820 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
August 27, 
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 
Separate piece of paper.] 
STRAWBERRIES IN HILLS. 
We have been raising strawberries for 
a long time, but on our heavy land it was 
a great struggle to prevent the grass and 
perennial weeds from being as high as the 
plants by picking time. From descriptions 
of the Kevitt system we concluded it would 
be the way for us to raise berries, as it 
gave us a better chance at the grass. Last 
year, to try the system and find which of 
the varieties we had were best suited to 
hill culture, I set 3,000 plants on one-eighth 
of an acre, which had been heavily ferti¬ 
lized for onions several years. We intend¬ 
ed applying more potash and phosphoric 
acid, but neglected to do so, and suppose 
that accounts for the small crop. Do you 
think so? 
We set the plants three rows in a bed, 
15x12 inches, with 30-incli spaces between 
beds. This distance for plants worked first 
rate, though in a wet season William Belt 
would be better 15x15 in the beds. We 
never thought that the slender old Warfield 
could become such a bush. It set the great¬ 
est number of berries that a plant could 
hold, but they ripened smaller than in the 
matted row. Parsons Beauty piled its ber¬ 
ries in heaps about each plant, and so did 
llaverland, and yet they were small, sour 
and homely. Dunlap was all right, good 
size, sweet and a lot of them. Cardinal 
is not any great of a berry here, the old 
Warfield. beat it two to one. Abington is 
good. It yields well, berries are nice 
shape, even the last one, large, handsome, 
not of the best quality and rather soft for 
long shipment. Minute Man is all right, 
even better than Sample in the matted 
row, but is no good for hill culture. It 
doesn’t stoql out enough. Sample did well, 
though as with all kinds the berries were 
small on # account of drought. Stevens 
Champion grew plants 1(5 inches high, with 
five to 10 crowns, and a few less than a 
thousand runners; but where were the 
fancy berries we expected? The berries 
were fewer than on any variety except 
Gandy, and not so large as in the matted 
row. We were disappointed in Stevens. 
The Glen Mary does not 'do very well on 
this soil by any method. Gandy we can 
raise only on lighter land, and the hills 
did not help it any. It was the poorest of 
the lot. The William Belt, almost forgot¬ 
ten by some growers, stood at the head in 
every point this time. The plant is as 
large as Stevens, but more spreading, and 
the berries caused many “ohs” and “ahs” 
from visitors. Of course the first berries 
are irregular, but who cares if it only takes 
18 or 20 for a quart? The flavor is excel¬ 
lent, and they are quite firm, and came 
nearer to Kevitt’s idea of what a plant 
should do than the other varieties. Some 
plants might have come up to the quart, 
but they did not average tnat. A frost in 
.Tune got about one-fourth of the crop, and 
I find Dunlap and Stevens especially ten¬ 
der. I send the account of this “semi- 
Kevitt” bed, though rather ashamed of the 
yield. Has anyone tried Pride of Michi¬ 
gan in hills? 
Plowing, harrowing, dragging, raking 
land . $1.35 
Two loads stable manure. 2.00 
3.000 plants . 9.00 
Setting plants . 2.50 
Hoeing with wheel hoe six times, 
27% hours at 15c. 4.13 
Cutting runners nine times, 37 
hours at 15c. 5.55 
00 bushels hen manure at 10c. 6.00 
Carting and spreading... 1.08 
% ton swamp hay for mulch. 3.00 
Draining and spreading.40 
Removing mulch over plants in Spring .25 
Cutting runners and pulling weeds 
before ripening . 1.00 
Cost to raise 857 qts. berries at .0423 
Cost to pick 857 qts.022 
Cost sorting and packing, etc.. .0115 
Cost boxes .0035 
Cost carting .0095 
Total to market.0465 
$36.26 
39.85 
Total cost .$76.11 
857 qts., average 1152 per qt .98.22 
Balance per qt., .0264.$22.61 
No. Wilbraham, Mass. H. i. e. 
R. N.-Y.—This is as fair a statement as 
we have had. The cost of a quart was 
nearly nine cents with fair prices for labor. 
We think potash and perhaps phosphoric 
acid would have increased the yield. Straw¬ 
berries do not need such a large proportion 
of nitrogen. _ 
CONTROL OF THE CABBAGE APHIS. 
In some seasons the aphis is the most 
serious pest on cabbages and causes more 
loss to cabbage growers than any other 
one insect. The injury it caused during 
the season of 1909 has frightened growers 
and everyone is writing for methods of 
fighting tliis aphis, which has already begun 
to appear. This is well, for now is the time 
to fight it while the plants are small and 
can be treated thoroughly and economically. 
One of the most efficient means of con¬ 
trolling the cabbage aphis is by spraying 
with fish oil soap or one of the tobacco ex¬ 
tracts. In experiments that we have just 
been making fish oil soap has given splendid 
results, is easy to make, and economical In 
cost. On account of the variability of com¬ 
mercial whale oil soaps in the amount of 
“free' alkali” that they contain and the 
consequent danger of burning it is earnest¬ 
ly recommended that each grower make his 
own soap. It can be made quickly, easily 
and cheaply after the following formula, 
given by Van Slyke and Urner: 
Caustic soda. 6 lbs.1% lbs. 
