364 
MOORE’S RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
mkricultural 
THE QUINCE ON WILD THORN. 
E. R. P. of Lansingburg, N. Y., writes to 
the New York Times as follows:—“ Having 
a few thorn apple trees in my garden, which 
were set out for the purpose of grafting the 
pear, I thought I would put in a few orange 
quince, and one-third of each tree was 
grafted with the quince. In the early part 
cf September about one-third of the growth 
was cut back. The next spring one-half of 
the balance was grafted. That year the 
grafts of the previous year had fruits on, 
and in September the grafts set out that 
spring were cut back, hb had been done the 
year previous, and these grafts had fruit on 
the next year, and the balance of the trees 
grafted the following spring, the grafts cut 
back rh heretofore mentioned. The next 
year the trees were all loaded with fruit, 
and they have continued to bear since. If I 
was going to graft any more 1 should graft 
one-half, if not the whole tree, the first year. 
By grafting the thorn you will not be liable 
to be troubled with the borer, and not sub¬ 
ject to any disease, which is something you 
cannot say of the quince, as, even when the 
natural quince bush looks healthy, they do 
not bear, and are generally barren.” 
The writer of the above probably thinks 
he has made a discovery, and, as is very nat¬ 
ural iu such instances, he jumps at conclu¬ 
sions which are very erroneous. Now our 
wild thorn apple tree (Cratergun), as every en¬ 
tomologist knows, is the natural home of the 
two-striped saperda (Saperda Candida) or 
apple tree borer, which is so destructive to 
young orchards iu the Eastern States; conse¬ 
quently working the quince or. this stock 
would be no protection against the attacks 
of this insect, it may prefer the quince mid 
apple tree to the thorn, in which it has 
probably bred, since the creation, in this 
country; but wherever these are not suffi¬ 
ciently abundant to supply its needs, it goes 
back to the thorns, making havoc among 
them. If it were not for this borer we could 
use the thorns, both native and exotic, for 
hedges, aud they would be far superior to 
any of the more popular kinds in use, the 
Osage Orange not excepted, In localities 
where the borer is not abundant the wild 
thorns may answer for stocks upon which to 
work the quince, but not elsewhere. 
-- 
ASCENT OF SAP IN THE BARK OF TREES. 
M. Faivre has recently performed a series 
of experiments on the mulberry, hazel nut, 
and cherry laurel, which he considers goes 
far to prove the fact that the substances 
which supply the food of plants have an 
ascending motion in the bark. For this pur¬ 
pose, he made perfect or imperfect annular 
incisions through the bark, or detached 
pieces of the bark, to which burls were at¬ 
tached, or removed entire cylinders of bark 
from the tnink. The result of the experi¬ 
ments was that the buds always continued 
to develop when the communication re¬ 
mained uninterrupted with the lower por¬ 
tion of the trunk ; while when this com¬ 
munication was completely destroyed, the 
buds invariably withered away. If the bud 
was separated by a perfect annular incision, 
it withered the more slowly the greater its 
distance from the incision ; and in these 
cases the starch disappeared entirely from 
the portions of the wood above the incision 
between it and the bud. When entire cyl¬ 
inders of bark with buds oix them were re¬ 
moved, the buds continued to develop, and 
even produced branches bearing leaves. 
-- 
LAYERING PLANTS. 
It’s time now to think of multiplying 
plants, of which one may not have tux abun¬ 
dance. Of course grafting has been done; 
also cuttings made and planted, for it is get¬ 
ting too late to perform these operations 
except in a few extreme Northern localities. 
But propagating plants by layers is very 
much like a motion iu public assemblies to 
adjourn, “it is always in order,” although 
with sonic kinds of hardy plants spring is 
the best time. A branch of a shrub, vine or 
tree, bent down and a portion of it covered 
with soil at this time is very likely to pro¬ 
duce roots upou that part which is buried 
by next autumn, if not before. With some 
kinds it is necessary to scarify or partially 
expose the wood at the point where it is de¬ 
sirable to have new roots produced; audit 
is we 1 to do this upon all, as it hastens their 
growth even if not positively necessary to 
their production. 
