S^O 
THE RURAb NEW-YORKER 
March 9, 
Mulched Orchard Irrigation. 
B. M. S. (Ko Address ).—With your ex¬ 
perience and observation, would you consider 
the mulch system as good as cultivation, if 
you were so situated that you could give 
your trees water in the time of a drouth? 
i mean apple trees. 
Ans.— In a word, yes. If we were 
situated so that we could irrigate at 
will we should not cultivate. You 
could water the soil thoroughly and 
then put on the mulch to prevent 
evaporation and keep the soil moist, 
There must be good judgment in work 
of this sort, especially in a humid 
climate. You might easily get on too 
much water and the mulch would hold 
it so that the trees would have wet 
feet and suffer for lack of air at their 
roots. In the far West this plan of 
irrigation and mulch is practiced with 
good general results. We think there 
are some hilly localities where this 
scheme could be worked out. A deep 
well would furnish the water and a 
pump would draw the water to a 
reservoir at the top, to be let down as 
required for irrigation. Our experience 
with mulching shows that it is much a 
matter of soil. You must have moist, 
natural grass land in order to succeed 
with mulching. 
Improving An Old Lawn. 
What shall I do with a lawn which has 
been wholly ruined by dandelions and other 
weeds? I wrote to another paper, and the 
remedy the editor suggested was the use of 
a solution of copperas. I tried that rem¬ 
edy a year or two ago, on a portion of the 
lawn; tried it thoroughly, but it proved 
worthless. Milk, or sweetened water, would 
do as well. So last Autumn I plowed up 
the lawn. Now I want to know what to 
do the coming Spring. Some of my neigh¬ 
bors suggest thorough harrowing and then 
seeding; others, the cultivation of some 
crop, like potatoes, and seeding in the 
Autumn. What would you recommend? 
Concord, Mass. H. L. c. 
The lawn was probably too far gone to be 
saved by chemicals. Those will often kill 
out young and tender weeds, but in this 
case nothing but plowing and re-seeding will 
answer. Do not try to seed this Spring. If 
you do the old weeds and foul grass will 
work in once more. We have had best re¬ 
sults In planting some hoed crop like early 
potatoes or sweet corn, and giving the most 
thorough cultivation, including hoeing. Kill 
every weed as it appears. Get the crop out 
in late August, plow deeply and scatter a 
ton to the acre of lime, work it in with 
cultivator or rake. Fine the soil thor¬ 
oughly and seed heavily with lawn grass 
seed in September using a special grass 
fertilizer and avoiding manure. 
Fall Plowing in Cold Countries. 
I was much interested in the article on 
“Fall Plowing of Orchards.” In answer 
to the question what happens when you 
break the root of a tree, if it is a break 
the cells are crushed and there will be more 
or less destruction of cellular tissue by dy¬ 
ing back due to this cause. A clean-cut 
surface will form a callus and new root¬ 
lets will be formed on the end. As for the 
length of time required for new growth to 
'begin, this will depend upon the soil mois¬ 
ture and temperature. Willow cuttings will 
begin !to form rootlets in 10 days; but it 
will take some longer for apples. If roots 
are severed In the Fan will not they be 
ready for growth earlier? The only gain 
would be in the length of time required 
for the callusing process in the Spring. 
What reasons are there against Fall 
plowing provided the trunk and root sys¬ 
tem are not left exposed? Fall plowing in 
old orchards does expose roots more or less, 
and breaks up the surface carpet of pro¬ 
tection that they have had so long, and 
opens the soil to the air. This enables the 
frost to work much more deeply unless the 
ground is protected by snow. In the case 
of peach crop referred to. The Winter 
frost has left the ground, and of course, 
the harrowing process allows the escape of 
heat from the ground, acting on the same 
principal as a smudge. 
E. F. HITCHING. 
Maine Agricultural College. 
American Peaches for Export. 
