148 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKERJ 
March 3 
Ruralisms 
Comparison of Blackberries.—How do 
the Rathbun and Mersereau blackberries 
compare with the Erie in size and produc¬ 
tiveness? T. A- P. 
Independence, Mo. 
Neither of these promising berries has 
been fruited long enough in the vicinity 
of the Rural Grounds to determine the 
above question. The Rathbun has pro¬ 
duced larger fruits than we have ever 
seen on the Erie, and they are of far 
better quality. Mersereau is claimed to 
be exceedingly productive, but its ber¬ 
ries are not remarkably large. The 
coming season will probably determine 
to some extent the relative merits of the 
three varieties. 
Bougainvillea Glabra Sanderiana 
is sometimes called Chinese Paper plant, 
on account of the lasting quality of the 
rosy crimson bracts surrounding the 
true blossoms. The peculiar arrange¬ 
ment of the very attractive floral ap¬ 
paratus of this handsome and easily- 
grown plant is well shown in the pic¬ 
ture on the first page, Fig. 42, except 
that the tubular blossoms, produced gen¬ 
erally in groups of three within the col¬ 
ored bracts, are shown a little after ma¬ 
turity, being closed and distorted. The 
contrast between the crimson bracts and 
creamy white flowers is always very 
pleasing. These blooms are very de¬ 
sirable, keeping in perfect condition on 
the plant three or four months, and 
lasting, when cut and placed in water, 
about as many weeks. The foliage is 
small, healthy and dark green in color. 
This new Bougainvillea is easily grown 
as a window plant, as it adapts itself 
well to pot culture, and even the small¬ 
est specimens are covered with bloom 
for the greater part of the year. The 
twig illustrated was cut from a plant 
grown on our Trial Grounds, only eight 
months from the cutting bench. 
Best Six Cannas.— Which are the best six 
Cannas In cultivation; also eight of the 
best Dahlias? s - 
Hartford Co., Conn. 
If we confined our plantings to six Can¬ 
nas, the following would be selected in 
the light of past experience; Florence 
Vaughan, yellow spotted red; Souvenir 
d’Antoine Crozy, crimson, with yel¬ 
low band; Philadelphia, bright crimson; 
Rosemawr, rose pink; Duke of Marl¬ 
borough, dark crimson maroon; Alle- 
mania, very large flower, yellow and 
red. So many fine Dahlias, of widely 
different types, are being introduced, 
that it would seem presumptous to make 
such a narrow selection. The following 
are fairly well-known and much liked 
by those who have grown them: Mrs. 
Peart, white; William Agnew, crimson; 
Nymphaea, shell pink; Clifford W. Bru¬ 
ton, yellow; Othello, nearly black, 
Fern-leaved Beauty, white and crimson; 
Colibri, scarlet; Grand Duke Alexis, 
white shaded with pink. The first four 
are of the very popular “Cactus” type, 
the others of the highly-finished deco¬ 
rative form. All the above are very 
fine indeed. 
The Hale Chestnut. —A correspond¬ 
ent in New York asks what has become 
of the “18-months chestnut,” which was 
favorably mentioned about three years 
ago. The following note from J. H. 
Hale will answer the question: 
Burbank’s so-called “18-months chest¬ 
nut was owned by the late Judge Coe, of 
Meriden; as I took from his estate the 
propagation of his various Japanese 
chestnuts, this nut was named Hale, and 
is the one offered under thrt name in 
my catalogue. “Eighteen months” was 
only a nursery record name of Mr. 
Burbank’s to indicate that it was the 
one of his many thousand seedlings, 
which fruited in 18 months from the 
time the original seed was put in the 
ground. This always seemed to me like 
a pretty strong statement, but since I 
have been growing the tree here, we 
find it fruits freely one year after being 
grafted in our native stocks, some trees 
in the nursery row even giving from 
10 to 30 fine nuts on the one-year-old 
wood. It is the most beautiful growing 
tree for lawn purposes of any of the 
chestnuts I know. In fruiting it has the 
peculiar habit of clustering five to eight 
burrs close together along tne stem. The 
majority of these burrs carry but one 
very large beautiful nut; occasionally 
there will be two in a burr, and less fre¬ 
quently three in a burr. I had thought 
the beauty of the tree, its early and 
abundant bearing, and beauty of the 
nuts, were its greatest value, but this 
last year it was the sweetest and most 
tender of any of the large nuts I have 
ever grown. It seems to be a little more 
difficult to propagate than either the Coe 
or the McFarland, and owing to its more 
dwarf habit, can be planted at closer 
distances in orchard. 
Best Violets.—W hat are the best varie¬ 
ties of violets for commercial purposes, 
and their culture? r. e. p. 
West Haven, Conn. 
