io8 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
February 16 
; Ruralisms ; 
H/OTES FROM THE RURAL GROUMDS. 
Scale Killing. —How to control the 
Pernicious or San Jos6 scale has become 
an absorbing question in the minds of 
all fruit growers. It is realized that the 
pest is now widely distributed, and in¬ 
trenched beyond all possibility of gen¬ 
eral dislodgment. The researches of 
the experiment stations have thrown 
much light on its life history, and a 
practical method of controlling its rav¬ 
ages seems to have been worked out in 
the use of petroleum. Just how to use 
this powerful agent, in view of conflict¬ 
ing reports of its action on living trees, 
is the vexed problem. J. H. E., Lewis- 
town, Idaho, writes as follows: 
Ill Ruralisms, December 29, it is stated 
that in early March the trees now infected 
with the scale will be closely pruned and 
given two thorough sprayings with crude 
fresh petroleum, just as the buds show 
signs of starting. Now, for the benefit of 
some of your western readers, who are 
contemplating the use of crude petroleum 
for a like purpose, will you answer a few 
inquiries in reference to the use of the 
petroleum? You mention using fresh 
crude petroleum. Does it lose in efficiency 
with age? Do you apply full strength, or 
as an emulsion? Is it applied warm or 
cold? If cold, i^ it not difficult to apply as 
a fine spray? What make of nozzle do you 
use? I observe in the same issue, page 873, 
in report of Ohio State Horticultural So¬ 
ciety, Prof. Webster, of the Ohio Station, 
states in his report that “crude petroleum 
is indeed a dangerous weapon to use 
against it. It seems we have much to 
learn before we can safely use it.’’ I have 
read that when pure coal oil is used for 
the same purpose, it should only be ap¬ 
plied ill clear weather. Might it not be the 
.same in the use of the crude petroleum? 
If the sun were shining the more volatile 
parts would pass off more readily, and not 
penetrate so deeply into the bark. 
Sppead All Ovejr. —By “fresh” petro¬ 
leum we mean the freshest we can get 
in the local hardware store, securing it, 
if possible, from a newly-received bar¬ 
rel or package. Two sprayings will be 
given in order to cover any areas left 
untreated by the flrst application. It 
has been demonstrated that petroleum 
does not spread on the trunk or 
branches of a tree much beyond the area 
of its application, even during the hot¬ 
test weather. A spot or strip of un¬ 
treated surface, if sheltering live scales 
at the time of spraying, will continue to 
afford congenial lodgement and breed¬ 
ing conditions for the young, but the 
larvae apparently find it impossible to 
effect a lodgement on the adjacent 
greasy area, and the treated portions 
have thus shown themseives to be im¬ 
mune to attacks of the scale until the 
end of the season, eight months at least. 
Untreated areas are easily seen a few 
hours after spraying, as the effect of the 
petroleum is to tinge the bark a black¬ 
ish-brown, which persists until the 
storms of the succeeding Winter, when 
the color bleaches out to a rather light 
gray. A fair application of petroleum 
certainly kills every scale which it cov¬ 
ers, and undoubtedly destroys many 
fungi, and insects other than the scale. 
May Kill Tkees. —It has killed many 
young trees also, and seems to be espe¬ 
cially fatal when applied in midwinter 
to dormant trees. For this reason we 
prefer to spray in early April, just as the 
buds begin to swell, as the bark, being 
full of sap, is less easily penetrated by 
the light volatile oils contained in the 
crude or natural petroleum, and the ac¬ 
tivity of growth at that period quickly 
repairs any moderate injury to the liv¬ 
ing cells of the cambium, which might 
perish if exposed for months to the cold, 
dessicating winds of Winter. For the few 
trees treated on the Rural Grounds an 
ordinary greenhouse spraying bellows 
has proven efficient. The coming season 
we shall use a Leggett churn sprayer, 
the nozzle of which is a modification of 
the Vermorel. 
