22 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
January 13 
; Ruralisms 
THE WINDOW GARDEN. 
Changes in Decorative Plants. —It 
is about 30 years since the late W. C. 
Wilson, of Astoria, L. I., first used 
smilax in floral decorations, thereby 
causing a sensation, and introducing 
what soon became the most fashionable 
of florists’ greens. Now, however, the 
glory of smilax has departed, and it is 
only used by florists who cater to a 
cheap and unexacting trade. Its down¬ 
fall is due to the use of Asparagus plu- 
mosus, whose delicate feathery vines 
gradually drove out the heavier smilax. 
Now a newer asparagus, A. Sprengerii, 
is displacing Plumosus as florists’ green, 
and is being grown enormously for cut¬ 
ting. Asparagus Sprengerii is an excel¬ 
lent house plant, particularly when 
grown in a hanging or bracket pot, from 
which its long sprays, thickly covered 
with fine bright green foliage, hang in 
long wreaths. 
Warm and Cold Water for Plants. 
—Some of the experiment stations have 
been trying the prolonged effect on 
plants of water at various temperatures, 
from freezing to 100 degrees. The tests 
have been made at the Wisconsin and 
Ohio Stations during the last two years, 
on a variety of plants, including gera¬ 
niums, Coleus, potatoes, beans, etc., and 
the conclusion is reached that between 
45 and 75 degrees, the temperatures 
mostly available in practice, no apparent 
difference in effect is caused with any of 
the plants tested. Water at 32 to 34 de¬ 
grees grew healthy, short-jointed ge¬ 
raniums, but sometimes affected the 
more sensitive Coleus unfavorably. At 
100 degrees a weak and spindling growth 
was caused in almost every instance. 
The practical point is that where the 
available water supply in a garden or 
greenhouse is of a temperature not much 
below 40 degrees, it will hardly pay to 
use artificial means to warm it. Cold 
water, indeed, seems to act as a tonic 
for many cultivated plants, and glass¬ 
house growers are more and more com¬ 
ing to rely on forcible spraying with 
cold water to clear growing plants of 
insect pests. They find that the soil is 
not appreciably chilled by a reasonable 
amount of cold water. There are times, 
however, when the immersion of pot 
plants kept in a chilly room, in warm 
water is very beneficial, as it renders 
the fertilizing matter in the soil more 
available. 
Wash the Plant’s Face. —Just now, 
in the depths of the Winter’s gloom, a 
thrifty window garden is a comfort and 
joy, though the actual realization in 
bloom is not likely to be as profuse as 
later in February, when the greater 
power of the sun stimulates a rapid 
growth. But few additions have been 
made to the list of practicable window 
plants during late years, except in the 
more extended use of palms, ferns, rub¬ 
ber trees and decorative plants of this 
character. Geraniums and Begonias are 
universally the favorites, and are grown 
wherever the night temperature of the 
living rooms can be kept above freezing. 
The later geraniums are really magnifi¬ 
cent 'improvements, bearing immense 
blooms of clear and pleasing colors, and 
are well adapted for window decoration. 
At this season the endeavor should be to 
give them all the sunlight possible; 
every hour counts in increasing vigor of 
leaf and flower. Keep them well wa¬ 
tered. The dry, hot air of living rooms 
absorbs the surplus moisture from a pot 
of growing plants very quickly, and 
there is less danger of overwatering 
than is generally appreciated, providing 
free drainage to the soil has been pro¬ 
vided. The foliage, too, should be thor¬ 
oughly sprayed or sprinkled often 
enough to keep the plant tolerably free 
from dust. Dirt and dust on the leaves 
clog up the breathing pores, and inter¬ 
fere with healthy growth. The window 
plant often needs a washing just as 
badly as a boy with a dirty face, and 
will show a deal more gratitude for it. 
Managers of amateur greenhouses, on 
the other hand, are likely to affect the 
opposite extreme, and shower their 
plants into debility. The air of a small 
conservatory or glasshouse is easily 
rendered too damp for the best condi¬ 
tions of plant life during dull weather. 
Careful and loving observation of the 
growing plants will soon acquaint one 
with their peculiarities and desires. 
The Gloucester Apple. —There is al¬ 
ways a call for a limited amount of 
small but choice dessert apples suitable 
for fancy table decoration, and yet of 
such flavor as to be good eating. The 
Lady has long been about the only one 
of this character, because of its very 
small size and brilliant red cheek on a 
yellowish ground color. There has late¬ 
ly been brought to my notice afresh an 
old but very little-known apple, which 
originated in West Virginia, and was at 
first called Gloucester White, but is now 
Shortened to Gloucester. It is very 
small, but not so diminutive as Lady, 
nor does it keep quite so late. However, 
it clearly ranks with the fancy dessert 
Winter apples. The snape is nearly 
round, with a slight inclination to be 
conical, and is very regular in outline. 
