i4o 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
February 26 
Him, 
CATALOGUES OF 1898 
THE R. N.-Y.’S ANNUAL REVIEW. 
Novelties and Standard Varieties. 
Ellwanger & Barry, Rochester, N. Y.--A supple¬ 
mentary catalogue of novelties and specialties of the 
Mount Hope Nurseries. The general catalogue of this 
firm is scarcely equaled in the variety of its lists of 
ornamental trees, shrubs, roses, herbaceous plants, 
etc., or in the accuracy and conservatism of its descrip¬ 
tions. It is a practical work, and is designed, as the 
firm well says, “to furnish the planter, orchardist, 
gax-dener, in fact every one who has grounds or a 
garden, with a guide and manual which, once em¬ 
ployed, will be regarded as invaluable ”. The last 
edition is that of 1896, and it will be sent all applicants 
free. The supplementary catalogue has just been 
issued, and it is so full of the best of recent introduc¬ 
tions among large and small fruits, rare ornamental 
trees, shrubs and roses as to insure an attentive ex¬ 
amination from all of our progressive readers who 
would add to the beauty and value of their homes and 
grounds. 
Dreer’s Garden Calendar for 1898. —Henry A.Dreer, 
714 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, Pa.—This is a 
magnificent catalogue (170 pages) of seeds and plants 
of all kinds, except trees. The firm gives especial at¬ 
tention to garden and greenhouse plants, such as 
Abutilons, Ardisias, Aspidistras, Azaleas. Tuberous 
Begonias, Bouvardias, Caladiums, the finest of the 
new Cannas, Carnations, Chrysanthemums, Coleus, 
Crotons, Dahlias, ferns, geraniums, palms, roses (a 
splendid collection), hardy perennials, etc. On the 
front cover is an embossed colored illustration of the 
grand new rose, Souvenir du President Carnot. The 
last page, an embossed colored illustration of Dreer’s 
Superb Double-fringed Petunias. Among the vegeta¬ 
ble novelties, we would especially note the New Won¬ 
der Bush Lima bean, see Fig. 59, to which earliness, 
NEW WONDER BUSH LIMA BEAN. Fig. 59. 
dwarfness, flavor, and heavy cropping qualities are 
ascribed. “ We made a planting on June 29 in our 
experiment grounds and on August 17, just seven 
weeks from the day of planting, we took the first pod 
with mature beans from the plant.” Mr. Dreer finds 
that the new pea, Gradus, noted elsewhere, matures 
only three days later than the earliest smooth peas. 
It is commended in the highest terms. With this 
catalogue is issued a brochure, beautifully engraved 
and illustrated, of the 60th anniversary of the firm. 
it tells tne whole story of the beginning 
and its progress up to date, with portraits of the lead¬ 
ing men who have been connected with it, and an ex¬ 
tensive photographic view of the entire plant. 
W. A. Burpee & Co., Philadelphia, Pa.—Farm an¬ 
nual “The Plain Truth About Seeds”—150 pages, 16 
pages of novelties, colored covers and one richly- 
colored page of six new sweet peas. The Fordliook 
Fancy tomato is always large, smooth and solid 
with few seeds; the color a “rich ruby red”. 
The tomatoes are borne in clusters of three and 
four at every joint. Plants pruned to a single 
stem but 2% feet high have produced four to 
five pounds of fruit. The plant is compact and 
erect in growth, requiring no support. Ruby 
Pearl, it is claimed, is the earliest radish of its 
color in cultivation, being ready for the table in 
from 17 to 20 days. The shape is round, skin 
bright red. tips white. “Gradus will yield an 
abundant supply of the most delicious large 
wrinkled peas much earlier than any other 
wrinkled variety.” The vines have heavy stems, 
and grow three feet in height, producing uni¬ 
formly large pods, measuring four inches in 
length : nearly round and well filled with large 
peas. A colored illustration shows the new 
dwarf sweet pea Pink Cupid. The plants grow 
only from six to eight inches ia height, spread¬ 
ing from 12 to 18 inches, each bearing in full 
bloom at once from three to four flowers. The 
standard is a bright rose pink, while the wings 
are pure white or a light pink. The plant is 
vigorous and hardy, and Mr. Burpee assures us 
that those who had but indifferent success with 
his White Cupid, will find Pink Cupid easy to 
grow anywhere. Among farm seeds, the New 
Danish oats are given high praise. “In the 
closely contested prize competition of 1895, every 
State in the Union and all the Provinces in 
British America were represented ; the actual 
yields would seem incredible if not authenticated 
by the sworn statements of well-known farmers. 
Never before have such enormous yields been 
made.” We have before alluded to the promis¬ 
ing Burbank rose. Mr. Burpee paid 8500 for the 
original seedling, and it is now offered to the public 
for the first time. The variety, thus far, has proved 
perfectly hardy. I he plants begin to bloom when only 
a few inches high, and continue to bloom until severe 
frosts. The color is cherry crimson, the flowers 
measuring about three inches in diameter. The Lan¬ 
caster lettuce seems a most meritorious novelty. The 
plants are 12 inches across, and eight in length ; the 
leaves lobed and divided similar to those of an oak. 
