960 
JShc RURAi. NEW-YORKER 
August 11, 1917. 
Garden and Farm Notes 
Alfalfa Seeding and Handling 
During this month thousands of acres 
of Alfalfa will be seeded throughout the 
Northern States. Some growers ad¬ 
vocate Spring seeding, but tl>e great ma¬ 
jority of farmers on the upper Atlantic 
slope will continue to seed in August. 
This year many small fields on which 
peas, early garden crops or early pota¬ 
toes have been grown will be put into Al¬ 
falfa and the stubble of oats or oats 
and peas w’ill be fitted for this crop. 
T’usually such land is better for Alfalfa 
than some old sod wdiich should first be 
broken up and “tamed” by some crop 
like potatoes or corn. 
There are certain things which must 
be found in soil—or added to it—^if 
we ever expect a stand of Alfalfa. 
Drainage. It will be useless to seed Al¬ 
falfa on -wet and undrained land. The 
seed may start and live for a season, or 
linger on, a thin, feeble growth, but the 
first principle of Alfalfa growing is 
that it must have dry feet. Alsike clo¬ 
ver may thrive on wet soil, but Alfalfa 
cannot, and w'ill not do w'ell except on 
drained soil. Lime. Alfalfa is not a sour 
soil crop, and you will fail with it un¬ 
less the soil is naturally sweet or un¬ 
less you can use lime. You should use 
at least one ton of air-slaked lime or 
two tons of ground limestone to the 
acre. The best way is to plow the land. 
Then spread the lime and thoroughly 
work it into the soil preparation. The 
soil for an Alfalfa field ought to be as 
fine and mellow as an ash heap—the 
weeds killed out and the surface level. 
AVe should use about 20 pounds of seed 
per acre, and sow it alone—without any 
“nurse” crop. It w’ill pay to use some 
sort of inoculation—either soil from an 
old Alfalfa or Sweet clover field, or 
some of the commercial bacteria. We are 
satisfied that the latter will pay when 
they are fresh and well prepared. If 
possible seed just before a gentle shower. 
It will pay to spend time and take 
pains with this crop, for it means thx’ee 
tons or more of W'heat bran to the acre. 
The picture. Figs. 416 and 417, on 
page 959, show a baling scene in Iowa, 
where the Alfalfa is brought right from 
the windrow up to the baler. We wan¬ 
ted particularly to show the sweep rakes 
which are found so useful in the big 
AVestern hayfields. 
Seed Corn Maggot and Snails Destroying 
Beans 
Will you give the complete life his¬ 
tory of the small green transparent worm 
that destroys the forming leaf of beans 
just as the ibean is sprouting under 
ground, causing “bald-headed” bean 
plants? Also complete life history, of 
the soft shelless snails that eat the bean 
plant during the night and burrow into 
the soil at daybreak. Also any known 
remedy. These pests have destroyed com¬ 
pletely 30 acres of beans for me and 
hundreds of acres throughout the county. 
Hulberton, N. Y. A. H. P. , 
The insect that caused the injury to 
your bean plants is doubtless the seed- 
corn maggot, although this larva is 
white instead of green. The seed-corn 
maggot is generally distributed through¬ 
out the United States and Canada and 
also occurs in Europe. In addition to 
cabbage and related plants it attacks 
sprouting seed corn, beans and peas, and 
has been recorded as feeding on seed po¬ 
tatoes. The food of this species is not 
confined to vegetable matter, for at the 
time of the great outbreak of migratory 
locusts in the West the maggots attacked 
the eggs of these grasshoppers, w^hich oc¬ 
curred in great abundance. Generally, 
however, the maggots feed on planted 
seeds w^hich have softened in germina¬ 
tion or decay. They also attack seed¬ 
lings, which they injure in the same man¬ 
ner as the cabbage root maggot. 
