i888. 



POPULAR GARDENING. 



into a Cornfield or Clover patch and gets all she 

 chooses to cat, it is likely to result in drying off 

 hermilk if nothing worse, yet fresh Clover and 

 green Corn are not condemned as milk-producing 

 foods; but when a cow that has not had access to 

 fruit breaks in and surfeits herself, with the 

 result of drying off her milk, it is charged to the 

 fruit. I have kept cows in a pasture where they 

 commenced to pick up the fruit that fell as soon 

 as it acquired any size at all, and where the 

 quantity gradually increased until they could 



Land-JUeaguring Implement. 



not consume all; the result being an increase 

 of milk of from one to two quarts per cow; and 

 I have also fed Apples largely to both cows and 

 swine with good results. I never could see any 

 difference between sweet and sour Apples for 

 these purposes. With four to six cows having 

 the run of an orchard for twenty years, in Massa- 

 chusetts, and in feeding my single cow here from 

 a peck to a half bushel of Apples per day for the 

 last ten years, I have never experienced any loss 

 in the production of milk, but invariably a per- 

 ceptible increase, and when I happened to have 

 pomace I have also fed that freely, to good 

 advantage. In one case, in Massachusetts, a cow, 

 that had the run of a eider mill yard, nearly lived 

 on pomace after cider making commenced, and 

 always gained in milk largely; but in those days 

 straw was used freel,y in the cider press, and at 

 that season the weather was so cool that there 

 was little or no fermentation, which soon spoils 

 pomace here in New Jersey. 



Asparagus. In the July issue Mr. Miller advo- 

 cates breaking Asparagus in place of cutting it 

 with a knife. I ha ve always broken it off and th ink 

 it is much nicer, but do not agree as to the white 

 part. There is no other vegetable that will com- 

 pare with it.— .Vrs. J. L. IMiite, Kimx Co., III. 



Rose Bugs. I suppose that Mr. Powell meant 

 the Rose slug instead of the Rose bug, when he 

 wrote about keeping them off by hellebore. It 

 will work very well for the slug, but for the tree 

 Rose bug hardly .—C. M. Weed, Ohm Agri'l. College. 



Land Measprino; An E.\sy Method. In a 

 recent back number, mention was made of a land 

 measuring implement, which reminds me to 

 describe one I use: It is simply an old wheel 

 hartng ten or twelve spokes, the rim being 

 removed and the spokes left in such shape as to 

 have just one foot between the outer ends. A 

 short axle is passed through the hub, and is fas- 

 tened to pieces which form the handler, and which 

 latter are then supported by light legs for keep- 

 ing the machine in an upright position. One 

 spoke is painted different from the others or may 

 have a tag tied to it for ease in counting. It will 

 be seen that by each revolution of this wheel, 

 it counts ten or twelve feet, and forms an easy 

 and rapid method of getting the dimension of 

 any desired land area.— r.J.Gain««,l'a(t'« Co., iV.F. 



The RtTRAL Hybrid Roses. Your corres- 

 pondent E. E. S., has made a mistake in his ap- 

 preciative note on page 368. The Rose named 

 George Bruant is a hybrid between Rosa rugosa 

 and a Tea, produced, according to published ac- 

 counts, some six months after my hybrids, be- 

 tween Rosa rugosa (female) and Harrison's Yel- 

 low, both recognized as distinct species. The 

 first of these (nine in number) to bloom, bore 

 flowers having from 30 to 3.5 petals of a color 

 closely resembling that of Gen. Jacq. The odor 

 is extremely delicate resembling that of Teas. 

 It has been in bloom constantly during the en- 

 tire season. The plant is a rampant grcjwer with 

 thick, leathery leaves like its mother's, but larger 

 and more pointed. Two others have since 

 bloomed, but the flowers are small and nearly 

 single. It is an interesting fact, that of these 

 nine plants, but one resembles Rosa rugosa in 

 foliage. A more interesting fact is that of liO 



Rosis, the progeny of a cross between Rosfi 

 rugosa (fcnnilel and a number of Hybrid Remon- 

 tants and Teas (nialesl, there is mit our that re- 

 sembles the mother in foliage. These have not 

 as yet bloomed, sis the seeds wc^re planted 

 only last winter. It would be difficult to find (10 

 Rose bushes more dissimilar.— E. S. Carman. 



