494 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
June 25, 
NOTES FROM THE RURAL GROUNDS 
Hardiness of Ornamentals. —Orna¬ 
mental trees and plants generally came 
through the Winter better than fruits. A 
few kinds of known unreliability were 
scorched or killed, but the damage is less 
than expected. Evergreens had their foli¬ 
age browned to a greater extent by the 
cold than we have ever seen them, but 
most species are vigorously renewing 
their growths. A few young trees of 
Nordmann’s Silver fir, Abies Nordman- 
niana, were killed, though this fine vari¬ 
ety is considered hardy. The various 
Retinosporas and cypresses, with the ex¬ 
ception of Lawson’s cypress, Chamaecy- 
parus Lawsoniana, a beautiful but sensitive 
species, are in better condition than is us¬ 
ual at this season. It is hard to give up 
Lawson’s cypress, as it is one of the most 
attractive and distinct native conifers, but 
it cannot endure the Winters in this 
locality without occasional mutilation by 
frost. Imported Rhododendrons are gen¬ 
erally killed, root and branch, but a few 
well-tried Catawbiense hybrids and our 
native species generally, were little in¬ 
jured. Kalmias suffered much where ex¬ 
posed, even wild plants in the woods los¬ 
ing some of their foliage. Leucothoe 
Cateskei, a beautiful early-blooming ever¬ 
green shrub from the Carolina mountains, 
withstood the cold perfectly and bloomed 
in April with its usual profusion. Some 
of the new hybrid Deutzias, suen as D. 
gracilis venusta and D. Lemoinei, were 
killed to the snow line. Ceanothus Gloire 
de Versailles, a bright blue-flowered hy¬ 
brid New Jersey tea shrub, claimed to be 
perfectly hardy by the introducers, froze 
to the ground, though well covered. The 
graceful, narrow-leaved barberry, Berberis 
stenophylla, shared the same fate, but 
both are growing strongly from the 
crowns. Simon’s Elseagnus, usually an 
evergreen, lost all its foliage, but is now 
growing well from every bud. This is a 
surprise, as broad-leaved evergreens are 
usually much crippled by the loss of their 
foliage. The European holly is severely 
frozen, but the native and Japan species 
show no harm at all. The latter is a 
most distinct and attractive shrub or 
small tree, resembling a particularly dark¬ 
leaved box. Buddleia variabilis and the 
Verbena shrub, Caryopteris Mastacanthus, 
proved hardier than expected, quite a 
number of plants coming through with¬ 
out protection. Citrus trifoliata, the 
hardy orange, is well named, as it shows 
no ill effect from the phenomenal cold, 
and has bloomed freely. One of the great¬ 
est losses of the Winter was a fine speci¬ 
men of Albizzia Julibrissin, at least 20 
feet high, and probably as many years 
old, growing in a neighboring nursery. 
This beautiful rose-flowered, tropical-ap¬ 
pearing tree is fairly hardy near Washing¬ 
ton, but it is doubtful if as large a speci¬ 
men has before developed so far north. 
Last Summer this tree bloomed with 
great profusion, and ripened many seeds, 
but it seems now to have received its 
quietus, as only feeble signs of growth 
can be seen, June 10. 
Growing Garden Fruits from Seeds.— 
Most small fruits may readily be grown 
from seeds, and varieties as good as those 
in general cultivation thus secured, while 
there is always a chance of raising some¬ 
thing distinct and valuable. We hope to 
give brief directions from time to time on 
the best methods of preparing and sow¬ 
ing fruit seeds and handling seedlings, 
based on many years’ practical experience. 
T f seeds are selected from vigorous, 
healthy and productive plants of varie¬ 
ties well adapted to local conditions, there 
will often be a surprisingly high aver¬ 
age of good qualities among the result¬ 
ing fruits, though less uniformity than 
if propagated varieties are planted, since 
every seedling varies in some degree from 
all others. 
