had tho largest and rarest collection of ever¬ 
greens known to the country at that time. 
The late Mr. Downing and myself were re¬ 
quested to examine theso trees. We did so, 
and found many of them covered with red spid¬ 
ers and having a very sickly look. We could 
suggest no remedy except syringing with a 
force pump; but the beauty of some of the 
trees was gone past recovery. Soon the red 
spider made its appearance on the Norway in 
Newhurg (opposite Fishkill), and from that 
time it has been spreading in many directions, 
and I see it every year. 
I am ashamed to say that I have never taken 
the trouble to learn whether tho red spider of 
the Norway is identical with the horrid 
n cst that so maddens us under glass. I have 
taken it for granted that it is; but this sum¬ 
mer the little rod fiend (if that be the proper 
word), will be thoroughly investigated with a 
compound microscope, and some will be sent 
to Dr. Riley, who is very fond of this- sort of 
thing. 
This red spider nuisance has for years de¬ 
terred me from using tho Norway spruce, ex¬ 
cept in a limited way. Those who do use it, 
however, should go as far north as possible 
for young trees, it would lie interesting and 
useful to learn how widely and where this 
red spider has spread. There are compar¬ 
atively few who suspect its presence. A select 
list of hardy pines, Thuja, Retinispora, etc., 
might be useful bore, but this article seems to 
be quite long enough without it. 
-- 
II’OM'KA NOCTIFLORA DIFFERENT FROM 
I. BONA-NOX. 
The Ipoma?a rioetiflora, now much adver¬ 
tised, and really a charming plant, in its way, 
is tho old Ipoino.'n boua-nox,” says a lute 
Rural. Whilst the above is botanical!y true, 
it is commercially incorrect, in that the seeds 
furnished by seedsmen as I, bona-nox, are en¬ 
tirely distinct in color, and produce vines 
entirely different in foliage and growth, as 
well as in the size and color of dowers 
from those now advertised and sold as I nocti- 
florn. 
CARRIAGE 
and vigorous during the longest drought 
One can also let the young chickens rim 
around without damage. I haven’t a lawn 
mower, consequently use a scythe, and allow 
the grass to grow a pretty good length. When 
it is cured and before it is dry and stiff, I 
plait it in a three-strand braid about as thick 
as the wrist. If it is lODg, the plaiting is done 
a little more quickly; if very short, one must 
pick up with the right hand a little wisp each 
t ime he 1)rings that hand over. The braids can 
be made longer or shorter as may be conven¬ 
ient for handling. For a single plant coil the 
braids around the plant close together as far 
from the stem as you think the roots extend. 
In the flower bed cover tho ground close up to 
each plant. A hay or grass rope may do 
as well, but I think would not look so nice. 
After the braid is browned in the sun it 
makes a beautiful carpet for the flowers to 
grow through. No weeds grow, the ground 
is kept cool, aud watering once a week is, I 
tliiuk, as good as every day in the ordinary 
way. C. w. 
Leavenworth, Kan. 
The Jewell Strawberry A Jewel.— 
I want the people who tell about the weakness 
of the JewelJ strawberry to know of my expe¬ 
rience. I got eight plants from the originator. 
These were planted on a bank which slopes to 
he south. I dug up the ground, raked out 
the sods, and raked in two baskets of litter 
from the ben-house. The plants were set two 
feet apart each way. They were well watered 
and cared for. All started but one. I pinch¬ 
ed ofl' all the buds blit four, one on each of the 
strongest plants. As the runners appeared, I 
laid them down just where I wanted them to 
grow, keeping the weeds well down. By 
October 1, I had nearly 200 plants which were 
set out as were the first. There is nothing 
weak about this. At this writing, the bed is 
under a snow bank, so I cannot say how it 
wintered, but last year’s experience convinces 
me that the Jewell is one of the most prolific 
sorts I have seen. W. H. 
DeRuyter, N. Y. 
Fig. 186. 
Balsam Fir for grounds from one to three 
acres or more. I presume the inquiry refers 
to trees that are intrinsically handsomer, and 
that retain their form and beauty up to at 
least a reasonable age. Taking the Norway 
Spruce under the various conditions in which 
it is grown, it is not to be denied that it is, in 
many respects; a disappointing tree. Even be¬ 
fore the age when it should bo at its best, its 
most attract! ve features have begun to fade, 
and in some cases have entirely disappeared. 
