4 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
January 1, 
FARMERS’ CLUB 
[Every query must Se accompanied by the name 
and address of the writer to insure attention. Be¬ 
fore 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.] 
GRAFTING ON WHITE THORN. 
TF. 77., Oscvla Mills, Pa .—What fruit can 
I graft on white thorn stocks? Can I bud 
or graft plum, cherry, pear, apple, quince, 
or any fruit that will take on such stock? 
I have a number of good thorn stocks that 
I do not want to cut down if I can use 
them for fruit stock of any kind. 
Ans. —The thorn has been used as a 
stock for pear, quince and apple, but not 
successfully. Downing refers to it as a 
■stock for the pear, when planted on 
heavy clay soils, the thorn succeeding on 
such soils better than the pear root. Also 
refers to the mountain ash as a stock 
for sandy 'soils, but recommends only 
root-grafting on either stock, as the pear 
will not form a perfect union with the 
thorn above ground; that is, top-grafted, 
and the borer will destroy the ash. 
Several years ago a customer in New 
York State sent a lot of thorns for us to 
grow him quince on, saying that he be¬ 
lieved they would be free from the 
borer, and at the same time make the 
quince more vigorous and longer lived, 
but he afterward wrote, saying that the 
experiment had been a failure, I have ex¬ 
perimented somewhat with the thorn as 
a stock (which should be always root- 
grafted), but have never found it satis¬ 
factory. If W. H. wants to grow plums, 
cherries, pears and apples he would bet¬ 
ter use good stock worked on their own 
kind. The quince is root-grafted on 
pieces of apple roots, but this apple root 
is never used by the quince after it 
forms its own roots. I would not advise 
the use of the thorn for a stock, for any 
fruit tree. _ e. s. black. 
THE USE OF SWAMP MUCK. 
Part I. 
Some 50 years ago many good farmers 
in the Eastern States believed that 
swamp muck or peat was to solve the 
problem of plant food. Some fine crops 
were grown on poor soil by hauling 
the black deposit out of swamps and old 
ponds and spreading it over the land. 
All sorts of claims were made for this 
muck, most of them based on the nitro¬ 
gen and other plant food it contained. 
After a few years this large use of muck 
was given up. Other substances con¬ 
taining nitrogen and phosphoric acid 
were put on the market, and the use of 
chemical fertilizers and the ease of using 
them made farmers careless about keep¬ 
ing up the supply of organic matter in 
the soil. In 1857 Prof. S. W. Johnson, 
of Connecticut, made a thorough study 
of muck. His results were printed In 
1859. Now, after half a century of re¬ 
search, there is nothing in the literature 
of farming more complete than these 
“Essays on Peat and Muck.” They ought 
to be reprinted. We think there is soon 
to be a revival of interest in muck or 
peat. It is already being used as a 
“filler” in some brands of fertilizer. The 
long-continued use of chemicals has 
made many of our Eastern soils too hard 
and compact. They need organic mat¬ 
ter, and most farms have a swamp or 
low place in which for years muck has 
been accumulating with the decay of 
plants and the leaching from higher 
ground. These low places may supply 
muck with which to amend the higher 
soil. 
Dr. Johnson used the word amend¬ 
ment after French agricultural writers 
who meant by it improving the texture 
and physical character of the soil. He 
found muck more useful for this amend¬ 
ing than as a direct food for plants, 
That is still true, and it indicates the 
chief use for the muck. Fifty years ago 
Dr. Johnson found dry leachy soils which 
could not hold water. In wet seasons, 
if well manured, they often gave fair 
crops, but in a drought the moisture dis¬ 
appeared and the crops failed. The rea¬ 
son given for this trouble was true then 
and is true now. 
