134 



POPULAR GARDENING. 



March, 



Kie. Roses for Winter Bloom. Will some reader 

 name the best sorts for planting out In a greenhouse of 

 about 50° night heat? When Is the best time to plant? 

 —A., Williani*8 Bridge. N. Y. 



BS7. Cranberry and Huckleberry Culture. How 

 would It do to set these on Tamarack soil, and will you 

 give points on cultivation?— L. M.. Qenesee Co., N. T. 



KS. Hen Manure for Grapes. Will it answer to 

 luit this manure into the holes when planting. If .10, 

 how much? Would you mix ashes with It? 



rai. Kniffen System and Laying Down. Will this 

 system, described in the .January is.sue, admit of laying 

 down the vines every winter? 



Ml). Grapes for Market. For planting one-half 

 acre here in N. E. Iowa, what varieties would you ad- 

 vise? What is the best distance apart to plant?— J. R.. 

 Burr Oak, loiva. 



641. Wager Peach Pits. Where could one-haU 

 bushel of these be procured?-L. W., Hamburgh, Iowa. 



(M3. Hibiscus Buds Dropping. Will C. E. P. 

 tell me why the buds of my Hibiscus rubra drop as If 

 cut off by a worm, when almost ready to open. The 

 plant is healthy, and no insects are In sight.— M. R. W. 



M3. Grafting or Budding. Which is better, root 

 grafting or budding Apple? And why?— J. E., Lyons, Neb. 



B44. Ashes for Peach Borer. Can either leached or 

 unleached ashes be used to bank around the trees, and 

 what quantity to not injure the bark?- C. W. O. 



fi45. Fruits for British Columbia. I woidd like 

 lists of Apples for here, extra early two kinds, me- 

 dium two or three kinds, late two or three kinds. Of 

 Pears, Cherries, Peaches, Plums and Grapes, all about 

 of a similar selection as to kinds as of Apples. 

 Also of Blackberries, Raspberries, Strawberries, etc. 

 Would like a small list of the best. Our climate is 

 mild, the thermometer scarcely ever going 5 to 8 de- 

 grees below zero.- G. W. B., New Westminster, B. C. 



MH. Celery in Sawdust. Have any readers tried 

 keeping Celery in the cellar packed in sawdust, and 

 with what success and how done?— J. B. W. 



M". Blue-Black Grape Beetle. Last spring a small 

 beetle of this description ate the fruit buds of my 

 Grape-vines, thus destroying the crop. What is it, and 

 the remedy?-C. F. A.. Portage Co., Ohio. 



MS. Myrobolean Plum Stock. Please Inform me 

 as regards this stock, and whether it is any better than 

 the common Plum, or is used for standards, or as a 

 stock for the Peach, etc.— F. M. S. 



619. Japan Persimmon and Peach Culture. Can I 

 grow the Japan Persimmon in latitude forty? also 

 Kelsey's .Japan Plum?— O. G. Wilson. 



(iai. Rabbits and Dwarf Pear Buds. The rabbits 

 have injured some buds of Pear and Quince stocks. Is 

 there any way of making use of the stocks so de- 

 prived of buds?— YOLTNO NtmSERYMAN. 



Kil. Protecting Young Tomatoes. What Is the 

 cheapest and handiest covering for the young plants to 

 protect them from frosts and chills.— R. G. n; 



raa. Early Tomatoes for Market. I wish some one 

 would give a practical method for bringing these 

 along very early.— A. M. N. 



6S3. Chinese Primroses— Damping Off. If some 

 one will give me such points in their management as 

 shall prevent this, I will feel obliged.— G. Floyd. 



B.54. Seed Growing. In addition to the answer to 

 No. 524, 1 woidd ask; (a) Will you please say how they 

 are grown? (b) Why is Cauliflower seed so expensive? 

 From where was it "originally Imported? (c) Which is 

 the earliest Pea of flue quality, good size and yield? 

 — W. J. A., Jamestonm, N. Y. 



REPLIES TO INQUIRIES. 



bHi. Hardy Dianthus. Your correspcmdent 

 wishes to Itnow of a hardy Dianthus, sweet 

 scented and as fine as a Carnation. No doubt 

 this was one of the florist varieties of Dianthus 

 plumarlus, which are perfectly hardy here and 

 are so sweet, aiul lieautitul in the marlsings, it is 

 a matter of suriirisi- tlioy are not more grown. 