We have so frequently referred to and de- one of the principal causes of so many fail- 
scribed the various methods of making lay- ores with these very easily cultivated plants, 
era of different plants, that it is Scarcely The ball of earth and roots when removed 
necessary to repeat them at this time. We f ro m the pots, previous to planting out, 
only desire to remind our readers that layer- should be well soaked, and then partially 
ing Is one of the simplest ways of multiply- broken, in order to separate the roots and 
ing many kinds of hardy plants, and that give them a start in the surrounding soil. If 
spriDg 15 a good time to make a beginning, the plants are placed iu the grouud with the 
Presuming some one or more of our amateur j ball entire, the water applied artificially or 
gardeners would feel inclined, after reading I by rains iB very likely to sink Into the more 
__ . open and porous soil surrounding 
- - - - the ball, without a pai-ticle enter¬ 
ing or reaching the roots where 
C ^ needed most. The dead and dying 
C bedding plants to be seen in thou¬ 
sands of gardens this season shows 
__ _ _ neglect somewhere, and from con¬ 
siderable experience and observa- 
I ] tion in this line, we are inclined to 
r I 3 C attribute many failures to a neglect 
of thoroughly soaking and carefully 
spreading out the roots at the time 
_ —-—— of planting. 
—-- - 
„ floricultural notes. 
c 0 - 
Red Snider in Green-House.— 1 
should like to inquire through the 
__ Rural New- Yorker if any one can 
tell of a method of destroying red 
spidera in a green-house by funnga- 
turn without Injuring the plants. 
q g C In warm weather it seems impos¬ 
sible to keep the green house damp 
_ enough to prevent their depreda¬ 
tions on such plants as need to be 
- kept under. Deluging the house 
from a forco pump don t seem to do 
r any good, and dipping would be im- 
C u possible with a large number of 
plants. Any information would be 
gladly received by—A Reader of 
the Rural. 
- . in mi Li - The fumes of sulphur in addition 
^ D to moisture will destroy them; but 
__ Bulphur must not be burned ; it 
Upper Floor—A, floor, 14 feet wide: 13, feed holes, 2x7 must be melted in the green-house, 
feet; C, hay bays, 14x19 feet; D, platform; E, stairs. A goo d way to do this )s to place 
(See elevation and description on pane 861) ^e flues when heated, or 
the above, to write and ask if this or that upon heated bricks laid under the stage, 
kind of plant can be propagated by layers, B(sf (j eran i ims .— In the report for 
we will anticipat e their questions by saying ^ the Massachusetts Horticultural So- 
that anything from a hickory down to a cietv lg given the following list of the best 
carnation pink can be multiplied by this geran j um3 f or general bedding purposes: 
process, with this difference:—The carnat ion rj bc best golden tricolor is Mrs. Pollock; the 
layer may produce roots in two or three 8 j| ver tricolors are of little value. The Al- 
weeks, while some of the trees and shrubs biou Cliff is the best silver edged for bedding, 
require as many years. But if we never be- In bronze class, Moor, Harold and Reine 
gin, the desired end will never be reached, victoria, dwarf, are the best. The. best 
and time passes just the same whether we eoar h»t8 are Orbioulatum, Coleshill, Gen. 
do or not, consequently not a moment is 0rant) Kingcraft, Leonidas aud Sir John 
gained by waiting. Moore. For darker shades of scarlet, Doug- 
' - - - lass Pearson and Wellington are good. 
/dl * Crystal Palace gem isthe best golden leaved. 
rdriQntfttUlujftL The best pink geraniums are May Queen 
' s —4 h __and Master Christine. 
