[888. 



POPULAR GARDENING. 



227 



Balsams should be pruned of many of the younn 

 shoots that now appear; train to one, three or more 

 main shoots unci their appearance will be improved. 



Candytuft, if sown during this month In frames, will 

 pr<niuee heavy erops of blooms just after the open air 

 yield is eut off by frosts. 



Carpet beds are now in full dress, aud to keep such 

 a.s are very thickly set to plants in the best appearance 

 throUKh the hot weather they need a thorouRh water- 

 ing once a week, and all useless flowers, as well as un- 

 healthy leaves and weeds, should be removed as often. 

 Some of the plants will ueed trimming also, t<i regulate 

 shape. 



Climbers now push ahead rapidly, and should be 

 amply furnished with supports for the young shoots, 

 aud have the jjrowth regulated. 



Dahlias that produce many side shoots are beueflted 

 by having some of these eut out. 



Layering Is a means of propagation that every ama- 

 teur ought to be familiar with. By it about all flne 

 slirubs aud iilauts can easily be increase<l. while many 

 cannot be propagated in any other way. In the opera- 

 tion a depression is made in the earth at one sMe of the 

 ■plant In which to bend a vigorous shoot. This shoot 

 should have a uott'h cut in from the top, oue-third of 

 the way through at the lowest point of the bend. Bend 

 it tlown aud cover fli-mly with mellow earth. In about 

 two mouths there ought to be good roots. 



Pansies. How now for early spring forcing. 



Perennials, Hardy. If It is desirable to Increase 

 such kinds a.s ripeu their seeds this month the seed 

 may be sown as soon as ripe. Those that are through 

 llowering sliould have their flower stalks cut away 

 soon after fur the sake of neatness. 



Rhododendrons. Remove seed pods aud sprouts. 



Roses to be gone over once a week for keeping down 

 strong shoots and cutting oflf bad flowers. 



Staking and tying up are important operations t<) 

 keeping a liandsome garden. Strong-growing, top- 

 heavy plants like Dahlias. Gladiolus and Salvias abso- 

 lutely demand it ft>r the best results. Large single 

 specimen plants, such as Hydrangeas, Cierauiums, etc., 

 may be staked so neatly, by lowering the t^>p of the 

 stake down into the plant, that these will not show 

 and yet obviate all danger from breaking oIT or bend- 

 ing over by st()rms. 



Sweet Williams and other biennials .should be sown 

 fur next year's blooming. 



Trees that were planted in the spring often suffer 

 from drought in the summer. A mulch of hay, litter or 

 stones over the roots Is good treatment to prevent this, 

 and better than excessive watering. 



Variegated trees or shrubs, or those with cut or 

 other "fancy " foims of leaves which may show signs 

 of a ciuTimon tyi>e of foliage should have the shoots on 

 which these appear cut out, or the futui-e value will be 

 in danger. 



Walks should, above all else, be kept clear of weeds 

 aud litter. Keep the edges tidy. Roll after heavy 

 rains. To sprinkle them in hot weather tends to the 

 making of a cool garden. 



Watering flowerbeds may do when owing to drought 

 it is really necessary, but not otherwise. If the plants 

 stanil clijsely this may be necessary, when with more 

 space it would not be. If watering is to be done, let 

 this l)e very freely at the time, calculating on not soon 

 repeating the job. It is a fact that many summer 

 flower beds are injured by over-watering. 



Weeds and Weeding. A good gardener suffers little 

 from weeds: he tills the soil of the borders and beds so 

 often and so well that the weeds hardly exist at all. 

 In earing for our borders, aside from using the narrow 

 rake and hoe combined, referred to last nu>nth. we 

 find no other t^K)l so useful for stirring the soil artiund 

 and under plants as the weeding hcK^k (one was figured 

 on page iw .June issue). By stirring the surface of tlie 

 iieds after each shower, taking out the few small weeds 

 that may sIkiw up, it becomes a pleasui-e to care for 

 the beds completely. 



PLANT CULTURE UNDER GLASS. 



