438 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
JiiBe 22 
; Ruralisms ; 
0 H r ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼’^▼4 
NOTES FROM THE RURAL GROUNDS. 
Some Attuactive Coeumbines. —One 
of the brightest and cleanest growing of 
herbaceous perennials is the Aquilegia, 
or columbine, not suliiciently seen in 
country gardens. When met with at all 
the varieties are usually commonplace 
seedlings of the European A. vulgaris. 
The beautiful long-spurred native spe¬ 
cies, A. Canadensis, so common in east¬ 
ern woodlands, and A. chrysantha, the 
golden columbine of the Rocky Moun¬ 
tains, should be more often planted. 
Many large and brilliant hybrids have 
been raised between the American and 
European species, some of which are 
represented on the first page. Fig. 180. 
The colors vary from pure white to 
scarlet and brilliant orange. Some have 
also beautiful shades of lilac, blue and 
purple. The foreign varieties run to the 
latter colors. The most admired of all 
hybrids is probably A. Stuarti. A plant 
has just bloomed on the Rural Grounds 
bearing flowers almost four inches 
across, bright clear blue, with white 
center. Seeds of these choice varieties 
are not always easy to obtain, as when 
sent out by even the most reliable 
houses they are often found to produce 
very inferior forms. This defective seed 
is probably the result of natural cross¬ 
pollination, as the most diverse species 
hybridize readily when grown together. 
Columbines may be easily grown from 
fresh seeds and bloom the second year. 
Many of the best varieties only bloom 
two or three seasons before dying out, 
but they may be kept longer by annual 
transplanting, which does not greatly 
impair their blooming qualities. The 
best plants may be increased by divi¬ 
sion, but the process is uncertain and 
seldom resorted to, as seedlings are so 
readily grown. When as much care is 
given to the production of Aquilegia 
seed as is bestowed on more popular 
plants the result may be a great trans¬ 
formation, as there is more to recom¬ 
mend the genus in its natural state than 
most others. Some of the older species 
bear double flowers, but they are not 
generally so much admired as the more 
graceful single forms, though they last 
somewhat longer. 
The Late Season. —The tardiness of 
the season was made evident to all by 
the character of the available blooms on 
Decoration Day, May 30. A few apple 
blossoms could still be found, but they 
were too far gone for use. Diervillas, 
better known as Weigelas, were still in 
bud, though the light flowered varieties, 
such as D. rosea and D. Candida, are 
usually expected to be far advanced in 
bloom by this date. Deutzia gracilis is 
counted on to furnish its quota of snowy 
Convallaria-like blooms, and did not en¬ 
tirely disappoint us this trying season, 
but it was just coming into bloom in¬ 
stead of being nearly through, as in pre¬ 
vious years. The effect of the constant 
rains is now plainly noticed among the 
tree fruits. Cherries, plums and peaches 
have set only a fraction of the fruits 
that might reasonably be expected from 
the heavy bloom. Pears set very thinly 
and it is yet too soon to speak of apples, 
though they may be expected to suffer 
most, as they scarcely had any sunny 
weather through their extended flower¬ 
ing period. Strawberries and most bush 
fruits promise well. It is not easy to 
understand how the pistillate varieties 
got their pollen during the persistent 
f^ggy and showery weather. Ihe re¬ 
duction in the number of fruits to be de¬ 
veloped may have a good effect in in¬ 
creasing size and quality. One unusual 
result of the cold and late season is the 
large quantity of tender seeds used for 
replanting. Local dealers who sell a 
few pounds of melon and cucumber 
seeds and Lima beans in ordinary sea- 
.sons report sale.s by the hundredweight. 
It is necessary to l)e early in the market 
with all products, and the truckers or 
gardeners are willing to take all chances 
of unfavorable weather in order to se¬ 
cure the earliest possible crop. 
Not so Many Buck. —Last year we 
were overrun with cutworms. Potato 
beetles and other enterprising insects at 
this season, but there is a noticeable 
scarcity of everything but earthworms 
in the damp soil. Elven the prevalent 
Rose bug is seldom seen when planting. 
The cool weather and excess of moisture 
has evidently much delayed the devel¬ 
opment of these pests, but they may be 
expected to put in an appearance later. 
It is hoped that their numbers will be 
diminished when they do come. Pota¬ 
toes have not had such a good local 
start of the beetles for a generation. 
They are looking extremely well where 
planted on well-drained soil, and many 
plots are showing bloom at this writing 
(June 8). It will not do to allow our bat¬ 
teries for insect warfare to get out of 
order, as they may be urgently needed. 
A comparative immunity from insect 
pests is often one of the compensations 
of a wet season. Most insects are live¬ 
lier, and do more damage, when it is 
hot and dry. 
The Icicle Radisil —This is the very 
taking name of a highly bred white 
early radish first offered last season. 
When grown properly it is clear and 
crisp enough to warrant the comparison. 