I am thinking of packing some fancy El- 
berta poaches in boxes for' export next sea¬ 
son, and as I hear conflicting stories con¬ 
cerning the success of exporting peaches, I 
am writing to see if you can give me any 
information on this subject. The news¬ 
papers have printed stories telling of the 
big prices of shipments of our peaches 
abroad, but I talked with a big exporter of 
apples a few days ago who says there is no 
truth in the statement made by either our 
consuls abroad or the news despatches when 
they say New York State peaches or any 
other American peach sells for anything in 
England or any other foreign country after 
all expenses of export are paid. I want to 
get the facts in this matter, as I am firmly 
convinced that if choice New York peaches 
are properly packed they will carry and 
sell well abroad. Can you ascertain the 
true condition of this matter? Also, any 
information on the subject of packing for 
export will be most thankfully received. 
Orican Co., N. Y. D. c. G. 
It. N.-Y.—We can do no better than call 
for the facts. They will come out in the 
discussion. We understand that both 
American and Canadian peaches have been 
packed and sent abroad, arriving in fair 
condition. The experiments were made, we 
think, to learn how to ship, and not for 
commercial purposes. We doubt if such a 
trade will ever be very profitable. 
Peach Prospects in Central Delaware. 
The very mild weather in December, 
causing the buds to swell just a little, and 
the extreme cold in January, when the 
temperature reached the zero mark or near 
it for several mornings, caused peach 
growers to feci that the crop must be 
largely killed if not wholly so, but after 
making a careful examination the last week 
in January of my own orchard, I find an 
abundance of live buds for a full crop, on 
such varieties as Champion, Thurber, Belle 
of Georgia and Elberta, should climatic 
conditions continue favorable from now on. 
Those of the Crawford family show much 
more injury, although quite a few live buds 
still remain. The prospects for profitable 
peach growing In Delaware have become 
very much improved since we have learned 
to control the curculio and brown rot by 
Summer spraying with self-boiled lime- 
sulphur and arsenate of load. I am of the 
opinion that if a part of the efforts now 
being made towards excessive apple planting 
could be turned in the direction of peaches, 
especially as fillers for the apples, it might 
prove both wise and profitable to the grower. 
Maryland. chas. barker. 
Sod for Potatoes and Corn. 
I wish to plant three-fourths to one 
acre in potatoes. I have two patches con¬ 
taining about this much land each; first 
patch has heavy sod of Orchard grass of 
two or three years standing. 1 have been 
putting manure of one horse and one cow 
on this sod and bought six two-horse loads. 
I thought of turning this down as soon as 
land is thawed, and planting potatoes about 
a month later. The second patch has good 
stand of Crimson clover. Which should I 
use for potatoes, which for corn or other 
crop, or would it pay to leave the Orchard 
grass sod for hay? It has not been satis¬ 
factory as a meadow so far. H. G. 
Rio, Va. 
We should plant potatoes on the Crimson 
clover sod. Let the clover bloom and then 
plow it under and pack down. Use some 
fertilizer for the potatoes. The clover will 
make a cleaner place for the potato crop. 
The old sod will be lull of white grubs 
and wire worms, and the manure will be 
better for corn if you plow the sod. If 
there is a good stand of grass you might 
let it go for hay and then plow and sow 
fodder corn. 
Neglected Peach Trees; Hay in Orchard. 
1. I have a piece of land set to young 
peach trees which have never borne any 
fruit, although five years old. They were 
neglected all that time, and when 1 secured 
the place last October I plowed under the 
heavy clover growth. I shall try to save 
some of the peach trees if they look worth 
while this Spring. Do you think they will 
amount to much after these years of 
neglect? They are a pretty sorry-looklng 
lot. 2. I wish to raise some hay for my 
horse next Winter in part of the orchard. 
The rest I shall plant to potatoes and a 
littie corn. How shall I treat the ground 
this Spring so as to secure the best re¬ 
turns in the way of Winter food for my 
mare? The ground is a very rich loam. It 
has produced good hay in quantities. 
d. v. v. 
