212 
Musknielons and Cucumbers for Seed. 
A CHICAGO seed house wishes me 
cither to raise or else engage some¬ 
one else to raise five acres of Osage 
melon seed at IS cents per pound, and 
10 acres of cucumber seed at 1G cents 
per pound f. o. b. cars our station. I am 
not a melon raiser, only for family use, 
and I do not know enough about this 
business to know if this is a good busi¬ 
ness proposition or not„ WL *.t can you 
advise about this matter? T. j. it. 
Breedsville, Mich. 
From the best authoritative informa¬ 
tion obtainable on this subject, it would 
seem there is no great profit to be made 
out of this business, with a possible 
chance of not making any profit at all, 
though the latter would be due almost 
entirely to conditions over which the 
grower had no control, such as unfavor¬ 
able weather, ravages of insects, blight 
or downy mildew. While insects, blight 
and mildew may be controlled to a large 
extent, the expense of spraying will very 
materially reduce the profits, and in 
cases of small yield might eliminate the 
profit entirely. I am informed that 
seedsmen Avhen they wish to use many 
thousands of pounds of seed find an over- 
supply of seed would be less disadvant¬ 
ageous than an under-supply, and gen¬ 
erally contract for it at the rate of 100 
pounds of seed per acre. That corre¬ 
sponds as to yield with one of only 15 
to 18 bushels of wheat to the acre. The 
seed yield under favorable conditions 
runs from 100 to 700 pounds per acre. 
The average price paid by dealers varies 
from year to year. Contracts for large 
areas are sometimes made for as low as 
15 cents per pound, but generally run 
from 18 to 30 cents per pound. The cost 
of production varies greatly under differ¬ 
ent local conditions. Experienced growers 
can generally harvest and clean the seed 
crop from the fruit after it has been 
gathered as for market, at a cost ranging 
from four cents np to 10 cents per 
pound. 
The method of cleaning and after care 
of the seed is about as follows: Let 
the fruit get fully ripe in the field, then 
gather into piles, split the fruits into 
halves. Scrape the seed into a barrel, 
which should stand until slight fermenta¬ 
tion occurs, which will be in from one 
to five days. During this period it is 
very important not to add water nor to 
allow rain to fall into the barrel, as this 
is followed by an excessive fermentation, 
which is apt to ruin the seed. The seed 
is washed by putting two to five pails 
of tlio pulp into a barrel, adding three to 
five pails of water, stirring them and 
tipping the barrel so as to allow the 
water and slime to flow off. Add more 
water and repeat until the seeds are 
perfectly clean. In large plantings the 
washing is sometimes accomplished by 
carrying the seeds through a sort of 
sluice, divided by dams (three or four 
will suffice), each one a little higher 
than the one below it, and the pulp and 
seeds are shoveled into the upper section 
when a continuous stream of water 
gradually washes the pulp over the dams 
and the seeds settle into each compart¬ 
ment and are taken out with a scoop 
shovel. Trays with fly-screen bottoms of 
a convenient size to handle may he used 
for drying, or (ho seeds may be spread on 
burlap and placed in the sun until thor¬ 
oughly dry, when it can be put in close 
woven burlap bags and placed in an 
airy place under shelter until time of 
shipment. K. 
THK DtUKA-J^ NEW-YORKER 
February 1.1, 
Fruit Expectation* and Results. 
I T seems to me an injustice to the 
novice, the back-to-the-lander, that 
a glowing side of country life isn’t more 
exactly stated. Catalogues of nursery 
firms and advertisements tf fruit grow¬ 
ing values, as are seen in all the “fair 
play” rural papers are misleading. To 
road a peach tree distributing advertise¬ 
ment one would think that bumper crops 
always brought at least 81.50 a basket 
instead of 15 cents, as seems to be the 
truth. Now, I, who certainly am not a 
novice, was planning to set many acres 
to peach trees, when I drove down the 
county to see a Devon herd. There I 
met another man who had lately plowed 
up thousands of trees. lie got fine crops, 
but not price enough to pay. The peach 
orchard of many acres doesn’t appeal to 
me now. The $1.50 per basket is ob¬ 
tained when it takes the product of four 
or five trees to make a basket. We are 
doubtless making a market by insisting 
that raw fruit is wholesome, and that 
fruit is better than meat, but a public 
cannot be made over in a day. 
The oft-advertised profit in Summer 
apples made me think “Why not send 
a sample to market?” So I had picked 
two barrels of as pretty apples as ever 
grew, and of the highest quality (Early 
Joe). My returns were 34 cents and I 
lost my barrels, hired them picked and 
carted them to the boat. Last year I had 
12 acres of tomatoes, beauties; I sent 
many baskets, very late after canning 
factories had closed, for we do not have 
early frosts here, and I got no returns, 
but a bill for freight. These were care¬ 
fully handled and put up attractively, 
and were on market 10 hours after pick¬ 
ing. The rural press must put it straight 
to the novice; it doesn’t do to single out 
one instance in the whole United States 
of phenomenal success and practically 
say that’s what any city man can do in 
the country. To make a farm pay is as 
much of a business proposition as any 
occupation in any city. A few men can 
get 200 eggs per hen, but 909 in 1,000 do 
not get even 100 per hen. Get down to 
facts, not to freaks. 
