THE FARM AND GARDEN 



A MISERABLE PEST. 

 By J. W. Sarrow. Chatham. N. T. 



We cannot tliink of a better a|>|)ellation for the 

 common white grub (Lacliarslenia J'^erscii), than 

 the above. It is death to almost everything in 

 the garden, and there seems to be no practical 

 plan of cliecliing its depredations. On a small 

 scale something may be done to thwart their 

 purpose, but not on a large scale. 



This fall we hear much complaint frcim their 

 injury to the potato crop; they eat the tubers 

 until there is no goodness left in them. \\'e do 

 not confound them, or their work, with the wire 

 worm, or anything else. It is the " miserable 

 grub." To satisfy our own curiosity, we lately 

 dug five hills at various points in a field said to 

 be infested, and we found in iive liiUs just twenty- 

 five grubs. If we had been digging after gruhs, 

 we should have thought our efforts well rewarded, 

 but if after potatoes, quite tlie reverse, for there 

 was scarcely a souml, smooth tuber in tiie lot. 

 The hired iiiiin said the patch was sometimes 

 white witli grubs when he had been digging. 

 Think of iti Five gruljs to a hill all over the 

 field. A potato patch stands small chance with 

 them. 



If tU3 white grub, larva of the M.ay beetle, 

 devoted its attention, strictly and solely to this 

 crop, it might be fouglit to some advantage; but 

 it cuts off the young corn jdant quite lielow the 

 surface, it attacks the roots of young fruit trees, 

 it destroys the strawberry beds, it cuts the let- 

 tuce, it consumes tlie potato crop, it causes the 

 flowers to wither and die, in its unblushing bold- 

 ness it attacks almost every live root. It is a 

 "miserable pest." 



BONE-DUST FOB MELONS. 



Bt/ ThonuM D. Bdird, QrenivUlc, Ky. 



The melon cro(> is getting to be one of consid- 

 erable importance to the farmer as well as the 

 gardener. Tliis l)eing tlie case, a few items on 

 manures for melons may be of interest to your 

 readers. 



la the spring of 1883 I planted my melons, 

 using two tablespoonfuls of Homestead fertilizer 

 and two of Tobacco Grower in each hill; also in 

 each hill we i)Ut two talilespoonfuls of bone-dust 

 (the bones were dissolved in ashes), except one 

 row running through tlie middle, in this row no 

 dust wa.s usecl. When all the vines were four feet 

 long, looking quite rank, this row was only two 

 feet, looking well, Init farbeliind the other vines. 

 When the melons were ripe, this row was beliiud 

 iu size and quantity. 



This last spring I ]danted my melons on infer- 

 ior .soil, using tlie same Homi'stead fertilizer on 

 half of the ground. Four spoonfuls were scat- 

 tered on the iiiU and worked in the soil. On the 

 other half, one gallon stable manure and four 

 tablespoonfuls of b.me-dust were put in each hill. 

 This bone-dust was a considerable portion ashes. 

 Wlien the vines were two to three feet iu length, 

 an equal quantity ot hen manure was broailcast 

 over the entire patch, On tlie half that the fer- 

 tilizer was used, there were but few .saleable 

 melons, while on the half that bone-dust was 

 used there w.is hut few that were not large, nice, 

 saleable melons. From my experience with 

 bone-dust, I urge the readers to avail tliem- 

 -selves of this cheap fertilizer for their 

 melons and cucumbers. Now, the season for 

 lulling beeves is at hand, carefully save all the 

 bones. Collect all the old bones that are lying 

 about the (iremises, giving it a golgotha appear- 

 Jiuce. Do not be afraid to take hold of them. 

 A. farmer must be bold and fearless in such things, 

 if he would succeed. 



Oi^GHAi^D AND Small Fi^uits 



SELECTING VARIETIES OF FBUIT. 



By L. H, Bailey, Jr., Cambridge, Mass. 



Whether or no an orchard returns a profit to 

 the owners will depend in a great measure upon 

 the kinds of varieties, and the number of each, 

 which it 'ontains. There is probably no greater 

 mistake among orchardists than that of neglecting 

 to give much thought to the kinds of varieties to 

 be planted. Care in the selection of varieties, is 

 the first stone in the foundation, the first step to 

 success. It is to the orchardist, what the selec- 

 tion of the breed is to the stock-raiser. 



