478 
T1IE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
June 15, 
NOTES FROM THE RURAL GROUNDS 
Recent Plant Novelties. —Few of the 
highly-boomed plant novelties of recent 
years have made much impression on hor¬ 
ticulture. Impatiens Holstii, the new 
Central African balsam, proves really 
useful, and is gradually coming into use 
as a decorative plant for greenhouse and 
window garden, and has also successfully 
been tried for bedding effects. In rich 
soil and partial shade it thrives well out¬ 
side in Summer, and makes a brilliant 
show. The bright scarlet flowers open 
flat, and are produced in countless pro¬ 
fusion throughout the entire growing sea¬ 
son. They bleach to some extent in hot 
sunlight, but give a far better effect in 
dull weather than geraniums under simi¬ 
lar conditions. Plants do not propagate 
as freely as may he desired, but are easily 
grown from seed. A new variety, I. IIol- 
stii delicata, is claimed to have much 
larger blooms, often more than i]/z inch 
across, of a light rosy-pink color, with 
darker center. Other hybrids in mixture 
including such shades as deep red, purple 
violet, blush white and orange scarlet are 
now offered. It is said they come almost 
true from seeds. 
Nicotiana Sandkrae was a great dis¬ 
appointment to many. It is true the 
plants are vigorous and graceful, and the 
blooms most freely and constantly pro¬ 
duced, but their dull coloring and weedy 
droop during bright sunlight preclude 
their use for anything but background ef¬ 
fects. Some gain has since been made 
in selecting better shades of crimson, hut 
the “new hybrids,” of various purple and 
light shades offered last year, have little 
to recommend them. The rose-colored 
one turned out best on the Rural Grounds. 
Some of the plants have flowers of good 
color with slight fragrance. They are 
seen to best advantage in the evening. 
The Reb Sunflower may not he a 
hoax, hut trials at home and abroad show 
that seeds sold under the name either do 
not grow, or if rarely plants are produced, 
they turn out to be the ordinary purple 
Rudbeckia, Echinacea purpurea, which is 
claimed to he one of the parents, Heli- 
anthus multiflorus, a perennial sunflower, 
being the other. A reliable amateur, how¬ 
ever, reports that though unsuccessful in 
growing red sunflowers from seeds he 
procured a plant from the originators in 
Germany that distinctly shows hybrid 
characteristics, and appears midway be¬ 
tween the Rudbeckia and Helianthus. 1 lie 
name of Rudbeckia Heliopsis x has been 
proposed for the red sunflower. 1 he 
cross mark affixed to the name indicates 
its hybrid origin. It is quite showy 
when in bloom, the flowers appear¬ 
ing on long stems in great profu¬ 
sion. They are of a queer shade of 
smoky orange, not a tint that can right¬ 
fully be termed red. It would appear 
that the seeds sent out the last two sea¬ 
sons either were sterile, or only had the 
faculty of reproducing one of the paren¬ 
tal types. The hybrid can probably only 
be increased Iw division, and sooner or 
later, if meritorious', will make its ap¬ 
pearance in commerce. A similar instance 
was noted when hybrids between Clematis 
coccinea and the large-flowered C lematis 
varieties first made their appearance. 
They were handsome and distinct, the 
plants showing great resistance to dis¬ 
ease, and have since been widely planted. 
The usual methods of budding, grafting 
and division were used in propagation, 
hut as solid-looking seeds were occasion¬ 
ally produced they were for several years 
offered by seedsmen. We repeatedly tested 
them, but only got a few typical Coccineas 
for our trouble. \ he Rural Grounds 
plants, of which Countess of Onslow is 
most desirable, bloom with the utmost 
profusion, hut have never been induced to 
perfect seeds, though pollenized with many 
species and varieties. 
Plant the Rhodora. —The lovely little 
early-blooming Azalea or deciduous Rho¬ 
dodendron, popularly known as the Rho¬ 
dora, is far too little planted in this coun¬ 
try, though long esteemed abroad. Its 
native range appears to be from New¬ 
foundland to the highlands of Pennsyl¬ 
vania and westward to Lake Ontario, but 
it is nowhere plentiful, possibly being 
most abundant in moist glades near rapid 
streams, not far from the coast. It forms 
a bushy shrub two or three feet high, 
well clothed with small oval, bluish-green 
leaves, and brilliant in early Spring with 
feathery rose-purple flowers of an espe¬ 
cially delicate and pleasing shade. The 
many and conspicuous anther filaments 
give the flower clusters a'noticeable effect 
of airy lightness which is enhanced by 
the peculiar two-lipped arrangement of 
the narrow petals, only one other species 
found in the highlands of Japan having 
similar characteristics. The Rhodora is 
now classified by botanists as Rhododen¬ 
dron Canadensis, though it has had many 
names in the past and is, from a horticul¬ 
tural standpoint, a most distinct as well 
as attractive species. The blooms come 
so early that they are almost the first bits 
of pleasing color to brighten the bleak 
northern woodlands and its delicacy and 
regularity inspired Ralph Waldo Emerson 
to write the affecting and oft-quoted poem 
“Rhodora,” reprinted last year in '1 he 
R. N.-Y. As a garden shrub the Rhodora 
is quite manageable, requiring only partial 
shade and deep, moist soil. It is of un¬ 
questioned hardiness—its northern habitat 
fitting it to endure extreme cold, but the 
foliage should not be .burned by fierce 
Summer suns. Most farm homes in the 
northeastern portion of the United States 
have suitable nooks for this delightful 
native shrub that would well repay in 
cheeriness any slight attention required. 
