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POPULAR GARDENING. 



October, 



suspicion, the new Grape which is offered 

 as " earlier than the Hartford; as healthy 

 and as hardy as the C-oncord; better than 

 the Delaware; and whose fniit never rots 

 and foliage never mildews." By claiming 

 too much, introducers of new Grapes have 

 often misled and disappointed a generous, 

 and perhaps too confiding public. 



We have been striving for the perfect li rape 

 suitetl to all localities. We have not found it, 

 and we probably ne\er shall. But we have 

 varieties, that with intt'lliyrent care succeed ad- 

 mirably in particular localities, and are grown 

 with both pleasure and profit to their owners. 



The Niayara firape is comparatively new; and 

 although it is not found adapted to very general 

 cultivation, is still one of the most profitable and 

 valuable for such localities as are suited to its 

 requirements. It has not proved as early, or as 

 hardy as represented by its introducers; neither 

 has it been more exempt from mildew of foliage 

 or rot of its fruit than the average. But its vig- 

 orous growth and abundant bearing, with quality 

 and appearance good enough to satisfy the mass 

 of buyers and consumers, render it one of the 

 new Grapes worthy to be retained and recom- 

 mended, wherever it can be successfully grown. 



The Empire State is a formidable competitor 

 for public favor with the Niagara. It is about 

 equal to it in vigor of growth, probably little, if 

 any hardier in severe winters, but within my ex- 

 perience has better foliage, much less disposed 

 to mildew; in productiveness, usually somewhat 

 less than the Niagara, but to my taste, in quality 

 greatly its superior. 



Moore's Diativmd. A still later introduction, 

 with me appeal's no hardier or healthier in vine 

 or foliage than the Empire State. About the 

 same in vigor of growth, but not as productive, 

 with bunches and berries somewhat smaller. In 

 quality distinct and pure flavored, but not bet- 

 ter. Another new white Grape of the Labrusca 

 class, as yet but little known, originated at Col- 

 umbus, Ohio, and named " Witt," after its orig- 

 inator, by the Ohio State Horticultural Society, 

 has the merit of hardiness and health of foliage, 

 and is fairly productive of handsome clusters of 

 good size and fine quality. It is doubtless a Con- 

 cord seedling, and resembles the Martha in foli- 

 age and habit of growth, but its bunches and 

 berries are much larger and its quality and flavor 

 apparently much better. 



The Wominiff' Red originated near Ann Arbor, 

 Michigan, and is claimed to be a Concord seed- 

 ling. It seems to ha\'e all the vigorous growth, 

 health and hardiness of its reputed parent, and 

 to have all the requisites for a popular and valu- 

 able Grape, as nearly suited to general cultiva- 

 tion as any variety new or old yet produced. It 

 bears abundantly, producing berries and clusters 

 of the largest size, bright and attractive in color 

 and ripening with or a little earlier than Concord. 

 It is, however, a variety pronounced in charac- 

 ter, and distinct in flavor, a pleasant mixture of 

 sweet and vinous acid, with also somewhat of the 

 " native aroma " called foxiness, which to the 

 many, when not in excess, is an added charm, 

 and to the few an "unpleasantness." I have long 

 ago ceased to dispute or quarrel about matters 

 of individual taste; yet I do think the Woodruff 

 has more of the characteristics of a popular and 

 valuable variety for general planting for market 

 and for profit than any other red Grape within 

 my knowledge. I would therefore plant it for 

 the nineteen who are satisfied with and like it, 

 and let the twentieth seek something else. 



The Eaton is another new Grape, black in 

 color, and I believe is called a Concord seedling. 

 It somewhat resembles the Woodruff in vigorous 

 growth and healthy foliage. As I have seen and 

 tested it on several occasions, it has less of sweet- 

 ness and also of " native aroma; " its juice being 

 rather thin and acid. It is, however, large both 

 in bunch and berry, quit*:' showy and attracti^'c 

 in appearance, and perhaps good enough to be 

 popular and profitable for market and general 

 use. A black Grape of entirely different char- 

 acter is the Jewel, originated by John Uurr of 

 X^eavenworth, Kansas, which has been highly 

 commended in some sections. The vine is of the 

 Labrusca character, hardy in winter, with healthy 

 foliage, in general habit much like the Early 

 Victor. It ripens a little before Moore's Early; 

 is very proiiuctive; berries and clusters only 

 medium, about the size of the Delaware or a 

 little larger; skin thin, but tenacious, will carry 

 well. Flavor pleasant and sprightly, n()t foxy. 

