l!)l 4. 
THE RU RAL NEW-YORKEK 
1393 
The Home Acre. 
NOTES FROM A MARYLAND GARDEN. 
W INTER TOP-DRESSING.—My gar¬ 
den has now been covered with its 
Winter blanket of horse stable manure. I 
find that I get better results from cover¬ 
ing the soil with manure in the Fall and 
letting it lie there all Winter, both on 
vacant spots and as a mulch to the Win¬ 
ter crops of onions, spinach, etc. It is 
hard to buy any but fresh manure, and 
hence it is better to have it on the soil 
months before planting, so that by 
Spring it is in better shape to feed the 
crops. While I usually leave it on the 
surface of the vacant spots, I am this 
Fall trying the difference on a small part 
of the garden with turning it under, 
though I have had fine results from let¬ 
ting it remain all Winter on top. 
Late Spinach. —-In my last notes I 
stated that the spinach seed sown in 
August had failed to germinate in the 
dry weather. I ran out more rows on 
the same ground and sowed more seed, 
and to my surprise by the first week in 
October all of it was up. October gave 
us such favorable weather that the spin¬ 
ach has made a wonderful growth, and 
now in early November I have to thin 
it out vigorously, and having more than 
we can possibly consume from the thin¬ 
ning process, the grocers are taking it 
at five cents a pound. The seeds sown 
early in October have germinated well, 
and promise to get strong enough to 
winter over for Spring cutting. I never 
Sow spinach here in Spring, for by the 
time the Spring-sown is ready the weath¬ 
er is so warm that it quickly runs to 
seed, while the late Fall-sown crop is cut 
by the time the Spring-sown plants 
would be above ground. 
Storing Flower Roots. —My Dahlia 
roots have been lifted and placed in a 
shallow pit and covered with a thick 
layer of old newspapers and the soli then 
mounded over them. I find that they 
keep perfectly in this way and far bet¬ 
ter than in a cellar. Cannas have been 
lifted too, and stored with all the soil 
clinging to them, in the cellar, where 
there is a hot water boiler. I have kept 
these buried outside, but they sometimes 
get too much wet and rot. They do bet¬ 
ter in the warm cellar, and early in 
Spring they are divided for planting, and 
some are potted for starting early. 
Turnip Greens. —Like all Eastern 
Shore people, we are fond of turnip 
greens in Spring, and in this mouth I 
turn a furrow from each side over the 
rows, and they keep very well and sprout 
early in Spring. Late-sown carrots are 
treated in the same way and taken up 
for use at any time during the Winter, 
for we have more times when the soil 
is clear of frost than when it is frozen, 
and the carrots seem to get sweeter left 
where they grew. Years ago, when I was 
gardening in a much colder climate in 
the Northern part of this State near the 
Pennsylvania line, I took up my carrots 
and set them in trenches just like those 
used North for celery, and covered the 
trenches with boards and straw, and 
they kept well. 
Salsify And Parsnip we leave where 
they grew of course, for they are still 
growing, and will keep growing till 
Christmas; in fact last Winter, January 
was so mild that these hardy plants 
grew and increased through the month. 
While in the North the salsify and pars¬ 
nips are among the earliest things sown. 
I have found that here and southward 
it is better to sow late. In North Caro¬ 
lina I found that early Spring-sown pars¬ 
nips and salsify were apt to run to 
•seed at mid-Summer and get spoiled and 
woody. There I sowed them in July, 
here I sow them in early June, for their 
best growth is made during the coolor 
Fall and early Winter, and while the 
roots may not get quite so large, they 
are of far better quality. 
Radishes And Dasiieens. —The 
Chinese White Celestial radishes are now 
well mulched with manure. These grow 
to an immense size, and are very hardy. 
Roiled, they are far better to eat than 
turnips, and make quite a new dish. My 
crop of dasheens has been lifted. I have 
not tried any of these, as I have been 
more intent on increasing the stock, but 
I think I will try a few this Winter. Mr. 
Collingwood advises to try them on the 
dog first, but as I do not keep a dog 
I shall have to try them myself. The 
growth of the dasheen is very like that 
of the ordinary Caladium esculentum, 
but rather taller. The rootlets of the 
Caladium are pink and those of the dash¬ 
een white. The tubers of the Caladium 
grow much larger, but do not make as 
many offsets as the dasheen, and the 
leaves of the dasheen are rather darker 
green. But as the tubers of the Cala¬ 
dium are very good cooked, I can see 
no reason why the dasheens should not 
be good. 
Avocado Seed. —A friend has sent me 
some of the big seed of the avocado or 
alligator pear. I shall try to sprout some 
of these in the greenhouse merely to see 
what they look like and perhaps to grow 
them a while in pots. But fruiting them 
in pots is out of the question as they 
make a tree as large as an apple tree. 