Sowing Strawberry Seeds. —It is far 
more important to select seeds from a 
robust, productive plant, typical of the 
variety chosen, than to pick out the larg¬ 
est berries without regard to the plants 
on which they are borne. Select the most 
perfect berries on the best plants you have 
access to, pick them when fairly colored. 
If only a few seeds are wanted the ber¬ 
ries may be crushed between several folds 
of newspaper, the pulp and seeds mixed 
with dry sand, chopping the mass apart 
with a dull table knife until well sepa¬ 
rated, and then sown as further directed, 
but a neater method, useful for larger 
quantities, is to shave the seeds from the 
berries with a sharp knife, taking as little 
pulp as -possible. The parings may be 
folded in coarse-meshed muslin or cheese¬ 
cloth and the pulp washed out under 
water by pressing and kneading with the 
fingers. The seeds come out fairly free 
from fiber, and should be dried by stirring 
in dry, sifted sand until all lumps are 
broken up. Sand and seeds together 
should immediately be sown in well- 
drained pots or boxes containing four 
or more inches of a compost of light gar¬ 
den soil and fine old manure—about equal 
parts of each. They should be covereu 
not over one-fourth inch deep, the soil 
well watered and kept moist and shaded 
until the seedlings appear, which may re¬ 
quire two or more weeks. When large 
enough to handle they may be transplant¬ 
ed to small pots or set two inches apart 
each way in similar boxes and grown on 
until large enough to plant out in the 
field, some time in August. From this 
period they are treated exactly like ordi¬ 
nary runner plants, and should make 
good-sized stools by the end of the sea¬ 
son. The strongest may fruit the next 
year, but many will not bear until they 
have been two seasons in the field. Seed¬ 
lings often make runners when very small 
—at times in the seed pot or bed. These 
runners greatly weaken the plant and 
should be cut away as fast as they form, 
the first season at least. Strawberry seeds 
may be also sown in carefully fined seed¬ 
beds in the garden, but as they are quite 
small and easily washed out by heavy 
rains, it is safer to use pots or boxes. 
If well cleaned and carefully dried they 
retain vitality for many months, and may 
be kept over in paper packages and sown 
the following Spring, but as they germi¬ 
nate readily when fresh it is well to plant 
at once in order that the plants may gain 
strength before Winter. After fruiting 
the inferior ones may be destroyed and 
runners from best varieties rooted in the 
usual manner. w. v. F. 
RECREATIVE WORK FOR YOUNG 
FOLKS. 
At the risk of incurring the censure of 
over-practical parents or neighbors, I be¬ 
lieve that our young people may well af¬ 
ford to accept encouragement in the 
development of a “hobby”—some side¬ 
line specialty, that will afford innocent, 
interesting and instructive amusement, 
and bring occasional brief respites from 
the regular routine of daily labor or em¬ 
ployment. There are so many lines of 
recreative study that they may, with little 
difficulty, take up and pursue with pleas¬ 
ure and profit to themselves, that they 
really cannot afford not to do so. To those 
who both live in the country and are 
lovers of Nature, there are great oppor¬ 
tunities for making their rooms or homes 
beautiful, interesting and really unique 
in the way of furnishings and adorn¬ 
ments. Nature furnishes an inexhausti¬ 
ble supply of strange and wonderful 
wood growths, the fungous growths such 
as the various forms of lichens, etc., and 
the works and products of animals, birds 
and insects. What is more enjoyable than 
a day in the woods, among the thick, 
tangled growth of the bittersweet vines, 
where the young growth of shrub and tree 
is struggling in the relentless embrace of 
the coils of this beautiful, native climber? 
It is here that many strange, gnarled, 
beautiful wood growths may be found 
that, with a little skill and good taste, may 
be converted into various unique pieces of 
rustic furniture that will grow in value as 
time progresses, and be a lasting souvenir 
of delightful hours spent in healthful, 
recreative pastime. With camera, brush 
or pencil they may likewise capture those 
alluring bits of nature, and with them 
surround themselves in living room or 
“den” or office, and live a better, more 
interesting, more appreciative life by so 
doing. 
