e»c RURAL NEW-YOKICfiK 
965 
RURALISMS 
Hay Fever and Military Efficiency 
Dr. Seheppegrell, president of the Na¬ 
tional Hay Fever Prevention Associa¬ 
tion, calls attention to the national im¬ 
portance of preventive measures in con¬ 
trolling this disease. Hay fever is now 
known to be distinctly preventable, and 
weeds are its principal cause. Every ef¬ 
fort should be made to remove this cause, 
especially from the neighborhood of hos¬ 
pitals, training camps and barracks. In 
selecting such locations, hay fever pre¬ 
vention should be given careful consid¬ 
eration, and sites selected already clear 
of such infection, or one in which the 
hay-fever plants can be economically 
controlled. 
As we have stated before, the chief 
cause of autumnal hay fever, which is 
The Common Ragweed, Ambrosia Elatior. Fig. 419 
the principal form, is the pollen of the 
common ragweed. This weed, shown in 
Fig. 419, is widely distributed through¬ 
out a large part of the United States. 
Its irritating pollen, shown in Fig. 420, 
has such buoyancy that it will travel on 
the wind for miles in sufficient quantity 
to affect a hay-fever patient. IVhat is 
known as Spring hay fever is largely diie 
to the pollen of certain grases. In Pa¬ 
cific Coast and Rocky Mountain States, 
a variety of wormwood is the chief cul¬ 
prit. 
As general advice, hay-fever patients 
are advised to avoid roads adjoining fields 
with neglected Aveeds during the hay- 
fever season. An attack due to such ex- 
Pollen Grains of Ragweed Magnified. Fig. 420 
posure lowers the patient’s resistance, so 
that for a long time afterwai-ds he is 
more susceptible to the irritating pol¬ 
lens. It is also advised that a diet re¬ 
duced in meat, fish, cheese and milk is 
of benefit in diminishing the attack, vege¬ 
tables and fruit being given the prefer¬ 
ence. Smoking and alcoholic drinks 
should be avoided. A special warning is 
given against remedies containing co¬ 
caine and other habit-forming drugs, 
and it is urged that immunizing treat¬ 
ment should only be conducted under tne 
care of a competent physician. 
Sufferers from hay fever are advised to 
write their State Representatives ir re¬ 
gard to the enactment of laws ag iinst 
hay-fever weeds. If the one million hay 
fever sufferers in the United States made 
this demand, conditions v,'Ould soon be 
remedied. 
The Glorious Japanese Iris 
This valuable contribution to the Iris 
family differs in form and in the time 
and length of its season of bloom from 
most other sorts of Iris. There are both 
single and double flowering varieties, and 
they show a marvelous range in their 
coloring, blending delicately from snow 
wffiite to a royal purple and a deep rich 
plum color. Their blooming season being 
later than the ordinary varieties, the 
flowers come at a time when there is a 
dearth of bloom in the garden, making 
them doubly w^elcome and desirable for 
cutting and other decorative purposes. 
The plants can be readily propagated 
from seeds or from divisions of the old 
clumps; the seedlings usually blooming 
the third year after sowing. In planting 
roots, place them from eight to 10 inches 
apart in rich, moist soil, and about as 
deep as they were before transplanting 
(with the crown quite near the surface). 
Re-setting can be done, with success, at 
any time during the growing season, pro¬ 
vided it is done early enough to give the 
plants an opportunity to become well 
rooted before frost. Though the Japanese 
Iris will thrive when exposed to full 
sunlight, a situation in which there is 
some protection from the rays of the sun 
during the hottest part of the day, is 
likely to give, the best results. 
Once w'ell established in suitable en¬ 
vironment Iris Kaempferi will multiply 
and bloom profusely; a strong clump, 
oftentimes, sending up from 10 to 12 
flower stalks, crowned with a cluster of 
magnificent blossoms, each from six to 
seven inches across. 
By dividing and re-setting the roots oc¬ 
casionally and not permitting weeds and 
grass to encroach upon it, a bed of Iris 
Kaempferi will last a lifetime—“a thing 
of beauty” and “a joy forever.” 
BEBTHA BEBBEET HAMMOND. 
Potatoes and Blackberries from Seed 
1. I have been trying to raise some po¬ 
tatoes from the potato ball, seetl, and the 
first year had wonderful success, obtain¬ 
ing as many as 167 on one plant, pota¬ 
toes about the size of small chestnuts. 
From 20 plants I obtained potatoes of all 
shapes, color’s and markings. The next 
year they started growing nicely, and 
gave great promise, but when I came to 
dig them I found instead of potatoes 
nothing but a bunch of fine fibi'ous roots, 
and no potatoes. Believing I am not 
alone in this experiment I would be 
pleased to hear from some of the readers 
of The R. N.-Y. as to their success. 2. 
This year I am trying a new experiment 
—trying to I’aise some blackberries from 
seed. I do not know that I ever saw a 
blackberry seedling, and yet I know of 
no reason -why the seed should not grow. 
My seed has been planted three weeks 
and not a sign of a sprout. Ought the 
ground to have been frozen after the seed 
was planted the same as our nurserymen 
plant apple seeds for grow'ing seedling 
trees? p. J. T. 
Rochester, N. Y. 
1. It is not easy to account for the 
seedling potatoes not producing any 
tubers at all. Some adverse condition of 
soil or weather, or both must have been 
responsible for the failure, though it 
sometimes happens one’s enthusiasm in 
such matters Avill result in too much kind¬ 
ness, and we are apt to overdo the fertil¬ 
izing, care, etc., and spoil the whole. 
The writer has grown many seedling po¬ 
tatoes, but has never met W’ith anything 
like the results reported by D. J. T. 
