6o The Canadian Horticulturist. 



EXPERIMENTS WITH GOOSEBERRIES. 



Sir, — I have given the potassium sulphide a trial season for gooseberry mil- 

 dew. I applied it early, before any signs of mildew appeared, upon Industry 

 bushes. The result was the foliage was kept clean and bright, and the bushes 

 made quite a growth of new wood. Not having a syringe, the mixture was 

 applied with a watering-can. The bushes being dense, the under part did not 

 possibly receive its share, and here the fruit mildewed badly, and rotted, while, 

 on the more exposed parts, the fruit was free. — Stanley Spillett, Nantye. 



ANTS. 



Sir, — Will your Association kindly inform the public generally as to the 

 best means to keep ants out of a greenhouse. — Thos. Cottle, Clinton, Ont. 



Reply by N. Robertson, Supt. Government Grounds, Ottawa. 

 This would be a rather laborious task as they will enter by the smallest 

 crevice. But I expect an answer more directly applied will be, How to get rid 

 of them when they are in ? This is a thing I never was troubled with. I, there- 

 fore, cannot recommend with experience. Various cures are suggested. If they 

 are dispersed all over the house, traps, such as pieces of bones or meat, a sponge 

 soaked in treacle, on which they will congregate in great quantities, lifted and 

 immersed in boiling water. Chloride of lime, sprinkled in small quantities on 

 their runs or holes, is said to be a perfect guarantee that they will leave the house 

 in a few days. 



CINERARIAS. 



Sir, — What causes the leaves of the Cineraria to curl up ? — T. C. 



Reply by N. Robertson. 



Various causes may be attributed to this, as green fly, red spider and too 

 high a temperature, or a dry atmosphere. To cultivate the Cineraria properly, 

 a cool house, partially shady, is necessary. They do not stand much fire heat. 

 They are very subject to vermin, and must be kept cool and moist to be 

 succeeded with. 



PRUNING MAPLES. 



Sir, — What effect will pruning have on maple trees if done at this time of 

 the year, and what is the best time to cut maple when large limbs have to be 

 removed. — T. Cottle. 



Reply by N. Robertsoti. 



When large limbs are to be taken off, the best time to prune maples is early 

 in the fall, so as to allow the wounds to dry up. As we near the spring, the risk 

 of bleeding is always greater. A fresh cut loses sap that would be beneficial to 

 the growth of the tree, and, therefore, cuts should never be done late in the 

 winter. 



