78 o 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
October 20, 
Ruralisms 
w ▼ ▼ ▼ 
NOTES FROM THE RURAL GROUNDS 
Death of Mrs. Theodosia B. Shep¬ 
herd. —Mrs. Theodosia B. Shepherd, long 
and favorably known to the horticultural 
world as a grower of high-class flower 
seeds, and as the breeder of the finest 
known strains of Cosmos, Petunias, Be¬ 
gonias and nasturtiums, died September 
6 in her home at Ventura, California, 
aged 61 years There are several women 
seed dealers known to the public through 
advertisements and catalogues, but all are 
supnosed to have the backing of male 
capital and experience. Mrs. Shepherd, 
however, was a notable exception. Her 
work and her most successful business— 
incorporated in 1903 with a capital stock 
of comfortable amount—was in every 
sense individual, created and maintained 
by her skill and industry in crossing, se¬ 
lecting and growing the plants that de¬ 
lighted her, and the business ability with 
which she marketed the best possible 
products of her favorable location. She 
was the real pioneer of California seed 
and bulb growing—an employment now 
of mighty dimensions, with prospects of 
indefinite increase—and her memory Is 
likely long to remain unique as the most 
truly successful of women horticulturists 
Blue Gladioli. —Blue coloring is not 
often found in wild Gladiolus species, nor 
in strict verity in garden hybrids. There 
are several northern purple species and 
one South African form, G. papilio, which 
is mainly reddish brown, but with an 
under-tinge of blue-red. By hybridizing 
this species with light-colored Lcmoinei 
seedlings a profuse progeny has been 
reared, the blooms embracing many shades 
of purple, lavender and heliotrope, but 
thus far true light blue has appeared very 
scantily, if at all. The “blue” section, so- 
called for convenience, is now an extensive 
one, but there is much similarity among 
the varieties,, all being rather small flow¬ 
ered in imitation of the parent species. 
They are, however, desirable for their 
novel color effects. We have grown and 
raised from seed many “blue” varieties, 
but value most Baron Joseph Hulot and 
Timbuctou, both products of the French 
Lemoine nurseries. The former has a 
comparatively large flower, bright helio¬ 
trope, with reddish throat, while the latter 
is rich blue-purple, nearly self colored. 
Blue Jay, sent out this season by an Amer¬ 
ican grower, appears very similar to Tim¬ 
buctou. 
The Irish Cobdler Potato. —A fair 
sample of Irish Cobbler is shown in Fig. 
333, page 775. While not a recent in¬ 
troduction, having been grown for many 
years in Connecticut and Long Island, it 
has only lately attracted the general atten¬ 
tion of eastern growers as a profitable 
early market variety. It is not of first 
quality—inferior even to Early Ohio—but 
is such a fine grower and reliable cropper 
under ordinary trucking conditions that 
it has literally forced itself on the at¬ 
tention of market gardeners. Its origin ap¬ 
pears to be something of a mysterv. 
Seedsmen and dealers disclaim knowl¬ 
edge as to when or where it first got into 
cultivation, but have generally been com¬ 
pelled to catalogue it. Seed stock has 
not always been easy to obtain, but will 
be freely offered the coming year. The 
plant is strong and upright in growth, 
with thick and healthy dark green foliage. 
The potatoes, in good soil, run from me¬ 
dium to large, oblong in shape, with 
thin white skin and rather prominent 
eyes. Tfiey grow rapidly and usually 
reach marketable size within a week of 
Early Ohio planted at the same time, but 
far outyield that formerly popular kind. 
The table quality of the young tubers is 
very tolerable, but falls off as maturity 
is reached. Notwithstanding its rather 
unsatisfactory cooking quality Irish Cob¬ 
bler has turned out so profitable that it 
is displacing other early kinds in many 
localities. 
The Catalpa Sphinx Again. —This 
most unwelcome insect still continues its 
ravages, but in diminishing numbers. 
There can be little doubt that the Ichneu¬ 
mon parasite that accompanies it is doing 
much to reduce its numbers. Shriveled 
caterpillars, covered with tiny white co¬ 
coons, could be found by the hundred in 
August clinging to partly eaten Catalpa 
foliage. It appears on fuller information 
that this Catalpa sphinx, native of the 
South and feeding in its larval stage al¬ 
most exclusively on Catalpa leaves, was 
not known in New Jersey previous to 
1903, but entered the State from the 
southwestern border, and has steadily 
progressed northward. It first appeared 
here last Summer, but only a few trees 
were infested. This year it has been 
everywhere disgustingly destructive. Suc¬ 
cess is reported with tobacco-water 
sprays, but most gardeners favor Paris- 
green as more promptly effective. It acts 
well either mixed with water and applied 
with a spray pump or with lime or flour 
from a dust gun. Catalpa foliage is sensi¬ 
tive to arsenicals, and the proportions 
need not be stronger than a teaspoonful 
to the gallon of water or quart of flour 
or lime. When applied dry the foliage 
should be wet with dew or rain. Trees 
defoliated in August have again leaved 
out and present a very neat appearance, 
but observation shows the green and sap¬ 
py new twigs are quite likely to winter-kill. 
