fi-4 
January 25, 
Ruralisms 
Hybrids of Gladiolus Primulinus. 
—Yearly 2,000 hybrids of the new pure 
yellow Gladiolus primulinus bloomed on 
the Rural Grounds last season as the 
result of active breeding work since the 
species came into our hands in the 
Autumn of 1005. Crosses were made at 
every favorable opportunity with a great 
number of selected garden varieties, and 
with every available species of both Win¬ 
ter and Summer blooming types. Nat¬ 
urally the main effort has been to breed 
superior yellow varieties. It was also 
desired to determine to the greatest pos¬ 
sible extent the influence of this very 
distinct and new' species on dissimilar 
Gladiolus forms. The results are most 
interesting, and indicate that Primulinus 
is likely to prove an important factor in 
developing attractive new' varieties. In 
practically every hybridization thus far 
verified by blooming, its influence is 
dominant even over the deepest reds, 
subduing them to pure, soft and ideasing 
shades of orange, salmon and terra-cotta, 
all with conspicuous deep or light yel¬ 
low throats. With white and light colors 
the results are still more apparent, show¬ 
ing in shades of cream, buff, ecru, lemon 
and canary, usually without markings. 
With yellow there is in almost every 
instance a deepening of the shade, 
and generally elimination of the objec¬ 
tionable blotchings and pencilings of 
contrasting colors that mar most 
commercial yellow' kinds. 1 he ideal 
massive golden yellow variety is 
probably not yet attained, though one or 
two of the new seedlings appear to ap¬ 
proach closely the type we have in mind. 
The blend of Gladiolus Quart inianus 
with Primulinus is particularly har¬ 
monious. The strong reds of the former 
are not conquered, but are modified into 
unusually acceptable shades of terra¬ 
cotta, with rich yellow flamings. I he 
vigor of growth is much increased and 
the season of bloom advanced from 
early Fall to midsummer. 
Crosses With Winter - Blooming 
Varieties. —Our work with Winter¬ 
blooming species is not so far advanced 
as with the garden sorts, but crosses 
with G. tristis, G. alatus, G. Watsonius, 
and forcing varieties of G. Colvillei, G. 
ramosus and G. cardinalis have already 
bloomed, and indicate possibilities of ex¬ 
traordinary improvement in the w'ay of 
increased vigor, greater ease of manage¬ 
ment, and the addition of many new 
shades of color, including the purest 
of yellows. There can be little doubt 
that the result of blending Primulinus 
with the dwarf early flowering kinds 
known, collectively, as Gladiolus nanus 
varieties, will eventually result in the 
development of superior new kinds of 
especial value to florists. 1 he hybrid 
with The Bride, the most popular Win¬ 
ter bloomer, is uniformly pure lemon 
yellow' in color. The blooms are from 
seven to nine to each spike; stems taller 
and more graceful than the parent. 
Delicatissima, a peach-colored variety 
of G. cardinalis, yields a most attractive 
flower of uniform ecru—the exact 
shade of natural floss silk—also borne 
on fine tall spikes. The Watsonius- 
Primulinus cross is tall, orange with 
scarlet veinings, vigorous, early and 
profuse in bloom. But a single hybrid 
with G. alatus has bloomed at this writ¬ 
ing, though hundreds are under w'ay. It 
is a remarkable novelty, deep yellow, 
with picotee markings of crimson at 
the edges of the widely opened blooms. 
The Winter-blooming kinds generally 
have soft corms, difficult to keep long 
out of the soil, but the new hybrid va¬ 
rieties, with scarcely an exception, have 
large, solid corms that appear to pos¬ 
sess excellent keeping qualities, and are 
unusually prolific of increase. The most 
obvious defect of Primulinus hybrids is 
exaggeration of the hooded bloom of 
the type, but this is absent in some of 
* 
mu 
the rural neW-Vorkrr 
the choicer varieties secured, and may 
be expected to grow less conspicuous 
in future generations of dilute hybrids. 
Gladiolus primulinus has already shown 
its ability to infuse new and desirable 
qualities into the best known strains of 
Gladioli, and as it is now in the hands 
of clever plant breeders in all parts of 
the world, it is likely to become the 
parent of a most valuable new race. 
New' Garden Gladioli. —It is scarce¬ 
ly possible to test all new varieties of 
this popular plant that increases each 
year in public favor. The most that 
can be done is to try a few of the 
promising ones. The following kinds 
bloomed last Summer for the first time 
on the Rural Grounds, though some 
have been in commerce for several 
years. 
Golden West. —Plant dwarf and 
stocky, fine spikes of well-opened flame- 
colored blooms, spotted in the throat 
with golden yellow. This variety has 
good substance and well endures sun 
and wind. It appears to belong to the 
Nanceianus strain of Saundersii-pur- 
pureo-auratus hybrids, but is of Ameri¬ 
can origin. 
