6S4 THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
perish. There were numerous varieties, differ¬ 
ing in color, quality and size of bunch. Many 
of the bunches T judged to be a foot long, and 
with numerous shoulders, each of which was 
as large as ordinary bunches of out-door 
grapes. Two of these bunches Mr. Barry 
placed in my hands and my arm was weary 
with the burden when I reached my wagon. 
I noticed by Mr. Barry’s remarks that he 
reads the Rural New-Yorker. He spoke 
of the work of the various horticultural 
societies. He considers the discussions and 
the papers read at these meetings of the 
greatest importance, ami that they should 
never be made of secondary importance. He 
says he can listen with pleasure and profit to 
such discussions aud essays, and if he can, it is 
my opinion that we all can derive pleasure 
aud profit therefrom. While the press is 
doing a great work, aud none greater than the 
Rural New Yorker, it must be conceded 
that our horticultural meetings furnish the 
greatest opportunities for gathering and 
disseminating information ou this important 
subject. CHARLES A. GREEN. 
CANADA FRUIT NOTES. 
Failure, of Fameuse; a good word for the 
Marlboro and Golden Queen; Niagara 
the least injured among grapes. 
The season of 1885 will be long remembered 
by the fruit-growers of this Province as the 
darkest for apple growing they have ever 
known. Early in July spots were seen on the 
principal varieties, and the Fameuse, our 
orchard’s glory for autumu fruit,, was the 
heaviest sufferer. The crop stands to-day not 
worth the gathering for the first time in the 
32 years of fruit growing in which this family 
has been engaged. Duchess, Tetofski, Alex¬ 
ander, Charlottentbaler, Yellow Transpar¬ 
ent; iu fact, all the Russian apples escaped, but 
all others, except the russets, have suffered. 
Our theory with regard to the spots is that they 
occur when a cold night with fog is followed 
by a hot morning sun, fixing the fungus on 
the apple before the water from the heavy 
must has had a chance to evaporate. 
Of jiears we have tried several varieties. 
Clapp's and Kieffer’s have succumbed; Flem¬ 
ish Beauty and Mount Vernon are bearing 
this year some handsome fruit. 
Raspberries have been a good crop; Clarke 
about as usual. Many of the older sorts were 
winter-killed, and Cutbbert suffered for the 
first time. Marlboro stood the Winter brave¬ 
ly, and bore for the first time. The fruit 
was fine and well colored, quite marketable 
for firmness, and in quality equal to any other, 
while the size is superior, and that tolls great¬ 
ly in its favor as a market berry. Golden 
Queen also stood through its first Winter, and 
bore a little first-class fruit. It is destined to 
become popular if it continues hardy. The 
color is like that of the Briuckle, but the tex¬ 
ture is firmer. 
Blackberries always do well here, and we 
have Taylor’s still holding out. But, sad to 
relate, our Minnewaska died, though we 
blame the location more lhau the variety, and 
we meau to try again. Early Harvest is early, 
but it suffered a little during the last trying 
Winter. 
Grapes are a fair crop, but sustained some 
injury from a late frost. Niagara was least 
injured, and the fruit is good. It is the most 
prolific grape we have ever grown, and as 
hardy as the Concord. Agawam, Brandt, 
Othello, Worden. Croton and several other va¬ 
rieties mildewed so as to cause a total loss of 
the fruit. Duchess is as good as ever, and 
ripened early. Jessica had a few good bunch¬ 
es, and all others had the usual quantity. The 
season has been so far favorable for ripening 
the fruit, and the grape vines are healthy. 
Brighton suffered from the June frost iu flow¬ 
ering, yet they must be plentiful somewhere as 
they were selling last Saturday in Montreal 
market for five cents per pound. The Herbert 
and Wilder, famous as large black berries, are 
the latest to ripen, and we generally get our 
first fruit from the Early Dawn, which, 
though small, ranks with Eumelan, Duchess, 
Brighton, Lady and Moore’s as first iu quulity. 