The female fly deposits her small white 
eggs in the ground. The egg is 1-25 inch 
in length and whitish in color. They 
hatch in from four to 10 days, depend¬ 
ing on the weather. On hatching the 
young maggot works its way into the 
soil until it reaches some decayed vege¬ 
table matter. They burrow into the 
sprouting beans and often attack the 
stem. The maggot becomes full grown 
in about three weeks. They are nearly 
one-third inch in length and shiny white 
in color. The body tapers toward the 
head, being lai'gest behind, where it is 
obliquely cut off. The mouth parts con¬ 
sist of a pair of small black hooks 
curved downward by which the insect 
is able to rasp off portions of the plant 
tissue. AA'hen full grown the maggots 
work their way into the soil an inch or 
so and there the skin contracts, hardens 
and turns brownish, thus forming the 
puparium. Within the puparium there 
takes place a remarkable series of 
changes whereby the tissues of the larva 
are broken down and rebuilt into the 
organs of the fly. The fly escapes from 
the puparium through a circular seam 
at one end; the length of the period 
passed in the puparium varies greatly; 
most of the flies emerge in about 20 
days; a few may appear sooner, and a 
considerable number emerge irregularly 
throughout the remainder of the season. 
Orowers who have planted shallow 
with a planter, have almost invariably 
had less trouble from maggots during 
the present wet season than those who 
have put their seed in with a drill. The 
beans have come out of the ground more 
quickly and are in a more thrifty grow¬ 
ing condition, thus enabling them to out¬ 
grow to a considerable extent injury 
from the maggots. Under the conditions 
prevailing this season shallow planting 
seems to be the only practicable means 
of preventing injury by this pest. 
Two species of shelless snails or slugs 
have been especially injurious this year 
because of the unusually wot season. 
They are usually more destructive on 
heavy land where the ground remains 
moist for a longer period. These slugs 
lay their rather large round white eggs 
in small clusters on the damp ground 
at the base of plants. The young slugs 
closely resemble the adults except in 
size. Methods for the control of these 
posts that are practical for all crops 
have not been fully w'orked out. On 
crops such as field beans, where a poison 
can be safely used, good results may be 
obtained by spraying wuth arsenate of 
lead at the rate of four pounds in 100 
gallons of ■wmter. On garden crops where 
a poison cannot be safely used many of 
the snails may be killed by spraying wuth 
“Black I^af 40” touacco extract, one 
ounce in about six gallons of water to 
which one-half pound of soap has been 
added. The application should be made 
late in the evening w’hen the snails are 
out. The tobacco extract kills by con¬ 
tact, and only those snails wull be killed 
which are actually hit by the spray. 
C. K. CROSBY. 
Coming Farmers’ Meetings 
Blue G rass Fair, Lexington, Ky., Aug. 
6 - 11 . 
Annual Summer meeting, New York 
State Fruit Growers* Association, Pon¬ 
tiac Hotel, Oswego, N. Y., August 7-11. 
New Jersey State Horticultural So¬ 
ciety, Summer meeting, Minch Orchards, 
Bridgeton, Aug. 8. 
Connecticut Pomological Association, 
annual meeting. State Agricultural Col¬ 
lege, StoiTs, August 9-10. 
Connecticut Poultry Association, an¬ 
nual meeting, Connecticut Agricultural 
College, Storrs, August 6-8. 
Connecticut Dairymen’s Association, 
annual meeting. State Agricultural Col¬ 
lege, Storrs, August 8-9. 
Certified Milk Producers’ Association of 
America, tenth annual convention, Briar- 
cliff Manor, N. Y., Aug. 14-15. 
Society of American Florists and Or¬ 
namental Horticulturists, New York City, 
August 21-23. 
Iowa State Fair, Des Moines, August 
22-31. 
Ohio State Fair, Columbus, August 
27-31. 
Michigan State Fair, Detroit, August 
Sl-Sept. 9. 
Kankakee Interstate Fair, Kankakee, 
Ill., Sept. 1-7. 
Nebraska State Fair. Lincoln, Sept. 
2- 9. 
Indiana State Fair, Indianapolis, 
Sept. 3-7. 
Minnesota State Fair, Ilamliue, Sept. 
3- 8.^ 
Northern Nut Growers’ Association, 
annual convention, Stamford. Conn., 
Sept, 5-6. • 
Solebury Farmers’ Exhibit. Solebury 
Deer Park, Solebury. Pa.. Sept. 7-8. 
New York State Fair. Syracuse, N. Y., 
September 10-15. 
Get EvEBy Spud 
This year, of all years, it is important to 
get all of your crop out of the ground. Every 
potato you harvest means money to you. 
