24o 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
March Vt , 
NOTES FROM THE RURAL GROUNDS 
A Bird Seed Boomlet. —Enterprising 
western seedsmen are booming “Tene- 
riffe” Canary grass as the coming money 
crop, profitable both for forage and grain 
(seeds). Can be grown anywhere and 
warranted highly productive. A sample 
of this wonderful grass seed was pro¬ 
cured, and appears to be ordinary Canary 
seed, Phalaris Canariensis, a coarse Euro¬ 
pean grass abundantly grown in Sicily, 
Sardinia and other Mediterranean locali¬ 
ties, where labor is cheap and abundant, 
for the seeds which are used, generally 
mixed wth rape, hemp and poppy seeds 
for bird food. The price asked is about 
double that of a good article of imported 
Canary seed, so that the dealer is sure to 
come out all right in handling his “Ten- 
eriffe” specialty. Canary grass is easily 
grown anywhere—all that is necessary is 
to sow seeds in ordinary soil, but the 
trick in this country is economically to 
harvest the seed, as every grain-eating 
bird in the vicinity is sure to give his 
preferred attention to the crop while it 
lasts. The forage is tolerable if cut and 
cured green, but does mot rank with the 
millets in quality or quantity. Some years 
ago Canary seed ruled higher in price, 
and a New York seedsman induced one of 
his growers in New England to plant a 
considerable breadth as a trial crop. Tt 
was a success in growth and yield, but 
the birds flocked in at harvest time, gob¬ 
bled the profits and left little but coarse 
straw and a bill of expense. Labor is not 
over-plenty in the West, and we are not 
aware of any scarcity of birds, so the out¬ 
look for profits in “Teneriffe” grass is 
not enticing. We have a native grass of 
this genius, Phalaris arundinacea, known 
as Reed Canary-grass, that is of consid¬ 
erable value for stiff, moist land and bog¬ 
gy places. It is a long-lived perennial, 
while common Canary grass is an annual 
like Hungarian millet. Reed Canary- 
grass is very hardy, and its strong, creep¬ 
ing rootstocks are useful for binding 
banks. It grows fairly well in dry sand, 
but does not live as long as in moist 
ground. Good seeds are worth 50 cents 
or more the pound, and are never very 
plentiful. As with other species of the 
genus, its forage is good if cut young, but 
is too coarse if allowed to mature. 
T he Lovely Ribbon Grass.—A beauti¬ 
ful variety of Reed Canary-grass is the 
variegated Ribbon grass of gardens, often 
called gardeners’ garters. It is a fine old- 
fashioned plant with broad white and 
green leaves. It is very ornamental either 
as specimen plants or as a border for 
large beds. It is very manageable, as it 
lives long and spreads slowly. The botan¬ 
ical name is P. arundinacea variegata. 
Plants are offered for 10 cents each, but 
may be had in quantity from many old 
gardens. 
White Fly Advice— The control of the 
greenhouse Aleyrodes or white fly is now 
much discussed in garden publications. 
Growers of glasshouse vegetables, partic¬ 
ularly tomatoes and cucumbers, find this 
the most serious insect pest they have to 
contend with. Practically all suggested 
means of control have been abandoned in 
favor of hydrocyanic gas. Tobacco fu¬ 
migation and insecticide sprays have so 
uniformly failed to give reasonable relief 
that little dependance is now placed on 
them. Hydrocyanic gas does kill the 
adult flies, and in the proper strength 
and under the right conditions should 
not greatly harm most plants. Garden 
journals receive many inquiries as to the 
best methods of using this effective but 
dangerous remedy. The actual experi¬ 
ence .back of the advice offered may, to 
a considerable extent, be gauged by the 
character of the directions furnished. 
