709 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
July 31, 
Ruralisms 
Beautiful New Montbretias. —Since 
M. Victor Lemoine, Nancy, France, pro¬ 
duced Montbretia croscosmceflora, 30 
years ago, by pollinating the ‘newly in¬ 
troduced Tritonia Pottsi, .with the bet¬ 
ter known Crocosmia aurea, both yel¬ 
low-flowered bulbous plants native to 
South Africa, there have been many 
introductions of fine Montbretias, most 
of which have, from time to .time, been 
tested on the Rural Grounds. There 
has been great improvement .over the 
original form in habit of plant and 
abundance .of bloom, as well as in size 
and finish of the flowers. The color 
range now includes about all shades 
of yellow, orange and fiery red, and 
there are in addition markings of 
scarlet, crimson, purple and brown. 
Some .very handsome varieties have 
originated in France and Germany, 
the best probably being Messidor, -very 
free-flowering, pale yellow and brown; 
Rayon d’Or, large flowers, deep golden 
yellow, with dark crimson blotches; 
Oeil de Dragon, brilliant red-orange; 
Transcendant, vermilion, orange center, 
and Germania, very large bright red 
flowers. It -has remained for Mr. Geo. 
Davison, Norwich, England, to develop 
varieties far exceeding all others in 
stature of plant and size of blooms. The 
older kinds, though brilliant in color¬ 
ing, generally have hooded or tubular 
rather than flat or reflexed flowers, but 
Mr. Davison’s productions leave little 
to be desired in this respect. The fol¬ 
lowing kinds appear epecially merito¬ 
rious : Prometheus, robust plant, grow¬ 
ing nearly four feet ihigh, broad hand¬ 
some foliage, flowers four inches across, 
bright flame color .with a crimson ring 
within. St. Botolph, clear bright yellow, 
flowers very flat and open, plant three 
feet high; King Edmund, also a tall 
plant, with dense panicles of golden yel¬ 
low blooms; Tragedie, very dark 
orange, shaded maroon-purple, deep 
purple stems and almost black buds; 
very handsome and effective; George 
Davison, tall and freely branched, with 
many widely expanded yellow flowers; 
comes early into bloom. 
The Culture of Montbretias. —Evi¬ 
dently Montbretias are not as popular 
here as abroad, where they are frequent- 
ly grown in masses for rich color ef¬ 
fects. The corms do not always keep 
well if severely dried during Winter. 
They are best carried over in sand or 
dryish sphagnum moss in a cool cellar, 
and started early in Spring in pots or 
boxes in the .window garden or glass¬ 
house. Fair success is had by heeling 
in the plants .in quite dry soil in a 
frame or shed, fairly well protected 
from frost, or even in ‘hanging the 
plants as dug in October, leaves, stems, 
corms and all in bags in the cellar or in 
a protected outhouse. They are hardy 
and may be planted out in May in deep 
rkh soil. The foliage is very orna¬ 
mental—of the same character, but 
more striking than that of the Gladiolus 
—while the color range is entirely dis¬ 
tinct. Flowers are almost continually 
produced from early Summer until 
frost. 
The Giant Crocosmia. —In 1892 Herr 
Max Leichtlin disseminated, under the 
name of C. Imperialis, a gigantic garden 
form of Crocosmia aurea, growing quite 
four feet high and bearing orange-col¬ 
ored flowers much larger than the type 
and less hooded in form. The writer 
recalls paying $6 for a corm of this nov¬ 
elty, which bore out all the claims made 
for it at the time. Hundreds of hybrids 
were grown between Imperialis and the 
Montbretias of the day, but none ap¬ 
proached our ideas of what a decorative 
Montbretia should be. and all were suf¬ 
fered to pass out of existence. It is 
claimed, however, that Germania is a 
seedling of Imperialis, and it is likely 
that Mr. Davison used it to some ex¬ 
tent in his very successful breeding ex¬ 
periments. 
