842 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
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▼ ^ V • 
NOTES FROM THE RURAL GROUNDS 
The Hardiest Rhododendron. —Prob¬ 
ably the hardiest, and certainly the most 
neglected of our evergreen Rhododen¬ 
drons is R. punctatum, of which a bloom 
cluster is shown in natural size in Fig. 
417, page 839. It is also the smallest and 
perhaps the least showy in foliage, the 
leaves, dark green above and brownish 
below, being seldom more than three 
inches long, and the shrub itself rarely 
exceeds six feet in height. It is, on the 
other hand, most profuse and attractive 
in bloom, flowering with the greatest reg¬ 
ularity and freedom in June, before other 
kinds’ come out. The coloring varies in 
individuals from pale rose to clean bright 
pink, with greenish spots within and 
would appear to furnish a basis, by hy¬ 
bridization, for varying the tints of the 
larger flowered species. R. maximum and 
R. Catawbiense. Crossing does not, how¬ 
ever, appear to be readily effected, owing 
to the differing periods of bloom. We 
have, after years of trial, secured a few 
plants of Catawbiense x punctatum, and 
await their blooming with interest. 
Though only naturally distributed 
through the highlands of Georgia and the 
Carolinas, R. punctatum appears even 
hardier as regards frost than R. maxi¬ 
mum, which ranges much farther north, 
and is able to endure far greater expos¬ 
ure to wind and sun than any other spe¬ 
cies. It may be planted, with good as¬ 
surance of success, in quite exposed 
places if well mulched with old manure 
to keep the roots moist. Plants on the 
Rural Grounds grow slowly, having 
scarcely added a foot to their stature in 
10 years, but bloom abundantly every sea¬ 
son. As a border or edging for taller 
Rhododendrons, as well as for dooryard 
specimens, this hardy native deserves 
consideration. 
Peaches in Succession. —Fruit sea¬ 
sons were much mixed this year as a re¬ 
sult of the cold Spring, late and early 
kinds often coming in together, but 
peaches kept fairly well to their usual 
succession. The Rural Grounds peach 
season extended from July 20, when 
Greensboro first began to soften, quite 
to the first of November, when the last 
of the Iron Mountains were brought to 
the table. This last excellent variety is 
nominally over by the middle of October. 
Our fruits were from trees sharply head¬ 
ed back two years ago to facilitate scale 
treatment, and though small, were of per¬ 
fect flavor. It is a freestone with par¬ 
ticularly small pit and creamy white 
flesh. Greensboro is a poor apology for 
a peach, but is perhaps no worse than 
other extra earlies. Triumph came next 
and is really good to eat. It is handsome 
in its bright red and yellow coloring, and 
if it were not so fatally disposed to. rot, 
would be worth growing here. Hieley 
and Carman followed, the first giving us 
a few creamy white fruits on a young 
tree. It is of good size and tolerable 
quality. Carman gave us a banner crop 
of brilliant carmine peaches about Aug¬ 
ust 15. It is not of the best flavor, and 
clings persistently until fully ripe, but is 
so handsome, useful and reliable here, 
never having failed, since the first trees 
came into bearing six years ago, that we 
would plant it in preference to any other 
if confined to a single variety. Waddell 
and Belle of Georgia came next in order, 
both white fleshed with red cheeks. Wad¬ 
dell is here a clingstone, but Belle of 
Georgia is quite free and of really good 
quality. Champion ripened with the lat¬ 
ter. but as usual, was decimated by rot. 
It is large, handsome and of best quality. 
If it had a more resistant skin Champion 
would be among the most valuable of 
mid-season peaches. The September va¬ 
rieties were Mountain Rose, a prime 
favorite in New Jersey, Stump, Globe, 
Frances, Lady Ingold and Elberta, the 
latter least prized for home use, but all 
right for market. Lady Ingold, yellow 
freestone, is best in quality of its color, 
and Mountain Rose takes similar place 
among the whites. Smock, Chairs and 
Iron Mountain completed the list of well- 
known varieties, but seedlings and trial 
kinds filled all chinks, so that newly rip¬ 
ened peaches were available every day 
throughout the season. 
