079 
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'Tue; rural new-yorkek 
Ruralisms 
POPULAR PLANTS AND THEIR CARE. 
Crimson Rambler. —The Crimson 
Rambler with its newer form, Philadel¬ 
phia, is more generally known than any 
other rose. Its sterling qualities have 
won for it a position of esteem in the 
gardens of every country where beauti¬ 
ful flowers are appreciated. With all 
its merit, however, this Rambler at cer¬ 
tain seasons of the year, in some places, 
presents a very unsightly appearance. 
This usually occurs immediately after the 
passing of the flowers, the foliage be¬ 
coming yellow and lifeless and badly 
eaten by insects. Instead of making a 
new growth with dark, glossy leaves, 
such as the varieties Dorothy Perkins 
and American Pillar are noted for. the 
bush, which was a marvel of vigor in 
CRIMSON RAMBLER, TRELLIS 
EFFECT. Fig. 373. 
the early Summer, begins to decline. 
This is positive evidence that the Ram¬ 
bler has not received proper treatment. 
To prevent this condition care should be 
taken that the soil about the root of the 
plant be well enriched with manure in 
the Spring. A climbing rose making 
rapid growth requires much fertility, and 
when it begins to feel the lack of it, 
suffers at once. A Crimson Rambler 
needs an abundance of water, not only 
at the root, but the foliage should be 
syringed with the hose as well. This is 
done for the purpose of preventing the 
attacks of red spider upon the under 
side of the leaves. This little marauder 
multiplies rapidly and is capable in a 
short time, of playing havoc with the 
foliage of a healthy rose. It cannot bear 
the “upper-cut” application of the water 
from the hose and that treatment soon 
puts him to rout. Aphis, or green fly 
11Y I) IIA X G E A A It BO RE SCE N S 
GRANDIFLORA. Fig. 374. 
frequently troubles the new shoots of the 
plant and does the tender, succulent 
growths much injury. A dose of tobacco 
dust or an application of nicotine extract 
diluted with water, will make short 
work of this enemy. Immediately after 
the blooms are spent, the dead clusters 
should be removed; then, with a light 
mulch of manure placed about the stalk 
"l the Rambler and a daily syringing 
given the foliage, this operation usually 
making enough water for the root, there 
is absolutely no reason why the rose 
should become diseased, but a certainty 
'Hat a vigorous, rampant growth, like 
shown in Fig. 373, will be maintained 
i he season through. 
1 orch Boxes and Hanging Baskets. 
I his form of porch decoration is now 
more popular than ever. To be success¬ 
ful with a window garden, of course the 
box should be filled with light, rich soil. 
This is the great fundamental factor in 
the rearing of all plants, and the one 
upon which later results are most de¬ 
pendent. Before filling the box, care 
should be taken that holes are bored in 
the bottom to permit the escape of sur¬ 
plus water and thus establish perfect 
drainage. The depth of the box should 
be no more than eight inches and for 
durability, cypress, assisted by a coat of 
either white or green paint, should be 
selected. If the garden is to be exposed 
to the full sun, such plants as ferns, 
Fuchsias, Rex Begonias and ivies should 
not be chosen, as these particular plants 
require at least partial shade for their 
better welfare. Dracaenas, geraniums, 
Vincas, flowering Begonias and Coleus, 
etc., are better suited to places exposed 
to the sun. The plants must be set 
rather close, the fine soil being tamped 
firmly about the root of each with the 
fingers, in order to impart an appearance 
of fulness, as a sparsely filled box cannot 
look well under any circumstances. 
When finished too much water should 
not be given; in a water-logged condi¬ 
tion nothing can thrive. The greatest 
charm of the hanging basket lies in the 
gracefully drooping vines and ferns. 
Hanging under the shade of the veranda 
as a rule, ferns and ivies can be used 
for this purpose with rare success. The 
variegated ^ inca is the vine commonly 
used in this work and, in the opinion 
of the writer, no basket is complete 
without a few sprigs of trailing Lobelia, 
with its charming little blue flowers 
showing through the moss with which the 
wire receptacle is lined. If, previous to 
filling, the moss gets rusty in appearance, 
it can be restored to its original green¬ 
ness by placing it upon the ground in a 
shady place and watering it frequently. 
Without nice, green moss a basket can¬ 
not look well. 
