Von. XXXIX. No. 29. ( 
Whole No. 1590. ) 
NEW YORK, 
JULY 17, 1880. 
i Prior Five Cents. 
) $2.00 Per Year. 
• 
[Entered according to Act of Oongrese, tn the year 1880, by the Rural New-Yorker, in the office of the Librarian of Congress at Washington.] 
r , r 
^loriraltural. 
THE GREEN ROSE. 
It is an extravagant saying that one may 
have green roses and black roses and blue 
roses in a great collection of kinds, but, of 
course, such a collection does not actually ex¬ 
ist. We once knew a lady who bought what 
purported to be a collection of one hundred 
distinct kindB of roses. They proved to be, 
however, one single kind and that FaulNeron, 
and yet it was positively averred by the sales¬ 
man that among them were green roses, blue 
roses and black roses. The fact is, all roses 
are simply red with very few exceptions which 
are pure white. Yet there is a green rose, in 
sober truth, and our illustration exhibits its 
form, if not its color, with entire truthfulness, 
It belongs to the division generally known as 
China roses. In the climate of the Middle 
States such ro6es are not hardy, but they 
flower so freely throughout the Summer and 
Autumn that they are termed ever-blooming. 
The flowers are small, pretty and pink and of 
little consequence when they are in full bloom. 
They often survive our winters with moderate 
protection. The green rose is said to be a 
mere sport of the Pink Daily China rose. 
Like all China roses. It is entirely double with¬ 
out sign of pistil or stamen. In the case of 
the green roses, the transformation is more 
remarkable because the petals are seemingly 
little green leaves. Yet these petalB are true 
floral leaves, and only illustrate the fact that, 
setting aside color, there is a wonderfully close 
relationship between the leaf and petal of a 
plant. 
The green rose seems to be more or leas a 
favorite in the South, where it is hardy, and 
where specimens of it are exhibited in gardens 
as great curiosities. Oncseldom sees it North. 
It is looked upon as a mere curiosity, a nine 
days’ wonder, now all but lost sight of. In¬ 
deed, it is seldom even named in the cata¬ 
logues of nurserymen cither in Europe or 
America. In some of them it may be found 
under the name of Viridiflora under the head 
ot China or Bengal Roses—Rosa Indica. As a 
general rule all such abortions or monstrosities 
do not please. But the green rose from its od¬ 
dity is always interesting to those who see it 
for the first time, and may well be employed 
where it is desirable to get together a diverse 
collection of plants. The flowers of certain 
Btrains of petunias have green margins, and 
it is not uncommon that seedlings from them 
bear flowers that, like the Green Rose, are 
entirely green. 
REMARKS ON CROTONS. 
Crotons may be conveniently divided, ac¬ 
cording to the shape of the leaf, into narrow¬ 
leaved and broad-leaved. Both kinds are ex¬ 
ceedingly graceful, and no foliage plant sur¬ 
passes in beauty a well-grown, richly-colored 
croton. They are suited for purposes of dec¬ 
oration both in the conservatory and the 
parlor, and may even be employed as bedding 
plants and for out-door vuses, with proper 
care. For these reasons they are rapidly and 
justly growing in favor, and they would soon 
be found in every collection of plants were it 
not for the drawback that for perfect develop¬ 
ment they need a degree of heat and humidity 
in the atmosphere which cannot be supplied 
in this climate short of a greenhouse. 
As types of narrow-leaved and broad-leaved 
crotons we present the accompanying illustra¬ 
tions. Prince of Wales, figure 239, is a grace¬ 
ful, richly-colored species of free-branching 
habit. The leaves are narrow, pendulous, 
arching, and take a slight twist as they bend 
downward, and some of them present a com¬ 
plete spiral form, the edges being always 
beautifully undulating. The color of the leaf, 
in well-colored plants, is almost entirely pale 
yellow, margined and mottled with bright 
carmine, with occasional irregular blotches of 
light green; the midrib and petiole are bright 
magenta- Figure 280 Is a good representation 
of Croton Stewartii. It Is one of the finest 
broad-leaved crotons in existence. It is of 
dwarf habit, and, withal, bushy and vigorous. 
