92 



POPULAR GARDENING. 



January, 



Correspondents are urged to anticipate the season In pre- 

 senting questions. To ask, for instance, on April 15 or 20 

 what Peas had best be sown, couid bring no answer tn 

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

 would be unseasonable. Questions recetvedbefore the \'ah 

 of any month stand a good chance of being answered m the 

 next paper. Not more than three questions should be sent 

 at one lime. Answers t.t questions bearing on tne com^ 

 parative value of implements, etc., offered by different 

 dealers must not be expected. Neither can we promise to 

 comply teiih tne request sometimes made to "please answer 

 by mail." Inquiries appearing without name belong to the 

 name next foltoiping. ^ ^ ., 



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 locality and name, the latter not for publication, unless 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 side of the paper. 



1,015. Selling Evaporated Fruit. Where Is the bent 

 market lor this, especially small fruit?— H O. W.. 

 Westfiehl, N. Y. 



1,M6. Lawn Grass Seed. Is the use of White Clover 

 act\-isable and if so the proportion to be used?— Max.. 

 Akron, Ohio 



1.047. Remedy for Tomato Rot. This was very prev- 

 alent the past dry season. T« there any remedy?- 

 A. Y. L., Belmont Co., O. 



1.048. Soot for House Plants. What is the differ- 

 ence in value between the soot from bituminous coal 

 and wood ? In what way is it the best used?— E. E. B., 

 Norfolk, ra. 



1.049. Rubber Plant Treatment. Will daily spong- 

 ing injure the leaves ? When is the proper time and 

 way for watering ?— F. D. 



1.050. Watering Passion Flowers. What is the 

 right course with this plant?— F. D., Philadelphia, Pa. 



1.051. Keeping Oanna Tubers How are they best 

 preserved over winter ?— W . 



1.052. Floor for Greenhouse. What is the best 

 material to use where a basement is wanted?— W., 

 Natick, iilass. 



1.053. Snails in Rose Soil. Will these injure hardy 

 ones at any time? The soil is fresh about them.— H.T. 



1.054. Amaryllis Failing. After starting well in the 

 fall, the leaves later turned yellow. Can it be due to 

 overwat«ring?— H . T. 



1.055. Chrysanthemum Leaves Burnt. Last fall 

 the affected plants were twice a week given water 

 from cow mauure, fresh wood a.shes and soot combined. 

 Could this have hurt the leaves?— H. T., Frederick, Did. 



1,05(1. Orange Tree Leaves Dropping. This has 

 grown well for Hve years in a 18 inch tub, in a living 

 room in winter, (and watered but little), but now all of 

 the leaves are off, although the tree is not dead. What's 

 the trouble?— E. D. M., Pitchburg, Mass. 



1.057. Spent Hops as Manure. Are these of value, 

 if so how to be used?— A. P. W., New York. 



1.058. Salicylic Acid for Preserving Fruits. I 

 would Ukc some furtiler information as to the use of 

 this article than is given on page 53.— H. P. S., I'lifta 

 City. Cat. 



1.059. Stopping Rot in Trees. Can decay in the 

 trunk coming from limbs which were improperly cut 

 off be stopped ?— O. M. "W., Lotus Club. 



1.060. About Artemisias. Are they hardy perennials? 

 What treatment Is required?— T. T., Charleston, III. 



l,Ofil. Smilas Blooming. How old must it be from 

 seed? Does it ncetl a season of rest ?— T. T. 



I,0fi2. Using old Mushroom Beds. For what spec 

 iai purpose can the worn out material be used ?— 

 M. C. R., Amherst, flais. 



1,0()3. Lilium Auratum Failing. In large pots, 

 first in cold frame then in greenhouse they made a 



§ood start, but when a foot high, turned yellow and 

 ecayed. Why't—L. A. J., Jamestown, N. Y. 



1,0(j4. Ferns Eaten by Snails. On account of these 

 pests I am unable to grow such plants. Can the mat- 

 ter be remedied?— X../oica. 



1.065. Cyclamen Infested by Grubs. My plants 

 appear all right but some, if handled, pull out of the 

 ground, the roots and lower half of the crown being 

 eaten by a .small white grub. Can .anything be done ? 

