1887. 



POPULAR GARDENING. 



181 



332. Wallflowers. These plants need good sized 

 pots, say (i inch; they are tender perennials, bloom- 

 ing the second year. Plants raised last year will 

 bloom this, but perhaps not until late in the season. 

 Mine usualy blooms in winter. H. C. T. 



FRUIT CROP PROSPECTS. 



Western New York Fruit Belt. 



E 



Wayne Co. hippies, one-halt crop; Peors, good 

 crop; Plums, poor; Peaches, good where there are 

 trees left; Black Raspberrries, good crop, not quite 

 up to last year; Reds, good crop, not as large area 

 as last season ; Strawberries, ^ood crop. B.J. Case. 



Wayne Co. Apples, one-haltcrop; Peaches, good 

 on existing trees; 6'»iai//ru/7.',-. full crop. A .l.RicE. 



Orleans Co. Apples, Baldwins constitute three- 

 fourths of our orchards, and as these did not blos- 

 som well we cannot count on over ouethird of a 

 crop; Pears, some varieties have dropped their fruit 

 badly. Virgil Booue. 



Orleans Co. Apples, most varieties give promise 

 of an average crop, but Baldwins are almosta total 

 failure, they failed to bloom ; Pears, Bartletts good, 

 Duchess number one in health, foliage and crop; 

 Plums, light; Quinces, look well; Peaches, trees 

 generally looking well. The yellows having been 

 iretty thoroughly medicated, the crop promises to 

 jegood; i'em'es, abundant. In general trees look 

 well, with less insects praying on the foliage than I 

 have ever seen at this season. S. C. Davis. 



Genes.see Co. After visiting a number of or- 

 chards in this county I must report as follows: 

 Ajiples, fair crop, as the proportion of Baldwins is 

 not as large as in Orleans Co. ; Pears, a light crop 

 of Duchessconsidering the extent of the orchards; 

 Other fruits promise well. There are less depreda- 

 tions from insects than tor many years. V. Bogue. 



MoNui.iE Co. Apples, Pears and Plums not above 

 the average in promise, but there is enough fruit 

 set to make good crops; Grapes, the prospect is 

 good: .^mall fruits, good. No serious insect de- 

 predations have begun. Chas. A. Gtreen. 



Seneua (.'0. ^pp(es, an average crop; Peors, full 

 average; Plums, the same; Peaches, small yield: 

 tlrapes, prospects good; Cherries, fair; Small 

 fruits, good. Some evaporating. E. C. Pierson. 



Caytga Co. Apples, this is an " off " year, and 

 there will be not more than one-half crop: Pears, 

 Grapes and fias^i^JCrr/es, an average crop ; Plums, 

 below average. H. S. Andehson. 



Erie Co. Prospects in general excellent. Pears, 

 so full that it not thinned out they must come small. 

 The Pear curculio is at work helping to thin them ; 

 Cherries, not a full crop. G. Zimmerman. 



Chai'TAitc^iia Co. Grapes, not so wellsetas usual 

 but enough for a good crop. T. S Huhbaru. 



Chautauqua. Prospects for a large fruit crop 

 were never better than now in this locality. Geo. 



S. JoSSELYN. 



Niagara Co. Apples, information from different 

 parts of the county indicates that there will be a 

 very moderate crop, particularly of Baldwins, the 

 principle winter variety in cultivation. Many of 

 the trees exhibited the heretofore unknown peculi- 

 arity of not blossoming; Pear.v, promise better than 

 last year; Plums, a good crop if the curculio does 

 not go too far; Cherries, t&ir; Quinces, very prom- 

 ising; Grapes, as promising as usual, and proving 

 to be one of the most reliable of fruits. C. L. Hoag. 



Niagara Co. General prospects good. Apples 

 of most varieties except Baldwin will set with 

 smooth fruit, but one-half the trees in the county 

 are Baldwins; Pear.9 are medium ; Duchess promises 

 a fair crop; Quinces, very uniformly set; Plums, 

 very full; Peaches, have twice as many set as they 

 can mature; Grapes, look well; Cherries, light. 

