THE RURAL 
nuring. Clover, being freely raised and fed to 
cows in connection with straw and surplus grain, 
will not only produce milk profitably, but will 
compensate the soil for grain raising. 
-♦-*-*- 
THISTLES OR NO THISTLES? 
Just before the thistle, or in fact any bien¬ 
nial or perennial weed, is ready to flower, cut it 
down to the ground, or a little below, to be sure 
to kill the eyes about to form, and the plant’s 
growth is stopped. If the eyes upon the collar 
or running roots once get ripe—although dor¬ 
mant till next season—’the plant lives. This 
time—only about two weeks between budding 
and blooming—is their critical terra. Taken at 
this time, all last year’s eyes have got above 
ground, and the seeds are not yet formed. No 
salt, kerosene or doctor’s stuff is required— 
only pluck and elbow-grease. 
Dodge Co., Neb. 8. Rufus Mason. 
Jfitltr Crop, 
TIMOTHY AND ORCHARD - GRASS. 
THEIR QOOD QUALITIES AND THEIR DEFECTS. 
PROFESSOR. W. J. BEAU. 
A person who is familiar with all the good 
points and defects of our domestic animals 
knows what to select for his especial purpose. 
Just so with the grasses. But these are rather 
Bmall and most of them look alike to a person 
who has little or no knowledge of botany. Al¬ 
though farmers are among some of these grasses 
from boyhood to old age, yet most men die ig¬ 
norant of the names and peculiarities of the ma¬ 
jority of valuable grasses. 
TIMOTHY. 
Timothy looks unlike any grass with which 
farmers come in contact. It resembles Meadow 
Fox-tail a little, but it is larger, coarser ana 
the spike (head) is longer and rougher and the 
plant flowers appear a mouth later. Timothy 
produces an abuudance of seeds of somo size 
which are easily cleaned and quite Bnre to grow. 
These traits, with the large size and early ma¬ 
turity of the timothy-plant, are much ia its fa¬ 
vor. The quality of grass is excellent. In a 
good Beason in favorable soil, it yiolds a large 
crop of good hay which every man has learned 
to recognize. Bat few could tell the hay which 
was made of Orchard-grass, Fowl-meadow-grass, 
or Meadow-fescue. It might be just as good 
or even better than the load of Timothy, but 
they would prefer the latter, because they then 
know what they are buying. A good now pear, 
or apple, or strawberry or squash will not meet 
with ready sale till buyers become acquainted 
with it. 
DEFECTS OF TIMOTHY. 
Some of the defeots of Timothy are these: 
It flowers rather late, two or three weeks later 
than Red Clover with which it is often sown. It 
starts rather slowly in spring and after it is once 
mown in summer, produces no seed and but very 
little feed or very little to mow. It very soon dis¬ 
appears in pastures as stock eat oil the bulbs at 
the base of the stem. It does not spread to oc¬ 
cupy the space left by auuual weeds or by Red 
Clover when they are dead. It is the fashion to 
sow Timothy or Timothy and clover and has been 
for many j oars. 
ORCHARD-GRASS. 
Orchard-grass has been well-known for many 
generations in Europe where it is a great favor¬ 
ite. In the Old Country farmers pay large rents 
and they are obliged to watch very closely the 
expenses and the income. They prefer Or¬ 
chard-grass, Cock’a-foot as they call it, to Tim¬ 
othy. In this now country, in Michigan and 
Illinois at least, it is astonishing to see the ig¬ 
norance which prevails among farmers as to 
Orchard-grass and many others of value. 
Orchard-grass starts very early in spring aud 
gets its growth and prodnoos flowers throe or 
four weeks before Timothy. It grows about the 
same bight as Timothy aud if sown thickly on 
suitable land, and cut at the proper time, will 
yield nearly, or quite, aa much—aud sometimes 
more—grass of about the same quality. It may 
be cut aud must be cut early to make good bay. 