Water .1 % gals, or.1 % qts. 
Fish oil. 22 lbs.5% lbs. 
The latter proportions are given because 
it is easier to make up a small quantity 
even if it is done often. Other quantities 
may be used so long as the proportions 
are maintained. The caustic soda can be 
obtained of druggists at about six cents 
a pound and in wholesale lots at about 4% 
cents to five cents a pound. It should be 
accurately weighed out and dissolved in 
the water. If the amount of water given 
is not enough to completely dissolve the 
soda use a little more and be sure that all 
the crystals are in solution. After the soda 
is dissolved add the fish oil gradually, in 
the meantime stirring the mixture vigor¬ 
ously. Complete and thorough stirring 
while the oil is being slowly poured into 
water and soda is absolutely necessary. 
One will be astonished at the ease with 
which the soap is made without any boil¬ 
ing and at ordinary Summer temperature. 
A pound of this soap should not cost more 
than three or four cents. In our spraying 
against the cabbage aphis we found that 
one pound of this soap dissolved in six or 
seven gallons of water would kill every 
louse hit. It was very satisfactory. The 
spraying should be thorough. Every louse 
must be hit to be killed. The under sides 
of the leaves must be sprayed as much as 
possible to kill the colonies of lice in these 
situations. It is best to -watch the cab¬ 
bages and spray before the leaves begin 
to curl. A short piece of pipe crooked at 
an angle of about 45 degrees on which the 
nozzle may be screwed will facilitate the 
spraying of the under sides of the leaves. 
A knapsack sprayer will probably be the 
most convenient machine for small cabbage 
fields, because a good deal will depend on 
the care with which the work is done and 
the nozzle must be directed by hand. In 
larger fields, a barrel sprayer, mounted in 
a wagon and fitted with two leads of 
hose and two nozzles may be used. In 
order, however, to do effective work each 
nozzle must be handled by one man on the 
ground. The under side of the leaves and 
bud must be sprayed as well as possible. 
In the case of large heading plants it would 
pay to pick off many of the larger outside 
infested leaves and either feed them or 
burn them. 
It is possible that nozzles may be so set 
and fitted on a field potato sprayer that 
this machine could be used to advantage 
in spraying large fields of cabbage. It is 
doubtful in my mind, however, if cabbage 
can be more economically sprayed with 
such a machine than by hand with the bar¬ 
rel, because the hand spraying can be 
done so much more effectively and thor¬ 
oughly that one spraying will accomplish 
more than two or three sprayings with the 
automatic sprayer. In fact, it is doubtful 
if many of the colonies of aphids could 
ever be reached with the machine sprayer. 
If not, they would simply remain as centers 
of reinfestation. 
The tobacco decoctions have also given 
good results in our laboratory and field 
experiments. Black leaf extract, at the 
rate of one gallon to 65 gallons of water 
with a pound or two of soap added has been 
quite satisfactory. The same care and 
thoroughness in the use of these tobacco 
extracts will be just as necessary as with 
the fish oil soap. These extracts will give 
good results without any soap added but 
the soap is recommended as an adhesive. 
The tobacco extracts are convenient to use 
because they come prepared ready to mix 
with water. gle.vn w. heruick. 
“For the Land’s Sake, use Bowker’s 
Fertilizers; they enrich the earth and 
those who till it.”— Adv. 
A selected list of the newer kinds 
of strawberries that have been tested at 
our trial grounds as well as the best of the 
older sorts, are fully described in 
DREER’S 
Mid-Summer 
C a talogue 
Also the best varieties of Celery, Cab¬ 
bage Plants, etc. 
A most complete list of the Best Hardy 
Perennial Seeds for summer sowing. 
Also vegetable and farm seeds for sum¬ 
mer and fall sowing. Select list of season¬ 
able decorative and flowering plants. 
Write for a copy and kindly 
mention this magazine—FREE 
HENRY A. DREER PHILADELPHIA 
Agricultural Lime 
Ground Limestone Our Specialty 
High-grade burned lime, ground 
fine, if you prefer. 
Write for circulars and samples. 
THE STEARNS LIME COMPANY, 
DANBURY, CONN. 
The Furnace That Pays For Itself 
When you buy a FURNACE you want one that yields 
the greatest lieat at the least fuel-cost and with the 
lowest repair-cost and the least labor to oi>erato. 
The XXth CENTURY FURNACE 
has demonstrated for years it will give you these very 
features. It will soon pay for itself in what it saves you 
compared to others. Double Casings—Self-Cleaning 
Radiator—Automatic Damper—Burns own Gas and Soot 
—Indestructible Fire-Pot—Burns Fuel Evenly 
—Patent Regulator—Drop Front Grate—etc. 
