28 o 
T1IE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
March HO. 
RuraHsms ^ 
NOTES FROM THE RURAL GROUNDS 
Tiik Home ok Hr .adioltts Piumtjlintts. 
—The striking illnsiration on page 275, 
Fig. 129, gives an'idea of ihe native home 
of Gladiolus prinmlimis, the newly-intro¬ 
duced pure yellow species described in 
I t ik R. N.-Y. for Dceemher 20, 1900, and 
shows, before completion, the railroad 
bridge recently built over the terrific 
gorge just below the great falls of the 
Zambesi River, South Africa. 'I bis mighty 
rift in earth and rock is here 280 feel deep 
and about 700 feet wide. The immense 
body of water falling this astonishing 
depth breaks into clouds of spray, keeping 
the vegetation lining the gorge in an al¬ 
most constantly dripping condition, and it 
is under these very peculiar conditions 
and in this restricted locality that the 
“Maid of the Mist” variety of G. priimtli- 
nus was found by the resident bridge en¬ 
gineer, Mr. J. K. Townsend, and sent 
Mr, Francis Fox, Wimbledon, Kngland, 
who first bloomed and exhibited it in that 
country. It is indeed strange that a. plant 
developed under such special conditions of 
saturated soil and atmosphere, as well as 
almost tropical temperature, should turn 
out well adapted to ordinary greenhouse 
and Summer garden cultivation, and to 
hybridize readily with a greater range of 
species and varieties of its genus than al¬ 
most any other (iladiolus. As far as we 
Ikivc been able to bloom the hybrid seed¬ 
lings raised from it, the distinctive color¬ 
ing and special vigor of growth appear 
to predominate. 
Ciikstnut Notes. —The recent account 
of the Pennsylvania chestnut orchard calls 
forth some comment: 
'flint Lancaster ('minty elicHlnnt story on 
pnge* 1 <1.1 unit I (id at Tin; l(. N. V. may give 
some of Tun It. N. V. renders (ho chestnut 
fever. If nny should be Ho nttllcled let him 
ent n few unlive or wild cheatmtlM, then 
take one single Paragon, ehew It well, (lien 
awnllow: II Is nn Infallible cure, unless he Is 
n I ten Iinvls apple and Kelffer panr eon 
sinner. a. a. wasnkii, 
In another column, J. S. Woodward, 
Niagara Co,, N. Y„ mentions Nnmbo as 
superior to Paragon, and asks for infor¬ 
mation as to how 90 per cent of chestnut 
grafts arc made to grow. 
Friend Wanner should hear in mind 
that Paragon, like all large kinds of Old 
World parentage, is a cooking chestnut, 
and no one claims that it is as high in 
rpialily as our sweet natives, which though 
unsurpassed for eating in their natural 
.tale, are too small to amount to much 
from the culinary standpoint. 'I here is 
some nstringency and occasionally slight 
bitterness in the skin surrounding the ker¬ 
nel of Paragon nuts when fresh, hut this 
nearly disappears in curing, and altogether 
in boiling or roasting. A properly cured 
Paragon is altogether comparable, when 
eaten raw, 1o many natives, though dis¬ 
tinctly inferior when newly gathered. If 
nuts of Paragon, Nutnbo, Ridgeley or 
other of the better F.uropean varieties are 
slowly dried in a cool airy place until the 
kernel is slightly toughened without be¬ 
coming hard the quality is greatly im¬ 
proved. They may then be shelled, 
plumped by soaking over night in cold 
water, and the. skin largely removed, by 
a dash of boiling water followed by rub¬ 
bing or scraping. One scarcely needs to 
he a Kieffer pear or I'.en Davis apple eater 
to relish them thus prepared, even with¬ 
out cooking. The common wild chinqua¬ 
pin is usually of better quality than our 
native chestnuts, hut is loo trilling in size 
to have commercial value, Size is de¬ 
manded in market chestnuts, and so far 
we only appear able to get it at the ex¬ 
pense of quality. 
Some Prktty Good Kinds.— Nnmbo is 
one of the best flavored of the Knropeans, 
hut. is often found to he a rather shy and 
uncertain hearer, seldom beginning to pro 
dure satisfactory crops until the tree is of 
considerable size. It originated at Mor 
risville, Pa., many years ago, and has been 
quite widely tested without developing 
specially valuable commercial qualities. 