Successive defoliations even in the South 
are often followed by death and decay of 
portions of the tree, and may be more 
injurious here on account of the shorter 
season for recoven''. w. v. f. 
Nut Culture in Oregon. —About 25 
years ago I planted some nuts of the 
Italian variety of chestnuts, and from that 
planting I have 33 trees. All but two or 
three have borne nuts and there are no 
two trees that bear the same kind of nuts; 
some are large and some are small, some 
are early and some are late. The chest¬ 
nut grows and does well here and the time 
is not very far distant when Oregon will 
grow large quantities of chestnuts and 
walnuts, but we want to get started right, 
or we shall have a conglomerate, and it 
will not be very food for the.market. I 
have some 400 seedlings growing, I 
planted the nuts in February and they are 
looking well now but I want to graft with 
the best varieties there are, then put out a 
quantity to grow. A good many of our 
people are getting fooled by our nursery¬ 
men telling them that seedling trees are 
all right, and will produce the same kind 
of nuts as those planted, but my experi¬ 
ence is somewhat different from this. 
_DEXTER FIELD., 
For the land’s sake use Bowker’s Fer¬ 
tilizers. They enrich the earth.— Adv. 
Has Imitators But No Competitors. 
A Safe, Speedy and Positive Cure for 
Curb, Splint. Sweeny, Capped Hock, 
Strained Tendons, Founder, Wind 
Puffs, and all lameness from Spavin, 
Ringbone and other bony tumors, 
Cures all skin diseases or Parasites, 
Thrush, Diphtheria. Removes all 
Bunches from Horses or Cattle. 
As a Human Remedy for Rheumatism, 
Sprains, Sore Throat, etc., it is invaluable. 
Every bottle of Caustic Balsam sold is 
Warranted to give satisfaction. Price $1,50 
per bottle. Sold by druggists, or sent by ex¬ 
press, charges paid, witn full directions for 
Us use. CtTSend for descriptive circulars, 
testimonials, etc. Address 
The Lawrence-Wllliams Co., Cleveland, 0, 
Warranted to Give Satisfaction. 
GombauWs 
Caustic Balsam 
Old Buggy - 
Made Mew hi5 
This Top Only $^| 
One of our low priced tops will make 
your old buggy look like new. Per¬ 
fect fit guaranteed. We own and operate a modern, 
up to-date factory and sell direct to you at lowest 
factory prices. Vehicles of all kinds and repairs to 
make the old buggy: _w. Perfect satisfaction guar¬ 
anteed oryou don’t pay. We are manufacturers, not 
mail order dealers. Our free Top Catalog No.T31tells 
you just what it will cost to make that old buggy 
new again. Write for it. 
Tha United Factories Co., Cleveland, Ohio. 
WHY NOT BUY AT WHOLESALE PRICES? 
pays for this 
strong, w’ell built 
special agricul¬ 
tural lever forge. It is 
the handiest forge ever 
made. You do not have 
to be an expert black¬ 
smith to know how to 
operate this forge. It 
fully meets the require¬ 
ments of Farmers and 
Mechanics of all kinds, 
who find it a time and 
money saver. It has an 
18 in. hearth, 4 in. deep 
and the weight of the 
forge is 65 lbs. Height 
30 in. The regular price 
is $4.80, hut we will send 
_ it to you at any time 
within a month for $3.90. 
GET OUR BIG NEW CATALOGUE 
which contains a full line of Forges and Drills ami over 30,000 
other labor saving, money saving articles, fully illustrated 
in our big new No. 91 Catalogue. This up-to-date Buyers 
(•Tilde, contains everything you can possibly need for the 
Home, Farm or Shop. . 
Opposite each article in the catalogue, is the low price at 
which we veil it, the lowest, price for which it can lie bought in 
any store, in any city, big or little, in this or any country on 
the globe. , 
You will spend hours of interest over its pages; you will 
marvel at the wouderful variety, all complete in one big 
book. It makes buying pleasant as well as profitable. 
This catalogue costs us £1.00 to print, but we will send it 
to you post paid, free of charge. 
