1330 
FARMERS’ CLUB 
[Every query must be 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 paper.] 
PECANS IN VIRGINIA AND THE NORTH. 
I wish to take issue slightly with Mr. 
Van Deman in his article entitled “Pe¬ 
cans in Virginia,” on page 1255. His 
main advice I wish to verify, namely, 
don’t plant commercially now at 1,100 
feet elevation in Patrick County, Vir¬ 
ginia. On the other hand, I wish to 
emphasize the fact that while we are not 
in a position to start the industry there 
today, we probably will be in 10 or 
12 years from now, if a reasonable 
amount of preparatory work is done. At 
the present time we are in the era of 
experiment, and nothing is on an indus¬ 
trial basis until after experiments have 
succeeded. But the presumptive evidence 
in favor of successful pecan growing in 
large areas of the North, including Pat¬ 
rick County, Virginia, at an elevation of 
1,100 feet, is very good. The pecan is 
now growing wild (in some places 
planted by men), and ripening crops of 
fruit in Northern Missouri, Southern 
Iowa, Southern Indiana, and a few trees 
even north of Indianapolis. I discov¬ 
ered the other day a huge tree, 7*4 feet 
in circumference, with a spread of 68 
feet, growing and bearing fruit at an 
elevation of 500 feet on upland clay schist 
soil in Piedmont, Loudon County, Vir¬ 
ginia, about 45 miles northwest of Wash¬ 
ington. An even larger tree is bearing 
in Lancaster County, Pa., and reports 
were brought to the recent meeting of 
the Northern Nut Growers’ Association, 
of bearing trees on Long Island. 
Mr. Van Deman says many of these 
northern nuts are small and not well 
filled. The same thing may be said of 
seedling pecans in the South. On the 
other hand, it may also be said that many 
of the northern nuts, though small, are 
well-filled and of excellent quality, and 
some at least of the Indiana varieties 
are large enough for commercial use. 
There is little reason to doubt that we 
have large numbers of very valuable, but 
practically unknown, nut trees of the 
English walnut, the pecan, the Shag- 
bark hickories, and others, scattered over 
the northern, eastern, and southern parts 
of the United States, and all persons be¬ 
ing aware of them should report them to 
Dr. William C. Deming, Secretary of the 
Northern Nut Growers’ Association, 
Georgetown, Conn. Dr. Deming is giv¬ 
ing much of his valuable time to the pro¬ 
motion of this very promising branch of 
horticulture. He and his association 
serve as a kind of clearing house for nut 
knowledge. The great need at the present 
time is the search for and study of par¬ 
ent trees and experimenting with the 
known northern varieties of pecans which 
have done good fruiting in latitude 39 
deg. and are now being propagated by a 
few pioneer nurserymen. They are very 
probably capable of growing much farther 
north than the places where they were 
native. Just how far north they will 
fruit remains to be seen. In the mean¬ 
time you cannot have a better shade tree 
about your place than one of these trees, 
and the possibilities of their fruiting 
north of their original home is enticing. 
For example, I know of trees in zero cli¬ 
mates in North Carolina and Northern 
Virginia that are fruiting from well to 
fairly well, and the trees are seedlings 
from Texas nuts. There is some reason 
to believe that some of the earliest of 
the Indiana nuts, which unfortunately 
are not yet propagated, will ripen their 
fruit in Ontario. J. russell smith. 
University of Pennsylvania. 
Heeling in Strawberry Plants. 
On page 1182 B. W. R. inquires about 
heeling in strawberry plants. This is a 
common practice with me when I wish 
to clean up the strawberry bed for the 
Winter, and the ground for the new 
patch is not ready. Trenches about six 
inches deep are dug east and west in a 
well-drained location, throwing the dirt 
to the south. The north walls should 
be nearly perpendicular, against which 
the newly dug plants are placed close to¬ 
gether crowns up, one or two deep, in a 
continuous row, with the crowns a little 
below the level of the ground. As the 
THE 
RURAL 
NEW-YORKER 
December 13, 
plants are placed, dirt is packed against 
the roots, but the crowns are not covered. 
A slight trench should be thus loft, over 
which boards are placed lengthwise. This 
is sufficient covering for this Puget Sound 
country, but in New T Hampshire and 
neighboring States it would be best to 
keep out severe frost by a loose covering 
of straw or other coarse litter placed over 
the boards. These plants should come out in 
the Spring in good condition, and having 
been nicely protected will start to grow 
sooner than other plants set in the open; 
consequently, they should be examined 
from time to time as the weather mod¬ 
erates, or even entirely uncovered by re¬ 
moving the litter and boards; then set out 
in their permanent places as soon as pos¬ 
sible after active growth begins, which 
growth wall first be noticed in the sending 
out of new roots. J. G. p. 
