1 888. 



POPOLAR GARDENING. 



179 



the bulbs may mature properly. When ripened store 

 away until planUnK time In the fall. 



Edgings. Keep these tidy by using an edging knife 

 on them several times during the season. 



Evergreens may Ktlll he moved. Be sure under all 

 circumstanoes t^i keep the roots from drying. 



Ferns to be planted early in shady or partially shady 

 sp<its; the soil to be rather light ami drained. Our 

 native hardy Ferns are among the most ornamental 

 and easily managed <»f hardy plants. A little care to 

 water them In dry seasons, and giving them a little pro 

 leetion during the winter, withanoeeaslonal top-dress- 

 ing of manure, will make them permanent features. 



Gladiolus do well in almost any kind of soli. Plant 

 the l»un»s at least three Inches deep. 



Lilies. Greenfly siunetlmes trouble these in beds, to 

 prevent whleh mulch with wet tobacco stems two or 

 three inches thick. 



Morning Glories are very attractive, and useful for 

 hiding unsightly oh.lects. Sow of the best seed. 



Perennials. Even If well started, the plants of most 

 kinds can be transplanted If done carefully. 



Phloxes of the hardy section are. in the Improved 

 sort.s. among the very best border plants. Fordoing 

 their best, strong stools should be reduced to a few 

 leaders, and these be supported by stakes. 



Plans for the summer flower beds should alltje in 

 readiness liefore the day of planting. 



Planting Out. This work is in order for the hardier 

 kinds, such as Verbenas. Carnations, Storks, etc, 

 which may, excepting in the North, go out at any time 

 now— the earlier the better. Do not hurry out the ten- 

 der plants, like Coleus, Alternaiitheras. Tuberoses, etc.. 

 before warm weather is surely here. We have more 

 than once seen .Iunc-]jlanted tender sorts get way 

 ahead of the same kinds .set out In May. 



Weeds. No good gardener will let them get ahead. 



PLANT CULTURE UNDER CLASS. 



Achimenes. Shade the plants lightly, keep in goiHl 

 temperature, moist atmosphere and plenty of air. 



Asters are very suitable a.s pot plants. Do not allow 

 them to become pot-bound. Air and water generously. 

 They need a rich, light, samly soil. 



Balsams. The directions for Asters will apply. 



Camellias that are tlirough growing should have 

 plenty of air and moisture, but less water, than earlier, 

 but which does not mean that they should be stlnteJ. 



Cinerarias. Any particular plants that are specially 

 choice may be propagated by filling the pot almost full 

 with sandy compost, in which the suckers will form 

 r<M)ts. Afterwards divide and pot separately. 



Fuchsias that have flowered during the past winter 

 should now be brought to a state of partial rest by re- 

 ducing the supply of water. 



Gloxinias. Directions for Achimenes will apply. 



Orchids. The Indian species must now be In their 

 glory, as to thrlftiness, or never. They must be freely 

 supplied with water and moisture in the atmosphere 

 at this time. Such kinds especially a.s the Dendrobi- 

 ums, stauhopeas, Aerides, Saeeolablums, and Vandas, 

 easily receive Injury if this Is neglected. 



Pelargoniums. Provide shade, plenty of air, and 

 coolness as they show flowers. If you would maintain 

 their beauty for a good period. 



Plants of many kluds that are kept in pots through 

 the summer may go outside about the end of the 

 month. Plunge the pots t>f free growers in soil, spent 

 hops. Of other material, to prevent rapid drying out. 

 To set all such on a deep layer of coal ashes or (m flag- 

 ging, to keep angle worms out. is a good precaution. 



Propagation. This Is a good time to get up stock of 

 Begonias, Euphorbias, Justidas, Heliotropes, (Jerani- 

 unis and all other quick-gi'owlng, soft-wood plants for 

 use next winter. 



Shelves. Lyc<:ipodium, Moneyvlne.Othouna, Linaria, 

 Tradescanthia, etc., can, for economy of space at this 

 crowded sea.son, be grown on narrow shelves placed 

 midway from the walk to the l>otlo]n of the stages, as 

 the shade here does not hiudertheir growth materially. 



