t888. 



POPULAR GARDENING. 



13: 



and Plums. Scions to he <-ut at (ince If not already 

 d<jne. Root grafts t^) lie set out as soou as the jo'ound 

 Is iu a iiroper condition. 



Grapes. If not already pruned and tied up should 

 he attended t() at once. YounK vines as well as th«»se 

 lately planteil will he heneflted hy havhiK a dressing 

 of manure worked hi around the roots. Vines laid 

 down and covered last fail may he treateii as advised 

 for Raspherries. 



Insects. There is no time for Il^jhtliiK some of our 

 worst insect pests like early sprlUK- Take the Tent 

 Cotrrpillnr for one, you can destroy 20iiornir)re eggs 

 (r(|ual to that many worms lat^r) as easily now as a 

 single worm in June. Their nests encircle small 

 hranches of Apple trees near their ends and are easily 

 seen. Cut out and hum. Early In the spring is the 

 time that the female moths of the Canker-trttrm ascend 

 the trees. The simplest preventive and <leslroyer is 

 a tight hanil of tarred paper a foot wide, around the 

 trunk, and kept painted with tar and prhiter's ink. To 

 this the moths will stick and soon die. Renew this 

 paint every time it hecomes glazed over. Troughs of 

 metal, filled with kerosene, are also used, and with less 

 trouble, but the first cost is much greater. To scrape 

 the trees of rough bark will take away the chance of 

 the beetles of the FInt-headed Borer finding a secure 

 place to lay eggs later. Do not scrape harshly. 



Manure spread around trees, vines, etc.. In the fall 

 to be dug under promptly. 



Pruning of all fruit trees and <irape-vines shoiUd be 

 completed during the month and before the crowtl of 

 spring work comes on. 



Raspberries. Directions for Klaekherries will apply. 

 Tender sorts that were covered with earth last fall 

 may be lifted and tied up as soon as the weather settles. 



Strawberries- Urouud for new beds should be early 

 prepared, remembering that the ground cannot be 

 made too rich and deep. Plant as early as the ground 

 is fit if possible, setting the plants In rows two and a 

 half feet apart and one Coot apart in the row. 



THE VEGETABLE GARDEN. 



Asparagus. As soon as the frost is out of the ground 

 apply a good sprinkling of guano, cultivate and loosen 

 the soil. Ground for new beds may be prepared, bury- 

 ing plenty of manure, as It can scarcely be too rich. 



Beet, Sow in cold frames about the end of the month 

 to succeed those sown in hot-beds. As soon as the soil 

 will admit of working sow some in the open air. 



Cabbage. Of the earliest sowings to be transplanted 

 Into shallow boxes and placed In rows two inches 

 apart, and one inch apart in the row. Grow on in a 

 gentle hot-bed for some time yet, giving plenty of air 

 in favorable weather, securing from frost by covering 

 up well on cold frosty nights. Plants wintered over in 

 cold frames to be given an abundant supply of air at 

 all times with a view to planting out as soon as the 

 ground can be properly prepared. 



Carrots may be treated as advised for Beets. 



Cauliflower. Treat the plants as advised for Cabbage. 



Egg Plant. Sow as early as possible in well drained 

 pans tilled with light loamy soil; place in a warm, 

 moist situation as close to the glass as possible. As 

 soon as the young plants are strong enough to handle, 

 transplant Into shallow boxes an inch and a half apart 

 each way. As soon as they begin to crowd each other 

 pot oiT Into three-inch pots. Keep constantly in strong 

 heat and moist atmosphere. 



General. Weather permitting, ground should be 

 prepared for all crops that are to be sown or planteil 

 next mouth so that every thing may be promptly pro- 

 ceeded with and the garden be early put in order. 



Greens, Dwarf German. Remove the covering be- 

 fore the end of the m<mth. Apply a sprinkling of 

 guano and stir up the soil well between the plants. 



Horse-radish. Roots In the ground to be dug soon. 

 For another sea.son plant as early as possible in a deep, 

 well enriched soil. Use sets the thickness of a lead- 

 pencil and keep them three inches below the surface. 

 Avoid placing these sets with the lower end up. 



Lettuce. Treat as for Cabbage. Plants wintered 

 over may be placed in cold frames eight Inches apart 

 for suceessional crops. 



Onion Sets, Potato Onions. Plant as early as the 

 groun<l cau be pn^perly prepared in drills sixteen 

 Inches apart, the bulbs four inches apart in the row. 