Much care is taken to breed these im¬ 
proved strains of radishes true to type, 
and they now come in great perfection 
of color and form, coming to edible ma¬ 
turity in an incredibly short time. A 
recent test of 200 varieties is reported 
in the Gardener’s Chronicle, an English 
publication. Many were found to be 
identica,! with those sold under another 
name, thus reducing the actually distinct 
forms more than one-half, and not more 
than 20 varieties were really found 
worth growing under the conditions of 
the test. Europeans divide their rad¬ 
ishes into “forcing” and “frame” varie¬ 
ties, including all the compact, quick¬ 
growing kinds under the first designa¬ 
tion. We use practically the same va¬ 
rieties for market forcing, as most radish 
seed used in this country is imported, 
but in some localities Summer varieties 
of good quality have originated which 
perpetuate their characteristics with 
much uniformity. In many old gardens 
these Summer and Fall radishes are 
highly prized as being of better quality 
than any grown from commercial seeds. 
In the extensive trial mentioned it was 
declared that no distinctive flavor was 
characteristic of any one of the many 
varieties, the only difference being de¬ 
grees of tenderness or succulence. The 
Icicle radish is a long, smooth, clear 
white variety of most excellent quality 
when quickly grown, but it does not 
stand Summer heat well on the Rural 
Grounds. w. v. f. 
Experiments With Tulips. 
Perhaps a little tulip experience will 
be of interest to some of your readers. I 
have long been desirous of having them 
blossom later in the season than they 
usually do. Reading in some of the 
periodicals that if bulbs are planted very 
late, and well mulched, one could have 
blossoms in Autumn, I put out bulbs 
December 3 as directed, but greatly to 
my disappointment they blossomed 
simultaneously with those set in Sep¬ 
tember. April 11, of the present season, 
100 bulbs were planted, and greatly to 
my surprise they were in full bloom May 
24, slightly smaller in size; about 20 va¬ 
rieties were set. Is it possible to have 
tulips blossom in Autumn? I purpose 
to make another planting in June as a 
further experiment. All the authorities 
are agreed that tulips should be set in 
the Fall, but my one trial indicates that 
this practice is not absolutely neces¬ 
sary. I grow tulips by the thousand, of 
many different varieties, and leave them 
in the ground unless the bulbs are 
wanted. They can be planted deep, 
eight to 10 inches, or more; then when 
done growing the ground can be spaded 
without disturbing the bulbs, and late 
flowers planted. Asters, Zinnias, mari¬ 
golds and the like. n. k. 
Syiacuse, N. Y. 
R. N.-Y.—it is scarcely possible to in¬ 
duce tulips (o bloom in the Fall by any 
method of delay or bulb storage. It is 
essentially a Spring-blooming plant 
V\Tth most bulbous plants a delay in 
planting the dormant bulbs does not in¬ 
dicate a corresponding delay in the 
blooming period, as the vital activity 
rapidly increases after the natural 
period of growth is passed. Two hya¬ 
cinths or Gladioli of the same variety 
may be planted at an interval of several 
months but their bloom spikes will ap¬ 
pear at most a few weeks apart. 
Forcing Rhubarb in Winter. 
In The R. N.-Y. of May 4 an article 
on Winter Delicacies, tells of the forcing 
of rhubarb. Will you inform me how to 
prepare it, as I wish to try growing some 
in my cellar next Winter? b. d. b 
Salamanca, N. Y. 
The preparation of rhubarb for Winter 
forcing consist in the selection of strong 
three or four-year stools, cultivating and 
fertilizing during the Summer so as to 
produce a strong leaf growth, with a cor¬ 
responding storage of vitality in tht 
roots. In early Winter, just before freez¬ 
ing weather, dig up the clumps, preserv¬ 
ing as much soil as possible, replace 
them in the holes from which they have 
been loosened, covering lightly with 
loose earth to preserve moisture. When 
a freezing night is imminent lift out the 
clumps and expose to frost. In the morn¬ 
ing, if well frozen, they can be handled 
like rocks without crumbling. They 
may then be removed to the cellar or 
greenhouse, placed in position in some 
suitable corner, and suifleient loose soil 
sifted over to fill all crevices. In a day 
or two, after the frost is out of the 
clump, it is necessary to water down 
well to compact the soil, which should 
afterward be kept at a growing mois¬ 
ture. In the Rural Grounds cellar the 
heat is supplied by a hot-water pipe 
leading to a greenhouse. The ordinary 
unheated cellar is too cool to force rhu¬ 
barb much before it grows outside, but 
by curtaining off a corner with blankets 
and using a large lantern or oil stove 
it can be had in midwinter. 
Crimson Clover.— The Crimson clover 
was the finest we ever had; the tomato 
ground we plowed the second week in April 
and set to blackberries. It was six inches 
high on the pickle ground the last of April 
and set to raspberries. It was just like 
setting them in a meadow. We plowed a 
furrow and set them about six inches deep. 
Now they are about a foot high. This has 
been a great Spring for plant setting. We 
set in all 20 acres. The old bed of straw¬ 
berries will average from 12 to 15 Inches 
high; our raspberry bushes from five to six 
feet across top. I have counted 75 to 100 
limbs on a bush. Our blackberries are as 
good as last year. If it doesn’t stop rain¬ 
ing we will have to mulch our berries with 
something beside dust this year. As straw 
is very high I will try shavings. 
