JULY it 
4S§ THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
GARDEN NOTES FROM BOSTON. 
Wb look upon Boston as the center of re¬ 
fined gardening, and expect to find there what 
is new among trees and shrubs, hardy and 
tender plants, and arrangement in gardening. 
With this object in view a few of us make an 
annual pilgrimage to the Old Bay State. 
The Railroad Stations. —Entering Bos¬ 
ton by way of the B. & A. R. R., we find that 
the grounds about the several stations for 10 
miles out from the city, are laid out, planted 
and kept up in excellent garden style. There 
are broad patches of smoothly mown grass, 
shrubbery clumps, masses of roses, specimen 
trees and the like; but I did not observe at any 
of the stations so much as one coleus, one ger¬ 
anium or one verbena; nor did I see any of 
the abominations so common in gardens, 
namely, whitewashed stones or imitation 
flower beds made of various-colored kinds of 
gravel. 
Spring Flowers. —The flower beds in the 
Public Garden had been planted with pansies, 
polyanthuses, daisies and forget-me-nots. All 
of these were pretty enough in their season, 
but in June they present a too poverty-strick¬ 
en appearance to warrant their being retained 
so long. 
Shrubbery Masses.— The Public Garden 
contains a goodly variety of trees and shrubs, 
some discreetly and others most stupidly ar¬ 
ranged. A mass of lilacs is beautiful, so is a 
mass of rhododendrons, but 1 never could see 
beauty in a conglomeration of lilacs, honey¬ 
suckles, spirseaa, viburnums,tamarix and other 
shrubs, with some stray phloxes or other per¬ 
ennials scattered along the outer edge. No 
one plant among them can display itself to its 
fullest advantage. And this is less excusable 
when we find the same incongruous grouping 
repeated again and agam in the same garden. 
The Crescent Straw berrt. — At Mr. 
Hunnewell’s, at Wellesley, the Crescent is the 
favorite and main crop strawberry. I was 
surprised at this, as I find the Crescent one of 
the most acidulous of berries, and without 
either quality or size to recommend it. But it 
goes to show that the variety that is first-class 
at one place is poor enough at another, and 
vioe versa. [The Crescent was tried at the 
R. G. when first introduced. We have never 
cared to raise it since, on account of its acid¬ 
ity. But it seems to he gaining friends both 
East and West.— Eds.] 
Red Top Grass for Lawns.— At Mr. 
Hunnewell’s many acres of lawns have re¬ 
cently been turned under, graded, leveled 
and resown to grass. Red Top alone is the 
grass used. Mr. Hands, the gardener, con¬ 
siders it the best of all lawn grasses, and pre- 
fern it clean, without any mixture of other 
grasses or clover. 
Kcempfkr’s Irises. —I found at Mr. Hun- 
uewell’s and Mrs. Gardiuer’s large masses of 
these showy perennials growing in sunken beds 
that are frequently flooded two or three 
inches deep. In this way, by treating these 
irises as aquatics, vigorous growth and excep¬ 
tionally fine flowers are obtained. 
\ Premium: Limas. —Mr. B. G. Smith (Treas¬ 
urer of the American Pomological Society) is 
very successful with Lima beans, and for the 
past ten years has taken first premiums for 
them at the Massachusetts Hurt. Soc. Exhi¬ 
bition. About the middle of April he sows 
his seed in 6x7 inch square, bottomless boxes, 
filled witb rich earth and set on the floor of a 
cold grapery. About the end of May be lifts 
them on a spade and sets them out in his gar¬ 
den : having the holes previously prepared for 
then), he slips them through the boxes without 
damaging a root. They never wilt. They 
come in about a month ahead of those sown 
in the open garden. He selects the best and 
earliest beaus for seed for the next soason. 
“ Schizophragma Hydranoeoides.— At the 
Botanic Garden, Cambridge, Mass., in 1878, I 
set out a plaut of this in the rockery. It 
spread about over the stones a good deal, and 
the other day I found it in bloom. The inflor¬ 
escence consists of large fiat cymes, with a 
few white sterile flowers towards the margin. 
It is not showj r , but in quantity would be at¬ 
tractive. william falconer. 
IS STRAWBERRY CULTURE FOR MAR¬ 
KET OVERDONE? 
Strawberry shipments are over with us 
for this year, aud I think there are few who 
have been shipping to our large cities, that 
will deny that the business is over-lone. When 
the best berries that are grown sell for four to 
six cants per quart, there is nothing in them 
for the grower, and that is the price many 
have sold for the past week, while poorer 
stock went at one to three cents per quart— 
not sufficient to pay the expenses of shipping 
in most cases. The prospects are good for a 
large crop of raspberries and blackberries, and 
also of the larger fruits (with perhaps the ex¬ 
ception of apples) and there is no reason for 
expecting much better prices on them. In the 
face of these facts, it is certainly not wise to 
attempt to induce people to engage in fruit 
culture. There are those who are interested 
in the sale of fruit plants, who wall tell a long 
aud exciting story about how Mr. “So-and-so” 
made $500 an acre on fruit, and they publish 
Parker Earle. Fig. 281. (See first page.) 
these statements year after year. The story 
no doubt may be true; but it is also true that 
some men have made a fortune in a little office 
on Wall Street. The fact that some have 
done these things, does not prove that everyone 
can. 
