90a 
THE RURAb NEW-YORKER 
FARMERS’ CLUB 
[ Every query must bo 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 pnper.1 
Failure of Cherry Crop ; Rot in Peaches. 
C. C., Breeseport, N. Y. —1. We have two 
cherry trees that have been here 15 years, 
and nearly always blossom full every year, 
but never have had cherries enough for a 
pie. What is the cause? 2. A grapevine 
by the house has a lot of grapes, but they 
are turning brown and dropping off, and I 
don’t know why. What is it? 
Ans. —1. It would be impossible to 
tell the cause of the failure of the 
cherry tree to set its fruit without 
knowing the name of the variety and 
more of the conditions surrounding it. 
It may be that the bloom is imperfect 
and needs cross pollinating, or insects 
or some fungous disease may affect it. 
2. It is, probably, black rot that is caus¬ 
ing the grapes to fall off. Had they 
been sprayed with Bordeaux mixture 
(sulphate of copper and lime) when 
very young it is not likely that any 
such trouble would have occurred. This 
is one of the most common of grape 
diseases and can be almost entirely pre¬ 
vented by timely and proper spraying. 
H. E. VAN DEMAN. 
Destroying Blackberries. 
J. II. L., Port Jervis , N. Y .—Will you 
advise me of some means of reducing the 
quantity of creeping blackberry vinos in our 
fields, without plowing up the new grass 
sod? 
Ans. —The surest way is to plow or 
disk up the field and tear out the black¬ 
berry roots. Unless you do this they 
will continue to send up new shoots 
or plants. If you do not want to plow 
the field, cut off the berry vines now 
as close to the ground as you can. Dry 
and burn them. A new crop of plants 
will come up. Cut and burn before 
Winter. The theory of this is that 
now, at the end of Summer the vines 
have about made their growth and the 
roots are exhausted. Left to them¬ 
selves the vine would stop growing and 
mature, while the roots would recover, 
absorb nourishment and be ready to 
Winter. If therefore you cut off the 
tops now, nature prompts the roots_ to 
send up new tops instead of receiving 
strength for next year. Winter then 
finds the roots feeble and many of them 
will die. This principle applies to brush 
or sprouts from stumps. Many farmers 
tell us to cut them “in the moon” of late 
August. We have not found that the 
moon makes any difference, but the 
thing to do is to cut off the top close 
to the ground, before the roots can fit 
themselves for Winter. It is like at¬ 
tacking the enemy while he is hungry 
and tired. 
Summer Lettuce. 
L. J ). (No Address ).—I have had no ex¬ 
perience in growing lettuce; it is a ci'op 
that’s never been tried here. My land will 
grow anything that I have ever planted. I 
sowed seed for plants two weeks ago; to¬ 
day it is up a good inch and looks nice. 
They tell me August 15 is the time to set 
plants. Are they a hard plant to get 
started? Will the plants be old enough in 
three more weeks? IIow would you go 
about it if you were going to grow three 
acres this time of season? Some tell me I 
should have put the seed where I wanted 
them in the first place. I plowed last week 
and rolled it, and I expect to tend it and 
have it in fine shape for setting plants. 
How much cold weather will it stand? As 
a rule we do not have much frost here un¬ 
til about the last of October. 
Ans. —I have always practiced sow¬ 
ing lettuce seed where plants are to 
stand, as lettuce when young is very 
tender, and unless weather is very fa¬ 
vorable the young, tender plants suffer 
very much and a great many die when 
transplanted to the field in hot weather. 
The smaller headed sorts, such as May 
King, etc., I sow the seed thinly one- 
fourth inch deep in rows 16 inches 
apart, and when plants are two inches 
high thin to eight to nine inches in 
the row. The large cabbage lettuces 
should he sown in rows 18 to 20 inches 
apart, and thinned to 12 inches in the 
row. As L. D. has plants on the way, 
he might try both plans and note which 
is best in his soil and locality. Trans¬ 
plant to field soon as plants are large 
enough and weather conditions favor¬ 
able, no matter what the date of the 
month. Lettuce will stand several hard 
Fall frosts without much injury. 
Freezing will damage it very much and 
render it unsalable. K. 
Grasshoppers and Carnations. 
T have a very fine lot of Giant Mar¬ 
guerite carnation plants about ready to 
commence blooming. The thrips were 
troublesome early in the season, but re¬ 
peated sprayings with tobacco extract held 
them in check, and they are no longer in 
evidence. But now the unopened buds are 
being perforated by some insect. I have 
examined the plants diligently and often, 
hut can’t find out what is eating the holes 
in the buds. What can I do to prevent 
further damage? *'• *>• 
Ohio. 
