58 



POPULAR GARDENING. 



December, 



ure passing throug-h the skin; when an Apple be- 

 comes covered with moisture it is due to con- 

 densation of moisture from without. The skin 

 of a sound Apple is practically a protective cov- 

 ering:, and designed for a twofold purpose: First, 

 to prevent the ingress of air and moisture to the 

 tender cellular structure of the fruit: and second, 

 to prevent the loss of juice by exudation. Ai>ples 

 taken from trees on a cool day remain at the 

 temperature of the air until a change to a higher 

 temperature oecui-s, and then condensation of 

 moisture from the warmer air circulatmg around 

 the fruit occurs, just as moisture gathers upon 

 the outside of an ice-pitcher in summer. This 

 explains the whole matter; and the vulgar notion 

 of fruits sweating should be dispelled from the 

 mind. It is almost Impossible to gather Apples 

 under such conditions of temperature that they 

 will not condense moisture after being placed in 

 barrels. It would be better if this result could 

 be avoided, as dryness of fruit is essential to its 

 protracted keeping. In our northern autumns 

 the days are hot, and the nights cool, and this 

 favors condensation. Apples picked on a mod- 

 erately cool day, and placed in a moderately cool 

 shet., protected from the sun, will not gather 

 moisture, and this is the best method to pursue 

 when practicable.— Popular Science News. 



Burying Cabbage. The figure following 

 shows bow Mr. E. L. Denslow, of Ashtabula Co., 

 Ohio, stores Cabbage for winter as described and 

 illustrated recently in the Kural New Yorker. 

 A pit eight inches deep and three and one-half to 

 four feet wide and of the proper length is first 





An Ohio Method of WUiteriiig Cabbage. 



dug, and boards or slabs are placed at the bottom 

 The Cabbages are cut and well trimmed and 

 packed in the pit, as shown. Frames of 2x4 inch 

 scantling are made and placed upright in the pit. 

 For a pit 15 feet long three of these are needed. 

 Fence boards ai-e nailed to these frames, thus 

 forming a complete crate. This is covered lights 

 ly with straw and then with about four inches of 

 dirt. The ends are stuffed with straw, which can 

 be removed whenever Cabbage heads are desired. 



Plants for Unhealed Glass Houses. Those who 

 have only unhcat4_*d bouses or pits have to be 

 careful in their selection of flowers. It is useless 

 trying to get plants here during the darkest 

 period of the year that require artificial heat to 

 enable them t<^ do so. There are, however, some 

 exceptions to the list of heat-lo\'ing plants. First 

 on the hst may be named the Chrysanthemums, 

 they only need the protection of a glass roof to 

 flower them in the greatest perfection, and by 

 growing some of the latest blooming section a 

 succession may be kept up till Christmas, and 

 later. The Crimson Flag Schizostylis coccinea is 

 also a real gem for the cool-house. It begins 

 to send ui> its brilliant scarlet flowers in October. 

 and continues for months. Lifted from the open 

 ground in October, and planted in a cold grapery 

 they will flower the whole winter through, and 

 may be planted out again in March under partial 

 shade. They also make excellent pot plants. 

 The early winter-flowering Bulbous-Iris, hia 

 veticulata, has a gi-eat future in store for it, its 

 blooms being of the most lovely purple imagin- 

 able, prettily streaked with orange, a fitting com- 

 panion for the most costly Orchid. If potted in 

 August or September it will be In full bloom in 

 January. 1 put three bulbs in 4-inch pots, and 

 five bulbs in li-inch pots. Anderson's Speedwell, 

 Verotiica Atufemoni, only needs the protection of 

 glass to insure its flowering freely throughout 

 the winter, i)roducing purple blossoms. The 

 common Christmas Uose, l/c»c&or»,s nigir, and 

 its varieties, although often blooming in the open 

 air are vastly improved under glass, as alternate 

 frosts and thaws spoil the purity of their flowers. 

 The Laurustiiuis is a really good cold-house plant, 

 its blooms being much whiter under glass than 

 out-of-doors. Erica hyemaUs and othei-s of that 

 type dislike flre-heat in any shape, and are much 

 m(!rc lasting in cold than in hot-houses. Other 

 useful plants might be mentioned, but the above 

 cannot fail to please.— (Jardenina: Illustrated. 



THE CULINARY DEPARTMENT. 



Jellies. Put a buttered paper, butter side down, 

 o\'er them to keep from molding.— Farm Journal. 



All Canned Fruit should be kept in a cool dry 

 and dark place, or wrap the jar in paper, as all 

 fruit keeps the coloi*and flavor better if each jar 

 has its paper wrap.— N. Y. World. 



