642 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
September 9 
; Ruralisms ; 
^ ^ T VTT ▼ » 
Hybridizing Conference. —The Royal 
Horticultural Society, of London, recent¬ 
ly appropriated two days from their July 
meeting for a conference on hybridiza¬ 
tion, probably the first time this very 
important subject has received full rec¬ 
ognition. The attendance was good 
and the enthusiasm great. The botan¬ 
ists, however, held themselves somewhat 
aloof, as might be expected of men who 
are having some of their preconceived 
notions of the natural relationship of 
plants upset by the work of practical 
hybridizers, who are not discouraged in 
their attempts at cross-fertilization by 
arbitrary classifications. Exhibits of re¬ 
markable hybrid plants, belonging to 
various classes, were held in the gardens 
of the Society at Chiswick, and were 
said to be of great educational value. 
The United States was represented by 
three delegates from the Division of 
Vegetable Physiology, Department of 
Agriculture, at Washington. The Eng¬ 
lish Gardeners’ Chronicle published por¬ 
traits of a considerable number of 
“noted hybridizers of the world.” Three 
portraits are credited to this country— 
H. J. Webber, of the Department of Ag¬ 
riculture; Prof. L. H. Bailey, of Cornell 
University, and Luther Burbank, of Cali¬ 
fornia. The omission of T. V. Munson, 
of Texas, is hard to understand. 
Two Native Plums, Milton and 
Whittaker, of the Chickasaw or Wild 
Goose type, fruited here (Monmouth 
County, N. J.) this season, though plum 
blossoms were generally killed by the 
February freeze. The trees were plant¬ 
ed four years ago, and have made a fine 
growth with but indifferent care. Mil- 
ton ripened its first plums early in July. 
They were bright red, smaller than Rob¬ 
inson, sweet and high-flavored under 
the skin, but quite acrid near the pit. 
.Whittaker followed about July 20 with 
fruit of the same color and character, 
but much better quality, and as large as 
Robinson at its best. Both were little 
harmed by curculio, and promise to be 
healthy growers and full, early bearers. 
Whittaker seems to be much the better 
fruit, and except for succession, we 
would prefer two trees of it to one of 
each variety. The Wild Goose and Rob¬ 
inson have never succeeded well in this 
locality. 
Petunias. — After a considerable 
period of partial neglect, the more bril¬ 
liant types of the small-flowered Pe¬ 
tunias are again being extensively plant¬ 
ed for bedding effects. The only im¬ 
provement gained in this strain for the 
last 30 or 40 years, seems to be in the 
way of dwarf and compact-growing va¬ 
rieties. The hybrids obtained a genera¬ 
tion ago were fully as good in color as 
any since made. In the large or “giant”- 
flowered class, great improvements in 
size and intensity of color have been re¬ 
cently brought forward, but the small- 
flowered varieties, with their myriads 
of cheerful blooms, still remain the fa¬ 
vorite. The big fellows, notwithstand¬ 
ing their brilliancy, have a certain 
coarseness of outline, and fail to hold 
up their heads after a rain. Double Pe¬ 
tunias are practically grown only as pot 
or greenhouse plants. Many of the best 
varieties are weak growers 'in the gar¬ 
den, and all become woefully bedraggled 
during wet weather. To many there is 
always an old-fashioned charm connect¬ 
ed with even the odor of a bed of garden 
Petunias, as the cheery blossoms show 
so little change from our childhood days. 
Horticultural Decorations. —At the 
fashionable clambakes held near various 
seaside resorts, all sorts of vegetables 
and garden truck are used as table deco¬ 
rations, probably more in a spirit of 
ridicule than thankfulness that the par¬ 
takers are permitted to enjoy the good 
things they take no personal part in pro¬ 
ducing. However that may be, the fea¬ 
ture may be usefully applied by others 
who are in a better position to appre¬ 
ciate the really decorative beauties of 
many little-used horticultural products. 
We all know the pleasing effect of a 
well-arranged basket of the more com¬ 
mon fruits, but few have given thought 
to an extension of the list of subjects 
among the smaller fruits. In season, we 
may mention bright effects produced by 
fruiting branches of the dwarf June- 
berry and Ekeagnus longipes (which 
might be called “olive berry,” as it be¬ 
longs to the olive family), well-ripened 
clusters of blackberries, and the Japan¬ 
ese wineberry, associated with ample 
foliage, bunches of the remarkable Chi¬ 
nese lantern fruits (Physalis Franchet- 
ti), and brightest of all, well-fruited 
branches of the brilliant Strawberry- 
raspberry. Lastly, in point of ripening, 
would come the bright red or yellow 
Buffaloberry (Sheperdia argentea), but 
this is as yet but little cultivated. No 
reference to garnishing vegetables is 
needed, as they belong more particularly 
to culinary effects. w. v. f. 
Resistant Trees. —On the farm of 
Mr. Henry Van Dreaser, Cobleskill, N. 