There is little doubt the trouble is 
caused by grasshoppers; they eat a round 
hole in the tender bud, and often cause 
great damage to field-grown carnations. 
Through August they often damage garden 
flowers severely in any place where old 
fields give them ample' breeding grounds. 
Gladioli, Gannas, Dahlias and Asters are 
often disfigured by them. A mixture of one 
part arsenic to 50 parts bran, moistened 
with sugar water, will poison them; scat¬ 
ter along the garden rows. They have a 
great liking for this bait. Tn farm crops 
the “Griddle mixture” of horse manure 
and arsenic, one pound of arsenic to one- 
half barrel of fresh horse droppings is a 
standard grasshopper destroyer. 
Harvesting Buckwheat. 
On page 868 A. D. B. asks information 
in regard to harvesting buckwheat. Will 
say cut it with a binder by all means. It 
does not matter whether tall or short, he 
can save as much of it as with a cradle. I 
never think of cutting buckwheat with a 
cradle unless the ground is too soft to run 
a binder. Take the carrier off if the grain 
is very heavy and set about four bundles 
in a shock; when dry haul and thrash or 
put it in the barn or stack it if you wish. 
Hundreds of acres are raised around here 
every year and it is all handled that way. 
Better not leave very long in stack or barn 
unless very dry. W. I. H. 
Gonneautville, Pa. 
In answer to E. E. S.. on page 868, in 
regard to harvesting buckwheat, I use a 
reaper hut not a binder; as soon as cut 
set it up as we used to when cradled, and 
in a week or 10 days thrash, according to 
the weather. The straw does not need to 
be cured at all to thrash well; thrash .just 
as soon as it will shell. I raise from five 
to 10 acres each year, and the only trouble 
we have is with deer, and a good gun has 
solved that problem. d. s. 
Connecticut. 
In this section it is the unvarying prac¬ 
tice to cut buckwheat with hinder and set 
up the bundles, four in a place. It is good 
practice to draw from field to machine, but 
have stored it in mow with no unsatisfac¬ 
tory results. J. H. G. 
Trumansburg, N. Y. 
Tell your buckwheat inquirer to try the 
hinder without tying. This will save at 
least the raking, and if he has a good 
growth lie will iind the bundles will stick 
together. _ *\ H, 
Poisoning Sparrows. —In one of your 
back numbers you published an article on 
the nuisance of the English sparrow. I 
would like to tell my experience in the 
“Bashful State.” One Winter 1 secured a 
position in the freight office of the B. & M. 
II. It. in a large town in Vermont. We had 
hundreds of sparrows there all Winter. 
They got their food from the horse manure 
outside. One day I poisoned some oats and 
threw out on the snow ; we had plenty of 
dead sparrows around to pick up. I told 
of it and was informed that I would he 
prosecuted if I did it again. There are 
plenty of sparrows there now, hut the song 
birds are growing less each year. 
New York. J- 6. 
New Hampshire Farmers Meet. —On 
August 15 a farmers’ basket picnic and 
educational meeting was held at New Hamp¬ 
shire College, Durham. N. II.; special trains 
were run from all points on the Boston 
and Maine R. R., and the day being ideal 
hundreds .iourneyed here to enjoy the pro¬ 
gramme laid out for them. The college 
never looked better, the lawn and gardens 
showed the touch of a master hand and the 
exhibition of fruit and vegetables for this 
time of year was good. All the buildings 
were open for inspection and everybody 
was free to come and go at their pleasure. 
The greenhouses came in for a large share 
of inspection, there being a good exhibition 
of growing melons under glass. Farming 
tools and different kinds of sprayers were 
inspected and students were there to operate 
the different tools and explain all questions 
that ‘the visitors might ask. At 12 m. 
to 1.30 p. m. a basket lunch and social 
hour with music; 1.30 p. in. address of 
welcome, Dean Better, acting president; 
1.45 to 2.45 p. in., “Some Possibilities in 
New England Agriculture,” Mr. .T. II. Hale. 
Mr. Hale gave a fine talk for an hour on 
fruit growing and hold an interested audi 
once; 2.45 to 3.30, “Agricultural Extension 
Work and Its Value to the Farmer,” Wal¬ 
lace 1 Buttrick, New York Secretary General 
Education Board, the John I). Rockefeller 
Fund Mr. Buttrick is a convincing speak¬ 
er. his voice is good for outdoor speaking, 
and those who got near enough to hear 
heard things worth hearing; after an hour 
lecture they still wanted him to talk and 
he was in demand the rest of the day. 
