022 
THE RURAL NEW-VORKER 
January 20, 
THAT PACKING HOUSE PROPOSITION. 
From many years’ experience as a 
peach grower and with packing houses 
used, varying from those 'well built and 
roomy to those quite inexpensive, I 
am inclined to favor those that are not 
expensive and that give all the ad¬ 
vantages to be had from having plenty 
of air and light. In fact, I have packed 
many peaches right in the passways of 
the orchard, where left by the pickers 
and the plan has worked very well. 
From 500 to 1,000 baskets of fruit 
per acre according to age is not too 
much to expect as yield from a success¬ 
ful or properly handled orchard, and 
this yield multiplied by the number of 
acres as stated means a great quantity of 
fruit to handle per day on an average 
for the season. To let the preparing 
for market, that is, the packing-house 
work, get behind the picking at all in¬ 
vites disaster. Therefore the packing 
shed needs to be sufficiently large to 
give working room for help enough to 
balance the picking force, that is to keep 
even with the crop. 
To work economically the building 
would better be narrow and long enough 
to give the needed room, receiving the 
fruit from one side and sending it out 
the other, in addition two sides being 
arranged so as to admit light and air 
freely. This should be provided for to 
come from above also. Where power is 
used the shape of the building may 
not be so important in saving labor. As 
to the right size of buildings and cost 
of same the conditions attending this 
western orchard may be different from 
those in this section of the country, so 
any estimates given might prove to be 
very misleading. Probably the con¬ 
clusions of the owners or managers 
themselves, reached after consultation 
with men of expert judgment who had 
made themselves thoroughly familiar 
with the conditions to be met, would be 
the only conclusions worth while, to 
build on. j. norms barnes. 
Connecticut. 
N. Y. STATE FRUIT GROWERS MEET. 
Again we met in Rochester, and it was 
a great meeting. At first it seemed as if 
some of the intense enthusiasm and interest 
of the last previous meetings were lacking, 
but as appetite often comes to us while 
eating, so tjie interest grew on wliat it fed, 
and increased up to the close of the ses¬ 
sions in the afternoon of the third day. 
What wonderful progress the State society 
has made, especially during the past three 
or four years, and how successfully it lias 
lieen managed, is shown strikingly in Sec¬ 
retary-Treasurer Gillett’s report, giving the 
paid-up membership of the Association as 
follows: In 1908, ,‘582: in 1909, 689; in 
1910. 810; in 1911. 1,183. an increase from 
year to year as follows: 293, 121, and 373; 
this also in spite of the fact that the mem¬ 
bership fee lias been raised to 82 from the 
original $1 figure. The financial transac¬ 
tions in cooperative buying have also been 
quite successful, both in saving money to 
the members in the purchase of spray mate¬ 
rials, fertilizers, etc., andi n adding a profit 
of $407 to the funds of the Association. 
There is now a balance in the treasury 
of the society of 82.187. of which 8318 is 
in the “protection fund” ready to be used 
for fighting, or helping to fight, the battle 
of any member who is unfairly treated by 
any nurseryman. 
Too much cannot be said in praise of 
the exhibits. The New York State Station 
at Geneva has for many years made a fine 
show of fine apples and of a remarkably 
complete list of varieties. Yet the show never 
before appeared so imposing, so strikingly 
catching, and eminently instructive as it 
did this year in its new arrangement. And 
Ihere were other remarkable exhibits of 
apples, in barrels, in boxes, in small pack¬ 
ages and on plates. More complete than 
ever were also the exhibits of spraying and 
orchard tilling machinery and equipments. 
For the first time in the history of the 
Society, and 1 believe also in that of the 
Western New York Society, a charge was 
made for space in machinery hall, and the 
exhibitors seemed to be perfectly willing 
to pay for the privilege. It is the sort of 
advertising that gives them sure results. 
The nomination or selection of officers for 
the ensuing year, made by the nominating 
committee, was quickly ratified by the mem¬ 
bers, and resulted in the re-election of the 
old officers and board, with Clark Allis of 
Medina, president, and E. C. Gillott of Penn 
Yan, secretary-treasurer, as mainstays of 
tbe Association. President Allis, in his an¬ 
nual address, spoke with some bitterness 
of existing political conditions, especially 
of stand-pattism and of the absolute con¬ 
trol over Washington authorities and Solons 
exercised by the great express monopolies. 
