342 
May 2 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
; Ruralisffls ; 
NOTES FROM THE RURAL GROUNDS 
A Sharp Freeze. —The unseasonably 
warm weather of March terminated with 
the last week of the month, and early 
April brought a 24-hour freeze that ma¬ 
terially diminishes the chances for a 
good crop of peaches and Japan plums. 
A considerable percentage of the blooms 
were at the point of opening, and such 
varieties as Abundance and Wickson 
were making quite a show of white. The 
open blooms were about all killed, but 
those less developed may still come 
through. Carman and Triumph peach 
blooms, though far advanced, seem to be 
little injured, probably owing to the pro¬ 
tection given by their large and showy 
corollas. The blooms on several varie¬ 
ties of apricots, including the Harris, 
seem all killed. Pear buds were con¬ 
siderably singed but apparently not 
harmed in their vital organs. Other 
fruits with the exception of the first 
early strawberries seem little injured. 
The young peach trees on the Rural 
Grounds were rather scantily set with 
fruit buds, as the cold and rainy Sum¬ 
mer preceding was more conducive to 
wood growth than fruit production. 
Peach trees of bearing age are rather 
benefited by a good baking in late Sum¬ 
mer than cool growing weather. 
Drought is not essential in the develop¬ 
ment of fruit buds, but high tempera- 
tura near the end of the growing sea¬ 
son is usually beneficial to the peach. 
Driving rains followed the freeze, hold¬ 
ing out through nearly the whole 
blooming period of the early stone- 
fruits, so the chances of a crop this year 
seem very remote. 
Too Early Asparagus. —Garden as¬ 
paragus is an extremely hardy plant 
when dormant, but the young growth 
is quite sensitive to frost, and is usual¬ 
ly cut to the soil line by late freezes. 
Our local crop did not escape the com¬ 
bined effect of unseasonably high tem¬ 
perature in March followed by the April 
freeze. The shoots started so freely as 
to hamper work in the fields. Some 
large growers cut their planting over 
before ridging up in the usual manner 
to secure a blanched growth. Others 
waited a few days for a cut of green 
shoots, which are now growing in popu¬ 
larity, but the frost promptly disposed 
of these precocious sprouts. It needs con¬ 
siderable soil warmth to start aspara¬ 
gus, and the appearance of edible shoots 
the first week in April is very unusual 
under our conditions. Growers will 
likely feel inclined to attend to their 
asparagus fields at the earliest prac¬ 
ticable moment in succeeding years. 
The Japanese Holly. —Parsons & 
Co., Flushing, N. Y., issued some time 
ago a neat booklet on Ilex crenata, the 
“new” Japan holly, as a hedge plant. 
Ilex crenata was first introduced to this 
country by the above enterprising nur¬ 
sery in 1875. It was at first supposed 
to be only half hardy and for a long 
time was kept under glass. For the last 
15 years, however, plants have been 
growing in the open air, proving reli¬ 
able in such’ diverse localities as the 
coast of Maine, northern Ohio and the 
Middle Atlantic States. A temperature 
of 15 degrees below zero has not harm¬ 
ed the tough evergreen foliage in any 
noticeable degree. One of the largest 
specimens stands in Fairmount Park, 
Philadelphia, and has reached nine feet 
in height, with about the same diam¬ 
eter. The Japan holly forms a very 
handsome little tree, and doubtless is 
far superior to privet as a hedge plant, 
as it is not only evergreen and is much 
more attractive in make-up, but it can¬ 
not be compared to either the European 
or native red-berried hollies in beauty 
of foliage or elegance of Winter effect 
These hollies, however, are of very slow 
growth, and always very difficult to 
transplant when over a foot in height. 
The Japan kind has an abundance of 
fibrous roots, and can be moved as easily 
and surely when dormant as privet or 
the hardy Hydrangea. The unarmed 
leaves are small and pointed, looking 
more like box (Buxus) than other hol¬ 
lies, but are of a deep shining green sel¬ 
dom turning yellow from cold. It is 
dense in habit, bears pruning well, and 
does not easily lose its lower branches, 
a very desirable characteristic in a 
hedge shrub. We understand the pro¬ 
pagation is almost exclusively by seeds 
and is rather slow, so that about 75 
cents each is asked for plants 18 inches 
high. There is no doubt of the desir¬ 
ability of Ilex crenata for specimens or 
ornamental hedging, but it must be¬ 
come cheaper before it is popularly used. 