Maryland. klbert WAKEMA.v. 
It. N.-Y.—Right in the same mail 
came a letter from a well-known man 
who found fault because we threw cold 
water on a back-to-the-lander who wanted 
to try mushrooms, ginseng, peach grow¬ 
ing or prize poultry. We may safely say 
that no farm paper in the country has 
done more to discourage freak farming 
or misdirected back-to-the-landing. In 
fact we have gone out of our way to 
discourage speculative crops or practices. 
At the same time we think our readers 
should be regarded as reasoning human 
beings and capable of fair judgment when 
they hear both sides. 
[0 
MUSTS mm (DID! FOR 1915 
Is New Ready for Mailing 
A beautiful and instruc¬ 
tive book of 148 pages,con¬ 
taining valuable informa¬ 
tion, explaining in detail— 
Honv to plant — When to 
plant—What to plant. 
Write for copy today —It is Fret. 
ROBERT BUIST COMPANY 
Philadelphia, Pa. 
Grown with care for those 
who want quality. Send 
lor this collection: 
5 packets choicest seeds. 
Victor Squaah, Detroit 
Dark Red Beet, Black 
Seeded Lettuee, Scarlet Globe 
Kudlsh, Abbott's m 
Parsnip. Mailed I fie 
postpaid for .... Jl v/ 
Fine Catalog Free 
Dcecribea the very best reliable 
sorts of vegetable, field and flower 
seeds. Illustrated with "true-to-natur©’* 
pictures. Gives honest prices for honest 
seeds. Write for copy today. ’Telia how to 
obtain the Farmer’s Ready Reference Book 
and our New National Cook Book free. 
J. J. H. Gregory & Son 
436 Elm St., Dept. 4, Marblehead, Mass. 
WE MUST 
-TIMOTHY 
-ALFALFA 
CLOVER 
-CORN 
SPECIAL PRICES—WRITE NOW 
STOECKER SEED CO. 
Dept. 5, PEORIA, ILL. 
PRODUCE BUMPER CROPS 
Dibble’s Heavv-Weifrbt early With stiff straw, pure white, thin 
1 SIUU1C * Heavy rreignt, hulled grain weighing 45-45 lbs. per 
measured bushel, enormously productive. A Vermont customer reports 117 
bushels per acre. A Stark Co., Ohio, farmer—"just twice the yield of com¬ 
mon oats.” One from Connecticut—"46 lbs. per bushel,” and a Pennsyl¬ 
vania farmer—"four bushels more than twice as much as common oats.” 
Dibble’s Twentieth fpnturv ?*fra early, tall stiff straw, long branch- 
lmuuic s i wenuem century, , Iie hoa<is fi]le(i with t)lin hulled grain, 
average weight 35-38 lbs. and the best yielding early Oat we have ever grown 
Every acre of Oats on the ItiOO-acie Dibble Seed Farms is hand weeded twice 
while growing and the grain is recleaned twice and then graded before shipping 
to our customers. 
‘Dibble's Farm Seed Cataloe, and ten samples of Dibble’s Farm Seeds including 
the Oats, Free. Address 
Edward F. Dibble Seedgrower, Honeoye Falls, N. Y., Box B 
Headquarters for Farm Seeds N. B.—Special low price on oats as we ship 
FROM OUR FARMS TO YOURS 
• ” - ' ’ 
And Alfalfa Guide 
We supply you absolutely free samples 
or our hardy, northern grown seeds. Our , 
CLOVER, TIMOTHY *n3 ALFALFA 
sa a 
will send you our Alfalfa Guide full of informa- 
t*on regarding this valuable plant 
freU Ba “ pleaand literature in re- 
I. WERTHEIMER & SO 
t *L Ligonlor 
is the title of our 1915 catalogue— the most beautiful and complete horticultural 
publication of the day—really a l»ook of 204 pages. 8 colored plates and 1,000 photo 
engravings, showing actual results without exaggeration It is a mine of informa¬ 
tion of everything in Gardening, either for pleasure or profit and embodies the re¬ 
sults of over sixty-eight years of practical experience. To give this catalogue the 
largest possible distribution we make the following liberal offer: 
Every Empty Envelope 
Counts As Cash 
To every one who will state where this advertisement was seen and who en¬ 
closes Ten Cents we will mail the catalogue 
And Also Send Free of Charge 
Our Fameus SO-Cent “HENDERSON” COLLECTION OF SEEDS 
containing one packet each of Pondiroii T.milo, Pig toilin lettuce, While Tipped Scarlet Rediah 
tWeraon'i Imincitle Asteri. Mammoth Bulls, (I, Panama and Ecklord Sianl Flowering Sweet Peas, in a 
coupon envelope, which, when emptied and returned, will b. accepted «s u 25 cent cash 
payment on any order amounting to *1.80 and upward. With the Henderson Collection 
will be sent complete cultural directions together with the Henderson Garden plans. 