Parsnips. Roots yet in the ground to be dug as early 

 as practicable. 



Peas. Sow as early as the ground can be prepared. 

 For the earlier sowings Thorborn's Early Market, Ru- 

 ral New Yorker or Carter's First Crop may be used. A 

 week may he gained In earliness hy sowing In moist 

 sand, then jilacing In a box In a warm situation and 

 sowing outside when sprouted. 



Pepper. P'or raising plants treat as for Egg Plant. 



Potatoes. For very early use sliould be sprouted be- 

 fore they are planted outside. Cut and place the sets 

 in a hot-bed two weeks before they are wanted, then 

 lift and plant out carefully. Or else place tlie sets in a 

 warm, light situation a montii beftjre tiiey are wanted. 

 Set out on fresh horse dung, so that the heat will cause 

 them to start at once. Early Suurlse and Early Ohio 

 are among the most viesirable for thus forwarding. 



Radish. Treat as advised above for Beets. 



Salsify and Scorzonera. Treat as for Parsnip. 



Spinach. Treat as for (ierman Greens. Sow fnr sue 

 cession as soon as the gnnmd can be properly jjreparcf 

 in drills fifteen inches apart. 



FRUITS AND VEGETABLES UNDER 

 GLASS. 



Beets for early usv may lie sown and treali-d as ad 

 vised for Radishes. Sow In rows six Inchi-s apart, and 

 when up thin out to four Inches in the row. Tlie Karly 

 Flat Turin, and Early Egyptian are best for early. 



Oarrots. For early use sow and treat as advised for 

 Radishes. The iMo.hs Curh-d is best for forcing. 



Cucumbers reipdrc attention t<» supply tlicni wHli 

 an e<iual temperature at all times. From (Ki to lo'^ at 

 night, with an Increase of Ur hy day, is most suitable 

 for them. Earth up the plants at times and set the 

 fruit blossoms as they open. Plants in newly-maile 

 hot-beds require close attention as to airing. .Seed 

 may be sown In small pots, hot-bed i)lantin« later. 



Grapery. Vines swelling up their fruit sboulfl b<' 

 given a good temperature and a humid atmosphere. 

 Those in bloom refjuire a little air, whicli should be 

 given whenever possible, avoiding cold di-aughts. He 

 sparing of water until all the berries are set. With 

 the increase of bright sunny weather late houses will 

 require an abundance of air to keep down temperature. 



Hot-beds may now be made at intervals for suceess- 

 ional use. Early made beds may have the heat re- 

 newed by fresh linings of hot manure. These when 

 vacant may be tilled with Radishes, Lettuce and similar 

 crops, while those newly made may be used for Cu- 

 cumbers and other plants of a tropical nature. 



Peaches and Nectarines. In forcing treat as for 

 Figs. A fresh lot may be brought iu for succession. 

 Those in cool or sligthly heated houses to be freely 

 aired night and day, unless it Is desired to apply heat 

 later on. 



Pines. Plants starting for fruit (o be liberally 

 watered and given a bottom temperature of 65, with 10 

 lower for top. Young plants will be the better for a 

 little air to encourage stocky growth. 



Radishes may now be sown in hot-beds in rows three 

 inches apart. When up thin out to an inch apart in 

 the row. Air freely, removing the sash entirely im 

 warm sunny days. The Roman Carmine Turnip an<l 

 the Blood Red Turnip are the best varieties for forcing. 



Rhubarb may be readily forced from now on by 

 placing kegs or half banels over the plants and heap- 

 ing fresh stable manure around them. Cover the tops 

 of the kegs or barrels with boards. 



POINTS ABOUT POULTRY. 



Egg-Harvest Time. Don't neglect the hens at 

 the clnse of winter and opening of spiing of all 

 times in the year. 



Food for Chicks. The best food for chicks is 



coni]i(isc(l nf Cum and Oats ground to^-ether and 

 conki'il in milk, and broken eraekt.T>. snaked in 

 milk, usin^'' one-half of each. This to In- driven iu 

 a rather moist condition, with no drink whatever, 

 for four weeks.— Rural New-Yorker. 



Early Grass. Raisers of early chickens do well 

 to remember that chicks must have grass food 

 wheu 12 to 1.5 days old. If chicks are hatched 

 before grass comes, then it must be raised arti- 

 ficially. A good plan is to sow oats in boxes 

 in the kitchen window or greenhouse. 



