1889. 



POPULAR GARDENING. 



127 



some ami of excellent quality. Mr. Goff has 

 nothing to say in favor of Ely's King- of the 

 Earlies; tor liome use it is absolutely worthless; 

 Mornins !*tar is identical irith Mikado. Kural 

 No. 2 Potato has taken the lead in yield. 



A Good Word for Birds. Mr. Chas. A Green 

 has remained a firm friend to the birds, and the 

 denunciations of many fruit growers, it seems, 

 have not l)een able to convince him that it be to 

 our interest to annihilate the whole bird tribe 

 because they took a few fruits, especially Cher- 

 ries, which they perhaps prefer on account of the 

 worm that is generall.v in them. While they do 

 some damage they undoubtedly do more good. 



The Countv Reports. In a general way the 

 reports from the vaiious Counties of Western 

 New York prove that the Apple crop there must 

 have been much larger than was thought, earlier 

 in the season. First sales were made at about 

 $1.00 per barrel for the fruit. 4fter that buyers 

 became scarce and at the present time there are 

 thousands of barrels reported to be still in the 

 hands of growers in each County. The.v seem to 

 keep remarkably well owing, perhaps to the mild 

 weather, and it is hoped that increased demand 

 both in the cities and abroad will soon increase 

 the chances of sale at acceptable figures. 



Apples in the FtrruRE. Theie is no doubt 

 that the supply will yet largely increase in future 

 years. In Cayuga county, for instance, there are 

 now from 300 to 400 acres of orchards in cultiva- 

 tion, and only half of these are yet in bearing. 

 The consumption must increase quite largely if 

 full crops from these trees, after they all have 

 come to bearing age, will find a ready sale 

 at paying prices. 



Shipping the Word^sn Grape. The Worden 

 Grape, although excellent in many respects, is 

 certainly not a very good shipper. Cayuga 

 county people have found a good way to over- 

 come the dithculty. When packing in baskets, a 

 leaf is put under each cluster and the Grapes 

 thus handled have arrived in good condition in 

 the market; the same method might perhaps 

 be profitably employed with other varieties. 



The Old Story of M.4.nures. The best results 

 n Strawberries financially, were obtained where 

 the most manure was used and the best care 

 given. Barnyard manures are preferred by most 

 growers to commercial fertilizers for Straw- 

 berries. The Wilson is yet largely grown as no 

 new variety has been reported to ship as well. 



Fruit Growing is Profitable. In spite of 

 all the complaints expressed of late by fruit 

 growers all over the country that the business 

 does not pay, the general sentiment among the 

 Western New York people is that with the excep- 

 tion only of market gardening no industry 

 makes a more favorable sho^ving in regard to 

 profitable returns than does this. It is the ener- 

 getic, skillful and painstaking manager who 

 makes money, while the slovenly fruit grower is 

 unable to make the business pay— and surely the 

 latter will have to go. His retii'ement can only 

 make the success of the successful more assured. 



The Foreign Apple Market. A large New- 

 ark dealer and exporter complains of the abom- 

 inable methods of sorting and packing Apples in 

 vogue in Western New York, as also of the con- 

 fusion resulting from the use of different sized 

 barrels. A change for the better is urgently 

 needed and until this is had, it is useless to depend 

 much on a foreign market for profit. On Apples 

 which he bought already put up he often lost 

 money, but when he sent his own men to put up 

 the Apples he made money. 



Packing Apples for Export. Apples for 

 export should be packed still tighter than for 

 domestic markets. Well shaken before taken is 

 a good motto. Mr. Hooker says a barrel for 

 export should contain 4 quarts more Apples than 

 for home markets. Can't pack too tight. Ship 

 best fruit only, preferably Baldwins, and only in 

 three.bushel barrels. Barrels, after being packed 

 for export, should be kept dry. 



Feeding for Plbjis. From Orleans county, 

 where Plums aie grown largely and successfully 

 it is reported that overloaded Plum orchards, 

 when hen droppings and ashes were applied to 

 them in July, with rain following, brought out 

 their excessive crops nicely and perfectly. 



The Baldwin Apple. Chas. A. Green saysthe 

 Baldwin is not good enough for market. We 

 should look for a better sort. The general senti- 

 ment among leading orchardists, however, 

 is in favor of the Baldwin as the most 

 profitable market Apple. 



