684 
THE RURAL, NEW-YORKER 
May 21 
FARMERS’ CLUB 
[Every query must be accompanied by the name 
and aduress 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 
teparate piece of paper.] 
Catalpa Trees In Connecticut. 
We have printed some notes from 
Chas. Q. Eldredge, of New London 
Co,. Conn., regarding a grove of Catalpa 
trees which he planted on his farm on 
the banks of the Connecticut River. 
There have been a number of questions 
regarding the outcome of this planting. 
Mr. Eldredge now sends us the pictures 
shown at Fig. 238, page 582, and the 
following note. As will be seen this 
photograph was taken last August. The 
trees have apparently gone through the 
Winter in good condition. 
“In view of the fact that I get so 
many letters asking me how my Catalpa 
trees are doing, and feeling very fond 
of them and the growth they have 
attained, I send you herewith a photo¬ 
graph taken in August of the trees set 
the year previous, which when set, were 
the size of a lead pencil. The picture is 
from a grove of 1.060 trees, some of 
which measured in the Fall 13 feet and 
very many from 10 to 12 feet. I have 
another grove of 1,500 set a year later. 
They are a very beautiful sight, attract 
many visitors and are earning money 
every day.” 
Blowing Out Willow Stumps. 
G. E. E., California. —I have a lot of old 
willow stumps, cut close to ground, still 
alive, 20 to 30 inches diameter. Give me an 
idea of how to go at them with dynamite, 
as you did yours. 
Ans, —We found the instruction book 
which came with the dynamite about 
the clearest statement of how to do a 
thing that we ever read. Yet some 
things about the use of dynamite must 
be learned from observation and experi¬ 
ment. The theory is to get the charge 
under the center of the stump, or as near 
there as you can. Our work was mostly 
with apple stumps. We found that while 
the general root system was the same, 
some trees gave us a better chance than 
others to get under them. The hole could 
often be made with a crowbar, while with 
son\e trees a spade and pickax will pay. 
The size of the charge required must be 
learned by experience. After blowing 
out two or three you can tell about what 
will be needed by observing the roots. 
With willow stumps we should take a 
small one first and use a large cartridge. 
Punch a hole under the stump and use 
a long fuse. When the stump is out, 
study the roots and see how they are 
placed, and then you can work to better 
advantage on the others. 
Renovating Old Asparagus Bed. 
E. 31. F., Pori Byron, .V. Y. —1 find here 
an asparagus bed somewhat neglected, and 
not in rows to cultivate, but showing 
strong, healthy shoots. Could these roots 
be reset in rows to advantage? This is all 
new to me, but 1 am near market and want 
to grow asparagus, and would very much 
like the benefit of some one's experience from 
planting to marketing. 
Ans. —A neglected asparagus bed on 
the place, such as described by E. M. F., 
is of little commercial value, and to 
take up the old crowns and reset them 
would be unwise, when young plants 
can be obtained at a moderate cost, and 
a new bed planted at much less expense. 
Asparagus is much like the strawberry; 
it never pays to have an old bed around 
the place. It makes a harbor for insects 
and pests of all kinds, and a storage 
plant for wild weeds to grow, scatter and 
diffuse their baneful effects for years, 
and the returns are comparatively noth¬ 
ing. My advice would be to plant a new 
bed either in Spring or Fall—Spring pre¬ 
ferred. LTse one-year-old plants, place 
them 16 inches apart in the rows that 
are spaced five feet apart. Plant deep 
and fill in around the young plants 
gradually, as they grow out of the 
trench. This will without doubt be the 
most satisfactory way of getting a good 
asparagus bed. 
Monmouth Co., N. J. t. m. white. 
Division of a Potato Crop. 
A. D. J., Monroe, Conn. —A neighbor of 
mine lias a field on which lie spread ma¬ 
nure last Fall, and which he has offered 
me to plant to potatoes on shares. What 
would be the proper proportion of the 
crop for each? He furnishes land already 
spread with manure. 1 do all the work 
and furnish the seed. 
Ans. —From our own experience and 
figuring the rent of land and the proper 
amount of plant food for a crop is 
about a fair offset for the cost of seed 
and the labor. This is not true of all 
cases, as on some very light soil extra 
fertilizer or manure will be needed. On 
the average, this is a fair statement, 
andrin this case on such a basis half 
the crop for each would be fair. 