The European Holly, Ilex aquifo- 
lium, is undoubtedly the finest of the 
genus on account of its glossy and beau¬ 
tifully crinkled foliage and large bright 
berries, but it needs some Winter pro¬ 
tection at the Rural Grounds, and is far 
from hardy Inland. The native kind, I. 
opaca, is duller in leaf and berry, but 
hardy north to Massachusetts. It was 
formerly abundant in thickets along the 
Jersey coast, but has been almost ex¬ 
terminated in the search for Christmas 
decorations. We have had success in 
transplanting wild trees in fruit when 
the specimens were dug about the pre¬ 
vious Spfing and all large roots cut, so 
that a mass of new fibers would be 
thrown out during the Summer's 
growth. All our attempts to move even 
small wild plants without this prepara¬ 
tion have failed except in one instance 
where a little tree was at once firmly 
planted in a large pot, the foliage all 
picked off, kept in a cool cellar during 
Winter, and plunged in shade under 
trees the following Summer. Nursery- 
grown trees may be moved with a fair 
chance of living if the foliage is nearly 
all stripped off at the time so as to 
lessen demand for moisture until root¬ 
lets have formed. Failure is quite cer¬ 
tain if this precaution is neglected. 
Seedlings may be grown from the ber¬ 
ries which are usually plentiful about 
florists’ stores during the holidays if the 
bony seeds are washed out and stratified 
In moist sand until planting time in the 
Spring, but they seldom germinate until 
the succeeding year, and the growth of 
the seedlings is vexatiously slow. A 
holly tree, native or exotic, would orna 
ment any farm homestead, and would 
always be worth the time and expense 
to establish it. The European holly in 
two or three-foot sizes costs about 50 
cents each, while the native species is 
priced somewhat higher, as it is really 
of more difficult propagation, w. v. f. 
BsHOOVERB 
Only diguer made tliat 
aueeessfully separates 
the potatoes fiom the 
vines and weeds. 
Kapid, clean and 
satisfactory work 
guaranteed 
Shovel guaranteed against 
stones. Dirt proof re¬ 
versible brass boxes. 
Send 
for free 
catalogue 
THE IIOOVEK.PEOUT CO., Avery, Ohio. 
aaiEs 
The Gem Full-Circle baler, lightest, strongest, cheapest 
haler. Made of wrought steel. Oi>erated bv 1 or 2 horses 
Bales 10 to 15 tons a day. Sold on 5 days’ trial. Cauioeue 
free. Address GEO. ERTEL CO., Quincy, HU 
SAIV _ 
And other Insects can be Controlled by Using 
Good’s Caustic Potash Whale- 
Oil Soap No. 3. 
It also prevents Curl Leaf. Endorsed by Entomolo- 
glsts. This Soap is a Fertilizer as well as Insecticide. 
60-lb.Kegs,$2.60; 100-lb. Kegs, t4.50; Half-Barrel, 
270 lbs., 8^c. per lb.; Barrel, 425 lbs., 8J4e. Large 
quantities. Special Rates. Send for Circulars. 
JAMBS GOOD, 939 N. Front St., Philadelphia, Pa 
PRAVINO 
OnrUne of sprayers ana appU. 
ances fits every man’s needs. 
Hand,Krvapsack.Bucket. <. 
Field. Darrel, and Power 
sprayers,twenty styles. Bestnozsles 
made, attachments, formulas, ete. 
Select the useful and r^able. Catalog &ee 
THE DEKIKG 00.. Salem, Ohio. 
Wnt t m aemU, 
CRONK’S 
Improved 
Staple Puller 
front. Ask your dealer to show 
It. Tlire6 wire cutters^ two bammers. two spUcinfi 
clamps—all in one tool. A Staple Puller that will 
pull staples when no other make will. A cutter that 
will reach wire when the button cutter will not. One 
it' 81.00, postage paid 
& CARKIER MEG. CO., Elmira,V. 
THE MOWER 
that wi 11 cut your short grass, 
your tall grass and weeds, 
and will do all the trimming 
along fences and walks 
Send for catalogue and 
prices. THE CLIPPEB 
liAWN MOWER CO., 
Norristown, Pa. 
London 
Purple 
To obtain sound, handsome 
fruii spray with LONDON PUH- 
PLK (trade-mark) which has been 
the popular, safe and 
EFFECTIVE 
INSECTICIDE 
for use against Potato Bugs, 
Cotton Worms, Canker Worms, 
Codling Moth, Cnrculio, etc., 
for more than a 
Quarter of a Century 
Thousands of tons have been used, 
insui’ing in manufacture a perfec¬ 
tion only attained by vast experi- 
ence. LONDON PURPLE is 
exactly suited for farmers and fruit 
growers’ uses. Write for circular. 
Manufactured solely by 
Hemingway's London Purple Co,, Ltd., 
133 Front Street, New York. 
WORKS: 
Marsh Gate Lane, Stratford Tjondon, Eng. 
DISC ORCHARD PLOW 
FOR sale 
__ _ _ made by 
Clark, of Hlgganum, Conn. Nearly new. 
