1912. 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
11 
Ruralisms 
Worms in Flower Pots. 
E. 0., Cecilton, Md .—Repotting a large 
rubber-plant last Fall I got a lot of fish 
worms in with the soil. Will they hurt the 
plant, and what can I do to kill them with¬ 
out hurting plant? 
Ans. —Earthworms are really a nui¬ 
sance in the soil of pot plants; while 
they would hardly injure the rubber 
plant their burrowing is annoying, and 
their effect on the texture of pot soil is 
undesirable. Water the soil with lime 
water and you will get rid of them. 
Sowing California Privet. 
E. IF., Trappe, Md .—What time must Cal¬ 
ifornia privet seed be sown? 
Ans. —The seed is sown in Fall, or 
stratified and sown in the Spring. Some¬ 
times it does not germinate until the 
second year. Privet is usually propa¬ 
gated by hard wood cuttings outside, or 
green wood under glass, as seeds are 
too slow for most growers. 
The Anjou Pear. 
F. H. T., New Hartford, N. Y .—Can you 
give me the characteristics of the Anjou 
pear? Is it self-sterile or a light bearer? 
My limited experience with it is that it is 
a very shy bearer. I am not certain of the 
variety. 
Ans. —The Anjou pear has been found 
by scientific tests to be in considerable 
measure self-sterile. This proves it to 
be one of the varieties that should be 
planted where the flowers of other vari¬ 
eties may be carried to its flowers. This 
is done by insects more than by the 
wind. Honey bees act as the means of 
carrying pollen, and it is well to have 
some near orchards of all kinds of 
fruits for this purpose. It is a rather 
mysterious fact that while the pollen of 
certain varieties may be impotent on 
the stigmas of their own floweu it is 
potent on the stigmas of other varieties. 
This is, probably, owing in large meas¬ 
ure to the fact that the pistils develop 
early and protrude from the petals and 
pass beyond their receptive stage before 
the anthers mature their pollen. Thus 
it is that pollen from other flowers may 
and does reach and fecundate them and 
their pollen may in turn fecundate the 
pistils or ovules of other varieties. 
H. E. VAN DEMAN. 
Bartlett on Garber Stock. 
F. H., Bayside, N. Y.— Last Spring I top- 
grafted a Garber pear tree to Bartlett aud 
the scions made a growth of about five 
feet. Will the Bartlett do well on the 
Garber stock? 
Ans. —One might think from this ex¬ 
periment, so far, that the Bartlett will 
do well on Garber, but this i' only the 
growth of one season, and from analogy 
we may presume that the same success 
will not continue, because the Garber 
is much like the Kieffer, and this variety 
has proved to be an unsuitable stock for 
Bartlett and other varieties after the 
grafts attain age. For a year or two 
they do quite well, and then uncongeni¬ 
ality of the wood of the two varieties 
begins to show, which often results in 
the breaking off of the grafts. It ’ 
not be so with the Garber, but I would 
expect it to prove true. The Asiatic 
pears are quite different from the Euro¬ 
pean in wood as well as otherwise. 
Poisonous Honey Pasture. 
Are the blossoms of the Digitalis (fox¬ 
glove) and Rhododendron injurious food 
for honey-bees? I have heard from sources 
which are not very high on such subjects 
that these flowers will poison the honey if 
the bees feed on it. If this statement is 
true I would prefer getting rid of the bee¬ 
hive rather than the plants. I know Digi¬ 
talis is a poisonous plant, and I have read 
in Greek history where the extract from 
the Rhododendron flowers was supposed 
to poison some Greek soldiers. If you will 
give me this information I will greatly 
appreciate your kindness. I wrote the F. 
S. Government on the same subject and 
they sent me several pamphlets, but noth¬ 
ing bearing on the question of injurious 
plants for bees. h. c. i. 
Virginia. 
Honey from Rhododendron flowers is un¬ 
der serious suspicion. It is said in A. I. 
