44 



POPULAR GARDENING. 



November, 



Correspondent a are urged to anticipate the afoaon in pre- 

 aenting questions. To aak. for instance, on ApHl 1ft or 20 

 tehat Peas had best be 80U>n. could bring no answer in 

 the May issue, and none before June, vhen the ansteer 

 would be unaeasonable. Qiteations received before the 12TA 

 of any month utand a good chance of being anaieered in the 

 next paper yut more than three questions should be sent 

 at one time. Anstrers to qutstii.ns bearing on the com- 

 parative vaiiu of tvipiements, etc., offered by different 

 dealers must notbe ejrpected. Seilher can tre promise to 

 comply wiih tne request somettn-es made to ''please anazcer 

 by mail." Inquiriea appearing without name belotig to the 

 name next fodoiping 



Replies to Inquiries are earnestly requested from our 

 readers. In anawerintj auch give the number, your 

 looalfty and name, the latter not for publication, unless 

 you desire. Write only on one side of the paper. 



1.457. Keeping Cider Sweet. How best done with- 

 out using sallt-yllc acid?— M. R.. Luzerne, Pa, 



1.458. Landscape Gardening. What are the best 

 works on landscape and decorative gardening? 



1.4?9. Amaryllis. When is the best time to trans- 

 plant?— S. W. S., Mokena. Ills. 



1.490. Crinum Culture. What is the proper treat- 

 ment for bloom? 



1.491. J. L. Bndd Apricot. Is the foliage like Peach? 

 P. K., Aledo. Ills. 



1.492. Transplanting Large Trees. Can It be done, 

 and would such operation t«ud to restore ray Seckel 

 Pear tree to fruitfuJness?— W. S. H., Montclair, N. J. 



1.493. Blackberry Disease. Stalk seems enlarged at 

 top, curls over; leaves curl, no fruit, no ^owth. What 

 is the matter?- D. E. V. B., Middletoic-n, Conn. 



1.494. Marianna Plum as Stock. Can Peaches be 

 budded or grafted on it? 



1.495. Plum for Market. What variety is considered 

 most profitable?- C. L. B.. Dayton. O. 



1,49«. Water Lily. When should they be planted in 

 greenhouse, and how treated?— E. A., Melrose High- 

 lattds. Mass. 



1.497. Pistillate Strawberries. Are they more pro- 

 ductive than the perfect flowering ones?— C. C. T., 

 Harvard, Mass. 



1.498. Begonias and Abulilons. How late can they 

 be left out doors safely? 



1.499. Hot-bed for Lettuce, Parsley, Etc. How ar- 

 ranged and how managed? 



1,6W). Plants for Small Conservatory. Please give 

 list of stiitable bulbs and plants from seed.— Hakris. 



1.501. Starting Grape Seedlings. When and how 

 should seed be sown?— G. D. C. E. 



1.502. Planting Raspberries. Should It be done In 

 fall or spring? 



1,5(1-3. Manuring Blackberries. Will a shovelful of 

 manure to the hill increase next year's crop? Land 

 rather thin.— D. P.. Foiilar Grove, Ind. 



1.504. Pandanus. How propagated and mjinaged?— 

 D. E., Mt. St. Vincent, X. T. 



1.505. Peaches for Market. Please give list of best 

 early, medium and late.— J. B. C, Pitkin, Ills. 



I,5it6. Propagation of Hard-Wooded Shrubs. 

 How can plants of Lilacs, Altheas, Exochordias, 

 Hydrangeas, etc.. best be grown for spring sale?— B. H. 

 J., N. Mex. 



1,507. Clematis, Wistaria, Etc. How propagated 

 for spring sale? Also Ampelopsis, Honeysuckle, etc.— 

 B. fl.I. 



1.503. Layering Shrubs. When and how should 

 this be done ? 



\,W9. Best Potato, Name best for home use and 

 market.— SL'B. 



1.510. Pruning Apples. When should It be done, In 

 autumn or spring? 



1.511. Salem Grape. How much protection does It 

 require with 20^ or '■io'^ below zero occasionally? 