Let me repeat, for the boy and girl 
readers of The R. N.-Y., that they are 
perfectly justified in taking up, pursuing 
and developing some chosen, agreeable 
line of study and work—for work it is— 
as a “hobby.” Having done so, pursue 
the chosen line with earnestness of pur¬ 
pose—for it pays to be earnest even in 
play. There is a growing demand for 
young people who are thorough and pains¬ 
taking; and it seems not to matter along 
what line one becomes a careful student, 
there are opportunities for pleasant, agree¬ 
able employment and profitable advance¬ 
ment almost certain to present them¬ 
selves for acceptance. f. h. ballou. 
Ohio Exp. Station. 
Good Blackboard.— I saw the other day 
aa excellent blackboard made of a piece of 
sheet iron. It was about three feet In length, 
and was fastened up to the wall in a family 
living room. It cost but a few cents, and 
will last 99 years. It would be good for a 
school room. h. d. t. 
Pennsylvania. 
THE HESSLER IS THE BEST. 
Price, 
$1 EACH, 
Discount Dozen 
Lots. 
Simple, Durable, 
Economical. 
round. Strong, 
Heavy. 
Lowest i n price, 
highest i n quali¬ 
ty. A sample best 
evidence. Reap¬ 
proved Jan. 25th. 
1903. Orders 
promptly shipped. We sell direct to the farmer 
11. E. HESSLER CO., Factory No. 8, Syracuse, N. Y 
Circular* 
sent Free. 
Rural mail Box. 
M At man/ new iwuira wm Kuni iuia ycai, »» K 
HIIICII mull want name and address of every man wko 
sends i n a petition. QAV rr*rr to first one sending 
Xvc will send a DU A rifCKL us full Information 
BOND STEEL POST CO . ADRIAN. MICH 
HARNESS 
PROTECT YOURSELF 
from High Prices. We can save 
you 25 p. c. on Harness. Send 
for la-ge lllnst rated Catalogue. 
KING HARNESS COMPANY, 0 Lake St., Owego. N.Y. 
.15 Buys the Best 
ALL-RUBBER CLOTHTINED TOP. 
that was ever offered at 
this price. It's a fine 
top and will be just in 
place on your buggy. 
The cover Is of excel¬ 
lent quality rubber. 
The above price in¬ 
cludes both side and 
back curtains, also 
shifting rail. When or 
dering give t he extreme 
length of seat on top 
For $1 we will ship any¬ 
where C. O. D. with 
privilege of examination. Can be returned with all 
charges paid by us if not as represented and the best 
bargain you ever saw. 
FREE: Our Rargain Sheet No. 10. 
Just out and filled with unmistakable bargains. It's 
valuable an 1 vou should have it Free! Writeto-day. 
0. A. B0TTGER & CO., 21 Bright St.. Cleveland, 0. 
In¬ 
cludes 
both Side 
and Back 
Curtains 
BUCCiES FAcTORY$26i^ 
Write for Catalogue. ITS FREE. 
Before ordering compare our prices 
on Buggies, Surreys and 
Wagons. 100 styles. Our 
prices talk. Buy Direct, 
Save Middlemans Profit. 
ROYAL CARRIAGE CO. 
416 E. Court St., Cincinnati, 0. 
Established 1883 
Output, 30,000, 
WHALE-OIL SOAP 
ODD A VIIIP CDAQ Compressed-Air Spraying Ap- 
drnAI mu OrAn paratus. Chemicals for Spray- 
roillT oninroc ing, etc. Our Catalogue, Neces- 
FRUiT GRADERS sities for the Orchard, will 
let area* you. W. H. OWEN, Port Clin ton, Ohio. 
.A ** 
7<j? 
For 20 Years and Over 
We have been making Swan’s Standard 2 and 
3-ply and 
Extra Heavy Felt Rooting 
I Belling to coneumera direct Millions of Bquare feet are now I 
I .n use. It can be applied bjr anyone on steep or flat roofs.I 
I Low Price! Durable! Fire-Proof! It you are going tol 
J build, or have leaky shingle Or tin roofs, Bend for eauiploB, 1 
circulare and prices. 
