasmuch as they would be un¬ 
der the bark out of sight. On the whole. 
I am rather inclined to trust to a tight 
tarred paper band rather than to a loose 
one even though reinforced by spiders. 
GLENN W HERRICK. 
Castor Beans and Moles. 
I notice several have asked how to get 
rid of moles in lawns. About 10 years 
ago my lawn of three acres was bur¬ 
rowed badly. I got a peck of castor oil 
beans took a sharp cane or stick, made 
small holes in the runs, dropped in one 
or more beans, and then pressed with 
foot. It stopped them for several years. 
I have done the same this year; they 
do not like the smell. As beans sprout 
THE RURA.k IsiEIW-YORKE-Fi 
June 17, 
and grow, cut off with lawn mower and 
they will continue to grow and thus stop 
moles. It is not a new remedy, for 
others have done the same with success. 
Southampton, N. Y. E. p. h. 
R. N.-Y.—In former years we have 
had reports from people who tried these 
beans but with no success whatever. 
Indian Turnip, Catnip and Solomon’s Seal. 
T. F., Putnam Co., fl. Y .—Is the Indian 
turnip (Arisrema triphyllum) of any value 
for medicines or any other purposes?If so 
what is the price per pound and where can 
I sell it? It catnip and Solomon’s seal of 
any value? If so how much is it per 
pound? 
Ans. —The corm or solid underground 
portion of the common wild or Indian 
turnip is still used in medicine as a 
stimulant and expectorant, but less fre¬ 
quently than in the past. The corms 
are dug in late Summer, sliced and 
dried. The freshly cured “root” brings 
from six to 10 cents a pound, but the 
demand is limited and quotations are 
rarely published. The drug loses its 
acridity and supposed medicinal powers 
rapidly with age. Catnip has a some¬ 
what extended market in the dried form, 
the tops being cut and cured when in 
full bloom, and later pressed in bales 
of 200 or more pounds in weight, ex¬ 
cluding the coarser stems and branches. 
Wholesale prices vary from two to eight 
cents the pound. Solomon’s seal (Polv- 
gonatum) has no recognized medicinal 
value, but the dried rhizomes of the 
nearly related Convallaria majalis or 
lily of the valley, is increasingly used 
as a heart remedy. Well cured roots 
are worth 10 to 12 cents the pound, but 
the market for it is much better abroad 
than in this country. Information as to 
markets and prices of most herbs and 
roots may be had from wholesale drug¬ 
gists in most large cities. v. 
Rye and Vetch for an Orchard. 
8. A. II., Pennsylvania .—I have a young 
apple orchard of 300 trees, with corn plant¬ 
ed between the tree rows. My idea is to 
sow vetch between the corn rows some time 
in August and give a shallow cultivation 
to cover the seed. Next Spring I shall 
plow the vetch down as a fertilizer. If 
this proves a success I will duplicate a few 
years, or until the trees need all the room, 
then will discontinue the corn, but continue 
to sow vetch and plow or disk it down in 
Spring. The question is, where can I get 
the vetch seed? Would not object to rye 
and vetch mixed, as I think this would 
make a very good cover crop. 
Ans.— This is a good plan for hand¬ 
ling the orchard. Use rye with the 
vetch seed. If the vetch should be killed 
out the rye will give a growth to be 
plowed under, and it will protect or 
“nurse” the vetch. The larger seedsmen 
sell vetch seed. There might be de¬ 
veloped a trade in mixed vetch and rye 
as it comes from the average cover crop. 
Preparing a Lawn Soil. 
E. O. D., Springfield, Mass .—I have just 
bought a three-quarter acre plot of ground. 
It formerly was tobacco land, but has been 
in grass for a number of years. It is in¬ 
clined to be sandy with quite a little clay, 
just enough so it is not leachy. What treat¬ 
ment would you advise for this year and 
next (1912) toward making a good lawn. 
Would you plow it about six inches, turn¬ 
ing the sod under, broadcast 600 or 700 
pounds air-slaked lime and then disking or 
harrowing and broadcasting about a bushel 
of Soy beans and then repeating. Next sea¬ 
son about the same with the addition of 
some good fertilizer. I do not expect to 
have seeding for lawn until Spring of 1913. 