1. Of course no one can tell what those 
trees will do without looking at them. It 
may be that some of them can be “dis¬ 
horned” or cut back and make a new top. 
If the trunks are sound and not too badly 
eaten by borers this might pay. 2. Your 
best plan to get fodder this year Is to sow 
oats and peas early. Cut and cure this 
crop in July and then plant corn thickly in 
drills. Cut this iu September and then sow 
rye or wheat. Use fertilizer with each 
crop. 
Horticulture in the Northwest. 
Without going outside of the ordinary I 
have thought great changes are due to ar¬ 
rive in horticulture, especially in fruit 
growing In the North and East. Without 
playing the prophet I feel sure that in a 
short period of time it will lie established 
that these regions can raise as fine crops 
of various kinds of fruit as are raised in any 
other portion of the country. Some of this 
will be accomplished by the growing of 
simple kinds already known. In part it 
will be accomplished by the growing and 
using of fruits and vegetables now little 
used, but of splendid merit. The next 
thing will he the formation of fruit growing 
and vegetable growing cooperative associa¬ 
tions in every community, which associa¬ 
tions will look after the proper grading. In¬ 
specting and marketing of the crop as is 
now done in some of the western fruit 
growing districts and in some of the po¬ 
tato growing districts. Until such organi¬ 
sations are in operation there can be little 
improvement hoped for. The reason East¬ 
ern territories have In large part lost their 
ability to produce apples in competition 
with Western apples rests right at this 
point. The reason why certain Northwest¬ 
ern States do not produce valuable crops 
in the horticulture line also rests on this 
point, viz., if a man has a few more bushels 
of any produce than he needs for his own 
use it must of necessity be given away or 
go to waste. Some time in the near future 
these conditions will be overcome, and then 
fruit and vegetable growing in the North 
and Northwest will come into Its own. 
North Dakota Station. h. l. bollux. 
Pyrox fills the barrel with the apples 
that used to go on top. Write Bowker 
Insecticide Co., Boston, for book.—Adv. 
New Vegetables 
You’ll Want to Try 
MO matter whether you’re a home gardener, a 
* ’ < trucker, a farmer of ten acres or a thousand, 
you’ll want to know about the five new vegetables 
that are especially offered in 
DREER’S GARDEN BOOK 
In addition to this there is a variety of novelties ia 
flowers and vegetables that you’ll find interesting, 
i Dreer’s Garden Book is not a mere catalogue 
but is a comprehensive work of 288 pages. Has 
1,000 photo-reproductions. Beautifully illustrated 
with 4 color pages and 6 duotone plates. Full 
Directions Given for the growing of almost every 
plant and vegetable. Write for it today, Sent Free. 
f)REER’S PEERLESS GIANT PANSIES. 
~ A mixture of the most exclusive giant sorts 
in a bewildering range of rich colorings. Sown out- 
of-doors by the end of April, will bloom from July 
till thesnowflies. Special packets containing enough 
seed to produce over one hundred plants. 10 cents 
per packet. Garden Book free with each order. 
HENRY A. DREER 
714 Chestnut St., PHILADELPHIA, Pa. 
k : .V : 1 
■ V 
he growers) amt save 
fpercent. All stock of high quality, and grown in Dans ' 
I villo, "Home or the Best Trees,” where Scale Is unknown. I 
12 PEAR TREES, *1.00. 
3 Bartlett, 3 Flemish, 2 Ketffer, 
2 Seckel, 2 Clapp, 1 Wilder. 
I All fine 2-year, well-matured trees; given most careful | 
I scrutiny iu propagation. True to name or money back. 
I Write for free catalog of other bargains and oomplete line. 
lfteinjHBrM^inr»erte^l064 Reilly ltd., PansTlUe, H. 
