The Canadian 



The raising of Norway spruce 

 trees from seed is a difficult matter, 

 and only experienced persons are 

 likely to have any success. 'I'he 

 seeds may germinate freely enough, 

 but when al^out an inch high, about 

 forming its second leaves, the life of 

 the young plant ma\' \^v blasted by a 

 breath of unfavorable air, hot sun- 

 shine, or an atmosphere either too 

 dry or too humid. Tlii' usual prac- 

 tice is to sow the seeds in a well- 

 prepared seed bed which may bie 

 shaded when necessary either with 

 evergreen boughs, or with an awn- 

 ing of thin cloth. The soil needs to 

 be light and porous, and the seeds 

 covered lightly and watered fre- 

 quently. In warm wet weather the 

 seeds will be liable to rot and the 

 bed should be sprinkled with dry 

 sand. Sow either in fall or spring. 



Young trees may, however, be pur- 

 chased from nurseries at so low a 

 price, that we would advise our cor- 

 respondent to buy them about a foot 

 high. Great care must be taken in 

 handling evergreen trees to keep the 

 roots moist, for if they are exposed 

 for even a short time to the drying 

 effects of wind antl sun, there is 

 small chance of their living. The 

 reason of this is that the sap of coni- 

 •fers is of a resinous nature, which 

 drying renders insoluble. 



Diseased Grape Wood. 



9. Find enclosed a small portion of dis- 

 eased bark from one of my Salem vines. 

 It first made its appearance last spring , I 

 cut it off and thoiif,'ht nothinf,' more of it, hut 

 last fall when I was collectinfi; my grapes, I 

 found that it had spread on the two branches 

 of the vine to the extent of sixteen or eigh- 

 teen inches. It peels off with the old bark 

 and leaves the wood (juite healthy The 

 vine is otherwise in good condition, and I 

 would like to know what it is. — T. Neelan, 

 Port Hope. 



5.3 



Hortic2iltiirist. 



Reply by Prof. 1%,,,^^ 0tlawu.\ 



You wrote me v letter in Ma>, en- 

 closing one froi^; -j^r. T. Neelan, of 

 Port Hope, en(|^^irir,g about a dis- 

 eased grape ste,^-,, ,\s all my fur- 

 niture and instru.,ients were packed 

 up and inaccessible, I sent this on to 

 Prof. Farlow of H,^rvar(l University, 

 for his opinion. Prjbf. Farlow, I may 

 mention, is the high,est authority we 

 have in America upon microscopic 

 tungi. His answer is as follows : 



" The troid)le is not due to a fun- 

 gus. This peculiar kind of excres- 

 cence has in Germany generally been 

 attributed to cold and severe weather 

 in winter. How w'ell that may ap- 

 ply to your case I do not know. The 

 troid)le, however, is climatic rather 

 than fungous." 



The Baker German Prune 



10. You would oblige me very much by 

 giving me information about the Baker 

 prune. I want to set out an orchard of 

 prunes, and I see by your journal last summer 

 that the Baker prune is highly spoken of. 

 Please give me the name of the person I can 

 buy them from. — Geo. Harris, Dungannon, 

 Ont. 



So far we believe this variety of 

 the German prune is entirely local 

 in the Collingwood district. Some of 

 our enterprising nurser^'men should 

 propagate it and advertise in these 

 colimins, as we have numerous en- 

 quiries for it. 



You might get some information 

 abovit it by writing to L. Brillinger, 

 Collingwood. 



Apios Tuberosa. 



II. I WISH for information on the proper 

 treatment of the .Vpios Tuberosa. I cannot 

 succeed with it. I have tried three times 

 and .always failed. I think my garden is too 

 dry. What kind of soil suits it best, and how 

 does it attach itself to its support ? The 

 climbers have so many different ways of lay- 

 ing hold of the prop, that the same thing will 

 not do for all — Mrs .\ Hoirn ('nbounj 



