io6 



POPULAR GARDENING. 



February, 



wood on the closely pruned vine. But if the vine 

 is left unpruned till the sap is well up, it then 

 has the whole vine to expend its force upon and 

 the development of the fruit-bearing wood is 

 considerably later. By delaying pruning till 

 spring he has escaped all loss from late frosts for 

 years. Injury from bleeding when pruned in the 

 spring after the sap starts has been greatly over- 

 estimated. A few winters since the snow drifted 

 in and completely filled the writer's \nneyard 

 before the trimming had been done. It staid 

 there all winter, keeping the frost out of the 

 ground. As the ground did not freeze the sap 

 started in the rtnes before the snow was aU gone, 

 and on trimming them, a few days later, they 

 bled severely; but they bore a good crop that 

 year, and since, and gave no evidence that they 

 were in any way injured by the severe bleeding. 

 Two years ago they were caught in a late frost 

 after the fruit buds had considerably developed, 

 and as a consequence there were no grapes that 

 year. Had this plan of late pruning been pur- 

 sued the crop might probably have been saved. 

 Chrysanthemum CuttingB. By the time the 

 late varieties are in perfection many of the earlier 

 kinds have growth in condition for propagation, 

 and it is not good practice to defer attending to 

 them, although creditable plants may be obtained 

 from good cuttings taken as late as February or 

 March. Plants are usually most satisfactory 

 when raised with but little assistance of artificial 

 heat, as in a cool frame, for instance. My mode 

 of treatment is to insert the cuttings singly in 

 small two-inch pots., filled with fine sandy soil, 

 plunging the pots in fine coal ashes placed in a 

 shallow frame, which should be elevated upon a 

 bed in a house where ai-tiflcial warmth is only 

 employed to e.xclude frost. Under this method 

 cuttings take more time to root, but it is always 

 attended with good results.— English Exchange. 



Electric Light and Plants. The electric light- 

 ing of the winter palace at St. Petersburg has 

 been accompanied by some unexpected and dis- 

 agreeable results, the many beautiful ornamental 

 plants which are used for decoration hartng been 

 found to suffer greatly from the effect of the 

 new system of lighting. It appears that the com- 

 plete illumination of the room for a single night 

 is enough to cause the leaves to turn yellow, dry 

 up, and ultimately to fall ofl'. The celebrated 

 collection of Palms at the palace have more es- 

 pecially suffered serious damage. The sudden 

 change from the suiUess days of the northern 

 winter and from the subdued Ught of the plant 

 houses to the blinding light of the banqueting 

 halls is supposed to be the chief cause of the 

 above. It has been shown beyond a doubt that 

 the rapidity of the injurious action and its amount 

 are in direct proportion to the intensity of the 

 illumination, and plants standing partially shaded 

 from the Ught, or in niches or other places, are 

 found to remain uninjured. The artificially 

 heated atmosphere of the rooms, tends without 

 doubt, to greatly intensify the injurious effects 

 of the light, and if the plants could only be sur- 

 rounded by a steamy atmosphere, such as that 

 in which they are grown, the effect would be 

 minimized,if not obviated.— Gardener's Chronicle 



Celery in Beds. In certain cases there are de- 

 cided advantages in this method. The plan is 

 simply to set the plants in trenches, which are 

 three or four feet in width, and excavated to the 

 depth of three or four inches. The plants are 

 set in rows crosswise of the bed; six inches apart 

 in the row; rows being a foot apart. This is close 

 planting, but if manure and water are used freely 

 as fine Celery may be grown as by any method 

 whatever. One banking is all that is contem- 

 plated, as White Plume is the variety to be used. 

 or if any other is preferred, more space must be 

 left, so as to supply more earth, or tile may be 

 employed. The most aiiparent advantages of 

 this plan over planting in rows is that it admits 

 of irrigation. If water can be had for a smaU 

 area only, it can be economized and utiUzed to 

 the fullest extent. At least fifty thousand plants 

 can he grown on an acre in this way. which is 

 better than can be done by the ordinary method. 

 The cost of handling is about the same in either 

 case, but when grown in beds, it is comparatively 

 easy to protect the Celery from freezing, with 

 straw. Those who propose to irrigate their Cel- 

 ery will find this plan a good one to adopt, with 

 a part of the crop at least. 