When to Seuay. —Petroleum at tem¬ 
peratures above 50 degrees is very easy 
to spray from any nozzle, but it thickens 
and becomes difficult to handle at low 
temperatures. We would choose a 
bright “drying” day when possible, so 
that evaporation of the volatile constitu¬ 
ents may be as rapid as possible. The 
actual destruction of the scales probably 
takes place very quickly, and the sooner 
the volatile oils are dissipated the less 
injury to the tree. Crude petroleum, as 
pumped from the wells and marketed, is 
of uncertain and varying composition; 
the product from one district differing 
from another. When kept for a long 
time it becomes dark and heavy from the 
escape of the benzine, gasoline and kero¬ 
sene oils and the concentrated vaseline, 
paraffin and heavy oils remaining are 
too greasy and choking in their effect 
for safe application to living trees. It 
is likely that experiments will be made 
to determine the safest and most effec¬ 
tive combination, and it is possible that 
the petroleum insecticide of the future 
will be built up to a definite standard by 
synthesis, or putting the ingredients to¬ 
gether. Our applications are made in 
full strength. There is always an ele¬ 
ment of uncertainty in an emulsion. It 
is troublesome to make, and very un¬ 
stable, unless used immediately. 
Gannas and Pennisetum. —Fig. 38, 
from a cut kindly loaned by the Flor¬ 
ists’ Review, Chicago, Ill., shows a de¬ 
lightful bedding effect produced by two 
easily-grown plants. Gannas have now 
become so cheap that a dozen roots or 
plants may be procured for a trifle, and 
bedded out as soon as the soil becomes 
warm in a rich compost. The Pennise¬ 
tum is sold under the name of Purple 
Fountain grass, P. Ruppelianum, and 
enough seeds can be had in a 10-cent 
packet to plant quite a border. They 
should be sown indoors about March 1, 
and the little plants transplanted two 
inches apart in shallow boxes of light 
soil and kept rather moist. They are 
quite hardy, and may be set out before 
it is safe to plant the Gannas. Place 
the Gannas 18 to 20 inches apart through 
the center of the beds, and the Foun¬ 
tain grass not over 10 inches apart 
around the border. The combination of 
silvery purple of the grass plumes with 
the dark green foliage and glowing red 
and yellow blooms of the Gannas is very 
pleasing. Purple or dai’K foliaged Gan¬ 
nas should not be used in this combina¬ 
tion. 
Planting Gladioli. —Village Smith, 
of Ohio, asks the following questions: 
Do you know of anyone using a hand 
drill for planting Gladiolus bulblets? If 
so, what make was it? I have tried the 
Planet Jr., but it does not plant them 
thick enough; that is, the largest bulblets: 
it might work on the very small size, as 
they can be sized by running through dif¬ 
ferent screens; a good hand drill would be 
a great labor saver if it would do the work 
properly, where one has about 300,000 bulb¬ 
lets to plant. How deep, how thick, how 
far apart the rows? How' do you plant 
your bulblets? 
We have never seen a drill used in 
planting the bulblets or cormels of 
Gladioli. They are assorted in two or 
three sizes by sieves, and scattered in 
a broad furrow, at least four inches wide 
at bottom, by hand. They may be sown 
at the rate of 50 to 100 per foot of fur¬ 
row, and covered with three or four 
inches of mellow soil. This seems very 
thick planting, but experience has shown 
they grow much better than if strung 
out to greater length of row. It is well to 
plant only in freshly-made furrows, as 
the dry little cormels need all the mois¬ 
ture they can get to soften the hard 
shells. We plant in rows three feet 
apart, and cultivate entirely with a 
wheel hoe, but a small-toothed horse 
cultivator may be used to advantage. 
w. V. F. 
A New Strawberry.—A mong the new 
candidates for favor among strawberry 
seedlings is “Marie,” whicli we understand 
is being offered by W. N. Scarff, of Ohio. 
lUr. Scarff tells us that Marie is one of a 
lot of seedlings grown in 1892 from seed of 
Orescent fertilized with Cumberland. Mr. 
Scarff thinks that if you can get a berry 
that will give the yield of Crescent, with 
as large and fine fruit as Cumberland, you 
will reach near to the ideal in the coming 
strawberry. He gives the following de¬ 
scription of this new berry, and we- show 
at Fig. 39, page 103, a quart of the fruit 
as actually packed ready for shipment. 
We have not yet tested the variety. “Marie 
was grown from seed of Crescent fertilized 
with Cumberland in 1892. As a seedling it 
showed great promise. We planted for 
field culture as soon as sufficient number 
of plants was obtained, and as yet have 
failed to detect any weak points in either 
fruit or plant of this grand variety. The 
plants are good growers, making plenty of 
runners for a good crop and show no signs 
of disease. The blossom is imperfect; sea¬ 
son same as Bubach and Haverland. 