Hydrangeas. —This is one of the most 
useful as well as one of the most beau¬ 
tiful of the hardy shrubs. It is very 
effective when massed with other shrub¬ 
bery, but when placed singly upon the 
lawn, in which position it has room to 
attain its full development, it can be 
had at its best. Hydrangea paniculata 
is perhaps the best known variety and 
can be found the country over. It starts 
to bloom in midsummer and continues 
until frost, the flowers meantime under¬ 
going a change from white to pink, thence 
to a delicate blue, and finally—when 
frosted—turns to brown. Hydrangea 
arborescens grandiflora is a newer form 
and is indeed a superb shrub. The growth 
of the bush is remarkably symmetrical, 
each shoot being surmounted with a 
large white flower. It begins to bloom 
about the middle of June and continues 
well on into July and during this period 
it is a veritable mass of white, which 
suggested the name “Hills of Snow,” 
given it by many florists. Like the 
Paniculata, it does its best when given 
plenty of space. Fig. 374 shows a young 
plant of this variety in full bloom. Both 
these Hydrangeas are hardy and will stand 
the most rigorous climate. While not 
necessary to their protection, a mulch of 
coarse manure or straw placed about the 
base of the plant when Winter sets in, 
will be of much benefit to the vigor of 
the plant. Pruning should be done in 
the Spring, the proper method being to 
cut each stem back to one healthy eye, 
care being taken to give the bush a 
rather round effect. Hydrangea Otaksa 
is not hardy and must be housed during 
the Winter months. This sort makes 
a fine pot plant and is usually grown 
in this manner. By forcing, it can be 
had in bloom at any time from Easter 
to Memorial Day, and upon these par¬ 
ticular occasions it is unexcelled as a 
decorative plant. Hydrangeas of all 
kinds require a rich, mellow soil, the 
vigorous and rapid growth they make 
compels the use of copious quantities of 
water. j. M . L. 
A teacher in a suburban school, hear¬ 
ing a smothered laugh, inquired who 
dared to be so rude. "Please, sir. it was 
me.” answered a loud voice, “but I did not 
mean it.” “Did you not mean to do it?” 
queried the now angry teacher. “No, sir. 
I laughed up my sleeve, but I did not 
know there was a hole in my elbow.”— 
Credit Lost. 
It’s Cheaper to Build a Concrete Feeding 
Floor Than Waste Sixty Cent Corn 
When you feed on the ground, much of the grain is trampled in 
the dirt and lost. That means more feed—and less profit on 
your stock. Concrete feeding floors save every bit of the grain. 
They are easy to build, and are permanent; free from rat holes, 
disease germs and dampness. Concrete floors save labor and 
keep the stock in healthier condition. Build them of 
UNIVERSAL 
PORTLAND 
CEMENT 
Universal is always uniform in color,fineness and setting qualities. 
For detailed information on building concrete floors or for 
any other kind of concrete work, write our nearest office. Our 
booklet “Concrete in the Barnyard” is free for the asking. 
Universal Portland Cement Co. 
CHICAGO PITTSBURGH MINNEAPOLIS 
72 West Adams Street Frick Building Security Bank Building 
Plants at Chicago and Pittsburgh. Annual Outout 12,000,000 Barrels 
AND 
SIDING DIRECT FROM 
.T MILL PRICES 
| When you bay from ns you buy direct from the 
manufacturer, thus savingall middlemen’s prof¬ 
its. Send size of buildings and we will furnish 
free complete estimate of cost—write to-day 
for free sample and free estimate; these will 
convince you that we can save you money. 
QUALITY GUARANTEED 
BEST OPEN HEARTH PRODUCT 
All Sykes’ Galvanized Roofing and Siding 
have an extra heavy tight coating of gal¬ 
vanize every sheet of bath galvanized 
and painted carefully inspected and 
guaranteed perfect and full weight, 
fire and lightning proof. Don’t for¬ 
get to write for free sample and free 
estimate —do it now 
Established 1877 - 
THESYKESMETAL xrf® At 
LATH & ROOFING WWiiMJ 
CO. 
516WaInut 
Street, 
NILES, 
OHIO 
I “BIDWELL” 
BEAN and PEA Threshers 
ji/H ADE in three sizes. 
Capacity: 50, 100 and 
150 bushels per hour. Thirty 
years’ experience. 
In Use wherever Beans and 
Peas are Grown 
VFrife for description of our 
half-size thresher. The Bidwell 
Jr., for use of individuals and in 
localities where large expensive 
machines are not necessary. 
BATAVIA MACHINE CO. 
Batavia, New York, U. S. A. 
EiEis Champion 
Threshers 
Suit everyone. Both the profes¬ 
sional thresherman or the farmer 
who wants a home outfit will find the 
Champion rightly named. The picture 
shows ELLIS CHAMPION NO. 2 It is complete 
with stacker, tailings, elevator and grain hag 
ger. Connect it with steam, gasolene, tread or 
any other power, put in tiie grain and the Cham¬ 
pion does the rest. No straw clogging. Any size. 
We also make tread and sweep horse-power, drao or circular saws 
ensilaae cutlers, corn shelters, etc. Ourcatalootells the whole story. 
Be Your Own Thresherman 
Save enough to own the Thresher. Be independent. 
get ready. 
ELLIS KEYSTONE AGRICULTURAL WORKS, Pottstown, Pa. 
When you write advertisers mention The R. N.-Y. and you’ll get a 
quick reply and a “square deal.’’ See guarantee editorial page. : : : 
