) 38 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
Feb. 25 
country for well-bred collie dogs is far in excess of 
the supply. 
Japanese Climbing Cucumber. —Our first seedsmen 
unite in praising this as probably a novelty of genuine 
mferit. It has not been tried in this country that we 
are aware of. It is described in the catalogues of 
Thorburn, Henderson and Burpee and probably in 
others wnich, at this writing, have not been received. 
Mr. Burpee's description follows : 
This may be described as the sensational novelty of Europe the past 
season. Durinif our trip among the German seed farms, we found It 
everywhere the relgnlnti sensation, while the growers Informed us 
that never had any vegetable had such a phenomenal sale throughout 
Europe. The seed was originally brought from Japan about three 
years ago by a professor in the University of Halle and has proved 
thoroughly adapted to open-air culture throughout Europe, and also, 
so far as tested, In America. The vines are of healthy, vigorous 
growth, with rich, dark-green foliage, and throw out strong, grasping 
tendrils, which enable It to climb trellis, wire netting, brush, or any 
other suitable support. It clings so tightly that It Is not prostrated by 
heavy storms of wind or rain. It comes Into bearing quickly, and 
continues to set the fruits abundantly throughout the season, while 
the climbing habit of growth enables the hanging fruit to grow per¬ 
fectly straight; of large size, from 12 to 16 inches In length, the cucum¬ 
bers are thick, exceedingly tender, and:of delicate flavor; of cylindri¬ 
cal shape, flesh pure white, skin dark-green turning to brown and 
netted, when ripe. They are of excellent quality for slicing, and, when 
young, make attractive pickles. 
Tradewinds .—Ccmtinued from page 123. 
bush 3 to 4 feet in height and width. Its great feathery 
white panicles, from 9 to 12 inches long, are produced 
from September until cut down by frost in October. 
Being entirely hardy in every section,it is one of the 
most useful of fall flowering plants.” 
varieties offered were not hardy, but now this diffi¬ 
culty is overcome.” (Fig. 57.) 
American Flag Poppy (Double Poeony Flowered), 
Peter Henderson & Co.—“ A robust grower ; flowers 
extra large, very double, pure white, each petal being 
margined with bright red.” (See Fig. 62.) 
New Single Marigold, 
“Little Brownie,” 
(Peter Henderson & Co.) 
—“ A charming single- 
floweriDg pigmy mari¬ 
gold, forming compact 
little bushes only five to 
six inches high. It is re¬ 
markable for blossoming 
extremely early and in 
prodigious abundance, 
commencing in June from spring-sown seed. The 
duration of the flowers and the great resistance of the 
plant to drought are marvelous. The flowers are vividly 
colored yellow or gold, marked as with a graver, 
with a large spot of brown velvet.” (See Fig. 45.) 
NOTES AND COMMENTS. 
Centrosema Grandiflora. Fig. 60. 
See this page. 
Rainbow Rose (Storrs & Harrison Co.) 
—“ An elegant new striped tea rose of 
strong, healthy growth and exceedingly 
free flowering habit. The buds are 
large on strong, stiff stems. Color a 
beautiful shade of deep pink distinctly 
striped and mottled with bright crimson 
elegantly shaded and toned with rich 
amber. It makes beautiful buds and 
flowers of large size, with thick, heavy 
petals, very fragrant. A useful variety 
for cut flowers.” (See Fig. 63 ) 
Burpee’s World-Beater Cabbage.— 
“This new cabbage originated near 
Hoboken, in Hudson County, N. J., and 
is the largest cabbage and the hardest- 
heading very large cabbage. It well 
deserves the name World-Beater, for 
never before have we seen any cabbage 
that produces such uniformly large heads 
or any very large cabbage in which the 
heads were so hard and solid. We predict 
that in a few years the Marblehead Mam¬ 
moth will be discarded.” (See Fig. 52.) 
“The Dwarf Rocky Mountain Cherry 
(William Parry) is thought to be a new 
species of cherry not classified botani- 
cally. It is closely related to the Eastern Sand 
cherryi (Prunus pumila), but differs from it in a degree 
that would seem to warrant the opinion that it is a 
distinct species.” (See Fig. 46.) 
Chas. F. Pennock, nurseryman and fruit grower, of 
Colorado, says: 
It Is the most productive of which I have any knowledge. I have 
picked 16 quarts of fruit off a three-year-old bush. I have picked 
80 cherries off a branch 12 inches long of a two-year-old bush. The 
fruit is jet-black when ripe, and in size averages somewhat larger than 
the English Morello, season of ripening being after all others are 
gone. In flavor it is akin to the sweet cherries, and when fully ripe, 
for preserves or to eatout of hand, it has no equal in the line of pitted 
fruits, and is conceded superior to any fruit grown in this section, it 
has the best system of roots of any shrub or tree I have ever planted, 
which accounts for the wonderful productiveness of plants at such an 
early age. It bears every year, and is as prolific ns a currant bush. 
