CORE’S  RURAL  NEW-YORKER. 
HOW  NEW  PLANTS  ARE  INTRODUCED. 
There  appears  to  be  a  great  lack  of  inforroa- 
tion  among  oiir  rural  population  in  regard  to  the 
way  new  plants  arc  discovered,  originated  and 
introduced  tt^  the  public.  If  every  would-bo 
purchaser  of  now  thiug.s  in  this  line  was  fully  in- 
foiTued  upon  the  poiuts  named,  Uic  occupation 
of  the  sarindling  seed,  tree,  and  plant  peddlers, 
would  bo  gone.  Wo  do  not  aay  that  the  honest 
agent  of  well-known  firms  would  be  any  the  less 
siTCCoBeful  in  selling  his  wares ;  in  fact,  wo  be¬ 
lieve  the  honest,  upright  dealer  would  do  far  bet¬ 
ter  than  now,  when  nino-tcntlis  of  our  popula¬ 
tion  know  80  little  about  horUcultural  matters 
that  they  we  fit  suhjefcts  to  be  “  bumlmgged.” 
If  every  o^vnor  of  a  garden  or  fann  was  con¬ 
versant  with  tbe  current  hortionltiiral  and  agri¬ 
cultural  literature  of  the  day,  tlie  peddlers  of 
mammoth  J.ipanese  corn,  Egyyiti an  seven-headed 
Avheat,  wine  plaiit,  blue  roses,  tree  strawbemes, 
and  a  hundred  other  similar  sAvinthes,  would  not 
thrive  anil  make  money  as  they  now  do  in  spite 
of  tlie  freijnent  exposAmos  through  the  press. 
The  fact  is  impressed  upon  us  that  there  are 
tiiou  sands  of  persons  in  every  State  Avho  do  not 
read  the  very  kind  of  lAcriodieals  and  hooks  which 
would  give  them  the  very  information  most 
needed  to  guard  against  being  cheated,  us  Avell 
as  assisting  them  m  obtaining  tho  best  results  for 
the  labor  expended  m  onltivating  tlio  earth. 
But  the  idea  that  any  iH.sldler  of  seed  or  plants 
can.  or  ever  docs  get  hold  of  anything  new  or  bet¬ 
ter  than  can  bo  piu’chascd  of  regular  and  avoU- 
known  dealers  in  such  articles  is  simply  iireinm- 
teroAis  ;  still,  there  are  tlumsandM  nf  ]ieo|>Io  who 
Avill  bolicA'o  one  of  tlioso  vagabonds  liefore  they 
would  a  mau  of  tho  highest  resjiectability  and  a 
dealer  in  the  sanie  article  olfored  by  an  h  resjion- 
siblc  parly. 
^Vl!  are  not  obliged  to  go  into  the  country  to 
learn  this  fact ;  for  right  hero  in  Now  York  city, 
AA'hcre  there  are  scores  of  seedsmen  and  ilorists 
Avho  are  not  only  responsible,  but  are  luioAvn  to 
be  fully  informed  in  regard  to  any  plant  inlro- 
ducod  into  cultivation,  whether  goml  or  had, 
these  BAVuidling  seed  and  plant  peddlers  thrive 
and  j.Aake  money  tlirough  the  general  ignorance 
of  tbe  masses  in  regard  io  horticultural  matters. 
Every  sjiritig  these  sAvindling  plant  dealers  ojiGn 
a  store  or  a  number  of  them  in  dilforent  pai’ts  of 
the  city,  displaying  showy  pictures  of  blue  roses, 
strawboiTies  and  raspborrics  as  large  as  good- 
sLsed  is.iaehos  and  ap/plos.  Hometimes  tho  straw¬ 
berries  are  represented  as  growing  on  trees  soa'- 
ornl  feet  high ;  but  uo  matter  how  proportioued, 
or  contr  ary  to  all  known  natural  hvAVS  their  claims 
or  exhibition  may  be,  they  seem  to  find  ftads 
enough  to  pimchase  their  Avares  at  exorbitant 
prices.  Men  AviU  flock  to  these  iilaces  and  spend 
thoii'  money  freely  Avith  those  fellows  whom  they 
have  never  seen  before  and  never  expect  to  see 
again. 