 No aphis thus far. To the eft'ects of this insect last 

 year is attributed the lack of blossoms on Baldwins 

 this year, but as the growth is now stronger than it 

 has been tor years it is perhaps reasonable to look 

 for a large crop next year. Henry Lutts. 



Ontario Co. Apples, especially Greenings, will 

 yield heavily. Baldwins light; Pears, Plums,Quinces 

 will yield heavily; Peaches promise an enormous 

 crop: Grapes, heavy; Cherries, fair; Rasjiberries 

 and Blackben-ies, fair yield; Strawberries, not as 

 good as last year. M. H. Beckwith. 



Mlchlgran. 



Monroe Co. Apples and Standard Pears, an av- 

 erage crop: Peaches and Plums, fair; Grapes, 

 promise large; Cherries, are short. S. B. Lewis. 



Van Bl'ren Co. Apples, are setting unusually 

 well, and contrary to earlier prospects promise at 

 least a moderate crop; Peaches, with reasonably 

 favorable weather from two-thirds to three-fourths 

 of an average crop may be expected. T. T. Lyon. 



Grand Traverse Co Appb s, should estimate at 

 least a full average crop; Pears, full crop; Plums, 

 full crop; Peaches, there are but few trees here and 

 they promise a good crop. Insect enemies seem 

 more numerous than usual. E. O. Ladd. 



Beri'.kxCo. Apples, from present appearances 

 in the southern townships will be lOll per cent; the 

 lake shore region about Kll percent; Peaches and 

 Pears will be 100 per cent. Raspberries ayid lilack- 

 berries .iO per cent. Thomas Mars. 



Kalamazoo Co. Apples, owing to the severe 

 drought promise not more than 75 per cent of an 

 average crop: Peaches, wint»?red unusually well 

 and promise a fair crop. H . Dale. 



Mason Co Apples, June prospects most excel- 

 lent, would place the average percent 115; Peaches, 

 75 per cent; Cherries and Pears, each 100 per cent; 

 Plums, 85 per cent; Berries of all kinds, an average 

 yield. J. E. Campbell. 



Muskegon Co. nipples, Pears, Plums and ({rapes, 

 100 per cent of average crop; Cherries, Ka.tplierries 

 and Currants, 75 per cent; Peaches not one per cent. 



Ohio. 



Lake Co. Apples, Pears, Plums, (hopes and 

 small f mils, a full average crop; Pcacfce.«, above 

 average. No evaporating to speak of. F. D. Ghken. 



Clark Co. .■!/);''<"■■ promise but a small crop, 

 badly stung by curculio; Pears and Grapes, good 

 average crop; Cherries, light; Peaclies, near aver- 

 age: Small /riu7s abundant. W. H. Smith & Son. 



t^LARK Co, (Springfield) Apples, very scarce, 

 caused probably by cold, wet weather at blooming 

 time ; Pears, not <ine-tenth of a crop; Peaches, poor; 

 Small fruits, abundant. J. H Frantz. 



Miami Co. .lyiji/es, very light; Pears, in orchard 

 of 400 trees do not expect one-eighth of a crop; 

 Peaches, promise no better; Grapes, very heavily 

 set. Isaac Freeman 



Miami Co. Apples and Pear.s, not one-flfth of a 

 crop; Pcac/ies,scarce; C/icrWes, a failure. D.Brown. 



Missouri. 



Missouri, Vernon Co. Ajrples, generally not over 

 one-fourth crop. Ben Davis, which is the leading 

 market variety, may come up to one-half crop. 

 Pears, including Keiffer not over one-eighth of a 

 crop; PiMMi.5, one-fourth of a crop. A. Amrrose. 



Fifty Counties. From an elaborate report gath- 

 ered by the State Horticultural Society, L. A. 

