The RURAL NEW-YORKER 
307 
Pruning and Fertilizing Raspberries 
I have 1,000 Early King red raspberry 
plants that were set out last Spring. They 
are from 4 to nearly 6 ft. high. Would I 
better prune these bushes back any in the 
Spring, or are they all right as they are? 
Y) hat would be a good fertilizer for these 
plants this Spring before they bear fruit? 
Petersburg, N. Y. F. c. H. 
Cut the plants back most any time 
now, heading back to a height of 3 to 4 
ft., depending upon the vigor of the cane. 
The very weak canes will want to come 
out altogether, and the less vigorous ones 
will stand more heading back than the 
strong ones. As for fertilizers, since 
your plants are making satisfactory 
growth, they will probably not require 
treatment. A little manure is as good a 
fertilizer as you can want, however. 
II. B. T. 
Growing Christmas Trees 
I would like to know where I can get 
seed of the blue spruce, pine, or any kind 
of tree which is grown in the East for 
Christmas trees; how to plant them, how 
long before they w'ould be of use, how far 
apart to plant, and any other information 
that you can give me. w. H. 
Felton, Del. 
Answers to questions in regard to 
growing Christmas trees have been print¬ 
ed from time to time in these columns. 
If you will write the State College of 
Forestry, Syracuse, X. Y., you will re¬ 
ceive publications that will answer your 
questions, 'and many more, in detail. 
Moreover, the Michigan Agricultural Col¬ 
lege at Lansing, Mich., has a bulletin 
that deals with the commercial growing 
of Christmas trees. They will be glad 
to send you a copy so long as the supply 
lasts. H. B. T. 
sides. Are the 
or is the cause 
R. II. G. 
Carnation Flowers With Split Calyx 
Will you advise the cause of carna¬ 
tions splitting? I have a small bench of 
carnations on the north side of an east- 
west house, with brick 
brick sides detrimental, 
over-rick soil? 
Central Islip, N. Y. 
Splitting of the calyx is a trouble that 
seems inherent in some varieties of car¬ 
nations, and the breeders of new varieties 
make every effort to get away from it. It 
is also due to irregular conditions of mois¬ 
ture, and is likely to appear on the row 
of plants nearest the glass of side benches 
where the soil dries out quickly. For 
this reason it is said to be prevented by 
placing the bench so that there is a walk 
between it and the side wall. In your 
case it is quite probable that the trouble 
is due, in part, at least, to the bench run¬ 
ning against the brick wall, as the benca 
is likely to dry out rapidly there. It is 
not likely to be caused by over-rich soil, 
for it is sometimes due to under-nourish¬ 
ment, and is then lessened by a .moderate 
application of commercial fertilizer. Try 
your next carnation planting in a bed 
that does not run against the wall, and 
see if there is not a marked reduction of 
the splitting. 
Training Grapevines 
I have about l 1 /^ acres of grapevines, 
the following varieties: Concord, Wor¬ 
den, Daisy, Diamond, Lueile, Pocklington, 
Green Mountain and Agawam. Would 
those varieties be all adapted to the Knif- 
fen single-stem four-arm system? Vines 
w r ere planted in 1922 and 1923. I want 
the 1922 planting trained on trellis. What 
kind of wire should I use. and what 
gauge? How many feet is there, about, 
to 100 lbs. ? G. J. 
Rochelle Park, N. J. 
It is not advisable to train such varie¬ 
ties as Daisy, Diamond, Lueile, Fockling- 
ton and Green Mountain to any of the 
Kniffen methods, but rather they should 
be fitted to either the Chautauqua or high 
renewal. Concord and Worden are well 
adapted by reason of their growth habits 
to the single-stem four-cane Kniffen. 
The usual grape trellis is constructed 
with No. 9 plain annealed wire. If one 
were to use steel posts, galvanized wire 
would be preferable on account of its non- 
rusting property. One hundred feet of 
No. 9 annealed wire weighs about 6 lbs. 