Near Quebec. annie l. jack. 
-»«■ • ■ ■ — 
PLATFORM LADDER. 
At Fig. 375 we illustrate a ladder which is 
very useful and convenient iu picking fruit 
from trees. The platform, of strong, light 
wood, is I}* or \\4 inch thick, 10 or 12 inches 
wide where attached to the legs, taperi ng to a 
width of four iuobes. It may be six to nine 
feet long. The legs are fl or 7 feet long, 1x4 or 
5 inches at the top, tapering to 2 i or 3 inches 
at the ground. Let the legs extend one inch 
above the platform, and nail a good cleat 
across the top of the plank, between tne ends 
of the legs: also one on the outside of the legs, 
close under the platform. The legs should 
spread out somewhat, so as to be 3}^ feet apart 
on the ground. Nail light pieces across from 
one to the other for steps. Light braces should 
extend from the middle of the legs to the mid¬ 
dle of the platform. The engraving fully ex¬ 
plains all. aud shows how the ladder is used. 
It needs no skill and very few tools to make 
it. as everything is nailed. It may be moved 
around sideways five or six feet without chang¬ 
ing the end in the tree. It enables a person to 
pick clean from the outside to the center of the 
tree without changing the ladder, and one can 
stand on it. as comfortably as on the ground. 
T have used this style of ladder 15 years, and 
have found very few places where it was not 
handier than a loug, straight ladder, aud it is 
hard work to stand ou a ladder round. The 
inside end of the platform may be raised or 
lowered a foot or more and still stand firmly, 
and thei’e is always a limb or crotch on which 
to put the end. to s. h, 
Wakeman, Ohio. 
PEARS. 
Mt. Vernon— With the exception of Seckel, 
this is the healthiest and hardiest of any 
dwarfs and the thriftiest grower of all and a 
fine bearer of large russet pears of very good 
quality more acid than the Anjou, but to my 
taste just as good aud preferable to that noble 
variety for planting here. 
Chambers —A few specimens were obtained 
this year from a graft and I am fully satisfied 
not to plant any more. Fruit small and well 
colored; but as poor as the Buffum. Ripening 
first of September. B. B. 
Sangamon Co., Ill. 
Fighting Bitter Rot.— We have been 
troubled somewhat with bitter rot in apples, 
but succeeded in two instances in reducing 
off. When we are arranging for the comfort 
of our floral pets it is well to recollect that we 
ourselves require sunlight as much as they, 
aud it is hardly wise to entirely block up the 
only sunny window in a room during the- dark 
wiuter days. A stand or window box is al¬ 
ways preferable to the numerous shelves we 
so often see shutting out every ray of sun¬ 
light. For these reas<>ns, plants noticeable for 
fine foliage rather than for -flowers may be 
specially recommended since they require less 
suushine. 
We must give first place for beauty aud ease 
of culture to Ardisia cremil&ta, a plant little 
known arnoug amateur growers, though lie- 
coining popular as its virtues are becoming 
known. It is a sturdy-growing, shrub-like 
plant, with shining, ovate, dark-green leaves. 
In August or September it bears small, incon¬ 
spicuous, greenish-white flowers. These are 
followed by bunches of beri’ies, which, as they 
mature, turn bright red, resembling, iu size 
and appearance,the Mountain Ash. These ber¬ 
ries last the entire season, keeping their beauty, 
iu fact, until a succeeding crop is ripe, so the 
plant is never without them. The effect is 
really beautiful, so bright and Christmasy. 
The plant does well in an ordinary living-room, 
with regular watering, but it must not be 
waterlogged, or stand in water. The leaves 
may be sponged ouce a week, and it will keep 
its brightness in a northern window where 
there is little or no sun. Thisplant isacharm- 
ing decoration for the dinner table; in fact, it 
is infinitely desirable iu every way. 