The Association is already on record as 
favoring parcels post, but might easily have 
come out stronger in denunciation of the in¬ 
fluences that have thus far succeeded in 
preventing its establishment. Mr. Allis also 
referred to cold storage as an absolute nec- 
esssity, and denies that it is guilty of being 
the cause of high prices of food stuffs. He 
thinks that it is rather an equalizer of 
prices. As to the depressed condition of 
the apple market in a year when we have 
only a partial crop, he wonders how we can 
expect to sell all our apples at a fair 
price in a real apple year. This question 
came up again during the discussions at 
various times and it appears that the As¬ 
sociation. as a whole, takes a rather hopeful 
view of the situation. 
The Committee on Legislation points out 
the dangers now threatening the fruit 
grower from the new diseases and new in¬ 
sects brought into tbe State on imported 
nursery stock, and the need of the enact¬ 
ment of laws for tbe protection of the 
State fruit interests. It also recommends 
that new and determined efforts be made 
to have the Legislature pass a law, similar 
to the one that just failed of passage in the 
last Legislature, for the regulation of the 
commission business, and for the restriction 
of the dishonest commission man’s chances 
for cheating the shipper. These and other 
recommendations of the legislative com¬ 
mittee were afterwards put into the form 
of resolutions, and promptly adopted by 
the unanimous vote of the Association, Mr. 
Morrell of Kinderhook roundly scored some 
of the doings of irresponsible commission 
men, but says he has no personal grievance 
as he sends all his stuff to one man. ships 
nothing but good goods, well packed, and 
usually secures prompt and satisfactory re¬ 
turns. In his report on the experimental 
(dwarf) orchards. Prof. Hedrick only re¬ 
peats the story already told by him a year 
ago. The experience of the past season 
has only added a little more evidence in 
the same direction. The verdict (which 
may now be accepted as final), is that dwarf 
trees especially on Dourin stock, may have 
some value for the amateur who wants a 
good number of varieties. • but that they 
have no just claim for consideration by the 
commercial fruit grower, their value as fill¬ 
ers even being in doubt. Prof. Hedrick 
believes that more fruit can be grown per 
acre in a standard orchard than on dwarf 
trees, no matter how closely planted or 
highly cultivated. 
The entire afternoon of the first do v 
was given up to reports and discussions 
on plant diseases and now insect pests. I 
cannot sav that much was brought out that 
is really new or of vast importance to the 
general fruit grower. Most interesting, per¬ 
haps, was Prof. Whetzel’s report dealing 
with the Baldwin spot, so-called. This Is 
an old trouble that has often been annoying 
to the apple grower. The Baldwin suffers 
more from this disease than most other 
varieties. It shows in brownish sunken 
spots or discolorations under the skin which 
spots during storage become deeper. Often 
these spots are scattered all through the 
flesh. They are usually most numerous 
around the hjossom end. Sometimes those 
spots give to the flesh a hitter taste. In 
1908 Prof. Brooks of New Hampshire dis¬ 
covered that not all these spot affections 
are of the same nature. One of them is 
of a fungous character and can be con¬ 
trolled by spraying. Usually the spot 
caused by a fungus has a little black dot 
in the center. This is not the case in our 
Baldwin spot. Otherwise the two are diffi- 
ult to tell a^art. This Baldwin spot is 
common in the orchards of the State. Be¬ 
sides on the Baldwin it is found on Green¬ 
ing, Spy, Hubbardston. and many other vari¬ 
eties. It is unfortunate that the disease at¬ 
tacks our best commercial varieties. It 
cannot be controlled by spraying. It has 
been known for 40 or 50 years. It seems 
to be connected with weather conditions, 
and its appearance most likely in hot dry 
weather. Prof. Whetzel believes that per¬ 
haps the injury* may be reduced by the fol¬ 
lowing treatment. Tile drain the orchard 
so as to make the water supply uniform. 
Give thorough tillage, for the same reason. 
Plant a cover crop. Light soils are more 
inclined to produce Baldwin spot than heav¬ 
ier soils, and large apples more likely to 
be affected than small ones. 
Prof. Donald Reddick tells of a new trou¬ 
ble. the black blight of young pear trees. 
Prof. Stewart has ascribed this to Winter 
injury, trees in low places are most liable 
to" be affected. Canker may be present near 
the ground or in the crotches. Frost in¬ 
jury is essentially injury from drying out. 
