276 



POPULAR GARDENING. 



September, 



897. Yucas Hardy. Arc the Yuccas glorlosa aud 

 lllameuto.sa Imrdy in Ohio?— M. A. C, Columbus, Ohio. 



898. Mulberries for Market. Would it pay to 

 euitaKC in raising Mulljcrries as a market crop? What 

 treatment suits them and the best variety?— C. E. S., 

 Jci-seu Citv. N. J. 



8'Jil. Hop Worms Troubling. Is there any remedy 

 for a worm that has been doing considerable damage 

 to our H<>|) crop?-N. C. T.. Hancock Co., Me. 



m). Moving Grape Vines. Will it pay to move a 

 Grape vine over four years old? How should it be 

 trimmed if moved?-C. H. B., New York Co., N. Y. 



m\. Blistered Peach Leaves. What is the trouble 

 with Peach leaves I send? On certain trees the leaves 

 are nearly all in this condition.— M. A. B., Schoharie 

 Co., N. Y. 



902. Stoclis from Cuttings. Cannot plants be raised 

 from cuttings of the best double ones? There are so 

 few gooil doubles among seedlings.— Flower Lover. 



SOS. Aquarium Management. 1 would like to have 

 Instructions In keeping an aquarium. The water In 

 mine, in wlilch are several fish, gets unfit for use In 

 three days, though about three quarts isreplaced dally. 

 In the botuim is a little sand and severallarge stone. 

 Ought there t^ be plants in it? Are water slugs of any 

 use?- Novice, Henry Co., Mo. 



DM. Tan Mulch for Strawberries. Tan from a tan- 

 yard is recommended as a muich for Strawberries. 

 Can you give me any information as to its use?— M. C. T., 

 Niagara Co., N. Y. 



905. Clematis Pruning. Is It proper to cut Clematis 

 back ever.v year? 



906. White Clematis. Are there any good white 

 Clematis, that are hardy and free flowering?— G. D., 

 North Conway, N. H. 



907. Thrips on Dahlias. 1 have been greatly troubled 

 with these pests. Is there any way of getting rid of 

 them?— W. W., Natcliez, Miss. 



908. Blanching Celery. How is blanching Celery 

 best done? Is anything gained by t.ving the leaves 

 together before earthing?— F. H. W., Arlington, Minn. 



909. Bindweed. What can bedone togetrld of this 

 weed; it has white Convolvulusdike flowers?- G. B. S. 

 Erie Co.. N. Y. 



910. Lilium Auratum Treatment. After blooming 

 in pots how is the Japan Lily to be treated for flowers 

 next season ?— C. P. v., Hagerstown, Md, 



911. Plantain and Weeds in Lawn. Is there any 

 effectual method of dealing with these but by digging 

 out ?— B. M. P., Pittsfleld, Mass. 



912. Single Dahlias. How are these cared for after 

 lifting?— D. McL., Oakland, Me. 



913. Onions for Wintering. Can anyone tell me 

 whether there is any difference in the keeping quali- 

 ties of large or small Onions ?— T. L. C, Owenton, Ky. 



9U. Mulberries Fruiting. It was recently stated 

 that several Mulberries must be planted together in 

 order to fruit. Would a Downing and Russian near 

 each other answer?- O. O. C, Fredonia, N. Y. 



915. Lilies not Doing Well, (a) They are planted 

 among smallRhododendrons and are somewhat shaded. 

 They do not bloom satisfactory, (b) Ought the bulb- 

 lets to be detached each year, (c) How high should a 

 Longitlorum grow before it blooms ?— A Constant 

 Reader, Qenesee Co., N. Y. 



91*). Lice on Chickens. Have tried Kerosene, Sul- 

 phur, etc., without avail. What will destroy them ?— 

 T. D., Bantam, Ct. 



917. Canning Sugar Corn. I would like to hear of 

 a successful method of canning Sugar Corn ?— H. S., 

 Cincinnati, O. 



918. Hollyhock Propagation. What method wlH 

 keep them true In color?— F. F., Harvard, III. 



919. Oallas. W^ould some one inform me as to the 

 best soil tor Callas?— C. F. 



