Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1908-09-25
The Holly is Valuable.

Query Will you please tell me
something about the English Holly?
Has it any commercial value in this
country?
Ans. / believe that there are at
traetive opportunities in Western
Washington and Oregon in the grow
ing and propaga:ing of this plant.
The English, or European holly, as it
is more commonly called. thrives best
upon a rich, moist, we'll drained soil
Occasionally we get good specimens
from swampy land. but swamp condi-
tions are not best for this plant. 1t
grows very slowly, and is difficult to
remove when it gets large; more so,
even, than a great many of our very
tender confers. The fall season is
probably the best time of the year in
which to transplant the holly, although
a great many succeed very we'll when
planted in the spring. In either fall
or spring planting, it is best to strip
off nearly all the leaves at planting
time. This is especially true Of the
European holly and it is often neces-
sary to cut back in order to balance
the top. The holly is propagated from
seed, and requires two years in which
to terminate; so we usually mix it in
sand, and place it in box or barrel,
burying it somewhere for the first
year, and, the second year, planting it
in the nursery rows or field A few
of the varieties may be propagated by
green wood cuttings, but this method
is more or less uncertain, and always
attended by losses. The plants should
always be transplanted at two years
of age.
Don't Graft on Worthless Trees.
QueryI have a number of large
trees, so old that they are of no use,
and | desire to use some two year old
trees in grating upon the older ones
| wish you would advise me how
should go at it to get the best results
Ans. 1t will be impossible for YOU
to use your two year old trees in graft
ing upon the large, worthless trees
All that you will need will be small |
scions, from two to four inches long. |
They should be inserted in the limbs of |
the large trees. This is known as
top working" You will need graft
ing wax to put around the scions. !
Make it as follows: Melt together. |
four parts of resin. two parts of bees |
wax, and one part of tallow. After
the mixture is thoroughly melted, pour +
it into a barrel, or tub of cold water,
and as soon as the mass is cool enough |
to handle, pull it, the same as you
would candy. 1t is best to coat your
hands with oil, or talow, to prevent |
sticking. Work the mass until it is
of light, yellowlsh color, when it is
ready for use, and will keep any length
of time.
Some Fruit Problems.
Query-Please suggest two varieties
of peaches that might do we'll in this |
locality.
My Gravenstein apples fall from the
tree before they are ripe. What is
the cause, and what should be done?
Would mulberries do we'll in Wash
ington?
What would be a good variety of
pear for this country.
Ans. Under ordinary culture and
conditions, believe that the Alexand-
er peach, and the Triumph peach will |
be the most satisfactory for your con-
ditions. These two varieties stand
better than any other. under similar
conditions, but it is possible that you
may grow the Alberta. However. |
would plant few for trial, before
planting large field.
1t is possible that the dry weather,
or worms, cause your Gravenstein
apples to fall before they are ripe.
The Graventsein occasionally does this !
without any apparent reason. but if |
your orchard gets real dry, the apples
will drop this way, in all cases there
fore, since continued cultivation assists |
in retaining moisture, to till your or
ehard we'll wall assist in obviating this
difficulty.
AS pears we'll suited to your local
ity, suggest the Bartlett, or Clair
geau; the Flemish Beauty, and the
Winter Nellis. We have not vet found
any pears that are blight proof. but
these four varieties are more or less
reslstent to blight.
Pick Them When They Go "PIunk.'
Query-How may I tell with GOV.
tainty when melons and souasbes are
ripe and best fit for market?
Ans. 1t is not customary to wait
until squash is ripe before placing il
on the market. AS soon as il has