806 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
Ruralisms 
The White Watsonia. —Will W. V. F. 
tell us if he has had experience in growing, 
either indoors or outdoors, a bulbous plant 
called Watsonia Ardernei? e. S. 
Delmar, N. Y. 
The Rural Grounds experience with 
the white-flowered Watsonia was pub¬ 
lished several years ago, soon after the 
introduction of this valuable and inter¬ 
esting flowering plant. The fullest ac¬ 
count, with illustration, appeared in The 
R. N.-Y. for June 4, 1904. The white 
Watsonias—three varieties of which 
have been found by different collectors, 
growing wild in South Africa—all ap¬ 
pear to be natural sports or mutations of 
the common pink Watsonia iridifolia, 
one of the most abundant bulbous plants 
of that region. The best commercial 
form is undoubtedly the one first cul¬ 
tivated by Mr. H. W. Arderne, of the 
Colonial Botanic Gardens, Cape Town, 
Africa. The habit is rather more com¬ 
pact and the blooms firmer than those 
of Watsonia O’Brieni, which is now 
quite common in Europe. Watsonias 
should generally be treated as green¬ 
house bulbs in the colder parts of this 
country, as they naturally start to grow 
in October, and can seldom be kept out 
of the soil over Winter without loss of 
vitality. The corms are large, much re¬ 
sembling those of the Gladiolus, and 
only need be potted in clean, loamy soil 
in Autumn, placing two in a six, or 
three in a seven-inch pot. Free drain¬ 
age is necessary, though Watsonias re¬ 
quire considerable moisture while in 
growth. An average temperature of 55 
degrees suits them well, developing 
strong, healthy foliage and vigorous 
flower spikes. The latter generally ap¬ 
pear in March, but may to some extent 
be advanced by a higher temperature. 
A good spike may have as many as 50 
blooms, about half of which are borne 
on side spikes or branchlets, coming out 
after the main spike has nearly ceased. 
The flowers are two inches across, 
trumpet shaped and gracefully formed. 
They are the purest white in color of 
any blooms we know. They keep well 
and are exceedingly valuable for florists’ 
uses. After blooming the plants should 
be grown on until May, when the balls 
may be turned out of the pots and 
plunged in soil outside to ripen. The 
corms increase by division, and may be 
forced for many successive years. The 
white Watsonias grow well outside in 
the Gulf States, California and the frost- 
free localities of southern Europe, and 
are becoming more abundant and cheaper. 
Only corms grown by division of the 
true variety should be used, as the lower- 
priced seedlings cannot be relied on to 
retain their purity of color, often coming 
pink like the parent species. White 
Watsonias are not grown here to any¬ 
thing like the extent their merits de¬ 
serve, but it is safe to predict their in¬ 
creasing use in the future. Here is a 
foreign dealer’s opinion of the plant 
which, from experience, we can thor¬ 
oughly endorse: 
Watsonia Ardernei alba is very strongly 
recommended to practical high-class florists 
for wreath and bouquet work: the choicest 
flower for best work: the purest white 
flower in cultivation : as easily grown as a 
Gladiolus, lasts fresh for a long time after 
cutting. Bulbs potted can be had in flower 
for a very long period; a perfect gem for 
florists, quite superseding the single white 
Azalea for cut-flower work; requires very 
little attention and is very easily flowered, 
yet commands the very highest market 
prices, and the demand for cut spikes is 
always greater than the supply. Another 
very important point is that the bulbs 'grow 
and increase well. The beautiful snow- 
white flower, purer than the purest, 
strongly appeals to large cut-flower grow¬ 
ers. and the American, Belgian, Dutch, 
south of France and Channel Island grow¬ 
ers should give this very valuable acquisi¬ 
tion a liberal and careful trial. All our 
clients who bought a few bulbs to try last 
year have ordered a larger stock this sea¬ 
son. All florists who cut for orders as re¬ 
quired, should undoubtedly have a supply. 
