384 



QUESTIONS ASKED AND ANSWERED 



often be cauglit and destroyed, especially on cool mornings when 

 they are comparatively sluggish. 



2936. Layering Currants and Gooseberries.— Cur- 

 rant-cuttings strike root so easily that the layering process is sel- 

 dom used. The cuttings are made of matured wood in autumn, 

 and at once planted out in good well-prepared soil, or they may be 

 tied in bundles and buried in the cellar in sand, then planted in 

 the spring. Cuttings can also be taken in spring and placed 

 directly in the ground. Many nurserymen prefer to take them 

 in August, strip off the leaves and bury in bunches with the 

 root end up. Green-layering is sometimes practiced with rare sorts, 

 or sin.gle eyes may be used. Fay currant does not root as readily 

 as other sorts, and perhaps layering may give good results. 

 Gooseberries can also be propagated by cuttings, making them 

 of the mature wood si.K or eight inches long, and inserting them 

 two-thirds of their length in sand or soil. This method will be 

 safer if the cuttings are taken in August or September, and stored 

 during winter in the same way as currant-cuttings. For mound- 

 layering, old plants may be cut back quite severely in] autumn : 

 this treatment will result in the production of many young shoots. 

 Soil is then heaped over the stools and around the shoots. The 

 shoots send out roots near the base, and straight, stocky plants are 

 obtained. The shoots of English gooseberries are allowed to re- 

 main mounded two years ; the American sorts usually only one 

 season. The young plants are then taken up and planted out in 

 nursery rows. 



2938. Early White Crrape for New Eng-land.— By all 



means plant the Green Mountain (Stephen Hoyt's Sons), or Win- 

 chell (EUwanger & Barry). It is the best very early white grape 

 with which we are acquainted, and we think it is perfectly reliable 

 in the New England states as well as here. 



2940. Remedy for Pear-Scab.— The trouble with the in- 

 quirer's pear trees is scab. Spray the tree repeatedly with the Bor- 

 deaux mixture. Formulas for making it were given in May number' 



2941. Starting an Asparagus Bed.— Set plants in early 

 spring six inches deep, in rows four or five feet apart, plants 

 two feet apart in the rows. The soil should be warm and well 

 manured. A southern or southeastern exposure is best, as it will 

 produce early shoots, which always pay best. 



2944. Onions Making Thick Necks.— To avoid scallions, 

 sow good seed of good varieties, as early in spring as the ground 

 can be prepared, on well-drained soil ; or if you practice the new 

 onion-culture, start your plants in February, and transplant as 

 soon as ground is ready and weather will permit. 



2945. "Vinegar from Watermelons —We see no reason 

 why watermelon-juice could not be converted into vinegar. If 

 the juice does not contain sugar enough, put in a little molasses or 

 honey and let it ferment. 



2946. G-uano-Water for House Plants.— Guano does 

 does not contain as much nitrogen as house plants need. The 

 amount to be put into the water used for a stimulant depends of 

 course on the condition of plants, size of their pots, and the fre- 

 quency of application. It is always best to be cautious. Put a 

 heaping teaspoonful into your two-gallon can at first, apply once 

 or twice, and note the effect. Then regulate accordingly. 



2949. Commercial Fertilizers.- Work some ground bone 

 into the soil. There are several so-called "plant-foods " put up by 

 different dealers, which prove satisfactory in such cases, but they 

 are rather expensive to use in a large space. The bone will be 

 found more desirable than compound fertilizers, though some 

 thoroughly well-rotted stable manure would be an addition in the 

 stiff clay. 



In June 't is good to lie beneath a tree . " 



IVhile the blithe season comforts e-cery sense, 

 Steeps all the brain in rest and heals the heart, 

 'Brimming it o'er with sweetness unawares. 

 Fragrant and silent as that rosy snow 

 IVherewith the pitying appie tree fills up 

 tAnd tenderly lines some last year's robin s-nest. 



—Lowell. 



