6io 
I'HE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
September 14 
• Ruralisms 
/VOTES FRO/V! THE RURAL GROUNDS. 
The Mock ok Summer Cypress. —Fig. 
2S1, from the seed catalogue of W. At- 
lee Burpee & Co., Philadelphia, Pa., 
though rather formal, does poor justice 
to the symmetrical outlines of Kochia 
scoparia or Summer cypress when nat¬ 
urally grown in the garden. Although 
this plant has been known for the 
greater part of a century, it is so seldom 
grown in this country that it excites the 
utmost interest when seen. Little plants 
started indoors in April and set out in 
ordinary soil in May, two feet or more 
apar’t, make symmetrical bushes nearly 
three feet high, much resembling a 
carefully sheared evergreen, by Septem¬ 
ber. Soon after the branches are cov¬ 
ered with a crimson or coral-red in¬ 
florescence, which entirely changes the 
aspect of the plants. The flowers are 
very small in size, but countless in 
number, crusting every twig. The plant 
dies soon after having ripened its in¬ 
numerable seeds. A dozen Kochias 
were used in a clump to fill up space in 
an unfinished shrub bed on the Rural 
Grounds for the Summer, and visitors 
all inquire what rhre evergreen has 
been established there. The genus 
Kochia belongs to the Chenopodiacem, 
or Goosefoot family, which includes the 
cultivated beet. The 30 or more species 
of Kochia differ much in appearance, 
and none is of horticultural interest 
except K. scoparia, the species under 
consideration, which is native to north¬ 
ern Asia and some parts of Europe. The 
foliage is long and narrow, pleasing 
light-green in color, with a silky tex¬ 
ture. The regular conical form is de¬ 
veloped very early, and maintained un¬ 
til maturity. It so closely resembles a 
well-known dwarf Retinospora, except 
in the lighter green tint, that many 
persons can scarcely be convinced it is 
grown from seed in a few weeks’ time. 
Kochia seeds germinate quickly and the 
plants are easily handled. It is said 
to thrive best in clay soils, and to ap¬ 
preciate a sprinkling of saltpeter, or 
even table salt, on ,the ground about 
the plants. We have seen it growing 
with apparently equal vigor in light 
sand, loam, and clay, and would con¬ 
sider it an easy and desirable plant for 
occasional trial, if not regular cultiva¬ 
tion in the way of foliage beds, groups 
and Summer hedges. It is said to be 
grown in Europe more for its short¬ 
lived brilliancy at the flowering period 
than for its trim greenness during early 
growth. 
More Scale Talk.—A subject that 
will not down is the persistent spread 
of the Pernicious or San Jos6 scale. Al¬ 
though introduced near the Rural 
Grounds over 10 years ago, and pretty 
well disseminated throughout this cor¬ 
ner of New Jersey, little damage has 
hitherto been noticed on large bearing 
trees, though many young orchard and 
ornamental trees have been killed. The 
present season, however, witnesses the 
practical destruction of some previously 
vigorous apples, at least 30 years old; 
situated at some distance. The writer 
first noticed scales on these trees in 
1899. They were few in number, scat¬ 
tered over the new growth, and looked 
as though they had a difficult task to 
conquer their large and lusty hosts. 
Last year gray crusts over the lower 
branches showed that the pes'ts had in¬ 
creased to millions; the leaves on in¬ 
fested limbs dropped early, and the 
fruit came to nothing, being shriveled 
and dotted with scales. This Summer 
reveals still more painful evidence of 
their deadly work. Half the branches 
are bare and dead, dying from below 
upwards; no fruit was set, and the 
trees have the discouraged look that 
precedes dissolution. Pernicious scales 
are found at times on such ornamental 
trees as willows. Mountain ash, and 
Osage orange, but are not observed on 
many other smooth-barked trees where 
they might be expected. The result of 
two years’ trials of crude petroleum on 
the Rural Grounds may be summed up 
in destruction of scales and immunity 
from reinfection for one season in 11 
young fruit trees; reappearance of scale 
in midsummer after spraying with 
crude oil in March, one tree. Destruc¬ 
tion and immunity for two successive 
years with one spraying, eight suc¬ 
cesses and one failure, the scales ap¬ 
pearing the second Summer, though ap¬ 
parently free the first year. The failure 
to clear out scales the first season was 
in a good-sized Satsuma plum tree, 
headed back to get rid of small 
branches. The tree was sprayed care¬ 
fully late in March, but damp and 
foggy weather evidently prevented the 
oil from sticking, and the June brood 
spread over the unprotected areas, but 
has not gained a foothold on the greasy 
surfaces. Records of similar experi¬ 
ences come from many sources, and the 
serious nature of the pest is being 
strongly impressed on all tree growers. 
