84 



POPULAR GARDENING. 



January, 



This being the People's Paper, it ts open to M their 

 Immiriea bearina on gardetdng. Correspondents are 

 urged to anticipate the season in presentmg questions Jo 

 ask for Instance, on April 16 or 20 u-hat Peas hod best be 

 souii.couldbring no an su-er in the May issue, and nonf 

 before June. <rhen the answer trnuid be unseasonable 

 Questions received before the mh of any month stand a good 

 chance of being answered in the next paper Sot more than 

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

 pearing iclthi.ut nome belong to the name next folloimvg 



Replies to Inquiries are earnestly requested from our 

 readers. In ansicering such give the number, your 

 locality and name, the latter not .for publteatton. unless 

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



MO. Nitrate ofSoda on Early Truck. I would like 

 to know how this should be used on truck garden crops? 

 Also the value of kainlt and of sulphate of ammonia 

 in the garden. I cannot make enough stable manure, 

 so must look elsewhere.— A. C Martinsburg. W. \ a. 



511. Hydrant water in Rose forcing. Is such water 

 m any sense Injurious as compared with warmer 

 water for syringing Roses with a hose and nozzle in 

 winter?— A. H. S., East Weymouth, Mass. 



542. Black Walnut Cnlture.-The writer would be 

 greatly obliged for any points on the subject, .such as 

 the best soil, mode of planting, distance, culture and 

 kinds I have noticed the Walnut Is darker here than 

 West; is cUmate the cause?— R. T. Carter, Denton, Md. 



543. Croton Oarrieri. Can any reader give me a de- 

 scription of this sort?— W. X. Y., Essex Co., N. J. 



544. Trinmph Aster.-Can seed of this variety, de- 

 scribed in December, be obtained lnthiscouutry?-U.J. 



545. Hardy Dianthus. I have seen the most beauti- 

 ful double clovescented Pink in a garden, the flowers 

 of which were as fine as a Carnation, and the plant 

 looked like a Carnation, but was said to be perfectly 

 hardy. What Is it and how grown?— L. D., Eite Co., N. 1 . 



546. Sweet Lavender. What plant is it that is 

 known by this name and how is it grown ?— Ignorance. 



547. Arbor Vita Hedge. Desiring to start an Arbor 

 Vltae Hedge in the Spring, would you be so kind as to 

 give me some advice as to size of trees best to plant, 

 kinds, distances, etc.?— H. M.. Cumberland Co., Pa. 



518. "Shortening in" Peach Cultnre. I am thinking 

 of planting in Northern Virginia a fruit farm, princi- 

 pally Peach trees, and I would like to know if the 

 method known as the "shortening in system," and 

 practiced by the French and advised by Downing, is 

 practiced in this country, and with what success? Does 

 it t«nd to prolong the life of the tree, and produce a niod- 

 erate crop of iine fruit annually?— R. T.B...EIyrta, Ohio. 



549. Green Manuring for Fruit. I desire to know 

 whether sufficient fertility can be Imparted to land by 

 green manuring to fit It for fruit culture apart from 

 the use of stable manure? 



550. Salt for Quince Trees. Is salt of value for 

 these trees, and If so, what quantity should be applied? 



651. Manure for Small Fruits. Can stable manure 

 be supplemented by otl^r kinds with advantage, or 

 is the former alone bettcr?-J. W., Cherry Co., N. 1 . 



552. Wintering Pansies. I now have quite large' 

 Pansies. and the sash Is still on; shall I remove It or 

 not? Would like to have them bloom by Easter.— A Sub- 

 scriber, Morrisville, Pa. 



553. Apple Geranium Culture. Is there any special 

 art in the cultivation of the Apple Geranium? I have 

 one I think a great deal of, but it grows in the poorest 

 kind of a way.— Subscriber. 



554. Clematis Failing. Can you tell me what causes 

 my Clematis to droop and die so suddenly? And if so, 

 give a remedy. I have lost many and am discoiu-aged. 



555. Camellia Management. Should the snake like 

 root in Camellias be trimmed out ? Mine do not bloom 

 well.— Mrs. H. L. D. 



556. Palms. What treatment, kind of soil, amoimt 

 of water, etc., and where can I procure seed ? 



557. Mildew on Roses. Please give best remedy 

 for mildew on Roses. How is sulphur applied to hot- 

 water pipes ?— J. E. B. 