Call’s Nurseries, 
Perry, 
Ohio 
Have a Large Stock of the finest Fruit, 
Shade and Ornamental Trees, Spray 
Pumps, Spraying Solutions, and Gasoline 
Engines. Deal Direct. Prices Low. 
Send for Price List. 
TREES and PUNTS-;,'!, 
sale prices. Big supply Apple & Peach Trees, Privet 
Hedging. The Westminster Nursery, Westminster, Md. 
SEED 
POTATOES. IHscase-proof. Read’s Golden. 
Hake, Golden Gem, and Peach blow. New va¬ 
rieties, wonders. Sold direct. Write for farts. 
G. A. HEAD, Read's Kxp. Farms, Charlotte, Yt- 
Unnoet Cnorle Samples and list free. Norris W. 
It uIICol OCCUo Adams, Box 323, Worcester, Mass. 
F 
OR SALE—Extra Seed Cow Reas. Also line strain S. C. E. 1. 
Red e^g» for haicliiug. Wesley Whinery, Greenwood, DeL 
I EBFTflBlE PLANTS For Sale— Also Strawberry Plants 
' Catalogue free. S. 0. Atherton, Greenwood, Dei 
McKAY’S Peach Trees . 
McKAY’S Dwarf Apple Trees—— 
McKAY’S Agricultural Lime, $3 per ton 
McKAY’S Catalogue tells about them—and mora 
— W. L.WIcKAY, Geneva, N. Y. Box F 
JjlTfl Reg. Swedish Seleotand Sensation. Two 
IJA ! 0 best varieties. Samples free Seed Corn: 
Imp. Learning, Reid’s and White Cap. 
Get Our Catalogue. Theo. Burt a Sons, Melrese, Ohio 
Look For This Trade Mark 
On Waterproof Clothing 
£?sh brA$£ 
ASK YOUR DEADER TO SHOW YOU THE 
Fish brand reflex sucker 
THE CCA'” THAT KEEPS OUT ALL THE RAIN 
$3.- Everywhere. 
A. J. TOWER CO. BOSTON 
TOWER CANADIAN LIMITED. TORONTO 
*^aris Gladiolus 
Bulbs 
The best results In flower beds 
and borders sre secured from 
picked bulbs of superior quality 
Vaughan’s Flower Bulbs & Hoots 
produce plants that are sure to 
bloom. Florists and private 
gardeners have used them for 3B 
yrs. Our Glad lolupPrinoeps, Mrs. 
Frances King said Margaret are 
M* Vaughan’s 
Annual C&t&logU 6 
matted FREE to all buyers of 
Garden Seeds. Flower Seeds. Green¬ 
house Plants. Shrubs & Hardy Plants. 
SPECIAL—For $1 we’ll send prepaid 
25 large Bulbs, comprising newBlues, 
Pinks, Yellows and Lilacs, In an even, 
well-proportioned mixture, also 1 ounce 
each of Vaughan’s Spencer Sweet Peas, 
mixed, and newest tall Nasturtiums, 
mixed: or SO small butbs of Gladiolus mix- 
ed together with our catalogue, 25c. 
VAUGHAN’S SEED STORE 
31W. Randolph St. Chcago. B5 Barclay St. X. Y, 
ELI LOT U S 
The choicest and one of the best soil restorers known. 
We have a fine lot of seed that we can retail at less 
than ordinary wholesale prices. Our seed is hulled, 
yellow blossom. GUARANTEED TO GROW. This 
plant is also a splendid preparation for alfalfa. 
■ ■ Rllfl All northern grown, guaranteed to be 
ul rul rfi S'* per cent pure and free from dodder, 
fib.I fib.I fi Write for free sample. 
THE WING SEED COMPANY 
BOX 823 MECHANICSBURG, OHIO 
3 PKTS.SEED FRFF 
READ SPECIAL OFFER BEIOWI I ILL 
For only 10c we send our large 112 
page seed Annual and five packets 
flower seeds or five packets vegetable 
seeds, and then we return the money in 
the form of a due bill good for 
10c to apply on any order 
amounting to 50c or more. 
