^UESTIOX DRAWER. 



39 



twigs, taken only from good stock that will pro- 

 duce a thrifty growth. 



Pear Trees Not Bearing Fruit. 



Sir, — I have two pear trees, a Sheldon and a 

 Beurre Hardy, which are in a thriving condition 

 only the fruit does not come to perfection. It 

 comes to about quarter size and then stops growth. 

 I have other trees beside them which do all right. 

 I have been advised to take away the earth about 

 the trunk and put in about two bushels of hard 

 wood ashes. 



Jas. Weir, 243 Emerald St., Hamilton. 



A definite answer cannot cannot be given 

 without seeing the trees. Generally speaking 

 small sized and knotted fruit grows on trees that 

 are somewhat stunted in growth, and any treat- 

 ment that would tend to restore vigor should 

 correct the evil. We would advise a severe cut- 

 ting back, a thorough cultivation of the soil five 

 or six feet every way from the trunks and digging 

 in it good rotten stable manure. Fresh hard- 

 wood ashes applied in contact with the trunk 

 would be injurious ; if applied, it should be 

 sown over the surface of the ground. 



Latania (Palm) Failing. 



Sir, — I have a palm that I prize very highly, 

 and very much fear I am going to lose. The 

 leaves seem to dry and wither. I found a few 

 earth worms in the soil. Itis a Latania Borbonica, 

 about eight years old. Any directions for its res- 

 toration to health will be thankfully received. 



G. P.ARKER, Stirling. 



From the particulars given of the condition 

 of the Palm, Latania Borbonica, referred to in 

 the above question, I should suppose that im- 

 perfect drainage or sour soil is probably the 

 cause of the trouble, as either coal gas or exces- 

 sive dryness of the roots, unless of a very severe 

 nature, would not cause the whole of the leaves 

 to dry and wither as described. The (act of 

 wire worms being found in the soil also mdicates 

 imperfect drainage, and consequently there is no 

 root action to sustain growth. 



I would advise repotting the plant at once in- 

 to a pot one, or perhaps two sizes smaller than 

 the plant is in at present, the size of the pot 

 must depend on the amount of healthy roots the 

 plant has ; before repotting shake all the old soil 



away from the roots, and cut away dead or any 

 badly withered foliage, as well as all rotten or 

 decayed roots, and repot into a compost made 

 up of two parts of well rotted loamy sod, well 

 mixed with one part of clean rinse sand, or bet- 

 ter still, lake sand, and one part of well rotted 

 leaf soil ; use plenty of drainage at the bottom 

 of the pot, pieces of broken flower pots being 

 best for that purpose, over this put some pieces 

 of coarse fibry around the roots ; when potting 

 press the soil firmly around the roots and give 

 sufficient water to well moisten all the soil in 

 the pot. Water must be given sparingly after- 

 wards, until root action has well commenced, 

 and only give water then when the soil appears 

 dry on the top; when water is given, give suffi- 

 cient water to well moisten all the soil, but don't 

 keep the soil saturated all the time, as over 

 watering is quite as injurious as insufficient 

 watering, especially when there is very little root 

 action to absorb the excess of moisture. 



Wm. Hunt, Hamilton. 



Brugmansia Arborea. 



Sir. — Will you kindly tell me how to grow 

 Brugmansia arborea ? I received a fine plant from 

 Steele, Briggs Co. last spring, but since then it 

 done no good. It puts out new leaves but they 

 turn yellow and drop off, and the stock does not 

 seem to grow. It is in good rich soil now. 



P. S. Husband, Oakville. 



Brugmansia arborea belongs to the shrubby 

 class of Brugmansias or Daturas ; they are easily 

 propagated from the young growth in spring or 

 early summer. Cuttings of young growth with 

 a small thin piece of the old wood attached to 

 the base of the cutting (called a heel), are best 

 if obtainable, these root readily if inserted about 

 two inches deep in sand, three or four cuttings 

 in a four inch pot, and kept in a window or hot 

 bed, in a temperature of about 65^, keeping 

 them shaded from hot sun for a few days. 

 When rooted they can be potted singly into 

 four inch pots in loamy soil with a good mixture 

 of sand and leaf soil added ; they will require 

 liberal treatment during the summer, repotting 

 them into pots fully two sizes larger each time, 

 a good rich loamy soil, without sand or leaf soil, 

 will suit them at this stage. When the plants 



