THE 
-YORKER. 
bloom freely, and look well enough, but a too 
free use of these plants impresses a ragged and 
weedy appearance, hence they Bhould be used in 
moderation. 
It is quite distasteful to see Pond Lilies and 
other aquatics matted together in dense thick¬ 
ets. To enhance attractiveness, the water should 
be clean, and all aquatics in suitably large 
clumps, and under no circumstances interlacing 
with, or overcrowding one another, otherwise 
we shall be building with the one hand and pull¬ 
ing down with the other. A good aud easy way 
of planting Pond Lilies and similar plants is to 
tie the routs lirmly to a tough sod and cast it 
into the water. They dou't require much soil to 
grow in ; in fact, those in our ponds here grow 
too rankly, in a t wo-inch layer of mold—accumu¬ 
lated sediment on a solid brick-clay bottom. 
The bog is the natural habitat of many 
of our veriest floral gems. The Ameri¬ 
can Turk’s Cap Lily, Blue Flags, Meadow 
Beauty, purple Pitcher plant, “ OowslipH" 
(Caltha paluatria.) Cardinal Flower, Sundews, and 
our host of beautiful Lady’s 81ippers, Fringed 
Orchises aud other Orchids thrive better in the 
bog than anywhere else. It does not necessa¬ 
rily follow, however, that because plants are 
naturally indigenous to swamps, we cannot Util¬ 
ize them in the flower gardens, but, on the 
contrary, we can employ the most of them 
when so transposed, with the happiest results. 
Certainly an arid soil aDd exposed position 
will prove fatal to many of them, but surely 
wo have discretion enough to give this class of 
plants the moistest nook in the garden, and 
too, a little shade. Cardinal Flowers, Spring 
Beauty, Mimulus ringus, Irises, Lady’s Slip¬ 
pers, Helonias bullata, and many others we 
grow quite handsomely in moist shady flower- 
borders, but Sundews, Pitcher Plants, Water 
Arums, and several others cannot be grown 
under ordinary garden conditions. 
Artificial bogs are sometimes made in gardens 
and are charming adj unots. Where they are im¬ 
practicable the beauty of the neighboring natural 
ones can be intensified by transposing thither 
different genera and species from other placeB, 
and displacing by plucking over or otherwise, 
such rank or weedy plants that might presum¬ 
ably choke the prettier subjects. I have seen 
Sundews, Northern and Southern Pitcher 
Plants, Pinguioulas,and Venus’ Fly Traps grown 
quite nicely in cold frames, in pots plunged in 
sphagnum that was kept a living carpet 
throughout the year. 
Besides the plants already mentioned Scutella¬ 
ria versicolor, Sabbatias, Buckbean, Goldthread, 
Willow-herbs, Sweet Flag, Water Plaiutaiu, aud 
Myosotis palustris var. laxa are also pretty bog 
plantB. 
CUMBERS AND TWINERS. 
These aro especially useful in our own gardens 
for covering arbors, climbing pillars, shading 
piazzas, draping fences and walls, screening un¬ 
sightly objeetd or trailing over rocks or banks; 
or, as in the oase of our Wistaria (W. frute- 
scens), Trumpet-creeper (Tecoma radicans), 
aud Wild Balsam apple (Eohinocystis lobata), 
for their own intrinsic beauty. Such plants 
abound in the woods and by the waysides, and 
are particularly plentiful in low rich ground, 
and in the neighborhood of rivers, creeks, or 
branches, lakes or ponds, and where they often 
form almost impregnable networks. Youug 
plants if well cut back and lifted with good roots 
may be successfully transplanted from their na¬ 
tive wilds to our gardens, providing this be sea¬ 
sonably done—say from October to April, and 
due caro be otherwise given them. Or they 
must be propagated by means of seed, as in 
the oase of the Climbing Fumitory (Adlumia 
cirrhoaa) and Wild Balsam Apple. 
Besides our many species of generous Grape- 
Vines aud uncivil Srnilax, the following kinds are 
fast-growing and highly decorative ; Ampelopsis 
quinquefolla. Virginian Creeper; Aristolochri 8i- 
pho, Pipe-Vine; Apios tuberoaa, Ground-Nut; 
Bignonia caproolata, Common Bignonia; Calyste- 
gia sepium, I ledge Bindweed; Colastrua scundous, 
Climbing Wax-work; Clematis Virgiuiana, Com¬ 
mon Virgin’s Bower; Ipomiea pandurata, Man- 
of-the-Earth Creeper; Louicera sempervirens, 
Trumpet Honeysuckle; Menispermum Caua- 
dense, Moouseed; Buna sotigera, Prairie Rose. 
FERNS. 
