■Sg-,. 
• MOORE’S RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
Obrien. 
8TRAWBERRY CULTURE. 
J 
Large fruit or a great yield of strawberries 
are never produced upoif”poor - soil or on 
neglected plantations. If every one who in¬ 
tends setting ®ut a strawberry bed the com¬ 
ing spring, will keep this in mind, and make 
preparations accordingly, disappointments 
may in a great measure bo avoided. 
We have never knows an instance of 
monstrous fruit being shown at any of our 
fairs, that were raised on poor land or upon 
plants overgrown with weeds ; and with all 
due deference to the statements made by 
the exhibitors of new and extra large varie¬ 
ties, to the contrary, we know that such 
examples are the direct result of extra care. 
It is true that there is a marked difference 
in the natural size and productiveness of the 
various sorts in cultivation ; but big varieties 
and a groat many of them means corres- 
• ponding food and cultivation. 
There arc also two distinct systems of 
culture Buited to the different sorts, as well 
as those who grow them. The first are the 
very large and prolific sOrts, like the T*h 
ornphe de (land, Jueunda and Seth Boyden. 
These are the favorites with persons who are 
willing to spend a liberal amount of labor 
and get a quick and liberal return on their 
investment. The second are smaller varie¬ 
ties which will withstand considerable ill 
usage, like the Jersey Scarlet, Scotch Run 
ner and C?i«uson Cone, and they are favor¬ 
ites with persons who are in no great hurry 
for a crop or very large berries, if no great 
amount of oare is required in cultivation. 
Beds or large plantations arc made, the 
plants set out hurriedly, and then left 
mainly to themselves. If the plants do not 
cover the entire ground the first, season, 
they will probably do so the next, and a 
* crop, such as it is, comes along in due time. 
One is high culture, with quick returns, and 
the other the more easy, but long-drawn-out 
system. 
Of course it cannot he expected that every 
cultivator of the soil can be made to see 
even his own interest in this matter of high 
culture of plants at once, although examples 
multiply rapidly, which 6how f progress in 
this direction. Ik will soon be time to begin 
the planting of strawberries, and it is well 
to make up one’s mind as to which of the 
two systems had best be attempted, or put 
into practico. 
If a man is desirous of raising the largest 
and best sdrts, let him prepare the land 
upon which they ore to he grown in the best 
possible manner. There is little danger of 
working it too deep, or making it too rich, if 
none but old, well-decomposed stable manure 
is used. Muck from the swamps, leaf-mold 
from the woods, charcoal ashes, and in fact 
almost any old vegetable substance may be 
added to compost heaps or directly to the 
land. These materials should also be worked 
into and thoroughly incorporated with the 
soil, not merely spread over the surface, ’ 
which will promote the production of weeds 1 
full as much as assist the growth of ' 
strawherry plants. Top dressing with con ; 
centrated ma nures may answer very well on ’ 
old plantations, but for new ones we prefer I 
to use coarser materials and have them 1 
worked into the soil. s 
After the land has been thoroughly pre- ' 
pared by not less than twice plowing and as a 
many harrowings in spring, set out, the ^ 
plants in rows, three feet apart and eighteen h 
inches in the row ; give clean and frequent a 
culture during the summer, and if the varie- 
ties plan ted| are such as we first named, no 
runners should be permitted to extend a 
over the vacant space between the rows, ° 
but a few may be allowed to take root, ® 
along the line, among the original plants. ^ 
At the approaoh of winter,.or as soon as the ni 
ground begins to freeze, cover the entire ai 
beds with straw, hay or some similar m,v sc 
terial to the depth of an inch or a little more. b< 
In spring, this winter covering may be 8 F 
drawn aside from directly over the crowri of 
the plants, and left on the spac e between. UI 
This covering of the soil with coarse kinds 
of mulch insures clean fruit and prevents ai 
injury from severe drouths. We have never m 
produced a large crop of fruit, or large P £ 
berries without winter protection and mulch- m 
ing in summer. There are cheaper systems th 
of strawberry culture than this, but we na 
doubt if mure profitable «nes, either for QU 
home use or market. But every one should six 
remember that a very rich soil produces very au 
rauk weeds and a great many of them, con- is ( 
sequently it is not best to extend the planta- ing 
tion beyond; the limits of one’s ability to raj 
beep them well cultivated. It is quite a soi 
trifling task to set out an acre of strawberries 
but quite another, to carry them through in 
good ordt%- until the fruiting season. 