California is the most popular single 
variety. Marie Louise and Lady Hume 
Campbell are the best double kinds, 
given in the order of their general ex¬ 
cellence. Violet culture is quite simple 
in the sense that the necessary appli¬ 
ances are not difficult to secure; but 
violets are rather exacting as to their 
requirements of soil, moisture and tem¬ 
perature, and any shortcoming in these 
conditions is sure to invite the dreaded 
leaf-spot disease, which so weakens the 
plants that they can only produce 
imperfect blooms, though it rarely kills 
them. The young plants, rooted from 
runners or cuttings, may be had from 
all violet growers in early Spring, and 
should be planted out not later than 
the middle of May, in good soil, in rows 
20 inches apart, placing the plants about 
one foot apart in the row. If the soil 
contains lime it will be more congenial 
to them. They should be thoroughly 
cultivated all Summer and planted un¬ 
der glass in early November. The plants 
are set nine inches apart in the green¬ 
house or cold frame, using a good, 
sound, but not over-rich, compost for 
the beds. A temperature of 40 to 45 de¬ 
grees should be maintained as nearly as 
possible, and free ventilation given on 
all sunny days, even though the air is 
quite chilly. Watering should be care¬ 
fully attended to, and the soil kept con¬ 
stantly moist, but not sodden. The 
plants should bloom steadily all Win¬ 
ter, unless interrupted by too much dull, 
cold weather. 
EVERGREENS 
Hardy Sorts, Nursery Grown. Millions to 
offer. 6 to 8 In. $1; 12 in. $3; 2 to 3 ft. $ 10 
per 100 prepaid; 4 to 6 ft. $20 per 100. 60 
GREAT BARGAINS to select from. Forest 
and Fruit Trees, Vines, etc. Send forfree 
catalogue. LOCAL AGENTS WANTED, 
D. HILL, fsaa Dundee, Ill. 
ROCKY MT. EVERGREENS _ ?S7i.A r w w N n a'2; 
CEMETERY. Four Blue Spruce, 15 Inches, for $1.50; 
four 20-lnch for $2.60; ten two-year old, for 25 cents In 
postage. 100 two-year old for $2, all delivered EX¬ 
PRESS PREPAID. Catalogue of HARDY NURSERY 
STOCK, with colored and photo-plates FREE. Our 
stock all upon HARDY ROOTS; none injured by 
Winter of '98 and '99. GARDNER & 80N, Osage 
Nurseries, 117 Seventh Street, Osage, la 
IKCES 
Fruit Trees, Small Fruits, 
including grapes. Ornamen¬ 
tal Trees, Evergreens and 
Shrubs for public and pri¬ 
vate grounds. Shade Trees 
for streets. Hardy Roses, 
Hardy Plants,Climbers, etc. 
Onr new catalogue, carefully re¬ 
vised, beautifully illustrated with 
half-tone engravings, with cover of 
exquisite design, contains accurate 
and trustworthy descriptions of the 
most valuable varieties in cultiva¬ 
tion, and is replete with practical 
hints indispensable to planters. Al¬ 
though prepared at great expense, 
it will be sent free to our regular cus¬ 
tomers; to others, on receipt of 10 cts. 
ELLWANGER& BARRY 
Mt. Hope Nurseries, ROCHESTER, N.Y. 
Established CO Years. 
Have Hundreds 
of Carloads 
of Fruit and Ornamental 
Trees, Shrubs. Roses, 
Plants, Bulbs, Seeds. 
Choicest new and old. Mall 
size postpaid, safe arrival and 
satisfaction guaranteed, larger 
„ . by express or freight. The 
best are cheapest, try us. Elegant Catalog free. 46th 
year. 1000 acres. 44 greenhouses. 
THE STORKS & HARRISON CO., 
BOX792, PAINESVILLE, OHIO. 
PEACH TREES. 
Over 100,000 of the finest Healthy, 
Thrifty, Hardy, Northern-Grown Peach 
Trees. Call’s Nurseries, Perry, Ohio, 
are selling 1 as fine stock as was ever 
offered for sale, at very low prices. These 
trees are grown near the shore of Lake 
Erie, and are all budded on stock grown 
from natural pits gathered in the 
mountains of Tennessee (where Peach 
Yellows were never known), and are the 
best that can he produced. 
A large number of our readers say 
that the finest and best fruit trees they 
ever bought were received from Call’s 
Nurseries. They make a specialty of 
dealing direct with the farmers, and 
TREES 
at Wholesale prices. Apple, Plum and 
Pears, $6 per 100; Peach, 3c. Cat. Free 
Reliance Nursery, Box 10, Geneva, N. Y 
guarantee satisfaction. 
Price List.— Adv. 
Write them for 
The Fruits to Plant 
for profitable results are named In our 1900 
Catalogue. This book names all the trees and 
plants that will succeed in a northern climate; 
gives accurate descriptions of varieties and 
instructions about planting. Catalogue mailed FREE at your request. Write to us for any 
further information you need about fruits. Sixteenth Year. 
T. J. DWYER & SON, Box I (Orange Co. Nurseries), Cornwall, N. Y. 
Trees and Plants 
Choice New Varieties and all the old standard. SUNSHINE, 
the greatest late strawberry; has no equal. Brilliant Red 
Raspberry; it shines. Iceberg, a White Blackberry. Cata¬ 
logue free. MYER & SON, Bridgeville, Del. 