See I ig. 65, page 144. The Stella Morse sweet pea 
bears flowers more nearly yellow than those of any 
variety yet introduced. The flowers are also diffused 
with a pale pink, giving them “ a rich, creamy-buff 
color.” See Fig. 60. The new dwarf canna, 
Gloriosa, is the only dwarf-growing variety that 
has exceptionally large florets and numerous 
long trusses of bloom. 
1 iie Stores & Harrison Co., Painesville, O.— 
A catalogue of 170 pages, 60 of which are given 
to vegetable, flower and field seeds, 72 pages to 
hardy and tender bedding and lawn plants— 
roses being a specialty—25 to grape vines, small 
and large fruits, nuts, etc., in which may be 
found special collections offered at greatly re¬ 
duced prices, and the rest to ornamental ever¬ 
green and deciduous trees. On the last cover- 
page, is a colored portrait of those interesting 
vine-roses, Crimson, Yellow and White Ramblers, 
that ought to find a place in every garden, large 
or small. We are disappointed that the Carman 
gooseberry has not yet been propagated in suf¬ 
ficient quantity to justify the firm in offering it 
for sale. It is propagated with difficulty. For 
home use, we would again call attention to 
Rogers’s Lima Wax bean. It was tried at the 
Rural Grounds during the past season. The 
seeds were planted May 6. June 6, the hushes 
were a foot high, bearing 17 pods to a plant, the 
largest being about two inches long. The first 
picking was July 10, when the plants were 15 
inches high, the pods two to three inches long, 
and one-half inch broad, of variable shape, ten¬ 
der and stringless. As late as August 3, the 
plants were noted as “ one of the most prolific 
varieties of bush beans we have tried”. The 
color of the pods is a semi-transparent lemon 
color. In quality, the beans are tender and of delicate 
flavor. Among ornamental trees, this firm has, for 
many years, made a specialty of evergreens, Rhodo¬ 
dendrons, Azaleas, etc., and the Rural Grounds can 
testify to their vigor. The company has now 1,200 
acres in their home farms, the largest area devoted to 
tree and general plant growing in this country. The 
company offer only first-grade stock. This we know 
from personal dealings through the past 25 years. Our 
readers will make no mistake in ordering from this firm. 
D. Landretii & Sons, Philadelphia, Pa.—A general 
catalogue of seeds of all kinds. This firm was founded 
in 1784, and has arrived, therefore, at the venerable 
age of 114 years. Probably, there is as little pretense 
and as much real worth in this catalogue as in any 
other issued. The intelligent purchaser of seeds is 
asked, “ If he does not think the time has arrived to 
commence to question the representations of sensa¬ 
STELLA MORSE SWEET PEA. Fig. 60. 
tional seedsmen who offer gifts as premiums to pur¬ 
chasers, and who have always so many new things 
that one tires of reading the adjectives of superlative 
degree used in describing them ; and one becomes still 
more worn to find, after months of watching and wait¬ 
ing, that the highly extolled are no better than old 
familiar sorts. At the rate the improvement has been 
going on, according to these oracles, the stocks origi¬ 
nally must have been very bad ; judging from the 
fancy pictures, perfection must now be near at hand. 
It really seems as if the creature, man, was as anxious 
to be deceived in seeds as in quack medicines, for we 
do not hesitate to declare upon our reputation as 
seedsmen of repute, that nine-tenths of the so-called 
new sorts advertised at high prices are, so far as merit 
goes, rank humbugs, and it is time the public were 
told so.” The monthly hints given to seed growers 
may safely be followed. All of the illustrations are 
from photographs. This is one of the very few firms 
that offer potato seeds. If our readers who raise pota¬ 
toes knew how readily they may be grown from seeds, 
we are confident that more of them would be raising 
their own kinds of potatoes. It is just as easy to grow 
potato plants from seeds as it is to grow tomato plants, 
and they should be treated in much the same way. 
Sow the seeds in shallow boxes. As soon as the plants 
are about three inches high, transplant them to small 
pots—3-inch. Then thump out the plants into the 
open soil as soon as there is no longer danger of frost, 
and cover them with mosquito netting. These tender 
seedlings must be protected from the potato beetle. 
Paris-green does not answer. 
Peter Henderson & Co., 35 and 37 Cortlandt Street, 
New York.—We have never before i-eceived a catalogue 
that shows, in its general get-up, more taste, or gives 
evidence of more thought and enterprise. Whether 
the seeds and plants offered by this firm are better 
than those of other firms, we have no opinion to ex¬ 
press. The firm is 50 years old, and holds, as we be¬ 
lieve, to-day, a higher place in the estimation of those 
who have dealt with it than at any previous period of 
its existence. There are nearly 200 large pages in this 
“ Manual of Everything for the Garden ”. It is full 
of up-to-date information and suggestions, and the 
engravings and colored portraits are worthy of all 
praise. Among the latter are Henderson's Metropoli¬ 
tan Sweet corn, the new early tomato Freedom, the 
J u b i 1 e e , 
Pres. Carnot 
White Ma- 
man Cochet, £. 
Mrs. Robert 
Garrett, 
roses; Giant 
Margue rite 
Carnations. 
