1914. 
THE RURA.lv NEW-YORKER 
V46 
Ruralisms 
Failing Boxwood. 
In our yard we have some boxwood 
which is perhaps about a hundred years 
old. It appears to be dying. Will you 
give me some information in regard to it? 
We would like to preserve it. Could it 
be transplanted? G. E. M. 
Sheepshead Bay, N. Y. 
No particulars are given as to the con¬ 
dition here involved, or the situation of 
the hush. Box prefers a rather moist 
but well-drained soil (that is, one free 
from standing water) and partial shade. 
While it is hardy as far north as Massa¬ 
chusetts, unfavorable weather conditions 
may cause killing back in this latitude; 
for example, late growth, that does not 
become fully ripened, will suffer during a 
severe Winter. Troubles from insects 
and disease are rare, but in a hot 
dry location red spider is sometimes very 
troublesome and destructive; for this 
spraying with whale oil soap solution is 
advised, early in the Spring before 
growth starts, or in the Fall. Red spider 
is also controlled by vigorous syringing 
of the foliage with cold water during 
Summer. Your shrub may have suffered 
from red spider, it may be Winter-killed, 
or, for a third cause of injury, it may 
be starved. The ground may be ex¬ 
hausted, and further depleted by adjacent 
trees. We should mulch with well-rotted 
short manure, scratching it slightly into 
the surface, trim off dead shoots, and 
keep a watch for red spider. It is not 
difficult to transplant box, but an old 
specimen needs more care than a young 
one. 
Advice to a Nut Planter. 
1. In planting a nut orchard how far 
apart should the trees be set, and what 
varieties are best to plant in western 
Pennsylvania or northern Ohio? In 
planting trees for timber how far apart 
should the trees be set? In planting dif¬ 
ferent varieties for timber should each 
variety be planted by itself or is it best 
to plant promiscuously? j. a. c. 
1. J. A. C. does not say what nut trees 
he wishes to plant, but I take it that he 
refers to the larger kinds, such as the 
Persian (English) walnut, pecan and 
Shagbark hickory. A California author¬ 
ity on the Persian walnut says: “With 
vigorous growing varieties on good soil 
GO feet apart is none too much and less 
than 50 feet should not be considered in 
any case.” Under such conditions inter¬ 
planting with some other crop would be 
desirable. Peaches would be a good ex¬ 
ample. In the South they set pecan trees 
from 50 to 75 feet apart, according to 
circumstances. As no one knows how 
well pecan trees will grow in western 
Pennsylvania or northern Ohio it is im¬ 
possible to say just how far apart they 
should be set. For the Shagbark hick¬ 
ory 50 or GO feet would not be too far, 
but as nobody would be likely to plant 
an orchard of seedling shagbarks, and it 
would be difficult to get enough grafted 
or budded shagbarks of any variety, not 
to speak of tested varieties, to set an 
orchard, this question does not at present 
loom important. For a chestnut orchard 
the trees should be considerably nearer, 
depending on the type of chestnut. The 
Japanese and Chinese, and probably the 
new blight-immune hybrids from which 
we hope for so much, are small trees and 
could be set at 30 feet perhaps. The 
native American and European chestnuts 
are of larger build. 
As to varieties these are not de¬ 
termined. It would be well to test out 
all the varieties that the nut specialists 
carry. The Rush, Nebo, Hall, Holden, 
Pomeroy and some of the French varie¬ 
ties grown on the Pacific Coast are 
among the walnuts that may be tried. 
For the pecan the Indiana varieties are 
the most promising, such as the Busseron, 
Indiana, Green River and others. Of 
the southern varieties the Stuart seems 
best adapted to growing north of its 
normal range. As for the chestnut, un¬ 
til we can get varieties immune to the 
blight, no one ought to think of planting 
this nut in any but an experimental and 
very limited way, certainly not where the 
native chestnut and the blight are both 
found. 
Six or eight feet apart for nut trees 
for timber is recommended as about the 
right distance. But if J. A. C. is ser¬ 
iously thinking of setting any number of 
nut trees he should by no means depend 
upon the scanty advice that anyone can 
give to a letter of inquiry, but should 
study diligently the various publications 
on the subject, particularly the bulle¬ 
tins on nut culture issued by the U. S. 
government and the experiment stations 
of nut-growing States, such as California, 
Texas, North Carolina and others. The 
Northern Nut Growers’ Association 
furnishes free on application a list of the 
important nut publications in the U. S. 
