222 
ORE’S RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
OCT. S 
Urart? of a |jteralist. 
DAILY RURAL LIFE. 
Prom the Diary of a Gentleman near Kew 
York City. 
TAKINQ OP PLANTS. 
Sept 21.—There h ive been no signs of frost 
yc‘, but as we may expect one withiu a few 
diys I have commenced housing my tender 
plant?. A - season seldom passes without a 
f ' ost between tho 15th ami 25tli of Septem¬ 
ber, and knowing this 1 commence taking up 
tender plants "in time” wi'ljout wailing 
for “ weather signs.” For the past seven 
days it has been cl mdy, raining quite briskly 
duringfive of the number, affording every¬ 
body in this region of country who have 
truder plants to take up a splendid opportu¬ 
nity to do so, Inasmuch as plants carefully 
lifted and j otted during such weather ro- 
oeivobuta sight check to their growth. I 
regret, however, to say that there are many 
persons who have resided in one place fifty 
years, more or less, and know that frosts, 
and winter, come with but slight variations 
nt a certain time every yeur, and still these 
events always take them unawares and un- 
prep i red. Experience is said to bo “ a good 
teacher,” but some persons require a good 
deal of it to make them wise or even judi¬ 
ciously cautious. 
P’ESE.IViNQ THE FO’IAOE OE PLANTS. 
There are many kinds of house plants of 
which it is usually desirable to preserve a 
portion of the leaves when taken up and 
housed for winter. Tho rose and other 
scented leaved geraniums are of that class, 
besides we have many winter blooming 
plaits like the Bouvardias and perpet¬ 
ual carnation pinks, the buds of which will 
be formed if no fl >wera are open at the time 
of taking up from the ground, where they' 
have been growing - during the summer, con¬ 
sequently considerable care is requisite to 
preserve them perfect. Moist, cloudy weather 
is of oourso desirable for thi9 purpose, but 
this U not all, because with such plants the. 
foliage or buds of which it is necessary to 
preserve, should be placed in the shade or in 
a d irk place for a day or two after potting, 
and then brought bun the light gradually; 
the object being to chock a rapid evapora¬ 
tion from tho leaves until the roots can again 
become fixed in ihe e«rtb, as they were 
previous to removal. After the plants are 
potted, sprinkle the foliage with water and 
soak the soil thoroughly, sob it in a dark 
room for a day or two and then bring out 
in*o the light. It is welt to put a paper or 
thin cloth over them for a week longer to 
prevent the direct rays of the sun reaching 
plants. By a little core in shading and 
watering, such plants as I have named may 
be removed from tho garden to the house, 
remaining fresh, losing none of their buds or 
leave®. 
P3TTINQ BUSES POB WINTER. 
It ii little use trying to save the buds or 
flo vers on monthly roses taken up from the 
ground in fall. Occaeiolally a plant can be 
lifted with a ball of earth about the root.?, 
and the buds upon it preserved, but this may 
be considered an exception to the general 
rule. If roses are desired for blooming in win¬ 
ter andnonehave been grown in pots for this 
purpo: e. those growing in the open grouud 
can be taken; but when potted every shoot 
should be cut hack severally, and if every 
leaf falls, or is t-skm off, so muoh the better. 
For Lnsfa.ace, plants a foot or two high at 
this time should be out down to within six 
or eight tnohes of the root, and then sot 
away in a cool, shady place for a month, 
giving only enough water to prevent actual 
shrivel ug of the stems. After this brief 
period of rest bring the pots into the room, 
or house, where they will receive sufficient 
heat to excite growth again. There is no 
diffkxdty in bringing tho Bourbon and Tea 
revoe Into bloom in January, which are 
taken up this fall and treated in the manner 
described. Of course this is not the way 
our florists treat their roses, from which 
they expect to sell a great number of 
flowers during the holidays, but it will do 
for amateurs, who like myself want a few 
flowers in winter without going into the 
business in tho most approved and scientific 
system of culture. 
SOME NEW RISES. 