Isbell’s Seeds 
Arc strictly fresh, Thai, Mich¬ 
igan grown. Sold at very mode- 
Tate prices. Perfect satisfaction 
or money refunded. Send today. 
Seed Annual Free 
to Seed Usern. 
S. M ISBELL & CO., Seedsmen 
190 Pearl SL, Jackson, Mich, 
For Reliable Seeds 
Bought direct from the farming community, and 
sold direct to the fanner;—Medium and Mammoth 
Clover, Alsike, Alfalfa. White and Crimson Clover, 
Timothy, Rape. Red Top, Blue Grass, Orchard 
Grass. Barley. Rye, 'Spring Wheat, all kinds of 
Seed Corn and Peas. Freight prepaid yonr Rail¬ 
road Station. Write for samples and prioes. 
N. Wertheimer & Sons, Ligonier, Ind. 
r 
GRASS 
SEEDS 
/ 
FOB ALT, KINDS OF 
CLOVER an i FIELD SEEDS 
ALSO A FULL LINE OF 
GARDEN and FLOWER SEEDS 
WHITE THIS OLD RELIABLE HOUSE 
Catalog Free and Price Li6t of Grass and 
Field Seeds mailed you on application 
| THE HENRY PHILIPPS SEED & IMPLEMENT CO Jotede. 0. 
500,000 
ASPARAGUS ROOTS for Sale. 
Also, eight of the very best varie¬ 
ties of STRAWBERRIES on the 
market. We have selected these eight kinds out of 
a hundred. We also have a few pounds of selected 
New Stone Tomato seed—the kind that grow the big 
crops. This seed was saved from the best tomatoes 
we could get, and will please anyone that wants 
something extra fine. Our 1912 Catalogue will be 
mailed to you for the asking, giving a list of all 
kinds of Roots, Plants and Seed. Tomato seed $1.00 
per lb., postpaid. CALEB, BOGGS & SON, M Romance *’ 
Seed,Plant and Track Farm, CHESW0LD, Del, 
COY RFANQmikado&mongul 
VUl IlLHIlU Splendid varieties, 
for hay and the heaviest yieldeTS of seed. Ripened 
perfectly here in the mountains of Pa. Grown by 
me from seed purchased from the introducer. Also 
DUROC JERSEY RED SWMEl&iS^?S: 
Spring pigs will be ready iu April and May. 
R. YV. McALLKN .Fannettsburg, Pa. 
FRUIT TREES and PLANTS 
AT VER Y LO W P RI CES 
Apples, $15.00 per 100 
Peaches, 8.00 per 100 
Cherries, 7.00 per 100 
Plums, 9. OOper 100 
Pears, Currants, Raspberries. All strictly 
first-class stock, and Government Inspect¬ 
ed. Send to-d ay for our Free Catalogue on 
Fruits and Ornamentals and buy direct 
from the Growers. Our trees are grown 
in that well known nursery belt of Ontario 
County. 
ONTARIO NURSERY CO. 
INC. 
GENEVA, N, Y. Box 21 
m 
Eberle’s 4 selected varieties. Plant at same time—mature in succession, 
giving corn all summer. You cannot find any better varieties. 
Extra Early White Cob Cory Country Gentleman 
Early Prolific Stowell’s Evergreen 
Large packet of each hy mail 40c. 
Try our DOLLAR COLLECTION of Flower Seeds, full size packets contain¬ 
ing only the highest quality seeds—will produce flowers for decorative 
purposes throughout the summer and autumn months. 
Write for 1912 illustrated Seed Annual, giving description 
of specially selected strains of Vegetable and Flower Seeds. 
FREDERICK W. EBERLE, Seedsman. 116 So. Pearl St., Albany.N.Y. 
