682 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
September 8, 
NOTES FROM THE RURAL GROUNDS 
Scale Situation Better. —It is most 
agreeable to report real progress in the 
struggle with San Jose scale. Not in 
many years have the Rural Grounds ap¬ 
peared so free from the pest as at this 
moment. Living scales have only been 
found on perhaps a dozen trees out of 
seyeral hundreds. Last year the propor¬ 
tions were just about the other way. For 
this encouraging result we credit very 
thorough spraying in Fall and Spring with 
the soluble oils, Target Brand emulsion 
and Scalecide both appearing equally ef¬ 
fective, unfavorable weather for the 
breeding of the unharmed scales and the 
multiplication of predatory ladybirds and 
Pentilea beetles, keeping down the in¬ 
crease on nearby unsprayed orchards and 
on hedgerow trees, thus greatly lessening 
the chances of infection. There can be 
no doubt of the efficiency of soluble oils 
in this trial. They promptly killed the 
scales, and apparently did not harm trees 
in any appreciable degree. The very 
slight infestation now discoverable may 
be accounted for by a few missed twigs, 
though we tried to hit every portion of 
every tree thus treated, but the weather 
conditions must be credited with sup¬ 
pressing increase to a marked extent. We 
found a dense-headed plum tree well cov¬ 
ered with crawling yellow larvae in early 
July. Heavy rains came on, lasting with 
short intermissions for four days, after 
which little could be seen of the young¬ 
sters, the fruits ripening up with scarce¬ 
ly any marks. Apples, pears and peaches 
in lime-sulphur sprayed orchards gener¬ 
ally show few traces of the pest, so it is 
likely that coming reports of the action of 
reputed scale-killers will be more favor¬ 
able than usual. We feel inclined to give 
more credit to the work of natural para¬ 
sites than do the entomologists. We 
must spray with the best obtainable solu¬ 
tions to save our immediate trees and 
fruits, but such work is necessarily too 
limited in extent to check the progress of 
this too prolific insect without the per¬ 
sistent action of unfavorable natural agen¬ 
cies. It is not too much to hope that 
the seasons of 1904 and 1905 may have 
marked the flood tide of scale invasion in 
our locality. All combative measures 
seemed futile against the sinister increase 
of the plague, and it seemed scarcely 
possible to carry trees through to fruiting 
age with the means at hand. The gleam 
of encouragement now evident should not, 
however, incline the grower to relax his 
efforts to control and if possible exter¬ 
minate scale on his grounds. Spray, 
spray with the material you have the most 
•confidence in, and do it with the utmost 
care. It appears scarcely necessary to say 
the soluble oils will get another chance 
this Fall to show their efficiency on the 
Rural Grounds. 
The Purple Fringed Orchis. —One of 
the most desirable and easily grown na¬ 
tive terrestial orchids is the large Purple 
Fringed Orchis, Habenaria fimbriata, fair¬ 
ly common in mossy woodlands from 
Canada to the North Carolina mountains. 
It likes moist, “woodsy” soil and a shady 
situation, sending up, when its require¬ 
ments are satisfied, a handsome spike 
of prettily fringed, fragrant pink or pur¬ 
ple flowers a foot or more high and near¬ 
ly three inches across. The leaves are 
broad and firm, and the plant more per¬ 
manent under cultivation than most hardy 
orchids. Fig. 288, page 679, shows a 
good bloom spike, associated with vari¬ 
ous wild Cypripediums or lady-slippers, in 
the garden of a New England amateur. 
The blooms remain in showy condition 
almost two weeks. _ Plants are offered by 
most dealers in native plants, or they may 
be collected as early in Spring as the foli¬ 
age can be recognized. They should be 
lifted with a good ball of earth and 
promptly replanted in a location approxi¬ 
mating the main features of their wood¬ 
land home. If carefully done fair blooms 
may be expected the same season, and for 
many years following. Being very hardy 
the only Winter protection needed is a 
covering of fallen leaves in imitation of 
their natural conditions. Habenaria is 
quite an extensive genus, comprising many 
species native to widely separated por¬ 
tions of the Northern Hemisphere. While 
pink and nurple tints prevail, there are 
handsome white and yellow kinds. H. 
militaris, found in Cochin China, has blu¬ 
ish flowers with a lip of the most intense 
scarlet. 
