The islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1891-1899, 1896-03-26
OUR HORTICULTURAL HINTS.

| There has been a time when q vineyard
was heavy incumberancea and nuisance
TO its owner, and it is so yet for those who
expect a crop of fruit from their vines by
simply looking at them.
IF the apple be the king of fruits, the
pear is lrely the queen. What edible
luxury can be compared to a ripened pear?
What healthier? And yet it can be grown
nearly as cheap as apples, while they
sell twice as high, and there is always a
market for them.
It has been asserted, and facts seem to
warrant the conclusion, that denuding a
country of it's timber has II tendency TO
dry up its springs and rivers, and thus
make Il barren waste where once were
fertile fields. The land OF Palestine was
once, certainly fertile country, but for
centuries has been barren and unfruitful.
Don't cut off many of the larger limbs
the first year, or you may have blood-po1-
son. And if you do cut off any such, be
sure to wax the wounds over we'll at the
time of cutting. But it is much better to
leave the cutting of the larger limbs until
the second year, when the cut will heal
over more promptly. But in any case,
keep i'll mind the center stem and avoid
making or permitting forks.
For use on rose slugs of all sorts, cur
rant and gooSeDerry worms and all sawtiy
larvae, use white hellebore prepared as
follows: To one gallon of boiling water
add one tablespoonful white hellebore, III
powder, let it stand until cold, and apply
in the evening with fine sprinkler or
whisk broom. Make second application
in a week or ten days if there has been
much rain in the meantime, or If the in
sects are not all killed by the first applica-
ton.
The size of asparagus varies in ac-
cordace with the fertility of the soil and
the distance apart at which the plants are
set; the greater the distance the heavier
the stalks. Ordinarily the plants are set
from one to two feet apart in rows that
are three feet apart in the garden or four
Or five feet apart in fed culture. 1t re-
QuireS deep, rich, mellow, sandy loan.
Set the roots about five inches below the
surface and cover with about two inches
of soil, filling in the balance by degrees
the first season whilst cultivating.
In planting your trees, especially if
large ones, you will want at least three
careful men-One to wash the roots and
lower part of the body off clean and ex-
aiming for bOrerS and to carry the trees,
only as fast as needed, to the plaL ters; then
one to hold the tree and churn it briskly
and in earnest while number three rakes
in loose, mellow soil and works it in UNI
der the roots with his hands, mixing in
with it some wellrotted barnyard manure
or other non heating fertilizer.
Mr. NJ. A. Thayer gives the following
advice for the protection of berries when
there is a sudden freeze: In localities
subject to frost have hay or straw ready
for use. One good load to each half acre.
Wild hay is best, being light and more
compact. One man may protect an acre
in few hours. Remove covering early
next morning to allow continued pollen
ization. A thick smudge may protect
berries at one or two degrees below freeZ
ing. For lower temperatures cover with
suitable protection. Berry fields and
farmers gardens may be saved in this
way.