920. New Fruits. Which may be considered the 

 best way of introducing meritorious new varieties of 

 fruits?— H. L. C, Southbridge, Mass. 



'.121. Delawares Not Fruiting. My vines were 

 raised from cuttings from various localities; the soil is 

 good and growth thrifty. They flowered well but no 

 fruit sets. Pruned and well cultivated. Other Grapes 

 are near them. What Is the trouble ?— H. L. C. 



922. Trees Dying. Horse Chestnut, Russian Mul- 

 berry, Ai^ple, Pear, Plum, Cherry trees aud some orna- 

 mental trees on m.v place after leaving out In the 

 spring, Muiidcnly lost their leaves and in several days 

 died. It did not seem to matter whether they were 

 mulched or cultivated, on high or low land, sandy or 

 clay soil; those protected last winter were hurt as 

 badly as those that were not. Has anyone else exper- 

 ienced similar trouble and is there any remedy ?— J.C, 

 Eastham, Mass. 



923. Blackcaps not Growing. My soli Is rich sandy 

 loam, but for H j'ears I have planted from 25 to 100 

 Blackcaps yearly, getting only two to grow and from 

 these I would like to be told how to get new plants ?— 

 J. P., Jackson Co., Wis. 



REPLIES TO INQUIRIES. 



K26. Smut on Sweet Corn, I know of no pre- 

 ventive. You ini^ht try 11 change of seed. My 

 whole plautiiiK of the Corn was worthless this 

 season on account of the smut, while other 

 varieties growing along the outside were not 

 touched with it. Tlie first season I planted the 

 Earl.v Concord I had precisely the same exper- 

 ience. Ne.xt seiison I procured seed from another 

 Sfmrce, and have been perfectly free from the 

 annoyance e\'er since.— C. E. V. 



KiJK. Black Currants not Fruiting. I would 

 not prune them; the trouble is thatthe.y are too 

 luxui'iant in growth and pruning them as you 

 suggest would only increase it. After the f}lants 

 become older and do not grow so luxuriantly 

 they will fruit freely.— C. E. P. 



777. Propagating Clematis. We ha\'e found 

 grafting to be the most expeditious way of in- 

 creasing stock of Clematis. Good strong roots of 

 C. Virginiana are obtained from the woods in fall 

 used as stocks. Well ripened shoots with a 

 dormant bud are taken and grafted on the roots 

 anytime between November and February; pot- 

 ted and (lunged In a warm greenhouse, with a 

 hand-liglit placed over them and they will com- 

 mence to gi-ow at once. They must be carefully 

 hardened off for planting out in Spring. Plants 

 ten feet high and covered with liower buds were 

 grafted last November.— E. O. Obfet. 



865. Grapes, (a, b) Yes. (c) I do not know of 

 any injury arising from the use of grafting wax 

 on the vine. I have never found it practicable 

 to use wax in Grape grafting as the sap starts 

 immediately and the entire stub is moist, and 

 wet wax will not adhere to it. Very often the 

 sap tiows out at the end of the cion five minutes 

 after it has been iilaced on the stock. As the 

 wax in all grafting is merely to exclude the air 

 any mateiial that will do it answers the purpose. 

 In'Grape grafting clay answers well, and wiiere 

 the sap flows freely you can use it dryer. It 

 adheres well and keeijsthe air and moisture 

 away.— Henry Lutts, FoitHi;.s(oion, N. Y. 



1132. Curculio, When to Poison. I would ad- 

 vise to begin spraying as soon as the fruit com- 

 mences to form. — C. E. P. 



849. Manuring Raspberries, The best time is 

 in the fall.— D. N. L. 



849. Manuring Raspberries. My preference 

 is t('?t€?( I had the manure and time to apply it. 



823. Peaches and Grapes Together. It would 

 hardly be advisable to plant Grape vines between 

 rows of Peach trees that are but twenty feet 

 apart in the climate of Massachusetts. The 

 Grape in the northern States needs the largest 

 possible amount of sunshine to properly mature 

 its fruit. Whatever interferes with the sunshine 

 will be detrimental.— E. S. G. 



82(). Smut on Sweet Corn. Procure new seed 

 that is not effected by smut, and plant on ground 

 not recent].',- ilevoted to the crop. 



