1897 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
71 
Kecently we stated in these columns 
that, as judged from one season’s fruit¬ 
age, there is nothing remarkable about 
the North Star currant, and that we fail 
to see that it is superior in any way to 
the Red Dutch. Commenting upon this, 
our respected friend, Mr. C. A. Green, of 
Rochester, N. Y., favors us with the 
following communication : 
When the North Star currant was sent out about 
five years ago, I received several hundred plants 
from the originator in Massachusetts. These 
were devoted to making cuttings, with the excep¬ 
tion of one bush in the middle of the plot, which 
I allowed to fruit. The fruit on this bush resem¬ 
bled Red Dutch very closely. Later, from this 
same plantation, I started a row of North Star 
currants for fruiting, which I fruited several 
years, and these are entirely distinct from Red 
Dutch—lighter in color, longer in cluster, and 
much larger in berry. The present year, they 
have done better than ever before, and have 
proved to be a valuable variety, and the fruit 
has remained on the bushes later than that of 
any other variety we have grown. It can be 
safely recommended for those who desire a late 
currant, if all plants produce as good fruit as 
those last mentioned. But I am led to suspect that 
there is an occasional plant among all North 
Stars, of the Red Dutch. Mr. Hale, of Connecticut, 
started with the North Star at the same time that 
I did, and is favorably impressed with it. 
The North Star has fruited with us 
two seasons. This may be too soon to 
enable any one to form an opinion that 
will hold. It has been our way for many 
years, to describe fruits, vegetables and 
ornamental plants as they develop. 
Sometimes these opinions have to be 
modified from year to year, but gener¬ 
ally not. For example, our opinion of 
the Fay currant, the first given by any 
paper that had fruited it, has never been 
changed. So, too, we may speak of the 
Cuthbert raspberry, Shaffer, Loudon, 
etc., while our opinion of the Columbian 
corn. The yield of grain in most in¬ 
stances has been greater than that of 
corn, and the plant stands drought much 
better. Seed of this sorghum was 
planted in the Rural Grounds May 23. It 
was not until September 1 that the grain 
heads were in bloom, and the grain did 
not fully ripen until our first frost. The 
highest leaves of the plants were about 
six feet above ground, the gram panicles 
being from six inches to a foot higher. 
The plants did not sucker, the stalks be¬ 
ing rather slender and hard. Whether 
we consider this sorghum as a fodder or 
a grain plant, we should not think of 
planting it where corn thrives. And 
this has been our experience with all of 
the sorghums. 
We are always glad to get reports of 
the potatoes, wheat and rye hybrids, 
roses, etc., that have originated at the 
Rural grounds. A subscriber (J. V. 
Kinder) living in West Brownsville, Pa., 
says that, of 100 kinds of potatoes that 
he is cultivating, the Rural Blush, R. 
N.-Y. No. 2, Carman Nos. 1 and 3 are 
among the best. 
Last spring, Mr. J. L. Normand, 
Marksville, La., was kind enough to 
send us a few seeds of the so-called Cas- 
sabanana fruit, which he calls Benincasa 
cerifera (Sicana odorifera). This beauti¬ 
ful fruit was fully described in The R. 
N.-Y. of February 8, 1896. One of these 
fruits we preserved as one would citron. 
It has something of the flavor of the 
pineapple, though something of the 
flavor of the pumpkin was apparent. 
The fruits are at least 12 inches long, 
and of the shape of an immense Bologna 
sausage, the skin being of a deep purple 
color. The seeds germinated and the 
vines grew thriftily, but they did not 
bloom. Evidently they need a longer 
season than that at the Rural Grounds. 
The Hardy Catalpa —C. Speciosa.— 
Is there a more rapid growing tree than 
this ? If so, is there one that grows as 
fast, or faster, that possesses so many 
other valuable qualities—size of leaves, 
beauty of flowers, hardiness and value 
of wood ? Now, little trees of the 
Hardy catalpa—a foot high—may be 
bought for 50 cents a hundred—valuable 
alike, in four or six years as ornamentals, 
or for grove or forest. 
has been modified to the extent that we 
found the berries clung to the stems 
more firmly than did those of the Shaffer. 
Fay’s currant differs from Red Cherry 
and Versaillaise in that the berries are 
uniformly somewhat larger, especially 
those at the bottom of a raceme, and the 
bush is more spreading. In some places, 
the Fay is more productive, and in others, 
less productive than the Red Cherry or 
Versaillaise, which are so nearly alike 
that no one can say which is which. 
