1890. 



POPULAR GARDENING. 



267 



1,984. Broom Corn CnUnre. Plant in drills 

 in ^ood hind, making the rows about throe and 

 one-halt feet apart. The plant,'; when they first 

 show above the ground are iiuite weak and 

 spindley-lookiuK, but afterwards take on quite 

 a thrifty and ^i^rorous appearanee. Cultivators 

 and hoes are used much the same as in jrrowinK 

 any ordinary Corn. When the plants have 

 attained their (f rowth. and the seed is past the 

 blossoming period, the stjilks are bent over just 

 l)el(tw the tirst joint. This prevents the crooking 

 of the straw b.v the weijrht of the maturing 

 seeds. When the brush hangs straight down and 

 so ripens, the weight of the seed rather tends to 

 straighten the straw than otherwise. Sometimes 

 the parellel rows are broken in opposite direc- 

 tions and low enough so that the neads overlap 

 and lie upon another. .\s soon as the seed has 

 reached maturity and before the brush has 

 turned brown, the stalks are cut about an inch 

 above the first joint and the head and stalk are 

 slipped out of the sheath. The brush is then 

 piled upon wagons or sleds and drawn to barns 

 or sheds, in which there has Ijeen erected 

 scaffolding. Upon this the Corn is spread to 

 cure. The seeds are removed by running the 

 heads through swiftly revohing cylinders.which 

 have long, thin spikes or teeth. These strip off 

 the seeds and leave the brush ready to sort and 

 liale, when it is ready to place upon the market. 

 The thrashing and packing can be done at any 

 time during the leisure months. The seed which 

 is removed is useful for the feeding of poultry, 

 and when ground makes most excellent food for 

 swine, cattle and horses. 



1,982. Plan for I06 Hoose. It is hardly prac" 

 ticable to keep such a small quantity (two tons' 

 for use during the summer by ordinary methods. 

 The greater the bulk put up, and the colder it 

 was, when put in. the better it will keep under 

 otherwise similar conditions. All that is needed, 

 is to put up a s<4uare building of sufficient size to 

 hold the ice and give a foot or more space be- 

 tween the ice and the inside walls, which space 

 is to be filled with dry sawdust, with the same 

 material two feet deep or more on top of the ice. 

 Of course the walls of the building should be as 

 tight as possible, and it made double, with a 

 dead air-space between, all the better.— G. K. 



1,981. Quince Twig Blight. The desease 

 known as leaf blight is quite common, and attacks 

 the extreme ends of the twigs of Quinces, 

 Apples and various other trees, often killing 

 these twigs to the length of a foot or more. The 

 injury is usually not very great. Cause unknow. 

 Cutting away the affected twigs as soon as 

 noticed is suggested as a remedy.— G. H. 



1,981. Bemedy for Tomato Worm. The worm 

 you complain of as eating holes in the fruit of 

 the Tomato, is undoubtedly the Corn or Boll 

 worm so common at the south. We do not known 

 of a better remedy for it than to pick it off by 

 band and destroy it. 



1,979. Ants on the Lawn. Boiling water, 

 kerosene, or a solution of fresh insect powder in 

 water, poured into the hill, will probably make 

 short work with its inhabitants. Insect Life 

 (October, 1K90) contains an article on "The 

 Little Red Ant,'" by Prof. C. V. Riley, in which 

 he suggests the use of kerosene, pyrethrum, or 

 bi-sulphide of carbon. Where the nests are out- 

 side nothing is easier than to find them and to 

 destroy the inhabitants with kerosene or bisul- 

 phide of carbon, he says. The nests are almost 

 always in the immediate vicinity of the house. 

 The auts are peculiarly susceptible to the action 

 of pyrethrum in any form, be it Persian or Dal- 

 matian powder or buhach, and a free and persist- 

 ent use of this powder will accomplish much. 