 R. O. N.. Meriden, Conn. 



1.066. Poinsettia Treatment. After blooming my 

 plant.s droop and loose their leaves. How ought they 

 to be treated?— O. L. C, Xeiiia, O. 



1.067. Are Angleworms in any way hurtful? Or 

 are they beneficial in the way of keeping the ground 

 open and pulverizing it ?— P. B. M., Indianapolis, Ind. 



1.068. Cypripedium Spectabile. I would like some 

 directions as to the culture of this Orchid.— AMATEun, 

 New Jersey. 



1.069. Ferns as House Plants. Will the Maiden- 

 hair succeed in the window under fairly good con- 

 ditions? Are any other kinds better?— E.R.N., IVrinonf. 



1.070. Strawberry Fertilizers. Aside from stable 

 manure, what fertilizers are the best?— H. N. J., 

 Concord, N. II. 



1.071. Peat ashes for Strawberries. Are these of 

 any value?— O. L. D., Canton, O. 



1,0?2. Failure with Spinach. Although usually 

 successful, this .season this crop is a failure and I know 

 of no cause.— Market Gardener. 



LO?.?. Carrot Leaves Turning Yellow. This occurs 

 here each year when tlie plants are half grown and is 

 thought to be caused by the worms. Is there any 

 remedy ?— W. H. (.).. Jackson, Mich. 



1.074. Manures for Vegetables. My soil is sandy 

 and stable manure hard to obtain; I desire to know 

 the best other fertilizers for growing general vege- 

 tables.— I. N. T., Polkton, N.C. 



1.075. A Climbing Rose. Would Md. Margottin be 

 suitable 'for such purposes ?— Mrs. L. A. O., Kentucky. 



1.076. Tuberoses after Blooming. Are these of any 

 value and how should they be treated?— F.D.T.,JWi«0iS. 



1.077. Toadstools on the Lawn. Last summer 

 these were a nuisance. What will kill them?— Harry. 



1.078. Onion Seed Saving. What method Is fol- 

 lowed in raising this seed for market?— B. P. A., 

 West Virginia, 



1.079. Rose Nomenclature. Why is the term Hybrid 

 Perpetual so improperl.y applied to a certain class of 

 Roses ?-G. M. C, New York City. 



1.080. Camellia Buds Falling. What causes this and 

 how can it be avoided ?— An.xious. 



1.081. Passion Flowers for Greenhouse. Which 

 are the most suitable and what treatment is required ? 

 — Y. O. J., Hartford, Conn. 



1.082. Chinese Lily Treatment. Are ail bulbs after 

 blooming good for next season, and how cared for?— 

 E. S. J., Salem, Mass. 



1.083. Mailing Out Flowers. Is the rate the same 

 for these as for seeds, biUbs, plants, etc.?— C. F. G., St. 

 Johnsbury, Vt. 



1.084. Chrysanthemums Not Blooming. What is 

 the cause and remedy for these coming blind.— C. E. G. 



REPLIES TO INQUIRIES. 



998 Best Blackberry, <1ne of the best Black- 

 berries for market is the Dorchester. It is per- 

 fectly hardy and very produetive; in quality 

 the best.— M. B. Faxon. 



1008. Hoving Large Rhododendrons. These, 

 in late fall, may be safely moved, large or small, 

 the size mentioned not 1 leing: too frreat. A round 

 hole should be dug out, deep and large enough 

 to amply accommodate the root ball, then All it 

 up with a compost.— Remle. 



856. Baising Cauliflower Seed. The raising of 

 Cauliflower seed has been made a success on 

 Long Island, the climate and soil there being 

 very congenial to this vegetable, the raising of 

 which has reached enormous proportions. Be- 

 yond a doubt it is the humid saline atmosphere 

 of that section which makes tiie cultivation and 

 raising of seed of this \"e'j:etuMe a success, there- 

 fore I should deem it t|uiti- unlikely to succeed in 

 Colorado where the air is t,^cm.'rally of a dry and 

 rarifled nature.— G. H. -M. 



