April 13 
2l2 
THE RURAL NEW-VORKER. 
; Ruralisms 
MOTES FROM THE RURAL GROUNDS. 
The Fikst Snowdrop. —The first 
snowdrop of the year opened March 10; 
not a specially early date, as they came 
in bloom in February last year, but it is 
quick work in the development of a 
flower, considering the ground had been 
constantly frozen for several weeks pro- 
vioucly. The clumps now in bloom are 
in a well protected situation near the 
south wall, and only waited for a brief 
cessation of freezing weather to peep 
out. There is something very inspiring 
about the advent of this hardy and yet 
delicate little flower each season. It is 
the first really tangible sign that Win¬ 
ter’s grip has relaxed. There may be 
frosty flurries yet in store, but one in¬ 
stinctively feels that the pulse of Spring 
has surely began to beat. 
Interest in San Jose Scale. —Wide¬ 
spread interest in the Pernicious or San 
Jos6 scale is indicated by the number of 
twigs sent to The R. N.-Y. for identifi¬ 
cation of diseased conditions. They have 
come in by the score lately, but in oniy 
two instances have the specimens re¬ 
ceived been infested with the true Per¬ 
nicious scale, the others carrying ova of 
aphides, or being covered with the Oys¬ 
ter-shell and less dangerous scales, it 
is very encouraging to note the deter¬ 
mination on the part of so many grow¬ 
ers to find out just what ails their trees. 
In our humble opinion neither tne 
spread of the Pernicious scale, nor of 
any other dangerous plant infection will 
be checked until the growers interest 
themselves sufliiciently to identify and 
fight the pest without depending on offi¬ 
cial or legislative action. Radical laws, 
such as are now in force in Maryland 
and portions of Canada, are decidedly 
offensive to most people, as they place 
the cultivator at the mercy of irrespon¬ 
sible officials, with all tne possibilities 
of discrimination and blackmail which 
such extraordinary powers of invasion 
of private property for the purposes of 
inspection and destruction of infested 
trees or plants may invite. The Perni¬ 
cious scale is very inconspicuous until 
the ti’ees become encrusted, but it can 
easily be found where present if care¬ 
fully searched for by one acquainted 
with it, and everyone who cares to grow 
fruit will soon have a chance, as it is 
spreading in a very persistent manner, 
and it looks as though every fruit tree, 
as well as many ornamental species, will 
demand special attention if the owner 
wishes them to thrive. With every fruit 
grower looking after his own trees, and 
the development of possible natural 
parasites, this dangerous pest may be 
controlled. In the light of present limited 
experience we can only advise the spray¬ 
ing of badly infested trees before growth 
commences with either fresh crude pe¬ 
troleum alone, or a 25-per-cent emulsion 
of the same. For trees on which only a 
few Pernicious scales can be found, or 
those affected with other scales or in¬ 
sects, a solution of whale-oil soap, two 
pounds to the gallon, can be recommend¬ 
ed. Even in this strength, the soap does 
does not usually kill all the Pernicious 
scales, but it is safe and tolerably effec¬ 
tive in checking their spread. The pe¬ 
troleum is not free from danger, and has 
killed many trees even when carefully 
applied, but it destroys the scales effect¬ 
ually and the treated trees are protected 
by the greasy residue deposited on the 
bark for the remainder of the season at 
any rate. 
Neglected Native Bulbs. —The Ca- 
massia, or Indian quamash, is a most 
worthy native bulbous flowering plant, 
not hitherto sufficiently appreciated. 
Several species are known, ranging from 
.southern Pennsylvania west and south 
to the Pacific Coast. They are generally 
found in rich, moist natural meadows, 
and thrive best where the wet soil dries 
out to a considerable degree in Summer. 
They are very hardy and, in cultivation, 
will grow well on any good loamy soil 
if set about five inches deep and not dis¬ 
turbed for several years. Strong or rank 
manure should not be used, but leaf 
mold and fine old manures are generally 
beneficial. The commonest species, C. 
esculenta, is now freely offered in the 
Fall bulb catalogues at a very reason¬ 
able rate. It is the one most frequently 
cooked and eaten by the Indians and is, 
in some respects the best of the genus. 
It grows in cultivation from 12 to 18 
inches high, and produces a handsome 
spike of bi'ight purplish-blue flowers, 
nearly two inches in diameter. Good 
specimens will carry as many as 40 
flowers on a spike. They are arranged 
like a hyacinth, but the petals are wide¬ 
ly expanded in the manner of the Scil- 
las, to which genus Camassias are more 
nearly allied, 'ihe foliage is very good. 