Last spring I made a note in my Diary of 
the purcha-e of some new roses, costing 
from SI to SI each for littlo plants six or 
eight inches high. They were planted m 
ray garden, and are to-day in full bloom, as 
they have been for several weeks. As a 
whole the two dozen sorts obtained at the 
time named are really superb, answering 
very well the description given them by their 
originators, less some of the high-sounding 
adjectives generally thrown in for effect in 
such cases. But, after admitting all this, I 
must seriously ask myself, “ What have I 
gained which was not already in my pos¬ 
session before the purchase, beyond the few 
vcj y * Frencby ’ uames appended ?” For in¬ 
stance. hero is Souvenir l)u'n Amite —a flesh- 
colored rose, with a shade of salmon, for all 
the world like the old Triomphe de Luxem¬ 
bourg which I had twenty-flve years ago. 
Annette Leant is another pretty nsw va¬ 
riety, of a pale straw color, bat inferior to 
the old Salfaterre, Maresdhal if tel, or Isabella 
Sprimt, which arc similar and, I think, bet¬ 
ter. 
Belle Macotnnalre is a beautiful pale 
salmon color, somewhat after tho stylo of 
our old favorite, Safrano , but inferior to it. 
Le Floribcre is a white rose, slightly tinted 
with salmon color, Inferior to the old, vigor¬ 
ous-growing, free-blooming Latnarqtu 1 . But 
I will not excite the ire of propagators of 
‘‘new roses” by going into further or more 
minute details, only give it as my dear- 
bought experience, that only about one new 
rose in fifty possesses a new, distinct and valu¬ 
able characteristic or merit, consequently a 
man who purchuses all the novelties pays 
dear for lib education in this direction. 
While doing a little scolding, I might as well 
mention some of the 
NEW COLEUSES. 
The advent of the Coleus Verschajfelti 
some ten or twelve years since awakened 
our florists to the capabilities of this genus 
of plants. Its rich, deep-colored leaves made 
it one of the most effective bedding plants, 
besides it withstood the hot sun of our rather 
trying climate without fading or becoming 
In the least discolored. It produced need 
abundantly, and there was no obstacle in 
the way of producing innumerable varieties, 
which has been taken advantage of, and for 
the past few years florists’ catalogues have 
termed” with the names of now and su¬ 
perb Co buses. It is, however, somewhat 
surprising that this first attractive variety 
should have remained so long the most valu¬ 
able as a bedder, as not one ha 3 been pro 
duccd since which approach it for this pur¬ 
pose, Last spring, for the first time in a 
number of years, I neglected to plant out a 
good ly number of this old sort, trusting to 
the “novelties” or newer varieties to make 
tho garden gay with brilliant foliage ; but 
they have sadly disappointed me. The new 
Oole.ua Magnet was such a gem in the house, 
its leaves being of a deep dark velvety, ma¬ 
roon, with a golden edge, reminding one of 
the wings of the Antiopa butterfly (Vanessa 
Antiopa I ; but when growing in the garden 
the peculiar luster of the leaves in a measure 
disappear. Last year Coleun Chameleon 
promised well so long as the plants remained 
in the greenhouse, but, like the animal after 
which it ia named, the colors were unything 
but permanent, and they went from bad to 
worse, the latter predominating. This season 
the Shah , Golden Gem and Crown of Jewels 
were so superb under glass that I concluded 
to try them in the borders ; but their glori¬ 
ous colors fade beneath our hot, scorching 
sun, and I shall be compelled to go back to 
the oldest variety as still the best for bed¬ 
ding-out in summer. 
I have just looked over the catalogues of 
some half a dozen of our largest floral es¬ 
tablishments, and find, with all the high 
praise bestowed upon the newer sorts, the 
C-verechaffeUi is pronounced to be the b ?st 
bedM,\g-out variety, and I will add that few 
persons would desire to grow them for any 
other purpose. 
-*-*-*- 
MULCHING STRAWBERRIE8. 
P. T. Quixn prefers turnip tops to any 
other material for mulching strawberries. 
Many yoars since I abandoned the use of tan- 
bark for mulching strawberries, because in 
the first place it was too expensive, and 
secondly, 1 was annoyed by the aftergrowth 
of sorrel, which gave us considerable trouble 
to eradicate. Again, while cub straw will 
answer a good purpose as a sum uer mulch, 
for winter protection of strawberry plants 
it certainly does not come up to thestandard. 
When the ground is not covered with snow, 
with an occasional strong wind, cut straw Is 
blown about evei*y which-way. leaving the 
plants uncovered. In my experience long 
straw or fine soft hay are infinitely superior 
for winter mucking to either tan-bark or 
cut straw. Turnip tops are sure to remain 
iu place through all kinds of weather, until 
removed by hand towards spring, and to 
those who have such material the experi¬ 
ment Is worth a trial.— Horticulturist• 
GRANGERS. 
