1910. 
THE RURAE NEW-VOKKEB 
047 
Ruralisms 
Cost of Greenhouse. 
J. J. IF., Granville, 0 .—Will you tell me 
about what it would cost to build a green¬ 
house 10x20 feet, or the nearest practical 
size to that? We are thinking of building 
one on the lot next to the house, there be¬ 
ing both water and gas on the street. The 
lot is about one hundred feet wide, so house 
could be added to if desired. We wish to 
raise some vegetables, a few flowers and 
house plants. What would heating appa¬ 
ratus for same cost? We have always 
raised a good garden and a great many 
house plants, but we have never tried the 
greenhouse proposition. 
Ans. —The cost of a greenhouse 10x20 
feet, with heating apparatus adapted to 
keep a temperature of 55 to GO degrees 
in cold weather, would probably amount 
to from $200 to $250, this depending to 
some extent on the quality of material 
used in construction, and also whether 
the owner would do the work of build¬ 
ing, or have same done by contract. If 
this correspondent has no experience 
whatever in such construction, it would 
be better to get an estimate from one of 
the large dealers in greenhouse material, 
of whom there are several in Chicago. 
Thse firms would give an estimate for all 
material ready to erect if desired, or 
would also put up the house, if that were 
decided upon. If a cellar were included 
for the heater, this amount would not 
cover the cost. w. H. tapun. 
Wintering French Artichokes. 
S. N. D., Went Hartford, Conn. —Will 
you tell me how I can induce French arti¬ 
chokes to live through the Winter? I have 
tried them in cold frames and covering 
them with heavy litter, but never have 
been able to keep them over the Winter. 
Ans. —This vegetable is but little 
known in this country, and outside of 
France does not seem to be very gener¬ 
ally appreciated. The portion used is the 
undeveloped flower cluster. The plants 
are propagated first by seeds, sown in a 
hotbed in March and planted out at a 
distance of from two to three feet. It 
is not always hardy enough to stand our 
Winters in the Northern States, but in 
all latitudes south of Washington it 
winters over without protection. Here 
in the North, however, it is necessary 
on the approach of Winter to draw the 
leaves together around the stalk and 
earth up around them, and later when 
severe weather sets in cover the tops 
with litter of some kind, marsh hay be¬ 
ing preferable. A bed once established 
where conditions are favorable will re¬ 
main in bearing for a number of years. 
A rich well-drained black soil appears 
to be the best suited for this rarely 
grown vegetable. There are a number 
of varieties, but the Green Globe appears 
to be the best for this country, and the 
only safe variety to use in this latitude. 
T. M. WHITE. 
Birds and Fruit. 
R. M. J., So. China, Me. —For 15 years 
we have given our time and attention to 
making our place attractive to the eye and 
irresistable to the birds, and our success 
has been beyond our fondest dream. All 
the little bird creatures are happy with us, 
and they are all sure to find secluded spots 
for their nesting, and every kind of fruit 
and seed for their various needs. Having 
done this much for the birds we felt in¬ 
clined to do a little something for our¬ 
selves in the way of small fruits, and we 
have set 'out bountifully that we might not 
miss a few cherries or berries that the 
birds might take. This is all right in 
theory, but the robins have developed a 
spirit of greed that is most disturbing and 
certainly amazing; from 300 heavily bear¬ 
ing raspberry bushes they demanded the 
entire crop, and it was only an occasional 
saucer of unripe fruit we could get for the 
table. I am willing to share, but they 
must not have all! Are there not in this 
country nets with open meshes that can 
be used for covering fruit bushes, and if 
so, can you tell me where I could get 
them ? 
Ans. —“Bird netting” for the protec¬ 
tion of fruits and vegetables, is sold by 
large seedsmen and dealers in garden 
supplies. It is cotton netting with one- 
inch mesh, and comes in 20 and 30-foot 
widths of any reasonable length, price 
one dollar per 100 square feet. In Eng¬ 
land old fishnets are sold for this pur¬ 
pose, and it is common garden practice 
to use the netting quite extensively, as 
otherwise there is much loss from bird 
depredations, the English sparrow being, 
if possible, even a greater nuisance at 
home than abroad. 
Tomatoes Crack Open. 
H. -J. S., Leeds, Mann. —Can you tell mo 
the cause of my tomatoes cracking open? 
They are the Beauty tomato, at least that 
is what I bought them for. I have always 
had excellent tomatoes, but this year they 
nearly all crack open before they ripen. 
Ans. —There are two causes for toma¬ 
toes cracking open, variety and climatic 
conditions. Certain varieties of toma¬ 
toes, the Beauty being among the worst, 
are quite liable to crack almost any sea¬ 
son. The cause of this is mainly a very 
tender skin. As the fruit approaches the 
ripening stage, it enlarges quite rapidly, 
and the skin being very tender it cracks. 
