586 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
July 28, 
■ Ruralisms 
T V T ▼ 
NOTES FROM THE RURAL GROUNDS 
A Substantial Seed House. —The 
long-established seed firm of J. M. Thor- 
burn & Co., New York, is again com¬ 
pelled by the march of civic improve¬ 
ment to change location, as their present 
warehouse in Cortlandt Street, with many 
other buildings, has been condemned for 
subway purposes. They move to most 
commodious quarters at 33 Barclay Street, 
having fitted up a five-story building run¬ 
ning through the block to Park Place, 
for their special needs. This well- 
known seed business was established as 
far back as 1802 at 20 Nassau Street, by 
Grant Thorburn, a native of Scotland. 
He prospered from the start, but was 
financially almost wrecked in 1814 by at¬ 
tempting to grow seeds that could not be 
imported on account of the blockade 
caused by the second war with England, 
but recovered with the revival of busi¬ 
ness a few years later. At that time a 
considerable assortment of garden, flow¬ 
er, tree and hedge seeds were offered, 
as well as gardening books, implements, 
bulbs, flower roots and even song birds. 
In 1826 a move was made to Liberty 
Street, an ancient Quaker meeting house 
of considerable size being purchased to 
accommodate the growing business. The 
next change, in 1844, was to the well- 
known store 15 John Street, the firm as¬ 
suming its present designation of J. M. 
Thorburn & Co. Gardens and green¬ 
houses were established near Astoria, 
L. I., larger catalogues were issued, and 
the business began to assume its present 
great proportions. It was continued in 
John Street for nearly 60 years, when 
the property being condemned for im¬ 
provement purposes the Cortlandt Street 
store was opened. 
Throughout this long period the name 
of Thorburn has stood for reliability and 
fair dealing in the seed business. The 
annual catalogue is the most instructive 
and comprehensive issued in America. 
Hundreds of varieties are carried with 
no thought of profit that the assortments 
may be complete. In vegetable, flower, 
grass, field, tree and economic seeds the 
list is unrivalled. Many novelties of the 
highest merit have been introduced from 
year to year, some of the most important 
of which originated with the late E. S. 
Carman on the former Rural Grounds, 
such as the still popular potatoes, Rural 
New Yorker No. 2 and Carman No. 3. 
also the Lemon Blush, Long Keeper and 
Terra Cotta tomatoes. Other most im¬ 
portant introductions are Thorburn’s 
Dwarf Lima bean in 1893, the first and 
probably the best of all dwarf Limas; 
Beauty of Hebron, White Elephant, and 
Late Rose potatoes, and away back in 
1864 tha famous “White Peachblow” po¬ 
tato, which has to some extent been re¬ 
produced in their new and very early 
Noroton Beauty potato. The prices 
quoted in the older catalogues appear 
rather amusing to-day. Thus mixed tulip 
bulbs cost $2 the dozen in 1822. They 
can be had for 20 cents the dozen to¬ 
day. McLean’s Little Gem peas cost $45 
the bushel in 1866, but it was then a 
novelty, and war time prices were cur¬ 
rent. Lawn mowers were first quoted in 
1871 at $25 to $30 each. Now they are 
abundant at varying prices as low as 
$2.50 each. A really good one may be 
had for $7 or $8. 
The Oriental Roof Iris.— A fair-sized 
flower of the beautiful Oriental Roof Iris, 
little known in this country, but for ages 
a favorite in China and Japan, is shown 
about natural size in Fig. 235, first page. 
It is the most important and ornamental 
member of a group of seven Iris species, 
known as the Evansia section, having 
sharply-toothed crests instead of beards 
on the falls or hanging petals. Two spe¬ 
cies are native to Northeastern America, 
and the others to eastern Asia. Iris tec- 
torum is the botanical name of the sub¬ 
ject of our illustration, which brings out 
the' peculiar crest in a satisfactory man¬ 
ner. The prevailing color i-s bright blu¬ 
ish lilac, marked and marbled with white, 
dark blue and violet. The deeply cut 
crest is a particularly attractive feature, 
lilac and white in coloring. The plant 
forms a strong clump with broad, hand¬ 
some leaves a foot long, and appears to 
be hardy in sunny, well-drained, but un¬ 
sheltered situations on the Rural 
Grounds. It blooms profusely in May, 
throwing up many flower spikes, each 
producing two or three showy blooms, 
opening in succession and lasting several 
days. Though appreciated from the earl¬ 
iest times in the Orient, where it is often 
grown on the roofs of thatched cottages, 
it was not introduced to European culti¬ 
vation until 1872, and appears to be of¬ 
fered by only two hardy plant nurseries 
in this country. Its hardiness in ex¬ 
posed positions is still regarded as doubt¬ 
ful, it being agreed that the clumps are 
best kept dry in Winter by some sort 
of an overhead shelter. It does not ap¬ 
pear to vary under cultivation like the 
well-known Japan Iris, I. laevigata, but a 
handsome white-flowered form is known 
in England. 