Thib name comes from the Latin granum, 
and means grain. It also means farm. Hence 
this word, now in common use, simply means 
farmers, and about these as such, we wish to 
write. When we remember that fanners, 
agriculturists or husbandmen, represent one 
of the oldest, most necessary, most quiet and 
respectable classes of citizens, in all times and 
among all nations, we cannot but feel that 
they are entitled to the most honorable men¬ 
tion and respectful consideration. They are 
the acknowledged bone and sinew of the 
land. Until recently, they have lmd no for¬ 
mal organization, os a class. But under the 
name of the National Grange, they met last 
spring, and issued the following “ declara¬ 
tion of purposes.” 
“Wo heartily endorse the mottoin 
essentials, unity, in non-essentials, liberty • 
in all things, charity. We shall endeavor to 
advance our cau. o by laboring to accomplish 
the following objects: 
“ To develop a better and higher manhood 
and womanhood among ourselves ; to en¬ 
hance the ns nforts and attractions of our 
homes, and strengthen our attachments to 
our pursuits ; to foster mutual understanding 
and co operation ; to maintain inviolate our 
laws, and to emulate each other iu labor ; to 
reduce our expenses, both individual and 
corporate : to buy less and produce more, in 
order to make our farms self-su-taining ; to 
diversify our crops, and crop uo more than 
we can cultivate ; to systematize our work, 
and calculate intelligently on probabilities ; 
to discountenance the credit system, and 
every other system tending to prodigality 
and bankruptcy.” 
Such purposes faithfully and honestly ad¬ 
hered to, cannot but make every American 
farmer an honor to his nation. 
Farmers are our main dependence in times 
of great emergencies. In the Revolutionary 
war, they ccnstituted, for the most part, tho 
army that gained our nat ional independence. 
At the same time they cultivated the soli to 
provision that army. Thus they liberally 
held the sword with one hand, and the plow 
with the other. 
Washington, their commauder-lu-chief, 
waa a farmer, and forever put a dignity upon 
that calling, of which every American citi¬ 
zen may well feel proud. For his military 
prowess and great administrative a ility, he 
was twice made President, but after - all, 
chose to end his illustrious career in the 
private walks and occupations of a farmer. 
The same is true of Jefferson and most of Ihe 
earliar presidents,-as well as many of the 
most celebrated men of the republic. 
Farm ere hold the keys to the granaries of 
the world, and through a benifleent Provi¬ 
dence, distribute to the hungry millions of 
earth their daily bread. 
Perhaps it ia for this reason that the word 
grange, whose first meaning is grain, is also 
made to mean farmer, that the producer and 
the thing produced are signified by the same 
term. 
We believe that it will be a better - day for 
America, when those who have so often 
helped to save our natioD, shall have a more 
potent voice in rulingit. With more farmers 
in our state and national legislatures, we 
believe a happier day would dawn for our 
free republic. Then surely, political corrup¬ 
tion would receive such rebuke from honest, 
sturdy yeomanry, as to make it hide its ugly 
head. Thon would flow “peace on earth, 
good will to man,” followed by the establish¬ 
ment of a more perfect and more universal 
brotherhood of the rac e.—Exchange, 
-- 
ITEM8 FROM THE GRANGES. 
Colorado has sixty-five Granges and the 
cause is prospering. 
The 11 Farmers' National G-old Bank," at 
San Francisco, is now in operation. 
The funds of the National Grange now 
amount to §35,000. It is proposed to expend 
part of it for libraries for subordinate Gran¬ 
ges. 
The Producers’ Association of Rutland 
and Windsor Counties, Vt., mean to try 
their Legislature for a Wisconsin railroad 
law. 
Union Grange of Battle Creek, Michigan, 
has supplied the farmers of Calhoun County 
with clover and timothy seed to tho amount 
of § 2,000 the present season. 
A Patrons' Life Assurance Society has 
been incorporated in Kansas. The entrance 
fee for full membership is $2 and the assess¬ 
ment on the death of a member, § 1 , 10 , 
The first Grange was organized in Wash¬ 
ington by Mr. Saunders. Superintendent of 
the Department of Agriculture. The second 
in Minnesota, by Secretary of Washington 
Grange. 