 We have here brsidrs the type some fifteen named 

 English varieties, and tliey are much admired by 

 all who see them in bloom.— E. Orpet. 



!m. Shortening in Peach Culture. Yes, the 

 shortening in system as advised by Downing is 

 being extensively practiced in this country, and 

 witli very satisfactory results. Not only does it 

 prolong the life of the tree, but it enables it to 

 produce good crops of fine fruit annually— that 

 is if the trees are properly cared for in all other 

 respects.— C. E. P. 



.')72. Pruning the Quince Tree. The Quince 

 requires but very little pruning, an occasional 

 thinning out of the crowding or decayed branches 

 being sutflcient. Give your trees a good dressing 

 of well decayed mainire immediatel.N, and fork 

 it in well around the trees as esirly in the spring 

 as possible. ThinninK out of tlie iniit on over- 

 beaiing tree^ will matcrirxlly impro\'c the remain- 

 der and enable the trees to prochui' fair crops 

 every season. — C. E. P. 



,580. The Niagara Plum. The Niagara is per- 

 fectly hardy and bears an enormous crop of large 

 showy fruit. The trees will bear as many bas- 

 kets as the Lombard, but as the fruit is double 

 the size it does not have to bear as many in num- 

 ber. It ripens 1.5 to M days in advance of the 

 Lombard, and commands a much better price. 



.583. Variegated Umbrella Palm. This is Cy- 

 periix aiternifoliii.^ rftrieifntui<, a serai-aquatic 

 plant from Madagascar, of the easiest cultivation. 

 Gntw it in well drained pots in fibrous soil; keep 

 it shaded at all times as you would a Fern, and 

 give it lots of water at all seasons.— W,.l'. 



.51ti. Cyclamen Treatment for Continuous 

 Bloom, The Cyclamen has an annual season of 

 blooming and rest; the former cannot be length- 

 ened much, and then only by the most favorable 

 circumstances. Three or four weeks at the most 

 may be said to be the limit. To secure contin- 

 uous flowering the cultivator must have a num- 

 ber of plants, and give a part of them a longer 

 rest, or induce some of them to rest at different 

 times. By so doing a succession of flowers may 

 be secured for several months. The rest, as some 

 may suppose, should never be carried to a stand- 

 still, this is not in accordance with the nature of 

 the plant. It should always have moisture and 

 heat enough to keep the crown open and the roots 

 moving, or its vigor will be lessened. The sea- 

 son of rest is indicated by the dying off of the 

 lower leaves, and may be brought about at other 

 times, after flowering, by the lowering of the 

 temperature and the withholding of water. 

 The drying off period is taken by some cultiva- 

 tors for repotting the plants; it may not be the 

 best, but the soil is more easily separated from 

 the matted roots, which require very careful 

 handling or decay follows. The potting should 

 be very firmly done and the cover set nearly or 

 wholly above the surface of the soil. Overfeed- 

 ing and overpotting are to be guarded against. 

 Five or six-inch pots are the best size for flowering 

 plants. Peat leaf-mold, loam, well rotted manui'e, 

 and clean, gritty sand, in equal parts, makes a 

 good soil for them.— P. 



.5.53. Apple Geranium Culture. The Apple 

 Geranium should be given a compost composed 

 of two-thirds turfy loam, one-third well decayed 

 manure and a sprinkling of bone dust. In pot- 

 ting select porous or .soft baked pots, and let 

 them be proportionate to the size of the plant. 

 Place in a light, sunny situation where a temper- 

 ature of from 50° to .55'' is maintained. Water 

 thoroughly when necessary, and guard against 

 the green fly, to which pest it is unfortunately 

 very subject. Owing to the plant's peculiar 

 habit of growth, it always forms the best plants 

 when raised from seed, and which are freely pro- 

 duced. Plants raised from ctittings are not 

 worth bothering with.— C. E. 



558. Pine Needles as Winter Covering. Yes, 

 they are excellent for covering bulb beds, but do 

 not aUow them to remain on too long in the 

 spring,— C. E. P. 



