540 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
December  lo,  1900. 
Cleansing  Frnit  Trees  in  Winter. 
Fruit  trees  are  subject  to  inuurr.erable  pests,  some  ot  which  only 
temporarily  infest  them,  while  others  are  very  persistent  in  their 
attacks,  and  are  not  destroyed  without  drastic  methods  of  treatment. 
One  of  the  comm  luest  troubles  with  which  all  fruit  culiivators  have 
to  contend  is  the  co  iin  moth,  or  Apple  worm  (tJarpocapsa  pomonella). 
An  autumn  or  winter  remedy  against  this  grub  is  that  of  grease 
banding  the  trunks  of  trees.  For  this  purpo^e  grease-proof  paper 
bands  are  ^ecured  tightly  round,  and  covered  with  a  mixture  ot  cart 
grease  and  oil.  Another  form  of  banding  is  tying  round  some  old 
sackii  g  about  6  inches  broa'^,  fastening  it  in  the  middle  with  stout 
twine.  '1  he  grubs  in  descending  the  trunks  will  creep  under  the 
sacking  but  cannot  go  any  further  than  the  string,  while  these 
ascending  the  trunk  will  be  arrested  in  the  same  way.  The  sacking 
may  be  examined  weekly,  and  the  grubs  destroyed.  In  doing  so  it 
IS  beat  to  remove  the  i  an<  s  entirely, 
so  that  ti  e  sacking  may  be  tho¬ 
roughly  examine).  Then  replace 
with  fresh  twine  if  necessary. 
Hay  bands,  wnich  should  not  be 
tied  very  high  up  the  stems  of  the 
trees,  must  also  be  examined  fre¬ 
quently.  Ou  the  greased  paper  the 
grubs  of  course  will  stick,  if  they 
crawl  upon  if.  The  best  time  for 
banding  is  November,  when  the 
grubs,  which  have  fallen  to  the 
ground  with  the  fruit,  are  seeking 
a  resting  place  for  the  winter  in 
the  rough  bark  of  the  trunk  or 
branches. 
Should  this  means  not  be  found 
successful,  wash  the  stems  and 
large  branches  of  the  trees  with  the 
excellent  standard  remedy  which 
has  been  frequently  recommenaed 
in  these  pages  by  various  cultivators 
— namely,  half  a  pound  each  of 
caust'C  soda  and  crude  commercial 
potash,  dissolved  in  5  gallons  of 
hot  water.  This  preparation  should 
be  sprayed  on  the  trees  during  the 
time  they  are  in  a  dormant  state. 
The  “  Abol  ”  syririge,  or  an 
“Eclair”  sprajing  pump,  are  the 
best  instruments  for  distributing 
insecticides  in  an  effective  and 
economical  manner.  Tne  spraying 
should  be  directed  from  all  sides, 
so  as  to  reach  every  possib  e  part. 
The  burning  or  caustic  nature  of 
the  solution  necessitates  that  the 
hands  sho  Id  be  protected  with  a 
pair  of  thick  gloves. 
This  preparation  will  likewise  'e 
effective  in  clean-ing  trees  of 
American  blight,  forcing  the  liquid 
well  into  the  cracks  and  crevices 
where  the  iusects  exist.  It  is  ad¬ 
visable,  however,  to  give  the  worst 
infested  parts  a  preliminary  washing  with  softsoap  and  petroleum. 
Frequently  churn  during  use,  so  as  to  keep  the  mixture  thoroughly 
mixed.  Tne  potash  and  sola  solution  can  also  be  use!  as  a  destroyer 
of  moss  and  lichen  on  fruit  trees,  but  it  is  essential  to  first  scrape  off 
the  thickest  of  the  encrtis  atioos  when  wet. 
The  winter  season  is  also  the  best  time  to  destroy  red  sp  der,  which 
so  injuriously  afifec  s  the  foliage  of  Iruit  trees  in  summer.  The  insects 
s'ulter  in  cievices  in  the  bark,  and  round  the  buds  aud  other  position.^. 
If  ti  e  s  ems  and  brf'nches  are  well  washed  with  an  insecticide  consisting 
of  softsoap,  caustic  soda,  and  flowers  of  sulphur,  the  pests  will  be 
destroyed,  and  the  trees  can  start  clean  in  sprinj.  In  preparing  this 
mixture,  1  lb.  of  softsoap  should  be  dissolved  in  4  gallons  of  boiling 
water  ;  then  separately  boil  3  ozs.  of  caustic  soda  and  lb.  of 
flowers  of  sulphur  in  2  gallons  of  water.  Stir  well,  mixing  thoroughly, 
and  boil  gently  for  half  an  hour,  adding  4  gallons  of  water,  and 
it  will  be  ready  for  use.  Spray  a'terwards  with  the  potash  solution. 
Scale  insects  should  be  destroyed  in  winter  either  w  tn  the  soda  and 
potash  solution,  or  brush  over  the  encrusted  branches  with  spirits  of  wine. 
Gooseberry  trees  which  were  infe  ted  with  caterpillars  in  summer 
ought  now"  to  have  the  soil  beneath  them  scraped  away  to  the  d  pth 
of  3  inches  and  buried  deeply  away  from  the  trees,  replacing  that 
taken  away  with  fresh.  Over  that  spread  a  layer  of  soot  and  lime. 
