WISCONSIN

HORTICULTURE

Our Summer Meeting.

The summer meeting of the State Horticultural Society will be held in Oshkosh, August 17th and 18th.

The program, outings, etc., are in charge of Vice President H. C. Christensen, of Oshkosh.

Members who have attended meetings in other years will not be much concerned about the advance notice of program; they will come with full confidence that the program the first day will be entertaining and instructive and that the second day, always devoted to study of local conditions, will be spent pleasantly and profitably.

Those who have never attended should make ready now.

Mr. Christensen sends word that there will be papers or talks on annuals and perennials; arrangement of cut flowers for the home; staging cut flowers for exhibition at fairs; landscape gardening; vegetable growing both from the amateur and the professional standpoints, and other live topics.

One topic which promises entertainment as well as profit is “The Professional Man’s Garden,” by Prof. J. G. Moore. Mr. Christensen w’rites: “I shall ask him to leave charts and such things at home and tell us just what he does in his garden and not what he advises others to do.” This should be a very excellent number.

As for the second day, we have the following from Mr. Christensen : “We are planning a corn roast the first evening near Lake Butte De Mort and we may also have a talk by Prof. Aust that evening.”

The plan for the second day is to visit some of the gardens near Oshkosh in the morning, returning to Mr. Roe’s for a picnic dinner and spend as much of the afternoon by the lake as desired.

The Athearn Hotel will be headquarters.

Members are requested to bring along specimens of their best flowers and vegetables. Cash premiums are offered.

Members are requested to invite their friends. If the friends are not members they are absolutely certain to dig up a dollar apiece before they leave.

Owing to the uncertainty as to aate of issue of Wisconsin Horticulture, it is unlikely that any further notice can be given that will reach members before Aug. 17th.

Address all communications concerning Summer Meeting to H. C. Christensen, Oshkosh, and not to the Secretary.

—Frederic Cranefield, Sec.

Notice.

To Members of the Executive Committee:

There will be a meeting of the Executive Committee at the Hotel Athearn, Oshkosh, Tuesday evening. August 16, at nine o’clock. Your attendance is requested.

Moss on Lawns.

“Moss and coarse w’eeds must be removed from the lawn, dug out by the roots or with a coarse rake if a smooth, velvety yard is to be secured,” says James G. Moore, state horticulturist.

Mr. Moore says that mossy lawns usually occur from three causes: lack of proper drainage, acid soils and dense shade. If the drainage is all right and there has been made an application of lime so as to correct acidity of the soil and still moss remains it would seem to be a condition due to the shade.

“In shady locations the only way to have a good lawn is to use specially prepared seed mixtures, which ordinarily go under the name of shady lawn grass mixtures, and contain grasses which endure shade.

“Weeds are plants out of place.’’ says the circular, “and like the poor are always with us.” The main thing is to dig them out and then encourage the grass to grow so close that weeds cannot find entrance. This is a good time of yea' to make the fight against weeds of all kinds; and the curative is the rake, fertilizer, seed, roll.

Dandelions are particularly obnoxious, dominating manvotherwise fine lawns. The yellow flower is pretty but the weed is homely and destroys the grass over a wide area They should be dug out with a-much root as possible as cutting off the root close to the surface simply makes two heads replace one.

Plantains are also troublesome, and crab grass worst of all. Being an annual it should be dug out before it has a chance to reseed itself

Other Enemies.

For ants, moles, etc., rolling is efficacious but where ants are very bad it will be well to use bi-sulphide of carbon. Drive a stick in the ground where they are most numerous, and into this hole pour the liquid and close up the hole afterwards. The solution is explosive and should be very carefully handled. Where moles are troublesome, the advice is to use moletraps.

Care in the selection of pure seed, selected for the locality and purpose desired, is important if a smooth, velvety lawn is wanted, and certainly no other improvement of the premises will show such good results.

Origin of the McMahan Apple.

A recent issue of a Richland Center paper contains a sketch of the life of Catherine Lewis McMahan Abbs, who died March 4th, 1921, at the home of her granddaughter near Bloom City, Wis.

The following paragraph is of interest to Wisconsin fruit growers:

“It was on this farm the famous McMahan apple originated. Her brother, James McMahan, on his way home from war, brought his mother an apple. She took two seeds from the apple and planted them by the doorstep. From these seeds came two kinds of apples, one red and one white. The red apples did not prove good but the white tipple has ever since borne the McMahan name.”

The farm referred to is in the town of Bloom and now owned by Ancil Dray.

This fixes the date at about 1865 and quite definitely fixes the place of origin.