,557. mildew on Boses. Procure a bottle ot 

 Henderson's Mildew Mixture and apply accord- 

 ing to the directions which accompany it. Or 

 after syringing, blow virgin sulphur on and 

 underneath the leaves with a ]iowder gun or bel- 

 lows syringe. To api'ly suli^hur to hot-water 

 pipes, mix it in water with equal parts of lime or 

 guano to the consistency of whitewash. Apply 

 with a paint brush, but don't use it too near the 

 boUer.— C. E. P. 



559. Cherry Stocks. Mazzard stocks are not 

 the old Moreilo Cherry. You can procure Cherry 

 and Plum stocks of many of the nurserymen who 

 advertise in this journal.- C. E. P. 



.567. Dissolving Bones for Making Fertilizers- 

 Don't waste your time and patience in attempt- 

 ing any such work, but if you intend to set out 

 any Grape-vines or fruit trees this spring, dig the 

 holes a little deeper and place the bones therein 

 before planting the trees. Bone dust can be pro- 

 cured cheap if one requires it.— C. E. P. 



580. Pears that Bipen Well on the Trees. All 

 Pears are much finer in flavor if gathered and 

 ripened in the house. The summer and autumn 

 varieties should be gathered as soon as the fruit 

 stalk parts readily from the branch on gently 

 raising the fruit, while the winter varieties should 

 be allowed to remain on the trees as long as possi- 

 ble, or untn the nights become frosty.— C. E. P. 



.576. Cotton Cloth for Hot-Beds. Do not attempt 

 to prepare anything of the kind, but procure 

 Waterproof Fiber Cloth, which is far superior to 

 anything that can be made at home, and is quite 

 as "cheap. The treatment Ihat this Fiber Cloth 

 receives fills the threads and fibers and preserves 

 them from decay, and also renders it tougher and 

 stronger and prevents it from shrinking alter 

 getting wet, and also sheds the rain to a consider- 

 able extent. As there is no linseed oil used in 

 this treatment, the cloth mil not stick together 

 or heat when laid in piles. It is made in one yard 

 widths, and can be procured in any number of 

 yards desired, at a cost of about ten cents a yard. 

 There are two grades, heavy and medium, the 

 latter being the most suitable for general pur- 

 poses.— C. E, P. 



.565. Works on Grapes and other Fruits. Ful- 

 ler's Small Fruit Culturist, price, S1..5n. Chorlton's 

 Grape Grower's Guide, price, 75 cents. FuUer's 

 Grape Culturist, price, $1.50. Quinn's Pear Cul- 

 ture for Profit, price, $1.00. Downing's Fruits 

 and Fruit Trees of America, price $5.0(1; and 

 Barry's Fruit Garden, price, $2.00; are invaluable 

 to all fruit growers, and all may be procured 

 through Popular Garpeninq Pub. Co.-C.E.P. 



566. Applying Ashes. Ashes can be ap[>lied at 

 any time after the manure is put on, and before 

 the crop is planted. Mix with the soil as thor- 

 oughly as possible, or use as a top dressing on the 

 growing.crops, applying it at the first hoeing. 



.564. Works on Plant Culture. Long's Home 

 Florist is an exceilent treatise for the amateur. 

 Price, $1 .25. To the professional cultivator, Hen- 

 dereon's Practical Floriculture, price, $1.50; and 

 Henderson's Hand Book of Plants, price, $3.00; 

 will inijiart a great deal of \-ahiable information. 

 The.^*' linolvs luiiy Ik/ procured through the Pop- 

 ular (iARDENING PUBLISHING CO.— C. E. P. 



577. Bouvardias after Flowering. Bouvardias 

 are hot-house i)lants, and where flowers are want- 

 ed they must be given a light, sumiy situation, and 

 an average night temperature of 60 degrees, and 

 the greatest care must be taken to keep them 

 perfectly free from aU insect pests. After they 

 cease flowering, remove to a cooler atmosphere, 

 and keep dry at the roots for a month or six 

 weeks, when the.v can be started into growth 

 again. When growth commences, shift into larger 

 pots or give liquid manure twice a week. Care 

 should be taken not to \vater the plants too much 

 at first. The crop of flowers thus obtained will 

 be far inferior to the first, and man.v persons con- 

 sider it not worth the time and trouble necessary 

 to obtain it. After growth has well commenced, 

 the plants will require a similiar treatment Ut that 

 advised for the earl.v crop of bloom.— C. E. P. 