Other Crested Irises. —Iris Milesii, 
from the Western Himalaya Mountains, 
is quite similar in growth but has a 
smaller flower, not often over four inches 
in diameter, reddish purple in color with 
a yellow-and-white crest. The stems are 
tall and the foliage broad and shapely. 
We find it handsome and free in bloom, 
but have not tested its hardiness out of 
shelter. It appears a most desirable spe¬ 
cies, but unfortunately is not offered in 
this country, though becoming cheap and 
abundant abroad. The flowers do not 
last as long as those of the Roof Iris. 
Iris Japonica is sometimes seen in 
old greenhouses where general collections 
of exotic plants are grown. It is not 
regarded as hardy enough to endure our 
Winters in the open. The leaves are 
very broad, a foot or more long, bright, 
glistening green in color instead of the 
glaucous shade so common among Irises, 
and the flower stalk bears a tall panicle 
of nearly a dozen beautifully fringed, soft 
lilac blooms, over three inches across, 
several opening at the same time. The 
crest is lilac and yellow. The culture is 
verv simple in an ordinary greenhouse, 
where the plants may be grown either in 
pots or in a border. Protected plants 
outside sometimes endure the Winter, 
but seldom flower well. While very 
lovely the* flowers do not last well, gen¬ 
erally closing the Isecond day. It is 
native to both China and Japan. 
Iris gracilipes and I. speculatrix grow 
naturally in northern Japan and eastern 
China respectively. The latter is little 
known and has never been cultivated ex¬ 
cept in Oriental botanical gardens. Both 
are small plants with narrow grassy foli¬ 
age and small violet or lilac flowers and 
yellow crests. I. gracilipes is attracting 
attention as a meritorious plant, prob¬ 
ably hardy in northern gardens, and is 
being planted for propagation by Japa¬ 
nese nurseries. The Rural Grounds plant 
is a small one, still grown in a pot, but 
has borne some very pretty but short¬ 
lived flowers. 
Native Crested Irises.— 'Iris cristata 
is the most common and decorative of 
our native crested species, and being re¬ 
liably hardy is freely offered by dealers 
in herbaceous plants. It grows in open 
woodlands and along streams from 
Mar-land to Kentucky and Georgia, 
forming dense low clumps of curving, 
grassy foliage and sends up in May a 
profusion of lovely light blue flowers 
with j'ellow crest and throat. They are 
rather more than an inch across, and 
spring up amid the leaves much in the 
manner of Crocus blooms. This species 
should be more freely planted by those 
who appreciate dwarf and long-lived pe¬ 
rennials. It thrives in an ordinary bor¬ 
der but is best suited in partial shade. 
It is offered by hardy plant dealers at 
10 to 15 cents each. A three-year clump 
taken up last December and removed to 
our glasshouse in a grocery box bore 28 
blooms in February. The other native- 
crested species is I. lacustris, found spar¬ 
ingly about the shores of Superior and 
other northern lakes. It is a tiny plant 
with very small, pale lilac flowers on 
short stems. We have grown it three 
years, and have only been favored with 
a single bloom. Tt is, of course, entirely 
hardy as regards frost, but does not 
appear to like our hot Summers. 
w. v. F. 
When you write advertisers mention The 
R. N.-Y. and you’ll get a quick reply and 
“a square deal.” See guarantee, page 8. 
KED CYPRESS—WHITE 
l’INE—GALVANIZED 
STEEL 
CALDWELL 
Tanks arc the best made 
Ask for Illustrated cat¬ 
alogue and price list; 
h1»-o references. 
W. E. CALDWELL CO- 
Loui8ville,Ky. 
NiO'lINt 
INDRUROID 
ROOFING 
Requires no Coating: 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. 
NOTES ON ROAD MAKING. 
When the frost comes out of the ground 
any dirt road will be bad for a time, hut 
not nearly as had as though it had not been 
worked the year before, and one can soon 
get it in shape. clark allis. 
Orleans Co., N. Y. 
The R. N.-Y.’s series of articles on road 
making are good, but do not let up yet! Men 
are attracted by new things, and some are 
going to try to drag the drag to death. The 
drag is good, and very good in its place, 
and so is a dirt road, hut neither will the 
drag alone make a good dirt road, nor a 
dirt road answer in some places. We need 
the roads in care of competent hands, able 
not only to make 1 a dirt road, hut to judge 
where a good rock road is needed. Our Illi¬ 
nois laws are a patchwork of temporizing, 
and wastes half the expenditure. We need 
a real revolution in road laws. Would not 
the best work the National Good Roads So¬ 
ciety could undertake he to formulate a 
good practical code of road laws? E. r. 
Whittington, Ill. 
