of Rural Art and Taste. 



Ill 



done early in the spring, and in about a month 

 the phmts will begin to show themselves above 

 the ground, which should be kept perfectly 

 clean during the season. Early the next 

 spring cut oif all the old tops close to the 

 ground, and put another coat of manure over 

 it and dig it under, though you must be very 

 careful not to dig deep enough to injure the 

 roots of the plants, which by this time have 

 filled nearly the whole ground after you get, 

 say four inches deep. After your manure is 

 dug under, rake oif your bed nicely, or if you 

 will improve it still more, before raking, sow 

 on it the best quality of superphosphate that 

 you can get, at the rate of say 500 pounds 

 per acre, before you rake it. About the first 

 of May nice purple shoots will begin to show 

 themselves above ground, and you may begin 

 to cut, though you must do it very sparingly 

 this season, or you will injure your beautiful 

 bed for many years to come. You are now at 

 the beginning of the third year, and you will 

 get your first returns. The bed must be kept 

 clear of weeds, and each succeeding spring 

 give it a good coat of manure, and work it in 

 as I have directed. The fourth season, you 

 may realize some profit from it, and the fifth, 

 a full crop. From this time on, you may ex- 

 pect an annual crop, as well as a good profit 

 from it for the balance of your life, if you will 

 continue to care for it. There is a bed in my 

 father's garden, which father has told me was 

 there when he was a little boy 7 or 8 years 

 old, and he is now in his 83d year. 



The friends of Conover's CoUassal have 

 claimed that this variety would produce a 

 crop one year earlier than the common kinds. 

 My own experience haa not proved the asser- 

 tion to be true, although I think it an improved 

 variety and very cheerfully recommended it 

 for general cultivation. 



Notes by the Way. 



liY OLD GARDENER. 



Bedflinff Plants grown in a warm, moist 

 greenhouse should never be removed directly 

 to the open ground, but rather give them a 

 " transition state," where they may gradually 

 harden up their delicate succulent stems and 

 ' 12 



foliage. Those who possess a cold frame cov- 

 ered with sash, should by all means allow 

 plants a season of rest within its shelter. The 

 sash should be tilted every day, gradually in- 

 creasing the amount of air, until full exposure 

 does not cause them to wilt. 



Vases must have systematic attention, for 

 if neglected once, their beauty for the entire 

 season is not unfrequently destroyed. Even 

 succulents that we suppose can stand any 

 amount of drought, should have a regular sup- 

 ply when in a growing state, for they ai-e at 

 this time storing up nourishment for the re- 

 mainder of the summer. A little weak manure 

 water will greatly benefit most plants in a 

 vase, and cause them to assume a richer, 

 darker shade of green. 



Weeds at this season of the year will be- 

 come very troublesome, owing to the late 

 spring rains. Bear in mind, therefore, that 

 these " unbidden guCvSts " will demand an un- 

 due share of moisture, fertilizing material and 

 room ; hence we must get rid of them without 

 delay. The best time is as soon after they 

 show their little seed-leaves as possible ; the 

 best tool, a small weeding fork to loosen up 

 the soil, which not only kills the weeds, but 

 invigorates the plants we desire to enjoy. 



Two Divarf Shrubs that have proven 

 hardy, very attractive, and suitable for small 

 beds on the lawn, are Azalea amasna and 

 Daphne cn^orum. A small circle of each, 

 edged with the dwarf, trailing, variegated- 

 leaved Eiwnyrrms radicans, will present a 

 beautiful sight. When out of bloom, the sur- 

 face of the bed may be covered with verbenas 

 or phlox Drummondii, and thus be made to 

 perform double duty ; or tigridias, red and 

 yellow, may be inserted, and these are particu- 

 larly showy. 



An. Ornamental Hedge, formed of Cy- 

 donia Japonica, is the perfection of beauty 

 when in full bloom ; don't be persuaded, how- 

 ever, that the plants should be set in alternate 

 colors of scarlet and blush ; the latter is not de- 

 cided enough, and detracts from the "blaze," 

 so to speak, of the mass of brilliant bloom seen 

 only on a complete hedge of scarlet flowers. 



Another excellent feature about this plant 



