6i4 
rilE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
September 
Rtiralistiis ; 
NOTES FROM THE RURAL GROUNDS. 
Some Bekky Obsekvations. —The fol¬ 
lowing comments on Ruralisms’ berry 
notes have been received among many 
others: 
In liuralisms, page 550, I noticed what 
appears to me as an error in describing 
the Mayes and Lucretia dewberries. I 
think the description as given of one 
variety applies to the other in each case; 
that correction made I think the differ¬ 
ence between the two varieties well stated, 
but with me there is another important 
difference, and that is that the Mayes is 
hardier under exactly same conditions. 
Also, the ci'op of Mayes is off in half the 
number of pickings, which fact, together 
with its being earlier, gives it the prefer¬ 
ence with me over any other cane fruit. 
Burlington Co., N. J. e. s. hoemes. 
The late discriminating and appreciative 
articles on the Mayberry and the Iceberg 
blackberry have been read with interest. 
I am glad that the Mayberry has found a 
welcome in some localities, and was some¬ 
what disappointed that it did not prove 
more generally useful. I have varieties 
much more than twice as large as the 
Mayberry, which I first sent out, firmer, 
and with a really delicious flavor, which 
cannot be found in the original Mayberry. 
The white blackberry. Iceberg, was stolen 
from me while in the hands of some east¬ 
ern propagators, and 100,000 plants were 
offered for sale before I knew it was to 
be introduced. You are correct in the 
statement that the flavor of Iceberg Is 
somewhat astringent, but I have a variety 
now, second generation from Iceberg 
which is fully equal in quality to any 
blackberry in existence, and by most peo¬ 
ple claimed to be better than even our 
favorite, Lawton. It is also much firmer 
than Iceberg, a better bearer, and the 
berries are more nearly white. The Ice¬ 
berg came from the old Crystal White, 
pollinated with the Lawton. Every seedling 
from this cross was black in the first gen¬ 
eration, and every seedling in the second 
generation (several hundred plants), was 
black, and most resembled the Lawton, 
which is very prepotent, except two white 
ones. Iceberg and another that proved 
worthless. The new one spoken of above 
will certainly have a place as a market 
berry, but cannot be introduced before 
three or four years, as the stock is limited. 
Santa Rosa, Cal. luther burbank. 
The Lucretia and Mayes dewberries 
on the Rural Grounds are grown under 
labels as received. It is evident that 
Friend Holmes’s varieties are reversely 
labeled from ours, and the question is, 
which is correct? He prefers the Mayes, 
which would be our Lucretia, and after 
reviewing the season’s experience we 
like Mayes (his Lucretia) rather the 
better, as it produced more perfect ber¬ 
ries. We want more light on dewberry 
varieties. 
The remarkable picture on first page. 
Fig. 265, is a natural-sized photographic 
reproduction of the Mammoth black¬ 
berry or rather dewberry noted on page 
550, as grown in California. Our plants 
set last year only produced berries half 
as big, but we have no doubt of the lit¬ 
eral correctness of this picture, kindly 
furnished by the disseminator, James 
Waters, Watsonville, Cal. Mr. Waters 
writes that berries even larger were 
gathered this season. We found the 
Mammoth hardy as regards last Win¬ 
ter’s cold, productive and of very agree¬ 
able quality, and we expect larger ber¬ 
ries as the plants gain strength. The 
reputed parents of Mammoith are not 
large fruited species, and the produc¬ 
tion of such immense berries by the off¬ 
spring is to the plant breeder a singular 
and unexpected result. 
