1887. 



POPULAR GARDENING. 



139 



clusters of buds show, nip the top of the shoot. 

 For Grapes the soil need not be of the richest, but 

 such as it is requires constant cultivation. 



Insects. See article elsewhere on this subject. 



Flanting of trees yet undone must be hastened 

 with all possible speed. 



Shoots, All superfluous shoots on stalks that 

 have been grafted or budded to be removed imme- 

 diately they start, as by neglect till the growth of 

 the former should occur, a more or less serious 

 check would necessarily follow to the graft 



Strawberries. Young plants require a season of 

 growth before they will bear well. Old beds 

 covered with straw should have this parted to 

 allow the plants to grow, but leaving it in place 

 until after the frost is gone. Beds not having a 

 winter mulch, to be hoed, and a light mulch put 

 on before the fruit forms. On small plots liquid 

 manure may also be applied early with advantage. 



VEGETABLE GARDEN. 



Asparagus. The cutting of this excellent vege- 

 table is too often done in a manner that spoils 

 more shoots than are gathered. The time to cut is 

 when the spears are six or eight inches long. Then 

 a sharp-bladcd knife should be used, thrusting it 

 down alongside the shoots, as shown at A in the 

 accompanying engraving, until the point is about 

 two inches deep, when with a downward bhift of 

 the handle, and pushing the knife ahead merely to 

 sever the stalk, the end is gained, with little or no 

 harm to neighboring shoots. This method is iu 

 striking contrast to the reckless one shown at B. 

 Beds that have been planted but for one or two 

 years mu&t not be cut very close. 



Beans- As the soil becomes warm, both bush 

 and Limas may be planted. Where Limas have 

 been started under glass the putting out should 

 be delayed until June 1st for northern sections 



Beets, As soon as they come to a handling 

 size, fill out any vacant places in the rows by 

 transplanting from spots too thickly set, choosing 

 a moist day for the operation. 



Sweet Corn not to be planted before Cherry 

 blossoms begin to fall. 



Cuciunbers may be grown in vacated frames 

 and hot-beds, planting the seeds or such plants as 

 have been started inside, giving protection with 

 glass at night for some time to come. 



Egg Plant. This vegetable delights above all 

 else in heat, requiring a temperature of 70° to 75°, 

 and to be kept growing, without check, from the 

 first, and not planting out earlier than June first. 



Herbs may be sown early this month, either for 

 transplanting, or where they are to grow. The 

 varieties usually sown for market, growing them 

 after early Cabbage is gone, are Summer Savory, 

 Thyme, Sage and Sweet Jlarjoram. Herbs require 

 a moderately strong soil, with good tillage. 



Horse-radisll roots one-quarter to one-half inch 

 in diameter, cut into pieces four to six inches long, 

 called "set,'^," are used for planting. This vege- 

 table is usually grown as a second crop in alternate 

 rows one foot apart, with Early Cabbage or Beets. 

 Plant the "sets'" deep enough to bring their tops 

 three or four inches below the surface. 



much, by going over the soil just as the rows can 

 be discerned with a rake. thus destroying one batch 

 with little effort. The crop thus getting a start 

 ahead of the weeds, may the easier be kept clean. 



FRUIT AND VEGETABLES UNDER 

 GLASS. 



Cucumbers should have all the sun possible, with 

 somewhat free ventilation. Some night protec- 

 tion is yet necessary. 



Figs. As soon as the fruit is off from the early 

 trees, the foliage is to be copiously syringed for 

 dislodging whatever red spider has gained a foot- 

 hold. A fresh supply of manure should take the 

 place of the old mulch. Ventilate freely and for 

 second crop repeat directions just given. 



Fines. At this season of strong growth they 

 should be plunged near the glass, ventilating from 

 the ridge of the house. Some covering will be 

 necessary at night. A night temperature of TC* to 

 75'', with 9b° during the day, is about right. Wet 

 down the walls, walks, etc. To promote fruit 

 swelling, water the plants with guano water. 



Strawberries in pots should not be kept in 

 houses in which Grapes or like plants, which at 

 times might be injured by red spider, are growing. 



This being the People'8 Paper, it ia open to all their 

 Inquiries bearing on gardening, lo ensure replies in the 

 following month'' s pape r the inquiries must reach us prior 



to the \ith inst,, and then answer, 

 possible. 



nay not always be 



Asparagits Cutting.—Good arid Bad. 



Martynia for pickles should be sown in rich 

 soil, transplanting them a month later to a distance , 

 of two feet by two feet apart. 



