Tbt RURAL NEW-YORKER 
1233 
Wayside Selling from Tent. Fig. 507 
Cross Irrigation in Rhubarb Field. Fig. 508 
A NEW INSECTICIDE. — Calcium 
cyanide is receiving a good deal 
of attention just now from growers, 
and many questions are being asked 
about it and its possible usefulness in 
controlling different insect pests. A 
new insecticide with the apparent pos¬ 
sibilities that such a highly poisonous 
material as cyanide has in killing all sorts of ani¬ 
mals appeals to the grower, who is always looking 
for some more effective remedy for the destruction 
of crop pests—some material that will wipe out the 
pesky “bugs” at one fell swoop. A fuller knowledge 
of the nature and constituents of calcium cyanide 
will give a better idea of its possible fields of use¬ 
fulness. 
WHAT IT IS.—As its name implies, it is com¬ 
posed largely of calcium (common lime) and cyano¬ 
gen, with small amounts of some other ingredients. 
Cyanogen is a colorless, poisonous gas which is com¬ 
bined with the lime, but can easily be set free. For 
example, when calcium cyanide is placed on the 
soil or on the leaves of plants in the air, it ab¬ 
sorbs water from the atmosphere and becomes brok¬ 
en up into two materials, (1) common lime which is 
left behind on the ground or on the leaves, and (2) 
a colorless, exceedingly poisonous gas, known as 
hydrocyanic acid gas or prussic acid, which escapes 
into the air. 
A POWERFUL TOISON.—Hydrocyanic acid gas 
• is one of the most poisonous materials known to us. 
It will kill all forms of air-breathing animals and 
kill them very quickly, and probably all forms of 
air-living plants, 'grasses, vegetables, flowers, shrubs 
and trees. It is evident, therefore, that calcium 
cyanide is dangerous to plants as well as to animals. 
In the case of woodchucks, prairie dogs, gophers, 
moles, rabbits, rats and the like where plants are 
not concerned the material can be used to good ad¬ 
vantage to kill the animals. On the other hand, 
when it is blown or dusted on a plant in order to 
kill some insect there is danger of killing the plant 
as well as destroying the insect. In the case of 
paradichlorobenzene has proved a most satisfactory 
insecticide for this pest. It is practically harmless 
to man, and can be used without fear of being pois¬ 
oned, and it destroys from 95 to 100 per cent of the 
borers without injury to the trees. One can hardly 
ask for a more satisfactory insecticide for the peach- 
tree borer than this. It is unquestionably wisest in 
this case to stick to the old established remedy 
rather than to rush to the new material of which we 
know as yet almost nothing. glenn w. herrick. 
Forestry Matters in New York 
T HERE are probably few of our readers who 
realize what is being done in the way of for¬ 
estry in New York State. Reports from the State 
Conservation Commission say that the State nur¬ 
series will make a new record this year. They have 
practically thirty million young trees growing, all 
of which will be ready to transplant in 192G. About 
twelve million of them are ready now, the others 
being young seedlings not quite prepared for plant¬ 
ing. These trees are white, red and Scotch pine, 
Norway spruce and balsam fix’s. There are also a 
few white cedars, but naturally the majority of them 
are spi’uce and pine. The commission states that the 
demand for young forest ti’ees for planting on idle 
land has wonderfully increased during the past few 
years. Farmers and land owners have discovered 
that idle land can be made to yield a good return 
growing wood and lumber on it, and this is turning 
their attention to forest planting. 
To encourage the profitable use of idle land by 
reforesting, and provide a future supply of wood 
and lumber, the Conservation Commission supplies 
Calcium Cyanide for the Peach 
Tree Borer 
these young trees at cost, or $2 a thousand for two- 
year-old seedlings, and $4 a thousand for three-year- 
old transplants, at the nurseries, to owners of private 
land, or free for planting on public land. This makes 
possible a return of upwards of $500 an aci’e on an 
initial investment of from $12 to $18, when these 
young forests reach maturity, and makes a sub¬ 
stantial addition to the value of the land each 
year. 
Farmers all over the State ai’e convinced that tree 
planting on unused portions of their farms is a prof¬ 
itable method of using the land, and Farm Bureaus 
are actively co-opei'ating in the reforesting move¬ 
ment by making plantations to demonstrate the 
practical X’esults that can be obtained from farm for- 
ests. At a recent forestry field day held under the 
auspices of the Delaware County Farm Bureau for- 
estry committee on a farm where there ax*e 19 thrifty 
plantations totaling over 150 aci’es, more than 2,000 
pei’sons had an opportunity to study the actual 
•growth of farm forests ranging in age 
from two to 10 yeai’s and obtain a thor¬ 
ough understanding of the practica¬ 
bility of the reforesting idea. As one 
of the direct results of this field day 
more than 400 acres of young forests 
will be planted the coming year by 
fai’iners and other who attended. 
