264 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
March 24, 
NOTES FROM THE RURAL GROUNDS 
“Beautify Your Yard. —This is the 
title of a neatly-printed, 24-page book¬ 
let on lawn-making and dooryard plant¬ 
ing issued for free distribution by the 
Conard & Jones Co., West Grove, Pa. 
A dozen beautiful photographic reproduc¬ 
tions and a suggestive planting plan for 
a lot 50 x 100 feet well illustrate the 
text, which comprises chapters on lawns, 
walks and pathways, gateways and en¬ 
trances, porch-planting, shrubberies and 
hedges, together with notes and instruc¬ 
tions for planting trees, shrubs, hardy 
perennials, annuals, vines and Summer 
flowering bulbs. There is also advice 
concerning the management of window 
boxes and hanging baskets, flower beds, 
roses and borders. The plan is worked 
out to the scale of one-eighth inch to the 
foot, and a planting key indicates the 
name and position of the plants, shrubs 
and trees best adapted for economical and 
permanent effects. This little work should 
be highly useful to those considering the 
best way of regenerating old or planting 
new lawns or dooryards. The booklet is 
handsome and instructive, containing no 
advertising matter whatever. It may be 
had by application to the publishers. 
Crimson Winter Rhubarb. —Who has 
succeeded with Burbank's Crimson Win¬ 
ter rhubarb? Plants and seeds have 
been freely offered for several years, 
yet no accounts of successful culture 
have reached us. It is claimed to 
grow readily and quickly from seeds, 
and to come quite true to type, 
which is more than can be said of stand¬ 
ard varieties. Plants of Crimson Win¬ 
ter rhubarb were received on the Rural 
Grounds from the originator several years 
ago. One was grown under glass and 
others planted out in the usual way. The 
glasshouse specimen produced a long 
succession of slender scarlet stalks of very 
good flavor when cooked, but made no 
effort to increase its crowns, and finally 
died out The outdoor specimens did 
not start well until late Summer. They 
made a few edible stalks in October, and 
perished during Winter. Seedlings are 
claimed to do better than crown divisions. 
Since this rhubarb must lie dormant like 
other kinds during freezing weather, and 
is too small in stalk during the growing 
season for commercial value, it is hard 
to understand the claims made for its 
great value in this climate. It may be 
useful where the Winters are mild and 
open. Stalks sent us by Mr. Burbank in 
January some years ago were of fair size, 
inch wide and 18 inches long, dull 
crimson in color, thin-skinned and of ex¬ 
cellent quality when cooked. We would 
like to hear from readers who have tried 
this new rhubarb. 
Malakhov Sweet Corn. —Seeds of this 
interesting and extremely early little sweet 
corn were obtained last Spring from the 
New Jersey Experiment Station, New 
Brunswick, N. J„ and planted early in 
May, together with blocks of Sheffield, 
Golden Bantam and Premo. Malakhov 
made a quick, vigorous but dwarf growth, 
and was in full bloom before any of the 
other varieties, but did not quite finish 
shedding pollen before silks and tassels of 
Bantam and Premo appeared. The ears 
of Malakhov reached the edible stage 
fully 10 days before Premo and quite two 
weeks before Bantam and Sheffield, 
though Bantam is usually the earlier of 
the two varieties last mentioned. Malakhov 
grew little over three feet high and did 
not average more than one ear to the 
stalk. The ears are small and slender, 
having only eight rows of kernels and 
are scarcely eight inches long, but the 
quality is sweet and excellent, even bet¬ 
ter than Golden Bantam, heretofore prized 
as the very best of extra early corns. We 
are inclined, from this trial, to regard 
Malakhov as one of the most desirable 
dwarf early kinds for home use, but it is 
too small for market. The New Jersey 
Station planted some seeds from the earli¬ 
est ripening ears as a second crop and 
grew ears in prime eating condition be¬ 
fore frost. We are informed Malakhov 
is of Russian origin, and has been of¬ 
fered for the last two seasons by western 
seed houses. Crosses between Malakhov, 
j Premo and Crosby have been made at the 
New Jersey Station, and seeds are offered 
for trial to farmers in that State. 
