THE GARDEN.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XII, Issue 183, 4 August 1877, Page 5

THE GARDEN.

M. Chatofc recommends common salt as an antidote for mildew op vines. By sprinkling a handful of Bait; around the base of each viue, the effect, he says, was marvellous; and vines hitherto covered with this fungus grew luxuriantly, and had an abundance of grapes entirely free from oidium.^Paris Paper. "When planted in very rich soil, tomatoe3 often produce much wood and little fruit. The best crop of tomatoes I ever saw was furnished by main stems as free from side growth as a walkingstick, All growths except the leaves and flowers attached to the principal stem had been pinched of as they appeared.— The Garden. - I filled half a hogs-head with raia water and put into it one-quarter pound ammonia and one-quarter pound common nitre. When the strawberry plants were blossoming out I gave them a sprinkle of the solution at evening twice a week, until the fruit was nearly full size. The result wag double the amount of fruit on those where the liquid was applied to what was obtained Jrom those right alongside upon which none of the liquid was applied.— Fruit Becord. .... ; A Berlin gardener claims that; ho etteetually checked the ravages of cafeerpillara last year by the simple expedient of 87fting ashes over hia vegetables when they were wet with dew Perhaps he borrowed the plan from England, for it ia an old one, and is often adopted successfully in preventing the turnip beetle devouring the young crops of the Brassica family when just appearing above ground.— London Journal of Horticulture. Some cut their early, cabbages afc the lower-most leavea. This is not economical, because when cut so low the Btems seldom sprout much afterwards : whereas, when they are cut up as far as can be done. . without . injury to: the head, and as many of the leaves are left as possible, there are soon many side heads emitted from the stem, and each of these ultimately becomes ag useful m the kitchen as the first head. Cabbages when properly attended, yield gatherings from May until .November.— Cottage Gardener. A Yankee, to economise the scratching power of hens, piaces hen. and chickens m a long narrow cage, iusfc wide enought to fit between two rows of potatoes. The cage is moved along between, until the ground has been thoroughly scratched, the potatoes have been nicely hoed, and all the inflects have been eaten.

The best scare-crow (says the Scientific American) is a suspended looking glass. Take two small mirrors, fasten them back to back, attach a cord to one angle, and hang them to an elastic pole. When the glass swings in the wind the sun's rays are reflected all over the field, even if it be a large one, and even the oldest and bravest of crows will depart precipitately should one of its lightning flashes fall on him. The second plat° although a terror to crows, is especially well suited to fields subjected to the inroads of small birds and even chickens. It involves an artificial hawk made from a big potato aud loose goose and turkey feathers. The maker can exercise his imaginative skill in sticking his feathers into tho potato so that they resemble the spread wings and tail of a hawk. It is astonishing what a ferocious bird of prey can be constructed from the above simple material. It only remains to hang the object from a tall bent pole, and the wind wiil do the rest. The bird will make swoops and dashes in the most headlong and threatening manner. Even the most inquisitive of venerable hens have been known to hurry rapidly from its dangerous vicinity, while to small birds it carries unmixed dismay.

Facts to Eemembek.— Some men are good because goodness pay best j some are good for — nothing. Present Conundrum. — « Man," says Victor Hugo " was the conundrum of the eighteenth century, woman is the conundrum of the nineteenth century." An American editor adds « We can't guess her, but we will never give her up. No never."