 Goodman, Secretary, from 50 correspondents we 

 compile the following crop prospects, giving per- 

 centage of full crop: Apples, fifty counties re- 

 ported show an average of 50 per cent. Pears, forly- 

 thi-ee counties reported show an average ot .50 per 

 cent. Peaches, forty-seven counties reported show 

 an average otl7 per cent. P(um.s,forty -eight counties 

 reported show an average of :il per cent. Grapes, 

 forty-eight counties reported show an average of 7H 

 per cent Raspberries, forty-seven counties re- 

 ported show an average ot 54 per cent. Blackber- 

 ries, forty-two counties reported show an average 

 of 55 per cent. 



Other States. 



Indiana, Pulaski Co. Apples and Pears otter 

 poor prospects owing to late frost; Cherries, an en- 

 tire failure: Peaches, none. G. W. Grant. 



Indiana, Henry Co. Apples and Pears, rot above 

 one-sixth of an average crop, owing perhaps to 

 cloudy weither when in bloom; Pe'iches, none; 

 Grapes, fair; Small fruits, good. E. Y. Teas 



Winconsin, Waushau Co. Apples, the hardier 

 sorts promise a good crop. E. W. Daniels. 



Virginia, Henrico Co. Apples, none to report. 

 Pears, less than one-fourth ot average; Grajies, 

 above average; Small fruits, failed. W. T. Hood. 



Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama. Mis- 

 sissippi and Indiana. Special reports to the Louis- 

 ville CourierJourual from over one hundred coun- 

 ties in these states, indicate that the frost in April 

 iniured fruit to such an extent that there will be 

 oiily about half a crop of Apples and few Peaches. 



"^e Household 



Avoid eating when very tired. 



Washing copper in sour milk saves scouring. 



The bath occupies first place as a means of keep- 

 ing cool. 



To touch the point of a nail in lard will make it 

 drive easy, even in hard wood. 



Charcoal suspended in cistern or other water that 

 becomes tainted will improve it. 



A paper bag" which contained sugar or other 

 groceries from the store is a good thing to slip over 

 the hand for protection when blacking the stove. 



Painting the kitchen walla enables one to wash 

 them off, and in general tends to a neat appearance. 

 The paint should be good oil paint, applied as for 

 out-door work, first sizing the surface to be coated 

 with a solution of one-half pound of glue to a gallon 

 of water. 



Home-made Fly-paper. Take equal parts of 

 melted resin and castor oil. Into the melted resin 

 stir the oil thoroughly. While still warm spread 

 thinly and evenly with a broad-bladed knife upon 

 any paper that is not porous, as writing-paper, cat- 

 alogue covers, etc. Lay the paper wherever flies 

 come most, and you will soon find it covered with 

 them. There is no odor to attract, no dead flies 

 dropping around, for when the paper is full it should 

 be burned. 



Easpberry Drink. Take of Raspberry juice, say 

 three pints, filter It. and make a syrup of a pound 

 and a half of loaf sugar, to which add three ounces 

 of tartaric acid. Bottle all. and keep tightly corked. 

 For a tumblerful of water add two teaspooufuls of 

 the above syrup, and a scruple of carbonate of 

 soda. This forms a most whole.some drink for 

 summer, and it may be varied by substituting 

 Strawberries, Currants, etc., instead and proceed- 

 ing according to the directions given. Practick. 



Pillow cases get old and thin before they are 

 broken, and are then fit for storing away woolens 

 in during the summer. Do up the articles in a 

 flat, square package, corresponding in size to one- 

 half the depth of the pillow case. Wrap the bundle 

 in brown or other paper, being careful to have no 

 ends uncovered, and tie with cord; then slip the 

 parcel into the pillow case, fold the remaining end 



over twice and pin down smoothly on the upper 

 surface of the budget. Tin on a piece of jtaper 

 with the name of contents, and lay the parcel away 

 for the summer, giving youi-self no uneasiness about 

 moths, for if none were in, they will come out all 

 right. " Elder's Wife." 