Mr. Williams, Secretary of the N. J. Horti¬ 
cultural Society, made some very forcible re- 
Lida. Fig. 282. (See first page.) 
marks at the meeting of that society last 
Winter. He said: “If fruit-growing were 
such a profitable business as some parties pre¬ 
tend it is, would it not seem policy and good 
judgment on their part to stick to it, instead 
of urging all creation to enter into competi¬ 
tion with them and divide the profits? Does 
it not look a little as though they looked for 
Bomba. Fig. 2§3. (See first page.) 
their profits from other sources than their own 
fruit-growing?” 
I am glad the Rural does not urge the in¬ 
discriminate planting of large quantities of 
fruit for market, but it does urge people In 
town and country to plunt for home use aud 
to supply their home market. Small towns 
and villages will often take a quantity of fruit 
and at such prices as will make the supplying 
of the demand a remunerative business to 
some near-by grower, while if the fruit is 
shipped to them from the cities, it often ar¬ 
rives in had order; and while the consumers 
pay a good price for it, the grower gets very 
little, the difference going to pay freight, com¬ 
mission, etc. But many already iu the busi¬ 
ness are so situated that the bulk of their 
products must find sale in the large markets. 
What will be the effect of the present low 
prices of strawberries on these growers? There 
will be many old fields plowed up—perhaps 
some more than would have been had the 
prices been better—but this is always the case, 
and will only offset what were planted last 
.Spring. The crop next year is likely to be 
large, if the season should prove favorable. 
There are many people engaged in the business 
who are easily discouraged. They say “straw- 
berry-growi ng does not pay,” and they will 
not plant next Spring. This is about the way 
matters have run according to my observa¬ 
tions; and while there may be some improve¬ 
ment in prices next year, I shall look for 
still better prices two yours hence, aud they 
will then continue good for a number of 
years. 
I only offer this as a word of encourage¬ 
ment to those who are already in the business, 
and depend upon it largely for a means of ex¬ 
istence. And I should advise people who have 
other business not to change and rush into 
strawberry-growing with the idea that there 
are immense profits in it, as they are sure to 
be disappointed. F. s. N. 
AIR FOR PLANTS. 
Many soil cultivators are scarcely aware 
how necessary a circulation of air is about the 
roots of growing plants. A coating of ice, or 
an impervious crust proves fatal to growth by 
shutting off the access of fresh air. Stagnant 
water has the same effect. Yet we can grow 
many sorts of plants, even grain, in water 
without any soil, but the water must be re¬ 
placed with a fresh supply well filled with 
fresh air, at least once a week. Plants will 
grow and extend their roots in the open air 
itself, provided that it be saturated with mois¬ 
ture and sheltered from parching winds and 
burning sum Nurserymen prepare their cut¬ 
tings of hard-wooded, slow-growing plants by 
putting them in the damp, still, eveu-tempera- 
tured air of a cellar, enveloped in moss or 
some similar open-textured covering preser¬ 
vative of moderate moisture, yet not liable to 
mold, and there they gradually callus, and 
the forming callus is not washed or dissolved 
by any watering. Cuttings of roses and other 
things that take more time to move in growth 
than merely herbaceous plants do, will root 
readily in Summer set in sandy mold in a 
flower pot, which is set in another in the man¬ 
ner of a gluo-pot, the outer larger j>ot stand¬ 
ing in a vessel of water which rises nearly or 
quite to the bottom of the inner one. The 
joint around the top of the pots is luted with a 
smear of clay, and a pane of glass may be laid 
on. In a place in full light, but sheltered 
from wind and direct sunshine, no further at¬ 
tention is requisite, unless to keep water in 
the pan. In two or three weeks the plants 
will be rooted and fit to set out. Wood that 
is getting hard, as just after flowering, is best 
for such cuttings. No watering being neces¬ 
sary, the young growth cannot be harmed by 
it. _ _ _ W. 
THE DEWEY STRAWBERRY. 
The Rural, in its issue of June 26, says the 
Dewey is the most productive of any of the 66 
varieties planted on the Rural Experiment 
Grounds, and promises to have more to say 
about it. I do not know what the Rural will 
say in addition to this, yet 1 think it has sup¬ 
plied the only link missing to make the Dewey 
much sought after by those wishing a first- 
class strawberry. The Dewey is the best in 
quality of any of Mr. P. M. Augur’s numer¬ 
ous seedlings. It more nearly approaches the 
Prince of Berries as to quality than any other 
berry I know off. We have too few really 
first-class strawberries to sacrifice any. I 
think the foliage of the Dewey on my grounds 
is too vigorous and thick to allow of the vari¬ 
ety doing its best as to fruit. 1 shall'keep the 
soil more loose, thereby retarding the growth 
of foliage, and see if next year 1 cannot have 
the same story to report as the Rural did 
this. J. T. ROGERS. 
