©s: 
THE RURAli NEW-YORKER 
December 21, 
Ruralisms 
The Attractive Sorrel Tree. —The 
sour-wood or sorrel tree, Oxydendrum 
arboreum, is one of the largest native 
members of the Ericaceae or Heath 
family of plants, growing in favorable 
places 40 feet or more high, at times 
with a trunk a foot thick, but is more 
often seen as a large shrub or diminutive 
tree. It occurs naturally in rich forests 
from Pennsylvania and Indiana south 
along the foot hills of mountain ranges 
almost to Florida. While rather a 
favorite with landscape gardeners it is 
not frequently enough planted by ama¬ 
teurs. It prefers moist soil, but will 
grow fairly well on dry hillsides, and is 
hardy almost everywhere south of 
Canada. When given moderate space it 
forms a neat, smooth-barked tree, with 
shining peach-like foliage that colors the 
richest imaginable shade of crimson in 
Fall, but possibly the most attractive 
feature is the abundant clusters of 
cream-white flowers that terminate al¬ 
most every branch in Summer and en¬ 
dure in scarcely dimmed beauty until 
the end of the season. This inflores¬ 
cence is composed of panicles of di¬ 
verging racemes, three to six inches long, 
each bearing from one to two dozen 
small, bell-shaped blooms. The sour- 
wood grows slowly at first, and is 
useful for establishing among shrubbery 
in situations where brilliant Autumn 
coloring is effective as well as for giv¬ 
ing variety in Summer to decorative 
tree groups. In Fig. 469, page 918, is 
shown a seven-year tree planted on the 
Rural Grounds in company with sassa¬ 
fras, shad bushes, dogwoods and Vir¬ 
ginia fringe trees, mainly for Autumn 
effect. This specimen is about six feet 
high, and is annually covered with its 
pretty blooms. 
The Laxtonberry. —Our readers 
are familiar with the unexpected old 
world success of the Loganberry and 
will doubtless be interested to learn that 
it has been successfully used abroad in 
breeding berry fruits. The most prom¬ 
ising appears to be the Laxtonberry, 
raised by Laxton Brothers, Bedford, 
England, from a cross of Loganberry 
with Superlative, long considered the 
best European raspberry. The new fruit 
is very raspberry-like in appearance and 
flavor, being darker red than the 
Loganberry and pulls off the receptacle 
in the manner of raspberries, instead of 
retaining a blackberry-like core as does 
the Loganberry, but grows like the lat¬ 
ter in long trailing canes. The growers 
think it will supersede the Loganberry, 
which has become a recognized market 
fruit in eastern Europe, South Africa 
and Australia, though in common with 
other hybrids of the western dewberry 
it is a flat failure on this continent, ex¬ 
cept along the northern Pacific coast, 
where it originated. Plants will grow 
and bear for several years in eastern 
fruit-growing localities, but are never 
productive and satisfactory. Many 
crosses of the Loganberry with black¬ 
berries and raspberries have been made 
in this country, but none appears to be 
desirable. Superlative is a large, long, 
red raspberry of the European type, 
productive where it thrives and of ex¬ 
cellent quality. It is said to do well at 
Rochester, N. Y., but the foliage blights 
so severely on the Rural Grounds that 
it has been discarded. 
California Onion Seed. —Some 
months ago we had occasion to make 
observations on the rather exaggerated 
claims made for California grown seeds. 