590. Lice on Fruit Trees. I presume that you 

 refer to the Bark Louse, which is a scale-like in- 

 sect of a dull white color and about a tenth of 

 an inch in length, which often appears on the 

 stems of the trees in such numbers as to stunt 

 their growth and even utterly destroy them. 

 These insects may be destroyed by dissolving a 

 pound of potash in a gaUon of water and apply- 

 ing it with a paint brush to the affected parts at 

 any time before the tree starts into growth. One, 

 or at the most, two applications will destroy 

 them.— C. E. P. 



584. Amaryllis from Seed. Amaryllis seed 

 should be sown, as soon as gathered, in a well 

 drained pot or pan filled with light, tui-f.y loam. 

 Sow thinly, cover slightly and place in a warm 

 place as close to the glass as possible. As soon as 

 all are up and about two inches in height, pot off 

 into two-inch pots and from this time on shift as 

 often as necessary, as by so dfiing the bulbs will 

 attain a flowering size in some twelve or fifteen 

 months. Of course the plants should be kept in 

 a warm, moist situation as close to the glass as 

 possible at all times during their season of growth. 

 They must be given porous or soft-baked pots, 

 well drained; it the pots arc one-third filled with 

 drainage it is none too much.— C. E. P. 



601. Fertilizer for Raspberry. Apply the Blood 

 and Bone Fertilizer at the rate of two hundred 

 pounds to the acre; spread it among the plants 

 and work it in as thoroughly as possible, by 

 means of a fork or hoe. A preferable way 

 would have been to have given the plants a good 

 dressing of well decayed stable or barn-yard 

 manure last fall, and to have worked it in as 

 thoroughly as possible this spring.— C. E. P. 



596. Plants for Small Conservatory. There 

 are but a ver.v few plants that will bloom in as 

 low a temperature as Geraniums. You may suc- 

 ceed with Hyacinths, Tulips, Crocus, Camellias 

 and Azaleas in variety. Cyclamen Persicura, and 

 Oxalis. A few well grown plants of the .lerusa- 

 lem Cherry would be very ornamental in such a 

 place. I would adrise the free use of ornamental 

 foliage plants, such as Anthericum vnttatum 

 variegatum. Colletia bictoniensis, Pittosporum 

 tobira variegata, Aucuba Japonica Maas, and 

 A. Japonica foemina, Enonyraus Japonica 

 aureus and E. Japonica argenteus, Osmanthus 

 illicifolius aureus, and argenteus, Eleagnus 

 ])ungens variegatus. Aspidistra lurida variegata, 

 Olea fragrans and others. A few Palms could 

 also be grown, such as Corypha Australis, Sea- 

 forthia elegans, Chamerops fortunii, Humilis 

 and excelsa, Sabal adasoni and Palmetto, Cycas 

 revoltu. A few nice specimens of Deutzia graci- 

 lis, Porsythia viridissima, and Spireas of sorts 

 could be' taken up and potted in the fall, and 

 wotild here give satisfactory results.— C.E.P. 



602. Goal Tar for Peach Trees. I would not 

 advise any cme to apply coal tar to Peach trees 

 for any purpose.— C. E. P. 



603. Plums in Sod. Plums will not thrive 

 when planted in sod, and if you do not intend to 

 cultivate them properly from the start, I would 

 advise you not to plant them.— C. E. P. 



.585. Fertilizer for House Plants. Dissolve a 

 quarter of a pound of the best Peruvian guano 

 in four gallons of water. Or soak some horse 

 droppings or chicken manure in water until a 

 clear, dark Inown liquid is formed, or put four 

 ounces of soot in a gallon of water, stir up briskly 

 and apply. A thorough watering with any of 

 the abo\e once a week will besufticient.— C. E. P. 



604. Shropshire Damson Plum. This variety 

 isfar su|)eriortothe01d Blue, and will succeed 

 ccjually as well. If the Old Blue pays, the Shrop- 

 shire will pay far better.— C. E. P. 



.595. Pruning an Arbor Vitse Hedge. The only 

 ob.iection to yoiu- reducing the height of your 

 heilgc, as \-ou propo.se, will be that it will leave 

 the center ojieu, as the old branches that remain 

 Avill not break and flU it up, as long as there are 

 bring and growing branches below.— C. E. P. 