Washington. 
Asparagus in Young Orchard, 
We wish to put out some new apple 
orchard (under irrigation), and to grow 
something between the young trees to 
help pay expenses. We are thinking of 
putting in asparagus, in rows five feet 
apart. We have never seen it tried. The as¬ 
paragus would probably do all right, as 
it grows wild under the old trees, but 
what of the effect of the growth and cul¬ 
tural treatment of the asparagus on the 
young trees. c. E. L. 
Mesilla, N. M. 
I have known of two or three instances 
where asparagus was grown between the 
trees in young orchards and, so far as I 
could see, the plan seemed in no way 
detrimental to either, as both seemed to 
be in a very thrifty condition. In the 
planting of asparagus in the orchard, it 
must be remembered that it is a crop that 
does not come into profit until three or 
four years after planting, and that it is 
good for 15 to 20 years if properly cared 
for. Therefore due allowance must be 
made for the growth of the trees during 
that period. The orchard is the main 
object to be kept in view at all times, 
and no other crop handled in connection 
with it must be allowed to interfere with 
its proper cultivation and care. I would 
therefore advise that the asparagus be 
planted no closer than, within 10 or 12 
feet of the trees. This distance away 
from the trees will admit of proper cul¬ 
tivation of them for some years to come, 
and at the same time in no way inter¬ 
fere with the proper handling of the as¬ 
paragus. 
Where there is a market convenient, it 
is considered much more profitable to 
grow strawberries in the young orchard 
than any other crop, as they come into 
full profit in about 14 months after plant¬ 
ing, and the turning of them under every 
two or three years adds much organic 
matter to the soil, which is in every way- 
quite beneficial to the young orchard. 
But whatever kind of crop is grown in 
the orchard, ample space must be left on 
each side of the rows of trees to admit 
of unrestricted cultivation, as young trees 
cannot thrive in a hard sun-baked soil. 
K. 
“For the Land’s Sake, use Bowker’s 
Fertilizers; they enrich the earth and 
those who till it.”— Adv. 
When you write advertisers mention The 
Rural New-Yorker and you'll get a quick 
reply and a “square deal.” See guarantee 
editorial page. :::::: 
SLAUGHTERHOUSE 
FERTILIZERS 
greatly increase Aeents’ sales, because they pro¬ 
duce larger and better crops and enrich soils. 
Proofs furnished. Quality guaranteed. Prices 
right. Responsible Agents wanted at once. 
D. B. MARTIN CO. 
706 Penn Bldg. Pittsburgh, Pa, 
You take no chances when 
ssSNS^pr buying Eberle’s seeds, bulbs 
oi plants. Tneyareabsolutely 
wmdr fresh and reliable. Cannot fall 
BB to thrive under fair conditions. 
f Our large and varied stock con¬ 
tains every variety worth growing. 
Eberle’s 1914 Seed Annual—Free 
This well-illustrated book tells you all 
about our choice seeds, bulbs and 
plants. Brimful of helpful information 
about planting and cultivating. 
Get your free copy—today. 
FREDERICK W. EBERLE. 
118 South Pearl St., Albany, N.Y. 
Hayes 
Power 
Sprayer 
300 Lbs. 
Pressure 
Guaranteed 
H IGH PRESSURE spraying produces a 
better quality and larger quantity of 
salable fruit. The HAYES is guaran¬ 
teed to maintain 300 lbs. pressure. It thor¬ 
oughly covers every particle of foliage -1th 
a penetrating fog-like mist, insures results 
and saves solution. 
., HAYES large capacity, high pressure tri¬ 
plex pump, special design engine and im¬ 
proved agitator are of thorough mechanical 
construction. Strong steel frame, cross 
braced and hot riveted. All steel, non-tip- 
over, cross reach orchard truck that turns in 
14 feet. Cannot strike trees in turning. 
Large capacity, lig t weight, short coupled, 
light draft, compact and accessible, the 
HAYES is sure, reliable and easy in opera¬ 
tion and guarani. . in efficiency. 
We make large and small Power Sprayers 
for orchards, parks, hops and all purposes. 
Hand and Barrel Sprayers for every use. 
Write—Sendpostalfor freebook34 on High 
Pressure Spraying and HAYES Sprayers. 
Hayes Pump & Planter Company, Galva, Ill. 
“FRIEND” 
Western Queen 
(NEW) 
Only one of the good 
things to be found in the 
new “ FRIEND ” cata¬ 
log. Want one f Then 
tell your sprayer needs. 
“ FRIEND ” MFG. CO. 