Sorrel as a Vegetable. The conunon and other 

 species of Sorrel are nuu:h usetl by the French in 

 cooking, and there is no reason why the same should 

 not find use with us. In preparing it the larger 

 leaves are freed from the stalks and are thoroughly 

 washed in several waters. They are then set on the 

 fire in a saucepan filled with cold water: as soon as 

 they reach boiling point they should be turned into 

 a colander and have cold water poured over them. 

 Drain well and press the leaves hard with a spoon. 

 Melt some butter and mix with it a little flour, adding 

 milk or cream, seasoning with salt and nutmeg, 

 then add the Sorrel and simmer until done. The 

 sauce must not be watery. Cover the dish in wjiich 

 the sorrel is served with strips of bread fried in 

 butter, 



Poxiltry. 



Dig over the runs when they become sodden. 



Green scum in the water dish is detrimental to 

 health. 



Pallets lay more eggs and smaller than old hens. 

 An argument in favor of pullets so long as eggs sell 

 by count. 



Fresh sods thrown to the hens daily afford both 

 needed green food and exercise, tor they will scratch 

 the sods to pieces. 



The frequent occurrence of gapes is a disgrace to 

 any poultry yard. The disease is an attendant on 

 bad water, exposure and starvation. Wriobt. 



Dust for the poultry house is a most useful article 

 to now get together, but don't purloin it from the 

 highway ; its needed there. Prepare it on a smooth, 

 firm drying plat. 



Clover cut when in the young bloom and after 

 wilting in ihe sun, curing it under shade, makes a 

 food that poultry will eagerly devour ne.xt winter, 

 stimulating egg production. 



A Hint to Poultrymen. if consumers ot eggs 

 were sure tlieir grocers would send them strictly 

 pure eggs they would use twice the number they 

 otherwise do. The point we would make is work 

 up a direct trade with the consumer as tar as pos- 

 sible. Carry your eggs to them twice a week and 

 have the benefit of the increased use. The full re- 

 tail price that can always be counted on will pay 

 for some extra trouble. 



Before young chicks have reached the age ot 

 three months lice kill a large share ot all that die, 

 although the trouble is frequently assigned to other 

 causes. Such loss may be prevented by touching 

 a dab ot lard to which a little crude petroleum has 

 been added on the top of each chick's head, and 

 under the hen's wings. Then watch tor the dead 

 lice about the greased parts and you may be as- 

 tonished at their large numbers. 



Does Cock Crowing Annoy Youl It is admitted, 

 says a writer in the London Gardeners' Jlagazine, 

 that in the act of crowinga bird stands up and then 

 stretches his neck to its fullest extent. A small 

 lath loosely suspended about eighteen inches above 

 the perch will obviate this. It in no way interferes 

 with the bird's roosting, but the moment chanticleer 

 contemplates a nuisance, the swinging lath comes 

 gently into contact with his comb and effectually 

 stops him . 1 have a dozen birds and none of them 

 presume to crow till the hour I let them out. 



Care of Poultry Manure. In a discussion of the 

 subject by the Pennsylvania State Board ot Agri- 

 culture it was recommended: i^irsf. To allow the 

 droppings to remain in or near the poultry house, 

 and at regular intervals sprinkle plaster or dry soil 

 over them in order to prevent loss by evaporation. 

 SulDcienfdry soil .should be added to keep the pile 

 moist and prevent it drying up so as to render the 

 application to the crop difllcult. Second. To gather 

 up the droppings at intervals and place them in 

 tight barrels, being careful to cover each layer with 

 plaster, dry soil or road dust. When ready for ap- 

 plication, when dry, it may be mixed with a varying 

 amount of soil and allowed to lie until the whole is 

 moist enough to crumble readily, when, by shovel- 

 ing over a few times, the mixture can be easily and 

 readily applied to the crop. Either of these plans 

 will prevent loss by evaporation and attain the 

 same end. No plan was proposed where poul- 

 try is not kept under shelter, but it was decided 

 that the increased value ot the droppings would 

 soon pay for a roof. 



