i888. 



POPULAR GARDENING. 



245 



enters without the consent of the owner or occu- 

 pant, any orchard, fruit garden, ^•ineyard, or 

 ground whereon is cultivated any fruit, with 

 intent to take, injure or destroy anything there 

 growing or grown; or cuts down, destroys or 

 injures any shrub, tree or vine growing within 

 any such orchard, garden, vineyard, or upon any 

 such ground, or any building, frame or erection 

 thereon, is punishable by imprisonment not 

 exceeding six months, or a tine not exceeding 

 two hundred and fifty dollars, or both. 



Uack as a Fertilizer. In speaking of this 

 material, which in some section is not appreci- 

 ated to its full value, a correspondent says: 

 This season, when swamps are dryest, is the one 

 in which to secure a store of muck. While 

 there is a great difference in its raanuriul value, 

 there are few bogs that do not afford a muck 

 that will pay for hauling. It can be applied with 

 advantage to all sandy and gravelly soils, and 

 can be composted with other manures and 

 plowed under in all soils. As it loses nearly 

 half its weight by evaporation, it Ls better to 

 allow it to remain exposed to the air, before 

 carting, thus saving half the cost, as an absor- 

 bent peat is unrivalled; thrown over a pile of 

 manure, it retains the ammonia, thrown into the 

 cow-yard, the liquid manure is siived. A jiiator 

 muck bog is a "mine" of wealth, on any place, 

 in the way of more profitable crops. 



Heliotrope. A few practical hints on the 

 management of this general fa\-orite from one 

 of our readers who is very sucees,sful, will 1k' 

 appreciated by others. "I am at present niitking, 

 that is, ijartially breaking some Heliotrope 

 branches, for cuttings, to furnish plants for 

 next winter's blossoms. In a few days the break 

 is hardened, and the cuttings can be entirely 

 broken off, and placed in the gnnuid, in a shady 

 place. Pack the ground firmly around the 

 cuttings. I usually put them on the east or 

 north side of the parent plant. If this operation 

 can lx> performed during wet weather, the 

 cutting will need no further care, except 

 keeping in good shape by pinching back tall 

 shoots. If the weather is dry, wet the ground 

 thoroughly before putting in the cutting. 

 Moisture is essential in growing Heliotropes 

 well, and one is amiily repaid for the trouble of 

 watering frequently by the thrifty appearance 

 and abundant bloom.— i. L,.,Winiamin>iUe, N. Y. 



Curiosities of Plant Life. It has been shown 

 by Prof. Schubcler, a Nijrwegian plant geog- 

 rapher, that most plants in high latitudes pro- 

 duce much larger and hearier seeds than in 

 warmer regions near the equator. This effect 

 he attributes to the prolonged influence of sun- 

 light during the long summer days of the high 

 latitudes. The difference in seed development 

 was very remarkable in some ca.ses. Dwarf Beans 

 taken from Christiana to Drontheini— less than 

 four degrees further north— gained more than 

 sixty \>CT cent in weight, and Thyme from Lyons, 

 when planted at Drontheim, showed a gain of 

 seventy-one per cent. The grain of northern 

 fields is hearier than when it grows in more 

 southerly localities, and seed from Norway 

 planted at Breslau decreased greatly in the first 

 year. The leaves, also, of most plants are larger 

 and more deeply colored in higher latitudes, as 

 was first noticed by Griesbach and Martins. This 

 is true of flowers, many of which are white in 

 southern climates become violet in the far north. 



Blue Hydrangeas, When of a clear color, blue 

 Hydrangeas never fail to interest the flower 

 lover, and especially the amateur who may be in 

 a quandary as to how they are produced. To 

 secure good results the common pink one after 

 blooming is cut down to two or three eyes on 

 each stem; as growth begins the soil is shaken 

 off and the large roots shortened and then placed 

 in suitably sized pots, using a strong soil in which, 

 for each bushel a quarter of a pound of powdered 

 sulphate of iron is thoroughly mixed. Pot firmly, 

 keep inside till rooted, then move outside till cold 

 weather. Some position free from frost is re- 

 quired for the winter, with but little water given. 