For $i I will send by express or freight, i Alpha, i Paragon, 
i Numbo Chestnut Tree grafted, worth $2.20 Full line of 
Nursery StocK. Certificate. 
ARTHUR J. COLLINS, 
Moorestown, Burlington County, N. J. 
ROGERS’ TREES 
64-page and 32-page truthful, cata¬ 
logues free. No Agents. 
ARE SAFE TO HUY. Clean, healthy business trees. 
You have our address, send us yours. We would like to 
tell you more about them. Those who know us best 
trust us most, and you will find it safe in every way to 
place your orders witli THE ROGERS NURSERIES, 
Tree Breeders, Dansvllle, N. Y. 
A MILLION TREES 
We can supply 
’ every demand. 
_ ___ ' All stock select¬ 
ed, grown and budded with expert knowledge of tho orehardists needs. 
-- MAMMOTH BLACK TWIC 
highest colored large Winter Apple, 
VICTOR PEACH our newest. 
Earliest in cultivation. Hardy, vig- 
ods 
orous. Fruit largo, firm, go< 
per, fine flavor and color. 
1 Ship- 
Deep red, delicious flavor, good 
keeper. Ask about these, ourPlum 
anJothortrees, AsparagusandStrawberry plants. Illust’d Catalogue free. 
HARRISON'S NURSERIES, Box 20i BERLIN, Md. 
Trees for Orchard and Garden. 
All the old and well-tried, and several NEW VARIETIES: Climax and Sultan Plums (new Japs); BALD¬ 
WIN CHERRY, tho hardiest of all. GIBSON Strawberry; statement sales of Gibson for period of 13 
days show prices double other kinds. We Guarantee best care, and best values, verified by our patrons, 
who are among the most practical, up-to-date Orehardists In this country. Our principle of guarding 
the PARENTAGE of trees In propagation in view of making them CONSTITUTIONALLY HARDY, and 
more likely to be PRODUCTIVE, is indorsed by best authorities. Catalogue free. Consult it and we will 
Cayuga Nurseries Established 1847 WILEY & CO., CAYUGA, N. Y. 
APPLE 
We have a good assortment of 
varieties, and our prices are no 
higher than other nurseries whose assortment is 
badly broken. Everybody says that there is more 
money in one (1) acre of “ PEDIGREE ” NEW SEED 
LING STRAWBERRIES than there is in ten (10) acres of the common kinds. 
Our catalogue is free, in it will tell you how we raised them and what 
they have done. It is finely illustrated. 
JOS. H. BLACK, SON c* CO., HICHTSTOWN, N. J. 
REID’S 
Fruit Trees, Small Fruits, Roses, 
Ornamental Trees and Plants 
true to name. Low prices. No. 1 
stock. Illustrated catalogue free. 
REID’S NURSERIES, 
Box 1, Upland, Ohio. 
uw pncco. X 
FRUITS 
45W0 TREES 
200 varieties. Also Grapcs-Small Frults.etc. Best root¬ 
ed stock. Genuine, cheap. 2 sample currants mailed for 
10c. Desc. price-list free. LEWIS KOKSCH, Fredonla, Si. V. 
SUGAR PRUNE 
CLIMAX PLUM 
THE TWO GREAT 
RECORD BREAKERS. 
KINGS for Earliness, Size, Quality, Beauty and 
Productiveness. Never before equaled. 
Thousands of acres are being grafted over to 
these new fruits. Other grand New Creations in 
Fruits. Price-List Free. 
Burbank’s Experiment Farms, 
SANTA ROSA, CAL. 
Best by Test—74 YEARS. Largest annual sale. High quality— 
not high price. Finest sorts. We bud 4 million Apple trees, 
whole-root graft 5 million—1- and 2-yr. Other Trees, Vines, etc., 
in proportion. 1400 acres Nur-VL/_ DAY FPFIfiHT 
sery. 43,000 acres Orchards. YYC I /V I I IxLlvJII I 
Box and pack free, ask No Money until SAFE arrival,— 
guarantee Satisfaction. Fruit Book free. Write us,— Visit us 
/ DA V CASH each WEEK and want more Home and 
YY t? rAI traveling salesmen. STARK Market and Qual* 
. ity Kings PAY: Apple of Commerce, CTADK LOUISIANA, M0. 
Black Ben Davis, Stayman Winesap, Delicious,, 
Senator Champion; Cold plum; Kiener; Elberta' 
jbansville, N. Y. 
r Stark, Mo., etc. 
I Three Favorite flowers 6 ‘ 
i z i " v - 
Sweet Peas— 
Over 50 varieties of the best European and American named sorts. 
Perfected Jtoyal Show Pansies— 
Over 100 colors and markings, all the finest European varieties 
and largest flowering strains. 
Nasturtiums Dwarf— 
The best ever produced, and not surpassed for gorgeousness of 
color and brilliant effects. 
One full-sized packet of each variety for only O cts, and addresses 
of two of your flower loving friends, will also include a copy of “ Floral 
Culture,” which tells how to grow flowers from seeds, and the 
daintiest catalogue published, devoted exclusively to flower seeds. 
Miss O H‘ Lippincott- 
319 
