The Question Box. ■ 9 



I 



Question. — Should rye be sown in an orchard? 



Mr. Rice. — It ought never to be sown in an orchard, except 

 as a cover crop. It takes too much moisture from the trees. 

 There are a few days when it may be used as a soiling crop, 

 before oats and peas come on. 



Question. — How should grafts be cared for the first and second 

 year after they are set? 



Mr. Smith. — Allow them all to grow the first year. The next 

 year cut out one of them, allowing but one to grow on the cleft. 



Question. — Are wood or coal ashes good for mulching cur- 

 rant bushes ? 



Mr. Smith. — There is quite a difference between coal ashes 

 and wood ashes. The wood ashes contain potash and phosphoric 

 acid, while the coal ashes contain neither, but coal ashes make a 

 'good mulch for currants as they keep the ground moist and pre- 

 vent weeds growing. 



Question. — Is it advisable to set Bubach and Parker Earle 

 strawberries in the same bed? 



Mr. Chapman. — It would do no harm. No harm would come 

 from setting any two varieties in one bed. But we must be 

 sure that one is pistillate and one staminate, so that blossoms will 

 fertilize, else they will not fruit. 



Question. — "What about the Columbian raspberry? 



Mr. Chapman. — It is a purple berry, similar to Shaffer's 

 Colossal; of about the same quality, a very strong grower, and, 

 where it succeeds, is well liked. But I think it would freeze out 

 here (Lewis county). If I were living here I should set Cuthbert 

 in preference to either Columbian or Shaffer. 



Question. — Is it better to graft cherries into wild cherry trees, 

 or buy the trees already grafted in the root at the nursery ? 



Mr. Woodward. — It will be much better to go to. the nursery 

 and buy trees budded on Mahaleo stock. The old red cherry that 

 grows along the fences mav be used as a stock, but it will be 

 continually throwing up sprouts to bother you. 



Question. — What season is the best to transplant young apple 

 titles — spring or fall ? 



Mr. Woodward. — It will depend on the condition of the soil. 

 If it is dry I should plant in the fall just as soon as the leaves 

 have fallen. Such fall-planted trees make quite a root-growth be- 

 fore winter begins, and start earlier in the spring than will spring- 

 planted trees. If, however, the soil is inclined to be wet in the 

 fall and through the winter, I should plant them in the spring. 