980. White Grabs £ating Strawberries, To 



avoid these set the plants in ground that for sev- 

 eral years previously has been planted toPotatoes 

 or other hoed crop. This year of two small beds 

 one after Potatoes none have been injured by the 

 grub. The other planted where Strawberries had 

 been the previous two years, about half of thera 

 were destr<.)yed b.v grubs.although b.v digging the 

 plants out whenthe.vlirst began to wilt tlie grub 

 could often be caught and killed. Mks. E. S. B. 



980. White Grabs Eating Strawberries. In 

 this part of the cotintry it Is best not to set 

 Strawberries on land the first year it is broke up 

 from the sod. Better set them on land that has 

 been cultivated a few years. Kill all the horn 

 bugs that .vou can, for the.v deposit tlieir eggs 

 on your mowing ground near the r(.)ots of the 

 grass. Even after mowing the grass many of 

 the eggs are left in the Held, and when hatched 

 they produce tlie grubs which go intti the ground. 

 .Some of tlu' i'iXiss are on the ha.v which is carried 

 to the l):tni. and wlien led you will find some of 

 the grubs in tlK-uianilrc heap. When you jdough 

 up the gra.ss-grouiid do it late in the fall, so 

 that the grubs may be r\pose<l t<» the cidd of the 

 following winter. When .you plant or cultivate 

 the ground, which should be (lone two or three 

 years before setting Stiawberries, kill all the 

 grubs you find. If a few days after setting the 

 plants you notice that any of them wilt and ap- 

 pear to be dying, take a garden trowel and dig 

 at the rfpot; you will probably find a grub at work 

 there; kill him and set out another jilant.— 

 Wm. Halk, Kx-vcv Co, Mass. 



970. Black Lice on Chrysanthemams. The 



remedy for black lice is so simple and certain 

 that there is little excuse for their presence. 

 Tobacco stems thrown on the ground under the 

 plants, sa.v an inch deep, will soon cause them to 

 disappear. A syringing will help to clean up the 

 plants. The simplest wa.v is the best in the 

 garden, and nothing can be simpler and more 

 effective than this. Snuff or powdered Tobacco 

 is dirty and not always efficient, while Persian 

 insect powder produces no effect, its action being 

 to strangle not poison, and you cannot strangle 

 aphides.— J. N. Gerard, Union Co., iV. J. 



994. Lapageria Growing. They need to be 

 planted out on the shady side of a cool house, 

 using peat chopped up in rough lumps, with 

 broken bricks mixed through, taking care to 

 have good drainage, as Lapagerias need abund- 

 ance of water during the season of growth. 

 There are only two species, L. alba and L. rosea, 

 though there are many forms of both. See that 

 you get go<id ones, as some varieties are vastly 

 better tlian others. Plant them that they may 

 intertwine aiul the effect will be pleasing.— E.G. O. 



997. LiliomLongiflorom Hardy. This is quite 

 hardy here when covered with plenty of dry 

 leaves in fall, and boards placed over' to throw 

 off the wet.— E. O. O., Passaic Co., N. J. 



970. Black Lice on ChryBanthemums. These 

 may be killed by dusting with Tobacco powder. 

 — E. O. Orpet. 



97.5. Japan Iris. To grow well a moist, rich 

 soil is necessary. It can scarcely be too wet. 

 Obtain good named kinds, not seedlings, and 

 plant two feet apart if arranged in masses, taldng 

 care to arrange the colors effectively. We have 

 over 40 kinds, from the purest white to deepest 

 blue and purple, planted in low swampy ground 

 where the water stands during fall and winter, 

 and the.v thrive amazingly.— E. O. O. 



984. Caring for Banana and Pineapple Plants. 

 Bananas need plenty of water at all times as it is 

 necessary to keep them growing right along to 

 mature the fruit quickly and well. Pineapples 

 need to be kept on the dry side during winter, as 

 a superabundance of water speedily causes them 

 to lose their roots, sicken and turn yellow. When 

 water is applied let it be warmed to the tempera- 

 ture of the house, which should be 70° to 75° by 

 day and 6.5° at night during winter.— E. O. O. 