If  tho  honest  and  rospootable  seedsmen,  florists 
and  nursfirymou  toll  would-be  purchasers  of 
these  yjrodigious  novelties— there  mo  no  tree 
strawberries,  blue  roses  or  dahlias — they  are  very 
likely  to  attribute  tho  advice  or  hiformatiou 
given  to  jealousy  ou  the  part  of  tho  re8{iocl.al)lo 
dealer  because  he  has  not  sooui  eil  a  stock  of  such 
desii’ablo  articles.  Li  fact,  we  have  heard  uiou 
assert  this  Avliile  ou  their  way  to  piu'chase  tho 
woitliloss  trash  generally  palmed  off  as  some¬ 
thing  new  and  Avonderfiil. 
Now  if  those  who  seek  such  novelties  us  blue 
roses,  AA'ould  only  stop  to  consider  tbe  matter, 
they  could  not  fail  to  see  the  absurdity  of  the 
claims  made  by  said  dealers.  Wo  have  niu’sery- 
meu,  florists  aud  seedsmen  Avith  almost  unlimited 
capital,  who  have  their  agents  in  various  parts  of 
the  Avorld  coustnntly  on  the  lookout  for  rarities 
of  all  kinds,  aud  wo  Avill  vontui'o  to  say  that  a 
plant  AA'orth  introducing  never  has  or  Avill  escape 
their  notice.  Wo  onoo  heard  one  of  our  Ilorists 
offer  oue  of  the  blue  rose  men  *.500  for  a  single 
plant,  provided  it  produwxl  flowers  of  the  color 
named.  Of  comso  the  fellow  declared  that  the 
picture  shoAvu  was  an  exact  reprosentatiou  of  the 
rose,  of  wliicti  he  offered  plants  at  a  dollar  each, 
but  to  warrant  them  true  to  color  Avas  quite  an¬ 
other  thing. 
The  perambulating  tree,  plant  and  seed  ped¬ 
dlers  Avho  pretend  to  have  something  of  Avhich 
respectable  local  dealers  know  nothing,  are  all  of 
the  same  class  as  tho  blue  rose  men,  the  veriest 
frauds,  one  and  aU,  and  it  is  time  that  the  retd- 
dente  of  city  and  country  let  them  severely  alone. 
We  must  expect  a  slight  exaggeration  of  mer¬ 
its  on  the  part  of  those  who  introduce  new  plants, 
because  it  is  quite  natural  that  they  should  em¬ 
ploy  high-sounding  adjectives  pretty  freely,  in 
order  to  catch  tho  public  car ;  but  all  this  can  bo 
done  Avithout  a  toM  departure  from  the  truth. 
New  and  valuable  thiugs  in  the  horticultural  and 
agi'ioultural  Jiuo  are  far  more  likely  to  fall  into 
the  hands  of  our  wealthy  and  enterprising  deal¬ 
ers  than  to  be  hawked  aboAit  the  coimtry  by  itin¬ 
erant  peddlers.  When  the  blue  rose  and  dahlia 
are  discovered,  we  Avill  ventui-e  to  say  that  some 
e _ 
such  men  as  James  Vick,  Ellav anger  &  Barry, 
Briggs  Bros.,  Peter  Henderson,  or  somo  other 
of  our  nimierous  aud  wealthy  firms  wfll  get  them 
before  any  peddlei’  avIio  can  carry  all  his  wealth 
or  stock  iu  trade  ou  his  back  or  in  a  one-horse 
Avagou. 
We  will  be  much  obUgod  to  any  of  oiu  readers 
who  will  send  us  informatiou  iu  regard  to  won¬ 
derful  and  neAV  varieties  of  fruits,  plants  or  seeds 
wluch  are  being  offered  by  tho  class  of  swindlors 
Ave  have  named. 
- - 
IMPORTANCE  OF  THICK  LEAVES. 
The  important  functions  that  loaves  perform, 
not  only  in  tho  growth  of  tho  plant,  but  tho  ripen- 
HALE’S  PAPER-SHELL  HICKORY  NUT. 
