224 



POPULAR GARDENING. 



July, 



CorreapoiidenCa are urged to auttctpu.le the seuBon in pre 

 aenting queationa. To aak, for inatance.on April lbor2t) 

 what Feas had beat be soten. could bring tio answer tn 

 the May issue, and none before June, when the anawer 

 would be unaennonable. Questions received before the 12th 

 of any month stand a gooU chance of being anaipered in the 

 next paper. Not more than three questions should be sent 

 at one time. Answers to qu,,attons beurnn/ tm the com 

 paratit^e vaiue of ivipiements. etc., offered by different 

 dealers must not be expected. Neither cati we promise to 

 comply teiih. trie retpieat aometimes made to "please answer 

 by 7itail." Inquiries appearing without name belong to the 

 name next fotloioing . 



Replies to Inquiries are earnestly requested from our 

 readers. In answering such give the number, your 

 locality and name, the latter not for publication, unless 

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



1,978. Hardy Plants for Cut Flowers. What plants 

 and shrubs do you ret'ommeud to Kive an abundauce 

 of cut flowers all the season?— Wakmoth, New Jersey. 



1,87'J. Green Fly on Hawthorn. Ants do great 

 damage to my Hawthore hedge. Scarcely a sprout 

 escapes them. What Is the remedyi'—.I. B. K., New 

 Albany, Ind. 



1,88(1. Out-door Roses for Bloom- Will hardy Roses 

 bloom the ttrst season after setting In open field?— J. J. 

 J... Titus Hill. N. Y. 



l.ssi. Remedy for Pear Slug. How can I get rid of 

 the sluK that destroys my Pear foliage?— D. K., Mass. 



1,S82. Heating Greenhouse by Gas. Can gas be 

 used as fuel to heat a uitiTow greenhouse ^ feet long? 

 How tu be arranged!'— Constant Reader, 



1,883. Early Bearing of Tomatoes. Will staking or 

 tyln.-? to trellis m I'i- frulc ej.rli-ir't-J.L.P.Marion.O . 



1.S84. Kiirogen from the Atmosphere. Do rains 

 and the atmosphere furnish to our plants an apprecia- 

 ble quantity of nitrogen?— W. A. B„ Persia, Iowa. 



1.885. Columbines Flowering Double. My plants, 

 at first giving large single flowers, are now giving 

 smaller double flowers. No individuality left, nor 

 much beauty. What can I do to get them single again? 

 — U. L. B., La Orange, IHs. 



l.SWi. Growing Tree Seedlings. Please give us 

 some Information about growing Apple, Pear, Plum 

 and Cherry seedlings. 



1,887. Nurserymen's Supplies. Can you give me 

 the address of parties who furnish such? 



1,S88. Journal for Nurserymen. Is there any paper 

 published in the interest of nurserymen?- H. L. B., 

 liising Sun, Indiana. 



1,8&9. Cucumber Pickles. Can you give a lew good 

 recipes for pickling cucumbers?— J. R. W., Conn. 



1,89(1. Experiment Stations. Please give list of the 

 most prominent?— J. R. P., Breckenride, Mo. 



1,891. Culture, of Tropical Fruits. Is there any 

 work on growing Oranges, Lemons, Ba'^anas, etc.? 

 Where can It be had?— T. H., Bentoii Harbor, Mich. 



J,892. Plants Blooming in May. Please give list of 



Serennials, bulbs, etc., bloomiug by Decoration Day?— 

 . K., Iowa. 



1,893. Quality of Sweet Corn. Is this Influenced by 

 soil or climate?— U. S. T., Monroe, N. Y. 



1,894.' Remedy lor Snails. What can 1 do to get rid 

 of the disgusting snails in my Fernery?— Mrs. S., Ohio. 



1.895. Repotting Camellias. When is the proper 

 time to do this?— Subscriber. 



1.896. Soil for India Rubber Plant. What soil is 

 best for It? My plant does not thrive.— S. J. W., lA>ng 

 Island. N. Y. 



1.897. Sunray Fuchsia. How can It be made to 

 grow rapidly and thriftily? -Mr.s. F. R.. Wisconsin. 



1,89s. Bleaching Celery. Which method is simplest 

 and preferable for the home garden?— Celery Lover. 



