892 
July 10, 1915; 
tie remainder. Again, when this land is 
plowed the following Spring to the depth 
of eight inches, these weakened roots are 
in no condition to make strong growth, as 
under former conditions, and the crop of 
corn this season holds the whip now,"and 
comes out ahead. Thorough use of the 
cultivator this season with a little use of 
the hoe, finishes the quack for good and 
all. The tough and obnoxious sod has 
been turned back to the soil in the form 
of fertilizer, or at least plant food; the 
Spring and Fall plowing has been of great 
benefit to the planted crops by the double 
mellowing given the soil, and best of all 
“we have met the enemy and he is ours.” 
New York. n. E. cox. 
The Value of an Apple Tree. 
Can you tell me the value of an apple 
tree each year for the first 25 years, and 
what you judge by? J. i\ c. 
New Albany, Pa. 
The Vermont Horticultural Society de¬ 
cided upon the following as a fair state¬ 
ment of the value of a tree : 
“A tree that has been set less than one 
year is worth not less than one dollar, and 
said tree or trees increase at the rate of 
not less than one dollar a year there¬ 
after.” 
It would vary somewhat with the va¬ 
riety and location. Of course, a good tree 
within five miles of a local market ought 
to be worth more than an equally good 
tree 100 miles away. The value would 
depend upon the variety, the location, the 
kind of soil and culture and the shape 
and condition of the tree. The man back 
of the tree ought to count. Some men 
would make a 25-year-old tree pay $10 or 
more per year. A careless or inefficient 
man might take the same tree and fail to 
get $5 out of it. There could be no stan¬ 
dard of value or grade about such a tree 
as there is for an apple. 
Blackberry Rust. 
What is the trouble with my black¬ 
berries? They begin to sicken just when 
they are in blossom, a red film covering 
all the tops, leaving the shoots as red as 
fire. What shall I do to stop it? 
New York. F. K. 
These plants are suffering from an at¬ 
tack of red rust. Spraying with Bor¬ 
deaux will aid to some extent in prevent¬ 
ing the spread of the disease, if applied 
promptly at the very first indication of 
its appearance, but when it has made 
some progress spraying will be of very 
little if any benefit, especially if the 
spores of the disease have advanced to 
near the stage of ripening. Your only re¬ 
course then is promptly to dig all plants 
out that show infection and burn them, 
root and branch, being careful not to scat¬ 
ter any of the powder on healthy plants. 
If the infected plants are allowed to re¬ 
main in the patch until the rust spores 
ripen the wind may scatter it to all ad¬ 
jacent plants, thus inoculating every 
plant in the field, in which event all will 
have to be destroyed. 
Sowing Tree Seeds. 
I would like to start a small nursery, 
partly as an experiment, for I know prac¬ 
tically nothing about the work. IIow are 
birch and sweet gum trees propagated? 
If from seeds tell me how the seeds are 
stored and planted. J. s. m. 
Cincinnati, O. 
1. Seeds of the sweet gum and birch 
should be sown soon as ripe or else strat¬ 
ified in sand until the following Spring, 
when they may be sown in beds previous¬ 
ly prepared for them, in rows six to eight 
inches apart, scattering the seeds rather 
sparingly in the rows, and covering about 
one-half inch deep. Stratification should 
be performed as soon as possible after the 
seeds are ripe. The smaller tree seeds 
are as a rule placed in their layers in 
boxes of medium size or rather of con¬ 
venient size to handle, alternating with 
an inch or so of clean sand, or they may 
be mixed through the sand, but if the seeds 
are small they will be difficult to separ¬ 
ate from the sand at planting time, un¬ 
less the sand has been run through a fine- 
meshed sieve before using, in which case 
the separating of seed from the sand may 
be easily accomplished, if the mixture is 
spread thinly on canvas and placed where 
the air can take up the moisture to some 
extent. Usually an hour or two thus ex¬ 
posed will be sufficient to render the sand 
in good condition for screening. Some¬ 
times the sand is sown with the seeds, but 
when this is done the distribution of the 
seeds is often very uneven. 
2. When these boxes of seeds are filled 
THE RUKAL NE W-YOR JK ER 
or ready for disposition, they may be 
buried in a well-drained sandy soil, slop¬ 
ing ground preferred. The boxes should 
be placed in a trench about 18 inches deep 
covered with one thickness of boards and 
filled in with earth. The object of deep 
burying is to keep them moist, and to pre¬ 
vent their sprouting. Some growers allow 
the seeds of forest trees to remain in 
stratification until the second Spring. All 
good seeds will then germinate, the first 
season after sowing. The young seedlings 
should be planted in nursery rows the fol¬ 
lowing Spring. K. 
