40 



POPULAR GARDENING. 



November. 



This being the People's Paper, it in open to all their 

 Inquiries bearing on gardening. Correspondents are 

 urged to anticipate the season in presenting questions. To 

 asK.f or instance, on April \5 or iO iPhnt Peas had best be 

 sown, could bring no answer in the May issue, and none 

 be/ore June, when the answer would be unseasonable. 

 Questions received be/ore the Xdthof any month stand a good 

 chance of being answered in the next paper. Not more than 

 three questions should be sent at one time. Inquiries ap- 

 pearing tcithout name belong to the name next following 



Replies to Inquiries are earnestly requested from our 

 readers. In answering such give the number, your 

 locality and name, the latter not for publication, unless 

 you desire. Write only on one side of the paper. 



4T1. Moles in Orchard. Please advise as to best 

 way of destroying in young orcliard. — J. F., Oil City, Pa. 



472. Hot-bed in October. I have a large liot-bed now 

 ready for planting, but have no Idea what can now be 

 put into It.— Mrs. E. N., Olennvitle, N. T. 



473. Foreign Grape Culture. Which are the best 

 foreign varieties for cold grapery ? Do you know of 

 any work on the management of same?— W. S. R., 

 Hacketistowti, N. J. 



474. Northern-exposed Greenhouse. Ibuiltasmall 

 lean-to iu rather a strange place, namely, on the north 

 side of a neighbor's greenhouse wall built to the line. 

 The flue of his house gives partial warmth to mine. 

 Should you think any further heating would be neces- 

 sary, or wolxld not an oil stove in cold weather do ? 

 What plants should I rely on?— E. E. L., Trenton, N. J. 



475. Dividing Tree Paeonies. Can these be divided 

 at the root, and if so when should it be done ?— Mrs. G. 

 G., St. Louis, Mo. 



476. Cuttings of Lapageria Rosea. WiU any one be 

 klud enough to inform nte how to strike a Lapageria 

 rosea cutting ? What soil should I use, and what tem- 

 perature should be kept up ?— J. H. C. 



4V7. Salt and Fresh Water Influences on Fruit. If 

 agreeable I would like the opinion of men of experience 

 as to the relative effects of large bodies of salt or fresh 

 water on fruit growing.— J. Tailbt, Onandaga Co.,N. Y. 



478. Keeping Vegetables. I have seen little on this 

 subject in your columns, and as I have raised some 



very good ones and am a new beginner, I would ap- 



Sreciate advice on wintering a family supply. —M. E. L., 

 ■riJitol Co., R. I. 



479. Apples for the South. A list of the best kinds 

 In your columns would oblige.— A. L., Beaufort Co., S. C. 



480.' Root Pruning Fruit Trees. Is this advisable, 

 and what is the object ? If it is a good plan I want to 

 know.— Orchardist, Stafford Co.. N. H. 



481. Wax Plant Management. I have not had the 

 success with this plant 1 desire. Any information as to 

 management will be thankfully recelved.-SUtrD. 



482. Oranges not Setting. My tree in the greenhouse 

 blossoms abundantly but does not fruit. Can you ascribe 

 a cause?— Miss E. L., Warren Co., Pa. 



483. Rooting Le Conte Pears. Please tell how to root 

 LeConte Pear cuttings?— CJ. M. H., Henrico, Va. 



484. Caring for and Planting Bulbs. Should be glad 

 to know about taking up and wintering Gladiolus, 

 Dahlias, Caladiums and Oxalis; also, when to put in 

 Tulip bulbs for next season's blooming ?— Sdbscriber. 



485. Onion Planting in the Fall. WiU it do to plant 

 Onion sets (Globe Dauvers) in the fall? If so, when ? 

 Also, Potato Onions, best time to plant?— E. M Y 

 Paducah, Kg. 



486. Greenhouse in Small Town. I should like 

 opinions as to whether a greenhouse can be made to 

 pay in a small town remote from the larger cities ? If 

 so, what line affords the be.st chance for success.— F W 

 C, Bradford Co., Pa. 



487. Propagating Grapes Out-of-Doors. Which is 

 best:— 1st. To plant the cuttings in the fall where they 

 are to grow ? Or, 2d. To keep them over winter In dry 

 sand in a cool cellar ? Or, lid. To bury them outdoors 

 where water will not lie on them dtu'lrig winter ?— M L 

 S., Pittsburgh, Pa. 



