226 



POPULAR GARDENING. 



July. 



of water will make a solution that will rapidly 

 act on broken bones when boiled with them. 

 When the bones are well softened and brittle 

 the whole mass may be mixed with eight or ten 

 times its volume of dry muck, or turfy mould, 

 and thoroughly mixed, when a valuable manure 

 will be secured. The potash of wood ashes, 

 moreover, is more valuable as manure than soda. 

 —Dr. Kedzie, Michigan Agricultural College. 



Window Plants. Drainage is necessary for 

 success in the growing of plants in window 

 boxes as well as every place else; therefore see 

 that a sufficient number of holes are made in the 

 bottom of the box to allow the water to pass off 

 freely, and before putting in the soil place a 

 piece of potsherd, or something similar, over each 

 hole, then some coarse material for about two 

 inches; above this place the soil— which may be 

 any rich, sandy soil having considerable leaf- 

 mold mixed through it. It requires to be rich 

 in plant food, as the plants have to get their main 

 supply of food from it for the whole season. 

 Where there are windows ha\'ing different ex- 

 posures, a good variety of plants can be em- 

 ployed. As for those having a southern exposure, 

 plants requiring a sunny position can be used; 

 while in such as have a northern aspect, plants 

 re*iuiring shade can be used. A window-box, if 

 not well filled with plants, has not much beauty 

 in it, nor is a box filled with unhealthy plants 

 very attractive.— Country Gentleman. 



Care of Grafts, Even before grafts open their 

 buds there will be found other shoots issuing 

 from the stock below the giaft. The rising sap 

 enters these channels more readily than in the 

 somewhat dried-up cells of the graft, with the 

 line of separation left by the knife to be bridged 

 over; and if the volunteer channels are not sup- 

 pressed or reduced in time the graft may starve. 

 Usually, however, if in good sound C(mdition and 

 well set, it gets some share of the sap, its buds 

 t»pen. and its amount of growth depends largely 

 im its being protected from its greedy competi- 

 tors. In order to secure its full growth and the 

 proper ripening of its wood, the wild shoots 

 should be rubbed off as soon as they first show 

 themselves and before they are in leaf. To let 

 them grow to some length and then suddenly 

 break them off is injurious.— New York Tribune. 

 Melons. The seeds should be soaked for three 

 days before planting, in a solution of chloride of 

 lime. Kolling land with southern exposure is 

 l.)cst adai)ted to their growth. Thoroughly rotted 

 hog manure, incorporated with the soil and leaf 

 riold, or composted earth, for the hills, wliich 

 should be two feet in diameter and eight feet 

 apart, and when finished only level with the sur- 

 face of the earth. When the plants come up, 

 and before they run, the land should be thor- 

 oughly cultivated and worked, and later the 

 weeds pulled up.— Farmers' Home Journal. 



Tree Agents. Despite all their failures and 

 short comings they ha\'e been a blessing. They 

 have traversed the width and breadth of the 

 land, and all over the country may be seen the 

 outcome of their hiboi-s in the blooming orchards, 

 beautiful front yards, luxuriant small fruit gar- 

 dens, and bright i-osy cheeks of the rising genera- 

 tion. The fruit tree agent has been one of the 

 most important factors in the development of 

 lutrticulture and deserves the respect and grati- 

 tude of every man, woman and child in America. 

 — lOImiia Husbandman. 



Insect Friends. California fruit growers have 

 recently imported some Australian parasites 

 warranted to kill fruit pests. These little bugs, 

 no larger than flciis, feeil on insect pests and rap- 

 idly destroy them. Cimgress will be asked to 

 sanction the imi)ortation of these parasites, in 

 order to clear California orchards of various in- 

 sect pests that are increasing every year- Amer- 

 ican Cultivator. 



Disposing of the Tap Eoot. Dr. IJowen years 

 ago in experiments in phintlng the nuts and seeds 

 of our native forest trees learned that if a board 

 be placed in the bottom of the trench in which 

 the seeds are plant(Ml, the would-be tiii)-root wiU 

 be turned from its downward course and will be- 

 come more fibrous, making a better tree to trans- 

 phirit. — New England Farmer. 



Early and Late Corn Together. Abner Hol- 

 lingsworth plants early and late varieties of 

 Sweet Corn in alternate hills. The early sort 

 dof!s not take much room, and is out of the way 

 when the later kind begins to develop and needs 

 all the sjiace.- FaiTU Journal. 