Crimson Clover in Corn. 
S. W. Y., East Southfield, Pa ,—Is it ad¬ 
visable to sow Crison or some other variety 
of clover in corn when cultivated the last 
time, to plow under the next Spring? This 
is in the northern part of Pennsylvania. 
Ans.— Crimson clover will not be a sure 
crop in your latitude. It will start and 
grow through the Fall, but may be killed 
out during Winter or early Spring. We 
have lost the crop in March, and yet felt 
that it paid well for the growth it made 
in Fall. We have not found any other 
variety of clover that makes as much 
growth before Spring as the Crimson. 
One year we sowed Crimson and rye to¬ 
gether. Most of the clover was killed, but 
the rye made a good growth for turning 
under. We should sow the Crimson alone 
and take the risk, or mix about 10 quarts 
of rye to the acre with it. 
Young Lady Lodger: “I think, consid¬ 
ering the price I pay and the poor accom¬ 
modation you have, you might at least 
treat me with respect.” Proprietress: 
“Well, mum, to tell the truth, I can’t feel 
much respect for people what pays the big 
prices I charge for the sort of accommo¬ 
dations I give.”—Tit-Bits. 
l \ \ t si! H ,1 / 
All No. 9 Steel Wire. Wei. xVe.'.vanized. Weighs 
% more than most fences. 14> to 86e per rod 
delivered. We sell all kinds offence wire* 
wholesale prices. Write for fence hook show* 
lng 110 styles. The Krown Fence am 
Wire Co*, Cleveland, Ohio* 
MORE GOOD CIDER ’ 
can be made from a given amount 
of apples with one of our pi 
than with any other. The 
juice will be purer and bring 
higher prices; the extra 
yield soon pays for the 
press. We make 
HYDRAULIC EE, 
In all Hire*, band or power. 
25 to 300 barrels per day 
Also Boilers, Saw-MIlls, 
Steam-Evaporators, Apple- 
butter Cookers, etc. Fully 
guaranteed. Catalog FREE. 
The Hydraulic Press Mfg. Co. 
1 2 Main St., Mt. Gilead, Ohio 
esses 
^ or Room 124 f 39 Cortland St., New York, N. Y, 
CIDER 
AND WINE PRESSES 
HAND AND POWER 
MANUFACTURED BY 
THE G. J. EMENY CO.. FULTON, N. Y. 
Successors to EMPIRE STATE PRESS CO. 
Send for free Illustrated Catalogue. 
SAN JOSE SCALE 
and other INSECTS killed by 
GOOD’S 
Caustic Potash Whale-Oil Soap No. 3 
Endorsed by U. S. Dept, of Agri. and State Experiment 
Stations. This soap is a Fertilizer as well as an Insecti¬ 
cide. 6"-lb. kegs. $2.50; 100-)b. kegs, $4.50; half barrel, 
2701b., 3%c per ,b; barrel,42olb,3t6c. Send for booklet. 
JAMES GOOD, Original Maker, 
939-41 N. Front Street, Philadelphia, Pa. 
No More Hand Pumping 
No coal. No steam. No oil. No packing or labor, 
No Cost for Motive Power 
NIAGARA AUTOMATIC PUMP 
i Hydraulic Ram) 
works night and day on any brook, 
creek, riverorrunning water. 
Used and endorsed by Gov¬ 
ernments, railroads and 
public institutions, farmers, 
owners of factories, country 
homes and mines. Write 
day for free booklet. 
Niagara Hydraulic Engine Co, 
140 NASSAU STREEET, NEW YOKE. Factory; Chester, Pa. 
The Potato Digger 
For Fa9t Clean 
Work is the 
DOWDEN 
Simple, stron g, always in T\VTC'4/ order. Works I 
in all soils, all depths, hill- J r side and level. 
No cutting and none missed. Potatoes al¬ 
ways clean, lying on top of ground. Works well | 
in heavy tops. Send for free catalogue. 
Dowden Mfg. Co., Box 622 , Prairla City, Iowa, 
THEY LAST FOREVER 
STANDARD 
STEEL FENCE POSTS. 
Are to be Driven 
ONE-THIRD CHEAPER 
THAN WOOD POSTS. 
Can he used with plain, barb or 
woven wire fencing. Posts made 
for all requirements. Over 75,out) 
sold. Twenty miles of fencing 
erected on one estate. Write for 
clrcularsjprlce list and reference to 
.T. H. DOWNS. 
335 Broadway, N. Y. 
Factory near Pittsburg. 
HUBBARD’S 
The Fertilizer that holds the record for BIG GRASS, 
since 1891. 
Our Book, “Hubbard's Fertilizers for 1906," sent free to 
any address. 
THE ROGERS & HUBBARD CO., MIDDLETOWN, CONN. 
CRASS AND CRAIN 
FERTILIZER 
FOR FALL SEEDING 
