1014. 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
<580 
The Home Acre. 
BEAUTIFYING THE HOME GROUNDS. 
The beautifying of the rural home 
grounds, particularly those of the farm, 
lias been sadly neglected by the great 
majority of the owners of country homes. 
Why so many of our rural residents have 
been so tardy in recognizing the natural 
charm and beauty that can be imparted 
to their home surroundings, by the ap¬ 
propriate use of a few ornamental trees, 
shrubs, and vines and flowering plants, 
might be possibly explained in the lack of 
knowledge as to how to do the work 
properly, or that, in providing the neces¬ 
sities and comforts of life, they have been 
too busy to think of the pleasures that 
would accrue to themselves and their 
families, by the expenditure of a little 
time and a small outlay of money for 
that purpose. 
The time has come when this import¬ 
ant feature in country life must no long¬ 
er be neglected by those residing in their 
own homes. Wealthy owners of large 
and small country estates, by the proper 
development of their property, and beau¬ 
tifying the home grounds, have set an 
example that should at least in a meas¬ 
ure be emulated by all owners of rural 
homes, no matter how small and unpre¬ 
tentious the grounds may be. There are 
but few owners of country places who 
cannot do in a limited way at least, 
what their more fortunate neighbors have 
done on a larger scale. 
The enhanced value of the property, 
the pleasures to be attained, the refining 
influences surrounding the home life, and 
the restfulness and beauty expressed in 
the trees, shrubs, flowers, etc., that adorn 
the home grounds, will many times re¬ 
pay the small cost of the improvement. 
Farmers will be doing a noble deed to 
agitate this subject in an energetic way, 
and not only point out the desirable and 
satisfying features of beautiful home sur¬ 
roundings, but to tell how easily and 
cheaply they can be attained. 
Danville, Fa. MRS. E. o. s. 
HOW TO KILL MOLES. 
Will you give the best method of com¬ 
bating the blind ground mole which bur¬ 
rows along within an inch of the surface, 
raising up a ridge in its course? It is 
becoming quite a nuisance about here. 
Butler Co., Pa. l. o. 
The mole is a perennial nuisance to 
gardeners, and in addition to his own 
misdemeanors his runs seem to encourage 
the field mice to additional depredations. 
The mole subsists almost entirely on 
animal food—worms, insects, etc., and it 
seems generally agreed that his feeding 
damage is small, but the destruction to 
plants caused by the underground tun¬ 
nels is very great. The mice, largely 
vegetable feeders, attack roots and bulbs 
and their work is certainly facilitated by 
mole runs. Owing to their insect diet, 
it is not easy to poison moles, and most 
gardeners are agreed that trapping is 
the best plan. There are several good 
mole-traps sold by seedsmen; set care¬ 
fully in the fresh runs they are sure to 
catch the animals. The traps should be 
moved about and set in different runs. 
Another plan is to punch a hole here 
and there in the run, and pour into each 
place a teaspoonful of bisulphide of car¬ 
bon, stopping up the hole immediately. 
Some gardeners report entire satisfac¬ 
tion with this method; others assert it 
does not work with them. A third al¬ 
ternative is the use of strychnine in solu¬ 
tion. Small pieces of meat, or kernels 
of corn in the milk stage are soaked in 
the poison and dropped in the runs. We 
have also been told that little flakes of 
salt mackerel, soaked in the poison may 
be used, but cannot speak from exper¬ 
ience. Trapping has always been our 
preferred method. Some terriers, and 
also cats, are excellent mole-catchers; 
one old cat we know will watch a mole- 
run for hours until she sees the mole 
working, then plunge in a paw, and hook 
the mole out, like a fisherman landing a 
fish. 
HEDGES AND SHADE TREES. 
My house is situated on a 50-foot lot 
within eight feet of the side line of a 
proposed street. I would like to plant a 
hedge along here, also shade trees at 
the proper distance. From rear end of 
house to street in front, runs a sewer 
line, not much over three feet in the 
ground. What can I plant that will give 
me the least trouble filling this sewer 
with roots? I see every year others hav¬ 
ing trouble this way. In front, have a 
privet hedge, but for this proposed one 
would prefer arbor-vita?, as it would be 
on the northwest side and I could allow 
it to grow to a height of say six or eight 
feet. Looking off across this proposed 
street, over a strip of ground 150 feet 
wide, I see a row of houses with their 
backyards abutting up against my bound¬ 
ary line. Here too I would like to plant 
a hedge, preferably evergreen, so as to 
shut off unsightly views. What would 
you plant, and what size? I have to con¬ 
sider economy. What distances apart 
for a hedge that I would like to see 
grow to a height of 15 or 20 feet? Also, 
how far from the true line would you 
plant this hedge, considering that people 
in time and out of time start fires in 
these backyards, and they are not careful 
where fire goes to either. J. B. 
Plainfield, N. J. 
