THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
July 13 
486 
^ Ruralisms > 
•< ^ ► 
NOTES FROM THE RURAL GROUNDS. 
The Local Stkawberry Season. —As 
experienced growers predicted at bloom¬ 
ing time the local strawberry crop is 
short in quantity, but of fair quality. 
The rains were so incessant thac one 
wonders how pollination was effected at 
all. The sunny intervals were so few 
that the bees had little chance to trans¬ 
fer pollen from staminate to pistillate 
blooms. The anthers of the best of per¬ 
fect flowering varieties are not very 
conspicuous, but they lioerate a great 
quantity of very diffusible pollen when 
they are dry enough to burst, and it is 
quickly carried to neighboring imperfect 
blossoms by various insects, and possi¬ 
bly to a limited extent by the wind. Pro¬ 
longed wet weather, lasting without in¬ 
termission throughout the life of many 
blooms, without doubt greatly reduces 
the chances of pollination of the seed 
ovules, and the consequent development 
of the strawberry “fruit,” which is 
really the fleshy and swollen end ot the 
pedicel supporting the seeds, always 
considered by botanists as the real 
fruits of the plant. The strawberry, 
however, has quite an extended period 
of bloom, and a considerable number of 
blossoms is likely to reach the receptive 
stage between rains even in the most 
trying seasons, and the result, other con¬ 
ditions being equal, should be a light 
crop of well-developed berries. This 
fairly represents the present condition, 
which is equalized to a greater degree, 
from the grower’s standpoint, by the re¬ 
ceipt of fair prices for well-graded ber¬ 
ries, The worst general defect is a pre¬ 
valence of sunscald, as the cool moist 
weather before the blooming season did 
not favor the development of dense fo¬ 
liage, and the ripening fruit has oeen 
unduly exposed to the sun. 
The Gandy leads all varieties in this 
district, and is still more largely planted 
than any other, though the Michigan, 
Bubach and Wm. Belt have their advo¬ 
cates. Early berries are practically not 
grown for market, the southern product 
having captured the trade exclusively, 
but varieties later than Gandy, present¬ 
ing as good appearance when boxed for 
market, are earnestly desired, but so far 
none has made headway with growers. 
Quality does not count much with a 
market berry, but color, size, firmness 
and uniformity are important factors, 
ranking only with productiveness and 
reliability. Commercial strawberry cul¬ 
ture has long been a recognized industry 
in Monmouth Co., N. J. Hovey’s Seed¬ 
ling was grown for the New York mar¬ 
ket 50 years ago, and was most highly 
regarded as the first valuable native 
berry produced by scientific hybridiza¬ 
tion. Following the Hovey came the fa¬ 
mous Wilson, generally known at the 
time as Wilson’s Albany. This was 
probably the most productive of all 
strawberries, and old growers tell of 
large fields visibly red at a distance from 
the vivid color of the abundant fruits. 
It was firm and a good shipper, but 
sharply acid, and of low table quality. 
These noted old varieties have entirely 
disappeared from northern fields. It 
would scaixiely be possible to find a typi¬ 
cal plant of the Hovey, and the Wilson 
practically survives only in the tough 
and viciously sour early berries sent up 
from the far 'South during the late Win¬ 
ter months. Jersey berries are still 
grown under the name of Wilson, but 
they really seem to belong to some of 
the many kinds that immediately sup¬ 
planted that prime old favorite. The 
Bubach had a long sway, but is now be¬ 
ing discarded in favor of the popular 
Gandy. Of the legion of new kinds that 
gained more or less favor in their day 
Jersey Beauty and Sharpless stand out 
prominently, the former for fine ap¬ 
pearance and good market quality, 
though of small size, and the latter as 
a standard of table quality, though to 
many palates it is rather insipid. Sharp¬ 
less, however, was one of the first large- 
fruited varieties to have a real sugary 
flavor, in distinction to the acidity sup¬ 
posed to be characteristic of the straw¬ 
berry. It had several good points, and 
is still prized by many, but its poor color 
and irregular form have nearly driven 
it from the market. Gladstone, widely 
advertised as a great improvement on 
Sharpless, has not proven so in this lo¬ 
cality, being generally unable to bring 
its crop of berries to perfection. Grow¬ 
ers who properly cared for their plant¬ 
ing during the dry weather last year, 
and provided a fertilizing mulch to carry 
the crowns through the sharp, dry, Feb¬ 
ruary winds, that did such extensive 
damage, have not found their invest¬ 
ment altogether unprofitable, but the 
careless growers who took their usual 
chances are getting low profits, as poor 
berries are not wanted this season. 