Prof. Reddick recommends early plowing 
and thorough cultivation, which should 
cease about August 1. A cover crop may 
then take up the excess of moisture. Low 
and wet places must be water and air 
drained. Injured trees are to be pruned 
moderately, but not dishorned. Where the 
bark is loose from the wood, surgical opera¬ 
tions may be called for. The flat-headed 
borer often gets under the loose bark and 
increases the injury. For painting wounds, 
gas tar such as can be had at the gas 
works for 10 to 20 cents a gallon is decidedly 
superior to lead paint. T. G. 
Grafting Wax. 
Will you give me a recipe for making 
grafting wax? What I bought, when the 
hot weather came, ran off, leaving the graft 
open, letting the air in. J. s. m. 
Westboro, Mass. 
A standard grafting wax calls for resin, 
four parts by weight, beeswax, two parts 
by weight, tallow, rendered, one part by 
weight. Melt all carefully together, but 
do not let it boil. Pour tbe hot liquid 
quickly into a pail of cold water, and 
with greased bands flatten the wax under 
the water so that it will cool evenly. Let 
it get cold and tough, but not brittle; then 
remove from the water and pull like taffy 
until it is ductile and fine in grain. If 
lumpy remelt and pull again. Make into 
halls' or small skeins and put away in a 
cool place. When wanted soften with heat 
of hand or in hot water. This is an excel¬ 
lent wax for all purposes; it may be 
made softer by using a little more tallow, 
or tougher by a rather larger proportion 
of beeswax. 
Egyptian Cotton. —Egypt is developing 
rapidly as a cotton producing country. The 
last year’s crop was large enough to make 
Itself felt in the world’s market. There 
seems to be no doubt that cotton culture 
will develop into a great proportion within 
a few years. This development is largely 
due to' the building of the great Assuan 
dam. by means of which a supply of water 
for irrigation has been obtained. Before 
this dam was built the waters of the Nile 
were beyond control, and a largo share of 
the water was lost for agricultural pur¬ 
poses. The dam provided an immense res¬ 
ervoir from which the water was spread at 
will over a wide territory. The capacity 
of this reservoir is now to be developed by 
raising the level of the dam 12 feet. The 
wall has been strengthened to meet the 
extra strain, so that within the next few 
years thousands of acres will be brought 
under water, and the Egyptian cotton crop 
increased to that extent. 
African Orange Daisy 
Ne Garden Should Be Without it 
A RARE and extremely showy annual 
from Namaqualand, South Africa, of 
very easy culture. Toe plants, of neat 
branchy habit, grow about 12 to 15 inches 
high an<J are exceedingly profnse in flower¬ 
ing. Its Margnerite-like blossoms, 2)4 to 
2% inches in diam¬ 
eter under proper 
cultivation, show a 
unique glossy rich 
orange-gold, with 
dark-colored disc 
surrounded by a 
black zone. It pro¬ 
duces its pretty 
flowers very early 
after being planted 
out in the open 
ground in sunny 
situations, and will 
continue to flower 
during the summer. 
Plant in soil not 
over rich. 
We will mail a packet of this superb annual and a 
copy of our beautifully illustrated catalogue, 144 
large pages—the best seed book published in America 
—for only 10 cents, stamps or coin. Write today. 
CATALOCUE NOW READY 
J. M. THORBURN & CO. 
DEPT. Y 
33 Barclay St. and 38 Park Place, New York 
Wood’s Seeds 
For 1912. 
Our New Descriptive Catalog 
is fully up-to-date, and tells all 
about the best 
Carden and 
Farm Seeds. 
Every farmer and gardener 
should have a copy of this cata¬ 
log, which has long been recog¬ 
nized as a standard authority, 
for the full and complete infor¬ 
mation which it gives. 
We are headquarters for 
Grass and Clover Seeds, Seed 
Potatoes, Seed Oats, Cow Peas, 
Soja Beans and all Farm Seeds. 
Wood’s Descriptive Catalog mailed 
free on request. Write for it 
T. W. WOOD & SONS, 
Seedsmen, - Richmond, Va. 
WEEDLESS FilE'LD SEED 
is what we are trying to furnish our customers. 
FREE samples will convince you that wo come 
pretty near doing it. Red, Mammoth, Aisike, 
Alfalfa, Timothy, Vetch, Rape, etc. Write today. 