Specimen Plants. It is well to assist these with 

 liquid manure sometimes. Attention to good forms by 

 stopping the shoots of shrubby and branching sorts Is 

 in order now. In the sea.son of free growth. Kinds 

 that are in flower must have shade. 



Watering needs close attention at this season 

 of rapid growth; plants cannot suffer once, from drying 

 out, without great injury. Wetting the walks and 

 under the stages of the houses will provide favorable 

 moisture, and %vlll discourage that pest, the red spider. 



FRUIT CARDEN AND ORCHARD. 



Berry baskets and crates or other packages u.sed for 

 marketing to be got in readiness liefore the season 

 fairly opens. .\11 crates should be neatly and plainly 

 marked with a stencil plate. 



Blackberries. More suckers will appear than are 

 needed for the next year's plant; all unneeded ones 

 should be cleaned away. Tie up the new shoots when 

 large enough. 



Budded stock requires all the buds, except the one 

 inserted, to be removed as they begin to grow. 



Crooked trees to be helped by Judicious staking. 



Onltivation of all young trees, at least for some 

 years after plautlug. Is a most essential condition of 

 their making vIgoi-ouH growth. By planting hoed crops 

 In and between the rows, it may be done thoroughly 

 and continually with double galn.s. Corn, because of 

 its height, is to be avoided, as Its shade will tend to 

 impair maturity of growth. 



Insects. The Tent Cati^rinlfarv hatrh out early anri 

 should be destroyed as so<»n as ever the nests show. 

 These are readily seen when livened up early in the 

 day by the glistening <lew In the sunshine. With 

 gloved bauds or else with a forked pole gather and 

 destroy every brood that Is in sight. 



Borers should be cut or probed out wherever they 

 are present. This may be known by the sawdust-like 

 castings of the Insects, or by depressions in the hark. 

 Look very sharp for these. 



CMrcM/iowllI commence operations before this numth 

 Is out. By one course at least can they beilestntyed 

 and the crop be secured, and that is a safe and sure 

 one, namely: to jar the Insects from the trees early 

 each morning into sheets spread under the branches. 

 afterwards burning them. 



Aphidfs,or Plant Lice, sometimes appear early on 

 the young leaves; destroy by syringing with the kero- 

 sene emulsion or with tobacco water the color of tea. 



The Currant Caterpillar, or Worm. Early in the 

 spring, a.ssoon as the leaves of the Currant and (Joose- 

 berry have fully put forth, watch for the first Indlca 

 tlons of the hatchings and commencement of the younu 

 larvip. You have only to look for these a.s shown by 

 small holes on the lowest leaves of the bushes near the 

 ground. Sprinkle powdered Hellebore over these 

 leaves, renewiug it if wa.shed away by rain. If the 

 first bro«>d of wonns is destroyed there will be few if 

 any to form a second brood in .lune. 



Raspberries. See directions for Blackberries. 



Strawberries. A dressing ()f fine bone dust or of 

 guano preceding the fruiting is very lielpfui to the crop. 



Thinning fruit is one of the things that amateurs 

 should accustom themselves more to do. Experience 

 Is the best instructor. If you have never done this try 

 at least a small number of plants or trees this year, 

 thinning the fruit of different tme-s In dlflferent degrees, 

 and note the effects. 



THE VEGETABLE GARDEN. 



Beets, for the main crop, should he .sown about Corn 



planting time. We drill ours In lines fifteen inches 



apart. The early sowings should be thinned as needed. 



Carrots. Directions for Beets will apply. 



Celery seed beds should be kept weeded, and the 



plants thinned where standing too thickly. 



encumbers may be grown In vacated frames and 

 hot-beds, planting the seeds or such plants as have 

 been started Inside, giving protection with glass at 

 night for some time to come. 



Dandelion. This favorite early " green " may easily 

 be raised In the garden from seeds sown now. 



Egg Plant. This vegetable delights above all else in 

 heat, requiring a temperature of 7U" to 75**, and to be 

 kept growing, without check, from the first, and not 

 planting out earlier than .June first. tJuard from the 

 Potato bug, which has a great relish for the plant. 