488. Evergreen Hedge in Shade. I am desirous to 

 ascertain the best kind of hedge to plant where It is 

 exposed to the drip of trees. I should prefer an ever- 

 green.— C. C, Washtenaw Co., Mich. 



489. Weigelia Rosea for Hedge. Has the WeigeUa 

 rosea been tried ? and. if so, how far apart should the 

 plants be set?— C. C Washtenaw Co., ^Iich. 



490. Sawdust Manure for Mushrooms. Will some 

 one with experience tell whether manure with sawdust 

 bedding from well-fed horses will answer for Mush- 

 rooms?— Ikexperience, Valparaiso, Indiana. 



491. Tuberous Begonia Culture. How should these 

 be cared for from this time on.— J. E. G.,Cooit Co., III. 



492. Pests on the Mushroom Bed. I am having ex. 

 cellent results from a Mushroom bed, excepting that I 

 am annoyed by mice eating them, and they become 

 soiled by flies. Could some one give me a" remedy 

 against these and other pests to this plant.— G. W., 

 Monroe Co., N. Y. 



493. Chrysanthemum Leaves Failing, Some of my 

 plants grown In pots outdoors until a month ago, when 

 I put them under glass, now show some lower leaves 

 affected with what I think may be mildew, and the 

 leaves seem to die oft. Will any one tell me the best 

 treatment and preventive ?— L. E. C. 



494. The Cuba Lily. Will you please teU how to 

 treat the Cuba Lily.-Mrs. L. A., Goderich, Ont. 



495. Transplanting Young Walnuts. Three years 

 ago I planted twelve shag bark Walnuts, from which 

 I raised nine trees, and these I now want to transplant 

 When Is the best time ? Ought the roots to be primed ? 

 —Mrs. J. D. E., Hartford, Conn. 



496. Peaches from Seed. Do you use the stone and 

 kernel intact, or the kernel alone ? Is autumn or spring 

 the best time to plant ? How deep to be planted ?— I. R. 

 W., Montgomery Co., Pa. 



497. Russian Mulberry Query. A lot of trees here 

 are in a row and from two to four feet high. How 

 would you plant them out ? How thick, and when is 

 the best time?— E. R., Ida Co., Iowa. 



498. Market Gardening Questions. "Which are the 

 best Beets of good size for market; also, the best Sugar 

 Beet grown; also, the best Sugar Corn for market and 

 home use, and which is the best combined cultivator 

 and drill for garden use?— A. P. D., Brighton, Colo. 



499. Grapes in Florida. Will Northern 2 year-old 

 Grape-vines do as well In Florida as state-grown vines? 

 Also, what varieties will do best In Florida for the 

 market, all things considered?— S. G. G., West Union, la. 



500. Round Pint Basket. Where can be found a 

 plain, round pint berry box?— M. S. B., Crete, Neb. 



501. Cedar from Seed. How shall I proceed to prop- 

 agate from the seed ? How overcome the guminess 

 formed on the seed that Is not soluble In water or the 

 soil?- A. Taft, Goodrich, Kansas. 



502. Black Spots on Rose Leaves. My Roses get 

 blackspotsonthe leaves and eventually drop off; ground 

 quite rich and they have previously grown thriftily. 

 What is the cause and remedy ? 



503. Liquid Manure Making, etc. Is fresh or old 

 manure best for liquid manure ? How will the effects 

 of too much or too strong liquid manure be shown on 

 Roses ?— Young Florist. 



504. Mildew and Aphis on Roses. What Is the best 

 treatment for mildew and green aphis on out~door 

 Roses ?— M., McHenry Co., III. 



505. Cape Bulb Culture. I will be much obliged for 

 a brief note as to culture of Ixias, Sparaxls, Alliimi and 

 Freeslas for winter blooming; also, as to an Orinthoga- 

 lura for winter.— J. A. H., Venango Co., Pa. 



506. Everbearing Strawberry. An agent has been 

 offering such a one. praising It highly; do you know of 

 any such.— Reader. 



507. Harris' Lily Query. Shoidd Harris' Lilies that 

 have been in ten inch pots and bloomed last May and 

 have not yet shown signs rest be dried off and kept dry 

 all winter, or rest awhile and then started? I only want 

 them to ornament my porches in spring.- J. D. 



