<52 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
MARCH 5 
THE 
Rural New-Yorker, 
PUBLISHED EVERY SATURDAY. 
Conducted by 
ELBERT S. CARMAN. 
Address 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER, 
No. 34 Park Row, New York. 
SATURDAY, MARCH 5, 1881. 
Now that the heaviest part of the work 
of the subscription season is over, we 
would thank our readers if they would 
advise us of any irregularity in the re¬ 
ceipt of the Bubal New-Yorker. 
- +-+-*• -- 
It is gratifyiug to be able to state that 
the interest in small fruits has not subsid¬ 
ed any since our last special of Septem¬ 
ber 7th. 1878, and it is pleasant for the 
Rural to know that the suggestions, cen¬ 
sures and praises therein published have 
proven exceedingly trustworthy. The 
interest in grapes is now probably more 
widespread and intense than at any other 
time in our country’s pomological his¬ 
tory ; the interest in strawberries and 
raspberries may be said to “hold its 
own ” at least; while that in blackberries 
and currants, and even in gooseberries, is 
being strengthened. We hear less, in¬ 
deed, of mere size in strawberries, but 
quality, vigor, firmness and adaptation 
to different soils and climates are, more 
than then, exciting the attention they 
deserve. We have given our best atten¬ 
tion to this number, and the articles which 
appear from our highest horticultural 
authorities, with our original engravings, 
will, we confidently hope, not disappoint 
the anticipations of our good friends and 
readers, the Rural itself has its heart 
in fruit culture of all kinds, and it be¬ 
lieves that it cannot engage in a better 
work than to seek to spread its enthusi¬ 
asm until it shall become a delightful 
contagion among its subscribers from 
which, we trust, not one may escape. 
The Charles Downing, one of the best 
of strawberries, like the Wilson adapts 
itself to a great variety of soils. As to 
ripening, it may be considered medium. 
- 4 »-- 
What has been said respecting the ad¬ 
visability of European vineyardists try¬ 
ing our new grapes might just as forci¬ 
bly be said as to our new strawberries 
and raspberries. 
- ♦ ♦ » 
The Glendale, so far as we may judge 
by our own plants and by the reports 
which have been received, promises to 
become one of the most popular of late 
strawberries. It is quite productive, film, 
of very good quality and stands drought 
well. 
-- 
In answer to many inquiries let us 
state that stamps for the “ Seed and Plant 
Distribution” are not required from those 
who subscribe through us for any of the 
papers announced in our clubbing list, 
the Inter-Ocean, Detroit Free Press, N. 
Y. World, St. Louis Globe-Democrat. 
-■ — » -- 
Cut all grape-vines received from the 
nursery this Spring so that but one cane 
remains and upon this permit but one 
bud to grow. Pinch out every axillary bud 
(or lateral) as it unfolds. By this plan 
a single strong cane will be produced, 
that will probably fruit the second sea¬ 
son. 
■ — 
In the way of currants there is little to 
speak of that is new except Fay’s Pro¬ 
lific, a fine portrait of which was given 
in the Rural of September 18, 1880. 
This in productiveness and size of bunch 
is a very decided advance in the history 
of the currant, It will probably be of¬ 
fered for sale next Fall, 
--—- 
It is probably true that, unless we ex¬ 
cept the grape, no other fruit is to the 
same extent affected by soil, situation 
and climate as the strawberry. No mat¬ 
ter how generally or enthusiastically a 
certain variety may be praised, it is 
safer to test it in a small way before en¬ 
gaging in its extensive cultivation. 
We have given little space to direc¬ 
tions as to the preparation of the soil 
for small fruits and their cultivation. 
The Rural New-Yorker has within a 
year given these directions in careful 
detail. Besides, in many of the catalogues 
which we are noticing all needed infor¬ 
mation is concisely and plainly presented, 
-»♦- 
We find there is not one of all our 
raspberries—and we have one or more 
of almost every kind—that, has not been 
more or less injured by the past severe 
Winter, during which the thermometer 
has been as low as 1G degrees below 
zero. The fact is, as we have before 
stated, there is no such thing as a hardy 
raspberry. 
The Crescent Seedling, of which so 
many and conflicting opinions have been 
expressed, seems to have proven itself 
one of the most prolific strawberries in 
cultivation. It begins to ripen early and 
continues, unless the season is very dry, 
through an unusually long period. It is 
not a firm berry, is inferior in quality 
and of but medium size at its best. 