In  tho  Rurau  New-Yoricku  of  Nov.  Ifi,  1870, 
wo  gave  an  illustration  and  description  of  this 
splendid  variety.  Wc  also  named  it  as  above  for 
the  proprietor  of  tho  rarin  upon  which  the  origi¬ 
nal  tree  noAv  stands,  nonr  Ridgewood.  Bergen 
Co.,  N.  J.  At  that  iitiic  wo  stated  that  tlio  Halo’s 
was  superior  to  any  sort  of  the  hickory  nut  that 
wo  luvd  over  seen,  and  altogether  A-ery  disliuct 
from  ordinary  varieties  of  tho  Shcllbark  (Cni-i/n 
nlha),  the  spooios  to  which  it  evidently  belongs. 
Tho  nuts  aro  largo  for  a  variety  of  this  species, 
varying  from  an  inch  to  an  iucli  and  a  quarter  in 
length  aud  about  the  same  in  width.  Hholl  very 
tlun,  and  instead  of  regular  corrugations  run- 
outorprise  Avould  give  our  country  if  entered  into 
by  our  Avbole  people  I  With  almost  no  cost  tho 
great  majoritv  of  thorn  could  contribute  to  the 
work,  and  Avitli  ever  -  increasing  pride  mid  pleas¬ 
ure  tliey  would  afterwai'd  point  out  aud  regard 
the  parts  they  had  done,  tho  laiulmarks  they  had 
put  up.  Can  you  not  through  your  columus  iu- 
augurato  sucli  a  stop  and  at  least  incite  many  of 
your  readers  to  take  up  Avork  iu  this  direction 
Avliich  will  1)0  to  their  profit  aud  your  honor  ? 
Hiram,  oiilo.  o.  M.  Woodward. 
|j|S 
■■ 
a 
TTCJC  COriXLiA.NJ3  AV^tVOON. 
ing  of  its  fruit,  make  it  a  matter  of  vital  import¬ 
ance  that  tho  loaves  remain  whole  aud  healthy 
during  tho  time  wood  and  fruit  aro  matiuiug. 
Here  avo  moot  one  of  the  difiicultios  of  American 
hortkmltiue.  A  largo  part  of  oiu  plants  under 
cultivation  ave  Eiuoiiean  species  and  varieties, 
or  their  imrnediato  descendants,  scloctod  and 
groAvn  under  cortaui  coiiditious,  mcteorologic 
and  otherwise,  that  render  a  new  trial  and  scloo- 
tion  necessary  in  America.  Hence  wc  aro  going 
through  anew  tho  process  of  selection,  based  on 
the  changed  atmospheric  and  climatic  comlitions 
of  our  pcculiivr  f  liraato. 
One  of  tho  points  most  iiooilful  to  notice  in 
selection  is  the  adaptation  of  tlie  leaves  to  our 
trying  climate,  llei  e  wo  have  excessive  changes, 
from  heat  to  cold  and  from  cold  to  heat.  We  have 
long- continued  rains  and  protracted  ch'ouths. 
Wo  have  insects  that  multiply  excessively,  and 
fungoid  growths  that  spread  Avith  moj'A’ollous 
rapidity.  All  these  are  trying  to  plant  life,  and 
first  after  tho  blossoms  to  tho  loaves.  If  tho 
leaves  aro  small  and  thin  and  smooth,  they  are 
apt  to  perish  or  become  diseased,  and  the  fruit, 
and  ulUuiately  the  pilaut,  iwrish.  Year  by  year 
wc  find  vaiioties  of  fruit,  othcrAviso  desirable, 
have  to  1)0  given  up  because  of  their  inability  to 
grow  leaves  that  will  endure  tho  atmospheric 
changes  or  tho  insect  attacks  of  yui‘  climate. 
