between the rows was stirred at least every 2 weeks, and in the fall the entire

ground and plants were entirely covered with bog hay, which protects them in

winter, and this mulch was left on the following season, not only to keep the

berries clean but also to keep the soil moist underneath.

Slaughter house manure of the rankest kind is also used for this purpose, and the growth of vine

which follows, and the size of fruit would certainly astonish any man who was

not in the secret as to how the thing was done. This is the way in which new

by professionals who expect to make a show of their pets at

sorts are treated

exhibitions or elsewhere.

Bemarks.

Phonograph, Colby, Wis.

—K this the plan to show

on generally.

off their pets, it is the plan to raise them

The deeper working of the soil, (see No. 3), and heavy manuris

ing pay, also the covering or mulching with cheap hay, to avoid the soil getting

upon the berries, and also the keeping of the ground moist, and weeds from

growing.

2.

Strawberry Growers— a Hint— Kind's to Plant with Wil-

son's Albany.

— A correspondent of the Fimit Recorder, (see No.

4),

complain-

ing that Wilson's Albany toward the last part of the season run small in the

size of the berry, and that rich soil

and good cultivation do not change this

amongst the Wilsons every third or fourth plant of

Charles Downing, Colonel Cheney or Jucunda, all of which are in their prime

toward the last run of the Wilsons. This proportion of these large sorts mixed

in with the Wilsons will give a fine appearance to the fruit, and make them sell

habit, is told |to plant

well to the last.

3.

Strawberry Culture—Kinds, and How to Grow Them.

A correspondent of the Post and Tribune says: "Any one can raise strawberries who can

grow corn or garden vegetables; yet few attain to perfection

in strawberry growing.

I.

The first requisite is a deep, rich bed.

The second requisite is good plants, and of kinds which will bear fruit

without some other variety to fertilize them. If the Col. Cheney is planted

alone very little fruit will be had, because this is a pistillate variety; so is the

Green Prolific, and these varieties require the presence of some staminate sort

The Wilson's Albany is a good staminate sort, and bears

to fertihze them.

fruit without the aid of any other variety, except to get larger berries the last

of the season as in No. 2. It is the best kind for general planting. A good

II.

variety to plant beside the Wilson is the Green Prolific,

III.

Tldrdly, after the plants are done bearing, the tops should be

mown

cropped with a sharp knife. This prevents the plants throwing

out runners so freely, and thus avoids the tendency to become matted together;

it causes a strong growth of roots, and gives new, fresh and healthy foliage.

It is almost equal to rene-wing the bed, because the plants are not taxed to support

off close, or

a new generation.

IV.

Lastly, strawberries need the earliest culture possible in the spring.

The beds ought then to be covered with manure or hay, to keep the soil cool

—

DH CHASM'S RECIPES.

604

and damp, and to prevent the groT^-ixig of weeds.

With these points attended

to, large crops will reward the gro'^'PT.

Remarks.

—The author agrees with this gentleman, except in the spring

I believe it is a concede*^ fact, generally, that the culture, manuring and

culture.

putting on hay, or straw, or sawdust, should be done in the fall. The manure

spaded or forked in, and the straw or other covering put on, so the fall rains

and the melting of tliB 'mow in the spring will carry the virtue of the manure

well

among the roots, and,,

consequently, give a

better

crop.

In such a

case as given in the next.., nbeTe no time could be given in the fall to do as these

did, I

to put on a good covering of straw, or marsh

no doubt best, as it is not so likely to blow off, after

would take time

hay, if [plenty, w.hich

is

being wet by the rains.

4.

Strawberries, Killing Weeds Among.— The Palmyra (N. Y.)

Pruit Rfcoi'der, upon this subject says: " One of the finest yields of strawberries

'Are ever savr xt^rs years ago on an old bed of Early Scarlet, grown on the farm

(it

a brother- ir.-lavf.

It had been kept clean up to July, when the press of farm

Jyork preren^ec^ any further attention to it, and the vines run helter-skelter and

Sveeds gtQfr freely, so that

Weeds.

by December it was a complete mat of vines and

quickly

it, which was done, and

We recommended setting fire to

In the spring the vines started freely, and soon covered the surfrom about one-third of an acre, nearly 50

bushe;s of splendid fruit was gathered.

