178 



POPULAR GARDENING. 



July, 



Wayne, have a full crop of Apples, it means low 

 prices, and when they are short it means high prices . 



As regards Raspberries. AVe have the advantage 

 with this crop over the Strawberries, that when 

 they are cheap we can evaporate them. Last 

 spring every one expected to see the largest cropof 

 Raspberries ever known in this country, and conse- 

 quently very low prices. This was true as regards 

 the prices during the season of gathering the fruit, 

 and although the crop was a large one, it was not 

 near as large as was anticipated; and those who 

 held their evaporated Raspberries till winter real- 

 ized a paying price for them. 



The reasons (in the opinion of your committee.) 

 for the crop not being as large as expected, were; 

 First, the plantatious of berries were in most 

 eases entirely neglected ; no trimming, cultivating 

 or manuring being done. Nearly every one seemed 

 to have lost his confidence in evaporating Rasp- 

 berries. Second, the dry weather just before and 

 during the fi-rst pickings hurt them. And thirdly, 

 the cost of picking them was so near the entire 

 value of the berries, that where the crop was poor, 

 it did not pay to pick them. The prevailing price 

 paid for them at the evaporators was three and a 

 half cents for twenty ounces, and the price for 

 picking was from one and one-half to two cents 

 per quart. Thus leaving the grower from one and 

 one-half to two cents per quart for growing them. 



This may seem an unprofitable price, but we have 

 men who have made it pay even at that price, as 

 4,000 quarts per acre at two cents per quart is 

 SW.OO per acre- Our biggest expense has been the 

 picking. Your conunittee last fall saw three tons 

 of evaporated Raspberries that Mr. Benedict had 

 picked with his picker, at a cost of about one 

 quarter of a cent per quart Although the berries 

 had some stems in them, we understood they were 

 sold within one-half cent per pound of market 

 price, and I understand that now he has an im- 

 provement to take out the stems. 



There were shipped from our county over the 

 Rome and Watertown Road something like 300,iX)0 

 quarts of Raspberries fresh, and we evaporated 

 about :;iOO tons of the same fruit. 



Plum Culture. 



[Report of Commitee of the Kansas State Horti- 

 cultural Society.] 



The trees of the foreign class are not so hardy, 

 productive or long-lived as our natives, and 

 while the fruit is vastly superior, their planting 

 cannot be advised for extensive orchards. 



There are some of the native class which are 

 quite successful, and of which it is quite safe 

 to plant. The trees are hardy, and produce 

 good fruit, little injured by the curculio. 



Site. — The best is one located where fowls 

 frequent the most, as they are a great help in 

 the work of destroying insects, and especially 

 the curculio, which passes from the fallen fruit 

 into the ground. 



Klevation. — This is not an important point 

 in the culture of the Plum, only as it often fur- 

 nishes the most desirable soil, which is more 

 generally found on high prairie land. 



Slope. — No material advantage is found in 

 different slopes. 



Soil.—ThQ foreign class requires a rich, moist, 

 soil, underlain with a stiff clay, which is found more 

 generally on our uplands. The native class thrives 

 best on a sandy surface and subsoil, most largely 

 found on bottom lands, and such locations generally 

 produce abundant crops. 



Drainage. ^Qoo& drainage of the surface and 

 subsoil is desirable, and may produce a success on 

 our uplands equal to that of the bottoms. 



Time for Planting.— ^lirin^ is undoubtedly the 

 best time, and those planters who live within a rea- 

 sonable distance of a reliable nursei-y had better 

 obtain trees in the spring, as there is too much loss 

 in most cases in " heeling in " autumn dug trees. 



Distance to Plant. —The Plum tree does best 

 where closely planted— 12 to 15 feet is recommended. 

 It is claimed by some, and evidently sustained by 

 observation, that dififerent varieties should be 

 planted in nearness to each other, as those natur- 

 ally weak in the fertilizing element will be bene- 

 fllted by the stronger ones. 



Preparation and Laying off of the Ground.— 

 This should he the same as recommended for the 

 Apple. PeatHi, Pear and Cherry. 



