244 



POPULAR GARDENING, 



August, 



Correspondents are urged to anticipate the season In pre 

 aenting questions. To aak, for instance, un April 15 or 20 

 what Peas had best be sovm, could bring no answer in 

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

 would be unaea.sonable. Questions received before the Uth 

 of any month stand a good ohatice of being anstivred in the 

 next paper. Not more than three questions should be sent 

 at one time. Answers to questions be<..rinu on t.:e com- 

 parative value of implements, etc., offered by different 

 deaiers must not be expected. Neither can we promise to 

 oomply tpith t/ie request sometimes made to "please answer 

 by mail" Inquiries appearing without name belong to the 

 name next following . 



Replies to Inquiries are earnestly requested from our 

 readers. In answering such give the number, your 

 locality and name, the latter not for publication, utilesa 

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



1.928. Bordeaux Mixture. How prepared for Grape 

 diseases? Or what other solution do you recommeud? 

 — Wm. T. B., New Torh City. 



1.929. Plan for Cold Pit. I desire to keep flowers 

 growluK during the winter. Please give plain practi- 

 cal plan.— A Subscriber, Colorado. 



l,93ti. Huckleberry Plants. Where can they be ob- 

 tained?-E. W. T., Williamsfteld. III. 



1.931. Value ofWoodashes. Going to move by ear 

 to new location this fall. Will it pay to move several 

 barrels of unleaehed wood-ashes? — W. M. K., III. 



1.932. Enemy to Raspberry Canes. My plants are 

 attat-ked with what appears to be a kind of scale. 

 What is the remedy?— Mrs. M. A. P.. 3Iiss. 



1.933. Protecting Paths Against Wash-outs. How 

 can I best keep my drives and paths, from house to 

 street on a slope, and in S shape, from being washed 

 out by heavy rains?— A. C. C. 



1.934. Apple Twig Blight. What is the cause, and 

 do you know any remedy? Will it finally kill the tree 

 where severe? 



1.935. Blackberry Rust. What can I do for the 

 Orange rust? Will it do to set new plantations with 

 roots taken from an affected paU'h?— w. F. Ritchie. 



1.936. Dolichos Species. Please tell me the botanical 

 name of a Dolichos. a hard wood climber with scarlet 

 nanicles of flowers, apparantly hardy.— G. L. C, 

 Warren, R. I. 



1.937. Treatment of Perennials alter Blooming. Is 

 It good policy to cut them down? Columbines for in- 

 stance are a nuisance after blooming-- G. L. C, 



1.933. Bulb growing at the South. What chances of 

 financial success would 1 have going south to engage 

 In growing bulbs? What kinds promise best, and how 

 managed?— F. V. B., Chicago. 



1.939. Thorn Apple, is this the same as Hawthorn? 



1.940. Wild Crab Apple as Stock- Can it be used 

 for improved Crab an<l other varieties? 



1.941. Anglers Quince. What is the distinguishing 

 form of the leaf?— Dou.sman, Wis. 



1.942. Curl Leaf of Peach. Leaves all rolled up into 

 balls and discolored. What is the matter with them? 

 J. C. H., Ontario. 



1.943. Remedy for Rose Chafer, Pyrethrum only 

 paralyses but does not kill them. Do you know a bet- 

 ter remedy? E.n.W., Linlithgo, N. Y. 



1.944. Mildew on Gooseberries. Is there any rem- 

 edy?— Carlton, Ohio. 



1.945. Growing Palm Seedlings. How should I 

 proceed?— AMATEUR, Pittsburgh, Pa. 



1.946. Liquid Manure for Chrysanthemums. Will 

 flowers be larger if manure water is applied freely?— 

 J. S. T.. New Jersey. 



1.947. Substitute for Glass in Hot-bed Making. 

 Where cau it be bought?— P. M.. Salineville, O. 



1,94S. Long Standing Summer Spinach Is it bet- 

 ter than tlie ordinary Round Leaf?—T. F.S.,^^^ York. 