TRY A XXtli CENTURY FURNACE ON OUR GUARANTEE 
Write for handsome booklet FREE 
THE XXth CENTURY HEATING & VENTILATING CO., 
37 Ira Avenue, Akron, Ohio. 
THE BEAUTIFUL SILVER CUPS 
shown above have been presented to as many Horticultural Societies by the B. G. Pratt Co,, manu¬ 
facturers of “SCALECIDK.” These cups are offered as premiums forthe best three boxesof Apples 
of any three varieties grown in each State. You don’t have to use “SCALKCIDE”— produce the 
best Apples and the Cup is yours. Further particulars and full description of the cup donated to your 
society may be had by addressing li. G. PRATT CO., 50 Church Street, New York City.— Advt. 
Monarch Steel Stump Pullers 
Monarch 5teelStump Puller 
Will pull green stumps 7 feet 
in diameter and will clear from 
i to s acres a day. GUAR¬ 
ANTEED 700 horse power 
and against breakage. : : : 
ONLY Stump Puller factory 
in the world making their own 
STEEL CASTINGS. 
For catalog and discounts, 
address Dept. 123, 
Zimmerman Steel Co., 
Lone Tree, Iowa, U. S. A. 
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. 
The Largest Assortment in America 
Send for our Special Collection 
No. 1 — 108 Choice Bulbs 
for House Culture 
Price $2.75 
or our Assortment No. 4, Con¬ 
taining 143 Bulbs for 
Outdoor Culture 
Price $2.75 
Delivered free in any part of the U. S. 
CATALOGUE NOW READY 
See inside cover page for particulars 
of above and other assortments. 
PEACH TREES 
FALL I9IO SPRING 1911 
We 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. BLACK, SON & CO., HIGHTSTOWN, N. J. 
“RED WAVE” SEED WHEAT 
A wonderful hardy, heavy yielding wheat, Red and 
Bald, also Rural New-Yorker, No. 6, White and 
Bald. We have a choice lot. 
Write for prices and samples to 
J. N. MacPHERSON, Pine View Farm, Scottsvilie, N. Y. 
SEED WHEAT is 
varieties of Winter Wheat that have proved far 
superior in yield to common kinds. Recleaned Tim¬ 
othy and other grass seeds, Vetches, etc., at whole¬ 
sale prices. Ask for price list 
JOSEPH HARRIS CO., Coldwntcr, N. Y\ 
Mailed free for the asking 
J. M. TH0RBURN & CO. 
33 Barclay Street Dept. R New York 
SEED WHEAT 
Gypsy, Nigger, Poole and Harvest King. Highest 
yielders. Heaviest weight per measured bushel 
at Exp. Sta. Reeleaned. Grain bags ami samples 
free. Low price. Write PROSPECT SEED 
FARM, Madison, O. 
SEED WHEAT 
GYPSY WHEAT. Splendid standard variety 
proven by Ohio Experiment Station, test running 
20 years, to be the highest yielder of any variety 
in the state. We can please you if you are looking 
for good seed. Write today. Our catalog No. 23 
“ How to Grow Alfalfa,” will be mailed free, 
WING SEED CO., Box 523, Meehanicsburg, Ohio. 
99 finfl BU- SEED WHEAT, grown especially for 
ZAjUUU seen purposes on 600 acres of the Lancas¬ 
ter Co. wheat belt. Smooth and bearded varieties. 
Several new ones that are giving astonishing yields. 
Sound, clean, graded—moderate prices. Return of 
Seed allowed and money refunded, with round trip freipht, 
to dissatisfied customers. Our catalog illustrating 
and describing varieties is free,—so are our sam¬ 
ples—but you must ask for them. 
A. H. HOFFMAN, Box 14, Bam ford, Pa. 
Send foe CIRCULAR to Originator of 
Peach and Apple Trees 
For fall or spring planting. Prices right; stock 
right. MYER & SON, Bridgeville, Del. 
1 - li DMf C D Ww II EL H 1 D 
St. Louis Grand Prize and Red Wave Wheats. 
A. N. JONES, No. 118 Summit Street, Batavia, New York. 
PCI CRY - BEST VARIETIES. Full count 
UE>LCrtI of heavily rooted, stocky plants. 
H. A. TODD, Doylestown, Pennii. 
Apple and Peach Trees _Pr F^ e E ffl n <^e 
SALESMEN WANTED 
Mitchell’s Nurserv, Beverlv, Ohio 
HARRARF CELERY. BRUSSELS SPROUTS AND 
uHDDMUCj CELERIAC, best variety fine plants 
$1 per 1,000; 10,000 for $7.50. J. C. SCHMIDT, BRISTOL.PA. 
Pflni F WUCAT—Recleaned, ready to sow. 
M 11 * Write for prices and samples. 
C. C. VALE, * New Carlisle, O. 
QCCn WU C A T Read’s Vermont. New 
OLLU iIIILMI variety sown Sept. 20, Aver, 
yield 00 bus. to acre. Big money in wheat. Write for 
circular now. G. A. Read, Read’s Exp. Farms, Charlotte, Vf. 
ONE QUART OF STRAWBERRIES l° L E A A ^ 
KEVITT’S SYSTEM. Send for my Mid-Summer 
Catalogue. T. C. KEVITT, Atlieulu, N. J. 
For Best EXTENSION LADDER “ 
JOHN J. POTTER,14 Mill St., Binghamton, N. Y. 