A Blue Daisy. —The very extensive 
family of Composite or daisy-like flow¬ 
ers runs chiefly to white and yellow, 
though red is not wanting, as seen 
in the pink of the English daisy, Beilis 
perennis, the brilliant orange scarlet of 
the new Gerbera Jamesonii and the deep 
blues and purples of Centaureas and 
Cinerarias, but a porcelain blue “daisy” 
is something of a novelty. Arctotis 
grandis is a newcomer from southwest 
Africa and is best grown from seed as 
an annual, making a large branching 
bush two or three feet high. The downy- 
white foliage reminds one of the dusty 
miller, Centaurea Cinei'aria. The flow¬ 
ers are borne on long stems, and are two 
o- three inches across, of the usual sin¬ 
gle daisy make-up. The color is bluish 
white, with a deeper blue disk. There 
is a little yellow at the base of the 
petals. The general effect is light por¬ 
celain blue, which is more pronounced 
when flowers are closed as they usually 
are in dull weather. The flowers are 
produced in constant succession all 
Summer. Although a little coarse in ef¬ 
fect this Arctotis should make a desir¬ 
able plant for mixed borders, and in 
time be improved as Cosmos and Dah¬ 
lias have been. The blooms are lasting 
when cut, but close too easily to be very 
useful. Seeds for trial were turnished 
by H. A. Dreer, Philadelphia, Pa. 
Geumination of Sweet Corn. —Two 
blocks of cross-bred sweet corn planted 
at intervals of 10 days show a remark¬ 
able difference in stand. Soil, variety 
and conditions of planting were just the 
same, but seeds for one lot were kept 
over Winter in the dwelling, where the 
temperature probably did not go below 
60 degrees at any time, while the other 
was wintered in a barn loft, where the 
cold reached close to zero on two or 
three occasions. Both lots were select¬ 
ed from the field at the same time, and 
thoroughly cured together, the only dif¬ 
ference being the manner of wintering. 
The 10-day difference of planting 
seemed rather to favor the “cold” corn, 
as the season was advancing and rain¬ 
fall abundant, yet the germination and 
vigor of the young plants was much in¬ 
ferior to the first lot, which had been 
kept warm and very dry. A single trial 
with different planting dates does not 
prove much, but it is well known that 
sweet corn is very sensitive to adverse 
storage conditions. Most planters find 
seeds of their own saving, when the se¬ 
lected ears are hung in a warm, dry 
place over Winter, grow better than 
“store seed”; and it is possible that the 
action of damp cold may be as preju¬ 
dicial to the seeds as imperfect or hur¬ 
ried curing. Seedsmen have a difficult 
problem to keep their sugar corn seeds 
vigorous as well as pure, and in the 
main they handle it very well. 
A Resistant Early Corn. —We feel 
justified in calling attention to Mr. 
Morse’s endorsement of the Sheffield 
Sugar corn on page 597. We made this 
cross between Early Cory and Adams 
Early, a white dent hardy corn, much 
grown for the table in the South, 11 
years ago in the hope of securing great¬ 
er resistance to cold and an increased 
immunity from the dreaded smut. After 
careful selection for six years it was 
disseminated, and is steadily winning its 
way in the regard of practical growers 
ill competition with the multitude of 
new kinds put forward with similar 
claims. We find it getting better every 
year under careful selection, and seldom 
care to plant any other early variety. 
An early planting of Sheffield and suc¬ 
ceeding ones of Evergreen or Country 
Gentleman keep the table supplied with 
tender sweet corn from early July until 
frost. A single success of this kind 
among the multitude of recurring fail¬ 
ures is sufficient encouragement to a 
hopeful plant-bi-eeder. w. v. r. 
PROF. MUNSON'S NEW GRAPES. 
Part I. 
The writer recently (August 5 and 6) 
made a visit to Prof. Munson, of Denison, 
Tex., to see and test his many new grapes. 
The purpose was to examine into their 
value, and compare them critically with 
best native standards like the Concord, 
Niagara, Brighton, Delaware, etc. Out of 
more than 100,000 seedlings that he has 
raised and fruited only 127 had been 
deemed worthy of continued culture. 
About 40 or 50 of the best of these were 
selected, and we then went to the vine¬ 
yard and cut a fine sample cluster of each, 
including one each of the standards. 