WILLIAM CHAMPION DEMING, M. U. 
Mice Gnawing Peach Trees. 
I am having trouble with mice girdling 
my five-year-old peach trees. Is there 
anything that can be done? Will a coat¬ 
ing of grafting applied to the girdled 
trees do any good, where they are com¬ 
pletely girdled? They are injured under 
the ground. I wormed them last Octo¬ 
ber, and it has been done since then, but 
must have been done before Winter came, 
as the trees have made an effort to make 
new bark on the bare wood. Did you 
ever hear of putting castor beans at butt 
of trees to keep away mice? I have used 
them in pea rows to keep out moles. I 
paint the trees at every worming (twice 
a year) with a thick lime sulphur paste 
’way down in the ground, and up above 
and that has kept away the mice, but 
this time they have eaten lime-sulphur, 
bark and all. Is there perhaps any car- 
bolated disinfectant powder that I could 
sprinkle in the hole that would keep them 
away from the trees? e. l. l. 
Vineland, N. J. 
Bridge-grafting—putting one end of 
scion in the wood below the wound and 
the other above, may save these trees. 
We have had no experience with the cas¬ 
tor bean treatment. The smear of lime- 
sulphur usually repels vermin. Try a 
small quantity of Paris green or arsenate 
of lead in the lime-sulphur. Mechanical 
protectors of wire cloth or strips of ven¬ 
eering are surest. Tobacco dust or stems 
have been suggested. We are rarely 
troubled when a pile of coal ashes is left 
around the base of the tree and the snow 
tramped down. Charcoal or the ashes 
will cause the snow to melt quicker. 
WAYNE COUNTY, N.Y., FRUIT NOTES. 
A brief inspection trip through the or¬ 
chards of Sodus and vicinity towns was 
recently made by Professor Herrick, en¬ 
tomologist of the State College of Agri¬ 
culture at Ithaca. The trip was made 
mainly to enable a better search for the 
leaf-roller. Sodus and Rose orchards 
were inspected, but no insects of this 
variety were found. The pear tree psyl- 
la was found to some extent. In some 
orchards it was found that the under 
sides of the limbs were not being reached 
with the spray. The spray was usually 
found in solution of 25 gallons of lime 
and sulphur to 200 gallons of water. Mr. 
Herrick advised the additon of 50 pounds 
of lime and more thorough work under 
the limbs. No eggs of the pink aphis 
were found. The professor has recently 
found the moth that is parent to the I 
green fruit worm, which eats holes in 
apples and pears. lit 1 is quite certain 
that fruit growers will be able to con¬ 
trol this insect through spraying with 
arsenate of lead just before the bloom. 
Many eggs of the tent caterpillar were 
found on peach trees and it looks as 
though an outbreak of this pest might 
occur unless the matter is taken in time. 
Spraying with a light solution of arsen¬ 
ate of lead will prevent the damage that 
might occur from neglecting to spray, but 
this should be done early in order to 
avoid damage to the foliage. Mr. Her¬ 
rick has promised to come to Sodus again 
in a few weeks, when arrangements will 
be made for several fruit growers to ac¬ 
company him to various orchards for the 
purpose of studying insects. Northern 
Wayne growers desiring to engage in the 
visit to the orchards should notify B. J. 
Case of Sodus. 
Prof. I). 1*. Witter of the State Bureau 
of Farmers’ Institutes, acting jointly 
with the State Department of Agricul¬ 
ture and the Northern Central Railway, 
will be in Northern Wayne one day each 
month this Summer. His services are 
free to fruit growers and farmers who 
may desire advice and inspection of their 
orchards. As this county is without a 
farm bureau the special services of 
trained experts are highly appreciated by 
the growers. 
It begins to look as though the lake 
section of Wayne County is not to be 
counted entirely out on peach production 
this year. In the district immediately 
facing the lake there are reports coming 
in of some prospects for a crop after 
all. The Sodus Fruit Farm, which has 
a large acreage devoted to peaches, will 
make a fairly good showing. W. T. Ser¬ 
geant, also in tie lake district, reports 
prospects as fair. The inland growers, 
except here and there in a sheltered posi¬ 
tion, will have one of the smallest yields 
in years. Arrangements have been com¬ 
pleted at East Williamson for the con¬ 
struction of a pickle factory. An acre¬ 
age sufficient to maintain a large factory 
was easily secured. Over 100 acres were j 
pledged in one day. a. u. i\ 
Sodus, N. Y. J 
Fine for cow and calf in the hot summer days— 
an Atlas Cement concrete water trough is well worth 
the few dollars it costs to build. 