New England Notes 
W AYSIDE SELLING. — It has 
been a profitable season for 
such farmers as grow a comparatively 
small amount of produce and market 
it by the l’oadside. These men have, as 
a rule, been able to produce fairly 
good crops by the use of water, and 
by constant cultivation, and have re¬ 
ceived high prices. This method of 
selling is constantly being expanded 
throughout New England. Many elabo¬ 
rate wayside booths have been erected, 
but no more business seems to be done 
in them than in the tents which are 
much less expensive, and around 
which vegetables and fruits can be at¬ 
tractively displayed. There seems to 
be a feeling on the part of city con- 
sumers that the more elaborately 
dressed wayside booths are likely to 
charge high prices, and to tell the 
truth, there ai’e some grounds for this 
belief. At the same time the fact has 
beexx fully demonstrated that wayside 
selling cannot be made profitable ex¬ 
cept where the goods are displayed at¬ 
tractively, and in considerable quan¬ 
tities. A new situation has developed 
this Summer, however, which may in¬ 
terfere with the business of selling by 
the roadside. The automobile authors 
ities are complaining that the conges¬ 
tion which results from automobile trade is becom¬ 
ing a menace, and that some method of keeping the 
roads clear must be devised. The ti’uth is that the 
wayside refreshment stands are responsible for much 
of this congestion, but of course the argument is 
also made to apply to the farmers’ vegetable and 
fruit booths. 
ARTIFICIAL IRRIGATION.—It would have been 
difficult for most of the market gardeners in East¬ 
ern Massachusetts to raise anything like satisfactory 
crops this season without some foi-rn of irrigation. 
The overhead systems ax’e used more generally. 
Even the flower growers, especially those growing 
carnations and Gladioli, have used these systems 
to a considerable extent. The results have been very 
noticeable. Gladioli which could be watered were 
ready for cutting first, and made much heavier 
spikes. One report which seems to be authentic 
states that 27,154 gallons of water ax-e requii’ed to 
cover an acre one inch deep. At a cost of .30 cents 
per thousand gallons as applied, each application 
of an acre inch amounts to $8.15. This is a com- 
| 
paratively small sum when compared with the in¬ 
creased yield. Mai’ket gardeners believe that abund¬ 
ant irrigation increases the crop from 50 to 100 per 
cent, and at the same time gi’eatly improves the 
quality, so that the selling price is higher. Another 
point sometimes overlooked is the fact that water 
hastens the time of maturity from three to ten days, 
depending upon the crop. Beans and tomatoes in 
particular ai’e benefited by water. Other crops which 
mai’ket gardenei’s like to irrigate are cucumbers, 
beets, lettuce, carrots, celery, onions, Summer 
squash and radishes. e. i. fabbington. 
Massachusetts. 
From Dairying to General Farming 
[There are many farmers on the upper Atlantic slope 
who are in much the same position as the xnan who 
writes the following. They can see little future in 
dairying as at present conducted, and with the pres¬ 
ent over-production of milk. Yet they have always 
kept cows, and when a man has conducted one certain 
line of farming for years it becomes a fixed habit, and 
it is difficult for him to take up new lines. Their 
thought and plans ai’e well expressed in the following 
letter. We print it in order to obtain a fair discus¬ 
sion by those who have been over the i’oad and know 
the landmarks. Fewer cows, sheep and hens, with a 
few general crops, is this man’s suggestion. What do 
you think of it as a way out?] 
I AM anxious to secure information as to sheep 
raising in this State (New York), in connection 
with dairying. I owned and operated a dairy fann 
for years with success, until conditions cut my in¬ 
come from Gi’ade A milk to such a figure I could 
not make it pay and in company with many more, 
quit the game. I have recently become owner of 
what I consider one of the finest grass and gx’ain 
farms I ever saw in any section, and 
am intending to tiy a diversified plan. 
Instead of a large herd I want to keep 
a herd of about 15 heavy producers, a 
flock of about 200 Barx-ed Rock hens, 
trying more for broilers, purebred pul¬ 
lets, and old hens to sell, rather than 
for eggs, which are uncertain at times 
I find; some money crop, as potatoes 
or buckwheat, and by raising most of 
my grain feed, such as wheat, oats and 
com and all my hay see if I cannot 
make a surer living than a large dairy, 
and raising only hay and silage. A 
friend who operates a large farm at 
Syracuse has recently tried sheep, and 
is delighted at his success. Recently 
he sold 112 lambs for $1,400, and says 
his wool has paid well, although lxis 
lambs were very profitable, all upkeep 
considered. He raises the Shropshires. 
I am located 20 miles from Bingham¬ 
ton. I thought I pi’eferred South- 
downs, as having heavier lambs, 
though poorer wool, hut he thinks 
lambs sire the money end. I know 
very little about sheep but thought I 
would get a small flock to start on. I 
have unlimited pasture and grass land, 
for them, and ideal labor to cai’e for 
them, so hope to succeed. H. l. t. 
the peach-tree boi’er the danger of injury to the 
ti’ees by the calcium cyanide is imminent. The few 
expei’iments that have been made with the material 
for the peacli-ti’ee borer have not been con¬ 
clusive and nothing definite can yet be recom¬ 
mended. In some experiments the material has 
killed the borei’s apparently without injury to the 
ti’ees, while in other instances the ti’ees have been in¬ 
jured. If this material is ever applied directly to 
plants to destroy insect pests much careful, labor¬ 
ious, experimental work will have to be done be¬ 
fore any recommendations can be made regarding 
the quantity to use and the manner and time of ap¬ 
plying it. It is probable, moreover, that individual 
experiments will have to be made with each kind of 
plant, because plants are very sensitive to the ef¬ 
fect of hydrocyanic acid gas and vary remarkably 
in their susceptibility to injury from it. 
THE PEACH-TREE BORER.—In the case of the 
peach-tree borer the crystalline material known as 