Sheets of white paper were then laid upon 
the broad veranda of Prof. Munson’s resi¬ 
dence, and a cluster of grapes, properly 
labeled, wias laid upon each, when the 
work of testing and comparison began. In 
fiiUing the clusters note had been taken 
i>f (he vigor, healili and prolificacy of the 
vines. The cluster of Concord was large 
and fine, better than the average of north- 
irn Ohio Concord gi-apes. It was also 
fully ripe, but the berries contained the 
well-known sour, tough and unpalatable 
pulp, constituting, with the seeds, frpn’ 
one-half to two-thirds of the bulk. From 
this cause more than half the people who 
eat the Concord grape swallow the seeds. 
The tissue surrounding the pulp was 
sweet, juicy and good, although having a 
foxy aroma peculiar to the Labrusca class, 
it became strongly manifest in comparison 
with the foreign and new grapes of Prof. 
Munson. There were also magnificent 
clusters of Campbell’s Early and McPlke 
further to make comparison. But both of 
these fine-looking grapes contained the 
same relative proportion of sour, tough 
and unpalatable pulp—a defect too serious 
to close our eyes to the possible improve¬ 
ment of our native grapes. 
First comparison was of black varieties, 
Munson’s America. Clusters as large as 
the largest Concord, more compactly set 
with berries and heavier, bulk for bulk. 
Berries with slight bloom, good medium 
size, almost pulpless and containing much 
coloring matter. Seeds few and small. 
Quality rich, pure, vinous, sweeter than 
the Concord, a fine table grape. The vine 
is very vigorous, healthy and exceedingly 
l)rolific, probably bearing a greater weight 
of fruit year after year than any other 
purely American grape. It is estimated 
that the fruit on the original vine this 
year will weigh 125 pounds, and the dense 
and beautiful foliage almost completely 
covers it from sight. Upon parting the 
leaves there was presented a beautiful 
view, and the most delightful aroma flowed 
out. Some of the new hybrids of this 
grape promise fully to equal it in yield, and 
may eclipse it, at the same time having 
finer quality, proving America to be a 
very fine mother for hybridizing purposes. 
'The fruit keeps well, hangs well to the 
cluster, has a thin but tough skin, does not 
crack, and will stand long distance ship¬ 
ping. The finest port wine has been made 
from it. Parentage Post Oak and Rupes- 
tris only, and is hardy. 
The Manito grape has long cylindrical 
clusters, a little loose but set very uni¬ 
formly. Berries reddish black, above me¬ 
dium size and very prettily marked with 
circular dots of white bloom. The pulp 
readily frees its seeds, and has no un¬ 
pleasant taste. Quality sweet, sprightly 
and vinous, far better than the Concord. 
This grape never cracks, and bears ship¬ 
ment well. The vine is very vigorous and 
highly prolific, bearing Immense crops. 
Ripens with Moore’s Early and is hardy. 
Parentage Post Oak, Rupestris, Labrusca 
and Vinifera. 
The R. W. Munson has clusters much 
larger and longer than the Concord; berries 
same size, but very uniform in ripening. 
The quality is very pure and sweet, su¬ 
perior to its northern rival. The vine is 
a very strong grower, with a fine healthy 
leaf capable of fully maturing the great 
crops that it annually bears. The fruit 
never cracks, keeps well, ships well and 
sells well. Post Oak, Labrusca and Vini¬ 
fera. 
Bailey: Clusters very large and compact, 
larger and closer set with berries than the 
Concord, making the clusters remarkably 
heavy and attractive. The berries are as 
large as the Concord; do not crack, hang 
tightly, and are covered with a fine bloom. 
The quality is higher than the Concord 
and the seeds part more readily from the 
pulp, which is not unpleasant to the taste. 
It ripens evenly and the berries are of a 
very uniform size. It sells well and is a 
long keeper. Parentage Post Oak, La¬ 
brusca and Vinifera. 
Beacon: Clusters very large and com¬ 
pact. The berries average larger than the 
Concord, are very firm, good keepers and 
will bear shipment well. The quality is 
fully as good. The bloom is not qut.t so 
heavy, but the larger clusters and berries 
command Instant attention on the market. 
It is hardy. Parentage Big-berry Post 
Oak and Labrusca. 
Ohio. G. L. TINKER, M. D. 
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. 