But why it is that light soils need more 
manure than loamy or heavy lands? We 
answer, because in the first place, the 
rains which quickly descend through the 
open soil, wash down out of the x-each of 
vegetation the soluble fertilizing matters, 
and in the second place, from the porosity 
of the soil the air has too great access, 
so that the vegetable and animal matters 
of manures decay too rapidly, their volatile 
portions, ammonia and carbonic acid, 
escape into the atmosphere, and are in 
measure lost to the crops. From these 
combined causes we find that a heavy dress¬ 
ing of well-i-otted stable manure almost, 
if not quite entirely, disappears from such 
soils in one season, so that another year 
the field requires a renewed application: 
while on loamy soils the same amount of 
manure would have lasted several years, 
and produced each year a better effect. 
We want then to amend light soils by 
incorporating with them something that 
prevents the rains from leaching through 
them too rapidly, and that, at the same 
time, renders them less open to the air, or 
absorbs and retains for the use of crops 
the volatile products of the dlecay of 
manures. 
Dr. Johnson showed that muck has a 
peculiar power to hold moisture. Even 
after a Summer’s exposure it is moist 
to the feel. It absorbs the vapor of 
water so freely that cases are mentioned 
in Germany where barns and sheds have 
burst. They were filled with dried peat, 
and in damp weather absorbed so much 
vapor and increased so in size that 
the buildings were torn apart. In order 
to dry muck fully it must be exposed 
for some time to the temperature of boil¬ 
ing water. Thus, when a soil has a good 
supply of muck mixed all through it, 
no Summer heat can take out all the 
moisture. 
And muck or peat has great power to 
absorb and hold ammonia. Dr. John¬ 
son tried many experiments which 
proved this power. In one case the late 
Edwin Hoyt of Connecticut supplied 
three samples of muck for analysis. One 
was dried muck from the swamp. This 
contained .58 per cent of ammonia. Next 
was a sample of this same muck which 
had been put under the stable floor and 
saturated with stable liquids. This con¬ 
tained 1.15 per cent. Another sample, 
which had been composted with fish, con¬ 
tained 1.31 per cent, of ammonia. Thus 
half a century ago the value of dried 
muck as a stable absorbent was well 
demonstrated. It is true to-day that such 
muck is the most useful absorbent a 
farmer can use under and behind his 
stock. Such use would save thousands 
of dollars now needlessly spent for pur¬ 
chased nitrogen. 
‘Howto Grow Fruit” 
tells just what you want to know 
whether you grow fruit for home use 
or market 
‘‘How to Plant About the Country 
Home” illustrates how to lay out your 
grounds and the kinds of trees to use 
for shade, shrubs, hedge, plants, flowers, 
etc., for ornamentation. 
Our 1910 Catalog gives full descrip¬ 
tion, without exaggeration, of the full 
line of fruit trees, plants, shade trees 
and ornamental stock grown on our 
more than 2,000-acre nursery—the 
largest nursery in the world. 
The above booklets contain the best infor¬ 
mation obtainable based on an expei’ience of 
23 years in the nursery business and commer¬ 
cial orchards. The price is 25c. each, but we 
will send either or both booklets, together 
with 1910 Catalog, to any reader of The 
Rural, New-Yorker who expects to plant a 
tree, a plant or a shrub during the coming 
Spring. Write today. 
HARRISON’S NURSERIES 
Box 421, Berlin, Md. 
Absolutely Reliable 
OUR CATALOGUE, the acme of 
perfection in cataIogue=making, is 
the most instructive,the most use¬ 
ful, the most concise, and contains 
the least extravagant descriptions 
of any seed annual published. 
A Veritable Mine of Informa¬ 
tion , an invaluable guide to the 
Amateur or Professional Gardener. 
Now Ready. Mailed Free. 
J. M. THORBURN & CO. 
DEPT. Y, 
33 Barclay St., NEW YORK. 
108 Years in Business in New York City 
TRY KEVITT’S SYSTEM 1910 A then la/ N. J. 
CTRAWBERRY PLANTS —Reliable money-making varieties at 
O very reasonable prices. New 1910 illustrated catalog Free. 
Address S. A. VIRDIN, Hartly, Delaware. 
OUR 
MARBLE LIMESTONE 
(CALC1TE) 
ground to 80 mesh, is the ideal fonn of lime for 
most soils. 
Approved by all Experiment Stations. 
No discomforts from its use and no bursting of 
bags. 