558. Pine Needles as Winter Covering. Are they 

 suitable for use In protecting bulb beds? 



559. Cherry Stocks. Are the Mazzard stocks the 

 roots of the old Morello Cherry? Give us the name of 

 a reliable fli'm that furnishes Cherry and Plum Stocks. 

 — Mrs. A. B. DAVENeoRT, Washington Territory. 



560. Pears that ripen well on the Tree. Which ones 

 do this the best ? 



.%1. Material for Protection. Earth is recommended 

 for covering Grapes aud Rasj>berry plants, etc. Will not 

 manure do as well ?— W. W. K., Toronto. Ont. 



562. Canning Machinery, Etc. Can you give us 

 name of any manufacturer of Canning Machluery ? 

 Also, can you direct us In any parties or any books that 

 will give 'information on the subject ?— Geo. E. Hicks. 



563. Chrysanthemums Mixing. Does this occur 

 through having the different varieties together while 

 In bloom or at any time ?— T. R.. (Iti-eat Bend, Kansas. 



564. Works on Plant Culture. Can you name some 

 books, etc., treating on propagation and culture of 

 plants under glass?— M. A. P., New Haven, Conn. 



."M. Works on Grapes and other Fruits. Which do 

 .vou consider arc the best works on Grape culture; also, 

 "on general fruits, with price?— U. P., Columbus, Ha. 



566. Applying Ashes. If ashes In contact with ani- 

 mal mauures drive off valuable gases, how soon after 

 manure Is apidled to laud may the former be applied 

 without loss? What gases are driven oil! ? 



"567. Dissolving Bones for making Fertilizers. I 

 have known a successful farmer years ago to use large 

 (luantltles of bones, and vitriol to dissolve them, for 

 t'ertlUzers. Can you tell how ?— F. H., Onehama, Mich. 



568. Defective Hot-Water Apparatus. A hot-water 

 heater aud pipes recently put into my greenhouse fails 

 to work. When I get up heat, the water in the tank, 

 whicli is above the return pipe near the boiler, surges 

 up and down causing it to overflow and fllllng the 

 house with steam. If any one could suggest what tne 

 defect is, 1 would feel greatly obliged, f here Is a rise 

 of one inch In six feet in the pipe No matter how hot 

 the fire may be the pipes at the further end are never 

 warm.— New Beginner, Rahtvay, N. J. 



569. Montbretia Pottsi not Blooming. This bulb 

 has not flowered as weU with me as I have seen it do 

 by others. The trouble ?-C. C. E., Champagne Co., III. 



570. Propagating Large-leaved Begonias. Will any 

 reader tell me how best to proceed In propagating 

 these?— E. G., Montgomery Co., Ohio. 



571. Sprinkling the Leaves oi Plants. We are told 

 that little trickles of water are worse than no water; 

 give a good-soaking or let it alone. But then if is added 

 gentle sprinkling over the leaves is beneflcial. But a 

 high scientific authority and a .great gardener Mr 

 Matthew Williams, of England, tells us that we cannot 

 do anything worse than this in hot, dry weather; that 

 by so "doing we open the pores of the leaves and make 

 them evaporate the moisture from then- tissues and 

 from the ground at a hundred horse-power. It would 

 be interestuig to have this question ventilated.-D. K. 



5T3. Pruning the Quince Tree. WiU you kindly tell 

 how U) prime this tree? I have pruned my tree annu- 

 ally, but for .some reason fruit Is scarce, although tbere 

 are usually flowers— Mrs. M. H., Atlantic City, X J. 



573. Fertilizers for Strawberry. WiU It pay to give 

 a la.st spring's bed any fertilizers? 400 poimds of guano 

 did not seem to cotmt.- W. R. R., Jackson, Co., lit. 



574. Fruit for Small Plat. Kindly name two or three 

 Pears an Apple and some Plum trees for a small gar- 

 den for home use.— S. R.. Orange Co., N. T. 



575. Pine for Shelter Belt. In planting a shelter belt 

 of White Pine (Piniis Strobus.) how far apart should 

 the trees stand ? Should there be a double row? What 

 is the best time to plant, and how far to be cut back ? 



576. Cotton Cloth for Hot-beds. What is the best 

 material and how should it be prepared ?— A. F., Dor- 

 chester Co., Delaware. 



