1889 



POPULAR GARDENING. 



251 



use a still sri't'Hter ijuantity t(i advantage if more 

 of the strong home-grown article (Bubach) and 

 less of the always weaker, and often entirely 

 stale imported " Persian " or " Dalmatian " pow- 

 der were offei-ed forsale. Few people would be- 

 lieve what vast difference there is generally in 

 the strength of the two kinds until they have 

 made repeated tiials with both. Few stores 

 keep the better article, consequently the poorer 

 imported stuff is much too largely used for the 

 users' own good, and the confidence of the gen- 

 eral public in the efficacy of all insect powders 

 has always been somewhat limited. Talifornia 

 is probably not the only State in the union where 

 the Pyrethrum cineraria'folium could be suc- 

 cessfully grown. The Florida Dispatch, in a re- 

 cent number, expresses its belief that the soil 

 and climate of that State are i«irticularly fitted 

 for it. Silicious and dry soil is best adapted to 

 its cultivation. Moisture and ^he presence of 

 clay is in.jurious, the plant being extremely sen- 

 sitive to an e.xeess of water, and would in such a 

 case perish immediately. The seeds should be 

 planted in seed beds, the earlier the better if 

 season is favorable, and the beds frequently 

 watered until the seeds germinate. After the 

 plants ha\e attained a suffleient size they are 

 transplanted about 20 inches apart in their per- 

 manent place. The plant is a perennial and com- 

 mences to bloom the second year. No particular 

 cultivation is required or necessary except to 

 keep the ground free of weeds, and fertilized 

 occasionally, if unusually poor. Pyrethrum 

 roseum has also been grown successfully and 

 without difficulty, not only in Florida, but also 

 in various other states, north as well as south, 

 and indeed nearly everywhere where tried. The 

 heads should be gathered during dry weather, 

 just before they open. They must not be ex- 

 posed to the sun or to artificial heat, but care- 

 fully dried under cover, and then packed tightly 

 in sacks ready to ship to the manufacturers. The 

 stalks are also utilized, after the blooming season 

 is over. They are cut about four inches from the 

 ground, dried in the same manner as the blossoms, 

 and mixed with them in the proportion of their 

 weight.— K. G. T. 



GoLiDEN Beauty Plum. I send you by mail a 

 clump of the Golden Beauty Plum alluded to re- 

 cently to show you its productiveness, in which 

 it surpasses all other plums I ever met with; and 

 unless thinned out severely it is no good. I could 

 have shown you limbs a yard long strung all 

 along just as this bunch is. It is among the 

 latest, and although not of a very high tone, is 

 sweet and pleasant. Nearly a freestone. Makes 

 a very nice preserve. Will grow on any kind of 

 Plum or Peach root. Very strong grower and 

 bears early. When properly grown they will 

 average a little over an inch in diameter, per- 

 fectly round, of a pale golden yellow. I shall 

 market mine in boxes and crates, same as we do 

 Strawberries. This variety with Blue Damsons 

 in alternate boxes make a pretty show. — S.Milkr. 



Two Best Chickasaws. In the nursery con- 

 vention repea-t I am made to say that the Forest 

 Rose and Maquoketa are the best of the Chicka- 

 saw family. This is correct in the sense I in- 

 tended, viz : These varieties are hardier in wood 

 and fruit bud than any of these species we have 

 tried, and they bear annual crops without much 

 regard to the weather, or the theory that the 

 varieties of this species will not bear at the north 

 unless fertilized by other sorts. In size and 

 quality they are not superior to the Wild Goose, 

 which is not hardy with us. 



Rhus Cotinu.s. The note on the fine exhibit 

 of the wood of Rhita Cotbuix, or R. Cotinoid^ti, as 

 I believe the botanists call the Alabama species, 

 brings to mind the fact that the Purple Fringe 

 of South Europe, as found in the eastern nurser- 

 ies, is not hardy here. But we have a larger 

 growing variety from East Europe that is per- 

 fect, and I think more beautiful in foliage and 

 flower. It is now twelve or more feet in height, 

 and attracts much attention. This I believe is 

 the true " Shittira Wood " of the Bible. 