1.512. Variegated Grape. Is there one in cultiva- 

 tion?— T. W., Muscotuh, Kans. 



1.513. Breaking Down Onion Tops. Is this gener 

 ally practiced by growers, and at what stage of growth 

 to hurry up maturity?- S. R. R., Woodside, Del. 



1.514. Early Strawberry. Which would do for this 

 climate? Wilson, Crescent, etc., good, but not early 

 enough?~R. A., Calhoun, Miss. 



1.515. Soft Soap for Syringing. Where can I get It? 

 T. M., Pittshiirgh, Pa. 



1.516. Potash Salts. Where can they be had nearest 

 here and at what price? Is washing soda profitable at 

 two cents per pound ?— J. G. K.. Buckner, Ky. 



1.517. Moving Large Fruit Trees. Will It pay with 



trees nine or ten years old?— D. R., Chelsea, Mass. 



1.518. Tree Cricket. What Insect has laid Its eggs 

 Into my Raspberry canes?— G. A. H., Dafid City, Neb. 



1.519. Mnsas in Conservatory. What care do they 

 need? Much watering ()r little? 



1.520. Rhododendrons and Japan Maples. Do they 

 require winter protection in Slassachusetts?- H. L. N., 

 Grafton, Mass. 



1.521. White's Northern Muscat Grape. Is this of 

 any accoimt?— G. H. R., Alpiiw. Mich. 



1.522. Treatment of Sloping Lawn. Is there a bet- 

 ter way than sodding? I hear they now mix up the 

 seed with soil, old horse manure and water, and apply 

 with trowel like mortar.— E. D. S., Windsor, .V. S. 



l.Sil. Hydrangea Paniculata grandiflora. How 

 are cuttings kept over winter, or will they do better If 

 planted now?— P. H. B., Babylon, N. Y. 



1.524. Small Propagating House. How best built 

 and heated, and at what cost?— D. A. R , Chelsea, Mass. 



1.525. Yield oi Raspberries. Is there much differ- 

 ence between Nemaha, Gregg, Tyler and Soughegan?— 

 H. P. N. Mchols, Conn. 



1.526. Parasite Breeding. How can we get the par- 

 asites that prey on Injurious insects, and utilize them, 

 as suggested by Prof. Fernald (see page 184, Vol. 4}?— 

 N. C. E., RUlgeville, Tenn. 



1.527. Paint for Apple Trees. Will a paint made of 

 white lead and linseed oil Injure the stems? Have 

 used this for sun scald with good efEect.—H. J. S., Dei 

 Norte, Col. 



1.528. Roses Ailing. Apparently In full vigor, sud- 

 denly they wither, leaves turning yellow and die. 

 Roots turn black and begin to rot before bush shows 

 s^lgns of ailment. What Is the matter?— Mrs. F. A. G., 

 Varden, Miss. 



1.529. Botan Plum Ailing. Gum oozing out on stem, 

 bark dead in some parts. What Is It? 



1.530. Budding Trees. Please give directions.— 

 J. B., Brockicay Center, Mich. 



1.531. Salt for Slugs. How much .should be applied 

 to rich, sandy loam, and when? Or Is there a better 

 remedy for snails, slugs, earth worms, etc.?— J. B., 

 Augusta, Maine. 



1.532. Heuchera Sanguinea. Where can seed be 

 obtained? H. E. B.. Marlboro, N. H. 



1.533. Hardy Flowering Shrub. Recommend one 

 able to endure 10* below zero, and blooming morethan 

 once each season? G. B. D. v., Bronnock, Ariz. 



1.534. Grapes Dropping. Bunches drop when touch- 

 ed. Vines on arbor bearing only on top. Should vines 

 be cut to ground? W. S. C, Chicago. 



1.535. Weaver Plum. Please give descrlptlomJ.C.K. 



REPLIES TO INQUIRIES. 



1,399. Hauling Manure. In this locality farm- 

 ers and market gardeners haul manure six and 

 even ten miles, after buying it at a fixed rate per 

 cord. Manure of any kind is usually less affect- 

 ive on upland than on low, as it Is naturally 

 drained from the soil to a greater or less extent 

 on hilly land or where there is a natural slope.— 

 M. B. Faxon. 



1,393. Pruning Raspberries. When laying 

 down for winter Raspberries and Blackberries 

 should be cut back to about four feet.— M. B. F. 