That the peculiar climate favors 
abundant seed production in many 
plants, and is also especially favorable 
for seed harvesting is a commercial cer¬ 
tainty. California-grown seeds in cer¬ 
tain varieties now dominate the market, 
and are used with a fair degree of sat¬ 
isfaction, but evidence of occasional 
deterioration is not lacking. Sweet pea 
and onion seeds from California come 
in for more than usual criticism. They 
are doubtless grown with care (and 
every effort made to keep them true to 
type, but they fail to _ measure up to 
the reasonable expectations of the buy¬ 
ers. The idea is that excessive seed 
production may lessen vitality of indi¬ 
vidual seeds, and the long and. feature¬ 
less growing season may diminish the 
inherited tendency of plants, native to 
regions where Summer and Winter, are 
sharply defined, to perfect the portions 
desired by the grower, such as the bulb 
in the onion and the bloom in the 
sweet peas. As seed production is 
mainly a matter of economics, seeds 
being naturally grown where they can 
be most abundantly and cheaply pro¬ 
duced and the deterioration not partic¬ 
ularly evident in a single generation, it 
has been suggested that the stock plants 
be grown where the necessary seasonal 
conditions obtain and the product then 
used in California to grow the seed 
crop. The need for this “revitalization” 
has been denied by Pacific coast grow¬ 
ers and horticultural journals, but that 
it is practiced by observing seed pro¬ 
ducers is made plain by this clipping 
from a Colorado farm paper: 
The California seed growers who con¬ 
tracted for 110 acres *of seed stoek in the 
Greeley district are disappointed in the 
crop, for ihey are not securing more than 
half a yield. These onions were contracted 
to be grown at 70 cents per 100, and it 
was thought that 30,000 sacks would result, 
but the attacks of lice cut the crop short. 
As fast as the onions are harvested they 
are shipped to the coast, where they will 
be replanted for the production of seed. 
The best yield yet reported was five acres 
from which an average of 300 sacks an acre 
were taken. 
Better results would doubtless be had 
by coming to the Atlantic coast, where 
our commercial onion varieties have 
been largely developed, and where the 
most careful efforts to perfect the types 
are still made, but the climate of north¬ 
ern Colorado furnishes seasons far 
more clearly cut than California. Sweet 
pea stock seeds for California planting 
are to some extent grown in New York 
and New England. The practice is quite 
certain to extend, as western seed¬ 
growing problems are further elab¬ 
orated. Lima beans, nasturtiums, Pe¬ 
tunias and a host of tropical and semi- 
tropical varieties, however, seem en¬ 
tirely at home in that land of abundant 
sunshine, and may be expected to im¬ 
prove steadily under the fostering care 
of their growers. 
Is there anything in Gladiolus leaves 
that would hurt a horse if they were eaten 
in small or large quantities? My horse is 
just “crazy” for them, and would leave 
the best of hay for them if I would let 
him. h. F. w. 
Predonia, N. Y. 
We have no experience with horses 
eating Gladiolus leaves, but are con¬ 
vinced they are not likely to harm cows. 
We grew the Gladiolus in quantity some 
years ago and noticed that a cow on the 
way from pasture would pause and 
greedily eat leaves and discarded 
blooms spikes thrown away when cut 
blooms were prepared for market. No 
harm ensuing from a small quantity the 
amounts were increased until she soon 
had a daily ration of a large armful. 
The flow of milk gained considerably 
and was maintained as long as the sup¬ 
ply lasted. She preferred green Glad¬ 
iolus tops to grass or fresh sweet corn 
stover, and even ate the dry tops after 
the corms were dug in Fall with con¬ 
siderable relish. A companion cow 
learned to eat the green tops also, but 
never with the same relish. The bulbs 
or corms of Gladioli are supposed to 
contain an emetic poison similar to 
irisin, found in other members of the 
Iris family, but no harm has been no¬ 
ticed from domestic animals eating an 
occasional corm or two. One of the true 
Irises, I. pabularia, or ensata, is occa¬ 
sionally recommended as a forage plant 
for dry and arid soils. The seeds must 
be grown in beds and then set out early 
in the next Spring where they are to 
remain, spacing them about 10 inches 
apart. The yield is said to be abundant 
after the plants are well established and 
the forage is nutritious and palatable. 
I. pabularia is a long-lived perennial, 
also suited for the flower garden. The 
blooms are purple, of good size and 
of the usual Iris form. Other bulbous 
plants of the same family, but more 
closely allied to the Gladiolus, are Ixia, 
Sparaxis, Babiana and Tritonia, na¬ 
tives of South Africa, where they are 
so abundant as to form a great propor¬ 
tion of the herbage. The grass-like 
foliage covers the ground at the begin¬ 
ning of the growing season and is eaten 
by all grazing animals without harm. 
