578 
I'HE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
August 23 
< Rural isms - 
< v ► 
NOTES FROM THE RURAL GROUNDS 
Some Berry Notes. —Bramble fruits 
in general fared badly last Winter, pre¬ 
sumably from the effects of the great 
February ice storms. The canes of both 
raspberries and blackberries were in¬ 
jured to an unusual extent for this lo¬ 
cality. The only unaffected varieties of 
blackberries that have come under our 
notice are the Mersereau, Snyder and 
Taylor. Rathbun and Iceberg were se¬ 
verely cut, the latter having its fruiting 
wood entirely destroyed. Some canes of 
Lucretia dewberry were injured, but the 
Mayes, although of more southern ori¬ 
gin, was not harmed. California Mam¬ 
moth was cut to the ground. Kansas 
blackcap raspberry suffered more than 
Cumberland. Most of the red and pur¬ 
ple cane varieties were badly damaged, 
with the exception of Cardinal, which 
came out unscathed. No protection of 
any kind was given these plants, and 
it was noticed that trailing canes were 
damaged about as badly as upright 
branches on the same plant, as there 
was little snow at any time to act as 
cover. The growing season so far has 
not been unfavorable, though too dry at 
the beginning, and far too rainy since 
early July for the best development and 
highest flavor of the berries. 
Snyder is yielding an enormous crop 
of good-sized berries, thus carrying out 
its imputation as Jie most reliable fam¬ 
ily blackberry. The first fruits were 
large and of excellent flavor, but the 
quality soon fell off, and they are now 
small, soft and change color soon after 
picking. Its thorough hardiness and 
great cropping capacity are its chief 
recommendations. 
Mersereau resembles Snyder in many 
points, especially in hardiness, but as 
grown here is in every way a better 
berry. It is not such a rank grower, but 
is very productive of large, firm berries 
of good quality when fully ripe. It is a 
good shipper when picked after coloring, 
and satisfies the buyer very well. It 
has been fruiting here for four years, 
and seems well adapted to local condi¬ 
tions. The plants appear quite resist¬ 
ant to disease. 
Rathbun exhibited its first weakness 
in yielding to the icy weather that 
spared the preceding varieties. The 
bearing wood was severely cut, but 
spurs from near the base of the canes 
are bearing many fine berries. In ap¬ 
pearance and quality they are all that 
could be desired, but the crop is natural¬ 
ly much reduced, and these low-borne 
berries get sanded during heavy rains. 
This desirable kind has not previously 
been injured by temperatures much low¬ 
er than reached last Winter. 
Eureka, of Texas origin, is an im¬ 
proved form of the wild Rubus cune- 
folius, the wedge-leaved blackberry of 
the South. Our plants were furnished 
in the Spring of 1901 by T. V. Munson, 
Denison, Tex. The canes of one season’s 
growth were severely frozen back, but 
/ have produced a number of large, round, 
intensely black berries of particularly 
pleasant flavor. The plants are compact 
in growth and very thorny. This is the 
species to which the Topsy belongs ad¬ 
vertised for several years as the “Great 
Everbearing Tree blackberry.” It gave 
little satisfaction, being tender and un¬ 
productive in the North. The “everbear¬ 
ing” tendency was probably the result 
of annual winterkilling by which a late 
bloom was forced out from the sound 
portion of the canes resulting in a 
scanty crop of Autumn berries. The 
species is commonly called Sand black¬ 
berry in the South, and has not as yet 
given us a variety of commercial im¬ 
portance, though the Eureka may do 
better as it becomes established. 
Taylor is not productive here, and is 
only grown as a standard in hardiness 
and good quality. 
Mayes and Lucretia dewberries both 
have large crops of fine berries, though 
the latter showed some winterkilling. 
Manatee, an offshoot of Rubus trivialis, 
from Florida, was entirely killed by the 
Winter. 
California Mammoth was also much 
injured by cold. We regret this inter¬ 
esting berry is not better suited to the 
eastern climate. The plants here seem 
inclined to be short-lived and yearly to 
diminish in vitality, like the well-known 
Loganberry. We are more than ever 
convinced of the value of good dewber¬ 
ries both for home and commercial 
planting. 
Cutiibert and Miller Red raspberries 
were much injured and only bore one- 
third of a crop of fine large berries. 
Cardinal, from A. H. Griesa, Law¬ 
rence, Kan., passed the Winter unharm¬ 
ed and bore a splendid crop of berries. 
The color of the berries is a good red 
just before they are ready to pick, but 
becomes the usual dull purple of the 
purple-cane section as they ripen. Car¬ 
dinal is certainly a misleading name, as 
the variety fruits here. The quality is 
excellent for home use, but the unpleas¬ 
ing color will hamper sales in market. 
