davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-10-17

All those who would like to attract
wild birds 10 the city or suburban
garden will find the story of an actual
accomplishment In this direction of
great suggestive value. In this garden
plants and fhrubs the birds like were
planted and a drinking and bathing
pool was built. The story of the ex-
perience follows:
Living on the corner of two residen-
tial streets in a city. the house and
lot containing only about ten thou
sand square feet, for twelve months
we have tbeen trying systematically
to attract wild birds. with these re-
suits: Young families of flickers,
jays, orioles and robins have been
brought up under our eyes-one fam
lily of robins choosing the Gloucester
hammock as a house site, somewhat
to the embarrassment of the original
owners-and twenty-seven varieties of
wild birds have been seen on the
place.
The ever-present problem of bird
life is food and water, shelter COM
ing next, consequently any locality
supplying these needs is sure to be
popular among the BIRDS and that in
an amazingly short time. Water is
more difficult to find than food, birds
often being compelled to take long
flights in search of 1t, and our first
step was to provide facilities for
bathing and drinking. Last year
large earthen receptacles were set on
the lawn. but only three varieties
Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-10-17

Indian Runner ducks have received
attention from many people during
the past five years. Their hardness
and their egg laying capability rec
ommend them. From 200 to $50 eggs
a bird is not an uncommon yearly
average, when the flock is properly
handled. The eggs are readily ac-
cepted in our markets in place of hen
eggs. Bakeries find a ready use for
the eggs, and the claim is made that
two of these duck eggs are equal in
food value and for cooking purposes
to three hen eggs.
Unlike hens, the egg production Of
the Indian Runners does not diminish
after the second year.
Even up to seven or eight years they
retain their normal egg laying powers.
They are only slightly subject to dis
eases, and parasites are seldom, IL
ever. found to trouble them. These
ducks are wild natured, and have lit
tile regard for a nest, dropping their
eggs in any convenient place. fire.
quently in the water or mud. 1t is
best to keep them in yards. Then the
eggs can all be gathered, and with
the better attention they receive, they
lay better, the ducklings grow faster,
and being less frequently disturbed by
strangers they are tanner. A pond is
much enjoyed by them, but is not a
necessity. In fact, some people claim
that the egg reproduction is greater
without any water for swimming.
Nevertheless the ducks must have an
abundance of fresh water for drink
ing purposes, and this especially must
never be neglected.
Indian Runners, like all other live
stock, require regular feeding. A meal
three times a day is advocated during
the laying season, and twice a day
Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-10-17
GIVE MORE CARE
TO THE WOODLOT
Farm Crop That Furnishes Both
Fuel and Good Fer
tilizer.
THIN 1T OUT WITH PROFIT

Every farmer needs fuel; every
farmer needs fertilizer, and every
farm woodlot needs improvement.
Why not kill all three birds with one
stone? BY judiciously planned thin
nings the condition of the woodlot can
be greatly improved; the material re-
moved in the Trimmings can be burned
as firewood, and the wood ashes left
are so rich in potash as to make a
valuable fertilizer.
The woodlot Is, perhaps. the only
farm crop to which the farmer has
not considered 1t necessary to devote
any care. His grains are sowed on
carefully prepared soil; his vegetables
are cultivated and his fruit trees are
pruned and sprayed; his forest trees
alone are left to look out for them
selves. This is the more remarkable
when il is taken into consideration
that any labor. expended on the wood
lot not only improves the final crop,
but ordinarily pays for itself as we'll.
No detailed technical knowledge is
required for the work; all that is
necessary is the exercise of common
sense.
It Is obvious that the trees in any
woedlot are not all of equal value.
Some are taller, straighter, thriftier
and of species which yield more val
liable wood than others. 1t is also
obvious that there is constant
struggle going on between the trees
for light and growing space. The
object of thinning is simply to give
! the best trees the advantage in this
struggle by removing the poorer ones
which interferes with their develop
| ment.
First of all, defective trees should
he removed This includes trees at
tackled by insects or fungi (conks),
trees with fire-scarred butts, with
tops broken off by wind or lightning,
and in general all trees which are
unthrifty from any cause. Next
come the trees OF poor form, such as
very crooked or very branchy ones,
which are interfering with the growth
of better formed neighbors. And,
finally, are the trees of less valuable
species. such as dogwood. ironwood
and hornbeam. These not only take
m space that might better be occu-
| pied by such species as oak, hickory
and ash, but also. as rule. produce
seed more abundantly and so repro
duce themselves at the expense of
more desirable trees.
While the wood removed in these
Trimmings is frequently of no value
for other purposes, it can practically
always be used to advantage for fuel.
In this way the work can be made to
pay for itself, particularly when the
| future use of the wood ashes for
| fertilizer is borne in mind. The
essential point to remember in maxi
ing such Trimmings is that the wood
| lot is tree society in which the best
trees should be given evefy chance to
attain the greatest possible develop
ment by the removal and utilization
lof the UNIT.
Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-10-17

