POPULAR GARDENING. 



October, 



Some InterestingGrapeTalk Uttered 

 at the Late Cleveland Convention. 



George Husmann, of California, in a paper said 

 he believed California to be pre-eminently the horti- 

 cultural State of the country. Their wines are now 

 competing with the best of the world; their raisins 

 with London layers. The wine yield this year will 

 reach 20,000,000 gallons. Apples grow to perfection 

 side by side with the Orange and Lemon. . . . 

 Mr. Cushman. of Ohio, paid a tribute to the Concord 

 Grape. , . . Mr. Tryon resented a criticism on 

 the Concord— the Grape of the million. . . . F. C. 

 Miller: Worden, a seedling of the Concord, was 

 much superior to it. Had tried Worden and was 

 much pleased. . . Mr. Cushman: It has been re- 

 ported that Worden does not hold to the stem. . . 

 T. S. Hubbard: Had traveled among Eastern 

 vineyards, and his examinations had been very 

 favorable to Worden. All reports were to the effect 

 that the Worden clung to the stem. The original 

 vine had yielded 110 pounds of Grapes during each 

 of the past three years. The crops this year were 

 the finest ever seen; there was no rot. Concord 

 not as heavy as lastyear; Delaware doing well. The 

 Worden is larger and more attractive than Concord, 

 ripening a week or ten days earlier. . . . Mr. 

 Greinersaw Wordens drop at Grand Rapids, but 

 this was due to wood ashes around the vines. . . 

 Mr- Hollister, of Missouri: Crop in his State very 

 short; fruit rotting badly. Deprecated raising early 

 Grapes and selling them before ripe. . . . Mr. 

 Albaugh said a, grower in Ohio had sown Oats be- 

 tween the vines and had thus prevented rotting. 

 . . Dr. McKay, of Mississippi: Grapes had not 

 done well this year. Concord had done the best. 

 Some hked the Ives, but generally the Concord 

 thrived the best. The Scuppernong never failed, 

 but was not good for market. Thought the rot this 

 year was caused by 30 days of constant showers. 

 . . Professor McKay, of Mississippi: In some 

 parts the Delaware succeeded well. Trimming 

 helped the fi-uit, the berry growing larger and of 

 better color. . . . Mr. Miller, of Ohio: His 

 Grapes were rotting badly; used sulphate of iron as 

 a disinfectant, and it stopped the rot. From 1 to 3 

 lbs. put around each vine, in June or July, sufficed. 

 Others had tried it with the same result, . . . 

 Mr. Lindley, of North Carolina: Grape culture is in- 

 creasing in that State. It is the home of the Scup- 

 pernong; sometimes one vine covers 3 acres of 

 ground. Grow about 75 varieties, raising the finest 

 Grapes in the country. Best paying fruits are the 

 Ives and Champion. . . . Mr. Van Deman, of 

 Kansas: Crop very good this year. Had been 

 through Texas and Arkansas, and found all common 

 varieties thriving. . . . Mr. Munsen, of Texas, 

 was crossing of their wildlings with domestic Grapes, 

 and has some of the finest Grapes I have seen. . . 

 G. W. Campbell, of Ohio: We have many ama- 

 teur growers This year is the best since 1849. The 

 Tolman is an abomination, but it colors early, and 

 gets good prices. Worden is superior to and earlier 

 than Concord; it is a poor shipping grape. . . . 

 Mr. Carpenter: High culture helped produce better 

 fruit and prevented rot ... Mr. Tiraara spoke 

 of Grape culture in Japan. . . . Mr. Cushman, 

 Ohio: The Brighton had mildewed here; Pockling- 

 ton is a slow grower, but the best of the whites. 

 Loads of them are now sold in Cleveland. Early 

 Victor is not very early; is small and unproductive; 

 Jefferson not much thought of; Wyoming Red was 

 favorably noticed; Vergennes promises well; Moore's 

 Early the best early Grape for all regions; Monte- 

 fiore is doing well about Cleveland; Niagara and 

 Empire State reasonably promising. . . . Presi- 

 dent Earle: Where Grapes rot they can be grown 

 by the bagging system It improves the taste. Cost 

 does not exceed one-half cent a pound for inclosing 

 in paper bags. Ulster Prolific is promising for all 

 regions. By cold storage Grapescan be kept almost 

 the year round. . . . G. W. Campbell: Those 

 who will not care for the vines must be content with 

 inferior kinds. The best culture will give the best 

 results. Thirty years ago planted a Delaware; with 

 great care 3 years later there were 9 canes and 

 about 300 clusters; 200 were cut off and all but 4 off- 

 shoots. The 100 bunches were as fine Delawares as 

 I have ever seen. Some won a silver medal. Had 

 the vine been without care, the fourth year would 

 have seen 300 clusters all small and the vine ex- 

 hausted. Have never seen Delaware rot. The Ives 

 and others of that class in Central Ohio are in winter 

 often injured, but with no indication of damage 

 until the following season; winter protection is often 

 the turning point between highest success and com- 

 plete failure. Injured vines are susceptible to dis- 

 ease and mildew. Would advise planting the best 

 varieties, for while the poorest are a drug, the best 

 always bring good prices. . . . Mr. Green: 

 Grapes as food are cheaper than any other food, 



being also delicious and attractive. . . . Mr. 