GARDENERS’ NOTES. 
Sfiwdmt for Celery .—The 'editor of the 
Journal of Horticulture, London, says saw¬ 
dust is a good thing for earthing celery, 
placing it between the rows and around the 
plants after the leaves and stalks have been 
brought together, pressing the sawdust 
about them so as to lie compact and insure 
blanching perfectly. It is better, he thinks, 
than soil, not being so liable to cause the 
stalk to rot, and is a good protection against 
frost. 
Garden Turnip .—A gardener writes to the 
Journal of Horticulture, London, that he 
finds the Early American White Strap Leaf 
a much quicker grower than either the Early 
White Dutch or the Early Stone sorts, as it 
comes into market soma ten days ahead. 
In sowing he gives the ground a good dress¬ 
ing of soot and ashes, mixed equally, as it 
prevents the ravages of the fly ; it is also a 
good manure. 
Early Tomatoes .—Let us hear from the 
Rural gardeners what proved to be the best 
early tomato with them. I lost my plants 
of early sorts and did not grow any but 
depended upon later varieties; I would 
therefore like other experience.— Petku 
Hamilton. 
fliarn of a ^uralist. 
<c. DAILY RURAL LIFE 
From the Diary of a Centleman Near New 
York City. 
SOMETHIN!) ABOUT MINTICUITURE. 
become, through neglect if planted in rich 
soils, somewhat of a nuisance, but the game 
objection might be raised against many of 
our cultivated and valuable plants. But let 
us have beds of mint for the bees as well as 
ourselves, filling the air about our houses 
with an incense which shall be enjoyed and 
remembered with pleasure through life. 
The plants can be raised either from pieces 
of roots, or seeds, which can be safely trans¬ 
ported by post lo any part of the country. 
There are, however, many other kinds of 
valuable plants belonging to the Mint family, 
the greater part being classed in seedsmen’s 
catalogues under the general head of “ Rweet 
Herbs,” like Lavender, Sweet Basil Mar¬ 
joram, Thyme, Bee Balm, Rosemary and 
Rage, all of which are useful and some of 
them quite ornamental. Those who keep 
bees will find the greater part of the different 
species of mint valuable honey-producing 
plants, and especially the much despised 
catmint or catnip (Nepcta. Caturia ) and tor 
motherwort (Lconurus Cardfaca.) The same 
care in sowing the seed or planting the roots 
required in cultivating ordinary garden 
vegetables will answer for the various kinds 
of mints, and some of them are really beau¬ 
tiful ornamental plants, while the most 
worthless is worth cultivating, if for no other 
purpose than to become acquainted with 
them and their peculiar characteristics and 
habits. The original or parent species of the 
beautiful (Johns in its hundreds of varieties 
which are so highly prized for their hand¬ 
some foliage is only a scentless kind of mint 
known to botanists as Coleus IJlumei found 
as a wild weed in the Island of Java, but 
through cultivation and propagation by seed 
the wonderful varieties we now have in culti¬ 
vation have been produced. Why may we 
not have in the future elegant variegated 
and ornamental-leaved varieties of the Cat¬ 
nip as well as Coleus I It is not only possible, 
but quite probable. 
A TEW MORE CUTTINOS. 
(Momotopal. 
d Feb. 22.—I do not propose to encourage the 
it formation of “Minterys,” for the purpose 
of supplying “ tipplers ” wit h the means of 
y making mint juleps, which are far too pro- 
e vocative of ‘‘ mint sauce,” on the part of 
h those who indulge too freely in kucIi high- 
flavored liquids, still beds of the various 
n kinds of mint about a place may not be alto- 
n gether useless or unornainental additions. It 
11 is also probable that a bed of mint may do 
e good service in reminding us of some pleasant 
t, passages in our lives. I never see a bunch or 
bed of peppermint that I am not reminded 
^ of the many t imes T huve sought some green 
j sprigs from the banks of the little brook 
t that crossed the road not far from my boy- 
f hood home. Strange as it now appears at 
l this distance I could never find just the 
3 greenest sprigs near shore, but barefooted 
j and with pants rolled up as high as my 
t rather long boy-legs would permit I waded 
, about over the slippery stones and pebbly 
, bottom in search of that particular bunch, 
I the perfume and pungency of which was 
, increased in proportion to the time required 
in discovering it. After gathering, how oft 
i have I sat upon an old log which overhung 
the bank and let my feet dangle in the water 
as I munched the pungent hut cooling leaves, 
watching the chubbs and shiners as they 
glinted by in their way up, for it seemed to 
me then that fish were always going up 
stream and never down. Then how natural 
it was to lie down upon the same old log or 
a big rock and take a drink from the brook, 
holding a few leaves of the mint in my mouth, 
because they made the water taste so cool 
and good. Thi3 going back to those early 
days may be considered by some as iudulging 
in a little unnecessary sentiment, still there 
are associations and remembrances which 
one’s heart, will seldom willingly let die out. 