Herbs may be sown early this month, either for 

 transplanting, or where they are to grow. The varie- 

 ties usually sown for market, growing them after early 

 Cabbage Is gone, are Smnmer Savory, Thyme, Sase and 

 Sweet Marjoram. Herbs require a moderately strong 

 soil, with good tillage. 



Hot-beds may be turned to good account later by 

 clearing several spots In each one now, and -sowing 

 Cucumber or Melon seeds to take possession later. 



Lettuce. The early sowings may be dibbled out Into 

 rich soil at 13 to 15 Inches apart for heads. 



Melons, Squashes and the like, being rank feeders, 

 should be planted In manured hills; six feet apart Is a 

 good distance. 



Rhubarb should have the flower stalk broken <mt. 

 Do not take cooking stems from newly-set plants. 



Savoy Cabbage Is by many thought to be superior to 

 the ordinary sorts. Treat like any other Cabbage. 

 The Drumhead Savoy we think Is the best variety, the 

 head being large and solid. 



Sow the more tender things, like Beans, Corn, Cu- 

 cumbers, Melons, Squashes, Tomatoes Martynla, as 

 .soon a-s the ground Is well warmed. Also for succession 

 crops. Lettuce, Radish, Spina<-h, etc. 

 Squashes. See dlreetlr)ns under Melons. 

 Sweet Potatoes. Plant from the latter part of May 

 until July 1st in well prepared narrow ridges three and 

 a half to four feet apart, the slips IS Inches apart. The 

 ridges may be suitably made by first scattering super- 

 phosphate or old well decayed manure alotig the line 

 and afterwards throwing a narrow ridge of soil over 

 this on which to set the plants. Keep clean of weeds 

 until the vines begin to run freely, then hill up. 



Weeds. Keep them down from the first. When small 

 they are easily eradicated; not so after they are stronj;. 



FRUITS AND VEGETABLES UNDER 

 GLASS. 



Cucumbers In frames cannot have too much sun and 

 light. Ventilate with caution, and he prepared against 

 cold nights by plenty of covering. 



Grapery. Vines In cool houses should again be 

 thinned, beluK careful nr>t to handle the berries. Early 

 crops that arc hasteidUK on towards ripening should 

 be kept ratherdry. and with a temperature of 70* with 

 sun heat, or tV'i'^ by night. 



Peaches. When forced fruit begins to soften for 

 ripening, syringing may he almost wholly stopped and 

 water at the roots considerably reduced. As for gath- 

 ering, every Peach should be removed before ripe 

 enough to fall from the tree, placing in shallow boxes, 

 In a dry, airy room, until fit for use. 



Pines will now be In their season of strong growth. 

 Use water freely about the walks, and In wetting down 

 the plunging material. Although the sun now supplies 

 mr)Kt of the heat, the fires cannot l)e got ahmg without; 

 they may Ite kept Iianked much of the time. 



Strawberry plants that liavc l>een forced may be 

 planted out. Soak the lialls, ram the soil hard, mulch 

 with old manure, and water If dry weather prevails. 



POINTS ABOUT POULTRY. 



Combined Wire and Picket Fence. As a iiiouns 

 of excluding- the piuiltry from tlu' llnwor and 

 \('Ketabli' g:indeii, wc have loiind that a low hhIh 

 of this kiiiil of IV-ncintJ:, properly applied, hijs 

 made the (.uiltivatioii <tf flowers on our Iowa farm 

 a source of delljrht. iit^ well as a means of prrace. 

 —The Farmer. 



Cause and Eifect. Have your hens Ix-en layin»r 

 well/' If not, peihaps the cause may be, tis it 

 often is, a want of a variety of food, t'hanjre it 

 a.s of ten us possible; jrive a liberal supply of 

 wheat, and don't forget to add \'ejfet4ibles and 

 meat three times a week to the bill of fare. Give 

 ui) the use nf corn at this time. 



