1 888. 



POPULAR GARDENING. 



151 



lieve this denunciation is fiir too swcciiins-', but 

 severe criticism is called for. 



Let us away with all stuffings and facings, 

 with all deceptive coverings, with all undersizc 

 packages, with the packing of all green, luilf- 

 grown, gnarly and worm-eaten fruit in any kind 

 of packages. If we must pack it, put it on top 

 where it will tell its own stor.\-. Let us do this, 

 and we shall find it will paj in money, pay in the 

 plaudit.s we shall win from all men, and in our 

 own self-respect and integrity. 



I should say here, and I cheerfully dosjiy, that 

 I believe that the Califoruian fruit-packers ai-e 

 generally far less open to criticism in this matter 

 of straight packing than are the majorit.v of 

 Eastern gr<)wers. You cannot afford to pay 

 freight on trash two or three thousand miles. 

 Yet there is some room for improvement in the 

 selection and grading of fruits from this pre- 

 eminent hortioiltural State. In careful hand- 

 ling, th()rough grading and untlinching himesty 

 in packing, the man with a high standard, well 

 worked ui> to, is the man who wdl come out best. 



Horticultural Shows— Rulesand Reg- 

 ulations. 



[Frnm fhr Kansas State Fair Premium Schedvte.] 



Awarding Committees. The awarding com- 

 mittees will be selectert from the best hor- 

 ticulturists in this and adjoining states, 

 with great care, but will not be made public 

 until the (air. The awarding committee on 

 fruits will report tlie varieties in each collec- 

 tion to which they award premiums. 



Member's of awarding committees ai-e request- 

 ed to report for duty on at 1 o'clock 



p. m., and any vacancies must be reported tf) the 

 directfir in charge by the superintendent of the 

 department wherein such occur, who shall fill 

 such vacancies. 



When a majority of the \'iewing u<immittee 

 are present they shall constitute a quorum, and 

 be authorized to award premiums; and the first 

 on the list of those present shall be chairman. 



No exhibitor will be allowed to act as a com- 

 mittee in which he exhibits. 



All committees are strictly forbidden express- 

 ing an opinion upon the comparative merits of 

 any exhibit upon which examination will be re- 

 quired to any exhibitor or other person than 

 the superintendent, and then only in connection 

 with their determination of awards, as a matter 

 of information or explanation of the causes for 

 their action, and in all such cases it must be 

 made in writing and filed with their report to 

 the Superintendent. 



In no instance will committees be allowed to 

 make known to any person or persons, other 

 than the proper officer, their decisions prior to the 

 attaching of the token of award. 



Awards. All fruits must be grown by the ex- 

 hibitor, and correctly labeled, five of each vari- 

 ety, accompanied by a Ust of the same for each 

 entry. No part of a collection can compete for 

 more than one premium, and must be arranged 

 together. No indiWdual exhibit will be allowed 

 to make a part of " display of fruit by any coun- 

 ty or local society." 



When articles are not deemed worthy of a 

 premium, the committee will, in all cases, with- 

 hold it, and lu-e requested to report the cause. 



Estimates of Values. Awai-ding committees, 

 in making their estimates of the comparative 

 value of collections of varieties of fruits, are in- 

 structed to base such estimates strictly upon the 

 following points: 



First. The nomenclature of collections, which 

 should be in accord with the fruit lists of the 

 American Pomological Society, and Downing's 

 " Fruits and Fruit Trees of America." 



Second. The value of the varieties forthe pur- 

 pose set forth in the Premium List. 



Third. The color, size and evenness of the 

 specimens. 



Fourtli. Their freedom from insect marks and 

 other blemishes. 



Fifth. The adaptation of varieties to the con- 

 ditions of soil and climate in tree and fruit. 



Sixth. Conunittees are instructed to exclude 

 any and all unlabeled, incorrectly named speci- 

 mens, and all duplicate plates, from their consid- 

 erations in determining comparative merit. 



Sercnth. That the occun-ence in a collection 

 or exhibit of very large and showy but compar- 

 atively worthless \ arieties. will be considered as 

 a discredit to such collection or exhibit. 



In all cases in which duplicate plates of any 

 ^■ariety shall appear in a collection, it shall Ik; 



the duty of the committee to select the best 

 plate of such variety in the collection, and to 

 strictly exclude from the competithm any and 

 all other si)ecimens of such variety. 