C. Cusickii has very large bulbs, some 
weighing as much as eight ounces, and 
makes a tall spike, often more than two 
feet high. The flowers are of a delicate, 
pale porcelain blue and very numerous, 
often approaching 100 to the spike. They 
are quite crowded and are smaller than 
those of other species. The leaves are 
large and light bluish-green in color. C. 
Leichtlinii is slender and tall-growing 
in habit, strong bulbs sending the flower 
spikes three feet high. The flowers are 
large and flat, generally more than two 
inches across. The coloring ranges from 
a light cream to pure white, and makes 
a handsome contrast to the darker va¬ 
rieties. The species above described are 
now in trade and can be readily ob¬ 
tained. There are several other species, 
but they differ little from the type of C. 
esculenta, and there is much confusion 
as to their identity. The Camassias 
force very easily, and we have just 
bloomed a collection of the different spe¬ 
cies in pots. They would be admirably 
adapted for cutting were it not that the 
flowers fade soon after becoming pollen- 
ized. Possibly in time sterile varieties 
may be bred with more lasting blooms. 
Prune Your Honeysucki-es. —Most 
gardeners agree that the climbing Loni- 
ceras or honeysuckles are the most de¬ 
sirable of all vines for porch or trellis 
decoration, but the best effect is often 
lost by lack of proper pruning. L. Ja- 
ponica, the Chinese honeysuckle and its 
variety, Halliana, are prooably the most 
popular on account of ihe constant pro¬ 
duction of their very sweet-scented 
white and yellow blossoms, and the al¬ 
most evergreen character of the glossy 
foliage. These varieties in particular 
make a thick growth of slender branches 
after they have acquired strength, and 
in successive years these branches die 
out for lack of air and sunshine. If they 
are trimmed off every Spring before 
growth starts close to the main stems 
the branchlets are rapidly reproduced, 
and the smooth and compact effect is 
very gratifying. Honeysuckles may even 
be induced to take on a tree-like form 
by methodical pruning, but the effect is 
generally too stiff. Close pruning on a 
trellis or other support gives the best 
effect. w. V. F. 
A Very Bad Combine 
la that of 
A Very Bad Sprain 
and 
A Very Black Bruise 
It often happens, 
but just aa often 
■: St Jacobs Oil i 
mahea a clean, enra, 
promp cure of both. 
For Fifty 
Years 
and more, we bave gjrown and sold nursery stock. 
The largest nursery In New England or the East has 
been built up by our plan of growing only the best 
stock of varieties of known worth. Everything In 
fruit, ornamental trees and shrubs. 
October Purple Plum aud Green Mountain 
Grape our specialties. 
Write for handsome catalogue free. 
STEPHEN HOYT’S SONS, 
New Canaan, Conn. 
Trees 
Shrubs 
Vines 
Hedging 
Shrubs, Vines, 
2,000 Beech. European and Purple-Leaved. 
3,000 Slims. American and European. 
500 Japan Ginkgo. 
2,000 Lindens. American and European. 
1,000 Magnolias. In variety. 
50,000 Maples. Norway Sugar, etc. 
10,000 Oaks. Pin, Red, Scarlet and English. 
10,000 Oriental Plane. (! to 12 feet. 
75,0(X) California Privet. 1 and 2 years. 
1.0(K),000 Shrubs. All varieties and sizes. 
10,000 Clematis Panlculata. 
10,000 Kosa Wlchuralana, and Hybrids. 
5,000 Kosa Multlilora. Japonlca. 
10,000 Honeysuckles. Hall's, etc. 
5,000 Dahlias. Whole roots. 
100,000 Asparagus. Very strong, 5 varieties. 
2,500 Rhododendron, Azaleas and Kaluiias. 
.500.000 Evergreens, of all sizes, including Hem¬ 
lock, Norway, Colorado Blue, Oriental 
and Weeping Spnices, Arbor Vlta*8, 
Uetinosporas. Pines in variety. Root- 
pruned and sheared specimens. 
New illustrated Descriptive Patalogne sent on 
application' 
THE 'WM. MOON CO., 
MORKISVrLLE, PA. 
PENNELL STRAWBERRIES 
this year. Send for Circular and Simplement, What 
the Growers Say, to JOHN W. PENNELL, 
South Norwalk, Conn., Rural Del. 37. 
ASPARAGUS 
Roots 
Address CHAS. H. MATHIS, 
BlackvlUe, S. C. 
I Mention this Paper. 
Surplus Nursery Stock! 
