212 
TIIH RURAL NEW-YORKER 
March 9, 
NOTES FROM THE RURAL GROUNDS 
Hybridizing Azat.kas. —Much interest 
was shown by European cultivators in 
North American Azaleas during the first 
half of the nineteenth century, and con¬ 
siderable numbers of hybrid seedlings 
were raised, many of which received 
semi-scientific names, indicating their col¬ 
ors or special cultural qualities. Azalea 
nudiflora, the common “dwarf honey¬ 
suckle,” or Pinxter flower of eastern 
woodlands, has given the greatest num¬ 
ber, while A. calendulacea, the Flame 
flower of the Allegheny Mountains, comes 
next. The fragrant or Swamp Azalea, A. 
viscosa, has also been quite fruitful in 
varieties, certain of which, we are in¬ 
formed, are still much used as stocks on 
which to graft the finer hybrids of other 
species. While these old varieties of our 
native Azaleas are now little cultivated 
under their original names, they survive, 
in a measure, in the strain of hardy 
hybrids collectively known as A. Ganda- 
vensis, as they originated and have long 
been commercially grown in the vicinity 
of Ghent, Belgium. The present Ghent 
Azaleas appear to be dilute hybrids of 
Nudiflora, Calendulacea and to a smaller 
extent, with the Oriental species A. Pon- 
tica ahd A. Sinensis. There are single 
and double flowered varieties, ranging in 
color from cream white through pink, 
rose and crimson to blood red; many 
with yellow and orange markings. Vis¬ 
cosa floribunda is pure white, fragrant 
and, of course, takes its character from 
our Summer blooming swamp species. 
There is little trace in the Ghent Azaleas 
that have reached this country of the 
influence of the California species, A. 
occidental^, of the tree Azalea of the 
eastern uplands, A. arborescens, nor of 
the more recently discovered pink Azalea 
of the Carolina mountains, A. Vaseyi. 
Strangest of all there is no indication of 
the influence of the Rhodora, A. Can¬ 
adensis, though this very distinct eastern 
species has been known in Europe since 
1707, and crosses have been effected be¬ 
tween it and one or two of the hardy 
evergreen Rhododendrons. Present Eu¬ 
ropean interest appears to run toward the 
breeding and propagation of the tender 
greenhouse kinds, chiefly seedlings of the 
very variable A. Indica. They are grown 
in immense quantity in the rich, moist 
lands of Belgium and Holland, and form 
an important article of export to other 
countries, where they are extensively 
used for conservatory decoration and for 
Easter blooming. Some very good hardy 
forms of the Indian Azalea have origi¬ 
nated in Japan, where (his charming plant 
is much appreciated, and are being in¬ 
creasingly planted in this country. The 
variety known as Amoena, with profuse 
rose-purple blooms, is now seen every¬ 
where. Hinodegiri is a more recently im¬ 
ported form of Amoena, with bright red 
flowers, apparently as hardy and prolific 
as the type. Other varieties, apparently 
cross-bred with various Oriental species, 
have large flowers in many shades of 
cream, rose and purple. They bloom 
late and are sometimes unfavorably af¬ 
fected by our hot sun, but fairly hardy as 
regards <Jold after becoming well estab¬ 
lished. These Azaleas are described as 
Rhododendrons by modern botanists, but 
the former name is generally used horti- 
culturally. 
Breeding Native Species. —Systematic 
breeding of our native species, both to¬ 
gether and with the Old World forms, 
' has been under way on the Rural 
Grounds for the past six years. While 
we may not produce anything superior, 
in a decorative way, to those already 
known abroad, it appears possible to select 
seedlings better adapted for our compara¬ 
tively dry climate than those developed 
under the humid conditions of Japan or 
the Netherlands of Europe. 1 he most 
showy imported varieties other than 
Amoena, which is ever a delight when 
properly grown, are sold under the name 
of Azalea mollis, a synonym for A. Sin¬ 
ensis, and bear profuse clusters of large 
red, yellow and orange blooms in May. 
