t 
THE BUBAL MEW-YOBKEB. 
terial injury. In fact, the Shell Flower, as if 
drought were precisely the thing needed, grew 
luxuriantly until long after frosts. 
--- 
NOTES. 
New Flowers. —Among new flowers, none are 
referred to in reviews of 1876 in higher terms 
than the tuberous-rooted Begonias. They are 
spoken of in England as being employed for 
bedding purposes in place of Pelargoniums. 
Among Clematises, Messrs. Jackman &Son have 
produced several new double varieties, viz., 
Countess of Lovelace, 44 deep violet, very large, 
bold and striking; Duke of Connaught, lilac, 
very free and well adapted for planting out 
against conservatory pillars; and Duchess of 
Edinburgh, pure whito.” 
Catalogues.—James J. H. Gregory, Marble¬ 
head, Mass. Mr. Gregory is well known among 
the agriculturists and horticulturists of the Uni¬ 
ted States. The present catalogue is of quarto 
form, 52 pages, 32 of which are devoted to veg¬ 
etable—the rest to flower seeds, fully illustrated. 
Many of the novelties of tho seasou, as well as 
all the tried sorts, aro offered in either depart¬ 
ment. 
Mr. Gregory not only adopts the plan of send¬ 
ing his catalogue freo to all applicants, a plan 
thijt, we think, might profitably bo adopted by 
allot our seedsmen, but. adds—‘-If any of my 
friends will send me the names of persons reaid- 
ing in the neighborhood who would be likely to 
need a supply of good vegetable seeds, I shall be 
happy to send my catalogue to them.” 
Drlek's Garden Calender, 714 Chestnut St,, 
Philadelphia, A work of 1!>2 pages. This is 
devoted to almost every subject Of practical in¬ 
terest, to the farmer, kitchen-gardener and flor¬ 
iculturist—seeds, plants and voluminous cultural 
details. Our readers may rometnbor the account 
we gave of the splendid display of Mr. Dreeb 
in the grounds of tho Centennial, occupying, as 
we are informed, an area of 24.000 sq. feet. He 
was awarded the medal and diploma for “ The 
best display of Decorative and Ornamental 
Plants.” 
E. & J. C. Williams, Montclair, N. J. De¬ 
scriptive Catalogue oi Fruit and Ornamental 
Trees, Grape Vinos and Small Fruits. 
Those ordering from this establishment may 
rely upon receiving plants of the best quality and 
true to name. The Brighton Grape, for winch 
is claimed excellence of quality, vigor and hardi¬ 
ness or vine, early ripening, beauty and size of 
fruit, beauty of vine and foliage, is made a spe¬ 
cialty. 
D. M. Feiiiiy & Co., Detroit, Mich. The beau¬ 
tiful and comprehensive catalogue of this enter¬ 
prising and extensive establishment, contains 
250 pages, with 550 illustrations, engravings and 
colored plates. 
For those who have had little experience in 
tho cultivation of seeds, this is precisely the 
book needed, and for those who have had expe¬ 
rience, the lists of seeds will be found as full and 
varied as those of any catalogue or floral guide 
iu this country. 
Beach, Son & Co., 7 Barclay St., N. Y. Seeds, 
Bulbs, Plants. Lily Bulbs aud Gladioli a speci¬ 
ality. 
Stohbs. Harrison A Co., Painesville, Ohio. 
New and Rare Plants, including Greenhouse and 
Bedding Plants. Eighty pages, profusely illus¬ 
trated. The second of four catalogues annually 
issued, any one or all of which are sent on re¬ 
ceipt of stamps to pay postage. 
Among the especially noteworthy plants we 
find Senecio macroylos/iuK (see article ■ • Special 
Flowers"), Hydrangea paniculata (of which an 
engraving is given), and // xtdlata, jl. pi ,, Am- 
pelopii8 Feitchii, Fabiam imbricata, etc. 
