1889. 



POPULAR GARDENING. 



Ill 



doubled, as I picked over oae bushel of Apples 

 from a live year old tree, and over twelve bush- 

 els from a ten year old tree. But, like Corn, one 

 hill is too much for profit, if no care and 

 culture is ^'ix'en. 



Distance to Plant. Remember the above 

 described number. If the object is to have the 

 standard Apple trees 32x:i3 feet each way in a 

 diamond form instead of 30 feet in a stjuare; in 

 the plantinii:, say in the row running north and 

 south opposite each 30 feet or standard tree, is 

 the tree to be cut out when their room is needed. 

 .")0 trees on an acre :K.\33 feet each way set in a 

 diamond form, are left after the middle tree is 

 cutout. It wt)u Id be inconvenient for culture, 

 were more than the UK) planted as described. 



California for Fruit Growers of 

 Moderate Means. 



[Extracts/roni an Essay by J. .V. Snnth,befort' thf Wis. 

 cunsin HortictitUirat Socit.'ty.] 



With the advent of the trans-continental 

 railroads came the development of the fruit 

 growing interest In California, and the mar- 

 velous real estate boom which greatly in- 

 creased the value of land. Some, in the 

 earlier days had made fortunes In fruit 

 growing, and this attracted thousands of 

 others from the Eastern States into the same 

 business. Those there first had land at the 

 original low cost, but values constantly in- 

 creased in the Orange growing districts 

 of Los Angelos, Santa Ana, or Riverside, to 

 almost a prohibitive figure, ranging from 

 ^1,000 per acre for wild uncleared land, up 

 to-i!l,.'JOO, and more, for improved property. 



The only place where anyone with small capi- 

 tal can begin Orange or Raisin growing with any 

 chance of success is in a new part, say ten miles 

 back from the railroad or market, where the 

 price is $150 to $200 per acre. Then one-half is 

 required to be paid down and the land must be 

 cleared and leveled to allow of irrigation. 



The cost of Navel Orange trees is at least 

 $200 per acre planted, and for five or si.x years 

 ceaseless care must be given; watering and cul- 

 tivating afterwards seven times yearly; taxes, 

 interest, water rent, and living expenses must be 

 paid during this time. Later on the grove will 

 yield an income rather over expenses, unless the 

 scale appears, in which ease the fruit commis- 

 sioner is likely to order the orchard cut down, 

 for this pest is much dreaded. Then again a sand 

 storm may destroy the crop so that not a single 

 box may be fit for market, and also injure the 

 next year's crop. When there is a full crop of 

 fruit for market on 40 acres, it is worth about 

 $10,000, gross, at the very highest calculation, 

 while my own Wisconsin farm, of 40 acres, yielded 

 a gross return considerably larger than that. 



For Raisin growing, the expenses are less and 

 the time of waiting shorter than for Oranges. 

 but the returns are not so large either. Four 

 tons of Grapes per acre is a good crop, which 

 would make one ton of Raisins, that would be 

 worth, if first-class, about $80, while the lowest 

 they could be sold at to make any kind of a 

 living would be $60 per ton. 



The question of fertilizers is most important 

 to fruit growers there. The idea that the irri- 

 gating water will supply all necessary elements 

 of growth has pi-oven to be pure nonsense. 

 Through the absence of pasturage for stock the 

 only way is to import fertilizers at a heavy cost. 



Nearly all fruit can be grown, but these two 

 mentiimed seem to be the most profitable. One 

 of the largest fruit growers, who had been in the 

 State fifty years, claimed that none were very 

 profitable as yet, but he hoped to do better in the 

 future. A former Wisconsin man, who went to 

 California in 184.5, said on the subject, "If you 

 have a property in Wisconsin that will take care 

 of you, stay where you are." The hterature of 

 the real estate or railroad agents tell a ditferent 

 story it is true, but I tried to get facts while I 

 was there and so give them. 



The treatment of our party, at the hands of 

 wide-awake citizens of California, was simply 

 magnificent, but with the high price of land, and 

 the great expense necessary in getting started, it 

 is in my opinion entirely unsjife for a man with 

 even $3,00<1 or $3,000 to attempt the business. 



Roses from the Grower's Standpoint 



[^f'^dwin Lonsdale, before the 1888 Meeting of tlie Soeietu 

 of American Ftorists.] 