Transplanting the Arbutus, I have transplanted it 

 In early spring just after the llowerlnK is nvermany 

 times with success. A trowel or spade Is run down 



well around the plant, so that a good ball of earth 

 comes with It. Sturdy, small, bushy plants are the 

 be-st. Of course, a shady place should be selected for 

 it. I once set a plant among some rocks in a hollow, 

 shaded by trees; another time at the foot of a small 

 hillock facing north, In both of which situations it 

 flourished.— Meehan In Garden and Forest. 



A Pretty Device. One of the prettiest hanging bas- 

 kets I ever saw was made by rolling a big bunch of 

 Sphagnum Into a ball. It was then wrapped with fine 

 copper wire, one end of which was left long to hang it 

 by. By means of sharp-pointed sticks cuttings of 

 Tradescantia zebrina were Inserted all over the ball. 

 It was well soaked in water and hung in a shaded green- 

 house. In a few weeks the ball was entirely hidden, 

 and the effect was very pretty.— American Oarden. 



It Will Pay. It takes nerve to spend time and 

 money to set trees and shrubs about the house, put a 

 neat fence around the yard, and paint the farm build- 

 ings, but it makes home more beautiful, the family 

 happier, and greatly enhances values.- The Farmer. 



Beans and Bugs. For keeping the striped bugs off 

 Melon vines plant three or four Beans in each hill, and 

 pull them up when the vines get too large for the bugs. 

 —Farm and Fireside. 



There isn't wisdom enough, put it all together, to 

 tell what makes one Apple sweet and the next one 

 sour.— The Century. 



Encouarge the Boys to it. Ownership of a garden 

 promotes temperance, as idleness supports the saloon. 

 — N. E. Farmer. 



Toads are the policemen of the garden.— Orchard 

 and Garden. 



More Grapes, more health.— Phila. Record. 



Vegetable Products on the Table 



Fried Cucumbers. Si)iee, sprinkle with salt 

 and pei>per, dip in egg, then in cracker-dust; fry 

 brown. 



Berry Dumpling. One (luart of berries, two 

 eups of Hour, one egg lieaten very light, a little 

 salt, and milk enough to wet it up well. Pour 

 into a buttered dish and boil two hours. 



How to Can Pie Plant. Strip off the skin from 

 the stalks and cut up in small pieces as for st(_iw- 

 ing. Pack the can as full of these pieces as pos- 

 sible, and fill it with cold water. Screw on the 

 cover and it will keep a year.— S. C. Fairbanks. 



Lettuce Salad, Two or three heads of Lettuce, 

 yolks of two hard-boiled eggs, one lemon, one 

 tablespoon salad oil, one tablespoon grated horse- 

 radish, one tablespoon sugar. Arrange the Let- 

 tuce loosely in a dish. Hub the yolk of the egg 

 smooth in the juice of the lemon, add the other 

 ingredients, mix well, and pour over the Lettuce 

 just before serving. 



To Cook Green Peas. This vegetable i8so often 

 injured in cooking that we add a few hints to 

 young housekeepers. Use as little water as pos- 

 sible in cooking, only enough to prevent their 

 burning. Cook from twenty minutes to half an 

 hour according to the size of the Peas; Peas that 

 require to be cooked for an hour, or re(iuire 

 sugar or soda to make them tender, arc too old 

 for the tiible. Salt Peas and all vegetables when 

 half done, not at first, as salt hardens the water 

 and hinders the process of cooking. 



Artichokes. Pare and wash about two pounds 

 of Artichokes, taking care not to touch thera 

 with a steel knife or fork in paring or washing, 

 or they will turn black; boil until soft, about 

 twenty minutes is sufficient. They should be 

 well covered with water or they will turn black. 

 When they are soft, pouroff the water, and mash 

 them with a little milk or cream. Take a small 

 pie dish or basin, and put a layer of the Arti- 

 chokes, then a layer of the brcad-erumbs, a little 

 butter, and pepper an<l salt, and go on till the 

 dish is full. Put into the oven, and bake about 

 three-tiuarters of an hour. 