Another universal favorite is one of the fan 
palms, Latauia Borbouiea, like the Ardisia, 
noticeable for its easy culture aud readiness to 
3 —~-tv ;;\ * .y,. -*£^-5,6. —{ ^ 
PLATFORM LADDER. 
Fig. 375. 
the trouble. The first was by accident, the 
latter intentional. We trimmed sharply just as 
the trees were coming into bloom. The large 
limbs must not be cut. at that time, however, 
if the trees are an object. l. goepper. 
Warren Co., Ohio. 
TEN HOUSE 
PLANTS 
TER. 
FOR THE WIN- 
E. L. TAPLIN. 
The chief requisites of success in the winter 
care of house plants are aunshine.moisture, uni¬ 
form temperature, and cleanliness. It is not 
wise for the cultivator to be too ambitious; 
one eaunot produce all the effect of a varied 
conservatory in one window, and any attempt 
to do so will resultin disastrous failure. When 
1 say moisture is an indispensable requisite to 
success, I do not mean that the soil should be 
waterlogged, nor should the pot stuud in a 
saucer of water, unless it. is an aquatic plant.. 
I mean that the atmosphere should lie moist, 
and here we encounter the greatest of all dif¬ 
ficulties iu the culture of bouse plants. Both 
stove and furnace produce a dry beat, and 
this is more or less trying to all plants. Where 
possible, it is well to stand a pun ol' water over 
the stove or furnace; the evaporation is very 
serviceable. If this cannot be done, the only 
plan is to water frequently, but discreetly. 
Gas is also very trying to plants; even where 
there are no perceptible fumes, the light fre¬ 
quently causes the flowers and buds to drop 
respond to very little attention. In its tropi¬ 
cal home it attains a large size, but in house 
culture it grows slowly, so it is many years 
before a plant is too large. Its foliage has such 
a clear, healthy, look, apart from its handsome 
form, that it makes a striking ornament, with 
an air of tropic suggestiveness. Its culture is 
similar to that of the Ardisia, and. if iu a light 
room, it will do without being directly in the 
window. During the Summer it will do uieely 
outside. 
The Climbing Asparagus! Asparagus tenuissi- 
mus) is not yet very familiar, but it is a 
charming thing and may be highly commend¬ 
ed as a window climber. Nothing short of a 
hard frost or the absence of water for two or 
three weeks will discourage it. It climbs ami 
twines like stnilax; but the foliage is fine and 
feathery', like common asparagus, only more 
so. It. does well in a room heated by a stove, 
does nor. harbor insects, and, in short, is a 
botanical paragon. 
Auother more familiar climber is the old- 
fashioned German Ivy, so-called by the rule of 
contrary, I suppose, for it is not an ivy, and 
does not hail from Germany. However, it. is 
a rapid grower of very pretty habit, and is usu¬ 
ally of more easy culture than ivy proper. 
All lovers of house plants are familiar with 
the large-leaved Begonia Rex. Its robust, 
habit uml handsome, vari-eolored, metallic 
leaves justly make it a favorite. Like the 
palm, it. is an excellent thing for city houses 
where there is little sunshine. Of course, if 
grown in a gloomy locality it will only flower 
weakly, and will not be as richly colored as 
when iu good sunlight, but it will do better 
than most plants aud is attractive under any 
circumstances. 
Another member of its family, Begonia 
rubra, is equally desirable, being the most at¬ 
tractive of the plain-leaved varieties. The 
long leaves are a bright, sbiniug green: the 
large flowers, profusely produced, are a brill¬ 
iant red. It is a very free grower, easily 
propagated, and if sponged or syringed iu ad¬ 
dition to the ordinary w atering, is very 
cleanly in its habits. 
Most growers of house plants are familiar 
with the ordinary abutilons, sometimes called 
bell-flower, but very few grow the trailing va¬ 
riety, A, Mesopotamienm. It is a charming 
little thing, throwing out long, trailing 
branches. The leaves are smaller and more 
pointed than those of the ordinary variety, 
beautifully variegated with gold; the little, 
bell-shaped, dark-red flower lias a liesom-like 
clapper of black stamens. It is as easy to 
grow as others of its class, but it requires a 
good suu to bring out the variegation of the 
leaves. 
