2 04 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
March 28, 
Ruralisms 
Phloxes Grow in Favor. — The 
hardy perennial Phloxes of the P. pani- 
culata and P. maculata groups have rap¬ 
idly grown in favor, and are now num¬ 
bered among the most popular of herba¬ 
ceous flowering plants. Breeders have 
been active, and the old purple and ma¬ 
genta-colored varieties with their long, 
loose heads of small flowers, some of 
which were constantly dropping, have 
been replaced by new kinds of stocky 
growth, producing dense rounded pani¬ 
cles, often nearly a foot broad, of large, 
richly colored blooms, in great variety 
of tints and shadings, ranging from the 
purest of white through every shade of 
rose and purple to flaming crimson, al¬ 
most scarlet in its brilliant effect. Habit 
and foliage are also much improved, the 
newer kinds growing from one to nearly 
three feet high and the blooming season 
extended from midsummer until frost. 
Perennial Phloxes are easily grown in 
any fairly moist soil, but tlmve best in 
deep well-manured loams. They are 
very hardy, needing little or no protec¬ 
tion, but the crowns are likely to be 
injured by standing water in Winter. 
They should be planted in full sun and 
need little care after establishing, com¬ 
ing up every season and blooming pro¬ 
fusely for many weeks. In damp and 
shady situations there is sometimes trou¬ 
ble from leaf mildew, but with ample 
sunlight and good air drainage they are 
among the most satisfactory of plants. 
Best results are had by dividing the 
clumps every third or fourth season, 
taking vigorous sprouts with roots at¬ 
tached from the outer parts of the mass 
to form the new plants. This is best 
done soon after growth starts in 
Spring. Propagation is also effected by 
cuttings of the flowering shoots in Sum¬ 
mer, rooted in sand under glass or in 
partial shade. These make neat little 
plants by Fall, but are best wintered 
under frames, as the short roots render 
them liable to heaving by frost if plant¬ 
ed out. New varieties are raised from 
seeds, which grow best if sown outside 
as soon as ripe, and exposed to the wind, 
snow and frost of Winter. Seedlings 
come mostly in undesirable purple 
shades, but as cross-pollinization freely 
occurs by the aid of insects when sev¬ 
eral varieties are planted together, there 
is always a chance of getting some 
pleasing kinds. 
Some of the Best Varieties. —In the 
newer varieties the blooms have been 
greatly improved in texture and last¬ 
ing quality as well as in size and purity 
of coloring. Certain of the more com¬ 
pact ones can well be used for cutting, 
as the florets no longer drop at a touch 
as in many of the older kinds, and the 
panicles do not so readily droop when 
placed in water. Some of the best ones 
that have come to our notice are: 
Mine. P. Langier, bright carmine, older 
florets do not change color, very lasting 
and showy; Semiramis, peach color, 
white center; Edmond Rostand, deep 
violet red, shading to white at edge, 
very large; Eiffel Tower, tall upright 
grower, soft clear rose, darker edge, 
very fine; La Nuit, dwarf, rich* dark 
red; Independence, pure white, early 
blooming. F. G. Von Lanburg, the 
largest flowering white variety in culti¬ 
vation; Coquelicot, the brightest red, 
almost pure scarlet with darker eye; 
very brilliant. There are other good 
ones, but the above collection is one of 
which the beginner may well be proud 
if successful in their culture. Prices 
range from 15 to 25 cents each, and 
plants may be had from most hardy 
plant dealers. The most effective dis¬ 
plays are made by planting in masses 
of one color, but single clumps look 
well in many situations in lawn, border, 
or old-fashioned garden. 
Water Your Hens. —As a rule the 
larger animals about farms receive 
reasonable attention as regards water 
supply. Horses are watered before feed¬ 
ing and on their way to and from work. 
Hogs get their slop; sheep, though bet¬ 
ter able to withstand a scanty moisture 
supply when in pasture, are generally 
looked after when housed or herded. 
Cows demand a copious water supply 
and show at once deficiency in moisture 
by proportionate shrinkage in milk pro¬ 
duction. Every dairyman knows that if 
his milkers are dry in the stomach they 
go dry at the pail and that good water 
must be not only plentifully supplied 
but given at a comfortable temperature 
or the milk yield will at once suffer. 
Amateur poultry keepers, however, do 
not appear generally impressed with the 
importance of a constant and plentiful 
supply of clean water at temperatures 
not too far below the hen’s body tem¬ 
perature, which is higher than that of 
mammals. While often giving food in 
abundance they neglect to renew the 
water supply, which may rapidly become 
foul, chilled or frozen during severe 
weather or entirely exhausted if the 
fowls are closely housed or yarded. 