Niagara Experiment Grounds 



CO.SDCCTED IN THE INTERESTS OK THIS JOURNAL. LOCA- 

 TION, LA SALLE. NIAQARA CO., N. V. 



The Compost Heap. Towards the end of July 

 a' compost heap seven feet wide iit the base, 30 

 feet long and four feet high, was made for the 

 purpose of providing special fertilizing matter 

 tor use in future tree planting on the grounds. 

 This heap consists of two kinds of material, 

 namel.v, turf from the meadow and old fence 

 lines, and stable manure, the proportions being 

 as two of the former to one of the latter. The 

 pile was built up from the ground in even layers, 

 alternating the two kinds of material. As com- 

 pleted the top was left basin-like and into this 

 basin was deposited about 30 barrels of wafer — 

 enough to thoroughly soak the pile. This had 

 the effect to cause the compost to heat and the 

 ranker matter to commence decomposition. The 

 next step will be to cut down the pile with a 

 sharp spade, working from one end and throwing 

 all of it over. After la^^ng thus for two months 

 longer it will be a safe and superior fertilizer to 

 mix with the soil when planting out trees. All 

 trees will appreciate just such a treat as this will 

 afford them for starting in. 



Who Uses Subsoil Plows? In all of the 

 writer's experience as a horticulturist he has 

 placed the subsoil plow in the ver.v front rank 

 amongst important tools. When therefore he 

 came in possession of '^ Woodbanks" one of the 

 very first tools he invested in was a subsoil plow. 

 But he could find none at the implement depots 

 in Buffalo, so it had to be ordered direct from a 

 factory. The reason the plows are not kept on 

 hand is because of their limited sale, so the dealers 

 said; cultivators not seeming to appreciate them. 

 One of the largest plow dealers in Buffalo said 

 he doesn't sell a subsoiler once in six months. 

 We know very well that there is something in 

 this, that when a plow of the kind is brought 

 into a neighborhood it is made to serve a number 

 of neighbors; but, notwithstanding all this, the 

 above remarks would show the tool is not by any 

 means appreciated as it deser%-es. The writer 

 agrees quite nearly with that gardener who spoke 

 in these columns recently to the effect, that to go 

 down when tilling the soU to twice the depth of 

 ordinai'y plowing, is equivalent to adding one- 

 half to the size of the farm. 



Cultivation, oh no Cultivation.— The 

 value of cultivation for young Apple or- 

 chards is forcibly illustrated at "Woodbanks." 

 About one half of our orchard, consisting of 

 160 Apple trees, has for six years past been in 

 Timothy meadow; the other half, in the same 

 time, has been devoted to cultivated crops of 

 various kinds. The trees in the meadow have 

 not been neglected in the matter of fertility but 

 have had a top-dressing of manure over the 

 roots occasionally. Those of the other part have 

 never been freely manured, while the land has 

 been cropped as stated. Now mark the contrast: 

 those in the cultivated part have reached a diam- 

 eter of trunk of about six inches at two feet 

 from the ground; have fine spreading heads and 

 handsome dark foliage, and, in the case of Bald- 

 wins, will this season bear an average of one 

 barrel of fruit apiece; the trees in the meadow, 

 and of the same age and in the soil as the above, 

 have trunks not more than four inches through, 

 two feet up, with heads lacking in size, vigor 

 and color, and the Baldwins will not average a 

 peck of fruit apiece. As both plats were 

 cropped in adilition to the presence of those 

 trees, but the one plat with cultivation, the 

 other without, it is obvious that the increased 

 quantity of fruit is directly due to growth and 

 cultivation. 



