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THE CANADIAN HORTICULTURIST. 



Dear Sir, — The time has come 

 around again to renew my subscription 

 for the Horticulturist, and I do it with 

 pleasure for it is always a welcome 

 visitor, with its monthly store of 

 knowledge and instruction, the whole 

 space being devoted to those things, 

 instead of a part of it being taken up 

 (as many of the periodicals are) with 

 some worthless serial story. 



W. Hood. 



Valleyfield, Dec. 17, 1885. 



Dear Sir, — Please find enclosed the 

 sum of one dollar being my subscrip- 

 tion for the Horticulturist for the en- 

 suing year. It has regularly paid its 

 monthly visit and has always been 

 welcomed as a friend. It is so nice 

 after a hard day's work to take an easy 

 chair and forget all about weariness 

 and bad weather, and dull markets 

 while reading from its clear, well 

 printed pages, the struggles and 

 triumphs of fellow labourers. I always 

 learn something from each number, 

 and I am always encouraged by the 

 perseverance, displayed by your cor- 

 respondents, under the many dis- 

 couragements attending on horticul- 

 tural pursuits. I love my little garden, 

 but what with untimely frosts and 

 codlin moths, and currant, and goose- 

 berry, and cabbage worms, I feel like 

 giving up, but I am getting knowledge, 

 and I find it true, that " knowledge is 

 power." I am getting the upper hand 

 of my insect enemies and if I cannot 

 prevent frosts I can guard against 

 them. You have asked so nicely for 

 your readers to give their experience, 

 that I, for one, feel tempted to try, 

 just to please you, you know, and per- 

 haps my experience may be of use to 

 others. F. F. 



Minesing, Dec, 1885. 



Dear Sir, — Please find enclosed one 

 dollar for Canadian Horticulturist for 



1886, having taken it for several years 

 I cannot do without it, for I consider 

 it a most invaluable guide for the 



garden. 



Toronto, Dee. 13, 1885. 



W. B. Hill. 



QUESTION DRAWER. 



(1) I would like to know if coal 

 ashes are good for anything or not. 

 Are they good for the soil, or for bushes 

 or trees 1 (2) What is the cause of lice 

 on apple trees. ^ q ^^j^ 



Dunlop, Huron Co. 



Reply.— (1) Chemists tell us that 

 coal ashes do not contain sujficient fer- 

 tilizing matter to pay for applying them 

 to the land for that purpose. It is, 

 however, said that the application of 

 coal ashes to stiff clay soils is suflSci- 

 ently beneficial to pay for the labor of 

 hauling and spreading, because of their 

 mechanical effect in loosening the soil. 

 It is also claimed by some who have 

 tried them that they are profitable as a 

 mulch, when applied to currant bushes, 

 especially black currant bushes. (2) It 

 is not in the writer's power to say what 

 is the cause of lice on apple trees ; 

 either bark li(;e, or the green lice 

 (aphis). They are living beings, hav- 

 ing the power of reproduction and loco- 

 motion ; they feed on the juices of the 

 trees ; and, when allowed to become 

 numerous produce very injurious effects. 



PIGEON DUNG. 

 I have got a couple of casks of pigeon 

 dung, and I would like to know how 

 and what quantities to apply to about 

 an acre, that is set with grapes, straw- 

 berries, raspberries, gooseberries, cur- 

 rants, plums, and pears. The ground 

 now is rich, and well manured. By 