Oil-mixed Concrete. 
The Department of Agriculture an¬ 
nounces that after a long test it has 
found that an oil-mixed concrete is su¬ 
perior for what it calls damp-proof con¬ 
struction. It seems that by mixing min¬ 
eral oil with the cement and sand we 
have what amounts to a waterproof con¬ 
crete. It does not appear to lessen the 
strength of the mortar particularly. The 
concrete mixed with oil takes about twice 
as long to set hard. The use of this 
oil does not make (he concrete impervious 
to water under heavy pressure, but t 
does make it practically non-absorbent. 
This oil-mixed concrete ought to be par¬ 
ticularly useful in making walls and 
floors of basement, water troughs, cis¬ 
terns or silos. About 5% of oil does the 
work. A bag of cement weighs 94 
pounds, and therefore 4 7-10 pounds of 
oil, or about 2% quarts for each bag of 
cement should be used. The sand and 
cement are first mixed with the proper 
amount of water, into a soft mortar. 
The oil is then added, and the whole 
mass mixed up until it is thoroughly in¬ 
corporated through the mixture. The 
mixing will take about twice as long as 
where the oil is not used. Great care 
must be used in making the mixing in 
order to have the oil thoroughly distrib¬ 
uted. Those who want to study the 
matter fully should read Bulletin No. 
220 from the Agricultural Department. 
This bulletin is entitled “Oil-Mixed Port¬ 
land Cement Concrete.” 
Making Syrup from Apples. 
Even before apples have reached much 
size on the tree our readers have begun 
to ask about the plan for making apple 
syrup. This material was described by 
the Department of Agriculture last Fall, 
and was rather too late to be of full ser¬ 
vice to the public. It seems to be a fact 
that the chemists have learned how to 
make a good table syrup from apple 
juice. A patent for doing this work has 
been applied for, and this patent will be 
given to the public service. One gallon 
of the syrup is made from seven gallons 
of ordinary cider. It is described as a 
clear ruby or amber-colored syrup, about 
as thick as cane or maple syrup. It is 
said to have a distinct fruity aroma, and 
a special flavor of its own, much like 
the syrupy substance which comes from 
a baked apple. It can be used like other 
syrup for griddle cakes, household cook¬ 
ery or flavoring. Briefly stated the pro¬ 
cess is as follows: 
The raw cider is treated with pure 
milk of lime until nearly all the natural 
malic acids are neutralized. The cider 
is then heated to boiling and filtered 
through a filter press. The liquid re¬ 
sulting is then evaporated just as other 
syrup juices are handled. After it cools 
and stands for a time the lime and acids 
form small crystals. After these are 
formed the syrup is refiltered, which re¬ 
moves these crystals and leaves a syrup 
very much like ordinary cane syrup. 
Probably apparatus will be devised so 
that this work can be done in household 
operations. When this happens there 
will be a new and excellent by-product 
from the apple orchard. Many growers 
do not like to sell cider as there is a 
growing feeling against it, but if this 
cider can be turned into a good syrup 
there should be a demand for the latter, 
and a profitable business developed from 
it. 
Destroying Mustard. 
We have a piece of ground containing 
about two acres, sown to oats, which is 
badly infested with mustard. We are 
planning to cut oats green for hay and 
sow to buckwheat. What do you say? 
Wallkill, N. Y. E. n. s. 
There are three ways of getting rid of 
this mustard, all based on the proposi¬ 
tion of preventing it from seeding. The 
ground where it grows may be plowed 
and planted to some hoed crop like corn 
or potatoes. Then (his must be kept per¬ 
fectly clean, with every mustard plant, 
destroyed as fast as it gets above ground. 
This plan thoroughly carried out, the field 
can later be put back into grass or grain, 
so that there will be few if any mustard 
plants to be found. If a few of them 
grow after they are worked they can be 
easily pulled out and destroyed. 
Another way is to cut these oats very 
early before the mustard forms seed. 