Root’s “A B C of Bee Culture” that serious 
cases of poisoning have occurred in Vir¬ 
ginia which were traced to honey derived 
from mountain laurel, a name given to 
both Rhododendron and Kalmia. The 
poisonous honey which is referred to by 
Xenophon is supposed to have been derived 
from flowers of Rhododendron ponticum. 
The yellow jasmine of the South is also 
under serious suspicion as a source of 
poisonous honey. In spite of this, how¬ 
ever, some scientists doubt the possibility 
of honey from any plant being really 
poisonous, and give us the old Scotch ver¬ 
dict—“not proven.” We have no informa¬ 
tion on the subject of Digitalis. The leaves 
and seeds are extremely poisonous, but the 
poison is variable according to condition. 
But the leaves of the Rhododendron con¬ 
tain the poisonous principle of the plant, 
which belongs to the chemical group known 
as glucosides, and the preponderating poi¬ 
son of Digitalis, digitonin. is also a glu- 
coside. IIow far the poisonous principle of 
a plant may affect the nectar of the blos¬ 
soms is a subject of vital interest to bee¬ 
keepers. We need the help of the chemist 
to decide this. Until we know more, we 
would rather not use honey derived from 
suspicious plants. 
Mildew on Lilac. 
Can you tell me what ails my lilac 
bushes? Along toward the latter part of 
August the leaves become covered with white 
spots. P. h. 
Bayside, N, Y. 
The trouble is no doubt powdery mildew, 
which often affects lilac bushes after flow¬ 
ering is over. It is not ordinarily very 
harmful, unless unfavorable conditions 
weaken the plant. It" can be controlled by 
dusting the leaves with flowers of sulphur 
when they are damp with dew, so that the 
sulphur will stick, or spraying with am- 
moniaeal copper carbonate. 
Apple Roots With Bunches. 
I have planted 100 apple trees this Fall 
purchased from a supposed highly recom¬ 
mended nurseryman. My man reports they 
had big bunches on the roots but he planted 
them just the same. Would any apple 
trees have any natural growth of this sort? 
Winchester, Mass. p. h. 
This is most likely crown gall, which has 
been often mentioned in The It. N.-Y. Some 
nurserymen make light of it and say it is 
harmless. Our advice Is never to plant 
a tree showing these galls. We should 
dig up one of these trees and send it to 
the experiment station at Amherst to make 
sure what the disease is. If it is true 
crown gall we would not raise the trees. 
f w 
HAYES’ 
SPRAYING 
TOWER 
Makes hard work 
easy. Sprays high 
or low branches with 
ease. No climbing, 
no hose to drag, no 
extension rod to hold. 
Mount it on any farm 
wagon or power outfit. 
Dismount and set it 
up again in i minute. 
Send your address 
on a postal card, right 
now. I want to tell 
you more about it. 
F. G. HAYES 
231 Ohio St., Sharon, Pa 
TRADE MARK REGISTERED IN U. S. PATENT OFFICE- 
tfJBA 
B ONj 
ASJ 
ain ec 
^utilize** 
. . . MANUFACTURED ONLY BY . , . 
*The Rogers & Hubbard Co., 
Middletown, Conn. 
Send for free Almanac telling all about 
Hubbard’s “ Bone Base” Fertilizers. 
This is our 
Salesman 
“CASH TALKS” 
The Fertilizer Materials Supply Co. 
A o L ! M* FERTILIZER MATERIALS 
Also complete Fertilizers for genera! purposes, and 
Special Mixtures of any grade made up to 
order, under buyer’s supervision 
80 Wall Street, New York ’Phone 3958 John 
Ask about our 
Special January 
Discount 
/ 
z 
Finely Ground—Easy to 
Handle—Needs no Slak¬ 
ing—Ready to Drill . . . 
WHY pay $25 per 
ton for fertilizers 
when by using 
lime you can lib¬ 
erate the natural 
phosphates, ni¬ 
trates and potash 
locked up in the 
soil. 
WHY not raise 
Alfalfa by using 
lime and cut down 
your grain ration 
one-third. 