-•»- 
Several of our contributors have ex¬ 
pressed themselves at odd times that we 
were hard on the Great American and 
others of Durand’s Seedlings. Extended 
trial, however, seems to have shown that 
our estimate of them, as made from our 
tests at the “ Rural Grounds,” was not 
too severe. A strawberry that does well 
only here and there and needs special 
and dainty cultivation ought never to be 
recommended to the public in general. 
It is well known that small fruits, 
grapes etc., as well as large fruits may 
do well here and there under peculiar 
conditions, while in a great majority of 
cases over the country, they prove, if 
not worthless, far inferior to other va¬ 
rieties. We have been somewhat sur¬ 
prised, however, that the reports of small 
fruits which have been made from time 
to time as the results of tests at the Rural 
Experimental Grounds have been, and 
are being, so fully corroborated by prac¬ 
tical horticulturists everywhere. 
-»■» »■ 
The Cumberland Triumph. —Sev¬ 
eral yearB ago, when this strawberry 
was just sent out to bo tested, the Ru¬ 
ral New-Yorker praised it as among 
the best of the many kinds we were then 
testirig. It is of uniformly large size 
and our vines have been loaded with 
berries when many other varieties for 
various reasons have failed. It is of 
perfect shape, the flavor is excellent. 
The color is a pale-red or pink. That 
it is rather soft for shipment is all that 
can be said against it. We have read re¬ 
ports from many different parts of the 
country which show that this berry is 
everywhere growing in favor among 
those who have given it it a good trial. 
-♦-*-♦- 
We might fill this page with instruc¬ 
tions as to the preparation of the ground 
for grape-vines, and the reader would 
find himself little wiser at the end than at 
the beginning. There is nothing intri¬ 
cate about it, and long-drawn-out direc¬ 
tions, even though plainly written, serve 
only to confuse the inexperienced and 
make him feel that he must proceed cau¬ 
tiously as if walking upon eggs, where 
only the exercise of a little good sense is 
required. If the land is naturally rich 
and well drained, it is only necessary to 
spade it up and rake it level. It the 
land is poor, good earth must be supplied 
to a depth of a foot at least. Bone and 
wood ashes may Bafely be supplied—or 
old manure of any kind. Spread out the 
roots carefully and cover them firmly 
with mellow earth to a depth of six in¬ 
ches. If the land is leachy and dry, a 
covering of old stable manure over the 
roots will do good service. Give every 
vine a stake or arbor to grow upon, and 
tie the canes to such support as they 
grow. Grape-vines should be planted 
not less than eight feet apart both ways. 
Ten feet apart for the vines, the rows 
eight feet apart, would be better. 
- - -+ » » - 
Among raspberries, the Cuthbert fully 
maintains the charaoter we gave it when 
distributing it over the country to our 
subscribers, as the best raspberry known. 
Our cut is true to life. The Turner is 
probably the best early raspberry. It is 
very hardy, prolific, and the fruit is of 
excellent quality. We have found the 
Highland Hardy uniformly the earliest, 
though less hardy than the Turner and 
of poor quality. The Gregg is making 
many friends and caution in commending 
it to our readers is no longer needed. 
The berries are larger than those of the 
Mammoth Cluster, ripening a little later. 
They are as black and glossy as jet. The 
Caroline has been discussed at length in 
these columns recently. We need only 
add that, being quite hardy, many will 
be glad to procure it with whom the 
Brinekle’s Orange generally fails. The 
Caroline is too soft for a market berry, 
but the quality is such that it should be 
grown in every home collection. Among 
blackberries we may mention the Taylor 
as having proved extremely hardy, of ex¬ 
cellent quality, and highly productive. 
But the berries with us have been rather 
small. The Snyder is much praised in 
the North and" West, but it has not 
proved very productive at the Rural 
Grounds. 
“BIIND” STRAWBERRIES, 
Many of our varieties of strawber¬ 
ries have imperfect stamens or simply 
the rudiments of them—suoh, for instance 
as the Crescent Seething, Windsor Chief, 
Golden Defiauce, Hovey’s SeedliDg, etc. 