A continuous battle is in prospect, and 
the price of tree fruits in the near fu¬ 
ture, like liberty, will be eternal vigi¬ 
lance. The difficulty of thoroughly 
“blue daisy’’ noted on page 614, we 
omitted to mention the neat little Fe¬ 
licia ameiloides, formerly known as 
Agathea coelestis. This Aster-like plant 
was introduced several years ago by a 
prominent seedsman as a blue daisy, or 
“Marguerite.” It makes an elegant pot 
plant, and may be grown like a Ciner¬ 
aria, but is not adapted for the border. 
The preposterous name of Arctotis 
StcBchadifolia is now brought forward 
for A. grandis under the claim of prior¬ 
ity, it having been overlooked by the 
highest botanical authorities. Wuatever 
may be the justice of the claim, it is 
safe to predict that the gardening public 
will scarcely consent to use a name 
which must sound so much like an ex¬ 
plosive sneeze. w. v. k. 
Mulching the Orchard.— Grant G. 
Hitchings, of Onondaga Co., N. Y., has an 
original way of caring for his apple or¬ 
chards. He told the writer about it at the 
annual meeting of the New York Fruit 
Growers’ Association. A correspondent 
for a local paper recently gave the follow¬ 
ing description of Mr. Hitchings’s plan-. 
“He sets young trees in grassy instead 
of cultivated fields, mulches with the 
mown grass, drawn straw, etc., and grows 
the trees slowly with low branches and 
very little trimming, and sprays thorough¬ 
ly. When the young whip-like branches 
are loaded with apples, the lips rest on the 
grassy ground, the upper limbs rest on the 
lower ones and the tree has a pyramidal 
THE MOCK OR SUMMER CYPRESS. Fig. 281 
spraying large trees is at once evident 
on trial, and the final outcome, unless 
totally new methods of relief are dis¬ 
covered, is likely to be a demand for 
low-growing and early-bearing vari¬ 
eties. While good quality and prolific 
bearing will continue as essential as in 
the past, the search will be for trees 
that promise quick returns and occupy 
small space. Every fruit tree planted 
will demand constant attention, and 
possibly occasional expensive treatment 
with spray or gas fumigation. Long- 
winded and rampant growing varieties 
will be discarded for the precocious 
and compact kinds plant breeders are 
expected to create. The time is past, 
i.f it ever existed, to hope for the ex¬ 
termination of this minute and destruc¬ 
tive scale, and the problem of protect¬ 
ing our individual choice trees and 
shrubs now faces every gardener. 
Burbank’s Elegance Verbena.— 
Plants of Luther Burbank’s new sweet- 
scented Verbena Elegance were for¬ 
warded for trial early last Spring, and 
planted in congenial light soil in the 
Rural Grounds. Like most propagated 
Verbena plants, they started off rather 
slowly, but are now blooming profusely, 
making very neat and compact plants. 
The clusters are about three inches 
across; the individual flowers of the 
largest size. The type of coloration 
is new and very distinct. A clear 
white center covers more than half 
the plant, with outer shadings of 
light lavender purple. The fragrance 
is the usual Arbutus-like odor occa¬ 
sionally found in seedling Verbenas, 
chiefly in the light-colored varieties, but 
more sti’ongly marked. It is more no¬ 
ticeable in the evening, diminishing 
considerably in strong sunlight. Mr. 
Burbank’s first scented Verbena May¬ 
flower has been disseminated about six 
years, and is now well known. It re¬ 
sembles in color and, of course, in 
fragrance the dainty Trailing arbutus, 
Epigsea repens, familiarly known as the 
Mayflower in the Elastern States. 
