ii6 



POPULAR GARDENING. 



February, 



Correspondent 8 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, could bring no answer in 

 the May issue, and none before June, when the answ^ 

 would be unseasonable. Questions received before the 12m 

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

 next paper. Not more than three qiiestions should be sent 

 at one time. Answers to questions bearing on the com 

 parative value of implements, etc., offered by different 

 dealers must not be expected. Neither can we promise to 

 comply with the request sometimes made to "please answer 

 by mail." Inquiries appearing without name belong to the 

 name next following. 



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 locality and name, the latter not for publication, unless 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 wily on one side of the paper', 



1.085. An Underground Cellar for Celery. How 

 can I best construct a cellar In a .'Jand hill for both 

 Celery and root rrops.— B. S., Huron Co., O. 



1,086 Hed Mites in Greenhouse, First appeared 

 about the windows of dwelling house, then in green- 

 house, mostly on Centaurea gymnocarpa. Cold does 

 not hurt them but they disappear towards spring, re- 

 tuminKlnthe fall. They injure plants somewhat as 

 red spiilor diins, yet many stay on the glass apparently 

 eatijiK niittiiiig. Bright red, becoming black as they 

 grow, and have appeared at several places in this vicin- 

 ity. Tobacco smoke and whale oil soap do not affect 

 them. Can any one help me ?— W. E. .S., Liberty, Ind. 



1,087. Buckwheat Remedy for White Grub. Is it a 

 tact that a crop of this grain on iufested land will rid 

 it of them ?— A. N. .S., Mazo, Mania, Wis, 



1,(0^. Forcing Tomatoes, Cucumbers and Musk- 

 Melons. When should the seed be sown to ripen fruit 

 in April and May ? Steam heat is used, would like any 

 points essential to success.— A. G. C, Peperell, Mass. 



1,081). Growing Bletla TankervilliEe. What treat- 

 ment is required for this Orchid?— J. W. C, Akron, O. 



l.ir.n. Springs for a Fruit Marketing Wagon. Can 

 any one tell me how to satisfactorily attach platform 

 springs to a lumber wagon (bolster springs being to 

 stiff) so they may readily be removed for ordinary 

 farm work.— W. W. F., Waterville, O. 



1.091. Worm Eating Currants, Last year a small 

 green worm ate the inside out of the green fruit, the 

 bunches lieiug covered with a web. What is its name 

 and how to be gotten rid of ?— E. W.R., Providence, R.J. 



1.01)2. Dahlias Turning Yellow. A year ago, 1 

 had a choice vaViety of flowering tubers, carefully 

 wintered, which seemed all right when planted in the 

 spring: In the summer however the flowers all came 

 yellow. Canauy one explain it ?—H.M., Cardinal, Ont. 



1,093. Building a Rockery; Suitable Plants. I 

 would like to make one that will not appear more like 

 an ordinar.v stone pile than anything ornamental. 

 What plants arc good ?— Mr-s. C. G. J., Portland, Mich. 



1,0!)4. Buying Rhododendrons. Where can I get 

 such as would grow here; the culture required, etc.— 

 Mrs. H. E. Twiss, Watcrtoirn, Cuiin. 



1,0'.).5, Pear Growing. Will the.v do well on low 

 ground, near a creek, if it is underdrained ? 



1.0911 Beurre D'Anjou Blighting. Is this as liable 

 to blight as other varieties? Will it grow on clay ? 



1,097. KiefTerPear Hardy. Would it be hardy in 

 Northern f Ihio ? 



1,0'.)H. Quince Trees. Will ar below zero hurt them? 

 To what age do they grow ?— H. B., Brooiclyn, O. 



1.099. Chrysanthemum Foliage Dying. After pot- 

 ting outdoor grown plants which did not even wilt, but 

 seemed perfect in health and appearance, the lower 

 leaves began to blacken and die off and this continued 

 until not a healthy leaf remaiiicii, tlicy tiloomed tlueiy. 

 Is this disease fungoid or causcil by ins,Mts y Is there a 

 special point iu management that nilgjit prevent or 

 cause the trouble ¥ Have others been troubled In a 

 similar way ?— B. ti., Arkona, Ont. 



1.100. Japan Persimmons in Illinois. Are they 

 hardy In this section. If not what protection is needed? 