But the beds of mint may be had without 
the brook, or even low, wet ground, for 
nearly all the various kinds will thrive in 
any good garden soil, and^the fragrance of 
some is as delightful as that wafted from a 
bed of Heliotrope or Mignonette, and a few 
sprigs upon the table during the “heated i 
term,” are frequently far from being an < 
unhealthy or unwel«*rae condiment. ] 
The most valuable and generally esteemed 1 
are peppermint (Mentha piperita) and spear 1 
mint (Mentha virldis). These are both Euro- ( 
pean species that have become naturalized in 1 
many parts of the country, especially along 1 
the banks of small streams. We have one 
native specie of Mentha, (Jf. Canadensis) r 
quite common along the shady bauks of b 
small streams, and although sweet scented c 
aud resembling somewhat the peppermint it t 
is quite inferior and scarcely worth cultivtvt- s 
ing. The first two species increase quite a 
rapidly by creeping root stocks, and like g 
some of our common perennial weeds may o 
e Feb. 23.—At the South, work has already 
!e been commenced in the garden, but “up 
>f North ” the glacier period is not quite ended, 
>- still the chirping of a blue bird this morning 
,f reminds me that spring is near at hand, and 
i- I have been out to the greenhouse making 
is preparations for putting in a few more cut- 
h tings of various kinds of plants which can bo 
t employed next summer for use and oma- 
o ment. There is nothing like having an 
t abundance of a good thing, and os the spring 
r approaches my greed increases, being made 
a apparent in the care given to the cuttings of 
a roses, geraniums and various kinds of bed- 
£ ding and vegetable plants. The soft., half 
. succulent shoots of such plants strike root 
t, quite readily at this season if placed in moist 
» sand and kept moderately warm. Those 
1 who have no conservatory may do something 
in this line if they have the plants from 
I which to take the cuttings, by putting them 
r in boxes of sand covered with a pane of 
window glass and then set where they will 
. receive warmth and light. Boxes four or 
five inches deep, half filled with pure sand 
, and of a size corresponding with the sheets of 
glass used lor covers may be made to answer 
a good purpose at this season, not only for 
starting cuttings of various kinds of tender 
window plants, but for vegetables as well. 
The cuttings of Geraniums, Verbenas, 
Heliotropes, Lantanas and similar plants may 
be made of the tender shoots, and not more 
than two or three inches long, then set them 
close together in the sand, burying abiyat 
one half their length, after which apply a 
little water and cover tightly with the glass. 
The boxes may be set in a window through 
which the sun will reach them, thereby 
seeming a higher degree of heat than if 
placed in a shady position. During the 
middle of the day and when the sun’s rays 
are the most powerful, a sheet of paper may 
be laid over the glass to prevent burning. 
With such a simple propagating bed hun¬ 
dreds of cuttings of many of our choice 
bedding plants may be struck by those who 
have no better method of increasing their 
stock. Of course if this is attempted before 
cold weather is past it will be necessary to 
keep a fire in the room to prevent freezing or 
too low a temperature at night. As soon as i 
the cuttings are rooted they should be taken 
from the sand beds’and put into good soil, • 
either in pots or boxes ; and kept in a light 1 
and warm place. 
I have known ladies who were almost, if < 
not quite, as successful in propagating many * 
kinds of tender plants, in the manner I have j 
described, as some of our gardeners with j 
their costly propagating pits, heated with t 
steam or hot water. Where there is a will s 
a way will be found in this matter of propa- | 
gating and cultivating of plants, as in any J e 
other branch of business and pleasure. 
THE APPLE TREE BORER. 
