250 



POPULAR GARDENING. 



August, 



Growing Tnrnips. There is no crop so easily 

 j^rown as Turnips, and in occasional years they 

 have brought me more net profit than almost 

 any crop I ever grew in the garden. The de- 

 mand for them is limited, however, and the man 

 who grows them should watch the market 

 closely and be ready to sell at a day's notice. 

 The conditions for success in growing Turnips 

 are moderately rich soil, free from weeds, well 

 compact, and fine at the surface. I never suc- 

 ceeded in growing a profitable crop on freshly 

 jilowed land. The land for this crop should be 

 plowed in June, and rolled and harrowed in 

 order to get it smooth and solid. I have grown 

 good crops after cutting a crop of good Clover 

 hay by plowing at once, and rolling and harrow- 

 ing fi'equently, and also after wheat by burning 

 off the stubble, and simply harrowing the land 

 thoroughly. The sowing should always be done 

 as soon after a rain as the land will work. Be- 

 fore sowing the seed, pass over the field with a 

 plank-drag of sufficient weight so that it will fill 

 all the holes and leave the surface fresh and 

 smooth; then sow the seed and drag again with 

 a lighter drag to cover it.— Ohio Farmer. 



Bugging as a Basiness. A paid insect detec- 

 tive might do great service in a neighborhood by 

 keeping down Apjile and Peach borers, curcu- 

 lios. Currant worms. Rose bugs and slugs, etc. 

 Knowing when and how to meet them, he could, 

 with a little aid from the families he makes en- 

 gagements with, do much to preserve the beauty 

 and the produce of the plants surrounding our 

 dwellings. In Europe there are professional 

 mole catchers, rat catchers, and vermin destro.v- 

 ers, and they stand well in the community as 

 doing special service, and ha\'ing qualifications 

 and knowledge not generally possessed. Profes- 

 sional insect controllers would even be more 

 worthy of support and regard, not only for their 

 service in preventing the destruction of valu- 

 able crops and plants, but as a means of acquaint- 

 ing the youth of the country with some of the 

 leading facts of practical entomology, and as 

 watchmen prompt to detect the first appearance 

 of any new insect enemy, and to suppress in 

 time what, with delay, might prove difficult or 

 impossible to get rid of.— JV. 1'. Tribune. 



Iron Bench Support. A bench put together 

 in such a way that it can bo readily taken down, 

 changed or replaced possesses advantages easily 

 recognized by any 

 florist, and Mr. R. J. 

 Donovan, of Have- 

 lock, Chicago, has 

 benches of that 

 character. The illus- 

 tration shows a 

 center bench as .seen 

 in his house. The 

 4x4 posts which sup- 

 port the roof do the 

 same for the 

 beaches,and are pro- 

 vided with an iron 

 casting — as shown 

 in sketch— which holds the cross-pieces of the 

 bench. The six-inch board at the edge is 

 placed inside of the posts which holds it in 

 position. The iron supports are attached to the 

 ivosts by heavy screws; outside of these no nails, 

 spikes or screws are used in the bench. There 

 is no patent on this de\nce and the castings can 

 be cheaply made by any foundry after a pattern 

 is once provided.— yl»ierica» Flm^Uit. 



Constructing a Cold Pit. Some years ago I 

 built several very cheap cold pits in the follow- 

 ing manner: The walls were built up with 

 rather stiff soil, rammed ftrinly together, the 

 back wall being i^ feet high, and the front li^ 

 feet. When the walls were high enough the inside 

 faces were cut down straight and lined with 

 builder's slates. These were not absolutely ne- 

 cessary, but I wanted to make the place neat. 

 The outsides were rounded off and covered with 

 turf, fastened with pegs at first, but it soon be- 

 gan to grow, and attached itself to the soil. A 

 light wall-plate and rafter were fixed on the 

 walls. Such a pit will be as durable as if built 

 with bricks, and is superior to bricks for keep- 

 ing <.>ut frost. Geraniums might be wintered in 

 such a pit, if kept dry and the glass well 

 covered.— Qariiciiing nhiMrated. 



Empire State Grape. The one vine of that sort 

 planted on our place, which last year made a vigorous 

 growth, ripening its wood well, was found this spring 

 to be killed to the ground through sprouting from the 

 root.— Oranflc Co, Farmer. 



Cast-ir07i Detachable Bench 

 Supports. 



Draws the Line at Bone. I have had considerable 

 experience In the use of guano and phosphates, and 

 have come to the conclusion that pure raw -bone is the 

 only fertilizer worth buying. —Ehnira Husbandman. 