Such kinds must, of course, to bear fruit, 
be placed near other kinds which bear 
perfect blossoms or those having stamens 
at least, so that insectB or the wind may 
carry the pollen from the one to the 
other. In looking over Philip Miller’s 
“Gardeners’ Dictionary” published in 
London in 1759, we see that he guards 
his readers against “ blind” plants which 
he explaius “is when there are Plenty 
of Flowers but no Fruit produced; if 
thefe Flowers are well examined, they 
will be found to want the female Organs 
of Generation, moft of them abounding 
with Stamina, but there are few, if any 
Styles, fo that it frequently happens 
among these barren Plants, that some of 
them will have a Part of an imperfect 
Fruit formed, which will fometimcB ripen. 
This Barrenness is not peculiar to Straw¬ 
berries,” etc. But he makes no allusion 
to what we call pistillate# or those hav¬ 
ing perfect pistils without stamens, 
while in our present cultivated varieties 
purely stamiuate flowers would seem to 
be rare, while pistillate varieties are be¬ 
coming more and more numerous. 
-.*-•-*- 
SEEDLING CULTIVATION OF SMALL 
FRUITS. 
A letter from a correspondent reminds 
us that nothing has been said respeoting 
the seedling cultivation of small fruits in 
this number. We may therefore briefly 
refer to the subject here. The seeds 
may be sown in a cold-frame or hot-bed, 
or in pots covered with glass. The soil 
should be fine and light. Shelter from 
the midday sun must be provided by 
boards, or evergreen boughB, or lattice 
work. The Boil must not be permitted 
to become dry—neither must it be kept 
too wet. The seeds will generally ger¬ 
minate freely, though many may remain 
dormant until a second year. To cross 
varieties two methods may be followed. 
The first is to plant pistillate kinds 
among perfect-flowering kiuds, and to 
separate both from all other varieties be¬ 
tween which a union is not desired. If 
then the pistillates bear fruit, the pollen 
must have been furnished by the perfect 
flowers. Another method is to plant the 
females, or pistillates, under glass, and 
to apply the pollen from other selected 
perfect flowers as desired. These latter 
may also be cultivated under glass or in 
the garden. But if it is desired to know 
the parentage, of course, they must be 
protected from the pollen which may be 
carried by insects or the wind from other 
plants. 
Seeds of small fruits germinate far 
more freely planted as soon as they are 
removed from the berry. If not planted 
until the ensuing Spring, they should be 
wrapped in bits of paper or muslin and 
preserved in sand, which must be kept 
slightly moist in a low temperature, or 
they may be placed in boxes of sand and 
buried during the Winter. 
The seeds of grapes, raspberries, black¬ 
berries, currants and gooseberries may 
be sown in cold-frames in the Fall, and if 
the frames are properly protected during 
the Winter, they will, for the most part, 
germinate in early Spring. The frames 
in this case should be filled with moss, 
straw or hay. It simply amounts to 
burying the seeds, except that they are 
already properly planted. As we have 
before stated, grape seeds will, many of 
them, germinate in three weeks if planted 
in pots as soon as they are taken from 
the berries. The pots should be kept in 
a greenhouse or sunny window in a pretty 
uniform temperature of 70 degrees. Any¬ 
body may raise his own small fruit seed¬ 
lings and feast upon the varieties which 
he himself originated. 
BREVITIES. 
Currant items are current for this number. 
The cions of grafted grape-vines will usually 
bear the second season. 
Our friend Mr. Derrick, defines strawberry 
SHORT-cake as “ a cake without any straw¬ 
berries in it.” 
Late February or March in the South and 
April in the North, are the best times to graft 
the grape-cine. 
We are glad to find that the Caroline Rasp¬ 
berry has stood the Winter at the Rural 
Grounds as well as any. 
Cuttings of varieties of the grape, which do 
not root readily, or weak-growing kinds, may 
easily be grafted on other stocks. 
Our cuts are all from nature and we have 
carefully avoided any exaggeration. Perhaps 
we have inclined the other way. 
We repeat what the lamented M. B. Bate- 
ham once told us. that bone dost and wood 
ashes are the best fertilizers for the grape. 
We have between 60 and 70 varieties of new 
strawberries upon which we hope to be able to 
make a full report in time for late Summer 
planting. 
Monday, Feb. 28—Upon a careful examina¬ 
tion of our raspberries, we find that the Tur¬ 
ner is least harmed of any variety in our test 
grounds. 
We respectfully object to Dr Hoskins’s ex¬ 
pression '‘feminine fickleness,” as applied to 
the Adirondac Grape, or. in fact, to any fruit 
or to anything whatever! 