Syracuse, N. Y. chas. siddons. 
Grafting Cherries.— We followed Mr. 
Van Deman’s advice, and grafted one of 
our black cherry trees. The tree is about 
12 inches through and 25 feet high. We 
got some very good scions from a neigh¬ 
bor, and set them April 22. We sawed the 
stubs to a 45-degree angle, split one side 
of the pith, and put in one scion of two 
buds; so far as we are able to discern from 
the ground they are all alive. We also 
grafted several apple trees in the same 
manner, cutting some stubs four Inches in 
diameter, with excellent results. We were 
able to graft a large top with about 25 
scions, quite an improvement over the 
commercial plan in vogue here, where 100 
or more would have been used! Besides, 
we have a comparatively low top. We 
also grafted about 50 plum roots we dug 
from a thicket with Japan varieties with 
fair success. This is our first experience. 
j. A. o. 
When you write advertisers mention The 
R. N.-Y. and you will get a quick reply and 
"a square deal.” See our guarantee 8th page 
For the land’s sake, use Bowker’s Fer 
tilizers. They enrich the earth.— Adv. 
i ll im HALE'S 
W^orchard 
|5 TOOLS 
Clark’s Hav Tools, 
D. A. Harrow moves 
15,000 ions earth In 
day. These .5 U.ois 
cut a track 31 feet wide. 
IMPKOVEH Sulky 
SICKLE Sjr®Cow; d aft 
WATER 300 lbs All made by 
GRINDER theiuiaway Harrow Company, 
of Hltreanum, 
Send for Circular. 
Conn. 
PERFECTION M0¥¥ER FNITE uRINDEH. 
The easiest, simplest 
and bert thing ever 
indented forgrindliig 
Mowing Machine 
Knives. Grinds every 
knife the same, and 
leaves them all on 
the same bevel. Will 
sharpen a set In ten 
minutes. Fastens on¬ 
to the mowing ma¬ 
chine wheel. 'To in¬ 
troduce them, will 
sell for a short time 
only, two at the price 
o. on Voi. oan oc.l orie ..i.d keep the Other. 
KOSS ItKOTUKKls, Wo cester, Mass. 
PAN-AMERICAN 
No great thing can 
b e accomplished 
without our Handy ; 
at least it looks that 
way. Uncle Sam did 
not declare war on 
Spain till we had 
agreed to build 50 
trucks a day. And 
the Fan-American 
Of Hue-, it opening until they had ordered our trucks 
for exclusive use on the Exposition grounds. 
FARMERS HANDY WAGON CO., Saginaw, Mich 
We are the largest manu¬ 
facturers of Steel Wheels 
and Truck Wagons in the 
World. Write for Cataiogfue. 
Havana (III.) Metal Wheel Co. 
BERRY BASKETS. 
Wire-stapled Berry Baskets 
are the best In the market, 
being unitorm In size and nn- 
equaled in strength. 
Special Price on Car Lots 
Write for Descriptive Catalog 
WEBSTER BASKET CO., 
Monroe Co. (Lock Box 43). WEBSTER, N. Y. 
PARACRENE 
Is better, cheaper and bulkier than PARIS GRKHN. 
“Have used I’aragrene on my farm for potato 
bugs It was perfectly satisfactory. L.H. BAILEY, 
Prof, of Hortlcnltnre, Cornell University.” Write 
for sample. FRED. L. BAVANBUKG, New York 
A POTATO BUC 
Is most useful when he Is dead. Kill him with 
“ BOXAL," and prevent blight by the same 
same operation. $1 buys 10 pounds. 
Catalogue No. 24 free. 
BOWKER CHEMICAL CO., Boston. 
A Dry Sprayer 
No Water or Plaster. 
DUSTS THEE, HUSH 
on VINE. 
Two rows of potatoes as 
fastas yon walk,wideor 
narrowDian ting. Agents 
wanted. Catalogue and 
spray calendar free. 
Leggett & Brother, 
301 Pearl St., New York. 
Buy a Good 
Spray 
Pump 
■don’t experiment— 
costs money. We have done 
the experimenting-used the 
common spray pumps in our 
own orchards, noted their 
defects — then invented the 
ECLIPSE. You get the bene¬ 
fit of our experience free. 
Send at once for catalogue. 
MORRILL & HORLEY, Benton Harbor, Mich. 
$5.00 Oompressed Air Sprayer for $3.75 
It la admitted by all classes of fruit growers and farmers that my 5 gallon compressed air sprayer is the 
most durable made. This reduction is made ior a limited time only. Take advantage of the liberal offer— 
it may be your last opportunity to get the sprayer at the reduced price. 13 76 tor galvanized steel, $a.W for 
copper. Will throw a good stream 36 to 30 feet. Good pressure 20 to 30 minutes. The taUest 
fruit tree can be sprayed. Order to-day Salary to reliable men. Address 
MAR TIN WAUL Kochester, N. Y. 