Camellias. Tlie buds of nest winter's flowers have 

 now been formed, and any bad treatment to the plants 

 may cause these to drop before opening, as explained 

 last month. Keep the Camellia apartment cool by 

 shading, sprinkling and free airing. Water regularly 

 and syringe the plants at least three times a week. 

 Some growers put the red-flowering kind outdoors In 

 a shady place, and then spread the whites over all the 

 space under glass. 



Chrysanthemums in pots may have their flnal shift. 

 Sprinkle often from overhead. The stronger and nn»re 

 vigorous the plants are the greater the amount of su.s- 

 tenauce that they will require In the sliape of watering. 

 Now that the pots should be getting fairly full of roots 

 they are best plungeil in ashes, as then the temperature 

 of the ro()ts is more eciuable. and they are less likely t4( 

 sutTer through want of water. 



Cinerarias and Calceolarias. Prick out the .seedlings 

 as soon as they can i)e handled, into pots or pans, plac- 

 ing these In frames under shaded sash. Admit air aud 

 water as rcMUired. 



Cyclamens. See brief note under House Plants. 



Euphorbias. If spring-struck cuttings are now In fi 

 or 7 inch pots these will be large enough even for three 

 or four plants. The fact is thai if this plant Is assisted 

 as it should be with manure water, with concentrated 



manure sprinkled on the soil, it will do bettor and 

 bloom more profusely than If large pots are given, as 

 it is a spare rooting suliject. It does not like much pot 

 room, but will bear an unusual amount of high feeding. 

 The plants are better not stopped, keeping the heads 

 always near the glass In a warm house. 



Ferns. It must be seen to that large growing kinds 

 in the Fern-house do uoi too much crowd or over- 

 •shadow the smaller kinds. Tree Ferns, if much en- 

 couraged through giving them ample root-space often 

 soon get so large as to be useless. It Is better to have 

 rather small pots or boxes, giving some liquid manure. 



Mignonette for winter blooming is usually not grown 

 early enough. The seeds should go In during June or 

 early July, sowing directly into small pots, three or 

 four seeds in each, the seedlingsthen later to be thinned 

 down to one. The young plants should from the first 

 be protected from the Cabbage worm butterfly with 

 mosquito netting. 



Orchids should uow be provided with a free circula- 

 tion of air to ripen the spring growth. Use as little 

 shading as possible, and keep the air moist by water- 

 ing the paths and stages In the afternoon, after which 

 shut up for the night. 



Poinsettias. Where irery large heads of these plants 

 are wanted, spring-struck plants should be kept on 

 growing In heat. Older stock will do cooler; but both 

 should be kept with their heads close to the roof. 

 Seven-inch pots will do for this year's plants, If they 

 are well supplied with manure. 



Potted plants of Heliotrope, .Sweet Alyssum, Begon- 

 ias, and like kinds, designed for winter flowers, should 

 be shifted promptly on, as required. 



Roses for winter flowers, that are bedded out under 

 glass should now be at rest, receiving only enough 

 water to not allow entire dryness of the soil. 



FRUIT GARDEN AND ORCHARD. 



Aphis or Lice yield to kerosene emulsion or soap- 

 suds if ai)plit'd with force, repeating the operation as 

 needed. 



Currants. Where there are but few bushes the birds 

 are sometimes troublesome. Mischief by them Is easily 

 prevented by throwing netting over the plants. An 

 old article past use at the windows will answer here. 



Layering of Currants, Gooseberries, Grapes, etc., 

 may now be done. See under "Lawn and Flower 

 Garden." 



Liquid Manuring. If the soil about trees and plants 

 is somewhat poor, applications of liquid manure to the 

 roots will help the crop greatly. 



Mildew on Grapes may be eradicated by the use of 

 powdered sulphur, applied with a bellows, or even 

 thi'own in fine clouds with the hand when the leaves 

 are wet. This needs pnmipt attention; mildewed vines 

 do not ripen their fruit well. 