The Rhodora, like most of its genus, has 
a great mass of fibrous roots and may be 
easily moved while dormant or in the 
early weeks of its growth, if the ball of 
earth and roots is not permitted to dry 
out. It is unfortunately seldom offered by 
nurserymen, but a few northern dealers 
in hardy plants list it, and good speci¬ 
mens may often be found if looked for in 
proper localities in early Spring. When 
catalogued it is usually priced at 25 cents 
each, for plants of blooming size. Fig. 
228, page 475, shows the flowering habit, 
from a shrub grown on the Rural 
Grounds. 
Hard on Rhubarb. —The phenomenally 
late season bids fair to overwork rhubarb 
plantations. The demand for this succulent, 
acid vegetable was never before so urgent 
and continuous. Strawberries normally 
begin to ripen in our locality by the end 
of May, but this year finds the plants still 
in heavy bloom. When strawberries 01 - 
other tart fruits are not to be had rhu¬ 
barb is called for, and the chances are 
that many plots will be pulled to their 
lasting injury. Like asparagus, rhubarb 
stores up in its heavy root stocks the 
plant food elaborated by the foliage dur¬ 
ing Summer, to expend it next season in 
early leaf growth and seed production, if 
permitted. Only a certain amount may be 
taken away in the form of merchantable 
stalks before natural growth is resumed 
without injury that can scarcely be made 
up by cultivation and profuse fertiliza¬ 
tion. Time is a-factor as well as manure 
and tillage in building up the crowns for 
next year’s crop. If it is good business 
to sacrifice next season’s chances to the 
present demand the grower is, of course, 
justified in pulling hard and late, but he 
should know what he is about. Straw¬ 
berries under the best of conditions will be 
two weeks late. Southern berries have 
been with us for months, but they are a 
miserable substitute for local fruits. We 
may occasionally put up with their sour¬ 
ness and astringency for the sake of the 
strawberry flavor, but this year they ap¬ 
pear devoid of even that—merely tough, 
sour pulp. Most people prefer rhubarb, 
and freely use it. W. v. F. 
Little Ethel: “There was a strange 
man here to see you to-day, papa.” Papa: 
“Did he have a bill?” Little Ethel: “No, 
papa, just a plain nose.”—Ally Sloper. 
Cement and Wire for Roofing. 
B. .]., Lyons, A’. Y .—There has been an 
article in The It. N.-Y. about the use of 
cement for making roofs. In what propor¬ 
tions are (lie cement and gravel mixed for 
tlds purpose? 
Ans. —Portland cement for roof is 
mixed with one-half the quantity of sand, 
or what has been used mostly here is pul¬ 
verized limestone rock. Some use two 
of sand to one of cement, but the boss 
mason said he preferred half of each by 
measure. The wire is one-half inch mesh 
and can be purchased, I presume, from 
any dealer in wire goods. We know of 
one man who used poultry wire. Those 
who profess to know say that is too light 
a wire. 1 inquired the weight of the wire 
and was informed it was No. 18. The 
cement and sand is thoroughly mixed 
before wetting, and should be about the 
same consistency as plaster for walls, and 
it should not lie applied on a real hot day, 
as it would dry too fast. In case it <k>es 
it should be sprinkled and the next day 
after it dries, so one can go on it and 
not show the prints of the feet. It wants 
to be painted with cement mixed with 
water, so it will spread with a brush or 
soft broom. Some advise using asphaltum 
paint in place of the cement for the last 
coat. The builders claim it can be put 
on for $2.75 per square. The wire should 
be nicely covered; that seems to expand 
and contract so to avoid the cracking. 
The Helderberg Cement Co. has roofing 
by the acre, and is applying it on all roofs 
as fast as they need new ones. They use 
cheap help to apply it, having a foreman 
to see the mixing is properly done. So 
far they make the surface smooth, but 
have it applied as siding by using woven 
wire built in shape of siding, the same could 
be used on rOof to represent shingle, but 
it would require an expert to put it on. 
‘They claim it should be one-half to one- 
third inch thick; when put on old shingles 
it would he thicker in some places. I will 
gladly answer any further inquiries. The 
Helderberg Cement Co. are building a 
smoke stack 150 feet high, of concrete; it 
is reinforced with iron rods. 
Hows Cave, N. Y. m. b. f. 