Y., is a striking illustration of the vary¬ 
ing powers of resistance of different 
trees. Two years ago, a bolt of light¬ 
ning struck the barn, and followed' a 
pipe underground from the barn to the 
house. This pipe ran close to a row of 
trees—three cherry, and one small ar- 
borvitae. The big cherry trees are now 
• completely dead. They were killed al¬ 
most instantly by the lightning. The 
arborvitao tree is still alive and in fair¬ 
ly good condition. There must have 
been some difference in the powers of 
resistance of these trees. Some one will 
ask, What became of the lightning? It 
passed into the house, and finally dis¬ 
appeared without doing any serious 
damage. 
A New Rose. —Still another new rose 
of the Catherine Mermet family is an¬ 
nounced as Maid of Honor. The Mermet 
seems strongly addicted to “sports,” as 
the florists say; bud variations, accord¬ 
ing to the botanists. It is a Tea rose, 
sent out by its French originator in 
1869, and is distinguished for its large, 
full, shapely flowers and clear flesh-pink 
tint. The Bride, sent out in 1885, was 
a bud variation from it, and this still re¬ 
mains the finest white forcing rose. Then 
came the Waban, sometimes called the 
Red Mermet, in 1891; this is a bright 
carmine, but it did not prove a desirable 
variety for the florist, and is now little 
grown. In 1892, still another Mermet 
sport, the Bridesmaid, appeared; it 'is 
very similar in general appearance to 
the parent, but is deeper and more con¬ 
stant in color. In dull Winter weather, 
the Mermet often fades to a sickly yel¬ 
lowish tint, greatly to the detriment of 
its appearance, while the Bridesmaid 
keeps a brighter shade. Maid of Honor 
is said to be more robust and productive 
than Bridesmaid. It is an odd commen¬ 
tary on horticultural luck that a man 
may hybridize for years, with some def¬ 
inite object in view, without ever ob¬ 
taining a new variety so valuable com¬ 
mercially as some of these casual sports. 
Newer Varieties of Clematis. —Con¬ 
sidering the showy flowers of the Cle¬ 
matis, it is surprising that this climber 
is not more common. The purple-flow¬ 
ered Jackmanni is most widely known, 
and although it has been in cultivation 
nearly 40 years, it is still one of the 
best. Mme. Edouard Andre, first pub¬ 
licly shown in this country at the 
World’s Fair, has been alluded to sev¬ 
eral times in these columns; the showy 
flowers are a rich crimson, the nearest 
approach to a real red seen in the large- 
flowered varieties. Somewhat similar to 
Mme. Andre, but not so deep in color, is 
M. Koster, offered for the first time in 
America this year. It is said to be 
stronger in growth and freer in flower 
than Mme. Andre. Mme. Baron Veil- 
lard, pinkish lavender, is one of the 
newer sorts, and a very satisfactory 
grower. A new French variety, not yet 
introduced to this country, is Nelly 
Moser; the flowers are described as six 
inches in diameter, in color rosy lilac, 
having down the center of each petal a 
vivid carmine stripe. Among the older 
large-flowered varieties there are many 
fine and showy sorts, several of them 
continuing to bloom for a considerable 
length of time. These plants like a 
deep, well-worked soil, with good drain¬ 
age; if very heavy and clayey, leaf mold 
and sharp sand should be worked into 
it. 
Insect-Eating Plants. —An interest¬ 
ing little group of so-called carnivorous 
plants in the window of a New York 
store recently attracted a good deal of 
attention. The plants were the little 
Venus’s Fly-trap, Dionaea muscipula, a 
native of sandy bogs in North Carolina. 
This very interesting and uncommon 
plant is a member of the Sundew fam¬ 
ily. Its oddly-shaped leaves look like 
winged stems expanding at the top into 
two lobes hinged together at the back, 
like a pair of tiny*clam shells. These 
lobes have around them a tiny fringe, 
like eyelashes, and they also have in¬ 
side a number of stiff little bristles. 
Some of the twin lobes will be spread 
wide open, like the clam when looking 
for its dinner, others will be tightly 
closed. Gently tickle the wide-open 
lobes with some light object, and they 
will close up as quickly as the sensitive 
Mimosa, opening again after a short in¬ 
terval, feeling, apparently, that their 
confidence has been trilled with. Let 
some unwary insect stroll across those 
inviting little green clam shells; they 
close up instantly and, apparently, re¬ 
main closed until they have digested the 
unlucky insect. The Venus’s Fly-trap 
has been the subject of much investiga¬ 
tion by scientists, and although the sub¬ 
ject can scarcely be said to be finally 
settled, it is believed that the plant does 
capture insects for their nutritive value. 
There are several other carnivorous or, 
more properly, insectivorous plants na¬ 
tive to this country, including the Pitch¬ 
er plant, known also as Side-saddle 
flower and Whip-poor-will’s shoe. The 
East Indian Pitcher plants are guilty of 
similar murderous proclivities—they, 
and our native Pitcher plant, first drug 
the unfortunate 'insect with an intoxi¬ 
cating liquid secreted within their pitch¬ 
ers, and assimilate the victim after¬ 
wards, instead of boldly capturing it, 
like the Venus’s Fly-trap. 
