i888. 



POPULAR GARDENING. 



83 



Mice are prone to Rli'ille trees and shrubs when sup- 

 plies of f<M>cI are cut off. They work under the snow 

 ordinarily, hence if the snow Is kept packed about the 

 trunks of trees and shrubs their opportunity is taken 

 from them. Their food belUR scarce now, trapping 

 them, using tempting bait, works well. 



Fansies for spring bloom may be sown now. 



Plans. Little can be done in this department during 

 January, save to plan and U^ prepare for the future. 

 Hut as our success in gardening depends much upon the 

 intelligence and foresight brought t-o bear upon our 

 work, we should look upon this first month of the year, 

 wttli the large amount of leisure for study and deliber- 

 ation that it brings, as most Important to the garden. 



Pruning. If any part of a tree lacks in free growth, 

 by pruning now the shoots will push with increased 

 vigor next year. All scars above an inch across should 

 be coated with paint or tar to keep out moisture. 



Rabbits often make bad work gnawing the bark of 

 yoimg trees. Some bloody meat or liver rubbed on the 

 trunks will prevent this. See remedies elsewhere. 



Rock Work in some shape is desirable In nearly every 

 I)lace. This is a good season for gathering material 

 with which t<) construct, so that when spring comes 

 formation may be begun early. One or two kinds of 

 atone usually look better in constructions of this kind 

 than more would, the idea being to make It appear as 

 if the stone was natural to the place. In the ab.sence 

 of stone fair substitutes may he had In odd shaped 

 furnace clinkers and distorted burned bricks from kilns. 



Rustic Work may now be made. Cedar Is a favorite 

 and easily worked wood for this purpose. Now that the 

 swamps are closol It Is readily procured. Laurel wood, 

 and especially its roots, Is another favorite material; 

 but many other kinds that will work up well may be 

 used. With a little Ingenuity rustic tables seats, arbors, 

 vases, etc., may be made to be beautiful and not costly. 



SnoTur drifts so high where young trees are standing 

 as to reach above where the branches leave the trunks 

 are liable to cause the limbs to break, when later the 

 snow settles away. A little shoveling will prevent this. 

 Snow that has accumulated in the tops of evergreens 

 or shrubs to be shaken out when it is light and soft. 



PLANT CULTURE UNDER GLASS. 



Amaryllis. Repot those showing signs of growth. 

 watering very little at first, gradually Increasing. 



Azaleas coming into bloom need plenty of water. A 

 collection may be had in flower over a much longer 

 season, if different temperatures are at command, by 

 bringing some Into high heat by degrees for early, 

 keeping others cooler, some quite cool. 



Begonia Rex may be propagated now from leaves. 

 Turn well matured ones of these bottom side up, and 

 with a sharp knife cut the main ribs here and there. 

 and just below dividing points, at about nine places. 

 Place these on sand, right side up. In a heat of 60* with 

 a little sand on top of the leaf to weight It down. The 

 air should be moist. We have flung the leaves under 

 bedded Rose bushes, grown for buds, and without fur- 

 ther care have found them to root well. 



Broken glass must have Immediate attention. In 

 our greenhouse v;c keep " life preservers " made in 

 several sizes on h.'. d to close up any breaks until they 

 can be repaired. ': hese consist of pieces of board a 

 trifle larger than v c. two or more panes of glass re- 

 spectively, an<l whk-lj are used to lay over any breaks. 

 A screw-eye is put Into one side near the center of each 

 board, and to this Is attached a cord supporting a brick 

 tor keeping the board In place over the opening. These 

 serve their purpose well. 



f^ Bulbs like Gladiolus, Tuberose and the like should be 

 looked over at this season to see they are In good order. 

 Gladiolus, Cannas and Dahlias are often kept under tbe 

 greenhouse stages; see that no moisture comes to them 

 to induce growth now. Tuberoses and others should 

 be cleaned up, and have tbe offsets removed. 



Flowering Begonias that have gone out of bloom 

 should be pruned somewhat and kept rather dry. 