The corms of the Gladiolus are so hardy 
here that I frequently have some left in 
the digging that come up and bloom the 
next year, and the little sets that get 
scattered in digging grow like wheat in 
Spring. As I find that many of these 
little cormlets fail to grow after keep¬ 
ing all Winter, I am trying sowing them 
in the late Fall, and will sow some of 
the hard Canna seed also, believing that 
the Winter soaking will make them germ¬ 
inate better in Spring. Next Spring will 
tell how these succeed. w. F. MASSEY. 
Maryland. 
THE MAIL BAG. 
A “ Versatile Apple Tree.” 
T HE following report is 
through the papers: 
floating 
Hart, Mich.. Nov. 7.—One of the in¬ 
teresting exhibits at the county fair was 
a display of S4 varieties of apples picked 
from a single tree. This exhibit was 
made by G. W. Haight. Haight has done 
some experimenting with a tree that was 
originally a Tollman sweet. He now has 
the tree grafted to 135 different varieties 
of apples. This is believed to be the 
most versatile tree in the country. 
Can anyone give the record of a more 
“versatile” tree than this one? 
Taxing Cats. 
W E understand that Ocean County, 
New Jersey, is going to impose 
upon its citizens a tax of 50 cents 
for every male and $1 for every female 
cat that they own. Is it right and pro¬ 
per for a State or county to impose such 
a tax on its people and protectors of 
health and property? p. f. j. 
Lakewood, N. J. 
R. N.-Y.—There must be some mistake 
about this. The County Clerk of Ocean 
Co. writes us that he never heard of any 
such tax. Efforts to impose such a tax 
have been made in a number of States 
and towns. 
Returns from Grapes. 
By 7,570 lbs. grapes, avg. 3 6-7c 
lb. $93.3S 
By 64 qts. grape juice for home 
use. 
To plowing, pruning, tieing and 
hoeing 2 times . 19.00 
To picking, use of team, time to 
market grapes . 100.00 
Net profit for use of land.$174.38 
Vineyard contains 114 acres (by 
measure). Grapes sold direct to con¬ 
sumer on street and at stand in city mar¬ 
ket house in Altoona and suburbs, pop¬ 
ulation 75.000. Varieties Concord, 
Brighton, Worden. Catawba and Niag¬ 
ara. Vineyard is old and was grown 
up with locust and briars until three 
years ago. Between grape rows we 
raised a plentiful supply of all garden 
truck for two families. ii. a. e. 
Altoona, Pa. 
Slat And Wire Fence.—I remember 
to have seen, years ago, a fencing made of 
lath as pickets secured in order and posi¬ 
tion with three or four lacings, or weav¬ 
ings. of two strand wires. Because of its 
vertical flexibility, by which it would 
conform to uneven ground, the lightness 
and portability of this fencing, my im¬ 
pression is that it would be quite ideal 
for yarding very small chicks, affording 
as it would splendid protection against 
enemies and against winds, because of the 
closeness of the laths in their order. Can 
you give me the information sought, 
namely if such a fencing is now made 
anywhere, and if it is by whom?. A. h. 
Flushing, N. Y. 
R. N.-Y.—Some 25 years ago there 
was a craze for this kind of fence. Many 
“machines” for weaving the wire around 
the slats were advertised and many miles 
of fence were put up. What has become 
of them? As the woven wire fences came 
into use the slats disappeared. Are they 
still made? 
WHAT KIND OF LIGHT 
FOR YOUR FARM? 
The four kinds in the 
pictures are all in use on 
modern farms. Three of 
them are unreliable. Trou¬ 
blesome, unclean, and cause 
fires. 
Electric Light operated by 
the Edison Electric Light 
Plant is by far the most 
practical and economical and 
the safest. The. 
Edison Storage 
Battery 
is the only one with a four-year 
guarantee of full-rated capacity. 
No internal cleanings x»r testings 
needed. No repairs or renewals. 
No waste of time, patience or 
money. . 
Write for Catalog M. 
EDISON STORAGE BATTERY CO. 
223 Lakeside Avenue, Orange, N. J. 
Distributors 
San Francisco, Chicago 
New York, Boston ” 
\ v ' N sj 
EDISON STORAGE BATTERY CO. B.S.-T. 
223 Lakeside Avenue, Orange, N. J. 
Send me Catalog M. 
If information regarding complete 
plants is wanted, ('HECK HERE. 
Water Power 
A small brook or spring 
will furnish free power to 
supply running water to 
your house and barn. With 
a larger stream you can 
make your own electric 
lights, saw wood, etc. Send 
- for catalog. 
FITZ WATER WHEEL COMPANY 
Penn 8 George Sts., Hanover, Pa. 
BOOKS WORTH READING 
= 1 How Crops Grow, Johnson. 1.50 fi 
11 Celery Culture. Beattie.50 ll 
II Greenhouse Construction, Taft.... 1.50 |1 
The Rural New-Yorker, 333 W. 30th St., N. Y. 
PROMT MIUatMILL PRICES 
Galvanized or Painted Roofing 
Made of high {Trade open hearth metal. All galvan¬ 
ized Roofing and Siding have heavy coating of gal¬ 
vanize. Write to-day for free sample and mill price 
list No. 206. Send size of building, length of ridge, 
length of rafters and wc will furnish free complete 
estimate of coat--without obligation on your part to 
buy--then make comparison and see the biff saving. 