F. E. G. 
Fertilizing Strawberries in Spring 
Does it pay to use fertilizer on fruiting 
strawberries in the Spring? That ques¬ 
tion keeps coming up'. In one particular 
case the strawberries went into Winter 
quarters in tine condition. Chicken ma¬ 
nure was plowed under before the plants 
were set out. Ground bone was applied 
in Summer, and in the Fall a good appli¬ 
cation of a standard fertilizer. , The 
plants have been properly mulched with 
straw. The owner wants to know what 
be can do to produce a big yield. Will 
it pay him to use fertilizer this Spring 
when the mulch is pulled away from the 
plants? We doubt it. We have rarely 
seen cases where the use of fertilizer in 
Spring has paid. The fruit buds from 
which the crop is produced are formed 
during the late Summer and Fall. It is 
a good plan to use about half the fertil¬ 
izer when the plants are set out, and the 
other half later in the season, so that 
the fruit buds are provided for. The ap¬ 
plication of fertilizer in the Spring is not 
apt to increase the number of fruit buds. 
Nitrate of soda or other available nitro¬ 
gen might make a difference in the size 
of the berry, but our own experience is 
that if the plants go into Winter quar¬ 
ters large and in good condition, it is 
well to let them alone, and quite doubtful 
if the Spring fertilizer will pay. 
A Few Observations 
Last year we planted a late potato 
called “Bull Moose.” How we laughed 
at it later when we found it was true to 
its name. It is a smooth, light-colored 
and nice looking tuber, not having the 
deep-set “eyes” of the “Hoosier Boy.” 
They should be kept exclusively in the 
dark, however, as they turn green easier 
than any other potato with which we are 
familiar. They are all right for mashing, 
but burst open when boiled whole. Also, 
when we tried to bake them in the oven 
with their “jackets” on, one burst with 
such fury that it forced the oven door 
open. 
The other day the newspaper had a big 
headline saying “Insects Will Eventnally 
Take the World.” Most animals are 
hosts in some form or other. A mole 
which we caught and were preparing to 
skin, had fleas crawling from it; also a 
shrew which the cat caught in the garden 
was similarly afflicted. A young black¬ 
bird (grackle) which fell from the nest 
when learning to fly, was covered with 
lice. 
But our own worse experience was a 
trip to Florida—and to bedbugs. After 
one night we looked as though we were 
victims of a severe case of smallpox. 
That was a most excruciating ordeal. 
Think of putting an infant or young child 
in such a place! The “sleeper” on the 
train was similarly corrupted. How we 
did hurry home, cutting our contemplat¬ 
ed visit very short, indeed. Why does 
not some philanthropist seek to eradicate 
them from the world? They are the con¬ 
tributing cause of a lot of deaths every¬ 
where. M. M. M. 
Using the Kieffer Pear 
In looking over Tiie It. N.-Y. I find 
people condemning the Keiffer pear. I 
do not think they should come down on 
it so hard; the Keiffer pear is good if 
treated right. We pick ours before the 
hard frost, putting them in crates with 
bagging therein, and place crates in tiers 
in an open shed, sometimes put a piece 
of carpet over all, and let them stand 
until they color up, and then they are 
prime for slicing or canning. They are 
sliced with sugar and eaten for desserts, 
besides making excellent pear honey. I 
will give my recipe for same: 
Pare and core 24 pears, run through 
food chopper or grate them, make a syrup 
of one pint of water and 1 lb. of sugar. 
When boiling add the pears and cook until 
the consistency oi honey. Pour in jelly 
glasses or seal in pint jars. 
MRS. J. A. W. 