Sulphur for Destroying Insects. A ^ood way 

 is to take an iron vessel with a tiuantity of live 

 coals in it, car^.^' it U* the poultry house, empty a 

 pound jiaekajfe of the tiowers of sulphur on the 

 coals, ^o out and shut the doors and all other 

 opening's. The fumes of sulphur areeijually 

 deadly to all aninuil life, .so that the reK"ular oc- 

 cupants must be previously excluded. 



Glass in Poultry Houses. It is a ettmrnon mis- 

 take to havi' too many windows and to have 

 them tn<t non-h in the upper paitof the buildin^^ 

 The niost-^ should be high, so as to pret as much 

 warratli as iM.ssible. Warm air remains always 

 near the top of a room, anrl for poultry I do not 

 want much ventilation in winter. If tlie window 

 is near the top the outsitle air quickly cools the 

 gUiss, which takes all the warmth from where it 

 is needed. We might remedy this by puttinf? in 

 double frames with air space.s between the 

 glasses.— Philadelphia Press. 



Perches and Rests. Have them so constructed 

 that we can get at and destroy the mites of the 

 wai*m season. The best perch I have tried is simi- 

 lar to a carpenter's saw-bench. The rail should 

 be a 2x4 inch scantling, rounded (m top. Make 

 the legrs of 1x4 inch strips. 2!^ feet lonp:. Bevel 

 the ends that arc fastcncii to the rail so that the 

 lower ends of the legs will be spread 18 inches. 

 For nests use soap btixes cut down to l:-'xl4 inches 

 square, and 10 inches deep. Hang them alonf^ 

 the sides (jf the houses, or else place on a bench 

 raised a little from the floor. This g^vcs the 

 fowls all the floor space.— Ohio Farmer. 



Cramp in Fowls. This disease of joung chicks 

 is chiefl.N' due to dampness. Birds affected show 

 cramp in the feet, and the toes curl up so that 

 they carinnt spread them out. Then the whole 

 leg is all'-ctrd and the.v walk upon their ankles. 

 Apparently they are otherwise in good health. 

 The fii"st sign is a little lameness in walking:, and 

 as soon as this is nnticcfl ihe\ should be remi)ved 

 to a dry boarded floor coven-d with straw, and 

 kept there until better. As a curative, foment 

 the leg^ well with h(!t water, and if the birds arc 

 larf?e enough, put strips of Hannel as bandages 

 around the legs and feet. If this does not speed- 

 ily ctTect a cure, ru!» the legs with turpentine and 

 put near a warm fire at night. The food will 

 need to be good and stimulating. By giving very 

 dry coops and plenty of fine, dry soil or asiies in 

 the houses and sheds, much can be dtme to pre- 

 vent the disease.— American (^ultivator. 



Cheap Poultry Food. The following ration 

 recommended by the Farmers' Magazine com- 

 bines meat and veget^ibles at a small e.xpense. 

 Take a piece of liver, rough beef, or even blood, 

 (about a pound), and boil it well in half a gallon 

 of water, adding half a pint <»f soaked beans, the 

 same of rice, and the same of linseed meal. 

 When the whole is t'ooked, add a bit of salt and 

 thicken to stiff d(»ugh, with two (larfs ground 

 oats, one part bran, one part middhngs, and one 

 of corn-meal. If it burns a little no harm will 

 be done. Curds, buttermilk, or milk in an.v other 

 shape ma,v also be used. When boiling, add a 

 t^'iuspoonful of bread soda to the water. This 

 food nniy be <*ookcd in the shape of cakes, 

 atui crumbled for the fowls, and fed soft. .lust 

 before adding the ground grain, chopped clover 

 nuiy be placed in the boiler also. Anotherground 

 nn'ss is to chop clover very fine and steeji over 

 niirht in boiling water. In the morning let the 

 « atrr com<' to a boil and add a quart of fresh 

 bulUfck's blood to each gallon of water, thicken 

 with mixed ground grain as before, and feed. 

 (^ondiments, such as red pepjier, ginger, etc., 

 should be fed sparingly. All soft food sliould be 

 slightly salted, as salt is essential to poultry. 

 Always provide plenty of clean drinking water. 