When the information is culled from 
text-books there is little hesitation 
in recommending proportions of gas great 
enough to cause considerable injury to 
plants, but when real experience speaks 
up there is a tendency to diminish the 
dose even to the point of doubtful effect 
as a fly exterminator. One ounce of 
high-grade potassium cyanide to each 
LOOP cubic feet of air space is about the 
limit of safety for tender rapidly-growing 
plants. This is the proportion worked 
out by the Rural Grounds’ tests two 
years ago, and since confirmed by re¬ 
peated trials. Reports come in of the 
efficacy of the gas when attenuated to the 
proportion of one ounce to 2,000 feet, but 
observation shows that while it may bring 
down the adult flies in great numbers it 
does not always destroy them. They may 
lie helpless 36 hours or more, coating the 
walks and benches like tiny snowflakes, 
and yet many individuals recover, resum¬ 
ing their attacks on the foliage. This 
peculiarity is frequently noted in regard 
to the troublesome mite known as red 
spider, which has the faculty of burying 
its proboscis in the leaf tissues at the 
approach of danger, and is to a consider¬ 
able extent shielded from the effects of 
fumigations. Hydrocyanic gas was 
thought to be a promising remedy for red 
spider, as strong applications left them 
inert, helpless and apparently dead, but 
it was soon found that a surprisingly 
large percentage returned to pernicious 
activity after a day or two of inaction. 
While white fly is of fragile constitution, 
and far less resistant in its winged state 
to this lethal gas, not every one that is 
brought to the ground is permanently 
disposed of. Even applications injurious 
to plants fail to kill off the egg and larval 
stages. Glasshouses vary so greatly in 
ability to retain gases from differences in 
exposure and construction that no uni¬ 
form rule will hold, yet we think that the 
safe and effective limit of dilution for 
sensitive plants does not lie far from 
three-quarter ounce of 98 per cent cyan¬ 
ide to each 1,000 cubic feet. It is abso¬ 
lutely settled that the houses must be 
dark, dry and cool—below 65 degrees— 
at the time of application if the minimum 
plant injury is of importance. We have 
nipped many kinds of plants when using 
one ounce, cyanide to the 1.000 feet and 
caused serious damage by daylight fumi¬ 
gations, and also when dark but too moist 
or warm. Sufficient sulphuric acid 
should be used rapidly to decompose the 
cyanide and liberate the gas. A good 
working rule is to allow two ounces com¬ 
mercial acid for each ounce cyanide, di¬ 
luting the acid by slowly pouring it into 
double, the quantity of water and making 
the mixture in a strong earthen vessel. 
The dangerous nature of hydrocyanic gas 
is so well understood that it does not 
seem needful to repeat here the precau¬ 
tions so often published. 
Repeated Fumigation Best. —An ex¬ 
cellent practice usually advised by the 
experienced is to use the gas near 
minimum strength—one ounce cyanide to 
1,500 feet—and repeat the fumigation 
weekly for three weeks or more, thus 
catching the young adults as they emerge 
from the resistant nymph and larval con¬ 
ditions, and also wearing out the stronger 
individuals that are only dazed by the 
first application. Thorough treatment of 
this kind will come near to ridding 
houses of the pest for the season. In 
our experience one good fumigation— 
one ounce to 1,000 or B200 feet—every five 
or six weeks has proved quite efficient, 
but as a variety of plants are grown in 
the same structure it has seemed advan¬ 
tageous to remove valuable and tender 
subjects grown in pots to a safe shelter 
during exposure to gas. w. v. f. 
HOLD UP! 
and con^sid&y 
fish POMMEL 
iND^LICKEH 
LIKE ALL 
tOWf/frl 
waterproofI 
CLOTHING, 
is made of the best 
rmteridls, in bkick oryel I ow 1 
ful|y Ouaranteed.and sold 
reliable dealers everywhere! 
417 5TICKT0THE f 
SIGN OF THE FISH 
^ ^ 1 wr i nt run 
*ISU RD®* Tower Canadian ca.uniTra a.jtower co. 
n W TORONTO, CAN. BOSTON. f1ASS..U.S,A. w 
SAVE YOUR TREES 
from |«yo* v 
ALL YOU NEED IS 
“SCALECIDE,” Wafer, AND A G00D 
. SPRAY PUMP. 