Equally as large as Bubach, Glen Mary or 
Brandywine, and yielding with any variety 
in our 40-acre fruit plantation; besides. It 
is the most attractive in appearance when 
picked and ready for market of any In our 
entire collection. The berries are round as 
a ball, dark crimson in color; flesh dark 
and quality first-class, holding up in size 
to the very last pickings.” 
The experiment started a year ago by 
the Rhode Island Experiment Station to 
determine the result of Individual selection 
of strawberry plants will be watched with 
considerable interest. Such a thing is very 
properly station work, for the market 
grower would find It a matter of much 
care, particularly with the method of mat- ] 
ted row culture. j. w. b. < 
Everblooming Hardy Roses. 
I grow-them. Don’t bother with little mall-eize plants. 
Get strong three-year old field-grown bushes— 
vigorous and hardy 1 I have them. Try this half 
dozen—all perpetual bloomers: Mrs. John Laing. 
soft pink; Anna Dlesbach, bright rose; Coquette des 
Alpes, finest white; Gen. Jacqueminot, crimson scar¬ 
let; Baron Bonstettln, dark velvet; Paul Neyron, 
largest and finest of all. Too heavy to go by mall. 
Big, strong bushes that will bloom profusely the flrst 
season. By express, prepaid, $2. Order to-day. 
J. A. CALiLiISON, Rose Grower, 
Grand View Station, Des Moines, la. 
The Lincoln Pear 
I “The best pear we ever tasted" is what every 
one says about the Lincoln. Annual l)earer, very 
. hardy, Kriiit large, solid, golden yellow, juicy 
' and aromatic. Season, August and September. 
Very prolific. Handsome catalogue, free. 
Agents wanted. Introduced and sold under 
■^copyrighted label exclusively by 
W. E. Jones Co., Lincoln. III. 
A New Vegetable 
“ CRIMSON WINTER ” ■'is,. 
The GREAT VALUE OF KHUBARB has always 
been its earllnesB. CRIMSON WINTER is fully 
six months earlier than any other Rhubarb. 
“OPULENT" Peach, “FIRST” Plum 
and other new fruits. 
For descriptive catalogues address 
Burbank’s Experiment Farm, Santa Rosa, Cal. 
♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦ 
♦ 
♦ 
4 
4 
4 
4 
% 
A PICTURE OF THE 
I 
4 
4 
X 
4 
4 
4 
I Expansive Tree Protector | 
J Absolutely prevents all worms and Insects 4 
from crawling up fruit and shade trees. 4 
4 For circular, prices, etc., address J 
EXPANSIVE TREE PROTECTOR CO., ' 
ROCHESTER, N. Y. 
^ I3y Liberal Terms to Agents. 
44444444444444444444444444 
Maule’s {35 nem) things for 1901) 
Seed Catalogue 
You should, by all means, have this most 
modern eatalogiic of modern times. 
It i.s brimful and overflowing with good things in 
vegetable, farm and flower seeds, (lowering 
plants, fruits, bulbs, etc. It contains 3S 
novelties in vegetables and tiowers 
never otFcred before, has 136 large pages, 
seven handsome colored plates and hundreds of 
illustrations. It gives practical, up-to-date cul¬ 
tural directions and offers many cash prizes. 
The first edition alone costs over $30,000, so while 
we send it free to all customers, we must ask 
others to send 10 cents for It, which amount they 
may deduct from their first order. You will 
make a mistake If you do not write to-day for this 
the Novelty Seed Book of the year. Address, 
WM. HENRY HAVER, Ptailadelpliia. 
HORBURN’S 
Seeds 
> " ■ ■ " . ’' 
They have been developed by 
careful, thoughtful propagation 
throughout the Nineteenth cen¬ 
tury. Thorburn’s 116-page Century 
Catalogue of these 
Seeds of 
& Century 
is the 100th successive annual 
issue. If you would have a more 
beautiful lawn, or a more produc¬ 
tive garden, send for it. It’s free. 
J. M. THORBVRN & CO. 
(late of 15 John Street) 
S6 Oortlundt Street, New York. 
/ 
Giant Pansies, Sweet Peas, Mayflower. 