The Nutritious Peach. —Although a* 
member in good and regular standing of 
the Apple Consumers’ League, and gen¬ 
erally living up to its high privileges, the 
writer admits great liking for thoroughly 
ripened peaches and a firm belief in their 
nutritious qualities. The market peach 
mav be a dietetic illusion, acceptable 
mainly for its decorative appearance and 
refreshing flavor, but “dead ripe’’ home¬ 
grown peaches of any tolerable variety, 
plucked only when ready to fall from 
sheer weight of their luscious juices, are 
meat and drink for the eater, taking the 
place not only of other seasonable fruits, 
but of considerable table food as well. 
Sliced with a modicum of sugar and 
served with or without cream, tender ripe 
peaches comfortably form the basis of 
many light Summer meals, needing lit¬ 
tle accompaniment in the way of meats 
or other concentrated foods. In the days 
of the famous Delaware peaches, before 
the “yellows” disease devastated the 
Peninsula, the pickers regularly grew fat 
in peach time. They camped in the or¬ 
chards, and subsisted chiefly on peaches 
that were then allowed to ripen far bet¬ 
ter than in these cold storage times. They 
received from their employers limited ra¬ 
tions of molasses, meal and bacon, but 
peaches formed the acknowledged staple 
of their diet, and a healthier, happier lot 
of humans it would have been hard to 
find. Possibly such conditions exist now 
in the great orchards of Georgia and 
West Virginia, but the fruits are not al¬ 
lowed to mature to the same extent. They 
are picked while hard, hurried into iced 
cars and whisked away to their distant 
northern markets. Whatever may be the 
merits or demerits of the peach as found 
in city markets, there is little question 
that it is at once the most delicious, whole¬ 
some and nourishing of Summer fruits 
when home-grown and not picked until 
full maturity. It is worth every reason¬ 
able effort to grow peaches in abundance 
and long succession for home use, and 
not particularly difficult in most locali¬ 
ties, if the needs of the trees are studied. 
Our country and China are the ones most 
favored as regards peach culture. The 
fruits are always scarce and costly in 
Europe, except in the extreme southern 
portions, and in most countries are un¬ 
known. If you live in a “peach belt”— 
and peach belts are almost everywhere 
south of Canada—plant some peach trees 
and care well for them after planting. 
Cross-bred Peaches.— Peach varieties 
are almost as numerous as strawberries, 
but few appear to have been intentionally 
bred. Seedlings are raised more easily 
than of any other tree fruit and need but 
a few years to come to bearing age. Wild 
and hedgerow trees, grown from pits 
carelessly thrown about, were before the 
advent of San Jose scale so plentiful in 
some localities as to form a feature in 
the landscape when in bloom, but are 
now less numerous. Our commercial va¬ 
rieties have been largely recruited from 
chance and volunteer seedlings, but some 
of the best, such as Elberta, were selected 
from the product of seeds planted for the 
purpose of growing more useful new va¬ 
rieties. Luther Burbank some years ago 
offered an intentionally bred variety as 
the sweetest and best flavored of all 
peaches. We cannot recall the name of 
this variety, but recollect the report of a 
western correspondent who secured some 
buds for trial. He said the fruits were 
of the highest quality, but were sparingly 
borne in his locality. Mr. J. W. Kerr, 
Denton, Md., has grown some interesting 
cross-bred peaches, of which we haye 
tested Denton, the progeny of Mountain 
Rose and Elberta. It is a good late va¬ 
riety, productive and of large size, re¬ 
sembling Elberta in general characteris¬ 
tics, but appearing more subject, to rot in 
this locality. Ameliaberta is given as a 
cross between Amelia, once a popular 
southern yellow freestone peach, and El¬ 
berta. It’ is described highly colored, 
as large as Elberta and regularly pro¬ 
ductive in the South. Matthews is said 
to be a cross between Elberta and Smock, 
most resembling the former and of bet¬ 
ter quality. The fruits ripen three weeks 
later. 
Rural Grounds’ Cross-breds.— Several 
crosses were made on the Rural Grounds 
five years ago between promising va¬ 
rieties, Iron Mountain being chiefly used 
as seed parent. The following fruited 
this year: No. 1, Iron Mountain pol¬ 
linated with Carman; result, a large, long 
white freestone, ripening August 28; 
color creamy white, with red cheek; flesh 
juicy and of excellent quality. 1 ree 
thrifty, short-jointed in growth. No. 2, 
Iron Mountain x Lady Ingold; result, a 
good-sized roundish peach, freestone, 
light yellow flesh, tender, rich quality 
but somewhat acid; color, yellow over¬ 
spread with dark red; small roundish 
pit; tree thrifty, branching, with long, 
very dark leaves. Other crosses are ex¬ 
pected to fruit next year. While no 
startling results, are to be expected from 
crossing varieties, there . is always a 
chance of getting a superior new one. 
w. v. F. 