Nothing more dazzlinglv effective can be 
imagined than well-flowered Mollis vari¬ 
eties for a year or two after planting, 
but the bushes seldom increase in size 
in this country, even under the best of 
care, and rapidly fall off in bloom after 
the first outburst. Seedlings are quite 
easily growm and bloom well for a few 
seasons, but have little permanency, soon 
beginning to decline. By hybridizing se¬ 
lected Mollis varieties with our Pinxter 
flower, A. viscosa and A. arborescens, 
we have produced a race of vigorous 
and extremely floriferous half-breeds with 
rose, salmon and creamy white flowers, 
that are so well adapted to our climate 
that they appear inclined to grow into 
fairly large shrubs. Being nearly sterile 
they do not exhaust themselves by seed 
production, but set tbeir bloom buds so 
thickly that they are covered in May and 
early June with veritable wreaths of 
bloom. Those having Nudiflora for the 
pollen parent are most showy, some hav¬ 
ing a fair development of foliage before 
the flowers open. The seedlings of Vis¬ 
cosa and Arborescens are less striking, 
the colors being quite pale, but have the 
advantage of pleasing fragrance and more 
foliage at flowering time. Our hybrids 
of the Mollis section do not compete in 
brilliancy of color with the foreign kinds, 
but have their own distinct beauty and 
refinement. We have made no attempt to 
propagate these seedlings, and doubt if 
it would be commercially practicable 
under present conditions of nursery 
labor to do so in this country. It woidd 
doubtless be easier to continue their pro¬ 
duction by repeating the original hybrid¬ 
ization. Many other crosses have been 
made with Ghent varieties, and with the 
hardy kinds of Japanese origin. These 
later seedlings have not yet bloomed, but 
we find them far more thrifty than direct 
hybrids between native species. Seedlings 
of Occidental is and Vaseyi are good grow¬ 
ers, and the latter are particularly notice¬ 
able for the extremely rich and brilliant 
Autumn colors of their foliage. All ap¬ 
pear hardy if heaving by frost can be 
avoided until the young plants are estab¬ 
lished. We hope to continue this work 
through successive generations where the 
hybrids retain their power of seed or 
pollen production. 
The Si.ow-Growing .Ritodora. —The 
most difficult native species to grow from 
seeds we find to be the New England 
Rhodora, A. Canadensis. It is always a 
deliberate grower, the strongest plants 
seldom reaching three feet in height even 
in the most favored natural localities. It 
is a great lover of shade and moisture, 
and is rarely found away from damp low¬ 
lands. It is a very distinct and attractive 
species, however, covered in early Spring 
with oddly-formed rosy-purple blooms, 
and merits far more attention than it has 
yet received from nurserymen and hardy 
plant specialists. It appears to hybridize 
sparingly with the hardy varieties of the 
Indian Azalea, but we have not. been suc- 
.cessful in crossing it with native forms. 
Three-year seedlings now under observa¬ 
tion are scarcely as many inches high, 
and look as if they would need consider¬ 
ably more time to grow to blooming size. 
w. v. F. 
DO YOU NEED PAINT? 
Save ono-lialf your paint, bills. Buy 
IngersolPs Ready Mixed Paints 
direct from tlie factory at wholesale prices. Made 
of best pigments and pure Linseed Oil, thoroughly 
combined by machinery. In use 65 years. Officially 
indorsed by the Orange. Don’t buy cheap paints of 
dealers and supply houses. Don't pay drummers' 
salary and hotel hills and middlemen’s profits. 
Their cheap paints cost you as much as our best 
mixed paints. Our low prices will surprise yon. 
Let mo send you my paint book and color samples 
The book will tell you all you want to know about 
paint and painting. Do you want it? 
O. W. INGERSOLL, 
246 Plymouth Street, Brooklyn, N. Y. 
CONCRETE BLOCKS 
Make your own onthe Success Hollow 
[Block Machine. Fine finish, square 
[and true, all faces and shapoB. Aek for circulars, 
HERCULES MFG. CO., 
DIPT, a 86 CENT HR. VI 1,1, P, . IOWA 
“Horicum” 
TRADE MARK 
SanJoee Scale on a t’car. 
