102 



QUERIES AND ANSWERS. 



Tomato 

 Shipping. 



Mole Plant. 



Cross-bred 

 Plant. 



Sun House. 



Asparagus. 



Potato 

 Cultivation. 



except that the two crops can be grown so much more quickly than clover 

 or peas. 



620. Q. I frequently have received reports from my commission mer- 

 chant in St. Louis that the tomatoes I have sent him, and which I know 

 were perfect when I shipped them, arrived in a decaying condition. Can 

 you give me any reason for this ? 



A. Tomatoes which are picked during tlie heat of the day and packed 

 without being allowed to cool thoroughly are almost certain to spoil in a 

 day or so. It is just so with beans, and in fact with all vegetables. They 

 all should be cooled oflf. Your commission merchant may be right and 

 you may only have yourself to blame. 



621. Q. What is a mule plant ? 



A. A progeny from the fertilization of the pistil or female organ of one 

 species of plant by the pollen from them ale organ of a distinct species 

 of plant. Two species of the same genus may be thus mixed, but it is 

 uncommon for them to produce seed. They are most generally sterile, 

 but not always, for among garden vegetables the cucumber and the melon 

 have been crossed and the seed has been fertile. 



622. Q. What is a cross-bred plant ? 



A. A plant raised from seed the product of a variety of some plant of 

 one species the pistil of which has been fertilized by pollen from a flower 

 of another plant of the same species. As, for example, a red tomato 

 crossed with a yellow tomato. 



623. Q. What is a sun house? 



A. A structure on the same principle as a glass-covered cold frame, only 

 larger. It is like a greenhouse without artificial heat, depending alto- 

 gether on sun heat derived during the day and which it partially holds 

 during the night. In early Spring and late Autumn it protects growing 

 plants from frost, beating rains, and snow. Such houses are found profit- 

 able to market gardeners. 



624. Q. Is asparagus best when cut under the surface and white, or 

 when allowed to rise above the surface and become all green ? 



A. Simply a matter of taste. Cut above the surface, three times as 

 many bunches can be cut from a bed as when cut beneath the surface. 

 The cutting underground destroys many shoots not in sight. For can- 

 ners' use it must be cut under the surface, as when it gets green it be- 

 comes too soft to stand the processes of canning. 



625. Q. I have looked in vain through your catalogue to find out how 

 far apart I should plant potatoes. I suppose every farmer knows all 

 about it, but I am not a farmer. I want to raise about ten bushels. 



A. If an acre of potatoes averages 150 bushels, then one-fifteenth of an 

 acre would be required to produce ten bushels. Now a fifteenth is about 

 325 square yards, which is, say, forty yards long by eight yards wide. 

 For a small plot like this plow the land, harrow, and open trenches five 

 inches deep and two and one-half feet apart. Place the potato cuttings 

 about eight inches apart and cover with three inches of soil. The culti- 



