THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE OF AMERICA. 



123 



expedient is that of dusting the blossoms with Pampas 

 Gras bloom, and so doing the dut)- of nature and the 

 bees ; this has been found to produce the desired result. 



The grape is a heavy feeder (or in other words, to pro- 

 duce the best results, commercial fertilizers require to be 

 liberally used). In connection with the use of commer- 

 cial fertilizers though, the motto of the amateur should 

 be "festina lente." A little at a time given regularly will 

 produce far better results than liberal ap])lications at dis- 

 tant dates. The grower should bear in mind the different 

 requirements of the grape at different stages of its 

 growth. During the first two months leaf growth is re- 

 quired, and the use of a nitrogenous manure such as am- 

 monium sulphate is beneficial. Nitrate of soda is not 

 quite so safe to use, especially in the case of vines grow- 

 ing in pots. Ammonium sulphate is best applied in so- 

 lution at the rate of a quarter of an ounce to each gal- 

 lon of water, twice a week. With vines growing in a 

 border, the application is somewhat stronger, as watering 

 is not so frequent as is the case with pot-grown vines. 



When the fruit clusters appear the tips of the laterals 

 are usually nipped oft', leaving two leaves beyond the 

 fruit cluster. During the flowering period and while the 

 fruit is setting, feeding is generally withheld, though 

 some growers with marked success use a little muriate of 

 potash (KCL) at this time. With hard-wooded plants in 

 pots, muriate of potash should be used with care. When 

 the fruit is set and is about the size of small garden peas, 

 sufficient leaf and wood growth should have been ob- 

 tained and the further use of nitrogenous manure is apt 

 to be harmful to the full maturity of the fruit. 



The bunches of fruit at this period are thinned by 

 means of fine pointed scissors. The smaller berries are 

 removed and the remainder are thinned in tiers, so that 

 each berry will have room to develop to its full size, and 

 the whole bunch ultimately develop the form of a sym- 

 metrical cone hanging point downwards. At this time 

 the energies of the vine are engaged in the development 

 and maturing of the fruit, and the feeding of phosphates 

 and potash in available form will quickly show beneficial 

 results. When the fruit begins to color the proportion of 

 potash may be slightly increased. 



When using commercial fertilizers it is well to remem- 

 ber that underfeeding is a far safer course than liberal 

 feeding, as an unduly heavy application may prove fatal. 

 Lastly, certain varieties are very subject to sun-scald, 

 and in this instance the variety "Lady Down Seedling" 

 may be particularly mentioned. When any evidence of 

 scalding appears on the berries, the shading should be in- 

 creased, if this can be done without unduly hindering 

 other vines in the same house. — A. G. Logsdail, in 

 Canadian Florist. 



HOW TO GET A NEW LAWN QUICKLY. 



In making a new lawn or grass plot, or renewing an 

 old one, it usually takes an entire season to secure even a 

 presentable sward. This gives the dwelling and sur- 

 roundings an unfinished and undesirable appearance, 

 which even the presence of flowering and foliage plants 

 and vines does not entirely relieve or disguise — in fact 

 rather accentuates. 



To gain time and to secure a very presentable and 

 attractive lawn or grass-plot in the short space of three 

 or four weeks, writes D. Z. Evans, in Suburban Life, I 

 have adopted the method of sowing oats with grass seed. 

 The oats soon come up — in about ten days or two 

 weeks, — and are kept cut down short to make the plants 

 stool out well, covering the entii"e "ground with a pleasing 

 shade of green and giving the eff-ect of a neat lawn, while 

 the small and terrder-grass-shoots are maturing. The oat 



IS a perennial plant, and dies out in the fall, leaving the 

 roots and crown to decay and furnish plant growth to- 

 the grass plants. 



As this method can be u.sed even as late as September, — 

 and in one case I successfully used it in October, when 

 there happened to be a late fall, — a very satisfactory show 

 of lawn can be had even though it is done well along in 

 the fall. 



In preparing the soil have plenty of good top-soil, free 

 from stones and rubbish and finely worked over. Sow the 

 oats freely, but not too heavily, as it will stool out con- 

 siderably in rich well-prepared soil, and then follow with 

 good lawn grass seed of known excellence and mixture. 

 Thoroughly cover the entire bed with a light covering of 

 fine, well-rotted manure, and then rake it over well, to 

 cover the seed. If tlie season is dry, wet down the bed 

 well by sprinkling — not flooding — and leave for a few 

 days. If rain does not come in two or three days, give an- 

 other wetting and then leave until the oats have shown 

 nicely all over the bed. After the first cutting, which 

 should be done when the blades are about five inches in 

 height, see that the lawn is well watered ; the same as an 

 ordinary lawn. 



In making over an old lawn, thoroughlv break up the 

 old sod and remove all the old grass roots and tops, after 

 which treat it the same way as suggested for a new lawn. 

 The above method will be found very much more de- 

 sirable and far less expensive than having the lawn sodded 

 with field sod, usually secured from places which have 

 weeds of dift'erent sorts in it. Aside from this, such sod 

 is old and often will turn out badly or die out soon,, 

 leaving the lawn spotted with bald places. The method 

 I suggested is an easy one to secure a "quick" lawn, the 

 growing oats also protecting the young and tender grass 

 shoots until the\' are able to take care of themselves. 



LIMITING HIS DUTIES AS GARDENER.. 



An applicant responding to a "gardener wanted" ad- 

 vertisement, being favored with an interview and in- 

 formed by the lady that his duties would involve, besides 

 the responsibilities of looking after the flower and kitchen 

 gardens and the lawns, the care of two horses and three 

 cows, looking after the chickens, act a; chauft'eur, assist 

 with the inside kitchen work, tend to the furnace and 

 make himself generally useful, inquired "And what sort 

 of soil have you here?" 



"Soil!" exclaimed the lady; "what has that got to do 

 with a gardener's position ?" 



"Well, replied the applicant, who proved to be an Irish- 

 man, "if it is clay I don't want the job, for I am afraid 

 the gentleman may want me to make bricks in my spare 

 time." 



The Service Bureau 

 National Association of Gardeners 



Is maintained for the purpose of providing opportuni- 

 ties for efficient and ambitious men engaged in the pro- 

 fession of gardening. 



This department of the Association is at the disposal 

 of those who may require the services of capable super- 

 intendents, gardeners or assistant gardeners. 

 The co-operation of estate owners is respectfully 

 solicited. Address 



M. C. EBEL, Sec'y, 



National .\ssociatii>n of (iardeners, 

 Madison, N. J. 