No matter how desirable a Rose may be, 

 if the cost of production exceeds the amount 



realized, it is of no value to the commercial 

 florist. The varieties that can be grown 

 satisfactorily tor winter blooming are few 

 compared to (he number in cultivation. 

 Some .seasons one variety may thrive better 

 than another, or fashion may increase the 

 demand for some variety more tlian another. 



The most free bloomer is not the most popular; 

 people want that most which is the hardest to 

 obtain. The plan to be followed generally, is to 

 grow a variety tif those Roses which are recog- 

 nized as winter bloomers. As for novelties, try 

 tliem, for as the world moves we must also move 

 with it. 



Fertilizers. It is unwise to give the beils a 

 heav.v top dressing of cow manure in the late 

 fall months; much damage has been done in the 

 past by the injudicious use of cow manure at the 

 season mentioned. It e.xcludes the air from the 

 root«, and if the beds are wet at the time of ap- 

 plicjltion, there is little chance for evaporation 

 in those dull, sunless months. More satisfact4)ry 

 results are obtained by applying a light top 

 <lressing soon after the Roses are planted in .luly 

 or August, and if it is thought necessary to feed 

 the plants at any time during the winter, a weak 

 solution of guano may be given at intervals of 

 ten days or two weeks, occasionally varied by 

 some other liquid manure as a change of diet. 

 Too often there is more harm than good done b.v 

 the application of a fertilizerin a liquid form, on 

 account of its being used too strong. How strong 

 to apply it with safety is best determined by ex- 

 periment. To begin with, a thumb-pot full of 

 guano to eight gallons of water will be far safer 

 to use than to give double that quantity. It 

 could be administered at more frequent intervals 

 with less danger than if given in stronger doses. 



Varieties. Bon Silene, an old favorite, is still 

 one of the most profitable varieties to grow in 

 many localities; its fresh pink color, sweet scent, 

 and ideal shape commends itself to all flower 

 level's, and its productiveness will keep it on the 

 list for some time to come. During the season 

 just passed of 1887 and 1888, it was two per cent 

 more profitable than the second best and about 

 eighteen per cent, better than the lowest, which 

 was in this case Papa Gontier. 



Catharine Merinet has been described as one of 

 the most beautiful varieties in cultivation. Its 

 delicate coloring and exquisite form has made it 

 a deserved favorite, but Mermet requires special 

 treatment to bring out its paying qualities. It 

 is much inclined to run to blind wood in too light 

 a soil; so it is better to grow it in rather stiff 

 soil, although it must be porous, for no Rose is 

 more impatient of excessive moisture at the 

 roots than M'ermet, and a night temperature of 

 not higher than 55° produces the finest flowers. 



The Bride is a "sport" from the last named 

 variety with which it is identical, excepting that 

 it is white, and one of the best, though it does 

 not compare with the Puritan at its best, nor 

 with Niphetos for productiveness. It has almost 

 entirely displaced the Cornelia Cook, and will 

 hold its own for some time to come. With Mr. 

 C. F. Evans last winter he realized more cash per 

 square from it than from any other variety. 



Niphetos. It has been said that the old Niphe- 

 tos will be grown when all the white Roses now 

 in cultivation have been forgotten. For pro- 

 ductiveness, taking quality all through the 

 crop, I think it leads them all. 



Puritan. The majority of the many buds 

 formed produce only imperfect blooms. After 

 the experience of last winter it cannot be 

 placed on the list of Roses at all likely to 

 prove profltable. 



Perle des Jardins. For general purposes it is 

 today one of the best varieties that we have. It 

 is true that some of our very best Hose growers 

 do not find it profitable on account of so many 

 flt>weis coming malformed. It is believed by 

 some Horistatcj require a more porousand lighter 

 soil than some varieties do, and a night tempera- 

 ture of sixty tosixty-flve degrees. 



Sunset is a sport from the last named, and re- 

 c|uires the same treatment. It has almost 

 entirely superseded Safranoand Md. Falcot and 

 is likely t^i be more popular than it has been. 



Papa Gontier. Its color, and coming as it does 

 with long stems and grand foliage, places it high 

 on the list. Its tendency to lose leaves in win- 

 ter is a fault with another wise first class variety. 



.Sou. d'un Ami. Its populaiity is e\'idently on 

 the wane in New Vork, possibly on account of 

 the larger hybrid Roses being more plentiful. 