Boot Lease (Phylloxera) in California. We 

 learn that the Phylloxera has at length become 

 nearly as bad on the roots of the Grape-vines in 

 California as in Europe. In some localities the 

 plantations are nearly ruined. They are, how- 

 ever, doing as the wide-awake rtneyardists of 



France are doing, grafting on the American 

 stock. The varieties of the species Riparia are 

 found to be the best. The insect attacks these 

 vine roots as weH as the roots of the European, 

 but on account of the very fibrous rooting char- 

 acter, they do not suffer much. The young roots 

 grow faster than the troublesome little insect 

 can follow them. Hence these species of the 

 Gi-apo are known as resistent Grapes. Julius 

 Dressel, of Sonora, in California, has seventy 

 acres grafted on many varieties of the Riparia 

 section that are thri\-lng wonderfully, and graft- 

 ing Grapes wiU soon be a leading industry in 

 California.— Gardener's Monthly. 



Kitchen Garden Walks. Kitchen garden walks 

 ai-e often neglected. This is a mistake, as a sub- 

 stantial tidy walk in a vegetable garden is always 

 valued. I do not approve of very wide walks 

 here, if the walks are capable of accommodating 

 two abreast, or allowing two wheelbarrows to 

 pass each other without having to break down 

 the edging, nothing more need be desired as a 

 rule. There is no economy in deflcientl.v made 

 walks, as they wiU take much more labor to keep 

 them in repair than it would take to make them 

 properly, and it is astonishing how little repair 

 a thoroughly well-made walk requires. If the 

 foundation is soft dig it out, as it is impossible to 

 keep up a walk over a marshy bottom. Go down 

 two feet if necessary, and in all cases of a defi- 

 cient foundation go down eighteen inches at 

 least. Put plenty of large stones in the bottom, 

 and make the surface of some material that will 

 bind. Keep the middle three Inches higher to 

 every yard width of the walk than it is at the 

 sides, and there will always be a comfortable 

 footway no matter what the weather ma.v be. 

 Edge with Box, tiles, stone, or wood,which should 

 also be kept in trim.— Gardening World. 



soaking previous to cooking. Fresh Pineapple 

 needs cooking a little before adding to the tapi- 

 oca; the canned does not.— Country Gentleman. 



Cooking Pnines. Pour boiling water over the 

 Prunes, let this remain half an hour, when the 

 Prunes will be soft so you can remove the seeds. 

 The seeds removed, wash the fruit, and to each 

 quart add a teacup of sugar, or more if you like 

 them very sweet. Cover with boUing water and 

 stew until tender, keeping on plenty of juice. 

 When done add any flavor you may wish. You 

 will find them much nicer by taking out the seeds, 

 and this enables you to find the wormy fruit, 

 which makes Prunes objectionable. Prepared in 

 this way they make excellent pies and the addi- 

 tion of more sugar gives nice preserves. 



Squash Jam. Take a full-grown Squash, peel, 

 cut in half, and scrape out the seeds; then cut 

 them into Inch wide strips, and slice these as thin- 

 ly as possible. To every pound allow 1 lb. of 

 sugar, half-a-teaspoonful of salt, and one lemon. 

 Chop the rind of the Lemons very finely, remov- 

 ing the white pith, and cut them in slices, avoid- 

 ing the pips. Put the Squash, lemon-rind and 

 sUces, salt, and half the sugar into an earthen- 

 ware pan; cover, and leave it to stand all night. 

 In the morning strain away the liquid, and boil 

 it for twenty minutes with the remainder of the 

 sugar; then add the pieces, etc., and boU again 

 until each piece looks perfectly transparent, and 

 when turned into jars it will look much like 

 marmalade. I find this recipe makes a most 

 delicious jam.— English Farm and Home. 



Vegetable Products on the Table. 



Corn Cake. One quart of sour or butter-milk, 

 a little salt, a piece of butter half the size of an 

 egg, cornmeal enough for stiff batter, one tea- 

 spoonful soda, and for a rich cake add two weU- 

 beaten eggs. Bake three-quarters of an hour. 



Fried Pickled Cucumhers. Take large Cucum- 

 bei-s from the pickle, and soak in tepid water un- 

 til the salt is well out of them; sUce one-third of 

 an inch thick, roll in flour, and fry in butter. 

 These are very nice with cold meat or beefsteak. 

 Orange Custard. One quart jar of juice, three 

 eggs, tablespoonful of arrow root or corn starch, 

 salt. Heat the juice boiling hot, poiu- on the 

 beaten eggs mixed with butter, sugar, and thick- 

 ening, and stir while it thickens; then pour into 

 baked shells of pastry.— Pacific Fruit Grower. 



Apple or Cranberry Pie with Whipped Cream. 

 Cook the fruit as for sauce, the Cranberries with 

 or without skins, whichever is preferred. Make 

 a nice pie-crust; put the fruit in, place in oven 

 to bake. When done, spread over the top whipped 

 cream, flavored with vanilla. These make most 

 tempting and delicious dishes. 