The plant is the sturdiest and most erect 
grower of its class, and propagates 
easily from tips. 
The Golden Mayberry came through 
the Winter better than previous experi¬ 
ence led us to expect, and bore quite a 
crop. A plot covering about two square 
rods, in a sheltered portion of neigh¬ 
boring grounds gave a number of pick¬ 
ings of several quarts each. The plant¬ 
ing was made five years ago, and berries 
first noticed last year. While the bril¬ 
liant yellow berries are handsome and 
pleasantly flavored they do not seem to 
be wanted so early in the season, as 
they come in with late strawberries and 
early cherries. They are only borne on 
old wood of two or more years’ growth, 
and are very troublesome to gather on 
account of the strong hooked thorns. 
The variety has no practical value here, 
but we hear it is well liked in Porto 
Rico, and it may find a great field in 
other tropical countries. 
The Coral-berry belongs to an un¬ 
identified species, but is probably close¬ 
ly allied to the Mayberry. It is a much 
hardier plant and is quite ornamental 
from the silvery whiteness of the under¬ 
surface of the foliage. The berries are 
very similar to those of the Mayberry, 
but the color is bright orange red shad¬ 
ing to a clear coral tint. They are firm 
and rather astringent in taste, but make 
the best flavored jelly of any fruit yet 
tried. It seems possible that something 
useful may be bred from the Coral- 
berry, but it will take much time to 
work out its development. 
The Much-abused Strawberry-rasp¬ 
berry, Rubus rosaefolius, has developed 
at least one feature of real utility; that 
of holding soil from washing by heavy 
rains, which it does most effectually 
when established. The Rural Grounds 
are pretty much all slope, and the wash 
from a large field on the north crosses 
a portion, sending quite a flood of water 
during heavy rains. Last year we plant¬ 
ed roots of the Strawberry-raspberry in 
the bottom or the channel, protecting 
it from the first rains with some tree 
prunings. It has taken full possession 
and entirely stopped all erosion. The 
water goes through, filtered by the net¬ 
work of stems without harm. We have 
since tried it in a deep gully on a steep 
hillside, and though only established a 
few months it is now fruiting, and the 
thick growth prevents further cutting. 
There is, of course, much tendency to 
spread, but ordinary cultivation keeps' 
it within bounds. This plant is of such 
tenacious character that it can be made 
useful in this way if in no other, but we 
do not advise its planting in useful 
places. 
The Japanese Wineberry. —Fig. 231, 
on first page, shows an average fruiting 
cluster of the Wineberry, Rubus phoeni- 
colasius. The productiveness may be 
inferred from the fact that the three- 
year seedling plant from which it was 
taken yielded almost five quarts of ber¬ 
ries. Although classed as rather ten¬ 
der, the Wineberry has never winter- 
killed in this locality, coming through 
unharmed, while many so-called hardy 
species and varieties are badly crippled. 
Although the Wineberry has not de¬ 
veloped much commercial value we re¬ 
gard it as very desirable for the home 
garden. The fresh and sprightly flavor 
of the berries is in agreeable contrast 
with other fruits of the same season, 
and nothing can excel their attractive 
coloring when served at the table. If 
carefully picked in small boxes Wine- 
berries keep in good condition longer 
than any berry we have yet tried. They 
are very juicy and make a great quan¬ 
tity of excellent jelly, but the name 
Wineberry was ill-chosen, as it is never 
likely to be used for winemaking. The 
bush is attractive at all times and 
makes a good Summer hedge. Nothing 
could be better for a dividing line be¬ 
tween the kitchen and flower garden. 
Though it is a rampant grower it is 
easily kept in bounds by an occasional 
clipping with a sickle or hedge shears. 
The Wineberry likes good soil, but is not 
partial to strong animal manures. Many 
of the first plants sent out were ruined 
by overfeeding, and in consequence con¬ 
demned. It is easily increased by tips, 
suckers and seeds. Seedlings vary in 
productiveness, but are otherwise much 
alike, and it is probable that selection 
long continued would result in some 
very useful types. Neither the Wine¬ 
berry nor Strawberry-raspberry appear 
to take kindly to hybridization. We 
have squandered considerable time dur¬ 
ing the last eight Summers in crossing 
these interesting ornamental berries 
with the best types of cultivated rasp¬ 
berries and blackberries, but the result 
has been a lot of sterile 'degenerates 
with an occasional plant bearing crumb¬ 
ling and ill-shaped berries of some un¬ 
desirable flavor. We have therefore 
reached the conclusion that horticul¬ 
tural improvement in these plants is 
more likely to come by careful selection 
than by breaking up such firmly fixed 
types. 