J. M. Tnoantnjx A Co., 15 John St., N. Y. 
Two catalogues, viz.: Annual Descriptive Cat¬ 
alogue of Vegetable and Agricultural Seeds— 
Garden, Field, Fruit and other Seeds, the largest 
collection to be found in the world, embracing 
every standard and improved variety, also tested 
novelties, both of domestic and foreign origin, 
that are suited to the climate of the United 
States. 
And Catalogue of Flower Seeds, with practical 
directions fur their Culture and treatment. J- 
M. Thorbuun A Co. were established in 1802 
aud they are old enough to speak for themselves. 
Robert Douglas A Sons, Waukegan, Lake 
Co, | Ills. Wholesale Catalogue of Evergreens 
and Ornamental Tree Seedlings, etc. “After 
twenty years’ experience in growing Evergreens 
from seeds,” Mr. Douglas remarks, 44 packing 
and shipping millions annually, we aro glad to be 
able to say that we ship them to arrive as safely 
and transplant as successfully as Apple or other 
deciduous tree." 
R. H. Allen A Co., ISO A 191 Water St., N. Y. 
Descriptive catalogue, containing complete lists 
of Vegetable, Flower and Field seeds, Roots, 
Plants and Garden Requisites, with practical de¬ 
tails as to culture, etc. 
Hovex A Co., bu state St-, Chicago. His. 
Catalogue and Floral Guide. Vegetable aud 
Flower Seeds, Bulbs, Garden Requisites, Horti¬ 
cultural Implements. 
William Rennie, Toronto, Canada. Descrip¬ 
tive seed Catalogue. Eighty pages, well illus¬ 
trated. Vegetable, Flower Seeds, Horticultural 
Requisites. 
P. J. Bercrmans, Augusta, Ga. No. 1. De¬ 
scriptive Catalogue of Fruit Trees, Grape Vines. 
Strawberry Plants, Evergreens. Roses, Elowering 
Shrubs. No. 2. Spring Catalogue of Dahlias, 
Bedding and Greenhouse plants, etc. No. 3. 
Wholesale Catalogue for Nurserymen and Deal¬ 
ers. 
All mailed free on application. 
■-♦ ♦ » 
PEAS. 
Peas, among culinary vegetables, are only less 
prized than Strawberries among small fruits. 
As they may be cultivated without much ma¬ 
nure, and easily raised without the aid of 
hot-beds, frames, or any other of the artifices 
resorted to by skillful kitchen gardeners, ho 
who is possessed of twenty-five feet square of 
land may supply his table, occasionally at leust, 
with homo-grown Peas throughout the season. 
Varying a little for different soils or situa¬ 
tions, early or middle April is the time to sow 
for this climate. Though young plants will 
stand frost, yet no advantage is gained by plant¬ 
ing earlier, since only tho more seed will rot in 
the ground. If, however, cold weather sets iu 
after planting, covering tho rows lightly with 
manure will effect an earlier and more uniform 
germination. 
Il' early results are desired for home use, the 
I’ea should ho given a light, rich soil; for gou- 
eral market crops, it matters but little what the 
soil is so that it be well-manured. In tho latter 
case, staking or brushing is not usually resorted 
to; iu the former, except for dwarf varieties, it 
is advisable to two supports of one kind or an¬ 
other. For family uso, tho wrinkled varieties 
are sweeter and more tender than tlm smooth, 
hut they are less hardy and of smaller size. A 
pint may be considered sufficient for a row of 30 
or 40 feet, and sowings may be mado every teu 
dayB to three weeks for succession, 
The following notes aB to new or lato varieties 
were made last summer; 
Carter's Extra Early Premium Gem.—Av- 
erago bight but one foot; prolific. Tho pods 
are long, tho peas largo, hard, and compara¬ 
tively flavorless. Seeds sown May 3; first pick- 
uig July 1. It is claimed for this that Peas 
“ ready for use ’’ liavo been obtained in 15 days 
—a statement not supported by our tost, though, 
in truth, we gave them no culture with this ob¬ 
ject iu view. 