httt rfddiNG plants! Vitality of Seeds Affected by Gas.—An 
SETTING 0 Englishman, basing his opinion upon his ex- 
TMiTv-Vinaed perience with seeds purchased of seedsmen 
Plants, such as are generally purchased x^ Q do and do not burn ga3 i n their stores, 
of florists iu spring, have been grown m in j ureS the vitality of seeds, and 
small pots for the purpose of ^ 1 ^ roo “ l ' n suggea t 8 that those who burn gas should 
tho house, which is quite an important con- bfc _ 
sideratiou to the grower, and - j —T f gT P 11 q 
the purchaser obtains them at G | I 
a less price in consequence. If I 
every plant had been given £ J == J- Jx == ; 
abundant pot room while be- * \ =^ - t === i 
ing forced under glass, they ■ Smi' ==s li * r , 
would be larger at the same, q ■ I 1 j=g;l# I H G 
age, but proportionately dear- I I I ij I 
er, as u less number could be ■ V == - - ==== j | 
grown in a given space. "What I 1 —— - 1 ~ i, x 
are usually termed “cheap bed- * pjj - !=; I 
ding plants, such as Verbenas, g I * == j// //l- === j p tj G 
Heliotropes , Lanlanas, Cu- ^ g I j‘ == ~ ~ == " I I 
pheas , Coleus and Achyran - ■ I [===- . f _ I 
thus, which are sold in our A T l === ~ " =—_ n* 
markets from fifty cents per ±D : .' = : ~|=§/ i. 
dozen and upwards, grow | I n 
quite rapidly when planted in G B I //I , ■== ') I I G 
the open ground ; consequent- g | | * 
ly the size of the specimens is jj =H|l ~ ^^= j I 
not of any considerable im- £ j, . - ' - -- ' J 
portance, provided they are L | m 
healthy and lmve plenty of E I r== jl// I 0 G 
roots. It also may frequently ® | I ~ == [! I § 
occur that the plants have been I |‘|=||' | B 
kept in this crowded condition % j l~ t [ = —- ( $ 
until some of their leaves turn $ \W=~- I 
yellow and drop off, giving the I == - - i 1 m 
specimens a sickly appearan ce; B J ] ^Jj 
but if this results from what “ 1 " . 
florists term being pot-bound, Bjt8R11ES!1 _ At alley,8x70 feet; B, stall floor, «4*70 feet; C 
they are really none the worse ditch or drop» 14 Inches wide; D, space or walk t L, stanch 
•-a - ■>“,s“ 4 * 
ot t il» same kind, if shove their seeds on shelves or in lockers be 
one knows just bow to manage them. low the gas lights and ns near the level o 
_ . 11 + .n i.nnuiir vpnr the floors as possible. He suggests, too, tha 
Purchasers of such plants a. e usua ly very ebaracter of the paper in which seed 
careful to preserve the'bah of earth aud may have influence upon thei 
ssr^rs' TS&ssti sst 
mg rue wuw _ erwise seemingly imaccountable. 
handling as possible, winch is all wi ong, ana b 
4UNE 6 
®Itc f oultig 
SOME ITEMS ABOUT POULTRY. 
I have a hen that is what I call a good 
layer. She has laid since the last of January 
91 eggs, only missing a few times during the 
coldest weather. She lays a very large, white 
egg, with such a thick shell that the chicks 
have some trouble getting through, so I don’t 
set them any more. She is part Brahma, 
and is two years old. 
If a very little kerosene is rubbed on the 
heads of chicks the day after they come out, 
the lice will all come off of the skin, and can 
be readily taken off with a fine tooth comb. 
The chicks will not be troubled with them 
again, and will be much stronger. To take 
lice off larger fowls, black snuff is the best 
thing I have yet used. 
I find my hens lay larger eggs by feeding 
them meat and cracking up the small bones. 
Will some one tell me how long duck and 
turkey eggs will keep good for setting ? I 
have kept some turkey eggs in a cool, dry 
place for a month, waiting for a hen to set. 
I fear they are spoiled. c. a. m. 
Brewster, N. Y. 
Upper Floor—A, floor, 14 feet wide: B, feed ! 
feet; C, hay bays, 14x19 feet; D. platform; 
(See elevation and description on pa«e 861) 
the above, to write and ask if this or that 
kind of plant can be propagated by layers, 
we will anticipat e their questions by saying 
that anything from ft hickory down to a 
carnation pink can be multiplied by this 
process, with this difference:-The carnation 
layer may produce roots in two or three 
weeks, while some of the trees and shrubs 
require as many years. But if we never be¬ 
gin, the desired end will never be reached, 
and time passes just the same whether wo 
do or not, consequently not a moment is 
gained by waiting. __ 
^loricultmjal 
SETTING OUT BEDDING PLANTS. 