Apple Hedge Hog. Two pounds of Apples 

 pared and sliced, one and a-half pounds of white 

 sugar, one-half pint of water. BoU all together 

 till quite thick, and keep stirring to prevent 

 burning. Put into a mold, turn out when cold, 

 stick all over it split almonds. Serve with 

 whipped cream.— Rural New Yorker. 



Potato Fritters. Boil and peel six large Pota- 

 toes or a dozen smaller ones; mash them well, 

 and add four weU beaten eggs, a little cream or 

 milk, chopped Parsley, chives, salt and pepper, 

 and mix the whole together. Raise on the end 

 of a knife about a teaspoonful of this paste, and 

 drop it into a pan of boiling lard or butter, when 

 the paste will swell and form a light fritter. 



Cahhage Salad. Three eggs well beaten, one 

 tablespoonful of sugar, one tablespoonful butter, 

 one teaspoonful mustard mixed with one-half a 

 small cup of good \nnegar, salt and pepper, one 

 pint finely cut Cabbage. Melt the butter in a 

 tin on the stove, mix the other ingredients to- 

 gether and put into the pan; when hot add the 

 Cabbage, keep stirring till it comes to the boil. 

 When done, put in a dish; garnish with small 

 green and yellow Celery tops.— EuralNew Y'orker. 

 Fruit Tapioca Pudding. Pick over and wash 

 three-fourths cup of tapioca, cook it in one and 

 one-half pints boiling water one hour or until 

 transparent; add one saltspoonful of salt, one- 

 fourth cup of sugar, one cup of any kind of 

 fruit or of grated Pineapple, two Bananas and 

 two Oranges cut fine. Serse with sugar and 

 cream. Tapioca should be stirred at first to pre- 

 I vent lumps. The pearl tapioca does not need 



HOUSE PLANTS. 



Begonias of the free-blooming sorts should now be 

 In their glory. Water the plants but moderately. 



Camellias are impatient to close confinement In a 

 dry atmosphere, hence should have air freely (but not 

 cold draughts), in all suitable weather, and a frequent 

 sponging of the leaves on both sides. 



Dutch Bulbs should continue to be brought in from 

 the cellar or pit. At this season they grow and bloom 

 remarkably well. Such as are In gla.sses must have the 

 water kept properly replenished. 



Fuchsias that have been at rest should be started up, 

 if this has not yet been done. Those that have made 

 some growth may have slips. If there be strong ones, 

 taken from them, to root. As to pruning, the state of 

 the plants and one's ta.ste should govern. As a rule, we 

 think old plants are more satisfactory for being cut 

 back at this .season and grown In a bushy form. Young 

 plants usually reach a better shape for the first year, 

 with little cutting back, unless it be main shoots occas- 

 ionally, for inducing symmetry. Guard agamst their 

 becoming pot-boimd; growth must be constant. 



General. From now on it Is easy to keep healthy 

 plants looking well. But It will not do to grow care- 

 less, either as regards general requirements, or caring 

 for them in the cold nights yet to come. These fresh 

 movements in growth must be backed by treatment 

 to ensure the formation of healthy roots and wood. On 

 Watering see imder Plant Culture Under Glass. 



Geraniums, especially of the Scarlet or Zonale class, 

 should be showing fine sUps for rooting now. All the 

 plants, with the exception of some wanted for present 

 bloom, may be severely cut back tor propagation; the 

 slips of such will make fine plants for bedding, while 

 the old ones will come out well for summer bloom. 

 Heliotrope slips struck now make fine plants for 

 summer. Shift old plants as they get pot-bound. 



Oleanders. If one cares for flowers In May, start up 

 the plants now. As growth begins, water well and 

 give some stimulant to the roots. 



Plants in cellars and pits may well be treated to air 

 occasionally for hardening them. If the earth In the 

 pots or boxes Is very dry, give water. 



Pruning. As a rule amateurs are too afraid of 

 the knife. In soft-wooded growths, one can hardly 

 prune too freely for good shape; with It, fine, bushy 

 forms, springing from the ground, result; without It, 

 long-legged plants that cannot be handsome. 



Roses, of the monthly section, will begin to show 

 growth and bloom. Avoid keeping them too warm; 

 give a good sunny position. By all means keep down 

 the greenfly. Hybrid Perpetuals, potted In the fall and 

 wintered in pots, may come Into heat, and will quickly 

 start up. When buds appear a stimulant like liquid 

 manure becomes desirable. 

 Sweet Alyssum- Propagate from slips or seed. 

 Seed Sowing. Kinds like MImuIus, Maurandia, lee 

 Plant. Sensitive Plant Snapdragon and Chinese Pluks 

 should now be sown for good plants for spring and 