Peter Henderson 
35 A 37 
i.n vOrtlandt S' 
New’Vork ClTV 
PEDIGREE POTATOES 
Seed Corn, Oats, Cabbage and 
Vegetable Seeds of All Kinds 
Choice varieties grown on our arm nd sold direct 
at wholesale prices.-We can furnish a few 
va- ieties of potatoes that have perfect pedigree 
grown from seed which came from perfect hills 
only. A yield of 500 bushels per acre on five acres 
from our pedigree seed was reported a few days ago 
And our Gold Nugget Corn has yielded over 200 
bushels of ears per acre several times in New York 
State. Sample free. Write for our catalog—get 
the facts—buy our tested seed at wholesale prices 
Save money—raise better croj>6. 
JOSEPH HARRIS CO. Jirrjr 
BOX 102. 
COLDWATER, N. Y. 
Do You Have to 
be Shown?- 
I’m told that I have the best 
quality of seed, give the largest 
packages and have the most com¬ 
mon-sense Seed Book inthe bunch. 
And I’m willing to admit it. 
Do you have to be shown? 
All right. I live close totheMIs- 
sourl line and I’ll “show” you. 
I’llsendyouthe Seed Book and a h in pack- 
age of Harden seed, and you can judge for 
yourself. NO CHARGfc FOR EITHER, 
and you need not even send the postage un¬ 
less you wish. 
I also have guaranteed Clover and Al¬ 
falfa, and all kinds of farm seed at 
Farmer’s Prices. Shall I send you free 
samples of these also? 
HENRY YIELD, Pro*. 
IjhjRGjEL^SFE^nj^^^nnMdBaji^oiM^ 
sURECROPSEEDs 
HardyNorthem Grown, Vigorous Croppers. 
DIRECT from the GROWER to the SOWER. 
Save the Middleman’s Profit. 
SPECIAL OFFER ONLY 1 Oo 
A Dollar's Worth for a Dims 
To get acquainted we offer you OUR BIG GEM COLLEC¬ 
TION of Flower and Vegetable Seeds, comprising one big 
package each of Giant Aster, Mignonette, Dianthus Pinks, 
Zinnia, Candytuft, Cosmos, California Poppy, Early Red 
Onion, Early Summer Cabbage, Rosy Gem Radish, Early 
Curled Lettuce, Purple Top Turnip, Perfection Tomato, 
Golden Heart Celery, and Long Standing Spinach. 
1 5 SEPARATE PACKAGES 
I 
I 
To cover post¬ 
age Arooeive 
SEND lOo TO-DAY 
above Elg Bar¬ 
gain postpaid 
together with Our Big Illustrated 1915 
Seed and Plant Guide. 
CONDON BROS., Seedsmen 
646 W, State St. f Rockford, Illinois 
ftCSlT-OLv-—— 
Everythin; worth growing in 
FLOWERS 
Everything worth growing in 
VEGETABLES 
Cultural instructions for planting 
and growing will maka gardening 
easy even for the amateur. 
Over 1,000 photographic iilujtra- 
tions, 8 color and duotone plates, 
272 pages. 
Mailed free if you mention 
this publication 
DREERS ORCHID-FLOWERED 
SWEET PEAS 
with immense wavy flowers in 
spray* of 3 and 4 blossoms each. 
Onr mixta re contains a foil 
range of colon. 10c. per pkt., 
20c. per ox., 60c. per lb. 
Garden Book free with each order. 
SEED 
OATS, BARLEY, WHEAT, POTATOES. 
All New varieties. Largest yielders known 
Bent quality. Prices low. New Catalog FREE. 
Q. A- READ, Read's Exp. Farms, Charlotte, Vf. 
PwlOl 
Genuine Grimm Seed produces plants with low crown 
large branching roots. Individual plants larger, leafier, 
easier to cure and of better feeding value than other varieties. 
Resists winter conditions. Grow* early in Spring. Requires 
less seed. I specialize in Grimm Alfalfa only. Booklet Frees. 
Mm LYMAN, Grimm Alfalfa Introducer, 
^W 1 Aifalfadale Farm. R. F. D. 3 EXCELSIOR. MINN. 
HENRY A. DREEk , 
714-716 Chestnut St., Phila.' j 
Grow More OATS 
Grow the choicest procurable! Grow the oats thab 
broke alf records for yield per acre nnd weight per 
bushel. Grow the oat thab is bred especially to 
Suit your soil conditions, grow 
CORN BELT OATS (Cartons No. 5) 
Of earliest maturity, with strongest straw and 
thinnest hull. The large berries carry pure white 
grain of richest quality. Write for 
FREE Samples and Illustrated Catalog 
Learn all about our 100 pure oats and money- 
back guarantee. Write a postcard today. 
Garton-Coooer Seed Co.. Bax 123 Sugar Grove, Illinois 
at OKTE-ECALF 
CITY SEEDSMEN PRICES! 
Let us send you our catalog of seeds—It’s 
different. It tells you facts, and why we can save you money, and give you a guaran¬ 
teed SOUARE DEAL. Just drop a postal today and see the difference in buying your 
seeds in country or city FORREST SEED CO., Box 32, Cortland, N. Y, 
