OUESTIONS ASKED AND ANSWERED. 



309 



2892. Bananas as Pot Plants. — The various species 

 of bananas (musa) are unsuitable for cultivation in the 

 house because of their large size. As plants for the hot- 

 house they are very effective, but of such size that they 

 must usually be grown in large pots or tubs. A common 

 way also is to plant them out in the soil of the apart- 

 ment where they are growing. 



2893. Primula obconica. — It is certainly poisonous to 

 some people. 



2894. Evergreens for Screens. — Comparing the Aus- 

 trian pine with Norway spruce for the purpose of a mod- 

 erately high screen, we do not see that the former has 

 any advantage over the latter, as both are rapid, strong- 

 growing trees. The Austrian pine in time reaches 100 

 feet or more in height. Both of these trees can be kept 

 in low form by pruning. The white pine (P. Strobi(s) 

 also submits readily to cutting back. Perhaps the dwarf 

 Mugho pine (P. Aluffhus) would be best adapted to your 

 requirements of all the pines, as this is a lower grower 

 naturally, and very handsome. It is somewhat higher 

 priced than the others, but its elegance should easily 

 justify the increased expense. The Siberian arbor-vitae 

 is also a tree naturally of smaller size than the two species 

 first named. It is a handsome grower of great hardiness. 



2895. Mushroom-Growing. — Mushrooms are sold by 

 the pound and are usually in good demand at an average 

 price of fifty cents a pound. More attention is now 

 being paid to this industry, and the grower will probably 

 meet more competition than in the past. The best time 

 to commence operations is in August or September. 

 Fall and winter is the usual time of marketing the crop 

 and making it profitable. 



2898. Coal-oil Stove in Greenhouse. — Connect a small 

 pipe from your stove with the open air for the escape of 

 bad air and gases, and all will be right. 



2899. Plums and Apricots in Massachusetts. — Our 

 experience with the Japan plums has inspired us with 



great confidence in at least one of the varieties. This is 

 Botan or Abundance. It should not cost more than 

 other plum trees, and can be depended upon to bear 

 early and yield regular and full crops. The only other 

 Japan sort that might come into consideration for exten- 

 sive planting under the same climatic conditions is the 

 Burbank. It is praised without stint by H. E. Van 

 Deman, D. S. Willard, and other authorities, as the best 

 of that type. In regard to planting apricots, we can only 

 repeat our advice to be cautious. The chances are 

 rather against success. 



2901. Preparing Grape-bags.— If ordinary bags are 

 put on before spores of the rot-fungus have found lodging 

 upon the berries, the latter will be as safe inside as they 

 would be if the bags were soaked in a copper solution. 

 Yet we cannot expect good fruit, especially of best quality, 

 if the foliage is not perfect. It is just as necessary to 

 protect the foliage from disease as the fruit. Hence we 

 do not see how bagging can take the place of spraying. 

 We believe in both. 



2902. Tomatoes on Clover Sod.— A much worse 

 selection of soil could be made for tomatoes than clover 

 sod. With some additions of animal fertilizers, ashes, 

 potash salts, fish, acid phosphate, etc., a good crop 

 should be grown. Cut-worms may trouble the plants 

 when first set. To kill these worms the best way is to 

 scatter pieces of green sod, the grass side sprayed with a 

 Paris green solution, here and there over the field to be 

 planted. A paper collar placed around the stem, at time 

 of setting the plants, with lower edge, entering in the 

 ground, will keep the marauders off. 



2903. Cauliflower for Market.— There is less differ- 

 ence between different kinds than one would suppose. 

 Snowball for early, has usually given us good heads. 

 We feel entirely safe in planting it, as also Early Dwarf 

 Erfurt. 