came to battle. This year a pool was
made of irregular dimensions, and
ferns, vines, plants and trees planted
in deep pockets of earth around the
edges. This gave an air of woodsiness
and seclusion evidently appreciated,
as during the first season sparrows,
robins, jays, grackles, flickers, nit
matches, orioles, grosbeaks, wax
wings, kingbirds and humming birds
have visited it, not to mention squir-
rels. dogs, and most unwelcone cats.
The pool was planned to give a
background of ferns, tall growth at
the head, a tree for perching at the
foot, low growth on the house side,
and vines on the outer edges. Dimen-
sions, five and one-half feet by three
and one-half feet in widest part, five
inches deep through centre, and
shelving to irregular border with
stones projecting into it at intervals.
Especial attention is called to the
depth of this pool, because 1t exceeds
all recommendations given in publ
cations on the subject We find that
the grackles and jays do most of their
bathing in the deep portions, and
flickers invariably wade out into the
centre and march across the five inch
spaces.
List of Plants Used About Pool.
Rear-Ferns: Dicksonia punctilo-
bula ebay fern), 8; Woodsia ilvensis
(rusty wood FERN, 6.
Head-Ferns: Adiantum pedatum
(maidenhair fern, 6; Pyrethrum uli-
ginosum (giant daisy, 6; Lobelia car
dinalis cardinal flower), 6; Hemero-
Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-10-17

IL the European war should cause
our large annual imports Of potash
to dwindle, many farmers will look
TO wood ashes, among other sub
stances. to replenish the potash sup
ply. While the amount of wood ashes
that a farmer could accumulate on his
own farm would hardly ever be suf-
ficient to supply his need for potash.
nevertheless, if they are carefully
stored, and not permitted to leach,
they may be of considerable value to
him. Wood ashes are now factor in
Canada, being considered a regular
commercial commodity, and the large
lumber mills and other plants using
wood or sawdust for fuel in this coun-
try. which at present make no use of
the ashes from their furnaces or
waste piles, may find it profitable to
store and sell them, If the demand
warrants 1t.
Wood ashes may be profitably ap-
plied as a top dressing to grass land
and to pastures, where they will en-
courage the growth of clover and bet
ter kinds of grasses. which will then
crowd out inferior kinds and weeds.
Wood ashes may also be used for corn
and roots. Because of their lime con-
fent tney are not SO BOou loi poedtotSi
although sometimes used for this
crop.
In New England, where farmers
have had to look more carefully tn
the renewing of old soils than in some
of the newer sections of the country,
wood ashes have long been appre-
ciated. Ashes indirectly increase the
available nitrogen of the organic mat
ter of the soil and have been known
to do excellent service in Europe on
drained moor land.
Besides the potash, ashes contain
other ingredients which are of value
TO plants, namely, about l to 2 per
cent. of phosphoric acid, little mag
nesia and a great deal of lime. The
Importance of these last named ele-
ments is made plain by the esteem in
which leached ashes are held by some
of our farmers, although from leached
ashes all but a very small portion OF
the potash has been washed out. The
farmer who wishes to restore potash
TO the soil by the use of ashes should
take great care that they are kept
dry and are not allowed to leach al
all. Many housewives save theii
house ashes and leach out the potash
for use in making soap. They may
now have an additional reason fol
conserving them, namely their in
creased value as a garden fertilizer
But,.as has Just been said, ashes to bt
used for the improvement of the sol
should not be permitted to leach.
Ashes from hardwoods tdeciduous
trees) are richer in both phosphorus
and potash than those from pines
Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-10-17

