470 
THE RURAL NEW*VORKER 
May 1, 
Ruralisms 
An English View of the Wonder- 
berry. — The Gardener’s Chronicle of 
London, England, dated March 27, 
1909, contains the following corres¬ 
pondent’s note on the “ Wonderberry,” 
now being exploited as a valuable hor¬ 
ticultural novelty: 
Another American creation, this time a 
cousin to the potato and the tomato, but 
more remarkable • than either; more even 
than the pomato from the same source! 
Two Solanums. namely, S. Guineense and 
S. villosnm, were taken, juggled with, and 
out came a miracle, the “Wonderberry.” 
It will grow anywhere in any soil, except 
rich : it will fruit as no other plant can; 
and its fruits are just the thing for tarts 
and jam. A few seeds in a small packet, 
ben ling on one side a portrait of this mar¬ 
vel, and on the other the cultural instruc¬ 
tions—“Sow early under glass like toma¬ 
toes. and transplant to garden at the 
proper time.” Nothing simpler. An en¬ 
thusiastic friend sent me a packet, and 
told me not to worry over black currant 
mite or gooseberry-mildew any more, but 
to grow Wonderberry and make m.v family 
happy. The seeds looked ordinary and the 
given origin excited curiosity, so I pro¬ 
ceeded to look up the history of the two 
reputed parents. They proved to-be noth¬ 
ing other than forms of S. nigrum, a weed 
in every country; therefore, the Wonder¬ 
berry is S. nigrum also. The seeds, on 
careful comparison, proved it beyond doubt. 
Then I remembered that this same story 
bad been round in another form about two 
years ago. but the name given then was 
huckleberry, instead of Wonderberry. and it 
came from a Toronto nurseryman—-“Easily 
grown, ipiite hardy, matured from seeds in 
five months, black fruits, no stones, nothing 
to equal it for pics, jams, sauces, and can¬ 
ning. insect-proof, and frost improved the 
flavour." We grew some plants of it from 
seeds obtained from Toronto, and they 
turned out lo he simply nightshade—S. ni¬ 
grum. What does' ii all mean? Every in¬ 
telligent child slums the fruits of this 
weed of waste laud and manure heaps, the 
poisonous properties of which are un¬ 
doubted. Children who have eaten the 
fruit have died soon after from its effects, 
which are very distressing—vomiting, colic, 
convulsions, etc. Mr. N. E. Brown in¬ 
forms me, however, that in some countries 
the fruits of Solanum nigrum are not only 
innocuous, but they are actually eaten, and 
on consulting various hooks 1 found several 
records to that effect. A Russian chemist 
who had investigated the question as to 
the berries being poisonous in some coun¬ 
tries and harmless in others concluded that 
the difference was not due to any differ¬ 
ence in the plants, but to variations in the 
climatic conditions- under which the fruits 
• were grown, the narcotic principle being 
either undeveloped or finally dispelled un¬ 
der the influence of certain conditions, of 
which heat and light were probably the 
most important. It is. therefore, quite 
possible that the nightshade is poisonous 
in Great Britain and harmless in America. 
After all. are we so hard up for fruit as 
to he forced to turn to one of our most 
pestiferous weeds, which is also known to 
be a deadly poison, because we are advised 
to do this by some seedsmen in America? 
The Belgian “ Horticultural Review ” 
of March also publishes a correspond- j 
cut's account of this world-stunning 
•new garden fruit, as follows: 
This most curious hybrid fruit has the 
alternative name of Sun harry and Sugar- 
berry. It is described as the results of a 
cross between two species of wild Solanum 
• ( S. Guineense and S. villosnm I. The first 
of these species is a native of the western 
side of Africa, and the second of the west¬ 
ern side of Eastern America. While neither 
of these species produces edible fruit, this 
hispecifie hybrid produces a profusion of 
delicious berries, which are both sound and 
wholesome. There is also the additional 
advantage that they come quite true from 
seed like a natural species. The plant is 
not more than 18 indies high by a little 
ntore in diameter; the flowers show them¬ 
selves about the end of May and succeed 
one another without interruption till very 
late in the autumn. The fruit or berry is 
of a l>lackish-blue color of the size of a 
large black currant, and is produced in 
dusters of six in such abundance as to 
entirely cover the plant. The first fruits 
ripen early in July, and the same plant 
continues to yield fruits until late in Au¬ 
tumn or until the first frosts. The fruit 
is either eaten raw or cooked or made into! 
jam. The culture is easy aud requires! 