WINCHESTER 
? <V : V: -. •. . TS . -i5>>.:L£r- : 
m 
Ammonia For Bee Stings. —T wish to 
differ with .T. A. Crane, on page 731, and 
say that there is a cure for bee stints. Take 
Hood strong ammonia, 90 per cent: get it at 
■drug store. It may need to be diluted with 
water for delicate skins. Bathe the part 
stung with it and the sting will almost in¬ 
stantly disappear. If any one wishes to 
prove‘it he can by finding a yellow jackets’ 
nest or hive of bees, With me a bee sting 
■does not swell up any more than a good 
mosquito bite, b. s. C. 
Massachusetts. 
_ 
CARTRIDGES 
For Rifles and Pistols 
Winchester make of 
cartridges in all calibers 
from .22 to .50 are accu¬ 
rate, sure fire and relia¬ 
ble. In forty years of gun 
making we have learned 
many things about am¬ 
munition that no one 
could learn in any other 
way. When you buy 
Winchester make of 
cartridges you get the 
benefit of this experience 
Winchester Repeating Arms Co., 
NEW HAVEN, CONN. 
November 16 , 
GET THE BEST 
A Good Spray Pump earns big 
profits and lasts for years. 
THE ECLIPSE 
is a good pump. As 
tpractical fruit growers 
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 & MOPLEY. Benton Harbor, Mich. 
__ _ It Will pay you to spray your 
0+ KS0 Fruit Trees and Vines for pro- 
& I llJfl I tectionfrom Beale and all insect 
W0 H U I pests and fungus diseases. FREE 
_ IInstruction Book shows the 
%0* famous EMPIRE KING, ORCHARD 
MONARCH and other sprayers; also gives a 
lot of formulas and other valuable information. 
FIELD FORCE PUMP CO.. No. 2 11 th St.. Elmir*. N. T. 
Xo Money in Advance— pay when 
I convenient. The “FITZ-A LL” fits- 
lon-any-barrel or tank. Sprays all so¬ 
lutions. Proven best and most dnr- 
| able. Guaranteed Five Years. 
I Brass Ball Valves Cylinder .Plunger , 
I etc. Strainer Cleaner and 3 Agitators. 
1 20 O lb. pressure. A boy can operate it. 
1 After trial if you keep it—pay when 
lyou can. Wholesale price where no 
l ucent— Agents Wanted. Spe'dal 
I Free Offer for flr»t in each locality. “Spray, 
ling Guide" and full information FRF.E. 
(H.L.Hurst Mfg.Co., g North St.,Canton,0. 
WATER SYSTEM SKS”" 
It Is easy and inexpensive if you have a 
brook, spring or pond on your place. Let 
Power Specialty Company 
Fit you out with a simple, 
| automatic, guaranteed Rife 
Hydraulic Ram or a Foster 
High Duty Rem. Water raised 
to Any height. No trouble, no repair#. 
Free CaUdogue gives valuable ouggai- 
tions. Addrtfi 
111 Broadway, N» York City 
HUB— —wiwiimuir 
IffUit.'MH1Hb i t i!'l Z- Fh >»'d• : I'"| I 1 H ill 
\ I V !■:'ITillS 
tTTTT 
GET THE 
Caldwell Tank 
and you get the bestj 
beet in materials, In con¬ 
struction, best service. 
Free from annoying 
leaks and repairs. It la 
giving hundreds ofcoun- 
try homes? satisfactory 
service, storing water 
for every purpose. Illus¬ 
trated catalogue gives 
full information. 
W. E. CALDWELL CO., Louisville, Ky. 
Tank. (».» Towers 
Wind Mills, Pumps,Gas Engines. 
kk 
■ ■ kills Prairie Dogs, 
A J Woodchucks,Gophers, 
and Grain Insects. 
“The wheels of the 
gods grind slow but 
So the weevil, but you can stop 
Fuma Carbon Bisulphidfi aredoing. 
EDWARD It. TAYLOR, Penn Van, N. Y. 