Did you ever see 7 straight or circular rows of Pansies 
or Sweet Peas side by side, each a different color! If so, 
you know tliattheeffectis charming. Did you ever see 
Childs’ Giant Pansies and Sweet Peas, marvels in beauty 
and true to color! If not, you liave not seen tlie best. 
As ji Trial Offer we W'lll mall for 30c., 
14 Pkts. Giant Pansies and Sw’t Peas as follows; 
Sweet Pea—Navy Blue. 
“ “ Black Knight 
“ “ Gol’n Yellow 
“ “ Orange Pink. 
“ “ Cream. 
“ “ Scarlet. 
“ “ Pure White. 
Pansy Giant—Snow White 
“ “ Coal Black. 
“ “ Cardinal. 
“ “ Yellow. 
“ “ Azure Blue. 
» “ Violet, 
“ “ Striped. 
One Packet of each, The Mayflower Magazine until 
1902, (devoted to Flowers and Gardening, Elegant Outs 
and Colored plates), and our Great Catalogue, all for^. 
Our Catalogue for lOOl.— New Century Edi¬ 
tion-Greatest Book of Flower and Vegetable Seeds, 
Bulbs, Plants and New Fruits, 1.52 pages, 500 illustra¬ 
tions, 12 colored plates, will be mailed free to any who 
anticipate purchasing. Scores of Great Novelties. 
John Lewis Oliilds, Floral Park, N. Y. 
TREES 
and Plants at Wholesale Prices. Apple, 
Pear and Plum, $8 per 100. Cat. free. 
Reliance Nursery, Box 10, Geneva, N. Y, 
UBIjHII HI that Live, Grow and bear the kinds of fruit you buy. Hardy Trees, 
I that fruit Early. Why? Because budded from bearing trees of 
I Early Fruiting Habits. Prices! Well, a Peach Orchard, loo 
H trees, best kinds, $3.50. Japan Plums, $16 per 100. Apple Fear and 
n ± r Cherry ;i 3 ParA'Beac/t mail for iiOc.; former price 50c. each. 
tst a 1a47. Cat. Free. All Stock Fumigated, if desired. H. S. WILEY, Cayuga, N. Y. 
These Three 
The OIIISON Struwbcrry, large 
size, line rich flavor, most prolific. 50 
other varieties. Our FREE Catalogue 
describes full line of everything for 
the orchard and garden. Apple, Plum, 
I’caeh, etc., all vigorous and healthy. 
Harrison’s Nurseries, 
Karel to Beat. 
KIEFFElt Pear. Enormously 
productive. Handsome fruit— 
ripens late. A rapid grower. 
ASPARAGUS. All standard 
varieties. Our specialty, Donald’s 
Elmira. You certainly want It. 
Box 2gy Ber lin, Md. 
1 Dwyer’s Eighteenth 
Annual Spring Catalog 
contains a thorough description of all the good fruit for commercial and 
garden purposes; also descriptions and Illustrations of ornamental 
trees, plants, vines, etc., for beautifying the home grounds. Mailed free to all who apply for It, and mention 
The Rural New-Yorker. This book is useful and Instructive. The colored plates are works of art. Do 
not fail to write for it at once. Address 
T. J. DWYER & SON, Orango County Nurseries, CORNWALL, N. Y. 
jOther People’s Profits 
have increased 25 to BO per cent, when they began to spray tha right way — 
with the right sprayer, the PEPPLER AND CLIMAX SIX-ROW SPRAYERS. ^ 
1 hey will do as much for you. Read now they spray So acres a day. ’ 
> how they save 14 the poison, increase crops one-half, pay for them- I 
selves in one season. Catalogue contains spray calendar, formulas, etc. Sent free. 
I also manufacture the improved Riggs Flow and Riggs Fnrrowers. 
THOMAS PEPPLER, Box 60, HICHTSTOWN, N.J. 
’VTsrv’sr^ , , , , s tv i x puseei 
’/.• ■' harvest. That’s what you want. Careful seeding is the first | 
step toward it. 'I'he best seeder is the popular 
CAHOON 
BROADCAST SEEDER 
It is best because it saves one-third the seed and 
four-fifths the labor of hand sowing; because 
it distributes the seed evenly; becau.se anyone can 
use it and lasts a lifetime. Ask your dealer for it. 
Goodell Co., 14 Main St., Antrim, N. H. 
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