OauliHowers. A friend of mine who grows wonder- 

 fully good Cauliflowers is of opinion the secret of 

 success may be summed up In three woods— viz. "plenty 

 of manure."— Jbuma/ of Horticulture. 



The Best, taking everything Into consideration, is the 

 Japan Quince (Cydonia Japonica) our most valuable 

 shrub for ornamental hedges — Hoopes, in Tribune. 



Mothers Earth's Bank. Judicious and careful 

 draining is like putting money in a bank, paying 

 twenty-five per cent, to 100 per ceut.— Observer. 



Too many Apples are wasted annually, and too 

 much adulterated vinegar finds its way on to city 

 tables.— i?urai New Yorker. 



Overproduction of inferior fruit is the greatest 

 hindrance to the horticulturist —Michigan Farmer. 



Vegetable Products on the Table. 



Green Tomato Catsup. Eight pounds Toma- 

 toes, eight ounces green Peppers, four small 

 Onions, all chopped fine; four cups sugar, four 

 tablespoonfuls salt, two quarts of vinegar. Boil 

 until quite thick. 



Squash Cakes, Sieve two and a half cups of 

 cooked squash; add a pint of milk, two eggs, a 

 teaspoonful of sugar, a pint of flour, two tea- 

 spoonfuls of baking powder, and a little salt. 

 Beat together until smooth and fry brown in 

 butter.- Patron and Ormme. 



Apple Jelly. Use good sour apples, slice them, 

 skins, seeds, and all, and simmer with one-half a 

 cup of water till well-cooked and soft; then 

 strain through a cloth, add a pound of sugar to 

 a pint of .I'uice, boil a few minutes, skimming 

 till clear; pour into glasses and cover when 

 cold.— Home Companimi. 



Fried Egg Plant. Peel the egg plant and 

 slice it, sprinkle each slice plentifully with salt, 

 and put them to stand between two plates in a 

 cool place for an hour or so. Wipe each slice 

 quite dry, sprinkle with powdered sage, dip in 

 beaten eggs and bread crumbs, or in batter, and 

 fry in plenty of hot lard or olive butter. 



Tutti-Frntti Jelly, Soak one-half box of 

 gelatine in one-half pint of water; add one pint 

 of boiling water, the juice of three Lemons, and 

 one and one-half cupfuls of sugar; then strain. 

 When cold, put a layer of the jelly in a dish, 

 than a layer of Bananas, one of gelatine, and one 

 of Oranges; than another layer of gelatine, a 

 layer of cocoanut, gelatine again.— Bural Hame. 



Tomatoes. One quart of raw Tomatoes, highly 

 seasoned, with three beaten eggs, and baked; 

 bread crumbs can be added and made into 

 coquettes and fried. Several large sized Toma- 

 toes, scalded, mashed to a pulp, highly seasoned, 

 with a tablespoonfhl of butter, stew until it 

 simmers, then add a teaspoonful of cornstarch 

 dissolved in water, and let it simmer while stir- 

 ring. —Detroi/ Free Press. 



Bhubarb Custard Pie, Stew the pie-plant un- 

 til soft, when cool add to it the yolks of two 

 eggs well-beaten, the Juice and more or less of 

 the grated rind of one Lemon, and enough sugar 

 to sweeten the whole to taste. Line two plates 

 with crust, fill with the mixture and bake. 

 When done beat the whites of two eggs to a 

 froth, add one-half cupful white sugar and a 

 few drops of vanilla, spread upon the tops of the 

 pies, return them to the oven and bake to a 

 light brown.— Farm Life. 



Peach Preserves. A Southern method of 

 making Peach preserves with but little cooking 

 is, after paring the fruit, to add a pound and a 

 quarter of sugar to each pound of fruit, and 

 cook very fast for a few minutes in a porcelain 

 kettle. Then turn out into a glass bowl, cover 

 with muslin and set in the sun, stirring daily 

 until the preserves become very clear. They 

 are thought to have a better flavor thus than it 

 made on the fire. Cover with brandy-paper and 

 egged-paper.— Florida Fruit (irower. 