The leaves are cbovate, with short stalks and 
of a dark olive green, irregularly banded and 
margined with a rich orange color. The mid¬ 
rib and petioIeB are a bright magenta which 
produces a striking contrast wih the carmine 
marking on the remaining portions of the leaf. 
Both of these plants were introduced by the 
well-known plant grower, Mr. B. 8. Williams, 
of London, England. 
CROTONS. 
There is no class of foliage plants which 
display more diversity of lorm and color in 
the leaves than the above, and no class to 
which there have been so many novelties added 
of late years, if we except the coleus; and 
although many species or natural hybrids have 
been introduced from the Tropics, there have 
been also many hybrids raised in Europe and al¬ 
so in this country; many of which are quite dis¬ 
tinct, and if we hadnot already so many hand¬ 
some varieties they would be considered very 
fine. I may mention that a friend of mine has 
over ninety named kinds, and when well grown 
into good-sized plants these are all quite dis¬ 
tinct ; but I may mention that when the plants 
are small, but few sorts show their full colors, 
unless the cuttings are selected from well-col¬ 
ored plants. A few hints on the cultivation of 
these plants may be of service. 
In the first place, select nice, clean free- 
growing plants; if nicely colored it is best, 
although not essential, for if well treated the 
plants will soon color. It is necessary to give 
abundance of heat and moisture with but little 
shade; the plants will not succeed in a dry, 
drafty house in hot weather, for which rea¬ 
son it is necessary to shade slightly daring 
summer, and give the foliage a good dash 
with the hose once or twice each day. I have 
grown good plants both in peat and also in 
loam, but I prefer giving moderate shifts as 
required to shifting from a small potto a large 
one at once, and quite a large plant can be 
grown in a small pot if wtlh attended with 
water. With free growth insects are not 
troubleBome ; but if the plants leceive a check 
from sudden change of temperature they often 
drop many of the best leaves. Although the 
plants„will live outside during the Summer, 
they make little growth, and they do not 
color well, for our Summer is too dry. 
The old Angustifolium. when well colored, is 
like a fountain of gold, and is yet one of the 
most graceful species, although Johannis.when 
well grown, is wonderfully fine, and Veitchii, 
one of the first of the newer sorts, and these 
caused quite a sensation, are yet among the 
standard species; and when the kinds with 
lobed leaves, of which Disraeli is a good type, 
were distributed it was considered a wonderful 
advance; but now we have various other 
Ehaped and colored leaves named after many 
of the nobility and statesmen of Europe, 
queenB and princes included. Jas. Taplin. 
lortirutoral. 
RURALISMS. 
BY HORTICOLA. 
It is often said io behalf of birds by their 
special friends, that in eating fruit they do so 
for the sake of the worm. They doubtless get 
a worm with nearly every eherry they eat; 
but how is it about the worm when they “go’’ 
for the strawberry? Perhaps they think straw¬ 
berries are good enough without worms. If 
m>, I agree with them. Still, I should be will- ' 
Ing to furnish them with all the worms they 
want if they would spare me a small share of 
the strawberries, which the charming little 
wretches have failed to do this season. 
This reminds me to inquire for the coming 
man who is to furnish us with a good contri¬ 
vance for protecting strawberries from the 
birds. It should be something light, durable, 
easily applied, admitting sunlight and air 
freely, and not too costly to be used by the 
acre. Wire might answer for the garden, but 
is too cumbersome for the field. Something 
like the seine used by the shad fishermen would 
do, made of fine twine, with small meshes, and 
boiled in oil when finished. Here is a chance 
for somebody to make strawberries cheap and 
plentiful. I have used cheese cloth and mos¬ 
quito netting, but such thick coverings hurt 
the flavor of the fruit. 