The consequent egg shrinkage is usually 
attributed to other causes when it might 
have been avoided by filling the recep¬ 
tacles two or three times a day with 
pure, well-warmed water. When a hen 
parches in a dry yard or building or 
“rustles” among snow and ice for her 
water supply, so vitally needed, the egg- 
producing function is likely to be dimin¬ 
ished or for a time suspended. The 
same rule applies to growing chickens 
and other poultry. If good water is not 
constantly accessible they cannot thrive. 
Ducks and geese will have their water, 
though not necessarily in quantity suffi¬ 
cient to swim in, or they will make the 
welkin ring with their cries, but fowls 
and turkeys suffer in silence. Many a 
tender-hearted amateur allows, through 
sheer ignorance, her chicks and hens, to 
suffer torments of thirst in sweltering 
weather and ignores the no less urgent 
call for moisture during periods of keen 
frost. Hens drink astonishing amounts 
of water in hot weather, if it is con¬ 
stantly available, and quickly droop 
when it is denied them. It wrings one’s 
heart to see panting fowls confined in 
an arid and possibly shadeless inclosure, 
with a dry drinking fountain on a hot 
day. The writer can scarcely be classed 
with hen cranks. He has little personal 
liking for these untidy and destructive 
creatures and would gladly dispense 
with them were it always possible to buy 
good poultry products, but when the re¬ 
sponsibility of caring for helpless 
animals is assumed, he feels no effects 
should be spared to master and carry 
out every detail needed for their thrift 
and comfort. 
The Harwell Apple. —In May, 1896, 
the Tennessee Experiment Station is¬ 
sued a bulletin (Vol. IX, No. 1) on 
apples of Tennessee origin, by Prof. 
R. L. Watts, now of Pennsylvania. The 
varieties described, with few excep¬ 
tions, such as Ben Davis and Paragon, 
were local and generally untested out 
of the State. As some of these little 
known ones appeared to have promise 
as Winter varieties farther north 
scions were procured from accredited 
sources in the Winter of 1897, grafted 
on selected seedling stocks, and the 
young trees transferred two years later 
to the Rural Grounds, where they have 
made good growth. The most thrifty 
one of the lot is Harwell, from Pulaski 
Giles Co„ Tenn. This also has the local 
sjnonym of Ball’s Choice. The tree is 
now, under indifferent sod culture, about 
18 feet high, with a trunk six inches 
through. The habit is upright and mod¬ 
erately spreading with dark, slender 
young wood. A few apples were 
borne last year, one of which is shown 
in Fig. 124, page 287. This specimen 
had been defaced by some fruit-eating 
insect, but was otherwise a fair sample 
in size and form. The color when ma¬ 
ture is yellow-green, with red shadings 
and a few small russet patches—an 
honest-looking but not showy fruit— 
flesh, light yellow, good texture; flavor, 
mild, pleasant, sub-acid. The quality is 
fair, and it appears a good keeper, the 
apples being very firm in late January 
when tested, under ordinary cellar con¬ 
ditions. It may possibly have value for 
home and cooking purposes, or for local 
markets, vv. v. E. 
THE DEYO 
POWER SPRAYER 
It is protected from spray mixture. Our 3-Ii. P. 
air-cooled engine can be easily detached and used 
where ever power is needed. Six years of success. 
Ask the user. Write for catalog 19. 
R. H. DEYO & COMPANY., 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¬ 
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 larpe 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, Mich. 
Farmers! You Should Spray 
Spraying is cheap but effective 
insurance against crop destruction— 
the best policy is a 
DEMING 
Sprayer 
Eighteen styles, built 
for hard service with 
brass working parts tliroughout^- 
not affected by chemical action. 
Consult your own interests and 
investigate the “ Denting.” 
(Had to send our Nineteen Eight 
catalogue and “ Expert Testi¬ 
mony " on request. 
THE DEMINU COMPANY 
615 Depot ISt., Salem, Ohio. 
Jarvis’s Spraying Compound 
for SAN JOSE SCALE. 
We make and have this compound for sale and will 
sell it to the consumer for the following prices f.o.h. 
Manchester. Conn., CASH to accompany order:— 
In bbls. containing 50 gallons, 3<>c. per gal. 
Less than bbl. and more than 5 gal., 40c. per gal. 
Five gallon lots and less, 50c. per gal. 
Order your supply NOW. 
THE J. T. ROBERTSON CO., 
(Dept. R.) Manchester, Conn. 