Selecting Trees.— In all cases the Plum thrives 

 best when worked on the Plum root The native 

 sorts may be used when worked on the Peach root, 

 but should be set deep, to secure rooting from the 

 Plum . But it is safer to use them worked on Plum. 



Planting. — The recommendations given for other 



orchard trees are safe to follow with Plum trees, 

 excepting in "puddling" the roots, which should 

 never be dipped in a clay mud, but simply in water. 

 Mulching.— This is generally to be recommended, 

 using any old hay or straw. 



PRKPARCD FROM DIARY NOTES BY CHAS E. PARNELL, 

 QUEENS, N. Y. 



HOUSE PLANTS. 



Azalea Indica plants finishing their growth re- 

 quire very careful watering, and free syringing to 

 prevent injury from red spider. 



Begonias for winter blooming to be repotted if 

 necessary. The section with ornamental foliage 

 will now be growing rapidly; for large specimens 

 shift up, being careful not to injure their foliage. 



Chrysanthemums. For fi,ne specimens special 

 attention is now required. Use every available 

 means to secure a robust, healthy growth. In the 

 event of dry weather form a shallow basin aroxmd 

 the plants bedded out, and fill it with coarse manure. 

 Then water copiously two or three times a week 

 and use liquid manure freely. Pinch back the lead- 

 ing shoots occasionally in order to obtain nice com- 

 pact specimens; such as require it to be staked. 



Ferns. To keep them growing rapidly, place in 

 a warm, moist situation and keep well watered. If 

 properly drained there is but little danger of their 

 ever becoming too wet. Guard their fronds against 

 slugs or woodlice. 



Fnchsias. Speciosaand Lord Beaconsfield which 

 have been used for late blooming should be removed 

 from their pots, and planted out in a deep border in 

 a partially shaded situation. 



Geraniums for winter blooming growing in 

 plunged pots, to have their leading shoots pinched 

 back as needed for causing bushiness. Continue to 

 remove all fiower buds the instant they are noticed, 



Jerusalem Cherries, when well grown, rank 

 among the prettiest of window garden plants. 

 During this month treat precisely as advised for 

 Chrysanthemums, except to pinch back their shoots, 

 as they look far prettier when they are permitted to 

 assume their natural manner of growth. 



Pittoaporums should be freely syringed to prevent 

 the red spider from injuring their foliage. 



Vallota purpurea. Water freely with liquid 

 manure as the flower spikes appear. 



Winter plants plunged in pots require special 

 care in watering. Keep perfectly free from all 

 insect pests, support such as require it by means of 

 neat sUikes, while others that are grown in a bush 

 like form should be pinched back occasionally to 

 induce compactness. 



LAWN AND FLOWER GARDEN. 



Caladium esculentum will develop itself to 

 great perfection if treated as advised for Cannas. 



Coleus and other plants growing in ribbon lines 

 and masses, where great compactness is desired, 

 to be nipped or pinched back at least twice a week. 



Cannas should now be growing rapidly. To aid 

 strong development, form basins around the plants 

 and give frequent copious applications of liquid 

 manure, or else fill with coarse stable manure. 



Climbing Vines should be examined occasionally 

 and their young shoots so trained as to cover the 

 desired space. 



Cobsea scandens variegata. This beautiful 

 climber is now growing rapidly, and as young, 

 strong shoots are formed they should be layered, 

 and by this means the plant can easily be increased. 



Geraniums will now be blooming freely. Remove 

 all decayed leaves and flowers at least ouce a week, 

 and in the event of drj' weather, loosen up the siu"- 

 face of the bed and give an abundance of water. 



Gladiolus. As these come into bloom support 

 the flower spike by a neat stake. 



Heliotropes for winter can still be propagated. 



Hibiscus rosa sinensis, and varieties, wiU now 

 root readily from cuttings of the half ripened wood. 



Justicia carnea should be pinched back occa- 

 sionally if ncie specimens are desired. This plant 

 will flower all summer if it is grown in a deep, well- 



enriched border, and watered liberally. Cuttings 

 of the half -ripened wood will root readily now. 