Grub Worms and Strawberry 
Plants. —The inquiry of H. F. W., page 
783, for a practical method of ridding 
his strawberry plants of grubs does not 
bring forth comforting advice concern¬ 
ing the point at issue. It is well to take 
thorough measures to rid soils, espe¬ 
cially sod lands, of the pestiferous white 
grubs, before planting strawberries, by 
one or two seasons of culture in corn, 
potatoes or other hoed crops, or by close 
pasturage with unringed pigs, but when 
such cleansing processes have been 
omitted and the grubs are at the roots 
of the plants, it is altogether another 
matter. No experienced strawberry 
grower dare take the risk of setting 
plants on newly turned sod land, or soil 
that appears on inspection to be more 
than ordinarily infested. While grubs 
seriously damage all crops when numer¬ 
ous, their work is most conspicuous and 
fatal in the strawberry field. If in the 
soil the grub will work at the roots of 
the plants, cutting them one by one 
until the plant perishes, when he makes 
his way to the next one. In a well- 
cared-for strawberry field the grubs find 
no other available food than the straw¬ 
berry roots, so that the damage inflicted 
seems out of proportion to the actual 
number of the pests present. In spite of 
all warnings the amateur or occasional 
grower will set his plants on infested 
ground, only to be distressed later by 
their depredations. We have this sea¬ 
son committed the indiscretion of set¬ 
ting a considerable number of valued 
seedling plants on soil not above suspi¬ 
cion as regards grub infestation and 
have witnessed the sudden collapse of a 
number of promising crowns. When dug 
out, in almost every instance, the grub 
culprit was found. It occurred to us 
that carbon bisulphide, so useful with 
the melon louse, Phylloxera and grain 
and pea weevils, might be effective for 
destroying the grubs without greatly 
damaging the plants. A trial was made 
by punching holes in the soil under some 
of the obviously infested plants, pouring 
in a tablespoonful or two of the ill¬ 
smelling bisulphide and immediately 
closing the opening with a clod firmly 
rammed down. The next day several 
of the treated plants were lifted, dis¬ 
closing dead grubs near the gnawed 
roots. Many plants have since been 
treated, using as much as half an ounce 
carbon bisulphide, in two holes at op¬ 
posite sides of the crown with no per¬ 
ceptible injury to the plants and evident 
destruction of the pests as shown by re¬ 
newed growth of the hitherto failing 
plants. A pound of the bisulphide, cost¬ 
ing 25 cents at retail, will treat about 50 
plants, as one drachm—a tablespoonful— 
appears sufficient when carefully applied. 
The liquid is so volatile that there is 
some unavoidable loss when handled in 
the field, and so explosive that it should 
never be used near a fire or lighted pipe 
or cigar. This chemical is cheap when 
bought in quantity and the remedy 
would appear w T orth trying in small 
strawberry plantings, especially where 
hill culture is favored. Our trials were 
made in droughty weather, in light, open 
soil. The treatment might not be so 
effective under moist, compact condi¬ 
tions. It is known that the bisulphide 
treatment of Grape Phylloxera and Ap¬ 
ple-tree root-louse or Woolly aphis is 
not as successful in heavy soil as in 
porous land. A “grubby” strawberry 
plant may be detected by its arrested 
growth, hardened and drooping foliage, 
and thus saved if thought to be worth 
the effort. Of course plants may be 
killed by too free or careless use of the 
chemical. The moral is obvious—don’t 
plant in grub-infested soil, or imme¬ 
diately after sod, but if you do there ap¬ 
pears to be a partial antidote in carbon 
bisulphide. 
The Boussock Pear. —R. A. Martin, 
Salina, Pa., sends for identification a 
pear, evidently Boussock. A portrait in 
natural size is shown on page 803, Fig. 