992. Planting Lilies. This work should always 

 be done in fall, as there is great danger of break- 

 ing shoots and roots in spring. If manure is 

 used see that it is well rotted, and be careful not 

 to let it come in contact with the bulbs or they 

 are liable to rot. Decayed leaf soil is preferable 

 to stable manure.— E. O. O. 



993. Hemerocallis Varieties, Hemerocallis 

 fulva is tawny colored as the specific name im- 

 plies. H. flava is clear yellow: H. graminea is 

 similar in color, but has narrow foliage, resemb- 

 ling grass. All three are good distinct species, to 

 which might be added H. Thunbergii; this grows 

 five feet high with flowers similar to H. flava, 

 but is produced in .luly and August. The best of 

 the genus H. Mittendorfianum and H. Dumor- 

 tierii have orange colored flowers, and are pretty 

 dwarf species — B. O. O. 



1,002, Pineapple Salvia. Salvia rutilans is so 

 called on account of the pleasing odor of the 

 foliage when rubbed.— E. O. Orpet 



!«)5. Canned Fruit Spoiling. While we do not 

 know the cause of your fruit spoiling, we believe 

 that the cause of ours spoiling is owing to the 

 shiftless way in which the cans are made. We 

 use the " Mason " jars and used to have much 

 success in keeping things. But they are not as 

 well made now as formerly, there being a large 

 seam or ridge of glass on one side where the 

 cover screws on and comes in contact with the 

 rubber. B.y taking pains and using new rubbers 

 the covers may be made to fit tightly on some of 

 the jars; on others it is simply impossible. We 

 are getting disgusted trying to use them, for 

 after all the care taken, there will be a good 

 raan.v jars the covers of which thtaigh seeming to 

 have been fastened securely, will loosen up 

 enough to let in the air and thus spoil the pre- 

 serve.— W., Natieh, il/a.s.s. 



1,001. Peach Stones Splitting. No remedy is 

 known to us.— C. E. P. 



1.007. Fern Boots. The proper season for 

 dividing Ferns generally is early in the spring or 

 just before the.v start into growth.— t;'. E. P. 



1.008. Moving Bhododendrons. With a little 

 care and attention you can remove Rhododen- 

 drons five or six feet in height. The best season 

 for removing them is from April 18th to May 

 18th. -C. E. P. 



1,012. Begonia Bex Failing. The roots are 

 evidently in an unhealthy condition. I think 

 that their pots are imperfectly drained. Or you 

 may be keeping your plants too cold and wet. 

 At this season Begonia Rex and its \arieties 

 should be more sparingly watered, especially if 

 grown in a temperature of less than .5.5°. — C. E. P. 



1,023. Coal Ashes as a Fertilizer. Unbleaehed 

 hard wood ashes are far superior to coal ashes as 

 a fertilizer, in fact my experiments with coal 

 ashes have been vei-y unsatisfactory.— M. B. 

 Faxon, Suffolls Co., Mass. 



1.009. Corn Flowers. One of our easiest culti- 

 vated hardy annuals (Centaurea cj'anus) com- 

 monl.v called Bachelor's Button or Bluebottle.— 

 M. B. Faxon, Suffolk Co., Mass. 



1,011. Heating Small Greenhouses. You do 



not state what the structure is to be specially 

 used tor. If for what is generally termed a 

 "Spring house" for the forwarding of garden 

 and bedding plants, then the "flue "is what is 

 most commonly used in this section. But if to 

 be run the year round for a general collection 

 of greenhouse plants, where the flrst cost is not 

 so much of a consideration, then heating 

 by hofVater or steam would be preferred; but 

 as you ask for the most economical phin, I take 

 it for granted that you do not desire- to go to the 

 gi-eater expense of putting in hot water, although 

 no system of heating b.v smoke flues is as satis- 

 factory. But to many the smoke flue method 

 is one that will commend itself both in point of 

 simplicit.v and cheapness, together with giving 

 general satisfaction as it does with my house 

 of about the dimensions spoken tif. Plans for 

 constructing alirick flue have been from time to 

 time publisned in Popular Gardening (pages 

 84 and lOSi of the Januaiy and February issues 

 respect! vely) to which you are referred.— G.H.M. 



