402 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
June ? 
; Ruralisms ; 
NOTES FROM THE RURAL GROUNDS 
Local Glasshouse Types. —As in 
many other suburban localities, green¬ 
house structures of varied types are nu¬ 
merous near the Rural Grounds. Some 
notes on nearby private and commer¬ 
cial glasshouses within a radius of two 
miles may be of interest. For the most 
expensive type we may take a new 
range just completed at the Summer 
home of a wealthy manufacturer. There 
are 27 structures, varying in size from 
the tiny mignonette house, three or four 
yards long, to the large and lofty domed 
palm house. Almost every class of 
flowering and decorative plants is pro¬ 
vided with congenial quarters, and 
many fruits and vegetables are continu¬ 
ously grown, most kinds having separ¬ 
ate houses arranged for their special 
wants. A great feature is made of pot¬ 
ted plum, peach, pear, apricot, nectar¬ 
ine and fig trees, though peaches and 
apricots are under way, established in 
the soil in borders. These potted trees 
were well filled with large and hand¬ 
some fruits early in May. The varieties 
are all European, the trees having late¬ 
ly been imported after three or four 
years of careful preparation. Few tests 
seem to have been made of the capabili¬ 
ties of our native tree fruits for forcing 
purposes, and no one takes the time 
suitably to prepare trees for the pur¬ 
pose. Strawberries were just finishing an 
enormous crop, the first lots coming in¬ 
to bearing in January. The best variety 
was Sharpless, the fruits growing to 
large size and brilliant coloring under 
their congenial conditions. Farther on 
were pineapples, plunged in warm tan- 
bark in a specially constructed house. 
Grapes of the Vinifera class are, of 
course, given much space. Among the 
vegetables string beans were promi¬ 
nent, the Early Mohawk proving most 
successful. Cucumbers of the European 
type, such as Telephone and Sion House 
were very luxuriant, but the main fea¬ 
ture of the vegetable department is the 
melon house, where muskmelons are 
continuously grown throughout the 
year, the developing fruits being hung 
in raffia slings close to the glass in 
order to get all possible heat and light. 
The varieties cultivated are of foreign 
origin. In the tomato house the Loril- 
lard and Frogmore Selected keep up a 
succession at all times. Lettuce, rad¬ 
ishes and water-cress are constantly 
grown in the cooler houses. Every¬ 
thing in decorative and stove plants, 
from violets to orchids, is provided for. 
This range is thoroughly up to date, 
and is said to be the most complete 
private establishment in existence. A 
special feature is an elaborate system 
of open and hidden electric lights that 
will make the whole place as light as 
day when the owner so wills it. This 
rich man’s toy covers about three acres 
of ground, and cost about $150,000. It 
gives continuous employment to 10 
men, and represents an expense ac¬ 
count of over $10,000 yearly. As visi¬ 
tors are admitted under proper restric¬ 
tions it is likely to diffuse much plea¬ 
sure and useful information to others 
than the owner’s family and friends. 
The next range visited is typical of a 
class erected by well-to-do Summer resi¬ 
dents, who wish to employ a competent 
gardener throughout the year. There 
are several divisions, grouped around 
an ornamental palm house, and a fea¬ 
ture is made of cold frames and pits for 
vegetables and half hardy plants. There 
is a very fine collection of foliage plants 
which usually capture many prizes 
when exhibited. Really good carna¬ 
tions, roses and Chrysanthemums are 
grown in different structures, but be¬ 
yond a few tomatoes and cucumbers 
and some choice grapes there is no Win¬ 
ter forcing. The houses are crowded 
with plants, many of which do not find 
ideal conditions, thus taxing the skill 
of the gardener to the utmost. This 
range cost anywhere from $10,000 to 
$15,000 to build, and perhaps $2,000 or 
more for maintenance. The gardener 
and a boy are able to care for it, witn 
extra help in the planting season. 
Glasshouses maintained for commer¬ 
cial purposes fall into several classes, 
and an example of each will be briefly 
described. One fairly large range, con¬ 
sisting of four houses each 30x450 feet, 
with an additional one of the same di¬ 
mensions now building, is entirely de¬ 
voted to rose growing, the cut blooms 
being shipped to New York every week 
day in the year. Only three varieties, 
American Beauty, crimson, Bride, white, 
and Bridesmaid, deep pink, have ever 
been extensively grown in this estab¬ 
lishment, though small trials have been 
made of the brilliantly-tinted Liberty 
and Meteor. Thousands of plants are 
needed yearly to fill the long benches, 
which would extend nearly IY 2 mile if 
placed end to end. These plants are re¬ 
newed by propagating from wood se¬ 
lected from flowering specimens when 
at their best. This range of forcing 
houses was built when the cost of glass, 
lumber and heating fixtures was much 
less than now, at a cost of about $35,000. 