Lss care than either that of haricot beans 
or tomatoes; any soil suits it provided that 
it be not too highly manured, the result 
of which is only to produce a more luxuri¬ 
ant vegetation without increasing the 
amount of fruit. Seed may be sown under 
glass in April, and in the open ground in 
May. The seedlings may be planted out 
when danger of frost is over gl a distance 
of three-quarters of a yard apart, after 
which they require no further care than 
hoeing between the rows and keeping free 
from weeds. They require no artificial 
manures. At the end of the season, when 
the plants go to rest, if the crowns are 
protected with dead leaves, they will shoot 
vigorously the following Spring. 
You pay your money and take your 
choice. We are told that much seed 
has been sold and that doubtless thou¬ 
sands of trials will be made. Tf the 
berries are no better than those pro¬ 
duced by the “ Garden huckleberry ”— 
otherwise plain black nightshade Sol¬ 
anum nigrum — the Wonderberry will 
not long remain in cultivation. Al¬ 
though the names Solanum Guineense 
and S. villosnm stand for distinct spe¬ 
cies in some of the most authoritative 
botanical publications, it is said her¬ 
barium specimens show them to. be 
only forms of S. nigrum, which is a 
widely dispersed wild plant. Xo less 
credit is due Mr. Burbank if he has pro¬ 
duced a useful novelty by crossing the 
two geographical forms of a single va¬ 
riable species than if it had bred a true 
bi-specific hybrid. The main question 
remains: Will the Wonderberry make 
good as a garden fruit any considerable 
part of the claims put forth by its dis¬ 
seminators? A signed statement by 
Mr. Burbank reads thus: 
The Sunberry, or Wonderberry, is a new 
fruiting plant which originated in my 
grounds three years ago. This new fruit 
was not in existence anywhere on this 
planet four years ago. It is unlike any 
fruit ever before known, hut most resem¬ 
bles the low-bush blueberry, Vaccinium 
Pennsylvanicum. of the Eastern States. 
If the resemblance extends to quality 
also, the Wonderberry may he rightly 
named. The low-bush blueberry is 
everywhere regarded as the most agree¬ 
ably flavored as well as the earliest of 
wild huckleberries. Few uncultivated 
fruits are better liked. ‘ 
The Burbank Rose. —Here is a fa¬ 
vorable report of the Burbank rose 
from Mr. S. S. Chandler,' Hardwick, 
Vermont: 
The recent discussion of Burbank pro¬ 
ductions leads me to say a few words re¬ 
garding flic Burbank rose. I can easily 
understand why this rose fails to please in 
so many parts of the country, hut I have 
been trying for years to find a collection 
of roses that will succeed here in the cold 
North, where our Spring and Fall weather 
is loo cold, and our short Summers are 
often too hot for roses to amount lo much. 
No variety is strictly hardy hero. Even 
l h<> Memorial Rose, Crimson Rambler and 
Gen. Jacqueminot must ho banked' deeply 
with earth to withstand our severe Win¬ 
ters, aud most overbloomors are dug in the 
Fall and buried in an outside pit. I have 
tested probably more than a hundred varie- 
lies, and Burbank is one of (ho very few 
that has never failed me. Ilermosa is 
much less satisfactory here. My first 
choice of all classes is Grass an Teplitz, 
witli Burbank a close second, and Snow¬ 
flake probably the best white. Most Poly¬ 
anthus fail, including Baby Rambler. Clo- 
thilde Soupert rots many of its buds. Per¬ 
haps the hardies) evcrhloomer is Champion 
of the World. Frau Karl Druschki and Ga 
France do quite well and seem exception¬ 
ally hardy. Maman Cochet, Kaiserin and 
President Carnot are loo good lo leave 
out, though they do not always succeed 
with me. 
In overblooming roses my choice now j 
would he Teplitz. Burbank. Snowflake, Mrs. i 
B. I!. Cant. Wootton. Mosclla. Duchess de 
Brabant, Helen Gould (Baldtiin). C'ecile 
Bruner, Winter Gem and C. P. Strasheim. 
1 think every farmer ought to have some 
hobby outside of bis regular work, and 
roses happen to be mine. 
