i72 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
March 9 
; Ruralisms ; 
• ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ^ TT 
MOTES FROM THE RURAL GROUMDS. 
A New Insecticide. —We have made a 
very satisfactory test under glass of a 
new insecticide named Sprayall sent us 
by Leggett & Bro., New York. It is a 
dark brown liquid, with a not unpleas¬ 
ant tarry odor, and is evidently a dis¬ 
tillation product. It mixes readily with 
cold water in all proportions, forming a 
milky emulsion. Diluted with 30 to 40 
times its bulk of water, and sprayed on 
various plants in the greenhouse, it 
proves fully as effective in killing aph¬ 
ides (green and black lice). Mealy 
bugs, thrips, etc., as tobacco infusion, 
and is much more pleasant to handle. 
When applied in the strength indicated 
above it does not injure the plants in 
any way, and a few repetitions rid them 
of the troublesome pests. In more con¬ 
centrated solution, some of the younger 
leaves of tender plants are killed. While 
the insecticide value of Sprayall is ap¬ 
parently not greater than tobacco tea it 
is far more convenient, in that it seems 
to be permanent in solution, and can be 
kept ready for immediate use for an in¬ 
definite time, while tobacco infusions 
soon ferment, and must be made up 
fresh when needed. The Leggett people 
think that Sprayall is a good disinfect¬ 
ant and deodorizer as well. They pur¬ 
pose to sell it at a lower price than any 
other handy insecticide can now be ob¬ 
tained. 
A Bibdless Winter. —Although our 
Winter averages quite mild up to the 
last week in January, birds have been 
unusually scarce about the Rural 
Grounds. Few were seen except the 
modest and sprightly juncoes or black 
snowbirds, and the usual Winter flight 
of crows crossing daily from the hills 
to the beaches, and returning when the 
tides drove them from the shore. Se¬ 
vere weather set in with the coming of 
February, and still continues with lit¬ 
tle abatement. During the lulls In the 
almost constant sharp north winds a 
few robins, bluebirds and Meadow larks 
come chirping about the buildings, and 
one small fiight of Yellow-rumped warb¬ 
lers was noticed in an evergreen hedge 
one chilly but sunny morning. Their 
actions showed plainly that they felt out 
of place. A young Sparrow hawk has 
been making himself very much at home 
for weeks, coming daily to the lawn 
terraces, bare of snow on their southern 
slopes, apparently in search of dormant 
grasshoppers or other insects, but always 
keeping an eye on the impudent Euro¬ 
pean sparrows, which have apparently 
learneu to respect his presence. This 
usually shy bird has become so accus¬ 
tomed to undemonstrative humanity 
that it now permits a very close ap¬ 
proach. After many years’ close obser¬ 
vation of the smaller native hawks we 
are convinced that they are really use¬ 
ful birds, as the great bulk of their food 
consists of large insects, mice and rep¬ 
tiles, small birds, as a rule, only being 
pursued when other supplies fail. Se¬ 
vere cold weather usually brings a fiight 
of northern birds down the coast, but 
none has been noticed here so far. 
A Fine Native Crabapple. —We re¬ 
ceived from Chris Roessle, Jefferson Co., 
Wis., some large and beautifully colored 
wild crab apples. They were rather 
larger than full-sized Lady apples, rich, 
waxy, yellow in color, with a bright red 
cheek. Mr. Roessle rightly remarks 
that they are remarkable crabs for his 
part of the country. The tree was found 
last Fall, and he judges it to be about 
10 years old. It bore about a bushel of 
apples, all large, and most of them with 
red cheeks. They had the usual high 
aromatic quince-like perfume of our 
common native crabs, but the flesh was 
much less acerb in flavor. When cooked 
with sugar they developed more agree¬ 
able qualities than any of the Siberian 
crabs we have tried. From their ap¬ 
pearance and quality one would conclude 
Mr. Roessle’s crab is a hybrid between 
the western wild crab, Pyrus loensis, 
and some cultivated apple. Several fine 
native crabs are now in limited cultiva¬ 
tion, viz., the Soulard, Fluke and Mat¬ 
thews crabs. The two latter are credited 
with bearing fruits as large as the va¬ 
riety we are considering, but no men¬ 
tion is made of the attractive red flesh, 
all being described as yellow in color. 
When we consider the hardiness, vigor 
and exemption from disease of our na¬ 
tive crabs, their long-keeping qualities 
and distinct and excellent flavor when 
cooked, it seems strange that greater 
progress should not have been made in 
their adaptation for culture. The na¬ 
tional dish of England, as recently re¬ 
ported by a United States consul, has 
changed from beef to fruit jams, so 
enormous is their consumption of late 
years, and the jam habit is rapidly grow¬ 
ing in all foreign countries. Now the 
base of much of this jam is made from 
the cores and peels of American apples, 
gathered at the evaporators and canner¬ 
ies and exported for the purpose. 