FUMA 
exceedingly sma'l. 
their grind 1 i 
with 
fOWER SPECIALTY COiPANT, _ 
Tobacco Stems 
Can furnish limited amount tobacco stems at 
$7 per ton in bales. Tills is one of tlie best 
fertilizers that can be used, either to turn 
under or as a mulch. Cash must accompany 
order. To any purchaser not satisfied with 
results in one year’s time, we will cheerfully 
refund his money. Reference : First Nation¬ 
al Bank. . , , 
S. E. WATERS CO., Mlamlsburg, Ohio. 
CUT ICE 
MADE 
IN 
THREE 
SIZES 
With the Dorsch Double Row 
Ice Plow We guarantee it will 
cut more than 20 men iawing by 
hand. Cake* are cutunliorm, 
of any site and thicknea*. One — 
man and a horse will cat more ice in 
a day than the ordinary farmer and d—_ 
man can use. Toucan cut for other* and 
make the price of onr plow in two day* use. 
A*k for catalogue and Introductory price*. 
JOHN DORSCH & SONS 226 WELLS ST.. MILWAUKEE. WIS 
Some Comments on 
HUBBARD’S 
FERTILIZERS 
“I get S0% more potatoes by using Hubbard’s” 
“Best asparagus I ever raised was with Hub¬ 
bard’s Soluble Potato Manure” 
“$28.00 worth of Hubbard’s Fruit Fertilizer 
is equal to 50 loads of manure” 
“500 to 700 bushels of onions per acre with 
Hubbard’s Soluble Tobacco Manure” 
“We are beginning to see the benefit of 'Bone 
Base’ goods” » 
“750 lbs. per acre of Hubbard’s Soluble Corn 
and General Crops Manure has given splen¬ 
did com” 
“My ensilage com, about 11 acres, will aver¬ 
age about 12 feet high on the Complete 
Phosphate” 
“Hubbard’s Bone for poultry strengthens and 
invigorates the fowls ” 
Send for Almanac and Prices 
THE ROGERS & HUBBARD CO. 
Fertilizer Manufacturers 
MIDDLETOWN, CONN. 
COOK YOUR FEED and SAVE 
Half the Cost—with the 
PROFIT FARM BOILER 
With Dumping Caldron. Empties its 
kettle in one minnte. The simplest 
and best arrangement for cooking 
food for stock. Also make Dairy and 
Laundry Stovaa, Water and Steam 
Jacket Kettles, Hog Scalders, Cal¬ 
drons, etc. *7* Send for circulars. 
D. R. SPERRY <fc OO., Batavia, IU. 
OSCOODSCALES 
OSGOOD SCALE CO 
All kinds: Portable, Pit, Pitless; Steel 
and Cemeut Construction. Guaran¬ 
teed accurate, reliable and dura- 
ble. Let us send you a scale 
ou trial. Free catalogue. 
167 Central St., Binghamton, N.I. 
PLANET Jr. 
BEST GARDEN TOOLS. 
Most benefit to crops with least effort. Most reliable; longest 
lasting. All cultivating parts of high-carbon steel. Best work¬ 
manship ; rigid Inspection. Pull value for your money in every 
one of the Planet J r. line of 46 seeders, wheel hoes, horse hoes, 
liding cultivators, etc. Write to-day for new Planet Jr. catalog. 
S. L. ALLEN & CO., Box 1107V, Philadelphia, Pa. 
Don’t Stop 
to ask your neighbor to help lift a 
heavy load, stretch your wire fence, 
lift your injured or sick animals, 
butcher, or lift wagon-boxes—use a 
Burr Self-Locking Tackle Block 
and save your time and the labor of 
two or three men. Capacity 600 to 
6000 pounds. .Ask dealer or write 
Burr Mfg. Co. 170 Viaduct, Cleveland, O. 
Wire Fence 70c 
48-in. stock fence per rod only * 
Best high carbon coiled steel springs wire, 
Catalog offences, tools and supplies FREE. 
" 3 Euy direct at wholesale. Write todav. 
=* MASON FENCE CO. Bo*G7, LeeBbur^ 0. 
SC ALEC IDE. 
SAVE YOVR TREES THIS FALL tillspring 
[ORDER 1 
A 
\BARREL i 
iAwr, 
> time by the forelock— 
, Cheaper than Lime- 
Sulnhur or any nome-maue unxoure, »uu cmki w •ryu- Non -corrosive, non- 
clogging. 92 percent oil-the largest amount with less water than is f ou“d *n any 
, 4- 1 -nr~ ir awHop « ^-gallon barrel at $25. Makes 800 or 
S. east of Mississippi and north 
now for free, special booklet 
B. G. PRATT CO*j Mfg. Chemists, 
11 feroadway, New York City 