For those desirous of profusely flowering 
house plants nothing is better than the Chinese 
primrose. It can lie kept continually in bloom 
from November till May, and the blossoms 
form a whole gamut of color, from pure white 
to deepest crimson. They are of easy culture, 
requiring little attention save in watering. 
They must not grow actually dry, though 
here, as everywhere else, the cultivator must 
lie warned against over-saturating the pot®. 
A great advantage of the primrose is that it is 
very rarely infested by green-fly, or similar 
pests. Under the same circumstances as the 
Chinese primrose, we may grow its modest lit¬ 
tle yellow-flowered English cousiu, though a 
living room is rather too warm for it. The 
frail English flower, however, is always rather 
spindling under our alien skies. 
Cyclamens are good house plants, and may 
be readily grown, flowering profusely. It is 
well to notice in purchasing, however, that 
one should get plants of good constitution; 
many growers seem to have a very sickly 
strain, with worn-out vitality. In the very 
beginning of September plants should be re¬ 
potted, shaking all the old earth off, aud giv¬ 
ing new soil: the crown of the bulb should be 
left uncovered. 
For those having rooms rather cool than 
otherwise, violets are charming, but it is 
useless to attempt them iu a very warm place. 
They will flower profusely during the Winter 
m a temperature of from 45° to 50 u , and their 
beauty and fragrance make them most desir¬ 
able. Of single varieties the Czar is very fine; 
it is large, dark purple, and very fragrant. 
The Neapolitan is the best double variety. 
With all house plants frequent sponging or 
syringing of the leaves may be advised as a 
preventive of red spider and similar pests. 
But it is well to reiterate that in every case 
one must water with brains; no amount of 
printed instructions is equal to a little personal 
discretion in this case. Discret ion, enthusiasm 
and energy are the three graces of horticul¬ 
ture and they cannot fail to bring success 
either to professional or amateur. 
THE FLOWER GARDEN. 
WILLIAM FALCONER. 
Don’t ueglect the keeping of the garden, 
because the seasou is advanced. A clean and 
tidy garden with little in it is prettier aud 
more cheerful than a well stocked garden full 
of dead flower stems, scattered leaves and 
sticks and overgrown with weeds. 
Hardy Perennials.- Fountain-leaved, 
Maximilian’s,multiflorus and several other dec¬ 
orative sunflowers; Curtis's, 1/e vis, and other 
showy asters, some boltonias, purple rudbeek- 
ias, mist-flower, red and white Japanese anem¬ 
ones, lance-leaved coreopsis, Sei bold’s sedum 
and some others are still in good bloom. Cut 
over phloxes, loosestrife, bee balm and other 
plants that have doue blooming aud whose 
leaves and stems are fading. Save the stakes 
you had supporting larkspur and other rank 
growers for another year’s work. If you wish 
to make any alterations in your borders next 
Spring, mark now the places of fraxinella. 
butterfly weed, platyeodon, gypsopbila and 
Japanese anemones, as they die down to under 
ground and start late in Spring, and nothing 
is left above ground to indicate their places in 
W inter. 
Self-sown Seedlings.— Any amount of 
self-sown seedlings are scattered among the 
borders. Lift and plant close together to stay 
over Winter what kinds you wish to keep. 
They will mostly consist of hollyhocks, Can¬ 
terbury bells, fox-gloves, Sweet Williams, 
coreopsis, larkspur, speedwell and Deptford 
pinks. Hollyhocks and Canterbury bells 
will be grateful for the protection of a 
cokl-framc or at any rate a mulching of leaves, 
sea thatch or evergreen branches. 
Annuals. —Spring sown annuals barring 
zinnias, globe amaranths and marigolds are 
almost all past, but a goodly show still re¬ 
mains of gaillardias, asters, marigolds, stocks, 