 Start early or late according as required, by plac- 

 ing in heat with plenty of water. While growing 

 freely and before the flower heads show them- 

 selves, water alternately with water, in which a 

 teaspoonf ul of powdered alum fur each quart is 

 dissolved, gradually increasing the strength. 

 Use weak manure water at times. Syringe daily; 

 never allow to get dry. — Bemle, Ncwpoi't^Ii. I. 



The Bean Weevil in certain sections is quite 

 troublesome. Prof. W. K. Lazenby, of the Ohio 

 Experiment Station, says : "The larvic and pu- 

 pa of this weevil, Bi-uehus falM, are similar to 



these of the Pea weevil, except that they are 

 somewhat smaller and a larger number of lar\ »• 

 (5 tol.'il is found in a single Bean. The female de- 

 posits her eggs on the ovitside of the young Bean 

 pod. Thest! eggs soon hatch and the minute worm 

 or larva- soon flnds its way to the young Bean. 

 One cannot tell from looking at the Bean whether 

 the larva' is within or not, especially with Beans 

 of dark color, and when only two or three wee- 

 rtls are found in a Bean it will usually grow. 

 Where more than two or three are found, al- 

 though the germs may be uninjured, yet the 

 seed fails to produce a vigorous plant. As a rule 

 the beetles do not apixsar till spring, so there is 



A Ptruch Fhtwer Hood. 



the same danger of Introducing them in the 

 case of seed Beans as in the case of the Pea wee- 

 vil. There is one way by which this pest, like 

 the Pea weevil, can be exterminated. This is to 

 refrain from planting the Bean for one year, and 

 then use good seed from some section where the 

 insect is not known. If all farmers and garden- 

 ers would take united action, there is no doubt 

 but that both the Bean weevil and the Pea 

 weevil might be completely exterminated. 



Plants of the Easiest Culture. Even those 

 kinds which are commonly reputed U^ be of easy 

 management succeed much the better for 

 receiving good attention. With a very moderate 

 outlay of time and trouble, many of the showy, 

 soft-wooded flowering plants may be successfully 

 grown. As a beginning, might be suggested 

 such sorts as Petunias, Geraniums, Fuchsias, 

 Lantanas, Heliotropes, and similar sorts, includ- 

 ing such as Chrysanthemums, Carnations, etc., 

 which are grown out of doors during the 

 summer. Summer treatment requires plenty of 

 air, moisture, and partial shade. Attention to 

 these details, with the regular study of Populah 

 Gardening will soon enable one to grow " good 

 things," well. Succulents, as Cacti, etc., and they 

 alone, will do fairly, when somewhat neglected, 

 and to these should those, who cannot give the 

 required care, confine their efforts— C. B. J. 



The Long John Strawberry. Mr. John Bur- 

 dette, of La Salic, N. Y., a neighbor of the writ- 

 er's, is a retired fruit glower, who in his time 

 has been very successful and acquired a wide 

 local fame as an intelligent Peach and Strawberry 

 grower. Although he has disposed by sale of his 

 former main fruit farm and lets his present one,he 

 still gratifies his love for fruit culture by tilling 

 an acre (jr two of land which surrounds his 

 home. Mr. Burdette is the originator of the re- 

 markable strawberry named in the title, and this 

 he continues to cultivate here to the extent of 

 about half an acre. Being a grower of fruit for 

 market, and not a nurseryman, he has never 

 taken pains to disseminate this variety, in fact, 

 with finding it much more profitable than the 

 Wilson and other sorts grown in this section; 

 he, asamarketraan, has naturally not sought U) 

 have this valuable sort planted outside of his own 

 grounds. In disposing of the fruit in the 

 Buffalo market he has catered mainly to a select 

 trade, and has never failed to secure from two to 

 ten cents more |>er quart than for the Wilson. 

 Much of the fruit sent to market from his plat of 

 the Long J()hn this j^ear brought 2.5 cents per 

 quart at retail. It is both a larger and sweeter 

 berry than the Wilson and fully as productive, 

 forming immense stools with few runners, and 

 bearing each a large mass of strong healthy fol- 

 iage. Its capacity for producing large handsome 



fruit to the end of the season is its most marked 

 charactertstic, "the last berries being larger 

 than the Wilson's first one's," to put the reference 

 to this matt<-r in the originator's own terms. 