Dwarf Juneberries. We have gathered the 

 Dwarf Juneberries of Massachusetts, of the 

 varied neighborhoods of the Western States, from 

 the Rocky Mountains, and from East Europe 

 and Central Asia. We have just tested the ripe 

 fruit— protected from the birds by mosquito bar 

 —of fifteen varieties and species. In my opinion 

 all of the largest and best are reducible to three 

 species, Wz.: AmelancJiirralitlna, A. hotryaiiium 

 of Europe, and A. lanclfiiUa of Asia. Of our 

 native varieties the largest and best fruit is from 

 the A. alpina of the mountain slopes west of 



northi'rn Texas, of the European species the 

 varieties brought to public notice by Dr. Hall, of 

 Davenport, Iowa, Mr. Williams, of Chester Cen- 

 ter, Iowa, Mr Carpenter, of Fairbury, Neb., and 

 othei-s, are practically the same thing. All of 

 them are small in size of plant, great bearers, and 

 the plant is as large,and I think, as good as the 

 largest of the swamp Huckleberries. But with 

 us the fruit is not obtainable unless protected 

 from the birds by netting well put on. But I am 

 told that plantations of an acre or more are not 

 seriously interfered with, probably for the reason 

 that the birds of the near vicinity do not make 

 much show with a large crop. In my opinion 

 the only hope of materiall.v improving the size 

 and (luality of the berry is by crossing them with 

 the true Service tree of west Europe, and that 

 won Id probably increase the size of the plant. 



Triu.mph of Asia. Of this new race of the 

 Melon, Prof. E. S Golf says in the report of the 

 Geneva station: " Plant moderately vigorous, 

 productive, stems three to five feet long, fruit 

 roundish or slightl.v oval, very dark mottled 

 green without stripes; well developed specimens 

 7i4 inches in diameter; flesh rich red, very sweet 

 and pleasant, seeds small black." As this was 

 introduced from Asia by the writer, I wish to 

 add that this Melon will ripen at the west on any 

 good Corn soil, and with as little care in planting 

 and cultivating as is needed by the hardy 

 Squashes. Last year it gave us a full crop on a 

 piece of ground on which the common Melons 

 would have proven a total failure, and planted 

 about the firstof June. Another peculiarity not 

 noted by Prof. GoflC is this; Its hard but thin 

 rind preserves the flesh with unimpaired fiavor 

 for many weeks. It was served in fine condition 

 at the horticultural meeting at Cedar Rapids last 

 winter in January, yet the specimens shown 

 were ripe the middle of August. 



Two Valuable Apples. To-day I have been 

 looking up the record of two Iron Clad varieties 

 of the Apple which have been widely tested, and 

 admiring our trees laden with perfect fruit in 

 the orchard. (1) Arahian (No. 184). As intro- 

 duced by the Department of Agriculture, this is 

 a variety of the Duchess family. The tree has 

 proven fully as hardy and it is as early and regu- 

 lar in habits of bearing. At first it was pro- 

 nounced to be Duchess, and some growers have it 

 mixed with the Duchess in nursery and orchard. 

 With us it is fully a week earlier in ripening, the 

 fruit is more definitely striped, is much less acid, 

 and the texture of the flesh is much finer. When 

 ripened in the house it is really a good refreshing 

 dessert Apple. Our students soon learn to pass 

 the Duchess trees to reach this. While it is not 

 true to name the Arabian being a late and differ- 

 ent apple, it will be difficult to change. Hence 

 the true Arabian (No. 2.57) can be called "Arab- 

 ka" as suggested by Mr. Gibb. In the west and 

 cold north the Arabian has come to stay, as it is 

 a far more valuable Apple for home use or mar- 

 ket than the Duchess. (2) Bed Tramparent : 

 This has been long grown in England, and it is 

 found in Ohio and other states under local 

 names. It is true U^ name as imported by the 

 Department as No. ;»S. Its first specimens are 

 small, and the verdict is " of no special value." 

 But in the west we are finding the ti-ec a true 

 Iron-clad, and that a little later than the Duchess 

 it is loaded with handsome and good fruit of the 

 season of Red Astrachan, which it much resem- 

 bles. Indeed it is said that the Astrachan is a 

 seedling of the ancient Red Transparent of Rus- 

 sia. Even the insertion of the stem in the basin 

 is precisely as in the Astrachan. It is about like 

 it in color and size, but mildly sub-acid in fiavor. 

 In addition to its being a much better Apple 

 for home use or market, the tree is proving a 

 heavy and constant bearer while the Astrachan 

 with us rarely gives a full crop, and the tree is 

 not hardy. 



Pruntis Simoni : Three years ago we set out 

 a row of Simon's Plums, using one-year-old 

 plants. Intending to train them laterally on 

 wires, they were set at an angle of over 4.5 degrees, 

 putting nearly all the stem under ground. As 

 they started upright shoots from the stem they 

 were permitted to grow with a view to test the 

 bush plan. At this time they are bushes rather 

 than trees with several stems, and with branches 

 to the ground. In this form they have stood 

 the recent test winters almost perfectly, and 

 are now ijuite well loaded with fruit which is 

 now (July 5) much larger in size than any Plum 

 and wholly free from curculio or gouger marks. 