1.481. Small Peaches. Your tree is either dis- 

 eased or starved. Try thorough clean culture 

 and application of woodashes, kainit or muriate 

 of potash in liberal quantities; or if the tree is 

 affected by yellows to such a degree that its re- 

 covery by feeding with potash seems doubtful, 

 tear it out and burn it.— P. G. 



1.482. J. L. Budd Apricot. We know of no 

 Apricot having leaves resembling those of the 

 Peach. Your tree undoubtedly Is nothing more 

 nor less than a Peach tree, or a sprout from the 

 stock, the bud having failed to take.— P. G. 



1,494. Uarlannaas Stock. The Marianna Plum 

 owing to the readiness with which it can be prop- 

 agated from cuttings, is much used as a stock 

 for other Plums, and apparently with good re- 

 sults. The best thing you can do with your 

 Marianna trees is to graft better and more reli- 

 able sorts upon them, select whatever sorts will 

 do well in your locality, and amongst others, 

 try also the Botan. Peaches may lie budded on 

 Marianna stock, but it Is doubtful whether this 

 course could be recommended. We would rather 

 tear up the Plums, and replant with young 

 thrifty Peach trees, if ive thought Peaches more 

 desirable ot the piece than Plums.— P. G. 



1 ,497. Pistillate Strawberries. These are 

 usually considered more productive than the bi- 

 sexual or perfect varieties. With all the new 

 varieties introduced, it is yet a matter of serious 

 doubt wether we have a single sort equalling the 

 old pistillate Crescent, when this Is given a 

 proper chance of poilenization by intermixing 

 it with some free poUen-producer, like Wilson, 

 Sharpless, James Vick, etc.— P. G. 



1.502. Planting Easpberries. This can be 

 done at any time, but we have always had the 

 best success with fall planting. This is generally 

 considered preferable and can l_>e (.lone any time 

 before the ground freezes permanently. Such 

 plants have always a good start before those set 

 in spring, however early this may be done.— P. G. 



1.503. Manuring Blackberries. Good crops 

 can usually be grown on land not excessively 

 rich; but we would not dispise the advantiiges 

 which a shovelful of good compost to each hill 

 would secure in "rather thin " soil. Indeed we 

 are not much afraid of " good manure " for any 

 crop.— P. G. 



1,474. Pruning Raspberries, etc. I cut soon 

 after fruiting tn give more room for new canes to 

 grow. Some i)eople think the old canes protect 

 the others in the winter. May be they do, but if 

 removed early, the new canes will make a better 

 growth and thus be better able to protect thoni- 

 selves. Raspberries may be pruned when there 

 is no other w(irk late in fall: in winter, when 

 there is no snow; or, early insuring.— L.J.Farmir. 



l,51t). Potash Salts. Our friends in Kentucky 

 might get their supply of kainit and muriate of 

 potash from any of the large fertilizer tirms in 

 Baltimore, at $13 to SI » per ton for the former, 

 and S45 for the latter; but it would certainly be 

 ad\isable for a number of growers to club to- 

 gether and buy a carload or a cargo together di- 

 rectly from the importer. The needed potash, 

 however, can often be had in Sfmthern sections 

 much the cheapest in the form of wood ashes, 

 cotton seed hull ashes, or perhaps Tobacco 

 refuse, and before investing in the foreign article, 

 it is always well to examine the home market 

 closely for cheaper home-made substitutes. 



1.509. Best Potato. The Early Rose and its 

 various strains and seedlings— all under the name 

 Early Rose— are yet considered among the very 

 best market sorts, and good for home use also. 

 Their greatest fault is their lack of keeping 

 quality. Beauty of Hebron is also a superior ear- 

 Ij' sort for market. For home use we have usu- 

 ally given the Early Ohio and Early Sunrise the 

 preference. The former Is probably the earli- 

 est good sort in existence, but many growers 

 complain of its not being productive enough. 