The American arbor-vita? is extensive¬ 
ly used for hedging purposes, and you 
would no doubt fund it well suited for your 
northwest side line. Trees two to three 
feet high are a convenient and compara¬ 
tively safe size to -transplant, as well as 
being quite moderate in price, usually 
selling at about $30 per 100 retail. The 
trench should be dug at least two feet 
wide and IS to 20 inches deep, and very 
old well-rotted manure mixed with the 
soil to the full depth of the trench. The 
quality of manure used should be at 
least equal to one-fourth the amount of 
soil. If manure of the required age and 
fineness cannot be procured,- pure raw 
bone meal may be used at the rate of one 
pound to each lineal foot of trench. Set 
the plants 2*4 to three feet apart. I 
might say there is no tree used for orna¬ 
mental or other purposes whose roots will 
not sooner or later find their way in¬ 
side the sewer pipes, filling them with 
fibrous roots. The soft wooded trees, on 
account of their more rapid growth and 
greater requirements of water, will send 
their roots to moisture much more quick¬ 
ly than the hard-wooded and slower grow¬ 
ing trees, and therefore should never be 
planted in close proximity to a sewer 
line. The Norway maple is among the 
most beautiful of our ornamental shade I 
trees, and being of rather slow growth 
will perhaps give as little trouble in the 
matter of clogging the sewer with roots 
as any tree you could plant. The Pin 
oak is another beautiful shade tree that 
is not liable to give much trouble in 
that way. You will find either of these ! 
trees very satisfactory, as a shade tree, 1 
with the danger of clogging the sewer 
with roots, reduced to a minimum. The 
Norway maple is priced at about $1.25 
each for trees eight to 10 feet; the Pin 
oak at $2 each for trees of the same size. 
Any first-class nursery can supply trees 
of these sizes named. Plant either of 
these trees 25 feet apart. 
For the boundary line at rear of the 
row of houses, there is no other plant 
quite so well suited for hedging and 
screening out such undesirable views as 
the California privet. Plant a double 
row of them, two feet apart and two 
feet apart in the row, breaking joints 
and in a few years you will have a hedge 
screen that will be practically impassable 
and impenetrable to the eye, as well as 
being almost indestructible. Do not prune 
or shear of? the tops, but' allow it to grow 
at will. l r ou can plant it to within two 
feet of your boundary line, and if at any 
time the limbs should hang over the line 
and be objected to by the adjoining prop¬ 
erty owners, it will be a comparatively 
small job to cut off the offending branch¬ 
es to the dividing property line. It will 
not be safe to plant evergreens on or 
near this line in hedge-row, as they soon- 
er or later would be almost certain to be 
destroyed by fire. Plants four to six ! 
feet high can be bought at $8 to $10 
per 100. k. 
A teacher trying to impress on her 
children the rightness of kindness toward 
all animals, took them for a walk, to 
bring the lesson home to them. Hearing , 
a scream from little Johnny, she asked: 
“What’s the matter, Johnny?” “I’ve 
been sitting on a hornet,” was the tear¬ 
ful response, “and I’m afraid I’ve hurt 
the poor thing.”—Delineator. 
An Easterner who had bought a farm 
in California had heard of his neighbor’s 
talent for raising large potatoes, so sent 
his farm-hand over to get a hundred 
pounds. "1 ou go back home,” answered 
the talented farmer to the messenger, 
“and tell your boss that I won’t cut a 
potato for anyone!”—Everybody’s Maga¬ 
zine. 
Lay Your Building Problem on This Table 
Famous Board o! Seven 
Master Designers, Builders and Manufacturers 
r- 
««ril Pay $1.00 
for Every Knot” 
—that’s my 1914 challenge 
to every man who buys or 
sells lumber! I’ll pay $1.00 
per knot for every knot 
any customer can find in 
our Red Cedar Siding ship¬ 
ped from Bay City. 1 stand 
ready to prove to you in 
this way that the lumber 
in Aladdin Houses is higher 
in grade throughout than 
is regularly carried by any 
seller of 1 umber in America. 
Clear Siding, Clear Floor¬ 
ing, Clear Interior Finish 
and Clear Shingles are 
furnished for every Alad¬ 
din Dwelling House. 
O. E. SOVEREIGN. 
Gen. Manager. 
Before this Board of Seven comes every Aladdin House 
for the acid test of perfection. No detail escapes the keen, searching 
analysis of these experts. The designer 
must prove his plans to the complete satis¬ 
faction of: First, the Master Designer, 
for accuracy; Second, the Master 
Builders, for practicability,strength 
and structural harmony; Third, 
Factory Experts, for elimination 
of waste, standardization of 
lengths and economy of costs. 
Unless the work of these high 
priced men could be spread over 
a thousand houses, the cost 
would be prohibitive. No other 
organization can subject each 
house design to this searching 
and costly inspection. 
