1913. 
THE RURAL* NEW-YORKER 
396 
Ruralisms 
STERILIZING SOIL FOR GINSENG. 
M. L.j Lockwood, 0 .—An acre is fenced 
off in a woods for ginseing and golden 
seal. The gardener with a large traction 
engine has just recently been sterilizing 
a portion of it for, “sang” and “seal.” His 
method is as follows: Four one-inch pipes 
16 feet long, were placed eight inches deep, 
separated about eight inches apart, with 
cross connection at one end only. Steam 
at 160 pounds pressure was forced in for 
one hour. Potatoes were cooked in 10 
minutes; an old yellow dock root was re¬ 
duced to a pulp.' The query is, was any 
damage done to the ground? Were any 
germs destroyed that the plant must have 
to thrive on? Would the process destroy 
all weed seed? The sterilized space being 
so narrow, would any lasting benefit re¬ 
sult in destroying the blight or uncongenial 
bacteria? The garden is on natural gin¬ 
seng sandy loam soil, six to 10 feet to 
water, best tree shade, not excessive but 
just about right. 
Ans. —The partial sterilization of soils 
by heat and also by such volatile chem¬ 
icals as carbon bisulphide, toluol and 
xylol has proven generally beneficial as 
a preparation for the intensive culture 
of certain exacting plants, as it has been 
found to kill off, not only weed seeds, 
insects and fungi, but also to a great 
extent destroy amoeba—the mobile jelly- 
like organism that largely preys on the 
nitrogen-producing bacteria — without 
greatly harming the latter, at least in 
the reproductive spore stage. The nitro- 
bacters are thus allowed to increase un¬ 
checked for a time to the great ad¬ 
vantage of the plants subsequently placed 
in the soil. The idea is not only to 
rid the soil of disease germs and direct 
plant enemies, but also to lessen the 
parasites of the plants’ friends—the 
nitro-bacters—and give them a clear 
field until infection again occurs. The 
treatment is usually effectual, owing to 
the greater resisting powers of the 
friendly organisms and has been found 
generally profitable in greenhouse and 
other interior cultures. Steam applied 
in the described manner is considered 
the most practical agent for the purpose, 
though the chemicals are useful in' a 
small way. It is possible to overdo the 
matter and soil so heated that a potato 
buried in it would be cooked in 10 
minutes would probably be cleaned of 
all organic life. In practice, however, 
soil less thoroughly sterilized is mixed 
with the over-heated portion and quickly 
acts as a friendly culture, since it is 
likely to contain at least living spores 
of the useful nitro-bacters. Seeds or 
plants placed in partially sterilized soil 
grow rather slowly at first but soon 
with greater rapidity than similar ones 
in untreated soil and are less troubled 
with pests and diseases. Artificial shade 
in the form of well-built lath sheds has 
proved best for ginseng and similar 
woodland plant cultures. There is no 
competition with tree roots to contend 
with and the degree of shade which 
should approximate 30 per cent of nor¬ 
mal sunlight, is better controlled. In 
other words, at least 70 per cent, of the 
sun’s rays should be intercepted and 
this can be best accomplished by placing 
the laths composing roof and sides the 
proper distance apart. v. 
Labels; Plant Lice; Shrubs for Shade. 
if. 8. P.j Danvers, Mass. —1. I want 
labels for trees, vines, and shrubs that will 
stand the weather, and remain plain and 
legible for years when exposed to weather. 
What do you advise to till the bill? 2. 
Last Summer I was much troubled with 
plant lice on currants. Leaves all curled 
up, so no application would reach the mis¬ 
chief. What would you do under such cir¬ 
cumstances? 3. I* want names of best 
shrubs to set under trees where partial 
shade exists. I am about to make plant¬ 
ings in shady places this Spriug; would like 
to set the high-bush cranberry, Pride of 
Rochester shrub, .Japanese snowball and 
Hydrangea pauiculata graudiflora and Hy¬ 
drangea aborescens graudiflora. Which of 
the above will stand shade the best? Do 
you know of any others still better? 
Ans. —Our preference for outdoor 
labels is ordinary sheet zinc, cut into I 
convenient size with tinner’s shears. ' 
We cut it one-half inch wide and 
about five inches long, tapering at 
one end, which is rolled around a 
branch or twig in the case of shrubs, 
trees or vines, attached to a stick where 
used to mark an herbaceous plant. If 
the zinc is slightly weathered an in-! 
delible pencil makes a distinct mark, 
and lasts a long time; indeed, an ordi¬ 
nary lead pencil is often used, and is 
quite lasting. For a permanent label, 
use the zinc, writing on it with chloride 
of platinum, which makes an intensely 
black mark that remains indefinitely. A 
quill or pointed stick must be used for 
a pen, as metal is eaten by the chemical. 