 Early Sunrise is also decidedly earlier than Early 

 Rose; and both (Ohio and Sunrise) are better 

 keepers than the Rose, the Ohio really one of the 

 very best. For late use or market the White Star 

 and Empire State are often unsurpassed. But so 

 much depends an local condition, that a definitive 

 answer could hardly be ^iven. The Western 

 Rural answers a similar question as follows: That 

 question to use a vulgar expression, is a poser. 

 We forget just how many varieties of Potatoes 

 there are said t<i be, but they may be said to be 

 almost innumerable; and to sa.v which is abso- 

 lutely best, is impossible. It is impossible to say 

 whicTti of even the best known and more common- 

 ly cultivated varieties ai-e best in any particular 

 case, without knowing all about the conditions, 

 and it might not be possible even then. The best 

 ad\ice we can give our correspondent, we think, 

 is to try several varieties. The catalogues of our 

 seedsmen cont*tin a description of our old and 

 new varieties that are being introduced. It is 

 not much trouble to test them.~P. G. 



1.510. Pruning Grapes. See reply to 1,446, page 

 21 of this volume. 



1,347. Canning Fruitt Corn, etc. "A man "in 

 Rural New Yorker gives the following sensible 

 directions, which we have no doubt, the inquirer 

 and many more of our readers will find useful: 

 In canning berries the less water used the better 

 the berries will be. If a few aie pressed and the 

 juice is used for cooking the others, the best pos- 

 sible results will be obtained. I consider yellow 

 Peaches alone fit for canning purposes. Peaches 

 properly canned should show clear syrup when 

 opened. Soft Peaches, properly handled before 

 canning will make a thick syrup full of floating 

 particles. For a prime article, take fruit fully 

 ripe but not soft, pi-epare by hand, dropping each 

 piece in the water as soon as cut. If glass is to be 

 used, cook the fruit for a few minutes and can. 

 If tin cans fastened with solder are used, the 

 fruit may be scalded to make it pack closely, and 

 packed with the fingers, sealed up, except a small 

 hole, and placed for five minutes in boiling water 

 to expel the air, seal up tightly and boil 20 to 30 

 minutes. Tomatoes should be scalded, skinned, 

 cut, and thoroughly cooked if glass is used. If 

 tin cans are used, (and they are much better than 

 glass), pack in the raw Tomatoes as long as you 

 can, pressing out all juice and seeds possible, and 

 proceed as with Peaches, except that it is better 

 to boil them twice as long. Corn and Peas are 

 very hard to keep by ordinary methods. The 

 method used by canneries is as follows: The Corn 

 is husked and then piissed through the cutting 

 machines. Another machine removes all the 

 silks, and the Corn is packed into tin cans by 

 hand. The cans are filled with hot salt water, 

 sealed, heated and vented; the vents are closed, 

 and the cans are finally boiled in a steam-tight 

 kettle for about 40 minutes at a temperature of 

 245 degrees, more or less. The impossibility of 

 securing such a degree of heat is the reason why 

 there are so many failures in the household. 

 Four or five hours boiling sometimes will do, but 

 oftener will not. Some people use cloths wrung 

 out of hot water >%Tapped around them, but bv 

 wrapping a dry cloth of any kind around each 

 can, j'ou can get a good grip on the ends and you 

 can liold it any way and anywhere you want It 

 while filUng. and you can put it on a table or 

 elsewhere without blistering your hands. Fruit 

 put up in tins certainly are better in taste. I 

 have yet to see the first good Tomatoes pre- 

 served in glass.— P. G. 



1,470. Setting Fruit Trees. It is best to get 

 trees from the nursery in the fall but not to set 

 out permanently as heavy winds will wrench 

 and hurt them. Better way is to plow a ditch 

 by throwing out two furrows on a dry knoll and 

 in this plant or " heal in " the ti-ees inclining the 

 botiies to an angle of 45". Cover the roots with 

 earth when set and just befoi*e winter sets in, 

 eover them with earth. Do not put straw or 

 nuiterial over them that will draw mice to gnaw 

 the bark. Uncover toi>s early iu spring and set 

 when ready.— I/. J. Farmer. 