One point is yet undecided, whether the apple known as McMahan Red or McMahan Bloom is an offspring of the red apple on the other side of the doorstep or of different origin.

Red Wing Apple.

In the May number we asked about the Red Wing and Golden Winesap apples. A Minnesota member, Mr. Alfred Swanson, of Red Wing, sends the following satisfactory reply to the questions asked:

Red Wing, Minn., July 5, ’21.

In response to the inclosed inquiry, will say that the Red Wing apple is a Malinda seedling grown by Mr. Perkins near this place. Propagated and introduced by the Wedge Nursery Co. of Albert Lea, this state, and the Cashman Nursery Co. of Owatonna, this state. Was put on the list of new apples recommended for trial by our State Horticultural Society at the last meeting.

One tree of it planted in my orchard eight years ago has been bearing a large crop every year the past three years. A large red apple of fair quality (kind of sweet taste) which keeps in an ordinary cellar until February. Tree is perfectly hardy both in tree and bud in this locality.

We have seen the golden Winesap advertised by a Nebraska nurseryman as a wonderful new yellow apple that originated in Utah. Don’t know anything more about it. Don’t believe it is an apple for Wisconsin or Minnesota growers.

Quack, Quack.

Elkhorn, Wis., May 12.—Walter Nichols, of Walworth, uses an easier and surer method of eradicating the quack grass than with the hoe. He finds that Sudan grass seeded at the rate of 20 pounds per acre about June 1st, when the weather is warm, and on well prepared seed beds, will eliminate quack every time. In 1919 a three-acre strip in his field over-run with this pest was left quackless by this treatment. On either side of this patch where oats were sown, the weed remained as vigorous as ever. Not only did the Sudan smother the quack, but it yielded three tons of hay to the acre the first cutting and a lot of fall pasture the second cutting. In the corn last year not a spear of quack could be seen where the Sudan had been the year previous. Nichols says others may hoe quack if they like, but he is done.

(The above is clipped from a state paper and may be taken at face value. Like many other things It is important if true.—Editor.)

More from Johnnie

Oak Holler, Wis.

Dear Friends:—Such an excitement next door. The boys are going to a picnic. The younger one is hovering around his mother; he’s thinking of the “eats.” The older one is polishing his shoes and combing his hair. His mother said : “I’m a little worried about Son. He doesn’t seem hungry nowadays. I think the warm weather has been a little hard on him.” But Son and I grinned at each other understand-ingly. You see, I remembered when I thought more of my shining new boots and worried some because my shock of rebellious hair wouldn’t lie down smoothly like some of the other boys—when I was going to the picnic because “she” was going to be there. Sure, there’s going to be a girl in this story. There most always is one, you know. I can smile at myself now, though I didn’t then—indeed not—life was a very serious affair to me about that time. I remember Mother took me down town to buy a pair of new boots on purpose for that picnic. I was so pleased with the appearance of one pair that I insisted on having them, though my Mother and the shoe man both thought they were rather tight. No, indeed, they weren’t tight. They just felt fine. You see, I wasn’t thinking at all how they felt—it was how they looked and what “she” would think of them. So my wise Mother said “all right” and away I went to the picnic. At first the slight twinges of pain went unnoticed, for “we” were walking up and down under the trees, my pockets filled with candy and peanuts. I could see folks smile, but “we” didn’t care. “We” were happy It didn’t take much to make us happy those days. It really doesn’t yet

(Continued on page 189.)

Wisconsin "^Horticulture.

Published Monthly by the

Wisconsin State Horticultural Society

16 N. Carroll SL Official organ of the Society.

FREDERIC CRANEFIELD. Editor. Secretary W. S. H. S.» Madison, Wis.

Entered at the postofflce at Madison, Wisconsin, as second-class matter. Acceptance for mailing at special rate of popstage provided for in Section 1103, Act of October 3, 1917, authorized July 15. 1918.                                 ,

Advertising rates made known on application.

Wisconsin State Horticultural Society

Annual membership fee, one dollar, which includes fifty cents, subscription price to Wisconsin Horticulture. Send one dollar to Frederic Cranefield. Editor, Madison, Wis.

Remit by Postal or Express Money Order. A dollar bill may be sent safely if wrapped or attached to a card. Personal checks accepted.

Postage stamps not accepted.

officers

J. A. Hays............ - ^E^esJdent

II. C. Christensen, Oshkosh.......Vice-President

F. Cranefleld, Secretary-Treasurer.......Madison

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

J. A. Hays...................

II. C. Christensen..............

F. Cranefleld .................

1st Dist., Wm. Longland........

2nd Dist., R. J. Coe...........

3rd Dist., E. J. Frautschi......