The surface is smooth and glossy, and 
the ground color creamy white, with a 
bright, pinkish-red cheek. The general 
appearance is very attractive. Inside 
the apple is as good as the outside looks, 
for the flesh is very white, exceedingly 
fine-grained, tender and juicy, and the 
flavor a very pleasant subacid. Those 
who desire to grow a fancy apple that 
will keep until Christmas or after in the 
latitude of our Central States, should 
try the Gloucester. It will do either for 
home use or for the holiday trade from 
Thanksgiving to New Year’s. The tree 
is said to be productive and regular in 
bearing. 
An Ancient Tree. —On our first page 
we give a portrait of the oldest and 
most famous Chabo-hiba, or Japanese 
dwarfed evergreen tree imported this 
season. It was photographed in the auc¬ 
tion rooms of Cleary & Co., 80 Vesey 
street, New York, just before the sale, 
during which it was bid off at $700, after 
a lively competition. Botanically it is 
Thuya obtusa nana, a close relative of 
the common Thuya occidentals, our 
native White cedar or arbor vitae. The 
authentic gardener’s history of this in¬ 
teresting tree goes back over 500 years, 
into the middle of the fourteenth cen¬ 
tury, long before America was discover¬ 
ed by Columbus. The name of the orig¬ 
inal trainer has been lost, but the tree 
was in the possession of a celebrated 
Buddhist temple for nearly 300 years, 
after which it came in the hands of a 
family of expert Japanese gardeners, 
who transmitted it from father to son to 
the present time. The specimen stands 
about six feet high, and the trunk is 
nearly a foot thick. Together with the 
bowl in Which it stands it weighs almost 
a ton. These dwarf trees are trained in 
a number of carefully-planned shapes 
by an elaborate system of pinching and 
bending of the trunk and branches. The 
form in which this notable tree is 
trained is known as “Jikka,” and is a 
great favorite among the Japanese. It 
refers to regular yet graceful disposition 
of independent branches, giving the ap¬ 
pearance of an aged forest tree of con¬ 
ical form in miniature. One cannot help 
but think of the possible result of these 
centuries of painstaking work, if applied 
to the improvement of some useful 
plant. _ 
An English authority says that the Du- 
randeau pear (De Tongres) is one of the 
highest-colored and handsomest varieties 
in cultivation. The quality is high, which, 
with its beautiful appearance, makes it a 
valuable dessert sort for fastidious trade. 
The tree is said to be rather tender in this 
country; have any of our friends tested it? 
Information Wanted.— Can any of your 
readers explain why it is that tne seed 
nuts of the Paulownia imperialis have only 
grown to about the size of large peas this 
Fall, whereas, when of full size, they are 
as large as hickorynuts? It is the same 
on all the trees in my neighborhood and in 
Central Park. an old subscriber. 
The geranium, Mme. Jaulin, is one of 
the most exquisite in its coloring of any 
I have seen. A lovely shade of pink re¬ 
sembling the carnation Daybreak and 
sometimes called the “Daybreak gerani¬ 
um,” its enormous clusters of bloom re¬ 
main perfect for a surprisingly long time. 
A bed of this variety in Summer makes a 
beautiful display, and as a pot plant it is 
equally desirable. f. c. curtis. 
Variegated Salvia.— Among garden nov¬ 
elties this year is a handsomely variegated 
Scarlet sage (Salvia splendens). The leaves 
are dark green, liberally sprinkled with 
cream or light sulphur spots of various 
sizes. The variegation is very distinct, the 
growth compact, and the flowers produced 
abundantly. It is said that in three years' 
trials 85 per cent of the variety came true 
from seed, which is a very good showing. 
Eureka Harness Oil is the best 
preservative of new leather 
and the best renovator of old 
leather. It oils, softens, black¬ 
ens and protects. Use 
Eureka 
Harness Oil 
on your best harness, your old har¬ 
ness, and your carriage top, and they 
will not only look better but wear 
longer. Sold everywhere In cans—all 
sizes from half pints to five gallons. 
Usd, by STANDARD OIL CO. 
This Lantern is as thoroughly good 
as sixty years of Lantern building 
have rendered possible. 
It is strongly put together, con¬ 
venient of adjustment, has Glass 
Oil Pot, which cannot leak and as 
a "light-giver” it stands alone. 
Perhaps our little illustrated cata¬ 
logue of Lanterns might interest 
you ? Shall we mail it ?—’tis free. 