O.M. SCOTT & SON, lOMainSt., Marysville. O. 
GREGORYS 
H 
SEEDS 
po R Vs 
LftS 
•SEtSi 
You ought now to be making plans for the 
spring planting of your flower and veg¬ 
etable gardens. You want seeds that grow; 
that produce higher quality crops. Your 
surety of this is in buying from a house 
founded on honor—a liousethat sends out 
seed so dependable that “Honest Seed” 
has become its trade mark. 
We are offering a special flower collec¬ 
tion, 90c worth postpaid for 25c in coin or 
stamps. It will prove the dependable 
quality of our seed. 
Note this Choice 25 Cent Offer 
Aster, Gregory’s Special Fancy Mixture, . 10c. 
Pansy, Gregory’s Special Fancy Mixture, . 15c. 
Coreopsis, Gregory’s Special Fancy Mixture, 5c. 
Poppy, Gregory’s Fancy Double Mixed 
Annuals.10c. 
Mignonette, Gregory’s Large Flowering, 
very rich.10c. 
Bachelor Button, Gregory’s Finest Mixture 10c. 
Petunia, Gregory’s Finest Hybrid Mixture . 15c. 
Candytuft, Gregory’s Finest Mixed . . 5c. 
Nasturtium, Dwarf, Finest Mixed . . 5c. 
Sweet Peas, Extra Choice Mixed , . . 6c. 
Total 90c. 
Get Oor 1912 Catalogue 
Always did lead, and keeps getting better 
every year. Lists the best in flowers, 
seeds, bulbs, vegetables and small fruit 
Handsome and truthful illustrations and 
accurate information always given. En¬ 
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Our ll.OOGarden Collection gives complete 
assortment and only the best varieties are 
included. Other special offers from 10 
cents upwards. 
Don’t think of starting your garden 
without reference to this great book. 
Send for your copy now. 
J. J. H. GREGORY <fc SON 
14 Elm St., Marblehead, Mam. 
XFERRYS/ 
Plant breeding and selecting 
has been our business for years. 
We market the results in the 
shape of thoroughbred vegetable 
and flower seeds. They grow 
good crops. 
1912 SEED ANNUAL 
FREE ON REQUEST 
D. M. Ferrj & Co., Detroit,Mich. 
/ SEEDSX 
STOKES’ SEEDS 
T HE time to find out about seeds is 
before you plant—not after. Get as 
many seed catalogs as you like—but 
be sure to write for mine. I'll take a 
chance on being of some help to you. Write 
today and mention The Rural New Yorker. 
WALTER P. STOKES, 
Seedsman ,. 
Dept. L, - Philadelphia jjf 
Q c C n C at ONE-HALF — 
City Seedsmen Prices! 
Let us send you our catalog of seeds—It’s different. 
It tells you facts, and why we can save you money, and give you a guaranteed 
SQUARE DEAL. Just drop a postal today and see the difference In buying your 
seeds in country or city. FORREST SEED CO., Box 32, Cortland, N.V. 
DIBBLE’S FARM SEEDS 
DIRECT FROM OUR 1600 -ACRE SEED FARMS TO YOURS 
Seed. Potatoes —Thirty-one Varieties—best Early, Medium and Late. 
Over 50,000 bushels in stock ; every tuber Northern grown and from fields absolutely 
free from blight. 
Seed Corn-Four varieties that we have found to be best for crop and the 
silo. We offer the product of 300 acres of the choicest corn we have ever seen grown. 
Seed. O^Atis— Early, bright, heavy grain thoroughly recleaned and enormously 
productive. 
Seed Barley- Dibble’s Canadian Six Rowed, with a record [of 54 bushels 
per acre. Forty-acre field on the Dibble Farms. 
D. B. Stand ALFALFA, CLOVER and TIMOTHY— 99.50?^ pure or bitter. Tested Seed 
is the only kind you can afford to sow. 
DIBBLE’S FARM SEED CATALOG, the leading Farm Seed Book of the 
year, beautifully illustrated and truthfully written, should be in every 
Farmer’s home. We send it w ith two new books on Potato and Alfalfa 
Culture, written by our Mr. Dibble, absolutely. 
Just Say on a Postal—“ SEND THE BOOKS.” 
Address EDWARD F. DIBBLE, Seedgrower, Box B, H 0 NE 0 YE FALLS, N.Y. 
