AMERICAN HOMES AND GARDENS 



March, 1908 



FLOORS 



SPRECKLES RESIDENCE, SAN FRANCISCO, CAL. 



Reid Brothers, 

 Architects. 



Clinton Fireproofing Co. of California, 

 Contractors for Fireproofing. 



The above illustration shows the magnificent residence of 

 Mr. Spreckles, San Francisco, in course of construction 



THE CLINTON FIREPROOFING SYSTEM 



used throughout for floors and roofs. The continuous 

 bond of Clinton Electrically Welded Wire is the 



One best reinforcing for concrete 



NO LAPS 



NO WEAK POINTS 



NO WASTE 



Clinton Wire Cloth Co., 



Clinton, Mass. 



FIREPROOFING DEPARTMENT 



ALBERT OLIVER 



1 MADISON AVE., NEW YORK 



washington i rosslyn supply co., colorado building 

 syracuse, ny.: paragon plaster co. 

 st. lou i s : hunkins-willis lime & cement co., south end 18th st. bridge 

 san francisco: l. a, norris, 835 monadnock building 

 Seattle: i. a. norris, 909 Alaska building 



"LANE'S BALL-BEARING" 



is the 



Best 



House- 



Door 



Hanger 

 Made 



Other Styles for Less Money Sold by Hardware Trade 



Send for Catalog 



Lane Brothers Company, 434-466 Prospect Street, Poughkeepsie, N.Y. 



A FEW YARD FRUITS 



By E. P. Powell 



OUR suburban yards are not so pinched 

 that we can not grow a larger part of 

 our fruits. It will be a mistake, how- 

 ever, if the planter does not keep himself very 

 well posted as to new sorts, and as to the 

 adaptability of each sort in the way of growth, 

 hardiness and fertility without being pollen- 

 ized from outside. A large number of new 

 sorts are offered in every class every year. 1 

 only propose to suggest a small group for a 

 yard of half an acre, more or less. 



Among the newer pears you may set down 

 Bartlett-hybrid as being a better grower than 

 the old Bartlett, with equally good quality and 

 larger fruit. The Lincoln, sometimes called 

 the Illinois Lincoln, is another that you may 

 count upon to a certainty as a strong, vigor- 

 ous grower and immense bearer. The fruit 

 averages larger than Bartlett, a red-cheeked 

 yellow fruit, with a high flavor and small core. 

 It ripens just after Bartlett, and will make a 

 good variety for succession, placing Tyson be- 

 fore the two. This is an entirely different 

 pear from the Lincoln coreless, which is a 

 worthless affair. A later pear of fine quality 

 is the Snyder. The fruit is medium size, of 

 excellent quality and a bright yellow color. It 

 comes to bearing early, and ripens after Lin- 

 coln and before Seckel. I should add to this 

 list Fame, only that I am not quite sure of 

 the tree. It is a strong grower, but has not 

 proved as hardy as some. I think it will be 

 best grown as a dwarf. The quality is very 

 fine. The Rossney is a delicious pear, ripen- 

 ing in September. It is of very large size, 

 and the tree is vigorous. I think that these 

 varieties are all worthy of planting in the 

 suburbs of our cities, as well as generally in 

 our pear orchards. 



I have tried to find a quince better than the 

 old Orange or Apple quince. I am growing 

 in Florida Mr. Burbank's Pineapple with suc- 

 cess, and it seems to be all right here in New 

 York. The Van Deman is a remarkably 

 strong grower ; but its chief advantage is bear- 

 ing when very small. The quality of this 

 quince is extra good, and it keeps well. The 

 Pourgeat is a strong grower and an immense 

 cropper. I shall plant this hereafter with a 

 good deal of confidence, being sure of its good 

 quality, and almost sure of its entire hardiness. 

 I wonder that more people who own small 

 fruit gardens do not grow the quince. It is 

 not only fit for preserves, but is one of the 

 most delicious baked fruits I have ever tasted. 

 Everyone must find out for himself whether 

 the sweet cherries will thrive with him or not, 

 but I am growing with entire success the Dyke- 

 man. This is a large black cherry, and the 

 latest of the sweet cherries. Of the older 

 sorts Governor Wood has proved absolutely 

 hardy in central New York, and the fruit 

 buds seldom fail — perhaps one year out of five. 

 However, I would recommend for a suburban 

 yard very free planting of the old May Duke. 

 This, like all the Dukes, is half way between 

 the sweet and the sour. The tree grows quite 

 upright, and although the fruit buds are not 

 entirely hardy, I generally get a good supply. 

 Two of the sour cherries which should be 

 planted everywhere, and very freely, are the 

 Suda Hardy and the Montmorency. From 

 Oregon we have recently received two cherries 

 that ought to be planted everywhere, the Bing 

 and the Lambert. I think the Lambert is the 

 largest, and perhaps the best. It is heart- 

 shaped and of a dark purple red — almost black. 

 It is not only of immense size for a cherry, 

 but the tree is an enormous bearer. So far 

 as I have tested these trees, they are equally 

 adapted to Florida and New York State. 

 Of the newer plums there is a fine list. I 

 {Continued on page xx) 