4th Dist., A. Leidiger .........

5 th Dist., James Livingstone.....

flth Dist., J. W.  Roe..........

7th Dist., C. A. Hofmann......

Sth Dist., .T.  E. Leverich.......

9th Dist., L. E. Birmingham.....

10th Dist., Paul E. Grant........

11th Dist., Irving Smith........

BOARD OF MANAGERS

J. A. lias’s H. C. Christensen F. Cranefleld

The Honey Grading Law. By C. D. Adams.

(Continued from June Issue.)

In fact, the present indications point firm is now putting in over 50 per cent of local honey instead of the 20 per cent that has been the standard in past years. Another firm has obtained a license number to put up pure Wisconsin honey for one of the big department stores. This would indicate that instead of using just enough of our honey to make it possible for the western people to dispose of a large amount of their mild honey in our state, we may in time have a monopoly in the trade.

Another objection worthy of notice is that the number of stamps for comb honey is unreasonable. It will be recalled that we have three grades in each of the five colors. No doubt our worthy committee saw this objection, but saw no remedy for it. The question has arisen: "Is it necessary to have so many shades of comb honey? Could we not reduce the number to light, amber and dark?" This is for the Association to decide.

Other objections will no doubt be brought out in the discussion.

We find some who complain that they do not receive any more for their No. 1 honey than others do for their "Ungraded." We must remember that one of the objects of this law was to educate the consumer to recognize good honey by the label and we know that takes time. No doubt there were much louder objections in the west when the apple grading law was being put in force.

In the near future we shall undoubtedly have some form of co-operative marketing. It may be through the Honey Producers’ League, the State Marketing Division or some other agency. With any system of marketing we must have a standard system of grades. So we can easily see that this is the first and an absolutely essential step in that direction.

When that time comes we shall probably find some beekeepers producing only ungraded honey and marketing it as such. But their honey will no longer be in competition with that of their more progressive neighbors. The great majority will find it much more satisfactory and profitable to produce a high grade of honey and sell it as such. Then market quotations will mean something definite to us and the man with 500 pounds can ship his honey with just as much assurance of getting a fair deal as the man with 5,000 pounds.

If our honey is really as much better than most of that produced in other states as we think it is, it certainly will command a premium in every honey market of the country. "Watertown Goose" was for years listed on the menu cards of the leading hotels in New York. Why should not Wisconsin honey be as well known?

While I was somewhat skeptical about the law when I started out on the grading work I am no longer in doubt about the practicability of it. We have been marketing our honey in the poorest way Imaginable. We have sold it at such a low price that housewives have associated it with the cheaper foods just as they did prunes a few years ago. Grocers tell me that people seldom question the price of jellies and jams, but they balk at a less price for honey. Glance at your grocer’s shelf and see which he considers the best seller.

Some grocers tell me that their customers never buy honey as a food, but occasionally buy small bottles of it with which to make cough medicine. We have one of the finest natural foods in the world and we know it. Our problem is to put it up in a form that will compare favorably with other foods of equal value and then to educate the housewife to call for and not be satisfied until she gets—Wisconsin No. 1 Honey!

Only Organized Bees Gather Honey; Only Organized Beekeepers Gather Profits

Ladies and Gentlemen:

In this day and age of strenuous competition in 'all channels of commerce and industry, it becomes a mat ter of utmost importance for the Wisconsin farmer to turn himself to the attention that his profession deserves and to those things which concern the distribution and marketing of the products of his labor.

Agriculture, in its various phases, has been given an unusual amount of consideration and has been the object of a great many experimental studies wherein the matter of economical production was always given first thought Our agricultural colleges, universities, and state departments have interested themselves commend-ably well in those activities concerned with disseminating information and knowledge on greater and more economical production. It is their sphere of service, and we must be thankful to such agencies for what they have done for farmers in general. There is, however, one branch of industrial agriculture to which the above agencies must not and can not turn their intensive attention, i. e. the organization of agricultural groups whose_r chief object might be the improve-' ment of market prices affecting such organizations. Such activities necessarily fall upon the producer himself. The Wisconsin beekeeper will find himself no exception. With greater production, we have to solve the matter of greater consumption of such increased production. That problem must be met by group action of those producers so interested. For example, our state and college co-operators may find ways and means of increasing the 1921 honey crop by fifty per cent, but in so doing will find that some procedure must be taken whereby such increase will be profitably absorbed. We must not expect the same agencies that helped us increase our production to bear the costs entailed in advertising the consumption of the in-

(Continued in August Issue.)

Apples shipped in this practical and useful package will sell more quickly and at better prices. The Pa Sa Co 19 INCH CORRUGATED PAD protects the top layer of apples from lip cutting or bruising.