577. Bouvardias after Flowering. How should the 

 plants be treated after their first strong crop of bloom? 

 iSo they require a rest?-C. S. E., Onondaga Co.. A. T. 



REPLIES TO INQUIRIES. 



44.5. Double "Wliite Feverfew. They are uot 

 hardy enough to live outside and should be taken 

 up, potted, and placed in the lightest part of a 

 cool cellar. Water should be given very spar- 

 ingly, and injury from damp guarded against. 

 Early in February they may be removed to a 

 Ught, sunny window and started into growth. 

 As soon as the shoots become three or four inches 

 In length they can be taken off and rooted. These 

 young plants will flower nicely all summer, 

 while the old wintered-over plants would in all 

 probability prove a perfect failure as far as 

 flowers are concerned.— C. E. P. 



4.59. Protection from Babbits. For two win- 

 ters I have found the following a perfect safe- 

 guard against Rabbits: 1 pound of Frazer's axle 

 grease to 2 pounds of lard or linseed oil; heat and 

 mix thoroughly. I apiilied it by means of an old 

 mitten, warm; easily ■'^doped" 1,000 trees per day. 

 Cost merely nominal; not necessary that aU the 

 bark be greased. The smell goes a good way.— 

 C. B. Elliutt, Bmru Co., Mu. 



508. Bange of Quinces. The Quince does well 

 generiilly where tlie extremes of cold do not 

 reach mii.'li lievond 10 or 15 degrees below zero. 

 The tree is native to the south of Europe and 

 Germany, but succeeds generally in temperate 

 cUraates. In Scotland the fruit seldom ripens, 

 except on a wall. 



472. Hot-bed in October. I used to run hot-beds 

 all winter long, especially for Asparagus forcing, 

 but such a job! Asparagus put in about the 

 middle of October will give " grass " tor Thanks- 

 "ivlng, but it doesn't pay. Now that greenhouses 

 can be put up and run so cheaply, it doesn't pay 

 to run hot-beds in winter. But even now I run 

 small hot-licds for Radishes.— W. Falcgner. 



4915. Peaches from Seed. The stones should be 

 in the ground now. We generally " bed " the 

 stones in earth as soon as we can get them in fall, 

 then in spring sow in rows 3 or 4 inches deep. 



492. Pests on the Mushroom Bed. If mice 

 have access to the bed you can't prevent them 

 eating the Mushrooms. Keep them out. Surely 

 flies do not soil your Mushrooms in September or 

 October? I know they are very troublesome 

 towards spiing; they are bred in immense quan- 

 tities in the manure. We cannot get rid of them 

 without thoroughly cleaning out the house. We 

 can do this pcrfecflv before starting any of em- 

 beds, iilso ).:irtiall\- iuiv time during the Mush- 

 room season when the licilsare earthed over, by 

 shutting up the house quite close and blowing 

 pyrethrum powder into the air. Throwing the 

 powder about is no good; it must be suspended 

 in the atmosiihere so that the Insects can breath 

 it in (■nlcr t<i be ett'ectual. Have the manure 

 read.^■ for building into the bed before you biing 

 it into the house. Woodlice can be caught in 

 little pockets of dry grass. Maggots appear in 

 our Mushrooms about the end of April. I then 

 discontinue the beds till fall.— W. Falconer. 



.509. Sweet Potato Culture. The Sweet Potato 

 requires a rich, Ught, warm soil. We have often 

 difficulty, in this district, in saving the tubers 

 sound enough until spring to start for sprouting 

 to produce young plants. They can be kept by 

 packing in barrels in dry sand and keeping them 

 in a warm room. About New York we begin to 

 start the Potatoes in hot-beds or forcing-pits 

 about the middle of April, laying them thickly 

 together on a two-inch layer of sand and leaf 

 mold composted together, or sand alone will suit 

 if leaf mold cannot be had. As soon as the buds 

 or eyes show signs of starting, cover the roots 

 completely over to the thickness of an inch with 

 the same material. Treat as for other tender 

 plants in the hot-bed or forcing-pit, and the 

 sprouts or slips will be ready for planting out by 

 the first of June. In sections of the country 

 where Sweet Potatoes are grown even to a small 

 extent there are generally men who make a 

 business of growing the plants, which are often 

 to be bought as low as $1 per 1,000. The plants 

 are set out in rows three or four feet distant, 

 and about two feet apart in the rows, using a 

 good shovelful of well-rotted manure, mixed in, 

 for each hUl. They are always planted in light, 

 sandy soil, heavy soils being entirel.y uncongenial 

 to the nature of the root. As they advance In 

 growth the rows are hilled up with the plow in 

 the same manner as ordinary Potatoes, care be- 

 ing taken, however, to prevent the idnes, as they 

 hang over, from rooting in the sand. This is 

 done by running along the vines, occasionally 

 under them, with the hand to break the young 

 roots and keep them from sti-iking into the soil. 