A correspondent of the New York Tri¬ 
bune says “ that he needs more accurate 
knowledge of the habits and growth of this 
great pest.” The Michigan Farmer in com¬ 
menting on the above says ” The borer, it 
is well known, can be checked by allowing 
apple trees to branch out, instead of trim¬ 
ming them up to a hight where a man and 
team can pass under the branches.” 
Well, if it is well known that “blanching 
low,” will check the ravages of apple tree 
borers, it’s a. new discovery in entomologi¬ 
cal science—unknown to us. Following the 
above are a number of paragraphs taken 
from the let ter of the Tribune correspondent, 
also from some of Mr. Riley’s Annual Re¬ 
ports, but we fail to discover what particular 
insect is being discussed under the far too 
general name of “The Apple Tree Borer.” 
Now, there are several insects, belonging to 
as widely separated families as do hogs 
and sheep, which live in their larval stages 
in the apple as well as in other trees, and 
preventives which may be effectual with one 
are of no use in fighting another. One of 
the most common and destructive apple tree 
borers in the Eastern States is the larva of 
one of the loDg-horn beetles, Saperda Candi¬ 
da. Tins insect confines itself almost exclu¬ 
sively to stems of the treeB close t.o or just 
under the surface of the ground, and can 
readily be kept out by covering this part of 
the tree with tar-paper, or some similar ma¬ 
terial. Another beetle, also more or less 
abundant, both East and West, belongs to the 
BupreMidans, a family noted for their bril¬ 
liant metallic, colors, but as far removed 
in relationship from the former os a hog is 
from an ox. This insect deposits its eggs 
high up on the stems and among the larger 
branches, and the larva feeds mainly on the 
soft, half formed wood just under the bark, 
seldom going any deeper. Knowing this 
much of its habits, if no more, would lead 
the orchardisfc to apply preventives in the 
form of whitewash, soaps and similar sur¬ 
face applications during the season of its ap¬ 
pearance, which unfortunately is the greater 
part of summer. 
Then, again, we ha\« another beetle which 
girdles the branches and one that bores into 
and eats out the pith and the larger part of 
the wood of the young twigs. But we did 
not intend to write a history of apple tree 
borers at this time, only to call attention to 
the importance of giving the name of an in¬ 
sect before prescribing preventives. If we 
should group all our domestic animals under 
one general term, “the cattle,” and then tell 
(low much oats, hay and water should be 
given to each head per diem, it would be no 
more absurd than to attempt to recommend 
preventives against “Theapple tree borer.” 
- — . 
HEADING OFF BORERS. 
In a recent number of the Rural New- 
Yorker I noticed an article, “Iron for 
peach trees.” In your oomments upon it 
you say there is no difficulty in keeping 
borers out of peach trees. I have a different 
experience. There are difficulties in your 
method. There is an annual expenditure of 
time and material, and besides this it is not, 
in my experience, a sure remedy. I will not 
waste time to refer to the various expedients 
to which I have resorted, but. hasten to state 
that at the introduction of Hale’s Early 
Peach I procured fifteen one-year old budded 
trees, took extra pains with them, and dis¬ 
covered the next season that the borers had 
commenced their depredations. I worked 
at them, knife in hand, for several years, 
until I had mutilated them very badly. I 
began to look about for some more effectual 
remedy. I prepared boxes of inch boards, 
eleven inches square, ten inches wide: put 
one around each tree ; filled each with damp 
leached ashes, pounded down slightly ; 
smoothed the surface with a damp shovel ; 
smoothed nicely the surface quite up to the 
trunk, and called the work fini shed This 
was the last trouble I experienced with my 
fifteen trees, and to my mind this is an ef¬ 
fectual remedy. The beetle cannot puncture 
the bark at that distance from the ground, 
it being dry and hard, and being no ingress 
or egress, reproduction must cease, of 
course. 
N. B,—This wooden structure will decay 
after a time. I suggest instead of boards 
use bricks, which are easily placed about the 
trees, need no mortar, as the pressure is very 
slight, and the material indestructible. The 
expense will be trifling compared with re¬ 
fitting occasionally with wood. I claim not 
that this remedy is infallible ; but this I do 
know—that for a series of years in my expe¬ 
rience it has proved an entire success*, and I 
think from its simplicity no one should be so 
skeptical as to fail to make the experiment. 
I speak somewhat positively, but I appre¬ 
hend my zeal is according to my knowl¬ 
edge. M. B. Hubbard. 
Lake Co., 0. 