The Burbank rose has not gained 
popularity where handsomer varieties 
succeed, but it is a fine healthy grower, 
and, as our correspondent indicates, is 
exceptionally hardy. The habit is I 
dwarf. The blooms are borne in clus¬ 
ters of medium size and arc rose pink 
in color, quite double and sweetly 
scented. The hardy rose “fad” is 
about the most agreeable and uplifting 
one that a farmer can possess, w. v. f. 
APPLES AND PLUMS. 
\ T iver L. Miller, Conyngham. Pa., 
writes: “Pyrox worked all right on 
our apple trees. It killed the canker 
worms and especially stopped the 
blight. It is the best thing I ever 
found for plums.” “Pyrox” kills in¬ 
sects and prevents fungous diseases; i 
it does not wash off the foliage like 
Paris green, hut sticks like paint even j 
through heavy rains. Address Bowker j 
Insecticide Co.. Boston, Mass.—Adv. 
CH4LLENCE ALL 
HAY PRESSES 
Every Press we sell goes to the buyer 
on trial. No sale and freight refunded if it 
cannot fill all claims made for it in our 
Catalog. Write for Catalog. 
J. A. SPENCER, Dept, 
I. DWIGHT. ILL. 
Hat to the 
The only Glass Valve Pump—never 
sticks — never fails—alwa\s ready. 
Also HAY TOOLS, Barn Boor 
Ifangets, Hay Back Clamps. 
Write today for Circulars and Prices. 
F. H. 31 yerB & lira.. ^‘'Orange KL, Ashland,O. 
THE 
PUMP 
THAT 
PUMPS 
Home Water Works 
Have running’ water where and when you want 
it. Use the nearby brook, spring or pond. 
POWER SPECIALTY CO. RAMS 
raise water to any height, in any 
quantity. Reliable, economical, no 
expense or trouble to operate. Free 
Catalog gives valuable suggostious. De- 
ecribes and illustrates Rife and Foster 
Hydraulic Rams. Wo Guarantee Satis¬ 
faction. Write today. 
mWER SPECIALTY COMPANY. Ill Broadwir. New York City 
S OO A V Your Fruits, Crops, 
* m Ponltry Houses, and 
do whitewashing with The 
AUTO-SPRAY. Factory trice 
and guaranteed to satisfy. Fitted with 
Auto Pop Nozzle does the work ot three 
ordinary sprayers. Used by Experiment 
Stations and 300.000 others. We make 
manystylesandsizes. Spraying Guide 
Free. Write for book, prices and Agency 
Offer. The ^ c Brown Co . 
28 Jay Slreet, Rochester, N. Y. 
POTATOES 
WITH 
THE 
Watson—High Pressure 
— Automatic —including Agitator and Strainer Cleaner— 
Sprays 40 acres daily—State experiments show gain of more 
than $75 per acre by using the WATSON. Booklet FREE. 
FIELD FOKCE PUMP CO.. » 11th St., Elmira. A.* 
POTATO CROP—. 
INSURANCE j 
Spraying is a necessity. Do it with the ma¬ 
chine that makes your work count. There’s 
nothing up to the great 
Aspinwall 
4-Row Sprayer 
That's what potato growers 
say,and they know. Bookfree. 
Get i t and see how we lead tho 
world on potato machines. 
ASPINWALL MANUFACTURING CO. 
437 Sabin Street Jackson, Mich. 
Canadian Factory: Guelph, Canada 
Niagara Brand 
Products 
Unsurpassed for— 
Convenience, Economy 
and Effectiveness• 
Niagara Lime Sulphur Solution— 
For Sucking Insects and Fungus. Better than 
any other Spray material. 
Niagara flrsenate of Lead— -Kills Bugs, 
Beetles, Caterpillars, Etc. 
Niagara Bordeaux Arsenate— -Insecti¬ 
cide and Fungicide Combined---beats all sum¬ 
mer sprays. 
Niagara Tree Borer Paint— Controls 
Borers absolutely. 
Niagara Gas Sprayers--Buik in 7 styles. 
Send for descriptive catalogues,prices, etc., FREE. 
Niagara Sprayer Co. 
Middleport , N. V. 
FERTILIZER LIME 
WALTON Ol'AKKIKS, Harrisburg, Pa. 
The Deyo Power Sprayer 
The origimil. Others have copied/ Our 3 h. p. air¬ 
cooled engine easily detached and used for other 
work. No experiment. Seven Years uf suc¬ 
cess. Ask the user Our 1^! air-cooled complete 
power spray outtit $195.00 Write for catalogue 19 
and our liberal proposition. 