ronvv *i - -- s— 
who do and do not burn gas in their stores, 
thinks gas injures the vitality of seeds, and 
suggests that those who burn gas should 
1 
_ _ — 
- - ' —■ 
i 
■ 
1 
u 
LJ 
m 
LsesaoH 
i 
Basement— A , alley, 8x70 feet; B, stall floor, 4%x70 feet; C, 
ditch or drop, 14 inches wide; D, space or walk ; L, stanch¬ 
ions; F, manure cellar; G. piers, 2x4 feet; 11, column under 
cross sills; W, windows; I, doors. (See page 361. 
une kind, if shove their seeds on shelves or in lockers be- 
them. low the gas lights, and as near the level of 
usually very tlie floors 85 possible. He suggests, too, that 
f eurth and the character of the paper in which seeds 
intact plan- are P ut U P ina Y have influence upon their 
vith as little vitality. This may account for failures oth- 
ii wmiiff and erwise seemingly unaccountable. 
POULTRY NOTES. 
TFhal U the Matter with the Goslings —Wo 
have a flock of about 50, und the most of 
them are sick. Tho first we noticed, their 
eyes were swelled, and they water so much 
that after a day or two they become perfect¬ 
ly blind. They stand in bunches, make a 
very pitiful noise, shake their heads and rub 
them on their feathers until their heads are 
wet all over. Last year wo lost about 75, 
which were affected the same way. Will 
some kind reader of the Rural please Inform 
me through its columns the cause and rem¬ 
edy, and oblige t— W. J. L. 
It may be that all this trouble is caused 
by insects which get into their eyes and nos¬ 
trils—which, according to ’1 he People’s Prac¬ 
tical Poultry Book, is not infrequent. The 
relief suggested is to give them some corn at 
the bottom of a vessel full of clean water ; 
ill order to eat it they arc obliged to plunge 
their heads iu the svater, which rids them of 
these insects. If our readers can be more 
specific from experience, we shall be glad to 
hear from them. 
Poultry from England. —J. Y. Bicknell 
writes us May 21 that he received on that 
day Horn Mr. John K. Fowler, Aylesbury, 
Eng., one pair lloudans, four colored Dork¬ 
ings and one Spanish hen—all fine birds, some 
having won prizes in England. 
Iforiculturc. 
EEL PROPAGATION. 
I notice in Rural New-Yorker of May 
16th, the reproduction from the Gartenlaube 
of an article by Prof. Ebekhardt, on the 
propagation of eels. My attention had al¬ 
ready been called to the paper iu Its original 
form, and beiug struck by the great want of 
resemblance of the figure of the embryo to 
that of the true eel, I submitted the question 
to Prof. Gill, who satisfied himself that the 
species referred to is not an eel, but a Euro¬ 
pean fish known as the Zoaree a viviparus, 
very similar ones occuri ing on the northern 
New England coast, and called the eel pout, 
Conger eel in Portland, and lamper eel at 
Eastport, although in no respect allied to the 
true Conger or lamprey. The peculiar char¬ 
acteristics of the animal described by Dr. 
Eberhart, apply exactly to the eel pout, as 
the Zoarces is actually viviparous—that is 
to say, the female hatches the eggs within 
her abdomen. 
It may be proper to state that the latest 
idea iu regard to the reproduction of the eel 
is that it is a hermaphrodite—both male and 
female organs being contained in the same 
individual. The eggs are probably fertilized 
within the body and laid in the sand or mud 
of the sea coast ; the young when hatched, 
after a certain period move up the river as 
far as possible, aud probably remain two or 
three years, or until fully mature, when they 
go down to the sea, probably never to return. 
In this respect their action is precisely the 
reverse of that of the snlmou and shad, where 
the mature fish go up the rivers to spawn and 
the young puss down to the sea, where they 
obtain their maturity, returning to the rivers 
, again to spawn at th'e place from which they 
; originally started as young fish. 
Spencer F. Baird. 
---* 
| Whitkfish Hatching in Mich. — Mr. N. 
: W. Clark, the Michigan pisciculturist, states 
; that last November he piaeod in the State 
i hatching boxes 1,800,000 whitefish ova, o 
. which all but about 10 per cent hatched. 
Since March 23 he has distribute, a million 
‘ and a half of young whiteflsh in -A lakes and 
rivers in Michigan. 