Also makers of galvanized shingles for houses. 
30 Year Guaranteed Galvanized Roofing 
Made of selected best grade No. 24 gauge basic 
open hearth metal with an extra heavy tight Coat¬ 
ing of Galvanize and Pure Tin. Write today for 
->rico list No. 60. When you buy from us you buy 
rom the manufacture r. 
Established 1877 
THE SYKES METAL LATH & ROOFING CO. 
516 Walnnt Street, Nile*, Ohio 
GALVANIZED BBS 
Write for Cat. " C ” and price del. your station. 
GRIFFIN LUMBER CO..[Box 99. Hudson Falls, New York 
ROOF PROTECTION 
Against Storm*/ Fire and Decay 
You can now buy* this weather¬ 
proof, long-life roofing direct from 
us at factory prices and save money. 
It is all ready to put on. 
Kanneberg 
Metal Shingles 
"We Pay the Freight ’* 
They are fire-resisting and proof 
against rain, snow, cold and heat. They 
need no repairs, because they do not rot, 
crack, rust, buckle, curl nor fall off. 
Every shingle guaranteed. Made of 
28-gauge steel, painted or galvanized, and 
come single, 8 to sheet or in clusters 2 ft. 
by any length from 5 ft. to 10 ft. 
Write for Big Catalog. It shows how 
little it costs to get roof protection. 
Send today and get ready for winter. 
KANNFBERG ROOFING & CEILING CO. 
Est. 1886 1424 Donglas St., Canton, Ohio 
—when and 
where you want it. Low j 
(cost. The FOSTER High 
Duty Ram is guaranteed. 
Money back if not satisfied. * 
Costs little. Free Book of facts. 
POWER SPECIALTY CO., 
I 111 Trinity Building, New York 1 
Steam Powor 
Gasoline Powor 
Traction and 
Non-Traction 
The World’s Greatest 
Excells everywhere for drilling 
and blast hole drilling. A great money earner. 
LOOMIS MACHINE CO., BOX—H—. TIFFIN. 
OHIO 
R 
WHOLESALE PRICES 
DIRECT TO YOU 
Century Rubber Roofing, best roofing made, GUARANTEED 15, 20 and 25 years, laid down at your railroad 
station at lowest wholesale prices. Price per roil, FREIGHT PAID on 3 rolls or more. 
In N. Y., Ps., Ohio, N. J. & Md. at • II.IO 
In Mass. Virginia & W. Va. at • • . SI. 15 
In Conn.. VI , N. H. *■ Maine at • - - SI.20 
Low delivered prices to other states on request. 
(H 
(l-i 
(1- 
ply, 35 lb.)—SI.30 
ply. 35 lb.)—SI.35 
ply, 35 lb.)—SI.40 
These prices for IM- 
low delivered prices to otaer Btates on request. These prices for IM¬ 
MEDIATE shipment. Write for FREE SAMPLES or order direct from 
this ad. SAVE 254 to 404. No mill ends. Every roll ONE PIECE, 
108 sq. ft. Satisfaction or money back. 
CENTURY MFG. CO. 904 (PX) Tribune Bldg., New York, N.Y. 
121 C KATHERINE BLDG., EAST ST. LOUIS, ILL. 
Write lor FREE buggy catalog. 
-ply, 45 lb.) 
ply. 45 lb.)—SI.80 
ply, 45 lb.)—S1.S5 (3-ply, 55 
1.50 (3-ply, 58 lb. 
(3-ply, 55 ‘ 
cr 
WITTE Engines 
CASH OR 
EASY 
TERMS 
Kerosene, Gasoline & Gas 
Sold Only Direct from Factory to User. No matter where you 
live or what work you have that can be hitched to a belt, you can own a 
WITTE to better advantage than any other engine. Sizes are 2, 4, 6, 
8, 12,16 and 22_Horse-Power. Styles, Stationary, Portable, Skidded 
and Saw-rigs. Over 27 years in the lead in engine-quality. 
Better now than ever, with prices that can’t be beat. 
No need now to do without a good engine, or to take chance on a 
poor or unknown one, to get a low price. The Witte fills the bill. 
Fppp RfUlk * furnish highest standard engines for 
" v * 1 Xv, UVVA prices less than asked for rattle-traps. 
My Free Book explains the inside of engine selling as 
well as manufacturing. Write today for my Sales 
Plan with Easy Terms, f 
Ed H. Witte. Witte Iron Works Co., Pffiripiirv anrf nnrahilifv 
1895 Oakland Av„ Kansas City. Mo. CITtCiency 3110 UUraOlllty 
i-Year 
Guaranty on 
¥ ET me send 
*-* you a WITTE 
ENGINE to earn Its 
cost while you pay 
lor it. It’s cheaper 
than doing without 
one. 
Ed. H. Witte. 