Kills San Jose 
“SOLD BY THE SEEDSMEN.” 
“HORICUM” 
KILLS SAN JOSE SCALE 
Directions for Use. 
This preparation is Lime, Sulphur and Salt, making a concentrated 
Poly-sulphide of Calcium. The Salt adds to the adhesive properties, but the 
destructiveness to Scale Life lies in the Calcium Sulphide. Aside from 
its ability to destroy San Jose Scale, Horicum is a Fungicide, preventing 
the free development of fungoid troubles. 
Shake package thoroughly or take the top off. The color in its concen¬ 
trated form is a deep bronze green. Do not pour off'tlie clear liquor 
only, stir the Horicum from the bottom of package, add 20 parts of water 
(hot, if you can get it) for ordinary use. For a stronger dilution when tho 
growth is all dormant, use 10 parts of water only (hot, if you have it) and 
spray thoroughly. By grading your dilution you make it any desired 
strength. Specific gravity, 1.56, Total Poly-sulphides, 206 by weight. 
Send for pamphlets to 
HAMMOND’S SLUG SHOT WORKS 
Fishkill-on-Hudson, N. Y. 
-Tree Insects Killed- 
San .lose Scale, apple tree scab,peach curl .pear 
blight—all yield when sprayed with a solution of 
Good's c -^tL P Sn ,h Soap No. 3 
Chokes and kills tho parasites that destroy the 
trees; fertilizes at the sa;no time. Contains only 
potash, and other active fertilizers—no salt, sul¬ 
phur or mineral oils to stunt growth of plants. 
1 sod by U.S. Dept, of Agriculture ami State Experi¬ 
ment Stations. Send for Manual of cause, treat¬ 
ment and cure of tree diseases—free. Write today. 
James Go o d, 9} 1 \ t '. Philadelphia. 
SAVE YOUR TREES 
from the Ravage of SAN .JOSK, COTTONY 
JYIAPL15 8 CALK, PSYJ.I.A, Etc. 
A tit* YOU NEED IS 
“SCALECIDE,” Water, 4fiWS8SR 
Simple, more effective and cheaper than LIMB, 
SULPHUR and SALT. 
For sample, testimonials and price delivered 
at your Railroad station, address Dept. A, 
It. G. Pratt Co., 11 Broadway, New York,N.Y. 
GET THE BEST 
A Good Spray Pump earns big 
profits and lasts for years. 
THE ECLIPSE 
is a good pump. As 
\practical fruit growers 
we were using common 
sprayers in our own orchards 
-—found their defects and 
invented the Eclipse. Its 
success forced us to manu- 
; ’V IVA y facturing on a large scale. 
.You take no chances. We 
''' have done all the experi¬ 
menting. Large fully illustrated Catalog and 
Treatise on spraying FREE. 
MORRILL & MORI.EY. Benton Harbor, Mich. 
INCREASETHECROP 
IN ORCHARD AND FDELD 
by using this compressed air hand 
Sprayer. 15 seconds* pumping gives 
power for 10 minutes' spraying. Force 
enough for tall trees. 4-gal. tank con¬ 
veniently carried over shoulder. This 
"Auto-Spray" 
Is used by the U. S. Government 
and State Experiment Stations. 
Save half your mixture and avoid clog¬ 
ging and “random” spraying with the 
Auto-Pop Nozzle. One finger regu¬ 
lates sprav from a stream to a finennst. 
We make 40 styles and sizes of spray¬ 
ers. Ask for catalog containing val¬ 
uable spraying calendar. Free. 
E. C. BROWN CO., 28 Joy St. f Rochester, N. Y. 
Monarch 
Hydraulic 
Cider Press 
Great strength and ci 
pacity; all sizes; als 
gasoline engine; 
8 team engine; 
saw mills, thresl 
_ - erp. Catalog f rei 
Monarch machinery Co., Room 161,39 Cortlandt St., Nt> Tori 
beforo it destroys your trees. The 
one absolutely sure way to eradicate 
t,liis pest entirely is by using 8AI.I- 
MINK—the best, safest, cheapest, 
concentrated spray on tho , market. 
