The Canadian Horticulturist. 89 



These insects may be easily destroyed by sprinkling the bushes with hellebore 

 and water, in the proportion of an ounce of the powder to a pailful of water. A 

 mixture of Paris green and water \vould also be equally, if not more, effective ; 

 but we would hesitate to advise the use of so rank a poison so near fruiting 

 season. 



SWAMP MUCK AS A FERTILIZER. 



Sir, — Is there any fertilizing qualities in swamp muck, as I have quite a large quantity 

 on part of my farm ? Would it be of any use as a mulch for fruit trees ? 



Richard Senior, Pepabun, Ont. 



There is no doubt that swamp muck is a valuable fertilizer, used as a mulch 

 in the orchard and fruit garden. In the township of Pelham some farmers 

 reported at a meeting of their Institute, that they had experimented with swamp 

 muck upon quite a large scale, and found it greatly beneficial. One person 

 had applied it freely around garden raspberries ; another had applied it to 

 orchard trees, and each reported good results ; but, on the other hand, one per- 

 son who had applied a large quantity of it to a small piece of garden ground, 

 found that it was an injury rather than a benefit. 



The explanation of this difference of results is no doubt due to the fact that 

 "raw muck" has an ''acidity," which is caused by the presence of sulphate 

 of iron or some other matter which is injurious to plant growth until it has been 

 mellowed by exposure to the air. Upon wet soil muck is injurious also, because 

 it tends to increase the bogginess of the place. 



But, generally speaking, muck is beneficial, for it renders clay more mellow, 

 sand more retentive of moisture, and, as a fertilizer, it has some value as a source 

 of nitrogen, and as a reservoir of ammonia. 



GROWING TOMATOES. 



Sir, — What is the best way to raise tomatoes so as to have them early ? 



RoBKRT Stebd, Samia, Ont. 



To raise early tomatoes, it is necessary that the plant be started early in a 

 hot-bed, not later than the month of March. They need to have plenty of air, 

 and the sashes should be gradually removed to harden them off, in order that 

 they may be stocky before transplanting into the open ground. Some market 

 gardeners first transplant from the hot-bed into a cold frame, where they may 

 be protected from frost when necessary, and then transplant into the open 

 ground when all danger of frost is over. Mr. Hallock, of Long Island, says that 

 he has had the best success in growing early tomatoes on light soil, with but 

 little manure. Some advise training the plants to stro;ig stakes about four feet 

 high, and keeping the side shoots well pruned, allowing all the strength to pass 

 into the fruit situated on the main upright. 