Hohenzoi.lern. — Strong, tall grow¬ 
er, with upright foliage, long dense 
spike of sulphur yellow flowers, with 
darker center, edges flushed with pink. 
A fine light yellow variety. 
Negro Prince. —Deep blood red flow¬ 
ers, with velvety sheen; spike large, 
blooms above medium size. Plant mod¬ 
erately vigorous and an early bloomer. 
This would have merit if the blooms 
had greater substance, but they were 
scarcely able to endure our July sun. 
Silvkktta. —Tall and vigorous, with 
broad foliage, very large widely opened 
blooms, borne on extra long spikes; 
cream white with carmine, blot dies in 
throat; blooms late in August. The last i 
three varieties were distributed from a I 
Holland nursery. They are of nearly 
pure Gandavensis type. The succeeding j 
five kinds originated in the celebrated j 
nursery of Lemoine ct Fils, Nancy, 
France, and are among the best yellow 
varieties of the Purpureo-auratus race. 
Henri Lemoine —Dwarf, but vigor¬ 
ous in growth, flowers of moderate size, 
well opened, petals fluted at margin, 
chrome yellow, with flesh colored 
blotches in center. 
Henri de Saussure. — Early and 
slender in habit, fine well-filled spikes 
of light yellow bloom, pale crimson in 
center. 
Solfatare. —Good vigorous plant, sul¬ 
phur yellow blooms, with dark brown- 
purple blotch in center; quite late in 
blooming. 
Transvaal. —Clear chrome yellow 
bloom, blotches chestnut brown; of 
good habit, but not vigorous in growth. 
Colvilloi des. — A hybrid betw’een 
Gladiolus tristis and a yellow garden va¬ 
riety; narrow upright foliage, blooms 
clear deep yellow, with dark central 
blotch; flowers early in July and can 
be forced again for Winter blooms. 
This is a most distinct variety, and 
would have much commercial value if 
it propagated freely, but it does not 
form seeds, and produces only a scanty 
supply of cormels. 
Harvard is a tall, large flowered, dark 
red variety, introduced by a Boston 
seedsman. It has been claimed that it 
will supersede the now well-known 
Gladiolus princeps. Our trial corms 
were not of full size, which may ac¬ 
count for their very ordinary showing. 
Another year will be needed to make a 
fair comparative test. 
Sulphur King was tried in quantity 
and found to be a real advance on Ca¬ 
nary Bird regarded before as the best 
commercial yellow variety. Sulphur 
King is more upright in growth, with j 
less tendency to produce crooked spikes. 
The color is warm sulphur yellow, with 
deeper throat. It is handsome in the 
garden, and most excellent for cutting. 
The three American varieties, Isaac 
Buchanan, Canary Bird and Sulphur 
King form a remarkable progression. 
All are of the same Gandavensis type, i 
and essentially the same in body color, 
but the red markings so abundant in i 
the old Isaac Buchanan are almost elim¬ 
inated in Canary Bird, and apparently 
altogether so in Sulphur King, render¬ 
ing it the purest yellow kind in com¬ 
merce. It is offered by J. L. Childs, 
Floral Park, N. Y., in whose nurseries 
it appears to have originated. W. v. f. 
Oats Respond Readily 
to Nitrate of Soda, not only in yield but especially in quality. 
quality. Here 
is one of many reports we get: Without Nitrate of Soda, 36 bushels 
of oats to the acre : with Nitrate of Soda, 64 bushels per acre—the 
oats weighing in the latter case 41 lbs. per bushel. 
Test It for Yourself 
We send Nitrate of Soda, free 
of all cost, for a trial plot, on the simple condition that you follow our directions in 
using it, and give us exact reports of the extra yield. To the twenty-five farmers 
who show ihe best results will be sent, as a prize, Prof. Voorhees’ valuable book, 
“ Fertilizers,” dealing with natural, home-made and manufactured fertilizers, with 
suggestions as to the use for different crops. 327 pages, handsomely bound; also 
another valuable book, Grass Growing lor Profit.'’ 
Apply for Nitrate of Soria at once, as this offer is necessarily limited. 
A feto entries of "Food Jor Plants ,” a 230-page book, are left 
for distribution. Send name and complete address on post card. 
\MLLIAM S. MYERS, Director, John Street and 71 Nassau, New York. 
THE DEYO 
POWER SPRAYER 
Mounted complete with mechanical agita¬ 
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Ollier new features, all Important to the man 
whosprays. Write for new catalog 19—justout. 
R. H. DEYO 6 CO., Binghamton, N. Y. 
GET THE BEST 
A Good Spray Pump earns 
big profits and lasts for years. 
THE ECLIPSE 
is a good pump. As 
practical fruit grow¬ 
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sprayers in our own orchards 
—found their defects and 
invented the Eclipse. Its 
success forced us to manu¬ 
facturing on a larps scale. 