WRITE FOR IT TO-DAY. 
w e will send you our Premium List, containing one hundred 
valuable and useful premiums given away free. Also our 
Grocery List,showing how you can save Lj your living expenses. 
WE SELL RELIABLE GOODS ONLY. 
We guarantee satisfaction or refund your money. 
Express and freight charges are lower from New York 
than elsewhere. 
WHITE, VAN GLAHN & CO. . 
19 CHATHAM SQUARE. Established ISIS. MOV YORK <’ITY. 
The Oldest Mail Order House in America. 
T A-IVKS 
that don't leak or wear out; Tow¬ 
ers that stand any strain, are the 
kind Caldwell makes. Only the 
hest materials and best workman¬ 
ship go into them. Cost no more 
than inferior kinds and last twice 
as long. Plenty of references to 
convince you. Get them, also il¬ 
lustrated catalogue. 
>V.E. CALDWELL CO., LoiiiKville, Ky. 
Tank* ( S «°°d d ) Towers 
Wind Mills, Pumps, Gas Kngines. 
When you write advertisers mention Thr 
R. N.-Y. and you’ll get a quick reply and 
“a square deal.” See guarantee, page 14. 
SAVE YOUR TREES 
from the Ravage of SAN JOSE, COTTONY 
MAFLE SCALE, PSYLLA, Etc. 
(i 
ALL YOU NEED IS 
AND A GOOD 
SPRAY PUMP. 
Simple, more effective and cheaper than LIMK, 
SULPHUR and SALT. 
SCALECIDE," Water, 
For sample, testimonials and price delivered 
at your Railroad station, address Dept. A, 
B. G. Pratt Co., 11 Broadway, New York,N.Y. 
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 wCll as an Insecti¬ 
cide. 6 (l -lb. kegs. $2.50; 100-1 b. kegs, $4.50; half barrel, 
270 lb.,3*>4c per ib; barrel,425 lb.. 3t£c. Send for booklet. 
JAMES GOOD, Original Maker, 
939-41 N. Front Street, Philadelphia, Pa. 
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. 
MACHINERY 
Best and cheapest, 
Send for catalogue 
BOOMER & BOSCHERT 
PRESS CO., 
118 West Water 8L, 
SYRACUSE, N. Y. 
Monarch 
Hydraulic 
Cider Press 
Great strength and ca¬ 
pacity; all sizes; also 
gasoline engines, 
steam engines, 
saw mills, thresh- 
- _ ers. Catalog free. 
■anarch Machinery Co., Room 161,39 Cortlandt SI., Nei York. 
SAWSi 
ANY WOOD 
l.f ANY POSITION 
ON ANY CROUND 
_ _ _ 4 Into 5 ft. Through 
lion ' vuh a Folding Q A3 t c Q MEN with a 
1 mail Sawing Machine DcdlO ft Cross-cut Saw 
6 to 8 cords dally Is the usual average lor one man. 
Our 1907 Model Machine saws faster, runs easier and will last 
iongerthan ever. Adjusted in a minute to suit a 1’-year-old 
boy or the strongest man. Send for catalog showing latest 
i mprovements. First order gets agency. 
"oldlng Sawing Mach. Co., 158 E. HairisonSt., Chicago, 11L 
Best Rural Mail Box Made 
Agents 
Wanted 
in every town, 
The “Hessler” is 
made of steel, 18 
in. long, 6 : b in. 
diameter, coated 
with aluminum 
bronze. Cover is 
self dosing and 
self latching. Ab¬ 
solutely weather 
proof. Signal 
attached. Fitted with 
brass lock and key. 
Write for descriptive circular. 
H. E. HESSLER CO., 201 Butternut Street, Syracuse, N. Y. 
Banner Root Gutter 
in 7 sizes for hand and power. 
Cuts all roots and vegetables 
fine— rvo choking. No matter 
what other feed you have. Cut 
roots will increase its value. 
Root cutters are indispensa¬ 
ble to dairymen, sheep, hog and cat¬ 
tle feeders. “Banners” shake out all 
dirt and gravel, cut fast and easy and 
Inst Indefinitely. Our free boon tells. 
Write for it today. 
0. E. THOMPSON & SONS, Ypsilanti, Mich. 
A SECTION OF THE HON. GEO. M. CLARK’S FAMOUS 
HAY FIELD. CROP AVERAGING OVER FIVE 
TONS OF DRY HAY TO THE ACRE. 
STOP AND THINK ! 
142 tons from a $ acre field in seventeen years. 
Seeded down in 1890. 
HUBBARD’S FERTILIZERS used exclusively. 
The Rogers & Hubbard co., 
MIDDLETOWN, CONN. 
