JV  RURAL  NEW-YORKER 
433 
Cotton  Culture  and  the  Boll  Weevil 
Probably  most  of  our  Northern  readers 
have  heard  iu  a  general  way  of  the  cotton 
boll  weevil,  but  few  realize  what  this 
insect  means  to  the  South.  Some  years 
ago.  when  the  San  Jose  scale  appeared  in 
the  East,  and  before  we  learned  how  to  ' 
fight  it,  some  farm  fruit  men  were  fright¬ 
ened.  Many  of  us  who  owned  groves  of 
chestnut  trees  were  forced  to  stand  still 
and  see  the  chestnut  blight  slowly  destroy 
every  chestnut  on  the  upper  Atlantic 
Coast.  We  can  appreciate  how  the  South¬ 
ern  farmers  feel  as  this  boll  insect  drives 
them  out  of  cotton  culture.  Dr.  Miller 
Hutchinson  makes  the  difficulty  iu  fighting 
this  insect  very  clear  in  the  following: 
There  is  no  living  thing  which  is  as 
perfectly  fortified  against  extinction  as 
the  boll  weevil.  It  does  not  eat  the 
verdure,  and  therefore  cannot  be  pois¬ 
oned  by  sprays*,  which  destroy  such  pests 
as  the  cabbage  butterfly.  It  digs  into  a 
perfectly  formed  square  or  boll,  extracting 
the  nutriment  therefrom,  and  in  cavity 
thus  formed  deposits  its  eggs.  The  aper¬ 
ture  is  then  sealed  with  a  gum-like  sub¬ 
stance  to  prevent  the  weevil's  enemy — 
the  red  ant — from  destroying  the  egg  or 
subsequent  worm. 
Its  vulnerable  point  is  iu  its  thirst, 
which  it  satisfies  by  drinking  the  dew 
from  the  leaves  of  the  cotton  plant.  We 
poison  the  dew  with  calcium  arsenate, 
which  remains  in  suspension  after  being 
dusted  onto  the  plant. 
There  is  now  a  concerted  action  to  fight 
this  insect  and  spend  millions  in  the 
battle.  It  must  be  done  or  either  Amer¬ 
ica  will  lose  her  monopoly  in  cotton  pro¬ 
duction  or  the  industry  must  develop 
farther  north  or  southwest. 
Wormy  Potatoes  for  Seed 
Having  been  inoculated  with  “farm- 
ingitis”  from  reading  The  It.  N.-Y.  for 
the  past  three  years,  I  have  purchased  a 
farm,  andi  wish  to  ask  my  first  question. 
My  neighbor  has  offered  to  give  rne  80 
bu.  of  potatoes,  unsalable  on  account  of 
being  boyed  by  wireworms.  Will  these 
potatoes  be  hurt  for  seed?  Same  to  be 
planted  on  light,  sandy  soil  never  before 
infested  by  wireworms.  Also  give  the 
formula  to  treat  seed  potatoes  with  for¬ 
maldehyde  to  prevent  scab.  ,t.  F.  n. 
If  there  is  nothing  the  matter  with 
these  pootatoes  except  the  wireworm  in¬ 
jury,  they  might  do  for  seed.  We  sus¬ 
pect  that  they  are  quite  full  of  scab.  Of 
course,  care  must  be  taken  in  cutting  such 
potatoes  for  “seed,”  so  as  to  make  sure 
that  a  full  eye  or  bud  is  left  in  each  seed 
piece.  AVe  should  soak  these  seed  pota¬ 
toes  thoroughly  in  one  pint  of  formalin 
dissolved  in  80  gallons  of  water,  and  also 
dust  the  cut  pieces  fully  with  powdered 
sulphur. 
Culture  of  California  Privet 
Would  you  tell  me  how  to  propagate 
California  privet,  and  how  the  cuttings 
are  made,  planted  and  handled  by  com¬ 
mercial  growers?  How  many  years  arc 
required  to  bring  the  plants  to  marketable 
age?  r  ,T.  L.  it. 
Burlington,  N.  J. 
A  simple  method  of  propagating  Cali¬ 
fornia  privet  is  to  take  cuttings  of  one- 
vear  wood  in  Fall  or  Winter,  making 
them  eight  to  14  in.  long.  Fall  is  pre¬ 
ferred.  because  the  wood  is  sometimes  in¬ 
jured  in  Winter,  even  considerably  south 
of  New  York.  These  cuttings  are  tied  in 
bundles  and  buried  until  Spring,  when 
they  are  stuck  in  rows  from  2  to  0  in. 
apart,  the  rows  2  ft.  to  8  C»  ft.  asunder. 