Peas to be trellised or bushed as soon as fau-ly 

 up. Sowings for a succession may yet be made. 



Pepper. See direetions for Egg Plant. 



Tools, It is true economy to have good working 

 tools, kept in a clean, sharp condition, and when 

 not in use, to be housed in a proper place 



Weeds, if the weeds are allowed to get ahead 

 in the beginning, the usual result is a deal more 

 labor in keeping the crops clean, than if the noxious 

 growth is taken in hand early, even before it starts 



Replies to Inquiries are earnestly requested from our 

 readers. In anstoi'ring such give the number, your 

 locality and name, tlie latter not for publication, unless 

 you desire. H'rite only on one side of the paper. 



383. Soot Water for Plants. I see this fre- 

 quently recommended as a fertilizer. Will some 

 one tell me how it should be prepared, and whether 

 it will answer for pot plants!' J. L. V. 



284. Mildew in the Early Grapery. Will some 

 vine-growing reader please give a cure for mildew 

 in my new grapery? Sulphur on the pipes, as 

 recommended, does not help the case. G. R., 

 Philadelphia, Fa. 



285 Peaches in West Virginia. I am 24 miles 

 from the railroad, but in a section where Peaches 

 succeed well. Will it pay me to grow them? 



286. Beautifying a Rock Mound, How can 

 I beautify a natural mound of rocks, not quite 

 boulders, but too large to be removed, situated on 

 a hillside and in front of the dwelling. Also a mass 

 of boulders on the banks of a dry brook that is 

 devoid of shade. 



287. Arranging Trees, etc. Can you give me 

 an idea of planting trees, shrubs and flowers and 

 situating rustic objects on a large sloping lawn, 

 bounded by a brook? No view beyond brook but 

 pine forest, W. M. B. 



288. Grafting Question. Can I graft Pear and 

 Quince on Apple, or bud them? Mrs. H. G. M. 



289. Evaporating Question. When an evapor- 

 ator is said to dry lOU bushels of Apples in a given 

 time how many bushels of black or red Raspberries 

 should it cure in the same time? 



290. Gloriosa Superba. Will you please tell me 

 how this plant should be managed? I received 

 one lately, but am so afraid of spoiling it that I 

 ask you this. Mrs. S. B., Philadelphia, Pa. 



291. Culture of Aquatics. Will Nelumbium and 

 Water Lilies grow in same depth of water, and 

 what depth is best? Will mixture of old cow ma- 

 nure and loam make a suitable rich mud. and what 

 depth is required? J. B. Duff, Allegheny Co., Pa. 



292. Mice Destroying Bulbs. In uncovering 

 the bulbs that were set last fall I find them almost 

 wholly consumed by mice. What can be done to 

 prevent such a trouble being repeated with my 

 plantings this fall ? 



293. Canning Strawberries. Can you give us 

 a rule for putting up Strawberries in jars so as to 

 retain their color and larmness? A. S. Rounds. 



291. Calla Flowers Failing. Will you please 

 tell me why the blossoms on my Calla don't 

 open. The plant is nice and thrifty and the blos- 

 soms seemingly are almost ready to open, yet 

 never do so? Mrs. E. H., Tidimit^ Pa. 



295. A Selection of Annuals. May I ask you to 



name the annuals which you deem most appropri- 

 ate for a tlower garden? H. W. L., Ottawa, Canada. 



2iK). Snails Devouring Lettuce, If you could 

 give me a remedy t(i prevent this trouble you would 

 do a great favor. K. W. L., Daytun, O. 



297. Pruning Grapes. Recently you said: "Do 

 not uncover Urape-vines until well on in April.'' 

 Here we prune before that time. If we prune late 

 in April would not the vines bleed too much? 



29H. Ground or Root Aphis, Is there any means 

 by which the work of this insect may be checked? 

 G. G., Sivampscott^ Mass. 



299. Boot Pruning, Do you recommend root 

 pruning of nonbearmg fruit trees early in the 

 spring? R., Turunto, Out. 



300. Paint for Tree Wounds, Etc. What paint, 

 tar or mixture would you use on the bare wood, 

 where limbs have been sawed off for any reason? 



301. Loose Bark on Trees, Is it beneficial to 

 fruit trees to remove any or all loose bark? 



302. Bark Peeling Off. What should be done 

 with fruit trees where the bark has partly loosened 

 by atmospheric intluences, sometimes showmg 

 suncracksV A. G. M.. Kokomo, Jnd. 



