1898 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
343 
Seedling Orange Not Blooming. 
O. M., Wayne County, Mich .—I have a small 
orange plant, raised from seed three years ago. 
It grows well, but shows no disposition to flower. 
What treatment is needed to make it bloom ? 
Ans. —The orange is some time jn com¬ 
ing to maturity ; a seedling may be kept 
in an ordinary greenhouse for 10 years 
without blooming. This is remedied by 
grafting the seedling, as soon as large 
enough, with a scion from an older tree 
or plant. It is quite easy to raise oranges 
from seed, in a warm, moderately close 
atmosphere, and the seedlings will grow 
rapidly, but grafting is a necessity, if we 
would have flowers within a reasonable 
time. Oranges like a generous soil ; a 
mixture of rich loam, leaf mold, old 
manure and sand will suit these plants. 
The soil should be somewhat coarse, with 
free drainage, as they must be freely 
watered. A temperature of 50 to 55 de¬ 
grees is quite sufficient in Winter. 
Window Boxes. 
./. S. B., Cleveland, O. —What plants can be 
used to till window boxes early in the season? 
Will any plants put in such a situation very 
early in Spring last all Summer ? 
Ans. —The first plants set out in win¬ 
dow boxes are usually pansies and Eng¬ 
lish daisies. They are hardy, attractive 
and cheap, but they cannot be depended 
upon beyond June ; when Summer heat 
arrives, their beauty wanes, and other 
plants must be substituted. If the situ¬ 
ation is sunny, familiar plants suitable 
for window boxes are Zonal and Ivy 
Geraniums, Petunias, Verbenas, Calen¬ 
dulas, Indian Vinca, Begonia Vernon 
and II. rubra, with Nierembergia, Ger¬ 
man ivy, variegated Vinca, Thunbergia 
alata, Lophospermum scandens, and 
Pfordt’s Passion vine to droop over the 
edges. Avoid the little yellow Calceo¬ 
laria, Lobelia, double Anthemis and 
Hydrangea : they all look very showy 
when first put in, but do not continue 
to bloom through the season. Florists 
use them in city window boxes, where 
the owners go out of town before mid¬ 
summer, and do not, therefore, require 
the boxes to make a show all Summer ; 
but they are a sad disappointment to 
those who expect a fine display for sev¬ 
eral months. 
Ants in Garden. 
E. E. II., Erie County , Ohio .—How can I get rid 
of ants on a Coleus or foliage-plant bed ? I have 
tried borax, which had no effect whatever. Then 
I put on ashes, which killed the plants, but not 
the ants. 
Ans. —It would be quite useless to 
attempt the destruction of the ants on 
the Coleus, while their colony is unin¬ 
jured. E. E. R. should examine the 
vicinity for the ants’ nest ; it is not 
likely to be very far away. Pour bisul¬ 
phide of carbon into the main gallery, 
stopping up the hole; the poisonous 
fumes will destroy the insects quickly. 
Should there be a number of survivors, 
make a second application. Where there 
is a large colony, it is sometimes advised 
to pour in three or four ounces of the 
bisulphide, and then to explode the vapor 
by means of a match fastened to the end 
of a stick. This totally wrecks the 
colony, breaking down the galleries, and 
burying the pupoe and larvte so deeply 
that they cannot reach the surface. It 
must be remembered, however, that the 
vapor of the bisulphide is extremely in¬ 
flammable, and the operator must be at 
sufficient distance to avoid the flash of 
ignition. Ants are very intelligent, and 
it will often happen, when a number 
of them have been destroyed, that the 
survivors will be panic-stricken, and 
leave the locality. The small red or 
black ants may be destroyed by saturat¬ 
ing a large sponge with thin syrup, and 
laying it in their usual roadway. They 
will soon crowd into the sponge, which 
may then be thrown into boiling water. 
It will often occur that, after a number 
of the ants have been trapped in this 
way, the remainder will avoid the neigh¬ 
borhood. 
Japan Ivy; Sanseveira. 
J. A., Beaver County, Pa. —1. Can you tell me 
anything about a vine named Vivinia (from 
Japan, I believe) ? I saw it growing on a brick 
house in Cleveland, O., which it covered beauti¬ 
fully. Would it do for cemetery planting grown 
on graves? Is it as hardy as the English ivy? 
Where can it be obtained ? 2. Is Sanseveira Zey- 
lanica hard to grow ? Does it require very rich 
soil, or much water ? 