After cutting it starts very quickly aud is soon 
up ready for cutting again or for pasture a long 
time during the rest of the year. It bears pas¬ 
turing well. For meadow or pasture I have 
known it to last ten or twelve years, and then 
appear thick aud thrifty. 
SHORTCOMINQS OF ORCHARD-GRASS. 
NVhat are the drawbacks in raising Orchard- 
grass ? Why is it not a universal favorite for use 
iu place of Timothy and for other purposes ? 
Some of the reasons, if they are worthy the 
name of reasons, have been given: In some 
places, as on gravelly plains, Orchard-grass is 
said not to have done well. The seeds are 
light and sold in the chaff much of which con¬ 
tains no seed. A few Beads cost too much 
money. Sometimes the seeds are injured in 
harvesting and curing, or are kept too long by 
seedsmen, as they have to supply only a limited , 
demand. Of weU|filled seed, it takes from two 
to four bushels to the acre to produce a 
thick growth. It starts so early and grows so 
fast and flowers so soon that probably not one 
farmer in one hundred thinks of cutting it as 
soon as it is ready. He waits for the clover to 
show more flowers or for good weather or some¬ 
thing else, or he is not used to haying so early, 
and his Orchard-grass is going to seed before he 
knows it. He cuts the grass, cures it, and finds 
the hay poor and woody. I believe the hay is 
often condemned because the mowing was not 
done at the proper time. 
ORCHARD-GRASS WORTHY OF A TRIAL. 
Orobard-grass is worthy of a good trial on 
every farm or in every neighborhood. I have, 
wilhin the past ten years, induced a large num¬ 
ber of farmers to give it a trial on a small scale. 
I have visited Borne of th6ir farms and 
have frequently talked with the owners. The 
grass has been tried on quite a variety of soils. 
Of those who have been influenced by me to try 
Orchard-grass, I have yet to hear the first case 
where it has not given excellent satisfaction 
whether used one year, two years, or many; 
whether sown for meadow or pasture; whether 
sown alone or with Red Clover, Timothy or 
other forage plants. Let all give it a trial; 
study its peculiarities and do not condemn it 
without good reasons. Professor Shelton tells 
us that it is one of the best for producing bay 
in Kansas and Nebraska. 
Michigan Agricultural College, Lansing, Mich. 
Jlrarnltural, 
AN OLLA PODRIDA LETTER. 
PHLOX, ETC. 
Every evening when Anaximander returns 
from the city, he is very apt to remark that the 
"bed of Phlox ia really very beautiful,” and 
this has been being said for a month, and there 
is no abatement in the rich beauty of tbe Phlox 
plot. Some writer in the Rural complained, 
some time 8go, of the bad habit of Phlox, its 
proneneas to fall down, etc. I have no snch 
trouble with mine. The plants are transplanted 
from the hot-bed at a distance of not more than 
three or four inches apart, and they grow up, 
branch out, and " stand by ” each other in mu¬ 
tual self-support, and, when in bloom, present an 
almost solid surface of gorgeous color. There 
are twenty-five or thirty varieties in the bed of 
which i write, and that it is a glorious feast for 
the eye ono can readily believe. I think the 
only true way to cultivate it is to mass it, and 
one can not have too large a bed of it, and if 
one has never had it in her garden or lawn, she 
may rest assured that there is a great rtore of 
beauty in the possible future for her. Take my 
advice and hive a plot of Drummond Phlox 
next year. 
PETUNIAS. 
Nearly opposite my Phlox, is a large bed of 
Petunias—an almost numberless variety of 
beautiful shades and combinations of shades 
and colors, and this, too, is a continual feast for 
tbe eye. For filling vases I am very partial to 
Fetunias, as they keep their fresbuesa well, and 
give a brightness and frank-looking-ness to a 
bouquet, that nothing else so well does. Sprays 
of “ Kenilworth Ivy " or of Smilax, falling from 
the top of the vase and draped about its stem, 
ofteu give a pleasiug gracefulness to its appear¬ 
ance. 
