252 



POPULAR GARDENING. 



August, 



Correapondents are urged to anticipate the season i^I^^ 

 senllna mestlona. To ask, for instance, on April 16 or W 

 '!hir%Sth^hest be .<mn could ""■"?'"'«" '"f^^^ 

 the May issue, and none before June, ."'*f",,"'f, ?."*'5;r 

 tconld Be unseasonable. <ir»''or^Yi'P^''t^^{^fZj^nth). 

 of any month stand a good chance of be ng answered m the 

 next paper. Not more than three questions should be sent 

 at me time. Ansu'ers to questions bearing .ra 'he com- 

 varative mine of implements, etc , offered by different 

 'deX'smu'it notieeaiecled. , Neither can we p^^^^^ 

 complu nrith the request sometimes made to '?'«<■»« """'J'^ 

 bu rhail." Inmirils appearing leithout name belong to the 

 name next following. . .^^_ „,_ 



Replies to Inquiries are earnestly ^^"^J^jj^,^. 

 readers. /n ansicering such give the /lumber, your 

 locaUty and name, the latter not for publication, unUsB 

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



821. Mulberry Propagation. Can this tree be suc- 

 cessfully budded ? If so,whenlsthebesttlme?-D.P. 

 Poplar Grove, Ind. 



822. Climbers. WIU some one give Information re- 

 gardiufc' the Japanese Climbers Actinldla polygama and 

 the long fruited variety of the same; also, of the Silk 

 Vine Periploca Grcrca, their appearance, habits.hardi- 

 ness, desirability, etc.-l. S., Cincinnati, O. 



82.3. Peaches and Grapes Together. Trees In my 

 Peach orchard are 3(1 feet apart. How would it do to 

 set a row of Grape-vines midway between the Peach 

 rows, sliipping one occasionally to leave driving place 

 for gathering the fruit ?-L. D. H., Northampton, Mass. 



824. Fertilizer from Blood. Will you give the for- 

 mula to malte a fertilizer out of blood suitable for 

 fruits ?-J. A. T., Midway. Pa. 



825. Currants Dropping. The bushes, which are 

 thrifty, blossomed freely, but later I discovered many 

 imperfect clusters and green fruit on ground. What 

 causes the trouble ? Killed the worms with Hellebore. 



82«. Smut on Sweet Corn. For two years mine has 

 been badly troubled. How prevented ?— Siibobban. 



827. Evergreens in Texas. When is the best time 

 to transplant Evergreens in this State? Should the 

 White Pine succeed here ?-J. J. B., Graham, Texas. 



828. Black Currants not Fruiting. They are the 

 Black Naples, three years old, luxuriant In growth; 

 soil deep prairie loam. What is the troutjle? Would 

 it do to prune clean to the ground, and so start a new 

 growth ?— (J. D. S., Villisca, Iowa. 



82!). Currants and Gooseberries. For a market 

 plantation had I better set the young cuttings the com- 

 ing tall or in the spring ? Had they better for the sake 

 of shade go in an orchard 20 years planted, or to an 

 open patch ?— F. St. J. ¥., Nova Scotia. 



8.30. Evergreen Seedlings Failing. After the seed- 

 lings were up (spring sown) they fell over as if one had 

 pinched them. Could see no insects. I had them 

 shaded. Why ? — E. R., Ida Grove, Iowa. 



831. Plum Rot. I saved my fruit from curculio. but 

 about June 20 rot set in and took it all. What Is the 

 cure tor Plum rot?— J. H., Kent, Ohio. 



8.32. Raspberries Stung. Mine were badly stung 

 la,st season. At what time was this done ? What Is the 

 remedy ?-R. S. M., Taylorville, III. 



833. Barberry from Seed. Will you please give me 

 directions for planting Barberry seed and caring for 

 the same, and oblige?— W. B. R., Plattsmouth, Neb. 



8W. The Gueii Plum. WiU you describe this Plum? 

 Is It hardy ? Is it subject to rot before maturing ? 



835. Gooseberries for Market. What variety is the 

 best ? What as to proflts ? 



836. Early Strawberry. I want one that is produc- 

 tive and earlier than Wilson. What variety shall I 

 get ?— J. S. L.. Bristol, Ind. 



837. Keeping Locusts from Sprouting. Is there any 

 way by which this can be done where the trees have 

 been cut down ?— W. S. ¥., Farmdale, Ky. 