Mulching. Many have yet to learn the great value 

 of summer mulching in certain eases. There are in- 

 stances where it will Induce a stronger growth than a 

 coatof manure would. Very helpful to newly-set trees, 

 the stoue fruits, aud to Currants and Gooseberries. 



Pruning. The best pruning Is that which rarely, if 

 ever, calls for the removal of a large branch. As shoots 

 start up, pinch them away where no branches are 

 wanted, and leave others where desirable. The latter 

 will grow the faster for the absence of the former. 



Slugs on Cherry. Pear and other trees to be destroyed 

 by dusting with dry ashes, lime, or earth. 



Strawberries. Where new plantations are to be 

 made a great gain eomes from layering the young 

 plants, which form at this seascm, iuto pots, or (m 

 pieces of inverted turf four inches square, set iuto the 

 groimd. The plants, by either course, may then be set 

 out in August, and will give a good crop ne.\t year. 



Thinning. It dui-s pay to thin fruit. The work is 

 something, but that is about saved In the latter ()pera- 

 tionsof picking and sorting, while thinned fruit always 

 commands high prices. In Peaches the rule is t<:> leave 

 never more than two Peaches on a shoot six inches 

 long, white one would be better, or three on a limh a 

 foot long. Pears and Apples usually are allowed (me 

 apiece to nine spurs. In no tree should fruit clust^'rs 

 be allowed 1o remain unthinned. Leave the spaces 

 throughout the tree as evenly divided as possible. 

 Grapes are also beueflted by thinning. Even thinning 

 on the bunch of such compact-growing kinds as the 

 Delaware and Diana Is a good plan, removing about 

 one-fourth the berries. 



Wasps often injure flne specimens of fruit. This 

 may be prevented by Inclosing in gauze bags. 



THE VEGETABLE GARDEN. 



Bush Beans for a late crop may be sown. a.s they 

 grow quickly now; a rich, deep soil for tender pods. 



Celery. Crlspness Is promoted by the use of good 

 manure. The soil can hardly be too rich, alid free 

 watering is also very beneflelal. Planting for the main 

 crop should now be done. 



Cucumbers for pickles planted early this ntonth 

 usually J" well. '>ut It must be early or not at all. 



Herbs. A little before these come intf> full Woom 

 cut, tie into small tmnches and dry in shade. 



Lima Beans now push ahead rapidly; let them be 

 tied to the poles as they netni. Bearing commences In 

 good earnest only when the tops of the poles are reached 

 hence these must not be too high; eight feet Is enough. 



Melons making a strong growth should be stopped 

 at <me Joint past the last fruit about the end of the 

 month, to favor maturing of all the fruit set. 



Radishes for use during winter may be sown. 



Rhubarb .should rest <iuring fruit time. 



Seed saving Is an lmi>ortant matter. Let the earliest 

 and best specimens be spaied for this purpose, mark- 

 ing them to Insure their preservatUm. 



Seed sowing of such things asSweet Corn, Kohhrabl, 

 Lettuce and Turnips, besides the kinds named under 

 the special heads, is ye! in order. 



Slugs sometimes prove <|Ulte Injurious to late planted 

 Cabbage: they can be kept oft by putting a hamiful or 

 two of coal ashes around the stem. 



Tomatoes do better stakeil or trained on a trelllse 

 than when spreading over the earth, the fruit l)elng 

 more abundant, finer l(K)klng and of better flavor. A 

 single stake will answer, but any simple trelllse that 

 will admit of spreading the vines is better. 



Turnips should be sown during the month. 



Weeds. There Is no time like a dry spell for killing 

 weeds. The roots l)rought up now and they will dry 

 and die. which cannot be said of most of them wheu 

 wetness prevails. 



FRUITS AND VEGETABLES UNDER 

 GLASS. 



Grapery. Give an aliundance of air to all vines uix)n 

 which the Grapes begin to color. The vines should be 

 looked over and have all laterals stopped; late ones 

 may be fertilized with manure water. Those late 

 kinds that it Is intemled shall hang on the vines until 

 Christmas will be improved for having the scissors 

 passed over them to remove all Imperfectly fertilized 

 berries. Vines in early and mld-.season houses need 

 thorough cleansing as they are eleaied of fruit, as the 

 perfect development of ne.xt year's fruiting buds de- 

 pends upon having clean, lieaithy foliage. 



