1 888. 



POPULAR GARDENING. 



107 



summer decoration. All annuals may be sown In boxes 

 for early bloom, by the end of the month. 



LAWN AND FLOWER GARDEN, 



Bedding Plants. Arrangt- early for whatever stock 

 will be wanted, whether you raise yom* own or buy. 

 If to be bought, contracts may be made with florists 

 thus early at reduced rates, usually. 



Hedges of deciduous kinds should receive their winter 

 pruning In mild spells. Mice often tlo great damage by 

 girdling the trees under the snow line. Prevent by 

 tramping down the snow occasionally. 



Labels, stakes and like necessaries to the garden 

 should be made or bought now, for spring use. 



Pansies. If no stock has been brought over, by sow- 

 ing seeds now, In moderate heat imder glass, good 

 spring-blooming plants may be raised. 



Flans. Now should be a good season for reading and 

 planning. The main operations to be caiTled out the 

 coming season should be studied and decided on before 

 outdoor activity opens. Well-laid plans not only tend 

 to the making of bett^T gardens, but they are economi- 

 cal. In the sense of allowing the work later to be turned 

 off with the best possible advantage. 



Seed Sowing. At the South, hardy annuals may be 

 sown out-of-doors. In the North, annuals for specimens 

 and summer bedding such as Balsams, Cockscombs, 

 Globe Amaranths. Portulacas, Schizanthus. Phloxes, 

 Brachyeomes, Stocks, Tropreolums, Cobaeas, Lophos- 

 phernums, AcrocIInlums, and the kinds named under 

 The House Plants, may be sown In heat this month. 



Shrubs. In the South, pruning of the?e may now 

 take place, but further north, next month will be about 

 the right time. In approaching these with knife and 

 shears It must be borne in mind not to treat all kinds 

 alike. For instance, the class Including Roses, Hardy 

 Hydrangea, Burning Bush, CoronlUa, Amorpha, Hyper- 

 icum, Althaeas, Late-flowering Splneas.and a few others 

 that bear their bloom on the new growth of the season, 

 may be cut back very severely at this season with good 

 residts. But about all other shrubs besides these 

 named produce their flowers from buds on the old 

 wood, and to prune these now is to prune away just so 

 many flowers. On such little more pruning should be 

 done at this time than to cut to Improve the general 

 shape, leaving most of the work to be done just after 

 the blooming season, some months further along. 



PLANT CULTURE UNDER GLASS. 



Angle-worms in the soil Increase rapidly as sun-heat 

 Increases. The perfect remedy: soak the soil thoroughly 

 about once a month with lime wat«r. 



Carnations for next winter's flowering should all be 

 struck from cuttings before this month Is out. Later 

 then, keep the young plants robust by free airing. 

 Flowering plants should be gone over and restaked, 

 tying them out larger if needing this. 



Cytisus, when done blooming, should be cut back. 



Insects come out with great rapidity at this season 

 of high sun-heat and closeness. No pains must be 

 spared to keep them down. Prevention Is better than 

 cure, hence the usual remedies of fumigating twice a 

 week with tobacco smoke, or the use of nycotyl (see 

 page 98), for Green-fly and others; syringing daily for 

 Red Spider and so on. In houses of high heat, must not 

 be neglected. Scale and Mealy Bug increase more 

 slowly than these, but do not yield to treatment .so well. 

 Hand-picking, washing or brushing, the best remedies. 



Mignonette Is one of the annuals that may be sown 

 now to good purpose. Then the plants will, with the 

 sunnier months to come, make rapid growth, and by 

 the time of mild weather will be much prized for win- 

 dow and conservatory decoration. 



Orchids that beglu to grow during the time they are 

 In flower should be shifted Immediately the beauty of 

 the flower is past. The best materials for the shift are 

 good fibrous peat, sphagnum moss, broken crocks and 

 charcoal. Aerldes, Vandas, Saccolablums, Dendrobes, 

 Coelogynes and several other genera do best in Sphag- 

 num with small crocks or sharp sand. Cattleyas, 

 Loelias, Oncldlunis and Odontoglossums do equally well 

 in peat mixed with crocks and a few bits of Charcoal; 

 whilst some do best in a mixture of peat and moss. 



