Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-11-23
horticultural Queries.


HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY LAST EvENING-HOw TO
PRES kRVE ROOT CROPS-ENSILAGE AND sILO-
THE TINE FOR PRUNING GRAPE VINES - THE
EFFECT OF FALLEN LEAVES ON THE GRASS, &C.
AT the regular meeting OF the District Horticul-
tural Society, at German hall last evenlng-Mr.
John Saul presiding ana Mr.. r. w. Fowler secre-
tsry pro tem.-there was q fair attendance Some
or the ladies' present, as well as the gentlemen,
were particularly interested in the display OF
chrysantnemums. the now fashionable sue
cessOr OF the sunflower. There was fine exhibit
OF these flowers contributed by Mr.. Saul.
PRESERVATION OF ROOT CROPS.
The query box was opened and the following
was drawn out first" What is the best mole for
preserving during the winter such root crops as
potatoes, carrots and turnips ~
Mr. Thos. B. Brown said that the best mode was
TO keep roots in sand earth, as, IL they were In
barrels 6hey would evapOrate, especially In a dry
cellar. he was rather pleased with the plan OF a
fOoChouSe, partly under ground and said he had
seen house for this purpose where even grapes
were kept perfect all winter.
In answer to question by Mr. j. T. C. Clark,
Mr. Brown said 1t would be better with potatoes
10 keep them in k1ns, so as to prevent sprouting.
ENsrLAsE AND sILos. u
The next question excited some laughter It
was: 81 read good deal about ensllage and silos
What is ensilage and what is silos? Is it hort-
cultural or what is it,"
MI Saunders said that ensilage was not new,
having been common in France 60 years ago. The
ensilage was made mostly OF corn cut and pressed
in pit or silos and 1t was to a considerable ex->
tent substitute for roots. In France they make
ensilage OF beet pulp.
Mr. Saul said that ensiIage was profitable where
root crops are not grown.
Mt Brown remarked that some years ago he had
he2rd OF corn stalk and cdr being cut up and fed
10 horses, on which they fattened, and this was
ens1lage.
THE TIME FOR PRUNING GRAPES
The nexkluery was "When is the best time to
prune grapes?' Mr.. Needham SAID any time after
the fal! OF the leaf and before the buds swell
Mr. Saunders said the best time was in NOyem-
per- FOR the reason that II cut at this season the
buds Will receive the nutiment which would other
wise go to the end OF the vine Then It was hest
TO lay the plant down In winter and cover IT, ana
by pruning in the fau there is not so much to
cover. The frost never did plant any good in his
Is made palatabe.
Mr. Needham remarked that he had supposed
that the bleeding OF plant in the spring was in
furious, but last spring he had not seen any differ
ence IN those pruned early or late He was afraid
TO prune the vines at the time, but took the advice
yards OF Ohio and did So
Mr. S lunders said that by observation it will be
found that those vines cut in the fall will mature
earlier, and some of the late varieties If they are
not pruned until spring. will not mature Mr..
Mseq una having remarked that this was moth
nothing but water, but it is the life of the plant
GRAPE SUGAR. ~
Mr. Thomas Taylor said that grape sugar was
made OF the leaves Of the plant, the more mature
leaves having the largest percentage. Crane
sugar was also made from other plants and 1t diff
1ers from the ordinary sugar. for it Will not crys-
tallze 1t Is the glucose, and is not sweet as the
cane sugar, and under the microscope 1t resembles
boiled tapioca.
LEAVES ON THE GRASS
A notice was read from newspaper comment
ing On the removal OF leaves from the parks, TAX
Ing the ground that II left on the grass they would
do the grass good.
j. e.. o oil
remain On the grass. would be Injurious, and he
noticed that they bred insects The best mode to
treat them was to rake them up and put them in
q, compost heap using lime to destroy any insect
MT. saunders said If leaves were allowed to re-
main too thick on the ground they would tnjure
ness the lawns should be kept clean. There was
but little nutriment in the leaves in his opinion
IL nad been urged that in our forests the ground
mas Deen enriched by decaying leaves, but it was
not to the forests we go to lind lawns
~, Mr. brown thought raking the leaves from under
some protection to the roots.
WHAT WILL OSCAR DO NOW?
The next question was, "What will become Of
the disciples OF Oscar Wilde now that the sum
flower has gone, and the chrysanthemums will
soon foliOw?"
lady member said that they would have to
wear the artificial flowers
Mr.. SAUL after speaking OF the properties of the
Hover, directed that the collection on exhibition
DC distributed.
TRANSFERS OF REAL EsTATE.-Deeds In fee have
been recorded as follows: Church OF the Messiah
TO s. W. smith, subs. 1863 to 49, So. 240 800. S.W.
smith 10 John Sherman, same property: 5000
Mary Murray to Owen Murray, subs s and 81, So
81; s.. Z. Mccormick TO ID. c. Turner subs 81
and "a, So 545; $3.50. G. f. Lemon to Mary A. Por-
ter, sub. IS, So. 1879; $500. ]. A. Clark to W. A.
Coulter, sub &c So. 306 5000. James Orr to Mary
=; n Morse part 10, SO. 70; 1925. NJ j. Warner to
Adams to g. Mason, subs. So to g. So 1913: S, 60
Mary A. Dick to W. E. Hill. part 5, so. 343; s
Pleasant Plains; s23l.25. A. HOLMAN to Georgia
d. Todd, same property; 6. j. X. West ct al.
TO Mary Webb. lots so, 81, log and 107 Untontown:
s. Same to Rosa Kettler, parts and 6. So
40; y Washington Mclean to Mile Mel.
H1zen, part !. So. 1884, s.. w. F. Lewis TO g.
Mason, part !, SO. 9s2; $3.50. Joseph Williams to
W S1hn N; W1liams, part g. SCI SOL s Charles
396; s. 500 subject to 81 O93 trust Catherine A.
Riaweil ct a. to Emma McCahill, lots 16 to 49, p
3. y. ana D.'s addition to Georgetown; s.