Bibi ats 
PROF S. B. GREEN, ST. ANTHONY PARK. 
The most important thing at this time of the year is to have 
well in mind the plan of the work for the coming season. Orders 
for seeds and nursery stock should have been placed some time 
ago. If this has not been done, it should be done at once. Do not 
give your orders for nursery stock to tree peddlers, but if possible 
go tothe nursery yourself. If you cannot do this, write to some 
good nurseryman, get prices and so order intelligently. Ordering 
through the average tree agent has always seemed to me illustrated 
by the Irish proverb of “buying a pig in a bag.” In ordering, if you 
have not already a supply, be sure and put in an order for peonies of 
the pretty modern kinds, some of the irises and spirea Van Houtii, 
There are many other desirable ornamental plants, but these are 
especially interesting to all, perfectly hardy and once planted re- 
quire very little further care, but repay well any little extra attention. 
When nursery stock is received, it is very important to care for it 
well. Much nursery stock is lost by careless handling after it has 
been received by the purchaser in good order. It is important to 
heelin. Heel in singly, notin bunches, and to doitcarefully. If the 
ground is dry, pack the soil solid around the roots, and there will be 
no trouble. Ifthe wood on trees is shriveled when received, bury 
tops and all for a few days until swelled up. 
One of the first operations in the spring is to uncover the plants 
that were protected in the fall. Raspberry plants should receive 
our first attention. It is desirable not to uncover until the buds be- 
gin to show signs of growth, but it should be done sufficiently early 
so that they do not startin the ground. Asarule, it is best to un- 
cover strawberry plants rather late in the season. If uncovered 
early, there is some danger from late frost, but this can be preven- 
ted if a good supply of straw is kept between the rows, and itis put 
on when severe frost threatens after the plants have flowered. 
As soon as the raspberries are uncovered, it is time to apply pre- 
ventatives for the anthracnose. If plants were seriously injured 
last year or the new canes are badly spotted, it should certainly be 
done. Probably the best treatment for this is to apply before the 
_ leaves start what is known as thick Bordeaux, which is made of five 
pounds sulphate of copper, five pounds lime and twenty-five gallons 
of water; then after the leaves are unfolded apply what is known as 
thin Bordeaux, which is made like the above except that fifty gal- 
lons of water are used. 
It is very important to set out gooseberries, currants, blackber- 
ries and raspberries very early, for if left until late sprouts will 
probably have started and will get broken off in the process of 
transplanting. Better not plant out strawberries until they start a 
little. Asarule, early planting is better than late planting with all 
_ hardy plants, even with evergreens, about which an erroneous idea 
has gone abroad that June is the best time for planting them out. 
If there are vacancies in the orchard and you feel somewhat dis- 
couraged,try the Hibernal, if you have never done so before. It is 