Ferus abound by the roadside ditches, iu moist 
shady woods, iu springy Holds, and in aud 
around swamps. ThB Wall-Hue is found on ex¬ 
posed limestone cliffs, the Walking Peru on 
damp mossy rooks, the Common Polypody on 
rocks aud tree stumps, tho Maiden Hair and 
Climbing Fern, iu shady woods, aud the Chain, 
Sensitive aud Ciuuamon Ferns are common iu 
swamps. Mountainous aud rocky rogionB aro 
usually rich in ferns, which delight in crevices 
and shady ravines, the smaller species being 
generally indigenous to the higher elevations, 
and tho stronger kinds to tho lowermost places. 
Notwithstanding this divergence or location, we 
can grow Mie following kinds to perfection iu 
our gardens, on a little rookery in a moist shady 
nook, giving them if practicable a peaty in pref¬ 
erence to a loamy soil, though peat ia uot imper¬ 
ative, Neither is a rockery absolutely needful: 
Adiantucn pedatum, Maiden Hair; Asplenium 
ebeneum; Asplenium Trichomanee; Asplenium 
Ituta-muraria, Wall-floe; Asplenium thoivpter- 
oides, Asplenium Feiix-foenima, Lady Fern ; 
Aspidium acrostichoides; A. marginale; A, 
fragrans; A. crist&tum and vars; A. spinu- 
losum ; A. Goldiauum; Camptosorus rhizophy- 
llus, Walking Fern; Cystopteris bulbifeta; C. 
fragalis; Dicksonia punctflobnla; Lygodium 
palmatum, Climbing Fern ; Onoclea seusibilis, 
Sensitive Fern; Osmunda cinnamomea, Ciuna- 
frosts, there was but one new bulb, large, deep 
and shapely—no bulblets. 
No. 2. Planted six inches deep. Up May 21st; 
bloomed July 25; same bight as No. 1. Two 
medium-sized bulbs, ten bulbletB. 
No. 3. Planted four inohes deep. Up May 
21st; bloomed July 25 ; three blooming stalks, 
six inohes to one foot apart and staked as stak¬ 
ing becomes necessary. If the plot is shelter¬ 
ed, staking is not necessary except for the taller- 
§ rowing varieties. A situation in which the 
looming stems are sheltered from the sun from 
ten to three, is to be preferred, and a summer 
mulch of well-decomposed manure will be found 
advantageous. 
Feb. 20 . 
LTKA PLANT. 
G-ATHKRlNGr 'l'JHLK TEA 
mon Fern ; O. Claytoniana ; O. regalis, Royal three and one-half feet high. Three bulbs, two 
Fern; Phegopteris polypodioides, Beech Fern ; large, one small; twenty bulblets. 
P. hexagonopteris; P. Drvoptoris; Polypodium No. 4. Planted two inches deep. Up May 22 ; 
vnlgdYfe, Polydody; Struthioptoris Germanica, bloomed Aug. 1st; two blooming stalks, forty- 
Oatrich Fern; Scolopendrium vulgare, Harts- two inches high. One medium size bulb, four 
tongue; Woodsia Ilvensis; W. obtusa; Wood- bulblets. 
versirv No. 5. Planted four inches deep, upside down. 
Botaal ° Garden, Harvard University . Up June lat . bloomed Aug. 5; two blooming 
stalks; large, deep bulb, twelve bulblets. The 
NOTES FROM THE RURAL GROUNDS. leaves and flowering stems, instead of growing 
„ upright as when the bulbs are planted as they 
AN EXPtRlMENT WITH GLADIOLI. should be, grew at au angle of about forty de- 
How deep is it advantageous to plant Gladi- greeB. 
olus bulbs ? The answer can only be given It would appear from this little experiment 
when the character of the soil is known. The | 
following little experiment was made iu an ordi¬ 
nary gardon soil to which a considerable quan¬ 
tity of Bandy muck was added three years since. 
All were medium-sized, healthy conns of the 
same variety—an unnamed seedling—and plant¬ 
ed May 1st. 
No. 1. Planted eight inches deep from top 
of corm. Up Juue 1st; bloomed July 26 ; one 
blooming stalk four feet high. Taken up after 
that in Btich soil as-we describe, the best results 
are obtained from planting the corns four 
inches deop, measuring from the top. As re¬ 
gards the 
BEST TIME FOR PLANTING, 
there is some difference of opinion. We have 
chosen from about the 1st to the middle of 
April, for the main planting, continuing until 
the middle of July for succession at intervals of 
ten days or two weeks. They may be planted 
RURAL SPECIAL REPORTS. 
Syracuse, N. Y. March 26. 