Retailers and Commission Men prefer to have apples and other fruits shipped in the UNIVERSAL PACKAGE on account of the attractive displays made possible by this package.

Write for prices and interesting pamphlet, Career of Bushel Basket.

Shipment made from nearest factory: New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Missouri, Iowa, Arkansas and Texas.

Package Sales Corporation, South Bend, Ind.

210 Union Trust Bldg.                                                  South Bend, Ind.

More from Johnnie.

(Continued from page 187.) if we go back and forget that what other folks think or say doesn’t make so very much difference after all. It’s our own capacity for enjoyment that counts, and—er—ouch —sad to relate, I was beginning to lose that capacity, for those boots pinched, oh, how they pinched. But I had to smile and look pleasant, for 1 had insisted on having those particular boots. I wouldn’t try on any others, and they couldn’t be sent back, and I couldn’t tell the girl because—well—because I never did like to admit I had made a mistake. So I just grinned and bore it, and the picnic came to an end at last, as all picnics do. I went home and pulled those boots off. My feet were blistered all over, top and bottom. Mother called for supper. I went downstairs in my stocking feet. Wasn’t I thankful I had those boots off. And then along came “the girl” and the rest of the crowd. They were going to see the fireworks. I had to put those boots on over those blisters. I didn’t enjoy the fireworks—not one bit. I wasn’t even thinking of the “girl.” I was just wishing I hadn’t been in such a hurry to buy those boots. The girl was rather silent, too. I’ve often wondered if she understood or if her new shoes hurt her, too. Sometimes I think she understood, because she was the sort of a girl that did understand. That Editor man once said he liked verses. I wonder if he ever saw these? They tell better than I can why she would be apt to understand :

( want to go back when the days grow warm.

I want to go back to the dear old farm.

(Continued on page 191.)

The Jewell Nursery Company

Lake City, Minn.

Established 1868

Fifty-three years continuous service

A Complete Stock of Fruit, Shelter and Ornamental Stock in Hardy Varieties for Northern Planters.

Third Wisconsin Beekeepers’ Field Meet and Chautauqua, Chippewa Falls, August 15-20

You cannot afford to miss the Bee-keepers’ Field Meet and Chautauqua. You will notice by the following program that Dr. Phillips, Mr. Root, Mr. Dadant and Mr. Parks will be with us and, as you know, these men are all nationally known beekeepers. Mr.. De-muth may also be able to come.

All who expect to come should fill out the slip below and return to this office at once:

Third Wisconsin Beekeepers’ Field Meet and Chautauqua, August 15-20, Chippewa Falls.

Name ..............................

Address ............................

Reserve room or tent................

How many in your party and how many days will you attend?........

PROGRAM

Monday, August 15

Morning

9:00 Registration.

10:30 Addresses of Welcome.

11:00 President’s Address.

11:30 Relation of Queen to a Maximum Crop...............

Ivan Whiting, Plymouth, Wis.

Afternoon

1:30 The Influence of Weather on Beekeeping Practice......

...............H. F. Wilson

2:30 Comb vs. Extracted Honey Production ..............

Dr. Robert Siebecker, Madison, Wis.

3:30 Reports from Local Associations.

Tuesday, August 16

Morning

9:00 Our Future Beekeepers.....

.............H. L. McMurry 10:00 How the Wisconsin Honey

Grading Law Is Improving Honey Sales.............

Afternoon

1:30 Wisconsin Cooperative Associations and How the Division of Markets Can Help the Beekeepers...........

L. G. Foster, Wisconsin Division of Markets.

3:00 The American Honey Producers’ League...........

• H. B. Parks, Sec., San Antonio, Texas.

4:00 Reports from Local Associations.

Wednesday, August 17 Morning

9:00 The Needs of Richland Coun. ty Beekeepers’ Association Mrs. B. C. Handy, Richland Center.

10:00 Prevention of Swarming....

C. P. Dadant, Hamilton, Ill. 11:00 The Forks in the Road.....

C. W. Aeppler, Oconomowoc, Wis.

Afternoon

1:30 Choosing a Location in Wisconsin ..................

Dr. E. F. Phillips, Washington, D. C.

3:00 Northern vs. Southern Beekeeping .................

Kennith Hawkins, Watertown, Wis.

4:00 County Organization and Its Possibilities .............

Mrs. D. A. Blanchard, Antigo, Wis.

Thursday, August 18 Morning 9:00 The Lessons to be Learned from Demonstration Apiaries .....................

E. W. Atkins, Watertown, Wis.

10:00 Wholesale and Retail Marketing of Honey—What It Costs to Sell.............