Fried Squash. Pare the Squashes and slice 

 thin, let them lie in cold salt water one hour, 

 then dry in a towel, roll in flour and fry in boil- 

 ing lard. Pepper them when laid on a flat dish. 



Apple Tarts. Pare, quarter, and boil in half a 

 cup of water, ten large tart Apples; beat until 

 smooth; add three beaten eggs, one grated lemon, 

 half a cup of butter, one and one half cups of 

 sugar ; beat all together ; line patty tins with a 

 puff paste and fill; bake in a hot oven five minutes. 



Quinces baked with the skins on are delicious 

 when served warm; put one on a saucer at each 

 plate. If mashed with a knife, the core is easily 

 removed ; then put on a little butter and plenty 

 of sugar. In baking the quince loses the strong 

 taste which is disagreeable to many, and retains 

 a delicious flavor.— Practical Farmer. 



Warmed -Over Potatoes. Fry a sliced Onion in 

 a si>oonful of butter, then push the Onion to 

 one side of the spider, put in two spoonfuls of 

 flour and stir until brown ; pour in a cup of milk 

 and rub until smooth and add milk until of the 

 consistency of gravy ; season to taste, then pour 

 in a plateful of sUced Potatoes, cover, and keep 

 on the top of the stove until hot. 



Beet Salad. Place boiled beets in steamer over 

 kettle of water until warm, then slice and cover 

 with following dressing; Two-quart bowl of sliced 

 Beets, three tablespoons melted butter, salt, 

 pepper and mustard to season rather sharply, 

 and seven tablespoons of vinegar. Cover bowl 

 while warm and place in cellar or refrigerator to 

 cool quickly as possible. A very nice salad. 



Hnshroom Catsup. G et fine grown Mushrooms, 

 break them up, sprinkle a good handful of salt 

 over each layer. Let them lie for all the juice to 

 run out, stirring them often, but put no water ; 

 then strain and boil with a very little ginger and 

 pepper. It is a mistake to give Mushroom catsup 

 all kinds of flavoxings, as it is its own flavor which 

 is all important to retain.— Farmer's Advocate. 



Apple Marmalade.— Take nice sound Russet 

 Apitles, pare and core, cut in small pieces, and to 

 every pound of fruit add one pound of sugar; 

 put the sugar to boil, with just enough water to 

 dissolve it, into a preserxing kettle, add one large 

 Lemon to every four pounds of fruit, boil all to- 

 gether until the syrup gets thick, then add the 

 Apijle and boil until it looks clear. This is fine 

 half Quince half Apple.— American Cultivator. 



Tomato and Bice Soup. Three pounds of 

 Tomatoes, two teacupf uls of rice, one and one- 

 half ounces of butter, two ounces of Onion, two 

 quarts of water, salt to taste. Brown the butter, 

 put in the Onion cut into small pieces, and fry 

 till tender, pour on the water (boiling), add To- 

 matoes, and stew gently 10 minutes, after which 

 add the rice and let the whole simmer about 20 

 minutes. Do not cook longer, as the grains of 

 rice must be kept whole.— L. I). 



Cranberry Sauce. Pick over and wash the 

 berries, and put in the preserving kettle, with 

 half a pint of water to one quart of berries; now 

 put the sugar— granulated is the best— on the top 

 of the berries ; set on the fire and stew about half 

 an hour, stir often to prevent burning; they will 

 not need straining, and will preserve their rich 

 color cooked in this way. Never cook Cranber- 

 ries bef t)re putting in the sugar. Less sugar may 

 be used if you do not wish them very rich. 



Cauliflower left from dinner, if warmed with 

 mashed, or fully boiled Potatoes, is an excellent 

 breakfast or luncheon dish. Chop equal parts of 

 each; add a spoonful of butter, and two or three 

 spoonfuls of the white sauce that you have 

 served with it; season nicely, and warm in a 

 saucepan, stirring until it leaves the bottom and 

 sides of the vessel. If there is no sauce, use 

 enough milk or cream to moisten it. A little 

 cayenne for seasoning.— Country Gentleman. 



Pickled Fears. Ten pounds of Pears, four and 

 one half pounds of sugar, a half an ounce of 

 whole cloves, three pints of vinegar. Remove 

 the peel from the fruit, lea^ing on the stems, and 

 press into each Pear one or two chives, according 

 to its size. Bring to a b(.>il the vinegar and 

 sugar, skira, and cook the Pears in the syrup 

 until a broomcorn will penetrate them easilj'. I 

 boil mine about 35 minutes, then fork them into 

 a stone jar; boil the syrup a few moments be- 

 fore covering the Peal's.— Mirror and Farmer. 