PRODUCTS, PRICES AND TRADE. 
At a recent auction of ostrich feathers 
in London. 117.800 pounds were sold, bring¬ 
ing $1,400,000. 
Potatoes. —Prices on old stock continue 
low, the outlook being very discouraging for 
those who have been holding in the hope 
of a substantial advance. Receipts of Flo¬ 
rida potatoes are increasing and prices have 
dropped accordingly. 
Big Whale Catch. —A Vineyard Haven, 
Mass., captain is on his way. home from 
the Arctic Ocean with the marketable pro¬ 
duct of 11 whales, said to be the largest 
catch made by any whaler in many years. 
About 16,000 pounds of whalebone was se¬ 
cured, worth $80,000, or $5 per pound. 
Eggs. —April eggs are considered spe¬ 
cially desirable for storage, but it is be¬ 
lieved that fewer than usual have been put 
away this year by New York speculators. 
Outside interests have been storing so 
many, however, that the storehouses have 
fully a normal quantity. There have been 
numerous inquiries recently from those who 
wish to get a special market for eggs that 
they can guarantee fresh. This special 
trade is quite thoroughly taken up by 
poultrymen near New York who are able 
to make personal arrangements with the 
customers. When bad debts, damage by the 
express companies, time and traveling ex¬ 
penses are deducted the profit on the extra 
price obtained is not so great as at first 
appears. Those who pay a big price for 
eggs expect them to be large, or at least 
above medium. 
Butter. —Receipts are increasing, and a 
decline of two cents per pound on the bet¬ 
ter grades is noted. The market is unset¬ 
tled, with the probability of a further drop 
soon. A reader in central New York, mak¬ 
ing about 25 pounds of prime dairy butter 
per week, asks whether it would be profit¬ 
able to ship this to New York. Our advice 
would be to sell it in Geneva, Rochester or 
some of the smaller towns nearer home. 
Shipping small lots of butter 300 mill's 
without ice in Summer is a doubtful prop¬ 
osition. The butter may be of excellent 
quality and in prime condition when sent, 
and yet arrive in a greasy or half-melted 
condition. The sale is thus spoiled for any¬ 
thing but low-grade butter, and the butter 
maker is highly indignant when the returns 
are made on that basis. In New York and 
other large cities, butter from the large 
producing sections arrives in iced cars. 
From the time it is made until it reaches 
the retailer it is not allowed to suffer from 
heat, and it is this with which dairy butter 
made in small lots and shipped without ice 
in Summer has to compete. The dairy but¬ 
ter may have been superior to the other in 
quality when made, but its journey killed it. 
Strawberries are arriving freely from 
Florida, the Carolinas, Norfolk and the 
Peninsula, and are selling lower than is 
usual so early in the season. Berries of 
good quality have retailed at 15 cents per 
alleged quart, and fruit that runs smaller 
and a little soft, 10 to 12 cents. The 
Jersey crop promises to be earlier than 
usual, owing to the forward Spring. Some 
blossoms have been killed by frost on the 
lower grounds, but no serious damage from 
this cause has been reported thus far. Some 
activity in enforcement of the scant pack¬ 
age law is noted. One weakness of this law 
is that, as it allows a deficiency of seven 
per cent, it legalizes a dishonest quart, 
that is one seven per cent short of an ac¬ 
tual quart. Enforcement of short package 
laws has always been a difficult matter I 
here because of the lack of interest in the 
question by those handling and buying the 
fruit. Now and then a buyer is deceived, 
but it has been the writer’s observation 
that packages more than seven per cent 
short are noted by buyers and discounted 
accordingly. In other words, the fruit is 
bought by the basket, not by the quart. 
One factor that has discouraged growers 
from being particular to get full quarts has 
been the common practice of repacking the 
berries into small baskets by retailers. 
Growers who are able to control the re¬ 
tailing of their fruit know that large and 
full baskets are appreciated. w. w. h. 
Established 1802 
REDCROSS 
DYNAMITE 
No farm can afford to be 
without it.' 
Reliable 
Safe to handle If 
sensibly handled 
Low-freezing! 
Use a strong Blasting 
Cap or Electric Fuze to 
explode it. Nothing 
weaker than a No. 6 will 
give best results. A dy¬ 
namite which will explode 
thoroughly with a weak 
detonator (Blasting Cap 
or Electric Fuze) is not 
always safe to handle. 