To return to the Petunia, I find considerable 
interest in observing the varieties that will be 
produced by the seed from one pod. This year, 
I so wed the seed of ono pod, that was pulled 
from a very large and rich Petunia—a velvety 
sort of blossom, nearly if not quite, three inches 
in diameter—and from that pod I find seven va¬ 
rieties, aud not oue like the original. 
PANSIES AND POPPIES. 
I do not think I have the right kind of success 
with Pansies. Last year, my eeediiugs throve 
well. I pinched off the flower buds for a month 
before allowing the plants to bloom, and the 
blossoms were magnificent; I never saw finer. 
But the plants grew tall—some of them a foot 
and a half high—in spite of mo. They grew in 
very rich soil—a Bhaded plaoe most of the day. 
In the late rail I put leaves and brush about the 
plants for winter protection. But not one was 
found alive this spring. I sowed seed again, 
aud have now a fine bed of them. I keep the 
tlowor buds pinched off, aud have pinched off 
tbe ontire top of each plaut, hoping to secure a 
bushy form to it. Is it right so to do ? More¬ 
over, Home of the plants died from no find-out- 
able cause—the stem separated at the surface 
of tho soil, as if it had worn a corset and been 
laced until it came in two. What think you 
was the cause P 1 kept the soil well opened, and 
observed all tbo hygienic Pansy laws that I 
knew about. If you can tell me how to iusure 
their precious lives throughout the winter, 
without transplanting, I will be greatly obliged. 
[If the situation is shady, the soil rich and 
the flower-buds be pinched off, what else could 
be expected but a tall growth of stems and 
leaves ? If then these plauts are crowded the 
stems become weakened near the ground and 
will not stand the winters.— Eds.] 
I have a clump of Poppies—almost the first 
mentioned flower in antiquity—that look like 
Passion Flowers from the window near which I 
write—various colors, masses of fringe with a 
pale-green heart surrounded by a border of 
dainty workmanship. The infinite pains, and 
the exquisite beauty that nature puts into some 
flowers—into most flowers—are a never-ending 
source of wonder to me. 
MORNINO-QLORIES, ETC. 
I always gather my own flower seeds. This 
requires much time aud patience, but in order 
to become well acquainted with flowers, it is 
necessary to observe their seed-producing habits. 
Of other seedling flowers in bloom just now, I 
find great pleasure in the rose-colored Vinca— 
the bright intelligent-looking blossom enthroned 
on a mass of rich green leaves, is a bouquet in 
itself. A mass of Viscaria gives a delicate and 
pleasing effect, and a group of red and white 
Malope looks well. A large bed of double, sum¬ 
mer-blooming Chrysanthemums is very fine. 
The seedling Geraniums, scarlet and pink, 
double, are very showy, but except for bouquet¬ 
making, I do not care half so much for Gerani¬ 
ums as for Morning-glories and Portulaca. If 
any body judges of Morning-glories from the 
ordinary pale blue blossoming vines, that are 
more commonly seen, she knows nothing of the 
glory of the flowers. Imagine a curtaiu of green, 
starred with the richest hues of crimson and 
blue, that is violet in its depth of color and rich¬ 
ness, aud white, with delicate lines of blue or 
laveudor, and mottled blossoms and yellow, too, 
if one chooses, and you will begin to understand 
why these flowers are called the Glory of the 
Morning. 
HOLLYHOCKS. 
I want to add a word about the Chater Holly¬ 
hock, the seeds of which came from the Rural 
office last year. The Hollyhock has been in 
bloom for somo time and the blossoms are, in 
school-girl parlance, perfectly elegant. A pretty 
neighbor of mine finds them "lovely” for the 
toilet, placing one in her hair, another at the 
throat, one on each arm, and fastening them in 
the drapery of her skirts. They form the most 
exquisite roBettos—being perfectly double, triple 
and quadruple, and sextuple for that matter, 
and of a delicate straw-color—for toilette deco¬ 
ration that can be had, especially against a frock 
of black grenadine, or of pure white. They 
form plate bouquets of striking beauty, set iu a 
background of dark, crimson Phlox. 
