628 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
September 14 
BITS OF NATURE STUDY. 
Introduction. 
At the outset I should like to have a 
little talk about the meaning and pur¬ 
pose of nature study. Nature study Is 
not the same as elementary science. 
Science presupposes a teacher and a 
class room, or its equivalent; nature 
study does not. Science demands a 
rigid search for exact truth and the 
whole truth; nature study does not. 
Science calls for a systematic order of 
procedure; nature Study does not. The 
purpose of science is to acquire knowl¬ 
edge; the purpose of nature study is to 
awaken the interest, enlarge the sym- 
A YOUNG APPLE SHOOT. Fio. 279. 
pathy and add to the enjoyment of life. 
Nature study simply asks for an intelli¬ 
gent interest in the thing nearest at 
hand. It does not insist upon complete 
truth, nor even upon exact truth. It in¬ 
vites the observer to a closer companion¬ 
ship and a deeper love for nature, rath¬ 
er than to a detailed scrutiny of her 
ways. It presupposes no previous train¬ 
ing, and offers as much pleasure to one 
who knows nothing of a subject as to 
one who knows much. It asks the stu¬ 
dent to take in hand the seed, the leaf, 
the stone, or the insect and read the 
story written there, rather than one 
written about it in a book. 
The best article on nature study 
w'ould be the one which would cause the 
reader to throw it down unfinished to 
betake himself out of doors in search 
of the object itself. These ailicles are 
written with the hope that the reader 
will go to the object itself for most of 
his information. It will always prove 
more interesting than the article/ 
The Birth of a Strawberry Plant. 
An apple tree and a strawberry plant 
seem very unlike. Yet we may under¬ 
stalk, one on either side. The botanist 
calls these stipules, and you will find 
them more prominent on the strawberry 
plant. On the apple twig you may not 
find them at the base of every leaf, for 
they fall away in time. Do not over¬ 
look the bud between these, which is 
sometimes almost hidden by the leaf 
stalk. Do you find such buds anywhere 
else? This location at the base of the 
leaf stalk, between it and the twig, is 
called the axil of the leaf. None of 
these buds seems to grow. What be¬ 
comes of them? To answer the ques¬ 
tion look at the older part of the branch, 
the part which grew last year. How 
many leaves are there at each bud on 
this year’s growth? How many at the 
buds of last year? Have these buds 
lengthened any? Did the shoot you are 
examining grow from such a bud? 
Now look at a strawberry plant. Do 
you find anything in the axil of its 
leaves? If so, it must be a bud, like 
that of the apple tree shoot. Have any 
of these buds begun to grow? We 
should expect them to grow into 
branches. What kind of branches do 
they make? The leaves on the apple 
tree shoot which grew this year are 
some distance apart. On some of the 
short side branches they are crowded 
close together. On these strawberry 
branches they are still farther apart. No¬ 
tice the first one. There is a bud in its 
axil. What comes from the bud? The 
second joint is not like the first. More 
than one leaf appears here. The branch 
seems to divide. From the axil of one 
leaf a branch continues, while at the 
same time there develops a short thick¬ 
ened stem, more like the parent plant, 
or like the short branches on the two- 
year-old wood of the apple tree. This 
branch takes a sharp turn upward. At 
the heel thus formed there bursts forth 
something which we did not see on the 
apple tree branch, though perhaps we 
might see it under just the proper con¬ 
ditions. Here are tiny rootles, some¬ 
times in large numbers, each intent on 
forcing its way into the soil. I hey look 
very white and tender when first dis¬ 
turbed, and are covered with a fuzz of 
tiny hairs. These hairs add greatly to 
the surface of the rootlet whicn can 
come in contact with the soil, thus en¬ 
abling it to take up more water and 
mineral matter for the leaves above to 
work over into food for the growth of 
all parts of the plant. If undisturbed 
the roots soon anchor themselves so 
firpaly in the soil that the young plant 
can care for itself, independent of its 
parent. If the parent plant is young 
and growing under good conditions the 
young plant will be strong and vigorous. 
If the parent is old and exhausted by 
much fruit bearing the young plant will 
be weak also. fred w. carh 
Propagating Lily Bulbs. 