You can do this, and if the weeds are

\io1 juificiently scattered over it to burn over the entire surface, scatter a little

The fire destroys the seeds of weeds but

«traw or hay over the vacant places.

burned over.

face wUh their green leaves, and

doe.'? tjo

harm to plants."

—

Strawberries, Liquid Manure for, While Growing. I filled a

half -hogshead with rainwater, and put into it a J^ lb. aqua ammonia and 3^ lb.

When the strawberry plants were blossoming out I

gave them a sprinkling of the solution at evening twice a week until the fruit

Was nearly full size. The result was double the amount of fruit on those where

common niter (saltpeter).

from those right alongside upon

Which none of the liquid was applied. Fruit Record.

Remarks. With all these points, I think any one can raise strawberries, as

No. 3 puts it, if they will pay reasonable attention; and if extra attention, they

the liquid was applied to what was obtained

—

will get extra crops.

BASPBERRY CTJLTTJRE — How to Prepare The Ground.—

The richer the soil naturally, tliat can be given to them the better, then, one

writer says, "The ground is prepared as you would for a crop of sugar beets

(that is, deep ploughing and plenty of manure), using plenty of old manure and

plowing deeply as possible: Shallow culture will not do for raspberries as the

roots require coolness and moi-sture.

Without these conditions, in dry seasons

the crop wall not perfect itself.

Tlie plants are usually set 4 feet apart each way,

though some cultivators prefer 6 feet one way and 3 feet the other."

2. Keeping Clear of Weeds the Two First Seasons, then

Mulching or Covering. — C. Engle of Paw Paw, Mich, says: "Rasp-

MISCELLA]<r^OUS.

terries should be

after setting.

605

hoed and kept well cleaned from weeds the first two seasons

After thatj a very good and easy way to tend them is to cover

the surface, between the vines, with some kind of coarse litter, (straw or marsh

hay is first rate), 5 or 6 inches in depth. That will prevent the weeds from

growing, and keep the ground cool and moist. I have treated a patch in that

way for 7 years past, (adding an additional light coating every spring), and see

no dimunition in quantity or quality of the fruit. They do equally as well in

the dryest season. I do not know that it would be practicable on a large plan-

but for a small patch it is just the thing."

Remarks. If it is just the thing for a small patch, 'tis just the thing for a

Undertake no larger field than you

large one, if you desire to have it pay big.

can do well, then you may reasonably expect it to do well. If you have not

mulch enough to cover all the ground, let the hills be well mulched with manure; .and if considerable straw is in it, 'tis so much the better, for the roots

must be covered, if you expect large yields.

tation,

—

3.

The Kind to Raise. — The McCormick, also called the Mammoth

Cluster Raspberries, is becoming one of the leading varieties among the black

T. T. Lyon says it is the largest, most vigorous and productive of them

caps.

Downing says: "It has stronger and more vigorous canes, has

fewer spines, and is the largest, best and most productive Black Cap we have

all.

Charles

seen,"

Eemarks.

—There may from time to time be varieties brought out that will

eclipse the IMcCormick.

Let everyone engaged in the business look well to

this in obtaining plants or canes, as everyone wants the best.

Even now, 1884, the Rural New Yorker in its brieflets suggests Shaffer's

Colossal as a large berry, combining a pleasant acidity with the true raspberry

flavor among the black caps;

and the Crimson Beauty or Hansell as the earliest

and the Sneider among blackberries to take the place of a part, at least,

of the Kittatinny's, being more fruitful, and far more hardy; certainly good

qualities to recommend it.

And so may improvements go on.

red-

4.

Pinching Off, or Cutting Back the Leaves, the Best Way

—Those that understand the cultivation of the raspberry consider

it

the best

way to pinch off wlien 3 or 4 feet high, according to the richness of the soil,

else to cut back as soon as they reach 5 or 6 feet high, which certainly tends to

make them more stocky, and to produce much stronger, lateral or side branches,

which should also be pinched off or cut back, to insure a larger berry, and a

larger yield of fruit.

6.

Blackberries

— And red raspberries need much the same treatment

as the black caps.

