14 



THE QARDENER'H MONTHLY 



\_Jamiary , 



liere because we have an idea that it will be 

 fouiul a very useful out-door ]ilant in our sum- 

 mer pardenin?. 



"A handsome greenhouse perennial, requiring 

 full exposure to sunlight. It has large globose 

 tuberous roots, the upper part of which is ele- 

 vated above the earth, producing from its sum- 

 mit a stemwhirh divides into several erect thick 

 branches, reaching 2 feet high, furnished with 

 opposite sinuate dentate leaves, and bearing 



showy flowers in the axils of the leaves. These 

 fiowers are large, with a funnel-shaped lube, and 

 a sjircading Hve-lobed limb of a beautiftil lilac 

 or reddish purple color, rendering the plant well 

 worthy of cultivation for its ornamental qualities. 

 It flowers during the early part of the summer. 

 This Sjtecies has been collected and sent from 

 South Africa by Mr. Xaylor, an amateur much 

 interested in horticultural pursuits." 



,RUiT AND Vegetable gardening. 



SEASONABLE HINTS. 



Cabbages and lettuces in frames for protection 

 through the winter,should have all the air possible 

 whenever the thermometer is above the freezing 

 point ; when it is below, they need not be uncov- 

 ered. They require no light when there is not 

 heat enough to make them grow. Examine for 

 mice occasionally. If noticed, soak peas in water 

 till they swell, then roll in arsenic, and bury in 

 the soil. They prefer these to lettuce when so 

 prepared. 



The preparing of manure ready for Spring 

 operations, at every favorable opportunity, should 

 not be forgotten. Next to draining and subsoil- 

 ing, nothing is of more importance than this. 



Much has been said of guano, phosphates, &c. 

 — all very well in certain cases— but nothing is 

 so well adapted to the permanent improvement 

 of soil as manure composed in the main of de- 

 composing vegetable matter. It is always light 

 and porous, thereby allowing air to circulate 

 freely through the soil ; it absorbs moisture, 

 which in dry weather is given off to the drier 

 soil slowly, to the advantage of the plants near 

 by ; and, what is not a small point in its favor, 

 it aids in giving a dark black color to the soil, 

 which renders it so much warmer in early Spring; 

 and, by so much, better adapted to the early 

 raising of vegetables. It is also a good rule to 

 have the manure well decomposed before using 

 it. There are a few things which do not object 

 to fresh manure, and a still fewer number that 

 might, perhaps, prefer it; but the major part do 

 best in thoroughly fermented material. Leaves, 

 litter, and refuse vegetable matter of all kinds, 



should be got together at every favorable oppor- 

 tunity, and well mixed in with manure. 



In the fruit garden, pruning may be advanced 

 where needed. We say, where needed, because 

 much unnecessary, or even injurious work is 

 done. All weak or imi)erfect shoots may be cut 

 out, as also all that are likely to interfere by 

 crossing the paths of others. In weak or stunted 

 trees pruning may be severe. Top dressing is 

 best done in the earlj' Fall, but where neglected 

 may be done now. If orchard trees have not 

 been indoxed and mai)ped out in a book, it 

 should be done to secure against loss of labels. 

 A large wooden pine label, with a notch in the 

 upper end for stout copper wire, well painted 

 and the name written while the white paint is 

 dry, is the best label, and should be attached to 

 each tree. The stout copper wire can be made 

 with a large loop so that in ten years or more it 

 will not need untwisting for the branch to grow. 

 Use large labels, and write the name full and dis- 

 tinct so as to be easily seen. Wash the trunks 

 and branches with linseed oil where insects are 

 troublesome, and with colored lime-wash if the 

 bark is scaly and does not seem to fall freely 

 from the tree. 



Grape vines may be pruned when the weather 

 seems Spring-like. If left late they bleed. 

 "Whether this is much of an injury, or not, is dis- 

 puted, but it certainly does no good, and it is as 

 well to avoid it. Of course this advice is not for 

 northern vines, which, for some time yet, w'ill be 

 buried under the earth. 



Those who plant orchards this Spring, will 

 needs be inquiring what kinds to plant. If for 

 market or profit, it is best to find out what kinds 

 are popular in the neighborhood. If for one's 