Pelargoniums are In their making time now. Water 

 freely, especially in warm, bright days, to set every 

 rootlet In action. Overwaterlng is bad, how^ever, caus- 

 ing, as (t does, spotted leaves. 



Potting. All young slips should go into jjots as soon 

 as roots appear. Use small pots, and light, rich soil, 

 potting rather flrmly. In potting or shifting plants, 

 ■ place broken pots or gravel In the bottom of every 

 pot larger than tiu-ee Inches across, for drainage. In 

 pots six inches or more across, there should be on top 

 of the hard drainage a layer of sphagnum or hay before 

 filling In soil, to keep the lower drainage from clogging. 



Roses. From now on Is a favorite season for propa- 

 gation. Select the cuttings from the best and strongest 

 wood of recent growth; a bad cutting must make a bad 

 plant. From the time the cuttings are put in until the 

 young plants are fit to set out. they must never be 

 neglected for want of water, as this wguld stunt them, 

 a condition that is always bad. 



Salvia Splendens as to stock plants, must not have 

 ihe growth greatly checked atany time In the winter, 

 for if so, it will be dlfhcult to get up good plants for 

 next year. Ample root room, and a cool temperature, 

 suit the plants at this season. 



Stove plants need general going over at this time or 

 a little later. Those that have been blooming In the 

 winter require to be cut back, and encouraged to break; 

 then to be shifted to larger pots If needful, or have top- 

 dressings. Those In flower must be kept dry overhead. 



Verbenas detest any but fresh, sweet soils. If the 

 plants are at a standstill, by shaking out and repotting 

 In rich, fibrous new earth they will Improve quickly. 

 Keep near the glass and give plenty of air. 



Watering. Let no plant suffer from dryness, none 

 from over-watering, to avoid both of which needs a 

 watchful eye. Notice which kinds dry out soonest— 

 there Is a great difference as regards this, also In which 

 parts of the house dryness Is first to be met. To 

 water all kinds alike Is to do great injustice to some. 



FRUIT GARDEN ANDORCHARD. 



Currants and Gooseberries. If not yet pruned and 

 manured this should be promptly attended to. 



Eggs of the tent caterpillar can now be readily dis- 

 tinguished and should be promptly removed. They can 

 be found deposited In clusters near the ends of twigs. 



Firming the soil, as soon as ever It thaws, over the 

 roots of Strawberries or any other plants or shrubs set 

 in the fall, by tramping. Is a good stroke in early spring. 



Grape Trellis. Repair If they require it. It will pay 

 to paint them, and now Is an excellent time to perform 

 such work. If any vines were not pruned in the au- 

 tumn, do it in mild spells now. 



Manuring. Top-dressing such orchards as are not 

 growing with vigor may now be done. Spread the ma- 

 nure, which should be old and fine, evenly. 



Old Trees to have all accumulations of moss and 

 loose bark scraped off, and given a wash of soft soap, 

 mixed with enough water to apply with a brush. 



Pruning of fruit trees to be proceeded with whenever 

 the opportunity offers, selecting a time when the wood 

 Is not much frozen. 



Recording maps of the orchard aufi fruit garden 

 should be kept to ensure against loss of names and con- 

 fusion, by the accidental losing of labels. Such are 

 easily made. Use smooth, strong, heavy paper, striking 

 lines and cross lines as many as there are rows of trees 

 or plants, and then write the name of each variety, 

 clearly, in its proper place. 



Winter Covering of Strawberries and the like will 

 require looking after to see that It Is not blown off. 



VEGETABLE GARDEN. 



Asparagus Beds. If not already done, to be given 

 a good dressing of stable manure. A dressing of salt 

 can also be applied with benefit in localities distant 

 from the sea coast. Two or more pounds of salt to the 

 square yard Is considered ample. 



