76 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
February 4, 
GREENHOUSE WORK IN FEBRUARY 
Double-Decked Benches.—- Th® early 
preparations for the coming Summer begin 
to crowd in during this wintry month, so 
that it really becomes quite a busy time 
for the gardener under glass. So much 
in the line of propagation should he done 
during February, both by means of cut¬ 
tings and seeds, that the grower is likely 
soon to be confronted with the problem 
of finding extra space for some of the 
young stock, and this problem is some¬ 
times met by suspending narrow shelves 
from the roof of the greenhouse. These 
shelves may be made of a single board one 
foot wide, and as long as may be needed, 
a narrow strip being nailed on each side 
of the board to make edge enough to 
keep the pots from falling off when the 
plants are being watered, and the shelves 
may be supported by means of hangers 
made of stout galvanized wire. The most 
suitable plants to be placed on such a 
shelf are those that do not require fre¬ 
quent waterings, for example any succu¬ 
lent plants like the houseleeks, Crassulas, 
Echeverias and some of the Begonias, 
for it must be taken into consideration 
that shelves of this character are not 
specially convenient when watering is 
needed, beside which the drip and shade 
from the shelf may be more or less det¬ 
rimental to the plants beneath. Never¬ 
theless these appliances add much to the 
available space in a greenhouse and are 
not infrequently used in small establish¬ 
ments. 
Seasonable Propagation. —The cutting 
bed should be in full swing just now, 
for in addition to the roses, geraniums, 
carnations, etc., to which reference has 
been made in a former chapter, there are 
many other species of Summer flowers 
that must be provided for. Among these 
are the Abutilons, or Bell flowers, as 
they are sometimes known, of which there 
are many varieties, white, red, pink, yellow 
and vari-colored, and also some highly 
decorative variegated-leaved sorts. Of the 
latter one of the best for bedding purposes 
is the white variegated variety known as 
A. Savitzii, but this one is rather more 
difficult to propagate than are Some of the 
stronger growers. Rather light side shoots 
make the best cuttings of the Abutilons, 
the strong top growths being too soft and 
pithy to root readily. The fragrant leaves 
of the old-fashioned lemon verbena (Bip- 
pia citriodora), make that plant a general 
favorite, and this is a good time to put 
in some cuttings made from soft young 
growth, the young shoots about two inches 
long forming roots in a short time when 
kept moist and protected from the sun. 
Heliotropes and Fuchsias may also be 
rooted readily now, provided the cut¬ 
tings are made from new growths. Hard 
cuttings of either of these plants do not 
root readily and the same rule will apply 
to very many of our common Summer 
flowering plants. There are many thou¬ 
sands of Verbenas grown from seeds 
every year, and the seedlings are quite 
satisfactory if raised from a good strain 
of seed, but if one wishes to grow named 
varieties of Verbenas it becomes neces¬ 
sary to raise them from cuttings, and these 
may be put in at any time from now 
forward, the cuttings being formed from 
the soft tips of the shoots with about 
four leaves, and under favorable condi¬ 
tions will form roots in three to six days. 
Summer Plants from Seed. —Then 
there are many annuals that may be sown 
in boxes or pans at this time, among them 
being the dusty miller or Centaurea, 
feverfew, Sweet Alyssum, Drummond 
Phlox, Kenilworth ivy and various others 
that are found in an ordinary collection. 
Some special varieties of Dahlias may be 
needed, and if the roots are potted or 
planted in a box, they will soon start into 
growth and provide some good cuttings, 
the stock plants being placed in the warm 
portion of the greenhouse and kept mod¬ 
erately moist. 
Hardy Plants. —The hardy Phlox 
may also be increased by cuttings if one 
has taken the precaution to lift a few roots 
in the Fall and to bring them into heat 
in much the same manner as that sug¬ 
gested for the Dahlias.. Pentstemons 
may also be lifted from the garden in the 
Autumn with the hardy Phlox, and like 
the latter may be stored in a cold frame 
until they are needed for cuttings, at 
which time they may be brought into a 
temperature of 50 to 55 degrees at night 
and kept moist, and will soon start away, 
this method of increasing these plants 
giving a greater stock than can be had 
from the division of the plants. 