1,899. Asparagus Varieties. Have any of the newer 

 sorts proved to be superior to Conover's Colossal?— 

 Wm. F. C, Indiana. 



1,9011. Propagating Choice Strawberry Varieties. 

 Which Is the most rajtld way of growing plants?— P. G. 

 E., Chainbe rsbu rg, Pa. 



1.901. Cutting Sweet Potato Vines. Should they be 

 allowed to run at will or cut off?— F. T., Columbus, O. 



1.902. Blood- leaved Peach. Is it hardy and pro- 

 ductive, and worthy of propagating for its fruit alone? 

 Will pits give desirable stock for budding?— P. M. W., 

 Iteinersville, O. 



1.903. Cheap Propagating House. Please give plan 



<ff small liouse, say 30 feet long by 10 or U feet wide?— 

 E. A. B,, Kittaning, Pa. 



1,9(W. Book on Evergreens. Does Fuller's Practical 

 Forestry treat fully on i-alslng and caring Evergreens? 

 Or what other w()rk does this?— C. G. S., Jr., lUinois. 



1.905. Transplanting Trees and Perennials in 

 Autumn. Can I transplant Dahlias, Peonies, Apple 

 and Pear trees by Sept. 25th successfully?— A. S.,Penn. 



1.906. Season of Budding. Which Is the best time 

 t<) bud Plums on Peach, Pears on Quinces. Cherries on 

 Mahaleb? Should the latter be cut back before bud- 

 ding?-.!. G. K., Ky. 



1.907. Soaking Seed Before Planting. Is this a good 



practleeornot?— F. T. T., W. Va. 



I.HIIH. Golden Elder. Can tills be recommended as 

 an ornamental shrub? --M. N., Dhio. 



1.9tl9. Cultiyating Young Orchards. How long 

 should cultivation be continued Into the suninieror 

 fall?— Elwood, Maine. 



1.910. Grafting Herbaceous Growths. Can Cucum- 

 bers be successfully grafted upon each other, or Pota- 

 toes upon Tomatoes, etc.?— R. S., Metropolis. 



1.911. Deutzia crenala not Blooming. Plant set 

 four years ago, of strong growth. How should I treat 

 It ?— R. (Jr. P.. Burlington, Vermont. 



1.912. Currant Worm. Please give life history.— D. 

 F., Belair Mo. 



1.913. Pomegranate not Blooming. They are In 

 vigorous health. How are they to be treated. 



1,915. Cactus Culture. How should plants be treated 

 to make them bloom ? F. F., Frankford, Pa. 



l.yifi. Curled Leaf of Peach. What is the cause and 

 remedy?— L. O., .'l;i« Arbor. Mivh. 



1.917. Dwarf-Red-Flowering Horse Chestnut, 

 Where can it be obtained ? 



1.918. Buffalo Berry. Where can I get it ?— Wm. H. 

 O., Ohio. 



1.919. Insect on Black Currant. What insect 

 attacks the leaves, making them curl up, and what 

 remedy is there?— C. H. D., Toronto, Canada. 



1.920. Growing Pine-Apples. Please give Instruc 

 lions.— D. W. C, Cleburne, Texas. 



1.921. Thi;ips on Strawberries. Which is the best 

 way of flghtlug them ?— M. S. B., Nebraska. 



1,932. Planting Fruit Trees. How late In the sea- 

 may this be done ? 



1.923. Asparagus Beds. How long do they u.sually 

 last In good order ?— W. W. R., Toronto Can. 



1.924. Barren Gooseberry bushes. My plants eight 

 or ten years old do not bear. What Is the reason ? 



1.925. Fall Planting of Trees, etc. What exact 

 time is best for this work ?— F. E. H., Iowa. 



I,!)2(^. Remedy for Black Knot. Is Linseed oil a 

 sure remedy, and how applied?- G Q, D., Neiv 

 Hampshire. 



1,937. Treatment of Cannas. What m\l Is best? 

 Will liquid manure be benefleial ?— Old Sub, Colo. 



REPLIES TO INQUIRIES. 



1.791. Crops in Shade. Most vegetables e<»uld 

 be grown in a siiady place, provided it i.s not 

 under trees. Strawberries would do well, and 

 Currants would succeed as well as Cherries. 