84.5. Fly on Chrysanthemums. Dip the plants 

 in a strong decoction of Tobacco, made by pour- 

 ing hot (not boiling) water upon a quantity of 

 Tobacco leaves or stems. 



869. London Purple for Cabbage Worms. It 

 is a deadly poison and unsafe to use. Pure Pyre- 

 thrum powder dusted among the leaves by means 

 of an atomizing bellows on a still day proves 

 entirely effectual. The dose needs to be repeated 

 as often as once a week. In the absence of the 

 bellows the powder may be dusted on with the 

 hand by separating the leaves with one hand 

 and dusting in the powder with the thumb and 

 finger. A perfectly pure and fresh article of the 

 powder may be diluted with an equal bulk of aii-, 

 slacked Ume or flour if the mixture is allowed to 

 stand in a tightly corked vessel a few hours 

 before using.— E. S. Goff. 



839. Datura Propagation. Datura arborea 

 alba is easily propagated by cuttings. Make 

 these about six inches long, place them in a sandy 

 soil and plunge in a bottom beat of aliotit sixty 

 degrees. Young shoots heeled (tif the <.ild wood 

 when they have grown about si.x inches long, in 

 spring root freely. 



883. Barberry from Seed. The Barberry is 

 readily propagated by seed. Rub the ripe berries 

 in sand and sow at once. Or wash out the seeds 

 and put away in moist sand until wanted. It is 

 best to sow them in the fall, or if the sowing is 

 delayed until spring the seeds should be buried 

 in a well drained place. Sow in a soil contaiuing 

 plenty of humus, and mulch with a very thin 

 layer of moss.— E. S. G. 



837. Keeping Locusts from Sprouting. There 

 is no possible way to do this except by cutting 

 them all down, sprouts and all, every one of 

 them, between the first and fifteenth of August, 

 and keeiiing them cut so close that they cannot 

 form a leaf until winter sets in; and then if they 

 show up the ne.xt spring the same careful work 

 should be continued. The Black Locust (which 

 suppose is meant) is a very pretty and valuable 

 tree, but should never be planted, except in some 

 rough place that we are willing to give up 

 entirely to it, in any of the eastern States; for it 

 makes itself a most fearful nuisance around 

 buildings, fences and cultivated grounds. Here 

 in California it is largely planted, grows finely 

 and is well thought of. And does not seem to 

 have the sprouting habit to any great extent (so 

 far I have failed to see any sprouts at all), per- 

 haps from the reason that all trees here root very 

 deeply owing to no rains in the summer. But 

 don't' plant this tree East, or you or your suc- 

 cessors will always regret the act, unless you can 

 give it a corner entirely to itself.— D. B. W., San 

 Francisco, Cal. 



778. Bark Lice on Apple. Dissolve two pounds 

 of potash in two gallons of water, and apply with 

 a paintbru.sli to all the infested parts, or better 

 yet to all the stems and branches of the tree. 

 This wash can be applied at any time, but it is 

 best done in the spring before the buds start. 

 One or two applications will be suflicient.— Chas. 

 E. Parnisll, Queens Cu., N. ¥. 



725. Currants Dropping. The insects no doubt 

 had affected the fruit before you used the helle- 

 bore, and the latter may have something to 

 do with it. My Currants set poorly this year, 

 but I attribute it to excessive wet while in bloom. 

 It is very unusual for the fruit to drop. — S. M. 



83fi. Smut on Sweet Corn. Smut in Corn is a 

 mystery to all of us, and I know of no preven- 

 tive. I see it on the same .stalk with a perfect, 

 healthy ear. I have some in my early Corn. I 

 know of no way to avoid it unlessto change your 

 seed, and give your grtiund 50 bushels of lime to 

 the acre. In the east, where we alwa.ys limed 

 our land every Ave or six years, I saw but very 

 little of it, while here where we use no lime it is 

 plenty every year when hot, wet weather comes 

 about earing time.— S. M. 



829. Currants and Gooseberries Plant your 

 cuttings, or rather put them in any time after 

 the first of September. Cover in the fall as soon 

 as the ground begins to freeze. Your 20 year old 

 orchard will be too much shade, and the trees 

 will rob the young plants. Shade is entirely 

 unneces,sary in .vour latitude. Prepare your 

 ground deep, make it I'ich, and when your plants 

 get to bearing keep the ground well cultivated 

 all summer, or mulch from July first.- S. M. 