1.949. Canning Green Corn and Peas. How put 

 up In glass lars so to keep we!l and not burst cans?— G 

 H. B., Edsallville, Pa. 



1.950. Insect Destroying Golden Arbor Vitae. Not 

 a green leaf left. What Insect is It and what can I do 

 for It?— Mrs. R. W. P., Macon, Miss. 



1.951. Rose-Leaf Hopper. What cau be done for 

 It?— J. L. T., Hagerstown. Ind. 



1,932. Spirsea Varieties. What are the best varie- 

 ties, both of the shrubhy and the herbaceous Splneas? 

 Give color and time of bloom, etc.— T.H.E., Geneva, III. 



1.953. Daphnes and Deutzias. Please give list and 

 description of varieties?— T. H. E. 



1.954. Planting Clematis Jackmanii. When is the 

 best time for it in Autumn? Should roots be spread 

 out or planted vertically?- W. S. J., Chicago, III. 



1.955. Cherry and Fay's Currants. What are the 

 distinguishing characteristics of ihe two?— M. N. O.. 

 Rhode Island. 



1.956. Preventive for Potato Diseases. Can the 

 ammoulariil carbonate of copper solution be depended 

 ui>on t^> be as efl^ective as the Bordeaux mixture?— 

 G. N.. Philadelphia. 



1.957. Worden Grape. Is it a good enough shipper 

 to grow for a market liW miles distant?- N. M. T. 



1.958. Melon Blight. Can you give a remedy or 

 preventative?— Old sub. 



1.959. Depth of Planting Potatoes. What depth 

 gives best results?— D. D. F., New Jersey. 



1.960. List of Ornamental Plants. Please name the 

 10 most showv hardy shrubs, and best 24 Roses for front 

 yard? Soli rich, san4ly loam. 



1,961. Tea Roses in Texas. Will they succeed here 

 in open ground? 



l,9tii. Rhododendrons in Texas. Tf suitable for 

 open ground culture here, what soil and treatment 

 should be given to them?— Mrs. K. A. H.. Texas. 



1.963. Fuller's Rose Beetle. Name best way of 

 preventing Its attacks.— G. N., Mich. 



1.964. Eradicating Purslane, How best done? 

 Our gardens are overrun with it.— R. A. C, MW/anrf. 

 Chit. 



1.965. An Ailing Garden. Soon after I begun my 

 garden six years ago, I could raise fine vegetables and 

 plants, now they come poor and the former are 

 apt to be infested with Insects and scab. I have 

 raised carrots weighing three pounds each. My neigh- 

 bors will have it that I am too liberal with manure. 

 The soil is black and has beendeeply trenched.— M. G., 

 Duchess Co., N. Y. 



1.966. Fuchsia Buds Dropping. All during recent 

 weeks my Fuchsia plant seemed healthy, but when the 

 buds were on the eve of opening they would drop. 

 What was the cause?— Ella P. Worth, Miami Co, O. 



1.967. Weeds in Gravel Walks. How are they best 

 kept down? 



1.968. Ants in the Garden. What is the best reme- 

 dy?— C. C. G.. Tioga Co., Pa. 



1.969. Forcing Rhubarb. What course is recommend- 

 ed for this, where a cold frame is used with a view to 

 hasten the crop by some weeks? — H. M.. Elizabeth, N.J. 



REPLIES TO INQUIRIES. 



1,896. Soil for India Eubber Plant. Almost 

 any good soil will do for the plant, but the best 

 compost is probably one composed of three 

 parts turfy-loam, one part of leaf -mold or rotten 

 cow-manure, and plenty of silver or washed 

 river sand. The pot or pots should he well- 

 drained, as the plant requires an abundance of 

 water when in active growth.— Ex. 