Every potato available will be 
needed for food consumption. 
You are sure to get all of your 
crop if you use the 
Hoover Potato Digger 
Built in a variety of styles. 
Besides getting all of the potatoes the Hoover digs your crop at less cost. Indi¬ 
cations point to a big shortage of farm labor this fall. A Hoover Digger is crop in¬ 
surance. It enables you to dig your crop in the shortest possible time. Digs as fast 
^ any ten men. Delivers all of the potatoes in rows—every one exposed. The 
Hoover can bo furnished with picker attachment. Potatoes can be delivered in 
crates or dumped in piles. 
H^ver Diggers are built to last—built almost entirely of steel and malleable 
castings. ./ The sides of the elevator made of structural steel. Elevator rods are oflF- 
Potatoes do not roll back. This construction promotes separation. Dust- 
proof roller bearings are used in all important bearing points. Write for booklet 
covering the full line of Hoover Potato Diggers. Ask for package P— 33. 
ALFALFA 
AMERICAN NORTHERN OROWfi 
For fifteen years our advice concerning the seeding 
and care of Alfalfa meadows, and our seed for sowing 
them, have been standard—the best that was to be 
bad. The catalog tells how, and prices the seed, 
not Turkestan, “Dwarf Alfalfa,’* which we refuse to 
handle, but the best of American grown seed, in¬ 
cluding titnally Montana, Idaho, and the great 
“Dakota 30,” which rivals the Grimm itself. 
RDIMII Al FAI FA Next to Hansen’s Siberian. 
Unlmin HLiHLrH the greatest variety grown 
in America. We have the genuine; also limited 
amounts of the Siberian. 
Sample and prices on request. 
Win* Seed Co., Box S23 Mechanicsburq, O. 
TA# House of Quality and Moderate Prices, 
^Seed Wheat-^^ 
Eight hardiest, reliable kinds— yield more per 
acre—require less seed — graded, sound, cleaned 
clean. Write txxiay for “Hoffman’s Wheat 
Book ”—describes varieties—tells “How to Get 
a Crop of Wheat.” It’s free—samples, too—if 
you mention this paper. 
A. H. Hoffman, Inc., Landiiville, Lancaiter Connty, Pa. 
TIMOTHY SEED PRE^^D 
Our High Grade Timothy seed is the most Carefully 
selected and Recleaned. 99.70 % Pure. Samples Free. 
Glick’s Seed Farms,Smoketown, Lancaster Co.,Pa. 
ALFALFA 
Grown in the Yellowstone Valley in Montana. It is 
Clean, Hardy, and Vigorous. Sample Free. 
Click's Seed Farms, Smoketown, Lancastir Co., Pa. 
Millions of Fruit Trees 
Everyone {ccnuine Harrison-grown, 
robust, healthy, true-to-name ana 
buddea from hearing orchards^ 
Bracked oy more than ^ 
26 years' fruit-growing and 
titirsery experience. Apples, peaches, 
pears, plums, cherries and stnall fruits. 
Also full line of ornamentals. Write to¬ 
day for 1917 Fruit Guide—/rc«, **L»arge8t 
growers of fruit trees in the world.'* 
HarriMBi’ Nnneries, Box 14 Berlin, Md. 
I-TOMATO PLANTS^ 
All Leading Varieties. Price, $1.60 per 1000 
CABBAGE PLANTS 
All Leading Varieties. Price, 76c< per 1000 
Celery Plants, Green varieties, $2.00 per 1.000. Golden 
Self-Blanching and Easy Blanching, $3.00 per 1000. 
Plants are carefully packed in moss and expressed 
OROL LEDDEN, SEWELL. N. J. 
Laroeat Grower of Veffetabto Plants in New Jersey 
STRAWBERRY PLAISITS 
FOR AUGUST AND FALL PLANTING 
Pot-grown and runner plants that will bear fi-uit next 
summer. Jnne-bearing and Ever-bearing varieties. Also 
Raspberry, Blackberry Plants and Fruit Trees; Cabbage, 
Brussels Sprouts, Cauliflower, Celery Plants. Catalogue 
Free. HARRY L. SQUIRES. Good Ground, N. Y. 
r.ahhuffpPlantq DANISH BALL HEAD. LATE FLAT DUTCH 
UdUUdgCrianiS a^D SAVDY. $1 per Thousand, 10,000 
forts. White Plume celei-y, *2 per f.OOOj lU.OOO for tlO. All 
fine stocky plants. JAMES MOSS, Johnsvllle, Pa. 