 The writer has had numerous opportunities of 

 seeing the fruit of this local variety from first to 

 last through the present season, and in the Inter- 

 est of improved fruit culture he would be glad 

 to see it tried in other sections. We presume the 

 originator would not object to disposing of some 

 plants for this puri)osc-, although he has not been 

 consulted by us relative to the matter. 



Fashions in Flowers About New 

 York. 



To the retail florist, the city is now the abomi- 

 natiim of desolations. His chief— almost his only 

 work— is in making steamer souvenirs for his 

 departing customers. The spring and early sum- 

 mer crops of weddings are over— gone are school 

 commencements, and the funeral orders are 

 comparatively light. The commencements did 

 not call for any elaborate decorations, but a 

 great many flowers were presented to gradu- 

 ates, in most cases taking the form of baskets. 

 Where there was any decorations for these com- 

 mencements it usually took the form of Palm.s, 

 and, like last year, the outdoor flowering shrubs 

 were largely used. Field Daisies, too, ha\e been 

 largely used. At one very pretty suliurlmn wed- 

 ding, the church was literally banked with 

 Daisies and Yellow Uudbeckias, a very incxiien- 

 sive adornment but an exi^ecdingly effective 

 one. Since white Lilacs ami Lily of the Valley 

 are out of season Koses have taken the lead with 

 brides. The bou(iuets are not quite so large as 

 they were. There is a little Lily of the Valley 

 in — forced— but it is comparatively scarce. 



Sweet Peas were much favored by sweet girl 

 graduates both in baskets and in bunches; they 

 seem particularly ap|)ropriate for such occa- 

 sions. At one recent wedding the same flower s 

 were carried by the bridesmaids ; they were ar- 

 ranged in big sun hats, which were curled up 

 into basket shape, and carried over the arm by 

 strings of pale-tinted watered ribbon. 



Water Lilies now take part in some decoi-ative 

 features. Arranged in low, rather flat vessels, 

 they are charming for table use, when lightened 

 by Grasses, Hushes and Papyrus. Mr. Hodgson, 

 who during the summer has his principal place 

 at Newport, grows a good many Lilies, and in 

 fact makes a specialty of them. The rich rose- 

 tinted Devoniensis is especially admired, and 

 also the softer pink of the Sacred Lotus, which 

 people are only beginning to appreciate as they 

 ought. But Water Lilies must never be mixed 

 with anything but aquatic plants, or the special 

 significance is lost. 



Some of the street sellers down near the fer- 

 ries make a specialty of red Carnations for the 

 button-hole ; this flower has been adopted as a 

 Democratic emblem, so the patriots of that 

 party make a point of wearing one. 



Large, coarse straw baskets filled with old-fash- 

 ioned pink Pieonies make a handsome gift ; 

 These once-despised flowers are much appreci- 

 ated now ; they are considered very artistic. 

 Single Dahlias are admired too; they come in 

 such rich velvety colors. During the latter part 

 of June, flowers became so scarce that every- 

 thing was pressed into service. But the up-town 

 florists say that now there is absolutely nothing 

 doing: it is hardly worth while to open the 

 stores. During the dull sesison the down-town 

 and less fashionable florists seem to do the best, 

 as their regular patrons do not all fly to the 

 summer resorts. 



Funeral designs? They are not entirely out of 

 date, though more is done with loose flowers ; 

 but there is nothing very original about them. 

 Some very pretty effects are produced with the 

 silvery leaves of the Lencadendroi; frequently 

 wreaths are simply made of this foliage. They 

 are suitable for old people. Occasionally the 

 leaves are laid on other foliage or flowers, such 

 as a hero's wreath on a pillow. Designs of 

 Pansies and Heliotrope are frequentl.v chosen for 

 the aged, though they are difficult to make 

 artistically without something for relief. 



A good many young men are wearing a bunch 

 of four or five blue Corn-flowers in the button- 

 hole ; it is said to be as British as the Gardenia. 

 If the fashion of street corsage bunches is 

 going, it certainly dies very hard. A bunch of 

 field flowers worn at the belt is general. Field 

 flowers have been very popular and are still, 

 in spite of their excessive cheapness. 



Emily Lousie Talpin. 