The Freedom Tomato.—W e did not try 
the Freedom tomato this season. Several 
market gardeners about here are growing 
it, however, and report it prolific and free 
from blemishes, considering the rather un¬ 
favorable early season. As truckers seldom 
make really comparative tests, they are 
not so sure of its extreme earliness. The 
general opinion is favorable, and it will be 
again tested. 
New Varieties.—M. Crawford, in his 
strawberry report, truly says: 
“As a rule, originators are in too great 
a hurry to name and introduce their pro¬ 
ductions. It is far better to show one’s 
faith in a new seedling by growing it ex¬ 
tensively, and letting its merits become 
known in that way. There is no need of 
haste. It will become more valuable each 
season, if it possesses merit; if It has seri¬ 
ous defects, the less said about it the bet¬ 
ter. It is an excellent plan, when one has 
a valuable seedling, to send it for trial to 
some of the experiment stations. They 
are perfectly reliable, and abundantly com¬ 
petent to give an impartial report.” 
Herbaceous Phloxes, which are now 
making a vivid display, are among the 
most satisfactory border plants we have; 
they are hardy, easily cared for, brilliant 
in color, and many of them have a deli¬ 
cious fragrance. The flowers are usually 
produced in July and August, but if the 
tips of the shoots are pinched out in the 
beginning of June, and again in July, Sep¬ 
tember flowers will be obtained. The 
flowers are especially fine on two-year-old 
plants; after the third year, it is well to 
divide and replant the clumps in the Fall. 
These plants are often increased freely 
from self-sown seedlings. There are many 
named varieties. 
Sweet Fameuse Apple.—M r. Henry 
Floyd, of Eureka, Wis., sends us the fol¬ 
lowing notes about this variety: 
“The tree stands on a limestone ridge. I 
think it is about 26 years old. it is three 
feet in circumference. Its origin was from 
cider pomace of the Snow, a tew of which 
were transplanted. They and three others 
are alive, and quite a hedge of others not 
transplanted, where the pomace was scat¬ 
tered, are living, but ot no value above 
very ordinary. Three years ago, I swapped 
sour apples for sweet with the owner of 
this tree, and found the quality so good 
that it was exhibited at our Fall show. 
Our secretary knew the fact of its origin 
from Fameuse pomace, hence we named 
it Sweet Fameuse. Last Winter, at our 
Winter show at Madison, it was thought 
well of by many of our State horticultur¬ 
ists. The tree for a long time escaped the 
notice of any horticulturist, hence none 
was propagated until very recently, and 
then very lew. We hope to learn soon of 
its value to the public from an extended 
planting. The color of the fruit is very 
dark red all over; skin, thick; flesh, white, 
hard, fine and sweet. Season from Janu¬ 
ary to April. Size, under medium. Shape, 
angular, like Peck’s Pleasant. The tree is 
in full foliage, making a fair growth, but 
has no crop this year. All varieties are in 
the same fix.” 
4 4 The Pr udent Man Setteth 
His House in Order.” 
Your human tenement should be given 
even more careful aUeniion than ihe 
house you live tn. Set it in order by 
thoroughly renovating your whole system 
through blood made pure by taking 
Hood’s Sarsaparilla. Then every organ 
will ad promptly and regularly. 
r Cheap Preservative Paint. 
^For rough woodwork. Costs only 50 cents 
gallon, but preserves wood better than $ I . 
r paint, and also looks well and wears well. Made 
Creosote, M the best wood-preservative known.” 
Send for a color-card of Cabot's Creosote 
^Farm and Fence Paint. 
kSAMUEL CABOT,S/ Kilby St., Boston, Mass.. 
\ 
l.50\ 
dade \ 
ate / 
YOUR BOYHOOD DAYS 
COME BACK WITH A Itl.'M I* 
when you look at the original of this “Mil king Time." We 
send it on heavy paper, suitable for framing, for a 2c. 
np. THE FENCE used In this cut is the 
cent, stamp. 
(I 
HARTMAN 
» STEEL ROD 
LAWN FENCE. 
Very strong, cheap as wood. Write at once for prices. 
HARTMAN MFQ. CO., Box 19, Ellwood City, Pa. 
N. Y. Office, Room 70. 309 Broadway, N. Y. City. 
rm«snh*i 
mnuufsi 
iinvmtifi 
STRONGEST 
MADE. Bull- 
strong. Chicken- 
tight. Sold to the Farmer at Wholesale 
Trices. Fully Warranted. Catalog Free. 
COILED 8TH1M1 FENCE CO. 
Box 21, Winchester, Indiana, 11. 8. A. 
u. 
THE SUCCESS 
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are using it, and telling their neighbors to une It. 
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DON’T READ THIS 
unless you are interested in farm fencing. HARD 
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Box GJ, Leesburg, O. Wound On. 