Strawberries raised under glass arejiow 
selling at the retail stores of this city at 75 
cents per dozen. They are of small to medium 
size and only half colored. 
Mr. Lovett writes us that “Herbert,” Ro¬ 
gers’s No. 44, is a splendid grape. 8o we have 
thought, not from experience, as we have not 
tested it. but from what other friends who have, 
have 6aid of it. 
As yooBe turns to iree«e in the plural, 
The same rule to berries applied. 
Gooseberry would be in the Rubai. 
Gooseberries, in floeks if espied. 
We had supposed from our own tests that 
Prouty’e 8eedling would become better known. 
It is very handsome anl of excellent quality 
while the plant, with us, is strong and produc¬ 
tive. 
We may be permitted to hope that our sub¬ 
scribers, after having read this uumber of the 
Rural New-Yorker, will feel, lor once in 
their lives, that tbtyhave had enough of small 
fruits. 
It seems to us that this number of the Rural 
New-Yorker together with the catalogues of 
Small Fruit nurserymen, otigbtto answer most 
of the pressing questions which may arise in 
the minds of those who cultivate small fruits. 
We have tested “ Goethe" (Roger’s No. 1) 
and Rickett's Secretary during the past six 
years, as we remember. We shall this Spring 
dig np the vines to make room for new-come.rs, 
that may or may not prove to bo more worthy 
of cultivation. 
Potted strawberry plants have been well 
tried and found wanting. They are worth no 
more than first-rate plants not potted and de¬ 
cidedly leB8 if not well potted and transplanted 
at the right time. We hope small fruit grow¬ 
ers will give up pot-plants. 
Mr. Charles Downing tellB the agricultural 
department of the New York Tribune that the 
Snyder is the best blackberry for a cold cli¬ 
mate ; very hardy, immensely productive, 
about two thirds as large as Kittatim y, but 
will produce as many bushels per acre; the 
quality is equally as good as Kittatinny, or 
aDy other. 
Ip Mr. E. P. Roe were asked what is the 
most beautiful aud delicious strawberry in ex¬ 
istence, he would name the President Wilder. 
He thinks it is perfect in flavor, form and 
beauty, and that it unites in one exquisite 
compound the best qualities of tbs two great 
strawberry species ot the world, the Fragarla 
Virginiana aud the F- ChiluDsis. The fault that 
he discovers in it is, that in many localities it 
is not productive. 
Mr. P. J. Berckmans, the well-known hor¬ 
ticulturist aud nurseiyman of Augueta, Ga., 
says that the Wilson is the most profitable 
berry ou his grouuds; Monarch of the West 
next. Col. Cheney. Cumberland Triumph, 
Black Defiance and Kentucky do well. The 
Neunan is the great berry for the coaBt about 
Savannah. It Is sent to this market iu March 
and April in immense quantities. The berry 
is aromatic and pretly but very sour, 
A considerable time ago, a box of the 
Duchess grapes was sent to us, bv Mr. A. J. 
Cay wood of Ulster County, N. Y. These 
grapes had been sent to several other places 
aud, if we have not forgotten, exhibited at one 
or two fairs The nolo from Mr. Cay wood 
stated that Mr. Downing, after eating some of 
them, remarktdlbat tluy had “ raieeued some¬ 
what and were as sweet as a raisin,” or words 
to that effect. Now, the grapes sent us were 
more raisin than grape and they were as sweet 
as a raisin to our taste; wherefore we repeat¬ 
ed and emphasized what we supposed Mr. 
Downing had said, as our own opinion. But 
we have mason to believe that Mr. Downing 
did uot make use of the words which Mr. Cay- 
wood imputes to him, at all This is uot the 
first time that opinions regarding the quality 
and value of new fi nite have been printed as 
Mr. Downing’s, which he never expressed or 
entertained, and it is time that such liberties 
with the respected name of our first pomologi- 
eal authority should cease. We are not 
authorized by Mr. Downing to make the above 
remarks. But wo take for grauted that oue 
who habitually expresses his judgment so con- 
B6rv&tJv<Jly caul)oi be pleaded to fcoe hid name 
signed to statements which, whether trust¬ 
worthy or not. he never uttered or perhaps 
entertained. Wc respeeilully call upon Mr. 
Cay wood to slate how It happened that Mr. 
Downing was erroneously quoted in his letter 
above alluded to, 
