9m 
PRICK FIVE CENTS 
*2.00 PER YEAR. 
NEW YORK, JAN. 13, 1883 
[Entered according to Act of Congress, In the year 1882, by the Rural New-Yorker, In the office of the Llbiarian of Congress at Washington.] 
places I consider it decidedly out of place. Its 
proper position is as a single specimen or 
group on the lawn, where its strikingly large, 
distinct, ornamental foliage will always at¬ 
tract attention. The plants do best if started 
in a hot-bed before removal to the open air. 
the plants on May 20 following, and had ripe 
tomatoes from Livingston’s Perfection to eat 
on July 28. The soil had been manured with 
well-rotted stable manure and plowed twice 
during the Winter, and a dressing of well- 
rotted bagasse had also been given with un¬ 
leached wood-ashes. The growth of the 
vineB on the manured plot was much more 
vigorous, the foliage a great deal denser and 
of better color, and the fruit could not well 
be excelled. In fact, I think that for richness 
of flavor and smoothness of fruit they would 
be hard to beat. N. J. Sheppkrd. 
Miller Co., Mo. 
set on the first of September made 18 plants. 
The original three Manchesters have made 
60 plants, which give a total of 90. or an 
average of 80 runners to the plant for the 
Manchester. The original eight Big Bobs 
have, I should guess, about 300, (they are too 
thick to be counted) which, with the other in¬ 
crease, makes a total of 420, or an average of 
57 runners to the plant for the Big Bob. 
The Bidwell runs about like the Manches¬ 
ter. It was of the lightest color and the 
largest plant of the three. It forms a mam¬ 
moth stool and would seem to justify Mr. 
Roe’s assertion that "the Bidwell will form 
the largest and most bushy plants of any 
variety in existence.” The Manchester has a 
deep, rich color with large, vigorous runners, 
and is a magniflcent-looking plant. The Big 
Bob is the most insignificant in appearance, 
but if its ability to produce runners is an 
THE CHINESE PEA BOSH OR CHAM- 
LAGU—CARAGANA GHAMLAGU. 
Several years ago we purchased this 
shrub for the same reason that we purchase 
many other plants, via., because they are 
novelties in this country. With this as with 
a majority of all novelties we find it possessed 
of some good qualities though, as a whole, 
inferior to those shrubs which are recognized 
as the favorites of our gardens. We should 
judge that it never grows to a large Bize, but 
may be classed rather as a spreading dwarf 
bush which should occupy the foreground of 
shrub borders or plots. As will be seen by 
our excellent engraving of a flowering branch 
from nature, it belongs to the Pea Family, 
bearing its leaflets, which are small, in 
pairs, fascicled at the base, and its flowers, 
which are at first a dull yellow and 
later of a reddish color, singly. It began 
to bloom last year May 20, continuing to 
bloom for a month or more. Thus far it has 
proved at the Rural Grounds entirely hardy. 
It bears a strong general resemblance to the 
Bladder Senna (Colutea arboresoene), well 
known to most of our readers, with the ad¬ 
vantage over it of being more hardy, while, 
on the other hand, it does not form the showy, 
bladdery pods of the Senna, which are as 
pretty and interesting as the flowers. At the 
base of the leaflets is a single sharp prickle or 
bristle similar to those borne by the barberry, 
though shorter, for w hich reason this bush may 
in Borne places prove useful as a hedge plant. 
In order to cultivate this caladium so as to 
obtain very large foliage, a hole should be dug 
where the plants are to stand, about two and- 
a-half feet deep and three feet in circumfer¬ 
ence; fill this with a compost composed of 
well rotted sods and one-third well rotted 
manure, and in the center place a good strong 
plant of this caladium: let this bed be an 
inch or two lower than the surrounding lawn, 
and as soon as hot, dry weather sets in, mulch 
well with course stable manure, from which 
all coarse straw has been removed. Give it a 
good soaking of water once or twice a week 
and you will be re# arded by its immense 
foliage. If all goes well, the leaves will often 
be from three to four feet In length and from 
one-and-a-half to two feet in width. 
Productiveness o theHansell Raspberry. 
My attention having been called to an ar¬ 
ticle on the Hansell Raspberry in the Rural 
of Dec. 16, in which the idea appears to be 
conveyed that it is not a good bearer, I take 
the liberty of sending a few lines in regard 
to it. I have fruited it for several years 
alongside the Brandywine, and it has always 
yielded nearly double as many berries. I 
know nothing of the Marlboro to which the 
Hansell was compared in the Rural. 
Rancocas, N. J. Albert Hansell, 
Cannas require a similar treatment to 
that advised for the caladium, and they will 
then produce excellent results. The best and 
most distinct varieties are Bonnetti, Indica, 
limbata, nigricans, Princess do Neice, Presi¬ 
dent Faivre, robusta, s&nguinea, tricolor and 
Warzewiczii. 
NOTES AND COMMENTS, 
To those who are unacquainted with the 
Brugmansia suaveolens it may be described 
as a greenhouse plant of vigorous growth, 
much branched, and attaining a hight of from 
six to nine feet, with large, velvety green 
leaves and large trumpet shaped flowers, from 
eight to nine inches long and four or five 
broad, of almost a pure white color and at 
night highly fragrant. This is a plant that 
can be grown by all, as it can be wintered in 
a cool, dry cellar, if it is taken up and potted 
before it is injured by frost. 