This is notably worse if frequent rains 
occur during the ripening period. Then, 
too, fertilization has more or less to do 
with this cracking. If there be an excess 
of available nitrogen for the plant to use 
during the ripening period it makes the 
fruit soft and tender, hence it cracks 
quite easily. Again, some seasons, al¬ 
most any variety of tomato will crack. 
The present season has been one of the 
worst. I heard almost every tomato 
grower in this section say during the the 
latter part of the late dry spell, “When 
rains come now the tomatoes will dll 
burst open,” and they did, surely enough. 
How well these old growers knew what 
they had to contend with, because they 
have all been through it so many times. 
Theoretically, the cause is believed to be 
this: The plant and fruit have been 
subjected to a dry, warm atmosphere, 
with light dews and no rain for perhaps 
weeks; then when the rain comes suffi¬ 
ciently heavy to wet the soil to the roots 
the plant takes up water so rapidly, be¬ 
cause of the long continued lack of 
water, that the fruit must crack. Under 
those conditions it could not well be 
otherwise. 
I have observed that when a dry spell 
occurs and is broken by rain some time 
before the ripening season begins, a con¬ 
siderable number of the larger fruits of 
the tomato will crack and heal over be¬ 
fore ripening, and still make good mar¬ 
ketable fruit, provided weather condi¬ 
tions are normal at that time. Commer¬ 
cial tomato growers try to avoid those 
thin-skin varieties that have an undue 
tendency to crack, and plant those varie¬ 
ties less liable to the fault. But some 
cracking is sure to occur no matter what 
variety one plants when rains follows a 
protracted drought, more noticeably so 
when the rains come during the picking 
season. c. c. hulsart. 
“Settle questions right, for 
no question is sett led 
until it is settled right” 
The first cost of a slate roof is only a trifle more 
than iron, tin or shingles—more than tar composition. 
But, shingles burn, rot and fall off. And iron and 
tin require painting and eventually rust and leak.. 
While tar composition roofing is admittedly nothing 
more or less than flimsy temporary protection, requir¬ 
ing constant repairs. But SLATE never wears out 
—gives you positive roof protection forever--without 
repairs—without renewal—without paint—with¬ 
out a penny of expense. 
Sea Green and Purple 
Roofing Slate 
is therefore the cheapest and best roofing material 
obtainable, for it settles your roofing question right. 
It is a natural roofing that the ingenuity of man can 
never equal. It is permanent—as strong as the rock 
from which it is quarried. Homes, barns, granaries, 
churches, schools, factories—for all buildings, new or 
old, it is the logical and only roofing material. 
Tell us where to send this booklet, “Roofs.” Six¬ 
teen pages of practical and helpful hints that will 
save you money in the selection of your new roofing. 
The American Sea Green Slate Co., 
(Roofs That Never Wear Out) 
110 Clark St., Granville, N. Y. 
.... Sign and Mall This Coupon Today ■■■■ 
■ The American Sea Green Slate Co, 110 Clark St, Granville, N. Y. 2 
■ Send me the book “Roofs” and name of the near- 2 
2 est dealer in Sea Green and Purplo Roofing Slate. ■ 
* Name . 2 
: 
! Address ... ■ 
> 2 
2 Toxon . State . ■ 
GET THE BEST 
A Good Spray Pump earns 
big profits and lasts for years. 
THE ECLIPSE 
is a good pump. As 
(practical fruit grow¬ 
ers vve were using common 
: sprayers in our own orchards 
: —found their defects and 
invented the Eclipse. Its 
success forced us to manu¬ 
facturing on a large scaie. 
You take no chances. We 
1 have done all the experi¬ 
menting. Large fully illustrated Catalog 
and Treatise on spraying FREE. 
MORRILL & MORLEY, Benton Harbor. Mich. 
Especially prepared for agricultural 
purposes. Requires no slacking. Heat 
all taken out. Can be drilled in. 
Shipped In bags. Send stamp for re¬ 
ports of experiment stations to HUDSON RIVER 
LIME CO, 2519 Newkirk Avenue, Brooklyn, N. V. 
(Works near Albany.; 
Jarvis Spraying' Compound 
IS THE CHEAPEST AND BEST. IT HAS NO SUPERIOR. 
SORE CURE FOR SAN JOSE SCALE. 
LIME 
Buy direct from the manufacturer and save money. 
Spraying Compound ready to mix with water. One gal. of 
Spraying Compound will make from 10 to 20 gals, of Spray. 
Terms: in barrel lots (50 gallons) SOe. per gullon 
Wo would refer you to J. II. Halo, tho Peach King, or 
Prof. Jarvis of the Connecticut Agricultural College. 
They will toll you there is nothing better. 
THE J. T. ROBERTSON CO, Box R, Manchester, Conn. 
“ONE FOR ALL,” No. 1 
Wool Grease, Arsenate of Lead, Lime and 
Sulphur. Both a Contact and Poison 
Spray. An Insecticide and Fungicide. 