303. Bings in Wood Indicating Age. There 

 is a dispute between myself and a friend as to 

 whether each ring seen in the cross section of a 

 tree indicates a year of age, as is generally sup- 

 posed, and we would like your opinion. G. L. M., 

 Harford Co , Md. 



304. Gooseberries for Profit, Is this fruit con- 

 sidered to be one profitable for market culture by 

 those who have tried it? CM Vf.,NiagaraCo.,N.Y. 



305. Trellising Grapes. Will some experienced 

 vineyard ist give an inexperienc d grape grower a 

 few points on trellising an acre of this fruit?— 

 Beqinnek, Black Hawk Co., Illinois. 



306. Worms in Lawns. I am satisfied thai my 

 lawn last season was badly infested with angle 

 worms. Can any one give a remedy; also a ferti- 

 lizer for grass? Amateur, Chester Co., Pa. 



307. Weeding Lawns. What is the best course 

 to take in dealing with weeds here— Dandelions, 

 Plantain, Buttercups, etc? C. K , Brantford, Ont. 



308. Saving Cineraria Seed. I would be obUged 

 for some experienced florist's ideas on how this is 

 best done. Jules Raze, Kalamazoo Co., Mich. 



309. Dwarf Apple Management. I have plant- 

 ed some Apples on Paradise stock this spring and 

 would feel obliged for instructions on treating 

 them Young Orchardist. 



310. Bed for Bog Plants. I should be glad to 

 know how best to prepare a flower bed in which 

 I wish to grow moisture-loving plants. To keep the 

 ground moist 1 presume that there must be a con- 

 stant, slight flow of water on to the bed. How is 

 it drained away? S. D . M., Buffalo, iV. F. 



311. The *' Best " Gladioluses. Will you please 

 name fifteen of the very best Gladioli without re- 

 gard to price? J. W. C., Rockville, iMass. 



312. Belmont Strawberry. Is this variety a 

 pistillate or self fertilizing flower? Subscriber. 



313. Beports of Horticultural Societies, where 

 can I get these and at what cost. E. V. K. H., 

 Crawford Co., Pa. 



314. Fruit Growing in Virginia. I can buy a 

 large farm near Petersburg, and would Uke to ask 

 if all small fruits would do well in that part of 

 the State. Will Peaches succeed? A Subscriber. 



315. Crates for Pint Baskets. What size would 



you recommend these to be, giving general dimen- 

 sions so I can make them? Frltit Grower. 



REPLIES TO INQUIRIES. 



207. Oranges as Window Plants. Oranges are 

 easily grown and bloomed in an ordinary sitting 

 room window. Sow the seed separately in small 

 pots in light, rich soil, watering with tepid water, 

 and keeping in a warm place covered with glass 

 over each pot, till the seedlings show, which will be 

 in about a month. Then place in a window, water- 

 ing with care, as the ground must not become sod- 

 den. By NovembtT fine little plants should be had, 

 and from then uutil March but little water will be 

 needed to keep the roots moist. At this time, as 

 the plants begin to grow, shift into 5-inch pots, 

 with rich soil and good drainage. Remove the dust 

 from the leaves with a sponge. With a continuance 

 of this and care in giving water, a few flowers will 

 sometimes show the second j-ear. But grafting is 

 usually performed on such stock, causmg more 

 certain and profuse blooming, as in some instances 

 seedlings may be years without showing signs of 

 flowering. E. S., Erie Co., N. Y. 



269. Bees and Grapes. We can safely say that 

 bees do not injure sound Grapes. In the fall, when 

 they are over-ripe, and the weather is just right, 

 the Grapes crack and then the bees make trouble. 

 Which is practical, to shut up the bees or to protect 

 the Grapes, or is either? In some places Grapes can 

 be raised only by bagging them, because of the rot. 

 This baggmg greatly improves the Grapes and fur- 

 nishes protection against bees as well as rot. There 

 is another side to this matter. It can be proved, 

 and our best horticulturists now admit, that Grapes 

 cannot be successfully grown without the aid of 

 the bees in fertilizing the blossoms. Prof. Cook, 

 Agricultural College, Mich. 



^H'J. Evaporating Question. In our judgment 

 an evaporator should dry 20 to 25 and possibly 30 

 bushels of Raspberries iu the same space required 

 for 100 bushels of apples. A. M. P. 



21)0. Gloriosa Superba Culture. This handsome 

 climber, in common with the other species of this 