They  make  nice  plants  12  to  IS  in.  high 
when  one  year  old.  Commercially,  they 
are  usually  sold  at  one  year,  or  at  two 
years,  when  2  ft.  to  4  ft.  high.  If  not 
sold  at  two  years,  the  nlants  are  some¬ 
times  cut  back  to  8  in.  to  sprout  again. 
Another  method  of  propagation  is  to  make 
stout  cuttings  of  one-year  wood.  5  in.  to 
(>  in.  long,  in  November.  The  leaves  are 
stripped  off.  and  the  cuttings  made  into  j 
small  bundles,  and  buried,  tops  up,  over 
A  Vinter.  In  the  Spring,  before  growth  j 
starts  they  are  planted  in  mellow,  rich 
land.  4  in.  apart,  in  rows  8  in.  apart. 
To  plant,  a  back  furrow  is  plowed  in  the 
center  of  the  block,  the  top  raked  off.  a 
line  stretched  and  pegged  down,  and  the  j 
cuttings  are  then  inserted  nearly  full  j 
length.  The  trampling  of  the  row  i 
settles  the  soil  enough  to  expose  the  top 
buds,  and  new  furrows  are  made  around 
the  strip  planted.  Clean  cultivation  isi 
given,  and  to  make  wide  plants  the  shoots 
are  pinched  when  about  8  in.  long,  and 
this  is  repeated  at  intervals  of  about  three 
weeks  during  the  Summer.  These  plants 
may  be  dug  in  Fall  and  heeled  in  to 
avoid  risk  of  winter-killing.  They  are 
then  replanted  in  Spring  18  in.  to  2  ft  1 
apart  in  rows  8  ft.  or  more  apart,  being 
set  in  a  furrow  so  that  the  earth  covers 
the  lower  branches.  They  are  pinched 
hack  or  trimmed  with  a  sickle  during 
Summer.  These  make  large,  heavy  plants 
2^2  to  8C>  ft.  high  and  18  in.  to  2  ft. 
wide  at  the  base.  They  are  dug  with  a 
tree  digger.  AVhen  set  12  to  15  in.  apart. 
4  in.  to  6  in.  deeper  than  in  the  nursery 
lot.  they  make  a  very  sturdy  hedge.  Soil 
conditions  that  will  raise  good  corn  will 
be  suitable  for  privet. 
It  is  a  fact,  proved  over  and  over 
again,  that  the  Hupmobile  costs 
less  to  maintain  over  a  period 
of  three  years,  or  longer,  than 
any  other  car  built  today. 
Owners  of  passenger  car  fleets 
have  demonstrated  Hupmobile  s 
unequalled  economy  beyond 
any  possibility  of  doubt. 
After  experimentingwithvarious 
cars,  they  have  finally  standard¬ 
ized  upon  the  Hupmobile  as 
giving  lowest  cost  service  in  the 
long  run. 
There  is  no  secret  about  Hup¬ 
mobile  economy.  It  begins  with 
its  better  engineering  design,  and 
comes  down  to  the  fact  that  finer, 
more  durable  parts  are  used 
where  wear  and  durability  pro¬ 
mote  longer  life  and  lower  costs. 
Most  of  these  parts  are  con¬ 
cealed  within  the  motor,  trans¬ 
mission,  or  rear  axle,  where  the 
average  owner  never  sees  them. 
Any  disinterested  repair  man 
will  tell  you,  however,  that 
judged  solely  by  the  way  it 
is  built,  the  Hupmobile  is 
really  a  fine  car  at  a  low  price. 
Touring  Car,  $ 1115 ;  Roadster,  $1115;  Special  Touring  Car,  $1215;  Special  Roadster, 
$1215;  Ne-iv  Two-passenger  Coupe ,  $1385;  Four-passenger  Coupe,  $1535,  Sedan, 
$1675.  Cord  tires  on  \all  models.  Prices  F.  O.  B.  Detroit —  Revenue  Tax  Extra 
Hupp  Motor  Car  Corporation,  Detroit,  Michigan 
Hupmobile 
SAVE  HALF  Your 
Bills 
BY  USING  Ingersoll  Paint. 
PROVED  BEST  by  80  years’  use.  It 
will  please  you.  The  ONLY  PAINT  en¬ 
dorsed  by  the  “GRANGE”  for  47  years. 