It Is not to be doubted that we coddle a good 
many things under the supposition that they 
are tender, which prove not to be so. I have 
said that the Japanese climbing fern passed 
successfully through the past winter without 
protection. I have since made another dis¬ 
covery. Last Fall a year ago I lifted some 
Lilium longiflorum for forcing in Winter. 
Some bulbs of Oxalis Bowiei fell into one of 
the pots, and I let them remain, having an 
abundance of them, The following Spring th“ 
lilies, with the ball of earth adhering, were 
turned into the border to recuperate. I noticed 
last Summer that the Oxalis was growing. It 
remained in the border last Winter without 
protection, and a few days since I noticed that 
it was growing luxuriantly, I hope it may 
continue to prove hardy, since it will make a 
fine border plant. 
At Mrs. Palmer’s, near Mamaroneek, N. Y., 
a few days ago. I had the pleasure of going 
through what Is called an old-fashioned gar¬ 
den, where one can go on almost any day in 
Summer, and cut a “bunch of flowers.” Here 
were the old double red and white herbaceous 
peonies, Pseonla tenuifolia (single), tree 
pteonies, larkspurs, Canterbury bells, fox¬ 
gloves, Jane and hybrid roses, and many other 
good old things, now seldom seen except at 
some old country home, and all growing and 
blooming luxuriantly. Are we not making a 
mistake in neglecting these fine old plants ? 
At some future time we may wish for them In 
vain. _ 
So far as I can judge at present, the Snyder 
blackberry promises to become a popular 
market fruit with growers along the Hudson. 
I saw it lately at Mr. Roe’s, and was surprised 
at its prolificness. I saw it again at Mr. 
Force’s, and was still more surprised, the 
plants being older. They were a solid mass 
of fruit. It has been proved to be hardy 
everywhere, needing no protection whatever. 
The fruit is not so large as the Kittatinny, 
but is earlier, and is ripe and sweet, Mr. 
Force says, as soon as colored. Of the quality 
I cannot yet speak personally, but it is repre¬ 
sented to be good. 
I also saw at Mr. Force’s (June 12th) an 
early raspberry named Burn's Early, the truit 
of which was then pretty well colored, while 
all other kinds were still quite green. Mr. F. 
has just informed me that he picked ripe fruit 
on June 11. If the quality should be good 
enough it would enable the Northern grower 
to share the market with the early fruit from 
the South (say from Baltimore), and realize a 
portion of the early profits; provided,• of 
course. it proved to be a kind not adapted to 
the SOTth. It is worth looking after. 
I am decidedly of opinion that much valu¬ 
able information might be collected by close 
observations of the effects of the drought on 
growing crops, as well as ou trees and shrubs, 
including all the inmates of the garden. An 
excellent example is that given from the Ru¬ 
ral Grounds iu regar d to the Hemlock, supple¬ 
mented, perhaps, by a brief statement of the 
nature of the soil and the exposure. At the 
close of the season the editor could tabulate 
these observations and present iu a condensed 
form a good deal of valuable Information. 
The same might be done in regard to hurtful 
insects. _ 
A recent correspondent of the Rur^, has 
entered a plea for the mole, and perhaps as 
good a one as can be made; but I think he has 
failed to comprehend the mole, unless he bas 
him under a subdued character. The mole is 
an unmitigated nuisance where he abounds In 
numbers, destroying peas, corn, potatoes, 
strawberries, the lawD and everything that 
comes in his way. Of all the pests that 
trouble the field, the garden and the lawn, 
there are few that are made ap of so much 
pure " cussedness " as the mole. To employ 
him to destroy larvas and worms is to use a 
remedy worse than the disease. It will take a 
year or two at least to repair the damage he 
has already done iu my experimental garden. 
There is this, however, to be said in his favor, 
that he is a fine example of perseverance. 
