1 88 The Canadian Horticulturist. 



An Ichneumon Fly. 



645. — Sir, — A large plum tree in my garden has some little holes in the bark, about 

 as big as pigeon shot ; and as spring advances I find, by close watching, an insect coming 

 forth of wasp-like shape, but smaller, leaving a cocoon at the outlet. I send you speci- 

 mens collected last summer. 



W. S. Dana, Portland, Me. 



Mr. W. H. Harrington, of Ottawa, says these are the remains of a species 

 of Ichneumon, probably Ichneumon acerbres, a common small black species. 

 It is a parasite upon other insects. 



Russian Apricot. 



646. Sir, — Is the Russian apricot a success in Ontario ? We have some which are 

 thrifty enough and bloom well, but never bear fruit. 



G. B. Linden WOOD. 



Your experience corresponds with ours at IMaplehurst. We have a dozen 

 Russian apricots which have bloomed freely for several years, but give us no 

 fruit. This is apparently owing to the early period of blooming, which is sub- 

 ject to injury from the late spring frosts. If any of our readers are more fortu- 

 nate would they please report. 



Ashes from Cedar. 



647. — Sir, — What quantity of ashes would be produced by burning a cord of cedar 

 wood ? 



P. J. Wilkinson, Cambray, Ont. 



^ J^ep/y by Prof. Shutt, of Central Experimental Far??t. 



Dry cedar wood is very light, but I cannot guess even at the approximate 

 weight of a cord of it. If your correspondent could furnish that datum, perhaps 

 the weight of ash produced could in sound numbers be arrived at. We have 

 no figures as to the percentage of ash of cedar, but from analogy I should judge 

 it to be about one per cent, on the air-dried wood. The proportion of bark to 

 wood would materially effect the weight of ash produced, since the percentage 

 of ash in the former is, I suppose, about three times greater than that in the 

 latter. 



Grafting the Grape. 



In answer to Question 6S9, by Alex. McNeil, Windsor. 



Cleft-gra*'ting the grape is frequently unsuccessful. A better method is a species of 

 marching. Make a hole large enough to accommodate the roots of a good one or two-year 

 old vine at the base of the vine to be grafted. Make a V-shaped incision in the stalk, as 

 low as convenient, into which fit the new wood of the young vine. Tie in place, and keep 

 earth around the stem to cover the union, leaving two buds of the scion exposed. Prune 

 the old vine severely, to give the scion everj' advantage, but not enough to injure the root 

 system. The next year cut the old stem off above the union and the graft below. 