The Grange house at Enterprise, Miss., 
has suspended business. Buying and selling 
on credit was the cause of the failure, though 
how the contracting of debts was reconciled 
with the principles of the Order it is hard to 
imagine. 
The object of the Grange is not to control 
political action or to fight monopolists, but to 
advance the best interests of the farmer by 
education in agriculture and horticulture 
and to practice economy and efficiency in 
business transactions. 
The “ Grange Packet Line," composed of 
the steamers Savanna and Colossus, belongs 
to the Patrons of Missouri. These boats ply 
between St. Louis and Galena, and add 
greatly to the interests'of the farmers, as 
they carry tor reasonable rates, and are 
every way accommodating. 
(BnionToloqintl 
CABBAGE LICE AND CUT-WORMS. 
Dear Rural : We Ruralists fly to you 
whenever in trouble—you are so patient with 
us. Now our pai tieular trouble is the cab¬ 
bage louse (I do not know its proper name). 
Unless wo have hi Ip soon, our late cabbage 
will be all spoiled, also our cauliflowers, broc¬ 
coli. Brussels Bprouts and Swedes. I sifted 
ashes over the mus ed cabbage, and we had 
» heavy rain four nights ago, still the insects 
seem prosperous. We will feel greatly 
obliged if any one will inform us liow to 
destroy the cabbage pest and save the vege¬ 
tables ; also if there is any wav to guard 
against them. We were never troubled in 
this way before, though tho cut-worms are 
frequently hard on the crop in the spring. 
Please tell us why the cut-worms are becom¬ 
ing so numerous. Rome say if the manure 
is put on the land in t ho fall that we will not 
have.cut-worms, but I found them in the 
flower garden, where there was no manure 
used. We had excellent cabbage two years 
ago in the same pJace as at present. Then it 
was meadow land broken up and manure 
applied from the slaughter yard. Last vear 
Rungarian grass was grown upon it. It is 
low and damp compared to the rest of the 
f arde.i. But ail is dry this summer.—M rs. 
oux Saucer, Kenosha Co., Wls. 
It is difficult to kill cabbage lice without 
injuring the cabbages for food. Strong to¬ 
bacco water will destroy them, also freshly- 
slaked lime scattered over the plants when 
wet with dew. Strong soap suds will also 
answer, besides acting as a fertilizer ; but to 
apply either sufficiently thorough to destroy 
the lice on a large number of plants will be 
found quite tedious. We cannot tell why 
tho cut-worms are becoming more numerous 
in your locality than formerly unless it be 
because they have^ more food aud facilities 
for propagation and less enemies. 
When fresh manure is put in about plants 
the cut-worms appear to bo attracted to the 
spot, as we have found by experience. Wher¬ 
ever these pests abound, it is better to spread 
the manure broadcast upon the land iu fall 
and plow it under, turning it up again in 
spring if the soil be not too clry and sandy. 
----- 
ENTOMOLOGICAL NOTES. 
Insects on Trees.— Look over your trees. 
The canker worm Is upon the limbs; the 
borer (Saperdn) is after a home in the body 
of the tree; he is generally found by a little 
boring upon the southeast side of tho tree, 
near the ground. If he has been there a 
year he has created a line of dead bark. 
Cut him out; cut away all the dead wood 
and cover with day, wrapped so as to keep 
it— i. e. the wound from the air. The Egeria 
exitiosa, or peach-borer, should now be 
looked for. Take away the ground four to 
five inches deep around the crown of the 
tree, then scrape it clean, and weab it with 
soft soap or weak ley; leave the dirt away 
until just before severe cold weather comes, 
and then bank up one foot above the ground 
line. 
The Sugar Maple Tree Borer . — The 
very handsome beetle, about an inch long, 
of a bright golden color, ornamented with 
bands and stripes, sent us by “I. R.,” i 3 
known to Entomologists a 3 Glgcobias speci- 
osub of Say, formerly called Clytus spec - 
onus or tho showy Ciytus. Its larva infests 
the sugar maple, hence its common name. 
This handsome iusect is found wherever the 
sugar maple tree grows, but either from its 
short lift) or shyness the beetles are seldom 
taken in any great numbers, and collectors 
appreciate them highly. We would like to 
obtain a few dozens ourselves. 