A Fish Ball Man 
for “Angel Food” 
Thanks for “Angel Food” in Hope 
Farm Notes. I have to make my own 
codfish cakes, but I do make them. The 
days of the whole salt cod are gone for¬ 
ever, and all I can get is this denatured 
shredded stuff, which is a poor imitation 
of the real thing. To cater to the laziness 
of modern housewives the purveyors of 
codfish, and many other of the best foods, 
have done all the work and put up a 
tasteless product in packages ready ro 
cook or already cooked, and driven the 
real thing off the market—and, worst ff 
all, made such delicious dishes as codfish 
cakes unpopular. Shredded codfish and 
other package foodstuffs are the Timothy 
hay of the breakfast table. The same 
thing has happened to our literature. By 
over-refinement and devotion to style, at 
the expense of ideas and character de¬ 
lineation, the literati have driven the 
present generation to the trashy maga¬ 
zine and adventure novel which at least 
pander to the imagination if they do not 
satisfy the soul. 
I am even thankful for what savor is 
left in the shredded codfish cake which, 
when fried in fresh or smoked sausage 
drippings, still adds some joy to life. 
KEYSTONE 
Fruit Trees 
Outyield Ordinary Stock 
'T'llREE reasons why they 
are heavier-yielding, hardier and more 
disease - resistant than ordinary stock: 
(1) Grown from bearing trees — selected 
strains of best yield and strongest growth. 
(2) Raised by modern methods in finest 
nursery growing country in tile world—the 
Ohio River Valley. 
. (**) Delivered in scientific fashion. Care¬ 
fully dug and well-packed to avoid injury 
from weather and hand¬ 
ling in transit. 
Illustrations show the 
Groat Morrow Peach, the 
largest and finest yellow 
freestone peach — an ex¬ 
clusive Kej stone fruit; 
and Keystone Mammoth 
Grape, specimens often 
running larger than a sil¬ 
ver quarter. Complete 
line of Keystone better 
quality fruit trees, orna. 
mentals, shrubs and 
flowers described in big, free 
catalog. Send for it today. 
KEYSTONE STATE NURSERIES 
Dept. 75 Pittsburgh, Pa. 
PLENTY OF BEETS 
One of our best specialties is Maule’s Blood 
Aurnip Beet (shown on catalog cover above). 
Plant these tested seeds I Prices Postpaid 
this year and you'll have I Packet 30c, oz. 25c 
all the beets you want. | l/ 4 lb.75c,lib.$2.50 
Also Ben <* for the new 1924 Maule Seed Book. 
It s tree. Tells everything you need to know 
about seeds and gardening. 
WM. HENRY MAULE. Inc. 
Maule Building, Dept. B. Phila., Pa. 
MAUI.ES SEEDS 
Once Crown-Jltways Grown 
'hffdrSeedr 
Our 1924 Spring Catalog will 
be sent free upon request. 
It is bright and the most easily 
read Seed Catalog 
NEW 
COLOR 
.HARMONY^ 
XHART, 
published, describ¬ 
ing new novelties 
and many attrac¬ 
tive offers of flow¬ 
ers and vegetables 
illustrated in 
color. Catalog 
free. Send 
for your 
copy to- 
Our new Garden 
Color harmony 
Chart (which cannot 
be supplied by any 
other seedsmen) solves 
the problem of color group¬ 
ing. The price of this chart 
with other helpful material $2. 
Fully described in our calaiog 
JOHN LEWIS CHILDS SEED CO.. Inc 
FLORAL PARK, N. Y. 
Consolidated with Edward T.Bromiield Seed Co. 
day. 
I p Ye *. 
Hoffman’s Seeds pay! 
Northern-grown Red Clover the 
hardy kind. Our “Extra” 
brand averages 99&% pure, 
almost perfect in germination. 
Also Alsike and Sweet Clover, the 
two-year kind, “scarified” to 
make germination easy. ''North¬ 
west and genuine'' Grimm”Alfalfa. 
Write for free Samples and Cata¬ 
log of Farm Seeds. 
A. H. HOFFMAN, Inc., Boxl5-HLandisville. Lane. Co., Pa. 
IF FARMERS 
cannot be depended upon to 
keep themselves informed and 
to take part in the management 
of their organizations, can 
farm cooperation succeed ? 
