134 



GARDEN" WASTE AND GARDEN ECONOMY. 



In the processes of gardening there 

 are many things wasted for want of 

 knowing to what they mav be applied, 

 or how to apply them. For instance, 

 the trimmings and prunings of trees 

 and bushes are applicable to several 

 purposes. First, they may be over- 

 hauled and cut into shape and size 

 for supporting peas, runner beans, 

 nasturtiums, etc. This being done 

 in the depth of winter, will save 

 time in the spring and summer. 

 The smaller brush may be tied into 

 faggots for building pits for forcing 

 early crops with the aid of dung-heat ; 

 other portions may be cut short for 

 fire- wood ; and here it is advisable 

 for those who have but a tmall supply, 

 and would make the most of it. to cut 

 it short almost as chaff, not allowing 

 more than three inches in length ; 

 the ease and comfort with which it is 

 used will amply repay the extra time 

 it takes in chopping. It is also far 

 more effective in a given quantity. 

 Cut it while green, as it chops easier, 

 and is stowed away in a smaller 

 compass for drying. A stock of wood 

 for lighting greenhouse or other fires, 

 may be always kept on hand, even 

 with a small supplv. In lighting 

 greenhouse fires, I have always found 

 it both expeditious and economical to 

 have a piece of clean deal wood, and 

 having thrust the sticks into the fur- 

 nace, with a knife make a few shavings 

 from the deal wood, place them under 

 the sticks, and apply the match. In 

 this way the fire is lighted quickly, 

 and with far less smoke than when 

 straw is used. Generally there is a 

 great deal of refuse, both from kitchen 

 and flower gardens, not applicable for 

 lighting fires, as stumps of cabbage, 

 brocoli, etc., the stalks of dahlias, 

 chrysanthemums and other plants ; 

 these may be made useful by drying 

 and charring them, and mixing the 

 charred remains with the soil. All 

 matter that will readily decompose 

 should be taken care of, and thrown 

 together to rot for manure. Decom- 

 position may be hastened, and offen- 

 siveness prevented, by using quick- 

 lime. Hever apply anything in a 



putrescent state to the ground as 

 manure. The slag or scoria from 

 furnaces makes an excellent cover- 

 ing for drains, or for the bottom 

 of paths The sifted ashes makes a 

 good flooring to stand pots on. 

 Straight twigs from trees are useful 

 to tie up plants. Small twigs are 

 useful for pegging down trailing 

 plants, for layering, etc. Cut them 

 into lengths of about four inches, 

 break them in the middle, they will 

 not wholly dissever, and may be 

 thrust down one foot each side of the 

 shoot to be laid. This is an expedi- 

 tious method. Possibly in no case is 

 the want of economy more felt than 

 in heating plant-h uses. Heating by 

 means of hot water is doubtless both 

 safe and economical, but I could never 

 understand why the flue system 

 could not be made thoroughly effi- 

 cient ; where they are otherwise it 

 may more often be attributed to im- 

 proper construction and after- manage- 

 ment than in the system itself. Near 

 the fire the flue should be thick and 

 strong, and if possible under the path- 

 way, the whole length of the house, 

 the advantage of this is manifest, 

 both for securing heat where it is 

 most available, and preventing the 

 escape of noxious fumes, which are 

 often fatal to plants. Having carried 

 the flue the whole lengtu under 

 the path, let it be carried back again 

 above ground. This second length 

 may be constructed of brick on edge, 

 being further from the fire. A third 

 length may be made of earthen pipes, 

 and another and still another of the 

 same ; for let it be observed that the 

 heat ascends with the smoke, and in 

 an ordinary flue nine-tenths of the 

 heat escapes at the chimney and is 

 lost — the object being to secure the 

 heat filtered from smoke and noxious 

 gases, which is in fact effected by 

 passing through the sides of the flue. 

 Therefore the gi eater the given length 

 of flue, the more heat is secured ; and 

 provided it is made with continued 

 ascent, the flue should be as long as 

 possible ; the additional expense will 

 be soon saved in the cost of fuel. 