/''. E. K., Troy, N. Y.—When and how are 
Illy bulb.s propagated? I refer to the 
Candldum, large flowering, and Croceum 
type. Give careful directions how success¬ 
fully to increase these bulbs. 
Ans. —Lilies of the above type multi¬ 
ply by bulblets forming in the soil about 
THE GROWTH OF A YOUNG STRAWBERRY PLANT. Fio. 280. 
stand the strawberry plant better if we 
examine carefully a young shoot from 
an apple tree. It should be a shoot of 
the present year’s growth. Notice how 
the leaves are arranged, and how .an 
insect would circle around the twig if 
it were to climb from leaf to leaf, as a 
boy would climb from branch to branch 
on a tree. Notice the little leafy or 
scaly points, at the base of the leaf 
the base of the stem. They are most 
numerous on old bulbs that have not 
been disturbed for several years. The 
little bulbs may be planted in frames 
of good soil enriched with old rotted 
manure. The bulblets should rest ui>on 
and be embedded In a layer of sand 
about two inches thick. They may be 
placed two or three inches apart in 
rows wide enough to hoe between, and 
covered with about four inches of good 
soil. The sides of the frame should 
extend 12 to 14 inches deep in the earth, 
to keep out mice and moles, as the 
former are very fond of lily bulbs. No 
sash is needed in Winter, but a mulch 
of chopped hay or straw after the 
ground is frozen is very beneficial. The 
frame should have perfect drainage, as 
standing water is quickly fatal. The 
bulblets may grow in such a frame two 
or three seasons, when they will be 
large enough to plant out. Some lilies 
are propagated from the bulb scales, 
which may be treated In the same man¬ 
ner, but planted more thickly and at a 
less depth, but the process is uncertain 
and needless with the above types. 
After the stems have made a few inches 
of growth lilies are much benefited by 
a mulch of old manure. 
Brown Rot in Grapes. 
Y. T. B., Topsham, Me.—l send a bunch 
of grapes: can you tell me what Is the 
matter with them, and what Is the remedy? 
Ans. —The grapes you send are af¬ 
fected with the brown rot, one of the 
most destructive pests of the grape. It 
is very prevalent this year. Its spread 
being favored by the extremely hot and 
damp weather. There is no cure for it 
after the grapes are affected, and the 
only remedy is to spray the vines in 
the Spring, before the buds open, with 
full strength Bordeaux Mixture (six 
pounds each of lime and copper sulphate 
to 50 gallons of water), and later, as the 
fruit develops, with half strength. 
Our catalogue of high- 
class bulbs fcr fall plant¬ 
ing is now ready. All who 
have net received a copy 
are invited to send for it. 
We mail it free. 
J.IVI.TH0RBURN&C0. 
36 CORTLANDT STREET. NEW YORK. 
OUR FRUIT TREES 
Ornamental Trees, Vines and Plants 
are grown on the banks of the Hudson River, 
where with favorable climatic conditions, a per¬ 
fect season, rich soil and thorotigh cultivation, 
we have matured the finest and most complete 
list of stock ever grown in the Hudson Valley. 
Quality always our first aim; personal inspection 
invited. Fall planting gives best results. Our 
Summer and Autumn Catalogue free to all read¬ 
ers of The R. N.-Y. Ask us for information you 
may need on horticultural matters, and you will 
have answer in next mail. 
T. J, HWkER & SON, 
Orange Co. Nurseries. Box 1, Cornwall, N. Y. 
Choisy Cherries. 
N. O. IT., Rothsville, Pa.—In reply to C. F. 
C., page 563, would say that we have five 
Choisy cherry trees planted eight years on 
gravel soil. We had a few cherries this 
Summer and find them to resemble the 
old-fa.shioned Amber cherry so much that 
we are inclined, to graft trees next Spring 
with a valuable dark variety that we 
have growing on our place. Amber cherries 
sell for three and four cents on our mar¬ 
kets, when other varieties sell for six to 
eight cents per quart. 
Ans. —This is the right sort of facts 
to have stated. There is no doubting 
the common experience of marketmen, 
that they find more ready sale for dark 
cherries than for light ones. For home 
use we can grow any variety, regardless 
of color, that we desire; but for market 
we must yield to the popular demand, 
at least In some degree. h. e. v. d. 