Fowls and Gardens. Our observation this 

 season goes to show that a good garden, and 

 fowls at large on the same place, arc not incoin- 

 patable elements. This is the plan: Keep the 

 vegetable and small fruit crops 40 rods or more 

 from the poultry house and farm buildings, and 

 then they will not be reached by the chickens. 

 Vineyards, Orchards, the Asparagus, and Rhu- 

 barb beds, and such succulents like Beans, Pars- 

 nii»s. Sweet Corn, Cucumbers, etc., the green 

 growth of which fowls will not devour may be 

 kept nearer without detriment. 



A New Late Strawberry: The Car- 

 michael. 



E. W. REID, URIDUEl'ORT. OHIO. 



The greatest merit of this variety is Its late- 

 ness, licing from six to ten days later than Gandy 

 or any other berry on the market at present. Its 

 flavor is rather poor compared with Wilson (my 

 best), although many others are far below the 

 Carmicliael and as its season is so late, the flavor 

 has very little to do with its selling (lualities as 

 the fruit is much larger than other varieties. 



With me, this season, was almost a failure, but 

 this was not the fault of the berry; from the 

 time thf blossoms were setting until the first of 

 July we had no rain. The Jucunda was a failure, 

 and all other varieties were cut down to less than 

 one-half crop; it has done good work before. 

 Like all other late varieties it needs plenty of 

 rain when setting its fruit. 



As for productiveness it is but medium com- 

 pared with Crescent and Wilson on our grounds 

 (they are the best), but will compare favorably 

 with Sharpless or Cumberland, not quite so large 

 but sells for more than either. 



Of my corresponilents who have this season 

 expressed themselves regarding this variety, 

 Geo. E. Gowen, Rockingham Co., N. H.,has seen 

 enough of it to know that it is altogether the latest 

 berry we have. When the rust struck my plants 

 the Carmichael was the only one that proved free- 

 The plants are very vigorous. On July 20, I gath- 

 ered quite a lot of nice looking berries. Wm. 

 Laverick, Cayuga Co., N. Y., writes: " I consider 

 the Carmichael one of the best berries on my 

 farm, and just what we need. To-day, July 8, 

 I picked my last Crescent, and for my first Car- 

 michael received 10 cents per pint. Many people 

 wonder where I got my late berries." In a differ- 

 ent strain Mr. M. Crawford, Cuyahoga Co., Ohio, 

 writes thus: " The Carmichael is not a success 

 on my soil. It is very late, but not very produc- 

 tive nor of extra size. 



In* noting this difference of opinion it is well 

 understood by fruit growers that a difference in 

 soil makes a great difference with the fruit. I 

 could give other favorable letters, but as the 

 introduction of now varieties is quite risky, 

 I do not wish to draw persons on. As we have 

 had very favorable results here in former years, 

 I see no reason why it will not produce the same 

 again. I know this to be the latest berry and a 

 good market variety. 



A Promising Strawberry: the Daisy. 

 This new berry, of which a cut is annexed, 

 was awarded one firet and two special premiums 

 at the Morristown, N. J., Strawberry show, last 

 June. 





Tlic Dai-Ill Strawhcrry. 



It is said, by the introducer, Mr. Thos. G. Zanc, 

 of N.J., to be a. seedling of the Crescent, and Cum- 

 berland Triumph, the hitter of which it i-o.sera- 

 bles, though it is claimed to be much more pro- 

 ductive. Its time of riiK'ning is with the Sharp- 

 less. The berries are said to be uniformly large 

 and s.vmmetrical, of good quality, holding out 

 well until the last of the season. This berry 

 withstood the drought, followed by cold weather 

 of ItiSB, when about twenty other varieties large- 

 ly succumbed t<J the unfavorable conditions. 

 Another point claimed for the Daisy, is that it 

 blooms later in the spring than most others, .so is 

 not liable to be hurt by late frosts. The Daisy 

 after three years' trial, seems, in the estimation 

 of those who are familiar with it, to be well 

 adapted for field culture on nearly any good 

 soil, yielding, it is said, a large croii of market- 

 able berries, with ordinary treatment. 