RUBEBOID 
I'XZJES 
POULTRY-HOUSE 
ROOFING 
As a water-proof covering fo” Poultry 
j Bouses, HUBEKOIDbas no equal. Keeps I 
tne houses cool during the warm weather, 
and warm In Winter, and the chicks dry and’ 
I comfortable. The suu cannot melt it. 
THE STANDARD PAINT CO., 
100 WiUiam Street, 
NEW YORK. 
SS^ROOFING 
Is not like others—It Is better. It Is Fire, Wind and 
Water-Proof, being a perfect roof in every way and at 
tlie same time lias the advantage of being low in price. 
Fits the steepest or flattest roofs. ’ Anybody can lay it. 
A knife and huiiinicr are all the tools necessary. Saves 
yon money on either new or old roofing. Sample and Circulars free. 
THE A. P. SWAN CO., 114 Nassau St., NEW YORK. 
Dome i’lank save Timber and cash. Best, 
DClin« cheapesL strongest; 4,000 in use. Book 
for stamp. SHAWVBK BROS., Bellefontalne, Ohio. 
FEHGE WIRE AT WHOLESALE 
Send for price list and free catalog of Wire Fences & 
Supplies. W. II. MASON & CO., Box CT, Leesburg, O. 
SAN JOSE SCALE. 
And other Insects can be Controlled by Using 
Good’s Caustic Potash Whale- 
Oil Tobacco Soap No. 6. 
Kegs, 50 lbs. ea.,.5)^0 lb. ^ Bbl., aboat2751bs.,4o. lb 
Kegs, 100 lbs. ea., &c. lb. Bbls., about 425 lbs.,3^c.lb 
Kegs, 170 lbs. ea.,4J4c. lb. 
Large quantities Special Kates. Send for Circulars. 
JAMES GOOD, 937 N. Front St., Philadelphia, Pa 
IDE 
MACHINERY 
J Best and cheapest 
' Send for catalogue 
BOOMER & BOSCHERT 
..o PRESS CO.. 
' Water Street, 
SVBACUSKt a. Y. 
BALES 
15 Tons 
a Day 
Baler, lightest, 
hi I • 
The Gem Full-Circle 
strongest,cheapest baler. Made of wrongbt steel. 
Operated by 1 or 2 horses. Bales 10 to 16 tons a day. 
Sold on 6 days trial. Catalogne free. Address 
CEO. ERTEL CO., Quincy, III. 
THE MIETZ 6c WEISS 
Kerosene Engines 
Cheapest and Safest Power 
Known. For pumping and 
electric lighting, grinding 
corn, separating cream, 
sawing wood, and all power 
purposes. Send for Catalog. 
A. MIETZ, 
128 Mott Street, New York. 
CHARTER 
Gasoline Engine 
USED 
Any Place 
By Any One 
For Any Purpose 
^tationcuriea, Tortablea, JBnpincs 
and Pumpa, Boiatera 
Send for Illustrated Catalogue and 
Testimonials. State your Power Needs. 
Charter Gas Engine Co., Box 26, Sterling, Hi. 
POWER ECONOMY 
conoiBis first of all in having an engine of sufficient 
slse to develop power cheaply, and 
large reserve force so as to ruu any 
machine easUy and without drag. 
Leffel Engines 
excel in these things as well as 
others. Quick, easy steamers, re¬ 
quire the niinimam of fuel and are 
easy to operate. Ideal for farm 
creameries, small factories, 
Uneinialed for sawing wood, 
ting feed, shelling and grinding grain, running cream separa- 
tor8» churns, pumps, etc. I his one is horizontal—we make up¬ 
rights also. Stationary and portable, 3 h.n. up. Send ttamp for 
book. James Leffel & Co.. Box lOlSprloefield, Ohio. 
All bameos, old or new, is made pliable and easy—will look better 
and wear longer—by the use of 
Eureka Harness Oil 
The finest preservative for leather ever discovered. Save# 
many times its cost by improved appearances and lathe cost 
of repairs. Sold everywhere In cans—all sizes. 
Had. by STANDAKB UIl. CO. 
