1913. 
TIT It; RURAL NEW-YORKER 
737 
Ruralisms 
PRODUCING DOUBLE PETUNIAS AND 
PORTULACAS. 
1. Wliat is the Petunia crossed with 
to produce the double flowering kinds? 
How is it done? 2. Is the double 
l’ortulaca produced by cross fertilization 
or selection? How are they produced and 
why do they revert back to single so 
soon? w. J. G. w. 
Bartlett, Tenn. 
1. All flowers not naturally double have 
a tendency to revert to the single form, 
and the doubling must be fixed by care¬ 
ful selection. Mendel’s theory of unit 
characters, otherwise allelomorphic pairs, 
may be used to explain the reversion to 
single form, but is not very helpful to 
the average layman. By selection or 
“rogueing” small variations in plants or 
animals are gradually made into a specific 
difference, and permanently fixed. In 
doubling, however, some or the sporo- 
phylls or spore-bearing leaves (for the 
flower itself is a botanical transmutation 
of the leaf) are lost, and thus the 
power of reproduction is lessened. This 
varies, to some degree, according to the 
natural structure of the flower. Many 
double flowers are entirely sterile and 
cannot be propagated by seed. The dou¬ 
ble Petunias do not bear seed, hence 
pollen from double forms is applied to 
emasculated single flowers. The result 
is that a considerable percentage of the 
progeny is single, but these singles are 
of superior color and form. Most com¬ 
mercial dealers sow “double” seed only 
for their plant trade, thus getting a 
proportion of doubles and a superior 
strain of singles from the one lot of 
seed. Careful gardeners propagate dou¬ 
ble Petunias by cuttings, especially 
where desired for conservatory decora¬ 
tion, but such cuttings do not invariably 
give double flowers. The Petunia has 
been amenable to hand pollenization 
both with members of its own immediate 
family, and with its relative Nicotiana, 
to which species the tobacco belongs. 
Petunias have been wonderfully improved 
by this artificial pollenization, followed 
by careful selection, some California hy¬ 
bridizers being especially successful, and a 
number of decorative forms have been 
secured, other than the doubles. Hand 
pollenization of Petunias is done as in 
the case of other flowers; the blooms 
selected are carefully emasculated before 
opening, and treated with pollen trans¬ 
ferred- from the desired flower when 
the stigmas are receptive, after which the 
treated flower is covered with a bag 
until the seed is safely formed. If un¬ 
acquainted with such work you will find 
“Plant Breeding,” by Prof. L. II. Bailey 
(price $1.25), very helpful, as it de¬ 
scribes such processes in full. 
2. We have had no experience in 
breeding Portulacas, beyond selecting 
seed from especially desirable plants. In 
our experience the fullest of the double 
Portulacas gave a sparing yield of seed, 
some being entirely sterile, and we 
imagine that careful and persistent se- 
1‘Ction is needed to procure a good strain. 
It is probable that the Bureau of Plant 
Industry, II. S. Department of Agricul¬ 
ture, Washington, could give you further 
information as to plant-breeding work 
connected with both flowers. E. 'r. it. 
BARBERRIES FROM CUTTINGS. 
On page 635 there is an article on 
propagating Japan barberry in which you 
Mato it can be done either by cuttings 
or layers. Will you explain how it 
should be done with cuttings? 
Worcester, Mass. h. e. s. 
Make cuttings of ripe wood in tht Fall, 
at the time when leaves have made full 
growth, so that they will part from 
the stem without injuring adjacent buds. 
The cuttings should be from six to 10 
inches long, and are set deeply, with 
just an inch or two above the surface. 
P>e sure that the soil is packed very 
firmly about the base of the cutting; 
in many cases this firming of the soil 
at the bottom is the whole secret of 
success. In a small garden it is often 
convenient to set the cuttings where 
1 h p y are to remain permanently; a deep 
loamy soil, well worked, is desirable. 