Winter Blooming Gladioli. —We now 
have in bloom under glass the following 
Gladiolus species: G. Watsonius, bright 
red flowers, three to five, in a tall spike; 
G. grandis, creamy white, slightly tipped 
violet, very sweetly scented in the even¬ 
ing; G. tristis, pale sulphur yellow, young 
blooms richly scented; G. Millcri, milk 
white, fragrant, and G. vittatus, sold as 
G. vinulus, porcelain white with attractive 
purple blotches. These are all old species 
from a botanical standpoint, having, with 
the exception of G. vittatus, been in culti¬ 
vation since the middle of the eighteenth 
centure, yet they are little known in this 
country. Holland growers offer the above 
and several other species of early bloom¬ 
ing Gladioli, but they are seldom imported 
by our dealers. Practically the only Win¬ 
ter-blooming Gladiolus, to be had here in 
quantity is the white-flowered variety of 
G. Colvillei. known as The Bride. It is 
quite extensively forced by florists, usu¬ 
ally coming into bloom about Easter. The 
best strains have short spikes of very 
lasting and attractive white flowers, with 
white anthers and pollen, the ordinary 
kinds having purple pollen that soon dis¬ 
figures the blooms. Gladiolus Colvillei is 
itself a century-old hybrid with red or 
striped blooms, but is so fixed in character 
that it not only comes fairly true from 
seeds, but unmistakably impresses itself 
on dilute hybrids. The Bride is easy to 
grow, as the plant is stiff and upright and 
of such good constitution that three to 
five corms may be crowded into a six- 
inch pot, and still give fair spikes, if 
consistently watered and fertilized dur¬ 
ing the later stages of development. They 
should be potted as soon as received in 
September, but may as well be kept dark 
and cool until midwinter, as no amount 
of forcing seems likely to bring good 
blooms before April. They thrive well in 
a light window garden. Of the species 
we are now blooming G. Watsonius is 
perhaps most attractive, though it has no 
fragrance. Good red-flowered bulbous 
plants that can be bloomed in early March 
are not plentiful. The color is bright and 
pleasing, the form and poise of the flow¬ 
ers are most graceful, and in addition 
they are quite lasting, keeping in good 
condition a week or 10 days. The leaves 
are tall and narrow, but so strongly ribbed 
that they are almost cross-shaped on sec¬ 
tion. G. grandis, Milleri and Tristis have 
similar foliage, and their fragrant blooms 
are fully as lasting. They make graceful 
sprays for cutting and merit far more 
attention than they now receive. The 
typical G. tristis runs into many colors 
and shades of brown, purple and yellow, 
but the sulphur-colored variety is jnost 
satisfactory for Winter blooming. It was 
prominently advertised in this country 
about 12 years ago as the only fragrant 
Gladiolus, but this was an error, as five 
or six other species bear equally fragrant 
blooms. G. vittatus was only discovered 
as late as 1888 and is apparently always 
catalogued under the wrong name of vi¬ 
nulus. It is a dwarf plant with flat, 
smooth foliage and a pretty spike of six 
or more beautifully formed, scentless 
flowers, very attractively marked on the 
lower petals or divisions. It is of easy 
culture, and in our experience quite cer¬ 
tain to bloom even under adverse condi¬ 
tions. The blooms are not quite as last¬ 
ing as the others mentioned, but are good 
for a week if cut and kept in a cool 
place. 