 The best means of trapping ants consists in 

 placing small bits of sponge moistened with 

 sweetened water in the spots were the anta con- 

 gregate, collecting the sponges once a day or so, 

 soaking them in hot water and then replacing 

 them. Small bits of bread and poisoned molases 

 or small vessels of lard in which a few drops of 

 oxalic acid have been put have also l)een recom- 

 mended, as well as tiie free use of borax, so 

 often advised tor roaches. A much larger black 

 or brownish ant often builds its nests in door- 

 yards so close to the houses that it becomes a 

 great nuisance. A case was brought to my 

 notice two years ago in Washington, where a 

 large colony was completely destroyed by the 

 use of bisulphide of carbon. A teaspoonful was 

 poured down each of a numljer of openings, 

 and a damp blanket was thrown over them for a 

 few minutes. Then the blanket being removed, 

 the bisulphide was exploded at the mouth of 

 each hole by means or a light at the end of a 



Fole. The slight explosions drove the poisonous 

 umes down through the underground tunnels, 

 killing off the ants in enormous numbers. 



1,974. BottenWood as Fertilizer. This con- 

 tains some plant food, although as a manure it 

 is not very rich. If thoroughly rotten, it can 

 always be applied with advantage on both clayey 

 and sandy soils, and will improve the mechani- 

 cal texture of either.— G. R. 



l,97.i. Nitrate of Soda, This can be had from 

 any of the leading fertilizer firms, and at' pres- 

 ent costs about S40 per ton at the sea ports. 

 More is charged in proportion for small quanti- 

 ties. -G. K. 



1,976, 'Wintering Spinach. No wc don't think 

 Spinach can be dug up and wintered in pits like 

 Celery. The only thing to be done is to leave 

 the plants out in the field until spring, giving 

 some protection by covering with Kvcrgreen 

 boughs or other litter. Of course .Spinat-u can 

 be grown during winter in forcing pits, or hot- 

 beds heated with Hues or pipes.— (i. It. 



l.snio. Lime Water for Earth Wormi, Lime 

 water can be used with perfect safety on Be- 

 gonias and other potted plants, for the purpose 

 you name. Put a piece of freshl.i burnt lime, 

 size of an egg, into a bucketful of water; let 

 settle and use the clear liquid on top, putting in 

 enough to soak up the earth in the pot. This 

 will kill the worms. 



1,973. Phosphoric Acid in Bone- Fresh bones 

 contain about one quarter their weight phos- 

 phoric acid in the form of phosphate of lime. 

 In the process of burning all the organic sub- 

 stances are driven off, and nothing remains but 

 phosphate of lime, m almost a pure state. Al- 

 most one-half of this is phosphoric acid.— G. R. 



1,972. Lncretia Dewberry. This is now being 

 grown for market in many localities, and gives 

 good satisfaction. Wherever you find a brisk 

 demand for Blackberries the Lucretia is likely 

 to sell well. All leading nurserymen keep the 

 plants in stock. Send for the Catalogues when 

 the time comes, compare prices, and order your 

 plants from any reliable dealer you chose. 



1,998. Plant-Eating Lady Bug. There is only 

 one of the lady bugs which is plant-feeding in 

 its habits— this is Lachtiostei-va comtpta—the 

 black sheep in the family. The only thing 1 

 know of that can be done in the case, is to apply 

 Paris green to the infested plants when this can 

 be done without injury to people.— G. R. 



1,997. Keeping Seed Beans Fare. The different 

 varieties of bush and pole Beans mix very readily 

 when planted near each other, and under such 

 conditions cannot be expected to keep pure. To 

 be suie of the purity of any one variety, it must 

 be planted alone by itself. The Liina Reans, 

 however, are true blue blood— the aristocrats 

 among Beans, and while apt tu cross with other 

 Lima varieties, as a rule disdain to mix with the 

 rabble — i. c, with the ordinary Beans. Conse- 

 quently we may plant one variety of the Limas 

 and one of the ottiers in close proximity without 

 fear of tainting the purity ot the seed of either 

 sort. 