Wilder, a seedling of the Versaillaise, 
is valued because the berries hang on the 
bushes until very late, remaining bright 
and plump. The Victoria is also valued 
for its lateness, while the bush is a strong 
grower of upright habit. The berries 
are, however, not so large as those of 
Fay or Cherry. Fay, White and Red 
Dutch and the Cherry ripen about the 
same time. Perhaps further experience 
may change our opinion as to the rela¬ 
tive values of the North Star and Red 
Cross as compared with older varieties. 
At present, however, we would as lief 
have the Red Dutch as either, and our 
further selections would be Fay, Cherry 
and Victoria. We have a new variety 
of red currant, sent to us in 1892, by 
the Storrs & Harrison Co., of Painesville, 
O. Thus far, it does not seem to be an 
improvement upon the Red Dutch except, 
perhaps, that it may be of better quality. 
We have, also, a variety of white cur¬ 
rant, sent to us by J C. Vaughan, which 
is very promising as to size of bunch, as 
to size of berry and as to quality. 
Much has been said in Kansas and 
other western States about Red Kaffir 
ll89T Catalogue lass?- 
VAUGHAN’S SEED STORE, 
I New YorUi CHICAGOi 
l Barclay St. 84 and 86 Randolph St. 
A_ M|ti • M ||_ Q—From Thorburn’s stock. 
barman no. o mo per barrel. 
GEO. K. HIGB1E & GO., Rochester, N. Y. 
SEED POTATOES 
—Northern Wiseonsin- 
grower. 
No. 1 stock at low prices. Circular free 
NORMAN NELSON, Laney, Wis 
Northwestern New York Dnto4nOC 
produces the very BEST vvvll I UlfllUCO 
Heavy yielders: BULLY BOY, QUAKER CITY. 
GOOD NEWS. 70 kinds; fair prices. List free. 
CHAS. W. FORD & CO., B’ishers. Ontario Co., N. Y. 
Everitt's Early nnTlTnFP outyield Maule’s with 
Thoroughbred lU I H I ULu Burpee and others; 
156 bushels from 120 pounds. — McPherson, N. Y. 
Carmans and others, in barrel or car lots, booked 
for spring SMITH’S STOCK AND SEED FARM. 
Padelfords, N. Y. 
FARM 
r»#ySalzer’s Seeds grow and produce!' 
f John Breider, Mishieott, Wis., astonished 
'the world growing 173 bu. of Sulzer s Silver 
King Barley per acre. Don’t you believe 
it? Just write him. fn order to gain, m 
1897, 100,000 new customers, we send on trial 
10 DOLLARS’ WORTH FOR 10c. 
12pkg8. of new and rare farm seeds, includ¬ 
ing above Barley, Teosinte, Giant Spurry, 
Sand Vetch, “40c. Wheat,” etc., positively 
worth $10, to get a start, including our 
great seed catalog, all postpaid, for i 
10 cents. Catalog alone, 5c. postage. 
Largest growers of farm seeds and 
k potatoes ($1. 50 a bbl) in the world^ 
35 pkgs. earliest vegetable 
seeds, $1.00 
FARM ANNUAL im 
-Tells the plain truth about- 
The BEST SEEDS that Grow! 
Hundreds of illustrations; remarkable Novelties, painted from nature. It is known as 
“The Leading American Seed Catalogue.” jssp Mailed FREE to all. 
W. ATLEE BURPEE 4, CO., PHILADELPHIA, PA. 
JERRARD’S SEED POTATOES , 
are always THE BEST. 4 6rown from pedigree seed in the I 
new lands of the cold North-East, they yield Earliest and| 
largest crops in every climate. 
JE RRflRD’S NORTHERN SEEDS ✓ 
produce’carlier vegetables than any other on earth. 
OUR NEW ILLUSTRATED CATALOGUE MAILED FREE. Address 
The George W P. Jerrard Co., Caribou. Maine. 
“Worth $1.00 to any Farmer or Gardener.” $ 
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“A most satisfactory Business Document ” 
Is what customers say about our Descriptive Catalogue of 
Woocfs High -Grade Seeds. 
Wood’s Catalogue for 1897, contains “flonthly Opera¬ 
tions for the Farm and Garden.” Gives descriptions, and 
tells the best ways of Planting and Cultivating all Crops. Gives 
most valuable information about Grasses and Clovers, with 
recommendations as to best Mixtures for Meadows and 
Pastures, and contains, altogether, the most complete and re¬ 
liable information about Garden and Farm Crops. Mailed free 
f on application to any one intending to purchase seeds. Write for it. 
y 
£ T* ood & Sons, Seedsmen, Richmond, Va. 