R. E. DIETZ COMPANY 
87 Laight Street 
Established in 1840. New York 
M. M. S. POULTRY FENCING 
Is practical; requires few posts, no top or bottom 
rail. It does not sag or bag, is easily and quickly 
erected. It leads In strength and economy. 
Don’t Take Our Word for It, 
but send for illustrated circulars and samples. We 
pay the freight to nearly all railroad stations In the 
U. 8. A. You cannot afford to make a fence of old- 
fashioned netting, even if It be donated. 
JAMES S. CASE (Box N.), Colchester, Conn 
FENCE! 
STROMGES7 
MADE. Bull- 
strong. Chicken- 
tight. Sold to the Farmer at WholenI* 
Priees. Fully tV.rrsnled. Catalog Free. 
COILED SPRING FENCE CO. 
Box 14. Wlnthe.ler, Indiana, C. 8. A. 
WE WANT AN AGENT 
In every county to sell to the farmers, thrashers and 
mills our superior brands of Lubricating Oils and 
Greases. Salary or commission. Experience not 
necessary; our instructions explain fully. For par¬ 
ticulars address THE VICTOR OIL COMPANY, 
Cleveland, Ohio. 
Poultry Experts Opinions of 
Cabot’s Sheathing 
PAtiDun 
“I have the warmest poultry-house I ever saw, 
and 1 have seen a good many.”—C. II. Latham, 
Breeder B. P. R., Lancaster, Mass. 
“In the coldest weather the water did not 
freeze In the fountain.” 
M. K. BOYER, Editor Farm Poultry. 
“I have tested ‘Quilt,’ and llnd it to be prac¬ 
tically lice and mite proof.” 
Dr. Prince T. Woods. 
One layer Is as warm as 10 of rosin-sized paper* 
and warmer than a layer of boards. Easy to 
apply, uninflammable, indestructible by decay, 
repellent to insects and vermin. A “comforter” 
that will keep your poultry warm. (Or your 
house and stable). Send for a Sample. 
SAMUEL CABOT,81 Kilby St.,Boston,Mass 
Agents at all Central Points. 
1,000 SAMPLES FREE 
of our new Success fence ratchet 
which tightens any wire fence, new 
or old. Grips automatically as wire 
Is wound on. No holes to bore in posts. Attaches 
midway of the fence. We will mall you a sample to 
test if you will send us 12c. to cover postage only. 
Clr. free. W. H. MASON & CO., Box 67, Leesburg, O. 
m upicrc 18 to 24 cents per rod. Built without 
1 DltuD machine. First Inquiring, where 
it introduced, gets special terms and agency. 
ROB YOUR 
NEIGHBOR\ 
By buying a poor fence that will let I 
your stock fatten on his crops. The | 
K1TSELM AN FENCE Is a satisfac- 
tory one. It insures good sleep and I 
makes good neighbors. Free Catalogue I 
telling how to make 100 Styles at the | 
actual cost of the wire. Write to-day. 
KITSELMAN BROTHERS, 
RoxiOfi _Kidgevllh*, Indl.nn. t‘. 8. A. 
DON’T 
EITHER THE FARMER 
needs a guardian or the Page Fence 1* a nncce**. 
Over 500,000 are now using it and calling for more. 
PAGE WOVEN WIRE FENCE CO., ADRIAN, MICH. 
Like a Bull Dog 
for strength is the CHANDLEE 
FENCE You build it yourself, 
you control all the conditions 
of height, weight, closeness of 
stays,cost, etc. ltrequlresno 
j expensive machinery. The 
[secret is in tho use of our 
'CHANDLEE LOCK. It 
makes the stays stay where 
you put them, on any kind 
or size of wire. There is no 
twisting and consequent weakening of the wires. 
It’s strong, handsome, sate and cheap. WE 
WANT AGENTS and will reserve exclusive territory for the 
Tight men. Write to-day for raining, terms, ete. To-morrow may 
be too late, for some other man may ask for the territory you want. 
CHANDLEE FENCE CO., 17 S. Howard St., Baltimore, Md. 
No. T 
Hard 
Steel 
34 INCH. 
28 INCH 
122/r INCH. 
THE 
STRONG 
FENCE 
Made of large wires, best spring steel, heavily galvanized. Provision made for expansion 
and contraction, so it is proof against all animals and all changes of weather. As nearly 
everlasting as anything on earth can be. 
AMERICAN FIELD AND HOC FENCE 
Sold by our agents everywhere. If you cannot find an agent in your town write direct to 
AMERICAN STEEL & WIRE CO., Chicago or New York. 
