358 
May 9 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
; Ruralisms ; 
^ ^ w w w ▼ ▼ w» 
NOTES FROM THE RURAL GROUNDS 
Spring Daffodils. —Closely following 
the snowdrop and Crocus, and contem¬ 
porary with early tulips, comes the fresh 
and dainty daffodil. Fine clumps of old 
double yellow varieties belonging to the 
Trumpet and Incomparabilis groups are 
common in old gardens. Their clean 
vigorous foliage and brilliant massive 
blooms are always welcome and attrac¬ 
tive at the season. These “Easter daf¬ 
fodils” are very numerous in the South, 
and are frequently found naturalized in 
rich meadows, where they make a pleas¬ 
ing feature. The lovely Poet’s or Pheas¬ 
ant’s eye Narcissus with its pure white 
single bloom and red-edged cup follows 
a few days later, in company with an 
endless variety of trumpet-flowered 
kinds in yellow and creamy white. The 
type species, N. poeticus poetarum is 
very sweetly perfumed, but quite late in 
bloom and not so large nor pure in col¬ 
oring as N. poeticus ornatus, the finest 
of the section. Poeticus ornatus com¬ 
monly flowers by the first week in May, 
and is so large and showy that one does 
not criticise its diminished fragrance. 
'I’he Poeticus varieties are all very hardy 
except the double pure-white forms, 
which often fail to develop blooms in 
our climate. They are not costiy and 
usually increase rapidly in favorable 
situations. For these reasons they 
should be planted more frequently than 
at present in dooryards and gardens. 
Giant Narcissus Blooms. —European 
buib growers are vei'y active in raising 
new varieties of the large trumpet-flow¬ 
ered species, N. Pseudo-narcissus. Some 
of iheir latest triumphs are quoted as 
high as $75 a bulb, but it is, of course, 
understood that the stocks of such 
prize-winning varieties are vei-y limited 
and they may become comparatively 
cheap and plentiful in time, if of sufli- 
ciently good constitution to increase at 
a fair rate. These trumpet kinds are 
very stately and handsome. Two classes 
are known, the yellow and white, but the 
whites are never entirely pure, the palest 
of them being of a creamy or primrose 
tint. The crown or trumpet is always 
deeper in color than the petals or peri¬ 
anth divisions. Thus the finest yellow 
kinds, such as Emperor and Maximus, 
have a deep golden li-umpet and bright 
yellow perianth, while Empress, Hors- 
tieldii and Princeps have pale primrose 
perianths and deep or bright yellow 
crowns. They are all most elegant, but 
not so reliable as the Poeticus varieties. 
The imported bulbs generally bloom 
finely the first season, after which the 
flowers may fall off in size or purity of 
color, often dying out. The light kinds 
are usually mo-st tender, especially those 
in which there is least difference in col¬ 
oring between the parts. A kind Euro¬ 
pean friend sent us some of the later 
novelties last Fall, including Glory of 
Leyden, Mme. de Graaf and Mrs. J. B. 
Camm. All have produced notable 
blooms. A portrait of Glory of Leyden, 
somewhat reduced in size, is given on 
first page. Fig. 125. The long and ele¬ 
gant trumpet is foreshortened in the pic¬ 
ture, but some idea of the form and size 
is given. The colors are dark golden in 
the crown and deep yellow in the peri¬ 
anth divisions. The other two belong to 
the creamy-white class with yellow 
trumpet or crown. They are very fine 
in their way and almost as large. These 
varieties are now worth 75 cents to $1 
each, with import duties added, but will 
soon become cheaper. Such kinds as 
Emperor. Empress, Princeps, etc., may 
be had in the Fall from bulb importers 
for 50 cents to 80 cents a dozen, and are 
almost as good as the novelties. The 
double kinds, aside from the common 
yellow one, are hardly worth growing, 
as they often come imperfeet. 
The Sweet and Hardy Jonquil. —One 
should always include a few jonquils in 
any collection of Narcissi, however 
small, as they are deliciously sweet as 
well as entirely hardy. There are sev¬ 
eral kinds varying in size, as well as a 
double one, but the ordinary single form 
IS most grateful and highly perfumed of 
all. They are very cheap and a good 
colony may be planted in suitable soil 
in any partially shaded place, as a per¬ 
manent attraction. The various kinds of 
Polyanthus Narcissus, including the Chi¬ 
nese Joss flower or Sacred lily, are not 
sufficiently hardy in the North to invite 
open-air culture, but are very desirable 
for the window garden or glass house. 
There are many varieties white, yellow 
and two-colored. All are good in their 
way but the early-blooming Paper White 
is most largely grown. 