Cure the oats for hay in the usual man¬ 
ner. Handled in this way you will get a 
lighter crop of hay but seeding of the 
mustard will be prevented. Still another 
way is to spray the oat field with a so¬ 
lution of sulphate of iron and wate'\ 
This solution will not hurt the oats but 
it will blight or destroy the young mus¬ 
tard plants, if put on when they are 
young and tender. It is probably too 
late now to work this spraying remedy 
in your field. Still another way is to 
harvest the oats, then plow the ground 
promptly, feed it well and make a very 
heavy seeding to. buckwheat. This quick 
rank-growing crop will smother out weeds 
and destroy most of them. 
A Government Fishing Outfit. 
Some of these people who are threat¬ 
ened with hysterics whenever the sug¬ 
gestion is made about the Government 
help in the food proposition, ought to 
take a trip to Australia and see how 
things are done there. As an instance 
of the way the government helps, it is 
reported by Consul Downes of Sydney 
that the government of New South 
Wales is going into the business of sup¬ 
plying the people with fresh fish. There 
is a great demand for this fish by the 
Australian people. The government will 
vessels in England and 
deep-sea fishing, much 
the coast of New Eng- 
will be taken from the 
to a central government 
they will be distributed 
buy three large 
utilize them for 
as it is done off 
land. This fish 
sea and brought 
depot from which 
to other local depots in the various large 
towns and cities. From these the fish 
will be distributed to dealers, hotels, res¬ 
taurants, or sold directly to the people. 
Many municipalities are preparing to 
open retail agencies for the sale of this 
government fish, and public institutions, 
including hospitals, will be provided from 
these government supplies. The fish will 
be cleaned and ready for cooking when 
delivered, and the offal will be manu¬ 
factured by the Government into oil and 
fish meal for fertilizer. The time has not 
come in this country yet when the govern¬ 
ment will take charge of such schemes 
for providing food. This Australian Gov¬ 
ernment would probably not go into the 
business of farming or the production of 
grain or fruit for the people, but the 
ocean being a public storehouse will be 
utilized in this way by the State to help 
feed the people. 
Having difficulty, in securin.tr the necessary supply for 
our fall and spring requirements, through the usual 
channels, we are prepared to offer farmers or dealers 
who may have large or small left over lots of muriate 
or sulphate of potash, top market prices, paying 
spot cash. State quantity and price asked. 
N. J. FERTILIZER & CHEMICAL CO., 136 Water St., 
New York City, MnniifHClnrors of Oroxton prepared poultry 
manure, other complete fertilizers, and dealers in fertilizer 
chemicals. Crude poultry manure bought. 
AIFAIFA CLOVERS, VETCH, PEAS, BEANS 
-***- 1 * /iLil an d Other Crops—Get a BIG YIELD—Inoculate with 
NITRO-GERM 
Cheapest in the world, guaranteed perfect. Send for circular. 
The Standard Nitrogerm Company 
Glen Ridge. N. J., Dept. 11 
FRUIT PACKAGES 
Catalog 
Best quality. All styles. Any quantity. 
C. N. ROBINSON A BRO., Dept. A Baltimore, Md. 
For Fall 
Planting 
Brushy Fences. —Your recent in¬ 
quirer has a large contract if he eradi¬ 
cates brush from his stone fences. If he 
has sheep and will cut off the high 
branches so they can pick off every leaf, 
a few years will do. Next to this is cut¬ 
ting and burning tin* brush on the roots 
hut trash near the wall will be hard to 
punish. Fire, next to sheep is the best 
cleanser and purifier on a farm, hut 
it cannot be used along rail or paling 
fences. It does the work along wire 
ones, and destroys both vermin and trash. 
It will burn any rotten posts, but make 
the others last longer. Fire in August 
or September is severe on brush or trees 
that are not wanted. We got a place 
with a lot of some kind of thorn trees in 
the fields. They had stickers three to 
four inches long and the wood was worth¬ 
less. Other men who had them said they 
couldn’t be killed, that if they were cut 
they would sprout up worse than ever, 
but we had a nice little fire of old rails 
at their stumps, one Autumn day, which 
dropped their thorns the next year and 
themselves, rotten a few years later. 
Ohio. w. w. R. 
Every reader of this paper who 
is planning to set out an orch¬ 
ard next fall should write for 
our big general catalog. Or, 
better yet, come and see us. 
We extend a cordial invitation. Your hotel bill will 
be paid by us. You'll be particularly interested in our '‘Test 
Peach Orchard" containing over too kinds—the delight of all 
our visitors. Now is the time to get ready. Plant Harrison s 
trues—they succeed. Grown in deep rich soil on the Maryland 
peninsula; vigorous healthy, heavy-rooted. We sell only the 
trees we grOM—you’re protected. Millions of guaranteed true- 
to-naine fruit and ornamental trees, shrubs, roses, etc. 2500 acres 
~oneofthe world’s largest nurseries. Write today for catalog. 