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Oldest  Heady  Mixed  Paint  Home  in  America— Estab.  1845 
0.  W.  Ingersoll,  246  Plymouth  St.,  Brooklyn,  N.  Y. 
Controlled 
Cultivation 
A  steady  horse  and  a  balanced 
hoe-harrow  mean  fast,  clean  work 
for  the  man  between  the  handles.  The 
Planet  Jr.  No.  8  makes  cultivating  a 
pleasure.  It  is  the  most  highly  devel¬ 
oped  one-horse  implement  you  can 
get.  The  width  and  depth  of  work  are 
always  under  perfect  control,  to  be 
changed  instantly  by  convenient  levers 
within  easy  reach.  No.  8  is  a  strong, 
stiff  implement,  specially  braced,  easy 
to  run  without  having  to  press  towards 
the  row.  The  fast,  thorough  work  it 
does  and  its  strength  and  endurance, 
make  it  the  tool  for  every  man  who 
knows  the  cash  value  of  rapid,  clean 
cultivation. 
Other  types  of  Planet  Jr.  cultivators  (hand, 
horse,  riding  and  tractor)  and  the  famous 
Planet  Jr.  seeders,  are  detailed  in  the  Planet 
Jr.  catalog.  Send  for  a  copy,  and  name  of 
nearest  Planet  Jr.  agency. 
S.  L.  ALLEN  &  CO.,  Inc. 
Dept.  38 
Sth  &  Cleo  wood  At#.  Philadelphia,  U.S.  A. 
FERTILIZERS 
Croxton  Brand 
Commercial  Fertilizers 
Also  Raw  Materials 
Carload  or  lets  Carload  lots 
NITRATE  OF  SODA  TANKAGE 
SULPHATE  OF  AMMONIA  BONE  MEAL 
ACID  PHOSPHATE  MURIATE  OF  POTASH 
BLOOD  SULPHATE  OF  POTASH 
Inquiries  should  state  whether  carload  or  less  car¬ 
load  and  in  commercial  mixtures,  analysis  desired. 
N. .(.FERTILIZER  &  CHEMICAL  CO. 
Factory:  Croxton,  Jersey  City,  N.  J. 
Office:  40  Rector  Street,  New  York 
85  Pound  Standard 
Planet  Jr. 
You  Can  Do 
The  Same  l 
"I  saved  50c  a 
roll,  buying  my 
roofing  from 
you." 
Geo.  Webber, 
Hookstown,  Pa. 
(Used  with  permission) 
Lay  Your  Own  Roohnt' 
This  Spring 
Do ;  tin  your  spare  time. 
No  experience  needed. 
Only  hammer  and  jack 
knife  required.  Use  our 
standard  Radio  Slate- 
Surfaced  Roofing. 
Approved  by 
Fire  Underwriter** 
Spark  proof.  Fire  resisting. 
Better  protection  than  wood 
shingles.  Extra  durable  and 
not  affected  by  heat  or  cold. 
Best  Standard  Qunlity 
You  Can  Buy 
Only  $2.00  per  roll 
(enough  to  cover  100  sq. 
ft.).  For  old  or  new  roofs, 
or  over  old  wood  shingles. 
Red  or  Green 
Non-fading  crushed 
slate  surface  beauti¬ 
fies  as  well  as  protects 
your  home.  Guaran¬ 
teed  for  ij  years  but 
should  last  longer. 
Send  lor 
FREE  SAMPLES 
It  puts  you  under 
no  obligation  to  buy. 
■Jg.oo  per  roll  in¬ 
cludes  ail  nails  and 
(Add  8c  if  wanted 
cement. 
with  extra  long  nails.) 
Shipped  from  Chicago,  Kansas  City.  St.  Paul, 
York,  Pa.;  Southern,  11!  .  or  New  Orleans,  La.  (ti.tb 
per  roll  from  Kansas  City  or  St.  Paul.) 
Write  toour  house  nearest  you.  Address  Dept.  C  2a 
Montgomery  Ward  S  6 
CKtCd^o  Fori  Worth  ?brfl  <ru{.Jrji 
This  math  anJ 
name  " planst  Jr.** 
Montl/p  *ur  jrtJucU 
When  you  write  advertisers  mention 
The  Rural  New-  Yorker  and  you’ll  get 
a  quick  reply  and  a  "square  deal."  See 
guarantee  editorial  page 