It will not be very convenient for me to 
put in any hoed crop. 
Ans.— The “ideal soil” for lawn or 
meadow is stuffed full of vegetable 
matter, not sour, and with an abundance 
of plant food. We would, therefore, 
work crop after crop into the soil and 
use lime enough to keep it sweet. It is 
too late for oats and peas now. We 
should plow and sow Japanese millet. 
Plow this under in August and sow rye 
and vetch. Put this under next Spring 
and sow soy beans, cow peas or field 
beans. Let these go under in late 
August and you may then seed to lawn 
grass or sow rye and vetch once more. 
Use lime each year for the rye and 
vetch. Your land will then be “stuffed” 
and if when you grade it and seed you 
use nitrate of soda, ground bone and 
potash, the grass cannot help growing. 
PRODUCTS, PRICES AND TRADE. 
The port of Montreal, Canada, handled 
6,500,000 bushels of grain during May, an 
increase of 1,500,000 over May 1910. 
On June 1, money in circulation in the 
United States totaled $3,256,116,255, or 
$34.70 per man, woman and child. 
Block Tin has recently sold at $1,100 
per ton, owing to the market being cornered 
by European interests. The stock of tin 
in this country is light, about 600 tons have 
lately been shipped back to London as a 
speculation, the price being nearly prohibi¬ 
tive for manufacturing. 
Hundreds of farmers who now see their 
berries, green vegetables, potatoes or other 
truck fast getting ready for market, also 
see in memory statements of sale of their 
products by commission men in former years 
in which strawberries netted them two cents 
per quart; string beans 25 cents per bushel; 
potatoes, 75 cents per sack, etc. And they 
naturally wonder whether there is any way 
by which they can come nearer getting the 
actual food value of their products. This 
question has been settled with more or less 
success by about 400 co-operative organiza¬ 
tions of farmers in this country. Co-opera¬ 
tion is not a new or untried process, but 
every new association has its peculiar local 
problems to solve. One mistake often made 
by producers who decide to “get together” 
is to follow slavishly the methods adopted 
by some other farmers’ organization. In 
this way they tie themselves to a constitu¬ 
tion and set of rules and selling methods 
not well adapted to their own conditions. 
Much can be learned from the co-operative 
experience of others, but it is far more 
necessary to follow the rule of common sense 
in working out our own plans. 
Wherever farmers start to organize they 
find one or more outsiders who are anxious 
to help. Some of them are honest, typical 
specimens of an overgrown ego, with a 
“gift of gab” that would be amusing were 
it not so tiresome, men who feel that they 
have just the necessary pill or poultice for 
every farm condition. But more often the 
officious outsider is a direct enemy of the 
farmers’ interests, who has a personal ax 
to sharpen, or expects to queer the organi¬ 
zation by loading it down with red tape 
rules and methods, or getting in dishonest 
or incapable officers. Such outside help ( ?) 
has killed many organizations that started 
with fair prospects. What have we to sell? 
Where can it be sold to best advantage? 
What are the best packages, combining 
neatness and ability to carry well? Who 
are the honest commission men, if the goods 
must be sold that way? These are all es¬ 
sential questions that can be answered, and, 
combined with honest grading of the goods, 
will go far toward making a success of co¬ 
operative selling of products in localities 
where this is feasible. In a future number 
details will be given regarding public mar¬ 
kets in large cities and the possibilities in 
large and small co-operative stores where 
products are offered to the consumer direct 
from the farm. w. w. H. 
When you write advertisers mention The 
R. N.-Y. and you’ll get a quick reply and a 
“square deal.” See guarantee editorial page. 
PALMER HOIST 
Horses are husv in haying time. 
— ' ' nr gasoline engine to a 
1’almer Hoist and onload 
your hay. Can be used for 
1 misting ice or anything 
where a bolster is used. 