Gardening in a Hogshead.— Sometime ago Mr. G. L. Record, of

this city bored holes in rows around a hogshead, at a regular intervals, 6 inches

apart, filling the hogshead with earth, and set a strawberry plant in each one

«f the holes, beside putting a number of plants on top. There are 100 plants

growing from the sides of tliis novel Garden, which are now in full beauty and

bloom, having a prolific growth of berries, and looking remarkably thriving

—

I>R-

606

CEASE'S RECIPES.

and healthy. Some of the berries are ripe, and have attained great size, one

measuring 3 inches in circumference. New Orleans limes-Bemocrat.

Remarks. I have seen cucumbers growing in, or rather on top of kegs

filled "with rich earth, so I know the thing is practicable for those who have only

a small yard and no garden.

—

Finger Marks Quickly Removed from Mirrors, Windows, etc. — Putting a few drops of ammouia on a cloth will do the work admirably.

The same also from doors about the locks and latches.

Take the cloth

in such a way as not to irritate the fingers with the strong ammonia.

See

"Ammonia— Its Uses, etc."

BRIMSTONE—A Disinfectant After Deaths from Cholera,

Also an Exterminator of Bed Bugs, Roaches, etc. — L. H. Spear,

in the Rural New Yorker, makes the following statement upon this subject,

which will be found reliable. He says: "The 'Epidemic of Cleanliness,' as

the present effort to prevent cholera has been called by those who have the sanitary condition of our great cities in charge, mentions, among numerous

preventives of malarial poison, the burning of brimstone in houses, and I

doubt if any who hastily read the various directions for fumigating dwellings,

know half the merits of this agent. A distinguished chemist once said of it:

While other disinfectants act for a time, so as to seem to destroy bad odors,

they chiefly cover tJiem up, but brimstone kills them.' All housekeepers should

also know that by burning brimstone in a room infested with bugs, it will kill

them. Put burning charcoal into a kettle and sprinkle a I4 lb. of powdered

brimstone over it. Close all windows and doors for an hour or more, when

they can be re-opened.

Remarks. Let any one who thinks this will not kill the bed bugs, roaches,

etc. even in the cracks and crevices of the walls, pass a lighted sulphur match

under his nose, and then judge if he could stand it an hour? If the cholera

visits your neighborhood, which it is almost certain to do at some time, this

should be done to every room in which a cholera patient dies; and may be done

at any time in rooms where these pests have got a lodgement in the cracks of

old walls. It is recently claimed that even cholera is caused by a living mite or

"microbe," as they call them, and, therefore, the burning of the powdered

brimstone, is sure death to them, and that no further spreading of the disease

'

—

,

is possible.

Cess Pools Disinfected Instantly.— Prof. Thos. Taylor reports/ that

of spirits of turpentine in 1 pail of water will disinfect an

ordinary cess pool instantly, and that in the sick chamber it will prove a power1 table-spoonful

ful auxiliary against germs and bad odors.

—

Remarks. Then, I think, 2 or 3 six)onfuls to the pail of water would be

equally effective for a water-closet privy.

—

on the Water has Enabled Vessels to Outride Storms

at Sea.— The schooner George Sherman was reported, ]\Iay oO, 1884, by the

Oil

Chicago papers, to have ridden out the gale on Lake Michigan that week by

pouring on the water 12 gallons of linseed oil, which calmed the waves for a

MISCELLANEOUS.

607

^stance of half a mile fron the ship. This is, no doubt, true, but wonderful

one of the mysteries of nature Nature's God.

Bemarks. If sailors do not have opportimity to read this, their friends

may, and communicate it to them.

all the same

—

—

—

INKS, Slack. —Inks of late years are mostly made from the analine colors, which have been brought to

such perfection as to make good ink, by put-

ting the right amount of powder to the certain amount of soft water.

John B.

Wade, No. 40 Murray street. New York, deals in them, but druggists can furnish them anywhere, and others will of course soon deal in all these colors.

1.

The black is made by using what is called " nlgrosine " or black analine, 1 oz. to water 1 gal.

II.

Violet, which is a very popular color, is

violet, 3 B., 1 oz., water 1 gal.

Dibectidns

made by using Hoffman's

—Dissolve the powder with a

lit-

tle alcohol or boiling water; and if desired to use as

a copying ink, sugar and

gum Arabic, in the proportions given in the black ink from nut galls and logwood below.

III.

Blue is made by using Lieman soluble blue, J^ oz, to water 3 gals