New York city and Boston there are
two generations. A second genera
ton will be more destructive than
the first. The comparative harm
lessness of this species as it goes
farther north is probably due to the
acknowledgement of the second gem
GRAFTON.
In 1895, when the city of Washing
ton was visited by an unusual num-
Der of these insects, one of the later
generations of caterpillars which
Matched about August commenced
to spin about September 8. During
the latter part Of September most Of
the moths made their appearance
and the conspicuous white-egg
masses were very abundant on the
trees by the first of October. Cater
pillars Matching after the first of Oc-
tober are unlikely to develop into
moths.
The year after the pest in 1895
there were very few tussock cater
pillars in the city of Washington.
The pest was not nearly so abundant
this year as in 1895, and there is no
reason to believe that there will be
any fewer next year than there have
been this year unless there is a gem
eral campaign against the egg
masses after the leaves have fallen.
Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-10-17

ton to be planted. and the following
lists have been arranged on that
basis:
Hillside, Among Rocks, and in Thin Soil.
Woodbine or Virginia creeper, Bos-
ton or Japanese ivy, the bittersweets
or Roxmury waxworks, the creeping
anonymous, the spreading jumpers,
bayberry, shining sumach, dwarf wild
rose, dwarf BURBERRY, blackberry and
box-thorn or matrimony vine.
Moist Soil and Marsh Land.
Shad bush, spice bush, the cornels
or dogwood, the hawthorns, the elder,
the black alder, tupelo, button bush,
and buckthorns.
For Planting In Shade.
The barberries, wild cherries, Rus
sian mulberry, mountain ash, sumach,
wild roses, partridge berry, the Vir-
bunums, wild grapes, and strawberry
or spindle tree.
In Germany much has been done
toward providing natural nesting
places, and with decided success. The
tops OF bushes have been pruned to
make whorls of branches, and in the
spring stems of small branches are
tied together to make crotches. Out
of fifty bushes tied in this manner
forty-seven were nested in the first
year. With the cutting off of wood
lands incident to increased popula-
ton, birds are finding home sites
more and more difficult to secure, and
steps must be taken to assist them
If they are to increase as we desire.
Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-10-17

stices with soil, and store in q. cool.
light place. Dhese roots. will be
needed next January or February to
propagate from.
The Lorraine begonia must be
Watered carefully. Water must not
come in contact with the leaves, as
1t viii cause them to become spotted
This is also true of many of the
other varieties of begonia, especially
the Rex begonia.
Niolets grown In a heated green
house must be carefully ventilated
Forty degrees at night, with a rise
of ten degrees in the daytime, is
plenty of heat for them. Keep the
soil about the plants loose and pick
off any decaying or spotted leaves.
Do this frequently, for otherwise the
danger of the dew diseased leaves
injecting the balance will be very
great.
Black spot and mildew on roses
are two bad pests. They can be
largely avoided by maintaining an
even temperature and paying par
ticnlar attention to the ventilation.
Draughts must be avoided. If black
spot threatens spray with ammo
niacal copper carbonate 1t will not
stain. busting the foliage with sui
phur on the heating pipes will keep
the mildew in check.
Poinsettias should soon be forming
the bracts. Thrips will do serious
damage at this time. Spray them
with a solution of one of the tobacco
extracts.
Narclssi for forcing can be brought
into heat, that is, the few early va
rieties planted for this purpose.
Brought into the heat the latter part
OF the month they will flower by
Christmas. So will Roman hyacinths.
The Due van Thol tulips, if brought
into heat about the middle of No
vember will bloom for Christmas.
To grow good carnations do not
maintain a temperature of more than
so degrees at night A higher tenn
perature will force the plants too
much and will result in poor flowers
Many of the varieties do better a de-
gree or two cooler than this. In
any case slightly cooler tempera-
ture will produce better flowers.
Roses can be dug up now and pot<
ted and forced into bloom for Easter.
If there is little room it will be
well worth trying if you have Hever
done it,
Get some of the forcing gladioli
and plant them in boxes.
Maintain the succession of freesias
Nv hfir a inf
In the flower garden clean away
and burn the debris. All dead flower
stalks should be removed and the
ground about herbaceous plants
mulched. Mulch the bulb bed also.
This mulching must not be done,
however, until the ground freezes.
Air the coldframes containing the
pansies and English daisies every day
that the weather permits.
If you have Seeding perennials
mulch them also just as soon as the
ground freezes. Put dry leaves or
pine needles over them, and then
some evergreen boughs to keep the
leaves from being blown away.
1t is not too early to make a selec-
ton of the breeders for next spring.
Those pullets which have shown the
most uniform and rapid growth, and
which are the most alert in appear
ance, should, if they have the proper
body conformation, be chosen for this
purpose. They will repay special at
tention. 1t is we'll not to push pros
pectiye breeders too hard for eggs,
as their eggs will be more fertile If
they have not been laying heavily.
Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-10-17
Tree Surgery.