WHY notsweeten 
your sour soils and increase the yield of 
grain .cabbages, beets, clover and Timothy. 
Send for circulars, samples and prices 
THE SOLVAY PROCESS CO., Syracuse, New York 
LIME 
GREAT CROP RESULTS 
from the use of Martin's Animal Bone and Tankage 
Fertilizers force us to operate a third factory; total 
capacity, 200,000 tons. Seven large abattoirs and 
stockyards furnish the bulk of our raw materials. 
Agents and farmers constantly assure us that our 
fertilizers give the best results of any ever tested 
and that they sell more than of any ever handled. 
Agents and farmers wanting strictly independent 
animal matter fertilizers, with exclusive selling 
territory, should arrange with us NOW. 
D. B. MARTIN CO . BUILDING Pittsburgh, Pa. 
Kill the 
Scale 
with the one most re¬ 
liable remedy against 
the San Jose Scale. 
Spray NOW with 
BOWKER’S 
LIME-SULPHUR 
Write for Book and Price List to 
BOWKER INSECTICIDE CO. 
BOSTON, MASS. 
SPRAY TREES NOW 
(While they are dormant) 
With SCALIME 
A perfect concentrated lime and sulphur 
spray that has stood the severest tests of the 
experiment stations. Strength guaranteed. 
Being scientifically prepared and always uni¬ 
form, it is far more effective than home-made 
solutions. Stronger than other brands, it 
will stand more dilution—therefore cheaper. 
SCALIME used nowwill positively control San 
.Tose and other scales; destroy eggs of Aphides 
and other pests that winter over on twigs and 
bark, as well as spores of fungus diseases. 
Sold by good dealers everywhere. Write 
for leaflet on Fall and Winter Spraying. 
HORTICULTURAL CHEMICAL COMPANY 
131 S. Fourth St., Philadelphia, Pa. 
DEFEND YOUR TREES 
from Scale and Fungus dis¬ 
ease with a DEFENDER 
Sl’KAYEK. i’owerful 
two-line apparatus. Made 
of Brass. Perfect construc¬ 
tion, easy working: 15 out¬ 
fits to select from. Satisfac¬ 
tion guaranteed. Descrip¬ 
tive circulars and prices 
free. C. S.HAKD K K, 
Box 75, Catskill, N. Y. 
'OnFreeTrial MONEY 
IN ADVANCE. No bank deposit. 
Lowest prices. We pay freight and 
guarantee Sprayers five years. 
The Hurst Potato and Orchard Sprayer 
doubles your crop. IT SPRAYS ANYTHING — 
trees, potatoes, vineyards, truck, etc. High press¬ 
ure. Easy to operate. Cheap in price, light, strong, 
and durable. BRASS valves, plunger, strainer, etc. 
HURST HORSE-POWER SPRAYER for orchards, 
vineyards, potatoes, etc. “No tree 
too high, no field too big for this 
king of sprayers." All HURST 
sprayers sold on same liberal No- 
money-ln-advance plan. Write 
to-day for our FREE Spraying 
Guide, Catalogue and 
SPECIAL FREE OF¬ 
FER to FIRST BUYER 
la each locality. 
H. L. Hurst Mfg. Co. 
282 North St., Canton, O 
MAKE THE OLD ORCHARD 
PAY EXPENSES WHILE 
YOU'RE STARTING THE NEW 
; 
You’ve heard 
a lot recently about the 
“renewal” of old or¬ 
chards; have you stopped 
to consider what it might 
do for YOU? Fruit-grow¬ 
ing is becoming increas¬ 
ingly profitable, and it 
will pay YOU to set out 
more trees this spring— 
but fix up your old trees 
first—pay expenses while 
the new ones are com¬ 
ing on. When you spray 
ANY tree, use a ^ 
m 
M: 
Deming 
SPRAY 
_PUMP 
because they are heavily and substantially 
built; it is easy to keep up a strong, steady 
pressure. Nothing to rust out. 
Ask your dealer, or write us. Accept no 
substitutes for Deming Outfits. 