The Bouvardias are very attractive and 
useful as cut flowers, their various vari¬ 
eties including red, pink and white, all of 
which are quite easy to grow provided 
they are given some good soil, plenty of 
moisture and a night temperature of 60 
degrees. The present month is a suitable 
time for propagating the Bouvardias also, 
and this may be done by two entirely dis¬ 
tinct methods, the first being by means 
•f cuttings farmed f.ram saGtian? 
of the thicker roots about one inch long, 
these root cuttings being planted in shal¬ 
low boxes of light soil, or preferably soil 
in the bottom and a covering of bar sand 
over the cuttings to a depth of one inch. 
The boxes are then placed in a warm por¬ 
tion of the greenhouse, and in the course 
of a few weeks will throw up shoots and 
soon be ready to be potted off. The sec¬ 
ond method for propagating Bouvardias 
is by top cuttings, these being formed 
from the soft young growth, and planted 
in the sand bed in the same manner as one 
would do with carnations. It is also a 
good plan to save some of the old Bou- 
vardia- plants that have been blooming 
during the Winter, and to plant them out 
in the garden in early May, such plants 
producing large crops of flowers in the 
latter part of the Summer before the 
young plants of the present season are 
ready to bloom. 
Soft-Wooded Plants. —The present 
month is rather early to put in cuttings of 
Coleus and Achyranthes, unless one is 
very short of stock and intends to take a 
crop or two of cuttings from the young 
plants, for these plants root and grow so 
quickly that they are liable to get starved 
in small pots before the time for planting 
them out. 
Dwarf Dahlias. —There is now to be 
had from the seedsmen an excellent strain 
of dwarf single-flowered Dahlias, known 
as the Tom Thumb type, these Dahlias 
only growing 18 to 24 inches high and 
flowering abundantly the first season from 
seed. Seedlings of these plants raised 
this month and next will be most likely to 
flower by July 1, and some of them even 
earlier, continuing to bloom from that 
time until the frost cuts them down next 
Autumn. As the sun grows stronger, 
more ventilation will be required in bright 
weather, but it should be remembered that 
the winds are likely to be cold, and that 
it will be much less of a shock to the 
plants to open the ventilators a little when 
the temperature gets up to 70 degrees 
than to wait until the mercury runs up to 
80 degrees and then to open up several 
inches at once. The majority of plants 
are more or less susceptible to strong 
drafts, and this is especially so in the case 
of plants that are being forced into growth 
ahead of their natural season. 
w. H. TAPLIN. 
_ ,. . Do you get the best 
possible crops from your 
^ garden? Do you not think you 
- ,M could be helped by reading good 
articles written by experienced men! 
The Fruit-Grower, St. Joseph, Mo. 
5b a paper devoted solely to fruit culture, 
with a garden department every month. 
It is “the handsomest farm paper in 
America,” 24 to G4 pages monthly. Besides its regular 
garden department, in March it will issue a special gar- 
dening number, which is one of four special issues for the 
first months of 1905: “Anniversary number,” “Spraying,” 
“Gardening,” “SmalFFruits.” If you have a garden, or 
grow fruit, you need The Fruit-Grower. 60o a year or 
send 25o and names of ten farmers who grow fruit 
and secure a year’s subscription, in¬ 
cluding the four special numbers, M 
any one of which is worth a year’s 
subscription. Your money 
back if this is notso. 
The Fruit-Grower Co. 
1551 8.7 th, St. Joseph, Mo.' 
FRUIT TREES. 
A Large Assortment of the Finest Quality 
of Fruit, Shade and Ornamental Trees, 
at very Low Prices. We make a Specialty 
of dealing Direct with the Farmers. 
Write for Price List. 
CALL’S NURSERIES, Perry, O. 
Peach Trees and! 
Strawberry Plants. 
We have them by the 100,000, to¬ 
gether with general line of nur¬ 
sery stock. Friees low; quality 
best. Write for new 190a Catalog. 
CHATTANOOGA NURSERIES, 
Chattanooga, Tennessee. 
DCAPU TDCE7CA full line of varie 
rCAV/n I rlCCO ties, new and old 
APPLE TREKS, 
Summer, Autumn and Winter Varieties. 