1.101. Japan Chestnut Grafting. Can this be done 

 on Black Walnut or Hickory ?— P. B., lUt. Caryyiel, III. 



1.102. Chrysanthemums Mildewing. After getting 

 them iu the house they became as white as a Dusty 

 Miller. Can au.v one give name and color of four that 

 will not do this in the house ?— T. G., Balcaygcon, Ont. 



1,10;J. Preparing Horseradish. Will this keep long 

 after preparing? What Is the best method? Can 

 other than cider vinegar be used ?— W. H., Rockport, O. 



1.104. Good Grapes for Virginia. 1 would like a 

 list of the finest that will succeed here, even if neces- 

 sary to give protection. J. S., Elizabeth City, Va. 



1.105. Apples Exported. I would like to learn how 

 many were exported for the year 1883.— C. E. B., Co- 

 lumbia, .S. C. 



l.lofi. Manettia Rose Cuttings. Where can they be 

 obtained .'-H. J. S.. Woodland, Cal. 



1,107. Sending Cut Flowers by Mail. How can 

 they best be sent fresh.— T. M. Coi.D, Key West, Fla. 



l.los. Salsify Losing Flavor. That left in the 

 ground over winter was so affected the last two sea- 

 sous. Why ?-W. S. W., Shatcona, Wis. 



1,109. Name of the Beefsteak Geranium. What Is 

 Its botanical name ?— E. R. L., Curntrattis, Oregon. 



1,110 Mulberry Leaves lor Silk Worms. Are Rus- 

 sian Mulberry leaves good ?—.T. M.S., BiacJyool./da/io. 



1,111. Brown Fly on Chrysanthemums. For sever- 

 al years this Insect has destroyed and poisoned the 

 ends of the shoots so that they come blind. Hellebore 

 has no effect on them. Thev are neither black lice or 

 aphis, as I have no difficulty with these. Can you tell 

 me anything about them IS. W.C, Hingham, Mass. 



1.112. Ellling Locust Trees. How can this be man- 

 aged, the sprouts come up all over and robbing other 

 crops?— Mrs. O. G., Walla Walla, W. T. 



1.113. Sowing Sweet Peas. When is the best time ? 

 —A. B., Fulion, N. T. 



1.J14. Onion Seed. How long is it good?— X.,Ga;e,/. 



1.115. Peas for Market. What are the best varie- 

 ties for earlv, medium and late crops for home use ?— 

 A. P. W., aalloiray. III. 



1.116. The Best Hardy Roses. Will some reader 

 kindly name the twelve best hardy Roses In cultiva- 

 tion ?— Flower, Fyan. Pa. 



1.117. Potato Growing. What is the best Potato 

 for New England ?— Farmer, Freetoijcn, Mass. 



1.118. Some Good House Plants. Will some reader 

 kindly name a good list of plants for my library win- 

 dow; plenty or sun and no furnace heat ?— X. Y. Z , 

 Frederica, Joira. 



1.119. Watering Plants. When should It be done; 

 how much at a time ?— H. A. Eastman, Freeport, Me. 



1.120. Making a Garden. 1 have a small lot of land 

 that is all run out; how shall 1 prepare it for vegetables 

 and flowers?— Amateur Gardener, GainsvilU, Mu^s. 



1.121. Manure for Celery; Hoes, (a) What kind is 

 best for this, {b) Is there any hoe made specially for 

 banking up ?— D. F., Peekskill on Hudson, N. F. 



1.122. Chilian Beet Seed. Where can It be obtained? 

 —A. A. N., Chafee, N. Y. 



1.123. Russian Apricots for Illinois. Can they be 

 grown where the Peach fails ? How about Curcullo ? 



1.124. Orchid Information. Are they bulbs or raised 

 from rfted; hardy or greenhouse plants? Are they of 

 easy culture or not?— J. W. M.. Fanner City, lit, 



1.125. About the Non-kinking Hose. Can you tell 

 me where these may be had, the probable cost, etc.— 

 C. H. H., Hickman, Ky. 



1.126. Propagating Grapes by Grafting or Cuttings. 

 What Is the proper time and method.— A. A, W., 

 Grand Rapids, Mich. 