],»9.3. Quality of Sweet Corn. We have not 

 the least doubt that this is greatly influenced by 

 soil and climate. Sandy soil and a long warm 

 season gives us boiling ears vastly richer and 

 sweeter than clay soil and a cold season. We 

 have always considered Blaclc Me.xican the 

 sweetest and richest of all the varieties with 

 which we are acquainted; but the Stowell's 

 Evergreen, as we grew it on sandy loam in New 

 Jersey seemed to be superior to even this justly 

 celebrated colored Corn as we produced it on 

 cold clay loam in Western New York.— U. R. 



l,8fls. Asparagus Varieties, There are quite 

 a number of newer varieties, as for instance the 

 Palmetto, Philadelphia ( or Harr's > Mammoth, 

 Eclipse, Giant, etc. None of these, however, 

 have been sufiBciently tested to be ranked accord- 

 ing to their real merits. The introducers claim 

 great things for them ; but pre\nous experience 

 with "improved" varieties of Asparagus leads 

 us to be not over-sanguine in regard to any of 

 the newer kinds. Colossal we know to be good 

 and reliable. The near future will disclose what 

 there is about the others. 



1 844 Kooting Carnations. We would expect 

 Carnation cuttings to damp off as yours do, if 

 the heat in the propagating bed is too high or 

 the air too close, or il the cuttings are too soft 

 when put in. The most favorable condition for 

 rooting Carnations is to start with vigorous 

 young cuttings from plants in health and grown 

 moderately cool, say in a temperature not to ex- 

 ceed 50 degrees at night. They should be put 

 into sand having bottom heat not exceeding 60°, 

 be kept well watered, and provided with shade 

 and a moderate amount of air for keeping the 

 apartment cool and moist. By doing the propa- 

 gating in Feb. under such conditions the failure 

 from damping off should not be five per cent. 



1,8.52. Orape Oeraninm. The writer is not 

 familar with any plant of this name. If the 

 flowers as you say are like those of Begonia the 

 plant certainly can be no (ieranium, and un- 

 doubtedly is some Begonia. 



1,862. Carnations for Winter Bloom. Soil of a 

 light loamy nature suits the Carnation the best 

 where winter flowers is the object. The plant is 

 impatient of a wet soil. As to temperature that 

 suited to ordinary greenhouse plants and ranging 

 from 45 to 5.5 degrees at night is the most favor- 

 able. The Carnation delights in a cool pure air 

 secured by proper ventilation, and detests close, 

 damp, dark quarters. 



1,943. Bemedy for Bose Chafer. There is no 

 better remedy kn<jwn than l>uhach, and this if 

 applied thoroughly, should not only paralyze 

 but kill. The best way is to put a tablespoonful 

 in a bucket of water, and spray this upon the in- 

 fested bushes. Among other remedies often re- 

 sorted to, are gathering by hand ; knocking oil' 

 on a sheet early in the morning ; eau celeste. 

 The bug prefers Clinton Grapes to most any- 

 thing else, and these may l>e planted as decoys. 



1,947. Substitute for Glass in Hotbed Making, 



By all means use glass. The " stulf used in stove 

 doors" is mica, but we never heard of it Ix'ing 

 used for the purpose named by you. tilled mus- 

 lin has been much used as a substitute for glass 

 in cold frames; but it has never in our practice 

 seemed to fill the jilace of glass e\'eti for c()ld 

 frames, and we arc sure we do not want it for 

 hotbeds.-G. B. 



1.945. Growing Palm Seedlings. Good fresh 

 seed is. of course, the first thing needed, and not 

 always easy to procure, on account of its liability 

 to lose its vitality during the long voyage from 

 the home of the Palm. Some Palm seeds, if 

 planted while fresh, germinate readily ; among 

 them A7rc i lutei<c€Jiii, one of the most useful of 

 Palms, Latania Bnrbon 'ca {Livistonia Chinensis) 

 and Cucos WethleUiDia. Others, amongthem the 

 Kentias, may take six or eight months for the 

 process of germination, W. H. Taplin gives in 

 Garden and Forest the following directions for 

 raising the seedlings : The soil for Palm seeds 

 should be rather lighter in composition than that 

 in which established plants are grown, and may 

 consist of equal portions of peat and light loam, 

 with sand enough to make the mixture open and 

 easy to drain, the latter point being worthy of 

 attention, for when the soil is allowed to become 

 too wet many of the seeds are sure to rot. The 

 seeds may be planted in either pots, pans or 

 wooden boxes, an objection to the latter being 

 their liability to breed fungus, the earthenware 

 vessels being therefore found the most satis- 

 factory, and for convenience four to six inch 

 pots are preferable. As a steady bottom-heat is 

 essential for the rapid germination of Palm- 

 seeds, the pots containing them should be placed 

 in the propagating house or some similar struct- 

 ure, and plunged in Cocoa-flbre or coal-ashes, 

 the Cocoa-fibre being the better conductor of 

 heat of the two, and also cleaner to handle. 

