272 



POPULAR GARDENING. 



September, 



the result will be generally one or two strong 

 shoots from each branch. This system will save 

 an immense amount of tying work. 



With the k>ng and coarse-growing Teas, the 

 Di,ion section, and Marechal Niel, this short- 

 pruning system will not answer; these, blooming 

 on laterals thrown out from last season's wood, 

 must have some of the branches left long, simpl.v 

 removing the unripe and weak tops. But the 

 dwarf -growing Teas 1 shorten back to about two 

 eyes on each shoot. I have probably 200 standard 

 Teas in pots; some of them this year were cut 

 back hai'd, while others only had the weak and 

 old wood taken out. In the one case I have weak 

 foliage and small blooms; in the other strong 

 >'igorous shoots, grand foliage and magnificent 

 blooms. The moral is obWous. 



Watering and Drainage. Though growing 

 Uoscs in pots is made up of a number of small 

 matters, I really think that of watering Is the 

 most important; and I think it is the point in 

 which discretion is most called into play. If a 

 plant is newly potted, or is without leaves, or if 

 there is no growth going on, a less quantity of 

 water is wanted. If the pot is full of roots and 

 the plant growing, we may give water freely. 

 But rather too little water than too much. Too 

 little water causes drooping of leaves, though it 

 is !iot wise to allow matters to go so far. With 

 too much water and the leaves turning yellow 

 the soil in the pot has become quite sour. The 

 infallible rule for all is the knuckle applied 

 smartly to the side of the pot; If it ring out bell- 

 like, water is wanted, if it sounds dull and solid 

 no more is necessary. 



I think the two greatest enemies to Roses in 

 pots are want of drainage and sour soil. Perhaps 

 the one is the cause of the other. The roots of 

 lilants will have nothing to do with any portion 

 of the soil which has become sour. There are 

 several points, the neglect of which may lead to 

 sour soil. One is potting or re-potting a plant 

 into too large a pot; another is over-watering; 

 still another is potting the plant in soil or com- 

 post which is too close and binding. One more 

 reason is that many amateurs when they are not 

 certain that a plant requires water press their 

 fingers on the surface of the soil; the result is 

 that the soli becomes like a cake. Now you may 

 think this is rather inconsistent, as I advise you 

 in potting your plants to ram them as hard as 

 possible. No matter how hard you press your 

 soil down with the potting stick, there will still 

 be crevices where the water can filter through. 

 Hybrid Ferpetuals. So far, most of my remarks 

 ai>ply more to the Tea Hoses than to the Hybrid 

 I'erpetuals. I certainly consider it a waste of 

 time to grow these latter in pots, for various 

 ■ reiu^ons. One is, because we can grow them 

 better and with less attention in the open ground; 

 another is, that while we can take one crop of 

 blooms frt^m the H.vbrid Perpetuals we are not 

 likely to get another for some time. Then again, 

 the Teas stand more knocking about, that is, the.v 

 do not want so much rest, and they may be made 

 to bloom more surely at certain times. 



Take the grand old Tea Hose Niphetvs^ or the 

 almost equally useful and beautiful Caroline 

 K^Uitcr; one can get from four to six (ma.v be 

 more) crops of bloom from these Roses in one 

 season. I know of no Hybrid Perpetual that will 

 stand this sort of work. However, if we must 

 have Hybrid Perpetuals in the house, after they 

 have bloomed once they are best outside, as they 

 take up too much room and attention inside. If 

 they make a good growth, equivalent to the 

 spring growth of plants in the open, that is all 

 that is necessary; this is the wood we want for 

 blooms next season. If we dry them off, small 

 blooms will probably form during the summer, 

 which should be pinched off. 



Manures. These are only of advantage when 

 the plant is in a fit stat« to absorb them. Stimu- 

 lants to a weak plant are poison. A plant in the 

 compost described needs very little else until the 

 roots have filled the pot. Then, if the Hower 

 buds are formed, weak liquid manure may be 

 administered, but give too little rather than too 

 much. Weak and often is better than strong 

 and seldom. This liquid, whether it be made of 

 horse or cow dung or sewage, and these are the 

 usual materials employed, should be light in 

 color when applied to the plants. 



We may keep Roses strong and healthy tor a 

 long time by the use of stimulants and patent 

 manures. They are bone, bone dust, dissolved 

 bones and other concentrated preparations. 

 These should be put on the surface, or mixed 

 with the soil we top-dress with, when the plant 

 is in growth, not when it is at rest. 



Mildew, This is often the ruin of crops under 

 glass. An attack may be brought on by opening 

 a ventilator and letting the cold wind in for 

 a few minutes. When we can command hot 

 pipes the remedy is simple. This is to paint said 

 pipes with sulphur made into a paste, but do not 

 have too much fire on at the time you apply it. 

