APRIL 9 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
241 
ortolteal 
t 
RURALISMS. 
The value of the large number of new coleuB 
sent out last 8priug is now undergoing discus¬ 
sion, and the general conclusion seems to be 
that the list, for various reasons, should be re¬ 
duced, at least for open-air use. I expressed 
myself to this effect several months ago, as did 
also the Rural. There is too much sameness 
in maty of the varieties produced by different 
parties; they are so much alike, indeed, that 
it requires an amazingly sharp eye to distin¬ 
guish any difference between them. I pro¬ 
cured a couple of dozen last Spring and sub¬ 
mitted them to rather rough usage in regard 
to exposure in the Summer and a low tem¬ 
perature daring the Winter, to which many 
succumbed. The following survived and now 
look well:—Paroquet (Hiawatha), Meteor, 
Glory of Autumn, Mrs. Kirkpatrick, Burning 
Bush, and Mrs. Barr. Paroquet showed itself 
to t>e the hardiest. Fortunately, these are all 
good kinds. Glory of Autumn aud Mrs. Kirk¬ 
patrick being especially beautiful. Kentish 
and several other new kinds are very beautiful 
in the hot-house or a warm green-house, but in 
the open air or In a low temperature in Win¬ 
ter they soon droop and die. The florist who 
has weeded out his list of coleus has done a 
wise thing for himself and a good thing for the 
horticultural community. Where different 
parties work for the same end and with the 
same materials, it is quite natural that the re¬ 
sults arrived at should be very nearly alike ; 
still, it is to be regretted that so many kinds of 
coleus and other plants, nearly or quite identi¬ 
cal, should be offered for sale under different 
names. On the whole, old Verschaffeltii 
still remains unsurpassed for out-door work. 
As long as I can remember anything (how 
much longer I cannot say) it has been a prac¬ 
tice arnoDg old-fashioned people, especially 
in the country, to propagate the oleander, 
ivy, and a few other plants from cuttings 
placed In a bottle of water; but not long 
since 1 called upon a lady who propagates 
nearly all her plants in this way. She had a 
very good collection, which she keeps in a 
sunny room, and grows them well, as was evi¬ 
dent from their condition. I noticed perhaps 
a couple of dozen wide-mouthed bottles, each 
containing some slips, which I thought had 
been placed there temporarily for safe -keep¬ 
ing; but she said, "No; that is the way I 
root all my youog plantsand I found many 
of them well furnished with young roots. 
These bottles contained cuttings of coleus, 
achyranthes. scarlet pelargonium, fuchsia, ver¬ 
bena and several other kinds of plants. She 
further informed me that she learned the prac¬ 
tice many years ago from her mother, and 
seldom lost a cutting. This method of propa¬ 
gating plants may be new to many, and may 
prove useful. I know that Cissns discolor 
and other plants besides the oleander will root 
in water. I would suggest that some of the 
Rural family give the method a trial. 
It is generally supposed that what are called 
climbing plants mu6t have something to climb 
on, and there are persons who do not grow this 
class of plauts Bimply because they have no 
object on which the plant con climb. There 
are exceptions to most rules, and there are some 
among the climbers. Let us take, for exam* 
pie, the Thnnbergia, a very beautiful climbing 
plant, and see what line effects can be pro¬ 
duced without the aid of supports. Prepare a 
circular or oval bed, or a border, of any con¬ 
venient 6ize, and at intervals of a foot or two 
put in three or four seeds of Thunbergia, either 
alata, aurantiaca. or ulba, or all of them 
mixed. This must not be done till the weather 
becomes warm. When the plants are well up, 
thin them ont, leaving only one in each spot. 
An earlier bloom may be had by sowing the 
6eed under glass or in the house in shallow 
boxes, and transplanting to the beds as soon 
as the weather is warm enough. Let the 
plants rnn on the ground as they please, ex¬ 
cept that the end of a 6hoot will need turn¬ 
ing occasionally to keep It within the bed or 
the border. The plants will in a few weeks 
mat the ground with a mass of beautiful 
green, which in due time will be gemmed all 
over with charming buff flowers. The effect 
is very fine, and will please some people bet¬ 
ter than a bed of scarlet pelargoniums. 
