37o 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
May 26 
A 
3 
MOTES FROM THE RURAL GROUNDS. 
“Blossom Bikds.” —With the opening 
of the apple blossoms there regularly 
appears a multitude of tiny, active birds 
that flit througn orchard and woodland, 
incessantly searching for minute insects, 
such as prey on the opening uuds and 
unfolding leaves. They are often dis¬ 
missed as “chippies” by the unobserv¬ 
ant, but are also termed “Blossom birds” 
by those who can distinguish them from 
resident species. Most of these graceful 
little birds belong to the extensive fam¬ 
ily of wood warblers, of which over 100 
distinct spebies have been found in the 
United States. They are the most useful 
birds imaginable, as they feed entirely 
on insects that are in some way injuri¬ 
ous to trees and shrubs, but their small 
size and rapid passage northward, to¬ 
gether with their habit of frequenting 
me tops of rather tall trees, tend to 
make them little known. Some are very 
richly colored, and nearly all have 
agreeable little songs. Dr. Elliott Coues, 
a great authority on North American 
birds, says in one of his books, “With 
tireless industry do the warblers be¬ 
friend ithe human race; their uncon¬ 
scious zeal plays due part in the n'ice 
adjustment of Nature’s forces, helping 
to bring about that balance of vegetable 
and insect life, without whicn agricul¬ 
ture would be vain. They vikit the or¬ 
chard when the apple and pear, the 
peach, plum, and cherry are in bloom, 
seeming to revel carelessly amid the 
sweet-scented and delicately-stinted blos¬ 
soms, but never faltering in their good 
work. They peer into the crevices of the 
bark, scrutinize each leaf, and explore 
the very heart of the buds, to detect, 
drag forth, and destroy those tiny crea¬ 
tures, singly insignificant, collectively a 
scourge, which prey upon the hopes of 
the fruit grower, and which, if undis¬ 
turbed, would bring his care to naught.” 
There may be room for debate whether 
the crow, the robin, or the catbird are 
really beneficial to the farmer or not, 
but there is no question as to the good 
services of the lovely little wood war- 
biers. Don’t let anyone shoot them in 
your orchard or wood lot. 
Growing Vegetable Plants. —The 
trade 'in tomato, cabbage and other vege¬ 
table plants has reached large propor¬ 
tions in the vicinity of the Rural 
^rounds. There are several canneries 
in the neighborhoou, and many thou¬ 
sands of plants are annually needed. 
Most of the growers for cannery con¬ 
tracts produce their own plants, but 
some find it convenient to buy of the 
professional plant grower. In such 
cases they are usually engaged long in 
advance, and the favorite varieties of 
the buyer are specified, but large num¬ 
bers of plants are bought by cottagers 
and amateurs who are quite discrim¬ 
inating in their selections. They want 
strong, stocky plants that will go right 
on growing when they are set in the 
garden. Tomatoes, peppers and egg 
plants are often delivered in four-inch 
pots already showing buds, or well es¬ 
tablished in trays holding from six to 24 
each. Cabbage, cauliflower, celery, and 
plants of similar character, are noit pot¬ 
ted, but pricked out in trays and sold 
in. the quantities wanted, though a 
cheaper class of plants is pulled directly 
from the frames or seed beds. Sweet po¬ 
tatoes are, of course, pulled fresh when 
needed. There has been a growing de¬ 
mand of late years for dwarf tomatoes 
of the Champion type, as they are much 
easier bandied than tall varieties, but 
the small, dull-colored Champion toma¬ 
toes seldom please tl^e grower after he 
gets them. Much attention has of late 
been paid to producing a good-sized, 
bright red tomato on plants of the 
Champion type, and it appears as though 
the new Quarter-Century, now being in¬ 
troduced by W. Atlee Burpee, of Phila¬ 
delphia, will meet these requirements 
fully. It originated on the Rural 
Grounds five years ago, and has been 
thoroughly tested during the succeeding 
seasons. 