R. H. Deyo Co., Binghamton, N. Y. 
OETTHE BEST 
A Good Spray Pump 'earns 
big profits and lasts for years. 
THE ECLIPSE 
is a good pump. As 
tpractical fruit grow- 
? ers we were using common 
j sprayers in our own orchards 
i —found their defects and 
; invented the Eclipse. Its 
)l success forced us to manu¬ 
facturing on a 1 arg 2 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. 
AGRICULTURAL 
OK 
FERTILIZING SALT. 
Write for prices. 
THE ONONDAGA COARSE SALT ASS'N.. 
Syracuse, .... New York. 
Cheaper than a Gasoline Engine 
nr liindmill for supplying running water 
vt »»lliunuil in country homes is a 
Niagara Hydraulic Ram 
Will pump water from any stream just 
where yon want it. Requires no atten¬ 
tion and there is no cost for repairs. 
Write for illustrated catalogue AG 
and estimate. We furnish Caldwell 
Tanks and Towers. 
.NIAGARA IIY Pit A CMC ENGINE 00. 
140 Nassau St., New Y'ork Factor, : Chester, Pa. 
PRICES REDUCED 
On Quaker City Mills 
Free Trial—Freight Raid. No 
money down. 40 years the stand¬ 
ard. Choose from 11 sizes. Hand to 
20-H. I 3 . From cob meal to table 
meal. Ask for Free Foed Mill 
Book* Western shipments from Ch cago. 
A.O. Straub & l-o., 3787 Filbert St* 
Philadelphia, Pa. 
simplest, strongest and most powerful sprayer. Can be changed 
from horse to hand power without any trouble. Easy to work. Will 
spray upper and under side of leaf; mixture can be di¬ 
rected at any angle. Send for our new book— FTLliIE— 
and see how you cau increase your profits 25 to soper 
cent.—how you cau spray thirty acres of potatoes, 
cotton or vegetables in a day. 
THOMAS PFPPLER, Box 45,' Hlghtstown, ft. J. 
ARE YOU INTERESTED IN 
SPRAYING MACHINERY 
We illustrate herewith our 
“FRUITALL” 
a most satisfactory low priced barrel outfit, with 
all working parts bronze. We also issue catalog 
illustrating over 30 other styles, including 
BARREL, BUCKET, KNAPSACK AND POWER SPRAYERS. 
IVrite for copy. 
THE GOULDS MFG. CO., Seneca Falls, New York. 
New York Boston Philadelphia Chicago Los Angeles 
St. Louis Pittsburg 
Minneapolis 
1 —Wl’.IM'IA* 
New Orleans San Francisco 
'RE WHAT YOU'RE LOSING 
The New York Experiment Station at Geneva, N. Y., 
reports that in an exhaustive experiment which covered 10 years the av¬ 
erage “gain due to spraying potatoes” was 233 bushels per acre, flow 
much would that amount to on your crop?—Have you ever figured it out? You 
can increase your crop just as much, and the increase of “one acre” will more 
than pay for our best sprayer. If you are tired of seeing your crop cut in half 
—by blight, bags, rot, etc. Get one of our 
on Free Trial 
NO MONEY IN ADVANCE 
PAY AFTER IT HAS PAID FOR ITSELF 
ss»* 
no-bank-deposit, no-strings-to-our-“free-trial.” Spray first, then if you buy— pay 
usout of the “extra profit. ” These £ prayers SPRAY ANYTHIN <1. potatoes and true k^4 
to 6 rows at a time. Also first-class orchard and vineyard sprayers. “Man-Power and Ho 
Power.” High-pressure and perfect agitation. Yapor Spray prevents blight, scab, 
and bugs and other insects from injuring your crop. Strong and durable. Brass ball- 
valves, plunger,cylin<ler, strainer, etc. GUARANTEED 5 YEARS, Shipped direct to^ 
you at dealer’s wholesale pric¬ 
es. We pay freight. Tell us 
which sprayer you are interested 
in and you’ll get our valuable 
Spraying-Guide, Catalog of “all 
kinds”of sprayers, and our special 
free Sprayer offer to first in 
your locality this season. 
HURST MFG. 
-w . 
:• ' 
_ v 'F —• - tr.- 
47 NORTH ST., CANTON, 0. 
FOR MAN-POWER 
FOR horse-power ? 
