280 Soap Wash f 07' JFruit Trees. 



quantities of mica, with a sub-soil of rotten rock, into which the grape-roots pene- 

 trate several feet. It is also just porous enough to absorb the rains ; consequently no 

 draining is required." 



Donble Balsams. 



IjlD. Western Horticulturist : Whilst growing a varied collection of flowering 

 -^ plants, I yet have some that succeed so well as to become specialties. One of 

 these is the Double Balsam — not the straggling, half-grown looking things often seen 

 in many front yards, but strong plants, that spread three feet, and produce large, 

 double flowers big as roses — some three inches across, and of varied hues and shades ; 

 very showy and brilliant when grown in quantity. Some of the newer striped and 

 blotched varieties are simply magnificent; the *SW/eW?«o variety cannot be excelled 

 for beauty and delicacy of coloring. I want them in quantity, too ; must have a 

 hundred or more; half a dozen plants won't satisfy. Plant the seeds thickly, and 

 thin out undesirable colors when the flowers appear ; eighteen inches space will allow 

 the plant to spread itself. Some visitors say, " how do you manage to have such 

 splendid Balsams? What mystery attends their cultivation?" No mystery at all ; 

 buy seed of good varieties, plant in well enriched soil, keep down weeds, and give 

 abundance of water in dry weather if large flowers and plenty of them are wanted. 

 If you have leisure time, trim a portion of the plants to a single stalk, as soon as 

 side branches appear, and see what a wealth of flowers you will have — almost hiding 

 the plant from sight. Pull off fading flowers unless seeds are wanted. Although 

 the flowers have such short stems, yet they make a beautiful appearance arranged on 

 a flat dish. If you have no fern leaves or other delicate green, take young carrot 

 tops and place them over a large dish ; arrange the balsam flowers thickly over these, 

 and you will have a very " thing of beauty." R. L. Blair. 



Des Moines, Iowa. 



Soap Wash for Fruit Trees. 



THE beneficial influence of a weak alkali wash upon the bark of fruit trees is of 

 long standing acknowledgment. Its action is in expansion of the pores, while at 

 the same time it is destructive of all insect life, sporadic or otherwise. Writers or 

 theorists differ as to the best time to apply it : but we have always found that if good 

 common sense be used in preparing it, the time of application is always good. And 

 now for the preparation. If you use purchased potash, reduce it so that you can 

 bear your finger in it half a minute or more without a tingling or sore sensation. If 

 you can obtain good soft soap from the refuse grease and lye of ashes saved up dry, 

 then take it and reduce it (the soap) down, not to a suds, but so that it will not be 

 ropy when used by a soft whitewash brush. Use it freely, and it matters not materi- 

 ally just when, but say nmv, and any time most convenient until 1st of July ; but 

 after that time it is perhaps better to wait till the next year, — American Farm 

 Journal. 



