The RURAL NEW-YORKER 
1007 
Horticultural Notes 
Grape Rot 
My grapevines grow very nicely, appar¬ 
ently healthy, bloom, and form small 
green berries, when gradually, instead of 
ripening, they rot and fall off. The vines 
were properly trimmed and sprayed three 
times with Bordeaux mixture, and yet no 
fruit. This has been for the last four 
years. Would you advise a remedy? 
Rio, N. Y. T. w. V. 
Bordeaux mixture of a strength of 
5-4-50, if applied at the correct periods, 
should effectively control rot and mildews 
of the vine. It is suggested that to each 
gallon of the above Bordeaux formula 
% oz. of powdered arsenate of lead be 
added. The first application should be 
made when the second or third leaf is 
showing, the second just previous to 
blooming, a third when the berries are 
the size of small peas, and a fourth two 
or three weeks later. 
Certain varieties lose a large percent¬ 
age of their berries from a lack of fertili¬ 
zation of the blossoms, and thus very 
scraggly clusters are the rule. Other 
varieties, such as Niagara, Concord and 
Worden, have been made to drop a great 
many berries through over-fertilization 
with nitrogenous materials. This is 
more accentuated if the vines have at the 
same time been over-pruned ; that is, too 
much has been cut away. f. e. g. 
Business of Growing Pansy 
Plants 
When is pansy seed sown in bed©, for 
transplanting later? What is method of 
planting and cultivating? These can be 
disposed of during early Spring and Sum¬ 
mer. I desire to sow enough in order to 
raise 200,000 plants ; also best variety to 
grow. E. R. H. 
Frenchtown, N. J. 
There has been considerable interest of 
late in growing pansy plant©. Evidently 
the local trade in these flowers is increas¬ 
ing. If growing pansies for special pur¬ 
poses, separate colors should be used, 
rather than mixed sorts. The seed may 
be sown indoors in February or Marcn, 
in the open ground in April and May, or 
in open beds from the second week in 
July to the latter part of August. These 
Summer-sown plants are wintered over 
and provide early flowering plants for the 
following Spring. 
Soil for pansies should be well culti¬ 
vated, fine and friable. Ground that was 
well manured for a previous crop, or that 
has been enriched with old well-rotted 
cow manure, is desirable. Sow the seed 
in drills, 3 in. apart, and covering only 
about 1/16 in. The soil should be mois¬ 
tened, and germination will be hastened 
by covering the rows with sacking or 
newspapers. The August-sown beds may 
be watered through the sacking, so that 
the tiny seedlings are not dried out. In 
very hot, dry weather, shading is an ad¬ 
vantage. As soon as the seedlings can be 
pricked out they should be transplanted 
to a distance of 7 to 9 in. apart, and 
given clean cultivation. Summer plants 
can be carried over Winter with no other 
protection than a mulch, put on after the 
ground is frozen, but many plants are 
carried over commercially in cold frames, 
so as to have them in bloom or bud for 
early sales. Seed sown in April or May 
will give plants blooming the end of June, 
when the early blooming plants are over. 
In your locality sow from July 20 to Au¬ 
gust for Spring-blooming plants. If trans¬ 
planted the first time into the place 
where they are to remain permanently, 
larger flowers are obtained than if they 
are moved again; further disturbance of 
the roots lessens the size of the flowers. 
When left in open beds through the Win¬ 
ter the location should be well drained; 
a place where water will stand at the 
roots, or where ice will form over the 
crowns, is very detrimental to the plants. 
If the pansy plants have some light 
material, as straw, or manure composed 
largely of straw, as a protection, they 
should be in fine condition for sale after 
growth starts in the Spring. The cover¬ 
ing should not be very heavy or they will 
be injured. The proper method of win¬ 
tering pansies for early Spring sales is 
to plant them 4x4 in. in a cold frame and 
cover with sash when cold weather sets 
in. Early in Spring, when the sun is 
very bright, the frame will have to be 
ventilated. Treated in this manner, they 
are ready for the market much earlier 
than when simply planted outdoors. 
