216 



THE GENESEE FARMER. 



ISEMMMW 



WALKS AND TALKS IN THE GARDEN.-No. III. 



"That shower which interrupted our last walk and talk 

 in the garden was like the Irishman's 'poetical' horse, 

 'better in the promise thau in the performance.'" 



" We have had no rain worth naming for two months. 

 These cabbage and cauliflower plants I set out after the 

 last shower and when it seemed as if we were going to 

 have a good rain, look rather scaly. The black beetle, or 

 'turnip flies' show them no mercy. They literally cover 

 the plants and devour the leaves. When a man is down, 

 everybody kicks him ; and when a plant is a little below 

 par every little insect and bug and beetle and fungus 

 fastens on to it, and sucks out the vital sap with impunity. 

 A good heavy shower would make these flies ' skedaddle.' 

 They might return, but if the land is in good condition, 

 the plants would soon grow out of harm's way." 



"Is there no way of killing them?" 



"Soot, lime, ashes, plaster, &c, dusted on the leaves 

 check their depredations somewhat. But in a dry time 

 like the present they are not of much use. In England, 

 this fly used to be the great dread of the turnip grower. 

 I have seen acres and acres entirely destroyed. Since the 

 use of superphosphate, however, this insect is no longer 

 feared. Sow plenty of seed, and drill in the superphos- 

 phate with the seed, and it pushes forward the plants so 

 rapidly that the flies can do little damage." 



" Last night (June 16th) we had a very severe frost. — 

 What with cold and drouth the season has been anything 

 but favorable for the gardener. This is the second time 

 these tomatoes have been nipped with the frost. I believe 

 in pinching in the shoots, but Jack Frost's method of 

 summer pruning is decidedly too severe. These beans 

 are effectually used up, and even the potatoes are nipped 

 a little. Some of the corn is killed outright, but fortu- 

 nately it is too thick, and there will be plants enough 

 left. The lima beans look hard. At the suggestion of a 

 clerical friend, who is usually very successful in their 

 culture. I planted them in hills raised some twelve inches 

 high, in order, as he said, to throw oft the cold rains and 

 keep the soil warm and dry. The hills are certainly dry 

 enough, — and so are the beans! One thing is curious 

 about them, they were far less injured by the frost last 

 night than the spring beans, which were more luxuriant. 



"The melons were covered with boxes, and are all right." 



"Strawberries are looking better than one would think. 

 Those grown in hills and mulched stand the dry weather 

 very well, while those allowed to occupy the whole 

 ground have suffered considerably. Jenny Lind is quite 



ripe. It is a good early berry, and is larger than the cut 

 which was drawn for the Genesee Farmer, a year or two 

 since." 



JENNY LIND STEAWBERRT. 



"Wilson's Albany is as productive as ever. 

 "Triomphede Gand is a splendid looking berry. When 

 cultivated in hills and the ruuners removed it bears we 1. 

 Its quality is ordinarily fair, but sometimes you meet w 'h 

 an overgrown berry that is as pithy and tasteless as a big 

 turnip. Still, on the whole, it is a very fair berry, and 

 pleases all those who judge fruit by the sight rather than 

 the taste." 



" Large Early Scarlet is 

 unusually fine this season. — 

 After all, there is nothing 

 better, on the whole, than this 

 well-known variety. A vigo- 

 rous grower.early, productive, 

 and popular in market." 



" Look at these standard 

 apricot trees. Nothing can 

 be handsomer. If the time 

 ever comes when we get the 

 upper hand of the curculio 

 apricots will be extensively 

 cultivated. As yet it seems 

 not. to have hurt them." 



large early scarlet. " < How did I succeed with 



the caterpillars on the gooseberry and currant bushes? 

 Admirably. The tar remedy was a success. As fast as 

 the worms hatched out on the leaves I shook them off, 

 and by keeping the tar around the stems fresh and sticky 

 by repeated applications, they could not crawl up again. 

 You would have laughed to see them attempt it. They 

 marched rapidly up the stem till they reached the ring 

 of tar. Here they halted* Some turned back, evidently 

 thinking it was a masked battery, while others crept all 



