1911. 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
11 . IT 
Ruralisms 
Growing Cannas From Seed. 
II. J. M., Amityville, N. Y .—Is there any 
book procurable on the propagation of Can¬ 
nas from seed? 
Ans. —We do not know any book de¬ 
voted exclusively to Canna culture. 
Raising them from seed is a simple pro¬ 
cess. The seeds usually germinate 
slowly, or not at all, unless the hard 
covering is cut or filed, or soaked in 
warm water until softened. After this 
preparation they germinate quickly. Sow 
late in Winter, in pots or shallow 
boxes, with good bottom heat in a 
greenhouse, or, under domestic condi¬ 
tions, in a warm window. As they 
grow prick out, and give plenty of 
room. Cannas are commonly propa¬ 
gated by dividing the rootstock, leaving 
as much tissue as possible with each 
bud. Start in pots in the house or un¬ 
der glass. Stronger plants are secured 
by using more than one bud. 
Baby Rambler Roses. 
L. J. T., Barnards, N. Y.—I saw a 
Baby Rambler rose grown in the house re¬ 
cently. I supposed you always had to set 
them out. Do you think them good bouse 
plants? 
Ans. —1. The little Polyantha roses 
known as Baby Ramblers are very 
easily cared for in the house if condi¬ 
tions are congenial. Like all roses, they 
require abundant light and pure air, 
and are impatient of the dry heat char¬ 
acteristic of many living rooms in Win¬ 
ter. We do not usually recommend roses 
as Winter house plants, because the 
fluctuating temperature, combined with 
intervals of too great heat and dryness, 
often cause loss of leaves and resultant 
failure. However, the Baby Ramblers 
are quite likely to be attractive; they 
are often forced by florists for Winter 
pot plants. They appear to have a value 
outside in dry and arid situations which 
we had hardly realized. We heard re¬ 
cently of a space of a hundred feet or 
more where the red Baby Rambler 
(Mine. Norbert Levavasseur) had been 
planted along a terrace, inside a retain¬ 
ing wall, and though a very dry and 
exposed place the little rose bloomed 
continuously through the Summer, mak¬ 
ing a brilliant show. 
Stock for Grafting Pears. 
J. C., Marlboro, N. Y .—Is it practical to 
graft Buerre Bose pears on Kieffer stock ? 
I intend to plant in the Spring, and would 
like to know what variety to graft Bose 
pears on. 
Ans. —As a general rule, the best way 
to raise a pear tree is to bud the va¬ 
riety desired into a natural seedling. 
The proportion of pear grafting com¬ 
pared with budding is very small as 
practiced in the nurseries of the coun¬ 
try. The nurserymen plant out one- 
year-old natural pear seedlings and bud 
them in July of the same year. Any 
variety may be budded into these seed¬ 
lings, and the scions for the purpose 
may be cut from a young tree, or from 
trees of bearing age. However, Buerre 
Bose does not make up well as a young 
tree, and it is hard to produce straight 
good-looking trees of this variety. This 
is true whether they are grafted or 
budded. It is doubtless understood in 
this connection that grafting is done by 
uniting a piece of the scion of any de¬ 
sired variety to the root of the natural 
seedling. These grafts are made inside 
in the Winter time. Buds, on the other 
hand, are inserted when the scions are 
ripe in the Summer, and the operation 
consists in merely cutting out one eye 
from a scion and slipping it under the 
bark of the seedling while it is grow¬ 
ing. Since Beurre Bose is a poor 
grower, it is not only practicable but 
highly desirable to graft it on to some 
yearling tree about two feet from the 
ground. The height will depend on 
whether the planter wants the tree high 
or low headed. The Kieffer pear is a 
fine grower, and a Kieffer bud properly 
top-grafted to Beurre Bose will throw 
up a fine tree of this latter variety. 
Nurserymen as a rule do not practice 
this method of propagating Beurre Bose 
or varieties of that kind, but the fruit 
grower who can give the matter all the 
necessary attention and care may do so 
with profit. There is no better stock 
for the purpose than the Kieffer. 
M. K. 
Destroying Sow Bugs. 
Sow bugs, or wood lice, are sometimes 
a great nuisance in cold frames or hot¬ 
beds, as well as in greenhouses, eating 
off the succulent growth, and at times 
causing much damage. Mr. Frank Felke 
of Illinois writes the Florists’ Review 
that these creatures (they are not in¬ 
sects, but crustaceans, belonging to the 
same family as lobsters), are very fond 
of rye flour, and he uses this to poison 
them. He mixes two parts of rye flour, 
two parts of sugar and one part Paris 
green, only mixing as much as he in¬ 
tends to use at one time, as it deterior¬ 
ates with keeping. The mixture must 
be dry and free from lumps, or it Is 
unpalatable to the sow bugs. It is scat¬ 
tered along the top of the board edging 
the bench, if in a greenhouse, or may 
be laid on strips of wood in frame or 
hotbed. Mr. Felke says it kills a sur¬ 
prising number of the sow bugs; in a 
single night there are more dead ones 
than the gardener would imagine he hacf 
on his whole place. 