Fruit Compote. In making one, of whatever 

 sort of fruit, the idea is always the same. The 

 syrupshould be madefirstof v/hite refined sugar 

 and water, and when this is clear and thick, the 

 fruit, already picked, should be put in gradually, 

 and simmered gently until it is soft, without 

 being broken. The time required will depend of 

 course, upon the nature of the fruit; the soft 

 sorts, as red Currants or Strawberries, needing 

 only a few minutes, the harder sorts re<juiring a 

 longer time. So, also, the (luantity of sugar to be 

 used varies, very acid fruit needing, of course, 

 more sugar than does sweet fruit. In all cases, 

 however, care must be taken not to put in too 

 much sugar. The charm of a compote of fruit 

 is that the natural flavor of the fruit is retained 

 in it, and when o\er much sugar is used, there is 

 onl>' a general lusciousness and no refreshing 

 flavor. It must, also be remembered, that 

 whilst it is very important that refined sugars 



shouhl be employed, it is more likely that the 

 syrup will be clear and bright if the sugar be in 

 small lumps rather than in powder. When the 

 fruit has been simmered softly in thesyruptill it 

 is tender, it should be lifted out gently with a 

 spoon, and placed in a glass dish. The syrup 

 should then be boiled very quickly again until 

 it is thick, and allowed to cool, when it may be 

 poured over the fruit.— English Source. 



HOUSE PLANTS. 



Abutilons or Flowering Maples In pots should now 

 be encouraged by repotting as they will bear, to make 

 strong growth for sustaining winter flowering. Prune 

 freely to promote shapeliness. 



Agapanthus Plants need plenty of water while 

 flowering, being by nature sub-aquatic. 



Bouvardias. Plants designed for winter bloom to 

 be kept cut back closely for the present. 



Cactuses during their flowering and growing period 

 are not apt to be given too nmch water. 



Cyclamens for flowering next year and later should 

 have the seed sown during the present month. 



Fuchsias succeed well as bedding plants in situations 

 sheltered from heavy winds and bright sunshine. 

 Those that have recently commenced blooming are 

 good for this purpose. They require a light, rich soil. 

 The red spider, Its chief enemy, should be kept down 

 by frequent syringing or sprinkling of the foliage. To 

 plant out in the North by June 1st Is early enough. 



Geraniums. Where plenty of winter flowers are 

 wanted, the plants should be grown In pots during the 

 summer; also, keep the flower buds closely nipped out. 

 The Rose species and most other sorts can be brought 

 along finely for house decoration later, by lifting some 

 from the border some time this month and potting. 

 Pinch back the main shoots a little at the same time. 



Hydrangeas in bloom are benefited by an occasional 

 dose of manure water. Young plants, in their first 

 year especially, like partial shade in the summer. 



Insects. As to these, one should put prevention be- 

 fore cure. Aid plant health by proper watering, 

 cleansing the foliage, removing dead leaves and ma- 

 tured flowers, and repotting as needed, and insects 

 will not trouble much. As stragglers appear, apply 

 the thumb nail. 



Lantanas embody a number of good qualities as 

 pot-plants. They may easily be grown as standards, 

 with a trunk three or more feet high, by keeping all 

 side shoots down during the season of growth, and un- 

 til a desirable height is reached. 



Mignonette Seed, if not yet started for winter 

 plants, nmst now go in. See under " Conservatory." 



Oxalis rosea and other varieties should receive less 

 water than when they were flowering freely. 



Pomegranate. As this plant's season of bloom Is near 

 at hand, better encourage strong growth by mild ap- 

 plications of manure and water. 

 Primroses. See directions given for Calceolarias. 

 Primroses, Double Chinese. The treatment now 

 needed Is merely that they be kept In a cool, shady 

 place, and water as required, that Is, sparingly. 



Stake Fuchsias, Coba'a.s and other plants now making 

 a rapid growth j^romptly as needed. 



Vallotas now begin to bloom. While this is going 

 on they should be kept constantly well watered. 



Watering cannot now be neglected once without 

 serious results. The best time of the day to water In 

 the summer Is towards night. Then the plants have 

 moisture and coolness until morning. But if plants 

 happen to be dry in the morning, don't wait for even- 

 ing but water Immediately. 



Window and Veranda Boxes. These now require 

 much wat«r. Enough must be given each time It is 

 needed to soak the mass of earth to Its very center. 

 Many suffer extremely because this is not done, the 

 attendant .judging that because the surface Is wet there 

 is water enciugh. 



Winter-flowering plants, such as Begonias, Chrys- 

 anthemums, Carnations, Polusettias, Hclitropes, Roses 

 and Myosotls, ought now to be growing rapidly, and 

 will require pinching back every few weeks to pro- 

 mote stocky forms. Such as are In pots should be 

 shifted into pots one size larger as soon as the roots 

 mat about the ball of earth. 



LAWN AND FLOWER GARDEN. 



Annual flowers now come In. It is a mistake to al- 

 low the plants to become crowded. Thinned out prop- 

 erly, and many kinds that often appear no better than 

 weeds develop Into handsome plants. 



Asters are gross feeders. If this fact was not duly 

 appreciated when the beds were made, they may still 

 be helped by liquid manuring or a manure mulch. 