Carter’s First Crop.— Sowed April 20; first ; 
picking June 10. I’ods short, round; Peas i 
small, rather deficient in flavor. Probably as 
early as any Pea iu cultivation. 
McLean's Little Gem.— Also planted April \ 
20; first picking June 20. This grows no larger 
than Carter’s Gem. It is prolific; the Pea is of 
largo size, aud. though one of the earliest, is 
certainly one of tho sweetest—a combination 
that marks it as one of the most desirable vari¬ 
eties known. 
McLean’s Advancer. —This is one of the less 
early varieties, remarkable for its sweet, delicious 
llavor. The pods are large, not closely filled; I 
Peas small aud round. 
Among the latest English novelties, Carter's 
Commander-in-Cbief is highly prized. It is a 
green, wrinkled marrow, of good flavor, “ long, 
large, slightly curved pods that often contain 
ten large Teas.” 
Culyerwell’s Telegraph Ls thus described 
by Mr. Carter of London:— -‘A cross between 
Veitch’s Perfection and Laxton’s Prolific; a fine 
second early variety, very’ robust in habit, bear¬ 
ing immense pods, containing ten to eleven very 
large Peas in each pod—the Peas often forming 
a double row in the pod. Hight, five feet. Fine 
flavor. 
®jif f oultrji Jkrir. 
TO OUR READERS, 
Having undertaken the task of writing for 
this useful journal on matters relating to Poul¬ 
try, it shall be my object to make this depart¬ 
ment interesting to every one who keeps fowls, 
whether the number kept bo few or many, on a 
farm or in numerous breeding-pens for different 
varieties; to those whose object it is to breed 
eggs or chickens for market, as well as to those 
who, through perseverance and care, aro de¬ 
sirous of raising the standard of our many va¬ 
rieties of pure-bred stock. 
No more harmless recreation — when not too 
expensively indulged in—cau be found than keep¬ 
ing fowls and admiring the beautiful variations 
of nature as exhibited in their remarkably differ¬ 
ent and exquisite figures and colors, tinted with 
so much delicate shading and fine penciling, and 
rivaling iu beauty any other kind of domestic 
pets. Very remarkable are the diversities of 
fowls, from the great, stately Asiutic or Dor¬ 
king, weighing eight or twolvo pounds, down to 
the neat, trim, little Bantam, scarcely weighing 
one. The various kinds aro now bred to suit tho 
requirements of almost any situation. Where 
only a small space out-doors can bo given to a 
few fowls, those can be kept that lay freely and 
do not sit or troublo their owner with broods of 
chicks while tboro is uo place to rear them. 
Where one is surrounded by neighbors’ gardens, 
breeds can be kept that cannot top a two-foot 
fonco and that aro hardy under confinement, 
never malting complaint of their imprisonment, 
provided food is liberally supplied. Then there 
are fowls that never scratch. Well - boliaved 
cliickens iu a garden aro those, and very orna¬ 
mental among (lowers aud shrubs. Again, there 
are still smaller ones that are beautiful any¬ 
where, and others which are at once most 
remarkable layers and also the owners of line 
plumage. Woro thoso from some foreign clime, 
they would bo cousiderod of great value for 
their beauty alone, decking a lovely lawn or 
park. 
Many persons who coutemplate keeping fowls 
are sometimes at a loss to know what breeds aro 
beet adapted to their wants, while others may 
desire information as to tho management, re¬ 
quirements, etc,, of their particular stock. It 
will bo my object to impart, through the columns 
of tho Rural New-Yorker, to tho best of my 
humble ability, all such needed information, 
and to give only such advice as I havo tested or 
believe to be correct aud trustworthy; and 
with theBo principles guiding mo, I hope to make 
the Poultry Department of this journal equally 
instructive and useful to its readers. Any in¬ 
quiries, therefore, from them, in relation to 
Poultry, will be most cheerfully answered. 