Its lower branches have given out, its leaves 
have become small, brown, and somewhat fu¬ 
gitive, aud its branches generally have a 
naked appearance. It is not much more than 
a skeleton of its former self, and it has ceased 
to tie an object of beauty on tho lawn. Some¬ 
thing has gone wrong. It may be owing to 
uncongenial soil or locality (or even location), 
or the cause may be found 1o be inherent in 
some forms of this evergreen, or it may be 
owing to a cause to be hereafter uamed. There 
are some varietal forms of the Norway Spruce 
very much better tlmu others, and some of 
these are sold under name, such as Barryi, 
coiiica, etc. In some parts of New England, 
notably around Hartford anil the Manches- 
ters, l have seen the Norway growing finely. 
But let us see if there nro not some ever¬ 
green trees that are more beautiful than the 
Norway, and equally well adapted for general 
planting. Though not quite germain to the 
purpose, I will mention tho hemlock. Tsuga 
(Abies) Canadensis, which, in my estimation, 
is the most majestic of all the conifer®; but 
it is too large fora small place, except the 
pendulous form (T. Sargentii pendula), which 
isau exceedingly graceful tree. Abies pun- 
gens, the Colorado Blue Spruce, is in all re¬ 
spects a charming tree, compact in growth, of 
a good form, and with a lovely blue foliage 
that makes it a conspicuous object the year 
rouud. If I had room for only one spruce it 
would be this. Abies Alcooquiaua is a beau¬ 
tiful tree of moderate, compact growth, and 
well adapted for a small place. [Our speci¬ 
men grows nearly as last as the Norway and 
bids fair to make as large a tree.— Eds. ] The 
foliage, with its glaucous aud silvery tints 
above and below, is very pretty. A. Moriuda 
(Smithiana) is another handsome spruce, with 
light-green foliage aud a graceful, drooping 
habit that makes it attractive at all times. 
A. alba (White Spruce), a pyramidal tree of 
moderate,compact growth aud silvery foliage, 
may have a place here, especially for u small 
lawn. 
Of tho Silver Firs, Picea Nordmauniaua is 
one of tho beat. It is of symmetrical form and 
massive growth. The foliage is dark-green, 
with a silvery tint below, and very attractive. 
It is, however, a slow grower while young, 
but becomes a majestic tree in time. In some 
respects P. nobilis is a lit companion for the 
preceding. It is of similar habit and propor¬ 
tions, with handsome, bluish-green foliage. It 
is hard to buy a plant with an established 
leader, aud it requires time and patience to 
get ono started from the plants that 
are usually sent out. Once established, 
however, it becomes a very picturesque 
and noble tree, worthy of its name. 
P. Pichta is a useful tree for general 
planting, particularly for small places, on ac¬ 
count of its moderate size. It is conical iu 
form and compact in growth. The color of its 
foliage, a dark-green, is better than that of 
the Norway Spruce, and is well preserved dur¬ 
ing the winter. Its hardiness fits it for a wide 
field of usefulness. P, Cilicica is a good com¬ 
panion for the preceding, being a compact 
grower with dark green leaves thickly set on 
the branches. It is a handsome tree, and 
seems to be quite hardy. I may mention here 
P Cephalonica, not yet widely known, but 
very promising. It is a beautiful tree with 
silvery, dagger-shaped leaves ’terminating in 
sharp poiuts, which I find very irritating. So 
far it has proved to be quite hardy, and prom¬ 
ises to develop into a noble and useful tree. 
Its wide spreading branches give it an impos¬ 
ing appearance. A few others might be added, 
but the above will do for the present. 
By making known some of the more desir¬ 
able forms of spruces and firs that may sup¬ 
plement, or supersede iu a measure, the too 
common use of the Norway Spruce, a good 
purpose will be accomplished, and the beauty, 
variety, and picturesqueuessof tho lawn very 
greatly enhanced. 