IT PAYS TO 
SPRAY 
The Iron Age 4-row Sprayer 
gives perfect satisfaction. Puts solu¬ 
tion just where needed and in fog¬ 
like mist. Pump delivers spray under 
high pressure, thus reaching every 
part of vine, effectual ly kill¬ 
ing bugs and preventing 
blight. Has Orchard 
Spraying attach¬ 
ment. Write for 
free Catalog 
illustrating 
Sprayer 
and 
other 
Iron Age 
Tools. 
A postal brings 
U, Write today. 
, Iron Age 
Four Row Sprayer 
BATEMAN MFG.CO.,Box I02S Grenloch,NJ. 
Nitrate of Soda 
NITRATE SOLD IN 
ORIGINAL BAGS 
The Nitrate Agencies 
Company 
64 Stone Street, New York 
Orders for All Quantities Promptly 
Pilled-Write for Quotations 
P POWER 
SPRAYER 
is equipped with the famous 
“NEW WAY” Air-Cooled ENGINE 
Fruit of quality 
follows this 
Quality Sprayer. 
Raise the Quality 
—Increase the 
Value ofYour Fruit. 
high grade 
the “NEW 
WAY ” is a 
whirl wind. 
Complete 
in every 
detail, and 
the engine 
is invalu¬ 
able for 
other 
work. 
WRITE US FOR CATALOG No. 5. 
14o Sheridan Street. 
SanJose Scale 
BLIGHT,CANKER, 
I and all DISEASES 
of Trees, as well as shield lice, blood lice and other 
Insects prevented by painting trunks of trees with 
AVENARIUS CARBOLINEUM. 
Used to PRESERVE WOOD against rot and decay, 
nnd also to exterminate CHICKEN LICE and 
MITES, since 1875. Circulars free. 
CARBOLINEUM WOOD PRESERVING CO., 
351 West Broadway, New York. N. Y 
For Rapid, Easy Spraying—The 
**AlltO-Pop” nozzle 
Slight pressure on lever starts dense 
spray. Automatic shut-off. Doubles ca¬ 
pacity. Saves solution, time, labor. 
INCREASE THE CROPS 
by using: the “Auto-Pop" nozzle on 
the “Auto-Spray" pump. 
Write if you want agency. 
E, C. Brown Co., 88j»yst., Rochester, N. T, 
THE PERFECTION SPRAYER 
Sprays Everything —trees, potatoes, etc. Furnished 
complete with Cart and Barrel. Combined hand and 
horse power. Don’t buy until you get my catalogue. Free. 
THOMAS FEPRLER,Box45,Hightstown,N.J. 
Have RunningWatei" 
In house, stable and anywhere else, If 
there’s a brook, spring or pond near you. 
Power Specialty Co.’s 
Free Book about Rife and Foster 
Uydreuilo Rams will tell you bow 
ly, simple and inexpensive it is. Rami 
pump water to any height. They pump 
water by water power. No trouble or ex- 
i pense to maintain. Write Today tow 
FREE BOOK of suggestions. 
POWER SPECIALTY COIPANT, 111 Broadway, New York City 
DRILLING & 
PROSPECTING MACHINES. 
Fastest drillers known. Great money earners I 
LOOMIS MACHINE CO.. TIFFIN; OHIO. 
Well 
STICKNEY GASOLINE ENGINES 
ARE THE 
•the engine with an 
OUTSIDE IGNITER 
•Stationary 
Portable and 
Wood Sawing 
Outfits 
SEND FOR CATALOG 
GHAS. A. STICKNEY CO., - 55 Batterymaroh St., Boston 
THE 
“Farmer’s Favorite” 
Cooker for Preparing Spraying 
Mixtures and for Sugar Making 
Just what is needed by every 
—tt -,.->1 fruit grower and farmer. It’s 
cheap and economical, and can 
* be used lor many other pur¬ 
poses, such as preserving fruit, 
sterilizing miik cans, scalding 
poultry, etc. We guarantee sat¬ 
isfaction or money refunded. 
Write for illustrated circular 
MFG. CO., BOX C, CORTLAND, N. Y. 
is the name of the most accurate and dur¬ 
able Hand Seed Sower on the mar- 
iKket. Sows 4 to 5 acres per hour. 
kWrlte for new booklet/‘Sowing 
for Results” and 50th anniver¬ 
sary souvenir. 
GOOllELL COMPANY 
14 Main St., Antrim, N. H., 
HAS MADE SPRAYING EASY YOUR ^TREES ? LECT 
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: lgal., 51.00; 5 gal., 53.25; 10 gal., 6.00; 50 gal. bbl., 525.00, F. O. B. 
our factory. Order to-day. Write for booklet N and free sample.__ < __ — __ —1 
B. G. PRATT CO.. Mfg. Chemists, 
11 Broadway, New York City. 
i 