More and more of your neighbors will keep a few 
k bags of "Atlas” handy to make little practical improve- 
< merits like this as they can spare the time. 
Why not ask your dealer for Atlas and bring back 
a few extra bags in the wagon next trip? 
Portland; 
^'PORTUND^ 
ATLAS 
% CEHENTa 
EM E NT 
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and FERTILIZER DISTRIBUTER 
Accurate indicator for 100 to 3,500 lbs. per acre, 
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The Acre-an-Hour Sifter 
beats every hand implement for killing Potato, 
Melon Buga,Cabbage Worms, etc. Applies Plaster, 
Lime, etc., mixed with Paris Green or Arsenate of 
Lead. Regulates to cover big or little plants, a 
to apply any quantity of any kind of manufac¬ 
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Prepaid, 75c. Agents wanted. Circulars. 
ACRE-AN-HOUR SIFTER CO., 
Dept. B, Poughkeepsie, N. Y. 
also 
Something New In 
Traction Sprayers 
Sprays 4 rows with 12 nozzles. 3 on each. 8 are low- 
down nozzles for still more thorough spraying of sides 
and underside of vines. Spraying saves your crop and 
j increases the yield. One of a dozen 
IRON AGE £££ S"£ 
Traction Sprayers, 55 or 100 gallon wood tanks, double 
or single actintr pumps, wind shift, nozzles, strainers, 
thorough mixing, no corrosion. Ask your dealer atxmt | 
them and write us now for new "Spray" book, spray 
information ami Iron Age Farm and. Garden News. 
Fine for 
blight. 
Use in any 
row crop. 
Bateman 
M’f’g Co. 
Box 1029 
Grenloch 
O. K. Champion Sprayer., 
[NSURE the 
potatoes and 
other 
vege¬ 
tables, 
also 
fruit and 
trees from dis¬ 
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ALL BRASS 
double acting high pres¬ 
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DESCRIPTIVE LITERATURE, ETC. f FILL 
describing Sprayers, Planters, Diggers, etc. 
Champion Potato Machinery Co., 
151 Chicago Avenue, Hammond, Indiana. 
LIME SOWER 
FOR SPREADING 
LIME. COMMERCIAL 
FERTILIZERS. ETC. 
G0ARANTEED. 
SfIsIVP'ILF1> *PKICFS CW& ship lime from 100 Mills.) 
CALEDONIA CHEMICAL COMPANY CALEDONIA NEW YORK 
Direct from 
factory, freight 
-1. Over 
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lit styles for every 
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THE BRowrN FENCE fit WIRE CO. 
Clevotand, Ohio 
Caaocu Kevitt’s Unique Invention 
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the world. Send for Price List. 
T, C. Kevitt Athenia, N. J. 
HANDY BINDER 
Just the thing 
for preserv¬ 
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The Rural New Yorker. Durable and 
cheap. Sent postpaid for 25 cents. 
The Rural New-Yorker, 333 West 30th St., N. Y. 
SLUG-SHOT 
USED FROM OCEAN TO OCEAN FOR 33 YEARS 
Sold by Seed Dealers of America 
Saves Currants, Potatoes, Cabbage, Melons, Flowers, Trees and 
Shrubs from Insects. Put up in popular packages ar popular 
prices. Write for free pamphlet on Bugs and Blights, etc., to 
B. HAMMOND, - Fishkill-on-Hudson, New York 
"ONLY ONE WORMY APPLE IN 458 BBLS." 
“Electro” Arsenate of Lead Powder (not powdered) Did It. You 
can Duplicate It But Not With. Something “Just As Good” 
for there is none other just like “Electro”— 
So Strong (% all poison) that it takes less to kill— 
So well made (less than %% soluble arsenic) it cannot burn foliage— 
So tine (yet not ground) it will stick to dry leaves when dusted on. 
One lb. does the work of 3 lbs. ordinary paste, and mixes easier. Cannot ball, 
cannot lump or clog nozzle. No waste. 
“Spraying Sim plified, 3d Edition” sent free on request. Write for it today. 
B. G. PRATT CO., Mfg. Chemists 50 Church St., N. Y. 
Manufacturers of SCALECIDK and Sole Distributors for 
the World for Yreelnnd’s “Electro” Spray Chemicals 