The remainder of the afternoon was occu¬ 
pied by parties visiting different plots on 
the grounds. Dancing in the gymnasium 
ended the day’s programme. w. w. 
APPLE BARRELS-Car Lots or Less 
ROUT. GILLIES MEDINA, N. Y. 
APPLE 
GROWING 
The healthier the tree, the 
better the fruit. The longer 
trees are sprayed with 
“SCALEOIDE” the more 
beautiful, healthful and 
fruitful they become. “SO A DECIDE” is the 
acknowledged leader of all soluble oils—the only one 
containing distinct fungicidal properties. “SCALE- 
CIDE” will positively kill all soft-bodied sucking in¬ 
sects without injury to the tree. Let us prove these 
statements. Send today for free booklet "SCALE- 
CIDE—the Tree Saver.” Address B. G. PRATT 
CO., Mfg, Chemists, 50 Church St., N. Y. City. 
August 31. 
NEW PITKUS RYE 
This new Russian Rye has proved much 
superior to any other variety both in yield 
and quality. We have a fine lot of seed 
which we are selling at a low price. 
Hairy or Sand Vetch 
We offer pure seed of our own growing 
of this year’s crop, at $8.70 per bushel. 
Also rye and vetch mixed, M vetch and 
5>£ rye, at $2.75 per bushel (56 lbs.) This mix 
ture makes an excellent cover crop and is 
much cheaper than to buy the two seeds 
separate. 
We also offer Seed Wheat, Grass Seeds, etc. 
Price list free. 
JOSEPH HARRIS CO. Growers 
COLDWATER, N. Y. 
WOOD’S 
Special Grass ont> 
Clover Mixtures 
Make the Largest Yields of 
Hay and Pasturage. 
They are combined in proper propor¬ 
tion to give the best results for the differ¬ 
ent soils for which they are recommend¬ 
ed. 
We use in these mixtures our Trade 
Mark Brand Seeds, which are best qual¬ 
ities obtainable, and tested both as to 
germination and purity. 
Our customers report the most satis¬ 
factory results, both as to securing excel¬ 
lent stands and largest yields of both hay 
and pasturage. 
Wood’s Descriptive Fall Catalog 
gives full information; also tell about all 
other Grass and Clover Seeds, Alfalfa, 
Vetches and all Farm and Garden Seeds 
for fall planting. 
Catalog mailed free. Write for it. 
T. W. WOOD & SONS, 
Seedsmen, - Richmond, Va. 
Best Seed Wheats 
THAT GROW 
RED WAVE the most popular red bald 
wheat oh earth. Hardy as rye. Im¬ 
mense yielder. 
GRAND PRIZE, the latest sensation. 
A new marvelous wonder. Other leading 
sorts regenerated. Our seed wheats free 
from foul stuff, thoroughly recleaned and 
graded. The best that grow. Write to 
day for price list No. 24. 
MAPLEWOOD SEED FARMS 
ALLEGAN, MICH. 
!i The best varieties, both i 
new and old, and the best 
methods of planting to raise a 
full crop of Strawberries next 
year, are fully particularized in 
DREER’S 
Mid-Summer Catalogue 
Also the best varieties of Celery, 
Cabbage Plants, etc. 
A most complete list of the Best 
Hardy Perennial Seeds for summer 
sowing. 
Also vegetable and farm seeds for 
summer and fall sowing. Select list of 
seasonable decorative and flowering 
plants. 
Write, for a copy and kindly 
mention this paper—FREE 
HENRY A. DREER PHILADELPHIA 
STRAWBERRY PLANTS 
Earliest, latest, largest, most productive varieties. 
$1.00 hundred, prepaid. Low thousand prices. Rasp¬ 
berry, blackberry, asparagus plants, fruit trees. 
Catalogue free. HARRY L. SQUIRE, Good Ground, N. Y. 
DEWDROP 
If you are interested in 
Fall bearing 
STRAWBERRIES 
send for Circular. It will 
tell you about the merits 
of this wonderful berry. 
All good qualities com¬ 
bined. Plants ready now. 
H. F. DEW, ALBION, MICH. 
NowThe FALL BEARING Strawberries- 
Send for T. G. KE VITT’S Catalogue, Athenia, N. J. 
CAM Bearing Strawberry Plants. Best varieties. 