834. The Gucii Plum, I do not know, never 

 having had this variety. Don't remember of 

 ever seeing any notice of it.— S. M. 



835. Gooseberries for Market, Houghton and 

 Smith's Imiirovedarethemostprofltable. Down- 

 ing is larger and better, but does not bear so 

 much as the others. Industry is a new English 

 one, largest of all that promised big things, but 

 I have seen that it is subject to mildew.— B. M. 



859. Cherry Sprouts, The only plan is to plant 

 them pretty deep, and never plow so as to cut 

 the roots. They make a good stock to work on. 

 The Mazzard and Mahaleb is the stock we use 

 mostly, the latter never suckers at all.— ,S. M. 



860. Cherries for Market. I have a Napoleon 

 Bigarrea that has given me more returns than all 

 the rest of the orchard of 29 trees together. Reine 

 Hortense comes next. I am in your latitude, 

 but my trees are 100 feet above the river bottom. 

 Plant on the highest, poorest soU you have. — S.M. 



787. Salt for Quinces. My experience with 

 salt as fertilizer for tjuinces and other fruit trees 

 has been so unsatisfactory that I would not 

 advise its use. — C. E..P. 



789. Fuchsias in Pots. The best compost for 

 Fuchsias is one composed of two-thirds turfy 

 loam one-third weU decayed manure and a sprink- 

 ling of fine bone dust, thoroughly mixed. 

 While the plants are growing freely an applica- 

 tion of liquid manure twice a week is of great 

 benefit.— Chas. E. Parnell. 



841. Rhododendron Protection. As the name 

 of the variety is not given, I am unable to judge 

 as to whether it is a sort able to stand the winter 

 when protected. If lifted at all it had better be 

 kept in the tub the whole year. Had your pro- 

 tection been more complete, by the addition of 

 straw around the branches, evergreen branches, 

 or the like, it should have withstood a usual 

 winter.- W. F. Lake. 



744. Curled Leaf on the Peach, This is often 

 caused by growing the trees in a heavy, wet soil, 

 and in certain seasons is more noticeable than 

 others. It does not appear to injure the trees, 

 as it only appears early in the season, and in a 

 few weeks the infested loaves drop off.— C. B. P. 



832. Raspberries Stung. This question is too 

 indefinite. Samples of the stung canes sent to 

 an entonuilogist would probably illicit all par- 

 ticulai-s. It may be the work of the snowy 

 cricket. Specimens would enable an entomolo- 

 gist to tell.— E. Williams, iVerc Jcnsey. 



868. Maggots in Onions. Iknowotno i-emedy 

 for keeping the maggots from destroying the 

 Oniims now; but they canbeavolded by planting 

 the crop <ra ne^v land or else niiewinK (he old 

 land by a green crop, such as li.\e. Wheat, 1 lats. 

 Grass, etc., for a season.— C. E. P. 



769. Soil for Roses. The " sandwich style " to 

 which you refer will not suit Roses. And as you 

 are determined to have them do well with you, I 

 would excavate the bed to the depth of fifteen 

 inches, place six inches of well-rotted manure 

 in the bottom, and fill up with a compost com- 

 posed of two-thirds turfy loam or good garden 

 soil, and one-third well decayed manure. This 

 preparatory work should be done in the fall or 

 winter montlis, so that the bed will lieeome set- 

 tled helore it is planted in the spring. Planting 

 should be (lone a.-^ early as possible, so that the 

 plants may lieeonu' well ro< ited before hot, dr.v 

 weather sits in. This plan will eventually pro- 

 duce the most satt-^factory results, although it 

 appears to be rather costly and expensive at first. 

 —Chas. E. Paknell. 



784. Unpruned Roses, I have never heard of 

 the plan of leaving hardy Roses unpruned, and 

 am certain that no Rose grower would approve 

 of it. To ensure the most satisfactory results 

 they should be closely pruned every spring, and 

 given a top dressing of manure every fall. Cut 

 the Roses daily and never allow the flowers to 

 fade on the plants.— C. E. P. 