You take no chances. We 
have done all the experi¬ 
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MORRILL & MORLEY, Benton Harbor, Mich. 
BETTER WORK 
LESS LABOR 
Two things much desired by every 
farmer. Two things you’re sure 
to get in Iron Age Imple¬ 
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have been recogniz.ed the lead¬ 
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ter work, do it easier, 
do more of it, and 
thus save hired 
help. Excep¬ 
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made — dur¬ 
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No. 6Com- 1 
blned 
Double ' 
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Bin- 
Some Comments on 
HUBBARD’S 
FERTILIZERS 
‘‘I get 50 % more potatoes by using Hubbard’s” 
‘‘Best asparagus I ever raised was with Hub¬ 
bard’s Soluble Potato Manure” 
‘‘$28.00 worth of Hubbard’s Fruit Fertilizer 
is equal to 50 loads of manure" 
‘‘500 to 700 bushels of onions per acre with 
Hubbard’s Soluble Tobacco Manure” 
‘‘Wc are beginning to see the benefit of ’Bone 
Base’ goods” 
‘‘750 lbs. per acre of Hubbard’s Soluble Com 
and General Crops Manure has given splen¬ 
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“My ensilage com. about 11 acres, will aver¬ 
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Phosphate" 
“Hubbard’s Bone for poultry strengthens and 
invigorates the fowls " 
Send for Almanac and Prices 
THE ROGERS & HUBBARD CO. 
Fertilizer Manufacturers 
MIDDLETOWN, CO IN IN . 
Wheel 
noe. Hill and 
Drill Seeder, 
shown here, 
MONARCH 
FEED MILLS 
Will grind everything that can 
be ground—all kinds of feed, 
corn cobs, oats, rye, 
corn meal,etc.—any¬ 
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stock feeding. They 
are simply and eas¬ 
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every mill sold is fully warranted. You 
can get a Monarch Mill oil 15 days free 
trial. Write for particulars and catalog. 
SPROUT, WALDRON <fc CO., 
P. O. Box 263, Muncy, Pa. 
R00 
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So Money in Advance—pay when 
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lira ns Hull Valves Cylinder, Plunger, 
-tc. Strainer Cleaner and 3 Agitators. 
300 lb, pressure. A boy can operate it. 
After trial If you keep it—pay when 
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ncent—Agents Wanted. Special 
Free Offer for llr,t in each locality. “Spray, 
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H.L.Hurst Mfo.Co., g North St.,Canton,0. 
Illustrated ROOF BOOK, just off the press, tells bow to 
lay durable, water-proof, weather-proof and fire-reMating 
roofs on residences,harns, cribs, poultry houses, outbuildings, 
stores, etc. How to cover old ehiugle roofs. No tools ueceasary 
but a knife and a hammer. Tells all about the famous 
NO-TAR ROOFING 
which is better and cheaper than ahinglM, alate or tin. 
Water-proof, fire - resist Imy and acid-proof. 
Contains no tar but is mad« from asphalt ana cannot dry out or run in the 
•un. Pttnt-ooated, flexible and eaey to lay. Best dealer* sail NO-TAR 
HOOFING, bpecia' nails and liquid cement PREE in every rolL 
rnrr C A MU UC TA TCCT "ben we send you the Free 
MILL oAIYlr utJ 1U I tOl Bam,->a of NO-TAB HOOF¬ 
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to any other roofing. 
DEALERS—Write for our Roofing-Business Promotion Plan. Address 
THU IIEPFES CO.. 3111 Fillmore St., Chiengo 
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Productive soil, mild, healthy cllniat#*. Splendid market*. 
Write for catalog. It. II CHiH l.H A 00,, l«e.. Richmond, Ya, 
SC ALEC IDE 
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FIELD FORCE PUMP CO., No. 2 11 th St . EimiRs. N Y. 
HAS MADE SPRAYING EASY YOVR TREES? 
The N. Y. Herald, November 17,’07, says; * The chances are about a hundred 
to one that you have the San Jose Scale on your place and do not know it,” and 
advises the use of “ SCALECIDE.” This is good advice. “ SCALECIDE ” has 
been tested and tried, and found thoroughly effective. The same yesterday, 
to-day, and all the time. One gallon makes 15 to 20, ready to use, by simply 
adding water. 
Prices: 1 gal., 51.00; 5 gal v 53.25; 10 gal., 6.00; 50 gal. bbl., 525.00. F. O. B. 
. Or ' 
/ORDER 1 
A 
\BARREL I 
NO* , 
our factory. 
Jrder to-day. 
JJ. G. 1 
II Broudway, 
Write for booklet’ N and free sample^ 
RATT CO., Mfg. Chemists, 
New York City. 