Chloride of platinum is quite ex¬ 
pensive and is poisonous; if any of it 
touches the hands it produces intense 
itching, followed by an eruption. 
2. Treatment for plant lice must be¬ 
gin before they are protected by the 
curled-up leaves. Watch for them, and 
when they appear spray with kerosene 
emulsion or tobacco extract. For the 
first, dissolve one-half pound of soap 
shaved fine in one gallon of boiling 
water, add two gallons kerosene, agitate 
with force pump until a creamy mix¬ 
ture and dilute for use with 10-15 parts 
water. The tobacco extract known as 
“black-leaf 40” is effectual, three- 
fourths pint to 100 gallons water. 
3. Desirable shrubs for shady places 
are the various barberries, box, sev- 
eial of the cornels or dwarf dogwoods, 
such as Cornus paniculata, C. sanguinea 
and C. stolonifera; the sweet pepper 
bush, Clethra alnifolia, Deutzia gracilis 
and D. scabra. We have not had ex¬ 
perience with Pride of Rochester (a 
form of D. crenata) in the shade. The 
snowberries, privets, Rhododendrons, 
New Jersey tea (Ceanothus Ameri¬ 
cans) and Kalm’s St. John’s-wort 
(Hypericum Kalmianum) with bright 
yellow flowers in August, are all prom¬ 
ising. Japanese snowball seems impatient 
of shade, and the Hydrangeas will not 
do their best under such conditions, 
though if not crowded by trees H. 
paniculata grandiflora gives fair re¬ 
sults. However, we would rather give 
these plants an open place, and use 
some of the list given above. Care 
must be taken that the adjacent trees 
do not rob the shrubs of nourishment. 
Get 
'BuggyBargains 
Contains photographs of the 
latest stylos in Buggies. Shows 
not only how my “Blne^rass” Buggies 
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make up for you just the Buggy You want- 
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groatest Buggy offer of tho year is 
52LS2* $ 54 5 ° 
Like all my goods this Is sold on 
80 days' road trial backed by two 
years’ guarantee. If not satisfied 
I refund your money and pay the 
freight both ways. Send a 
postal for tho book—TODAY. 
D. T. BOHON. 
817 Main St. 
Harrodaburg l 
Ky. 
SAVE HALF Your 
Paint Bills 
By using INGERSOLL PAINT — proved 
best by 66 years’ use. It will please you. 
Only Paint endorsed by the “Grange.” 
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DELIVERED FREE. 
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INGERSOLL PAINT BOOK —FREE 
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Wlth s *™Ple Color Cards. Writ® me. DO 
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0. W. Ingersoll, 24b Plymouth St.. Broiklyn. N.Y. 
FIRE 
Yes — it fights 
fires or bugs. 
Fig. 564 is extra 
strong, stands 
rigidly, attach 
to any pail or 
bucket. 
DOUGLAS 
SPRAY PUMPS 
are suitable for an y service in 
field, forest, home or barn. 
They areconvenient, easy to 
carry and pump. Write for 
free booklet on spraying 
and fire fighting. Sold by 
dealers or direct. 
W. & B. DOUGLAS 
J I 50 William St., Middletown, Ct. 
The Hardie Sprayers 
),000 “Hardie*” 
in use today 
There’s a reason—they are made In all sizes and styles 
from a little $3.00 hand pump to the largest Power Sprayer 
Catalog tor the asking. 
THE HARDIE MFG. CO. 
Hudson .... Michigan 
1 or 
There will NEVER be enough num¬ 
ber one apples—ALWAYS too many 
cider apples. Don't waste your time 
and your trees growing inferior grades. 
Use "Scalecide" the one sure spray for 
San Jose scale, and produce number 
one fruit. “Scalecide” is lOflf. efficient 
against scale and has marked fungi¬ 
cidal properties. Used by best orchard- 
ists the world over. Endorsed by Ex¬ 
periment Stations. Our SERVICE 
DEPARTMENT furnishes everything 
/or the orchard. Write today to Dept, 
for new booklet—“Pratt's Hand¬ 
book for Fruit Growers” and "Scale¬ 
cide the Tree Saver." Both free. 
B. G. PRATT COMPANY 
50 Church Street New York City 
S PRAYS the tallest fruit tree 
from the ground. Does the 
work in half the time. Sprays 
whitewash and cattle “dip”. 