1.127. Onion Sets Growing. Mine always grow too 

 large though 1 sow 150 seeds to the square Inch and 

 cover it with an Inch of pure sand; the seeds all come 

 up, and the tops ripen before pulling. Could they be 

 pulled when ol the right size even if not ripe ? 



1,128 Pruning Apples. Crabs, Plums and Cherries, 

 I would like some general directions suited to this state? 



1.129. Worden Grape Cuttings. Do you consider 

 this a variety that It would pay to propagate exten- 

 sively ?-E. C, Carton Cli]r. Ill- 



1.130. Pocklington Grape Grafting. When they 

 were high priced 1 got a dozen vines, of this variety; 

 I propagated largely, but after fruiting they proved 

 worthle.ss. Can I graft good sorts on these ? Can I get 

 damages from the seller ?— E. C, Carbon Cliff, III. 



REPLIES TO INQUIRIES. 



1.076. Tuberoses. After Blooming. After the 

 bulb has once flowered it will never flower 

 again and the only value it has is in the offsets 

 ^vnich it may have formed.— C. E. P. 



1,080. Camellia Buds Falling. This is due to 

 many causes. Avoid them by keeping the foliage 

 clean and free from insect pests by frequent 

 spongings with soapy water. In the gi-owing 

 season they should be given an abundant supply 

 of water both overhead and at their roots and 

 after growth ceases a more moderate supply. 

 When brought inside they should be given a cool 

 temperature and water as often as necessary, 

 being careful to saturate the entii-e mass. 

 Syringe freely two or three times a week and 

 avoid e.\tremes of tempeniture.— C. E. P. 



1,084. Chrysanthemums not Blooming. They 

 must have been given an unsuitable soil, situa- 

 tion and culture.— C. E. P. 



1,051. Keeping Canna Tubers, I permit mine 

 to remain outside until the first of November 

 then the tops are cut off and on a dry day the 

 roots are carefully lifted and stored in a dry 

 situation underneath the greeuhou.se bencn 

 where an average temperature of 55"* is main- 

 tained.— Charles E. Parnell, Long Mand. 



1,074. Manures for Vegetables. Aside from 

 good, well decomposed stable manure the best 

 fertilizers are ground bone dust, poudrette, dry 

 blood fertilizer or blood and bone fertilizer. 



1,073. Failure with Spinach. Not knowing 

 your treatment of the crop cannot suggest any 

 remedy.— Chas. B. Parnell. 



1,073. Carrot Leaves Turning Yellow. An- 

 other season plant them on fresh ground and so 

 avoid the loss of the crop. A good dressing of 

 lime applied in the spiing would be decidedly 

 beneficial but might not prove a certain 

 remedy.— t'HAS. B. Parnell. 



1.077. Toadstools on the Lawn. I wish Harry 

 had said whether the toadstools on his lawn 

 were to be found in shady places: if they were 

 plenty of wood ashes and some grass adapted to 

 shaded places sown thickly will weed them out, 

 or more properly give them no chance to 

 grow.— M. B. Faxon. 



1.078. Onion Seed Saving. Like all biennials 



it takes two seasons to raise Onion seed; plant 

 the seed and raise large Onions one season and 

 the next set out the large Onions and raise the 

 seed. B. P. A. had better talk with some tinion 

 grower who will no doubt give him full 

 information.— M. B. Faxon. 



1,046. Lawn Grass Seed. White Clover is one 

 of the best seeds that can be used in obtaining a 

 beautiful lawn. About three pounds to every 

 bushel of seed is a good proportion. In this con- 

 nection I will say that about six bushels of lawn 

 grass seed is required to properly sow an acre 

 Wood a.shes (unbleached ) is one of the best fer- 

 tilizers that can be used on a lawn, being free 

 from weed seeds, They also bring in large 

 quantities of White Clover without using any 

 White Clover seed.— M.B.Faxon.Si(#o((c Co., Mews 



1,040, Bemedy for Tomato Eot. I find my 

 Tomatoes are entirely free from rot if I take 

 pains to stake them well. My Tomatoes always 

 rot badly when I crowd the \-ines, which should 

 be at least six feet apart each way in a private 

 garden, but eight would he better. Let the sun 

 in between the vines and rot will not trouble 

 you.— M. B. Faxon. 