A Good Apple Gatherer. A new device tor 

 gathering fruit, especially Apples, in a less ex- 

 pensive way than by hand, had been exhibited in 



the council chamber during several previous 

 meetings of the Society. A number of orchard- 

 ists spoke in such high terms of the merits of the 

 machine that Mr. Cook was requested to bring 

 one of them to the hall and again show it to the 

 members. This time it attracted greater atten- 

 tion than ever before. It looks like a good thing 

 and has the endorsement of all who have tried it. 

 Membei's say it picks as well as can be done by 

 hand and at half thi' expense. Five men in a 

 common orchard could easily gather 200 barrels 

 per day with the machine. If it does not go back 

 on its record now it will become a necessity for 

 every orchard. Thought to be as good for 

 Peai-s and Plums as for Apples, but it takes 

 good men to operate it; green help will not do. 

 The machine costs S-W. 



Spraying Trees. Chas. A. Green emphasizes 

 that all fruit trees, not Apples alone, can be 

 sprayed with advantage. Mr. Willard recom- 

 mends a solution of 3 oz of Paris gi-een in 40 gal- 

 lons of water kept constantly stirred. For con- 

 venience's sake he buys Paris Green put up on 

 his order in 3 oz. packages. 



Cultivation of Plums for Market. Mr. S. 

 D. Willard's essay speaks of high cultivation and 

 high feeding as chief requisites of success Not 

 all varieties do equally well on all soils, and the 

 selection of varieties has to be made with refer- 

 ence to the adaptability of the soU, and not less 

 to the peculiar wants of your market. The 

 Reine Claude is best for canning, but not profita- 

 ble to grow for the canneries as it is not a rugged 

 tree and the fruit is very subject to the curculio 

 sting. Canning factories cannot afford to pay 

 the price that gi'owers can get for the Reine 

 Claude in other markets. In some city markets 

 Damsons are more highly prized than better 

 sorts. Profit or loss often hangs on these ques- 

 tions. Mr. Willard named the Stanton as a newer 

 sort of much promise. Jarring the trees is rec- 

 ommended for the curculio. Sprajnng with 

 arsenical poisons should be entrusted to careful 

 hands, as the foliage is very sensitive and easily 

 injured by solutions not harmful to Apple 

 foliage. Good culture and rich soil may often 

 ward off the dangers threatening from leaf 

 blight and insect attacks. For black knot no 

 remedy is known except cutting out the affected 

 parts and burning them. A law should be en- 

 acted compelling owners of trees to fight the 

 disease with knife and fire. Look the orchard 

 over twice a year and cut. Plums are perisha- 

 ble; handle them tenderly. Pick with stems 

 adhering, pack carefully in 8 pound baskets. 

 Don't denominate "first class" when inferior. 

 Plums, if well grown, properly handled and 

 marketed, will pay. 



Pruning Plum Trees. Mr. Willard cuts off 

 from one half to two thirds of the new growth 

 every season. Some varieties make a long wood 

 growth; these must be trimmed more than 

 others. Heavy bearing will stop excessive wood 

 production. Sometimes the limbs may be 

 thinned a little with advantage. Mr. Willard 

 begins trimming his trees when the leaves first 

 begin to drop, and continues until done. 



Grapes in Chautauqua County. Concord is 

 yet in the lead. Worden, Moore's Early, Pock- 

 lington, Niagara and Brighton come next. The 

 Moyer, which somewhat resembles Delaware in 

 appearance, is a good new sort. The three wire 

 trellis is now coming in favor; formerly two 

 wires were in general use. Mr. Chas. A. Green 

 speaks of the low prices of Grapes. Growers sell 

 Concords for 1)^ cents per pound, or S30 per ton, 

 and some say they are doing well. This shows 

 we are learning to produce cheaply. Of all the 

 thousands of women, many not strong, who 

 work among Grapes all through the summer, 

 and until almost winter, few complete the season 

 without gaining from fifteen to thirty pounds in 

 weight. So states Mr. Watson. 



Small Fruits in Wayne County. Wilson 

 Strawberry is again gaining in favor. It is em- 

 phatically the shiiijiing variety. Shaffer's Colos- 

 sal is getting to be quite a popular sort among 

 Red Raspberries. Most growers cling to the 

 Ohio as the best Blackcap for evaporating, but 

 by planting Tyler, Ohio and Gregg, the time of 

 ripening can be extended fully two weeks, so 

 that the evaporating business can be carried on 

 with fewer hands. Erie Blackberry ia of but 

 little real value. 



Cherry Culture. An awakening in Cherry 

 culture is repoi-ted from various quartei-s. 

 Many trees are being set along road sides, in 

 yards and orchards, and growers begin to under- 

 stand more generally the chances for good profits 

 which are hidden in this industry. 