[We said it was the most productive of that 
date. Further notes with an illustration will 
appear iu a short time. Its shape is a trifle 
against it.—E ds.] 
£axm Sopks. 
CORRESPONDENTS’ VIEWS. 
Potato plants can be successfully trans¬ 
planted. This Spring, at hoeing time, I found 
that the crows had sadly thinned my potato 
field. By taking one or two plants from hills 
that had enough and to spare, I secured an 
even stand. This pays better than replant¬ 
ing. e. c. B. 
Windham Co., Vt. 
“General purpose cowl” The expression 
is a nonsensical one. Every “Jack-of-all 
trades” is more of a nuisance than a conven¬ 
ience. Milk and boef qualities are os far 
apart as trotting and draft qualities are in 
the horse. Old Patcheu did his trotting about 
as a dray horse pulls a load, by main strength, 
but 1 never knew of another like him. I 
never knew a typical Short-horn to make a 
good milker, aud I never saw a milking Short¬ 
horn that would lay on flesh. The farmer 
does not want one of these “general purpose” 
cows at, all. To care for either a milk dairy 
or a herd of fat cattle is all one man wants to 
do. 1 am a dairy farmer. Now and then I 
have to sell an old cow or a cripple for beef, 
but I never calculate upon it. I claim that 
my milch cows do so well that when their 
milking days are over I can afford to give 
them a decent burial and still be ahead. This 
keeping a cow for eight or 10 years and then 
being obliged to sell her for boef, in order to 
come out whole, looks to me like very poor 
business. We don’t need auy “general pur 
pose” cows; aim at, the bull’s eye, and not at 
the whole target. Decide upon what you 
want—beef, milk or butter—and then breed 
for that special purpose. Have a definite 
purpose and a steady aim. d. p. h. 
Auburn, N. Y. 
My beginning in the stock business was hum 
ble enough. I got a few Plymouth Rock chick 
ens and sold eggs enough to buy two little pigs. 
Then I got a sow. We saved everything. All 
the dish water was poured into the swill bar 
rel and grain or mill feed mixed with it. We 
gave the pigs plenty of green food and crowd¬ 
ed them right up to the market. They help 
ed us to buy a young cow and calf. The skim 
milk went to the pigs and the surplus butter 
helped out our little treasury. Iu due time a 
pair of weaning mare colts could be bought, 
At two years old they did considerable work, 
and at three years they were a good , trusty 
team. It was easy enough to multiply and 
improve this stock after it was once paid for. 
It was like a young man’s fortune; the first 
$100 comes the hardest. It has been my mot¬ 
to in breeding stock, if I could not afford to 
pay for the services of a thoroughbred male, 
to wait till I could, rather than send to scrub 
and run in debt. This policy has paid mo well. 
Huudrals of good farmers never got a good 
start. They don’t turn the waste into gain, 
and they woti’t look after little things. E. b. 
Andrew Go. Mo. 
You state that the practice of washing 
sheep is becoming less popular. No oue will 
be better pleased than the wool-grower when 
the practice is abandoned, but certain grades 
of wool cannot be profitably sold unwashed. 
I 6ent some unwashed fleeces, that fairly repre¬ 
sented my wool, to u Chicago comm ission deal¬ 
er. The rest of the clip was washed. .The un¬ 
washed sold at 22 cents and netted me about 
82bj cents per head. The washed sold at home 
for 30 cents or $1.36 per head, nearly 65 per 
cent, more than the unwashed. J. d. s. 
Whitewater, Wis. 
You can’t beat the Percheron grade as a 
farm horse. He is patient, and that is just 
what is wanted on the farm. Farm work is 
dull business, and it takes patience to stand it. 
The Percheron is of good size,has fine muscles, 
and can stand a good deal of hardship. He is 
easily reared, cheaply kept, no trouble to 
break, good at auy kind of work and always 
marketable at tho best price. Ho is the 
driver’s favorite because ho never balks, al¬ 
ways takes a load with him when he goes, and 
with half a chance keeps in good condition. 
As a stallion bo is gentle as a dog, a sure foal 
getter, while his size and color always make 
him popular. I can raise a good colt almost 
as cheaply as I nan raise a Short-hom steer, 
und sell the colt for twice as much us the steer 
will bring. J. L. 
Franklin Co., Mo. 
Why try to catch a mole in a trap? You 
cun get rid of him in an easier way. Moles 
are very fond of sweet corn. I found that 
out to my sorrow. I planted a furrow about 
500 feet loug to sweet corn, and as soon as the 
stalks were well out of the ground the moles 
went at it. They destroyed it all, working 
from one hill to uuolhor iu curved runs. Like 
block-birds, they seemed to be after the sugar 
that forms in tho germinating grain. I 
caught, a mole and put him iu a hulf-bushel 
measure and found by feeding him that he 
would eat sweet earn. I prepared a grain of 
corn with a small quantity of strychnine and 
put it near him. In 15 minutes from the first 
nibble lie was deader than a dozen door nails. 
Now I am not troubled long with moles. I 
take a few grains of sweet corn and soak them 
for about 24 hours iu warm water until they 