Henry Hales. 
— 4 ♦ »- 
BREEDING FOR QUALITIES.-No. 5. 
Size is anothor consideration that demands 
tho attention of every brooder. Although in 
soino varieties of fowls this feature is of greater 
oousequoncc than in others, yet in every breed 
it is of some importance. Notwithstanding that 
tho “American Standard of Excellence” dons 
not, in tho scales of points, refer to size in many 
broods; still this should count some points in 
all, because in brooding naturally diminishes the 
size of any variety, especially when other points 
aro selected at tho sacrifice of this very impor¬ 
tant quality. To produce such immensely largo 
birds as the prize-winners of the Asiatic class, 
great caro in feeding, etc., must be resorted to; 
but as this does not come under consideration at 
present, we shall pass it, to consider breeding 
for size. 
Compensation appears to bo ono of the laws 
of Nature. One bird will excel in one point and 
ono in another— none in all; aud when you breed 
especially for one, it is hard to maintain some 
others. No quality suffers more than size at the 
expense of other merits, particularly iu such 
breeds as havo delicate markings for their stand¬ 
ard. One reason why such varieties are of dell 
cate constitution is, that though in-breeding 
produces tho choicest specimens of color and 
penciling, yet such inbred birds aro generally 
smaller than those which aro only moderately 
well marked; and on this account, it is better 
to sacrifice a little in color than in constitution. 
I do not advocate the selection of the largest 
birds always; but one should keep an eye to size 
in all small broods, except Bantams. Select for 
breeding fine largo birds, with good feather 
(even if you sacrifice a few weak ones of over 
so fine a piumage), and you will greatly improve 
your stock. I saw an instance of this recently 
in a large yard of very flue-sized Whito LoghornB. 
The owner of these never shows at exhibitions, 
but keeps over from year to year only his finest- 
built birds, changes his cocks yearly, and the re¬ 
sult is fowls of an extraordinarily fine constitu¬ 
tion and must prolific layers. 
With such breeds as Asiatics, that have a tend¬ 
ency to gross size and fat, the opposite size is 
the better ono—choose medium-sized birds for 
producing eggs. While the largest birdH of 
small broods are generally the best layers, small 
or medium-sized ones aro best among tho Asiat¬ 
ics. An active hen is generally a good layer; 
while the very large, heavy, slow hen wastes 
most of the food consumed, in affordiug nourish¬ 
ment to so large a body, thus devoting to tissue 
what iu an ordinary-sized hen would go to ogg- 
produotion. Among Bantams, tho largest are 
the best layers ; but as they aro bred more for 
beauty than profit the smallest should be se¬ 
lected, whenever tho feathering iB of tho dosired 
color and marking. Many persons advocate 
breeding late in the season for small Bantams. 
I have frequently tried the practice, but the 
resulting chickens are generally puny and weak. 
Small birds can be bred in spring and summer 
from good stock, and are more likely to prove of 
strong constitution and be decked with glossy, 
bright feathering. In the South, however, 
where the climate is not severe, they may be 
bred iu winter to advantage. 
In comparing size with prolific laying, we again 
find a connection between natural size and that 
quality. This we see in the medium-sized breeds, 
since those arc the nearest in bulk to their 
original progenitors, and also tho host layers. 
When fowls are bred down very small, wc find 
their fertility stunted with .thoir size ; and, on 
the other hand, whon bred very large, they aro 
inclined to bo, at least, a trifle less prolific in 
eggs. However abundantly some peoplo may 
imagine tho large broods to lay, no ono who has 
over kept them, and also Hamburgsor Leghorns, 
can compare tho merits of the former, as layers, 
with those of the latter, taking into account tho 
amount of food respectively consumed during 
ono year. Henry Hales. 
-- 
INFLUENZA IN FOWLS INBRED. 