We offer 8,000 each Elberta, Stump, Chair's Choice 
and Crawford’s Late; 8,000 each Beer's Smock, Sal- 
way and Ford’s l.ate; 1,000 and up of nearly all of 
the other leading varieties In the very best grades 
for orchard use. We offer standard Pear, Plum, 
Cherry, Concord Grapes and Houghton and Downing 
Gooseberry In good supply, and we have60,000 me- 
diuHi apples, including 10.000 York Imperial. Prices 
right, and trees clean and well grown. Send list of 
wants when writing for catalogue. 
WOODVIEW NURSERIES, Box 100, Uriah, Pa. 
Seeds! Seeds! 
77th Annual Priced Catalogue of 
Vegetable, Farm and Flower Seeds 
U now ready and mailed free to all applicants. 
BRIDGEMAN’S SEED WAREHOUSE, 
S7 East IBth Street. New Tork City. 
The President 
Wilder Currant 
heads the list as a producer and 
a money-maker. Plant no other. 
Prices given on application. 
S. D. WILLARD, Geneva, N. Y. 
SUCCEED WHERE 
Largest Nursery. OTHERS FAIL. 
Fruit Soot Free. Result of 78 years' eiperlenc*. 
BT.^K BROS.. Lcnitiana, Mo. ; Danavillo, M.T. 
TREES 
$1 PER 100 
-APPLE, PEAR and PLUM, 3 to 5 feet high. 
.ww HEALTHY and TRUE TO NAME. Best varieties 
We sell all kind# of trees and plants at lowest Wholesale prices. Don’t buy 
until you get our Catalogue, which is free, or send list of wants for special 
price. Address RELIANCE NURSERY, Box 10, Geneva, N. Y. 
100 Peach and Japan Plum Trees for $6. 
Our trees are healthy, true to name, and fruit early. Try our stock and be convinced. If orders arc 
sent In within the next 10 days we will for *5 send 75 Peach Trees, selected varieties, and 25 .lapau Plums. 
We carry a choice stock of other Fruit Trees and Ornamentals. Illustrated Catalogue free. 
THE CHESHIRE NURSERY CO., Lock Box A, West Cheshire, Conn. 
Dwyer’s i8th Annual 
Spring Catalogue 
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 Rubai. NhW-YOKKr-K. 
This book is useful and Instructive. The colored nlates are works of art. Do not fail lo write for it at once. 
Address T. J. DWYER & SON, Orange County Nurseries, CORNWALL, N. Y. 
In addition to a good assortment of all kinds of Nursery Stock, I am pleased to.quote as follows; 
Kleffer, extra, to 1 inch.»'20 per 100 I Plum, extra, to 1 Inch. 
Apple, extra, « to 1 Inch.116'per 100 | Peach, extra, 4 to 6 feet.*6 per luu 
Asparagus Roots, 2-jrear, 12.60 per 1,000. Send for my 1901 ^ta^gu^ 
O. A. BEKNBTT, Proprietor of the Boobine-ville NurserieB, BOBBINSVILiLE, N. J 
Apple, Pear, Peach, Plum and Gharry Trees. 
Two-year, Fine Thrifty Trees. Prices I’ight. Catalogue free. 
J. Oolliaxe#, - - - IVtooresto'C’craa., T>T. J. 
TREES 
fs/W 1847. Cat. Free. 
that Live, Grow and bear the kinds of fruit you buy. Hardy Trees, 
that fruit Early. Why? Because budded from bearing trees of 
Early Fruiting Habits. Prices! well, a Peach Orchard, lOO 
trees, best kinds, $4.00. Apple Pear and Cherry; 3 Clifton Park Peach 
mail for 50c.; former price 50c. each. All Stock Pumigated, unless other¬ 
wise ordered. H. S. WILEY, Cayuga, N. Y. 
lOO 
20 
30 
VARIETIES JAPAN PLUMS 
in Trial Orchard. 
Listed for Sale. 
Thrown Away. 
We paid from tl to $5 apiece for trees when Introduced, and many times that for experience. We glvs 
away the experience, and sell the trees at a nominal price. We have some varieties we know are g^u, 
and plenty we know nothing about, if you prefer to pay for your own experience. FREE CATALOGUE— 
Fruit Trees, Berry Plants, Gladioli, Dahlias. Boses, Shrubs. Seed Potatoes, Baskets, etc. 
THE BUTLEB & JEWEIiL GO., CROMWELL, CONN. 
MAKE YOUR LAWN 
IN THE NATURAL WAY BY SOWING 
HENDERSON’S LAWN GRASS SEED 
(Avoid the use of Sod and all its attendant evils.) 
Our catalogue of “EVERYTHING EOK THE LA'W’N” sent free on application. 
PETER HENDERSON & CO., 
3S «& 37 CortlaiYcit Street, New Yorlc. 
