THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
March 7 
I 72 
; Ruralisms ; 
NOTES FROM THE RURAL GROUNDS 
T}ie Boom in Paeonies. —The revival 
of interest in garden Paeonies has reach¬ 
ed the proportions of a commercial 
boom. Stocks of this dependable hardy 
flower have never been so eagerly sought 
after, nor so assiduously worked up by 
growers and dealers. It is quite natural 
that much horticultural interest should 
be revived in a meritorious plant after a 
long eclipse of popular favor. A few 
sturdy fanciers usually keep working 
away at their favorites during such 
lapses in public appreciation, and when 
the inevitable revival comes around have 
something fine to show for their perse¬ 
verance, but this has scarcely been the 
case with the pseony, once the pride of 
old gardens, and now the subject of keen 
speculation. The new varieties brought 
forward by home breeders or through 
importations do not appear noticeably 
better than many old-fashioned kinds, 
though excellent work in this line is be¬ 
ing done by some western growers. The 
cause of this particular boom, aside from 
the Increasing appreciation of all desir¬ 
able herbaceous plants, is the growing 
conviction that the pseony is perfectly 
adapted for planting in the Prairie 
States, and the excessive climates of the 
North, and is the best of all really ele¬ 
gant hardy plants for that purpose. This 
opens an immense field for a plant of 
such slow reproductive powers, and it is 
likely to be some years before the sup¬ 
ply is equal to the demand. Most culti¬ 
vated paeonies are derived from species 
native to Siberia and northern China, 
Nvhere essentially the same climatic con¬ 
ditions prevail as on the Plains, though 
the progenitors of certain fine garden 
forms grow wild in Europe. The pseony 
may be considered perfectly hardy, re¬ 
quiring no more protection than is need¬ 
ed to keep the soil from blowing away 
and baring the crowns. It likes a 
rich, deep soil rather than a thin dry 
one, but its main requirement, after 
planting, is to be let alone. Little cul¬ 
tivation is needed aside from keeping 
them clear of weeds and grass, and an 
occasional mulch of old manure to main¬ 
tain reasonable soil fertility. Fussy 
digging and raking is more likely, by 
breaking the fleshy roots and lacerating 
the crowns, to harm than benefit them. 
Well-grown pseonies are handsome as 
single specimens, better in groups of five 
to nine, and best of all in beds 10 feet 
or more in diameter. Though distress¬ 
ingly slow in propagation, the more vig¬ 
orous varieties form huge clumps in 
time, which may be taken up, carefully 
divided so that as many tubers as pos¬ 
sible may each retain a bud or “eye,” 
and replanted singly three or four feet 
apart again to form fine specimens. 
Division may be performed at any time 
from the middle of August until new 
growth starts in the Spring, but the re¬ 
sults are generally better if done in late 
August, as the cut surfaces then heal 
over very quickly and the divisions be¬ 
come well established before Spring. 
Rare varieties are sometimes grafted on 
tubers of common sorts, but this opera¬ 
tion is rarely practiced in a small way. 
Very beautiful new varieties may occa¬ 
sionally be raised from seeds, which are 
most deliberate in germinating if al¬ 
lowed to dry out after ripening. With 
the best of care it takes four or five 
years to grow blooming plants from 
seeds, and the resulting flowers are often 
very commonplace. It will be seen that 
stocks of good varieties cannot be in¬ 
creased rapidly to meet a sudden de¬ 
mand, and in fact there have never been 
enough of the best old kinds to go 
around. More than 1,000 named varie¬ 
ties have been introduced in the past, 
chiefly by European growers, but many 
are so near alike that they are not worth 
growing separately. Stocks are much 
mixed and names uncertain in this coun¬ 
try, so it is well to confine purchases to 
dealers or growers of known reliability. 