The Peruvian Rain Tree. 
Strange legends of a South American 
tree which may be described (without 
intending a pun) as a natural irrigating 
plant go the rounds of the press from 
time to time. One of these rosy stories 
tells how this tree collects the damp¬ 
ness of the atmosphere and condenses 
it into rain, each tree yielding an aver¬ 
age of nine gallons a day. It sounds 
very hopeful as a means of irrigating 
truck crops; just set a few rain trees 
in the onion bed and laugh at the 
drought. Unfortunately Acting Secre¬ 
tary W. M. Hays of the Department of 
Agriculture takes the color out of this 
rainbow. He says: 
The legend of the rain tree is hundreds 
of years old, and exists in a variety of 
forms. The suggestion to use this tree as 
a means of irrigation in arid climes is also 
very old, and goes the rounds of the news¬ 
papers from time to time. An article pub¬ 
lished in the April, 1911, number of the 
Journal of the Department of Agriculture 
of Victoria (Australia), pages 234 to 235, 
indicates that a so-called rain tree is being 
widely exploited and sold in Australia. It 
is found to be no more efficacious in con¬ 
densing the atmospheric moisture than any 
other freely growing tree. An explanation 
of the common tale of the Peruvian rain 
tree was published by the eminent English 
botanist, W. T. Thiselton Dyer, in Nature, 
volume 17, 1878, pages 349 to 350. It 
appears that at times swarms of cicadas 
settle upon the trees and extract their 
juices, which are showered copiously upon 
the ground. 
MIDDLEDITCH Keroscnc 
ENGINES 
Operate perfectly on common 
coal oil, gasoline, distillate, 
alcohol or any similar liquid 
fuel. Our catalog explains 
why this is safest, simplest, 
most economical and prac¬ 
tical power.. 
Genuine Free Trial 
If it doesn’t satisfy you in 
every way the trial costs 
nothing. Don’tinvest inany 
engine until you get our 
proposition. Write for it now. 
THE MIDDLED ITCH ENGINE CO. 
29 Meldrum Ave., Detroit, Mich. 
Bigger Profits 
With This Power 
More work at less expense and less repair' 
cost than with any other engine made. Let us* 
proveit. Write for Free Leffel Book. Youaronotl 
prepared to buy until you get our proposition. 
Leffel 
Steam 
Eng 
ines 
are the simplest, 
most durable, and 
economical power 
outfits made. Large 
variety of uses. No 
breakdowns, no de¬ 
lays. Don’t decide 
on any outfit until 
you get the LEFFEL; 
FREE BOOK. 
Address 
James LefTel Sc Co. 
Box261 Springfield, 
Kill the 
Scale 
with the one most re¬ 
liable remedy against 
the San Jose Scale. 
Spray NOW with 
BOWKER’S 
LIME-SULPHUR 
Write for Book and Price List to 
BOWKER INSECTICIDE CO. 
SPRAY TREES NOW 
(While they are dormant) 
With SCALIME 
A perfect concentrated lime and sulphur 
spray that has stood the severest tests of the 
experiment stations. Strength guaranteed. 
Being scientifically prepared and always uni¬ 
form, it is far more effective than home-made 
solutions. Stronger titan other brands, it 
will stand more dilution—therefore cheaper. 
SCALIME used nowwill positively control San 
Jose and other scales; destroy eggs of Aphides 
and other pests that winter over on twigs and 
bark, as well as spores of fungus diseases. 
Sold by gooil dealers everywhere. Write 
for leaflet on Fall and Winter Spraying. 
HORTICULTURAL CHEMICAL COMPANY 
131 S. Fourth St., Philadelphia, Pa. 
T Rigs of 
All Sizes 
For All Uses 
The Leader Sprayer 
for up-to-date orchard- 
tsts keeps 10 nozzles go¬ 
ing with 200 lbs. pres¬ 
sure. Most satisfactory 
of all orchard spray rigs. 
Engine suited to gener¬ 
ating power for all farm 
work. Bucket, Barret, 
Mounted 4-Row Potato 
Sprayers, otc. Free 
catalogue describes en¬ 
tire line. Write for it. 
Also spraying formula, 
calendar and complete 
spraying directions. 
Address 
FIELD FORCE PUMP CO., 2 11th St., Elmira. N.Y. 
11M J1 fl h l \ i U i h t \ t b i h l b i h J b } f, i h ? r, H g 
inn mi ii ii ii min mill mill i i 
tJWWMCMPMPACWWMtW'iPiil 
BT ET M f* ET For Lawns, Churches, Cemeteries, Pub- 
rtllvt lie Grounds. 100 Patterns. Write for 
special offer and our free handsome Pattern Book. 
THE WARD FENCE CO.. Box 045 Decatur, Ind. 
GREAT CROP RESULTS 
from the use of Martin’s Animal Bone and Tankage 
Fertilizers force us to operate a third factory; total 
capacity, 200,000 tons. Seven large abattoirs and 
stockyards furnish the bulk of our raw materials. 