THE DEMING COMPANY 
280 Success Building Salem. Ohio 
Manufacturers of Pumps for All Uses. Agents Everywhere 
“KANT-KLOG” 
SPRAYERS 
Spraying 
Guide p ree 
Something New 
Gets twice the results — 
with same laborand fluid, 
Flat or round, fine or coarse sprays 
from same nozzle. Ten styles. For 
trees, potatoes, gardens, whitewashing, 
etc. Agents Wanted, Booklet Free. 
Rochester Spray Pump Co. 
Standard Spray Pump 
toitk bucket t barrel 
or knapsack. Sprays 
, the tallest fruit tree 
from the ground. Does 
the work in half the 
time. Sprays whitewash 
* and cattle "dip.” Made 
of brass and warranted 
for five years. 
Write for spec*al offer 
or send $4. Express- 
ajie prepaid. Money 
refunded if not fully 
satisfied. 
STANIUKD STAMPIN '< CO. 
941 Mala St., Marysville, O. 
nUMBBBB 
CHDAY We Make 
DrK A Fo?&K&v 
Bucket, Barrel, 4-Row Potato Sprayers, 
Power Orchard Rigs, etc. 
There’s a field sprayer for every need, pro¬ 
nounced by all experts the world’s best line. 
THIS EMPIRE KING 
leads everything of its kind. Throws 
fine mist spray with strong force, no 
clogging, strainers are brushed and 
r-s kept clean and liquid is thoroughly 
N? agitated automatically. 
Spraying Calondar Froo. Write for di¬ 
rections and formula. Also catalog on 
entire sprayer line. Wehave thesprayer 
to meet your exact wants. Address 
FIELD FORCE PUMP CO., 
2 lltb St., Elmira, N. Y. 
—99 %> % Pure- 
American Ingot Iron Roofing 
Guaranteed For 30 Years 
Without Painting 
The Only Guaranteed Metal Roofing; ever put on the 
market. Samples free. Write for a free book showing 
remarkable tests. A way out of your roof troubles. 
THE AMERICAN IRON ROOFING CO,, Dept. 0, ELYRIA, OHIO 
Duplex Power Sprayer 
High-pres sure, large capacity, light weight, low center 
of gravity. The greatest value ever offered in a power 
sprayer. Full specifications in our new catalog. 
Write for it. 
THE BEAN SPRAY PUMP CO. 
109 Front Street Berea, Ohio 
Western Factory: San Jose, Cal. 
The greatest improvements 
ever made in spray-pump 
construction are described 
in our new 1912 catalog of 
BEAN SPRAYERS 
Non-corrosive, porcelain-lined cylinders, inde¬ 
structible ball-valveswith removableand revers¬ 
ible seats. High-pressure, high-power engines 
and pumps, automatic pressure-regulator, etc. 
A complete line of economical high-pressure 
Hand, Platform and Barrel Pumps, Power 
Sprayers, Nozzles, Accessories, etc. 
Write for your copy today 
POOR 
ORCHARDS 
MADE 
GOOD 
Six years ago one-half the trees in the orchard of the Fairview Orchard Company, Kearneysville, W. Va., were tagged by the 
Inspector, who reported it the worst scale-infected orchard he ever saw. After four years’ use of “Scalecide” exclusively as 
a Winter wash, the same orchard is pronounced one of the cleanest in the State, and produced in 1910 over 11,000 barrels of 
apples, which sold for over $29,000. If the continued use of “Scalecide” brings an orchard that is half dead to life, is it 
reasonable to expect injury to a good orchard? “Scalecide’’ shows greater fungicidal properties than any other Winter 
a kcalecme has no substitute. A postal request to Dept. N will bring you by return mail, free, our book, “Modern 
Methods of Harvesting Grading and Packing Apples,” and new booklet, “SCALECIDE, the Tree-Saver.” If your dealer 
cannot supply you with SCALECIDE, ’ we will deliver it to any R R. Station in the U. S. east of the Mississippi and north 
816 00; 10 - Eal - * 6 - 7S - M*. «*“■ 