 In cold houses we must keep it away by using 

 when we s.vringe, a little softsoap at the rate of 

 half an ounce to the gallon. The best way to 

 prepare this is to mix two pounds of softsoap 

 with boiling water, adding at the same time a 

 wineglassful of petroleum, making up the 

 quantity with hot water to five gallons. If a 

 little Tobacco .juice be added all the worse for 

 the green tiy. When we syringe put half a pint 

 of this mixture into a large can of water. 



Best Varieties. Noisettes— Marechal Niel and 

 Madame Caroline Kuster. The very best varieties 

 of Hybrid Perpetuals I know of for pot work are: 

 Alfred Colomb, *Baroness Rothschild, Beaut}' of 

 Waltham, Boule de Neige, Captain Christy, 

 Charles Lefebvre, Dr. Andry, Dupuy Jamain, 

 Edward Morren, Henri Schultheis, John Hopper, 

 *La France, Madame Lacharme, Madame G. 

 Luizet, Madame V. Verdier, *Marie Baumann, 

 *Marquise de Castellane, *MerveiUe de Lyon, 

 *Senateur Vaisse and Souvenir de Malmaison. 

 The best six are perhaps those marked *. Almost 

 all the leading varieties of Teas give good results 

 in pots. I will just name the very best: Anna 

 OUivier, The Bride, Catherine Mermet, Madame 

 Charles, Madame Falcot, Madame Lambard, 

 Madame Willermoz, Marie Van Houtte, Niphetos, 

 Rubens, Souvenir d'Elise, Souvenir d'un Ami 

 and Sunset. 



The Fruits for Wisconsin. 



IGeo. J. Kellogg, Jancsville, Wis., before the Wiscon- 

 sin State Society. i 



Fruit Trees. You can grow Apples just 

 as well as you can grow colts, if you exer- 

 cise the same common sense and give the 

 necessary care. You must select a northern 

 slope, on soil good enough for Corn, procure 

 your trees from a reliable source, get those 

 kinds that have done the best for the past 

 twenty years, and the varieties that have 

 been tried and promise to pay: plant them 

 in early spring and mulch thoroughly. 



At planting, prune the tree in shape; select 

 one central branch for the trunk, cut out all 

 crotching limbs nearer than six inches to each 

 other; plant the orchard to Corn or Potatoes, and 

 cease cultivating on the fli-st of July. Do not 

 stimulate too great or too late growth ; if there 

 is a tendency that way, seed to Ckn-er. Protect 

 your trees by shading the bodies, from the day of 

 planting, by a wisp of marsh hay, brown buildmg 

 paper, uewspajier or two boards set on the south 

 side. Shade to protect from borers and the heat 

 of the sun, both summer and winter. 



When the orchard comes into bearing, do not 

 rob the ground— return all the ha.v as a mulch, or 

 use its equivalent in wood ashes and stable ma- 

 nure, to keep up a little growth of new wood 

 every year. It may be necessary to cultivate the 

 orchard till July and then sow to buckwheat. To 

 protect from mice, mound fresh earth around 

 each tree in November about the size of a water 

 pail— remove in spring. Pay the boys twentj' 

 cents apiece for all the rabbits. If mice have 

 girdled your trees, put fresh earth about the 

 trees early in spring and keep it there; nuie times 

 out of ten, new bark will form and save the tree. 



The best varieties of Apples to plant are the 

 Yellow Transparent, Duchess of Oldenburg, 

 Tetofski, Haas, Fameuse, Wealthy, St. Lawrence, 

 Red Astrachan, Wolf River, McMahan, Talman 

 Sweet, N. W. Greening, Golden Russet, Willow 

 Twig, Longfield and Antonooka. 



Pears grown in Central Wisconsin, north or 

 south, cost $10 each. Although Flemish Heauty 

 is hardy enough it blights, except occasionally 

 on poor clay soil, when it gets to beai'ing. Plums 

 can be raised if you plant the best natives and 

 usually two or more kinds near together. 



Of small fruits there is no end. The best Straw- 

 berries are Crescent and Wilson of the old 

 varieties, but if you want something to cut with 

 a carving knife, set Jessie and Bubach. Ne\'er 

 set all Pistillates. Of red Raspberries, plant 

 Turner and Cuthbert for field culture. Shaffer 

 and Purple Cane for gardens. Black Raspberries, 

 Tyler and Gregg. Dewberries, Lucretia. Black- 

 berries, Snyder, Stone's Hardy and Briton. Grapes 

 Moore's Early, Worden, Concord and Jancsville 



for black, Brighton and Delaware for red, Niag- 

 ara, Lady and Empire State for white. 