Cun be applied at any season 
without harm to growing crops. 
The fine grinding insures quick results. 
We will accept orders uow for delivery after 
March loth in the order of entry. 
Send for circular. Get your order in early. 
THE STEARNS LIME CO.,Danbury, Conn. 
Ask Your Dealer. 
List Price^0 i QQ 
Favorite Rifle 
A Beautiful Example of Careful, Accurate Workmanship 
The Only Boys’ Rifle Used by Men 
Favorite banels are rifled more accurately than many rifles selling as high as $50.00- 
For this one reason alone more Steven* Favorites are sold than any other rifle model in this 
country. This is because Stevens careful accurate rifling combines straighter shooting with 
long range and power. 
Practice now & Exterminate Farm Pests in the Spring 
-Points for the Sharpshooter 6 Hunter —- 
If you want expert information on Sharpshooling, Hunting or Trap Shooting, write 
us a postal telling which subject interests you the most. 
By return mail comes our letter giving you this valuable information besides the big 
Stevens Gun Book—209 illustrations and 160 pages about Rifles, Shotguns, Pistols and Rifle 
Telescopes. Write today. 
J. Stevens Arms & Tool Company, Dept. 391, Chicopee Falls, Mass. 
Makers of Rifles, Shotguns, Pistols & Rifle Telescopes having an accuracy unparalleled 
in the world. 
Progressive gardeners and farmers are be¬ 
ginning to realize that they should" have 
better seeds than the average dealer can 
furnish. One way to get the best seeds is 
to buy them direct from a man who raises 
them and therefore knows what they are. 
Most seed dealers never see their seeds grow¬ 
ing and therefore do not know what they 
will produce. 
Harris’ seeds, raised at Moreton Farm in 
Western New York, are sold direct to plant¬ 
ers at wholesale prices. The greatest care 
is taken to keep them up to a high standard 
by the most careful selection, and the fact 
that they are being used by a greater num¬ 
ber of gardeners and farmers every year 
shows these efforts are appreciated. All 
kinds of vegetable seeds are raised, as well 
as improved varieties of Field Corn, Oats, 
Potatoes, etc. 
A descriptive catalogue will be mailed to 
any one asking for it, and if you raise vege¬ 
tables for market ask for wholesale price 
list,—both free. Address, 
Joseph Harris Co., Coldwater, N. Y. 
ASPARAGUS ROOTS 
Hundreds of thousands of strong 2-year roots, 
several varieties. Fruit Trees, standard and 
dwarf. Berry Plants, California Privet, Ever¬ 
greens; quality stock. 
Write for catalog of information. 
llARNES BROS. NURSERY CO., 
Box 8. Yalesville, Conn. 
occno THAT DO NOT DISAPPOINT 
^ I I Sold on The Ford Plan, which gnar¬ 
ly l_ |_ IIII antees satisfaction and saves you 
“ ■■ ■■ money on every purchase. Our cat¬ 
alog tells about it, gives descriptions and low prices on 
Best varieties Garden, Flower and Field Seeds, Pota¬ 
toes, Bulbs. Trees, Shrubs and Small Fruit Plants. Con¬ 
tains lots of testimonials from our customers. It’s free. 
FORD SEED CO., Dept. 24, Ravenna, Ohio. 
Guaranteed fresh and pure, and sold at 
a reasonable price. Try them this year. 
Gregory’s Improved Crosby Egyptian Beet 
the darkest and earliest beet ever Introduced. 
A great favorite among market gardeners. 
Gregory’s Improved Danvers Carrot 
Is a rich, dark orange in color, and a great 
favorite. The largest and best English houses 
are purchasing quantities of this seed from us. 
Write for a copy of our 
* „rrn 0 „-v beautiful new catalogue, 
the most valuable book 
HONEST SS | for farmers and market 
gardeners ever given away. 
j j j) Q regon( & | 0 n, Marblehead, Mess. 
450.000 
200 varieties. Also Grapes, Small Fruits etc. Best 
rootedstock. Genuine.chenp. 2sample currants mailed 
for 10c. Catalog free. LKIVlb KOKSV ll & SON, 1* redouts, i.i. 