Positively the Only Thing Needed for a! I Pests or Fungus 
A tonic for vegetation. Sick trees made well; 
old trees rejuvenated to youthful vigor; better 
foliage ; larger and more abundant fruit. Neither 
sucking or chewing insects nor fungus will attack 
wood that has “One For All” upon it. After one 
fall spraying no dormant spraying will be needed. 
Spraying confined to the growing season. Scale 
exterminated. Positive evidence from practical 
growers furnished upon application. 
Prices, F. O. B. New York 
Barrels, 425 lbs.05c. per lb 
% Bbls, 200 lbs.05% “ 
100 lbs.06 
50 lbs.06% “ 
25 lbs.08 
MANHATTAN OIL COMPANY 
Established 1852 
Front Street New Yorfe' 
^SAN JOSE SCALE- 
KILLER 
KIL-O-SCALE is the most reliable rem¬ 
edy for Scale. Ready for use by simply 
mixing with water. We also sell Spray¬ 
ing Outfits. Write for catalogue. 
HENRY A. DREER, - Philadelphia. Pa. 
1910 OEYO POWER SPRAYERS 
MR. FRUIT GROWER, we have the two plunger 
spray pump you have been looking for connected to 
our 2 and 3 H. P. air-cooled engine. Eight years of 
success. If you do not know us, ask any of the thou¬ 
sand users. Satisfied customers are our reference. 
Outfits fully guaranteed. Write for catalogue 19. 
DEYO-MACEY ENGINE CO., Binghamton, N. Y. 
Very Low Prices On 
Sail Duck Coverings 
Such as wagon 
covers, protect¬ 
ing fruit, lum¬ 
ber, garden 
truck or farm 
implements 
R e p ai ring 
buildings, etc. 
Always useful, 
but necessary 
in sudden frost 
or rain. 
Write for 
Samples 
and prices. 
Freight 
prep aid. 
State sizes 
desired. 
A FOOD DRINK 
Which Brings Daily Enjoyment. 
A lady doctor writes: 
“Though busy hourly with my own 
affairs, I will not deny myself the pleas¬ 
ure of taking a few minutes to tell of my 
enjoyment daily obtained from my morn¬ 
ing cup of Postum. It is a food bever¬ 
age, not a poison like coffee. 
"I began to use Postum eight years 
ago, not because I wanted to, but be¬ 
cause coffee, which I dearly loved, made 
my nights long weary periods to be 
dreaded and unfitting me for business 
during the day. 
“On the advice of a friend, I first tried 
Postum, making it carefully as directed 
on the package. As 1 had always used 
'cream and no sugar,’ I mixed my Pos¬ 
tum so. It looked good, was clear and 
fragrant, and it was a pleasure to see the 
cream color it as my Kentucky friend 
always wanted hei coffee to look—‘like 
a new" saddle.’ ” 
“Then I tasted it critically, for I had 
tried many ‘substitutes’ for coffee. I was 
pleased, yes, satisfied, with my Postum 
in taste and effect, and am yet, being a 
constant user of it all these years. 
“I continually assure my friends and 
acquaintances that they will like it in 
place of coffee, and receive benefit from 
its use. I have gained weight, can sleep 
sound and am not nervous.” “There’s 
a reason.” 
Read "The Road to Wellville” in pkgs. 
Ever read the above letter ? A new 
one appears from time to time. They 
are genuine, true, and full of human 
interest. 
5 YEARS’ use has proven that SAN JOSE SCALE 
and all FUNGOUS diseases, controllable during the dormant season, are absolutely controlled 
by the use of 
“SCALECIDE” 
There is but one—“PRATT’S” Trade Mark, Reg. U. S. Pat, Off. 
Prices: In barrels and half-barrels, 50c. per gallon; 10 gal. cans, §6.00; 5 gal. cans, ,$3.2o; 
1 gal. cans, 51.00. If you want cheap oils, our “CARBOLEINE” at 30c. per gallon is the 
equal of ANYTHING ELSE. Send for free Booklet, “Orchard Insurance.” 
B. G. PRATT COMPANY, Mfg. Chemists. 50 CHURCH ST., NEW YORK CITY 
Elite Burning Oil 
In Wood and Iron Barrels 
A perfect burning- oil made from 
Pure Pennsylvania Crude. : : 
25 Years on the Market 
Write for Particulars and Prices 
DERRICK OIL CO, - Titusville. Penn. 
TRADE MARK REGISTERED IN U. S. PATENT OFFICE. SEEDING DOWN FOR 
BIG HAY CROPS 
USE 
HUBBARD’S 
B°sE GRASS and GRAIN 
FERTILIZER 
One of the Famous BasE Hay Makers 
Solely Manufactured by 
THE ROGERS & HUBBARD CO., middletown, conn. 
Send for Free Almanac telling all about the Hubbard "Bone Base” Fertilizers 