It is an inexpensive way of producing pictm- 
esque effects with several kinds of twining 
plants easily raised from seed. Plants with 
tendrils are not so good for the purpose as 
those without. There is no reason why a bed 
of gladioli, lilies and similar tall-growing 
plants should not be covered in this way, the 
green carpet being far more attractive than 
a nuked bed of earth, with its accompanying 
weeds, which the Thunbergia will completely 
smother out. 
in riding in the cars I frequently pass a 
group of Fastigiate Maples, one large tree 
seeming to be the parent plant of the smaller 
ones near it. I am rather pleased with this 
form of the maple, and can readily conceive 
situations on the lawn and elsewhere where 
it would produce a pleasing effect. For in¬ 
stance, trees of this kind would find a suita¬ 
ble place near the dwelling, where those of a 
spreading habit would be quite inadmissible. 
Besides, these maples have claims on the score 
of utility, their erect habit of growth render¬ 
ing them peculiarly fitted for close planting 
in lines or beltB on exposed prairies, plains, 
etc., where protection from cold and strong 
winds is of the greatest importance to all 
kinds of growing crops, whether of fruit or 
grain; their rapid growth would soon make 
their influence felt. As wind-breakB they 
could be especially utilized at the West; and 
though not so good as evergreens for this 
purpose, they would grow up in less than half 
the time. The two combined would make a 
very thorough protection against almost any 
wind that blows. It would seem that thi3 
particular variety propagates itself from seed, 
which is a very important, matter. I think I 
saw, a few years since, a Fastigiate Maple still 
more like the Lombardy Poplar in habit, on 
the grounds of the Messrs. Parsons at Flush¬ 
ing. I do not know whether these gentlemen 
ever propagated it. but it is worth looking up. 
jkimtittr auii Useful. 
DISINFECTION versus VENTILATION. 
PROFESSOR F. H. STOKER. 
The comparative merits of ventilation and 
disinfection are still hotly disputed, and it is 
not easy to find many persons in the ordinary 
walks of life who do not estimate uuduly one 
or the other of these methods of purification. 
It is not, by any means, so generally known as 
it should be that in the majority of instances 
the two processes do not necessarily work to 
the same end, and that they are consequently 
not comparable one with the other. Each of 
the two processes is excellent m its place. 
Both of them are useful aud necessary. Neither 
of them can be too highly commeuded. But 
they should, by good rights, be employed to 
help and supplement one the other, since, 
generally speaking, neither of them is compe¬ 
tent to take the other’s place. 
Formerly, the idea was that disinfection con¬ 
sisted simply in getting rid of foul gases, but 
as we now have reason to believe, its chief 
merit lies in destroying minute living crea¬ 
tures. In the beginning, the question seemed 
to be how to get rid of unpleasant, smells, and 
it was thought that the best way of doing this 
was to hide them. The burning of incense in 
churches, so as to conceal the unpleasant odors 
arising from graves beneath or from crowds 
within them, was a case in point; the fumiga¬ 
tion of sick rooms is another, though, as we 
now have reason to believe, the scents and 
fumes did really work to destroy noxious 
germs and were consequently true processes 
of disinfection. They belong in the same cate¬ 
gory with the old system of fumigating travel¬ 
ers and their effects which still persists at the 
qnarantine grounds of Southern Europe. So, 
too, the aromatic “ thieves’ vinegar," which 
enabled its inventors to plunder dead bodies 
with impunity during epidemics of the plague, 
doubtless acted to destroy the microscopic 
organisms by which infection is brought about. 
