aye 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
May 22, 
Ruralisms 
The Trailing Arbutus. —Few ap¬ 
preciated native woodland plants so 
suffer from excess of popular apprecia¬ 
tion as the trailing arbutus, or ground 
laurel, commonly termed Mayflower in 
the localities in which it comes late into 
bloom. This most charming and per¬ 
fect of Spring flowers has been all 
but exterminated in accessible places 
near the larger cities of the Eastern 
States, almost every clump in unpro¬ 
tected woodlands falling prey to 
thoughtless flower gatherers. It is a 
slow-growing plant, exacting in its 
simple requirements of humid but well 
drained soils of a sandy or rocky 
character, and cool shaded situations 
such as a northern hill slope protected 
by evergreens. The dainty wax-like 
rosy blooms, with their appealing fra¬ 
grance find favor with all. The firm 
evergreen foliage and wiry, almost 
woody stems, give an appearance of 
rugged hardiness to established clumps 
which is belied when attempts are 
made to transplant it. No matter how 
closely conditions are imitated, it is 
the exception to have a plant as ordi¬ 
narily handled, survive the second 
year when moved from its woodland 
home. If it is to be naturalized on 
the home grounds, very small plants 
should be chosen, and transferred 
with the greatest care, duplicating as 
far as possible the conditions of soil, 
shade and exposure under which they 
grew. Best success is had when 
plants are taken up in October, en¬ 
couraged to 1 form new roatts 'in a 
frame or cool greenhouse, and planted 
out two years later in a northern ex¬ 
posure in light sandy soil, well mixed 
with leaf mold. Once established, 
plants so treated are likely to do well. 
Seeds are very scarce, as most flowers 
are abortive, but when found may be 
sown with fair promise of success in 
a compost of leaf mold, sandy soil and 
chopped sphagnum moss. They de¬ 
velop slowly, but make good plants 
that may he handled with reasonable 
certainty. The best method of propa¬ 
gation, however, appears to be by cut¬ 
tings rooted in sand under glass dur¬ 
ing the Winter months, when the tem¬ 
perature can be kept under 60 degrees. 
Roots are freely formed under proper 
treatment, but are so brittle that it is 
no easy matter to pot them off without 
considerable loss from breakage. The 
culture of trailing arbutus grows in 
importance as wild plants become 
scarce from the depredations of flower 
collectors and the progressive destruc¬ 
tion of their natural habitats. School 
children should be instructed not to 
uproot clumps when gathering blooms. 
It is a natural desire to pluck these 
woodland gems, but there is no need 
to destroy the slow-growing plants in 
doing so. Teach children to content 
themselves with short-stemmed clus¬ 
ters, and deal with older vandals in 
some manner vigorous enough to pre¬ 
vent further destruction of our most 
precious wild flower and the need for 
artificial propagation will be long de¬ 
layed. The trailing arbutus, Epigaea re¬ 
pens, is one of the most charming 
members of the Ericaceoe or Heath 
family, and is still abundant in wild 
districts in Eastern North America, 
from Newfoundland to Florida, and 
west to Michigan and Kentucky. There 
is a related species in Japan, and prob¬ 
ably another in the mountains of South 
America, but they are little known to 
horticulturists. 
A Fine Amaryllis Hybrid. —Fig. 
227, page 531, much reduced from the 
London Gardener’s Chronicle of Jan¬ 
uary 23, 1909, shows a very handsome 
flower head of a hybrid between the 
almost hardy Amaryllis Belladonna and 
the heat-loving Brunsvigia Josephinse 
from Central Africa. Though quite 
distinct horticulturally, these plants are 
so closely allied that they readily cross 
under proper conditions, but the result¬ 
ing hybrids are of extremely slow 
growth. Mr. C. C. Van Tubergen, 
Haarlem, Holland, the raiser of the fine 
example illustrated, had to wait 16 
years before the first results of his 
painstaking work could be ascertained. 
This is in strong contrast to the rapid- 
fire production of novelties said to be 
characteristic of some American plant 
breeders. The influence of both par¬ 
ents is to be seen in bulb, flower and 
foliage. The color of the blooms is 
deep rose with shadings of carmine. 
That of Amaryllis Belladonna is gen¬ 
erally pale rose, while the Brunsvigia 
has brick-red flowers. Though not 
popularly cultivated in this country, 
Amaryllis Belladonna is grown to some 
extent by florists for its large and 
striking flower clusters, which may 
readily be produced in mid-Winter by 
mild forcing in a rather cool green¬ 
house. It is generally grown in frames 
for Spring blooming, only sufficient 
protection to keep out frost being need¬ 
ed. Brunsvigia Josephinse is scarce and 
costly, seldom being seen out of bo¬ 
tanical gardens. The bulbs are large 
and need brisk greenhouse treatment 
to bring into bloom and a long resting 
period afterward. 