It is well managed and the concentra¬ 
tion of energy on a limited number of 
varieties insures the best possible con¬ 
ditions, so that the output of blooms is 
of such high quality as to sell for top 
prices. One man, with an occasional 
helper, is assigned to and is responsible 
for each of these large houses, though 
planting, soil handling and outside work 
require additional labor at times. The 
range may be said to require the labor 
of an average of six or seven men 
throughout the year. The greatest item 
of expense in this kind of greenhouse 
is for fuel, a carload of coal being need¬ 
ed every few days in cold weather. 
Another range is chiefly made up of 
unheated houses, 21x100 feet each, the 
roofs composed of regular hotbed sash, 
removable in hot weather. No benches 
are used, as plantings are made in the 
well-enriched soil of the floor of the 
house. Spinach is closely planted in 
September, and after making a fair 
growth remains dormant during freez¬ 
ing weather, coming on in March as the 
sun gains power. As fast as cut sow¬ 
ings are made of radishes, beets and 
carrots, and lettuce plants transferred 
in from frames and an adjoining heat¬ 
ed greenhouse. These crops are mar¬ 
keted in time to set egg plants and sow 
early cucumbers. Well-grown lettuce 
of the big hard-heading varieties is 
usually the most profitable of the Spring 
plantings, though the successive crops 
of radishes sell readily at a good price. 
One of these sash houses is heated to an 
average of 40 degrees by water circula¬ 
tion. Lettuce, parsley and some celery 
for soup flavoring are here grown 
throughout Winter. There are many 
cold frames and a good-sized heated 
greenhouse to supply a large trade in 
vegetable plants. This range is a neces¬ 
sary adjunct to a well-conducted mar¬ 
ket garden chiefly supplying local needs. 
The seven glass structures and frames 
require the average labor of six men 
for handling and marketing the succes¬ 
sive crops. The cost of the sash houses 
averaged nearly $400 each when ma¬ 
terials were lower in price, and it is 
understood they return a fair percent¬ 
age on investment and running ex¬ 
penses. 
Another establishment consists of a 
single three-quarter span glasshouse, 
22x100, running east and west, with the 
long span to the south, like all modern 
forcing houses, and a few frames. The 
house is newly built by the careful and 
experienced owner, and is constructed 
to give the greatest amount of light in 
every part during dull weather. A 
bench four feet wide runs along the 
north wall over the main stack of heat¬ 
ing pipes, but the rest of the earth floor 
is left free for growing crops. Three 
fine crops of radishes were taken from 
this well-managed house during the 
Winter and are now replaced by thrifty 
cucumber plants in full bloom. The 
bench was given up to some thousands 
of geraniums and other potted plants of 
especially choice varieties, which meet 
a good sale. The owner gives about 
three days each week to the care of 
these crops, with some help in sowing, 
weeding and bunching products for 
shipment, as time is a most important 
factor in getting the ground cleared and 
replanted. About three tons of good 
manure are worked into the soil for 
each crop, and diseases avoided by care¬ 
ful attention to ventilation and water¬ 
ing. This house cost, with its heat¬ 
ing and watering appliances, nearly 
$3,000, and is built to last practically a 
lifetime, as only the best materials were 
used. It has already returned, six 
months after construction, over 25 per 
cent of its cost from which must be de¬ 
ducted charges for labor and other ex¬ 
penses. In the early days of vegetable 
forcing 25 to 35 per cent annual returns 
on the cost of houses was expected, but 
with increasing cost of construction and 
decreased prices for product such pro¬ 
fits are only to be had under very skill¬ 
ful management in growing and mar¬ 
keting. 
Another quite typical range, represent¬ 
ing an investment of probably less than 
$1,000, is composed of several struc¬ 
tures, some 20x50 feet, another 12x80, 
and a violet house covered with sash, 
10x40. It was partly constructed by the 
owner, who manages it with the assist¬ 
ance of an active son. Carnations and 
violets are the Winter money crops, fol¬ 
lowed by geraniums and various bed¬ 
ding plants for Spring and Summer 
sales. Two acres of rather high-priced 
land are cultivated in connection, part 
being planted in strawberries. The 
market is entirely local, and the pro¬ 
prietor gets a fair income out of it. 
There are many variations and com¬ 
binations of these types of glasshouses, 
but enough has been said to show the 
growing importance of Winter garden¬ 
ing both for pleasure and profit The 
Rural Grounds greenhouse is a trifling 
affair, only 24x50 feet, but it requires 
much attention, and is of much use in 
our plant-breeding operations. 
w. v. F. 
Pencillaria.— I notice your note about 
the plant known as Pencillaria. This is a 
resuscitation of an ancient fraud, which I 
remember since a good many years ago. 