A Handsome New Cucumber. —Eu¬ 
gene Davis, Kalamazoo. Mich., sends us 
some very handsome cross-bred cucum¬ 
bers, a cut of one being shown in Fig. 
233, page 575. The parentage was not 
given, but evidently it is a hybrid be¬ 
tween the long European and the 
American or White-spine type. Mr. 
Davis says they are quick growers and 
good yielders. Such cucumbers are 
usually of excellent quality and should 
be desirable in a discriminating market, 
but they have so far met with but a 
limited demand in this country. 
w. v. F. 
SMALL SUM 
5 Per Cent \ 
IS NET 
NEARLY 
VJK receive depos¬ 
it its oi @50.00 or 
more. We pay in¬ 
terest from liay of 
deposit to day of 
(optional) with¬ 
drawal. We pay 5 
per cent per annum 
— never less — and 
we remit by check 
quarterly. 
r 
P’d in Cap. 
$1,000,000 
Assets 
$1,600,000 
Surplus 
$185,000 
Tills is no more 
1 1, h a tt m oney 
ought to earn, but 
do your small sav¬ 
ings earn it for you 
now? Full infor¬ 
mation and highest 
testimonials fur¬ 
nished on request. 
Under Hanking 
Dept. Supervision. 
INDUSTRIAL SAVINCS AND LOAN CO. 
11011135 BROADWAY, NEW YORK 
'piGHTKN YOUR OWN BUGGY TIRES-No 
heating required; doeB not mar the paint; any¬ 
one can operate. Machine complete, with 100 Alumi¬ 
num Washers, sent on receipt of t2. Guaranteed to 
do the work. Your money back if not as represented. 
RAl'lD TIRE TIGHTENER CO., Wauseon, Ohio. 
The Gem Full-Circle Baler, lightest, strongest, cheapest 
haler. Made of wrought steel. Operated by I or 2 horses. 
Bales 10 to 15 tons a day. Sold on 5 days' trial. Catalogue 
free. Address CEO. ERTF.L CO., Quincy, III. 
UfEI | DRILLING 
VvOJL Machines 
Over 70 sires and Btyles, Tot drilling either deep or 
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 mechanlo can 
operate them easily. Send for oataiog. 
WILLIAMS BROS., Ithaea, W. To 
Do You Use Watery 
Then you need a power to pump it to | 
your house or barn. The 
rttgrp Hydraulic Engine 
" ““ “ in the best. Pumps more water. 
Never stops. Requires no at-1 
tention. Sold on 30 days [ 
trial. Send for free book. [ 
POWER SPECIALTY CO., 
126 Liberty St.. New York. I 
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, but If you want 
witter every day while your liowers 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 about20.000 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, 
85 Warren St .Niw York. 692 Craig St.. Montreal. P Q 40 Dea rborn St. . Chicago 
239 Franklin St., Boston Tonlente-Rey 71, Havana, Cuba. 40 N.7th St., Philadelphia. 
22a Pitt St., Sydney, N S W. 
New York State Fail 
$60,800 in Premiums and Purses $60,00 
r 
0 
Grand Horse Show 
Will rival anything ever given at a State Fair. 
The finest horses used for coaching and equestrian 
purposes will he in the show ring. Many of the 
equipages shown at the New York Horse Show will 
be seen at the Fair. 
The Agricultural Exhibits 
Will be one of the greatest attractions of the Fair. 
The fruit show will be worth traveling* longdistance 
to see. 
The Live Stock 
The finest breeds of cattle, sheep and swine will be on 
exhibition. The most noted stock farms will compete 
for i ho prizes. The remarkable exhibit of last year 
will be greatly exceeded tills year both in numbers 
and quality. Stock buildings thoroughly disinfected. 
Grand Circuit Races 
Promise to produce some of the most interesting 
events of the season. Tbelistof entries in the early 
Closing events Is very large. The best horses in the 
country will compete for the large purses. 
Syracuse Day, 
Monday, September 8. 
Grange Day, 
Tuesday, September 9. 
Governor Odell will l>e present 
Legislative Day, 
Wednesday, September 10. 
Steeplechase Day, 
Thursday, September li. 
New York Day, 
Friday, September 12. 
LOW RAILROAD RATES. 
One-half rate from all stations 1 
the State. Tickets good from Sep 
tember <> to lf» inclusive. 
A special rate of three fourths c 
a cent, a mile from allstations witlii 
a radius of 150 miles of Syracuse o 
Tuesday and Wednesday. 
1 
f 
11 
1 
September 8 to 13, 1902. 
GENERAL ADMISSION , 25 CENTS. 
Send for Prize List. S. C. SHAVER, Secretary. 