These are the fruits you can grow if you mix 

 brains, common sense, muscle and manure In the 

 right proportion. The smaller the tree set, the 

 greater the certainty of a healthy orchard. All 

 it needs is care and culture. Be sure of the right 

 kinds. Don't try to renew an old orchard by 

 setting a tree where one has died out ; it needs a 

 wagon load of fresh earth if you attempt it- 

 better plant a new orchard. 



The fruits you cannot grow are the varieties 

 you usually buy of the travelling tramps. You 

 can't grow even good varieties on a poor location 

 on a south side-hill, with malformed tops, no pro- 

 tection, cattle to prune, hogs to rub, insects to 

 eat, borers and bugs, rabbits and mice. You 

 must give an Apple tree as much care as a calf- 

 then you may reasonably expect something in 

 return. You cannot grow Pears west of the lake 

 shore belt. You cannot grow the choice Plums 

 or Cherries. You cannot go to a neighboi-s Straw- 

 berry bed and get good plants that will succeed. 

 Ten to one you would get aU pistillate plants, and 

 an acre would be worthless. From 100 plants 

 set forming matted rows, I have known .500 

 quarts of nice fruit taken the following year. 

 You cannot grow Cuthbert Raspberries or any 

 variety of Blackberries ivithout winter protec- 

 tion. You cannot succeed with any Grape unless 

 you give it care, pruning and winter protection. 

 You cannot have a good fruit garden under 

 shade, without fences and on poor soil. You 

 must pile on the manure and work it in. Plant 

 long rows, work the plow, and hill with the horse. 

 Hoe the Strawberry bed and the fruit garden 

 every Monday morning, just as sure as your wife 

 does her washing, and keep it up as long as weeds 

 grow. You cannot grow Strawberries and white 

 grubs together. Plant after Corn or Potatoes, 

 and see that the manure is free of the pest. 



Fruit Garden. Every farmer needs an acre of 

 his best land for the fruit garden. Every family 

 needs, for health and enjoyment, two bushels of 

 Strawberries,one bushel of Raspberries,two bush- 

 els of Blackberries, 130 lbs. of Grapes, ten bushels 

 of A pples and ten quart jars of canned fruit, for 

 each member of the household, hired man and 

 baby, each and every year. If the lord of the 

 house won't plant and tend the garden, let him 

 furnish the wife and children the land in good 

 condition, the plants or the money to buy the 

 plants, and agree to imy the wife and children 

 ten cents a quart for all the fruit raised for ten 

 years, and I will be satisfied wit-h the results. 



It the season should be dry, at or soon after 

 planting, sink a small tin can with small holes in 

 the side and bottom, beside each plant or occa- 

 sionally in the bed, and keep filled with water. 



Insects. The worst enemy in fruit culture is 

 the Plum curculio. .lar him down for the chickens 

 or catch him on sheets. Poison will destroy all 

 othei-s. If you plant Currants, xise white helle- 

 bore when the worms first appear. For leaf- 

 eating insects, spra.v with Paris green or arsenic 

 water just after blossoming, for codlin moth and 

 leaf rollers, and for canker worms as soon as 

 they appear. For Strawberry insects, mow and 

 burn the beds immediately after fruiting, when 

 a brisk breeze is blowing. To protect Grapes 

 from birds, insects and mildew, bag them as soon 

 as the fruit is set. 



Winter Protection. It is necessary for Cuth- 

 bert Red Raspberries, Dewberries and Black- 

 berries, whiiih are easily covered by loosening the 

 earth about the plants and pressing them down 

 b.v bending in the root, bending all up or down 

 the row ; cover with earth and in the spring re- 

 move and tie to a wire two feet above the row. 

 Dewberries and Strawberries should be covered 

 with marsh hay or cut Corn stalks. Just so you 

 can't see the vines or plants. Remove from the 

 Dewberries, and leave all on the Strawberries, 

 opening when they can't get through, in the 

 spring. Hand weed when necessary before fruit- 

 ing. After fruiting, cultivate the Strawberries 

 down to about a foot in width and keep clean 

 for another year. Set a new bed yearly and keep 

 clean, no matter about the old one. 



Black Knot— Cause and Remedy. 



[Pro/. Chas. H. Peck. New York Slate Botanist, before 

 the Farmers^ Institute, Ballstori.l 



"Blacli knot" on Plum and Cherry trees, 

 weakens the trees, and if neglected finally 

 kills them. The disease is peculiar to this 

 country, as a native of our wild Plum and 

 Cherry trees. I have never seen it on the lit- 