Among  oim  apples  Ave  have  a  notable  inshHico 
of  that  very  popular  variety,  the  Winesap,  whose 
leaves,  in  many  years  and  situations,  fail  to  pro¬ 
duce  a  goofl  growth  of  Avood  or  fruit.  The  Pryi  ir’s 
Red  Booms  to  be  gradually  succumbing,  for  a 
similar  reason,  in  Kentucky  and  Indiana,  aud  tlio 
evil  will  probably  spread  as  soils  become  nioro 
exhausted.  A  liu’go  proiwrliJu  of  the  Europoan 
apples  we  have  iu  orchard,  show  by  their  small 
and  scanty  fohago  premonitory  symptoms  of  fail¬ 
ure.  On  the  other  hand,  wc  find  that  the  Russian 
varieties  aud  the  Siberian  crabs  are  now  gaining 
iu  favor,  and  notably  hardy  and  vigorous  in  leaf, 
with  tho  possible  exception  of  the  Tetofski,  whose 
leaf  is  largo  but  warniugly  thin. 
This  subject  has  received  full  attention  in  the 
case  of  tiio  grape,  whoso  loaves  have  been  more 
looked  to  than  tliose  of  any  other  frmt.  Tho 
Concord’s  success  may  be  said  to  be  specially  due 
to  its  large,  coarse  loaves,  which  endure  all  oli- 
mates  and  seasons  through  a  wide  range  of  comi- 
tiy.  Tho  failure  of  a  largo  number  of  grapes  of 
exceUeiit  quality  may  be  laid  to  the  lack  of  a  leaf 
with  the  health  aud  vigor  of  the  Concord.  In 
the  case  of  the  peach,  it  Avas  early  found  that 
many  sorts  deemed  of  high  value  in  European 
climates  would  hardly  answer  here  at  all,  especi¬ 
ally  the  serrate  varieties,  which  our  cultivators, 
notably  in  the  Mississippi  valley,  are  generally 
forced  to  discard. 
We  might  extend  this  article  by  multiplying 
instances,  but  we  aviII  resist  the  temptation. 
What  we  desire  to  do,  and  if  we  have  done  that 
we  have  done  enough  for  the  preasent,  is  to  call 
the  more  general  attention  of  oim  readers  to  tho 
importance  of  thick  loaves.  Seek  varieties  that 
have  strong  leaves,  and  streuglheu  weak-leaveil 
varieties  by  manuring  and  high  culture,  which, 
I  judiciously  applied,  strengthens  aud  fortifies 
I  foliage  against  weather  changes  and  insect 
I  attacks. 
iiing  from  base  to  point,  ns  ii.snal  in  varieties  of 
tliis  species,  the  ontiro  surface  is  broken  up  into 
small  depressions  or  oross  sections,  similar  to 
those  soon  ou  tho  coimnon  English  Avalmit. 
That  this  AA'as  one  of  tho  most  distinct  as  avoII 
as  valuable  varieties  of  the  hickory  nut  luioAvri, 
every  ouo  Avho  has  seoti  it  is  ready  to  admit ;  but 
tho  next  tbiiiK  to  bo  tliought  of  avub  hoAV  it  could 
bo  propagated  for  dissomination.  If  tho  nuts 
AA'oro  planted,  tho  ti'eoa  groAvn  therefrom  would 
probably  rovort  to  tho  original  form,  as  in  fact 
has  boon  proved  by  experiments  already  tried ; 
consequently  tho  only  way  of  porijetuating  tho 
variety  is  to  propagate  it  by  cuttings,  or  by  bud¬ 
ding  and  grafting,  as  usual  witli  ordinary  kinds 
of  fruit  troes.  But  iiripagating  the  hickory  by 
those  lasi-iiamcd  methods  is  muoh  easier  to  talk 
aliout  than  to  perform,  as  many  have  douhlloss 
loarnod  from  cxporienco. 
Mr.  Hale  endeavored  to  find  some  ono  to 
propagate  the  aliove-namod  variety,  and  al¬ 
though  there  AA'ere  plenty  Avho  thought  they 
could  easily  do  it  by  grafting,  the  success  of  tho 
partioH  AVho  first  undertook  it  was  not  very  en¬ 
couraging.  After  two  years’  trial,  aud  upon  as 
many  thousand  stocks,  two  very  poor  pbints 
were  produced. 