 With signs of new growth repot. Avoid over-watering. 



Fuchsias should soon be struck for nice spring plants. 

 Once In pots they are Impatient of cramped root room; 

 let them not want water or light. Plants struck after 

 this month should not have their tops pinched off, but 

 should be grown naturally and quick. 



Greraniums. Fall propagated ones will be putting on 

 new signs of vigor now; see that they are not in the 

 way of being crowded with the first Increase of growth 

 by standing too close. Repot to produce a good growth 

 for spring. Geraniums of the tricolor section, being 

 less robust than the common sorts, need a little extra 

 attention. They delight In a warm place, say 55o, and 

 much light— shelves near the glass in a warm house, 

 suiting. 



Orchids at rest should have a complete rest, with not 

 a drop more of water than Is absolutely needed to pre- 

 vent the buds shriveling. Better If they must suffer 

 that U be fr*»m too little rather than too much moisture. 

 Cattleyas. Oncldlums, and others with large fleshy 

 bulbs need even less water than the Vandas, Saccola- 

 biums. Aerides and those of a similar style of growth. 

 When watering la really necessary, do It early In the 

 day and so carefully that the tender foliage will not 

 heconic splashed over. The temperature for Orchids 

 should be very regular as a general thing, but during 

 excessively cold spells It would be better to allow th^" 

 thermometer to drop a few degrees below the average 

 than to fire strong In order to reach its regular height- 



Pelargoniums. The beauty of these attractive flow- 

 ers, will depend upon fr«e growth now. The plants 

 like rather a warm dry place, plenty of room, air and 

 sunlight. 



Peperomias. Propagate by division or else by In- 

 serting the leaf stalks Into sand, to have the leaf lying 

 close down to the same. 



Petunias. Directions for (ieranlums will apply. 



Roses. Tbe chief requirements of the ever blooming 

 class now Is a uniform temperature of frcmi 55" to 60" 

 by night, with IS"^ or 'Hr^ higher by day; syringing twice 

 dally; a little air on all suitable days, and if the soil 

 shows signs of exhaustion, liquid manuring once a 

 week. The plants should be gone over at Intervals and 

 have all blind shoots as well as unduly straggling ones 

 removed. If in cutting Roses these are taken off with 

 stems running back to the second eye from tbe next 

 larger branch, little other pruning will be needed. 

 Hybrid Perpetuals now under way must have an 

 abundance of water and plenty of air. A high temper- 

 ature is not needed. 



Seed Sowing. See under The House Plants. 



Spring plants should be propagated according tt> 

 their habits; those flowering only after r-onslderable 

 growth has been made, first, while quick bloomers ma.v 

 have this deferred. Favor kinds of which .stock is 

 scarce for hurrying up the growth of cuttings. 



Ventilate freely in bright and mild weather to keep 

 the atmosphere sweet and wholesome to the plants. 



FRUIT GARDEN ANDORCHARD. 



Catalogues. See under Lawn and Flower Garden. 



Currants may be pruned by shortening the !a.st 

 season's growth, and trimming to form open heads. 



Cuttings. See to it that Grape or Currant cuttings 

 made In the fall have the protection they need now; an 

 Inch or two In thickness of straw will answer. 



G-ooseberries. Directions for Cui-rants will apply. 



Insects. Very few are visible at this season, and yet 

 a sharp eye run over the branches may detect the rings 

 of tent caterpillar eggs and also coeus insects when 

 present. Wherever found remove them; each one of 

 the former destroyed is equivalent to lessening the 

 caterpillars of next season by three or four hundred. 



Labels on trees. If left as they come from the nursery, 

 will by their wires as the branches enlarge. In time, 

 cause strangulation. Serious damage is often done to 

 trees in this way. On mild days go over the trees and 

 remove any that are liable to do this. For permanent 

 labels, use pine, making them heavy, and painting, or 

 else u.se zinc and in either case, copper wire about size 

 No. 16 for fa.stening to the trees, making the loops so 

 large that in years the growth will not fill them. 