Ridgeley appears to succeed farther north 
i and west than Paragon, and is a good all 
I ’round variety for market and home plant 
‘ ing. The nuts run rather less in size than 
Paragons, hut arc of good color and final 
ity for this class. Seedlings of Ridgely 
appear more likely to reproduce the par¬ 
ental type than those of most other varie¬ 
ties, and some are even better, in that they 
hear good crops younger than grafted 
trees, without other perceptible deviations, 
Scott is liked for the very attractive color 
and high finish of its moderate-sized tints, 
but appears more deficient in pollen than 
some others. All cultivated varieties are 
doubtless helped by proximity to native 
trees, as the inflorescence of the chestnut 
is especially arranged by nature for cross- 
pollination, the male blooms or catkins 
largely developing before the pistillate 
blooms are ready for the pollen. Para¬ 
gon, however, is admittedly self-fertile, 
but is likely to be even more productive 
in mixed plantings. Kent and Hale are 
apparently the only Japan varieties worth 
consideration from the quality point of 
view. I lie nuts of both varieties arc so 
moderate in size that they arc not mis¬ 
taken for the hitter “Japan Giants” that 
have nearly spoiled our chestnut markets, 
and are of fair cooking quality. They arc 
precocious and productive and make hand¬ 
some little trees, but like all Japans are 
dreadfully subject to weevil. 
Gkamino the Guest net. -Mr. Wood¬ 
ward and other correspondents are con¬ 
cerned about the high average of success 
in grafting wild Sprouts attained in the 
Paragon Company’s orchards—90 per cent 
or more. In ordinary practice if 25 to 40 
per cent of the grafts succeed the opera¬ 
tor is to he congratulated. Amateurs must 
usually he satisfied if one-tenth of their 
trials finally make good unions. Nut 
trees generally challenge the kill of the 
propagator, but the chestnut is not the 
most difficult, if the work is promptly and 
skillfully done. It is simply a matter of 
strong, vigorous, sappy sprouts or stocks, 
well-preserved, dormant scions, the proper 
season and particularly the quick sure cut, 
neat fit, and careful waxing. The opera 
tors in the Pennsylvania nut orchards did 
not have extraordinary success at first, 
hut have become expert through years of 
practice and observation. I he ordinary 
method' of splice and cleft-grafting only 
are used, the former in the greatest pro¬ 
portion of cases. The vigor of the nat¬ 
ural sprouts with their hacking of the im¬ 
mense living roots of the stump from 
which they proceed doubtless have much 
to do with the filial success of the unions. 
Mr. Woodward can get his grafts to start, 
hut they die out, possibly more often 
from lack of nourishment than from un- 
skillful fitting. Practice, neat fitting and 
virile stocks appear to explain the gratify¬ 
ing success of the Pennsylvania grafters, 
Hickory K.M'Kkiknc i The hickory tree 
is admittedly one of the most difficult nut 
trees to propagate by grafting or budding. 
It can he increased in a slow way from 
root sprouts, hut even this method is so 
uncertain and expensive that nurserymen 
now rarely offer hickories. A well-known 
surgeon of New York hybridizes hickories 
as a recreation, and has had great diffi¬ 
culty in finding competent propagators for 
his seedlings. Applications to prominent 
nurserymen were in vain. They told him 
tliat if they could propagate and handle 
hickories they would soon get rich, so 
great is the interest and so difficult the 
work. Having better financial resources 
than most plant breeders and becoming 
much interested in his crosses, the surgeon 
kept pegging away until he found an op 
eralor in Massachusetts who could make 
25 per cent of his buds or grafts live, and 
one in 'Texas who showed a record of 90 
per cent successes. When appealed to for 
1 heir secret methods, both declared they 
had none -the sure, quick cut and close 
fitting did the trick. 'This is the essence 
of good surgery either on plants or human 
beings, fine operator may succeed where 
dozens fail, if lie have the necessary skill, 
without using extraordinary methods. The 
distinguished surgeon may not attain the 
hall of fame by means of his horticultural 
diversions, but tbe thanks of hickorynut 
lovers are due him for the demonstration 
that this precious nut may be successfully 
propagated. w. v. v. 