Enough other fruits or berries are mixed 
in this apple jelly to give the desired 
flavor and consistence. If in time we 
could get some greatly enlarged and 
productive crabs of Mr. Roessle’s type 
a very superior article of apple jelly or 
marmalade could be made in immense 
quantities at convenience, as the fruits 
may be kept over Winter with but lit¬ 
tle loss. It would take a long time, 
however, to ameliorate these sturdy na¬ 
tive apples sufficiently to make them of 
real commercial value, and meanwhile 
Europeans may find some other material 
to hypothecate their jams. We consid¬ 
er Mr. Roessle’s crab well worthy of 
home cultivation in its present state, if 
the tree is sufliciently healthy and vig¬ 
orous. w. v. F. 
How to Handle Leaves. 
I see your Hope Farm man has had con¬ 
siderable instruction on the way to gather 
leaves. I thought perhaps my experience 
might be of some use to him, as we have 
used leaves for litter for the last 18 years. 
We began by raking in piies and windrows, 
the same as hay, and that practice still 
holds good. But the great problem was 
getting them into the wagon. We used 
large straw forks to begin with, but they 
would not hold enough. In Auburn one 
day, I saw them loading with baskets 
which held four or five bushels. I thought 
that was a good thing, so I made a crate 
out of light wood that would hold a large 
amount of leaves, but it was too much 
labor, and did not give satisfaction. Then 
I ti’ied large sacks and various other de¬ 
vices; none of them was satisfactory. 1 
conceived the Idea of a large wooden fork 
to run under the leaves. That was next 
to the best thing which I ever used. But 
the wooden teeth bothered a great deal on 
uneven ground; would not go through a 
pile of leaves well, neither would it always 
load evenly, so I got a long-handled and 
long-tined barley or gavel fork, and that 
is the nearest to a success of anything 
that we ever used. It works in a hollow, 
on a knoll or anywhere where one can find 
leaves, and a man who understands using 
it will put them into a large body as fast 
as two can care for them. a. p. h. 
Ithaca, N. Y. 
The Box for Western Apples. 
There is no doubt but the packing and 
shipping of fruit in boxes throughout the 
East would increase the demand, making 
customers of an army of small families, 
and those not able to take care of fruit In 
large packages, I believe that such when 
boxed should be choice, and think that very 
much better prices could be had. I have 
not seen a bushel or half-bushel basket 
during residence In Washington; apples 
are all packed in boxes, pears and peaches 
also In boxes, and paper-wrapped, while 
apricots, nectarines, and plums, wrapped, 
are marketed in baskets, and crated four 
baskets to the crate; grapes crated four 
baskets to crate. All vegetables are sold 
by weight, including lettuce; celery by 
bunch, 12 stalks to bunch. This method of 
shipment will hold good also for Idaho and 
Oregon. The above States are extending 
their market for apples, and this past sea¬ 
son a great many carloads have been sent 
in to the Middle West. H. G. 
Addy, Wash. 
Evergreens 
You can increase tlie value 
of your lioine or farm by 
the use of ornamental and 
shade trees at little ex¬ 
pense. We are the larg¬ 
est growers in America of 
Evergreens, Shade 
Trees and Forest 
Trees. We supply both 
Wholesale and Retail 
trade. Trees sent by mail. 
Let us send you price-lists 
of anything you want. 
R. DOUGLAS’ SONS, 
WAUKEGAN, ILE. 
free; 
Illustrated Catalogue 
of Choice Evergreens, 
* Shrubs, Fruit, other Trees, 
Koses, Water Lilies, etc. Prices low. 
E. S. PETKKSON & SONS, Box 15. Montrose, N. Y. 
WoodvIewNurseries' 
Catalogue Is now ready. Lowest prices for strictly 
reliable stock. True to name. Fruit Tree Seedlings 
York Imperial, KlelTer, Peach—Specialty. 
Box 100, Uriah, Pa. 
Lovers of Trees 
will find in our elegantly Illustrated new Catalogue, 
a synopsis of all the most charming trees, vinos, 
shrubs and roses in cultivation. It Is, In fact, a per¬ 
fect handbook of the “ tlora of the World,” suited 
to our climate and botanlcally correct. Price 10 cents. 
HOOPES BRO. & THOMAS, 
MAPLE AVENUE NUKSEK1E8, 
WEST CHESTER, PA. 
PEDIGREED PRACH 
TREES o o 
New Fruits and Kerries—Low Prices. 
Everything for the Fruit Grower. Catalog FREE. 
LINDSLEY’S NUKSEKIES, Whltehouse, N. J. 
