12 



THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE OF AMERICA. 



AN INDISPENSABLE FARM COMMODITY. 

 By Karl L.^ngenbeck. 



"If you could have seen this country thirty years ago 

 when I took hold of the paper here, you would have 

 more to say than "fine country' for this section." A pair 

 of snappy blue eyes looked out from the ruddy counte- 

 nance of the editor as he stretched his legs and then took 

 another pull at the porcelain pipe. "You would add, 

 fine men to have made such a garden of this waste, for 

 that's what it was then," he resumed. 



I was erecting a denatured alcohol plant in the old 

 German town to utilize the waste starchy stuff of the 

 rich surrounding farms and used to loaf of an evening 

 in the cozy print shop of the genial editor. "You see 

 Napoleon's armies overran our country three times. They 

 ate it bare as flocks of locusts would and carried off all 

 the likely boys as recruits. The land had never been 

 very fertile and there was neither spirit nor capital to 

 reclaim it. Twenty years of Liebig's teaching had 

 scarcely made an impression and as the farms were small, 

 there were no educated land holders to set the pace for 

 better methods. I saw my chance to do some good, even 

 if there were none to make money. So, I preached soil 

 reclamation in season and out of season, and in the full- 

 ness of time, I got my profit with that of the new race 

 of farmers I made. And, I can say it myself, the editor 

 added with a twinkle, for you have found I am popular; 

 they made me a deputy in the Reichstag." 



"In season and out of season," he mused. "That means 

 more than you think. Most farmers know how to reclaim 

 land, but few do it without a boost. When thev are in 

 the thick of work, they forget, and in the slack times, they 

 waste tliemselves with regrets instead of looking forward 

 and preparing. A little thing prepared and at hand when 

 it's needed makes all the dift'erence in the world in a crop. 

 The government bulletins print their advice when the 

 chemist is ready. The agricultural papers mostly print 

 too much and according to the space they have to fill. 

 They talk of pruning in the summer and harvesting in 

 the winter. How is a man to remember? I sav, week 

 by week, what should be done now, and nothing more. 

 I have made my paper our people's remembrancer." 



Recalling this old talk of a wise man, I am reminded 

 that I do not see on very many of our farms for ready 

 use, a commodity that should always be on hand because 

 of its wide and constant utility, the same as salt and sugar 

 is in the kitchen. Its world-wide value in the work of 

 soil improvement is thoroughly appreciated by the average 

 agriculturist. Without its use, the maintenance and de- 

 velopment of the fertility in most soils would be a failure. 

 It is the cheapest and the best sweetener of churns and 

 milk cans, it is the best germicide for the cattle stalls 

 and hen house and the basis of the best fungicide for the 

 fruit trees and berry bushes and it is good for much more. 

 And, when there is some brick or stone work to put up, 

 you need it bad, for it makes the necessary mortar. But 

 when a man gets a carload of lime, which he does at this 

 season, he hauls it to the fields and generally uses it all 

 up. If not. he throws down a pile near the barn and in 

 a month it has no value for the latter purposes which 

 require it fresh, not air slacked. Get enough lime to put 

 aside in tight barrels plenty of the best lump. Cover 

 each barrel with a wet sack well tucked in. Then sprinkle 

 fine lime all over the wet sacks. This will make hydrate 

 and seals all pores when the covering is dry and keeps 

 the air from the lumps. 



and the prohibition follows them upstairs and downstairs, 

 and into my lady's chamber, and then some ; it follows 

 them into the street, into places of public resort ; and 

 there is a whole lot of it that could well be eliminated. 

 The absence of so many "don'ts" would add much to the 

 pleasure of the child's life. There is a move on foot 

 looking to this end. It is suggested that as the parks 

 belong to the people, and primarily are designed for the 

 use of the public, particularly for the purpose of afford- 

 ing the opportunity for pleasure, that we should remove 

 the "Keep Oft" the Grass" and "Don't Pull the Flowers" 

 and other such signs. We agree. That's right. Plant 

 enough grass and flowers. Prohibition makes one want 

 to do the thing prohibited. That is a law of nature. 

 Let the children roll in the grass, or pull the flowers, 

 but teach them care and consideration. We do not think 

 the liberty will he abused. Put plenty of grass and flowers 

 in all the playgrounds. Grass, flowers, children and 

 birds — these go well together; a quadruple harmony than 

 which there is nothing more beautiful on earth. 



In some parts of the country this suggestion is being 

 acted upon. Big plots of grass are planted and such an 

 abundance of flowers as would seem to defy license on 

 the part of the kiddies. They are calling these places 

 the "Children's acres." It is a good name, an appealing 

 name. It seems to us that such action will do more to 

 awaken the sense of proprietorship and responsibility 

 in the child's mind than any other one thing could do. 



Let's have lots of "children's acres." — Dayton (0.) 

 Journal 



MAY. 



'Mid nature's melody sublime, 



'Mong new born flowers in colors gay. 

 Steps forth the stalwart son of time. 

 To pay respects to young Miss May. 

 Afar, o'er vale and mount they climb. 

 Trees clap their hands and seem to say, 

 "To steal a kiss is not a crime." 



May, like a fairy queen, enchanting. 

 Sets natures scattered charms to tune. 



Gallant time comes gallivanting. 

 Merry May's no time to spoon. 



She is busy all day planting, 

 Contemplates no honeymoon. 

 Youth's demand is not her granting. 



D-WiD S. Miller. 



FINE SPECIMEN OF CATTLEYA MOSSIAE. 



It was my privilege and pleasure to see, recently, what 

 is no doubt the finest specimen of Cattleya Mossije in 

 e.xistence, or I believe of any other variety of Cattleya ; 

 not alone for size, but for vigorous health and a wealth of 

 strong well formed flowers I believe it has no equal. 

 The following figures are most interesting and reflect 

 great credit both to Mr. R. D. Foote, of Morristown, 

 N. J., the owner of the plant and to R. Lindabury, who 

 are to be congratulated on their achievement. 



The plant was purchased by Mr. Foote in 1909, and 

 has since borne the following record : 



In the vear 1910 the plant produced 59 flowers. 

 - ■' ■ " 1911 " .' .< 26 



" " " 1912 " " " 131 



" " " 1913 " " " 236 



1914 " 



"0 



DON'T! DON'T! DON'T! 



That is what the children hear for the major part of 

 their earlier lives. It is don't do this, and don't do that 



Wm. H. Duckh.am. 

 [The plant Mr. Duckham describes is reproduced from 

 a photo on our outside cover page. It is a single plant, 

 not made up, and has a spread of six feet. — Editor.] 