Last  fall,  Mr.  J.  R.  Trumcv  of  Flushing,  I<.  1., 
who  iu  jjorhapii  tlio  most  skillful  propagator  of 
plants  iu  thi.s  country,  tiiod  liis  hand  at  propa¬ 
gating  tho  Halo’s  llickoi’y,  and  out  of  eighty 
grafted  lifty-six  groAV  aud  imwlo  fine,  sturdy 
plants.  This  avo  consider  great  succosa  and 
worthy  of  lielng  put  ou  reeord,  considering  tho 
many  total  failures  made  by  others  iu  attonqjt- 
iiig  to  propagiite  dilTerciit  viudcties  of  tho  liickoiy 
by  grafting. 
Olioieo  Avild  sorts  of  the  Bcoau  nut,  as  well  as 
those  of  our  more  Northern  species  of  tho  hick¬ 
ory,  aro  froqucntly  found,  aud  we  often  hoar 
men  express  tlicii'  surprise  that  they  are  not 
propagated  by  budding  aud  grafting  ;  but  it  is 
easier  said  than  done.  Htill,  as  we  have  kIioavii, 
it  has  been  done,  and  probably  can  bo  again. 
It  is  noAV  five  years  since  we  first  brought  tho 
Hale’s  Hickory  Nut  to  notice,  and  tlicro  aro  less 
than  sixty  one-year-old  plants  as  yet  produced, 
therefore  there  need  bo  httlo  foar  of  tho  market 
being  glutted  witli  this  variety  for  some  time  to 
come,  unless  a  more  rapid  method  of  multiply¬ 
ing  it  is  discovered. 
Here  is  a  good  chance  for  those  who  consider 
themselves  skillful  propagators  of  plants  to  dis¬ 
cover  AN'hy  hickories  aie  so  difficult  to  propagate 
by  the  usual  rnmios  employed  Avitii  other  Avoody 
plants. 
TREE  -  PLANTING  RECOMMENDED. 
It  has  occurred  to  me  that  a  general  move  in 
tree  -  planting,  especially  in  the  planting  of 
shade  trees  along  the  road-sides  and  in  other 
desirable  places,  Avoiild  lie  a  very  appropriate 
and  commendable  enterprise  for  the  Centennial 
year,  and  that  the  increased  interest  tho  people 
now  have  in  Avhatcver  has  about  it  anything  of 
historical  association  might  bo  utilised  in  in¬ 
ducing  thorn  to  take  hold  of  such  a  movement 
Avith  unusual  energy  and  unity.  AVhat  a  beauti¬ 
ful  and  blessed  Centennial  movement  such  an 
THE  CORTLAND  WAGON. 
It  used  to  bo  couaidorod  by  farmers  lliat  neat 
Avagotis,  springs  and  all  the  apparatus  that  go  to 
make  a  comfortable  vehicle  Avero  beyond  then 
means,  and  Avas  one  of  tliose  antieipations  whose 
dun  porspectiAM',  iustoad  of  growing  into  an  ac- 
conqilished  fact,  grow  small  l>y  degrees  aud  beau¬ 
tifully  less. 
Jiiduatry,  eutorpriso  and  capital,  lioAvever,  have 
changed  all  that,  and  be  is  unfoi  tunato  indeed 
will)  cannot  ride  Avith  bis  family  tocburcli  and  to 
other  pleasant  iilaces  in  a  convcyiuico  Unit  is  a 
Source  of  jusl;  jiride.  Those  rollections  aie  in¬ 
duced  liy  a  considcnitaon  of  tho  claims  of  tho 
Cortlaiiil  Wagon  t^i.  of  Cortland,  N.  Avho 
mako  a  series  of  styles  which  should  have  tho 
goiiural  title,  “  MilIIhiv  bi  I'urtw. ' 
We  illustrato  one  of  tho  most  pojmlar  stylos, 
and  one  ospocially  adiiptcd  to  fariiiors.  it  can 
ho  iiimlo  to  servo  a  variety  of  uses,  anil,  being 
ttiado  of  tho  best  materials,  stands  a  great 
amount  of  hard  work  without  getting  out  of 
order. 
The  springs  arc  tho  cololiratod  "platform” 
pattern,  made  exelusively  by  this  firtu.  Iho 
box  is  tboir  patent  "  solid  bent  round  corner.” 