Simple, more effective and cheaper than LIME. 
SULPHUR and SALT. 
For sample, testimonials and price de¬ 
livered at your Railroad station, address 
B. G. Pratt Co.,11 Broadway, New York, N.Y, 
TO INSURE KILLING THE 
SAN JOSE SCALE 
PKEPAKK YOUR OWN 
LIME SULPHUR WASH 
AND BK SURE TO USE 
FLOWERS 
(Note the Spelling) 
OF SULPHUR 
BERGEN PORT 
Brand, which is prepared especially for 
Spraying Purposes. Combines easily, 
quickly and completely with Lime. In¬ 
sist on having it. Ask your Dealer or 
write to 
T. & S. C. WHITE CO., 
28 Burling Slip, New York. 
.KIL-®*SeALE 
Kills the Seale, a combination of Soluble Petro¬ 
leum and sulphur. Write for circular. On sale in 
£®w York by Henderson & Co., Stumpp & Walter, 
Weeber & Don, and Philadelphia by H. A. Dreer 
and H. F. Michell. 
1\^voqeiv Cuttute? 
The great soil improver for Peas, Beans, Clovers, &c. 
Write for prices and circular. GRIFFITH & TUR¬ 
NER CO., 211 N. Paca Street, Baltimore, Md. 
Leggett’s Dusters 
DISTRIBUTE 
INSECTICIDES 
IN DUST FORM 
saving Fruit and Vegetable Crops when other 
methods fail. 
NO BARREL OF WATER TO HAUL 
LEGGETT'S 
CHAMPION 
,DUSTER 
Two Acres of Potatoes 
dusted per hour. 
Several styles for 
GARDEN, 
FIELD 
OR 
ORCHARD 
Our Spray Calendar ^Iven concise Information regarding 
Dusters and Materials. Mailed on request. 
Leggett & Bro., 301 Pearl St., New York. 
SPRAYING FRUIT TREES. 
The Question of spraying fruit trees to prevent the 
depredations of insect pests and fungus diseases is 
no longer an experiment, hut a necessity. 
Our readers will do well to write Wm. Stahl Sprayer 
Co., Box 70J, Quincy, Ill., and get their catalogue 
dflRprihimr tvvflntv-mift ctvlnc 
Vehicle Ba^rgedns 
Not mail order house bargains. We manu¬ 
facture everything we sell from the raw 
material and sell direct to you from factory 
ON 30 DAYS FREE TRIAL 
We cut out all profits of agents and local 
dealers and guarantee to give you your 
money back any time within three years if 
your vehicle fails to stand the test. We fur¬ 
ther guarantee that the vehicle you get 
from us is the equal of any you can buy 
from a local dealer at double our price. A 
couple special jobs right now at extremely 
low prices. Write today for free complete 
vehicle catalogue. 
The Progressive Vehicle MIg. Co., 
Dept. T. Ft. Wayne, Indiana. 
Itls Worth Whila 
Buy a machine th at does the work 
right— that cleans its strainer 
automatically with a brush, 
mixes liquid mechanically so that 
oliage is never burned, but getg 
ti due proportion. 
Empire King, and 
Orchard Monarch 
do these things. They throw lines t 
■pray, are easiest to work and they 
never clog. You ought to know 
more about them. Write for in¬ 
struction book on spraying, form¬ 
ulas, etc. Mailed free. * 
FIELD FORCE PI MP CO.. 
No. 2 11th St. , F.lmira, N. Y. 
-BOOK ON SPRAYING 
Send for a copy of our new book on how 
to spray. Contains valuable formulas, 
and also describes the PERFECTION SPRAY¬ 
ER— simplest, strongest, most powerful spraver ever 
Invented. Don’t buy a sprayer until you get this book. 
THOMAS PEPPLER, Box 4 6, Hightstown, N, J. 