Ans.—1 . We do not know any vine 
named Vivinia. Perhaps J. A. l'efers to 
Ampelopsis Veitchii, popularly called 
Japan or Boston ivy; this is used ex¬ 
tensively in the residence portion of 
Cleveland, as in other cities. It clings 
like a true ivy, making a close mat of 
foliage, which, in the Autumn, turns to 
brilliant shades of red and bronze. After 
once taking hold, it is very hardy, and 
grows freely each season. It is decidu¬ 
ous, the leaves falling in late Autumn, 
while the bare stems continue clinging 
to the wall. We would not recommend 
this vine for covering graves ; its natural 
habit is to cling to some erect object, 
and though in default of such support, 
it would, doubtless, ramble on the 
ground, just as its wild cousin, the na¬ 
tive Virginia creeper does, it is not suit¬ 
able for such use. The most attractive 
trailer we can recommend, for cemetery 
use, is the little Memorial rose, Rosa 
Wichuraiana. This is naturally of a 
trailing habit; it forms a thick mat of 
bright deep green leaves, thickly set 
with small, single white flowers in June. 
The flowers are followed by bright red 
heps. This little rose is thoroughly 
hardy and, after once making a start, 
will grow rapidly. Do not mound the 
grave it is desired to cover ; not only is 
there a better chance for the plants 
to grow when it is left flat, but the 
general effect is better. Cemeteries 
making efforts for fine landscape effect 
are giving up the practice of mounding 
the graves. Both the Ampelopsis and 
the Memorial rose may be obtained from 
any large nursery firm. 
2. Sanseveira Zeylanica is very easily 
managed. Although a native of Cey¬ 
lon, it will succeed in an ordinary 
room during’ Winter, and may be either 
planted out in a bed, or put in a vase or 
veranda box, during Summer. During 
the Winter, it is in a partially resting 
condition, and must not be watered so 
freely as in the Summer. In general, 
the Sanseveira is watered much the same 
as the palms commonly grown in the 
house. During the Winter, it has no 
objection to sunless quarters, hence is 
often seen in a window unfavorable to 
other plants. In the Summer, its formal 
leaves are effective in a bed of tropical 
foliage plants. The soil required is a 
fibrous loam, with a little leaf mold. The 
common name of this plant is Bow¬ 
string hemp. 
MOTHERS.—Be sure to use “Mrs. Wins¬ 
low’s Soothing Syrup” for your children 
virile Teething. It is the Best.— Adv. 
A Book About the Greenhouse. 
As soon as the amateur begins plant¬ 
growing under glass, he feels the need 
of some advice to fill out his own experi¬ 
ence. Reliable books on such subjects 
are few, and are usually written from 
such an amateur standpoint that their 
practical value suffers therefrom. Green¬ 
house Management, a volume just issued 
by Prof. Taft, deals with all the ques¬ 
tions that come under its heading in a 
plain and practical manner that will 
commend the book to readers looking for 
light upon such subjects. All the flowers 
ordinarily grown for commercial use are 
discussed, chapters being given to the 
rose, Carnation, violet and Chrysanthe¬ 
mum ; favorite greenhouse plants, palms 
and ferns are also treated quite fully. 
Cultural details are given very clearly, 
and there are ample illustrations. Propa¬ 
gation, insects, diseases, fungicides, 
soils, manures, watering and fuel are all 
dealt with. 
In addition to the ornamental plants, 
eight chapters are devoted to vegetables 
and fruits under glass. The description 
of strawberry-growing under glass deals 
only with pot plants, which involve a 
good deal of extra woi'k. The large 
commercial growers plant their straw¬ 
berries out in benches, givingheat to the 
first crop in November, so as to gather 
ripe fruit about Christmas. The labor 
involved in repotting and moving the 
pots about is entirely done away with. 
A description of this system of culture 
was given in Tiik R. N.-Y. last year. 
While this book has been very care¬ 
fully prepared, a few slight errors have 
crept in, the most striking being on page 
272, where the aquatic Parrot’s-feather is 
described as Myrsiophyllum aspara- 
goides. The proper name of this plant 
is Myriophyllum proserpinacoides ; the 
name given is evidently a variation of 
Myrsiphyllum asparagoides, the common 
Smilax, now called by botanists Aspara¬ 
gus medeoloides. 
The price of Greenhouse Management 
is $1.50 ; it may be obtained from this 
office. 
FRAZER c^ e s E 
BEST IN TIIE WORLD. 
Its wearing qualities are unsurpassed, actually 
outlasting three boxes of any other brand. Not 
affected by heat. J3T GET THE GENUINE. 
FOR SALK BY DEALERS GENERALLY. 
Fire-Weather-Lightning Proof 
Black, painted or galvanized metal ROOFING 
and siding; (brick, rocked or corrugated) 
METAL CEILINGS AND SIDE WALLS 
Write for Catalogue. 