This  treatment  will  effectually  prevent  the  appearance  of  the  moths 
next  season  t  >  deposit  eggs.  The  trees  are  benefited  also  by  having 
soot  or  lime  dusted  over  them.  It  cleanses  the  wood,  and  to  some 
extent  prevents  birds  attacking  the  buds. — E.  D.  S. 
- - - 
Growing  Asparagus. 
There  can  be  no  doubt  of  the  importance  and  value  of  Asparagus 
as  a  Vegetable;  but  in  some  soils  there  is,  perhaps,  no  crop  more 
difficult  to  establish  satis'actorily.  In  some  places  it  i-ucceeds 
remarkably  well,  grows  vigorously,  and  lasts  in  good  condition  for 
many  years.  As  a  rule  it  thrives  in  gardens  situated  near  the  seacoast 
if  the  soil  is  li^ht  and  sandy  ;  but  wnen  of  a  tenaci'  us  character  it  is 
totally  unfit  for  the  production  of  good  As  aragus,  aud  to  attempt  its 
growth  is  almost  useless  without 
special  preparation.  To  accomplish 
this  will  cause  much  labour  in 
clearing  out  the  soil  where  it  is 
intended  to  have  the  beds,  for 
adding  abundance  of  manure  to 
such  heavy  soil  is  one  of  the 
greatest  mistakes  that  can  be  made. 
The  ground  where  Asparagus  is 
to  be  grown  s  lould  always  be  well 
drained  ;  if  drainage  is  deficient  the 
roots  perish  dating  winter,  but  if 
well  drained  it  is  unnecessary  to 
place  under  the  beds  (linkers  or 
broken  bricks.  Before  taking  out 
the  soil  where  it  is  proposed  to 
plant  the  Asparagus  a  good  fire 
should  be  started,  if  convenient,  to 
burn  a  portion  of  the  soil  as  it  is 
taken  our,  which  can  again  be 
worked  in  with  advantage  amongst 
the  compost  intended  to  be  used. 
Nothing  better  will  be  found  for 
this  purfiose  than  old  potting  soil, 
and  it  matters  little  if  quantities  of 
crocks  remain  amongst  the  soil. 
Prunings  and  materal  from  the 
rub'  ish  heap  should  also  be  burned 
and  mixed  with  a  good  quantity  of 
partially  di  cayed  leaves;  this, 
with  a  moderate  amount  ol  manure, 
will  be  suitable  f  r  the  beds.  Coarse 
river  or  sea  sand  C(n  be  advanta¬ 
geously  employed  acc  'rditig  to  the 
lightness  of  the  soil.  Road  sweep¬ 
ings  are  excellent  for  tins  purpose, 
as  they  fnquently  contain  coarse 
sand  or  small  gravel,  leaves,  h(  rse 
droppings,  and  other  miiures. 
The  materials  should  be  well  mixed 
and  wheeled  into  the  beds  ;  a  heavy 
dressing  ot  hot  lime  should  then 
bi  given,  and  the  whole  mai-s 
trenched  so  as  to  thoroughly  incor¬ 
porate  the  natural  soil  remaining 
underneath  with  the  lime  and  other  mixture.  I'his  can  be  prepared 
any  time  during  the  winter  so  as  to  be  ready  in  the  spring. 
The  best  time  for  planting,  according  to  my  expedience,  is  when 
the  plants  are  commencing  growth.  I  secure  a  .stock  by  sowing  seeds 
in  April.  Plmts  can  be  thus  obtained  the  following  spring  fur  beds, 
or  the  seedlings  can  be  thinned  out  to  the  necessary  dis'ance.  When 
growth  has  commenced  lilt  the  plants  in  small  bunche.s  without 
shaking  off  the  soil.  I  do  not  see  the  advantage  of  splitting  t  em  up 
and  planting  single  crowns.  A  line  should  be  drawn  and  a  trench 
made  so  t  lat  the  roots  can  be  spread  out  and  then  covered  at  o  ce, 
placing  about  an  inch  depth  of  soil  above  the  crowns,  aud  when  the 
planting  is  completed  lightly  cover  the  bfd  with  short  manure  i  nd 
decayed  leaves.  If  plant  d  (leeply  at  first  the  crowns  soon,  by  constant 
top- dressings,  become  too  deep. 
The  Asparagus  in  the  garden  under  mv  charge  has  been  hi  herto 
plamed  in  beds,  but  I  do  not  recommend  the  system.  I  cannot  lee 
any  advan  age  in  having  it  in  beds,  as  much  labour  is  caused  in 
keefiing  them  neat.  Wnen  in  beds,  it  the  p'ants  grow  luxuriantly, 
they  not  infrequently  become  too  crowded  and  have  not  room  to 
tho'oughly  develop.  If  planted  in  rows  18  inches  auart  and  1  foot 
or  14  inches  from  plant  to  plant,  ample  B[iace  is  allowed  t  >  work 
any  short  manure  in  with  a  fork  in  spring.  ^After  the  foliage  has 
Fig.  138. — Pear  Charles  Ernest. 