Mary Wager-Fisher. 
♦-- 
BULBS FOR THE FLOWER GARDEN. 
W. C. L. DREW. 
OXALIS. 
Flowers of this kind are very popular for 
winter-flowering iu pots, but they are no loss de¬ 
sirable for border culture. Tbe bulbs of all the 
varieties are small, but produce an abundance of 
bloom and foliage, the latter being almost as 
handsome and in every way as desirable as the 
many-colored flowers. 
As I shall not spoak of these bulbs again, I 
will, for the benefit of amateurs, give the most 
approved plan for potting them. Bulbs desired 
for pot culture should be kept strictly for that 
pnrpose and not be made to do extra service by 
occupying a position in tha border during the 
spring and summer seasons. In potting the Ox- 
alis, live or six bulbs may be planted in a six- 
inch pot- This should be done as early as possi¬ 
ble in October or November. 
Having clean pots ready, place an inch of 
draioage in the bottom ; then fill the pots half 
way up with well-decayed manure ; the rest of 
the pot should be filled with fresh light loam or 
leaf mold; in this plaut tho bulbs one inch 
deep; water and set in a cool, dark place for ten 
days, when tbe pot should bo brought to the 
light. After flowering, when the foliage begins 
to turn yellow, they Bhould bo dried off. When 
dry, transplant the bulbs into pots of fresh soil 
and let them remain until the following October, 
when they will again start into growth. 
For border culture, there are few more desira¬ 
ble subjects than the Oxalis, and those who plant 
it for its summer-blooming qualities will be 
more than satisfied with tbe result. Daring the 
entire season it will thrive aud bloom, being con¬ 
tinually covered with its pretty flowers. 
In cultivating the flower for this purpose, set 
the bnlb8one inch deep iu tho soil, which should 
be light and rich ; for, while it will tlowor in a 
common poor soil, no plant will better repay a 
little extra care iu the way of a good dressing of 
well-decayed manure—no rank manure must be 
used, as it injuros the flowering of the bulb. In 
tbe auturnu, the bulbs must be taken up, dried 
off, and packed in tine sawdust. They should 
be kept in a cool, dry place until the following 
spring, when they may be pla ited as before. 
VARIETIES. 
0. versicolor. —This is one of the most desira¬ 
ble varieties for winter-blooming. Tbe bulbs of 
this variety are very email. Tbe flowers are 
handsomely variegated, the ground-color being 
a pure white with an eye of the brightest yellow 
bordered with crimson. 
0. bowiei. —This is also a winter-blooming va¬ 
riety, and makes a fine contrast with the former. 
The flowers are of a bright rosy pink color, j 
0. lutea.— This '.variety is sure to give satis¬ 
faction in window culture, as it never fails to 
bloom. The flowers are a rich yellow color. 
O. flobibunda alba. —This is the best white 
flowering variety. It adapts itself to pot or bor¬ 
der culture, and should be in every collection. 
O. deppei.— This is the best of the sammer- 
blooming varieties. The leaves are qnite dis¬ 
tinct from those of other varieties ; they are of 
a very bright green color, with a distract brown¬ 
ish-black zone. The variety is frequently called 
the four-leaved Oxalis. 
O. lasiandra. —This is one of the finest plants 
for edging purposes. The flowers are a rosy 
purple color, remaining open only while the sun 
shines. The leaves are in niue divisions. In 
Eastern gardens this is rapidly taking the place 
of other border plants. 
El Dorado Co., Cal. 
gjboriniltttral, 
EVERY-DAY NOTES. 