838. Seed- grown Flowers for Ribbon Lines. I 

 wish for a list of the best of these, with notes on their 

 arrangement for a nice effect. I propose to sow the seed 

 In a hot-bed next February,— A. L. H., lola, Kas. 



839. Datura Propagation, Can Datura arborea alba 

 be propagated from cuttings ? 



840. Grafting Marechal Neil Roses. When is the 

 best time for this, and what stocks the best to graft 

 upon? — C. ti., Madison Co., Ala. 



841. Rhododendron Protection. Sheltered only by a 

 headless barrel set over it last winter, the old stock of 

 my plant died off, but new shoots have come up. If I 

 leave it out hereafter what must I protect it with to 

 bring It through safely ? Or had it best be lifted and 

 wintered in the house ?— M. D. P., EarlvilU, III. 



M2. Chestnuts for Illinois. Do you think the com- 

 mon Sweet Chestnut would do well here ? What 

 would be the cost of some trees ?— M.D.P., Earvllle, III. 



813. Tree Paeony not Blooming. The plant has 

 grown very well and forms buds, which drop before 

 opening, what is the cause and cure ?— Subscriber. 



844. Marguerites. I would be much obliged tor in- 

 formation as to the culture of Marguerites or Paris 

 Daisies as grown to large size in the cities. The plants 

 have thick stems, and are very large; the blossoms 

 fine and very abundant.— Juana. 



845. Fly on Chrysanthemums. My Chrysanthe- 

 mums are covered with green-fly. I should be glad to 

 know what 1 can do to cure them. They are mostly 

 Japanese varieties. A Constant Reader. 



846. Plants Bare at Bottom. I have some Perennial 

 Phloxes, the bottom leaves of which shrivel up and 

 drop, leaving the stems nearest the soil quite bare. 

 The ground was well manured last autumn when they 



were planted, and had a slight mulching of manure 

 during winter, which was forked In, in the spring.— L. 

 B., Crawford Co., Pa. 



847. Plants after Blooming. What must I do to such 

 plants as Petunias, Abutllons, Tuberoses, and plants of 

 a similar kind; in a cool greenhouse, when they have 

 done blooming. As a novice I never know how to treat 

 my pot flowers after bloom.— A. E. H., Neenah, Wis. 



843. Raspberries Dying. Last fall I ridged up by 

 plowing, and manured my three-year old Gregg plan- 

 tation, located on a gravelly side hill. Did not work 

 them this spring, but trimmed them out and nipped 

 the young shoots. About June 1st the leaves began to 

 show sigus of dying, and In spi >ts of six or eight inches 

 would turn black. Later a dead shoot would here and 

 there be found and now often the entire plaut is dead. 

 In another plat of older plants on level sandy soil, but 

 which had no manure, the plants are in about the same 

 bad condition. What is the fault, the soil, the ridging 

 or the manure ? When had I best remove the ridges 

 from the remaining plants to not injure the roots ?— J. 

 C. H., Latcrence Co., Pa. 



849. Manuring Raspberries. When is the best time 

 for this, spring or tall ?— J. C. H. 



850. Muslin for Hot-beds. Will muslin prepared 

 as recently directed by Mr. Miller answer for a cover 

 in wintering over Cabbage and Lettuce plants. Does 

 it give light enough so that the plants do not become 

 drawn as It in shade ?-E. W. v., Genesee Co., N. T. 



851. Young Ducks Ailing. When my young Pekins 

 get about three weeks old they grow weak, blind, and 

 fall helplessly on their backs and soon die. I feed on 

 Corn and Oat meal mixed into a dough. What is the 

 cause and remedy ?— E. H. P., Montville, Conn. 



852. Worm on Alternanthera. A little worm which 

 makes a web is stripping leaves from Alternantheras 

 here. What must be done ?— C. P. M., Wichita, Kas, 



853. Smilax. My vines turn yellow and die down. 

 Will you please to tell me how to grow them ?— Mrs. A. 

 C. T.^ Broome Co., N. Y. 



8M. Cyclamen Treatment. I got some Cyclamens 

 this spring. They are nicely in bloom. I want to 

 know, to treat them after they are done blooming, and 

 how to in winter.- T. H., Ashtabula Co., Ohio. 



855. AntsinLawn. How can I get rid of colonies of 

 ants In my lawn ?— J. L. L., Stamford, Conn. 



856. Raising Cauliflower Seed, How is this done ? 

 What soil and climate is the best?— E. C. S., La Plata 

 Co., Colo. 