If you have no gaso¬ 
line engine, wc can sell 
you a Palmer Self-oiling 
6 H.P. engine for $125. 
Catalogue Free 
PALMER BROS. 
Coscob, Conn. 
HARRISON’S NURSERIES 
has been built up by quality trees from a small 
beginning to the largest nursery in America—more 
than 2.000 acres devoted to growing trees, plants, 
vines and ornamental stock. Buy of a responsible 
grower and get what you pay for. Address 
HARRISON’S NURSERIES 
Ten Valuable Farms For Sale. BOX 421, Berlin, Md. 
FRUIT TREES 
We are ready to take orders for Fall Delivery 
for BLACK’S QUALITY TREES. 
. . . Send for Booklet . . . 
JOS. H. BLACK. SON & CO.. HIGHTSTOWN, N. J. 
C ABBAGE PLANTS of all kinds, $1 per 1000; Tomato and Sweet 
Potato Plants, $J.r»0 per 1000; Cauliflower and Peppei s, $2.f>0 
per 1000. Plants ready for field. J. C. Schmidt, Bristol, Pa. 
Sweet Potato Plants g&fSaRT®* 
list free. W. S. FORD & SON, Hartly, Del. 
FDR QAI F— Dow Peas, $2.50 to $3.00 bushel; 
run vHLC Crimson Clover Seed, $8.50 bushel: 
Black-Eyed Peas, $3.00 bushel. 
JOSEPH E. HOLLAND . . Milford. Del. 
NEW CRIMSON CL0VER SEED 
Ready June 20th. COW PEAS, SORGHUM, 
MILLET, VETCHES. Circular Free. 
E. G. PACKARD, Seed Grower, Dover, Del. 
HOW TO MAKE THEM PAY. 
The pleasures, the work and the 
profitsof bee keeping are fully covered 
ill “Gleanings in Bee Culture.” Six months' trial sub- 
j scription, 25 cents. Write for book on Bees and free 
catalog—both free. 
THE A. I ROOT COMPANY, Box 65, MEDINA, OHIO. 
BEES 
NOW IS THE TIME TO ORDER 
RAW GROUND LIME ROCK 
for top dressing meadows and Alfalfa fields. 
Write us for prices. 
F. E. CONLEY STONE CO., Utica, N. Y. 
MAKE MONEY 
for FARMERS 
It is easy to make lumber for 
yourself and neighbors with an 
AMERICAN mill. All sizes. 
Work rapidly with light power. 
No experience needed. Get 
Free Catalogue and Low Prices. 
American Saw Mill Mach’y Co. 
12 9 Hope St., llnckettsf own.N. J. 
158?Terminal Bldgs., New York 
Any dairy barn, 
large or small, properly arranged 
and designed, and outfitted with James 
Sanitary Barn Equipment is a profit maker— 
because, more cows can be provided for in the same 
space—greater storage room for feed and grain can be 
secured—time and labor can be saved every day by cutting in 
half the work in caring for, feeding and watering the cows and 
cleaning the stalls. Thus barn expenses are reduced. The extra 
cleanliness, together with the comfort, freedom and protection afforded 
the cow increase the milk yield and improve the quality of the milk and 
greatly lessen the danger of disease or accident to the stock. 
James Samiary Barn 
Five patented features save enough on feed and 
labor alone, to pay for the whole emiiDment in a 
year. 
Two Kooks FREE. Every dairyman wno wants 
a modern barn and make bigger profits should 
have our two free books. Book No. 8 tells about the James 
Stalls, Stanchions, Bull Pens and Calf Pens. The 
book “Barn Work Made Easy” describes the 
James Carriers. Fill out the coupon 
now and get these books. 
Equipment 
V 
KentMfg.Co. 
2630 Cane St. 
Ft. Atkinson, Wis. 
How many cows have 
you?.Do you own 
Or rent a farm? .. . .... 
Are you interested in Stalls 
and Stanchions?.Are you 
interested in Carriers?. ^ 
Name. 
(Town. 
S.F.D. state. 
Kent Mfg. Co., 2630 Cane St, Ft. Atkinson, Wis. 