AN EARLY-FLOWERINQ TRUMPET CREEPER. 
I see to-day that the early Trumpet Creeper, 
Bignonia, or more properly Tecoma, radic&na 
sanguines prcecox, as exhibited In a specimen 
trained over a post, is fully perfected in flower 
and foliage. This method of training the 
Btrong-growing Trnmpet Creepers to a heavy 
post ten or twelve feet high, in the form, 
as it were, of a treo, is very effective. An ex¬ 
cellent way of accomplishing this consists in 
setting up a tree, cut fresh from the woods, and 
retaining its main branches. Over these the 
Trumpet Creepers, and ia fact, many other 
olimbers, will develop in their most perfect 
manner. Most trees should be trimmed some¬ 
what, to permit the climbers to so cover 
them as to assume the appearance of trees 
of foliage. The Early Tecoma radieanB blooms 
at least three weeks before the ordinary T. radi- 
oaus, and bears longer flowers which are also, 
generally, of a richer color It is, of course, no 
earlier than T. grandiflora, and has smaller 
flowers ; but the different oolor affords variety, 
and the habit is hardier; that is, less liable to 
winter-kill. 
THE OAK-LEAVED HYDRANGEA. 
There are other Hydgpmgeas more showy in 
flower, but none of such rich and remarkable 
foliage as the Hydragea quercifolia. Well 
named oak-leaved, it takes on & massive vigor 
that gives grand effect to even a single specimen 
on the lawn. The foliage is, indeed, admired so 
much as to obscure somewhat the merit of the 
flowers, which is really great. Large, creamy- 
white, changing later into light rose, they really 
add much to the beauty of tbe plant. Com- 
plaiut is sometimes made that the oak-leaved 
Hydrangea winter-kills, but I have only known 
this to happen once iu ten years, and then the 
fresh growth of the following summer entirely 
renewed its beauty.' I doubt very much whether 
a well established plant would ever be totally 
destroyed by the winter in this climate. 
THE PURPLE BERBERRY, 
The foliage of Berberis atropurpurea continues 
to retain its rich pimple color almost throughout 
the summer. This can be said of few other 
shrubs or trees, which fact, aa well aa its pe¬ 
culiar erect form and small leaves, gives it 
special value for producing contrasted effects at 
this season. It is, indeed, a valuable old shrub, 
not sufficiently appreciated. 
RUBUS DDQRATUS 
This old, well-known shrub also receives toe 
little employment. The leaves are of quite pe¬ 
culiar form, at a distance reminding one some¬ 
what or those of a grape-vine. But its special 
feature is the abundant rosy bloom it puts forth 
during mid-summer. At this season, it behooves 
us to treasure up flowering shrubs, for they are 
all too scarce. Tha Rubus odoratusis somewhat 
coarse iu appearauce. It would, however, be 
very effective in masses. 
CLETHRA AINIFOUA. 
This shrub, now flowering with full effect, has 
a value very similar to the last, on account of 
its summer-blooming nature. Otherwise, it ia 
very different, being low In statue with numer¬ 
ous spikes of small white flowers. About Long 
Island, some knowiug individuals are apt to de¬ 
spise it because it is abundant in our woods. It 
must be, however, grown in nursery-rows before 
it will transplant readily into anyone’s grounds. 
As it is seldom, however, that anyone attempts 
to thus prepare its roots for lawu planting, the 
shrub really continues to be soarce. Used in 
very considerable masses for ornamental pur¬ 
poses, it may be made very attractive 
THE REA TREE. 
Colutea arborescens and other varieties of the 
so-called Pea Tree still present very pleasing 
qualities mingled among other shrubs. The 
blight green, leguminonB-looking. very vigorous 
foliage, and the peculiar rosy-colored pod that 
snaps between the fingers later in the season, 
unite effects searoely inferior to those of the 
flowers that have passed away. 
Flushing, L. I. Samuel Parsons. 