It will be apparent, from the above list, that 
I have an eye for color and form, all the trees 
named living notable for one or the other (or 
both) of these characteristics. I have a good 
deal of aluiiratioa for a conical tree, for ex¬ 
ample, if its color be bright and soft. In color 
the Norway Spruce is defective, being usually 
a dull brown, such os is commonly produced 
by the rod spider; and this, in many cases, is 
just what is tho matter with this troe. It is 
a prey to the red spider. This insect, to the 
best of my knowledge, first made its appear- 
auee on the Norway Spruce at Fishkill in 1858, 
on tho grounds of the lute H.W, Sargent, who 
I sent the Editor of the Rural New Y hik¬ 
er this year, as well as previously, seeds of 
Ipomcea noetifiora, as now advertised by 
Henderson and others, and they are pure 
white producing flowers five and a half to six 
and a half inches in diameter, pure white, 
with a waxy-white star-shaped center and 
delicate perfume, whilst tho foliage, which is 
immense, is very delicate in appearance and 
texture. The seed of I. bona-nox furnished 
mo last year by seedsmen North, were purplish 
or brownish purple in color; the flowers were 
only one and a half to two inches in diamater, 
and had no perfume, and were lilac or bluish 
in color, aud the foliage was coarse in apjiear- 
aueo and texture, while the vines hail innu¬ 
merable little projections one-sixteenth to 
one-eighth of an inch in length, to enable 
them to hold on to tho support Upon which 
they may twine. The Ipomcea noetifiora 
lacks theso entirely. Our common Moruiug- 
glory is far superior iu appearance to tho vine 
commercially furnished as Ipomcea bona-nox. 
GRAYBKARD. 
Amerieus, Ga. 
R. N.-Y.—This letter makes this question 
puzzling. Ipomcea Mexioana (so-called) has 
such flowers as our correspondent describes; 
Ipomcea Mexicana alba has white seeds. But 
these ipomcetts are really I. muricata as we 
understand it. Our belief is that the real i. 
bona-uox is that called I. noctillora, though 
seeds of I. muricata may have been sold for 
them. 
ij.oii.icu llUfff l. 
A NEW MULCH. 
I uave invented a mulch for flower beds or 
plants iu a lawn, which I think would save 
water aud labor, and preserve the plants fresh 
StrcljitoiitiT, 
STABLE AND CARRIAGE HOUSE. 
A friend in New Hampshire sends us a 
sketch of the building shown at Fig. 18t5. It 
stands near a little grove in a picturesque lo* 
cation. The walls are double-boarded and 
battened. Iu place of clapboards, pieces of 
birch and pine are nailed to the outside, as 
shown iu the picture. The pieces ware cut 18 
inches loug, and split. This covering gives a 
neat and rustic appearance. 
pomol ordeal. 
PARIS-GREEN FOR THE CURCULIO. 
Within a year or two, I have seen several 
statements to the effect that Pains-green ap¬ 
plied in water, to plum trees shortly after the 
petals have fallen, has prevented injury from 
the eurcuho. it is a singular coincidence if 
all of these statements are untrue. I quote 
here an example, which comes from Mr. 
Beall, of Lindsay, Ontario, being the testi¬ 
mony that he gave at a iveeut meeting of the 
Fruit Growers’ Association of Ontario: 
“Six years ago I began experimenting with 
Paris-green. 1 had two red plum trees stand¬ 
ing near together that I cared very little 
about. They bore large quantities of red 
plums every year, but the fruit was so badly 
injured by the eureulio that it was worth ut¬ 
most nothing. I applied Paris-green to one 
and not to the other. The foliage was not in¬ 
jured, but on the tree to which I applied the 
Paris-greeu I had a good crop of plums, while 
(Continued on next page.) 
Piisir*na«*0tti0 !3ulv*riisittg. 
Cuticura 
a Positive Cure 
for ^V^ry form of 
SK<n and Blood 
-^D is ^as 
^ from — 
PiN|PLEsto Scrofula. 
S KIN TORTURES OF V LIFETIME INSTANTLY RE- 
Iloved by a warm buth with Cctivviu. Soap, a real 
Skin Beau tiller, and a single application of Cuticura, 
the great Skin Cure. 
This repeated dally, with two or three doses of Cun- 
CUUA Resolvent, the New Blood Furl Her, to keep the 
blood cool, the perspiration pnreand untrrttating, the 
bowels open, the liver and kidneys active, will speed¬ 
ily cure 
Eczema, tetter, ringworm, psoriasis, lichen, prurl- 
tns scali-head, dandruff, and every species of tortur¬ 
ing, disfiguring-. Itching, scaly and pimply diseases of 
the skin aud scalp, with loss of hair, when physicians 
and all known remedies fail. 
