1888 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



813 



mental Grounds, they secured quite a crop 

 of berries from a planting that was made in 

 October, 1887. I was so much interested in 

 this that I wrote to Professor W. J. Green, 

 who replies as follows : 



Mr. A. I. Root:^ 



Regarding the Crescent strawberry-bed mention- 

 ed at the horticultural inoeting, I can simply say that 

 the plants were set 6 in. apart in the rows, early in 

 October, and made but little growth before winter. 

 They were mulched in December, with wheat 

 straw. No cultivation was given in the spring, but 

 weeds were pulled as they appeared. Soil is moder- 

 ately rich. The yield was at the rate of forty bush- 

 els per acre at the second picking. Record of total 

 yield, not kept. October is too late to set straw- 

 berry-plants in this latitude, for the best results; 

 but this example shows that strawberries may be- 

 come a profitable second crop, even though tlie 

 ground can not be cleared before October. The va- 

 riety had much to do with the result, and it is not 

 probable that many other varieties would prove at 

 all satisfactory if treated in the same manner. 



Columbus, O., Oct. 11, 1888. W. J. Green. 



In addition to the above, I want to say 

 that we have not only put out strawberries 

 in October, but have kept on planting 

 through November and even into December. 

 One year when there was iiotliing else for 

 our boys to do, they set out strawberries, 

 even when the ground was fnjzen so much 

 in the morning that they could not get the 

 plants in till noon. I think we took up a 

 lump of dirt by means of a trowel, along 

 with the plants. Nearly all of them lived, 

 and they gave us tpiite a few berries the sea- 

 son after. They were mulched during win- 

 ter. This matter of mulching is one that 

 interests me greatly I have so many times 

 had plants do just as well without mulching 

 that I have been a little skeptical in regard 

 to it. I presume, however, that nearly all 

 such plants must 1)6 mulched or the frost 

 would throw them out of the ground. Some- 

 body has suggested that a single handful of 

 forest-leaves laid directly over the plant will 

 prevent freezing out. The leaves must be 

 held in place by a veiy little dirt. They will 

 be so thoroughly rotted by spring that the 

 plants will push right through them, and 

 you do not need to go over them to remove 

 the mulching. Who has had experience in 

 this line? 



One reason why it is desirable to put out 

 strawberry-plants in the fall is because the 

 ground is clear of a crop, generally in excel- 

 lent condition to work, and the gardener 

 has more time at his disposal than in the 

 spring, and often more well - rotted stable 

 manure also. I always enjoy putting in a 

 crop when I have time and facilities to do 

 it, just to my notion, and these frosty nights 

 give me renewed energy and vigor and en- 

 joyment in working the soil, and doing any 

 thing that can be done protitably. 



GIVING WELL-KNOWN SEEDS NKW NAMES, ETC. 



Mr. Root:—l want to tell you about some beans 

 that I have. You like to work in the garden; and, 

 if I am not mistaken, you like to plant some new 

 and different things, so 1 will send you a few beans. 

 There won't be enough for your dinner, but if you 

 will save them to plant you will soon have enough 



for a good many meals. They are very prolific. 

 We call them the Jessie bean. It was rather late 

 when we planted our garden, but the beans were 

 ripe three or four weeks ago. 1 will tell you why 

 we call them the .lessie bean. I have only one girl. 

 She is sixteen now. When a little girl, about seven 

 years of age, she found a pail of beans which her 

 grandpa had put away in the chamber. They 

 were like Joseph's coat, of many colors. My 

 little girl played with them a long time, picking- 

 out the different colors, until, getting tired, she left 

 them, but brought a few in her little hand to me. 

 She said, "Mamma, can't I plant theseV" Now, I 

 think it is best to please the little ones when we 

 can. I told her to save them until warm weather.- 

 In the spring we let little Jessie plant her beans. 

 We were surprised when they got ripe, there v/ere 

 so many of them. I have taken paii-s to plant 

 them every year, planting them as early as possible, 

 also saving the best seed. We prefer them to any 

 other for a bush bean. If any of the readers of 

 Gleanings would like enough for one or two hills I 

 will send them, if stamps are sent to pay for post- 

 age, etc.; also give name. 



Just a word about bees: We put ours in the cel- 

 lar last fall. They wintered well, and are gather- 

 ing more hone.\ this year than last. 



Mrs. Jennie M. Johnson. 



Groom's Corners, Sara. Co., N. Y., Aug. 23, 1888. 



Thanks for your kind letter; but may 1 

 suggest, my good friend, that, in coining 

 new names for something that may be well 

 known to seedsmen, we oftentimes unwit- 

 tingly add to tlie confusion now existing, 

 not only among seedsmen, but among the 

 great gardening public at large? While I 

 do not recognize ilie bean you send, 1 feel 

 pretty certain that it is already classified 

 among the names in our seed-catalogues. 

 The size and general appearance are much 

 the same as the black-seeded dwarf German 

 wax bean ; and as color of seed is only a 

 sport of nature, oftentimes, the bean you 

 have is substantially the one 1 have men- 

 tioned. 



KEEPING GKLERV OVER WINTER IN HOT-BEDS OR 

 COLD-FKAMES. 



Will celery, if small, make a marketable product 

 if taken up at the usual time and imbedded in a 

 fresh-made hot-bed packed in? Would it grow and 

 blanch? Would it pay? L. F. Atwood. 



Tailmadge, O., Oct. 8, 1888. 



I am glad to be able to tell you, friend A., 

 that we did exactly the thing you mention, 

 last winter. We did not use a hot-bed, 

 however, but simply packed the celery close 

 together in a bed of very rich ground, close 

 to the side of our factory, and covered it 

 with sash. It grew more or less all winter ; 

 and in February and March, when none 

 was to be had in the market here, we got 

 40 cts. a ])Ound for it. In this way you can 

 keep it all winter without a bit of trouble. 

 When spring came it showed a strong dis- 

 position to run up to seed as soon as the 

 weather was warm enough for it to grow 

 briskly. I think it will pay very well, if 

 you can get HO or 40 cts. a pound for it. 

 Where good celery, wintered over in celery- 

 houses, is to be had in the market, at a 

 moderate price, it might not pay. 