Scaly Leg. This is caused by a minute inseet 

 which Iturrows under the scales on thr slmnks of 

 fowls, causing them to enlarge. This mav l)e 

 eured by dipping the shanks of those affected 

 into crude pretroleum, or a mixture of lard and 

 kerosene may be thoroughly rubbed into the 

 scales. Repeat the treatment in ten days, aud 

 the cure will be completed.— Practical Farmer. 



Eggs for Setting. These should not be kept 

 longer than two weeks after laying. If unmo- 

 lested a fowl will lay a nest of eggs, and com- 

 mence setting when the stalest eggs are (jiilj- 

 about a iortnight or three weeks old. Nature 

 mu>" generally be taken as a guide in such things; 

 but the eggs kept for setting should be properly 

 stored, and kept upright, or turned frequently. 

 — English Farm and Home. 



Ducks; the Gardener's Fowl. It Is remarkable 

 how rapidly duck-raising has grown to be an ex- 

 tensive business. It has been found that JJucks 

 are a greater delicacy and far ahead of chickens 

 as broilers. They command as high, if not a 

 higher price, in the mark<^*t than chickens. They 

 can be iial<lied out by incubators the same as 

 chicks, and are raised more eitsily. not being so 

 liable lo riiseasc, require less care, and are ready 

 for market when they arc tw<) months ohl, having 

 twici- tlie Wi'ight oi chickens at the same age. 

 The White Pekins are most in demand because 

 they have no dark-colored feathers, and their 

 flesn is the best-looking when dressed. In etirly 

 market such ducks bring as high as fifty and sixty 

 cents a pound. Next to t\iv White Pekins are the 

 Rouens and the Aylesburys. Ducks average 

 about six pounds in weight. The best liMid is 

 brewers' grains. They are great caters. A poul- 

 try producer, at South Ea-ston, Mass., raises the 

 Pekin, but thinks a cross lietwcen that breed and 

 the Aylesbury superior to either. His a<bdt 

 ducks are allowed a large trough, through which 

 fresh water ctmstantly tiows, for bathing pur- 

 poses. The number of eggs laid last year was 

 I4tl from each duck, they beginning to lay when 

 five months old. The eggs were hatclied in in- 

 cul)ators.— N. Y. Telegram. 



TTiis being the People's Paper, it in open to all their 

 Inqufn'eH benHna <»n gardening. Cor re upon dents are 

 urbfft tn nnfiripntfi the sennon in presenting f/uestiona. To 

 asfc/nr in Htttinw, on April If* ur 20 whot Pea» had best be 

 sown, cintlii fiririii no ariHtrer in the Mnu isnuf. and none 

 before June, itihm the answfr irinild b<- iniseanonable. 

 Qnestiotift rri-eivrdbr/orr the VHh '>fniiy nmnth Htandngond 

 chance of being anstrerpd in the ve.rt paper Not more than 

 three qiiettt ions should he sent at nne timr lnqnirfen ap- 

 pearing without name bebmg in the name next following. 



ReplifH tn Intjuirien are eamextlu requested from our 

 readfra. hi answering such give the number, your 

 localitii and name, the latter not fnr publication, unle»a 

 you desire, if'rite only on one side of the ptiper. 



Till. Golden- leaved Syringa. Can you tell me 

 about this hardy shruli aud where It run lie bought? 



613. China Tree. What treatment must the so- 

 called China Tree have, and Is It hardv hi the North "» 

 I think it is a Te.vas tree. -Mies. E. A. B.. JCrie Co., N. Y. 



iiI3. Peach Culture- Varying Results. WLshlng to 

 plant imt Peach trees. I am )iuzzled a.s to how to pro- 

 ceed, owhiK Ui my past experience on a smaller scale. 

 ConceruiUK this I will say that of tt-n Peach trees 

 planted in IK.'^'J. six on the hrnw of a south, rn sumiv 

 slope, four at the l.as.-nf the slope, ail on land thai had 

 formerly been a truck Kardcu. and all l.-Ivch sine- phnit 

 ing the same culture, fertilizers, etc.. the furnni' have 

 giown perfectly, beeu free of liorers. hut have Iwrnc no 

 fruit; the other four have been continuously treated 

 for borers, the growth has been Kood aud the crop im- 

 mense. What conclusion am I to draw '/—Subscriber. 



6U. Wasps and Bees. What means cau I employ 

 to save my early fruit from these. 



615. Pruning the Peach. Must I cut away one-half 

 of all the first year's growth no matter what length it 

 may be, and when must thia be done; iu other words 

 what time iu the spring? 



