PRIMROSE AURICULA, POLYANTHUS. 307 



I find the greatest pleasure in growing them from seed 

 planted in June. Be patient as they are slow of germination, 

 often taking twelve months to come up. So plant the seeds where 

 they may remain, uutil the following spring. Over these seed- 

 ling plants place a covering of leaves (do not use manure) not 

 too heavy a covering, as they need air — tuck the leaves around 

 and among the plants. 



Some of my plants are grown in full sun, but the plants 

 which attained perfection were in partial shade, the north side of 

 the border. If grown in a situation too warm for them to remain 

 all summer they may be lifted after blooming and planted else- 

 where to be brought back in the fall for the gay spring border. 

 They may even be taken up when in full bud or bloom and used 

 in window box or for the house. 



"They do best where they have a rise of ground to insure 

 good drainage, and are kept from drying out in summer, also they 

 enjoy a rich, light soil," not planted deep enough to cover the 

 crown. They may be divided by pulling the plants (little tufts, or 

 crowns) apart, in August or early September if not too hot. 

 Where at first you had one plant, now you will have two or three. 

 So come with me and plant these new little plants in that Prim- 

 rose Path in Minnesota. 



Trees Planted By Machine. — A machine which plants from ten to 

 fifteen thousand forest tree seedlings a day is now being used at the Letch- 

 worth Park Forest and Arboretum, in Wyoming County, N. Y., according 

 to officials of the Forest Service who are acting as advisers in the work. 

 Previously the planting had been done by hand at the rate of 1,200 to 1,500 

 trees each day per man. 



The machine was designed to set out cabbage and tomato plants, but 

 works equally well with trees. It is about the size of an ordinary mowing 

 machine and is operated by three men and two horses. One man drives the 

 team while the other two handle the seedlings. The machine makes a fur- 

 row in which the trees are set at any desired distance, and an automatic 

 device indicates where they should be dropped. Two metal-tired wheels push 

 and roll the dirt firmly around the roots. This is a very desirable feature, 

 it is said, because the trees are apt to die if this is not well done. Two 

 attachments make it possible to place water and fertilizer at the roots of 

 each seedling. Another attachment marks the line on which the next row 

 of trees is to be planted. 



No cost figures are available yet, but officials say that the cost will be 

 much less than when the planting is done by hand. It is stated that the 

 machine can be used on any land which has been cleared and is not too rough 

 to plow and harrow. — U. S. Dept. Agri. 