This problem is fully discussed 
in the new book 
ORGANIZED 
COOPERATION 
Edited and Published by 
JOHN J. DILLON 
f//i cloth binding, $1.00 a copy 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
333 West 30th St., New York City 
DREERS f* 
GARDEN BOOK A" 
is more than a catalogue—it is an in¬ 
dispensable guide to success in growing 
Vegetables or Flowers. Many thou¬ 
sands of amateur and professional gar¬ 
deners rely almost wholly on its expert 
advice and are never wilhout a copy. 
Hundreds of pictures, some in nat¬ 
ural colors, feature the Dreer special¬ 
ties in Seeds, Plants and Bulbs and 
add much to the interest of the book. 
We will gladly send you a copy of 
this invaluable Garden Book free, if 
you will mention this publication. 
HENRY A. DREER 
714-716 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, Pa. 
CtfcMiUwd in uowi aiaat aiand-dado day-/043 
I" ■ 
Everybody Knows | 
KOSS SEED 
Grows " Mi 
No Premiums, No Chromos 
No Something for Nothing—but 
The Very Best Seeds 
We Know How to Grow, 
Select and Pack 
Seeds with a reputation for results. 
So reliable over many, many years— E 3 t. 
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Your experience cannot be at variance. 
Yours is the opportunity to buy the same 
high grade seeds. Write for your free copy 
of our 130-page 1924 Year Book (72 pages 
devoted to seeds). Look over our wide variety 
of prices before buying seeds. 
ROSS BROTHERS CO. 
WORCESTER, MASS, (mi) 
ROSS’ 
EUREKA CORN 
The wonder Ensilage Corn, 50 cts. % pk: 9U cts. pk. 
$3.00 per bu.; $9.75 per bu. 10 bu. or more. Hand 
picked grade a trilte higher. Write for 128-page 
free catalog. ROSS BROS. CO., Worcester. Mass. 
TOMATO 
CONDON’S GIANT 
EVERBEARING 
“QUEEN OF THE MARKET." Big Mon.y-M.k.r, L.rg., wild 
' v * ,ru,t * •xcellent canner. To introduce to you 
our Northern Grown Live Seed* and Plante. 
we will mail you 125 seeds of Condon’s 
\ wlant EverbearinftTomato ■■ n an 
andour Hi*r 1924 Garden 
and Farm Guide.——+-■ I^1 Im In 
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plant. Pricen lower than ever. 
SEND POSTAL TODAY 
CONDON BROS.. Seedsmen 
Rock River Valley Seed Farm 
B <>* 181 Rockford. III. 
SCOTT’S SEED BOOK 
Tells “How To Know Good Seed,” 04 
pages devoted to other things of vital interest 
to the buyer of seed. 
Shall we send you a free copy ? 
0. M, SCOTT & SONS CO., 22 8th Street, Marysville. 0. 
xbur Cabbage Crop Increased 
Yields of 18 to 30 tons per acre, according to variety, 
are frequent from Klg lrdDanish seeds. Many cus¬ 
tomers report higher yieds than with any other seed. 
Ihe reason contained in free booklet explaining 
--- ... -- explaining: 
why imported cabbage, cauliflower and other Dan- 
mh seeds are best. Other valuable information. 
Send for copy today. 
M. KLITGORD, Importer of Danish Seeds 
_ and Specialist on Danish Crops 
BOX R LIMA, NEW YORK 
SEND FOR THIS FREE BOOK 
30 bulbs, many colors, including rare 
purple, $1, postpaid. Send for free 20- 
page Catalog, 17 photo engravings, 
125 beautiful varieties. 5c each, and 
up. H. M. GILLET, Specialist, Box 253. New Lebanon, N.Y. 
Gladioli s 
A Inha SppH RarlfiV New ’ heay y yielding, heavy weight 
Aiptld uBBU DdllBy grain. Thomas Haslett, Hall. N Y. 
fortified Green Mountain Seed Potatoes. Heavy yield. 
9 ei s. Almost disease free. GLENN CARTER, Marathon, N.Y- 
When you write advertisers mention 
The It ural New- Yorker and you ’ll get 
a quick reply and a “square deal. ” See 
guarantee editorial page. 