The plants are too tender to be grown 
outside where there is much frost, but 
make beautiful subjects for the green¬ 
house or window garden. The blooms 
are of many colors and are among the 
most brilliant and varied of bulbous 
flowers. Named kinds are offered in all 
Autumn bulb catalogues. w. v. f. 
Your roof 
leaks. That gets 
you interested in 
roofing. It ought 
to make you inter¬ 
ested in the roof¬ 
ing that doesn’t 
1 e ak—Gen-as-co 
Ready Roofing. 
Write for Book’ 10 and samples. 
THE BARBER ASPHALT 
PAVING COMPANY 
Largest producers of asphalt in the world 
PHILADELPHIA 
Mew York San Francisco Chicago 
LOOK AT IT 
This Knot shows the weave and 
strength of 
Empire Fence 
We 
Pay 
Freight 
fence of sense. Steel wires. 
stays and laterals all 
same size, biggest 
wire usedforfencing. 
Never a slip or a 
, breafc- Longest lived fence made. 
Wholesale prices from factory, we 
like little orders for they are big ad¬ 
vertisers. Send us one. Address 
Steel Post Co. 
icy ar< 
Addr 
Adrian, Mich. 
n a TF1ITO secured on easy 
PATEIlTw PAYMENTS. 
WRITE FOR TERMS. 
SHEPARD & HAVELL, Box 2215-S, WASHINGTON, D. C. 
LET US TAN 
YOUR HIDE, 
Whether Steer, Bull, or Horse Hide, 
Oalf. Dog, Deer, or any kind of hide 
or skin with the hair on, soft, light, 
odorless and moth-proof for robe, rug, 
coat or gloves, and make them up when 
so ordered. , . , , 
But first get our illustrated catalog, 
with prices, shipping tags and instruc¬ 
tions. We are the largest custom fur 
tanners of large wild and domestic 
animal skins in the world. 
We make and sell Natural Black 
Galloway fur coats and robes. Black 
and Brown Frisian, Black Dog Skin, 
and fur lined coats; also do taxidermy 
and head mounting. 
THE CROSBY FRISIAN FUR COMPANY, 
116 Mill Street. Rochester, N. Y. 
Dandy Hay Knife 
Best Hay Knife made. Combination hand 
and foot power. With it one man can do 
the work of two men using any other knile, 
thus saving one day’s wages. Can be used 
for cutting sod from ditches. Ely’s Hay 
Knife has many ad vantages over other kinds. 
For sale by dealers. Look for the name 
“Ely’s Dandy” on blade. Write for catalogue. 
THEO. J- ELY MFG. CO. 
Dept. D, Girard, Pa. 
"Farmers’ Favorite” 
Feed Cooker and Boiler 
Just what is needed on every farm. 
Can be used for a great variety of 
purposes—cooking grain and veg¬ 
etables for stock and poultry, 
scalding hogs and poultry, boil¬ 
ing spraying mixture, rendering 
lard and tallow, sterilizing milk 
cans, preserving fruit, boiling 
sap, eider and sorghum. Satis¬ 
faction guaranteed or money 
refunded. Write for circular. 
LEWIS MFG. CO., BoxC, Cobtund. N. Y. 
COOK YOUR FEED and SAVE 
Half the Cost—with the • 
PROFIT FARM BOILER 
With Dumping Caldron. Empties its 
kettle in one minute. The simplest 
and best arrangement for cooking 
food for stock. Also make Dairy and 
Laundry Stoves, Water and Steam 
Jacket Kettles, Hog Scalders, Cal¬ 
drons, etc. 93- Send for circulars. 
D. It. SPERRY & CO., Batavia, III 
CUT ICE 
THREE 
SIZES. 
With the Dorsch Double Row 
Ice Plow We guarantee it will 
cut more than 20 men sawing by 
band. Cakes are cntnnfiorm, 
oi any size and thickness. One 
man and a horse will ent more ice 
a day than the ordinary farmer and dairy 
man can use. Toucan ent for others and 
make the price oi our plow in two days use. 