At the South, Asparagus, Rhubarb and Horse-radish 

 beds may be made. Potatoes may be planted, and In 

 the more southern parts the seeds of Squashes and 

 Melons, provided some means of protection are at hand 

 against hard weather. The most successful gardeners 

 are always ready to take some risks in starting their 

 crops early. See last month under this head. 



Cold Frames require close attention as milder 

 weather approaches. Open when the weather is not 

 severe, harden off their contents for early setting. 



Lettuce sown In a box in the window, hot-bed or 

 green-house now wUl give nice plants for frames or a 

 waiTii spot In the garden In April, to mature In May. 

 Curled Silesia is one of the best for early. 



Manure for garden use and hot-beds to be accumu- 

 lated. Turn the heap as often as It becomes hot. 



Mice often prove troublesome around hot-beds, cold 

 frames, etc. A few traps should be among them at all 

 times, and thus prevent a more serious loss. 



Onions. If the.se become frozen, cover with straw or 

 salt hay, to prevent alternate freezings and thawings. 



Rhubarb can be easily forced from now on by cover- 

 ing the roots with boxes or small barrels, and covering 

 well with heating material. 



Root Crops. Such as Salsify, Parsnips, etc., to be dug 

 wbenever the ground is sufficiently thawed. 



Seeds. Stock on hand to be promptly overhauled, 

 lists to be made out of what is wanted, and the supply 

 procured at once. 



Trenching and Draining of unoccupied land to be 

 proceeded with whenever the opportunity offers. 



Vegetable Cellars. Keep as cool as possible, by air 

 Ing freely In all but freezing weather. Remove prompt- 

 ly all worthless vegetables. 



FRUITS AND VECETA BLES U N DER 



GLASS. 



Asparagus in forcing frames or pits should be 

 freely aired whenever possible. Maintain rapid growth 

 by attention to heat, watering and ventilation, and so 

 ensure tender shoots. Roots for succession may now 

 be started Into growth. 



Cucumbers require attention as to stopping all 

 side shoots at the second joint and to the fertilization 

 of the flowers. Maintain a temperature of 65*^ or Hf by 

 night, with liJt. or 15*^ higher by day. Give air whenever 

 possible, but avoid cold draughts. Seeds may be sown 

 and beds prepared for later crops. 



Dandelion roots lifted and placed In boxes may be 

 brought Into growth at Intervals to ensure a succession. 



Grapery. Keep the late houses as <-ool as possible by 

 airing freely In all but stormy weather. Houses just 

 started, to be given a temperature of 50", gradually In- 

 creasing as growth commences. Vines In bloom require 

 close attention to avoid damp, which will certainly 

 destroy the flowers. In the earlier houses thinning Is 

 In order as soon as the berries are the size of small Peas. 



Lettuce. Water sparingly during dull, damp weath- 

 er; air freely as the opportunity offers. Planting to be 

 made for successlonal use. Seed may now be sown to 

 produce plants for early spring use. The Early Forcing 

 Head and Bost<»n Market are desirable for this purpose. 



Mushrooms. Manure Ui be prepared and beds started 

 for successlonal crops. 



Parsley growing In beds or boxes to be given liquid 

 manure at least twice a week. 



Peaches and Nectarines. In cool or slightly heated 

 houses to be pruned, tied up, and the larger branches 

 and trunks painted with soap and sulphur. Keep the 

 houses cool by airing freely. When In bloom, fertilize 

 the flowers carefully. 



Strawberries growing In heat may be given liquid 

 manure at times, until the fruit shows Indications of 

 ripening, when it should be withheld and the fruit ex- 

 posed to the sun and light as much as possible. Another 

 lot may be brought in for succession. 



POINTS ABOUT POULTRY. 



"Worth Noting. With Melons and g-arden vege- 

 tables we have obtained the best of results from 

 the use of hen manure.— Poultry Keeper. 