Address F. W. VAIL, Milton, N. Y. 
Grape Growers 
are learning that there is 
a better support for their 
vines than wood posts. 
The Climax Steel Post 
with vitrified tile base is 
indestructilfle. Cannot rot 
or rust. Made of high car- 
l)on steel and actually 
cheaper than wood. Cross- 
arms easily attached and 
liold vines securely. Can’t 
blow down. 
The Climax 
is the best all-round fence 
post. We make ornamen¬ 
tal posts for lawns, parks, 
cemeteries. Just the thing 
for Ruial Mail Bo.xes. 
IVr/le at once for fall 
in/ormaiion. 
Climax Fence Post Co. 
712 Marquette Bldg., Chicago, III. 
We operate factories at Ithaca, N. Y., Scran¬ 
ton. I’a., Akron. O., and ship from nearest 
factory to save freight. 
TELEPHONES 
For Farmers’ Lines. 
Organize an exchange In yonr 
community. Full particulars fur¬ 
nished. Catalogue free. 
THE NORTH ELECTRIC CO., 
152 St. Clair Street, 
C N. 301. CLEVELAND, O. 
Our money winning books, 
written by men who know, tell 
you all about 
Potoesh 
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, 
GERMAN KALI WORKS 
98 Nassau Street, Xcw York 
SPRAY 
MACHINERY 
O IDE 
Best and cheapest. 
Send for catalogue. 
BOOMER & BOSCHERT 
,„PRESS CO., 
118 West Water St., 
bfRACeSE, S. Y. 
SPRAY 
PUMPS 
hjcr 
U{Q 
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 tlnestspray,are easiest in 
the work and they never clog. 
You ought to know more 
about them. Write for in¬ 
struction book on spraying, 
formulas, etc. Hailed free. 
FIELD FORCE PUMP CO., 
2 1 1th St., Elmira, N. Y. 
Got the Best 
A Cfood Spray Pomp earns big 
prollte and lasts for years. 
THE ECLIPSE 
Is a good pump. As prac¬ 
tical fruit growers we 
were using the com¬ 
mon sprayers In our 
own orchards—found 
their defects and then Invented 
The Eclipse. Its succcbb 
practically forced ns Into man¬ 
ufacturing on a large scale. 
You take no chances. Wehave 
done aU the experimenting. 
Large fatty ittustraUA 
Cataloffue and JVealiM_ 
on Spraying—-FREX, ( 
MORRILL A MORLEY. Benton Harbar, Mtelu 
The South Side Mfg. Co. 
PETERSBURG, VA., U. 8. A. 
Carriers for Strawberries, Raspberries, Peaches, 
Mushrooms, Egg Settings, Hothouse Tomatoes, etc., 
and manufacturers of the Continental Plant shipping 
Baskets. Send for Catalogue and prices. 
THE 
AUTO-SPRAY 
' best for ftll band work. No oontlnnoof ’ 
Fpumplog. Compressed air ruas It to spray . 
4 X acre of rines. Boj can carry and operate. ' 
I All working and eontaot {^ts of brass. Loof 
I line c 
I shown In Catalog 1 
I oDoe if you want the agency. 
Ie. C. brown & CO., ROCHESTER, ■■ T. 
B of hlzh zr.de eprejere for .TwjMBorpcee 
iim In OeUIoc F. It Ie FR£li. WilM nt 
Double-acting 
Lift, Power, Tank 
and Spray 
PUMPS 
Store Ladders, etc. 
Barn Door Hsnsera, 
HAYTOOlS 
of all kinds. Write 
for Cir’s and Prices. 
T. K. MYERS A 
BBO.. Ashland, O. 
SLUG SHOT 
Kills Insects on Currants, Potatoes, Cabbage* and 
Flowers. Used 24 years. 
SOLD BY SEEDSMEN EVERYWHERE. 
Send for Free booklet on Bugs and Blights to 
B. HAMMOND, EishklU-on-Hutlson, N. Y. 
WATER. 
If you want water only when the wind blows a windmill will do your work 
and cost less money than our Rider and Ericsson Hot-Air Pumps, but if you want 
water every day while your flowers are growing and do not want your pump blown 
down when the wind blows too hard, no pump in the world can equal ours. We 
have sold about 20,000 of them during the past twenty-flve years, which Is proof 
that we are not making wild statements. 
Our Catalogue “C 4” will tell you all about them. Write to nearest store. 
86 Warren St.. New York. 
239 Franklin St.. Boston. 
Rider-Ericsson Engine Company, 
092 Craig St., Montreal. P. Q. 
Teniente-Hey 71, Havana, Cuba. 
22 Pitt St., Sydney, N. 8. W. 
40 Dearborn St., CHICAGO. 
40 N. 7th St., PHILADELPHIA- 