The original 
TRADE 
SALIMINE 
MARK 
is tho result of ten years ‘‘At It” and 
“Know How.” It, is a Lime, Salt, Sul¬ 
phur, and Caustic Potash solution. 
Recognized by all experimental sta¬ 
tions as tho best insecticide for thor¬ 
oughly eradicating scale. One gallon 
mixed with cold water makes 20 gal¬ 
lons of tho standard solution. Write 
to-day for free circular with prices. 
Monmouth Chemical Works 
Dept. A. SHREWSBURY, N. J. 
SPRAY* 
Th® 
atson 
Four Row Potato 
Sprayer 
Covers 80 to 40 acres per day. 
Straddles 2 rows, sprays 4 at a 
time. Wheels adjust for different ‘ 3<TOi ‘ 
widths. Sprays to any fineness and gearing 
of pump to wheel of cart gives any pressure desired. 
Automatic agitator and suction strainer cleaner. It 
never spoils foliage or clogs. Free instruction and for¬ 
mula book sliows the famous Garfield,Empire King, 
Orchard Monarch and other sprayers. Write for It. 
FIELD FORCE PUMP CO.. 2 11th St., Elmir*. N. Y. 
GALVANIZED IRON SPOUTS ARB 
TREE KELLERS. 
/'hey should not be used. Let me send you 
a free sample 
GRIMM SAP SPOUT 
Which is guaranteed to produce one-fourth 
more sap, with less Injury to the tree than any 
other or no sale. 
Grimm Spouts per¬ 
mit p-actical ream¬ 
ing and use of a 
practical H u c k c t 
Cover. I make 
Bright Charcoal 
Tin Cans that do 
not leak at the same 
price as leaky Coke 
Tin Cans. Also 
Evaporators and all first-class maple sugar making 
utensils. Order now from dealers or direct. 
Ask for print K G. H. GKIMM, Rutland, Vfc* 
Grimm Spout No. 15, 
with or without hook. 
We’ve been making spraying outfits for years and think we know pretty 
well how to produce good ones. A 
DEMING SPRAY PUMP 
is as good as the best—and better, because it embodies the desirable points of all, 
and many beside that the others don’t have. Our catalogue illustrates a 
large variety of styles, including the following; 
Bucket, Barrel and Knapsack Pumps for Hand, 
Gasoline Engine Outfits for Larger Operations 
For whitewashing and disinfecting Poultry Quarters, Deming Outfits are In 
the lead. The “Bordeaux” is the only successful whitewashing nozzle on the 
market. AVe manufacture it exclusively. No other nozzle can approach it. 
THE DEMING COMPANY, 410 Depot St., Salem, Ohio 
Generml Agencies in principal cltlcM. Ilculon St llubljcll, WeHtern Agent*, Chicago 
As Potato Sprayer. 
ORCHARD SPRAYERo^FREE 
No money in advance—Pail when convenient. Sprays every¬ 
thing—Trees; Potatoes, etc. 4 rows at a timo—20 acres u day. 
Doubles your crop. Even 2-acre growers Hay: “it pays for it- 
Belf first seaHon,” aR it has so many UBes. A 16-year-old boy 
can oporate it with ease. Brass Ball valves, Cylinder, etc. 
Guaranteed 6 years. Wholesale /Vice—(where no agent ) 
AGENTS WANTED. After trial, if you keo|j it, wo nisko torms to suit you. 
Qnppial Frpp Hffpr to first <>no in each locality. ", SPRAYING GUIDE 1 ’ami 
aiienidl nccuner fwll lnform ^ tlnn y rce Wepay Freight. Write today. 
H. L. HURST MFG. CO., 56 North St., Canton, O. 
As Orchard Sprayer,- 