Glass-ghown Plants. —Plants grown 
in greenhouses or close hotbeds always 
suffer a check when transferred from 
their snug quarters to a more airy situa¬ 
tion, even though no roots are lost in 
the operation. The subdued light and 
still, moist air induce the formation of 
soft leaves with open pores, which are 
not able to withstand a free circulation 
of dry air until they have been “hard¬ 
ened off” by a progressive exposure to 
the open air. This is generally effected 
by liberal ventilation or by transferring 
to cold frames as a half-way stage to 
the open ground. Under this treatment 
plants usually get along well. When 
young roses and other hard-wooded 
plants are received by mail from the 
growers, the foliage suffers, even if re¬ 
planted at once under glass, and if kept 
in a living room or planted outside, they 
are quite sure to have the leaves brown¬ 
ed to some extent, and they even drop 
entirely, and without serious damage to 
the plant, which may soon start into 
vigorous growth as it becomes accus¬ 
tomed to the changed conditions. We 
are moved to write this in consideration 
of the many thousands of Ruby Queen 
roses that have been distributed to our 
readers in every part of the country dur¬ 
ing the last few weeks. Doubtless many 
of them are now in this rather shabby 
transition stage, but are full of vitality 
and ready to make a new start as soon 
as reconciled to their new quarters. The 
Ruby Queen is a most handsome and 
distinct new rose, and we are anxious 
to have it succeed over a wide extent of 
territory. 
The Golden Mayberby has bloomed 
for the first time on the Rural Grounds, 
and shows some promise of perfecting 
berries. The plants were set six years 
ago, but have proved too tender in pre¬ 
vious years to endure our Winters, with¬ 
out too great loss of the mature wood on 
which the blooms are produced. As the 
plants acquire age they seem to increase 
in hardiness, but evidently can never be 
depended upon to endure severe freez¬ 
ing. The flowers are rather large and 
handsome tor a raspberry, being formed 
much like single snowdrops. In case 
berries fail to be pex*fected this season, 
we shall lay down some of the canes 
this coming Fall and protect them with 
earth through the Winter. 
A New Api*le.—O palescent, a new 
apple, was sent to us February 4, by J. 
W. McNary, Dayton, Ohio. The seed- 
ling tree grew near an oak stump, in au 
old orchard. This splendid apple has. 
we are told, been kept until May. The 
specimen sent to us measured 11 inches 
around horizontally, and 12 inches 
around, taking in stem and calyx. It is 
of a deep red color, with numerous yel¬ 
lowish dots, and the skin assumes a fine 
polish if rubbed a little. The stem is 
short, the calyx basin moderately deep 
and perfectly regular. The shape is 
nearly oblong—'perhaps ovate-oblong. 
The flesh is exceedingly tender, white, 
moderately juicy, and in flavor between 
King and Esopus. It is a splendid, 
showy apple. A picture of a fair speci¬ 
men is shown at Fig. 106 on our first 
page. 
Hardiness of the Bismarck Apple. 
Will the Bismarck apple tree stand the 
Winter all right in this locality (western 
New York)? r. h. m. 
Lakeville, N. Y. 
While we have not heard of any tests 
of the Bismarck apple in your locality, 
we have no doubt of its hardiness in 
that section. The Geneva Experiment 
Station has grown it with success, and 
exhibited good specimens of the fruit 
last January on the occasion of the 
meeting of the Eastern New York Horti¬ 
cultural Society, at the American Insti¬ 
tute, New York City. 
N. Ohmer reports that he often gets 10 
bushels of Lawrence pears from one tree. 
An orchard of Lawrence on suitable soil 
and location is better than a gold mine in 
Cape Nome. You would be surprised, yet 
would not believe it possible if I were to 
name the prices obtained last Fall for the 
Lawrence on our public market. 
READER. 
Alfalfa in New England.— We have 
not as yet succeeded in obtaining satis¬ 
factory results with Alfalfa, either on 
any part of our own estate or upon some 
land in the neighborhood, which we 
thought might be better fitted for it, which 
we have hired for the purpose of making 
a trial. I am beginning to suspect that a 
lack of lime in the soil may in part ac¬ 
count for our poor results, although no 
doubt our severe Winters, with uncertain 
snow fall, and the long cold Spring when 
the ground often freezes at night and 
thaws by day, may very likely be entirely 
responsible for our lack of success. 
[PROF.] W. P. BROOKS. 
Mass. Exp. Station. 
LIGHTNING WELL MACHY 
IS THE STA N D AR D i 
STEAM PUMPS, AIR LIFTS, i-3 /, 
GASOLINE ENGINES 
WRITE FOR CIRCULAR BET 
THE AMERICAN WELL WORKS 
AURORA;ILL - CHI CAGO.- OALLAS.TEX. 
DRILLING 
Machines 
Over 70 sizes and styles, for drilling either deep o 
shallow wells in any kind of soil or rock. Mounted 
on wheels or on sills. With engines or horse powers. 
Strong, simple and durable. Any mechanic cat 
operate them easily. Bend for catalog. 
WILLIAMS BROS., Ithaca. N. Y. 
A Dry Sprayer 
No o* 
Duitt Treo, Burt o? Tin*. 
Two rows of potatoes as 
fast as you walk, wide or 
narrow planting. Agents 
wanted. Catalogue and 
spray calendar free. 