The popular prejudice in favor of the healthi¬ 
ness of pine groves and of “the smell of tar" 
as well as the Turkish practice of planting 
thick groves of cypress trees in their ceme¬ 
teries dottbtless depends upon a fact of the 
same order. The Orientals are said to believe 
that the aromatic odor of the cypress prevents 
all ill effects from the burial of the dead, and 
the idea is a just one. But beside these tersbin- 
thine and tarry products, there are numerous 
other substances which are known to be pow¬ 
erful disinfectants by virtue of their power to 
destroy microscopic organisms prejudicial to 
health, and one of the most important practi¬ 
cal problems of the day is to And out conve¬ 
nient and efficient methods of using these 
various materials, and of familiarizing the 
public with their use. 
Ventilation alone, as of a sick room, 
is wholly incompetent for the taek now in 
question. Practically speaking, ventilation 
can neither destroy germs nor reduce the 
number of them in a given locality to any 
useful extent. The purpose of ventilation is 
very different from this. It does invaluable 
service by removing noxiouB gases and by 
diluting them with so much pure air that they 
no longer have power to do harm. Bat this 
dilution of the air has comparatively little sig¬ 
nificance as regards the organized beings. 
Some part of them may be swept away, in¬ 
deed, from apartments where the air is con¬ 
stantly renewed; but so long as a sufficient 
number of individuals is left to perpetuate the 
species, and so long as food for them to live 
upon remains, they will continue to prosper, 
o enormous is their reproductive power. In 
order to cope with them effectively, it is neces¬ 
sary to resort to disinfectants which shall 
either destroy the organisms, root and branch, 
or, at the least, hinder them from multiplying. 
In order to gain these ends, the disinfectant 
had better be actually applied to the substances 
which the organisms infest, or to those which 
are to be protected from their ravages, in 
order that it may come into intimate, destruc¬ 
tive contact with them. 
Of course, mere ventilation may, and often 
does, do good work by checking the increase 
of microscopic organisms in that it removes 
dampness, which is specially favorable for the 
growth of molds, for example. Ventilation, 
like the other forms of cleanliness, is invalua¬ 
ble in that it often works against the forma¬ 
tion of neBtiog places for the noxious organ¬ 
isms. But it is none the less true in very many 
cases that the action of pure, dry air needs to 
be re-enforced by that of some chemical agent, 
which shall serve to destroy hurtful organisms. 
It so happens that maDy of the more powerful 
disinfectants can decompose offensive gases, 
as well as destroy the microscopic organisms 
now in question, and it was formerly thought 
that the sole use of disinfection was to decom¬ 
pose gaseous matters. If this were really so 
the believers in the sufficiency of thorough¬ 
going ventilation would be much nearer light 
than they are, for all kinds of gases can be 
removed in that way if pains enough be taken. 
But it is known nowadays, from the results of 
numberless observations and researches, that 
not foul gases alone but minute living things 
play a highly important part, and probably the 
principal part, in the production of many kinds 
of putrefaction, decay, and disease. Hence it 
is that wiien once these creatures have invaded 
our premises, it is as necessaty to resort to 
agents fit to destroy them as it is in ordlnaiy 
life to keep in practice the agencies—such as 
cleanliness and ventilation—which tend to 
hinder or prevent such invasion. 
homological, 
PECK’S PLEASANT APPLE. 
On page 190 of the R. N.-Y. (March 19) was 
presented an outline-sketch of Peck’s Pleasant 
Apple. Mr. Charles Downing sendB us the 
following communication regarding it and a 
specimen apple which well represents thiB ex¬ 
cellent variety at its best. Mr. Downing’s note 
is as follows: 
Nkwbuegh, N. Y., March, vs, * 81 . 
“ I was surprised to Bee such a caricature 
outline of the Pleasant Apple in the Rural, 
and if I had time would give you a good scold¬ 
ing. but I can only say that the apple is gen¬ 
erally of a regular form and good size. I send 
yon an apple by mail to 6how its regularity; 
this specimen is over-large and too high-col-^ 
ored, and over-ripe.” 
®jj£ lonltrj garlr. 
A MISTAKE IN FEEDING POULTRY. 