The Maonificent Tree Paeonv.— 
Pffionia Moutan differs from other species 
in forming a permanent, stubby, thick- 
limbed shrub, which may reach, under 
congenial treatment, three to five feet in 
height. In practice they are usually cut 
back freely to promote branching. The 
species comes from China, where it has 
been cultivated for ages. The wild ones 
have single crimson flowers, not very 
large, but the garden varieties run into 
the hundreds. The blooms are often 
enormous in size, sometimes nine inches 
across, and include every conceivable 
shade of red and rose ranging from pur¬ 
ple to silvery white. Most of the light 
colored varieties are fragrant. The flow¬ 
ering time is about the middle of May, 
and the preceding young leaf growth is 
very ornamental, varying in color from 
violet crimson to green. The mature 
foliage is handsomely cut and attractive 
through the Summer. In Winter the 
plants are rather obtrusive, as the 
stubby branches give them a clumsy 
look. Tree paeonies are about as hardy 
as the herbaceous kinds, but as the 
growing surfaces are more exposed some 
slight protection may be useful in very 
exposed situations. They will endure a 
lighter soil than the herbaceous kinds, 
but best results are had when planted 
in a deep, rich place and well mulched 
about the stems during Summer. They 
are increased slowly by layering and 
more rapidly by grafting the woody 
branches on strong tuhers of some other 
species. The layer plants are by far the 
best, but are always scarce. Two-year 
grafted plants of the finest varieties are 
offered by nurserymen at about $1 each. 
They should be planted sufficiently deep 
to cover the union, so that roots may be 
thrown out eventually from the stems, 
which will greatly strengthen the plants 
and enhance their blooming qualities. 
If all goes well flowers may be expected 
in two or three seasons, and the plants 
will increase in beauty and value for a 
generation. w. v. f. 
Onions and Squash Bugs.— In your issue 
of January 24, T. Greiner asks about to¬ 
bacco dust for Melon beetles. If he will 
make his melon hills 15 days before the 
time of planting: and plajit in each hill, 
around the center, leaving space for the 
seed in the middle, four onion sets, allow¬ 
ing the sets to be well started before 
planting the melon seed, he will have no 
more trouble with the striped beetle, and 
raise a crop of onions. If there is any 
difference in the varieties of onions the 
most rapid growers should be used. 
Still Pond, Md. h. l. c. 
.T. II. Hillis, MoFall, Mo., has perfected a Dust 
Piwess and is manufacturing machines that will 
spray fruit trees at the rate of one a minute. 
The Dust Process is said to be three times 
I'heaper, speedier and better than the liquid 
process.— Adv. 
SAN JOSE SCALE. 
And other Ineects can be Controlled by Using 
Good’s Caustic Potash Whale- 
Oil Soap No. 3. 
It also prevents Curl Leaf. Endorsed by Entomolo¬ 
gists. This Soap is a Fertilizer as well as Insecticide. 
60-lb.Kegs,$2.60; 100-lb. Kegs, $4.50; Half-Barrel, 
270 lbs., 8hic. per lb.; Barrel, 426 lbs., S^c. Large 
quantities. Special Kates. Send for Circulars. 
JAMES GOOD, 930 N. Front St., Philadelphia, Pa 
Fruit Packages 
Send postal for our latest catalogue of 
Climax Baskets and Bushel Stave Baskets 
for Peaches, Grapes, Melons, and other 
fruits and products. Low 
^delivered prices quoted 
on carloads of 12,000 
or more peach or 
grape Climax, 
6,000 or more mel¬ 
on Climax, or on 
100 or more dozen 
Bushel Baskets, 
all with covers. 
The Pierce-Williams Co., 
South Uaven, Micfi. 
THE 
AUTO-SPRAY 
beet for itU hand work. No oontlDOout 
pumping. Compressod nir runs H to epniy . I 
^ acre of rines. Boj can carrj and operato. ' : 
Alt working and contact parts of braaa. Long 
line of high grade sprayers for ererj purpose 
shown in Catalog F» It is FKEB. Write at 
once if you want the agency. 