 Ohmer: Should be grown by everybody. In cities 

 vines would climb walls or trellises in the yard, with 

 as little care as any vine needs. . . . Mr. Ford, 

 of Ohio: Vines protect buildings; never had seen 

 rot on vines on house walls. . . . Mr. Van De- 

 man advised that all tender vines be grown on north 

 side of buildings. Winter killing is the result of 

 evaporating influences, and on the north side 

 changes of temperature are small and evaporation 

 less Vines flourish here, but they are late in ma- 

 turing. . . . Mr. Crawford: The only fruit that 

 every man could cidtivate; would plant on the east 

 or south side of house, and train to north side. . 

 Mr. Pierce: Grapes would not grow on the north 

 side of the house . . . Mr. Ward: Vines about 

 houses absorbed some salt, and this prevented rot. 



This being the People's Paper, it is open to all their In - 

 quiries bearing on gardening. On the otherhand. Answers 

 to Inquiries are earnestly requested from readers. 



The editors and special contributors are ready to do a 

 large share of the ail steering, but the experience of many 

 being more valuable than of thefeto, hoirever varied that is. 

 and conditions and localities being so different, they prefer 

 to receive ansicers, even several of them to the same ques- 

 tion, from readers ei'eryirhere. Don't hesitate to send 

 answers because you may feel you are no fine writer; we 

 will see that they appear in good shape. 



In writing, give the nurnber of the question you are an- 

 swerittg, your locality and name, the latter not for publica- 

 tion, uttlcss you desire. Write only on one side of the paper. 



Flowers gladly named, provided, first, that no more than 

 three be sent atone time; second, that these be fully prepaid; 

 third, that several specimens of each reach us in good shape. 

 We cannot undertake to name florists' varieties. 



123. Pomegranate not Blooming. I got a 

 plant in Laredo, Tex., said to be double, color sal- 

 mon and pink. Have had it in a pot this summer; 

 it is root-bound, has not bloomed, and seems to need 

 pruning. Please give me full directions for treat- 

 ment, winter and summer. 



123. Orange not Blooming. I have a 5-year-old 

 Orange plant which has been budded. Have had it 

 in open ground for two summers; the plant seems 

 strong but does not grow very large and has never 

 bloomed. What is the trouble? Zanesville. 



124. Ivy Geraniums in Cellar. Will some one 

 please tell me if an Ivy Geranium will live in the 

 cellar through the winter. 



125. Gloxinias Treatment. Also, if I must keep 

 Gloxinias growing until they bloom? I have some 

 quite nice ones that have not bloomed yet, and I 

 thought they ought not to be dried off until they 

 did. LiDE Pens. 



126. Polyantha Roses South. Will they suc- 

 ceed summer and winter in the open ground in 

 middle Georgia? 



127. Begonias. Do the plants require to be pot- 

 bound for best results? When is the best time to 

 repot? Mrs. B. 



128. Daphne odora. I have had a nice looking 

 plant, 1 foot or more high, for these 4 years. Good 

 care through winters, planted out in summer, and it 

 never has flowered yet, though looking very healthy. 

 What is the reason of this? Sarah Hindks. 



129 Planting Magnolias. Will someone please 

 tell me when to plant and how to treat Magnolia? 

 A Pennsylvania Si'bsc^riber. 



130. Scale on Plants. Please inform me how to 

 rid plants of scale. They are exceedingly trouble- 

 some. Mrs. Lucy M. Carey. 



131. Wasps. Can any one inform me as to the 

 best mode of destroying their nests. We are over- 

 run with them. N. M. 



132. Garden Walks. What can be done with 



my walks? They have had no new gravel, or any- 

 thing done to them for some years, and are full of 

 holes, and the weeds grow through them. Any in- 

 formation as to the cheapest and best method wiU 

 be gladly received. M. C. E. 



im. Lapageria not Blooming. I have a fine 

 Lapageria rosea It is in its fourth year and has 

 not flowered. It is growing up netting fixed to a 



flass partition between greenhouse and vinery, and 

 as plenty of light. Its stems are bare for about 3 

 or 4 feet, but its extremities are well covered with 

 young leaves. Should I make cuttings of these, or 

 cut the whole plant back, and if so, how much and 

 when? BuRNsiDE, Morgan Co., HI. 



134. Turnips Decaying. I send a sample of my 

 Turnips as affected by rot. What cause can you 

 ascribe? John R. Walsh, Cuyahoga Co., Ohio. 



135. Concerning Amaryllis. Are they to be 

 put in the cellar during winter? Also what color is 

 the Johnsonii,and where can we procure Amarylhs 

 seeds Mrs. A E. D., Hastings. Mich. 



REPLIES TO INQUIRIES. 



109. Year-old Primrose, Such may be treated 

 for future use by soaking the ball of earth, remov- 



ing athird or more of the soil and putting back in the 

 same-sized pots or a size smaller, using light fresh 

 earth The pots must be perfectly clean. Remove 

 some of the poorer leaves. Shade for a week. 