An Older Blue Daisy. —Referring to 
Arctotis grandis, the newly discovered 
shape. The wind has very little effect, 
and the few apples that fell lay on or In 
the luxuriant grass. Those who have 
noticed a naturally grown Norway spruce 
covered with Winter snow or sleet with¬ 
out a broken limb can imagine an apple 
tree thus grown and loaded with fruit. 
At the Geneva Experimental Station the 
apple trees have horizontal or fastigiate 
branches and the orchards are carefully 
cultivated, while here in the backwoods 
of Onondaga an opposite, unorthodox 
course is taken with far more successful 
results.” 
This is the way the Mirror and Farmer 
puts it: “Prof. Frederick Starr, of the 
University of Chicago, one of those emi¬ 
nent gentlemen who earn salaries and 
achieve notoriety by discovering things 
that are not so and recommending what 
cannot be done, has made a bid for the 
gratitude of his fellow citizens of the 
western metropolis by informing their 
park commission that it can easily rid the 
city of mosquitoes by planting castor 
beans along its streets and walks and in 
its squares, and that any other place on 
the map can do the same.’’ We may hear 
next that a steady diet of baked beans 
will make one immune to mosquito bites. 
Whbn you write advertlserB 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 
Free R,uraLl Natil Delivery 
HAS COME TO STAY. 
Why 
not 
buy a 
Mail 
Box 
which 
will stay 
with it. 
Uncle Sam's 
Favorite 
Mail 
Box 
is approved by the U. S. Government. It is made en 
tirely of steel. Nothing to draw dump, spring, wai’p 
or rot, and is too thick and heavy to rust out. Signal 
shows when mail is to be collected by carrier. Has 
spring letter holder and change holder to pay post¬ 
age when you a re out of stamps. Cover fits down on 
box like a hood, llain or hnow caunot blow in. StroDg spt’ng 
kr'ep.slid always closed. Your naa.e put ou box in durable 
black letterp. Box iinisbt d in white aluminum; looks like sil* 
ver. These boxesare in use all over the U nited States. If on 
a tree delivery route, or if one is to be opened by your place, 
you can pave money by clubbing in with your neighbors. We 
send a sample box complete, with yvur name on it, for $2 00, 
exprses prepaid. Less in quantities. Send for illustrated and 
descriptive booklev, ‘*The Story of n Free Rural Delivery 
.Hail Box and Post.*’ We mail it frte. 
Bprvd Steel Post Co.. Adria.f\, MicK. 
Cyanide 
Guaranteed gS to gg per cent., for generating 
Hydrocyanic Acid Gas 
the 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. 
MANUFACTURED BV 
The Roessier & Hasslacher Chemical Co., 
No. 100 William Street, New York. 
THE MIETZ & WEISS 
Kerosene Engines 
Cheapest and Safest Power 
Known For pumping and 
electric lighting, grinding 
corn, separating cream, 
sawing wood, and all power 
purposes. Send tor Catalog. 
A. MIETZ, 
138 Mott Street. New York 
Gasoline Engine 
I T r' rv Any Place 
I I \ H 11 By Any One 
yor Any Porpose 
Stationariea, Portables, Engines 
and Pumps, Hoisters 
Send for Illustrated Catalogue and 
'Testimonials. State your Power Needs. 
Charter Gas Engine Co., Box 26, Sterling, III. 
JO MAKE FARM^POULTRY BUILDINGS, 
WATERPROOF d/H/ 
WINDPROOF.Yyierei! 
Nothing Better than 
NEPONSETl 
SJ^ROOFING^ 
j.A postal brings sample and 3 
I name of nearest dealer. > 
F. W. BIRD & SON, East Walpole, Mass. Chicago, 
A GOOD ROOF 
At a Low Price 
is what you get every 
time you use 
SWANKS 
The roof is t lie most 
expensive element 
of repair on all 
buildings. We help 
vou make it the 
least expensive. 
Easily laid on new 
- roofs or over old 
iglesortin. Becomes as hard and resisting as slate. 
Fire. Wind iind \Vliter Proof. Send lor tree 
Tvl.iQ Qnrl f>irr*nlJiT*«. 
RUBEROID 
POULTRY-HOUSE 
ROOFING 
As a water-proof covering fo- Poultry- 
I Bouses, UUBEKOIH has no equal. Keeps 
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 CO., 
100 William Street, 
NEW YORK. 