Then I studied it, and found the descrip¬ 
tion given of it in Paxton’s Botanical Dic¬ 
tionary, as a mere weed, thriving in com¬ 
mon soil. Its name is derived from its 
pencil-shaped spike. It is a variety of 
grass, but it is not described in any Amer¬ 
ican botanical work so far as I know. It 
was puffed considerably about 30 years 
ago, but has lain in well-deserved ob¬ 
livion since that time. For years it has 
been silent in its grave, until its present 
resuscitation. Doubtless the time is ar¬ 
rived when the old frauds will come to the 
front again, as history repeats. It was in 
1866 that Lucern, now called Alfalfa, was 
in vogue, but not in place as I found in 
the East, as a rival of Red clover, when I 
sowed a field of it, and the first Winter 
left every root lying dead on the surface, 
where they were drawn and lifted by the 
frost of the Winter in southern Pennsyl¬ 
vania, where I then lived. And it is, I 
think, very doubtful whether it will be 
found of any value here in the East in 
competition with the invaluable hardy and 
productive Red clover, henry stewart. 
Dietz Junior Lantern 
This Lantern is constructed 
In such an easy way, 
That lighting it and tilling it 
Is done without delay. 
For general use it’s unsurpassed, 
It is the family friend; 
If you’ve no use for one yourself 
Then keep one just to lend. 
And now the way the Globe is raised 
I'm sure seems very clever. 
You merely reach one side of tube 
And turn a little lever. 
The farmer whistles round his barn 
He has no fear of night, 
For with the ‘ • Junior ” by his side 
IIis way seems fair and bright. 
For ’t,is a “Lamp unto your feet” 
Of which you stand in need; 
And “For a light to your pathway” 
Dietz “Junior” takes the lead. 
R. E. DIETZ COMPANY, 
Estab. 1840. 87 Laiglit St., N. Y. 
PARACRENE 
Is better, cheaper and bulkier than PARIS GREEN, 
“ Have used Paragrene on my farm for potato 
bugs. It was perfectly satisfactory L. H. BAILEY, 
Prof, of Horticulture, Cornell University. Write for 
sample. FRED. L. LAVANBURG, New York. 
The Pump 
That Pumps 
F. E. 
SPRAY Double-acting, Lift, 
pumps ^ ank an< * Sp ra y 
yr pumps 
. Store Ladders, Etc. 
'Shaytools 
of all kinds. Write for 
Circulars and Prices. 
MYERS STAYON 
Flexible Door Hangers 
with steel roller bearings, 
easy to push and to puli, 
cannot l>e thrown off the 
truck—hence its name— 
“Stayon.” Has no equal. 
Thousands sold. Ask your 
dealer or write us for de¬ 
scriptive circuiarH. 
& BRO., Ashland, Ohio. 
If You Drink Water 
from a well or cistern no 
deeper than 30 feet.you shout 
send for our free catalogue il 
lustrating our Clevelam 
Chain Pumps. A Complet 
Pump for $0, DELIVER FI 
All steel and galvanized,Stee 
Tubing, Purifying Kubbe 
Buckets, etc. Sold underposi 
tive guarantee to be the bes 
on earth. We have equippe 
300,000 wells. 
Cleveland Galvanizing Works 
14-24 Cooper St., Cleveland,0 
The Life of the Wheel 
depends upon the make of tho wheel. 
ELECTRIC WHEELS 
1 lastalmost forever. Fitan.v wagon.straight 
or staggered spokes. Write for the cata¬ 
logue. We mall it free. 
JLLLCXK1C WHEEL CO., Box 88. Quincy, HU. 
When You Buy f A] C I I A (1 f 
buy the best and L 11 O I 
the' ross machinery 
is the best , and if you will send for Catalogue No. 45, 
we will tell you why. Send 10c for Prof. Wolls 
Book on Silage. Address, 
THE E. W. ROSS CO., Springfield, 0. 
A Dry Sprayer 
No Water or Plaster. 
DUSTS TREE , BUSll 
OR VINE. 
Two rows of potatoes as 
fastas you walk.wldeor 
narrowulanting. Agents 
wanted. Catalogue and 
spray calendar free. 
Leggett & Brother, 
301 Pearl St., New York. 
Short Story in Small Space 
Osgood Seales mean best mate¬ 
rial, well paid labor, simple con¬ 
struction, no repairs. Any beam 
or platform. Fully guar¬ 
anteed. 30 days trial. Free 
Catalogue. Osgood Scale Co.’08Central St., Binghamton, X.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, butif 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-live 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. 
Rider-Ericsson Engine Company, 
35 Warren St.. New York. 692 Craig St., Montreal. P. Q. 40 Dearborn St., Chicago. 
239 Franklin St., Boston. Tenlente-Rey 71, Havana, Cuba. 40 N. 7th St., Philadelphia. 
22a Pitt St., Sydney, N. S. W. 