E. C. BROWN & CO., ROCHESTER, N. T. 
SPRAY I 
PUMPS 
Double-autiim 
Lift, Power, Tank 
and Spray 
PUMPS 
Store Ladders, eto. 
Bam Door Hangers, 
HAY TOOLS 
of all kinds. Write 
for Oir’s and Prices. 
F. E. JUYERS A 
BBO., Ashland, O. 
PRAYING 
Our line of sprayers ana appU- 
ances fits every man’s needs. 
Hand,Kr\aps&ck,Bucket,. 
Field, Barrel, and Power 
sprayers.twenty styles. Bestnozsles 
made, attachments, formulas, eto. 
Sdect the useful and reliable. Catalog free 
THE DEIOKa 00., Salem, Ohio. 
WttUm aontt, Hmimi HiMMfCMaagoJU, 
SPRAY 
IT IS 
WORTH 
WHILE 
when buying to buy a ma¬ 
chine that does the work 
right—that cleans its strainer 
automatically with a brush, 
mixes liquid mechanically so 
that foliage is never burned, 
but gets its due proportion. 
The Garfield, 
Empire King, 
and Orchard Monarch 
do these things. They throw 
the flnestspray,areeasiestiii 
tlie work and they never clog. 
You ought to know more 
about them. Write for in¬ 
struction book on spraying, 
formulas, etc. Mailed free. 
FIELD FORCE PUMP CO., 
2 1 Ith St., Elmira, N. Y. 
SPRAY PUMP 
ON 
EARTH 
We know Its merits from 
practical e.vperience. Having 
used almost all known pumps 
In our own orchards, conse¬ 
quently we are able to judge 
of Its superiority over all 
others. It is the most durable 
pump made. Theeaslest work¬ 
ing pump; DO stuffing boxes to 
look after. The handle Is ad¬ 
justable to suit the height of 
the operator. The agitator is 
a simple direct motion, and 
keeps the solution thoroughly 
mixed. A pressure of 1.50 to 
2(K) pounds can be easily ob¬ 
tained. Hand and Geared 
V’lneyard Sprayers a specialty. Patented and 
manufactured by 
LATHAM & CO., 
SANDU.SKY, OHIO. Send for Catalogue. 
DEFENDER 
SPRAYER 
Powerful, all brass, 
easy to use. Quick sell¬ 
ers. Treatise on Spray¬ 
ing and Catalogue of 
Spray Pumps free. 
Write to-day. Agents 
Wanted. 
J. F. GAYLORD, 
Box 78. Catskill, N. Y. 
50 S;.] 
IF THIS AD 
CATCHES 
YOUR 
be sure and write for catalogue and prices of 
COMET Sprayers 
Double-actin);, Continuous Stream 50 ft. 
itriiHH Throughout. 
RiS.&O to < 16 . 00 . Force pump as well as 
sprayer, for lawn, garden, flowers and plants; 
from bucket or barrel. Best and cheapest. For 
your own use or for agency, write to 
H. B. RUSLER, Mfr., Johnstown, Ohio. 
lAGENTS 
wanted to sell 
RIPPLEY’S 
Orchard, Field, Wheelbarrow, 
4 and 5 Gallon Compressed Air 
SPRAYERS 
(j and spraying- mixtures, Breed- 
^ ers Supplies. Send for illustrat¬ 
ed catalogue and terms. 
RIPPLEY HDW. CO., 
Manufaeturtr* Spraytr and Br$td' 
Suppliut 
Box 288, Grafton, IIU* 
A Big Crop of Fruit 
and dollHr, In your pockets if you spray your 
trees and vines with the wonderful 
HARDIE SPRAY PUMP 
It drives the fog-like spray into every corner, kilting 
'1 the bug. and fungous diseases. 
The HIg Orower. all recom¬ 
mend “THE HARUIE” be¬ 
cause it maintains such a high 
pressure and because 
IT WORKS SO EASY. 
