Jbt RURAL. NEW-YORKER 
435 
RURALISMS 
Pruning Blackberries 
My blackberry canes have grown to an 
enormous height, perhaps seven feet. 
Should I have pinched them back last 
Spring or Summer? The same applied 
to the raspberries. They have grown so 
tall they have fallen over. What should 
1 do to restore them to good condition? 
Will they bear just as well? Would it be 
well to cut down all these canes after 
fruiting next Summer? w. E. B. 
Summit, N. J. 
There are three methods of pruning 
blackberries: (1) by removal of the dead 
wood; (2) Summer pruning, and (3) 
Spring pruning of laterals. (1) After 
fruiting the old canes are cut and burned. 
Old wood is of no value to the plant and 
its removal allows the young canes to 
grow without obstruction. (2) In Sum¬ 
mer pruning the tops of the new canes 
throughout the patch are pinched off when 
they have reached the height of 18 in. to 
2 ft. This causes laterals to grow and 
produces a stocky growth. The fruit is 
borne on these. (3) Spring pruning of 
the laterals is practised by some large 
growers, but as large yields were secured 
when none of the laterals were pruned 
In the case in question, I would not prune 
the year-old canes, allowing them to bear 
what fruit they will, but I would begin 
Summer pruning of the new shoots dur¬ 
ing the coming season. T. n. T. 
Compost for Tomatoes 
How can I make a compost for cu¬ 
cumbers and tomatoes to put in a cold 
frame? Would cucumbers and tomatoes 
do well if the seeds were planted in clear 
rotted horse manure in cold frames? Is 
it more profitable to keep tomato plants 
pruned to one or two stalks if each plant 
is tied to a stake and set out a little 
nearer together than it would be not 
to prune them? A. A. 
Augusta, Me. 
A good compost can be made by lay¬ 
ing up a pile containing two-thirds rotted 
sod and one-third manure well decayed. 
This is ideal for both cucumbers and to¬ 
matoes. I should never plant seeds in 
clear manure, as A. A. suggests. There 
is not enough body to the mixture, and 
the elements are not present in proper 
proportions. The sod and manure should 
be turned over several times and thor¬ 
oughly mixed. Turning over also de¬ 
stroys the weed seeds. 
In our experiments we find a slightly 
larger yield with two stalks per plant 
than with one. There was a decrease 
in size and yield with three stalks. With 
staked tomatoes we always remove all 
the axil buds after starting either the 
one or two-stalk system. The leaf di¬ 
rectly above each cluster of fruit is re¬ 
moved, as this allows direct sunlight to 
fall on the cluster of fruit, and it ripens 
quicker. Always set the plants with the 
first cluster of blossoms turned away 
from the stake. As each flower cluster 
comes directly above the preceding, all 
fruit will be away from the stake to 
which the stem is tied. T. n. t. 
Prevention of Potato Scab 
I plowed a portion of my lawn during 
the war and have planted potatoes three 
years successively, but although I have 
had a fine crop of large potatoes each 
season, they are fearfully scabby, a large 
portion of them entirely covered. Still, 
the quality is fine for eating, and the 
yield is large, with good size. I should 
like to continue planting this piece of 
land, and am wondering what I can do 
to prevent scabby potatoes. I used some 
sulphur with potato phosphate last year; 
previously (two years) well dressed with 
barn dressing and some wood ashes. 
Maine. M. c. H. 
You will not be likely to grow clean 
potatoes on that lawn until you clean out 
the scab germs in the soil. The scab is 
a skin disease, communicated by germs 
which are found on the seed potatoes and 
in the*soil. Even when you treat the 
seed to kill these germs there will be 
scabby potatoes if the soil is infested. 
The use of sulphur helps by rnaking these 
germs inactive, but the only way to clean 
that soil is to raise corn or other crops 
for at least two years, and give good 
cultivation. Then you can plant pota¬ 
toes once more, but to plant them this 
year would be a sure invitation to scab. 
Louden & 
Senior Hay 
Carrier 
Will handlo 1600 
pounds continu¬ 
ously. Draws 
load up close to 
track, o v cr 
beams, puts it 
where you 
want It. No 
» rope troubles. 
< No track bind- 
L in?. 
Louden Power Hoist 
Elevates load,pulls it into the mow, 
draws back carrier for next 
load. Takes up slack. No 
wear on rope. A boy 
can operato it. 
Louden 
Balanco Grapple Fork 
Handles clover, alfalfa or 
straw as perfectly as tim¬ 
othy-picks up half a ton 
at a time. Built of special 
high gradesteel, perfectly 
balanced—never fails to 
register. 
Hay Unloading Equipment 
Saves Time—When You Need It Most 
1 
1 
You have a valuable hay crop out in the field all ready to stack or house—a big rain 
is coming up—extra hands are on the ground to help out in the rush work. Every 
hour, more or less, makes or loses dollars. 
These are the conditions Louden Hay Tools are built to meet. When you start 
Louden Hay Tools on any job you can depend on them to finish it—no delay— 
no running to town to replace broken parts. Every Louden Hay Tool is positively 
guaranteed that it is quality built, that it works easily, continuously, efficiently—that 
it will uphold every claim we make for it—and more. 
Advantages That Distinguish Louden Hay Tools 
It was over 53 years ago that the Louden Machinery Company made its 
first Hay Tools. All of these years of progress and development 
have perfected their simplicity, strength and dependable working effici¬ 
ency—made them the recognized standard by hay growers everywhere. 