Vegetables in Alaska. —Although 
Dawson, the chief city of the Klon¬ 
dike region of British North America, 
is so near the Arctic Circle that the 
soil is seldom entirely free from frost, 
qtiite successful attempts have been 
made to produce locally some of the 
vegetables needed to supply the popu¬ 
lous mining region about it. The al¬ 
most continuous sunlight during the 
brief Summer in this high latitude so 
warms the surface soil that potatoes 
and such vegetables as beets, cabbage, 
celery, lettuce, radishes, peas, parsley, 
spinach, rhubarb and turnips may be ’ 
grown with little or no protection, al¬ 
though there may be ice within a few 
feet of the surface. Potatoes were 
grown last year in quantities nearly 
sufficient to supply the local demand. 
The soil when properly prepared, is 
said to be remarkably fertile, and the 
growth of crops luxuriant in sheltered 
places. Tender vegetables, such as to¬ 
matoes, peppers and egg-plant, are | 
grown under glass. Tomatoes are most 
successfully produced, and meet ready 
sale at high prices, as they cannot 
readily be shipped in except in the 
canned form. Tomato greenhouses are 
rapidly increasing in numbers and ca¬ 
pacity, the output last year being many 
tons. As much as 75 cents the pcunid 
is realized for the earliest tomatoes 
to ripen. Hothouse tomatoes are j 
grown not only about Dawson, but at 
Fairbanks, Nome and other important 
Alaskan cities. There is an abundance 
of wild berries, and the industry of 
gathering them for market yearly in¬ 
creases in importance. Strawberries ri¬ 
pen from late July until the middle of 
August; raspberries, currants and blue¬ 
berries piece out the season, and are 
eagerly sought for canning and pre¬ 
serving, as well as for use in the fresh 
state. There appear to be no tree fruits 
in Alaska, except a few stunted wild 
plums. The Government Experiment 
Stations at Sitka and Fairbanks are 
engaged in horticultural work and ! 
many hybrids have been raised between 
native berries and the hardiest culti¬ 
vated varieties, in the hope of secur¬ 
ing new kinds worth cultivating. Con¬ 
siderable work has been done with ce¬ 
reals. but the growing season is gener¬ 
ally too short except for oats and bar¬ 
ley. Excellent cereal and grass hay 
can be grown on suitably prepared soil. 
It has been demonstrated that local for¬ 
age may be produced cheaper than it 
can be freighted from the South. 
_ w. v. F. 
“For the Land’s Sake use Bowker’s 
Fertilizers; they enrich the earth and 
those who till it. Write Bowker Fer¬ 
tilizer Co., Boston, New York, or Buf¬ 
falo, who make attractive propositions 
to farmers who will act as agents. 
Illustrated catalogue free.”— Adv. 
When you write advertisers mention The 
I t. N.-Y. and you'll get a quick reply and 
“a square deal." See guarantee page 10. 
TARGET BRAND 
QUICK BORDEAUX, 
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 SOg to 100$ by its use. 
TARGET BRAND, Box 721, Martinsburg.W. Va. 
FARM USES 
of CARBOL1NKUM are completely explained in 
BULLETIN 26 
covering Kinds and Habits of Lice—The care of 
Silos. Preservative treatment of Shingles and 
Fence posts ami tiie care of Fruit and Shade 
Trees. Mailed free upon request. 
ENDORSED BY U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
CARBOLINEUM WOOD PRESERVING CO., 
351 West Broadway, Now York. 
Distribufe 
Insecticides 
In dust form 
LEGGETT’S DUSTERS 
NO WATER TO HAUL 
LEGGETT’S THE CHAMPION 
CHAMPION dusts two rows of pota¬ 
toes as fast as you walk. 
[DUSTER THE BEETLE 
Potato Duster fHorso Pow¬ 
er) dusts four rows. 
THE JUMBO 
dusts trees. 
Illustrated Spray Calendar giving concise in¬ 
formation regarding Dusters and address of 
nearest dealer. Mailed on request. 
LEGGETT & BRO., 301 Pearl St., NEW YORK 
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 Spray ef*s--Built in 7 styles. 
Send for descriptive catalogues, prices, etc., FREE. 
Niagara Sprayer Co. 
Middleport , N. Y. 
HAVANA LOW WAGONS 
You ought to be ashamed to make the boys haul 
hay, fodder, etc., with an ordinary HIGH farm 
wagon, when we can furnish you a LOW-DOWN truck 
for much less money. We can fit your farm wagon 
with low steel wheels. Write a postal for our 
FREE CATALOG, prices and measurement rules. 
Havana Metal Wheel Go., Box 17,Havana, III. 
SAVE MOREY ON ROOFING 
$ 4 ffcfkbuys f ul1 roll (108 sq. ftj of strictly hi 
g I V” grade rooting, either rubber or flint coat su. 
■ face, with cement and nails complete. 
Most liberal offer ever made on first class 
roofing. Better than goods that sell at much higher prices. 
Don’t spend a dollar on roofing until you have seen 
UNITO ASPHALT ROOFING 
you send no money when you order Unito Roofing. 
Satisfaction Guaranteed. Write today for free samples for 
test and comparison and our unparalleled selling plan. 
UNITED FACTORIES CO. Dept. A31 .Cleveland, O. 
