354 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



A Member : I would like to know at what rate that tobacco 

 dust is put on and how you put it on. 



Mr. Gardner: I just take a small handful and put it on the 

 plant ; let it kind of spread as it goes down, get a little on the foli- 

 age arid be sure to get some on the ground. 



Mr. Kellogg: I have visited Mr. Gardner, and I am willing 

 to believe all he says and swear to it. He has so many kinds, I 

 want to ask him how many varieties he has that are better than 

 the Progressive ? 



Mr. Gardner: I don't claim the variety has been found that 

 is better. That is what we are working for. We may have plants 

 that we think will beat it, but I don't know yet whether they will 

 because it takes time to test them. I presume we have over a 

 thousand different varieties. 



Mr. Kellogg: You have got over two thousand different 

 varieties. 



A Member: Will it do any good to place tobacco stems upon 

 strawberry plants ? 



Mr. Gardner : I don't think it does. 



Mr. Thompson : Don't you think it would be easier and bet- 

 ter to spray your strawberries than it would be to treat them 

 with tobacco dust? 



Mr. Gardner: Oh, I would do both. I think with the tobacco 

 dust, if you can see the insects disperse and all those that have 

 means of flying sailing through the air and see them dig out, you 

 will have a kind of an idea of the consternation among the tribes 

 that live down under the leaves. It shows, as I said before, there 

 is no insect that falls in love with tobacco dust. I think it is all 

 right. I think enough of it to use quite a number of tons every 

 year. 



A Member : How long does the effect last, one application ? 



Mr. Gardner : Until after a heavy rain. 



A Member: Is it advisable to mix the everbearing straw- 

 berries for cross-pollenization with spring strawberries? 



Mr. Gardner : No, sir ; I would not. 



Lily of the Valley in Cold Storage. — Pips not used up to this time, 

 or only temporarily stored in frames for the winter, must go into cold storage 

 proper. Repacking for cold storage is not absolutely necessary in the case 

 of valley wintered over until now in cold frames, but to be on the safe side 

 with that which is" to be held back until late in the season the bundles if in 

 any way dry should be dipped up to the crowns in water, and then be stood 

 upright and close together in boxes, and instead of sand or soil dampened 

 moss should be used in repacking. After the middle of March frames cease 

 to be a safe place for Lily of the Valley. The stock to be forced soon will be 

 all right in from twenty-six to twenty-eight degrees, while that to be held 

 longer keeps best in from twenty-three to twenty-five degrees. Of more 

 importance than degree is steadiness and while the temperature should never 

 be more than twenty-eight degrees or lower than twenty-three degrees, the 

 mark most easily maintained between these two extreme points should be 

 held to right along with unwavering regularity so the pips will retain their 

 strength. — Horticulture. 