857. Grapes, (o) Where can I get paper bags tor 

 bagging them ? None are advertised in your columns. 

 (6) What is good for vines the leaves of which are dry, 

 crumbled and turning brown ? 



858. Weeds. What will keep Purslane from coming 

 up every June so rank ?— Rev. E. F., Berford Co., Md. 



859. Cherry Sprouts. To what purpose can the old- 

 fashioned Black Cherry best be used for grafting ? 



860. Cherries for Market. What varieties would 

 be mo.st profitable here due east ot St. Louis ? 



861. Cucumber Pickles. How made in barrels to be 

 at all times ready for use ?— P. B., ilff. Carmel, III. 



862. Ailing Camellia, I enclose a leaf of my Cam- 

 ellia, which is a sample of many others that look 

 sickly and yellowish. I would be glad to know how to 

 restore it.— Isabell, Monroe Co.. N. T. 



86:3. Strawberry Insect. It Is a bug new to me, not 

 much larger than a chinch bug, and has six legs ; gold 

 or bronze color on the back. They eat holes in the 

 leaves and the crown of the plant. They have de- 

 stroyed an acre of newly set plants for me. What is it 

 and the remedy?— G. W., Turner, Iowa. 



864. Unfermented Grape Juice. Will you kindly 

 Inform me ol the method of preparing and keeping it 

 properly so that It will remain unchanged for a year 

 or two? 1 would like to utilize the fruit of quite a 

 number ot vines in this way.— F. F. D. Y., Pekin. III. 



865. Grapes, (a) Will Grape buds in sand or soil 

 outdoors, protected from cold, callous and grow in the 

 spring like ordinary cuttings ? (6) Should Grape roots 

 be shortened when set out to balance loss of top, and 

 do roots decay If not cut ? (c) Is ordinary grafting wax 

 injurious to vines? If so, why ?— J. L. Peck.Ncw Jersey. 



866. Dealbata Acacias. Over 1000 plants potted 

 seemed all right for a month, then they died down. 

 With the same treatment, Grevillea robusta and the 

 various species Lophanta and Eucalyptus do finely. 

 We have plunged the Dealbatas, and although watered 

 daily, the soil is never soggy. We have patent sash 

 cloth over them.— Robert REm, Orange Co., Fla. 



867. Asparagus. What length is market Asparagus 

 cut, the size ot a bunch and manner ot shipping ?— L. 

 C. M., North Bergen, N. T. 



868. Verbenas Hotting, (a) My plants suddenly rot 

 off at the ground and die. The ground is rich. (6) What 

 will destroy the worm that forms a web on and eats 

 the plants rapidly? All my remedies have failed.— J. 

 E. B., Philadelphia, Pa. 



869. London Purple tor Cabbage Worms. Our 

 druggist recommends London Purple for Cabbage 

 worms. Will others please give their opinion ? Being 

 much diluted and getting mostly on the outer leaves, 

 can it be dangerous ? Fyrethrum seems hardly to be 

 effective.— D. H. W.. rineland, N. J. 



870. Tomatoes not Bearing, (a) Would Uke to find 

 out the cause of large healthy Tomato plants not bear- 

 ing any fruit some years . I cut the tops back, but to 

 no purpose. Please give all the Information on Tomato 

 culture you can.- J. E. W. 



871. Pepper for Cabbage Worm. I see Red Pepper 

 dust recommeuded for Cabbage Worms. Would the 

 Cayenne answer as well ?— J. E. W., Reno Co., Kas. 



REPLIES TO INQUIRIES. 



7.51. TJnliealthy Zonal fieraniums. Your Ger- 

 aniums have been (iverwatered duvintt the past 

 winter, and besides this, their pots have been im- 



perfectly drained. You should plant them cnit- 

 side at once, and when weU rooted trim into 

 shape. By fall they will become nice, shapely 

 plants, when they can be taken up and potted. 

 In potting use porous or soft-baked pots and let 

 them be proportionate to the size of the plants. 

 See that they are well drained. If the pots are 

 one-third filled with drainage it is none too 

 much. Give them a corajiost consisting of two- 

 thirds turfy loam, one third well decayed manure 

 with a fair sprinkling of bone-dust.— C. E. P. 



733. Bed Baepberry Boots in Asparagus Bed. 

 Cut them off with a sharii hoe .lust beneath the 

 surface the instant they are noticed. Salt ap- 

 plied in tile manner some one jiroposed might 

 possibly injure the Asparagus.—C B. P. 