Trimming Raspberry Canes. Mr. Van Dusen 

 speaks against the practice of fall pruning. Has 

 made a series of experiments, and is sure he has 

 ruined whole plantations by trimming in fall. 

 The tops should be pinched off when the canes 

 have grown to be 18 inches high. 



What is the best Early Grape? In answer 

 to this question Mr. Hubbard says: "Can't tell." 

 Mr. Queen mentions Moyer, which is a week or 

 ten days earlier than Brighton or Worden, 

 Wyoming Red, Green Mountain, Wimbell, etc., 

 are also mentioned. Wyoming Red is early and 

 salably, but not very good. Mr. Varney pro- 

 nounces it earlier than Delaware, and quite 

 satisfactory for market. Mr. Goff says Green 

 Mountain, a white Grape, that ripened with 

 Champion this year, is delicious in quality, 

 although small in bunch and berry. 



Systems of Cold Storage. Sawdust pack- 

 ing for making buildings comparatively inde- 

 liendent of open air temperature seems to have 

 few, if ;any advocates. Dead air spaces have 

 come in general use and favor. Mr. Green says 

 Parker Earle uses three or four dead air spaces 

 in his buUdings, and the whole arrangement is 

 cheaply put up. Mr. Hubbard finds no difSculty 

 in making a budding frost^proof with three two- 

 inch spaces and one four-inch space. The cheap- 

 est rough (hemlock) lumber may be used. 

 Building paper held on with strips of boards 

 make good and cheap partitions. The house 

 can be above ground entirely. Prof. Cook says 

 sawdust produces dry rot in lumber, hence ob- 

 jectionable. This is found out by the silo-build- 

 ers. Prof. Cook also describes his bee cellar, 

 which is of under ground construction, supplied 

 with sub-earth ventilation by means of six inch 

 tile. This pipe ought to be longer than usually 

 made, 300 feet being better than less. A uniform 

 temperature of ia" can be kept in such a room 

 with Uttle trouble. Rooms are constructed in 

 Canada above ground, with 20 inches of sawdust 

 and other packing between the double walls and 

 under the roof. 



Prof. Cook on Bugs. The crawling, creeping 

 and flying things that injure our fruit and 

 vegetable crops, and which common people in- 

 clude under the term "bugs," will undoubtedly 

 have yet to suffer in consequence of the excel- 

 lent instructions how to fight them most success- 

 fully, given by Prof. A. J. Cook, of the Michigan 

 Agricultural College. Mr. Cook is very emphatic 

 in recommending the use of London purple 

 instead of other arsenites. It is much cheaper 

 than Paris green, dissolves in water, and is not 

 apt to blast the leaves. White arsenic, formerly 

 recommended by him, is cheap and effective, 

 but its white color is against it. The conspicuous 

 color of London purple or Paris green is an ad- 

 ditional and effective safeguard against any 

 danger from poisoning. 



Annuals that Bloom Long. 



But a very few of the annual class of flower- 

 ing plants which may be regarded as of quiet 

 beauty, are more desirable than Godetias and 

 their attractiveness does not greatly decrease 

 before late autumn. A main point in their cul- 

 ture is to keep them steadily growing, and to 

 keep all the seed vessels picked off, together 

 with ha\'1ng good soil, and in times of drouth 

 free watering at night during summer. 



The plants should stand not closer than five 

 inches each way. Seed can be sown early out of 

 doors where they are to bloom. 



For sunny corners about the garden the 

 creeping Portulacas are well adapted, and are 

 remarkable for the brilliancy and variety of 

 colors, both single and double, continuing in 

 bloom all summer. Start the seeds under glass, 

 in well drained pots, in a soil composed of equal 

 parts of crushed mortar, sand and soil, three 

 inches of which should also be spread over their 

 summer quaiters; and be cautious in watering 

 them, !is they easily get too much; harden some- 

 what in a frame before planting out in the bed, 

 about seven inches apart each way. 



Marigolds are excellent and widely used bed- 

 ding annuals, but do not sow before the middle 

 of April, for they mature quickly. A capital 

 substitute for yellow Calceolarias, or for use in 

 yellow bedding, is furnished by Tagetes pumila, 

 which lasts longer in bloom than any of the 

 general line of summer plants. Their treatment 

 is quite similar to the Marigolds. The best 

 hardy blue annual is Convolvulus minor, which 

 alone makes an effective small bed, or a fine 

 edging to a large one. Sow the seed where it is 

 to bloom, in fairly good soil.— C. G. Rose. 



