Vht  RURAL  NEW-YORKER 
F.OJB.FACTORY 
With  pump 
capacity  of 
200  gallons 
per  hour, 
3  5-g  a  1 1  o  n 
galvanized 
tank  and 
60-cycle 
motor. 
The  Fairbanks-Morse 
Automatic  Home  Water 
Plant  delivers  an  abund¬ 
ance  of  water,  under  pres¬ 
sure,  at  a  cost  of  two  cents 
a  day  or  less.  Operates 
from  any  electric  circuit  or 
home  light  plant  system. 
Simple,  automatic,  quiet 
and  dependable. 
Literature  and  the  name 
of  your  dealer  will  be  gladly 
furnished  on  request. 
Other  types  and  sizes  at 
proportionately  low  prices. 
FAIRBANKS,  MORSE  &  CO. 
Manufacturers  Chicago 
PI  umbinq-Pipe-Fi+tinqs 
«SS 
Sold  Direct  to  You 
We  save  you  20  to  35  per  cent 
on  all  standard  water  or  steam 
pipeand  fittings.  We  pay  freight 
and  guarantee  satisfaction. 
Save  yourself  money  on  plumb¬ 
ing  supplies,  water  systems,  gas¬ 
oline  engines,  pulleys,  saw  outfits 
and  heating  furnaces.  We  save 
money  by  cutting  out  in-between 
profit  and  bookkeeping.  You  get 
that  saving. 
Get  our  catalog  and  prices  now. 
SMYTH-DESPARD  CO. 
801  Broad  Street  Utica,  N.  Y, 
When  you  write  advertisers  mention 
The  Rural  New-  Yorker  and  you’ll  get 
a  quick  reply  and  a  “square  deal.”  See 
guarantee  editorial  page . 
Preventing  the  Setting  of  Fruit 
We  have  scratched  our  head  in  vain  in 
an  endeavor  to  scare  up  some  way  of 
preventing  the  setting  of  fruit  on  trees 
along  the  roadside,  which  owners  fear 
may  be  severely  damaged  during  their 
absence  'by  people  climbing  the  trees  to 
pick  the  fruit.  At  last  we  think  that 
we  have  something  to  offer,  though  we 
must  admit  that  it  seems  more  trouble 
than  picking  off  the  fruit  when  it  is 
young.  The  plan  is  to  spray  the  trees 
with  water  every  day  that  the  trees  are 
in  bloom,  and  to  put  force  enough  behind 
it  thoroughly  to  wash  the  flowers.  The 
pollen  that  is  carried  to  the  stigma  by 
bees  and  other  agencies  and  which  re¬ 
sults  in  the  fertilization  of  the  ovary  and 
the  setting  of  fruit,  is  washed  off  the 
stigmas  and  no  fruit  sets.  Plant  breed¬ 
ers  make  use  of  this  method  in  their 
work  with  flower  that  cannot  be  emascu¬ 
lated,  washing  the  stigmas  carefully  with 
water  from  a  hand  syringe.  The  idea 
might  be  worth  trying  if  the  trees  in  ques¬ 
tion  were  where  they  could  be  reached 
easily  by  a  hose  from  the  house,  or  if 
the  owner  had  the  spray  rig  and  the 
time  to  “wash”  the  trees  every  day  for  a 
week.  h.  b.  t. 
Destructive  Blister-beetles 
I  am  sending  two  kinds  of  bugs  which 
I  have  found  on  my  tomatoes.  The  to¬ 
mato  plants  are  big  and  have  large  green 
tomatoes,  and  these  bugs  eat  the  leaves; 
so  far  they  have  not  touched  the  green 
tomatoes.  Will  you  tell  me  what  to  do? 
'Somerset,  N.  J.  a.  j. 