The Lincoln Pea. —In this season of 
fiery drought it is refreshing to note 
a new garden' pea that “makes good” 
under the most trying conditions. The 
Lincoln pea (seeds from J. M. Thor- 
burn & Co.) is vigorous and productive, 
keeping its foliage green and filling its 
long, curved pods after Gradus and simi¬ 
lar standard varieties have ceased to 
grow. It is a second early, coming in a 
week after Gfadus, when sown at the 
same time. The peas are large, mod¬ 
erately wrinkled and of the highest 
quality. There has been so little rain 
and so many days of excessive heat that 
hitherto dependable varieties collapsed 
with only a fraction of the expected 
crop sufficiently developed for market 
purposes. Though rather late for com¬ 
mercial cropping the Lincoln pea prom¬ 
ises exceptionally well for garden pur¬ 
poses. 
Note from Chari.es Betscher. —Page 
626, regarding Gladioli, some sorts seem to 
be biennial bloomers and almost all sorts 
give better spikes every other year, show¬ 
ing a tendency to bloom the limit, then fall 
back to recoup the strain, I have noticed 
many seedlings that make enormous bulbs 
without bloom, then the next season give 
a great spike, the third season they come 
blind and make a large bulb again. I 
observe many things from time to time 
that my own experience does not coincide 
with. The pseony has a tendency under 
some conditions to come more or less with 
the biennial condition, especially if allowed 
to seed, or when cut pretty closely. 
Canal Dbver, Ohio. c. betscher. 
Mr. Betscher is an extensive grower 
of bulbous plants, and a particularly keen 
observer, yet our experience is that 
Gladioli grown in the Atlantic coast 're¬ 
gion, quite regardless of variety, are 
annual bloomers, when the corms are 
allowed a fair chance to develop. If so 
closely cut that the foliage is sacrificed, 
or excessive seed production allowed, 
they may be so weakened that bloom 
spikes will not be formed the succeed¬ 
ing year. Growth conditions may, how¬ 
ever, be different in Ohio. 
Pink and Purple Callas. —When 
Richardia Rehmanni, the rose-colored 
calla of Equatorial Africa, was intro¬ 
duced to cultivation 16 years ago, hopes 
were entertained that it might be the 
means of introducing new color effects 
into the large flowered varieties of R. 
Africana, or common Lily of the Nile, 
prized everywhere for its showy milk- 
white spathes. No hybrids between 
these species have yet been reported, 
though countless attempts have been 
made. Rehmanni has proved more 
tractable, when bred with the newer 
yellow-flowered and spotted-leaved spe¬ 
cies, such as Elliottiana, Pentlandi and 
Aurata. The first reported cross .was 
made between Rehmanni and R. melano- 
leuca, a creamy white flowered species 
of little decorative value, by Mr. J. R. 
Lynch, Cambridge Botanic Gardens, 
England. This hybrid does not appear 
to have been disseminated, as it is not 
offered by dealers. Other hybrids have 
been produced by Long Island bulb 
growers, one with rosy blooms and 
spotted foliage having recently been ex¬ 
hibited in New York City. Crosses be¬ 
tween Rehmanni and all available spe¬ 
cies have been growing on the Rural 
Grounds for several years. Those that 
have bloomed possess much interest, 
and several appear to have horticultural 
value. Shades of bright rose, silvery 
pink, deep purple and even intense clear 
violet have developed, and the foliage 
shows every conceivable variation be¬ 
tween the narrow lance-shaped leaves 
of Rehmanni and the broad halberd 
forms of Elliottiana and Pentlandi. 
Some are densely spotted and blotched 
with white, while others are clear uni¬ 
form green in color. The plants are ex¬ 
ceedingly vigorous and likely to be free 
bloomers, as several spathes have al¬ 
ready been produced on many of the 
young corms. The results of the first 
or bi-specific crossings were disap¬ 
pointing, the colors being generally 
confused and unpleasing, but the seed¬ 
lings of the second generation and the 
dilute hybrids appear unusually promis¬ 
ing. _ w. v. F. 