■ u Setting in nursery rows, a line is 
placed and a trench opened by insert¬ 
ing a spade full depth and pressing it 
over to make a V-shaped opening; the 
cuttings are placed along the straight 
cute, two to four inches apart, and the 
«oil then drawn against them, well 
tamped at the bottom of the trench 
No manure should be used. A light 
mulch of litter may be put over the 
cuttings after the ground freezes, merely 
to prevent heaving, but there should be 
no harbor for mice. Root formation 
begins, in such plants, at a low tem¬ 
perature, and there is soil warmth below 
while conditions for growth are not 
favorable above ground. A great va¬ 
riety of other shrubs and trees may be 
propagated in the same way as the bar¬ 
berries. 
THE CURRANT BORER. 
I am sending you a branch broken 
from a currant bush. I noticed that some 
of the branches bore smaller leaves and 
fruit than others, and these soon with¬ 
ered, and finally dried up. On breaking 
the branch, I found the pith gone*, and 
in its place a fine black powder. Split¬ 
ting the stem, I found the enclosed worm. 
Will you tell me what it is, and if any¬ 
thing can be done for it? 
I sank a tin can in my garden with 
a small hole in it, filling the can with 
water. A few days ago, when the water 
was low, I found a quantity of cut worms 
had crawled through the hole into the 
can to be drowned. This may be a good 
thing to know. m. d. 
Revere, Mass. 
The marauder in this case is the 
currant borer, which causes injury, and 
sometimes death to both currants and 
gooseberries. The first season of attack 
the infested stalks look unthrifty, and 
the following season they fail to leaf 
out. The parent of the borer is a small 
clear-winged moth; the borer a yellowish 
grub. It works through the center of 
the cane, hibernating near the base of 
the stalk, resuming its work in Spring. 
In June the moth emerges through a 
hole which is cut by the borer before it 
transforms. The only method of con¬ 
trol is cutting and burning the infested 
stalks, as the enclosed grub is out of 
the reach of insecticides. Go over the 
bushes in Spring and Fall, cutting out 
at the base any stalks that by reason 
of their withered or unthrifty appearance 
suggest the presence of the borer. Regu¬ 
lar pruning aids in the control of the 
borer, while benefiting the bushes. 
CATERPILLAR QUESTIONS. 
Is it possible that our common cater¬ 
pillar and the Gypsy or Brown-tail moths 
interbreed? The nests have a different 
appearance here this Spring. The 
Brown-tails seem to be in the caterpillar 
nests. If they should interbreed would 
not that have a tendency to run the 
Brown-tails out? a. d. l. 
Carlisle, Mass. 
We are in somewhat of a quandary as 
to what the correspondent means by “our 
common caterpillar,” for a good many 
caterpillars seem to be fairly common this 
year. Perhaps the Apple-tree tent-cater¬ 
pillar, however, is the most noticeable 
one throughout the couutry this season. 
It builds white, tent-like, silken nests in 
the crotches of apple trees, cherry trees 
and other fruit trees. It bids fair in 
some localities, to completely defoliate 
many of the trees upon which it is 
present. The Apple-tree tent-caterpillar 
belongs to the family, Lasiocampidie 
while the Brown-tail moth and the 
Gypsy moth belong to the family Lipari- 
da>. In other words, these moths are not 
closely related and, therefore, they would 
certainly not be apt to interbreed in na¬ 
ture. In fact, we would undoubtedly be 
safe in saying that the Gypsy and 
Brown-tail moths do not interbreed with 
the moths of the Apple-tree tent-caterpil¬ 
lars. We are also safe in going S3 far 
as to say that the Gypsy and Brown-tail 
moths, although they belong to the same 
family and are fairly closely related, do 
not interbreed. At least, no one has ever 
observed them to do so and all the ob¬ 
servations that have been made on the 
habits and life histories of these insects 
substantiate such a conclusion. Although 
those two moths exist in the same terri¬ 
tory side by side in New England, yet 
each remains very separate and distinct 
from the other in habits, life history, 
color, size, shape, and other distinctive 
features. 
Inbreeding or crossing between two 
widely separated species of animals tends 
to destroy the species itself. Just as the 
correspondent says, if the common cater¬ 
pillars did interbreed with the Brown- 
tail moths the tendency would be to “run 
the Brown-tails out.” This is contrary to 
nature, for in nature there is an t ffort 
always to preserve the species. There¬ 
fore, in nature, interbreeding is avoided 
as a general rule. There seem to be some 
exceptions to this rule among insects, for 
there are certain forms of butterflies that 
are supposed to be hybrids between two 
different species. Perhaps there are just 
enough exceptions to prove the rule. 
g'lENN W. IIEKRICK. 