 Lettuce and liadishes would thrive. These crops 

 would be a little later than those having the 

 benefit of the sun rays. Under the shade of trees 

 the green and variegated Periwinkles, Hepaticas, 

 Hleeding Heart, Wood Anemones. Violets, Nas 

 turtiums, Primroses, Polyanthuses, Auriculas, 

 Solomon's Seal, Lily of the Valley, Daffodils, Nar- 

 cissus, St. John's Wort, Mahonias, Hardy Ferns, 

 and the Leopard'8 Bane would all thrive. The 

 spot could be made very enjoyable by a liberal 

 use of semi-tropical plants during the summer 

 months.— H. W. Smith, La. 



l,79ti. Exotic Grape Plants. The eyes are sel- 

 ected from primings that have been reserved for 

 the purpose. The eye is prepared by cutting in 

 a slanting direction, away from the bud, about 

 half an inch above the eye, and making a straight 

 cut about an inch below. These eyes are placed 

 in small pots or in pieces of sf)d, and subjected to 

 a temperature, varying from 70° to 80°. They 

 are repotted as they re(iuire.— H. W. Smith, La. 



1,78:.'. Pruning the Pear for Fruit. Mr. P. 

 Tiarx-y, in his Fruit Garden, says on the subject 

 of pruning to induce fruitfulness: This is con- 

 ducted on the principle that whatever is favora- 

 ble to rapid, vigorous growth, is unfavorable to 

 the immediate production of fruit. Hence, the 

 object in view must be to check growth and 

 impede the circulation of the sap— just the oppo- 

 site of pruning to renew growth. The only 

 period at which this pruning can be performed 

 is after vegetation has commenced. If a tree is 

 severely pruned immediately after it has put 

 forth it^ leaves, it receives such a check as to be 

 unable to produce a vigorous growth the same 

 season; the sap is impeded in its circulation, and 

 the result is that a large number of the young 

 shoots that would have made vigorous wooded 

 branches had they not been checked, assume the 

 character of fruit spurs and branches. Pinching 

 is the principal mode of pruning to promote 

 fruitfulness. This pinching is a sort of antici- 

 pated pruning practiced upon the young grow- 

 ing shoots. A shoot of which the point was 

 broken, bruised or otherwise injured during the 

 growing season, frequently becomes a fruit 

 branch either during the same or the following 

 season; and this, especially if situated in the 

 interior of the tree, or on the older and lower 

 parts of the branches. The check given to the 

 extension of the shoot concentrates the sap in 

 part remaining; and unless the check has been 

 given very early in the season, or the growth is 

 very vigorous in the tree, so that the buds will 

 break ond form shoots they are certain to pre- 

 pare for th<' iiri.ductioii (»f fruit. It is on this 

 principleof clu'ckin-j- tlir ^'mwth and conceutrat- 

 in the pinched shunt, that pinching to induce 

 fruittuluess is iMcfrncd; and its efliciency may 

 be estimated from the l"a«-t thut trees on which it 

 has been practiced have borne fruit Unir or live, 

 and porhap^i seven years, sooner thiin they would 

 have dune without it. It is a must n>i-ful ojiera- 

 tiou in the ease of vigorous growing and tardy 

 bearing sorts. The mode of performing it is to 

 pinch off the end of shoot with finger and thumb. 