REPLIES TO INQUIRIES. 



457. Oreen-fly in the Bose House. Suppose you 

 try spreading a layer of Tobacco stems two 

 inches deep and ten inches "svide the full length 

 of the greenhouse, and give them a dash of water 

 when watering. The slight fumes constantly 

 arising from the Tobacco mil keep the green-fiy 

 entirely in subjection. 



466. manuring Bhododendrons. If the bed 

 is properly made Rhododendrons or Azaleas will 

 not need manuring, and if the soil is not suitable 

 no manure will give them ^ngor. The best plan is 

 to give a top-dressing of leaves of any deciduous 

 tree (those of Oak being usuall.y preferred) in the 

 autumn; and, in early spring fork these in, if it 

 can be done without disturbing the roots; or, 

 better still, throw alight sprinkling of loam over 

 them to prevent them from blowing away. The 

 leaves will soon decompos eaud be all the manure 

 the plants will need. In a bed properly prepared 

 with loam, leaf-mold and sand, the plants tlirive 

 for many years without any renewal of soil; and, 

 unless one is willing to jn-ejiare a j)roper bed, it 

 is better not to attempt ti> gn.w tlu'iu, for they 

 never give satisfaction in common soil.— A. H. E. 



465. Pruning Swarf Fears, We have for some 

 years practiced pruning in our dwarf Pear trees 

 about the last of October, or as soon as the foliage 

 has dropped. It is asserted by some that, during 

 winter, there is danger of injury to the terminal 

 bud where such cuts are made; but we have 

 never found any such result. We have, however, 

 lost many a growth from the last bud, when we 

 have cut in a tree in spring; and generallj' be- 

 cause of the bud being full at the time, and the 

 fresh cut opening an exhaustive receiver, as it 

 were, in the air, thus drying out and destroying 

 it. The cut made in the fall, as early as possible, 

 but after active \igor has left the bud. leaves 

 time for the wood to dr.v and harden prepai-atory 

 to the spring pushing. Another reason for fall- 

 pruning is that there is generally more time at 

 command, and the work will be performed with 

 greater care and judgment. 



468. Protecting Shrubs, etc. Plants near the 

 ground may be covered with leaves or hay; but 

 shrubs and climbing \-ines will need different 

 management. When evergreen boughs can be 

 had without much trouble they may be used to 

 good advantage. This work should, if possible, 

 be done before the ground freezes, so that the 

 ends of the boughs may be stuck into the ground 

 to keep them in place during the winter; when 

 this cannot be done, they will need to be tied to- 

 gether to keep them. Some who cannot readily 

 get such boughs may get straw more easily, and 

 it can be used to eipial advantage. Bind and tie 

 it around the plant in such a way as to protect it 

 both from the extreme cold by night and the heat 

 of the sun by day. It is not generally the ex- 

 treme cold that kills the tender or half-liardy tree 

 or plant, but the alternations of heat and' cold. 

 Then, when so protected, the plantsare less liable 

 t<i be broken down by sleet, snow and ice, which 

 often greatly injure them. 



4.38. Hoon Vine or Evening Glory. For keep- 

 ing over winter, rootslips and keep in house until 

 mild spring weather appears.— J. T. Wallace. 



426. Hardy Catalpas for Timber. I have quite 

 a number of hardy Catalpas set around the north 

 and west side of my orchard as a winter protec- 

 tion, and find them well adapted to the purpose. 

 They make a strong, rapid growth. They are 

 perfectly hardy here.— N. J. S., Elduii, Mo. 



460. Vinegar Eels and Mother. The little 

 wriggling creatures in some vinegars have been 

 credited with being the life of the vinegar; their 

 presence is in no way beneficial. These develop 

 in most fruits, and find their way int« \inegar 

 made from fruit juices. Vinegar which contains 

 them must contain some mucilaginous or albu- 

 minous matter, or the eels would have no food, 

 and could not exist. They need air, also. They 

 may be killed by heating the vinegar to 128 de- 

 grees Fahr.. or by adding boracic acid. The 

 tough, leathery substance, commonly called 

 " mother," is one of the many fungi whose spores 

 float in the air, settle as dust on exposed objects, 

 and fall into exposed liquids, ready to grow into 

 a bulky plant when conditions favor. The e.xact 

 position of the vinegar plant among fungi has 

 not been settled. The plant develops while the 

 vinegar is making; and its presence is a sign that 

 the operation is hastening. It grows on the sur- 

 face of the nnegar, and if not disturbed will 

 cover the whole surface, conforming to the shape 

 of the vessel. Manufacturers of rtnegar get rid 

 of the mother as soon as possible. The popular 

 notion that the presence of mother shows that 

 the %-inegar is of good quality is not well founded. 