Don’t Use Raw^ Manures. —It might 
be well to amend the above caption with 
the advice not to use animal manures 
at all. Most cultural directions for the 
Narcissus recommend the free use of old 
decomposed manures, but our experience 
is against the application of any form 
of animal manure except an occasional 
dressing of fine ground bone. We find 
most varieties grow and live better in 
good loam taken from old fence rows 
than any other rooting medium we can 
supply. In planting a group in thin or 
poor soils or sticky clays we would dig 
out a sufficient area a foot or more in 
depth and replace with loam from a 
meadow or fence corner. The bulbs are 
quite certain to thrive better and live 
longer than if planted in the usual rich 
composts. The Narcissus, like most 
lilies, does not like nitrogen in excessive 
quantities. For pot culture good garden 
soil lightened with sand or leaf mold is 
quite sufficient, though bone meal in 
limited quantities may be an advantage. 
Weak liquid manures applied before the 
buds open is supposed to increase the 
size of the flowers, but probably does 
nothing more than to stimulate the sub¬ 
sequent growth of the bulbs. Another 
important point in the outdoor culture of 
daffodils is not to disturb them often. 
They need not be lifted or divided more 
frequently than once in three or four 
years. If left for long periods they be¬ 
come so crowded that blooming almost 
ceases. 
A “Wonderful” LErrrucE. —Although 
largely used for trucking purposes by a 
past generation the Rui’al Grounds are 
not now well adapted for crops of rapid 
growth requiring high fertility. Years 
of cropping in corn, followed by the 
growing of evergreens and other nur¬ 
sery trees, have hardened the soil and 
leached it of much food material. We 
have told of its gradual improvement 
under cow pea and Crimson clover treat¬ 
ment, but little of the area is yet in suit¬ 
able condition to grow fine garden vege¬ 
tables unless aided by a liberal incor¬ 
poration of good manure or an equiva¬ 
lent application of the needful chemicals. 
This is not an unfortunate condition for 
an experiment garden, as tests can be 
more fairly made on soil of moderate 
fertility than on a plot over-rich and 
stimulating. The idea is to give trial 
varieties a fair working chance, such as 
they are likely to meet in average ama¬ 
teur hands. Experts will come forward 
to testify to those things requiring in¬ 
tensive culture. We do not spare fer¬ 
tility when needed to bring out special 
points, but always feel rejoiced to find 
something that will give a good crop 
without undue coddling. Among the 
many new varieties of lettuce grown 
during the last five years the Wonderful 
lettuce, introduced about 1897 by Henry 
A. Dreer, Inc., Philadelphia, Pa., seems 
to merit its name, for its capacity to 
produce large cabbage-like heads, lasting 
well into hot weather, under the most 
ordinary culture. Some of the heads 
grow considerably over two pounds in 
weight, and are of excellent quality. 
This is the most vigorous and reliable 
garden lettuce we have yet found. There 
are a legion of lettuces, many having 
great general merit while others seem 
only adapted for special conditions and 
tastes. For an early loose-leaved kind 
we find nothing superior to Black-seed¬ 
ed Simpson, and for frame or glasshouse 
use a good strain of the Big Boston. 
Wonderful comes in to give us a perfect 
head variety for outdoor or Summer 
planting. It, of course, likes good feed¬ 
ing and is said to grow up to three 
pounds in weight if sufficiently pushed, 
but we find it gets large enough on soil 
that will grow fair potatoes or corn. It 
makes a strong start in the seed bed and 
the young plants should be set 14 to 16 
inches apart instead of the usual foot 
each way, so that the big leaves may 
have a chance to develop. We grow it 
in sandy soil with only a trowelful of 
ordinary manure compost to each plant. 
w. V. F. 
A Chain 
is no stronger than its 
weakest link. A fertilizer 
deficient in a 
POTASH 
is just as dangerous as a 
chain with a cracked link. 
Our money winning books ara 
r needed by every man wlio owns 
a field and a plow, and who de¬ 
sires to get the most out of them. 
They are free. Send postal card. ^ 
GEK.UAN KALI WORKS.^^g 
98 Nassau St., 
k New York 
Hardie Potato Sprayer 
Is a strong, simple and practical attachment which can be quickly and 
easily connected to any spray pump. Fits on the back of an ordinary 
wagon or cart. Sprays 4 rows at a time, covers the entire vine with a 
fine fog-like spray—and one man can spray 20 acres in a day. Does 
exactly the same work as a $75 machine and only costs Ofl 
Write for our free illustrated catalogue (riving full inforina- \l ll|| 
tion about our complete line of Spraying Machines. V I lUwl 
Hardle Spray PampMfg. Co., 46 Lamed St., Detroit, Mich. 
ha Perfection Sprayer is not the product of a theorist. Making sprayers has 
tenhlschlef employment for the last twelve years. He has examined and experi- 
eoted with and made more large capacity, power sprayers than any other man 
In the U. 8. The Perfeetlea Six Row Is his final triumph. Sprays 
■Lx rows of potatoes or vines at one time. Can be used either by hand 
or horse power. Easily adjusted for vegetables, shrubs or trees. 
Bprays Bordeaux and all other mixtures without trouble or waste. 
liiU deserlptlve catalogue sent free. Ask for It. 
Thom«» F*eppler, Box Higtitstouun, IS. J. 