About Flower Pots. —Flower pots are 
used in almost every household worth the 
name, yet few outside the ranks of pro¬ 
fessional florists or gardeners have op¬ 
portunity to get the best grades of these 
indispensable articles. Those usually car¬ 
ried in housefurnishing stores, either in 
city or country, are ill-proportioned, with 
insufficient drainage provision and often 
too hard baked to have the needed po¬ 
rosity. A large proportion are the out¬ 
put of poorly-equipped factories, and are 
consequently roughly made. As pots are 
an awkward commodity to transport in 
small quantity thousands put up with the 
inferior ones locally offered rather than 
order from a distant responsible dealer, 
but in the long run it will pay the user 
of even a few dozens to get the best ones 
made. The time has gone by when the 
amateur of any experience will put up 
with “fancy,” painted, enamelled or dec¬ 
orated pots. He wants plain, smooth, red 
or pale clay pots, porous, light, well- 
drained and proportioned. These indis¬ 
pensable requisites may all be found in 
“standard” machine-made pots manufac¬ 
tured by a score or more well-established 
firms in different parts of the country. 
With a few special exceptions, such as 
deep “rose pots,” all sizes from 1^4 inch 
to 16 inches are as deep as wide at the 
top. have just the taper found by ex¬ 
perience to facilitate turning out the ball 
of earth and roots in planting or repot¬ 
ting, and meet the best requirements for 
porosity and free drainage. The quality 
sometimes lacking is strength, but as good 
healthy plants are more costly than pots 
we can overlook this defect if not un¬ 
reasonably evident. The old hand-made 
pots were often durable enough to become 
heirlooms, but were not always ideal hold¬ 
ers for growing plants. Standard pots 
are furnished by all high-class dealers in 
horticultural supplies, but are seldom 
found in ordinary stores, though even 
they might be induced to stock them if 
the demand should prove insistant. 
Cleaning Pots. —Foul and dirty pots 
are neither pleasant to handle nor con¬ 
ducive to the health of the contained 
plants. It is a regrettable experience that 
the best pots for plant growing foul the 
quickest. The porous material of the sides 
affords admirable foothold for confervae 
or green slimes that tend to coat all pots 
when in use. This can, of course, be 
scrubbed off with a stiff brush, but the 
operation is not as easy as it looks, and 
has never proved practical on a large 
scale, though machines have been invent¬ 
ed for the purpose. The pots wear out 
the brushes, even if made of wire, too 
rapidly for economical use. The slimy 
coating may, however, be effectually re¬ 
moved merely by exposing the pots to the 
weather for a few weeks. The sun kills 
the confervae, and the dashing rains wash 
off the loosened film. Alternate freezing 
and thawing in Winter acts with even 
more rapidity, but all makes of pots do 
not withstand frost without cracking— 
some will go to pieces like a lump of 
slaking lime. Clay pots should never be 
exposed to freezing weather when filled 
with wet soil, as the expansion is almost 
sure to cause breakage, but empty ones 
sometimes well endure it. Probably the 
best way to clean foul pots in quantity is 
to lay them in single layers in an exposed 
place, and cover thinly with earth, wetting 
it from time to time in dry weather. The 
slimy crusts will entirely disappear within 
three months of warm weather and the 
pots come out practically as good as new, 
needing only a dry brushing to fit them 
for use. Alwavs brush out the inside of 
a pot before filling with soil. Adhering 
crusts make bad work when subsequently 
“knocking out” the ball. If pots are sus¬ 
pected of having contained diseased 
plants they should be sterilized before 
using by baking in the oven or, in a large 
way, by superheated steam. w. v. f. 
TRADEMARK REGISTERED 
“The Grand Old Roofing” Standard 
for fifteen years. The pioneer weather¬ 
proof, elastic and fire-resisting roofing. 
Absolutely weather-proof. Contains no tar 
—will notmelt. Contains no paper—will 
not rot. Sparks or burning brands falling 
upon it will not ignite it. The only prepared 
ROOFING 
which has demonstrated that it will outlast 
metal or shingles. Costs little to buy 
and nothing to maintain. Sold ready to 
apply, with all necessary fixtures. Any 
handy man can apply it. Send for samples 
and booklet “R.” 
THE STANDARD PAINT COMPANY, Sole Manufacturers, 
100 WILLIAM ST., NEW YORK 
You Are 
Judge 
Whether you pay us for 100 lbs. of Takanap or not. 
We will send it on approval because U. S. Govern¬ 
ment and State Experiment Stations prove that 
Takanap Soft Naptha Soap makes best emulsion to 
KILL SAN JOSE SCALE and INSECTS. 
Takanap is used by Creameries, Dairies, Steam 
Laundries and for household purposes. 
THAYER-HOVEY SOAP CO., Darby, Penn. 