Ask for catalogue and introductory prices. 
JOHN DORSCH A SONS 226 WELLS ST.. MILWAUKEE, WIS 
ICE PLOWS 
That will cut two rows at a 
time, runs smooth, draws 
with less draft than any 
other, pays for itself in 
one day. Also ICE TOOLS. Write for prices. 
WM. H. PRAY, Glove, New York. 
11TPI ¥ DRILLING 
fV Lt Li L4 machines 
Over 70 sizes and styles, for drilling either deep or 
Bhallow wells in any kind or soil or rock. Mounted on 
wheels or on sills. With engines or horse powers. Strong, 
simple and durable. Any mechanic can operate them 
easily. Send for catalog. 
WILLIAMS BROS., Ithaca. N. Y. 
Make Your Own Fertilizer 
at Small Coat with 
WILSON’S PHOSPHATE MILLS 
From 1 to 40 H. P. Also Bone 
Cutters, hand and power 
for the poultrymen; grit 
and shell mills, farm feed 
mills, family grist mills, 
scran cake mills. Send for 
our catalog. 
Wilson Bros., Sole Mfrs., Easton, Pa. 
SEWS LEATHER 
Prepaid J Myers . , ... 
i ^ Lock-Stitch Awl sews bke sew- 
ing machine. Loop on both sides, 
v* / Mw Repairs shoes, harness, satchels, 
etc. Great for agents. Sent pre¬ 
paid $1- Guaranteed. Book N free. 
C. A. MYKRS CO., . 
6537 Woodlawn Ave., Chicago., 
^SAN JOSE SCALE'S 
KILLER 
KIL-O-SCALE is the most reliable remedy 
for Scale. Ready for use by simply mixing 
with water. We also sell Spraying Outfits. 
Write for catalogue. 
HENRY A. DREER, - - Philadelphia, Pa. 
THE DEYO 
POWER SPRAYER 
f Mounted complete with mechanical agita¬ 
tor. Better than ever. New air-cooled engine. 
Other new features, all important to the man 
who sprays. Write for new catalog 19—just out. 
R. H. DEYO 6 CO., Binghamton, N. Y. 
^ Save Your Trees 
’ Kill San .lose Scale and other destructive \ 
parasites with a spraying solution of 
Good’S ^"wimu^ou’ 1 Soap No. 3 
Sure death to insects. No sulphur, salt, mineral 
oils, or any substance harmful to plant life. En¬ 
dorsed by U.S. Dept.of Agriculture. Pocket Manual 
of cause, treatment and cure of tree diseases, free. 
Write today. JAMES GOOD, 
Origma^^biketN 
GETTHEBEST 
A Good Spray Pump earns 
big profits and lasts for years. 
THE ECLIPSE 
is a good pump. As 
practical fruit grow- 
| ers we were using common 
j sprayers in our own orchards 
j —found their defects and 
;■ invented the Eclipse. . Its 
i success forced us to manu¬ 
facturing on a large scale. 
You take no chances. We 
have done all the experi- 
Large fully illustrated Catalog 
and Treatise on spraying FREE. 
MORRILL & MORLEY, Benton Harbor, Mich. 
mentmg. 
ceil <• u/f 
Saire Basils to San Jos® Scale 
v. • 
DON’T WAIT TILL 5PR 
• it-- . . .*5 h f : - • .; 
It’s cheap and effective. Easy to use. Non-corrosive and non-clogging. 
“SCALEC9DE” contains more oil and less water than any other commercial 
spray. We can prove it. 50-gallon barrel at your station, if east of the Missis¬ 
sippi and north of the Ohio River, for $25 cash. Smaller packages if you wish. 
Write now for Special Booklet N It s free. 
B. G. PRATT COMPANY. Mfg. Chemists, 11 Broadway, New York City. 
ORD£R\ 
A 
BARRELI 
NOV i 