La France is a great favorite with all flower 

 1 overs and generally speaking it is profitable to 



the grower. More than a dozen florists have told 

 me that it has been the best pa.ving variety 

 amongst the list that they grew. La France, and 

 in fat't all the hybrid Teas— under which head 

 may be classilied Duke of Connaught, Win. F. 

 IJcnnett and Countess of Pembroke— are more 

 siLsceptiblc to the attacks of black spot than the 

 true Teas are. A cool moist atmosphere seems to 

 cause it. So as a preventive avoid too much 

 mt)istui-e during cool weather. The American 

 Beauty is liable to the same dtsease. 



Those florist,s, with few exceptions, who in- 

 vest<'d ill Wm. F. Bennett when it Wius first dis- 

 tributed have had little cause for regret. It is a 

 hard Rose to get started on account of its tree 

 blooming qualities, but by persistent disbudding 

 anil if planteil in a rich light soil not more than 

 three or four inches deep on a well-drained table 

 it will prove to be one of the most profitable 

 varieties grown. Many growers find that it is an 

 advantage to let it remain undisturbed for two 

 t>r three yeai-s, while others prefer to tninsfer 

 the olil plants to fresh soil. It requires nxjre 

 heat than most of the Teas; 00° to (i5° at mght 

 suits it well, and if planted in porous soil, it 

 delights in plenty of moisture, taking care of 

 course that the temperature is not below 70° 

 when the water is appUed. It seems to improve 

 in constitution every year. For general plant- 

 ing so far, it is the best of the crimson ever- 

 blooming sorts that we have. 



Duke of (tonnaught. For the fall and early 

 winter trade and for the time the space is occu- 

 pied few Roses pay so well. It flowers so freely 

 that if the disbudding is not attended to it will 

 not prove satisfactory. 



Md. Cuisin, if cut too soon has a diminutive 

 appearance, but when allowed to get two-thirds 

 blown, at which time it is at its best, it looks to be 

 "ready to drop." It is, however, one of the best 

 varieties in the whole list for keeping. In some 

 places it has a tendency to drop its leaves. 

 Several growers place it at the head of their Ust 

 for profit during the past winter. 



American Beauty is perhaps the most remark- 

 able Rose on the list. A Rose of its size, form 

 and fragrance, and at the same time a perpetual 

 bloomer, is indeed a grand stride onward. Good 

 fiowers of it should never sell at wholesale for 

 less than $35 per 100 so long as the fires are going. 

 It is obtainable from January to December. Its 

 extreme vigor, throwing up shoots several feet 

 high, on top of which is a large, finely-formed , 

 sweet-scented Rose, would make even its severe 

 European critics change their tone. It seems to 

 do better the second year after planting out than 

 the first. The plan of bending down the strong 

 shoots seems to be the best for this Rose, for it 

 causes flowering shoots to break from the base, 

 which generally produce fine blooms. 



A Few Points from the Ohio Society's 

 Recent Meeting. 



Irrigating Strawberries. Prof. Green of 

 the Experiment Station described his at- 

 tempt to irrigate a half acre of Strawberries 

 dtiring last summer's severe drought, but 

 with water at the rate of BOO gallons per 

 hour, he could not run the water to the end 

 of rows 13 rods long. He estimated that to 

 have thoroughly soaked the ground it would 

 have taken over lOCO barrels per acre, which 

 at the price paid for city water, would 

 cost seven dollars. 



( )f the new Strawberries he thought that .lessie 

 and Bubach were reliable enough to warrant 

 planting largely. Haverland, Gandy and Pearl 

 were the most promising of newer sorts. Palm- 

 er's Seedling Raspberry compared favorably 

 with the Tyler in earliness and was a lietter 

 yieldcr and a larger berrj'. 



Grape Cnltnre in Ohio. Figures presented by 

 B. H. Cushman of Cuyahoga County, showed 

 that there was grown within a radius of 13 miles 

 from cicMlauii and marketed in thatcity, about 

 7,.''ilX) tons of (irapps. 



About Currants. Successful results in growing 

 Currants was reported bj' W. W. Farnesworth ot 

 Lucas County, whose crop averaged at the rate 

 of B (luarts per bush or 330 bushels per acre, the 

 price he received being $3,511 per bushel. It was 

 generally agreed that the Currant worm was 

 being gradually gotten rid of through the use of 

 hellebore, at least it was less destructive 

 the past season. 



Profit from Small Frnits. From 30 acres of 

 Gregg Raspberries, and Taylor and Snyder 