Gan you Infom me what is tho cause of a com¬ 
plaint which has lately affected my fowls ? Three 
young pullets, apparently in perfect health, 
were at different times, within tho last month, 
without any previous indication or symptoms, 
taken in this wise: On going to feed them In the 
moruitig, I would find ono on the roost, with 
both oyes closed, exuding a frothy, purulent 
matter, and unable, from want of vision, to 
leave the porch. That tho fowls were in good 
health aud condition at the time of tho attack 
was evident from tho red color of their combs, 
aud singing (indicative of laying-time) ; and the 
last ono so far affected had laid her first two 
eggs tho two days immediately preceding tho at¬ 
tack, which put. a stop to her laying. 
It may be well to state that the surroundings 
of those fowls (some half-dozen kept) are unex¬ 
ceptionable- a warm stable to roost in, a shed 
open to the sun iu the daytimo, besides ample 
premises to run in. If, under these circum¬ 
stances, they don’t do well, it would seem that 
fowls are subject to more ills than “flesh is 
heir to.” Monmouth. 
The disease that attacked your fowls is influ¬ 
enza, proceeding from a cold. It is often very 
suddou in its assault on fowls, as in human 
beings, even where groat care is taken in cither 
case. Taking cold cannot bo avoided with 
Ibo best of care ; but the chances of withstand¬ 
ing it and recovering, dopend on tho constitution 
of your birds aud the previous care they have 
had. With weak fowls and poor care tills dis¬ 
ease frequently terminates iu roup. Your pre¬ 
vious attention to your stock is much iu their 
favor. Wash the beads of the affected birds 
with warm vinegar and a little salt, lettiug it 
well into their eyes ; swab out their throats with 
the same mixture, using a feather. If this does 
not relievo them immediately, uso carbolic soap 
and warm water for thoir hoods, aud swab their 
throats with kerosene oil. A bolus of tonio 
paste, sold for that purpose, administered daily, 
is of great help in curiug your birds. Warm, 
stimulating food should be given, and if they 
cannot see to eat, a little stuffing must, be re¬ 
sorted to till their sight returns. Then give 
them a little chopped meat, which will tempt 
them to eat, and the probability is they will soon 
recover. h. h. 
Jitsitrara Jlqrartnunt. 
THE ASHTABULA MASSACRE. 
Tue Arkansas chap who neglected to mond his 
roof in fairweathor “because it did not leak” 
and would not go out in tho rain to mond it, 
belongH to a very numerous class of poopie who 
make no preparation for death or danger until it 
is too lato. Such poopie lio on their death-beds, 
lamenting that they had not insured their lives, 
or they groan for weeks as much over the Iobb of 
time and wages as over their brolcou legs and 
arms. Some horrible calamity, like that which 
lately occurred at Ashtabula, awakens thorn, 
temporarily, to the danger ol’ sudden death and 
tho necessity of insurance against accidents de¬ 
structive of life and limb. But many of them 
will comfort themselves with the reflection that 
this occurred on a railroad, and would not have 
happened had everybody remained at home. 
Having never died, nor felt like dying, they make 
no preparation for that unavoidable event, and 
never having been laid up with a damaged limb 
during harvest or some other busy season they 
do not foci, and appear to bo Incapable of rea¬ 
soning out tho necessity for insurance against 
such occurrences. 
One trial, one slight touch of personal experi¬ 
ence, cures them of this kind of apathy. No 
| ono who has once drawn from the ample treasury 
of tho Travelers Life and Accident Ins. Co. a 
daily allowance of four or five dollars during a 
few w eeks of suffering aud disability ever neg¬ 
lects to keep on liis life and limbs all the insur¬ 
ance ho can pay for. Those who were at Ashta¬ 
bula hurled to destruction in a moment and 
without warning, left to their families legacies 
of thousands of dollars that cost them less than 
as many cents, anil yet, with this example and 
the perpetual opportunity before thorn, there 
are people who travel without accident policies. 