William Louden 
invented the first hay 
carrier. Sept. 24, 1867. 
It made possible two 
story barns—larger 
hay crops, more profit. 
Fill Out and Mail 
the Coupon Today 
Louden Balance Grapple Fork is the one fork which 
handles any kind of hay or fodder with equal efficiency- 
alfalfa, clover, cow peas, soy beans, corn fodder, straw, or 
long timothy. Lifts half a ton without straining, holds it 
tight without dribbling, drops it exactly where wanted, 
well spread out, saving half the labor of mowing back. 
Its perfect balance makes it easy to handle—ask the man 
who owns a Louden. 
Louden Senior Hay Carrier enables you to store tons 
more hay in the mow, because it draws its load close up 
to the rack and over beams. Swivel rope clamp prevents 
rope troubles; never fails to register regardless or angle the 
load is lifted from; no binding on track; easy on draft rope. 
Louden Power Hoist makes good at any job of heavy lifting 
on the farm. Can be used with all Louden Hay Tools. Saves 
man and team at unloading hay. Equally efficient for end or 
center lift barn, or for stacking in the field; one man on load, 
one man in the loft or on the stack, and a boy on the Power 
Hoist, handle more hay than five men in the old way. 
Louden Hay Slings will take a whole load off the wagon 
at a single lift. 
Store your hay quicker and at less cost. Louden Tools 
do the job without a hitch from start to finish, 
even in unskilled hands, because of their 
simple, strong, trouble-proof construction. 
They pay many times their cost every season. 
Write for These Two Helpful Books 
Get Our Big Catalog. Sent postpaid, no charge, no 
obligation. It shows Louden Hay Unloading Tools, Power 
Hoists, Stalls and Stanchions, Animal Pens, Manger 
Divisions, Feed and Litte Carriers, Water Bowls, Barn 
and Garage Door Hangers, Cupolas, Ventilators — 
“Everything for the Barn.” Going to build or remodel a 
bam? We can save you a lot of trouble and money. 
Louden Barn Plan Book shows scores of 
barns, is a complete guide on barn building; and 
Louden Barn Planning Experts will give you 
suggestions and preliminary plans to meet your 
particular requirements, if you will give us some 
idea of your needs, number and kind of stock 
you want to house, etc. No charge or obligation. 
MAY UNLOADING TOOLS 
OAlftV QARM EQUIPMENT ^ /0<MQ\ 
U EQUIPMENT,^ yvitsi 
■ mo cabvS Please 
send post- 
/ paid, with¬ 
out charge or 
obligation, book 
checked below: 
G Louden Barn Plans 
□ Louden Illustrated Catalog 
I expect to build (remodel) a 
barn for.cows.horses. 
interested in Litter Carriers.. 
The Louden Machinery Company/ Stalls and Stanchions.Water Bowls . 
2648 Court Street (Established 1867) Fairfield, Iowa Name . 
/ Post Office ... Slate.. 
Branches: ST. PAUL, MINN. ALBANY. N. Y. CHICAGO, ILL. 
*>Vvi 
4 ® 
Tells how and when to spray fruit trees, 
vines, potatoes, flowers, shrubs, garden 
plants. How to protect tree foliage. Saves 
lawns, destroys weeds, sprays animals, 
1 disinfects premises. 
MORE THAN 20 USES 
on every farm. For example, washing windows and 
autos, putting out fires, cleaning floors, cleaning 
engines, coldwater painting, white washing, re¬ 
moving old wall paper, etc. The Hudson Perfec¬ 
tion High-Pressure Sprayer shown hero has a 
tank riveted like a steam boiler. Will spray any 
mixture. Write for free book and Hudson Catalog today. 
Hudson Mfg. Co., Dept, m Minneapolis, Minn. 
MAKERS OF 
V 
MNKMI a SPRAYERS 
ENGINE 
PN/CES 
Alow 0^1! THIS 2 H-P. * 
*"""' WITTE - 
is the time to buy your engine 
— while my prices are cut to the 
limit, and while you can get 
quick shipment. Surely you can 
use engine power at these prices 
to cut your own labor cost and 
keep on making money, 
F.O.B. 
K.C. 
90 Day Test — 
Lifetime Guarantee 
WITTE ENGINE WORKS 
Direct to You on Skids. Ready to Use 
From Pittsburgh $5.00 More. 
BIG CUT ON ALL SIZES 
Remember this is my 36th year in the engine business. You 
take no chances—You buy direct—Cash or Easy Terms if 
arranged for. Don’t take any Engine, Power Saw, Log 
.... . . Saw or Tree Saw until you get my Catalog and Price LisL 
All information FREE. Write quick. Address nearest shipping point.—ED. H. WITTE, Pres. 
18% Oakland Ave., Kansas City, Ho. 
18% Empire Bldg., Pittsburgh. Pa. 
a certainty if you adopt the most 
up-to-date method of seed grain 
treatment in the world—use 
This powerful disinfectant positively de¬ 
stroys all seed grain smuts and growth, 
and prevents flax wilt, also scab and 
black-legof potatoes. Ridsstables, ken¬ 
nels, chicken houses of disease germs and 
flies. Endorsed by the U. S. Dep’t of 
Agriculture. The best Formaldehyde 
bears the Perth Amboy Chemical 
Works’ Label—at your dealer, with 
complete directions. Farmers’ Hand 
Book FREE on request. 
Perth Amboy Chemical Works 
709-717 SIXTH AVENUE NEW YORK 