J.Q.HARRISON.B fiONS 
Box 14 
PROPRIETORS 
Berlin, Md. 
Strawberry Plants 
RUNNER and POT-GROWN Tor August and Fall planting. 
Will bear fruit next summer. Catalogue free. 
HARRY L,. SQUIRES, Remsenburg, N. Y. 
Cabbage, Celery, Kohl Rabi, Beets, S n P ?r 
1 .(MM). $8.50 per 10.1100; TOMATO. SAYKF.T POTATO. $1.50 
per 1.000: (ALT.1H.0\VKK, PEITIdlS, HOO PLANTS, $2.50 
per 1.000. SrnM for list. J. f, SCHMIPT, Bristol, Pa. 
CODCAI C— CAULIFLOWER AND 
rV/IT OttLt. CELERY PLANTS, 40c. 
100:300. $1. Postpaid, $2 per 1.000. Cabbage, $1 per 
1.000. List Free. W. S. Ford & Son, Hartly, Del. 
Cabbage, Celery, Cauliflower Plants 
55c. per hundred, by mail, postpaid. Leading varie¬ 
ties. I.oav thousand prices. Catalogue free. 
Harry I.. Squires, - Remsenburg, N. Y. 
C W IP IP T' SEED, of high quality, specially 
s 5 ’’ *-* 1 treated for full, quick germination, 
/-s* Prices and information on request. 
LxlvtJ V 12K E. BARTON, Box 29, Falmouth, Ky. 
Flat Dutch Cabbage Plants m: o st B c ai 
L’oolspring, Delaware. 
per . 
JOHN M. 
PERKY 
sale Celery Plants and Late Cabbage Plants 
Danish Boll Head, Late Flat Dutch, at $1 per 1,000. or 85 cts. 
per 1,000 in lots of 5,000: DAVID ROOWAY, Hartly, Dol. 
C' A MV A C w *-igons. hay stacks, waterproof 
V i\\J duck, etc. Canvas bugs for nil pur¬ 
poses at low cost. 10-oz. wagon cover, 
7HiXl2-ft., $3.50; 10x14, $5.00, prepaid. Write forpriee*. 
State size required. W. STANLEY, 50 Church St., N. Y. 
For Two New Yearly Subscriptions 
or Twenty 10-Week Trial Sub¬ 
scriptions. 
“For the Land’s Sake, use Bowker’s 
Fertilizers; they enrich the earth and 
those who till it.”— Adv. 
FARM TOOL AND KNIFE SETS 
Cocobolo Handle, 3% in. long; brass 
lining and rivets; German silver holster; 
set contains one Knife, 3% in. blade; 
one Chisel, 3 l ,4 in.; large Screw Driver, 
3 Yu in., and small Screw Driver, 2% in.; 
double and single Cut File, in.; one 
Saw, 3% in., and one Combination 
Scratch Awl, Punch or Reamer; all 
made from best Tool Steel. One tool 
can be immediately substituted for an¬ 
other—and each tool is firmly set in the 
handle. Each kit is enclosed in strong 
Russet Leather Pouch, which can be eas¬ 
ily carried in pocket. Every farm home 
should have one of these sets. 
The Rural New-Yerker, 333 W. 30th St., N. Y 
H\Vil<tnn Strawberries 
g Are as large as small oranges. This and the three other Van Fleet hybrid l| 
H strawberries are marvels in size, beauty and productiveness, with the true ^ 
H wild strawberry flavor. They cover the whole season, from earliest till latest. §| 
| LOVETT’S POT GROWN STRAWBERRY PLANTS | 
|§j Planted in summer or autumn, produce a crop of berries the following June. My booklet on Pot Grown 
— Strawberries tells all about them ; how to prepare the ground, and cultivate. It shows the “Edmund == 
= Wilson” in natural size and color, and accurately describes with truthful illustrations the Van Fleet = 
— hybrids and a score of other choice varieties, including the best Everbearing Strawberries. IT’S FREE. " 
If you would have bigger and better strawberries than you have ever had before, plant Van Fleet Hybrids. —^ 
■— a Strawberry Specialist J. T. LOVETT, Box 162 , LITTLE SILVER, N. J. | 