TREES 
CATALOG FREE. 
-150 ACRES. Genesee 
Valley grown. “Not the 
cheapest, bnt the hest.” 
Never have had San Jose 
Scale. Established 1809. 
GEO. A. SWEET NURSERY CO. 
20 Maple St., Dansville, N. Y. 
SEEDS THAT GROW 
Best quality Vegetable, Flower 
and Farm Seeds, Alfalfa, 
Clover, Seed Potatoes, etc. 
We will send free with 
catalog a pkt. 
Coreless Tomato, 
the best of all 
tomatoes. 
mp _ 
Do 
not 
to try 
our Iloiniti- 
Collection 
Vegetable 
Seed*, bests varieties 
earth, postpaid for 40c. 
V/e also carry full line of 
NurserystocX.German Ni.rs.rJe# 
Box 150 , Beatrice, Neb. 
G HOICE CLOVER AND GRASS SEEDS sold 
direct to the farmer. We have reduced our 
choice Hungarian and Millet seeds to the present 
market value. Write for samples and prices at 
once. N. WERTHEIMER & SONS, Ligonier, Ind. 
CATALPA TREES 
FOR PROFIT. My Free Booklet 
tells all about the 150 acres I am growing for tele¬ 
phone poles. Beats farming two to one. Write today. 
ROGERS, Box 111 Mecliunlcsburg, Ohio. 
, W At'SCARFF , 
View C arfi^ Ofik? y 
FREE—My Grand Combination Catalog On 
Farm Seeds, Fruit Plants 
and Orchard Trees Now Ready 
It’s FREE—my new Complete Catalog and fair prices on the varieties' 
of seed, fruit plants and orchard trees that pay best profit. $300 an acre from 
strawberries and other small fruit! 40 blackberries to the full box ! Corn that 
goes 100 bushels to the acre. 62 lbs. of com, 8 lbs. of cob to the bushel! 
F ‘Banana” Apples, $12 per bushel! 
These are just a few of the results recorded in my 1910catalog. SCARFP 
seeds and plants are famed the world over. 25 years have well established 
reputation and reliability. 
This yearl am giving away, free, 20,000 growing fruit plants. One to a 
person. Send now and get yours, postpaid, and my grand Combination 
Catalog with revised, special prices. Many astounding facts to interesv 
All FREE. W. N. SCARFF, NEW CARLISLE, OHIO 
you. 
GALLOWAY 
SAVES YOU 
$50 to $300 
S AVE from $50 to $300 by buying your gasoline engine of 2 to 22-horse-power from 
a real engine factory. Save dealer, jobber and catalogue house profit. No such offer 
as I make on the class of engine I sell has ever been made before in all Gasoline Engine 
history. Here is the secret and reason: I turn them out all alike by the thousands in my 
enormous modern factory, equipped with automatic machinery. I sell them direct to you 
for less money than some factories can make them at actual shop cost. 
All you pay me for is actual raw material, labor and one small profit (and I buy my 
material in enormous quantities). 
Anybody can afford and might just as well have a high grade engine when he 
can get in on a wholesale deal of this kind. I’m doing something that never was 
done before. Think of itl A price to you that is lower than dealers and 
jobbers can buy similar engines for, in carload lots, for spot cash. 
An engine that is made so good in the factory that I will send 
it out anywhere in the U. S. without an expert to any inexperienced 
users, on 30 days’ free trial, to test against any engine made of 
similar horse-power that sells for twice as much, and let him 
be the judge. Sell your poorest horse and buy u 
5-H.-P. Only $119,50 
Get Galloway's 
Biggest and Best 
GASOLINE BOOH 
ENGINE 
Write today for my beautiful new 50-page Engine Book in four 
colors, nothing like it ever printed before, full of valuable information, 
showing how I make them and how you can make more mqne*‘ with a 
gasoline engine on the farm. Write me— 
Wnt. Galloway, Pres., Wm. Galloway Co, 
065 Galloway Station, Waterloo, Iowa 