Hybridizing Wild Roses. —Our prized 
garden and glasshouse roses are, of 
course, descended from the various bo¬ 
tanical species dispersed over the north¬ 
ern temperate zone. Roses have been 
cultivated from such ancient times that 
all record of the origin of many favorite 
types is lost, while others are so in¬ 
volved in a maze of hybridity that their 
parentage is undecipnerable. There is 
now a tendency to utilize hitherto neg¬ 
lected species by combining them with 
highly improved garden forms, with the 
hope of getting new and distinct fea¬ 
tures. Much work of this kind is done 
on the Rural Grounds with results often 
interesting, if not valuable. Our native 
wild roses are very fixed in their type, 
and resist for at least two generations 
the influence of foreign pollen, though 
if they continue to produce viable seeds 
it is likely that a break will occur soon¬ 
er or later, and a hybrid result show¬ 
ing characters of both parents. One 
old species that seems to have been lit¬ 
tle used is the Purple-leaved rose from 
the mountains of northern Europe, Rosa 
ferrugiinea. This species is very hardy 
and long-lived. In congenial soils it 
grows tall and strong. The foliage is 
dense and rich purple in the Spring, be¬ 
coming dark green as the season ad¬ 
vances. The flowers are borne in clus¬ 
ters during June. They are deep-pink 
in color, and pleasantly fragrant. The 
Purple-leaved rose is only planted in 
backgrounds for the color effect of its 
foliage or as a botanical specimen, and 
is consequently rarely seen. We have 
industriously hybridized this distinct 
wild rose with the best accessible garden 
forms for several years, and have grown 
many seedlings, none of which has 
shown the slightest variation from tha 
type except the double rose on the right 
in Fig. 206, page 483, the type species 
being shown on the left. The pollen pa¬ 
rent of the hybrid rose was Magna 
Charta, an excellent hardy variety bear¬ 
ing large, highly-scented, bright pink 
very double blooms. As will be seen the 
new kind is densely double, with petals 
of great substance, lasting a long time 
both when cut or on the plant. Th^ 
color may be described as a silvery rose, 
intermediate between the parents, and 
the fragrance is also characteristic and 
pleasing. The foliage is bronzy purple, 
very dark when young, but turning 
green sooner than the parent. An odd 
feature of this hybrid is the almost total 
absence of thorns. The new shoots for 
the first season are as smooth as a wil¬ 
low wand, but the blooming branches 
thrown out next Spring usually have 
each a few small thorns. Both parents 
are densely covered with sharp and per¬ 
sistent spines. As the old blooming 
canes of the hybrid may be cut away 
each Fall the bush is no more objection¬ 
able during Winter than a currant or 
lilac. This new rose, from its compact 
shape, durability, pleasing color and 
fragrance, together with its known har¬ 
diness and absence of thorns, would 
seem to be desirable for general plant¬ 
ing, but it has the defect of not propa¬ 
gating readily. w. v. p. 
The Lawrence Pear. 
A correspondent complains about the 
premature ripening of the Lawrence 
pear, also of its not being a profitable 
market variety on account of shy bear¬ 
ing. The premature ripening was 
caused by long continued hot and dry 
weather, which caused mine to begin to 
ripen in September, fully six weeks 
ahead of schedule time. Other late 
pears were less affected by the heat and 
drought. The shyness of bearing is 
probably a result of being planted in a 
soil unsuited to its requirements, and 
also a bad location. My own experience 
with it has been variable and unsatis¬ 
factory; because some trees Would bear 
heavily, while others would have few 
fruit, or none at ail. Unlike the Bart¬ 
lett and Flemish Beauty, it reisponds 
well to shallow Summer culture. A 
noted pear grower says that it is the 
most profitable variety he has, but his 
soil and elevated location are especially 
adapted to the Lawrence. He reports 
crops that are double the amount of 
mine that are in a heavy clay soil. He 
gets more than twice the price for the 
L-awrence that he does for the Bartlett, 
the good points of the Lawrence are 
good color, fine quality, very hardy in 
tree and fruit buds; no regular off' years 
of bearing, like the unrivaled Anjou; a 
heavy bearer if planted in a suitable soil 
and location, and holding its leaves 
until! very late in the Fail, whion feature 
I claim accounts for all of the foregoin.g 
good points. p. p. woodside. 
Onio. 
The Ruby Queen Rose. 
The thousands of Ruby Queen rose 
plants distributed to subscribers last 
year have had their blooms delayed, in 
common with all varieties, by the late 
Spring, and July 4 finds us in receipt of 
so few blooms for competition that it is 
best to postpone the award of ^>25 in 
prizes until July 15, 1902. The plants 
will have gained additional vigor by an¬ 
other season, and a fairer representation 
may be expected from all parts of the 
country. 