The tubers resulting from the seedling 
almost invariably reproduced when 
planted the following season. I cannot 
account for your failure. 
2. Blackberry seeds grow very readily 
when sown soon as ripe or when strati¬ 
fied and sown the followung Spring. 
Growing seedling berries of any kind is 
quite a disappointing proposition. Some¬ 
one has said that taken on an average, 
not more than one seedling in a million 
is superior to varieties already in culti¬ 
vation. This claim, no doubt, is consid¬ 
erable of an exaggeration but neverthe¬ 
less the percentage of really good ones 
is so small it scarcely is worth while for 
the average person to spend his time 
with it; from a business point of view. 
However, as a pastime for some and for 
scientific experimental work, the growing 
of seedling plants of any kind, is highly 
interesting as W’ell as educational. But 
those who engage in the w'ork should 
have enough knowledge of it to under¬ 
stand that not much can be expected if it 
is pursued in a haphazard \vay. Hybrid¬ 
izing scientifically done, and carried out 
to a conclusion, which may require sev¬ 
eral generations to reach completion, is 
almost certain of good results. Beiu’ies 
very rarely, if ever, reproduce true from 
seed; therefore it is highly important 
that crossing with other varieties be re¬ 
sorted to, to produce any marked im¬ 
provement in seedlings. k. 
Patient: “Will I live, doctor?” Sur¬ 
geon : *‘You must! You have three 
more operations coming.”—Life. 
Brighten tip your place with 
Electricity. Now is the time to 
plan for better lights for this Fall 
and’ Winter, It will mean not 
only safe and reliable lights, but 
a steady source of power that 
will pump water, turn the cream 
separator, wash and iron the 
clothes, and save your wife all 
the drudgery of housework. 
Electric light is so easy to have 
when you can niake it the 
Westem Electric way 1 There’s 
just the generator and storage 
battery in the plant, and you run 
it from your gas engine. Nothing compli¬ 
cated. As easy to take care of as the 
Western Electric farm telephone you 
have in your home. There’s 40 years 
of electrical experience back of both of 
them—that’s the reason. 
Running viraterdownstairs 
and upstairs, with aa eieo 
tricaliy driven pump. 
There is a Western Klectric plant exactly 
suited to your needs. And there are Western 
Electric lamps, and motors, and pumps, and 
cream separators, and irons, and washing ma¬ 
chines, and numerous other appliances—all built 
expressly for use with Western Electric plants. 
Learn about them and how easily you can get 
electricity on your place. 
of 
Just mail the coupon for a copy 
Brightening Up the Farm** 
The constant speed of the 
electric motor means bet¬ 
ter separation of the cream. 
WESTERN ELECTRIC COMPANY 
INCORPORATED 
195 Broadway, New York, N. Y. 385 Summer St., Boston, Mass. 
11th and York Sts., Philadelphia, Pa. 
910 River Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pa. 
WESTERN ELECTRIC COMPANY; 
Please send me illustrated booklet, No. RNY-7 
“Brightening Up the Farm.” 
Name- 
P. O. Address- 
State_ 
O UR Elevator Digger is built in three 
sizes with attachments suitable for 
all kinds of soil. The draft is light, no 
potatoes are left in the ground, while the 
operator rides and is saved the labor of 
hand digging. 
For small growers we build the re¬ 
nowned Success Junior Walking Digger. 
Write us the size of your 1917 crop, and 
we, without obligating you, will send 
special new Potato Digger Catalogue, and 
explain how a Farquhar Digger can be 
profitably employed. 
A. B. FARQUHAR CO., Ltd., Box 230. York, Pa. 
TV* also manufacture 
Engines and Boilers, Sawmills, Threshers, 
Tractors, Grain PrlUs, etc. Asfc for literature. 
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iBROWHl 
iFENpE-j 
il$P Styles 
.Wonflerlul Money Saving 
Pence Book. Over 150 Styles. 
a^pjgrjjod.lfe] 
DIRECT FROM FACTORY-FREIGHT PAID 
All heavy DOUBLE GALVANIZED WIRES. 13S 
por rod ap. Get free Book and Sample to te«l« 
THE BROWN FENCE & WIRE CO«, 
Oept. 59 • - ^Cleveland, Ohio 
GROW MORE WHEAT 
Join the Million Acre Wheat Cain- 
E aign and help New York State grow 
er own breadstuff. Other States, too, 
are increasing the acreage of grain. 
Use good seed, fertilize liberally and 
make a Perfect Seed Bed with 
“Acme’’ Pulverizing Harrow 
J. F, Eastman, agronomist, Morrisvillo, 
N. Y., says! “The ‘Acme’ is particularly 
valuable for finish iiig a seed bed for wheat. 
It compacts the soil well below and leaves it 
quite loose on top.” 
“Acme” sizes: One-horse to four-horse; 
3 ft. to 171^ ft. wide. Send today for “The 
Acme Way "to Crops That Pay”— tree. 
Larger PROFITS 
To Every Apple Grower 
Turn your apple wastes into money by making Grood 
Marketable Cider from your wiudfalld, 
culls, uudergrades etc. 
MOUNT GILEAD 
ORCHARD CIDER PRESSES 
will do it at anytime or place. 
Hand.orpower, hydraulic orhand 
screw. Capacity up to 8 bbls. per 
day. All steel construction; 
rugged, strong and durable. 
Easily moved from orchard to 
orchard. Grater mounted on 
press. Write for catalog. 
Dealers find ours an attractive proposition. Write for it. 
THE HYDRAULIC PRESS MFC. CO. 
137 Lincoln Avenue, Mount Gilead, Ohio 
or Room 119^.. 39 Cortlandt St.. New York, N. Y. 