Mice and Rabbits. See under other depai-tments. 



Shelter Belts. The winter season Is a good time to 

 consider the effects of these on the orchard. 



Tree pruning may be done In mild weather. More 

 harm comes from over-pruning than not pruning 

 enough. Weak and Imperfect shoots should come out, 

 as also such as cross each other In close conjunction. 

 Weak or stunted trees may often be helped by a severe 

 cutting back. Aim In pruning to open the head, that 

 air and sun can enter. 



Tree trunks may be scraped of loose bark, and if In- 

 fested with moss or scale be painted with a mixture of 

 lime, soot and clay. Work the brush vigorously that 

 the liquid may get Into evei-y crevice. Some fruit 

 growers use linseed oil as a bark wash for insects. 



Winter Covering. If this has been displaced, re- 

 apply. Some dirt or moist cf>al ashes on the coat will 

 serve to keep it down. 



VEGETABLE GARDEN. 



At the South early vegetables may be sown from 

 January to April. Vegetables, like Flowers, may be 

 classed as hardy and tender, the former including Peas. 

 Parsnips, Parsley, Onion, Leek, Lettuce, Cabbage, 

 Cauliflower, Cress, Spinach, Beets, etc., may in auy sec- 

 tion be sown as early as the condition of the soil will 

 allow. Tender kinds, such as Beans. Tomatoes, Cucum- 

 bers and Melons, can only be sown with safety any- 

 where at Corn-planting time. 



Cabbage plants lu frames need an abundance of air 

 whenever the temperature Is to the thawing point and 

 above; below this they need not be uncovered for days. 



Hot-Beds. For these horse manure should be accu- 

 mulated In a dry place, but not piled* so deep as to in 

 duce free heating before It Is needed. A few boards or 

 rails laid up .slanting where the manure Is deposited to 

 prevent clo.se settling will aid In this. 



Lettuce In frames. See on Cabbage plants. 



Manure. Plenty of manure with tillage are almost 

 the only secrets of raising large crops. In cold weather 

 and with frozen ground manure hauling may be done 

 with greater ease to teams than at any other time. 

 Manure should not, however, be spread at this season. 

 but so distributed in heaps as to be quickly available 

 when needed. The piles should be In a compact rather 

 than a loose scattered form, to prevent waste by the 

 washing out of the strength before tbe earth Is thawed 

 to receive It. 



Mice are often troublesome In frames, cold pits, root 

 cellars and the like, now that their food Is scarce. Fix 

 up some " pills " for them, by soaking Pea.s In water 

 until they swell, then roll in arsenic and burj' just below 



the surface in .some light earth. They will take these 

 before plants or veKetal)les, and It Is better that they 

 shoidd. 



Straw mats will be needed where there are sash beds. 

 A good size is to make thom the width of a sash and a 

 half, and of a length to hang down half a foot at top 

 and bottom of sash over edges of bed. 



Tools. Put In order. New ones that are needed may 

 be nmde or ordered In the winter's leisure. 



FRUITS AND VEGETABLES UNDER 

 GLASS. 



Asparagus. Observe directions for Rhubarb. 



Graperies that are now being started up shoidd have 

 not above 55" of heat at the outset, and he well syringed 

 twice a day, to assist the breaking of the buds. As the 

 young growth appears, sufficient air must 1m' admitted 

 to prevent the growth from being weaknnd the foliage 

 thin. Advantage shouhl be taken of mild days to air 

 the structure freely. 



Mushrooms. The nearer the temperature of bearing 

 beds can be kept to 60® the better. Steady temperature 

 will greatly prolong the bearing. Manure should be 

 saved up for new beds. 



Rhubarb under glass must be kept well watered. 