Mushroom Pie. Pare and slice three Onions; 

 pare.wash, and slice six moderate-sized Potatoes; 

 wash and chop a little Parsley. Put the above 

 into a pan with a quart of water, add a quarter 

 of a pound of butter, and boil gently for an 

 hour and a half. While this is boiling, pare one 

 pound of mushrooms, cut them into moderately 

 thin slices (sideways) and put into the pan; add 

 pepper and salt to taste; then let the whole sim- 

 mer for a quarter of hour; then mix a table- 

 spoonful of flour with milk, and add; stir until 

 the whole boils; then pour into a good-sized pie- 



dish; cover with paste, and bake in a moderate 

 oven; as soon as the paste is baked the pie is 

 ready. The above may bo prepared a day before 

 it is wanted, and made hot when required.— B»i(;- 

 lish Farm aiid Hume. 



HOUSE PLANTS. 



Ageratums should be held in check as to flowering 

 If desired for winter blooming. 



Anthericum. The variegated one Is an excellent 

 house plant. It requires a good deal of root room, but 

 In potting or shifting It may have the soil all washed 

 from the roots and, using some fresh soil, be replaced 

 in smaller pots than without this. 



Aspidistras, the beauty of which Is In the leaves, 

 are benefited by applications of a liquid or other fertil- 

 izer while their leaves are In their best growth. 



Balsams now lift easily from the beds to set Into 

 large pots for adorning the window aft«r frosts. 



Begonias of winter blooming varieties showing buds 

 on leading branches should be well pinched back, to 

 Induce stocklness and more bloom later. 



Browallias give fair satisfaction as pot plants. The 

 seed should be sown now If not yet In. 



Callas, For early flowers start Into free growth by 

 giving rich soil and plenty of water at this time. 



Chrysanthemums. Soak the earth twice a week 

 from now until October with weak liquid manure. If 

 the black aphis or thrlp appear sprinkle the affected 

 parts with Tobacco dust when the plants are wet. 



Ooleus cuttings for winter may be struck. 



Echeverias when grown In pots should be watered 

 moderately and have soil not rich but sandy. 



Evergreen plants and shrubs, like Daphne, Olea 

 f ragrans, etc.. If they need shitting at all before win- 

 ter, should receive it before this month is out. 



Freesias. These delightful bulbs if planted a dozen 

 or more In a large pot or box make choice ornaments 

 for the window garden, and the fragrance Is delight- 

 ful. They may be started earlier than tha mixed col- 

 lection of winter flowering bulbs. 



Fuchsias. Old plants of wlnter-bloomlng sorts now 

 at rest may be taken from the pots, cut back within 

 three or four Inches of the roots, and If troubled with 

 red spider remove every leaf as well ; wash off the 

 soil and repot in fresh, rich loam, using water spar- 

 ingly till new growth Is well started. 



Petunias. To cut in the straggling branches that 

 come from rapid growth now will lead to nice plants 

 for the window garden by October. 



Propagation of such tropical plants as Cleroden- 

 dron, Flcus, Clssus, Rex Begonias, etc., can be done by 

 the amateur without the aid of a propagating house 

 more successfully now than at any other time. Place 

 the green cuttings in sand and cover with any glass 

 vessel, watering lightly as needed. 



Roses suitably prepared for winter blooming are at 

 the present anxious to grow and show their early 

 bloom. They must not be over-potted, a great fault 

 with amateurs. Angle worms often trouble; apply 

 lime water, not to strong. 



Tuberoses In bud at the end of the mouth may be 

 lifted caret Idly, to flower in the house later on. 



Veronica. As this plant's blooming season Is near, 

 encourage the setting flower spikes with applications 

 of weak liquid manure. 



Vinca. Divide the roots of this vine, potting what 

 is needed for the house. Doing this early, the part 

 remaining In the ground has time to recover and be- 

 come established for the winter. 



LAWN AND FLOWER GARDEN. 



Borers are liable to attack Acacias. Mountain Ash 

 and the ornamental flowering fruit trees. They do 

 this in the trunk near the ground, chiefly ; if the 

 borings are met dig out with a knife or stiff wire. 



Edges next to flower beds and walks should be 

 neatly trimmed once a month at least by cutting with 

 a sharp spade, or better still an edging Iron. 



Gladiolus. If the spikes from strong bulbs are cut 

 early (such will flower completely out If set in water) 

 usually some new spikes will follow later. 



Hollyhocks and slndlar tall plants should be kept 

 tletl uj) to prevent the risk of their being snapped off 

 by violent summer gales. 



Layering of Roses, shrubs, etc., may still go on. 



Lifting. As stated last month, we favor the early 

 lifting of most plants that are wanted tor fall decora- 

 tion. Aim to secure all the roots possible, pot firmly, 

 shade closely tor a week and sprinkle the tops several 

 times dally for a time. 