Used with bucket, barrel or knap¬ 
sack. Always ready. Made of brass. 
Nothing to wear out or make trouble. 
Warranted for Five Years 
Write for special offer or send $4.00. 
(West of Denver, $5.00.) Express 
paid. Money back if not satisfied. 
The Standard Stamping Co. 
946 Main Street Marysville, Ohio 
SPRAYERS NECESSARY 
Some States make you spray now; others will 
follow soon. _ But you must apply right solu¬ 
tions, at the right time, in the right way. You 
need a. Sprayer with best pumps 
and adjustments for your purpose. 
IBQHASE 
When you write advertisers mention The 
R. N.-Y. and you’ll get a quick reply and a 
“square deal.” See guarantee editorial page. 
SPRAYERS 
I have these advantages. 40 com¬ 
binations—Bucket, Knapsack, 
Barrel, Traction and Power Spray¬ 
ers—S3 to S300. Pumps outside, 
will not corrode; handle any solution. 
Sprayers in units, complete or in parts to build up 
r those already in use. Ask your dealer * 
[ to show them and write for new booklet, 
I "Spraying’ l ines. Trees ami 
I Bushes ." We also make full line ( 
1 potato machines, garden tools, etc. 
BATEMAN M’F’G CO. 
Box 1U2N 
-Grenloch, N. J. 
this at any time. 
Saves Crops— 
Makes Dollars! 
Spray for fine fruits, 
more and better vegeta¬ 
bles. Brown’s Auto Spray 
destroys bugs, prevents 
blight and disease. Keeps 
trees and plants in per¬ 
fect growing condition. 
300,000 farmers, fruit¬ 
growers and gardeners 
endorse Brown’s Auto 
Spray. 
Brown’s 
AUTO SPRAY 
No. 1 
is best for small oper¬ 
ations. 4 gal. capacity. 
Powerful, convenient, 
fast-working.econom- 
ical. Has patented 
Auto-pop nozzle, non¬ 
clogging,throws spray 
for every purpose.mist 
like or powerful _ 
yJWr'JSji'iayfor 
of solution. FREE BOOK 
SAVES TIME 40 sizes and styles—hand 
■ HD or power outfits. Largest 
line in America. Get low 
MONEY prices. Satisfaction or money 
r back. Address 
THE E. C. BROWN CO* 
28 Jay St. Rocheater f N.Y* 
FREE TRIAL 
No money in advance — no 
bank deposit. We pay freight. 
Five year Guarantee. 
Hurst Potato and Orchard Sprayers 
I double your crops—spray anything—trees, potatoes, 
vineyard, truck, etc. High pressure, cyclone agita¬ 
tion, easy to operate. Brass valves, plunger, cylinder, 
strainer, etc. Light, strong and durable. 
Horse Power Sprayer— works automatically In 
I field and orchard—no hand 
pumping required. Write to¬ 
day. Catalog and spraying 
guide and Special 
Free Sprayer Offer 
to first buyer In 
each locality. Be 
first—save money 
—write today. 
H. L. HTJRSTMFG. CO. 
! 282North St., Canton, 0. 
r We Make 
Sprayers 
For Everybody 
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, 
k strainers are brushed and kept clean 
“■ and liquid is thoroughly agitated 
automatically. 
• Corrosion Is impossible. 
Write for directions and 
formula. Also catalog on 
entire sprayer line. We have 
, the sprayer to meet your 
1 exact wants. Address 
FIELD FORCE PUMP CO.. 
2 Eleventh Street, Elmira, N. Y. 
SPORICIDEG,: 
URE CURE FOR'' 
Oats. Guaranteed, 
m ule to treat 
SPOKICIDK CHEMICAL CO., Atlanta,N.Y. 
'?") SMUT 
The H. P. Spramotor shown 
here is equally efficient on 
row crop or orchard work. 
Twelve nozzles that cannot 
clog—sprays with 125 lbs. 
pressure—gets after germs, par¬ 
asites, canker worms, makes the 
blight impossible, giving crops 
greatest possible chance for 
maximum development. 
This machine will 
thoroughly spray two 
acres of row crop in 
30 minutes—the 
increased yield will 
refund cost several 
times every season. 
Note:—There’s a 
Spramotor huilt for 
your exact require¬ 
ments. Prices range 
from $6.00 to $350.00. You owe it to yourself to find out all there is 
to know about it. We forward you the facts with our treatise on“Crop 
Diseases” without placing you under any obligation to Buy. 
SPRAMOTOR WORKS, 
1813 Erie St., BcifFalo, TVYorls. 