... .E. R. Root, Medina, Ohio 11:00 Beekeeping Commercialized

..A. Swahn, Ellsworth, Wis.

Afternoon

3:00 Some of the Basic Principles in Successful Cooperative Marketing ...............

Rep. L. S. Tenny, U. S. Dept, of Agric. Bureau of Markets.

5:30 BEEKEEPERS’ PICNIC.

Friday, August 19 Morning

9:00 Effect of American Foulbrood on Beekeeping in America... Dr. E. F. Phillips 10:30 Foulbrood Control from the National Standpoint......

Dr. S. B. Fracker, State Entomologist

Afternoon

1:30 New Methods in Beekeeping ... .E. R. Root, Medina, Ohio

2:30 The Wisconsin Honey Producers’ Cooperative Association ..................

..A. Swahn, Ellsworth, Wis.

3:30 The Wisconsin State Fair...

. .Gus Dittmer, Augusta, Wis.

State Fair Beekeeping Exhibit

Copies of the premium list for the state fair are now ready and beekeepers who desire to secure a copy can do so by writing to Gus Dittmer, Augusta, Wisconsin, who is superintendent of the Bee and Honey Department.

Mr. Dittmer has expressed his great appreciation of the cooperation the beekeepers have given in this matter and the beekeepers of Wisconsin should know of the excellent work which Mr. Dittmer has done along these lines. Mr. Dittmer has built the Bee and Honey Department up from a very small beginning to probably the best exhibit of its kind in the United States and this department has grown to such an extent that a number of applications from beekeepers have not been accepted because of a lack of room. The State Fair board promises us that they will in the near future provide a sufficient space to take care of all of our wants.

—H. F. Wilson.

sociation ...................$100.00

Wisconsin State Beekeepers Association

--------, Manitowoc County...   1.00 Geo. A. Brill, Elk Mound.......

Miss Mathilde Candler, Cassville

Ira Lubbers, Cedar Grove......

John Kneser, Hales Corners...

Mrs. Pauline Baeseman, Wausau

WHO’S NEXT?

The Hawks Nursery Company are in a position to furnish high grade Nursery Stock °f dl kinds and varieties suitable to Wisconsin and other northern districts.

Will be glad to figure on your wants either in large or small quantities

Italian Bees and Queens for Sale

The Henseler Apiaries

MARSHFIELD - WIS.

Quality and a Square Deal

ARE WHAT WE OFFER YOU

Our new 48-page catalog (16 pages in colors) gives you an honest description of FRUITS, VINES, ORNAMENTALS, PER-ENNIALS, etc., for this climate.

If you are in doubt as to what is best to plant we will be glad to advise with you.

We do landscape work.

The Coe, Converse Edwards Co.

Fort Atkinson, Wis.

FOR SALE—Hardy northern bred Italian queens, each and every queen warranted satisfac* tory. Prices: One, $1.50; 12, $15.

THEO. GFNTZ, SHAWANO, WIS.

Use Product of Quality and Get Maximum Results

Cream City

DRY

Arsenate of Lead

It kills quick, sticks longer and has maximum suspension

LIME SULPHUR         SULPHUR (DUSTING)      SODIUM NITRATE

BORDEAUX PASTE       CALCIUM ARSENATE      SWIFT'S FERTILIZER

Cream City Chemical Works

770-778 Kinnickinnic Ave.            ORDER NOW                    Milwaukee. Wis.

Nursery Stock of Quality

for Particular Buyers

Have all the standard varieties as well as the newer sorts. Can supply you with everything in

Fruit Trees, Small Fruits, Vines and Ornamentals.

Let us suggest what to plant both in Orchard and in the decoration of your grounds.

Prices and our new Catalog sent promptly upon receipt of your list of wants.

Nurseries at Waterloo, Wise.

Should send for our booklet on the new MODIFIED DADANT HIVE. The hive with a brood chamber sufficient for prolific queens. OUR CATALOG IS FREE.

DADANT & SONS

Hamilton, Illinois

Berry Boxes

Crates, Bushel Boxes and Climax Baskets

As You Like Them

We manufacture the Ewald Patent Folding Berry Boxes of wood veneer that give satisfaction. Berry box and crate material in the K. D. in carload lots our specialty. We constantly carry in stock 16-quart crates all made up ready for use. either for strawberries or blueberries. No order too small or too large for us to handle. We can ship the folding boxes and crates in K. D. from Milwaukee. Promptness is essential in handling fruit, and we aim to do our part well. A large discount for early orders. A postal brings our price list.

Cumberland Fruit Package Company

Dept. D, Cumberland, Wis.