POPULAR GARDENING. 



October, 



made to originate it by inoculation, or 

 in any other manner. 



Blight in other Feuits. Another point 

 made by Professor Burrill was that the 

 blight of Pear, Apple, and Quince is iden- 

 tical, a conclusion that my own work fully 

 sustains, for in all the experiments per- 

 formed, the result did not in any way appear 

 to be influenced by the source of the virus. 

 That made use of, was from Apple, Pear, and 

 Quince, mostly obtained from young nur- 

 sery trees about a mile and a half away. The 

 test was carried even a step further by using 

 a virus from Quince, which had received 

 its infection from Pear, and continuing the 

 disease in the Pear, Apple, Quince, etc. 

 Several such permutations were made with 

 no variation that could be traced to the 

 changes of virus. 



Pkeventives and Remedies. Whatever 

 form Pear Blight assumes, it is started by 

 germs gaining access to the tree in one of 

 the three ways described— through the flow- 

 ers, the growing shoots, or injuries of the 

 bark. No method is known, or has yet sug- 

 gested itself, of rendering the tree insuscep- 

 tible to the disease, and a direct prevention 

 must be sought in some means of excluding 

 the germs. There are three ways by which 

 germicides may be applied to trees— by fumi- 

 gation, by spraying and by washing. The 

 first method offers a possibility of at least 

 partial success, and appears to be the only 

 means by which one can hope to protect the 

 flowers to any extent. 



The application of washes cannot, of 

 course, be made to the flowers or growing 

 shoots, but excellent results may reasonably 

 be expected when made to the trunks and 

 larger branches. Sufficient study has not 

 yet been given to the matter to say what 

 will prove the most effective application; 

 but linseed oil has been advocated as form- 

 ing an elastic coating, and to it might be 

 added some sulphur, and at least 1 per cent 

 of carbolic acid. This would seem to answer 

 every requirement for an antiseptic, and 

 for the exclusion of atmospheric germs from 

 the cracks in the bark. To decrease the 

 amount of cracking, the body of the tree 

 may be shielded from the sun's fiercest rays 

 by a low trimmed head, or by leaning the 

 whole tree toward the southwest, or by 

 boards, matting, or other protection, on the 

 sunny side of the trunks. 



Among the indirect methods of fighting 

 the disease, none are more important than 

 those which secure slow growth and early 

 maturity of the shoots. This has been re- 

 cognized from the first agitation of the sub- 

 ject, but until the present time there has 

 been no unanimity of opinion as to the 

 exact objects to be accomplished. From the 

 preceding account it is apparent, however, 

 that the chief aim should be (a) to keep the 

 amount ot tender surface of shoots at a min- 

 imum, in order to diminish the chances for 

 the penetration of germs, and (b) to make 

 the tissues as solid as possible, as the pro- 

 gress of the disease and the chances of its 

 entire cessation are in inverse ratio to the 

 sucoulency of the parts attacked. 



Or GENUINE remedies there are none: 

 but as the disease is local, and spreads 

 through the tissues slowly, it is possible, as 

 has long been known, to effectively check 

 its progress by amputation. The smaller 

 limbs are to be cut off a foot or two below 

 the lowest manifestation of the disease, and 

 the spots on the trunk and larger limbs are 

 to be shaved out, cutting deep enough to 

 remove all discoloration. A careful opera- 

 tor will keep the knife disinfected with 

 carbolic acid or otherwise; if this is not done, 

 the disease will be conveyed, in some in- 

 stances, to the freshly cut surface. After 

 the diseased portions are cut away, some 

 benefit may come from applying to the 

 fresh wounds, the above mentioned wash. 



To Buffalo in 1 889. Society of 



American Florists. 

 The florists of America may expect a right 

 hearty welcome to this fair and thrifty city 

 when they meet here in annual convention 

 next year. Added to the fact that Buffalo 

 florist establishments rank among the most 

 enterprising in the country, hence that in 

 the direction of their own business, visiting 

 florists will find much of interest here it 

 must also not be forgotten that Buffalo 

 stands in the front rank of American cities 

 in the matter of fine parks, magniflcent tree- 

 lined and lawn-skirted streets, fine public 

 buildings, a delightful summer climate, and 

 above all else, she includes almost within 

 her own suburbs, that most wonderful of 

 all natural attractions, Niagara Falls. 