Large pansy growers for the Boston 
market are truckers who give the plants 
field culture. The seed is usually sown 
about the last of July. Seed beds have 
to be kept moist, sometimes being watered 
three or four times a day. The plants, 
when well up, are transferred to beds 3 
ft. wide where they usually begin to 
bloom before frost. After the ground 
freezes the beds are covered with marsh 
hay, which is left on until Spring. There 
is a very small percentage of loss during 
Winter. A field containing 80,000 plants 
was said to take 2 lbs. of seed, which cost 
$60 per lb. We find special strains for 
florists’ use advertised for $6 to $10 an 
ounce. Any high-class seedsman who 
caters to the trade can furnish a good 
commercial strain. 
Cherry Tree Bears Small 
Fruit 
I bought a cherry tree from the agent 
of a nursery company and planted it in 
the yard right next to a chicken-yard, 
which at times during heavy rains does 
not drain quickly. The tree grew finely, 
being almost 6 in. in diameter in four 
years, but bore only a few scrub cher¬ 
ries, which were very small and mostly 
pits. Local gardeners said to cut it 
down and get a grafted tree from a re¬ 
liable place. I did, and now this second 
tree is about 15 ft. high, but it also 
bears only a few small cherries. Is the 
spot too rich for the tree? E. C. P. 
West Orange, N. J. 
Very likely the gardeners who said to 
cut down the first tree and get a grafted 
tree from a reliable place knew what they 
were talking about. If your first tree 
had been a seedling from Mazzard stock, 
the fruits would have been just about as 
you described them. The securing of the 
best tree from reliable nursery firms is 
the cheapest in the long run. We doubt 
very much if the richness of the spot 
has anything to do witli the poorness of 
the fruit. Perhaps your second tree also 
is not true to name. And yet there are 
other factors to be taken into considera¬ 
tion, such as the fact that some varie¬ 
ties do not bear as early as others, and 
that most varieties of sweet cherry pro¬ 
duce better for having cross-pollination 
from some other variety. H. B. T. 
Fertilizer for Asters 
I have read with much interest and 
pleasure Elmer J. Weaver’s article on 
aster growing, on page 499. I just wish 
to say that a small application of nitrate 
of soda, not too much (sow about as you 
would oats, for instance) has a tendency 
to make the stems stronger and longer. 
And only send the perfect flowers to mar¬ 
ket, with some green, nice, fresh aspara¬ 
gus, or anything else, say bittersweet. 
Tie the bunch near the bottom. Only the 
best will sell. A. P. R. 
I do not know whether or not nitrate 
of soda would have any effect on the va¬ 
rious diseases with which asters are af¬ 
fected. I am inclined to think nitrate 
may assist in plant growth, but what 
effect it would have on the stem is only a 
guess. According to experience with 
other plants, any small surplus would 
have a tendency to weaken them. I 
should think any good Southeastern 
Pennsylvania soil would be improved 
more by acid p>hosphate than nitrate of 
soda. Our farmers do not need nitrate. 
They grow perfect asters with little or no 
fertilizer. We always used a heavy ap¬ 
plication of a high-grade complete fer¬ 
tilizer with good results, but could never 
see that more r less, nor none at all. 
had any effect on yellows. The question j 
in this community is not how to grow j 
better or more asters, but to sell the sur- | 
plus that are grown now at a profit that J 
will allow the grower something over 45 
cents per hour for time worked. 
ELMER J. WEAVER. 
You Want This 
"10-Tear Belt Power Service” 
In selecting a tractor, keep this fact in mind—about 40 % of the 
time you will use it for important belt work. Therefore look 
into its ability as a belt worker, before you buy. Be sure it 
has enough power. 
