172 
Gardeners and Florists’ Annual for J9J8 
the soil or sand on these becomes sour. If used, they should be laid 
in such a way as to secure sufficient drainage. Pecky Cypress, and also 
concrete perforated slabs, often made on the place, are much used. 
Budding is a grafting operation wherein buds with a small portion 
of the bark attached are transferred from one shoot or branch of one 
plant to the shoot or branch of another, as is the case of Peaches, Roses, 
and other subjects. It is mostly performed in July and August and 
may be continued in September. In the South and Southern California, 
June budding is practised, or even in Spring, in which case the buds 
may start growth that year. From Peach seed sown in February, 
growth has been got sufficient to bud into in June. The bud has started, 
been pinched, and sold during the Autumn as a one year old tree. Or 
sowing may be done in April, the budding in August, and the stock cut 
down to above the bud in Spring, and allowed to grow on. 
A Bulb Planter . — The Scientific American describes an ingenious 
device for insuring the planting of bulbs at the proper depth. If bulbs 
are set too deeply in the soil, development is poor, and if not planted 
deeply enough they appear too soon above the surface. The device con- 
sists of a stake with a handle, in which there are holes at intervals. 
In the latter are placed projecting pieces of wood on each of which 
is marked the name of the bulb to be planted at that depth. In using 
the stake is pushed down to the depth indicated by the slip of wood 
bearing the name of the kind of bulh being planted. 
Bulbs iu Cold Storage. — Speaking of keeping bulbs in cold 
storage, “Cold” says: “Lily of the Valley is commonly carried at 26 deg. to 
28 deg. F.; in other words, they are carried in a frozen state. Such 
bulbs as Gladioli, Hyacinths, Tulips and Cannas should be stored at 
a somewhat higher temperature, and in case of Gladioli especially, we 
should recommend a temperature not lower than 34 deg. to 36 deg. F. 
Any of these products should not be stored in too large a bulk as they 
are inclined to collect moisture, causing mold and decay. Some sort 
of racks or trays are desirable.” - 
Caustic Alkali Wasb consists of % caustic soda (Green- 
bank’s 98 per cent.), V 2 lb. of crude commercial potash, 5 gals, of water, 
to be applied hot (say 130 deg.), using a force-pump with brass 
cylinder and a spray nozzle attachment. For Peaches and Apricots 
this formula should be altered to read 8 gals, of water. Pears, Apples, 
and Plums will stand the full strength. This wash will kill the eggs of 
almost any insect, and leaves the bark in a smooth, healthy condition. 
Cubic Contents o£ a Ton of Coal. — There are no exact figures, 
as the number varies with the class of coal mined. The average, in 
soft coal, is from 42 cubic feet to 45 cubic feet to the ton, while that of 
anthracite would be about 35. A fairly accurate calculation can be 
made with hard coal as the variation is not so great. In buying coal 
it is usual for mine weights to govern in case of dispute. 