I have been ann< y..u at times almost be¬ 
yond endurance in my endeavors to have my 
work done just as I direct. In no one instance 
is this annoyance greater than in my almost 
futile attempts to have my poultry cared for 
in a way that shall show eome little regard for 
my wishes in the matter. I have a large flock 
of hens—mature birds, all of them, not fancy 
specimens, out just such hens as any farmer 
would keep, and I try to keep them well; but 
all my suggestions, wishes and even positive 
orders avail nothing t6 prevent them from 
being fed almost exclusively upon sloppy food. 
The trouble is jast here—people raisiug poul¬ 
try get in the habit of feeding young chicks 
soft food and as they grow to maturity iollow 
up the practice. This practice is veiy fruity; 
chickens are young indeed, when they cannot 
consume some solid food such as the smaller 
grains. It is true that young chickens will do 
much better for a time upon soft food, but the 
proportion of solid food should be increased 
as the chicks attain larger growth. The mere 
fact that all kiiids of poultry, both young and 
old, devour all kinds of sloppy, washy food 
with avidity, proves nothing, as will be speed¬ 
ily fouud by comparing the increase in weight 
or productive capacity with the unusual quan¬ 
tity of soft food devoured. The reason for all 
this should be plain to the most casual ob¬ 
server .-—soft food, as usually made, is lacking 
in the nourishment required by poultry. The 
attempt to fatten towls upon this sort of food 
ia never satisfactory. The laxity that is the 
result of a continued diet of soft feed very 
seriously interferes wuh the egg-producing 
capacity of the best layers in the world. Now, 
I do not wish to have it inferred that I want 
my hens fed always upon corn or barley, or 
that they should never be fed soft food. But 
as a change of pastures is beneficial to sheep 
and calves, so I would change the diet ot my 
poultry very often, and occasionally give them 
soft food but never confine them for even a 
short time to that, diet- In Winter all fowls 
are better if they never taste soft food, if they 
have plenty of meat scraps and corn—in 
short, the Lest pooeible heat-producing diet 
that can be given them. The profits from 
poultry depend very much upon the same 
rules and principles that govern the profits of 
the dairy. F. K. Moreland. 
HUsttllaittous. 
ROCKERIES. 
(See page 254.) 
Manx suppose that a rockery, if one has the 
stones and the means of piling them together, 
is a structure very easily arranged. But we 
have always thought that there ia room for the 
display of great taste in rockeries, and that 
those we of len see in gardens are far from or¬ 
namental. Rocks themselves cannot be con¬ 
sidered fitting articles wherewith to adorn the 
lawn, and nnlesB they are so arranged as to 
form a seemingly natural part of the eoene, 
might better not be introduced, 'Small rocker¬ 
ies are at best incongruities. It is impossible 
so to arrange them as to offer any excuse for 
the incongruity of their existence. The en¬ 
graving on p. 254 shows a small part of a rock¬ 
ery at Benlham Hall, Shropshire, England, and 
illustrates wfiat we would say as to the scale 
on which such combinations should be ar¬ 
ranged to produce pleasing effects. The selec¬ 
tion of plants also well adapted to such struct¬ 
ures can be made only by horticulturists of ex¬ 
perience and taste. 
■ ■ ■ ■»»» - . . 
The Cut-leaved Weeping BrRCH.—In 
your recent Hardy Shrub mud Tree Special, 
I am sorry that so little is said of the Cut¬ 
leaved Weeping Birch. I regard this tree very 
highly and would place it first upon a list of 
ornamental lawu trees. The growth is up¬ 
right with pendulous branches; its shape is 
symmetrical and its foliage is of a beautiful 
deep green color. The leaves are finely cut. 
It is graceful, stately and handsome, and 
with age it increases in beauty. The tree 
requires no trimming, as no art can improve 
the shape nature has given it. 
Rochester, N. Y. h. t. jr. 
— ♦ ♦ ♦ 
A BUNDLE OF THINGS. 
Thai Sap-»ucher Once More. 
As several excellent articles have already 
appeared on the character and habits of the 
sap-sucker, I 6hall add nothlug to them except 
to touch upon the question, which seems to 
have been left unsettled, whether this bird 
really does that which his name implies. In a 
paper on this subject which was published^in 