/mfpvpdi and FurrowetM 
SPENCER'S 
HaPCuiBNm A five wire, large bale press. 
Guaranteed capacity 3 tons an hour. . i 
TnmMlllgatop Box Ppoma can bale 22 tons i 
In 10 hours, or no pay. Write for catalogfuc- f 
J. M. SPEMCER, Box 60, DwI^U Itla. 
London 
Purple 
To obtain sound, handsome 
fruit spray with LONDON PXJK- 
PLFi (trade-mark) which has been 
the popular, safe and 
EFFECTIVE 
INSECTICIDE 
for use against Potato Bugs, 
t’otion Worms, Cauker Worms, 
Codling Moth, Curculio, etc., 
for more than a 
Quarter of a Century 
Thousands of tons have been used, 
insuring 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., 
1.33 Front Street, New York. 
•WORKS: 
Marsh Gate Lane, Stratford, London, Eng. 
ROUND SILO 
The “Philadelphia. 
The only Perfect Continucos 
Ox)en Front Silo made. See our 
Patent Roof. Ask for catalog 
E. F. SCHLICHTER, 
321 Vine Street, 
PHILADELPHIA, PA. 
Also made In the west by the 
DUPLEX MFG, CO., South 
iy Superior, Wis. 
A T.TTx Zl.XGrJEZ'X' 
LOOKS RIGHT 
WORKS RIGHT 
BUILT RIGHT 
GREEN MOUNTAIN 
SILOS, 
CATALOGS AND PRICES ON 
APPLICATION. 
Also Dairy Oooio, Corn Planters, 
Casoline Engines, Ensilage 
kaohincry. 
Stoddard Mfg. Co. 
RUTLAND, VT. 
Balers 
If Wanting a Hay Press, Address 
FAMO US MFG. CO.east Chicago, i nd. 
MPy ^ SPRAY. 
O 06 at ft time. 16 teoonds pumplnf 
obftrged with ftoougb ftir to run 
The Auto-Spray 
lOmlnutftflftnd oover ftcre. For* 
feetly Automfttlo, operfttor marely 
vftlki ftnd dlroets noixle. Sprftj froia 
flD« mUttosollaBtreftm. Any boyofts 
irork it. Bnaa irorking and oonlftot 
S ftrtB mftk« it porfeot vorklng ftnd 
uxftble. For poultry house*, Ylnoi, 
troeSfOto. Cfttalog F Bbowith* 
bftit line of ftl 1 sito, ftU purpoftft ftpnkj' 
•rt mndft. Writ* for ftgoncy. 
E.C.BROWN A COMPANY, 
RoohssUr, N. V. 
The Gem rull.Cirole baler, llghteat, atrongest, cheapest 
baler. Made of wrought ateel. Operated by 1 or 2 horses. 
Bales 10 to 15 tout a day. Sold on 5 days’ trial. Catalogue 
free. Addreaa GEO. ERTEL CO., Quincy, 111 
Announcement 
■We liave obtained the Court’s decree against two 
additional manufacturers who liave been infring¬ 
ing our patent. The rule of law is: “Tlie maker, 
seller or user of an infringing device are all liable 
in damages to the owner of the patent infringed.” 
The Janesville Machine Co. and the Keystone 
Farm Machine Co. are the only Anns licensed to 
use a Jial tooth covered by our patent, and we 
finally warn sellers and usersof all other makes. So 
atlmirably liave tlie 60,000 “Halloek” Weeders done 
the work for which tliey were designed, that one 
maker after another sought to copy it. However, S 
by the various Courts’ decisions, tliese makers are 
compelled to abandon the manufacture of a 
weeder having flat teeth, and they are now ex¬ 
perimenting with other shapes: but it is the flat 
tooth that made the ‘‘Ilallock’’ Weeder famous, 
and in view of the manner in wliich our patent has 
been sustained, it is dangerous to use an infringing 
tooth. W rite for descriptive circul ars and prices. 
HALLOCK WEEDER & CULTIVATOR CO., 
•* Box 805 York, Pa. 
prayei 
are but three that clean the strain¬ 
er and stir the mixture. Their 
names are Empire King, 
Garfield a.nd Orchard 
Monarch. 
I Their automatic agitators and cleaning brushes make 
it certain tliat plants and foliage get their 
due proportion—never too much nor too 
little—of the mixture. They nev¬ 
er clog and the foliage is never 
harmed. These safe-guards with 
their perfect workings make them 
the best sprayers to be found. In- | 
struction book on spraying, formu- 
I las, etc., free for the asking. 
FIELD FORCE PUMP CO., 
2 11th St., Elmira,K.Y. 
SLUG SHOT 
Kills Insects on Currants, Potatoes, Cabbages and 
Flowers. Used 24 years. 
SOLD BY SEEDSMEN EVERYWHERE. 
Send for Free booklet on Bugs and Blights to 
B. HAMMOND, FlshkiU-on-Hndson, N. Y. 