Crude petroleum does not evaporate so quickly 

 as kerosene. It is therefore better as an applica- 

 tion upon henroosts to destroy lice, since it clogs 

 the insects' breathing pores more certainly, while 

 its odor IS etiually as hateful to them as the latter. 



After snow storms always clear some portions 

 of the ground around the hen-houses for the 

 comfort and health of the stock. Standing on 

 snow is not as good as on earth. If the fowls 

 cannot get off the snow, they crowd too much in 

 the houses.— Rural New Yorker. 



Order Some Gourd Seed, The Mirror and Far- 

 mer remarks that when a hen goes on the nest 

 and places her warm body close to a cold glass 

 nest egg she is liable to contract cold. Glass eggs 

 should not be used in winter. We have known 

 hens to roll such nest eggs out of the nest, as 

 they soon learn to beware of the cold sensation- 

 but they also learn to roll all other eggs out of 

 the nest as well, which may cause them to freeze 

 The best nest eggs are the nest-egg Gourds' 

 which anybody can easily grow, the seeds being 

 for sale by all reliable seedsmen. It is better to 

 have no nest eggs than to use glass or porcelain 

 at this season, while stale-eggs are abominable. 



A Neglected Income. One of the little leaks 

 is the neglect of the poultry droppings. A far- 

 mer will spend a day in carting some fertilizer 

 for which he has to pay a good price, when for 

 the same time spent he might have had some- 

 thing just as valuable by carefully collecting 

 the dro]ipings from under the roosting fowls 

 The manure from fifty fowls, properly com- 

 posted with dry loam and swamp muck, in the 

 proportion of one part of the former to three of 

 the latter, should furnish hill dressing for at 

 least two acres. Even the soil of the yard to 

 which they are confined if taken off once a year 

 to the depth of two or three inches is an excel- 

 lent fertilizer.— Monitor. 



The Proper Time to Market. There is such a 

 thing as hat<*hing out the chicks too early In 

 order to give an idea of the prices, we mention 

 the New Yoik market tpiotations for broilers 

 during several months. January and February 

 those of from two to throe pounds per pair sold 

 at from 25 t<) 27 cents per i»oiinrl. <lressed, while 

 those from three to four pounds sold at 18 to 22 

 but in March, those of three to four pounds per 

 pair sold at 25 to 2K, those of two to three pounds 

 at 30 to 35 cents per pound, and four to five 

 jjounds per pair at 20 to 25 cents. April and 

 May the prices were for dressed broilers, two to 

 three pounds per pair, 45 to 50 cents per pound- 

 three to four pounds 30 to ;35 cents; four to five 

 pounds 25 t(t 28; while even in June the prices 

 were as high as W cents per pound for those of 

 large size, the smaller sizes not at that time be- 

 ing in demand. A chick should weigh a pound 

 when six weelcs old, and two pounds at ten 

 weeks.— Mirror and Farmer. 



Poultry for Market. There is no hardier fowl 

 than the Light Brahma and no breed that lays so 

 many eggs in the winter. If I wanted the best 

 broilers. I would use a white Plymouth Kock 

 cockerel on Light Brahma hens. While the 

 Brahma cockerel on Wyandotte hens would be 

 good, I do not think this cross would give as 

 many eggs as the other. As to whether it will 

 pay to go into raising poultry for the Eastern 

 markets in Indiana or other central StattiS, mv 

 judgment would be that the ability to rais'e 

 cheaper there than in the East would more than 

 cover the express charges t<.i Eastern markets. 

 But Eastern broilers bring the most monev in 

 New York, for the rea.sou that the breeder is 

 where the goods can be got in a few hours when 

 wanted, whereas much time will be required in 

 transit from the West. When the broilers are 

 grown, and you wish to prepare them for market, 

 or "finish them off," as the saying is. feed corn 

 and barley, some charcoal daily, and Celery tops, 

 or other fresh gieen matter.— Farm and Home. 



