i8 97 . 



GARDENING. 



379 



It is sometimes desirable to propagate 

 your own plants. If so, select strong new 

 growth of currants and grapes, as soon 

 as the leaves fall, eut in piecesabout eight 

 inches long, each piece containing three 

 buds. Set in ling straight rows, eight or 

 ten inches apart, leaving topbui nearthe 

 surface of the ground. Cultivate and keep 

 free from weeds. Good one year plants 

 are thus made the following season. 



For black raspberries, bury the tips of 

 the cane as soon as it naturally bends to 

 the ground, leave until spring, when it is 

 read3' to detach and transplant 



Plants from the blackberry and red 

 raspberry are usually taken from the 

 sprouts or suckers that come up between 

 the rows or around the hill, considerable 

 care being necessary in digging the plants. 



Root cuttings make best plants. Select 

 strong roots in spring orfall.cut in pieces 

 about five inches long and sow in drills 

 about three feet apart. 



The gooseberry being more difficult to 

 propagate, should be mounded up, cover- 

 ing the hill except the tips of the branches. 

 The following year many fine roots are 

 found along the branches, these branches 

 are removed, made into cuttings and set 

 out the same as currants. 



M. A. Thayer. 



Miscellaneous. 



flFHIDES ON CflERRY TREE. 



I have a small double flowering cherry 

 tree called Buehler's, I think, or some 

 such name, planted a year ago last spring. 

 It has not grown much, but this spring 

 had several blossoms. Through the sum- 



mer it became infested with small ants 

 and soon the leaves had the appearance 

 of the one I enclose. I am anxious to 

 save it. Can you tell me the cause of the 

 blight? Are the ants destructive for they 

 cover nearly everything that I grow. My 

 tuberose buds are black with them, cos- 

 mos and rose bushes also. A friend told 

 me if I would drive a small nail in my 

 little cherry treeitmight save it. Isthere 

 anything in that? V. M. H. 



Evanston, 111. 



The tree is undoubtedly infested with 

 plant lice {Aphides), the presence of the 

 ants indicating such to be the case The 

 latter are attracted by the presence of 

 the lice whom they "milk." There are 

 several remedies, such as spraying fre- 

 quently with tobacco water, kerosene 

 emulsion, coal tar fumes, etc. The pres- 

 ence of the aphides indicate a feeble con- 

 dition of the tree. They seldom attack a 

 tree in full health. It is best to keep the 

 soil around the tree well cultivated and 

 free from weeds, and mulch it with ma- 

 nure next fall. Next spring, or after the 

 leaves drop this fall, cut in the head 

 somewhat so as to induce a vigorous 

 growth, and if successful in doing so, the 

 chances are that next year the tree will 

 be free from this pest. W. C. Eoax. 



TROUBLE WITH CYCflS REVOLUTfl. 



Last May I had sent me from the east 

 a cycas with thirty leaves. It seemed in 

 good condition, but the edges of some of 

 the leaves have begun to turn brown and 

 the plant has ceased growth. It has had 

 an abundance of water and light. When 

 received the pot had been broken in tran- 

 sit and I repotted the plant into a 

 pot a little larger, using soil that had 



been thoroughly burned. Did I do any 

 mischief in adding more soil? I burn all 

 my soil as it is filled with earth worms. 

 I kept the air of the room at from (>5° to 

 87° and avoided draughts. Can I hope 

 to raise a crown of leaves successfully 

 another year under the conditions above 

 noted? Can you suggest any reason for 

 the wayward conduct of my plant. 



Julia E. 



It would seem from our correspondents' 

 description that the cycas in question 

 was not in the best condition for ship- 

 ping so long a distance, it being in all 

 probability a newly imported stem, and 

 having but few roots. While in process 

 of development the fronds of Cycas revo- 

 Ittta are extremely tender, and very sus- 

 ceptible to exposure and bruising, and it 

 would be almost impossible to ship a 

 plant in that fragile condition a distance 

 of one thoi sand miles or more without 

 injury. 



The repotting would do no harm, 

 though burnt earth is not the best com- 

 post for the purpose, and I would rather 

 use some good loam with a slight mix- 

 ture of s? nd, and also a sprinkling of bone 

 dust as a fertilizer, leaving the soil in its 

 natural condition, even though that in- 

 cluded an occasional earth-worm. 



The range of temperature mentioned, 

 namely 65° to 87°, is much too high for 

 the welfare of the plant in question, be- 

 tween 60° and 70° would be more suita- 

 ble limits, as the cycas enjoys fresh air 

 as much as a geranium. 



Now as to the possibilities of the future: 

 If the plant is firmly potted, that is, hav- 

 ing the soil well rammed in the pot, the 

 best course would be to keep it rather on 

 the side of dryness for sometime to come, 



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