 As it has been said that the fruit has no value, 

 I will state that in my opinion the authors of such 

 statements have only tried it for des.sert use for 



which its flesh is too firm, and its fiavor not the 

 best. When used for stewing or canning it has 

 the Peach flavor without the Peach bitter. When 

 better known I think it will be prized forculinarj' 

 use on the northern border of the Peach belt.— 

 J. L. BUDD. 



Costly Sugar. That's right, whack away at 

 the sugar trust. Hit hard. Give the express 

 companies a little attention, also. We might not 

 feel so harsh towards them if they ilid not use 

 their influence in Congress to prevent proper 

 j)ostal legislation. Has it occurred to the reader 

 that when he goes to buy clothes or shoes or a 

 stove or a hoe he must pay a certain price, for 

 the dealer says it has cost so much and he cannot 

 take less, and the manufacturer has said this be- 

 fore the dealer? If we are not disposed to pay 

 the price we must do without the shoes or hoe or 

 dress. But when we come to sell we can not say 

 that our fruits or vegetables have cost so much 

 and we must have that and a living profit. Oh, no. 

 The price is again fixed for us, and without ref- 

 erence to the cost of our products. We can not 

 make prices when we buy or when we sell. Why 

 is this? And is it not responsible for some of 

 our hard times? 



The Soft Maple. One serious objection to 

 this tree is that no other is more infested with 

 worms. One cannot rest well in the hammock 

 when worms are continually dropping upon him 

 or her. Nor does one enjoy eating in the shade 

 of the trees when worms are falling on the table. 

 All in all. the Box Elder is the most satisfactory 

 shade tree for me. It grows fast and strong, 

 makes a dense shade, and is beautiful and clean. 

 The Linden is indeed a good shade tree, but it 

 will not everywhere do so well as for Prof. Cook. 

 New Strawberries. This season has in- 

 creased hereabouts the popularity of Bubach's 

 No. 5 and Warfield No. 2. Lady Ru.sk, originated 

 by one of the largest Strawberry growers in the 

 country and by him well tested, is being tested 

 in a score of States, and I predict that it is one of 

 the coming berries. Sucker State still holds its 

 place. Jessie has been disappointing. The most 

 money is yet in the fruit or vegetable that pro- 

 duces the greatest quantity of fine appearance 

 in the general market. Nine out of every ten 

 final purchasers are ignorant of varieties. They 

 cannot recognize one variety from another, nor 

 do they know the characteristics of each variety. 

 In fact, many don't know even the names. In 

 buying, they make price the firet thing. Low 

 price sells. Next comes general appearance. If 

 the article is handsome, it goes. In time the 

 mass of buyers may be educated beyond this, but 

 they are not so educated at present. When they 

 are so educated, it will pay to raise the best all 

 around berry, and to put the name of the variety 

 with your name on the crate. Now, a grower 

 may find enough people who know a good berry 

 and will pay tor it, to make it worth while for 

 him to bother with these special customers. But 

 most growers will find it most profitable as yet 

 to look out for only quantity and looks. 



Bagging Grapes. I don't believe it pays to 

 bag Grapes for market. It may for home use- 

 certainly will if you use Concord. Bagged Con- 

 cord are of good quality. 



Potatoes Running Out. The Western Rural 

 makes its assertion too broad when it says " there 

 will he no danger of a variety of Potatoes ' run- 

 ning out ' if the best tubers are saved for seed 

 each year," as quoted by you. Fertile soil and 

 good cultivation are more important. Poor 

 ground and poor cultivation, more than small 

 tubers for seed, cause Potatoes to deteriorate. 

 To good seed you must add good soil and good 

 c\iltivation if you would not have your Potatoes 

 ran out. -Jnhn M. Stahl, Adamx Co., Til. 



Gladiolus. Yes, the proper time to plant 

 Gladiolus bulbs to get the best results is, as stated 

 on page 221, in July. But it will not do to let that 

 statement go without an explanation. The bulbs 

 to be planted in that season must be kept in a 

 cool, dry place or they will become so dry that 

 their vitality, in a measure, will have become im- 

 paired, which will not do. For autumn fiower- 

 ing select the strongest bulbs; when taken up 

 put them in a cellar during winter, where the 

 temperature is but little above the freezing point; 

 let the room be dark, and allow but little circu- 

 lation of air. In such a place the bulbs will be 

 but little dried or shrunken in July. Then give 

 them the best place the garden affords, and the 

 result will be all that could be desired. Spikes 

 of immense length, Bowel's of enormous size with 

 sul)stance to match; results that cannot lie ob- 

 tained in midsummer.— C. L. AUcn. 



