256 SortlcuUural JVofes, 



Third — The mower should be well oiled and kept clean ; this is a very important 

 item, as I have seen many good lawn mowers condemned aud thrown aside when all 

 they needed was cleaning and oiling. 



Fourth — Care should be observed in starting the mower, especially a horse mower. 

 A mower (and all other machinery having a rapid motion) should not be started too 

 suddenly ; for a sudden start is liable to break the ratchet, gears, or other parts of 

 the machine. 



Fifth — Care should be taken to keep the wiper properly adjusted to the bottom 

 knife. The wiper, or revolving cutter, should be adjusted so as to lightly touch the 

 head knife. If this rule is observed the knives will rarely if ever need sharpening. 



The above rules are simple and easily to be understood ; if followed, the work of 

 mowing a lawn (with one of our modern lawn mowers) would be light; an immense 

 amount of trouble and expense would be saved, and we would become as noted for 

 our beautiful and well kept lawns, in a few years, as England now is. 



Shmbhery. 



A front yard properly filled with ornamental trees, would be imperfect without a 

 few free-flowering shrubs, dropped around in nooks, and corners, where a tree would 

 occupy too much space, and it would be too bare without anything. Then the space 

 of green lawn directly between the house and street may receive a very few choice 

 shrubs, either scattered singly, or in groups. 



We name a few, from which selection may be made with a certainty of having 

 something beautiful: — Dwarf Double- Flowering Almond; Calycanthus, Sweet- 

 Scented Shrub; Dojihle Criinsoii-Floweriiig Currant; Deutzia (Jrenata f.. pi: 

 Deutzia Rough Leaved ; Deutzia Slender-Branched : Fnrsythia Viridissima ; Honey- 

 suckle, Ked Tartarian ; Hydrangea Paniculafa Grandiflora ; Lilac, Persian Purple ; 

 Lilac, Persian White; Mezereon Pink; Prunus Triloba; Purple Fringe Tree; 

 Japan Quince, Double- Flower in g ; Spircea Double-Flowering Plum Leaved; Spinea 

 Lance-Leaved ; Syringa, or Mock Orange ; Viburnum, Snow-Ball ; Weigela, Rose- 

 Colored ; White Fri7ige — there, we set out to make a short list, and it has swelled 

 to twenty-one. and yet we have left out a great many that we could heartily com- 

 mend, as beautiful shrubs. Nearly all of these bloom some time betwecLi the first of 

 April and the last of July. It might be desirable to have more blooming in autumn, 

 but that is not in accord with Nature's plan, aud we must be content with fruits at 

 that season. 



For those who may wish a smaller list to select from, we have italicized the finest 

 of our list. 



Vorchiij As2><irafjiix, 



Those who are fond of this delicious vegetable, and desire to lengthen its season, 

 can do so with little trouble or expense by starting some roots under glass in a hot- 

 bed in the early part of March. Two sashes. 8x6 each, will, under careful treament, 

 give a couple of bunches every other day for a month or so, until such time as the 

 out-of-door growth comes into market. The hot-beds can be made in the way described 

 in the Weekly Tribune of January 19. Old asparagus roots are the best for forcing. 

 When the bed is made the roots may be set eight or ten inches apart and covered 

 with about three or four inches of rich soil ; then put on the sashes and cover at night 

 with straw mats or other covering to protect from cold weather. The bed will re- 

 quire frequent watering to keep the earth moist; this should be done at midday, and 

 always with tepid water. The temperature of the bed may be nigh up to 70 degrees. 

 This plan of forcing asparagus could bo carried on with some profit by florists by 

 arranging beds of earth under the tables in forcing-houses, and planting old asparagus 

 roots. The heat requisite to start young plants would lae quite enough to force an 

 early growth of asparagus, which would sell readily at high prices in market during 

 March and early part of April. — Tribuiie. 