GASPORT NEW YORK 
Meat and Bone 
Tankage 
for 
Home Mixing 
Fertilizers 
WILCOX FERTILIZER CO. 
Manufacturers of Wilcox Fertilizer 
“Fertilizers that Fertilize" 
MYSTIC CONNECTICUT 
S WEET CLOVER SEED—The true white blooming: variety. 
(Melilotus Alba.) Write for free sample of new crop, 
seed and latest prices. HENKY FIELD, Shenandoah, Iona 
STRAWBERRIES 
Write for this beautifully illus¬ 
trated book—full of information 
for fruit growers, farmers and 
gardeners. Lists and describes 
Allen’s hardy, prolific, correctly 
grown berry plants — Strawber¬ 
ries, Raspberries, Blackberries, 
Grapes, Currants, etc.—all the 
best, new and standard varieties 
and guaranteed true-to-name. 
Write today for free copy 
W. F. ALLEN 
72 Market St,, Salisbury, Md. 
FruitGrowerxFavoritePr'uniii&Saw 
Frurt Growers Saw Co., 30 Main St., Scottsvilfe, M. V 
Save time by working on the ground without ladder. Cut 
1 several suckers at once ; remove 3 inch dead limbs. Shape 
trees better. Saw cuts heal qui c kly. If dealer can’t supply 
we pay postage and Booklet 
money if not sat- free 
isfactory. 
O T> T> A V IT D C Are a Necessity 
OI X Hi XV O and a Benefit. 
They save your crop, increase the yield 
and improve the quality. Our Spray Cal- i 
endar shows when to spray and what 
materials to use. Our "Spray* 1 booklet 
shows 70 combinations of 
IRON ME 
Bucket, Barrel. Power and 
Traction Sprayers for 
Orchard and fieldcrops 
and other uses. Built 
complete or in units— 
buy just what you 
need. Ask your deal¬ 
er to show them and 
let Uncle Sam bring 
you the rest of the 
story and the spray 
calendar. Also “Iron 
Age Farm and Garden 
News" free. 
Bateman M’f’g Co. 
Box 102-1 
Grenloch, N. 3. 
The Morrill & Morley Way 
Use an Eclipse Spray Pump. 
Used by the U. S. Depart¬ 
ment of Agriculture. Its 
construction is perfect. 
Illustrated catalogue free. 
Morrill & Morley Mfg. Co. 
Stati.n 4 Benton Harbor, Mich. 
Eclipse Spray Pump 
San Jose Scale Killer 
KIL-O-SCALE is the most reliable rem¬ 
edy for scale. Ready for use by simply mix¬ 
ing with water. Also Lime sulphur an^ 
Spraying Outfits. Write for catalogue. 
Henry A. Dreer, Philadelphia, Pa. 
UA M r, DC . If you want a cheap 
NO MORE ana safe method for 
RABBITS keeping RABBITS 
and BORERS out of 
your orchard,paint your trees with “Sul- 
Focide” the new concentrated sulphur 
compound. Easy to prepare and apply. 
One application lasts one year. "Sul- 
FoctDE”solves the rabbit problem. Write 
today for booklet,“Sui.FociDE,Sure pro. 
tection from rabbi's and borers.” Ad¬ 
dress B.G. Pratt Co., 50 Church St.,N.Y. 
A Word of Advice 
Grow a bumper crop this year and so enrich your soil in nitrates that it will pro¬ 
duce several big yields of any crop without more nitrate fertilizers being needed. 
Yon can do all this without any extra work at the small cost of $2.00 per acre. (Do 
not be misled into believing that, you can do it for less.) Agricultural experts 
and practical farmers throughout the country have proved this beyond a doubt. 
The Standard Inoculation 
5-Acre bottle 
$9.00 
FARMogerM 
1-Acre bottle 
$2.00 
High-Bred Nitrogen-Gathering Bacteria 
is the only pore culture of high-bred nitrogen-gathering bacteria that have been carefully 
selected and scientifically bred up to the highest degree of nitrogon-fixing power. It is put 
up in special bottles with the famous air-filtering stopper invented by Dr. Earp-Thomas, 
and the bacteria are guaranteed to remain iu a highly active and virile state for long periods 
of time. 
FARMOGERM 
requires no “treatment or preparation”; just mix the contents of the bottle with a little 
sugar and water aud moisten the seeds before planting. If the crop is already planted 
FARMOGERM can be usod as a spray. 
Send for our Free Booklet No. 54 
This booklet contains letters from agricultural experts ami hundreds of farmers telling of 
their success with FARMOGERM. It al°o gives the complete history of FARMOGERM. 
Every farmer should have a copy of this book. Write for it today. 
EARP-THOMAS FARMOGERM CO., Bloomfield, New Jersey 