PREPARED FROM DIARY NOTES BT CHAS. E. PARNELL. 

 QUEENS, N. T. 



HOUSE PLANTS. 



Abutilons. Blooming plants and those whose pots 

 are well filled with roots like liquid manure at times. 

 Young plants to be shifted as required. Pinch for se- 

 curing bushluess. As fhere are cuttings, propagate. 



Agaves and Aloes. Keep rather dry and at about 

 40* to 51.1^. Sponge off the dust, etc. 



Ageratums. Nip back leading shoots and turn the 

 plants occasionally. Give liquid manure at times. 



Air should be freely given on all favorable occasions, 

 but carefully avoid drafts. Aim for a uniform temper- 

 ature. Favor those requiring the most light and heat. 



Aspidistras. Treat as directed for Azaleas. 



Azaleas to be well supplied with water at the roots, 

 and the leaves sjjonged off occasionally. 



Bambusa, Argentea striata, and Fortunei variegata, 

 are excellent house plants when grown in small pots. 

 They should receive liquid manure occasionally. 



Begonias. The flowering section to have a light 

 sunny situation, and 55° to 60^" of heat. Plants out of 

 bloom will bear partial shade. 



Callas will now require an abundance of water. 

 Sponge off the leaves at intervals. Young plants com- 

 ing on to be promptly repotted as required. 



Cob^ea scandens. Encoui-age growth by occasional 

 liquid manuring. Guard against its enemy Green-fly. 



Cyclamens to be well supplied with water while in 

 bud and bloom. Sponge off the leaves carefully at 

 times, and Iieep close to the glass. 



Farfugium grande. When in a .state of slow 

 gi'owth to Iiave the supply of water somewhat re- 

 duced. Keep free from dust, insects, etc. Light .soil. 



Geraniums. Those that are blooming to be well 

 supplied with water at the roots. Plants being win- 

 tered over to be kept cool and dry. to prevent damp. 



Ivy. As the beauty lies in the leaves, keep them as 

 fresh and clean as possible. 



Lantanas. Guard against Red Spider, the worst 

 enemy. Give a light place, with about 55" of heat. 



Lophospernum scandens. Treat like Cobsea. If 

 flowers are desired, don't give too large a pot. 



Mahernias. For bloom these plants require a light, 

 sunny situation from now on. 



Moon Flower. Keep growing, and clean off Red 

 Spider, Green-fly, etc. Excellent for the window. 



Othonna crassifolia. Water carefully to avoid In- 

 jury from damp. Give a light, rich soil, and a temper. 

 ature of 5t) degrees. 



Peristrophe. Limited pot room and a full exposui'e 

 to the sun are necessary to develop variegation. Give 

 liquid manm'e at times to pots fliied with roots. 



Pilea muscosa. Treat as advised for Othonna. 



Pittosporums. Keep cool and rather dry, otherwise 

 treat like Ivy. Excellent for north or east windows. 



Plants placed iacellarsfor the winter tobee.xamined 

 occasionally. Guard against damp, but do not permit 

 them to shrivel or dry up. 



Rivina Humilis. Keep in a light, sunny situation, 

 and at a temperature of from 55 to 60 degrees. Avoid 

 extremes of heat. 



Sansevirea Zeyianica. Treat as advised for Agaves, 

 except to increase the temperature to from 55** to 6(P. 



Saxifrage sarmentosa. Treat as advised for Oxalls. 



Sempervivums. Treat as advised for Agaves. 



Water from now on should be applied in the morn- 

 ings. Let it be ()f the same mean temperature as the 

 air in which the plants are growing. Never give a 

 little; rather give none until the plants are dry enough 

 to need it, then let It be done thoroughly. 



LAWN AND FLOWER GARDEN. 



Clematis. Spread several forkfuls of good manure 

 over tlie rot)ts. I^ay the plants down and protect with 

 Evergreen liranches. 



Evergreens and shrubs often suffer from snow ac- 

 cumulating on them. Promptly shake such out. 



Hardy Herbaceous Plants. Protect by covering 

 several inches deep with straw or salt hay. Secure by 

 Evergreen or other branches. 



Lawns will be greatly benetited by an annual heavy 

 dressing of well decayed manure, that two years old 

 and pulverized as flne as possible being preferred. 



Leaves may be gathered and secured for future use 

 at any time before snow. 



Movable trellises, stakes, plant supports of every 

 kind, to be sheltered, repaired and repainted. 



Hoses of the Bengal and Bourbon classes, and the 

 stronger growing varieties of the Teas, may be pro- 