Our Ninety-sixth ANNUAL CATALOGUE is now ready, and will be 
mailed FREE on application. It contains the largest 
Collection in the World of 
Vegetable, Flower and Farm Seeds, 
Including the new WHITE PEACHBLOW POTATO, orders for which should 
be sent in early, as the supply is limited. 
Beautifully Illustrated with Hundreds of Cuts. 
We Mail it FREE, ‘©ft 
J.M.TH0RBURN & Co. 15 JOHN ST.NewYork 
J 
Jobes’ “Mortgage Lifter” Oats. 
Mr. Frank Jobes developed this heaviest, best yielding and most profitable variety 
of Oats. Named it “Mortgage Lifter” because it would seem impossible for a mort¬ 
gage to stay on the farm where it is grown. 
Not many for sale—a trial bushel, $1.25; 10 bushels, $7.50. Order early to secure 
some—at least write me about them and your seed potatoes. 
FRANK P. JOBES, honeoye Falls, N. Y. 
BATTLES’ TESTED SEEDS. 
Market Gardeners, Farmers and all Seed Buyers, GET MY BRICES BEFORE 
YOTT HUY. Write for 1897 Seed Annual and Special Wholesale Price Inst. Send for 
samples of any seeds you wish to test. S8F Salesmen wanted everywhere. Write now. 
FRANK H. BATTLES, Garden Seeds , and ROCHESTER, 
N. Y. 
Finest stock, best varieties, grown and stored In cold 
Northwest. Low prices. Small lots delivered 
free. Write for Illustrated Catalogue. 
E. W. ALLEN. Wolverton, Wilkin Co., Minn. 
fM FORD’Sw SEEDS& 
Seed Potatoes, Plants, Trees and Vines. Free cat¬ 
alog, unique, common sense, tells the truth, See it 
money V . e FRANK FORD & SON, Ravenna, Ohio, 
FOR SELLING 
FULLER’S SEEDS. 
Send for Cash 
and Catalogue. 
l'reiuniio List 
flf) for growing largest Tomato from seed of our 
.UU new variety Wall about: pkt.ior: 3 for 25 e. 
free with every order 1 pktof Jap.Olimbing Cucumber. 
dl. Koseoe Fuller .V Co., Floral Park, X. Y. 
WE’LL BUY OR SELL^» |“ S“ 
Gratis,Clover orTimothy P" I ■ 
We clean them by special^^^ La mmm k ^ 
methods & machinery, and takeout every kinUof weed 
seed. Ordinary seeds contain weeds—over-run the farm 
—exhaust it—& reduce quantity & quality of crop. Our 
seeds are clean. W rite today for free booklet, Seep Sense 
The WHITNEY-NOYES SEED C 0 . B KV!!Jk O . H 
Our I89T Whetler & Co.. Bridgeport, Ct., 
, | Wholesale and Ketall Dealers In 
Gatalogue high-class se^ds. 
Our New England-grown seeds do well in all climates. 
All persons In want of High-Grade Farm, Garden or 
Flower Seeds, Plants or Bulbs should ,et our cata¬ 
logue before purchasing. Mailed free to any address. 
Market Gardeners’ Catalogue also mailed f ree. 
C. E. KELLEY, NEWARK, N.Y. 
Carman No 3, Rose Standish. Early Wayne. $2 25. 
Carman No. 1. Sir William, Burpee’s Great Divide. 
Orphan SI.75. Rural New-Yorker No. 2, Dutton, Ohio, 
Rose, Freeman, and 20 other varieties, $ .50 per bar¬ 
rel, f. o. b. Lincoln. American Banner. White Swedish 
Oats. 45c. per bushel. Burpee’s White Cap, Pride of 
the North, and five other varieties of Corn, $1 per bu. 
That Crass is King 
AND THE < OW QUKHN, is a well-kimwn 
and established fact, and the main questions with 
the progressive farmer of to-day are, how more 
grass and better and permanent pastures and 
meadows can be obtained. We have made the 
“ GRASS QUESTION ” our specialty for years, 
and issued our catalogue or Book on Permanent 
Pastures and Meadows. Every Farmer and Dairy¬ 
man interested in more grass or better and per¬ 
manent pastures and meadows, should have a 
copy and read it. All the natural grasses and 
clover are accurately described and Illustrated 
therein, besides it contains valuable information 
in regard to how permanent pastures and meadows 
can be obtained, and gives the experience of our 
old customers with our grass seeds. 
We send a copy of it free to every Farmer and 
Dairyman, write for it to-day. 
FARMER SEED COMPANY, 
(Formerly Chicago, Ill.) Faribault, Minn. 