 It has small seeds, and though a little pulpy, is 

 not acid or coarse at the center. Its rather small 



size and only moderate growth are its only faults; 

 and though to my taste not.as some have claimed, 

 as good as Delaware, it is the best in quality of 

 any very early ripening black Grape I have seen. 



The Moyer is a new CJrape from Canada. As I 

 have grown it, it is not as vigorous as the Dela- 

 ware, though the foliage appears rather thicker, 

 and better able to resist mildew. I fear the size 

 of the clusters is smaller than Delawares, and 

 its claim for extreme earliness .seems to be its 

 ])rominent recommendation. Another red Grape 

 of something of the same character, named by its 

 originator, Marifs Favorite 1 1 am not informed 

 whether it is to be propagated and offered for 

 sale), appeal's to have merits above many Grapes 

 that are now on our lists. The DowniiXQ Grape, 

 which was originated by Mr. Kickettssome years 

 ago, has been lately introduced by Mr. Burrow, 

 of Fishkill, N. Y. Although it is said to have 

 been successful in some places in New York, I 

 have found.it unusually subject to mildew of foli- 

 age, and unsuited to open culture in my locality. 



The Mills Grape the past season failed to ripen 

 its wood, bj' reason of mildew of foliage, which 

 fell prematurely, and I should class it with the 

 Downing, as only desirable for amateur culture 

 in specially favorable situations. The t7(s(er 

 Prolific, originated by the late A. J. Caywood, 

 has some claims for consideration, and will prob- 

 ably be found useful in many localities, for its 

 hardiness and productiveness, with good quality 

 of fruit and healthy foliage. The vine is of mod- 

 erate growth, berries and clusters medium, color 

 rather dark brownish red. The Nectar, first 

 called Black Delaware, by the same originator- 

 is offered for sale, but I can only report vigor- 

 ous gi'owth and healthy foliage. Francis B. 

 Hayen, by the originator of Moore's Early, is 

 healthy and of the Concord character, in growth 

 much like Martha, and also in size and appear- 

 anceof its fruit, but ripening earlier, less foxy, 

 and better in quality. I do not think it is as good, 

 however, or as promising for general use as the 

 Witt Grape or the Colcraiii. another white Con- 

 cord seedling of similar character, which origin- 

 ated in Belmont County, t.)hio. 



I think our most popular Giapes need improve- 

 ment. We need a Grape having all the general 

 characteristics of the Concord or Worden, with 

 a more tenacious skin, which will bear handling 

 and shipping with less injur.v with also better 

 quality and better keeping qualities. We need 

 also a Delaware with more vigorous growth, 

 larger fruit and healthier foliage. Or if we could 

 have a Grape like the Delaware, borne upon a 

 vine having the character of the Concord for 

 health of foliage and adaptability to different 

 soils and locations, every Grape grower would at 

 once recongnize its immense importance. 



American Florists in Convention at 

 Buffalo. Valuable Papers. 



ExPERi.MEST Garden. John Thorpe 

 made an earnest appeal for the establish- 

 ment of an Experiment Garden where 

 seeds, implements, insecticides, etc., can 

 be tested. It should contain from 5 to 12 

 acres, be equipped with best buildings and 

 have at the head a man of integrity and 

 ability. Such an establishment would re- 

 qtiire a first outlay of about ■?2.5.000 to 

 -*;W,000, and could be maintained at an an- 

 nual expense of ?.5,000 to .*7,000. It would 

 save thousands upon thousands of dollars 

 to the florists. For instance there are a 

 number of boilers on exhibit in the lower 

 hall, but the committee of awards is un- 

 able to decide on their merits. In an Ex- 

 periment Garden they could be tested, and 

 the best would win. Mr. Henderson says 

 such an establishment should be national, 

 not sectional. The society adopts a motion 

 that a committee be appointed, to i)ut this 

 matter in shape and petition Congress for 

 an adequate appropriation. 



Qualifications for Manaoers. Mr. Hen- 

 derson says that the manager of a florist's estab- 

 lishment ought to have an .Vmerican experience. 

 The conditions here are so different from those 

 in Europe, that much of the European experi- 

 ence has to be unlearned. Long special training, 

 however, is not always necessary to success; but 

 the pei'son must have a natural adaptation for 

 the business, and some originality. A mere im- 

 itator will m)t do. 