Indeed, it may be said that because of the 

 above advantages, and still others, our rising 

 city of fully 3.50,000 inhabitants is becoming 

 famous as a favorite convention city. We 

 always see that our visitors are well cared 

 for. We think we can point with pride, and as 

 being of special interest to florists and land- 

 scape gardeners, to our generously executed 

 park system, embracing more than 600 acres, 

 with 40,000hardy trees and shrubs growing in 

 it, and miles of excellent drives throughout 

 its area. And we must also add that almost 

 at our door lies, what in the near future 

 doubtless will be united to our own park 

 system by a grand boulevard, namely: The 

 New York State reservation park at the 

 Falls of Niagara, and with this all the 

 excursionists will have an opportunity of 

 becoming familiar, before the convention 

 business is finished. 



Buffalo, with her immense new hotels 

 now nearing completion, will by convention 

 time be equipped with public accommoda- 

 tions second to no city of her size, in this 

 coiintry, while for holding the sessions and 

 making a floral display, the building can 

 nowhere be found that can excel our mag- 

 nificent Music Hall. As for agreeable 

 weather, this we are almost safe in assuring 

 beforehand, for August, in Buffalo, is rarely 

 otherwise than a most delightful month, 

 in which cool breezes from Lake Erie, and 

 the mollifying influence of tens of thou- 

 sands of trees in our streets, combine to 

 create an invigorating atmosphere during 

 the twenty four hours of every day. 



To these and other attractions, apart from 

 the excellent programme sure to be provided , 

 the attention of the florists of America is 

 therefore directed. To the many friends of 

 this journal who will be present, a specially 

 hearty welcome is extended, to visit not 

 only our office in the city, but if possible, to 

 make a trip to the Popular Gardening Ex- 

 periment Grounds, near Niagara Falls, and 

 see the work here begun, in the interest of 

 American horticulture. A cordial reception 

 will be in waiting for all, who may favor 

 us by their presence. 



COMMENTS BY READERS. 



A department to which all are invited to semi notes of 

 experience and observation concei'ning topics that re- 

 cently have been treated on in this Journal. Many 

 such contHbutions monthltj would be welcome. 



Firm the Seed in the Soil (page 233), or, 

 rather, flrming the soil about or above the seed, 

 doubtless has all the importance Mr. Henderson 

 gives it, and be deserves much credit for biing- 

 ing the matter so prominently before cultivators. 

 But general rules admit of exceptions. There is 

 at least one exception to Mr. Henderson's rule, 

 and it should be kept equally prominent: Do 

 not firm damp, heavy, clay soils about or above 

 seeds. If such very adhesive, dense soils are 

 compacted by the pressure of the foot or other- 

 wise, though only so damp as is allowable and 

 often necessary when planted (by no means wet), 

 the soil is put in a condition very unfavorable 

 to the growth of the plant. If the seed is cov- 

 ered, the chances are that if the covering is 

 firmed, the plantlet will be unable to penetrate 

 it. In the old days of hand planting ot Corn, 

 covering it with hoe or "jumper," the coverer 



compacted the covering with his hoe or foot, 

 unless the covering was of heavy, clay soil. 

 Nowadays, when the covering is compacted by 

 the wheels of the planter, the wide awake culti- 

 vators of heavy soils foUow with a light harrow 

 to loosen the earth about and above the seed. 



Surely in what is said about access of air to 

 germinating seeds, Mr. Henderson is farther 

 wrong than the person he criticises. Free access 

 of air is not even destructive to the germination 

 of seeds, as access of air is one of the conditions 

 necessary to the germination of seeds. Mr. H. 

 says his purpose in flrming the soU is " to exclude 

 the air; " it he succeeded in doing this, the seeds 

 certainly would not germinate. On this point I 

 quote Stoner, Professor of Agricultural Chem- 

 istry in Harvard University. "Agriculture," 

 Vol. 1, Page 29, under sub-heading: " Large 

 quantities of oxygen are consumed by germina- 

 ting seeds and roots, buds, flowers, and fruit. 