736. Angle Worms. A good dressing of super- 

 phosphate of lime will banish them. Or dissolve 

 one-half peck of shell lime in forty gallons of 

 water, allow it to settle, and water the affected 

 places with it.— C. E. P. 



742. Applying Wood Ashes. I would not place 

 them close to the stems of the trees and vines. 

 Spread underneath the branches, or as far as the 

 roots are likely to extend, and incorporate with 

 the soil by means of a fork, working it in as 

 thoroughly as possible.— C. E. P. 



743. Ashes for Onions. Properly applied they ■ 

 will be of decided advantage for Onions and 

 all other garden crops. Y"ou should have thor- 

 oughly incorporated them with the soil before 

 sowing the seed.— C. E. P. 



749. Salt for Potato Land; Soot. Salt is of lit- 

 tle or no value for Potato land, and soot can be 

 used to greater advantage for other purijoses. 



757. Potatoes: two Crops a Season. I have of- 

 ten tried this on a small scale in this vicinity 

 (New York City), but with no success, the sec- 

 ond plants being always killed by the frost about 

 the time their blossoms opened. This was in the 

 most favorable seasons.— 0. E. P. 



758. Hen manure for Grapes, When dried and 

 well pulverized this is an excellent fertilizer, 

 and can be used either with or mthout ashes, as 

 may be most convenient. Apply liberally, work- 

 ing it in well around the roots with a f ork.-C.E.P. 



765. Covering Bare Spaces on Bose Beds. I 



would sow underneath them about Miw 1st 

 seeds of some such annuals as Petunias, Phlox 

 Drummondii, Mignonette or Double Portulacca. 



746. Oreen Cabbage Worms. These can be 

 prevented from destroying the plants while 

 small by dusting them freely with White Helle- 

 bore powder. It is not safe, however, to apply 

 it after the plants begin to foi-m heads.— C. E. P. 



764. Dandelions in Meadows. The only way 

 in which you can cure your meadows will be to 

 break them up and plant some root crop for one 

 or two years, then they may be reseeded.— C.E.P. 



763. Dutchman's Pipe from Seed. Sow as early 

 in the spring as possible in a well-drained pot or 

 pan filled with light, loamy soil, place in a warm 

 moist situation and as soon as the young plants 

 are strong enough to handle pot off into four- 

 inch pots, and grow on carefully until these be- 

 come well filled with roots, when they can be 

 Slanted out on a nicely prepared border. Protect 

 uring the winter by a slight covering of Ever- 

 green branches, and early the next spring re- 

 move tfi their permanent situation, gi\nng them 

 a deep moderately enriched soil.— C. E. P. 



755. Grape-vines from Cuttings, Presuming 

 that native varieties are referred to, and that 

 they ai-e to be rooted in the open air, I would 

 when pruning in the autumn or vrinter preserve 

 as much of the weU-ripened wood as possible, 

 and after cutting into lengths of about one foot, 

 bury in boxes of sand and place in a cool 

 cellar until spring, when they can be placed out- 

 side, choosing a moist and somewhat shaded situ- 

 ation. Plant in mellow soil in a slit made by a 

 spade and firm the earth well about them. Keep 

 them in i-ows eight or ten inches apart, and five 

 or six apart in the row. If possible let each cut- 

 ting have three buds, one at the top, one at the 

 bottom, and a third in the middle, to be left at 

 the surface of the ground when the cutting is 

 planted. Thus treated no mulching is required, 

 but they must be kept free from weeds.— C. E.P. 



754. Blackberry Propagation. In the fall care- 

 fully dig up plants two or three years old, retain- 

 ing as many of their roots as possible. These 

 roots should be cut into pieces two or three 

 inches in length, according to their size ; the 

 smaller the root the longer it should be cut. Cut 

 the roots in the fall and store in boxes of sand 

 placed in a dry cool cellar until spring. As soon 

 as the ground can be properly prepared scatter 

 them thinlv on a nicely luepared border cover 

 with two inches ol lifflit loamy sod. Choose a 

 moist partially sliadcd situation, keep clean and 

 free from weeds, and by fall you will have a good 

 supply ot strong healthy plants.— C. E. P. 



814. Forcing Boses in Succession. It might 

 pay to force Ameilcau Beauty Roses two winters 

 in succession it not too much exhausted with 

 the first winter's crop, but it is not in accord 

 with the geiuniUv accepted rule for treating 

 winter-blooming plants. Probably it would be 

 more profitable to buy new stock.— W. F. h. 