Orchid Crowing for Amateurs. 



{Coiitinued from last month.) 



Resting Orchids. After the young growth has 

 become matured some Orchids require to be kejit 

 drier, and only as much water given as will pre- 

 vent them from shri\eling. Others, again, need 

 to be kept moist all the year around, such as 

 Odontoglos.sum Alexandnv, O. vexillariura, ete., 

 while Uendrobiums, Cattleyas, Lyca-stes, etc., re- 

 quire to be ke]it clrier after they have completed 

 their growth. When plants are making their 

 growth it is often very convenient to keep them 

 at the warmest end of the house; but it is advis- 

 able to place them at the cool end while resting. 

 Avoid letting plants get too dry, or the pseudo- 

 bulbs will shrivel up. That kind of resting does 

 no good, but positive harm. 



It may be pointed out that some plants in their 

 habitats are so dried and shriveled up. On the 

 other hand, the failure of Orchid growing in the 

 past was this dry roasting treatment, which has 

 been found by experience to be unnecc.s.sary— in 

 fact, the plants will give better results under a 

 more reasonable method of culture. 



Watering Orchids. This is a process that can 

 only be learned by experience. As to how often 

 a certain plant will require water so much de- 

 pends upon situation, weatherand other circum- 

 stances that it is impossible to give a satisfactory 

 answer. A safe guide through the season of ac- 

 tivity is to keep the sphagnum on the top (d' the 

 pot in a growing condition. During the hot and 

 bright weather the plants may be watered over- 

 head with benefit to them, which will also help 

 to keep down insect pests; but directly ilull or 

 damp weather sets in, lay the syringe aside. 



Ventilation and Shading. Air should be ad- 

 mitted on all fa\drable occasions; indeed, unless 

 it is freezing or foggy weather it should have 

 free access to the plants at all times, both day 

 and night, as its circulation among them greatly 

 helps to keep them in a healthy condition. It is 

 also advisable that it should pass over the hot 

 water pipes, in order that it may be partially 

 warmed before reaching the plants, and to attain 

 this end it should be admitted under the stage in 

 cold weather. 



During the summer months it will be necessary 

 to use some kind of shading, whether of a jier- 

 manent nature, or that which can be rolled up in 

 dull weather— preferably the latter, as it is of 

 great importance that the plants should receive 

 as much light as possible without having the di- 

 rect rays of the sun. Of course, there are ex- 

 ceptions to all rules, and it is weU known that 

 some Orchids are benefited by exposure to the 

 fuU sunshine. 



There have also been good results from sus- 

 pending the plants in baskets or pots from the 

 branches of trees during the summer, keeping 

 them entirely outdoors for four or five months. 



Manure. Should this be applied, and if so, in 

 what way 't There has, undoubtedly, been good 

 results shown by damping down the house <mce 

 or twice a week with cow -manure water, as the 

 ro( Its of ( )rchids are so formed that they are well 

 adapted to absorb food from the atmosphere. 

 This is a safe way to apply manure to all epiphy- 

 tal Orchids, and so used, I believe good results 

 will follow. 



Then, on the other hand, strong rooting kinds, 

 such as Cypripedium insigne and Lycaste Skin- 

 neii, may be greatly improved— that is, their 

 flowers may be considerably enlarged— by the 

 use of manure added to the potting soil. I have 

 now a variety of Cypripedium insigne coming 

 into flower, and as near as I can tell at present, 

 about three parts of the flower-stems will each 

 produce two flowers. This has been produced 

 by potting the plants in a mixture of sphagnum 

 and bone meal. If we carefully examine a Cyp- 

 ri|)edium flower, we shall generally find a small 

 embryo of another flower at its base which has 

 not been developed, simply because the plant 

 could not supply the necessary nourishment; 

 and I think if that necessary nourishment were 

 supplied, most of the Cypripediums would be- 

 come twin-flowered. The same thing occurs 

 with Lycaste Skinneri, but generall.^• here we 

 have increased size of the individual flowers, 

 other Orchids, no doubt, would be benefited by 

 manures, but it would be a dangerous practice 

 for an amateur to try. It is better to let well 

 alone, and be content with the Fe.sults obtiiined 



by clear water, or occasionally damping the floor 

 with main ire-water. 