Ask your dealer for Red Cross 
Write for free illustrated catalogue 
E. I. duPont deNemours Powder Co. 
Wilmington, Del., U. S. A. 
The Acre-An-Hour Sifter. 
A new invention. Applies dry mix¬ 
tures like Slug Shot, plaster or cement 
amt Puis Green or Bordeaux to |x>t<i- 
toes, cabbage, tobacco, cticuinuers, rose 
or currant hushes, as fast a* a mail can 
walk. Will cover instantly and per¬ 
fectly plant 3 feet in diameter. It 
costs cents, but will do as much Mild a a 
good work as machines that cost dol¬ 
lars. We want every farmer to see one. 
To help accomplish this we are oa'er- 
lug as an inducement to any society of 
the Grange whose Secretary will wnty 
us. one Sifter at half price for trial and 
inspection by the members. Itccular price. 75 cents mail or 
Kxpresa. Prepaid by mail, buyer’s risK, 23 cents additional, 
exceptional inducement to agents. Farmers and dealers buy at 
sight. ACRE-AN-HOUR SIFTER CO.. Poughkeepsie, N. Y. 
ALFALFA 
All Northern Grown and 
guaranteed to be 99 per cent 
pure. Should produce hay 
at $ 40.00 per acre annually. Write for Free Sam¬ 
ple and instructions on growing. __ 
GRAIN AND GRASS SEED 
Northern Grown and of strongest vitality. We invite you to 
get Government Tests on our samples. Send for Cat.No. 23 
WING SEED CO., Box 223 Mechanicsburg, Ohio 
When* you write advertisers mention Thb 
R. N.-Y- and you'll get a quick reply and 
"n square deal.’’ See guarantee 
The Farmers’Handy Chemical 
We will send you interesting printed matter tel¬ 
ling you all about PUKI FINE, I he Disinfectant 
that is receiving so much attention and favorable 
1 notice from leading physicians, business men and 
I farmers. Highly endorsed for hen houses, stables. 
etc. Superior sheep, hog and cattle dip. Liberal 
sized package by mail for 50c; gallon by 
express, $2, 5 gallons $6. Freight paid to your 
railway station. Agents Wanted. 
FITCH CHEMICAL CO., KAY CITY, MICH. 
Cow Peas. 
Wood’s 
& Seeds. 
We are headquarters for all Farm Seeds— 
Cow Peas, Soja Beans. Millets. Sorghums, 
Ensilage Corn. Crimson Clover, etc. prices 
quoted on request. 
Write for prices and Wood’s Crop Special, 
giving Interesting information about Farm 
Seeds. Mailed free on request. 
T. W. WOOD & SONS, 
SEEDSMEN, - • RICHMOND. VA. 
HARRISON’S NURSERIES 
have been built up by quality trees from a small 
beginning to the largest nursery in America—more 
than 2000 acres devoted to growing trees, plants, 
vines and ornamental stock. Buy of a responsible 
grower and get what you pay for. Address 
HARRISON’S NURSERIES, 
Box 421, Berlin, Md. 
PEACH TREES 
FALL 1910 SPRING 1911 
\Ye are prepared to quote prices and enter 
orders now for just what you want of our 
own grown trees. Don't be disappointed 
again the coming season but order now. 
jos. h. Slack, son & co.. hightstown, n. j. 
Cherry Trees, 57 per 100; Apples, Pen is. Peaches. Plums 
and Quinces at wholesale prices Gov’t inspected 
stock. Send for our free catalog on Fruits & Orna¬ 
mentals. Ontario Nursery Co.. Box 21, Geneva, N.Y, 
FRENCH MELONS 
Choice Seed taken from sweet, palatable, ripe 
melons. Packet to plant 100 hills, $1.00. 
A. F. BERGER, R. D. No. 3. Bridgeport, Conn. 
F OR SALE— 900,000 Sweet Potato Plants and Tomato 
Plants: Asparagus Roots. Semi for price list, 
free. .MICHAEL N. HORGO, Vineland. N. .1. 
FflR QAI I'L Jersey, Charleston Wakefield. 
lUn OHLL Early Summer Cabbage, Grand 
Rapids, Big Boston Head Lettuce, 1000, $4.00; Earli- 
ana, Champion, Jewel, June Pink Tomatoes, 1000, 
$6.00. Hothouse grown, transplanted into flats, 
frame hardened. Fine stock. Knocked out, packed 
securely, safe arrival and satisfaction guaranteed. 