Agents and farmers constantly assure us that our 
fertilizers give the best results of any ever tested 
and that they sell more than of any ever handled. 
Agents and farmers wanting strictly independent 
animal matter fertilizers, with exclusive selling 
erritory. should arrange with us NOW. 
D. B, MARTIN GO. building Pittsburgh, Pa. 
TRADE MARK REGISTERED IN U. S. PATENT OFFICE- 
. . . MANUFACTURED ONLY BY . , . 
*Ihe Rogers <5* Hubbard Co., 
Middletown, Conn. 
Send for free Almanac telling all about 
Hubbard’s “ Bone Base” Fertilizers. 
Dollars Take 
The Place of 
Stumps 
$750 extra crop-profits every year on 
40 acres and double value of land when 
stumps are pulled out. Let us prove 
it. Write now for new, fine, free book 
showing testimony of Hercules Stump- 
Puller owners. See actual photos of 
3-foot stumps pulled in less than 5 min¬ 
utes. All steel, means unbreakable 
strength—triple power, means terrific 
pull. More pull them a tractor. The 
HERCULES 
All-Steol Triple Power 
Stump Puller 
Sold on 30 days’ free trial—all broken cast¬ 
ings replaced free any time within 3 years. 
Double safety ratchets insure safety of 
men and team. Careful machining and 
turning of parts means long life and light 
draft. 00% lighter in weight and 400% 
stronger than any cast iron or “semi-steel” 
puller made. Get the genuine Hercules— 
save money—prevent danger. Can be used 
single, double or triple power. 
Book Free and 
Special Proposition 
Read astounding profit-facts and figures 
in free book. See many letters ana pho¬ 
tographs. Read about best crops to plant 
in virgin land where stumps stood. Read 
how others do contract stump-pulling for 
neighbors or rent machine at a profit. 
Then note special low introductory price 
to first 5,000 buyers in different localities. 
Mall postal right now or takedown name 
and address. 
Hercules 
Mfjgr. Com 
Centerville, 
130 nth 
Street 
HITSELMAN FENCE 
Sold direct to you at factory 
prices on 30 days trial. Savo 
tho dealers pront. Farm, Hog 
and Poultry Fence at from 
1 1)4 CENTS A ROD UP. 
All wires are heavily galvanized 
80 rod spool of Ideal galvanized 
Barbed Wire $1.40. Wrlto 
to-day for large free Catalog showing 
100 different styles and heights of fencing 
Box 230 KITSELMAN BROS. MUNCIE, IND. 
Cream Separator Agents and 
Dealers Catering to the Farm Trade 
A splendid paying side line awaits you. Exclus¬ 
ive territory and private publicity matter fur¬ 
nished. A letter brings full details. Write quick. 
V.S.C. Co., 226 High Ave., Cleveland, Ohio 
WISHER STEEL HAND CART 
Platform hangs low;rides level. 
Will hold four 40-qt.. milk cans. 
Tips forward like warehouse 
tnick. W ill tu rn clear over to 
dump load. Fitted with large 
body for farmers. 
. . . Write for Prices . . . 
WISNER MFG. CO.. 
230 Greenwich St., New York 
Low-Down Steel Wheel Wagons 
Are fast replacing the high farm wagons for 
general farm work. The reason is plain. The 
Low-Down wagon makes easier work for the 
man anti no harder for the team. One man 
can do most of his farm work alone with the 
Low-Down wagon. Get our free catalogue. 
HAVANA METAL WHEEL CO., BOX 17 HAVANA, ILL. 
800 GALLONS 
OR 
1500 GALLONS? 
it to any It. R. Station in 
$16.00; 10-gal. cans, $6.75 ; 
A few years ago the N. Y. Experiment Station started out to prove that “Scalecide” was too expensive, but they 
found that in orchard work 9 gals, of “Scalecide” went as far as 17 gals, of Lime-Sulfur. This being the case, a barrel 
of “Scalecide” which makes 800 gals, of spray at the strongest strength, will go as far and do better work than 1500 
gals, of Lime-Sulfur spray, which will require 3)4 barrelsof the best Lime-Sulfur. TheMissouri Experiment Station 
reports that “Scalecide” killed 100# of scale In 5 out of 7 tests. Lime Sulfur did not do it once in 10tests in the same 
orchard. “Scalecide” has greater fungicidal properties than Lime-Sulfur as a Winter wash. Apostal request to 
Dept.“N” will bring by return mail, free, our book, “Modern Methods of Harvesting, Grading and Packing Apples,” 
and new booklet, “ Scalecide—the Tree-Saver.” If your dealer cannot supply you with “Scalecide.” we will deliver 
the U. S. east of the Mississippi and north of the Ohio Rivers on receipt of price. 50-gal. bbls., $25.00; 30-gal. bbls., 
5-gal cans, $3.75. Address, B. G. Pratt Company, 50 Church Street, New York City. 