WHAT DO YOU SAY? 
tiovnntl hundred thourmnd furrn<*r» nay that 
tho bent In vitfltmmi (thvy twist rnudo wn.fi 
when they bought, an 
Electric Ha #S g0 „ 
l,ow whmdH.w Ido tlicrif o&vy work, light draft. 
W« 'II noil you it «« t or tho »*>*t «(• * I wliooln 
rondo for your old wagon. Hunk ft united with 
bub. irtiarfinleivl not to I>ruck nor work loose* 
Bend for our catalogue) nud nuvo money* 
ELECTRIC WHEEL CO.. Box ©ft. Quincy,III. 
Paint Without Oil 
Remarkable Discovery That Cuti 
Down the Cost of Paint Seventy- 
Five Per Cent. 
A Free Trial Package Is Mailed to Every¬ 
one Who Writes. 
A. L. Klco, a prominent manufacturer of 
Adams, N. Y., has discovered a process of 
making a now kind of paint without the use 
of oil. Iln calls It I'owdrmilnt. It comos In the 
form of a dry powder ami all that Is required Is 
Cold water to make a paint weather proof, fire 
proof and as durable as oil paint. It adheres to 
any surface, wood, stone or brick, spreads and 
looks like oil paint and costs about ouo fourtb as 
much. 
Write to Mr. A. L. Itlco, Manuf’r., jiu North 
HI., Adams, N. Y., and bo will send you a freo 
trial package, also color card and full Informa¬ 
tion showing you bow you can savo a good many 
dollars. Write to-day. 
YEARS 
OF 
SUCCESS 
of the 
This is the 50th Anniversary < 
Gaboon Hand Broadcast Seed Sower. 
This machine will sow from 4 to 5 
acres per hour and lasts a lifetime. 
I We want you to get acquainted with 
THE GAHOON 
Write today for our new book "Sow- ] 
ing lor Results” which tells just how 
much seed to use for best results. 
_and our 50th Anniversary \ 
‘ .Souvenir. It also tells 
. how you can save time. J 
| seed and money. 
G 00 DELL COMPANY, 
14 >1 nln Hired. 
Antrim, N. II. 
No More Hand Pumping 
Nn coal. No *tflam. No oil. No imoklrig or labor, 
No Cost for Motive Power 
NIAUAKA AUTOMATIC I'UMI' 
■ 11ydriiullc ItiLin> 
works night and day on any brook, 
creek, rlvoror running water. 
Used and endorsed by (Jov- 
criitncnlM, railroads and 
publln Institutions, runners, 
owners nf factories, country 
homos and mines. Write to¬ 
day for free booklet. 
Niagara Hydraulic Engine Co. 
wo NASSAU STUKKKT, NI'.W YOUK. Faotokt; Oli«Nl«r, IN 
FARMERS 
HANDY 
WACON 
I,ow steel wheels, wide Urea, make 
loading and bundling easier. We fur 
nlsh Hleel Wheels to III any nils, to 
carry any load. Htrulght or staggered 
spokes, Catalogue free. 
EMPIRE MFG.C0., Box 70 F Quincy. III. 
THE DEYO 
Power Sprayer 
Mounted complete, with mechanical agitator. 
Hcl,ter Mian ever New ulr-cooled engine. ( li her 
new features, all Important to the man who 
sprays. Write for new catalogue JO—just out. 
R. H. DEYO & CO., 
BINGHAMTON, . NEW YORK 
f The Spray that Kills ^ 
ICllOfkH till) Ufa nut of pnniMifcOM tli/it infant 
orchard and onminunt/il tnum, 
Good’s ( Whale-Oil" h Soap No. 3 
f’urmi Dm (Mmoiih© ami fortiH/nx Mm trnftK, 
Nothing to Injure* plantM-no Hiilpinir, Halt or 
fnmoraJ oUh. I'moiI find nudontml by I.’.N. I>upf 
of Agrinilturn. Order now. 
My valuable booklet of Mm eautm, tumtmoiit 
and euro of plant (IImo/ihom 1m fro©. Write today. 
Jamci Good. si’.': Philadelphia. 
GET THE BEST 
A Good Spray Pump cams 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¬ 
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 & MOR LEV. Benton Harbor, Mich. 
