The Canadian Horticulturist. 



171 



of cotton-seed hulls; iha <^rcc)i sand 

 of New Jerse)- ; sulphate of potash; 

 chloride of potassium : and as ^^ pot- 

 ashes," usually a mixture of li\-drale 

 of potash and carbonate of potash. 



A chloride of potassium, known as 

 " muriate of potash" has been largel}' 

 used as a fertilizer, so also sulphate. 

 The latter has been preferred ; but 

 on the whole the results are not so 

 successful as where wood ashes can 

 be secured. Next them may be 

 ranked the so-called " Potashes," a 

 mixture of hsdrate of potash and 

 carbonate of potash. This fertilizer 

 is likely obtainable where fertilizers 

 are sold. It is common among 

 American dealers, and sold in con- 

 siderable quantities. 



The Russian Mulberry. 



47»I AM much pleased with the improved 

 appearance and manaj^ement of the Cana- 

 dian Horticulturist. I hope you will 

 meet with corresponding encouragement. 

 Had two fine-Russian Mulberries last year 

 just come into bearing. There were a few- 

 small berries on each but scarcely worth the 

 name, although I had believed the one was 

 staminate and the other pistillate. They 

 were distant ninety-six feet from each other 

 but one half of each tree intercepted from 

 the other by the interference of a corner of 

 the house. Was obliged to cut down what 

 I believed to be the pistillate. Would it do 

 to graft the staminate one with Downing 

 mulberry? Would it produce fruit ?— A 

 Subscriber. 



Undoubtedly the Downing mul- 

 berry, where it succeeds, is far 

 superior to the Russian varieties 

 which had only their hardiness and 

 vigorous habit to commend them. 

 You might possibly succeed with 

 grafting the Downing upon the Rus- 

 sian variety, but it is not verv prob- 

 able as the tree bleeds badly when cut. 

 You might succeed with buddingupon 

 some of the young wood as soon in 

 Summer as you can get well-de- 

 veloped buds. 



Cuttings about two feet long, 

 planted in Spring, in a moist, shady 

 spot, are likely to grow, if taken from 

 matured wood of the previous Siun- 

 mer's growth, and a small piece of 



two-year-old wood attached. Only 

 one or two buds should appear above 

 L'round. 



Hydrangea Culture. 



4S. I vviM. be thankful for a few hints on 

 Hydrangea culture. Mine bud, but not one 

 quarter of the buds mature ? — Mrs. Wm. 



C\)OK. 



Hydrangeas are of easy culture, 

 and you should have no trouble in 

 getting abundance of bloom. One 

 very important point is to give them 

 plenty of water when growing ; and 

 })erhaps this was where you failed. 

 Another is plent}' of air and sun- 

 shine, and a third, is rich soil, such 

 as might be prepared by mixing 

 erjual parts of loam and decayed cow 

 manure. 



Tuberous Rooted Begonia. 



49. Does the tuberous rooted liegonia 

 reijuire any special treatment. — John S. 

 Warren, Orillia. 



These are of easy culture. They 

 require plenty of water during time 

 of growth, and good rich soil in pots, 

 similar to that recommended above 

 for the Hydrangeas. When the sea- 

 son's growth is over, water should be 

 gradually withheld, until the tubers 

 are ready to be taken up, and packed 

 away in dry sand until needed again. 



To Drive Away Black Ants 



50. Can you tell us of anything that will 

 effectually destroy black ant hills in the lawn. 

 We have tried salt, lime, sulphur, coal oil, 

 heilabore, and only succeeded in killing out 

 patches of grass? — Mrs. Wm. Cook, 

 Ctirville. 



A good many ways have been sug- 

 gested of destroying the ants and 

 stopping their work on the lawns. 

 I-"or ilestroying them in the nest, an 

 application of boiling water is recom- 

 mended ; also a liberal dose of hot 

 aliun water, made in proportion of 

 one pound of common alum to three 

 gallons of rain water. Bottles of 

 sweetened water simk in the ground 

 near the hills make good ant traps. 