375. Mr. Martin writes : 
The tree stands in sod, is of the largest 
size, perfectly healthy, having practically 
never failed to hear a good crop for nearly 
40 years. It bore over 20 bushels this 
year; in 1906 had about 35 bushels. The 
pears are juicy and of good quality. They 
sell here readily for best prices. 
Boussock, or Doyenne Boussock, as it 
is named in Downing’s Fruits of Amer¬ 
ica, has long been known as a reliable 
Fall market pear, but is seldom planted 
now. The fruits are large, clear yellow' 
in color, with occasional red flush on 
cheek. When picked at the proper stage, 
they are good in quality and keep fairly 
well. w. v. f. 
“For the Land’s Sake use Bowker’s 
Fertilizers; they enrich the earth and 
those who till it.”—Adv. 
October 17, 
SAN JOSE SCALE 
Killed with Lime Sulphur Wash made 
with Bergenport Brand Sublimed 
FLOWERS of SULPHUR 
THE STEARNS LIME COMPANY, 
MANUFACTURERS OF 
HIGH CALCIUM LIME 
(WOOD BURNED.) 
T. & S. C. WHITE CO.. 
100 William Street, - - New York. 
fSAN JOSE SCALER 
KILLER 
KIL-O-SCALE is the most reliable rem¬ 
edy for Scale. Ready for use by simply 
mixing with water. We also sell Spray¬ 
ing Outfits. Write for catalogue. 
HENRY A. DREER, - Philadelphia, Pa. 
JARVIS’S SPRAYING COMPOUND 
iOR SAN JOSE SCALES 
We make this compound, quality guaranteed, and 
Bell to the consumer, f. o. b., Manchester, Conn. 
Cash with order. 
In bbls. containing 50 gals., 30c. per gal 
Les6 than bbls and more than 5 gals., 40c. pergal. 
5 gal. lots and less, 50c. per gal. 
All orders filled promptly. Order NOW. 
THE J. T, ROBERTSON CO., Box R, Manchester, Conn. 
11 W ’H Pay you to spray your Fruit 
1 J |/ n | Trees and Vines for protection from 
Im w scale and all insect pests and fungus 
diseases. FREE Instruction Book 
shows the famous Garfield, Empire King 
Orchard, Monarch, Leader and other sprayers; also 
gives a lot of formulas and other valuable information. 
FIELD FORCE PUMP CO., No. 2 11th St., Elmira. N. Y. 
All up-to-date Fruit Growers watch 
for the Bulletin of the buyers of 1909 
model “Friend ” Power Sprayers. 
“ FRIEND ” MEG. CO., Gasport, N. Y. 
GETTHE BEST 
A Good Spray Pump "earns 
big profits and lasts for years. 
THE ECLIPSE 
pump. As 
fruit grow¬ 
ers we were using common 
sprayers in our own orchards 
—found their defects and 
invented the Eclipse. Its 
success forced us to manu¬ 
facturing on a largs 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, Midi. 
NOW:- 
Order your Fruit Trees now' while 
The Nurseries have a full stock to select 
from, either for fall or spring shipment. 
Call’s Nurseries, Perry, Ohio, have a 
large stock of the finest fruit trees, and 
always at reasonable prices. They deal 
HYDRATED LIME AND GROUND LIMESTONE 
FOR AGRICULTURAL USK 
OUR SPECIALTIES. 
DANBURY, CONN. 
Telephone Connections. Send for Circulars. 
HYDRATED LIME 
FOR FARMERS’ USE 
HAS MANY ADVANTAGES. 
-♦- 
It is put up in 50 lb. Paper sacks. 
Will keep indefinitely in a dry place. 
Can be stored without risk of fire. 
Is pure and strong. 
We guarantee 70 % as available 
lime. 
Can be spread uniformly and in 
quantity desired. 
Cannot injure seed or grass lands. 
-♦- 
WRITE FOR PRICES 
NEW JERSEY LIME CO., 
HAMBURG, N. J. 
CALIFORNIA PRIVET 
Shade Trees, Spruce and Arbor 
Vitte Hedging'. 