^Auto-Spray 
4 gal. tank, brass pump, operates by 
compressed air. 1 2 strokes give pressure 
j to spray % acre. Auto-Pop Attachment 
; cleans nozzle every time used; saves 
half the mixture. Best line high grade 
sprayers, hand and power, in America. 
Catalog free. Good agents wanted. 
E. C. BROWN CO., 
28 Jay St., Rochestor, N. Y. 
SPRAY MATERIAL 
BERRY BASKETS 
AND CRATES. 
Everything for planting:, 
growing, harvesting: and 
marketing fruit. Write us 
to-day ana let us quote you 
a special price on what you 
need. The Powerful Barrel 
Pump shown here can be at¬ 
tached to any barrel. Price 
complete, ready to use, 
only $4.95. Send for our 
catalogue of trees, plants, 
— , ,, vines and everything nead- 
ed to care for them. It is free with a copy 
ot Green s Big; Fruit Grower Magazine. 
GREEN’S NURSERY CO., 
105 Wall Street, Rochester, N. Y. 
Demlng Power Sprayer 
Self-contained, simple, light, pract¬ 
ical. Load it on wagon box or t 
wagon and attach hose and you ai 
ready Tor work. The Ideal outfit 
for orchard lsts and park 
managers. The only really 
efficient gasoline engine out¬ 
fit that sells at a reasonable 
price. 
Everything in Sprayers 
Bucket, Barrel, Knapsack, 
Hand, Etc, outfits adapted 
to every purpose. Don't buy 
till you Investigate the 
famous Doming line. 
Catalogue Free. 
THE DEMING CO., 
ZOO Dapot St. 
SALEM, OHIO. 
More Power Spraying outfits witli 
our IQ and 2Q H. P. AIR-COOI.Kl) 
Engines are used than all others com¬ 
bined. No water to freeze or carry. 
It is light. Write for Catalog 5 on 
Engines for Power and Spraying. 
HARNESS'^,, 
Our plan of selling custom-made, oak-tanned harness 
V mail. nirAft. from fllO f «i otnrw o ♦ v, rvo.. 1 rv _ 
K --° .- * ‘ j .v.*. uat.iuooiBKuaiaiiiccu. 
. 8 r 5S4y L n any way, return it ami get your money 
Dack. w rite for illustrated catalogue F and price list. 
THE KING HARNESS CO., -6 Lake St., Owego, Tioga Co., N.Y. 
Monarch Hydraulic 
Cider Press 
Great strength and ca¬ 
pacity; all sizes; also 
gasoline engines, 
steam engines, 
saw mills, thresh¬ 
ers. Catalog frea 
■onarch machinery Co., Room 161. 39 CortlandtSI.,Naw fork. 
R. H. DE YO & CO., Ringliamtou, New York. 
SPRAY OR SURRENDER 
that is the ultimatum that in¬ 
sects and fungi have served 
on every fruit-grower of 
America. If you do 
not heed the warning 
you will not get profits 
from your orchards. 
Every man who sprays intel¬ 
ligently, at the proper time, 
finds it the most profitable 
operation on the farm. 
Send for illustrated catalogue 
of the ECLIPSE Spray Pumps 
and outfits. 
Morrill & Morley, Benton Harbor, Mich. 
n 
BARREL SPRAYER "FREE 
Write today to find out how to se¬ 
cure a Hurst “F1TZ-ALL” Spray¬ 
er FREE; fits all sizes barrels and 
tanks. Sprays all solutions, has 
bronze valves, brass cylinder and 
plunger, strainer cleaner and three 
agitators. More economical, 
and easierto operate than any 
other sprayer on the market. 
GUARANTEED for 5 YEARS. 
Special offer on first one in 
each locality, to intro¬ 
duce. Full information 
furnished. 
H. L. HURST MFG. CO. 
1401 North St., Canton, 0. 
[ Sprayers to Spray “everything ’’-($2 to $ioo.)Sent 
on ro days’ trial. A t wholesale where no agent. 