Snow on Glass. On warm forcing houses It usually 

 soon melts, but where the temperature inside is kept 

 rather low. It may need removing, A .snow scraper 

 three feet long is one of the safest articles for removing 

 soft snow. If a shovel must be used, let It be of 

 sufflcient width to reach over at least two bars. Cold 

 pits that are frozen up should not have the snow 

 removed from the glass, but the frames that are un- 

 frozen inside must be kept clear of snow. 



Strawberries in forcing must not be allowed to .set 

 tooniucli fruit or this will be small; a moderate number 

 of large lierries are much more satisfactory than many 

 small ones. When euough have set clip off the remain - 

 Ing flowers, and then lat-ercoimt on removing thesmal 

 lest berries also. Apply the .syringe to keep down Red 

 Spider. A void drouth and over watering at the root. 



POINTS ABOUT POULTRY. 



Nonsense is what the Ameneau Farmer calls 

 the talk of pullets being too fat to lay. With 

 old hens it may be possible. 



It is better not to chop up the (Cabbage or 

 Turnips for f<.»wls; the exercise derived from 

 pickinf? them to pieces is beneficial. A good 

 way to serve Cabbage heads is to invert them 

 aver an upright pointed stick 18 inches high. 



Some of the Nice Points. It should be noted 

 that fowls that are confined in yards and kept 

 warm in winter will gi\e better results the en- 

 tire year than when they are allowed to roam at 

 will. True, Ik-ii,'^ that have free range will some- 

 times lay racir(M't;-^s in summer than will those 

 tliiit lire fontiiiiM], but the hens that are properly 

 rami f»tr dining tin- cold season will lay at a 

 timo when the hi^rliest i>rices f(»r eggs are usu- 

 ally obtained. ' 



Save the Quills. There is now a market for 

 all the quilLs that are plucked from the Turkey. 

 ITntil recently tlie demand for Turkej' quills has 

 been confined to the tail feathers, and those 

 growing uimn the sec<tnd and third joints of the 

 wing, and navint: lull plumage on both sides of 

 the (juiil. These Imve been in demand for the 

 maiuifarture of feather dusters. The other 

 large quills were considered worthless, and 

 thrown a\\ay. The manufacture of the new 

 elastic bone Featherbone now creates a de- 

 mand for all the large quills from the Turkey, 

 and from the wing of the Goose, so that our 

 readers are perfectly safe in saving them, as 

 there will be a continuous market for them. 



Catches Them With a Crook. When I wish t^ 

 cai)ture a fowl I take my crook and a sack, 

 throw down a bit of feed, and while they are 

 scrambling <»ver it I (pjietly pull in and sack the 

 one 1 want. The thing is done before the flock 

 realize that I ha\c made a motion, and the bird 

 is so astonished that it rarely nttei-s a sound. 

 For culling out or sei>aratiug a flock of poultry 

 it is almost indispensable, fiet the flock in a 

 small yard or shed, and instead <tf plunging or 

 diving among them and frightening them into 

 fits, move quietly about and hook out those you 

 want. My crocdv is five and one-half feet long 

 and made of wire nearly one-fourth of an inch 

 thick.— Corr. Philadelphia News. 



Profit or Loss in Selling. Faiuiy Field advises 

 very sensibly in the Faruier that instead of sell- 

 ing eggs to the village grocer for about two- 

 thn-ds the city price, and tuking your pay in 

 " trade," send them direct to the city yourself. 

 You don^t have enough to make it pay? Let's 

 see about that. How many do you have? Fif- 

 teen, ten, or even si,\ dozen a week? Well, there 

 is your neighbor "Just over the way" who has 

 as many more, and two or three other neighbors 

 w\n> live a little farther down the road, each 

 have as many more; and the neighbors who live 

 up the road sell anywhere from 4 to l.i dozen 

 each week. Now, what on earth is to prevent 

 all the farmers in your neighborhood from 

 "clubbing together" an<l shipping the eggs 

 straight to the city commission house? Ship 

 every week; .'iend only clean, fresh eggs, and ycai 

 will get the t<)p market price in cash, which, 

 after naying expenses, will be considerably 

 more than your grocer pays. 