Among thousands of professional threshermen and farmers, 
Rumely OilPull is famous as a belt worker. It is designed to 
do this work as well as drawbar work. The belt pulley is direct 
connected to the crank shaft. All the engine’s power is deliv¬ 
ered direct to the belt. The pulley is on the right side, high 
up, clearly seen. A patented shifting front axle gives plenty 
of belt clearance. Belt is always in plain sight of operator. 
10-Year Service 
Over 14 years of service have 
proved that the average life of 
an OilPull tractor is 10 years. 
This means that you get not 
only 10-year Belt Power but 
10-year Drawbar Service, 10- 
year Hot Weather Service, 
10-year Cold Weather Serv¬ 
ice and 10-year Operating 
Economy. 
See the OilPull before you buy 
any tractor. Write for our 
booklet and catalog which de- 
scribesall four sizes from 12-20 
to the 30-60. No obligation. 
Address Dept. 000. 
OilPull 
"The Cheapest Farm Power” 
ADVANCE - RUMELY 
THRESHER CO., Inc. La Porte, Indiana 
(Incorporated) 
Advance-Rumety Line includes kerosene tractors, steam 
engines, grain and rice threshers, husker - shredders, 
alfalfa and clover hullers, silo fillers and motor trucks. 
Serviced Through 33 Branches and Warehouses 
r—FARQUHAR CIDER PRESSES— 
Heavier Pressure Gets More Cider 
Farquhar Hydraulic Cider Presses are built extra 
heavy and strong and exert a higher pressure on the 
cheese. Therefore, they get more and richer cider. 
They are easily installed, occupy little space and 
are operated with averageilabor and farm power. 
Built in sizes, from 40 to 400 barrels per 
day. Just the right size for custom work 
and for canning, preserving and vinegar 
factories. Requires small investment and 
low operating costs. A profitable income 
year after year. 
Ask for special Book and Blue Print 
of desired size 
A. B. FARQUHAR CO., Limited, Box 130, York, Pa. 
PAINT 
$ 1.25 
PER 
Gallon 
ORDER DIRECT FROM FACTORY 
We will send you as many gallons as you 
want of good quality red or brown 
BAR/V PAfJVT 
upon receipt of remittance. We are paint special¬ 
ists and can supply you with paint for any pur¬ 
pose. Tell us your wants and let us quote you 
low prices. We can save you money by shipping 
direct from our factory. Satisfaction Guaranteed. 
On order, for thirty gallons or over wo will prepay tba 
freight within a radius of three hundred mile.. 
AMALGAMATED PAINT CO. 
Factory: 372 WAYNE ST., JERSEY CITY, N. J. 
EARP- THOMAS 
Plant Foods and Fertilizers 
SEED mOCULANTS 
Lime and Soil Testers 
Rat Virus to destroy rats and mice 
Write for Valuable Booklet 
EARP-THOMAS FARMOGERM CO. 
260 Washington St., Bloomfield, N. J. 
agents Wanted 
Peach Tree Borers Killed by Krystal Gas 
(P-C Benzene) 1-lb. $l; five-pound tin, $3.75; with directions. 
From your dealer ; post paid direct; or C.O.D. Agents wanted. 
Dept. B, HOME PRODUCTS Inc.,Rahway, N.J. 
WEED KILLER 
For walks, gutters, tennis courts 
1 gallon 5 gallons 1 drum 
$2.00 $8.00 $50.00 
Dilute with water 40-1 
ANDREW WILSON, Inc., Springfield, N.J. 
FREE—INSIDE FACTS About WELLS 
and theBFSTWAY for Cleaning Them 
THE BESTWAY MFG. CO. Aberdeen, Maryland 
FARMS Sunny Southern Jersey 
Many bargains. Catalog JUST OUT. COPY 
FREE. Stocked and equipped. Some require 
only $500 cash. Income producing homes. 
D. M. JOSEPH 549, 18—Landis Ave. Vineland, N. J. 
When you write advertisers mention 
- The Rural New- Yorker and you’ll net 
a quick reply and a “square deal. ” See 
guarantee editorial page. 