ALADDIN Readi-Cut Houses, 
Barns, $137 to $2,000 
Aladdin Readi-Cut houses save you four profits—no middlemen, you buy direct 
from the maker. Aladdin houses have better lumber. “One Dollar for every knot 
found in our Bay City Red Cedar Siding” is the Aladdin guarantee that protects 
you. No other dealer gives you this protection. All material cut to fit—saving 
you one-third on the cost of labor—you can build your house in half the time. 
Aladdin catalogs show pictures of houses and farm buildings from $137 to 
$2000. Get the big Aladdin catalog today—free on request. 
5-Room House &9QC 
Complete 
iThis Snug, warm winter home with five rooms, 
$298. Price includes everything needed to 
build. All lumber cut to fit, hardware, locks, 
nails, paints for two coats. Can be shipped 
_ _ same day order is received. Complete $298. ^ 
Aladdin Price Includes Everything, v V 
r>_!_ t ____11 if 1 .1« .1 . ^ A.^ 
+ 
/ 
Warm Air 
Furnace 
$ 28.95 
Complete 
Bathroom 
Ontlit 
$ 37 . 50 ,/ 
- 4’vV 
/««’ 
Price for every Aladdin house includes everything necessary to 
build. All lumber cut to fit; framing lumber, sheathing, siding, . 
shingles, interior finish, windows, lath and plaster or plaster ' A 
board, hardware, locks, nails, paints and oils for two coats, in- 
side and outside— ; n short, a complete house. Send today * vt 1 ® 
for Catalog No. 340 ^ 
w S’ 
*y.? 
,o 
North American Construction Co. + 6 
344 Aladdin Ave.,Bay City, Mich. 
Mills in Michigan, Florida, Texas, Oregon and Missouri.^W 
* * <sP 
You get it without argument 
under our sweeping guaran¬ 
tee if rusting out occurs in an 
AMERICAN INGOT IRON ROOF 
Rust-resisting Pure Iron—Not Steel 
Our bond protects you. No painting—no repairs. 
Lifetime sen-ice—low cost. Lightning-proof— 
fire-proof. Write today for Free Roofing Catalog. 
I 99 .salt pure w e also make American Ingot Iron Corn 
Cribs, Stork Tanks, Troughs Wire Fences 
Crib & Tank Catalog or Fenee Catalog Free. 
The American Iron Roofing Co. 
Station IS, MIDDLETOWN, OHIO 
SAVE HALF Your 
Paint Bills 
By using INGERSOLL PAINT — proved 
best by 66 years’ use. It will please you. 
Only paint endorsed by the “Grange.” 
Made in all colors—for all purposes. 
DELIVERED FREE 
From the Mill Direct to You at Factory Prices. 
INGERSOLL PAINT BOOK —FREE 
Tells all about Paint and Painting for Durability. 
How to avoid trouble and expense caused by paints 
fading, chalking and peeling. Valuable information 
free to you. with Sample Color Cards. Write me. DO 
IT NOW. I ouu save you money. 
Q.W. IngersoU, 246 Plymouth St., Brooklyn, N.Y. 
Goulds No. 423 
A Great Farm 
Pump tor 
General Use 
This is one of 
ourlatest types 
—adj ustable 
stroke, force 
pump stand¬ 
ard. 
The adjust¬ 
able stroke 
adapts the 
standard for 
connection t o 
any windmill 
or pump-jack. 
Revolving 
bearer top per¬ 
mits the lever to 
bo set and oper¬ 
ated at any angle 
with the spout. 
Large air 
chamber gives 
steady, oven flow 
at spout. 
Nut and hose 
tube spout for 
connection with 
garden hose. 
Outlet back of 
spout tapped for 
iron pipe con¬ 
nection. 
Extra strong 
construction 
throughout. Ask 
yon r dealer for 
Goulds No. 423. 
Avoid Pump-Buying Mistakes 
Before you buy a pump or water system of any kind, be sure 
It’s the very one best adapted to your needs. 
You can choose from over 300types of Goulds Reliable Pumps. 
And we will tell you which type will give the best results when used un¬ 
der your particular service conditions. By getting exact information 
first, you’ll save yourself worlds of trouble and expense. Write 
our Mr. Gould, in charge of our Consultation Department. His 
lifelong knowledge and experience are at your service. You can 
get hiahelp without charge on any water supply problem. 
Outsell All Other Pumps 
For 65 years Goulds Pumps have been preferred by 
pump buyers who wanted longest and most satisfactory 
service. As a result, today we make more pumps than 
any other concern. 
And due to our enormous output, you pay no more for 
Goulds quality than for pumps of less merit. The best 
dealers in every locality handle Goulds Reliable Pumps. 
Look up the one in your section. 
How to Have Running Water 
^ This luxury is possible on your farm. Send for our free 
book.“Water Supply for Country Homes.’’ It describes and 
pictures the most practical systems—hand, windmill, power, 
and hydraulic ram. with the most desirable type of pump nec¬ 
essary. Write for the book today. ^ (30) 
THE GOULDS MFG. CO., 58 W. FaH St, Seneca Falls, NX 
Largest Manufacturers of Pumps lor Every Purpose i 