A few errors in labeling have been re¬ 
ported, which will be made good by for¬ 
warding the true variety as soon as they 
can be safely propagated. In the prep¬ 
aration and mailing to individual ad¬ 
dresses of such an immense number of 
young plants a small percentage of 
errors is almost inevitable. 
The growers of Ruby Queen think 
that the color of this charming rose has 
become lighter this season than when it 
received its somewhat misleading name 
and that there is a tendency to sport 
back toward its seed parent, the white- 
flowered Rosa Wichuraiana. This would 
be very unusual in a true rose hybrid 
but if the original bright, clear carmine 
tint lightens under repeated propagation 
there would appear to be no help for it. 
A bright and beautiful rose, hardy, 
healthy and reliable would still remain. 
The Rural Grounds plant has shown no 
change, and is a dainty specimen, ad¬ 
mired by all visitors in competition with 
the finest roses the world has yet pro¬ 
duced. 
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 Bovp^ker’s Fer¬ 
tilizers. They enrich the earth.— Adv. 
FV APfll? ATOW Granger" for fruits and vege- 
LviirunaiUR tables. 83, 85, 88. Ciicnlar 
eastern MFG. CO., 267 South 5th St.. Phlla., Pa. 
LAND DRAIN TILE 
(Car-loads or less). 
Sizes, 18, 2^, 3, 4, 5 and 
6-lnch. 
WILLIAM T.LEGGETT& CO. 
1026 Liberty Avenue, 
Pittsburgh, Pa. 
We are the largest manu 
facturers of Steel Wheels 
and Truck Wagons in the 
World. Write for Catalomie. 
Havana (III.) Metal Wheel Co. 
RUBEROID 
POULTRY-HOUSE 
ROOFING 
As a water-proof covering for Poultry- 
I nouses, RUBEROID has no equal. Keeps I 
the houses cool during the warm weather, 
and warm In Winter, and the chicks dry and | 
I comfortable. The sun cannot melt it. 
THE STANDARD PAINT CD., 
100 William Street, 
NEW YORK. 
A 
No Water or Plaster. 
DUSTS TREE, BUSH 
OR VINE. 
Two rows of potatoes as 
f astas you walk.wlde or 
narrowolanting. Agents 
wanted. Catalogue and 
spray calendar free. 
Leggett A Brother, 
301 Pearl St., New York. 
SAN JOSE SCALE. 
And other Insects can be Controlled by Using 
Good’s Caustic Potash Whale- 
Oil Tobacco Soap No. 6. 
Kegs, 601bs. ea., 5)ic lb. Bbl., about 275 lbs., 4o. lb 
Kegs, 100 lbs. ea., 5c. lb. Bbls., about 425 lb8.,3^c.lb 
Kegs. 170 lbs. ea., 4^e. lb. 
Large quantities Special Rates. Send for Circulars. 
JAMES GOOD, 937 N. Front St., Philadelphia, Pa. 
Cyanide 
Guaranteed 98 to go per cent., for generating 
Hydrocyanic Acid Gas 
tlie most effective fumigating material, to 
destroy scale insects on fruit trees and 
plants. The only positive eradicator of 
the dreaded San Jose Scale. Endorsed by 
all Agricultural Experiment Stations. " A 
perfect practical remedy,” says Prof. W. G. 
Johnson, State Etymologist of Maryland. 
MANUKACTUKKD BV 
The Roessler & Hasslacher Chemical Co., 
No. 100 WiilUm Street, New York. 
Good Fruit 
always finds a ready market, but to bring top prices. 
It must be put up in neat, attractive and substantial 
packages. We have everything in the basket line. 
All sizes of 
Berry 
Baskets 
Peach an d Grape Cra tes 
Buy direct from the mannfacturers and save 
money. Write to-day for catalogue and new price¬ 
list of FRUIT AND FARM BASKETS. 
COLES & COMPANY, 
Kst’d 1884, 109 & 111 Warren St., New York. 
SLUG SHOT 
Kills Cabbage and Other Worms 
In the garden safely and cheaply. 
SOLD BY SEED DEALERS 
For Pamphlet address 
I B. Hammond, FlshkiU-ou-Hadaou, New York. 
FERTILIZERS. From Factory to Farm 
We Sell You Direct. No Agent’s Profit. No Salesman’s Expenses. 
WRITE FOR POCKET MEMORANDUM BOOK, PRICES and SAMPLES. 
THE SCIENTIFIC FERTILIZER COMPANY, 
_ P. O. Box 1017, Pittsburg, Pa. 