300 ACRES, 
For more than 50 years we have grown nursery 
stock—only varieties of known worth. Fruit, Orna¬ 
mental trees. Shrubs and small fruits. October 
I’urple Plum, fruited with us last year, excels 
Abundance and Rurbank in every way and Is one 
month later In ripening. We have large stock of 
two-year old trees. Extra line stock of Green 
Mountain Grape. Catalogue free. 
STEPHEN HOYT’S SONS, 
New Canaan, Conn. 
TQPPQ—Young budded Apple, Pear and Plum, 
I llbCd He. each. Send to G, C. STONE'S 
Wholesale Nurseries, Dausvllle, N. Y., for 80-page 
Catalogue. Secure varieties uow; pay In Spring. 
Fruit Trees, Small Fruits in¬ 
cluding Grapes. Ornamental 
Trees, Evergreens and Flower¬ 
ing Shrubs for public and 
private grounds. Shade Trees 
for streets. Hardy Roses, 
Hardy Plants, Climbers, etc. 
Our beautifully illustrated 
catalogue contains accurate and 
trustworthy descriptions of the 
choicest varieties, and is replete 
with practical hints indispen¬ 
sable to planters; it will be 
mailed free on application. 
ELLWANGER & BARRY, 
Mt. Hope Nurseries, ROCHESTER. N.Y. 
EstubUnhed over <10 YcarH. 
Mention this publication. 
TBE STORKS 
SEEDS. PLANTS, 
Kohcii, Itulbfi, Vine, 
Slirubfi, Fruit and Oriia- 
nicntul Trees. The best 
by 47 years test. 1000 acres, 
40 In Hardy Itosea, 44 
(Jreen houses of PI ants and 
Kverl)loomingRoses. Mail 
size postpaid, safe arrival 
guaranteed. Try us, our 
goods will please you and 
direct deaf will save you 
money. Valuable ItiB-page 
Catalogue Free. 
UAKRISO.V CO., 
Box 244 PAINSVILLE, OHIO. 
contains a thorough de.scription of 
and garden purposes. Also, descrip- 
Trees, Vines, Plants, etc., for beau- 
book of 68 pages, with nearly 100 
Ornamentals. We offer a choice 
best grasses and clovers. The Cata- 
colored plates are beautiful. Mailed 
's 18th Annual 
Spline Gatainpe 
all the good Fruits for commercial 
tious of all the valuable Ornamental 
tifving the home grounds. It is a 
illustrations of the best Fruits and 
Lawn Grass Mixture, and all the 
logtte is useful aud instructive. The 
free to all who write for it and 
mention The Rukal New-Youkek. Send for it at once. Address 
T. J. DWYER & SON, 
Orange Co. 
Nurseries, 
Cornwall, N. Y. 
FRUIT 
of Superior Qua¬ 
lity. (Jet my cata- 
log-ue to-day, with 
indorsements from 
many Orchardists who have Bearing Orchards of my trees many years planted. Any¬ 
one can ijroduce testimonials of recent shipments. A period of years of frnitafje is 
the TRUE TEST. Yes, sir, I fumigate ; was among the first to advocate it. Special 
inducements prior to Mai'ch 15 on Apple and Pear trees. 11. S. WILEY, Cayuga, N.Y. 
Ours have stood the test of oO years. 
Send tor price list. 
600 Acres. 13 Ureenhunsea. Established 1852. 
PHOENIX NURSERY COMPANY, 
1200 Park St., Bloomington, Illinois. 
ioo 
20 
30 
VARIETIES JAPAN PLUMS 
in Trial Orchard. 
Listed for Sale. 
Thrown Away. 
We paid from $1 to $5 apiece for trees when introduced, and many times that for experience. We give 
away the experience, and sell the trees at a nominal price. Wo have some varieties we know are good, 
and plenty we know nothing about, if you prefer to pay for your own experience. FREE CATALOGUE— 
Fruit Trees, Berry Plants, Gladioli, Dahlias. Roses, Shrubs. Seed Potatoes, Baskets, etc. _ 
THE BUTLER & JEWELL CO., CROMWELL, CONN. 
THE THREE 
*1x10 York Imperial Apple just 
what you have been looking for 
Large, bright red winter variety j 
S atishes the most exact ing. Ilobusl * 
heavy bearer. 85 others; peaches,pears; 
everything for the orchard and garden* 
C'otfilouc’e Free. Send to day. 
HARRISON’S nurseries; 
winners 
fhe HEW EV Peach. I'e 
The 
feet freestone; heavy and delic 
Very early, hardy and prouuciive*! 
Oibson Strawberry, large, 
fine llavor, very prolific. Good ship¬ 
per. Catalogue describes this and 
50 other varieties. >‘end f^r It now. 
Box 29^ BERLIN, MARYLAND. 