Grows to a height of four feet, and has never been affected by insects, 
black knot or other disease. It makes a handsome flowering bush 
with Its mass of pure white flowers. 
Cole’s Early Water-melon (P. Henderson & Co.) — 
“This is the finest every-day melon for the amateur 
that we have ever seen. It is very hardy, a sure crop¬ 
per, and extremely delicate in texture of flesh, which 
is of a dark red color ; the rind is thin, and the quality 
of the flesh is sustained clear to the rind. It is, how¬ 
ever, exceedingly brittle, hence not desirable for 
shipping purposes, but, possessing all the other most 
desirable features, we can highly recommend it for 
home use.” (See Fig. 54.) 
The Hardy Double English Violet, (Peter Hender¬ 
son & Co.)—“Here we have a violet entirely hardy, 
perfectly double, a deep violet color and most deli¬ 
ciously fragrant. It surpasses the well-known ‘ Marie 
Louise’ violet in richness of color, being many shades 
darker, and far excels it in its delightful odor ; this 
is one of its greatest merits. It is entirely free from 
disease of any kind, will grow and bloom in any garden 
and in any situation. Thousands have been prevented 
hitherto from planting double violets because the 
The Lincoln Plum. Fig. 61, See page 123. 
is given in the catalogue of W. Atlee Burpee. 
N.-Y. has not tried them ; 
This wonderful class of hybrid gladioli was produced by 
Lelchtlln, of Germany, and Is the result of crossing 
and recrossing G. Henderson! with G. Gandavensls. 
From hts hands they passed to Monsieur G. Lc Beuf, 
Mayor of Argentuil. France, who cultivated and 
propagated them for several years, until the entire 
stock was Imported to the United States by Mr. V. H. 
Hallock In 1887. Up to this time none have been sold 
or sent out except to the Royal Botanical Gardens at 
Kew, England, where for two years they have created 
a great sensation, and to the gardens of the Czar of 
Russia and Khedive Ismail of Egypt. The stalks 
are very tall and erect, often standing four or five 
feet high, with spikes of bloom over two feet in 
length. They branch freely, In most cases each stem 
producing three or four spikes of bloom. The 
flowers are of great substance and of gigantic size, 
liequently seven to nine Inches across. The form 
of both the flower and spike Is perfectlon itself, and 
they last in bloom a long time before fading, owing 
to their great substance and vigor, but the most re¬ 
markable feature is their coloring. Orchids cannot 
surpass them In varied and delicate shades, mark¬ 
ings and blendings; blues, smoky-grays, and purple- 
blacks, all having beautifully mottled and spotted 
throats, made up of white, crimson, pink, yellow, etc. 
Centaurea—Victoria. —“This is the 
greatest contrast imaginable to ordinary 
sorts. It is a dwarf, compact variety of 
Centaurea cyanus, or Blue cornflower. 
Of neat, compact habit, the plants are 
only six to nine inches high, carrying 
a profusion of azure-blue flowers.” 
The above is taken from one of sev¬ 
eral catalogues that offer this charming 
little plant. It is worthy of the usual 
send off as a choice novelty—but the 
supply of seed is so limited that it would 
not be judicious for any seedsman to ad¬ 
vertise it conspicuously. 
We learn from sources that may not 
be questioned that the demand in this 
The R. 
Centrosema or Spurred Butterfly pea 
is a native found in sandy woods from 
Maryland southward. It is a twining 
perennial. Our only species is C. Virgin- 
ianuin Mr. William Bassett of New Jersey discovered 
a variety which he calls Centrosema grandiflora, and 
this is the meritorious novelty which will be found in 
American Flag Poppy. Fig. 62. See above. 
The New Gladioli Childsi are among the few choice 
novelties offered this year. The following description 
Note this: Salzer offers Prize Danvers onion seed 
at $1.60 per pound; Buckbee at $125. The fact is 
that it is selling at wholesale for $1.75 
per pound. 
The New Melrose musk-melon is 
worthy of a trial. The melons grow 
close to the hill. The color is dark 
green, the shape oval. The melons 
average four pounds each and are densely 
netted with little tendency to rib. The 
flesh is thick, light green in color near 
the ried, then shading to a salmon near 
the seed cavity. In flavor, it is claimed 
absolutely unequaled. 
We are credibly informed that a de¬ 
cided advantage possessed by the new 
White Wonder cucumber is that it is 
possessed of a hardy constitution. While 
other vines shrivel up and die, those of 
the White Wonder hold their leaves 
which retain a healthy green color as do 
ordinary varieties. 
Speaking of the new Japan climbing 
cucumber, we may add to the above note 
that it was first catalogued by German 
seed houses in 1892. It is a thorough 
climber, the tendrils taking a firm hold 
upon anything with which they come in 
contact. Again the cucumbers are not 
deformed by contact with the uneven 
soil. Instead of turning yellow, as other 
varieties do when ripe, they change to a 
brown color. 