1,783. Eucharis. It always helps us to a 

 knowledge of the needs of any plant, especially 

 one which like the Eucharis has a reputation of 

 being difficult to manage, to learn how they grow 

 in a wild state. In the present instance the plant 

 is found at the sides of rivers in tropical South 

 America, hence we may know at once that the 

 essentials to growth and bloom are moisture and 

 heat. These conditions provided, together with 

 drainage to the pot so that the soil may not be- 

 come stagnate, and it is no difficult matter to 

 succeed in cultivatingthis beautiful purest-white 

 flower. By having a dozen or more large pots of 

 the plants, it may be had in bloom in a 

 hot house the greater part of a year. The most 

 suitable temperature is about 70*^. Sunshine a 

 part of each day is one of the essentials, and 

 while the plant ismakinggrovvth,plenty of water 

 must be provided, together with licjuia manure 

 at intervals of two or three days. The plants 

 should also be syringed daily during all periods 

 of active growth. Some cultivntuvs make the 

 mistake of disturbing the bull)s tu.. utten; this 

 must not be done. Repot as they need from one 

 size to another without dividing the roots until 

 they become too unwieldy to handle well. Side 

 shoots taken off at any time and brought along 

 with good attention, should show tlieir first 

 flowers in a year's time. Hepotting may take place 

 at any season;in doing this it isproperto remove 

 most uf the (lid eiuth, using for new material a 

 compust eunsistnig uf well-rotted manure, some 

 leaf mold and light sandy loam. If the latter 

 ingredient is hu-king, use ordinary loam with 

 plenty uf sand added. To <»btain flowers in the 

 winter the plants should be given a season of part- 

 ial rest for two months in mid summer, dur- 

 ing which time water should be used sparingly. - 

 A, H. E. 



1,802. Wall Flowers Keeping Over. Attempts at 

 keeping these plants beyond their flowering sea- 

 son are not made by the best culti\'ators, the 

 plants being hardly other than half-hardy bien- 

 nials. The means of perpetuating the stock is 

 either by sowing the seed of the plants flowering 

 the spring following or else by propagation from 

 cuttings in the spring, a course necessary with the 

 best double varieties,as there is no assurance that 

 seedlings will be perfectly double in any consid- 

 erable measure. To slip them, take present year's 

 shoots at about the end of May; smooth the cut 

 end with a sharp knife. Cut the lower leaves 

 away about one inch and a half up from the 

 bottom, ami then set the euttin^^^ in some sandy 

 soil in a shady sput, liu\ in^' them about four 

 inches ajiart. Sprinkle three times a day when 

 the weather is di-y. In about three weeks there 

 should be roots, when the plants may be set in a 

 partly shaded spot of mellow soil, here to grow 

 until fall. About Octflber pot the plants and 

 keep through the winter in a cold frame or light 

 cellar.-A. H. E. 



1,781. Number of Vines in Grapery. In a vinery 



of the size mentioned one vine might be planted 

 in the centre, and a rod led along the eaves to 

 each end of the house; or a vine might be planted 

 at one end and a rod led to the opposite end under 

 the eaves, with laterals as above. If this is not 

 thought desirable, four vines might be planted 

 four feet apart, commencing two feet from the 

 ends of the house and the rods led to the ridge. 

 In no case should the rods or laterals be nearer 

 the glass than 4 inches. The spur system of 

 pruning should be adopted. Preferably I should 

 plant the Black Hamburgh If the greatest 

 amount of success is coveted, it would be well to 

 make a border and see that the drainage is good. 

 Garden soil of fair rjualiry could be used, and if 

 a few loads of siind and idd mortar were added, 

 as well as a few crushed bones, and a few bushels 

 of charcoal. Grapes of the best quality might be 

 grown. The roots might be planted outside, and 

 in this case the exposed portion of the stems 

 would need to be protected according to the 

 locality —W. H. Smith, La. 



1,811. Cypripedium Spectabile. This lovely 

 terrestrial Orchid is often referred to as the Moc- 

 casin Flower or Lady's Slipper. The plant is not 

 at all difli»rult so grow. It requires a shady pos- 

 ition, and to be planted in leaf mold; and after 

 it is planted it should have a layer of an inch of 

 Sphagn\im moss spread over the roots. The soil 

 needs to be well drained, as the plant requires 

 abundance of moisture at the roots. It should be 

 transplanted, potted or divided in early spring 

 before growth commences. It is quite hardy.— 

 H. W. S., La. 



1,926. Bemedy for Black Knot. Cutting out 

 and burning all parts of the trees showing the 

 least indication of being infected with this 

 disease, is by all odds the surest, simplest, and 

 (juiekest of all remedies thus far suggested. 

 Still, we can have no doubt, after having listened 

 to the testimony of expert Plum growers, that 

 the mere peeling off of the exc-reseenees, and 

 painting the wounds with Linseed oil or turpin- 

 tinc, if only done pntmptly and persistently, 

 will also ]iut astop to the progress of the disease. 

 Our in<iuiring friend can resort to this renudy, 

 if he dislikes the more heroic treatment; but 

 we must repeat that success is not to be likely 

 without promptness of action, and persistency 



