THE CANADIAN HORTICULTURIST. 



29 



table all the green portion, and leaving 

 the white part in the soil. In this 

 way there is no danger of injuring the 

 buds yet below the surface." 



Mr. Editor, — 1. Tell me the best 

 dressing to put on apple trees for pre- 

 venting the boi-ers. Will tar and clay, 

 as spoken of in July numbei-, page 157, 

 or would clay and cow dung be a pre- 

 ventive 1 



2. What could now be applied to 

 apple trees to kill or destroy the eggs 

 of the aphides 1 I know they can be 

 destroyed in summer with tobacco 

 water, but what will destroy the eggs 

 now without injury to the buds of the 

 trees 1 



3. How the best way to pack small 

 plants to send to England, and what 

 weight is allowed and what rate of 

 postage is required l 



4. How best to prepare pyrethrum 

 powder from the pyrethrum flowers. 

 I believe it is made fx'om them. 



Muskoka, Jan., 1885. H. 



Reply. — 1. At page 39 of the Oan- 

 adian Fruit, Flower and Kitchen Gar- 

 dener the author says : — " There is a 

 simple method of keeping them out of 

 the trees. Strong alkalies will destroy 

 the vitality of the egg. The most effi- 

 cient method of applying this alkali is 

 in the form of a ropy soft soap, rubbed 

 upon the body of the ti-ee with a swab, 

 particularly at the collar. A solution 

 of potash at the rate of a pound of 

 potash to two gallons of water will be 

 found to answer the purpose in the 

 absence of soft soap, but will need to 

 be oftener applied." We have more 

 confidence in the alkali preventive than 

 in the gas-tar and clay, or cow dung 

 and clay. 



2. The same alkaline application can 

 be safely applied to the trees before the 

 buds swell, and will destroy the insects 

 or their eggs. 



3. Make a thick puddle of clay and 

 puddle the roots well ; then pack in 

 moss that feels dry when pressed in 

 the hand. The weight allowed to the 

 United Kingdom for samples is eight 

 ounces ; size, 24 inches in length, and 

 twelve inches in breadth or depth ; rate 

 of postage is one cent for every two 

 ounces or fraction thereof. 



4. It is ma.de by drying and pulveriz- 

 ing the flowers. Cannot give any par- 

 ticular method as beincj the best. 



I like the Canadian Horticulturist 

 very much and find it quite a help. 



I have a small garden and only cul- 

 tivate for my own pleasure and family 

 use. I try to have a little of every- 

 thing that is going if possible, but some 

 things fail me ; perhaps you might be 

 able to give me a few hints. 



1. I have about one dozen apple 

 trees now seven years old, but as yet 

 have never borne fruit. They are 

 pruned every spring and the earth 

 stirred slightly, and to look at them 

 they are as healthy and luxuriant as 

 one could wish for. 



2. Are some grape plants. I have 

 six kinds of Rodgers' grapes ; they are 

 now five years old, and have not borne 

 anything worth speaking of; they are 

 inclined to run to wood and foliage. 

 They are beautiful to look at. I think 

 they are properly cared for as far as 

 pruning and winter protecting are con- 

 cerned, [t may be that the climate is 

 too cold for them and tlie season too 

 short, away up here on the shore of 

 Lake Huron. 



3. I have some window roses that 

 give me a great deal of trouble. They 