Strawberries. Young plants must now be started in 

 pots for next wintei's crop. Fill as many three-Inch 

 pots as it is desired to have plants for forcing and sink 

 them to the rim along the rows of stock plants. The 

 earlier this Is done after the layers start the better, for 

 the stronger the forcing plants are by winter the t>etler. 

 The layers will need directing to the pots, and can be 

 kept in place by a layer hook, stone, or clod of earth. 

 By keeping the pots well watered they will be rooted 

 in about three weeks. After this place in the shade 

 until the pots are full of roots, when they shoifld be 

 shifted into six-lneh pots. Pot rather flrmly Into good 

 fibrous earth afterw.-irds, standing the pots in an open, 

 airy place, and giving them all the water they need. 



Tomatoes are not difticult to force for winter fruit 

 In a temperature of HK. Seed sown earl>' In this month 

 can be had to fruit in November. The plants should 

 be brought along in pots, starting the seeds In the 

 three-inch size and l»rlnging them up to the lO-inch or 

 12-luch size for fruiting. A light, flbrous soil should be 

 used, aud if a six-inch potful of bone-meal be mixed 

 Intoevery bushel of soil the plants will be delighted. 

 They cannot bear a sour, stiff soil. 



THE POULTRY YARD. 



Wire runs for iiuultry are li^ht. p<irtabk', dur- 

 iible, easily madf. ;in<I shnw poultry to tlu- Ix-st 

 advanta(.re. Unjrsraniiot jret iiit<i tliein, and they 

 arc not much nmrr c.xin-nsive than lath runs. 



Coop Guard. The best thin^ to put in front of 

 chicken coops at nit,^ht in hot weather is a front 

 made of slats of common laths about half an inch 

 apart, with a stone i>larr<l ag^ainst it u* kcvp it in 

 position. This will km) t.ut cncniics and allow 

 good ventilation.— Rural New Yorker. 



To Keep E^gs. Hohl perfectly fresh ej^gs in 

 boiling water while u<uuiting six. A wire bttsket 

 can be userl fur tliis purpose. Lot them dry and 

 cool, then pack in oats. Put a layer of oatvS on 

 the bottom of the keif or barrel sufticieiit to sup- 

 pent the eggs; pack them closely small end down, 

 cover with a layer of oaLs and proceed till the 

 barrel is full, 'shake it gently to settle outs and 

 eggs firmly. This method has given eggs a >ear 

 after packing in as good a state of preservation 

 as when first phicefl in oats.— J. E. F., in Tribune. 



Why They Fail Many seem to think that all 

 that is necessary in order to succeed with poul- 

 try is to prociue a few birds, provide them with a 

 h<>me, and then gather the eggs! This is only a 

 beginning. Patient, enduring work, is as essen- 

 tial to success in ])oultry breeding as in any other 

 branch of business. Perhaps more so; for hun- 

 dreds of obstacles lay in the path of success. F^ith 

 accumulates, vermin abounds, disease threatens 

 and the elements an- at etcrmxl warfare with the 

 inmates of the poultry yard. The sun, upon 

 whosc^ ravs in winter the ))irds depend for health, 

 in summer becomes a fruitful snun-e of ailments 

 unless the fowls and chicks ha\(' shelter from 

 the scorching heat. The rain that causes the 

 welcome gntss to grow must not fait upon the 

 partially feathered chicks. Dust baths must be 

 provided; water which the owner wotild be will- 

 ing himself to diink must be pro\ided for his 

 fowls, and changed frequently; fresh green food 

 in sufficient (luantities to preserve health must 

 be at hand; but not enough should be given to 

 cause diarrlm-a. t'leanliness.absolutc cleanliness, 

 is the essential to pc.ultry as to human health, 

 and this can only be secured by patient painstak- 

 ing labor.— Poultry and Pets. 