QUINCE TREES are scarce, 
but we have them. Get our FREE descriptive Cata¬ 
logue. JOS.H. BLACK SON & CO., Higbtstown. N. J. 
r TWO MILLION-) 
Strawberry Plants 
Free from disease and in the most thrifty grow¬ 
ing condition. Guaranteed true to name and va¬ 
riety. No grower can produce anything better. 40 
different kinds. Also a few thousand Peach Trees, 
Elberta and other leaders. Positively no scale or 
other disease. 20 page catalogue free. Write to¬ 
day. It’s sure to save you money. 
J. W. JONES & SON, Allen, Md. 
FRUIT and 
Ornamental 
Shrubs, Roses, Vines, Plants, Seeds, Etc., 
Over Half a Century 
We offer everything 
of the best for 
Have been the stand 
ard of excellence for 
Orchard, Vineyard, Lawn, Park, Street, Garden and Greenhouse. 
Our aim is to retain all the old varieties that are desirable and introduce all the new things in 
our line which promise to prove valuable. We send by mail postpaid, Seeds, Plants, Y ines, 
Roses, Bnlbs and Small Trees and Guarantee safe arrival and satisfaction, 
larger sent by express or freight. A valuable 168 page Catalogue FREE, send for it 
and see what values we give for your money. Direct deal will save you all agents commis¬ 
sions and Insure you the best. TRY IT. Correspondence solicited. 51 years, 
44 Greenhouses. 1000 Acres. 
THE STORRS & HARRISON CO., Box223, PAINESVILLE, OHIO, 
He Knows Good Trees. 
J. G. Harrison & Sons, Washington, April 2,1904. 
Dear Sirs:—The 1,000 Elberta June budded peach trees received yesterday. A 
better lot of trees I never saw. We were formerly in the nursery business and J 
know frood Trees. We shall certainly be ordering from you next year. 
Yours truly, F. WALDEN. 
—wiin—Him*.. Wii i i Mire" ir~T 
Harrison Trees Always Please. 
A trial order invariably brings us a permanent customer. Our trees do their own talking— 
we have no agents. APPLES. No smoother, more vigorous, better rooted 
trees grown. All seasons, all varieties. York Imperial, Ben Davis, Early 
Harvest, Rome Beauty, Stark, Winesap, all the good varieties. 
PEACH TREES. We grow the finest stock in the world in 
our climate. You can’t miss it if you order the great new. 
Ray or the Elberta. Select trees of all varieties from earliest* 
to latest ripening. Write for 1905 catalog of Apples. Peaches, 
Pears, Plums, Grapes and Strawberries. Mailed free. 
ml 
HARRISON’S NURSERIES, Box 29, Berlin, Md. 
HOYT’S NURSERIES NEW ENGLAND 
and no more complete line of “ A 1 ” stock grown in the United States. Fruit Trees, Shade Trees and 
Ornamentals. Write us about your Fall planting—advice based on experience of three generations, free. 
Catalogue for the asking. 
STEPHEN HOYT’S SONS CO., _ NEW CANAAN, CONNECTICUT. 
We have a large surplus of A O §3 E C 1 K3i P P ever grown in this country 
some of the best varieties of ™ K* EL an <l offered at right prices. 
Northern Spy, Valuable for top-working; Newtown Pippin, Gano, Fallawater, Baldwin, R. I. Green¬ 
ing and others. Low prices by the quantity. Peach and other Fruit Trees that will please. Send 
for our Catalogue. BAKNES 1SROTHKKS NURSERY CO., Box 8, Yalesville, Conn. 
STRAWBERRY PLANTS THAT GROW - Best Standard Varieties 
Also Raspberry, Blackberry, Currant and Grape Plants, Asparagus Roots and Seed 
Potatoes in assortment. All stock warranted high grade and true to name. Forty-page Cata¬ 
logue with cultural instructions, Free. C. E. WHITTEN, Box 11, Bridgman, Mieli. 
G-ranci Unite Constantino 
and 'Winter IQanana 
The beauty, large size, productiveness and quality of these varieties are engaging the attent ion 
of some of our largest growers. Get our free catalog with plates describing them. All the other standard 
reliable kinds. 
Eox: 122 II. <S. Wiley tfc Son Caynga, 3\T. Y. 
NEW APPLES 
TREES AND PLANTS 
Our FREE CATALOGUE will save yot 
Free from Scale. New and Choice Varieties. 