These  pests  are  the  striped  blister- 
beetle  and  the  black  blister-beetle.  In¬ 
sects  of  this  family  also  come  in  blue 
and  gray  colors.  They  attack  potatoes, 
tomatoes,  beans  and  other  legumes,  sugar 
beets  and  Swiss  chard,  and  are  so  vora¬ 
cious  that  a  few  do  a  large  amount  of 
damage.  Any  standard  arsenical  spray 
will  destroy  them,  but  the  plants  mus1" 
be  thoroughly  covered  as  they  are  active 
and  usually  drop  to  the  ground  when 
disturbed,  soon  afterward  coming  up  and 
going  to  work  again.  Nicotine  sulphate 
at  the  strength  recommended  on  package 
is  quite  effective  as  a  contact  spray  where 
poison  cannot  be  used,  but  neither  poison 
nor  tobacco  would  be  suitable  to  use 
where  tomatoes  or  bean  pods  were  of 
much  size.  In  a  small  garden,  hand  pick¬ 
ing  and  dropping  into  a  vessel  of  kerosene 
is  practical.  If  a  plant  with  a  number 
of  the  beetles  at  work  is  bent  gently  over 
into  middle  of  the  row  and  then  jarred 
quickly,  most  of  them  will  drop  into  the 
pan  of  kerosene  or  on  the  ground,  where 
they  may  be  stamped.  In  badly  infested 
fields  it  was  formerly  the  custom  to  drive 
them  out  with  bushes.  A  row  of  dry  hay 
or  straw  was  put  at  one  side  of  the  field. 
Then  all  hands  started  on  the  other  side 
armed  with  bushes  and  made  a  great  to- 
do,  driving  the  beetles  ahead  as  grass¬ 
hoppers  will  go  in  front  of  a  mowing 
machine.  When  near  the  hay,  fire  was 
started  at  the  “psychological  moment” 
and  the  beetles  driven  into  it.  A  good 
many  were  killed,  but  of  course  many 
escaped. 
Plum  Curculio;  Grape  Midge 
1.  How  can  I  save  some  of  my  plums? 
I  have  two  nice  trees  which  bear  abun¬ 
dantly  yearly,  but  the  plums  do  not  ripen, 
but  drop  off.  2.  I  also  have  quite  a  lot 
of  deceased  leaves  on  my  grapevines. 
Freeport,  N.  Y.  j.  a.  a. 
1.  If  all  of  your  plums  are  like  the  one 
that  you  sent  in  to  us,  they  are  troubled 
badly  by  the  plum  curculio.  The  small 
fruit  showed  the  crescent-shaped  egg- 
laying  puncture  of  the  curculio,  while 
close  to  the  pit  could  be  found  the  small 
larvae  feasting  on  the  flesh.  You  can  do 
nothing  now  to  prevent  the  damage,  but 
another  year  you  should  spray  with  ar¬ 
senate  of  lead,  2  or  3  lbs.  to  50  gallons 
of  water,  just  after  the  shucks  are  off 
the  small  fruits. 
2.  The  “deceased’  leaves,  as  you  so 
aptly  call  them,  have  been  attacked  by  a 
midge  that  occasionally  is  found  on  grape 
leaves.  It  is  not  of  serious  importance, 
and  is  not  likely  to  give  you  much 
trouble  aside  from  the  few  dead  leaves. 
Another  year  you  may  see  no  evidences 
of  the  insect.  Frequently  this  midge  is 
confused  with  phylloxera,  the  gall  forma¬ 
tions  upon  the  leaves  appearing  not  un¬ 
like  phylloxera  infestation,  u,  b,  T, 
1017 
When  the  Rain  Conies  Down 
What  Do  You  Think  About? 
Do  you  think  how  much  good  the  rain  will  do  the  crops 
growing  in  the  fields — or  do  you  wonder  how  much  harm 
it  will  do  the  crops  stored  in  that  barn  with  the  leaky  roof  ? 
Why  not  lay  roofings  you  don’t  have  to  worry  about  ? 
Barrett  Roofings  hold  staunch  and  weather-tight  year 
after  year.  Winter  snows,  spring  thaws  and  rains,  the 
scorching  heat  of  summer  suns — Barrett  Roofings  stand 
fast  against  them  all. 