 In the Northern States, Sweet Potatoes must 

 always be used previous to December, unless 

 they can be kept in a warm place. In the South- 

 ern States they are kept in pits in the open 

 ground in much the same way as we keep ordin- 

 ary Potatoes at the North. Probably the best 

 temperature at which Sweet Potatoes can be kept 

 in winter is sixty degrees. The following are the 

 sorts mostly grown: iVaiisemoiid.— This is the 

 earliest sort; tubers large, from three to four 

 inches in diameter at the thickest part, tapenng 

 to each end, and from five to eight inches long; 

 flesh dry, sweet and well flavored. Red Skinned. 

 —This variety is claimed to be hardier than the 

 preceding, but it is doubtful if this is the case. 

 It is a long, slender variety, mostly grown in 

 private gardens, and is thought to be of a richer 

 flavor than the yellow or white sorts. TeHmc 

 S7tiH»e<i.— This sort is mainly cultivated in the 

 Southern States, where it attains nearly the 

 weight of the Nansemond; it requires a longer 

 season than that variety, and is not so suitable 

 for the North. It is of excellent flavor and quite 

 free from stringlness.— Gardening for Profit. 



5;». To Build a Brick Flue. To heat properly 

 a greenhouse of the dimensions stated (9 x 60), in 

 a moderately exposed situation, the following 

 plan will be found sufficient:— The flue should 

 run all around the house, that is start along 

 under one bench, cross the end and return under 

 the other bench to the place of beginning, where 

 it enters the chimney, which is buUt over the 

 furnace pit. It should have a gradual rise in 

 this length of about two (2) feet to secure perfect 

 draft. The inside measure of flue should be 

 about 10 X 12 inches, and should be raised from 

 the ground by means of bricks, as it not only 

 exposes more heating surface but keeps the flue 

 always dry and makes it draw better. The first 

 25 feet of flue, after leaving the furnace, should 

 be of brick, from which point 8 inch cement drain 

 pipe should be used, which is not only cheaper 

 and more easily constructed, but radiates the 

 heat more rapidly than brick. The bars of the 

 grate should be two feet in length, making a 

 vridth of 12 to 15 inches. After setting the bars 

 Ijy resting them on an iron plate set into the 

 brick work at front and back, the sides of the 

 furnace should be built ivlth fire-brick and fire 

 clay to the height of 15 or 18 inches, from which 

 point either an arch is turned over to cover the 

 furnace or iron bars laid across to support the 

 upper tier of bricks, on which the chimney is 

 built. The top of inside of furnace should be at 

 least 15 inches from the grate bars. The neck of 

 the fuiiuK-c should rise at quite a sharp angle for 

 about two fi'Ct until it runs into the fine, and for 

 this reason it is best to place the furnace deep 

 enough to admit of this rise, without getting 

 much above the level of the greenhouse floor; 

 precaution of course should be taken in regard 

 to draining if there is dimger of water in winter. 

 The building of the chimney over the furnace 

 pit iilw;ivs insures a iiertect draft, which is the 

 great dil'licultv with long Hues whicli terminate 

 at the opi.osite end from the furnace. Care 

 should b<- taken that no woodwork come in con- 

 tact with the tlue at any point, as the heat given 

 out dries the wood to such an extent that it 

 would ignite readily and the contents of the 

 house likelv to be ruined, if not consumed. In 

 describing 'the furnace I should have stated the 

 furnace doors, which should be about one foot 

 square may be so constructed as to either 

 open from the inside of the greenhouse, or what 

 is better, from the end, over which is buUt a small 

 shed which not only protects it at this point but 

 serves as a place for storing coal, flower pots, 

 potting soil, etc.— G. H. M., Norwich, N. I . 