Blackberries, Strawberries, Raspberries. 
you money. MTER & SON, Bridgeville, Del. 
ROGERS’ i M 1 1 > ■ Planters of Rogers’ 
are SAFE » ■ M Trees get Safety 
Not the largest, not the oldest, not the cheapest, but the Best trees and the Safest trees money can 
tiny. Our Tree Breeder tells about our trees and our plan of breeding. It's FREE. 
The Tree Breeder. ROGERS ON. THE HILL, DANSVILLE. N. Y. 
no YOUR FRUIT TREES BEAR TRUE TO NAME? 
A problem confronting Fruit Growers and Farmers throughout the Country, and a serious one 
to solve. I have studied the question many years and can give you valuable information. Send for 
my FREE Catalogue. Fifty Fruit Trees FREE with early orders. 
MARTIN WAHL, Nurseryman, Rochester, N. Y. 
TREES 
$5 PER 100. FREIGHT PAID. and Carolina Poplars. Healthy, 
true to name and Fumigated. All klndsof trees and plants at low wholesale 
prices. Remember we BEAT all other reliable Nurseries in quality and 
price. Catalogue free. RELIANCE NURSERY, Box 10, Geneva. N. Y. 
OlfftE. SURE 
to get exactly what you order when you buy 
_FRUIT TREES. ROSE BUSHES. SHRUBS, VINES OR 
SMALL FRUITS from our illustrated catalog. And you may be just as cer¬ 
tain that it will all be good, healthy stock, free from scale and disease. 
There’s every advantage in buying from us. Write for free catalog. 
GROVER NURSERY CO., 71 TRUST BLOG., ROCHESTER, N. Y. 
BUY 
DIRECT 
FROM 
GROWER. 
IT FRUIT BOOK 
"shows in NATURAL COLORS and 
accurately describes 216 varieties of 
fruit. Send foronr liberal terms of distri¬ 
bution to planters.—Stark Bro’s, Louisiana, Mo. 
STRAWBERRY PLANTS 
Climax, Crimson Cluster and all 
other leading varieties For Sale 
J. H. HALE’S 
Fruits and Plants 
are among the best in America. If you want 
all kinds of berries, peaches, apples, plums, 
chestnuts, asparagus, rhubarb, etc.,for home 
or market, send for free catalogue. Or if 
wanting to double strawberry crop ivithout 
expense of new plants or fertilizer , address 
J. H. HALE, SOUTH GLASTONBURY, CONNECTICUT 
DAVBD RODNAY 
Route 39 HIRTLY, Kent Co., Dela. 
WE OFFER A FINESTOCK 
of the following trees and plants: 
The New Hush Hybiid Chinkapin, 
Paragon, Ridgley and Japan Chestnuts, 
Papershell Pecans, Japar Chestnuts, 
Grapevines, Roses, etc , etc. 
Send for free Catalog ;e. 
SUMMIT NURSERIES, Monl cello, Florida. 
GRAPEVINES 
£?$ Currants, Gooseberries, Black¬ 
berries, Raspberries, Straw¬ 
berries. Price List FREE. 
Send 2c stamp for illustrated descriptive catalog. 
» T. S. HUBBARD CO. Fredonia, N. Y. 
~Sma!l Fruits 
Whatever else your order includes don’t omit in Straw¬ 
berries the Climax and Olympia, in Raspberries the 
Ruby and Black Diamond varieties. Hardy, prolific 
bearers of choicestfruits. My stock is not approached 
elsewhere. All choice varieties, also Blackberries, Goose¬ 
berries, Currants and Grapes. 1 guarantee you’ll be satis¬ 
fied with Wood quality of plants. All my own growing. 
Send for Catalog. 
Allen L. Wood, Wholesale Grower, Rochester, N.Y. 
mTMHIMUEM 
;:re **brcd for henrinc:.” That’s why we 
cut all buds from the best fruited, bearing 
trees. It also insures stoc k true to name and 
variety. Over three million trees—913 acres. 
All new and standard varieties of Apple, 
Peach, Pear, Plum, Quince, etc. Also orna¬ 
mental trees and shrubs. >Vo sell direet at 
wholuBr.l© prices. Illustrated catalogue free. 
WEST NICHIGAN NURSERIES, 
Box 54, Bruton Harlmr, Mieh. ^ 