TALL Catalogue Free. BASIL PERRY, Cool Spring, Del, 
C ABBAGE and CELERY PLANTS— Best variety, $1 per 1000, 
$7.50,10,000 Tomato, Sweet Potato and Peppers, $1.50 pet- 
1000. Cauliflower, $2.50 per 1000. J. C. Schmidt, Bristol, Pa. 
WEEDLESS FIELD SEEDS,-''a h r a e 
trying harder than ever to furnish our customers. 
FREE Samples will show that we come pretty 
near doing it. In many varieties we DO IT. Home¬ 
grown Timothy, Alsike, Mammoth, Red, new 
crop. Also Alfalfa, Vetch, Rape, etc. Write today. 
0. M. Scott & Son, 40 Main St., Marysville, Ohio 
“BLACK’S QUALITY” 
FRUIT TREES 
NONE BETTER 
None Give Better Returns when They Fruit 
Buy Owed From the Nursery 
and save agent’s discounts and middleman’s 
profits. When you buy our trees you get a 
Oollar*s Worth of Trees 
for every one hundred cents you remit to us. 
SSSD WHEAT 
Jones’ ‘‘Red Wave” and “St. Louis Grand Prize.” 
Two of the best yielding and Hy resisting varieties 
grown. Price list and samples on application. 
J. N. MacPHERSON, Pine View Farm, Scottsville, New York 
Wlieat to Sow 
10 Big Yielders—Smooth and Bearded— 
Hardy and Reliable—Glean and Pure— 
Sold Right from Farm—Close Prices. 
If You Don’t Like It WK TAKE IT BACK, 
RETURN YOCK MONEY & PAY EREIGHT 
Write for Wlieat Catalog No. 33—IT IS FREE. 
A. H. HOFFMAN. Bamford, Lancaster Co., Pa. 
UfUCIT- Red Wave ’ sm00t, L re ’ 
OEXU VlflCAl cleaned and pure. Planted 
Sept. 20th, has made a yearly average of 40 bn. of 
grain and nearly two tons of straw per acre here on 
our farm. $1.75 per bn. LESLIE JEEEERIS* 
Red Hill Farm, Bridgeport, Penna. 
PEACH and APPLE TREES 
a specialty. CATALOGUE FREE 
JOS. H. BLACK, SON & CO. 
HIGHTSTOWN. N. J. 
KING’S FRUIT TREES 
are purchased by the best oreliardists. Send for 
free catalog now. Big discounts for Fall Delivery. 
KING BROS. NURSERIES, Dansville. N.Y. 
"It's Cheapest to Buy the Best” 
FRUIT TREES at Wholesale 
Apples $7.00 per 100. Cherries $5.00, Peaches $5.00, 
Pears $6.00. All trees GUARANTEED First-class' 
True to Name and free from Scale and disease. 
Send for new fall price list, and for 1912 Cata¬ 
log if you do not have one. WM. J. REILLY 
Nurseries, Box 68, Dansville, N. Y. 
Seed Wlieat 
High yielding varieties: Poole, Gypsy, Mediterra¬ 
nean, Turkey Red, Rudy, Mammoth White Rye, 
Alfalfa. Timothy, etc. Samples and price list on ap¬ 
plication. W. N. BCARFF, New Carlisle, O. 
Inoculated Alfalfa Soil 
75c. per 100, or $10.00 per ton, f. o. b. cars Ashville, 
Pa. Send for free booklet. "How to Grow Al¬ 
falfa.” DR. H. SOMERVILLE, Chest Springs. Pa. 
TREES and PLANTSlf 0 “S?-?'r.ffi 
prices. Big supply Apple and Peach Trees, Privet 
Hedging. The Westmioster Nursery, Westminster, Md. 
700,000 Hardy Fruit Trees PLANTING 
at wholesale prices. Cherries. 5 to 6 ft., 10c each; 4 to 
5 ft., 6c each. Genesee Valley grown, direct from 
nursery to planter. Write for free illus. catalogue. 
f. W. Wells Wholesale Nurseries, 10 Treeatres Road. Dansville. N. Y. 
You know what you are getting when you buy 
LANdLme: 
as it is sold under a guaranteed analysis. Every bag has attached to it a tag 
stating this guaranteed analysis. Anyone planning the use of lime this year will 
find it to their advantage to secure a copy of our free illustrated booklet. 
Write today to our nearest office. 
ROCKLAND 6 ROCKPORT LIME CO. 
Boston, 45 Milk St. 
Rockland, Me. 
New York, Fifth Ave. Bldg. 