Caldwell Tanks 
of Galvanized Stool nre iiaod 
everywhore. Sl/.utt up to 1*200 
gnllotiH can bo alitpped wot up 
nt small coat for freight. These 
tanks aro strong, tight and 
durable. Cost loss than wood 
tanks. Ask for Illustrated 
catalogue and delivered prlcas 
W. E. CALDWELL CO. 
Loiiifcville, Ky. 
Towr. 
Wind Mills,Pumps, Gas Engines. 
OSGOODSCALES 
All kinds: Portable,Pit,Pltlcua; Steel 
and Cement Construction. Guaran¬ 
teed accurate, reliable and dura¬ 
ble. Let us send you a scale 
on trial. Free catalogue. 
5 ^ 
Kst. 
OSGOOD ISCALK CO., 167 Central St., Itiiighuinton, N. V. 
The Perfection Sprayer 
combines hand and horse power, and lias both cart and barrel, 
it s simple, reliable, practicable and durable. Sprays everything, 
trees, potatoes, vines. Catalogue telling how to spray and con¬ 
tain i ng valuable formulas, FKKK. 
THOMAS PEPPLER, Box 70, Hlghtstown, N.J. 
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- 
; ’VJ_y4 r factoring 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 & MORLEY. Benton Harbor, Mich. 
IURST 
ORCHA 
' POTATO* 
RD SPRAYER 
• ^ < iv •> ’/iiLY •-» 
ON FREE TRIAL. 
No money In advance—Fay when 
Treop; Potatoes, Truck etc. 4 rows 
at a time—20 acres a day. Doubles 
r-TMjpi Your Crop extra yield one acra 
will pay it first »eo#on. A boy can 
operate it. GUAKANTEED FIVE 
YEARS. Wholesale Price (where 
no agent). AGENTS WANTED. 
After trial, if you keep It—pay when you can Special FREE 
OFFER for flrat one in each locality. "SPRAYING GUIDE” and 
full Information FREE. Write Today. We Pay Freight. 
H. L. HURST MFG CO., 56, North St..Canton,0. 
It Is Worth While 
Buy a machine that docs the 
work right—that cleans its strainer 
automatically with a brush, mixes liquid 
mechanically so that foltaKe is never 
burned, but gets its due proportion, 
EMPIRE KING, and 
ORCHARD MONARCH 
do tlioso things. They throw finest spray, 
aro easiest to work unit they never clog. 
You ought to know more about them. Write 
for Instruction book on spraying, formulas, 
etc. Alailed lree. 
KIEMI FORCE PllMP CO., No. 211th St.,Elmira, N.Y. 
DISTRIBUTE 
IN8ECTK IDES 
IN DUST FORM 
Leggett’s Dusters 
Save Crops when other Methods Fail. 
NO WATER TO HAUL 
LEGGETT’S 
CHAMPION 
,DUSTER 
The CHAMPION 
dusts two rows of pota¬ 
toes as fast as you wulk. 
The BEETLE 
(Horse Power) dusts four 
rows 
The JUMBO 
20-Page Spray Calendar given Information regarding Dusters 
Address of nearest dealer mailed on request. 
JLEGGKTT & BRO., 301 Henri St., N. Y. 
ix . f' YVA h' r ' A\U * 
mum 
For Blight and Bugs 
To accomplish results you 
niuslsaturatea//|iartsof the 
vines with a line, fog-Uko 
spray, l'oworfu 1 and steady 
pressure Is necessary to 
spray Bordeaux mixture. So 
you want 
BROWN’S 
TRACTION SPRAYER 
I For large fields. Sprays 0 
rows at a time, any width 
I Jf>0 pounds pressure turns- 
_ loaves so solution gets to all 
rplant. W mills generate power. Cypress 
tank holds 100 gallons. Easily adjusted for orchard 
and vineyard w ork. Small Crowara— with fiacres or 
less need ourlow priced AutoSpray No. 1. Easy, fast 
work with hand power. Satisfaction guaranteed. 
Send for Catalogue—All Styles unil Sizes and prices. 
Tho E. C. Brown Co., 28 Jay St., Rochester, N.Y. 
These 
Spoil Your Crops. 
'WW *l 
Arsenate 
of Lead 
Destroys all Leaf-Eating Insects 
It is estimated that insects destroy % to % the entire yield of farm and 
orchard produce. Swift’s Arsenate of Lead is the hest insecticide for the use 
of the farmer and orchardist, because it destrovs all leaf-eating insects, sticks 
to the foliage in spite of rain and wind, and because it cannot burn or scorch 
the foliage no matter how strong a solution is used. Swift’s Arsenate of Lead 
is used and recommended by leading fruit growers, truck farmers, horti- 
.culturists and shade tree owners. 
Write for booklet giving valuable information for combat¬ 
ing the Codling Moth, Potato Bug and other insect pests. 
MERRIMAC CHEMICAL CO., 31 Broad St., Boston, Mass. 
