1893 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



139 



surprised to know that you have succeeded in 

 making cotton cloth take the place of glass. 

 You surely must have the cloth supported so 

 that our heavy snows would not break it down. 

 And then you must have fastened the irames 

 so our heavy winds did not blow them away. 1 

 have just been purchasing more sash, because 

 I felt so sure that cotton cloth would not an- 

 swer until along toward, say, the middle of 

 March. May I suggest to you not to be in a 

 hurry to buy more land ? What you already 

 have will keep you busy, I tell you. Of course, 

 I do not know hovv much money you have to 

 hire help, nor how much experience you have 

 had. But it is better to go slow and sure. You 

 must have had something to do with that re- 

 vival, even if you are not one of the new con- 

 verts: and, dear brother, he who leads souls to 

 Christ needs to be very careful that he make no 

 failure nor mishaps in business matters. Bet- 

 ter make garden on five acres all your life, than 

 to undertake to manage twenty-five and even 

 some near bankruptcy. We are to honor 

 Christ, you know, by being prompt, reliable, 

 and sure in every step w(> take ] 



WANTED — CABBAGE SEED WOKTH 120 PEK LB. 



The seed I have bought from you has given 

 me satisfaction, with the exception of some 

 Ignotum tomato seed I got in 1891. I was 

 afraid to plant any of that variety last season 

 ou account of it. I sell all kinds of plants by 

 the hundred thousand, and guarantee them 

 true to name; and you can understand why I 

 want till' best seed. I have tried cabbage seed 

 from 10 different seedsmen, and your Wakefield 

 were ahead last season. I should like to pay 

 120.00 per lb. for cabbage seed, but I want it 

 worth it. E. F. Busick. 



Church Creek, Md., Jan. 25. 



[Friend B., I would also give $20 for a pound of 

 cabbage-seed, providing every cabbage would 

 make a good head, and all heal up pretty near- 

 ly at the same time. I have never found any 

 thing that would do this, although seedsmen in 

 their catalogues give us pictures of such cab- 

 bage-fields. Our strain of Jersey Wakefield, 

 from H. A. March, I think, comes as near to it 

 as any thing I ever had. 



In regard to that Ignotum seed, I donOt think 

 we ever had more than a small quantity that 

 was not true. My mistake vvas, in taking it 

 for granted that all who received our first trial 

 packages of Ignotum tomato seed would send 

 to me only .seed raised from the trial packet. 

 At that time there was no other Ignotum seed 

 to be had anywhere in the world; therefore w<^ 

 bong'it the seed back of hundreds of dififerent 

 individuals. Even now I am inclined to think 

 some good friend made a mistake, rather than 

 to think some one was tempted to be dishonest 

 because I offered so large a price for the seed. 

 Since chen we have raised our own seed mostly. 

 When we were obliged to buy I bought only of 

 A. W. Livingston; and he certainly, with his 

 life-long experience, would not make any mis- 

 take.] 



THE ENGLISH POTATO ONION; ALL ABOUT 



THEIR CULTIVATION, PUEPAKING FOR 



THE MARKET, ETC. 



Mr. Root: — \"ou call for information in re- 

 gard to the English potato onion. About a 

 dozen years ago my father raised them success- 

 fully and to some extent. It is the peculiarity 

 of these onions, that the large bulbs planted 

 yield large clusters of small ones, while the 

 small ones set out merely increase in size. 

 The method of culture with us was as follows: 

 The ground, well -enriched sand, was made 

 mellow as soon as the frost was out in the 



spring; then the onions were set in rows twelve 

 inches apart and six inches apart in the row. 

 Small onions were used for the most part, with 

 a few of the large ones to provide sets for the 

 next season. 



The earlier they were set. the better. A little 

 cold freezing weather did not hurt them. The 

 ground was stirred occasionally, and kept clear 

 of weeds. In from six to seven weeks, pulling 

 began, by selecting the largest, which could 

 easily be distinguished, even at some distance, 

 by the foliage. They weie then from two to 

 three inches in diameter. To prepare them for 

 market, the roots and outside skin were taken 

 otT, leaving the bulbs white; then they were tied 

 in bunches containing from four to six, with the 

 tops trimmed a little. At first the wholesale 

 price was fifty cents, per dozen bunches; but 

 other gardeners afterward crowded the market 

 and the price fell to half that sum. 



The season lasted from six to eight weeks, 

 and then the foliage began to droop as the 

 bulbs ripened. The length of time they re- 

 mained green depended very much upon the 

 weather, for we had no control of the water- 

 supply. These onions were eagerly purchased, 

 the small ones standing no chance beside 

 them. Emily E. West. 



Flint. Mich., Feb. 6. 



[Many thanks, my good 

 and clear particulars you 

 who among the readers of 

 of these onions for sale? I 

 some of the seed catalogue 

 of onion-sets. If they ai 

 pi'ice in the market, what 

 it must be! It seems to 

 some that will do for seed 

 dollars a barref instead of 

 busJiel.] 



friend, for the full 

 give us. Now, then. 

 Gleanings has any 

 find them offered in 

 s at about the price 

 e really worth this 

 a splendid business 

 me we ought to get 

 . for about five or six 

 five or six dollars a 



A CHEAP implement FOR SCATTERING GUANO 

 AND OTHER CONCENTRATED FERTILIZERS. 



In regard to fertilizers. I am sure much de- 

 pends on the way they are used. Even in the 

 drill or row they should be well mixed with the 

 soil. Roots do not and will not go into a con- 

 centrated body of strong chemical manure, as 

 fertilizers are usually applied. Unless much 

 rain scatters it. it's about all a loss; but if some 

 will persist in not mixing it. I'll tell them a 

 neat, quick, easy way. Punch ^V holes, close to- 

 gether, all over the bottom of alj-quart pail; nail 

 a lath, J(5 inches long, on each side (with clinch 

 nails); nail a handle in at the top ends, and you 

 can do more and better work in an hour than in 

 all day the old hard way; no stoop, no back- 

 ache; no blowing away; and it is spread even, 

 and as wide as the, bottom of the carrier. Just 

 a little shake as you walk right along is all 

 that is needed. I find no danger in dropping 

 the seed right along without covering; but it 

 pays to use even a wheel-hoe to mix it. This 

 simple cheap rig is worth more than two men, 

 all things., considered. Ashes can be used, but 

 the holes need to be larger. By tests I find 

 the seed comes up better, and grows away 

 ahead of the hand-fertilized seed, because it's 

 so even, and covers more surface. Don't fail to 

 try it. A pail 8 inches across is none too large, 

 and the amount can be regulated by the motion, 

 giving one or more shakes. E. P. Churchill. 



Hallowell, Me. 



[Very good, friend C. Peter Henderson has 

 again and again declared that guano and other 

 similar fertilizers were worth fully a half more, 

 if thoroughly mixed with as much more fine 

 garden soil before applying to the ground. 

 Your remarks come right in line with his ad- 

 vice; and from what experience I have had, I 

 am quite sure you are right. Our plan has 