110. Clematis Protection. Cut the growth 

 down to within 2 feet of the soil late in autumn, then 

 protect with a forkful of coarse litter. A. H. E. 



111. Well-water for Plants. Rain-water is per- 

 haps to be preferred, other things being equal . Still 

 we may say, after having used tens of thousands of 

 barrels of both on plants, that we have never been 

 able to see any special gain from using ram-water. 



113. Boses for bloom may be kept in either 

 temperature (60° and 45°); the flowers will come 

 sooner in the former, but be finer in the latter. 



122. Pomegranate not Blooming. Perhaps it 

 has too much shade. It doesn't like that. Given 

 rich soil, good drainage, plenty of sunlight in the 

 summer time, and then the protection of a cool 

 greenhouse or of a cellar in the winter, and the 

 plant should delight you with blossoms. They do 

 not need much pruning, only enough to regulate 

 the general shape,— more will be at the expense of 

 bloom. The time to repot is just after being taken 

 from the winter quarters. 



IS6. Polyantha Roses South. These Roses are 

 moderately hardy, hence should succeed readily in 

 the open air the year through in Middle Georgia. 



127. Begonias, like most other plants,flower finer 

 for being in a measure pot-bound at the time. A 

 better way of saying this is, that while plant growth 

 is active the plants should be shifted into larger 



Eots each time before they become much pot-bound, 

 ut when the flowering season is at hand, cease 

 from this. Then after the flowering season is past, 

 let the plants rest for a spell, by withholding free 

 watering, after which shift up for a new season of 

 growth and bloom. A. H. E. 



139. Planting Magnolias. To insure success in 

 their transplanting, they should be moved in the 

 spring, never in the fall; and the Chinese varieties 

 at that period when they are coming into bloom; 

 and, consequently, before the leaves make their ap- 

 pearance. Great care should be exercised in their 

 removal, the fibrous roots being preserved as nearly 

 as possible, and carefully gxiarded from any expos- 

 ure to wind or sun. VVhile almost any good soil is 

 sufficient to insure their growth, they succeed best 

 in a soil which is warm, rich and dry.— Ellwanger 

 dt Bari-y's Catalogue. 



106. Artificial Fountain. To make a fountain 

 there must be a head of water, a flow pipe with dis- 

 charging jet, a fountain basin and an overflow or 

 waste pipe. The head of water may be found 

 either in public water works having some force, or 

 in water from an elevated tank, a% in the loft of 

 some adjoining building. This tank may be a com- 

 mon stave cistern, and should be large enough to 

 hold water for a flow of a week or more. A 

 force pump worked by hand or by a windmill - 

 should connect the supply tank with the well or 

 cistern. Provision might also be made to conduct 

 the water from the eaves of the roof to the tank. 

 The higher this tank the stronger and more lively 

 will be the fountain. The pipe should be ordinary 

 1-inch water pipe, extending underneath theground 

 from the tank or street water pipes to the fountain. 

 Whether a regular fountain stand of fancy iron or 

 copper be used, or instead simply a jet from the 

 supply pipe, at the surface of the water in the tank, 

 is a matter of taste; the latter is pleasing and in- 

 expensive In either case the pipe should terminate 

 in a screw top to regulate the jet. The fountain 

 basin should be made of brick laid in cement and 

 resting on a stone foundation; the inside of the 

 basin should be cemented smooth The overflow 

 may consist of an erect iron pipe extending from 

 the bottom, or else from the side near the bottom of 

 the basin, with a strainer top at the desired height 

 of the water, and the lower end connecting with a 

 drain to admit of the escape of the waste. Where 

 these things can be provided it is easy to have a 

 pleasing fountain. 



131. Wasps' Nests. The best way of destroying 

 these insects is with methylated chloroform or cya- 

 nide of potassium. One or two tablespooufuls of 

 the latter quietly injected into the entrance of the 

 nest at night will not interfere with their entrance, 

 and in 2-1 hours they will all be dead. Petroleum 

 injected in and then ignited is good, but the potas- 

 sium is the best. L. P. J . 



134. Turnips Decaying. The symptoms are 

 those of over-manuring. Turnips like liberal treat- 

 ment; but when too much forced decay often sets 

 in, and such is probably the cause of your failure. 



135. Concerning Amaryllis. They may be kept 

 in cellars during 3 months of the coldest weather. 

 Johnsonii spectabiUs. a quite common variety, is 

 wine-red with white stripes. Seeds can be procured 

 of John Saul. Washington, D. C Should be sown 

 as soon as ripe, or while fresh. W. F. L. 



128. Gloxinia Treatment. They usually, but 

 not always, flower the first season. In either case 

 they should towards fall go to rest, by withholding 

 water gradually, until the leaves turn yellow. Then 

 they may be laid under the greenhouse pipes or 

 place of about the same degree of heat, the pots 

 turned on their sides, here to remain until spring. 

 About the middle of March they should show signs 

 of new growth, and then the old soil should be care- 