Lawns should be mown as often as a little growth 

 of grass has been made. Keep the edgings clipped . 

 and remove all perennial weeds the instant they 

 are noticed, by cutting them out with a stout knife. 

 Roll thoroughly after every heavy rain. 



Tillage. All beds and borders to be passed over 

 with a light hoe or rake, about once a week, or 

 after each rain, to keep the surface open, to de- 

 stroy weeds, and not the least, to promote an ap- 

 pearance of neatness. This work is so light and 

 pleasant, affording a study of the plants at the same 

 time, that once one gets in the way of it there 

 is little trouble in keeping it up. 



Violets should be well cared for during hot, dry 

 weather. Keep them well cultivated and free from 

 weeds; water if necessary. 



Walks should be frequently raked and rolled. 

 Keep the grass edgings clipped. Indeed it is best 

 to trim the edges and clean the walks thoroughly 

 every time the lawn is mowed. 



Watering should be done thoroughly whenever it 

 is necessary to do so. For single specimens, vines, 

 newly planted trees, shrubs, the best manner is to 

 form a basin about the plants, and then give a 

 thorough soaking. As soon as this has settled away 

 the earth can be replaced, or the basin filled with 

 coarse httery manure. Where flower beds are to 

 be watered, the surface should be thoroughly 

 loosened and a copious supply of water given to- 

 wards evening. The next day stir up the sm-face 

 thoroughly with a rake or hoe. The custom 

 adopted by amateur cultivators of giving a little 

 water daily usually results in injuring the plants. 



PLANT CULTURE UNDER GLASS. 



Agapanthus umbellatus should be given copious 

 supplies of liquid manure from the time the flower 

 spikes make their appearance. 



Caladlums will now be growing rapidly. If fine 

 specimens are desired shift them gradually into 

 larger pots. Keep them in a warm, moist situation 

 and as close to the glass as possible. Of course the 

 glass should be heavily shaded on the outside. 



Calceolarias. Treat as advised for Cinerarias. 



Camellias nmst be carefully watered and well 

 syringed every other evening. 



Cinerarias. Newly started seedlings to be grad- 

 ually shifted into larger pots. Water thoroughly 

 as needed. Give them an abundance of room in 

 which to properly develop themselves, and never 

 permit the leaves of one plant to touch those of 

 another. Scatter tobacco stems freely among them 

 in order to prevent the ravages of the Green-fly. 



Gloxinias should be placed in a warm, moist 

 situation. Water thoroughly when necessarj-, but 

 avoid wetting the foliage. If the plants are per- 

 mitted to sutTer for want of water once or twice 

 their beauty is destroyed for the season. 



G3rmno grammas, popularly known as Gold and 

 Silver Ferns, should be given a warm and moist 

 situation. Keep them well supplied with water at 

 the roots, but avoid syringing them overhead, as it 

 not only removes the beautiful powdery substance 



^^^ 



Hand Tiveezers used on Popular Gardening's Ex- 

 perimental Grounds., for gathering Tomato 

 Wor7}is^ Squash Bugs, and sit)nlar iyisects. Of 

 ordinary light band iron and home-made. 



that covers the underside of the fronds, but fre- 

 <iuently destroys the plants. 



Hardenhergias should be copiously sj'dnged in 

 order to prevent them from becoming infested with 

 the red spider. 



Marantaa are now growing rapidly and will be 

 much benefited by an occasional appUcation of 

 liquid manure. If large specimens are desired, 

 gradually shift into larger pots. Be careful to drain 

 their pots or pans thoroughly. 



Nepenthes must not be permitted to become dry 

 at tlieir roots. 



Orange and Lemon trees should be watered oc- 

 casionally with liquid manure and freely syringed 

 overhead The leaves should be sponged at times. 



Pelargoniums. As soon as these have ceased 

 blooming allow them to become rather dry, trim 

 back into shape and remove to a half shady place. 

 Do not water them until the wounds are healed 

 and the plants start into growth. 