1,98:3. Black Spot of Boses. This is a parasitic 

 fungus which manifests itself in the form of 

 round or irregularly shaped black spots upon the 

 upper surface of the leaves. Generally only the 

 full grown leaves are attacked, and it gradually 

 spreads through them, destroying the circulation 

 ot the sap and causing a premature fall of the 

 foliage. The Moss Roses and Hardy Hybrid Per- 

 petuals are more subject than the Tea or Monthly 

 class to this disease. There is no known certain 

 remedy for it, up to the present time. The only 

 thing "to be done is to pick off and burn all 

 affected leaves so as to prevent its spread, as it is 

 quickly contagious. It is usually a consequence 

 of an injury to the roots either by an excess of 

 mositure or an excess of drought. Ween grown 

 out of doors the danger from drought ma.v be 

 remedied by watering— but nothing can guard 

 against injury from dull, wet weather.— From an 

 emay hy Fetcr Heniierson. 



1,9.59. Depth of Planting Potatoes. We have 

 worked at the problem of best depth for many 

 years, and finally have settled upon four inches 

 under average conditions. This is deep enough 

 to get the roots into the stratum of perpetual 

 moisture, and afford ample room for the tubers 

 to form between the seed piece and the surface 

 of the ground. Of course we practice level 

 culture, or nearly that. When planting small 

 seed pieces, especially single eyes, however, 

 which we seldom do, three inches depth is prob- 

 ably better, especiallj' if the soil is not in really 

 perfect condition as to mellowness. Single eyes 

 are usually slow to come up, and many pieces 

 fail altogether, if the conditions of growth are 

 not all perfect. People who practice hilling — 

 which we not advise — may plant nearer to the 

 surface Deeper planting then four inches in- 

 volves too much labor in digging to suit us. 



2,000. Wintering Monthly Boses in Open Air. 

 The Monthly Roses are only half hardy, and con- 

 sequently are liable to be winter-kiUed where the 

 thermometer falls .15 degrees below the freezing 

 point. The best way to protect them, according 

 to our past experience, is to bend the bran- 

 ches down and fasten them securely within 

 two or three inches of the ground, by tying them 

 to stakes driven in for that purpose, or if close 

 enough they may be tied to each other. Then 

 spread dry leaves Or rough litter over them to a 

 depth of say six inches. This should not be done, 

 however, until severe cold weather sets in, so 

 that nearly all the leaves are off the plants and 

 they are thoroughly ripened, which is usually 

 about December 1st in the latitude of New York 

 State. This covering should not be. taken off.until 

 all danger of severe frost is over, say about April 

 first. 



1,918. Buffalo Berry. The Cold Spring Seed 

 Farm, Big Horn City, Sheridan Co., Wyo., can 

 supply jilants of Sheperdia argentca at .in cents 

 each by mail post paid. The fruit is said to be 

 of good (luality, and the tree or bush hardy. It 

 is a native of Wyoming,— G. 11. 



2.001. Mango and Canliflower Pickles. To 

 pickle I'aulillowcr, select white, close heads, 

 sprinkle them with plent.v of salt, and let them 

 stand in an earthen dish twenty-four hours. 

 Then drain, break up in rather small pieces, and 

 wash thoroughly in cold water. Steam a few at 

 a time until they are tender; then put in glass 

 jars, or small stone ones. Make a pickle by 

 adding one-half pound of sugar, one ounce of 

 white Pepper, and one ounce of whole Mustard 

 seed to half a gallon of vinegar, and bringing it 

 to a scalding heat. Fill the jars and cover 

 closely. To make Mango pickles, take small 

 green Musk Melons, and cut a piece out of one 

 side, then scrape out the seeds carefully with a 

 teaspoon. Make a strong brine with salt and let 

 the melons stand in it twenty-four hours. Chop 

 a head of white Cabbage and tour good-sized 

 Onions; add half a teacupful ot grated Horse 

 Radish, two tablespoonsful of white Mustard 

 seed, one tablespoonful of cloves. Mix all well 

 together and fill the Melons; sew in the pieces 

 and put in a large-mouthed jar. Pour scalding 

 vinegar over them. Let them stand four days. 