There are several things to be taken into con- 

 sideration iu the selection of varieties. For 

 profit, an apple must emnbine these three quali- 

 ties and preferably in tlie order named ; hardiness, 

 productiveness, and good qnalitij. These terms 

 are all relative. .\n apple which is hardy in one 

 part of the eoniitry, may not be hardy in another 

 part ; the same is true of productiveness, and to a 



less extent of quality also. Hence, the subject 

 ot the selection o( varieties must be a local qties- 

 tion. The same apple may not succeed in ditter- 

 ent i)arts of the same State. I have known good 

 Sour Boughs to be raised abundantly while sixteen 

 miles from a place where they grew small, black, 

 gnarly. In setting a young orchard, if the grower 

 has not had jiersonal experience in his locality, 

 the safest plan to pursue is to visit all the apple 

 growers in the immediate vicinity, and to ascer- 

 tain the most satisfactory varieties. Ask what 

 apjiles endure extremes of weather best, which 

 ones bear the best, which are handsomest and 

 best in quality, and which ones keep the longest. 

 It is not necessary that experienced orchardists 

 live in the neighborhood in order that this infor- 

 mation may be secured. Selc'et several of the 

 most promising varieties grown liy the neighbors, 

 and as an additional guide write to the leading 

 dealers of the market to which you will ship, 

 asking what ones of your list will'meet the best 

 demand in the market. Experienced dealers' 

 judgements are invaluable in this matter, but 

 they do not, of course, cover the SHbjects of 

 hardiness and productivenes. What dealers can 

 .sell best, is not always what farmers can raise 

 best. Some apples are nearly cosmopolitan. 

 Such, for instance, is the Baldwin, which is a 

 superior variety from Maine to Michigan. But 

 even in this case there are localities in the 

 Northeastern States where some other varieties 

 are preferable for winter markets to Baldwins. 



The varieties once decided upon, plant enough 

 of each variety to pay for the hauling. Fifty bar- 

 rels of Gravensteins are worth as much as seventy- 

 five barrels of mixed apples of similar size. 

 Plant each variety by itself. It is a most exas- 

 jierating operation to be obliged to pick Baldwins 

 first 'none corner of the orchaid, then in another. 

 An orchard of five hundred trees, if .set for profit, 

 should not contain more than five varieties, and 

 on an average, four of the five should be winter 



THE LIMBERTWIG. 



ap]iles. Three varieties are preferable to six. I 

 recall a story of a jirominent jiomrdogist, who, 

 when asked what varieties he would jdant in an 

 apple orchard of one thousand trees, re]>lied, 

 "^Nine hundred and ninety-nine Baldwins," 

 When asked what the other tree would be, he 

 replied, "I should make that a Baldwin, too." 



THE LIMBBBTWIO APPLE. 



We give this month a cut of an apple for our 

 readers in the Middle and Southern states. 

 The Limbertwig is a medium-sized apple, of a 

 deep dark crimson color, roundish, oblate in form, 

 firm fleshed, does not bruise easily, and is most 

 valuable for its long keeping qualities ; keeping 

 easily in the Middle States until May. This 



apple is more ajjt to shrivel up than rot. A rot- 

 ten one is seldom seen. It is the best keeeping 

 apple ill North Carolina, where it originated. 

 The tree, as its name indicates, has slender bran- 

 ches and of droojiing habit, but the tree is a good 

 grower, a young and an abnndaut bearer, and 

 hangs well late on the tree. This apple succeeds' 

 well in wet soils and dry sands, and in the South' 

 is a valuable mountain api>le, and a good keeper 

 everywhere. It is one of a list of Southern 

 seedlings tliat will prove one of the most valua- 

 ble keepers where long keeping apples are 

 desired. 



PRDIT NOTES. 



For the information of our readers who wish to 

 test the Comet and Lawson pear, we would say 

 they are claimed to be the same pear, only the 

 introducers of them each gave what seemed to 

 them an appropriate name. We wish the pear 

 had but the one name, as two names will lead to 

 confusion, and when both names get before the 

 public it will be difficult to make change. Why 

 not at once make the change 1 



The fruit crop this year has been unusuallyi 

 large, and prices have ruled low. It is not proba- 

 ble that the crop will be as heavy next year. 