SAN JOSE SCALE 
and other INSECTS killed by 
GOODS 
Caustic Potash Whale-Oil Soap No. 3 
Endorsed by U. S.Dept. of Agrl. and State Experiment 
St:i i ions. This soap is a Fertilizer as well as an Insecti¬ 
cide. &c-lb. kegs. $2.50; 100-lb. kegs, $4..'>0; half barrel, 
270 lb.,per i b; barrel.4261b.,3lic. 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, riveror running water. 
Used and endorsed by Gov¬ 
ernments, railroads and 
public Institutions, farmers, 
owners of factories, country 
homos and mines. Write to¬ 
day for free booklet. 
Niagara Hydraulic Engine Co, 
HO NASSAU STKKEKT, NEW YORK. Factory; Chester, P«. 
“WILLIAMS” Write for special offer to introduce on. 
PUMP ^ ^ patented pumps. A Wooden 
"NoTrlx" Pump made of iron. Guaranteed. 
ah repairs done Quickly above ground. 
“To Fix" 
WARREN’S 
WALRUS 
ROOFING 
Tough and tight as a walrus 
hide, and just as pliable and 
lasting. Summer.sun. winter 
ice, won’t affect it. It can't rust and won’t 
crack. Anybody can lay it. Send for sample. 
WarrenChemlca^^AfgjCoj^^attei^T^TIewYork 
MAKE MONEY 
pulling stumps, grubs, etc., 
,and clearing land for your* 
jlself and otners. Hercules 
w Stump Fuller Is the best. 
Catalog free. Hercules Mfg. Co., Dept. BS Centemllo, la. 
“Williams” Pump Co., 409 Harmon St. Indianapolis, Ind. 
NEVER WEARS OUT. 
20 percent saved on breakage in handling and transit 
80 per cent saved on strength and durability. Write for 
prices and full particulars. Oar load lots only. Address 
Ihe II.15.Camp Co.,BessemerHldg.,Pittsburg,Pa. 
THEY LAST FOREVER 
STANDARD 
STEEL FENCE POSTS. 
Are to be Driven 
ONE-THIRD CHEAPER 
THAN WOOD POSTS. 
Can be lined with plain, barb or 
woven wire fencing. Posts made 
for all requirements. Over 75,000* 
sold. Twenty miles of fencing 
erected on one estate. Write for 
clrcularsjprice list and reference to 
J. H. DOWNS. 
335 Broadway, N. Y. 
m Factory near Pittsburg. 
QUAKER CITY 
GRINDING MILLS. 
For Corn and Cobs, Feed and Table Meal. 
Send for all in ills advertised, keep the best and return 
all others. We pay the freight and send mills on 
todays’ free trial. 39th Annual Catalogue FREE. 
THE A. W. STRAUB CO., Philadelphia, Fa. 
CIDER 
AND WINE PRESSES 
HAND AND POWER 
manufactured by 
THE G. J. EMENY CO.. FULTON, N. Y. 
Successors to KM PI UK STATIC PUKSS CO. 
Send for free illustrated Catalogue. 
W. L. DOUGLAS 
*3.50 & $ 3.00 Shoes 
BEST IN THE WORLD 
W.L.Douglas $4 Gilt Edge line, 
cannot be equalled at any price ^ 
To Shoe Dealers: 
W. L. Douglas’ Job¬ 
bing House is the most 
complete in this country 
Send for Catalog 
SHOES FOR EVERYBODY AT ALL PRICES. 
Men’s Shoes, $5 to $1.50. Boys’ Shoes, $3 
to $1.25. Women’s Shoes, $4.00 to $1.50. 
Misses’ & Children’s Shoes, $2.25 to $1.00. 
Try W. L.. Douglas Women’s, Misses and 
Children’s shoes; for style, fit and wear 
they excel other makes. 
If I could take you into my large 
factories at Brockton, Mass.,and show 
you how carefully W. L. Douglas shoes 
are made, you would then understand 
why they hold their shape, fit better, 
wear longer, and are of greater value 
than any other make. 
Wherever you live, you can obtain W. L. 
Douglas shoes. His name and price is stamped 
on the bottom, which protects you against high 
prices and inferior shoes. Take no substi • 
tute. Ask your dealer for W. L. Douglas shoes 
and insist upon having them. 
Fast Color Eyelets used; they will not wear brassy. 
Write for illustrated Catalog of Fall Styles. 
W. L. DOUGLAS, Dept. Q, Brockton, Mass. 
HUBBARD? 
_ HUBBARD’S 
The Fertilizer that holds the record for BIG GRASS, 
since 1891. 
Our Book, “Hubbard's Fertilizers for 1900“ sent free to 
any address. 
THE ROGERS & HUBBARD CO., MIDDLETOWN, CONN. 
CRASS AND 
FERTILIZER 
FOR FALL SEEDING 
HUBBARDS 
J 