“Hardy” Gladioli. —Quite a number of 
Gladiolus species, including one or two 
of the above kinds, are regarded as fairly 
hardy, and in many parts of northern 
Europe can be successfully grown in 
frames or in sheltered places in the bor¬ 
der, or near buildings with slight protec¬ 
tion. In South Europe, and probably in 
most localities south of Washington, 
D. C., they are really hardy in this coun¬ 
try. We have noticed fine old clumps of 
G. Bvzantinus growing in the grounds of 
the Mt. Vernon estate near Alexandria, 
Va., and have successfully grown G. com¬ 
munis three years, including two excep¬ 
tionally severe Winters, on the Rural 
Grounds with no protection, but as the 
new corms form each season on the top 
of the old ones, thus coming nearer the 
surface, it is only a matter of time when 
frost will destroy them, unless regularly 
taken up and replanted. These species 
are much alike, producing spikes of pur¬ 
ple or violet-red flowers. They are na¬ 
tives respectively of Turkey and south¬ 
ern Europe generally, as far north as 
France and Germany. None of the Afri¬ 
can species, to which group those first de¬ 
scribed belong, will stand real freezing, 
and they are very troublesome to winter 
over in frames in the latitude of New 
York. They are best grown as window 
or glasshouse plants. Corms should be 
procured early and potted in especially 
light, well-drained soil. The after treat¬ 
ment is very simple, but they should not 
be forced until well rooted. Inquiry for 
the choicer kinds would doubtless lead 
our dealers to offer them. w. v. f. 
High Grade Brass 
Sprayers 
Single and double act¬ 
ing. Bucket, Knapsack. 
Barrel, Pumps, nozzles 
and appliances. 
» Best and most complete pump and 
sprayer line made. Catalog free. 
■BARNES MFC. CO., Dept. 13. Mansfield, Ohio. 
When you write advertisers mention Tnn 
It. N.-Y. and you'll get a quick reply and 
"a square deal." See guarantee, page 18. 
A “ FRIEND ” INDEED 
IS TUK 
“FRIEND” SPRAY PUMP 
to fruit growers. It pays to spray whether 
you have only a few trees ora thousand. 
We make small pumps for the man 
with a few trees, and GASOLINE 
POWER SPRAYERS forthelargo 
orchardist. Our Gasoline Engines 
pan he used for all kinds of farm 
work as well. The best pumps for 
all purposes. 
Write for full infor¬ 
mation anti Prices to¬ 
day. 
FRIEND MFG. CO. 
GASPORT, N. Y. 
"When you buy 
WET 
WEATHER 
CLOTHING 
you want 
complete 
protection 
a.nd long 
service. 
These and marry 
other good points 
are combined in 
TOWERS 
FISH BRAND 
OILED CLOTHING 
You cant afford 
to buy an y other 
■tfJWEICs 
Oman ** 0 
a j towea co boston us a 
TOWEI CANADIAN CO LTO 
TORONTO CAN. 
SAN JOSE SCALE 
and other INSECTS killed by 
GOODS 
Caustic Potash Whale-Oil Soap No. 3 
Endorsed by U. S. Dept, of Agri. and State Experiment 
Stations. This soap is a Fert ilizer as well as an Insecti¬ 
cide. 50-lb. kegs. $2.50; 100-lb. kegs, $4.50; half barrel, 
270 lb., 3Hc per lb; barrel,425 lb.,3t6c. Send for booklet. 
JAMES GOOD, Original Maker. 
939-41 N, Front Street, Philadelphia, Pa. 
SAVE YOUR TREES 
from the Ravage of SAN JOSE, COTTONY 
MAPLE SCALE, PSYLLA, Etc. 
all you need is 
“SCALECIDE,” Water, 
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. 
Kl L-©-SCALE 
Kills the Scale, a combination of Soluble Petro¬ 
leum and sulphur. Write for circular. On sale in 
New York by Henderson & Co., Stuinpp & Walter, 
Weeber & Don, and Philadelphia by H. A. Dreer 
and H. F. Michell. 
Tbe great soil improver for Peas, Beans, Clovers, &c. 
Write for prices and circular. GRIFFITH & TUR¬ 
NER CO., 211 N. Paca Street, Baltimore, Md. 
AGENTS 
WANTED 
lal agt«. price. 
For Mend-a-Rip 
Greatly Improved. Better than ever. 
