496 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
May 8, 
Ruralisms 
Skunk Cabbage and Red Maple.— 
The hurried traveler by rail or motor 
car is likely to gain his first impres¬ 
sion of Spring from glimpses of the 
lusty green of unfolding skunk cabbage 
leaves and the vivid red inflorescence of 
the Scarlet maples that everywhere 
flame in moist woodlands. Not for him 
is the tender beauty of the trailing 
arbutus, the liverwort, Claytonia or the 
windflower. These are reserved for 
the pedestrian who has time and in¬ 
clination to seek bypaths and sheltered 
nooks. Even the pussy willow and the 
golden-flowered wild allspice (Lindera 
Benzoin), abundant as they are in many 
localities, do not catch the eye like the 
bold green of the skunk cabbage and 
the intense red of our earliest bloom¬ 
ing mapJe. The skunk cabbage is in 
truth the first Spring flower, some¬ 
times pushing up its odd and interesting 
flower spathes as early as New Year’s 
day, but it is seldom thought of as a 
blooming plant. The broad and luxur¬ 
iant foliage that comes later is the fea¬ 
ture that dominates attention. Skunk 
cabbage is prized abroad as a highly 
decorative plant for bog gardens, and 
is regularly offered in plant catalogues, 
but is here generally despised as a mal¬ 
odorous weed, inhabiting soils too 
moist to be tillable. Nevertheless its 
appearance, together with the first 
shrill cry of the swamp or piping frog, 
is welcomed as a sure precursor of 
Spring. There is but one species. 
Spathyema feetida, abundant through a 
wide range of country, from Maine 
to Georgia and west to Iowa and Min¬ 
nesota. Were it not so common it 
would be considered a vegetative won¬ 
der on account of its hardiness and lux¬ 
uriance. The purple and green hooded 
flower spathes inclosing the head of 
flesh-colored blooms are beautiful in 
their way, though the odor is far from 
enticing, and the germination of the 
large, bullet-like seeds, extending at 
times over two years is interesting. 
The Red Maple is one of our finest 
ornamental trees. Although growing 
over 100 feet in height the wood is too 
lacking in durability to possess much 
value. Young and medium-sized trees 
are attractive at all seasons from their 
fine habit, their brilliant early bloom, 
abundant deep red fruits or seeds in 
early Summer and the bright scarlet 
and orange-colored foliage in Autumn. 
There are few more valuable deciduous 
trees for park and street planting, or 
for decorating large private grounds. 
The’ seeds ripen by June and should at 
ouce be sown, as they will not germi¬ 
nate if kept out of the soil for any 
appreciable time. Though naturally 
found along streams or about swamps' 
the Scarlet or Red maple thrives well 
in upland soils and may almost every¬ 
where be planted with confidence. 
There are several horticultural varie¬ 
ties, but the ordinary type found wild 
throughout eastern North America is 
as good as any. 
Observe the Dooryard Shrubs. —It 
is probably too late in many localities to 
plant ordinary nursery-grown trees and. 
shrubs. Pot-grown stocks of the most 
popular ornamental kinds that can 
safely be transported and planted at 
all seasons, as the roots are intact and 
little shock follows, may occasionally 
be had, but are not kept in all estab¬ 
lishments. Deciduous plants as ordi¬ 
narily grown can only be transplanted 
with safety while in the dormant con¬ 
dition, late Fall and early Spring be¬ 
ing the most favorable seasons. It is 
well, however, carefully to observe fhe 
different varieties during their progres¬ 
sive decorative seasons and thus deter¬ 
mine what may most advantageously 
be planted the coming Autumn. Ta¬ 
ken in order of bloom we have first the 
Fragrant bush honeysuckle, Lonicera 
fragrantissima, with small, deliciously, 
scented blooms' that come before the 
leaves and last a long time. It is en- 
tirly hardy, makes a good-sized upright 
shrub and has also very ornamental 
fruit and foliage. The Forsythias or 
golden bells, soon follow and should 
find a place in every door yard or lawn. 
The Japan quince, with its large scar¬ 
let flowers, is always admired, but has 
the objection of being readily attacked 
by San Jose scale. The early Spiraeas, 
especially the double - flowered bridal 
wreath, S. prunifolia, and the single 
one, S. Thunbergii, closely follow the 
Forsythias, and pave the way for a 
host of handsome varieties that make 
glorious the months of May and June. 
Among these will be found the Deut 
zias, the Viburnums, the lilacs, the 
Weigelas and the mock oranges. Selec¬ 
tions of all will be needed to complete 
the home assortment. The late bloom¬ 
ing Spiraea Billardi and Anthony wa- | 
terer, with feathery pink flowers, the 
Althaeas and the hardy Hydrangea car¬ 
ry the season through July well into 
August ar\d September. Y]ou must 
have shrubs to decorate the home 
grounds, and blooming time gives the 
best opportunity for selections. 
The Cherokee Rose. —Mystery and 
confusion that has finally been cleared 
long obscured the origin of the Chero¬ 
kee rose, a vigorous climbing species 
with, strong, hooked prickles and large 
single white blooms, that has been nat¬ 
uralized for more than a century in the 
southern Atlantic States and adjacent 
Bahama Islands. It was first botanically 
described in 1803 under the name of Rosa 
laevigata and was then considered na¬ 
tive to Georgia, but it has since been 
ascertained that the real home of this i 
most interesting species is China, 
though it is rarely found growing wild 
in that country. It is scarcely hardy 
north of the Carolinas’, but is highly 
decorative where it succeeds, as shown 
in Fig. 208. page 491, reproduced from 
a photograph sent in by Air. F. C. 
Loveless, Thomasville, Georgia, who 
writes: 
This picture was taken about March 5. 