LEGGETT k BROTHER, 
801 Pearl St., New York. 
Perfect Fruit ■■■ 
Is produced by perfect spray. 
Ing.Perfec t sp ray lng Is done by 
EMPIRE KING 
AND 
GARFIELD KNAPSACK 
The finest to the spray, most thorough 
to the stirring, easiest to the work. 
Anauto malic brush keeps the strainer 
free from thick, raw poison. Impos¬ 
sible to scorch the foliage. No leather 
or robber valves. Send for free book 
OD spraying. Agents wanted. / 
FIKLD FORCE PUMP CO., 
2 Market St., Loekport, if. 1. 
Well Drillers! Use 
LOOMIS’ 
“Clipper” 
Driller. 
The Standard 
of America I 
Strongest! Takes least 
S ower! Garries hoaviest tools I Drills much faster t 
lost convenient to handle 1 Will last longer and 
make tlic owner more money than any other 
Well Drill on earth. 
We also make many other machine* for drilling well$ 
of all diameters and depths. Machines for Horse. Steam, 
and Gasoline Power. Write for full particulars. 
LOOMIS &. NYMAN, TIFFIN, OHIO. 
FARM FFTffPF to 21 cents per rod. Built without 
ralllU rEdH/Ei machine. First Inquiring, where 
not Introduced, gets special terms and agency. 
BUCHANAN FENCE CO., Box 258, SmlthviUe, O 
1,000 SAMPLES FHEL 
of our new Success fence ratchet 
which tightens any wire fenoe, 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 tc 
test If you will send ns 12o. to cover postage only 
Cir. free. W. H. MASON A CO., Box «7, Leesburg, O 
Make s The lawn B eautiful. 
HARTMAN STEEL ROD LAWN FENCE 
adds to the attractiveness and value of the home. 
Btronir and d 11 ruble? keeps out every thine but the sun- 
fehine. Unequaled for School Lawns, Church Enclobuiee, Paika, 
Cemeteries, Private Lota, etc. Catalogue free. 
HARTMAN M’F'Q CO., BOX 19 FLLWOOD CITY^ PA. 
Or Room 70, 809 Broadway, New York City. 
YOU’D SLEEP BETTER 
If you used Page Fence for your breachv stock. 
PACK WOVEN M IKE FENCE <0.,AIMUAN.MICH. 
with our new patent 
KEROSENE SPRAYERS 
t is dimple indeed. Kerosene Emulsion 
I made while pumping. 12 varieties j 
| Sprayers, Bordeaux and Vermorel [ 
J Not* lea, the “World’s Iteat.” 
’THB DEM1N0 CO. SALEM, OHIO.} 
Western Agents, li€*nion A Hubbell,\ 
r Chicago. Catalogue and formulas Free. 
M. M.S. POULTRY FENCING 
requires few posts, no top or bottom rail. Will not 
sag or buckle: easily erected; when completed costs 
less than old-style netting. Our circulars give net 
prices. Freight paid. 
JAMES S. CASE (Box N), Colchester, Conn 
1900 
THE SOUTH SIDE 
FRUIT CARRIERS AND BASKETS 
PETERSBURG, VA. 
Write for Catalogue and Prices 
Fruit Packages 
OF ALL KINDS. 
Wire-Stapled Standard Berry Baskets. 
These Baskets are stronger, more durable, and far 
superior to any other basket made. Write for 
catalogue and price-list. 
WKBSTKK BASKET CO., 
Monroe County, (Lock Box 43), WEBSTER, N. Y 
Good Fruit 
always finds a ready market, but to bring top 
prices it must be put up in neat, attractive 
and substantial packages. We have every¬ 
thing in the basket line. All sizes of 
Berry 
Baskets, 
Peach and Grape Crates. 
Buy direct from the manufacturers and 
save money. Write to-day for catalogue and 
new price list Special price in carload lots. 
A, H. MONTAGUE & SON, 
120 Warren Street New York City. 
AN EARLY ORDER WILL SAVE MONEY 
Other People’s Profits 
have increased 25 to 60 per cent, when they began to spray th* right tcay — 
^^witu the right sprayer, the PEPPLER AND CLIMAX SIX-ROW SPRAYERS. 
_ 1 hey will do as muoh tor you. Read now they spray SllacreB a day, 
' " . * now they save % the poison, increase crops one-half, pay f or them¬ 
selves in one season. Catalogue contains spray calendar, formulas, etc. Sent free. 
1 also manufacture the Improved Riggs Flow and Riggs Furrowers. 
THOMAS PEPPLER, Box 60, HICHTSTOWN, N.J. 
. .... f 
