I'he Canadian Horticulturist. 6i 



price of the article so treated. IJut the fact is now l)econiing generally known 

 that sulphured fruit loses much of its flavor, and is, therefore, inferior in quality. 

 The doctor shows that while sul])huric acid is a preservative and disinfectant, 

 still, its use with food is objectionable. It has further been noticed by retail 

 grocers that the public does not use dried fruit as freely of late years as it did 

 before the days of bleaching with sulphur. In the near future the probability is 

 that fruit, which has been evaporated without the use of sulphur, will be more 

 appreciated and more in demand than that which is bleached. 



Bee Men and Fruii CIrowers. — We are informed that our friends, the 

 aparists, are alarmed at the wide-spread practice of spraying fruit trees and are 

 seeking legislation to prevent it, on the ground that it is the means of destroy- 

 ing many bees. Such extreme measures would l)ring fruit growers into contact 

 with them, and we would be inclined to ask for legislation against the keeping 

 of bees, on the ground that these insects injure our grapes and carry the yellows 

 from tree to tree. It is stated in Meehans Monthly^ that in a small garden in 

 the suburbs of Philadelphia, where the owner has a dozen or so of grape vines, 

 the whole crop is annually destroyed by neighboring bees. 



Bee men tell us that a hole must be first made by birds or wasps, or else by 

 cracking, before the bees will harm the fruit : but even granting this, the small holes 

 and cracks referred to would not interfere with the ripening of the grape, and 

 would only injure its value to a limited extent, were it not for the w-ork of the 

 bees. The only basis of pgreement between us will be that we do not spray our 

 trees when in blossom, and to this, no doubt, all fruit growers will consent. 



Tree Wash.-— The recipe for tree wash given on page 369 for destroying 

 bark lice, keeping out borers, etc., probably contains a printer's error. The 

 usual amount of carbolic acid to two gallons of water is one pint ; and an excel- 

 lent wash may be made as follows : One pint crude carbolic acid, one quart soft 

 soap, and two gallons hot water. Mix thoroughly. Apply with old broom. 



The Window Garden. — Be sure that every plant is free from scale aphis, 

 or other insects, before placing in window, and if any plant becomes infected 

 afterwards, remove it from the window until once more clean, as one lousy plant 

 will infect a windowful. Shower the plants often to keep down the red spider, 

 and also to keep the pores of the leaves open. The leaves of a plant are its 

 lungs, and should be kept clean. See that every pot has an inch of charcoal or 

 broken crocks in the bottom for drainage. Water only when the soil is really 

 dry, and then water thoroughly. Add a fifth or sixth part of sifted manure, or a 

 small quantity of the fertilizer florists keep, to the potting soil, or else water 

 growing and blooming plants once a fortnight with liquid manure diluted to the 

 color of weak tea. .\ pot plant must have food to blossom long and well. 

 Turn plants frequently, pick off all dead leaves, and you will be rewarded by an 

 al)undance of flowers. — Good Housekeeping. 



