468 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



work on the earlier crops and out of the way if possible. The small striped 

 beetle is the first of these pests which must be looked after as soon as the 

 plants appear above the ground; with him come the small black flea beetles. 

 Both of these are "fixed" by dusting the plants with white hellebore. It 

 is not necessary to harrow before planting ; this may be done afterward and 

 serve as cultivation, and the hills may be dressed over with a hand-rake. 

 The seeds will come up more quickly and certainly if planted edgewise in the 

 soil. 



As soon as this work is out of the way, the squash grower had better make 

 a supply of the kerosene emulsion for the use and behoof of the squash Dug 

 and thesquash vine borer, as well as several other pestiferous insects which 

 torment him. This consists of one pound of whale-oil soap dissolved in one 

 gallon of hot water, and to this one pint of kerosene oil is added and well 

 beaten into a smooth emulsion. This is sprayed over the vine and a small 

 quantity is poured on to the stem so that it runs down into the soil and pro- 

 tects this vulnerable part of the plant. To enpourage the production of 

 fruit the ends of the leading vines are pinched off when they begin to tres- 

 pass on to the neighboring hills, and the growth of lateral branches is thus 

 forced, and these only bear the fertile flowers. This part of the cultivation 

 is one of the greatest importance, and if neglected one will have splendid 

 vines but very little fruit. A yield of seven tons to the acre is a very com- 

 mon one, and four fruits of seven pounds each to each hill will make this 

 weight. 



Lima Beans in Corn. — A. G. Chase tells New York Tribune readers that 

 Lima beans can be raised among corn just as well as or better than on poles. 

 He says: If time serves I plant but two beans to the hill (in corn 3+ by 4 

 feet apart), taking pains to put the bean eye downward from one inch to an 

 inch-and-a-half deep. If in too much of a hurry to do this I drop about four 

 beans down carelessly to each hill. If corn is planted nearer than above, 

 plant beans in every other row. This bean cannot be harvested all at one 

 picking. I went over mine last season five or six times. To perfect itself it 

 needs considerable shade. It will then have the green tint that makes it so 

 delicate. 



If more than two vines grow to a hill they may pull the stalks down some, 

 but I have been unable to detect any harm to the corn, and one-fourth acre 

 so planted will give any family all they can use, and one acre, carefully har- 

 vested, cleaned and sold in ordinary markets, will bring in a sum not to be 

 despised by any farmer. The idea of planting eye-down is that the bean is 

 so large and heavy it often breaks the young shoot in its endeavor to lift the 

 bean up sidewise. By planting the eye down (i. e.) on its edge, the most of 

 the resistance is overcome. People often fail in getting a stand of this and 

 other large beans, and blame the seed, when it is their own fault. 



Mushroom Culture. — J. B. Rogers tells in American Garden how mush- 

 rooms are grown at Nichols' farm, Milburn, New Jersey: This place is 

 noted for the fine mushrooms it sends to the New York market, and which 

 sell at a remuneratory price. 



Here an old hot-house has been changed into a house for mushroom cul- 

 ture. All the glass and sashes have been removed and the sides and roof 

 boarded up. Small rooms are partitioned off, and beds arranged somewhat 