Penn Metal Ceiling & Rooting Co., Ltd., Philadelphia 
LANE’S CARRIAGE JACK 
Best in the world. All 
steel. Unbreakable. Oper¬ 
ated br powerful com¬ 
pound fevers, and auickly 
ail justed to any height. At 
all hardware dealers’, or 
writ® manPr*. LANE BROS., Poughkeepsie, N. Y. 
CHILTON 
PAINT. 
Wheat improperly ground 
makes poor flour. Even good 
materials stirred up make but 
an apology for paint. The 
Chilton Paint not only starts 
with the proper and best pig¬ 
ments, but it is mixed and 
ground seven times by machin¬ 
ery. It has to be good. No 
other result would be per¬ 
mitted. 
For color cards and painting 
suggestions, write 
CHILTON MANUFACTURING COnPANY, 
69 Cortlandt Street, New York. 
Don't Tear it Off 
If your old shingle, tin or feltroof leaks, 
PUT THE GEDGE STEEL ROOFING ON 
right over It. It won't leak; Is cheap, durable, Ore, 
wind, water and lightning proof. Write for our 
Illustrated Booklet and prices. IT IS FREE. 
GEDGE BROS. IRON ROOFING CO., Box 19, Anderson, Ind. 
How's Your S 
__ _ Spring. 
Avoid mistakes and secure the 
flflfll ^ very best thing of the kind made. 
- Use Sykes “Old Style’' 
It Is made in avar- IRON ROOFING. 
lety of styles. Is easily put on and is longllved and 
handsome. Falling sparkscan’t lire It, hall can’t break 
it and the wind can’t blow It off. Roofs that have been 
on 25 years are good yet. Send for catalogue and prices. 
Sykes Iron and Steel Roofing Co. Niles, 0. and Chicago, Hi. 
STERLING 
Washing Machine. 
0A80L1NE ATTACHMENT. 
Keep water hot while 
washing. 
Send for Circular. 
The Eureka Co., 
ROCK FALLS. ILL 
1898 
High 
Grade 
BICYCLES 
for Men, Women, Girls 
1 & Boys. Complete line. 
AIL brand new models. 
$75 ‘Oakwood’ for $32.50 
_ $CO ‘Arlington’ “ $24.50 
No Money In Advance. Others at $15, $17 and $20 
WKITK TODAY for SPECIAL OFFER. $T . (H , to $12 . 50 
Shipped anywhere C.O.D.wlth privilege to examine. Buy 
direct from manufacturers,save agents & dealers profits 
Large IIlos. Catalogue Free. CASH BUYERS’ UNION, 
1612 W. Vanlluren Street, 11 - 848 , Chicago, Ills. 
GENERAL AGENTS 
wanted to superintend local 
agents Belling the Combination 
Lock-pin Clevis to farmers and 
others. Self locking ; always 
secure ; sells at sight; exclus¬ 
ive territory. 150 percent profit 
COBMANY MFG. CO. 
225 Dearborn Street, Chicago. 
ffOM Wagons 
We make Steel Wheels to fit any 
size and width tire. Staggard and 
Straight Spoke. Will not rot or dry 
out. We also manufacture Steel 
Handy Wagons. Catalogue free. 
Havana Metal Wheal Co., Havana, III. 
$650 
6 85 
920 
- . Buy* 
- . Buy* 4 
Buys 4 Milk. 
Delivery ’ _ 
Withsteeltiroon and hub banded. Good 
substantial wheels. Hundreds of testi¬ 
monials. New wheels are cheaper than 
repairing old ones. Can furnish axles 
and boxes. Send stamp for price list A 
directions for measuring. Wilmington 
Wheel Co., Wilmington, Del. 
WEHAVENO AGENTS 
No. 77. Surrey Harness. Price, $16.00. 
As good as sells for $25. 
but have sold direct to the con¬ 
sumer for 25 years at whole¬ 
sale prices, saving him the 
dealer’s profits. Ship any¬ 
where for examination. 
Everything warranted. 
118 styles of Vehicles, 
55 styles of Harness. 
Top Buggies, $36 to $70. 
Surreys, $50 to $125. Carria¬ 
ges, Phaetons, Traps, Wagon- 
. ettes, Spring-Road and Milk 
* No. 606 Surrey. Price, with curtains, lamps, sun- 
Catalogue of all our styles, shade, apron and fenders, $60. As good as sells for $90. 
ELKHART CARRIAGE AND HARNESS MFG. CD. W. B. PRATT, Seo’y, ELKHART, IND. 