We are now getting genuine, old-fashioned 
March weather. Several inches of snow have 
fallen, within the last forty-eight hours, with a 
stiff northwest wind, and the thermometer at 12 
degrees above zero. However, disagreeable 
March is so nearly gone, that we endure the 
balance of it philosophically. Farmers are not 
yet over-burdened with silver. Notwithstanding 
the "croakings ’ of the hard money advocates, 
we shall probably have none too much money iu 
circulation among farmers. All kinds of farm 
produce are rather low, but officers’ salaries and 
lawyers’ fees do uot appear tp shrink percepti¬ 
bly. Batter is selling at about 25c. pel" pound ; 
whole hogB at $4 50(5 5 per hundred; hay at £10 
per ton potatoes. 40c. per bushel; corn, 45<® 
55c.; wheat. $1.20(5 j 1.25. Eggs, 10(512c. per 
dozen, which is lower than they have sold in 
many years, and as the old lady said, “ It 
hardly pays for the wear aud tear of the hens." 
New Milford, Ohio, hr kino Hill Factory 
I see by a recent inquiry that one of your 
correspondents wants to know of a suitable 
puiut for inside work in cheese factories. 
Previously we bad used the best white-lead 
and oil for painting our vats and presses, and 
all inside work hi our cheese factory. We found 
it would not withstand the action of acids, and 
hot and cold water. Seeking a paint more dura¬ 
ble and suitable, we were advised to try the 
Gutta Percba Paint manufactured by the 
Gutta Percba Paint Co., of Cleveland, Ohio. 
We have tested their paint thoroughly, having 
nsed both cold and scalding water on it daily 
for eight months without its sustaining any 
perceptible injury therefrom. We think it tbe 
beet paint within our knowledge. IlaviDg 
paiuted the outside of our dwelling-house and 
factory, we And it equally applicable for that 
purpose. These facts are for tbe benefit of 
your readers. H. B. Cash*. 
Salem. Ohio. 
Pure Bone. —The Excelsior Fertilizer Works, 
Salem, Ohio, are noted for the superior quality 
of their bone. A recent visit to the works and 
inspection of the processes of manufacture, dis¬ 
closed the cause of their reputation. The best 
material treated in the most effective manner, 
is turned out and goes forth into the markets as 
** Premium, Pure, Odorless, Fine-ground Bone.” 
It is au excellent article and worthy of being 
most extensively u-ed 
Jambsvillk, W1b., March 22. 
We have had a fine open winter. W’heat is 
now coming into market. Farmers are getting 
$1.05 for it. Spring wheat ia being planted 
now and we will have a larger acreage in wheat 
this year than usual. Barley is our principal 
crop. We plant it in April. b. c. 
Jniiustnal Jmjilmnits, 
THE THOMAS RAKE. 
This rake has been before the agricultural 
public four years, and this season appears with 
improvements that possess practical value. It is 
a hand-dump, constructed of the best material, 
iu a substantial manner, and has many interest¬ 
ing peculiarities that distinguish it from other 
rakes. These we have uot space to particularize, 
but they are deserving of the attention of far¬ 
mers. The circular issued by the manufactur¬ 
ers, J. H. Thomas A Soxs, Springfield, Ohio, 
will supplement this brief mention admirably. 
It may be had for tlie asking. The points in 
favor of this hand-dump rake are, that tho 
dumping is assisted by tho driver’s weight, whioh 
reduces the power applied by the baud to the 
lever to a mere nominal Btart. The teeth are 
not kept down, while in operation by the aid of 
tne operator nor do they crash on the ground 
after discharge, irrespective of the will of the 
driver, thus avoiding jar, damage, and as a 
natural consequence, repairs. The rake is made 
to dump at the option of the operator, whether 
the motion is forwards or backwards, and there 
is no changing of the feet from lever to chain or 
the reverse, to distract or confuse the mind. 
This rake has large teeth, the axle stands high, 
and by the application of the cleaner-bar tbe 
full circle of teeth is clear for isking. This is 
au important ad vantage, permitting a large wind¬ 
row to be gathered and dumped. Bottom or 
green hay is turned OYer well on top, thereby 
aiding materially the curing process. It is 
in brief, cheap, simple in action and very dur¬ 
able. 
The portable farm engine made by this com¬ 
pany is also meeting with marked favor. 
The “ Coquillabd" wagon has a tine reputa¬ 
tion, and the manufacturer, A. Coquillabd. 
South Bend. Ind., maintains the excellence of 
his manufacture by personal supervision. 
Owning a large tract of suitable timber, he has 
tho advantage of selecting only tbe best mater¬ 
ial for his own use, and by the adopl ion and 
application of improved machinery, it becomes 
merely a question of time to produce a hand¬ 
some well proportioned, tastefully finn-hed, 
light-draft, ami strong wagon. The manufac¬ 
ture iH not confined to farm wagons. Platform, 
express, grocers' aud other stylos of light 
vehicles axe made as well as carmges, buggies 
and sleighs. Photographs and descriptions of 
either will be sent on application. 