616. Varieties of Peach. Please give names of suit- * 

 able varieties to plant, time of ripening, etc.- T. R. W. 



617. Grafting Several Sorts on the Same Tree. 

 Having but limited space In my garden I would like to 

 increase the number of varieties of Pears and Apples 

 in this way. Trees are not yet in bearing. Would this 

 be satisfactory In the long run?— Scburban. 



618. Achimene Culture. Please give particulars In 

 regard to culture <>t Achimenes; soil, location, time to 

 start bull)s, etc.— S. A. S., Independence, Mo. 



619. Growing Early Tomatoes. I wi-iih someone 

 would give us a praetleal method of growing early To- 

 matoes.— A. M. N.. (iranviUc, Ohio. 



62e. Heating Small Fit. My pit is eight feet by 

 twelve feet, and six feet high in center, with walk 22 

 Inches wide, excavated between solid walls of soil, 

 which serve as benches. Have tried lami>s. but they 

 are apt to get too high, and once or twice I have founh 

 the place nearly black with lamp fumes. Sometimes 

 too from lack of Oxygen tlie lamps burn poorly. What 

 can you recommend?— T. H. J.. Natick; 3Iass. 



621. Sprouts for Stocks. Will Pear sprouts do to 

 bud or graft on? 



622. Pears on Light Soil. I have a flue piece of 

 very tine sand loam almost like molding sand. Will 

 Pears do. or what kind would be the best? Peaches are 

 very uncertain iu our cliniatt?. 



623. How Many Seedlings. How many plants 

 will 4l> pounds of Peach pits produce?~J. H., Oregon. 



624. Dog Nuisance. In this neighborhood dogs 

 cause great annoyance and damage In racing over mv 

 gardens. What can I do to protect myself? 



625. Fertilizer for Potatoes. Will commercial fer- 

 tilizers injure the Potato If dropped upon the seed ? 



fi26. Wire for Pea Trellis. Do you consider No. au 

 wire heavy enough to train Peas upon.— A. R. Smith. 



627. Grape Queries, (a) Of Ives and Champion 

 which turns black .so as to be marketable first, and 

 about how many days is the leader iu advance of the 

 Concord? (l>) Which of the three varieties named Is the 

 hardiest and most jtroductive? (<•) About how much 

 earlier are Grapes tliat are K'rown on a south hill side 

 than tliose on level ground?— H. B. Cuyahoga Co.,Ohio. 



62S. Pine Spines and Strawberries. Are Fine 

 spines, or straw as we call tliem here. Injurious as a 

 mulch to strawljerrles to he jmt on in the fall and left 

 until fruiting. My own experience has seemed to he 

 variable, and I would like to hear fiom others.— SuB- 

 SCRIBKU, Benton, Arkansas. 



621*. Cloth Cover for Cabbaye Plant Raising. I In- 

 tend to build a greenhouse for raising Cabbage, using 

 oiled cloth for a ct)ver If It will auswer. How prepare 

 the cloth, what quality Is best ?— .T. (J. K.. Buvkncrs, Ky. 



6:?0. Amaryllis from Seed. How long will it take 

 the plants to bloom from seed. Should they he kept 

 growing all the time?— M. E. (i., Ta)S Qntos, C'nl. 



631. Raspberries for Fertilizing. Will Turner or 

 Mar)ji>r(» auswer to set In alternate rows foi* fertilizing 

 Crimson Beauty? If so. which sort is best, aud in what 

 proi)ortiou to he used? 



6;?2. Curculio. When to Poison. In spraying Plums. 

 Apples and Peaches, should It Ije done as soon as the 

 blossoms tiegin U> fall, or when? 



(>ii. Insect Poison Proportions. Please give the 

 proper pri)p<}rtlniis of London Purple and water to 

 use. Last \ car 1 got In too much purple and klllc<l 

 both leaves an<l I'ea<*hes.— Wm. II. (.'omk. 



6.S^1. Fruit Growing in Pennsylvania. («( 1 have a 

 piece of lan<i slojdug .southwest that 1 would like to de- 

 vote to fruit. Can someone tell what kinds would be 

 likely to i)ay best, ib) Wliich are the earliest firapes 

 suitable l^or market ?— F. S., Hawlcu, Wayne Co., Fa. 



(vi.5. Potato Seed. («) Where cau I get Potato-ball 

 seed for propagating new varieties? (6) What Is the 

 proper time to plant them.— W.. Sharon, Wis. 