Temperature. Ity keeping the Orchid house 

 during the winter mimths at a minimum tem- 

 Ijcraturc of 4.'i° at night in severe weather, anil 

 rising to r^)'^ in milder weather with a corresponil- 

 ing rise of 111"" iluring the day, and an ailvance 

 during the sunnner to .W at night, anil 711" or "5° 

 by day, from snuill but successful beginnings— 

 which are important— man.v large and valuable 

 collections have been got together, and the list 

 of Orchi<ls I have gi\'en will be found very suit- 

 able to start with. 



Insects and Diseases, Orchids are very im- 

 patient of being fumigated with Tobacco smoke, 

 and great care has to be exercised in doing it for 

 the destruction of (!reen-fly and Thrip. The 

 safest and best means of getting rid of these 

 pests, which are very often troublesome amongst 

 Orchids, is to have the infested plants carefully 

 sponged with water, to which a small (juantity 

 of Fir tree oil has been added. 



The most troublesome disease the amateur has 

 to contend against is that called spot, which con- 

 sists of black spots on the leaves, the tips gen- 

 erally becoming quite black. This is caused by 

 th(; plants being kept too damp, or being I'hecked 

 in some way. If it should occur, ha\'e the plant 

 shaken f)Ut, and th(; roots well washed in t:lean 

 water and repotted in fresh material. 



Success and Failure with Small 

 Fruits. 



[E.rt rati from an addresB by E. W. lieid before the 

 Belmont Co. Farmers' Institute.] 



It has been a wonder to many prominent 

 horticulturists why Strawberries in this sec- 

 tion of Belmont Co. are superior to those of 

 other parts of the State. Many have aslied, 

 Why does your soil give more berries and of 

 a liner Havor than in our part of tlie coun- 

 try? I can answer this question but in one 

 way, and that is that practical experience 

 and brain work with the highest cultivation 

 and fertility of soil are at the bottom. 



Thoroughness. If you allow weeds or grass 

 to grow with your vines they rob them of the 

 plant food which by rights belongs to the plant. 

 If ,\du think you are lowering the cost of pro- 

 duction by only working them once a month 

 you are mistaken; you also lower the profit. We 

 should furnish the most favorable conditions of 

 the soil and keep a strict account of everj' dol- 

 lar and every hour we have charge of the vine. 

 There is no use for us to plead innocence when 

 we fail, and say we have done it to the best of 

 <mr ability. In this age when so many practical 

 b(jok8 are issued on this branch of industry, you 

 should try and be at the front- Have a mind of 

 your own; think, for thoughts put in practice 

 do wonders. I do not mean by this that you can 

 make a success by reading either books or pa- 

 pers alone; these should go with practical ideas 

 of your own. 



It is the profit we are after. Our first thought 

 should be the soil and the preparation of the 

 same. It should be drained naturally or arti- 

 ficially, and should be in the finest condition. It 

 is impo.ssible for vines of any kind to do well if 

 water stands on the soil. We should make the 

 soil as fine as possible. I think the best way to 

 do this is by fall plowing, and then to stir it in 

 spring with cultivator or shovel plow. This 

 cannot so well be done in soil inclined to wash 

 with winter rains. It is utterly impossible for 

 plant food that is concealed in rough soil and 

 lumps to do the plant any good whatever. 



Fertility. As to fertility the time has passed 

 for relying on the natural fertility of the soil 

 alone. If you want the cream we must furnish 

 the feed, for it is the large crop that makes the 

 profit. This can be done with stable manure, and 

 there is nothing better It is better tor being well 

 decomposed. I never use any cow droppings, 

 however. I find that this breeds the white grub, 

 the egg being deposited by the May beetle. This 

 last year I tried five loads again and it caused me 

 more trouble than all the rest put together. 

 Prof. Hoard, of Wisconsin, acknowledged the 

 same fact to me. 



Berries relieve the soil of very little fertility, 

 and lea\e it in excellent cimdition for other 

 crops. The first year is very hard on the soil, as 

 it lays bear to the burning rays of the sun and 

 the constant stirring relieves it of a good deal of 

 its fertility, hut it is put back by the plant the 

 next. The plant contains a large amount of 

 rich material, and this is why it requires so much 