MORE ABOUT THREE-HORSE EVENERS. 
I have noticed several cuts of three- 
horse hitches in The R. N.-Y. All 
these may work well on anything with¬ 
out a pole, but one can easily see that 
the middle horse comes exactly where 
the pole should be. I inclose cuts of two 
different styles. Fig. 1 may be used 
THREE HORSES ABREAST 
on any pole, but there will be more or 
less side draft. Fig. 2 is more expen¬ 
sive, but is the only perfect three-horse 
hitch I ever saw. Any style of three- 
horse evener may be used in connec¬ 
tion .with it. . E. c. s. 
A Good Chance For Alfalfa. 
C. T. M-, St. Albans, Ft.—How would 
you manage the seeding to Alfalfa of land 
In this condition? It has been in grass for 
about fifteen years, and in the grass seed 
used at that time was seed of a Sweet 
clover with a yellow blossom, the first I 
ever saw. This*clover finally crowded out 
everything else, and is a dense growth with 
roots loaded with nodules. It keeps out 
of the dead furrows which are each side 
of the beds; not one plant is there to be 
found in the furrows. This clover makes 
good hay if cut in bloom and the cattle 
are very eager for it in their hay. Last 
week I discovered, seven or eight plants 
of Alfalfa, and it must be either wild or 
the western kind with a stalk like a wild- 
cherry bush, seven inches circumference and 
an armful of fodder to a plant. The 
plants were in full bloom and foliage a 
very dark green. Is there any doubt of 
a successful field of Alfalfa on the land? 
How could I manage the seeding to have 
the least yellow mustard or kale come up 
with the Alfalfa plants? 
Ans. —We should send to the Ver¬ 
mont Experiment Station at Burlington. 
Vt., for bulletins and advice, and be 
guided by their suggestions. They will 
know more about your needs than peo¬ 
ple south of you. There seems to us 
no doubt that this land is ready for 
Alfalfa, for the Sweet clover is much 
like it in habit—the bacteria on the roots 
being nearly the same as those on Al¬ 
falfa. The “Sweet clover” with yellow 
flowers is the Yellow melilot, Melilotus 
officinalis. 
When you write advertisers mention The 
U. N.-Y. and you'll get a quick reply and 
“a square deal.'’ See guarantee page 8. 
Genasco 
Ready Roofing 
Made of Trinidad Lake Asphalt—the 
greatest weather-resister known. 
Ask any live dealer for Genasco. Backed 
by a 32-million-dollar guarantee. Look for the 
hemisphere trade-mark. Write for the Good 
Roof Guide Book and samples. 
THE BARBER ASPHALT 
PAVING COMPANY 
Largest producers of asphalt and largest 
manufacturers of ready roofing in the world. 
PHILADELPHIA 
New York San Francisco Chicago 
THE BEST VARIABLE FEED 
SAW MILL 
Made tor portable purposes, also larger sizes. 
Engines, Boilers and General Machinery, 
NEW and KKBl J I.T at Lowest Prices. 
THU “LEADER” INJECTOR, 
most simple, reliable and efficient. 
Send for circulars, stating yonr wants. 
‘The RANDLE MACHINERY CO., 
1826 Powers St., Cincinnati, Ohio. 
SELECT NOW 
FERTILIZERS 
FOR FALL SEEDING 
TANKACE : : $12.00 PER TON 
IRON CITY ! : 22.00 PER TON 
Freight Paid To New York State Points 
AMERICAN REDUCTION COMPANY 
OF PITTSBURG, PA. 
FERTILIZER LIME et f a ^ 
WALTON QUARRIES, Harrisburg, I’a. 
A PERFECT COMBINATION 
THE MODERN SWING STANCHION, WATERING BASIN, 
REVERSIBLE MANGER PARTITION, STEEL GUARD RAILING, 
and extension bar preventing cattle from putting head 
in at side. A whole herd of cows can be stanchioned in a 
jiffy— safe, comfortable and clean. 