Cuphea hvsbopifolia and C. platycentra 
are two very pretty plants of dwarf habits, 
suitable alike for the greenhouse, flower gar¬ 
den or window garden, while they are often 
used in banging baskets. They thrive best in 
a light loamy soil, and when grown in pots 
should be given good drainage. Propagation 
is effected by cuttings of the half-ripened 
wood. C. hyssopifolia has bright lilac flow¬ 
ers which are freely produced throughout the 
entire year while C. platycentra, which is 
popularly known as the Cigar Plant, has bright 
scarlet flowers which are tipped with black 
and white. This species also flowers daring 
the entire year if given a warm, light, sunny 
situation. It is also an excellent basket plant. 
During the Winter season a temperature of 
from 45 to 50 degrees should be given them. 
MANCHESTER AND BIG BOB. 
Of course, I had to get a few plants of the 
Manchester last Spring, that being “the great¬ 
est strawberry ou earth,” and having obtained 
them it was equally important to have some 
Big Bobs to set beside them, as Mr. Purdy de¬ 
clares they are "ahead of everything in the 
United States.” By the way, I wonder if the 
originator could not have found some other 
name that would soun i a trifle more elegant. 
Tnis nearly equals Captain J ack, which would 
be a very good berry, were it not for its 
name. 1 obtained the plants of a friend who 
had them direct from a leading New York 
nursery, and on the flrst of May set out one 
dozeu Manchesters and one dozen Big Bobs. By 
the side of these were planted at the same 
time 12 Bidwelis. 
The soil was rather sandy and bordering on 
gravel, and the ground had been “run” for 
10 years without any manure or artificial fer¬ 
tilizer other Chau that received through irri¬ 
gation. The season was very backward and, 
in addition, the plants were visited by two 
damaging hail-storms shortly after setting. I 
think they were a month in starting to grow. 
By reference to my note-book 1 find under 
date of July 1st:— 
"There are now living nine Bidwelis, eight 
Big Bobs and three Manchesters." On July 
I5tb: "Mauchoster and Bidwell are now just 
beginuing to send out runners. None have 
taken root yet. One Manchester has three 
runnel's started; another has one, and the 
third has none. One Big Bob has eight run¬ 
ners started, and has six plants "sot.” Ou 
the 31st of July I transplanted one dozen 
from the Big Bob that were potted on the 10th 
of that month. The "potting” was done by 
using inverted sods instead of flower pots. 
Ou the 12th of August I took a second dozeu 
from the Big Bob. Ou the first of September 
I took the third dozen from Big Bob, and also 
one dozen from the Manchester. 
The 12 Big Bobs that were set out July 31, 
made 76 plants; the 12 set on the 12th of 
August made 36 plants, and those set Septem¬ 
ber 1st, made 12 plants. The 12 Manchesters 
What a handsome-looking potato Parsons’s 
Prolific is (see Rural of Dec. 16th, page 847) 
and what a promising variety so far as ap¬ 
pearance and productiveness are concerned I 
When you test its quality, Mr. Editor, please 
give us your opinion on this most essential 
point. I hope that some of our seedsmen will 
offer it for sale this ensuing Spring, as I and 
no doubt others are desirous of giving it a trial. 
Yes, the same potato will vary greatly in 
different soils and situations. I gave the 
Queen of the Valley a trial this season, and 
must say that it sadly disappointed me. Mine 
were not dark or hollow in the center, but 
they were coarse and of very poor quality; 
in fact, only a very few were eatable. But I 
do not wish to condemn it hastily, and if 
an opportunity offers will give it another 
trial. It may be well to state that the vines 
were of enormous growth. If any of the read¬ 
ers of the Rural grew this variety last 
season, will they please favor us with the 
result of their experience. 
The different varieties of Begonia Rex, 
when well grown form, magnificent specimen 
plants for the decoration of the stove or hot¬ 
house at all seasons of the year. They are 
grown for their beautiful foliage only—the 
flowers being, when compared with their foli¬ 
age, small and insignificant. They have large, 
handsome leaves which are beautifully varie¬ 
gated. In order to grow them well they 
should be given a warm moist atmosphere, a 
shady situation, and a temperature of from 
55 o 60 degrees. 
The Chinese Pea Bush—From Nature—Fig. 12. 
earnest of its productiveness, it will be mighty 
in “strawberry time.” Clem Auldon. 
Riverside Homestead, Colorado. 
I gave Gynerium aureo lineatum (Golden 
striped Pampas Grass) a trial this season, and 
now consider it a very desirable addition to 
our list of ornamental grasses. It is a beau¬ 
tiful and distinct variety, the long leaves 
being regularly bordered with clear yellow. 
Unfortunatelv the plant is rather tender and 
in this latitude should be taken up about the 
flrst of November, potted and placed in a 
cool, dry cellar. It can be planted out about 
the middle of April so that it can be well es¬ 
tablished before hot, dry weather sets in. 
Give it a rich soil and water occasionally. 
Tomatoes on a Poor Soil. 
My experience is somewhat different from 
that related by Professor Beal in a late 
Rural. I set out 25 tomato plauts iu a piece 
of hard-pan soil, with stiff clay and gravel 
underneath. The plants grew well enough 
and gave me some fruit, but it was not only 
poor in flavor, but it foil off from the vines 
before getting fully ripe, and was not any¬ 
thing like as large as fruit grown on good 
ground. The foliage on the vines was not 
nearly so plentiful as that on those I bad 
set on a rich plot in the garden. I had the 
St. Paul, Acme, Livingston’s Perfection and 
Trophy on my garden patch, where the 
plants were all grown in the open air. The 
seed of all was sown on March 81. I set out 
I presume that most, if not all, of the read¬ 
ers of the Rural are familiar with the 
Caladium eseulentum, or, as it is popularly 
called, Elephant’s Ear. It is sometimes used 
in the center of a large bed or as single 
specimens in the mixed border, but in inch 
ft QJ' rM 
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