 Pour off the vinegar and re-heat. Do this three 

 times, then throw away the vinegar and add 

 new. Green Peppers can be substituted for the 

 Melons if preferred. 



1,858. Melon Blight. The character of this 

 disease, although this is quite prevalent through- 

 out large sections of the United .States, is not yet 

 well understood, and the diligent application of 

 even so powerful fungicides as the Bordeaux 

 mixture and other copper solutions has not been 

 attended with uniform or even satisfactory suc- 

 cess. The only thing that has seemed to partially 

 prevent the attacks of the disease is covering the 

 vines lightly with hay or other litter. 



2.007. Boses for Ont-door Cidtnre. w. H. 

 Taplin recommends the following: Among 

 Hybrid Perpetuals : Alfred Colomb, bright 

 crimson; .Anna de Diesbach, carmine ; Eugenie 

 Verdier, silvery-pink; Fisher Holmes, deep 

 crimson ; General Jacqueminot, the well-known 

 popular variety; John Hopper, bright Rose; 

 Marie Baumann, carmme-crimsou. Among "Teas, 

 BonSilene; Souvenir d'un Ami and Marie Van 

 Houtte are about the most satistactorj- for out- 

 door culture. Souvenir de la Malmaison is still 

 the best known, and most satisfactory Bengal 

 variety. For white flowers the following may 

 be added : Madame Plantier (Hybrid China) lor 

 early flowering, and Coquette des Blanches (Hy- 

 brid Noisette) for late blooms. If a representa- 

 tive ot the Hybrid Teas is desired. La France is 

 decidedly the most satisfactory, but like most 

 of its class, and also the pure Teas, it needs some 

 protection in severe winters, at least it planted 

 in an exposed position. 



2.008. Prnning Pears, The dwarf sorts should 

 be trained in a pjTamid form, which can be 

 easily done by pinching the tips of the young 

 shoots that seem to get too much of a start in 

 the summer. The first two years when they 

 make long growths they may be cut back half 

 the previous year's growth in the spring, stand- 

 ard's need but little trimming, unless such strong 

 growers as Le Coute, Garber and Kieffer. These 

 should be cut back for a few years, or they will 

 Ukely to break down when they begin to bear. 

 After bearing a crop this will not be necessary. 

 So says Judge Miller. 



1,996. Bolden Elder Leaves Dying. That 

 peculiarity of the Golden Elder which leads the 

 foliage to assume the yellow color, is accounted 

 for by an enfeebled condition of growth, which 

 at times leads the weaker parts of the shrub to 

 become affected in the manner you describe. 

 This is more noticeable in newly planted shrubs 

 than in those which have become well established. 

 Vou may haye observed that various parts of 

 the plants present different shades of yellow, and 

 that it is the brighter shades which are most 

 liable to be burned. L'nder ordinary conditions 

 we would simply suggest that as such parts be- 

 come burned they should be pinched out, which 

 will give the less intensely colored parts more 

 strength for growth, and thus tend to promote 

 the growth of the foliage possessing 4hat degree 

 of color which is less likely to be thus injured. 

 It this shrub be planted where it is partly pro- 

 tected from the sun in the middle of the day, leaf 

 burning will be obviated. It is usually the plants 

 that are most exposed which suffer tfie most. 



2.009. Flowers for Perfumery Purposes. Puri- 

 fied lard, tallow, or olive oil, placed in a tight 

 vessel with a quantity of fragrant flowers. Will 

 absorb the odor, but in order to saturate a 

 pomade or oil with perfume the flowers should 

 be renewed daily for months. Fragrant essences 

 are obtained by the distillation of flowers thrown 

 into large copper retorts with water and exposed 

 to heat. The scented waters are made b.v placing 

 alcohol in the condensing tank used iii distilla- 

 tion, and this condenses and absorbs the odorous 

 \apor until it becomes fragrant. As a rule il 

 will be cheaper to purchase perfumery than its 

 home manutacture. 