Sold everywhere. Price, OnrrctlRA, 50c.; Soap, 25c ; 
RjtsoLvas-r. 41 . Prepared by the Potter Drug and 
Chemical Co., Boston, Mass. 
ZJT' Send for "How to Cure Skin Diseases.” 
P| MPLES, black heads, chapped aud oily skin pre- 
r I 111 vented by C men it a Medicated Soap. 
AGRICULTURAL SALT, 
Containing, by analysis of Prof. P. B. Wilson, potash 
4.59 per cent.; ultrogcn equal to 2 per cent. Ammonia. 
Put up In 200-lb. bags at very low price. 
NITRATE SODA 
JiSD 
NITRATE POTASH. 
The Nitrate of Potash contains nitrogen equal to 
over 16 per cent. Ammonia anil t« per cent Potash. 
WM. DAVISON A CO., 
Baltimore, Mil, 
THE ORIGlVAL SOI REE 
OF NOVELTIES IN TREES! 
A Nursery devoted to the production of new hybrid 
plants, and the propagation of every beautiful new 
species that Quines lo the great Ariold Artleretum. Cat¬ 
alogue free. F. L. Temple, somkiivim.f, Mass. 
Raspberry Plants. Blackcaps or reds. Prime 
plants. Prices low. H. H. LYON, Bainbrldge, N. Y. 
I 
Send for circular. * 
JOHN P. BROWN. 
_RISING BUN, IND. 
ESTABLISHED 1852. 
.JACKSON BROTHERS, 
NEW TO El STATS D2AI17 TILE AND PIPE WOBES, 
HAIN OFFICE, 76 THIRD AVE., ALBANY, N. Y. 
ROUND, SOLE AND HORSE-SHOE TILE. 
.-.'iigo i - smallest quantity. 
Our new Unproved machinery makes superior round 
and sole tile cxceUlug anything offered heretofore. 
First premium wherever exhibited. Price list on ap¬ 
plication. Drain Tile machines for sale. 
PEARSON'S 
at BOTTOM PRICES. 
SOLD FOR CASH DIRECTLY TO CONSUMERS. 
Save agents’ profits, and secure Reliable and Lasting 
FERTILIZERS. 
Highest recommendations where tried side by side 
with other standard brands. 
Send for Catalogue. 
JOHN IW. PEARSON. Hudson, N. Y. 
DROWNS 
D FENCE BUILDER 
DISHORNED JERSEYS. — Yearlings and 
*' Calves from Baron Pedro 475, and cows that trace 
back to Intrepid 5H1, Victor Hugo IIP, Hex 1380, Pedro 
:US7, Duke of Darlington 2-160, sou of EUrotaa 2454, and 
other good stock for sale .it 4W per head. Bulls and 
Heifers. JOHN HKOOKS, 
Princeton. Jlass. 
SEDGWICK STEEL WIRE FENCE. 
The best Farm. Carden, Poultry Yard, Lawn, 
School Lot. Park and Cemlto Fences and Oates. 
Perfect Automatic Gates. Cheapest and Neatest 
Iron Fences. Iron ami win Summer Houses. Lawn 
Furniture, aud other wire work. Rost Wire Stretcher 
aud Plier. Ask dealers In hardware, or address, 
SEDCWICK BROS., Richmond, Ind* 
EDWARD SUTTON, Eastern Ageut, 
3iX) MARKET ST., PHILADELPHIA, PA. 
-O ENGINESoo 
THRESHING MACHINES 
HORSE POWERS AND SAW MILLS 
(•ruin Tli reshers, unequaled tn capacity for sep¬ 
arating and cleaning. . , , 
Combined Grain and Clover Threshers, 
fully equal to regular gram machines on grain, and a 
genuine Clover HuUer Iu addition 
Two Sliced Traci inn Plain Engines. 4 to 
15 Her*.- Power, positively tho most desirable for Light¬ 
lies*, Economy, Power aud Safety. Under has horizon 
i id tubes, and is therefore free from the objectionable 
featur.-s of vertical boilers. . „ , 
Horse Powers, both lover and F.ndless Chain 
All Sizes. Send for Catalogue. Address, 
THE WESTINGHOUSECO., 
Schenectady • N. Y. 
