The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1883-05-17
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS.
Our Agricultural Editors Weekly Chat With His


wish you could tel, me what IL the matter with
my rose bushes. A few weeks ago they came out
with green, healthy looking leaves and afterwards
they turned yellow and the plants look as if they
were dying. notice q white-like substance around
tier stems, and on moving little of the soil il
seems full of white, thready looking material
W., Southern H.
Ans From the description we think that the
soil is overrun .by some kind of fungus If
the roots or any portion of the stem has become
coated with this fungus the plant will prob
ably die. The best thing to do is to remove
the surface soihspread portion of lime around
the roots and cover up with fresh soil.
have tried Italian rye grass for two successive
years. The first year it made fine crop of hay,
but ii did not do so well the second year and by
the third year there was not plant left so that
think 1t is OF no use as a permanent grass.-Hay-
maker, Kansas.
Remdrks.-The Italian rye grass is biennial,
and never exists beyond the second year; new
ertheess, it is valuable grass for some sections
of this country.
hedges, such as arborvitse and hemlock John r..
Long Island.
Ans. The best time to trim evergreen hedges
is in spring just before the plants commence
TO grow. They will soon be covered with
new growth when trimmed at the right time.
Please let me ask through Questions and An
swcrs-agriculturai chat-how TO procure seeds or
bulbs from the Agricultural Department at Wash
ington? often hear of people receiving package
OF seeds or bulbs for trial L cultivate flowers TO
soIae extent, and as am the wife of soldier and
lac subscriber TO THE TRIBUNE, i though would
como TO you for information.-Mrs H. Exeter IN.
Aus. Apply 10 the member of Congress from
your district.
Lena, Kalamazoo, Michigan, wishes to know
if the tree called the paper mulberry will be
as good for silk worms as the Usage orange or
the common mulberry. In reply we state that
the leaves Of the paper mulberry tree are
of no-value for silk worms Nothing equal to
the white Chinese mulberry for silk worm
food.
What is the difference between hybridizing and
crossing piants?-Jonathan, Indiana.
Asss For the purpose of illustration we will
| take the grape vine. If the pollen from a Con-
cord grape is busted upon the pistils Of a
catawba grape, then, If the seeds produced are
planted and grow, the plants would be crosses,
because both parents belong to the same species,
viz, pftfs LaJTtlSca But if the Concord and
Black Hamburger are similarly treated the
plants from these would be hybrids because
the parents were of different Species the Ham,
burgh being variety of tho Vitis pinifera
havea Marshall Mel rose trained on the porch
OF my house; 1t is in sheltered place; seems to
grow well enough every summer; il dies nearly
10 the ground every winter. prune il of all dead
shoots and otherwise care for it. but il never has q
flower. What Il the matter?-Dora H.. Dover Del.
Ans. This rose has to be treated very much
like grape vine. The long shoots that are
made this year will flower next year if they are
not killed by frost. Yours is killed by frost,
consequently it will not flower. Your climate
Ia too severe for it.