Write to-day for full information and prices. 
GLOR BROS. & WILLIS MFC. CO., Attica, N. Y. 
H. A. Moyer, Syracuse, 
N. Y., says “ they 
SAVE COST 
in feed in one winter.” 
Send address for speci¬ 
fications of inexpensive 
yet sanitary cow stable to 
WALLACE R. CRUMB, Box M2, Foreatville, Conn, 
Ripening Kieffer Pears. —-I have 
watched closely the discussion in your pa¬ 
per of the Kieffer pear, and am thereby 
led to believe that few people know how¬ 
to ripen this fruit so as to develop its 
good qualities. I pick my Kieffer pears 
when they are fully growm and begin to 
drop off the tree, and put them in a 
pile on my cellar floor. Though hard and 
uneatable when picked, after a fev r weeks 
they are soft, juicy and delicious, in ap¬ 
pearance and flavor resembling the Bart¬ 
lett. I suppose any clean, cool, dark place 
would thus ripen them and bring out their 
good qualities. They never “go begging” 
when thus ripened. 
Kentucky. f. e. aspinwall. 
Girdling Fruit Trees. —In reply to S. 
H.’s inquiry in regard to girdling apple 
trees, about 20 years ago I grafted 23 very 
thrifty Roxbury Russet trees to Hubbards- 
ton. After being grafted seven or eight 
years, and getting hardly any fruit, bloom¬ 
ing full each year, I sawed around tlm body 
of the trees clear through the bark to the 
wood, about June 1, just after blossoming 
time. The next year, supposing they bad 
not yet any fruit. I sawed around them 
again, but they boro heavily the first year, 
and have continued to hear a full crop 
every other year since. I have treated a 
few Spy trees in the same manner with 
marked success. I would advise girdling 
where thrifty trees blossom and fail to set 
fruit. w. a. l. 
Orleans Co., N. Y. 
“For the Land’s Sake”—use Bowker’s 
Fertilizers; they enrich the earth and 
those who till it. Agents wanted. Illus¬ 
trated catalogue free. Address Bowker 
Fertilizer Co.. New York, Buffalo or 
Cincinnati.— Adv. 
CHAIN HANGING 
CATTLE STANCHION 
The Most PYactical 
CATTLE FASTENER 
ever invented. 
Manufactured and for 
sale by 
O. H. ROBERTSON, 
Foreatville, Conn. 
Death tha Stomach 
Worms Guaranteed 
We will send you 100 lbs. of I)K. 
HOLLAND’S JIEI)I( A'l l'I) STOCK 
SALT on 60 dayH* trial freight 
prepaid. If you derive no benefit, 
it coRtK you nothing; if you do, it 
costs you $5.00. Give us your or¬ 
der at once. 
The HOLLAND STOCK REMEDY 
COMPANY, Wellington, Ohio. 
Q A I Fruit farm in Central 
Ol ku EL Pennsylvania, con¬ 
taining about 300 acres, having on it 700 pear trees, 
600 plum trees. 600 peach trees, 100 cherry trees and 
about 4000 apple trees. The plum, peach and cherry 
trees are all bearing. 2000 of the apple trees are 
just beginning to bear. Two and one-half miles 
from good market. For particulars write 
C. O. TEMl’LETON, Tyrone, Fa. 
DO YOU NEED FARM HELP? 
THE JEWISH AGRICULTURAL AND INDUSTRIAL AID SOCIETY 
1ms on its lists men wishing to obtain employment upon 
farms. Most of them are without experience but they 
are able-bodied and willing to w ork. They speak little or 
no English, although many of them speak German. If 
you can make use of such help, please communicate with 
us, stating what you will pay. whether the work is per¬ 
manent, and w-hether you prefer a single or married man. 
We are a philanthropic organization, whose object it is 
to assist and encourage Jews to become farmers. We 
charge no commission to employer or employee. 
Address: THE J. A. A I. A. S„ 
174 Second Ave., New York City 