SPRAYERS 
EE TRIAL 
No Monty in Adronrr—]iny tnhm 
I ronvrnlnil, Tim " KITZ-A 1.1,” III «■ 
on-atiy-burrol or tank. H|>rny« nil so¬ 
lutions. Proven bust rind mo«t dur¬ 
able. CJiiii rimteed Kivu Years. 
I/Iron" Hull Valnm Cylinder, 1‘lunprr, 
\rtr.filnitnfr flimner amt 8 Agltnlorn. 
HH> III. jii-i'HHiiir. A boy can opornto It. 
A fl nr trial IT von kaop It— pay when 
yon i'iiii. WIioIchii to price whero no 
agent A gen I s Wn lit e<l . Special 
Kr**eOlf.'f for flr.l In »iai ll Im-nllty. "Hi.ray¬ 
ing CuIiIb" »n<l full Information FIIKK. 
H.L.Hurst Mlu.Cn., g North St.,Caiituii,(). 
l-or Rapid, I- n«y Spraying The 
"AlltO-Pop” nohli. 
Controlled by one finder, rcgulatm tpray 
from a litmrn to A fine mUt. Doublet* • it* 
pacify. Baveu solution, time, labor* 
INCREASE THE CROPS 
by u%hu' the " Aut*)*Poji" nozzle on 
tbe ‘'Auto-Spray” pump. 
Write If you want Agent y. 
E. C. Brown Co., 88 Jays•. Hochiitor, N. Y. 
The Perfection Sprayer 
Combinen bund find Imrio* power, and linn both curt nud burrel, 
It'D NfmplOf ndlfiblo, pmHb'nblu nud diirnbb?. Hjuhv* everything. 
t»«<«, potaloKM. v I it tut. < a (ii log 11*1 lolling bow to nprny nud non 
htlnlng v« I on bln fonotiloN, PKKK. 
THOMAS PEPPLER, Mox 70. Hlehtstown, N.J. 
C - IDE 
I test, aiul cheapest, 
bend Jirr catalogue 
BOOMER A. BOSCHERT 
PRESS CO., 
1 1 K Wr.l W.lrr HI., 
HfUACHBK, «. K. 
MACHINERY 
Use Fairmount Brand 
Concentrated Bordeaux Mixture 
Tonne gallon add 49 gallons of wafer 
and It, Ik ready for use. Only makers 
Fairmount Chemical Laboratory, 
N. W. Corner llrond St. and fairmount Ave., 
Philadelphia, Pa. 
VALUABLE BOOK FREE . 
In emmocilon wll.li our Ill-Ormlit I’.rand of Pure 
Paris Ormui wo have Issued a new booklet,on Inseetl- 
..containing many useful hints to the farmer, 
truck grower am! gardener. It la authoritative ami 
uji l.o dale. Poller send for a copy to-day. Ilcot l”, 
nolliing and will tell you all you want lo know about 
lighting Insect, posts. MOKKIS 11 MIC i: \| ANN 
<50 William Ntreel, New Vorlc City. 
% 
A 
DESTROY 
SAN JOSE 
SCALE 
before It destroys your trees. The 
one absolutely mire way to eradlcnle 
tills pest entirely | H by using NAl.l- 
MINI 1 .’ -the liest, safest, ctieapest, 
concentrated spray on the nuirket, 
Tbe original 
1'K A Die 
SALIMINE 
MARK 
Is tbe result of ten years "At It" and 
"Know How " It Is a I,Inin, Salt, Sul 
l'htir, and Cimsllc I’otnsb solution 
Ijec.ognl/ed by all 0X|>crllnontnl tin 
thins fi'( the bust Insecticide for tbor 
onglily eradicating scale, One gallon 
mixed with cold water makes ::n gal 
lens of tile standard solution Write 
to day for free circular with prices. 
Monmouth Chemical Works 
Dept. A. SHREWSBURY, N. J. 
PRATT’S 
<6 
SCALECIDE 
SAN 
13 . O. 
99 Soluble 
Petroleum 
JOSE, COTTONY MAPLE SCALE, PEAR PSYLLA ETC 
Without Injury totho Trees. Nninple*. I’rlccs ami Emlorseimmt of ICximrlment Station* .... A....11....11.... ’ " 
rniLTT OO., Dojit. 
VVII.I, I’OHITI VKI.Y DKHTKOY 
Cxperlmi'iit Station* on Application. 
11 I 3 ronciw«,y, 3 NT 33 W YORK OITY 