Cutworm Poison. —Apparently cut¬ 
worms are not doing as much damage 
this year as last. Be ready for them 
when they do appear. A poisoned bait 
is best. The following suggestion is 
taken from Bulletin 112 of the Florida 
Experiment Station: 
“A poison bait that has been used 
satisfactorily by truck-growers in 
Florida is made by mixing bran with 
Paris green in the proportions of one 
pound of the latter to 50 of bran. It 
should be mixed dry, and then moistened 
with enough water (to which a little 
sugar or syrup has been added) to make 
the whole mass wet but .not sloppy. A 
little of this can be placed near each 
plant which it is desired to protect. 
The worms seem to prefer this bran 
even to green vegetation. It will require 
about 10 pounds of the bait per acre. 
In New Zealand they use salt instead of 
sugar or syrup in the water with which 
the bran is moistened. Just enough salt 
is used to enable one to taste it in the 
water. Some truck-growers prefer to 
use cotton-seed meal instead of bran. 
In this case they use about a teaspoonful 
of Paris green to a quart of meal.” 
“Do you think that your son has any 
ambitions to be a merchant prince?” 
“No; he says that he will be very well 
contented with the profits of a middle¬ 
man.”—Buffalo Express. 
“Now, Tommy,” said Mrs. Bull, “I 
want you to be good while I am out.” 
“I’ll be good for five cents,” replied 
Tommy. “Tommy,” she said, “I want 
you to remember that you cannot be a 
son of mine unless you are good for 
nothing.”—Credit Lost. 
“I HEV come to tell yez, Mrs. Malone, ! 
that yer husband met with an accident.” 
“An’ what is it now?” wailed Mrs. Ma¬ 
lone. “He was overcome by the heat, 
mum.” “Overcome by the heat, was he? 
An’ how did it happen?” "He fell into 
the furnace over at the foundrv, mum.”— 
Tit-Bits. 
When you write advertisers mention Tiie 
U. N.-Y. and you'll get a quick reply and a 
“square deal. See guarantee editorial page. 
MEMORY IMPROVED 
Since Leaving Off Coffee. 
Many persons suffer from poor mem¬ 
ory who never suspect coffee has anything 
to do with it. 
The drug—caffeine—in coffee, acts in¬ 
juriously on the nerves and heart, caus¬ 
ing imperfect circulation, too much blood 
in the brain at one time, too little in an¬ 
other part. This often causes a dullness 
which makes a good memory nearly im¬ 
possible. 
“I am nearly 70 years old and did not 
know that coffee was the cause of the 
stomach and heart trouble I suffered from 
for many years, until about four years 
ago,” writes a Ivans, woman. 
“A kind neighbor induced me to quit 
coffee and try Postum. I had been suf¬ 
fering severely and was greatly reduced 
in flesh. After using Postum a little 
while I found myself improving. My 
heart beats became regular and now I 
seldom ever notice any symptoms of my 
old stomach trouble at all. My nerves 
are steady and my memory decidedly bet¬ 
ter than while I was using coffee. 
“I like the taste of Postum fully as 
well as coffee.” 
Name given by Postum Co., Battle 
Creek, Mich. Write for booklet, “The 
Road to WeUviHe.” 
Postum comes in two forms. 
Regular (must be boiled). 
Instant Postum doesn’t require boiling 
but is prepared instantly by stirring a 
level teaspoonful in an ordinary cup of 
hot water, which makes it right for most 
persons. 
A big cup requires more and some 
people who like strong things put in a 
heaping spoonful and temper it with a 
large supply of cream. 
Experiment until you know the amount 
that pleases your palate and have it 
served that way in the future. 
“There’s a Reason” for I’ostum. 
Make $4 to $8 more per acre from your Peas, 
Timothy, Clover, Alfalfa, Flax, Vetch, Etc., Etc. 