For  nearly  three-quarters  of  a  century — since  before 
the  Civil  War — The  Barrett  Company  has  consistently 
maintained  the  high  quality  of  its  products  and  has  been 
recognized  as  America’s  leading  manufacturer  of  roofings 
and  roofing  materials. 
Whether  it’s  durable,  low-priced  roll  roofing  for  your 
barns  or  handsome,  sturdy,  fire-resisting  shingles  for  your 
house,  you’ll  find  the  roofing  you  want  among  the  six 
styles  described  below.  Here  are  roofings  that  will  save 
you  money  and  give  long  years  of  satisfactory  service. 
Let  Us  Send  You  This  Interesting  Little  Book 
“  Barrett  Handbook  for  Home  Owners  and  the  Farm¬ 
er  ”  describes  the  right  roof  for  your  home,  barn  or  other 
steep-roof  building.  Shows  how  Barrett  Roofings  look 
when  laid  and  tells  about  each  in  detail.  Also  describes 
other  useful  Barrett  Products  that  will  save  you  money. 
((6^  ROOFINGS 
Your  Choice  of  Six  Styles 
Everlastic  Giant  Shingles 
These  “Giants”  for  wear 
and  service  are  handsome 
enough  for  the  expensive 
home,  economical  enough 
for  small  farm  house  or  cot¬ 
tage.  Their  weather  side  is 
mineral-surfaced  in  beautiful 
shades  of  red,  green,  or 
blue-black.  This  fadeless 
mineral  surface  resists  fire 
and  never  needs  painting. 
Their  base  is  extra  heavy 
roofing-felt  thoroughly  water¬ 
proofed.  Because  of  this  ex¬ 
tra  thick,  extra-rigid  base, 
these  shingles  can  be  laid 
right  over  the  old  roof — a 
big  saving  on  reroofing  jobs. 
Size  8  x  12f£  inches.  Are 
laid  easily  and  without 
waste. 
Everlastic  Single  Shingles 
Mineral-surfaced  in  red, 
green,  or  blue-black.  Base 
of  best  grade  roofing-felt. 
These  shingles  are  staunchly 
weatherproof,  fire  -  resisting 
and  need  no  painting.  Size 
8xl2J4  inches. 
Everlastic 
Smooth- Surfaced  Roofing 
The  most  popular  of  plain¬ 
surfaced  roll  roofings.  Made 
of  best  grade  roofing-felt, 
thoroughly  saturated  with 
high-grade  waterproofing  ma¬ 
terial.  Under  surface  is 
protected  by  rot-proof  seal- 
back.  Tough,  pliable,  elas¬ 
tic,  durable,  and  low  in  price. 
Easy  to  lay.  Nails  and  ce¬ 
ment  in  each  roll. 
Everlastic 
Mineral- Surfaced  Roofing 
A  beautiful  and  enduring 
roll  roofing.  Mineral-sur¬ 
faced  in  red,  green,  or  blue- 
black.  Has  rot-proof  seal- 
back.  Nails  and  cement  in 
each  roll.  Very  popular  for 
bungalows,  cottages,  garages 
and  all  farm  buildings. 
Everlastic  Multi- Shingles 
Four  shingles  to  a  strip. 
Mineral  -  surfaced  in  red, 
green,  or  blue-black.  Two 
sizes — 10  inches  and  12J4 
inches  deep,  both  32  inches 
long.  The  12J/2-inch  Multi- 
Shingle,  laid  4  inches  to  the 
weather,  gives  three-ply  roof 
— the  10-inch  gives  two-ply 
roof. 
Everlastic 
Octagonal  Strip  Shingles 
The  latest  in  strip  shin¬ 
gles.  Mineral-surfaced  in 
red,  green,  or  blue-black.  Af¬ 
ford  novel  designs  by  inter¬ 
changing  red  strips  with 
green,  or  red  strips  with 
blue-black. 
Ask  your  dealer  or  write  us 
The  Company 
40  Rector  Street  New  York  City 
THE  BARRETT  company,  limited,  2021  St.  Hubert  St,,  Montreal,  Quebec,  Canada 