CELERY PLANTS 
—Allkinds: strong field 
grown plants in large 
Quantities at 81 per 
1,000; 88.60 for 10,000. J. C. SCHMIDT. Bristol. Pa. 
Oww JUIL-,-.! Red Wave, Rudy, Poole, Modi- 
wSGu W nGal Rlue stem, Maiii- 
nioth White If ye. Catalog free. 
«t SONS, • New Carlisle, Ohio 
TV. N. SCARFF 
w r , V 1 Ready to sow. In- 
V RYirl tv Vtf* oculator for all le- 
V CtVrIA CkllU IXyC gumes. Book free. 
JACOB McQueen . Baltic, Ohio 
Rmsian Pilkus Seid Rye fzi 
crop. Order early. .Supply limited. Freight uneer- 
taiu. $2.30 per bu. CLOVERDALE FARM, Charlotte. N. Y. 
Besi Siandard APPLE BARRELS Prompt shipment. 
KOBX* GILIil£$ . Medina, r«ew York 
“SAVE THE FOOD” 
You can buy a “New York” DEHYDRATOR 
that will pay its cost in one day’s use in saving 
Vegetables and Fruit for 85.00 and upwards. 
A SIZE FOR EVERY NEED 
NO JARS 1 LESS LABOR 
NO SUGAR! LESS FUEL 
NO CANS ! LESS TIME 
■nstructionsFree 
THE DEHYDRATOR MFC, CO. of N. Y. 
16 East 33rd Street • New York City 
Black Wall Map of the World 
The Werld and the United States At A Glance 
A Great Education 
At Yeur Fingers’ Tips 
This beautiful Wall Map, size 25x39 Inches. 
On one side we have a complete, up-to-the-min¬ 
ute map of the United States In bright colors, 
showing the Capitols, Railroads, Rivers, large 
cities, etc. It also shows portraits of our 27 
Presidents, and gives their biographies. 
On the reverse side we have a map of the 
world, printed in a deep, ebony black. White 
and colored lines differentiate countries, rivers, 
lakes, cities and mountains. You never saw a 
map as black, as beautiful, as wonderfully en¬ 
lightening as this map of the world. From this 
you may in a single day learn more than you 
could in a year’s study of books. 
Contrasting with the ebony black of the map 
are the flags and the coat-of-arms of all nations, 
in their flashy, exquisite colors. Our own seven¬ 
teen flags are here in beautiful, bright colors— 
did you know that the United States had seven¬ 
teen different flags? 
And then, there’s that wonderful Bible inform¬ 
ation. How many books, chapters, verses, words, 
letters does the Bible contain? How many books 
are classified as History, Poetry, Law, Prophecy, 
Episiles? Which books are exactly alike? How 
many times is the name of our Saviour men¬ 
tioned? In how many languages is our Bible 
published? 
^500.000 PEACH TREES 
H ealthy, True to name, price low, quality high. 
Also Millions of trees, shrubs and plants. New 
Planters price list ready. 
THE WESTMINSTER NURSERT, Box 129, WESTMINSTER, MD. 
HAY CAPS 
Stack, wagon and implement covers: 
waterproof or plain e.niv.as. Plant bed 
cloth, tents, etc. Circulars, samples. 
HENRY DERBY 
Wouldn’t you want to know these things? 
And wouldn’t you want to know the many, many 
other things this marvelous Map of Knowledge 
possesses? 
The Map will be sent, postpaid, for One Now 
Yearly Subscription, or Twenty 10-Week Trial 
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This book will not bo given with subscrip¬ 
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453 Y St, Paul’s Ave., Jersey City, N. J. 
The Rural New Yorker, 333 West 30th St., N. Y. 
CABBAGE Wnmfj Destroyed by Past¬ 
ime HAMMOND’S SLUG SHOT 
So used for 30 years. SOLD BY ALL SEED DEALERS. 
For pamphlets worth having write B, UAHMOND, Beacon, New York 