 Oxygen is essential, from the beginning, for the 

 process of germination. Seeds do not germinate 

 in the absence of oxygen. Even a seed that had 

 sprouted would soon wither and perish if it were 

 wholly deprived of oxygen. . In sowing seeds 

 care has to be taken not to bury them too deeply, 

 lest they should be too completely cut off from 

 the oxygen of the air." 



Frozen Potatoes Growing. Judge Miller's 

 notes about Potatoes, remind me that I was not 

 aware until this spring that frozen Potatoes 

 would grow. One of our berry growers and 

 market gardeners planted Potatoes that had lain 

 in an out-buUding during winter, and had been 

 frequently frozen. When planted they were soft 

 and much shriveled. Yet they reached the sur- 

 face in less time than well-kept seed, and were 

 unusually vigorous during the growing season, 

 and made a fine yield. Of course this does not 

 make it advisable to plant frozen tubers, but per- 

 haps some will be as much surprised as I was to 

 learn that they will grow.— iV. r. L., llUmris. 



Carnations From Seed. No flower raised 

 from seed has given me greater satisfaction than 

 the Carnation Pink. I sow the seed in spring, 

 either in hot-bed or open ground, cultivate the 

 plants through the summer, and give them a 

 slight covering of leaves in winter. The next 

 spring they throw up flowering stems and bloom 

 profusely. They have never Uved through the 

 second winter with me, though in some of the 

 catalogues they are called perennial.— E.^.Horr. 

 How Deep to Plant. I think that the chart 

 showing the proper depth for planting Bulbs as 

 given in last issue is most commendable for sim- 

 plicity and practical use. The question of "how 

 deep shall I plant" is one that is often perplexing 

 to the amateur. Under some circumstances, it 

 might be mentioned that Hyacinths and Tuhps 

 may be planted several inches deeper than shown, 

 without detriment.— Bem!e. 



Drought and Cultivation. Perhaps the one 

 point that has had more stress laid upon it, in 

 late issues than any other, has been the necessity 

 of continued and thorough cultivation, and its 

 benefits in times like the past season of drought. 

 One feature specially to be noted, is the concur- 

 rence of testimony, as to good effects, from nearly 

 every part of the country. One correspondent 

 writes of good results on Strawberries and other 

 fruit; another on Corn and other vegetables. 

 Potatoes, Cabbage, Celery; some on the com- 

 parative immunity of nursery stock.well worked, 

 and so the story has been told. Now the lesson 

 for each and every one, who has not already 

 learned by experience, is to resolve another sea- 

 son, if dryness threatens, to keep the surface soil 

 stirred and mellow about the growing crops; 

 where irrigation is practical it ought to be gotten 

 into readiness for use. Otherwise, see that you 

 have the tools best adapted for the end in «ew, 

 and tlien no matter what else may be neglected, 

 do not let the ground suffer. Keep in mind that 

 even though a full crop is not secured, the price 

 is Ukely to be higher, therefore some extra labor 

 may be profitably given it.-Elmer E. Stimmey. 

 The Chinese or Shantung Cabbage, re- 

 ferred to on page 273 of the September number, 

 has been successfully grown in northwestern 

 Iowa, for several years past by an EngUsh sea 

 captain, who procui-ed the seed in China. The 

 heads are small, weighing from three to five 

 pounds, and much resemble a well-headed Cos 

 Lettuce. In quality it is far superior to any of 

 the kinds now grown, and is a novelty well worth 

 introducing.— F. E. S. Nebraska. 



Pomace for Cows. There is a great deal of 

 unfounded prejudice against Apples for feeding 

 stock. It is a well-known fact that when a cow, 

 that is unaccustomed to succulent food, breaks 