 Care should be given to watering, to keep the 

 soil damp without making it sodden, until the 

 seedlings have des'eloped their first leaves, after 

 wiiich water may be given much more freely 

 without injury to the plants. As to the time for 

 potting off, it will be found best with most 

 species to wait until the second leaf begins to 

 push up, but with some of the free-growing 

 sorts, such as Arcca luiescens and Livistonia 

 Chinensis, it is not necessary to prolong the time 

 to this extent, and plants may be potted as soon 

 as the first leaf is fully expanded ; but they 

 should in any case be kept in a warm house and 

 shaded from the .direct sunlight until they are 

 well established. 



1,935. Orange Bust of Blackberry. There is 

 only one thing that cau be done for it, and that 

 is to promptly dig out and burn every cane 

 showing signs of the disease. 



1,944. mildew on Gooseberries. The only thing 

 found yet, thus far, that has seemed to put a 

 check to the disease, is spraying with potassium 

 sulphide at intervals of ten days or two weeks all 

 during the season. 



1.946. Liquid Manure for Chrysanthemums. 

 It is hardly necessary to assist well grown and 

 vigorous plants in this way until they are well 

 established in the pots in which they are to 

 flower, and these pots well filled with roots. 

 But it is of great importance to have the plants 

 in fullest health and vigor as the blooming sea- 

 on approaches ; and the judicious applications 

 of manure water then may greatly aid the full 

 and perfect development of the exhibition 

 flowers. A few weak applications may be made 

 even before the buds nave appeared. Some 

 growers only apply manure water after that 

 time. As soon as the flower buds are set, weak 

 manure water may be api>lied at every alternate 

 watering, and it is best to vary it. For one week 

 guano-water may be used ; another series of ap- 

 plications may be of diluted farmyard manure, 

 and, if possible, the liquid should be clear. 

 Always err on the side of its being too weak 

 rather than too strong. 



1.950. Insect Destroying Golden Arbor vitae. 

 Inquirers should always give either the name or 

 a description of the insect for which they ask us 

 to name remedies. Whenever an insect is found 

 to do damage, some etforts should at once be 

 made to fight it. If it cannot be done by hand 

 picking, or mechanical devices, applications of 

 the more common insect poisons sliould be tried 

 at once. All leaf-eaters can usually be dis- 

 posed <ilV liy siiraying the infested plants or trees 

 with weak I'aiis gi'cen water. Sometimes the 

 keniseiu'eniulsioii. Tobacco water, or solution of 

 Hellebore, api'licd in s|)ray, will prove effective. 

 Or carbolizod phisler or lime may help In short 

 try one or the i it her, or rather one after the 

 other of these remedies.— G. R. 



1.951. Bose Leaf Hopper. This is a very com- 

 mon, and well known pest, which appears early 

 in May, and has one or more broods later in the 

 season. It may be recognized by its yellowish 

 white body, white transparent wings, and brown 

 eyes, claws and ovipositor. Its length is about 

 three-twentieths of an inch. As it lives on the 

 juices of the leaf only, ]>oisons will be of no 

 avail Bubach will kill it, and so will the kero- 

 sene emulsion. The insect should be fought at 

 its first appearance in the month of May, when 

 it is more sensitive to applications, and would 

 probably sut^cumb of Tobacco water and whale- 

 oil soapsuds. Later, its wings are a protection 

 from washes and powders, and a means for its 

 quickly escaping from the powder-bellows orthe 

 sprayer. With the first brood destroyed, but 

 slight harm could result fr()m later ones. 