Don't knock olt the seed and leaves with a 
rake or tedder. Equip your mower with a 
“THORNBURGH” 
Sido-Oolivory 
BUNCHER AND WINDROWER 
Saves all the seed and leaves and half the 
labor. Does away with extra trips over the 
Held with dump-rake, side-delivery-rake and 
tedder. Crop Is deposited to side out of the way 
of mower and team on next round and Is left 
in loose hollow bunches or windrows, heads 
and leaves in center and the stems, which 
hold the sap, sticking out. 
NO BLEACHING—CURES QUICKER—FITS ANY MOWER 
NO SEED OR LEAVES WASTED 
If you are not one of the 100,000 satisfied 
users, write today for free catalog and give 
your Dealer’s name. 
THE THORNBURGH MFG. CO. 
Dept. H BOWLING GREEN. OHIO 
Saves a Man and Team 
Operated 
by the man 
on the load. 
Operated with 
gasoline 
engine. 
Drum holds 
240 ft of rope. 
Ireland Hay Hoist 
A powerful machine that saves time and labor in 
storing hay and in other hoisting. Used In con¬ 
nection with harpoon fork or sling. Attach it to 
your own engine. Works strongly and steadily. 
Safe and easy to operate. Under instant control. 
Pulley to suit your engine. Guaranteed as rep¬ 
resented. Write for circular and prices. 
IRELAND MACHINE * FOUNDRY CO., Inc. 
Box 14, Norwich, New York. 
Profit by Spraying 
Get Free Book. Banish disease and blight 
— kill Insects. Use sprayer that does most 
wo u£ Brown’s Auto Spray T 
Has Auto Pop Nozzle. Most powerful, 
eltielent, economical tor light work. 40 
sizes and styles—hand and power outfits. v 
Blown s Non-Clog Atomic Nozzle for larger sprayers. 
THE E. C. BROWN CO. 
28 Jay Street_Rochester, N. Y. 
Calendar and CD EC 
Directions lllLk 
CHDAY 
|v If ljk I We make Bucket, Barrel. 
ll| w w Knapsack, 4-Row Potato 
Um p Sprayers, Power Orchard Rigs — 
P Sprayers of all kinds for all purposes. 
Automatic liquid agitators and strainer cleaners— 
up-to-date sprayer line. Ask for free spraying book. 
FIELD FORCE PUMP CO., 2 1 I th St., Elmira, N. Y. 
Our Improved 1913 
ACRE-AN-HOUR SIFTER 
bents every hand implement for killing Potato 
Bugs* Cabtwge Worms, etc. Applies Plaster, 
Lime, etc., mixed with Paris Green or Arsenate 
of Lead. Regulates to cover big or little plants, 
also to apply any quantitv of any kind of 
manufactured dry Insecticides. Will operate 
as fast as desired. Better, easier and faster 
than any $5, $10,or $l5spray pump. Insiston 
your dealer showing you this wonderful little 
implement. Prepaid, ?5c. Circulars. 
At’ Ik E-AN -HO 1' U SIFTER CO. 
Dept, B, Poughkeepsie, N. Y. 
IT PAYS TO USE 
FARMOGERM 
THE STANDARD INOCULATION 
BEWARE OF IMITATORS 
ON SOY BEANS - COW PEAS 
VETCH - CLOVERS - ALFALFA 
FREE BOOK NO. 64 
ERP-THOMAS FARMOGERM CO.. BLOOMFIELD, N. J. 
THRESHERS 
HORSE POWERS 
SAW MACHINES 
ENSILAGE CUTTERS 
GASOLINE ENGINES 
Don’t bun any of the above till you get our Catalog and 
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Catalog full of pictures. A. W. GRAY’S SONS, 
14 South Street, Middletown Springs, Vt. 
Protect Your Hay! 
ery pound of hay spoiled by rain or rust 
or mildew is money thrown away . 
Rust-Proof Metal Stack Covers 
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These corrugated galvanized Metal Stack covers 
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together. Two boys cover a stack 20x40 feet in a few minutes. 
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Farmer Agents Wanted. Write today for descriptive 
circular, prices and special terms to Farmer Agents. 
Metal Cover Co. f n s. Despiaines st., Chicago 