In front of our house is an old tree.
Upon the trunk is a wart as large as
bushel basket: moreover, num-
Der of large branches are dead. Can
the tree be saved? ;. X. A.
Montclair.
| would not bother in the least about
the large wart on the side of the tree.
AS regards the dead wood, cut 1t out,
cutting close to the trunk and paint
ing over the injured portion with good
white lead paint, tinted gray, so as
not to be too conspicuous. This cut
ting out of the dead branches can be
done at any time of the year. Should
the decayed portion extend down into
the trunk of the tree, cut back to live
tissue and fill the cavity with cement
Should you find that this is going to
be very hard job, it might be well to
call in a tree surgeon to do the work
for you.
Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-10-17
To store FIowerins Roots.

Will you kindly inform me how l
can keep dahlia and Gamma bulbs or
roots over winter? III. w.
Newark.
Gamma and dahlia bulbs and similar
roots should be dug up before frost,
the soil shaken from them, and the
tops cut off to within about four or
five inches of the roots. They should
be stored in cool place. dry enough
not to induce roofing. but, on the
other hand, not so dry as to cause the
roots to shrivel. A house cellar which
does not have a furnace in it, or a
cellar which keeps potatoes well, will
keep cannas and dahlias in good con-
dition. In florists establishments, it
is common practice to put them under
a bench in a cool greenhouse.
Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-10-17
Renovating the Raspberry Patch.

Can you tell what can be done with
red raspberry vines which have been
neglected so long that, although bear
ing fruit, they have become over
grown and choked with grass? On
account of their runners, 1t seems i'm
possible to dig out the bed In order to
fertilize it, yet the vines are too good
to abandon altogether. How can /
save them with the least sacrifice of
roots, or how can they be trans
planted? C. II. A.
Irvington.
/ would dig up every plant, separate
them and plant them In a new loca-
ton. or in the same location, after the
weeds have been plowed under. If
you do not care to go to this trouble,
the next best thing would be to pillow
between the rows, deliberately turning
under good many of the young
plants which have started from the
runners or tips, saving what you can.
However, the former method will be
the better, If it is your intention to
keep the plantation cleared after hay
ing once gotten 1t into good shape.
Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-10-17
ASK "THE QUESTION BOX"
What You Want to Know About Gardening Poultry and COun
try Problems Answered by Experts.

requisite full
address, Initials
wib
Newar N. j..
Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-10-17
killing HoneysuckIes,

Please tell me how to get rid of
honeysuckle quickly and easily?
Summit. 10. A. w.
The only way to thoroughly eradi-
cate 1t is to dig 1t up, but you
could probably kill it by keeping the
tops cut off. Spraying occasionally
with a solution OF copper sulphate
might also help.
Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-10-17
Killing the Melon Louise

Insects which feed. like the plant
lice. must be controlled by. means
Of some solution which kills by COM
Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-10-17
Chestnut Tree Blight.