You will note that the large pillars in the 
centre as well as the inner porch at the 
front of the house are a mass of bloom. 
Such a specimen is worth having, 
though the pruning of the viciously 
thorny branches is not an engaging 
pastime. An account of breeding ex¬ 
periments with the Cherokee rose ap¬ 
peared in The R. N.-Y. for October 
10, 1908, page 782. w. V. F. 
PYR0X ON POTATOES. 
Air. Geo. P. Dustin, Peterboro, N. 
H., writes: “I used Pyrox on my po¬ 
tato crop and was successful in destroy¬ 
ing the potato bugs and my potatoes' 
did not blight or rot. It sticks well to 
the leaves and would not wash off with 
heavy rains. I sprayed my potatoes 
three times and prefer Pyrox to any¬ 
thing else.” “Pyrox” kills insects and 
prevents fungous diseases; it does not 
wash off the foliage like Paris green, 
but sticks like paint even through heavy 
rains. Address Bowker Insecticide Co., ! 
Boston, Alass.—Adv. 
Sure service—always ready—never fail—never get tired i 
•—cost no more than a good horse and buggy—cost far 
less to keep—sure-goers over 
Any Kind of Roads 
Speed up to 30 miles an hour. Simple, durable, guaran¬ 
teed mechanical construction. Solid tires—no tire troubles 
or repair expense. A woman or child can drive them. 
Farmers of high standing may secure appointment as 
agents. Twenty models to choose from. Complete line. 
Write for free catalog No. £6, illustrated and descriptive. 
W. H. MclNTYRE COMPANY, Auburn. Indiana 
256 Broadway , New York . 1730 Grand stve., Kansas City. 
FARM USES 
of CAKBOLINEUM are completely explained in 
BULLETIN 26 
covering Kinds and Habits of Lice—The care of 
Silos. Preservative treatment of Shingles and 
Fence posts ami the care of Fruit and Shade 
Trees. Mailed free upon request. 
endorsed by u. s. department of agriculture, i 
CARBOLINEUM WOOD PRESERVING CO., 
351 West Broadway, New York. I 
To get 
PVfc;the most 
-*f Jk pfw*/* otl t of a farm, 
every square foot 
must be either tilled or else 
jfc made to produce feed for live 
^ / stock. A fence all around the farm, 
ij ipw { then cross fences, making more and 
i smaller fields—permitting rotation of 
crops and change of pasture—are first 
essentials in making possible maximum earnings, j 
Here are two great fences—the best square mesh and the best diamond mesh. J 
We selected these two styles years ago, after careful study and advice from many of M 
the most experienced and successful farmers, the correctness of which has been veri- m 
fied by actual results in the field. These fences are the simplest in construction; Ip 
are made of any size or weight of wire desired and perfectly adapted to all uses Bm 
and conditions. 1|1| 
If you want square mesh, buy American; if you like diamond, buy Ellwood. 
You can safely take the verdict of the millions of farmers who have tested and Bl 
tried out these two great fences. Dealers everywhere, carrying styles adapted MM 
to every purpose. See them. Catalogue for the asking. Mm 
AMERICAN STEEL & WIRE CO. B 
Chicago New York Denver San Francisco fB . 
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 Arsenate 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— Built in 7 styles. 
Send for descriptive catalogues,prices, etc., FREE. 
Niagara Sprayer Co* 
, Middleport, N. V. 
Paper Pots 
sweet corn are ready for market two week earlier. 3-iu. 
pots, §1.2') a 1000. §5 for 5000; 4-in.. §1.75 a 1000. §7.50 for 
5000. I\ 15. CKOSB V X SOX, t'atonsvHle, Md. 
—Best thing' out for 
starting early vege¬ 
tables. Melons, lima 
beans, cukes and 
HAYINGTSME NEAR’ 
Buy aNew York Champion. Now 
an “ I i on Age” product, hut made 
from original patterns purchased 
from Patten & Stafford Co. Stock 
carried at Cnnastota and Klmira, 1 
N.Y.; Springfield. Mass.; Portland 
and Burnham, Me.; also 
may be had from our 
agents generally. 
& , ';rs“ p 4 i 
rakes. Cat- - H V Cool IS ames 
alogfree. 4 A 1 Iron A*e” aud 
New York Champion 
“Good 
old friend 
of the farmer’' 
BATEMAN MFC. CO., Box 1 »37r~CRENLOCH. N. J. 
TARGET BRAND 
r'QUICK BORDEAUX, 
WUPUttMtuiima 
a spray material for use on trees and 
plants in foliage. The unique method of 
packing makes it entirely different 
from other prepared Bordeaux. Send 
for testimonials and opinions showing 
how to increase the yield of your fruit 
and potatoes from 50< to 1004 by its use. 
TARGET BRAND, Box 721, Martins burg.W. Va. 
•FERTILIZERS! 
TANKAGE 
IRON CITY 
= $12.00 per ton 
= 22.00 per ton 
Delivered freight prepaid to any railroad 
station in New York State. 
Manufactured by 
AMERICAN REDUCTION COMPANY 
OF PITTSBURG, PA. 
FERTILIZER LIMEeJMSK 
WAI.TON QUAIiUIES, Harrisburg, I’a. 
RAPID, EASY SPRAYING^ 
AulO-Pop” nozzle. 
ght pressure on lever starts dense 
ay. Automatic shut-off. Doubles ca- j 
:ity. Saves solution, time, labor. 
NCREASE THE CROPS 
using the “Auto-Pop” nozzle on the J 
uto-Spray” pump Write for factory | 
ces, spraying guide and agency offer. 
Brown Co., 28 J&yst., Rochester,H. 
