46 
WISCONSIN HORTICULTURE 
November, 1916 
coarser and inferior in flavor to 
the small radish, though the 
Chinese cook it much like tur- 
nips, and also pickel it in strips 
in brine for use as a relish. 
This and other explorations 
have given to this country a 
Chinese cherry, very successful 
in California because of its early 
matuiity; and a number of vari- 
eties of wild pears and apples, 
wild almonds, and hardy citrus 
fruits which offer possibilities 
for hybridization with American 
varities. 
The explorer also brought over 
specimens of the Chinese pis- 
tache tree, which it is hoped will 
give the United States a new and 
valuable tree for the adornment 
of city avenues in Georgia, Ala- 
bama, the Carolinas, Florida, 
Texas, California, Arizona, and 
Oregon. Plantings were also 
secured on this trip of a Chinese 
white pine tree remarkable for 
its white bark. One of these 
specimens which Mr. Meyer 
brought has been planted on the 
grave of the late Minister to 
China, W. W. Rockhill, who once 
expressed in the explorer’s hear- 
ing a wish that this be' done. 
Because of its drought-resisting 
qualities, this strikingly orna- 
mental tree offers possibilities for 
the beautification of parks and 
grounds in Arizona, Texas, New 
Mexico and California. 
Especial attention was given 
on this trip to investigations of 
chestnut blight, which was found 
by the explorer first in China and 
later on in Japan. In the eastern 
United States this blight appears 
in virulent form and is extermin- 
ating our beloved chestnut. The 
explorer, however, found Chinese 
chestnut trees which were to 
Cabbage keeps best in a cool 
cellar. A good plan is to hang 
the heads face down so all sur- 
plus water will drain off. 
some degree blight resistant. 
Many of these trees had suffered 
from the disease but had ap- 
parently recovered from severe 
attacks and succeeded in cover- 
ing the old scars with new wood. 
To lovers of flowers the new 
Chinese rose known as the Rosa 
xanthina should be of special 
interest, particularly in view of 
the fact that there is at present 
a great demand for yellow roses. 
This bush has small, light yellow 
flowers, but its great quality is 
its hardiness which will enable it 
to flourish in the North even as 
far as Canada. The chief prom- 
ise of this rose, however, lies in 
the fact that it will in all prob- 
ability lead to the production of 
new hardy types of yellow roses 
adapted to cultivation in Ameri- 
ca. It may produce varieties 
which will not drop their leaves 
like our Persian yellow roses do 
and yield varieties with larger 
and more showy flowers. In 
addition, the explorer found a 
number of new ramblei roses, 
particularly certain yellow ramb- 
lers which, if locally successful, 
will meet a demand for a climb- 
ing rose with a flower differing 
in shade from the crimson and 
pink flowers of the well-known 
rambler varieties. 
Onions should be stored in a 
cool, airy place. They are best 
put on flat shelves not over six 
or eight inches deep. Do not 
allow' them to freeze. 
PLANTING BULBS OUT- 
DOORS. 
The first frost which will put 
an end to the development of 
many of the flowers in the home 
garden should be the signal, say 
specialists of the U. S. Depart- 
ment of Agriculture, for the 
planting of bulbs of the tulip, 
hyacinth, and narcissus, which 
are to furnish the first touch of 
color for the outdoor garden in 
the spring. The bulbs may be 
put in even before the appear- 
ance of the first frost, but better 
not util after. 
Tulips and hyacinths should 
be placed in beds in light, rich 
soil that has been dug to a depth 
of at least 10 inches. They 
should be set 4 inches deep and 
5 inches apart. If the narcissus 
and its variants — jonquils and 
daffodils — are to be planted in 
beds, the soil should be prepared 
similarly and the bulbs should 
be set 10 inches apart and 5 
inches deep. 
A pleasing variation from 
planting the narcissus type of 
early spring-blooming bulbs for- 
mally in beds is to plant them 
in scattered groups on the open 
lawn or in the edge of shrubbery. 
A good plan in arranging for the 
location of the flowers on the 
lawm is to broadcast the bulbs 
and plant them where they fall. 
A small hole 5 or 6 inches deep 
should be made and the bulb in- 
serted, pointed end up. The 
hole should then be pressed full 
of soil. Often the narcissus, 
planted in this w r ay, w ill become 
naturalized on the lawn and will 
continue to grow there indefinite- 
ly, coming up year after year, if 
the tops are left uncut until near 
the first of June. Where the 
lawm is kept cut the tops of the 
plants are cut off before the bulb 
has a chance to develop for the 
next year’s blooming, though 
may survive a year or two but 
become weak and poor after the 
first or second year. Crocus 
bulbs may be planted in the 
lawn in the same wav, but the 
top should not be deeper than 
twice the length of the bulb. 
Are you making any provision 
to help the birds through the 
winter? 
s 
it 
Yc 
tie 
Or 
or 
cai 
the 
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