Can you tell me whether the chest
nut disease is attacking the Paragon
chestnut, as well as all the other
improved varieties of chestnut? Have
any of the Japanese chestnuts been
improved so as to give good quality
and also retain their immunity?
w. II. A.
Glen Ridge.
There are none OF the chestnuts
which are immune from the chestnut
disease. Our common American
chestnut is the most badly affected,
at least we see more diseased trees
OF this than of any other variety,
but the Japanese and Paragon chest
nuts also suffer.
Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-10-17
Dwarf Edgings for Borders.

Will you kindly tell me of good
edging for small perennial flower
beds? 1 have tried several. but have
Newark. e. f. l..
There are two plants that l am sure
will give you entire satisfaction as
dwarf hedge plants. One is a dwarf
form of the common snow ball. Vir-
bunum Opulus, and the other Is the
common California privet. BY con-
slant pruning the privet can be kept
dwarf-not over six inches high. The
dwarf SNOWFALL will seldom flower,
and 1t does not grow much more than
six or eight inches in height.
Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-10-17
FaII-PInnted PoppIes.

Will you inform me when is the
best time to plant poppy seeds for
next spring? w w. S.
East Orange.
Annual peoples may be planted any
time after the middle of September.
1t will depend somewhat upon the
season, for the peoples should not be
planted while 1t is still very hot, or
they may terminate and make too
much growth. If you plant them,
however. before the hard frosts come
they will make little or no growth,
will winter over in good condition and
flower earlier next spring than If you
SOW the seed in the spring.
Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-10-17
nwnrf Trees for small snaces.

Will you tell me whether it would
be worth while to plant dwarf fruit
trees in my back yard?
Nutley. S. M. S.
Dwarf fruit trees are a highly de-
sirable form of tree to grow by
those who have only limited
amount of space to devote to fruit
growing. If you have only a small
yard and want to raise some fruits,
you will not go amiss by planting
dwarf trees: but, If you have an
acre or two which you wish to de-
vote to fruit culture, it would be
better for you to plant standard
trees they are less care than are
the dwarf trees. Trench the ground
thoroughly before planting dwarf
fruit trees. This is q plan that is
not resorted to in this country ex-
cept by gardeners who received their
training in the old country. but it is
very desirable. 1t consists in digging
out a hole for the tree, three or four
feet square and two and a half or
three feet deep. At the bottom of
this hole the stones taken out are
placed for drainage Then manure
is carefully worked through the SOIL
In case the soil is poor. it is re-
placed by good soil. In this way the
tree gets a good start. Almost any
form of manure will do-cow, sheep
or hen manure. In using sheep and
hen manure, however, you should
take into consideration the fact that
it is very much stronger than the
barnyard manure, and must be used
in smaller quantities; otherwise. the
tree will be injured, as overnutrition
viii cause too rapid growth and
produce short wood, which will not
winter well. If you are going to
grow many dwarf fruit trees, l
would suggest that you buy from the
Orange Judd Company 315 Fourth
avenue, New York city, a copy of
Professor Waugh's book on Dwarf
Fruit Trees" 1t costs fifty cents.
Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-10-17

Just as soon as the blooms OF the
chrysanthemums have been cut, dig
from the benches or remove the roots
from the pots and pack them closely
together in flats, filing the inter-
Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-10-17
To Free Cutters of weeds.

have a small edging. or trench,
open between lawn and walks. an
inch and a half wide. The grass
grows In the base of the trench,
making il difficult to keep OPEN
Can salt be used to keep the grass
from growing, or what would you
suggest? N. 5. l..
Newark.
Manual labor must be relied upon
to keep that trench clean. The
Keeping of cutters clean, both large
and small, is the biggest PROPOSE
ton, and one Of the largest items of
expense, In the maintenance of
parks and cemeteries. For this rea-
son many of them are now adopt
ing q cement gutter. If you use
weed killer, such as salt, or any of
those preparations which are sold by
the seedsmen, the chances are that
you will injure the roots of the
grass at the edge of the lawn.
Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-10-17

If you have Seeding perennials
mulch them also just as soon as the
ground freezes. Put dry leaves or
pine needles over them, and then
some evergreen boughs to keep the
leaves from being blown away.
Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-10-17

Air the coldframes containing the
pansies and English daisies every day
that the weather permits.