Liquor Follows the Flag. 
n. E. O., Conn .—Will The R. N.-Y. give 
us the facts about exports of Intoxicating 
liquors to the Philippine Islands? I have 
heard many conflicting statements. 
Ans. —The following figures are the 
best we can obtain from the Govern¬ 
ment: 
1896. 1900. 
Malt liquors (bottled) doz. bottles..835 470,451 
Malt liquors (unbottled) gallons... 64 16.080 
Brandy (gallons) . — 18,063 
Bourbon whisky .— 58,056 
Rye whl.sky . — 5,.371 
Other spirits .— 1,054 
The total value of the liquors ex¬ 
ported to the Philippines last year was 
$717,792—by far the heaviest “agricul- 
strong potteo strawberry 01 
PLANTS, early and late, sent safely ^ I 
anywhere postpaid for One Dollar. 
A. B. KATKAMIER, Macedon, N. Y. 
BUDS IN SEASON 
Peach, Apple, Pear and Plum. Write for 
prices, giving quantity wanted. 
HARRISON’S NURSERIES, Box 29, Berlin, Md. 
Headquarters 
for the October Purple Plum and 
Green Mountain Grape. The largest 
New England nursery. 500 acres. Strong 
stock of all fruits, ornamental trees an:* 
shrubs. Caltalogue free. 
STEPHEN HOYT’S SONS, New Canaan, Conn. 
FINE NURSERY STOCK 
Grown In the famous Delaware fruit laud. Free from 
disease; true to name. Fruit Trees. Berry 
Plants, Asparagus Boots. Try our nrlcea on 
two-year Kleffer Pears. DOVER NURSERIES, 
B. H. ATKLNSON. Dover. Dei. 
New Plums for Trial 
One each—CLIMAX, BARTLETT. SULTAN, 8U1HO, 
AMERICA, APPLE. CHALCO. OCTOBER PURPLE. 
WICKSON. Strong one-year-old on plum roots, 
9 trees foriSl.SO. 
ROGERS ON THE HILL, Dansvllle, N. Y. 
rTADK TREES succeed where 
Af^^Lrgest Nursery. OTHERS FAIL. 
^Trw»riAnCC. 
—Honest 'Trees, free from scale. 
I Special inducements for Fall 
shipments. Fall Price-List Fuke to everybody. 
Sheerin’s W holesaleNurseries Uansville.N.Y 
tural” item in the list—^In fact, the en¬ 
tire exports to the Philippines in 1900 
amounted to but $1,656,871. Why these 
intoxicating liquors should he classed 
as “agricultural” is more than we can 
understand. Some of the other items 
of export in 1900 were: Horses, $211,- 
5.50; mules, $230,400; dairy products, 
$25,941; meat products, $34,128; bread- 
stuffs, $168,726. Thus far the Philip¬ 
pine trade seems to consist in providing 
food and drink for the American Army 
and office-holders. 
Q r r n \A/ U C A T Q description of best and poorest 
uLLU IilILn I U Many varieties entirely ruined. 
Write to-day. Smlth’sWheat Farm, Manchester.N.Y. 
FLY-PROOF WHEAT. 
The wonderful new red bearded Winter Wheat, 
big yielder, very hardy; tests 63 pounds to bushel. 
Price, 1 bushel. $2; 2)^ bushels. $4.25; five bushels, 
$7.50; 10 bushels or more, $140. Dawson Golden 
Chaff, $1 per bushel; bags free. Seed graded, free 
from foul stuff. Prompt shipment. Catalogue for 
asking. Also Shropshire Sheep and Poland China 
Swine. MAPLEWOOD STOCK FARM. 
Maplewood, Mich. 
rTHE BEST fertilizers! 
I FOR SEEDING DOWN TO I 
GRASS OR CRAIN j 
I ARE MADE BY fl 
THE AMERICAN AGRICULTURAL CHEMICAL CO. I 
I BOSTON-NEW YORK — CLEVELAND. | 
■ JBe sure and wrile us before ordering any fertilizers, ■ 