'I'lio  wlioels  aro  .screwav/  each  side  of  tbe  spoko 
through  tbe  felloe,  and  all  the  iron  AVork  is  made 
of  extra  "  Aineriean  refined.”  It  Avould  bo  im¬ 
possible  to  ouuraorato  their  various  merits  in  the 
space  of  this  article,  and  avo  would  suggest  that 
oiir  renders  send  fortJioir  illustrated  catalogue, 
Avhellicr  they  pnriioso  buying  or  not,  as  it  is 
always  well  to  know  the  jioiuts  of  a  good  Avagoii 
aud  what  uiqirovomouts  are  coiistautly  being 
made. 
Tins  company  have  been  long  engaged  iu  tho 
busLiioss,  and  most  of  their  inacliinery  has  beoii 
specially  devisod  for  their  uses,  'nicy  have  a 
capital  of  fl.TO.OOO,  with  a  factory  covering  over 
two  acres  of  ground.  They  placed  1,500  Avagons 
on  tho  market  last  year,  and  \rill  double  the 
number  this  year.  Their  liranch  house  In  Chi¬ 
cago  is  at  the  comer  of  Beatdi  and  Sebor  Sts., 
and  our  Western  suliscribcrs  can  enjoy  a  rare 
treat  by  going  through  their  warerooms,  avIioi’o 
they  Avill  meet  ivith  a  cordial  welcome. 
Sciciititit  aut)  Slsffiil. 
MANUFACTURE  OF  ISINGLASS. 
One  of  tho  most  notable  industries  of  Russia 
deiMinds  upon  the  sturgeon,  the  swimming  blad¬ 
der  of  whieh  is  mimufact,iu-ed  into  isinglass.  Tho 
bladder  is  first  placed  into  water  and  left  there 
for  some  days,  Avith  frequent  changes  of  tho 
water  and  removal  of  all  fatty  and  bloody  parti¬ 
cles  the  warmer  the  water  the  nioro  rapid  tho 
accomiilislmient  of  the  operation.  The  bladders, 
on  being  finally  removed,  are  cut  longitudinally 
into  sheets,  which  are  exposed  to  the  sun  aud 
air,  being  laid  out  to  ilry,  with  tho  outer  face 
turned  down,  upon  lioards  of  linden  or  baas 
wood.  'The  inner  faco  is  pure  isinglass,  Avliioh, 
when  well  dried,  can  with  care  1)0  removed  from 
tho  external  lamelhc.  Tbe  finer  sheets  thus  ob¬ 
tained  are  placed  between  cloths  to  keep  them 
from  fiioB,  and  are  then  subjected  to  a  heavy 
pressure,  so  as  to  flatton  them  out  and  render 
them  uniform,  and  after  this  they  are  assorted 
and  tied  up  in  packets.  The  packets  composed 
of  the  isiDglass  of  the  large  sturgeon  usually 
contain  from  ten  to  fifteen  sheets,  and  weigh  a 
pound  and  a  quarter ;  and  those  of  others  con¬ 
tain  twenty-live  sheets,  weighing  a  pound. 
Eighty  of  these  packages  are  usually  sowed  up  in 
a  cloth  bag,  or  inclosed  in  sheet  load. 
- ♦  ♦  ♦ - - 
CHEAP  CISTERNS. 
It  is  not  generally  known  that  cisterns  can  bo 
made  without  either  brick  or  stone,  wherever 
the  earth  is  sufficiently  compact  to  admit  of 
digging  out  the  soil  and  leaving  a  firm  bank  upon 
which  the  cement  can  be  spread  to  a  thickness 
'  of  ono  or  two  inches.  Tho  cement  soon  hardens 
making  a  Avail  as  tough  as  a  stono  jug.  Tho  top 
may  bo  covered  with  phiuk,  Avitli  tuiiber  support, 
aud  then  cover  over  all  about  two  feet  of  earth 
to  keep  out  tho  frost.  Of  course  a  man-hole 
through  which  tho  cistern  can  be  entered  for 
cleaning,  is  also  neccBsai'y. 