For head gardener in a private place a Europ- 

 ean training may be of advantage. Such a per- 



son Ls u.sually an all around man— good in fruits, 

 flowers vegetables, on the lawn, etc. Much re- 

 sponsibility is placed upon his shoulders, so he 

 must be a patient man, and expect little reward 

 for his labors. 



The florist in a public institution or the super- 

 intendent of public parks and grounds must be 

 a landscape gardener and an artist. He must 

 understand drainage, laying out of lawns and 

 walks, be well versed in nomenclature, and pos- 

 sess knowledge obtained by years of experience. 

 The Street Fakir Mr. F. M. Huntsman has 

 sent a paper in which he tries to answer the 

 query " Is the sale of flowers in the streets of 

 large cities an injury to the general business of 

 the stores'/ " There are different grades of cus- 

 tomers in flowers, he says, as well as in other 

 businesses. Each sectional trade represents an 

 altogether different class of buyer, and there is 

 ample room for all. 



Prices Naturally Fluctuate. Mr. Vaughan 

 replies to the question "Is the practice of ad- 

 \'ancing prices on special occasions of benefit"/ " 

 in the affirmative. Ileal cau.se for complaint 

 might be found in the practice of putting halt- 

 grown Uoses, and poor specimens of flowers gen- 

 erallj', on the market during a heavy demand. 

 This demoralizes the market. Common logic 

 teaches that fluctuation in prices is justified or 

 demanded by the conditions of the market. 



Hetailers' Profits. Mr. John Westcott says 

 that 100 per cent over cost is about the right gen- 

 eral basis for prices in conducting a retail cut 

 flower trade. The man who intends to sell cheap 

 will find himself left in the end. The retailer 

 should handle the best he can get and buy as low 

 as he can . In early part of winter there is little 

 or no profit for him. Later he gets the same 

 price, and buying much cheaper, he does well. 



Co-operation .Mr. J. D. Reynolds, in response 

 to the question "How can local clubs and the 

 national society best work together to promote 

 their common interests'/" points to co-operation 

 between them as so good a thing that we want 

 more of it. In many ways, however, the two in- 

 terests are not in common. The city florists' 

 club has many members who are retailers as well 

 as growers. The only common ground where all 

 can meet is in the exhibition halls. 



Division of Labor. For the florist in a small 

 town (one having not more than .50,000 inhabit- 

 ants) Mr. Wm. Scott sees no objection to engag- 

 ing in the hardy plant and shrub business for 

 lawn decoration. For large towns, especially 

 those having more than a quarter million i>eople, 

 the growers should attend to their specialties. 



Starting in a Small Town. A paper sent by 

 Mr. A. Gideon deals with the question " In what 

 way can a florist most successfully start in a 

 country town?" Mr. Gideon says that a young 

 man with skill and push, and with a capital of 

 $2,000 might safely embark in business in a town 

 having two or three thousand inhabitants. He 

 should put up two or three houses, heated by 

 steam or water, and stock it with a good general 

 assortment of plants; keep stock in good shape, 

 sell at reasonable prices, and treat customers 

 kindly. After a while he will do a thriving busi- 

 ness. One of the members, Mr. Gray, however, 

 thinks otherwise, and criticises the paper very 

 severely as misleading. He considers it very 

 risky to start such a business in a town of the size 

 named. 



Bl.\ck Spot of the Rose. Mr. C. P. Anderson 

 states that he has not discovered any treatment 

 that is a remedy or cure. It is a most fatal dis- 



MR. PALMER'S FUMIGATING GUTTER. 



ease, and almost all out-door Roses become 

 affected with it more or less. He thinks there 

 will be a time when it will be impossible to grow 

 a Rose out doors. European growei'S complain 

 of the same trouble. The cause seems to be 

 purely atmospheric, and he cannot suggest any- 

 thing for it. 



Uejieuv for Cut W<irm. A simple way of 

 disposing of the cut worm in potting soil is ex- 

 plained by Mr. J. D. Carmody. The soil is put 

 in sheet iron pans and cooked. This treatment 

 leaves no live grub, worm or weed seed. On a 

 large scale the same object is accomplished b>' 

 placing a coil of steam pipe in a largh shallow 

 box or vat of either metal or plank, and charging 

 this with the soil to be treated. It can thus be 

 cooked in an hour, when it is read.v to be taken 