1,049. Eubber Plant Treatment. There is no 

 need to sponge the leaves of any plant every 

 day; this is as bad as no sponging at all. Sponge 

 when a plant shows that it needs it by being 

 dusty. Water when dry and do so thoroughly, 

 then wait until they are dry again. Follow na- 

 ture as nearly as possible and everything will 

 go well.— M. B. Faxon. 



1.060. About Artemisias. The two best known 

 sorts of this genus are Southern Wood or Old 

 Man (Ai-tcmisUi ahrotanum) and Wormwood M. 

 absinthium). Both are very hardy and bear 

 smcjke without injury. These kinds ai-e both 

 shrubs of simple culture.— M. B. Faxon. 



1.061. Smilax Blooming. Smilax seed is 

 usually planted in .lanuary or a little later in 

 shallow boxes in the greenhouse, and when the 

 plants are well up they are put into thumb pots 

 and then shifted from size to size until about 

 August, when the plants (now in three inch pots) 

 are transplanted into permanent beds. Set the 

 plants eight inches apart in the rows and make 

 the rows fourteen inches apart. The January 

 following the vines will have made a growth of 

 from nine to twelve feet and be i-eady for cut- 

 ting. Growth will begin immediatel.v after cut- 

 ting and another crop will be ready the following 

 April. After second cutting let the plants rest 

 and thoroughly enrich the bed and the plants 

 will start again in August. Smila.\ is of easy 

 culture; only one caution comes to my mind: 

 Tobacco smoke will kill the vines. " Liquid 

 manure will greatly increase the growth and 

 frequent syringing of the vines with water will 

 keep the plants in a healthy growing con- 

 dition.— M. B. Faxon. 



1,067. Are Angleworms in Any Way Hurtful? 

 I have never found a single instance when our 

 common eaith worm injured any plant; think 

 them a benefit rather than otherwise.— M. B. F. 



.1,01)0. Ferns as House Plants. The finest 

 Maiden Hair Ferns I e\x'r saw were growing in 

 a house window, but where the.i(' were growing 

 there was no furnace heat; it is hard work to 

 have plants in our city homes on account of the 

 dry atmosphere. There are no handsomer 

 Ferns than these when properly grown. 



1,070. Strawberry Fertilizers. The best fer- 

 tilizer for Strawberries is a mixture of unleached 

 hard wood ashes and pure ground bone. Take 

 halt of each, mix thoroughly and harrow in this 

 mixture the fall before you intend to set out 

 your plants. Set the plants early in the spring 

 and top dress with same mixture when well 

 started. Use one ton to the acre in the fall and 

 about 300 to ,500 pounds to top dress with in 

 the spring. If you iilow your land in the fall, 

 harrow, spread with manure and then harrow 

 twice, once each wa.v, and your bed will be in 

 perfect shape in the spring. The results obtained 

 will ampl.v repay for the extra labor.— M. B. F. 



1 ,074. Manure for Vegetables. Light soils as a 

 rule re(iuire a feitilizer strong in potash; such a 

 fertilizer would produce excellent crops of early 

 vegetables. Cabbages, Melons, Turnips, Toma- 

 toes, Beets, Cucumbers and Onions. Without 

 manure I use about l,.'iOO pounds of phosphate 

 per acre, say 1,000 pounds spread liroadcast and 

 harrowed in^ and the remaining .500 pounds in 

 the drill at the time of planting. You will be 

 able to secure such a fertilizer by writing to any 

 of the reUable dealers who advertise in -PoPirLAR 



GAKDENINQ AND FliUIT GROWING.— M. B. FAXON 



1,04.5. Selling Evaporated Fruit. It would be 

 difficult to say where the best market is. If the 

 f niit is of best quality and put up as it should be 

 it will sell well in any large city.— M. B. Faxon. 



1.061. Smilax Blooming. The plants will 

 bloom when they are about eighteen months 

 old. It will require a partial rest the second 

 year and this should be given after the second 

 crop has been gathered or from April to 

 September.- Chas. E. Parnell. 



1.062. Using Old Mushroom Beds. The mate- 

 rial of which they arc composed can be used to 

 good advantage for potting plants, etc. Expose 

 it to the action of the atmosjthere for a short 

 time in order to destroy any spores that might be 

 in it and mix with two thirds of turfy loam. It 

 is also an excellent material to use for top 

 dressing lawns.— Chas. B. Parnell, 