Much discussion has taken place in regard to 

 the culture of pear trees, and allowing the land 

 to lie in grass without cultivation. The idea 

 seems to grow that the blight is in a measure 

 prevented by seeding the pear orchard to grass 

 as soon as the pear trees are well rooted. The 

 grass should not be pastured, but let lie to act as 

 a mulch. t 



Strawberries should not be mulched with 

 coarse manure and litter until after the ground 

 is frozen. If covered earlier the mnleh often 

 smothers the strawberries when the ]ilants are 

 not iu a dormant condition. After a hard freeze 

 there is no danger. • 



Potash salts are still founa useful in peach 



f rowing. Their use will doubtless increase, 

 he kainit (crude sulphate) is very cheap, and 

 found very beneficial. Ashes and lime are also 

 good for peach orchards. 

 4" 

 While in most sections of the cotintry the 

 apple crop is large, yet in some sections where 

 the May trost injured them the crop is light, as 

 in some parts of Connecticut. 

 4" 

 If not already done, cut scions for spring 

 grafting. No matter if they are frozen when 

 cut, if they are at once buried in the soil, but if 

 thawed out rapidly they w ill dry out and die. 

 Scions are best buried, and dug when wanted for 

 spring grafting. Select now the kinds you 

 would like to jiropagate, and he ready to graft 

 when spring comes. Early grafting, as a rule, 

 succeeds better than late grafting. 



Much has been said in the Mis.sissippi Valley 

 in regard to wet and dry orchard sites. Mr. B. F. 

 Johnson, of Illinois, deems low ground better 

 than the high ridges. We believe that the expo- 

 sure <'f orchards to drying winds on high ridges 

 is very injurious, but not all varieties will 

 flourish in low grounds. Some varieties of apple 

 will not flourish in a wet soil, while others will 

 do well. ^Ve wish some of our readers would 

 give their experience, j- 



The Wealthy apple still seems as popular as 

 ever for cold regions where the tree must be an 

 iron-clad. The Wealthy is a fine apple in regard 

 to size, color, early productiveness, good for 

 cooking, and dessert. Our Northern friends 

 should" try the Wealthy. The Wealthy is too 

 early to be valuable for the Middle states, earlier, 

 perhaps, than the Baldwin!, but much hardier. 



HIGH CUSS POULTRY AND PIGEONS. Best varieties of 

 Fine Birds birds at iiioderale prices. JSeufl smiun for 

 large illustrated circulars. R. Vanderhoven, Rahivay, a. J. 



NEW STRAWBERRIES. 



Free < 'iiiali^iie i^ives lull •It-.'^cription ut all worthy of 

 piiltivatiiiii. l*ot or lavrr plants iu>\v n-ailv for ^um- 

 mpr or Fall ]>l;uiiiiiu'. Fruil next June. Exira stock at lair 

 prices. UALk IIKOS., So. t;iiistoiibur>« C'oiiu. 



PEAR AND OTHER TREES. 



2 A NEW BERRIES CpllliSl) 



Marlboro Raspberry. 

 EARLY CLUSTER BLACKBERRY. 



Catalogue Free. JOHN S. COLLINS. MOORCSTOWN/N. J. 



PEACH TREES suiUMi to all sections. APPLK trees, extra 



loDK kc-eping varii'tio.-. Kieflcr anrl Leconte Peara. A full lini: or al) 



kinds of Nursery Stock chfap. Tree's, Grape-Vines. Sninll Fruit an>t 



other plauts t>v mail, rataltiiiucs showing howand wliat to plant, fre<; 



liAXDOLPlI PETEB8, Wilmington, Delaware. 



TREE SEEDS AND SEEDLINGS. 



6RAP£ VINES and SMALL FRUITS. 



Heavy Stock, liront A'nrlcty, I-ow Prices, Free * ota- 

 loffue. J. JENKINS, Winona, Columblanii Co., Ohio. 



1S3S-1SS*4. 



THE LARGEST 



A.M> M<»T ItKAVTlFlL- 



EjflLRLY F»EA.R. 



RipeniiiLT in Ci-niral Ni-w Yurk early In 

 July, and sells at highest prices. St-nd for 

 history of Origiiinl Tree. 100 yrs. ol<l. 

 ii/y Ilcndqiiartors Inr KIEFFER 

 l*car!*, PA U 11 Y Sirn^vbrrries. 



^.^ WILSON .IINIOR Ularkhiriirs, 



31.\ltI^HOKO Huspluriii's. ninl GllAFKS. 

 WILLIAM PARRY, rurry V. O., Kew Jersey. 