Cherry Trees a Specialty. Tubes and Plants by 
Mail Postpaid will save you express rests. Send for 
our Catalogue, (It is Free), it will tell you the rest. 
JOS. H. BLACK, SON & CO., Hightstown, N. J. 
WE MAIL OUR CATALOGUE FREE. 
FRUIT TREES 6 PLANTS DIRECT FROM BEARING 
ORCHARDS AT WHOLESALE PRICES 
For Fall Planting: we offer Bart- 
let Pear, Plum. Apple and Cherry 
Treea, Loudon Raapberry, Cur¬ 
rant and Gooseberry bushes. 
Send us a list of what you in¬ 
tend buying and we will save you 
money by quoting our wholesale 
price freight paid. Write for free 
catalogue. Send 10c for 1 McIn¬ 
tosh apple tree, postpaid. 
MALONEY BROS., 6 WELLS, Box 2 S. Dansville, N. Y. 
y y y i Booklet on CATALPA TREES 
^ |r M m W Let me tell you about the 15U acres 
■ ■ ^ 1 am growing for Telephone Poles. 
This wood takes the place of Ash and Hickory for Car¬ 
riage-makers’ uses. Beats farming Two to One. 
H. €. ROGEIRS, Boa n, Mochanicsbnrg, Ohio 
direct with the farmers and guarantee 
satisfaction. Ask them for Price-list. 
APPLE BARRELS 
—Car Lots or Less. 
Prompt shipment. 
R. Gillies, Medina, N. V. 
SIO Value in Trees for $3.50 
HERE can you find such bargains in fruit 
~ Y trees as are offered below ? Many other sim¬ 
ilar club offei-s are made in our new illustrated 
catalog. No, sir. We do not send this catalog un¬ 
less you ask for it by postal card. 
2 Bartlett Pear 
2 Kieffer Pear 
2 Early Richmond Cherry (Early) 
2 Montmorency Cherry (Medium) 
1 English Morello Cherry (Late) 
2 Abundance Plum (Early) 
2 Burbank Plum (Medium) 
2 York State Prune (Medium) 
2 Thanksgiving Prune (Late) 
CYTDA —To those who order before October 20th ; 1 New Diploma Currant and 1 Two- 
La I lilt Year Live Forever Rose. Trees all 5 to 6 feet, 2 years old. 
$10 Value All For $3.50 
No. 2—GREEN’S PLUM ORCHARD AH For $3 
20 TREES FOR J3.00. BEST 2-TEAR TREES 4 TO 5 FT. 
Abundance, Burbank. Niagara, Lombard, 
Shropshire Damson, Thanksgiving Prune, etc. 
20 IN ALL FOR $3.00 
nnpp—On all orders received before October 20th: 1 New 
I I1LL Diploma Currant and 1 Two-Year Live Forever Hose. 
No. 3—BARTLETT PEAR TREES 
20,000—Not enough trees last spring by 20,000 
This Fall Ple nty for All. 
OUR OFFER 
10 Bartlett Worth $5.00 with 10 Kieffer Worth $3.00 
ALL FOR $5.00 
To introduce our stock for this fall's shipment. 
All High Grade Trees. No San Jose Scale. 
Now is the time to order plants, trees, etc., in October. 
Don't fail to send for our big Fruit Catalog. 
GREEN’S NURSERY COMPANY, 
ROCHESTER, NEW YORK. 
Don’t Neglect 
Fall Spraying 
Fall Spraying 
is Best. 
We guarantee it to kill San Jose Sc«,l© and all soft-bodied sucking insects. It also contains fungicidal properties. 
Greatest Effectiveness, Least Expense and Labor. Endorsed by Leading Horticulturists, Fruit Growers and Experiment Stations. 
Write us to-day for Booklet N, with full particulars, and FREE Sample. 
B. C3r. Fratt Company, TVEfg. Clicmists, 50 Church Street, New Yox*Is. City 
