OUR QUESTION AND ANSWER DEPARTMENT 



Beaders of Th* Horticulturist are Invited to Submit Questions on any PK«s« of Horticultural "Worh 



Legal "Weight of Apples 



What is the standard allowance in weight for 

 a bushel of apples? — T. B., Forest, Ont. 



We do not know of any standard 

 weight per bushel for apples in this 

 country. In the state of Wisconsin, 

 the standard weight is fifty-seven 

 pounds, and in Kentucky only twenty- 

 four pounds. By this, you will see 

 that there is a great difference between 

 legal weights in the various localities. 

 In Iowa, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mis- 

 souri and Ohio, the weight is 48 pounds ; 

 New Jersey, 50; Vermont, 46, and so 

 on. It is difficult to decide upon a 

 definite weight per bushel for apples, 

 as the various varieties are of different 

 specific gravity. Stark will average 

 about 56 pounds; Kings and Spitz, 

 44; Baldwin and Roxbury Russet, 50; 

 Ben Davis, 47 ; Greening, 52 ; Golden 

 Russet, 53 ; and Spy, 46. 



Varieties of Plums 



Kindly suggest varieties of plums for planting 

 on a fruit farm in this locality? — A. J. C, Lis- 

 towel, Ont, 



The following varieties probably 

 would give best satisfaction : Lombard, 

 Yellow Egg, Ouackenboss, Arch Duke, 

 Coe's Golden Drop, Reine Claude and 

 a few Red June for early. If you wish 

 to plant a few prunes, we would sug- 

 gest Prune D'Agen. 



Enquiry from Finland 



.\s the cultivation of gooseberries in our coun- 

 try is in great danger of destruction by the 

 fungous disease, Sphierotheca mors uv<e, and as 

 we have l>een informed that you cultivate species 

 of gooset)erries that are not disposed to this 

 disease, I request that you name some of the 

 varieties, hardy enough for a cold climate, and 

 mention also where they can be obtained. — 

 E. W. Heikel, Slate Pomologist, Hclsingfors. 

 Finland. 



The American varieties of goose- 

 berries are practically free from the 

 disca.se mentioned. The leading varie- 

 ties are Downing, Pearl, and Red 

 Jacket. They may be secured from 

 the nursery firms that advertise in 

 The Canadian Horticui,turist. 



Cropping an OrcHard 



What cnips may be grown in young orchards, 

 without evil results? — C. M., Sherbrooke, Que. 



Only those crops whose treatment 

 will improve the physical condition of 

 the soil and will aid in conserving 

 moisture should be grown in voung 

 orchards. Grain, hay and succulent 



crops should not be grown, although it 

 is claimed that corn will to a certain 

 extent shade and protect newly-set 

 trees from winds. Hoed crops and 

 small fruits are the most satisfactory. 

 Sod should not be allowed in an or- 

 chard except when desired to check 

 the vigor of trees that are making too 

 much wood at the expense of fruit, 

 although, in localities where there is 

 an excess of humidity in the atmos- 

 phere and soil, orchards in sod have 

 been found to give good results. 



Value of Hellebore 



Has hellebore any particular value over ether 

 poisons as an insecticide? — L. R., Barrie, Ont. 



The particular value of hellebore 

 hes in the fact that it is less poisonous 

 than most other compounds used as 

 insecticides, and that on being exposed 

 to the air, it soon loses its strength. 

 For this reason it is safe to use it on 

 fruits that are almost mature and 

 ready for market. 



Fruit Tree Borers 



What is the difference between the peach tree 

 borer and the apple tree borer? — B. T., Essex, 

 Ont. 



The adult of the peach tree borer is 

 a moth, while that of the apple tree 

 borer is a beetle. The larva or the 

 borer itself that works on the peach 

 and plum has eight pairs of legs, while 

 that of the apple has three pairs. This 

 is an easy way to distinguish between 

 them. The peach tree borer works 

 from the crown of the tree downwards 

 into the roots. There are two apple 

 tree borers, one ot them works in the 

 trunk near the ground, the other 

 higher up and sometimes in the larger 

 branches. 



Multiplying Ivies 



How can the various ivies be propagated and 

 at what time of the year.' — R. T., Vancouver, 

 B.C. 



The Virginia creeper or woodbine, 

 Ampelopsis quinquefolia, may be prop- 

 agated by hardwood cuttings taken 

 in the fall. The Boston or Japan ivy, 

 Ampelopsis Veitchii, is best grown from 

 seeds sown under glass or outdoors as 

 soon as ripe. It may be propagated 

 also by cuttings of green wood taken 

 in spring, and inserted where they may 

 receive a gentle bottom heat. The 

 Knglish ivy, Hedera Helix, may be 

 propagated at any time during the 

 growing season by cuttings of half- 

 ripened wood. 



Germination of Seeds 



How can the germination of seeds, whose 

 coats are more or less impervious to water, be 

 hastened?— L. A,, St. Stephen, N.B. 



The germination of seeds whose coats 

 are only fairly hard may be hastened 

 by soaking in cold or lukewarm water. 

 Others more hard may be softened by 

 pouring over them scalding water, but 

 they should not be boiled, as some- 

 times has been recommended. With 

 large nut-Uke seeds, the practice of 

 stratification is necessary. This con- 

 sists in exposing the seeds, mixed with 

 earth, to frost and moisture for a time. 

 Bony seeds are sometimes filed or 

 bored to hasten germination. .'Vt some 

 of the experiment stations, machines 

 are kept for this purpose. 



A. Tomato Pest 



I had some trouble with a worm destroying 

 my tomatoes in a greenhouse. It looked like a 

 cut -worm, being dark brown in color What is 

 it ?— A. J. C, Listowel, Ont. 



The worm that attacked your to- 

 matoes was probably the variegated 

 cut-worm, Peridroma saucia. It was 

 very abundant and destructive this 

 year. During the day they are buried 

 about one inch deep in the earth, 

 usually near the roots of the plants 

 they are attacking. The best remedy 

 for them in greenhouses, or on small 

 areas, is to scatter poisoned bran 

 among the plants. The formula for 

 making this is as follows: Mix one 

 pound of Paris green with fifty pounds of 

 bran, and moisten well with water 

 sweetened by black strap or sugar. 

 Be sure that the Paris green is well 

 mixed, as it tends to sink to the bottom. 

 — Answered bv L. Caesar, O.A.C., 

 Guelph. ' 



Ne^w Tomato Pest 



I have heard of a new worm that eats the 

 tomato, fruit and leaves. What is the best 

 way to fight them?— .\. J. C, Listowel, Ont. 



I have heard of but not seen the so- 

 called "New Tomato Worm," so can- 

 not tell what it is until I see a specimen. 

 Probably the best treatment for limited 

 areas will be to dust with pyrethrum 

 powder. Take one pound of pyre- 

 thrum powder, and mix with four 

 pounds of flour, keep in a closed vessel 

 for twenty-four hours, and then dust 

 over the plants. This is not poison- 

 ous to human beings, and hence wiH 

 be safe to use on your tomatoes. — An- 

 swered by L. Caesar, O.A.C., Guelph. 