Does all kinds of light and beavj 
riveting and 
stitching. 
Saves Its 
cost man j times a year. A per- 
feet Hand Sewing Machine and Riveter 
combined. Notice the Automatlo Spacer 
which makes neat, even stitching. To 
show it means a sale. Agents make 
$3 to $15 a day. One agent made ICO first 
day and writes to hurry machines to him. Write forepeo 
B. Foote Foundry Co.Dep. 337 Frederlcktown.O 
( The Great Agents Supply House) 
INDRUROID 
ROOFING 
Requires no Coatiner or 
Paint. 
Acid and Alkali Proof. 
Elastic and Pliable 
Always. 
Strong and Tough. 
Absolutely Waterproof 
Climatic Changes Do Not 
Affect It. 
Practically Fire Proof. 
Can Be Used on Steep or 
Flat Surfaces. 
Any Workman Can Put 
It On. 
No Odor. 
Will not Shrink or Crack 
Light in Weight. 
Does not Taint Water. 
Write for samples, prices and 
circulars. 
H. F. WATSON CO. 
ERIE, PA. 
Chicago, Boston. 
Mention R.N.-Y. 
FARMERS—SAVE 25 r;« 
Get a Perfection Sprayer. Spray your ja ■ ■■ 
trees, potatoes, vines—everything. Will pay ■■ fl Fj 1 Iff 
for itself first season. Hand and horse power % M Ig A ■ 
combined. Send for our new catalogue—free. ,1 | 
Thomas Peppler. Box 45, Hightstown, N. J. V I II HI 
Wonder 
Plow 
Trucks. 
This truck will fit any beam, 
right or left, one or two horse, 
wood or steel plow. A boy can 
handle it with ease, most of the 
time without his hand on the 
plow. Regulates perfectly 
depth and width of furrow. Will balance plow in 
hard, dry, stony soil, and save a third of draft on 
horses. The plowman does not need to hold plow 
handles. Works perfectly in tall grass or weeds, 
turning them completely under. Thousands in use. 
If it does not do all of these things, you can 
send it back and we will not only return your 
money but pay the freight both ways. 
Write for our booklet "Progress In Plowing.” Agents wanted 
everywhere. Retail price $5. Get special agents proposition. 
Wonder Plow Co .,327 Factory St., St. Clair. Mich, 
More Power Spraying outfits with 
our 1 1 g and 2V H. P. AIR-COOLED 
Engines are used than all others com¬ 
bined. No water to freezo or carry. 
It is light. Write for Catalog 5 on 
Engines for Power and Spraying. 
R. H. DEYO & CO., Binghamton, New York. 
SPRAY MATERIAL 
BERRY BASKETS 
AND CRATES. 
Everything for planting, 
growing;, harvesting; and 
marketing: fruit. Write us 
to-day and 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 $4.93. Send for our 
catalogue of trees, plants, 
vines and everything need¬ 
ed to care for them. It is free with a copy 
of Green’s Big Fruit Grower Magazine. 
GREEN’S NURSERY CO., 
105 Wall Street. Rochester, N. Y. 
I The “Kant-Klog** Sprayer 
Something New. Gets twice theresults with same labor 
a nd fluid. All sizes. Flat or round spray from same nozzle. 
*f* m ****f m L plFor trees, vines, vegetables, whitewashing, 
disinfecting, wagons, fire.^etc., etc. 
Agents 
Wanted. 
Circular free. 
East Ave., Rochester N. T. 
"No Trix 
To introduce our patented pumps in ©Ye$, 
county, we will send one pump 
to the first to write accepting our 
special offer. Write to-day. 
A Wooden Pump made 
Of Iron. Just remove fulcrum 
end handle to remove sutk- 
leather. Stock made of steel, baso 
adjustable, brass drain cock prevents 
freezing. Guaranteed, 
repairs done quickly above ground. 
“‘Williams' 9 Pump Co.f 409Harmon St., Indianapolis, Tnd. 