F. K. PECKHAM, Norwich. Conn. 
Cabbage Plants 
EXKHUIZKN’S GLORY (the world’s best cab¬ 
bage), grown from extra selected seed, my own 
importation, direct from introducers in Holland, of 
this truly wonderful cabbage, 1,000. $1.50; 
5,(.00, $6.00. All Head Early, Early Summer, 
Succession, Winningstadt, Smehead. I .ate Flat 
Dutch. Dimnhead, Perfection Drumhead Savoy, 
Red Rock, Danish Rail Head 1 .OOO, $1: 5,000,$4; 
lO.OOO. $7.50. Catalog— Seeds,Bulbs. Plants, free. 
J. AUG. IlIlAKIi, SEEDSMAN 
lOO Main Street, Chester, N. J. 
SWEET POTATO PLANTS 
500,000 Jersey Yellow sprouts grown from selected 
seed. $1.50 per thousand. 
.JOHN CASAZZA, Vineland, N. J. 
HANDY BINDER 
FOK ALL KINDS OF 
Clover and Field Seeds, 
ALSO A FULL LINE OF 
Garden See.ds and 
Implements, 
Write this Old Reliable 
House. 
Catalogue Free and Price List of Grass and Field 
Seeds mailed yon on application. 
THE HENRY PHILIPPS SEED AND IMPLEMENT C0„ 
Toledo, Ohio. 
ONE QUART OF STRAWBERRIES I°l e a a ^ 
KEVITT’S SYSTEM. Send for my Mid-Summer 
Catalog-ue. T. C. KEY1TT, Athenia, N. J. 
Plante Reliable money-making vari- 
rluillo eties only $2.50 per 1000. New 
dog Free. S. A. Virdin, Hartiy, Del. 
V EGETABLE PLANTS—c*l.bRse Plants, *1 per 1,000. 
Tomatoes, Sweet Potatoes, Peppers and Kg^plantg, $2 per 
1,000. (’ntiiillower, $2.50 per 1,000. J. C. SCHMIDT, Bristol, Pa. 
450,000 Stone Tomato STS. Til 
throughout June. 750,000 Sweet Potato plants, 
ready May 5th. Pepper, Celery and Cabbage plants 
in their season Send for price list to-day, 
CALEB BOGGS & SON, Cheswold, Del. 
E xtra fine large cabbage and tomato plants si.so 
PER 1000. Liberal count. Millions of vegetable 
plants, all kinds and varieties; also flowering and j 
decorating plants in abundance. Write for prices. 
ALONZO J. BRYAN, Washington, New Jersey. 
JUST the thing for preserving files of 
” The Rural New-Yorker. Durable 
and cheap. Sent postpaid for 25 cents. 
‘Ihe RURAL NEW-YCRKER, 
409 Pearl Street, New York City. 
THE LEVIN PRUNER 
Strawberry 
1910 illns. cat 
The best primer. Cuts *4-inch dry- 
branch. Quick, clean, easy cut. We 
will send it post paid for club of two 
new yearly subscriptions at SI each, 
or for club of 7 ten weeks trials at 10 
cents each. 
The Rural New-Yorker. New York 
s K p Y ( ARSENATE of LEAD - - - - 16% Arsenic 
p l BORDO-LEAD - Kills the Bugs, Prevents Blight, etc. 
(BRAND) 
THE HIGHEST GRADE 
AVe AVill Send Express Prepaid 
For $ 1 .OO—Either Arsenate of Lead or Kordo-Lead 
WRITE FOR CIRCULARS—IT WILL PAY YOU TO USE THESE SPRAYS 
LIVE RESPONSIBLE AGENTS WANTED 
SPRAYING MATERIALS AT RIGHT PRICE 
a Five Pound Friction Top Can. Packed in a Neat AYood Box 
Y INTERSTATE CHEMICAL COMPANY 
12-14-16 BAY VIEW AVE., 
J ER S E Y CITY, N . J. 
Dreer’s Garden Supplies 
Write to-day for our Tool Catalogue of Garden Imple¬ 
ments ; Dreer Lawn Mower, Lawn Rollers, Rakes, etc., 
also Fertilizers for Lawn and Garden. 
Henry A. Dreer, Philadelphia, Pa. 
