THE Y S A Y. 



245 



nature's methods are too slow. We want the plant-food 

 prepared when it is put into the ground, so that the 

 plant has nothing to do but to feed. The next step is to 

 plant properly, not too much of any kind, or too thickly. 

 Give each individual plant a chance to develop itself, 

 and it will show its capabilities. And now comes an 

 important part of gardening — choice of seed — and in 

 this respect there is but one choice : always get the 

 BEST. This can always be obtained from reliable seeds- 

 men, rarely from others. Poor seed will give poor 

 vegetables, no matter what attention may be paid to 

 the growth of the plants. 



Work is the remaining element of success. The soil 

 must be kept loose and free from weeds. It must be 

 worked deep ; then it will retain what moisture is neces- 

 sary, and carry off the remainder. Go over the sur- 

 face every morning with a fine rake, and there will be 

 vegetables, and no weeds. — C. L. Allen. 



The Cork Oak, Quercus Suber, has been planted, of 

 recent years, in several of our states, with a view to the 

 successful production of cork bark. Our country is now 

 supplied with this important commodity solely from 

 abroad, In southwestern Europe, where the cork oak 

 is most abundant, the peasants make household utensils 

 from the bark, and use it for lining the walls of their 

 houses to prevent dampness. 



The tree produces three layers of bark, the woody 

 layer outside, then the layer of cork, and an inner layer 

 next to the tree. When the tree is about fifteen years 

 old the bark may be cut ; this is done in mid-summer, 

 by cutting two circles around the trunk, one near the 

 branches, the other near the base, and connecting them 

 by one or more perpendicular cuts. The bark is then 

 readily removed. The first crop is rough and woody, 

 and is generally used for tanning. Each succeeding 

 crop is of better quality. The second crop is coarse, 

 but of sufficiently good quality to be used for making 

 corks. Crops attain their growth at from se\'en to ten 

 years. When properly cared for these trees will pro- 

 duce bark until they attain the age of 150 years, and 

 this will not be wondered at when the average longevity 

 of the genus is considered. The inner bark, which is 

 used for tanning, is not cut until the tree is destroyed, 

 for if any part of it should be cut away, no cork bark 

 will afterward grow upon the injured spot. — W. C. 

 Butler. 



Corozo, or Vegetable Ivory. This curious substance 

 is the seed of the PliylL'lephas inacrocarpa, a near rela- 

 tive of the palms. The fruit, which weighs several 

 pounds, contains seven or eight seeds or nuts. The Juice 

 of these is at first clear, then milky and sweet, and 

 finally it becomes hard enough to be worked on the 

 lathe. The only known means of distinguishing it from 

 ivory is the application of sulphuric acid, which has no 

 effect upon the elephant's trunk but stains the vegetable 

 counterfeit pink. The color, however, is very fugitive 

 and is easily washed off. The plant grows in New 

 Granada, in moist localities. — L. B. F. 



Pruning Evergreens. — It is commonly thought that 

 evergreen trees cannot be safely pruned to any great ex- 

 tent. Perhaps it is just as well that this idea so gen- 

 erally prevails, as it serves to rescue the beautiful natural 

 form from the perils of individual caprice. As a rule, 

 the evergreen is never so beautiful as when allowed to take 

 its natural form, which, while not always symmetrical, 

 is usually pleasing to the eye by reason of its conformity 

 to its conditions and surroundings. This is especially 

 the case where the trees are massed together. Then, if 

 left to their natural growth, they will form a beautiful 

 whole, although, considered separately, there may not 

 be a single perfect specimen in the lot. 



The evergreen should have a good leader, or central 

 stem, if it is to stand as a single perfect specimen. This 

 does not always come naturally . The leader some- 

 times leads off so rapidly that the side growth is less- 

 ened. This is particularly noticeable with the spruces. 

 For a year or two there may be little if any side growth. 

 Perhaps the ne.xt year or so after, the side growth will 

 start out up near the top of the leader, leaving a bare 

 space between. This gives the tree an unsightly form. 



A little pruning at the proper time will prevent all 

 this. If the leader at any time shows a disinclination to 

 throw out side growth, cut it back to where the side 

 growth is desired. Two or more leaders may start from 

 this cut. Allow only the most robust one of them to grow, 

 and it will soon take the desired upward growth, with 

 only a slight quirk at the point of its starting from the 

 original stem. This clipping back is sure to induce side 

 growth and keep the tree full at all points. 



In the hedge, the evergreen must be pruned severely 

 and frequently. Most varieties will stand this treat- 

 ment. The growth, as in all plant life, being mainly up- 

 ward, it is the top shoots which must receive the most 

 attention. It is a mistake to allow the hedge row to 

 reach the proper height before commencing this cutting 

 back. If this is done, there will be the same bare spaces 

 that we have referred to in the single specimens. To 

 guard against this, and to get a thick growth from the 

 very ground up, the top growth must be clipped back from 

 the very start. Do not be afraid that you will not after- 

 ward be able to get it up to the proper height. No 

 matter how much it is cut back and discouraged, the 

 tendency of the growth being always upward, it will 

 soon regain lost ground if allowed. — W. D. Boynton. 



Vegetables in Pennsylvania. — It is cause for con- 

 gratulation that the farmers are devoting greater atten- 

 tion to the vegetable garden. Certain vegetables are 

 being grown for general use, which a few years ago were 

 only to be found in the market garden. The season was 

 fairly favorable, although too wet for some things. Late 

 cabbage, turnips, ruta-bagas and celery, which run far 

 into the season, were quite productive, and seemed to 

 thrive all the better for the continuous rains. The sea- 

 son of peas was also prolonged, and a second crop was 

 gathered in the fall. The crop of early potatoes was 

 good. There was also a large yield of late potatoes, 

 but the crop rotted badly, especially in eastern Pennsyl- 