Our catalogue tells all about 
spraying. It is Free, send 
for it. 
The Hardle Spray Pump Mfg. Co. 
C 4 learned St., Detroit, Mleh. 
And Windsor, i'anada. 
^ * A 
Our money winning books, 
written by men who know, tell 
you all about 
Potai.sK 
They are needed by every man 
who owns a field and a plow, and 
who desires to get the most out 
of them. 
They are free. Send postal card, 
CF.RMAK KALI W’ORKS 
98 NaHHBU Ktr€‘et^ Nfw York 
Dry Spraying 
Brownie Duster . - - - ^3.00 
Little Giant . . . . 5 .00 
Champion - - - - 7.50 
Mammoth Champion, - - 15.00 
Jumbo, ------ 25.00 
Descript ive Circular of each on application. 
Also Dry inHeel.icitles anti Fungleitles for 
these maehines. 
LEGGETT & BRO., 301 Pearl St., New York, N. Y. 
A Kant-Klog 
SPRAYER 
WewanttoRendintoeverytown 
and county a sample of onr new ^ 
self-operating Kant-Klog Sprayer. * m 
No farmer, fruit or vegetable grower can afford to 
be without one. Tliey increa.se crops both in quan¬ 
tity and quality, and double your yearly profit. 
Tfl AfvFNTQ ■ a day is what one 
■ I ^9 ■ uew ageut made. Another baa 
ttold and delivered 660 machines and has 100 more sold for 
later delivery. With the complete detailed InKtructions we send 
our ageuts any man of ordinary ability can do as well. 
For further information address, 
Rochester Spray Pump CO., 16 East Av. Rochester, N.Y. 
Get the Best 
A GooU Spray Pump earn* big 
profits and lasts for years. , 
THE EOUP^ 
Is a good pump. As prao- 
tical fruit growers we 
were using the com- 
,mon sprayers In our 
; own orchards—found 
b their defects and then invented 
I The Kclipse. Its success 
5 practically forced us into jnan- 
J ufacturing on a large scale. 
I You take no chances. We have 
done all the experimenting. 
Large fully illustrated 
Catalogue and Treatise 
on Spraying — FREE. 
MORRILL A MORLEY, Benton Harbor. Micb. 
The Perfection Sprayer 1* not the product of a theorist. Making sprayers has 
beenhischief employment for the last twelve years. Ue has examined and experi¬ 
mented with and made more large capacity, power sprayers than any other man 
In the (J. S. The Perfection 8ix Row is bis final triumph. Sprays 
six rows of potatoes or vines at one time. Can be used either by hand 
or horse power. Basily adjusted for vegetables, shrubs or trees. 
Sprays Bordeaux and all other mixtures ^thout trouble or waste. 
Full descriptive catalogue sent free. Ask for it. 
Thomas F»applar, Box 37, HlgThtstown, N. J. 
AUo manxifaciurti the Improved Rig^e Plow* and Furroioere 
SLUe SHOT 
Kills Insects in the Garden, etc. In use .since 1880. 
Is effective and safe to use. 
SOLD BY SEEDSMEN EVERYWHERE. 
Send for Free booklet on Bugs and Blight.s to 
H, HAM.noND, I'ishkill-on-Hudson, N. Y. 
INCriE^TER 
«NEW RIVAL” 
FACTORY LOADED SHOTGUN SHELLS 
Give these shells a thorough trial, and you will find them to be as 
nearly perfect as experience, ingenuity, brains and equipment can 
make them. They are made with the Winchester patent corrugated 
head, which has made Winchester “Leader” and “Repeater” 
Smokeless Powder Shells so popular and satisfactory. Winchester 
Factory-Loaded “ New Rival ” Shells are thoroughly waterproof, 
and are loaded by exact machinery with the standard brands of 
powder, shot and wadding which makes them uniform and reliable. 
9hoot Them and You’ll &hoot Well 
