1904 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



295 



moisture that may be brought within reach of the 

 roots by capillary attraction. It is well known that 

 plants take up their food only when it is provided in 

 solution, taking it by absorption. The food may be 

 dissolved, however, by water or by the direct action of 

 the roots or by the process of fei mentation, which is 

 altnost constarit in all soils. In either case, .soil mois- 

 ture is essential. Now if our soil is of such a nature 

 that we can obtain sufficient nioistuie by capillary at- 

 traction, it being that upon which plants mostly feed, 

 as it travels upward, downw.ird. and sidewi.se, we 

 have the most natural conditions for plants to obtain 

 food. t)f course, free water (rain) is es.senlial in mod- 

 erate quantities to replenish the bottom strata so that 

 nature's "pumps" may have a supply from which to 

 draw. Furthermore, 1 have observed that coc 1 nights 

 are beneficial to the development of the tubers; hence 

 the desirability of late planting for quality. 



I have barely touched on the subject of plant-growth, 

 and doubtless unnece.ssarily as I am sure you are bet- 

 ter posted on this subject than I am; but when I get to 

 writing or talking on this subject I am much in the 

 .same predicament that I atii when iti an orange grove 

 sampling the golden fruit, / don't know when to stop. 

 And, bj' the way, friend Root, I have been much in- 

 terested in your writings of Southern California, as my 

 wife and I spent the winter in Los Angeles and vicini- 

 ty la'^t year, A. E. Manum. 



Bristol, Vt., Feb. 22, 1904. 



THAT HIGH-PRICED POTATO. 



Below is the clipping- from the Scotsman, 

 referred to on page 243: 



The new potato, El Dorado, was sold at the London 

 Christmas Show at .^150 for one pound weight, and 

 the buyer was offered /"ItiO for it later. 



RAISING THE HARDY CATALPA FOR LUM- 

 BER, POSTS, HONEV, ETC. 



We were recently shown by an agent 

 ssome beautiful specimens of very light tough 

 lumber from the hardy catalpa that grows 

 native in some parts of the West. This ca- 

 talpa is also said to be worth as much for 

 posts, railroad- ties, and timber to be put in 

 the ground, as any thing else known; and 

 several railroad companies are planting the 

 trees to grow ties. As I knew they had 

 been considering the matter at our Ohio Ex- 

 periment Station I asked Prof. W. J. Green 

 to tell us something about the tree. Here is 

 his reply: 



Most seedsmen have been careless regarding the 

 kind of sted which they .sold, hence the majority of 

 the trt es which have been grown from these seeds are 

 of the wrong kind, because tlie hardy catalpa does not 

 produce as much seed, and is more difficult to procure. 

 It is impossible, when the trees are saiail, to tell what 

 they are. After they have attained some age it is pos- 

 sible then to disauguiali the dillercnt kinds. They are 

 easily distinguished by the blossoms and seea. The 

 station is now making considerable effort to introduce 

 the true hardy catalpa, and we have quite a number 

 of trees whice we expect to send out to different parts 

 of the State for the sake of an experiment. We do not 

 expect to sell the trees nor give them away, but we 

 shall require the party to conduct an experiment to 

 pay for the trees. 



The catalpa frequently, on good soil, makes an in- 

 crease in diameter of an inch a year. 1 saw trees in 

 Creslon a few days ago that were planted only ten 

 years ago and one of them was more than a foot in di- 

 ametei . On ordinary soil they would not grow as 

 last. There are some near Wooster that are about 

 twenty years old, not very mucii larger than the one 

 mentioned at Creston. We have some on the station 

 ground that are ten to twelve feet high, three years 

 trom planting. I know of a grove where the trees are 

 planted eight feet apart each way, and at twenty 

 years of age are worth on an average $1.00 per tree for 

 posts and poles. I hope that you will plant a grove of 

 this tree, for it is surely very valuable, and I do not 

 know of any species of tree that will be likely to yield 

 greater profit. W. J. Green. 



Wooster, O , Feb. 15. 



THE slop: plum IN EUROPE. 

 Mr. Green's letter on the sloe plum reminds me las 

 an Englishman) of the wild sloe of Great Britain, which 

 is identical with the Irishmans's black-thorn or 

 shillala. 



From the white-blossomed sloe 

 My dear Chloe tequested 



A sprig her fair b east to adorn; 

 Oh! no, no! 1 replied; 

 May I perish if ever 

 I plant in that bosom a thorn. —Irish Ballad. 

 The wild British sloe is of the nature of a very small 

 plum— purplish in color with the bloom of the Dam- 

 son, and choky when eaten; grows freely and persist- 

 ently in the st^fT clay lands; the shoots emanating 

 from the main stem are protected by the thorns, one 

 on e.fch side, which die when about a year old. The 

 thorn lorms a better fence than the hawthorn so ex- 

 tensively used while a patch of blackthorn brush is 

 a pretty touRh propo.sitioii to tackle. It is cut occa- 

 sionally — that is, every fourth or fiith year, and fur- 

 nishes " thorns " for mending the gaps in the haw- 

 thorn hedge-rows ; and at such times those who wish 

 cau choose a very fine walking-stick by taking out 

 part of the root for a handle. 



The thorns spiing up again from the old roots, and 

 only occasionally from seed. 



I should consider it a "plum," but of a low order; 

 very hardy and parasite resisting, ranking high in 

 these respects, and I do not s e wfjy it would not be 

 extremely useful for hybridizing work. 

 Melrose, Mass. James M Pulley. 



From your description, friend P., I think 

 the tree you refer to is very much like our 

 sloe plum here, only I could hardly agree 

 with you in regard to the quality; and with 

 cultivation they get to be of pretty good 

 size here. Not only should it prove useful 

 for hybridizing, as you suggest, but why 

 can it not be used far an extremely hardy 

 root for grafting other more valuable plums? 

 Can some of our nurserymen tell us about 

 the latter? 



MORE FROM HARRY LATHROP. 



I have just read your comments on ray letter, page 

 1019. I am glad of an opportunity to say a few words 

 more. 



I have not adhered to the natural-food plan for cer- 

 tain reasons. The principal is that, at the present 

 time, one must isolate himself and provide his own 

 food if he is away from home. We need association 

 and good fellowstiip at our meals. This is very im- 

 portant. When I am at home I use a modified natural- 

 lood diet, and eat with the folks. 



I believe the time will soon come when a great many 

 people will adopt the plan of living on simple and nat- 

 ural foods. There must be a halt made soon. ."Ml 

 over this country business men and clerks are over- 

 working, and rushing them.selves to the extent that 

 they become so nervous that they can't take time for 

 their meals or really to live. I am against our mod- 

 ern habits ; but being right in the current it is difficult 

 to change. 



The fruit breakfast you speak of is all right. For 

 an ordinarj' meal a slice of good graham bread and 

 butter, a few English walnuts, and three or four best 

 imported dried figs will give health and satisfaction. 

 The expense of such living is very little, which is a 

 consideration with many poor fellows. We have a 

 great variety of good things to select from. All we 

 require is to usr: only a limited numbei at a time, 

 changing as our taste indicates our ne-eds. 



I shall stick to the natural foods as long as I can, 

 other requirements considered. 



I thank yon for your kind words to me, Mr. Root, 

 and pray that you may be spared in health and vigor 

 for many years of useful work. Harry Lathrop. 



Monroe, Wis., Dec. 12. 