 The vinegar plant appears in vinegar made of 

 molasses, and it is really as undesirable as mold 

 on bread.— Writer for Popular Science Monthly 



443. Warts on Vine Leaves. The small ex- 

 crescences are not caused by insects, but by slight 

 exudations of sap. When the warts are so num- 

 erous as to give the leaves an encrusted appear- 

 ance respiration is impaired and healthy growth 

 arrested. If the leaves are notseriously ruptured 

 do not apprehend the vine will be materially in- 

 jured. The affection often follows a great out- 

 rush of air by throwing the ventilators open 

 widely after a house has been closed too long 

 and the air becomes too warm and moist, the 

 transpiration or evaporation from the leaves be- 

 ing then too sudden and excessive. Admit air 

 early by the top ventilators, increasing it grad- 

 ually as the heat of the house increases, but never 

 to cause a sudden fall in temperature. 



453. Home Grown Tobacco for Fumigation. I 

 prefer this to any other. My way of using is to 

 take an old iron pan the size of a dish pan, make 

 a hole in the bottom as large as an egg^ put in a 

 handful of shavings, fill with the Tobacco which 

 should be quite damp, set over a couple of 6 inch 

 pots to give draught and set fire. This amount 

 to 1,0(X) feet of glass is about right for Roses, Car- 

 nations, etc. Heliotropes are apt to be injured 

 when so much is used. — W. F. L. 



464. Failure with Lilies, Too much stress 

 cannot be laid upon the importance of winter 

 protection. Some, the TenuifoUum for example, 

 although natives of as cold countries as Siberia, 

 and would naturally be considered perfectly 

 hardy in this climate, very often faU, to the sur- 

 prise of the planter. This is due to the fact that 

 in their native home the first approach of winter 

 is heralded by a heavy snow-storm which covers 

 the ground several feet deep and remains until 

 spring, thus protecting them from destructive 

 freezing and thawing spells. The ground should 

 be underdrained.— W. F. L. 



474. Northern Exposed Greenhouse. Being 

 the house is alread,y in part pro\ided with heat, 

 the addition of an oil-stove might be suffic- 

 ient to keep out severe frosts in such a small 

 house. It would not receive any sun-heat dur- 

 ing the winter months, and will not be well 

 adaiited to grow ordinary greenhouse plants. 

 Camellias will do well in such a house, and Ferns, 

 Fuschsias, Pelargoniums, Chinese Primroses, 

 Paris Daisies, etc., would do fairly well. Bulbs 

 of various kinds will develop their beauties in 

 such a house about as well as any; so also ^vill 

 the pretty LUy of the Valley. 



47.5. Dividing Tree Pseonies Do not attempt 

 to divide Tree Pseonies even if they are large 

 plants; there is a risk attending it, and they are 

 such slow-growing plants, even when kindly 

 treated, that any serious disturbance at the roots 

 would interfere with their growth for two or 

 three years. Surely it is a mistake to wish to do 

 so, for we have never known them to get too 

 large, and a large specimen is such a glorious 

 sight when in flower that we should prefer not to 

 interfere with it in any wa.v. 



424. Killing Sprouts. I have always had the 

 best success by makingit a rule as far as possible 

 to cut in August, not during any particular time 

 of the moon, but during the last days of this 

 month.— N. J. Shepherd, Eklon, Mo. 



4!iO. Sawdust Manure for Mushrooms. Saw- 

 dust manure from weU-fed hoi'ses has been used 

 in Mushroom culture, and so have tree-leaves, 

 but these substances have only been used when 

 stable manure could not be had. The sawdust 

 should be from hard wood, not deal, and it will 

 be better if a proiiortion of stable or straw ma- 

 nure can be mixed with the sawdust. Of course, 

 the droppings from the animals will be in the 

 sawdust. Rather less drjing and turning will be 

 required than w ith ordinary manure.— A. H. E. 