OSt’S BINDER TWINE 
Farmers Wanted As Agents 
AUGUST POST. MOULTON. IOWA 
FERTILIZERSi 
TANKAGE 
IRON CITY 
= $12.00 per ton 
= 22.00 per ton 
Delivered freight prepaid to any railroad 
station in New York State. 
Manufactured bv 
AMERICAN REDUCTION COMPANY 
OF PITTSBURG, PA. 
HAYING TIME NEAR 
Buy a New York Champion. Now 
an “ I ron Age” product, hut made 
from original patterns purchased 
from Patten & Stafford Co. Stock 
carried at Canastota and Elmira, 
N. Y.; Springtield. Mass.; Portland 
and Burnham, Me.; also — 
may he had from our 
agents generally. 
Bopair parts sup' 
plied for old 
rakes. Cat¬ 
alog free. 
BATEMAN MFC. C L, Box i<>3-K, 
: 
r o n ter 
HAY CARRIER 
Has wide open mouth and 
swinging fork pulley. Fills 
hay mow full to the roof. Is 
without exception host hay 
carrier in the U. S. Send 
for illustrated booklet of 
FORT UK'S l>To-I)nle Hay Tool*. 
J. E. PORTER CO., Ottawa, III. 
FARMER’S WATERPROOF OR 
PLAIN CANVAS COVERS 
for Stacks, Implements, etc. 
Hay Caps, Plant Bed Cloth, 
Tents, etc. Circulars, Samples, 
HENRY DERBY, 49 Warren St., New York. 
$IO a Day Profit 
On $82 Investment. 
DeLoaeh All Steel “Mustang" 
Shingle Mill ; 10,000 with 4 h. p.: 
20,000 with 8 h. p. As smootli as a 
$300 mill. Send for 254 page catalogue, describing 
extensive line of Saw Mills, Shingle Mills. 
Planers, Edgers, Lath Mills, Grinding Mills, Water 
Wheels, Engines, Boilers and Gasoline Engines. 
DeLoaeh Mill Mfg. Co., Box 302, Bridgeport,Ala. 
Mir Buy and erect a fence 
you can depend on. The 
Frost Wire Fence lasts a ^S- 
[.■ lifetime, withstands heavy strain Bj 
M — resists action of sun or storm. Bj 
UB Write for prices and Free Cata- 9 
logdescribingfencesandgates. MJ 
The Frost Wire Fence Co. ^B j 
Dcpt.H. Cleveland, O. 
For Horses, Cattlo, Sheep, Hogs, 
Chickens, Lawns—A fence for 
every purpose. Big heavy No. 
9 Coiled Spring Wires thickly 
galvanized. 150 styles at 
15 to 35c per rod—We pay Frt. 
Free sample and catalog. 
The BROWN Fence & Wire Co. 
Dept. 59, Cleveland, Ohio, 
WARD FENCE ft™,,??. 
Old fashioned galvanized. Lias- 
tie spring steel. Sold direct to 
farmers ai manufacturers 
prices. Write for particulars. 
Ward Fence Co., Bor 542 Decatnr, Ini 
WESTERN CANADA 
More Big Crops in 1908 
60,000 eettlers from tho United 
Slates in 190S. New Districtsopenod 
for settlement. 320 acres of land 
to EACH SETTLER—180 free 
homestead and ICO acres 
at only $8 per acre. 
“A vast, rich country and a con¬ 
tented, prosperous people. ’ Ex¬ 
tract from correspondence of a 
Kansas Editor, whose visit to 
Western Canada in August, 1908, 
was an inspiration. 
Many have paid the entire cost 
of their farms and had a balance of from $10 
to $20 per acre ns n result of one crop. 
Spring and Winter Wheat, Oats, 
Barley, Flax and Peas are the prin¬ 
cipal crops, while tho wild grasses bring 
to perfection the best cattlo that have ever 
been sold on tho Chicago market. 
Splendid Climate, Schools and 
Churches in all localities. Railways 
touch most of tho settled districts, 
and prices for produce are always 
good. Lands may also bo purchased froiu- 
Railway and Land Companies. 
For pamphlets, maps and information re¬ 
garding low Railway Rates, apply to Sup't 
of Immigration, Ottawa, Cun., or to tho 
authorized Canadian Government Agent. 
J. C. Duncan, Canadian Govern¬ 
ment Agent, Room 30, Syracuse Rank 
Building, Syracuse, N. Y. 
IN SUNNY VIRGINIA 
Cl ccn.00 BUYS THIS BEAUTIFUL HOME 
T A anc | 4<3 acres of best fruit and gen¬ 
eral farming land, including good barn, corncrib, tool 
shed and chicken house, all new. Rich soil, hue cli¬ 
mate, good markets, abundant water, excellent neigh¬ 
bors and best schools. 
OTHER LANDS $10. PER ACRE & UP. 
Cheap Excursions Twice a Month. 
Sit right down and write for beautiful illustrated 
booklet, list of farms, etc., to 
H. LaBAUME, Agrl. and Indl. Agt. 
Dept. M Q Norfolk & Western Ry., Roanoke, Va. 