THE A. F. SWAN COMPANY, J 
13 Battery Place, New York, N.Y. 
jr •-'’■'ft 
Mosquitoes 
bite and sting. So does 
poor shaving soap. Avoid all 
discomfort and shave with ease and 
pleasure by using 
Williams* Shaving Soap. 
It’s the quick beard softener and leaves the face 
| feeiinfl fine—like a sootiiing balm to the skin 
| No other gives such a rich, creamy lather. 
‘The only soap fit for the face." 
Sold Throughout the World. 
FREE 
A trial tablet if you mention ? 
this paper and send a 2c 
stamp to pay postage. 
k The J.B. Williams Co.,' 
Glastonbury, 
Conn. 
WIFT’S 
Arsenate oy 
Lead 
FOR SPRAYING 
’■ the best Insecticide known for potato bugs and 
all leaf eating insect*. It kills qnlckly, and unlike 
Paris G ree n, there Is absolutely no danger of burn* 
ing or scorching the leaves. It adheres to the 
foliage for a longtime, thus doing away with re¬ 
peated sprayings. It is highly recommended by 
all the leading entomologists. Made only by the 
MERRIMAC CHEMICAL CO., 
35-77 Broad Si., Boston, Mass. 
-FOR SALE BV- 
Benton, Myers & Co., Cleveland, Ohio. Daniel Stewart Co., 
Indianapolis, Ind. Morrison Plummer Co., Chicago, 111. 
Yahr & Lange Drug Co., Milwaukee, Wis. Noyes Bros. &c 
Cutler, St. Paul, Minn. E. E. Bruce & Co., Omaha, Neb. 
W. A. Hover & Co.. Denver, Colo. J. S. Merrill Drug Co., 
St. Louis, Mo. Van Vleet Mansfield Drug Co., Memphis. 
Tenn. I.. V. Elder Co., Galveston. Texas. 1. L. Lyons 
A- Co., New Orleans, La. Langley & Micnaels Co., Saa 
Francisco, Cal. Ask your druggist for it. 
SAN JOSE SCALE 
and other INSECTS killed by 
GOODS 
Caustic Potash Whale-Oil Soap No. 3 
Endorsed by U. S.Dept. of Agri. and State Experiment 
Stations. Thissoapisa Fertilizeras wellasan Insecti¬ 
cide. 5(Flb. kegs.$>.50: 100-lb. kegs,$4.50; half barrel, 
270 lb.,3-Bcper lb; barrel.425 lb. ,3^c. Send for booklet. 
JAMES GOOD, Original Maker, 
939-41 N. Front Street, Philadelphia, Pa. 
PUT POTATOES 
as they’re dug into our *' 
Ventilated Bushel Crates. 
Store tnem without rehandling 
—less decay—one third time 
saved. Strong—no breakage. 
No. 2—9e; No. 1—heavy—11c. 
Ask for free booklet No, 20 
Geneva Cooperage Co., Geneva, 0. 
Brown’s 
No. 3 
Potato 
Sprayer 
sprays 4 to 0 rows, any width, with finest mist or 
fog at one passage. Constant high power supplied 
from both wheels, no lost motion. Mechanical 
agitator. A new era in rapid thorough spraying of 
potatoes, vegetables, small fruits and vines. Write 
toduy for free book of all sprayers. ( 
E. C. Brown & Co., 268 Slate St., Rochester,N.Y. 
You can 
Cover SO to 40 acres 
per day with 
“Bhe Watson 
Four Row Potato Sprayer 
Straddles 2rows, sprays 
4 at a ti me. Wheels ad- 
justfordifferent widths. 
Sprays to any fineness and gearing of pump to wheel of 
cart gives any pressure desired. Automatic agitator and 
suction strainer cleaner. It never spoils foliageor clogs. 
Free instruction and formula book shows the famous uarfield, em¬ 
pire King. Orehard Monarch and other sprayers. , Write for 11 
Field Force Pump Co, t 2 11th St. .wgjnira, N. Y. 
