1890. 



POPULAR GARDENING. 



17 



Gladiolas. Lift the bulbs after sbarp frost. Dry 

 and clean, then place lu paper bags. Winter in a dry 

 place out of the reach of frost. 



Hardy Flowers. Clear off the frozen tender things 

 from the borders, remove bad foliage, etc. Keep the 

 edges of borders well trimmed, and they may appear 

 attractive for quite a time yet. 



Hanging Baskets and Vases. Empty them, clean 

 thoroughly, and place under shelter. 



Hydrangeas to be placed In a cool dry cellar, and 

 kept quite dry at the root. 



LawQ. Sodding may be done where needed. Make 

 the ground even and beat Hrmly; then cut turf from 

 common pasture ground where free from weed and 

 coarse grasses, cut 29;^ inches thick In strips a foot 

 wide and three or four long, rolling them up for better 

 handling. Lay evenly, with close joints, filling under. 

 or cutting down as needed to give an entirely smooth 

 and even surface. Finish with a thorough beating 

 with the back of spade, or better, a tool made for the 

 purpose. 



Leaves. Gather from lawn and elsewhere, and pile 

 up in a suitable place for rotting, or for use as mulch 

 or as bedding In stables. They make an excellent 

 manure for plants and shrubs. 



Lilies may be reset at the end of month. Plant not 

 less than six Inches deep, and put a covering of mulch 

 on top. 



Planting of hardy shrubs Is In order now. 



Fansies, Hollyhocks and other hardy plants re- 

 cently sown, should now be transplanted from the 

 seed beds. Prick out when second leaves appear, and 

 set into other well-prepared beds, two inches apart 

 each way for the small growers, and at greater dis- 

 tance, proportionately, for the larger ones. Carefully 

 water the young seedlings as they require. 



Protection from Frost. The first fall frosts, usually 

 occurring at this time, are often followed by weeks of 

 warmer and delightful weather. With but little 

 trouble, flower beds can be protected so as to extend 

 their beauty for several weeks. When frosty nights 

 threaten, make a frame of light poles over the bed and 

 cover with matting, sheets, or a few layers of news- 

 papers. The frame must be high enough that the 

 covering does not rest directly upon the plants, else It 

 would offer but little protection. 



Retinospora and other Evergreens liable to injury 

 by snow bending them down, may be tied up before 

 winter by a string wound around them, fastened near 

 the bottom, and wound spirally so £ia to draw the 

 leaves close together. In spring, when the danger from 

 snow storms is past, untie them. 



Spring-flowering bulbs, such as Hyacinths, Crocus, 

 Tulips, Narcissus, etc., to be planted as early as possible. 



Tigridias. Treat as advised for Gladiolus. 



Tree planting, If done at all, should be done early. 

 Bank up a foot high to steady them, and keep mice 

 away. 



PLANT CULTURE UNDER GLASS. 



Air. On fine days open ventilators to their fullest 

 height. Avoid Are heat as long as consistent with 

 safety. 



Azaleas should be given perfect drainage, a cool 

 airy place with careful watering. 



Bouvardias for bloom will stand a moderately cool 

 temperature, say 50*^ F.; but more heat will hasten the 

 flowering. 



Calceolarias grown from seed to be shifted promptly 

 as needed. Water carefully; keep near glass and free 

 from Insects. Air freely. Thus treated, these and 

 other seed-grown plants will be pushing on lively now. 



Chrysanthemums should not be crowded. Liquid 

 manure given twice a week until bloom begins to 

 color, will have a good effect. Thin the buds of large- 

 flowering sorts. Keep the house rather dry through 

 the flowering season. 



Cinerarias grown from seed to be treated as de- 

 scribed for Calceolarias. 



Clyclamens should be kept In a warm, light place, 

 close to the fire, and be well encouraged for bloom. 



Ferns to be kept In a cool place. 



Lantana elegantlssima, if lifted and potted, will 

 form a nice spring-flowering plant. 



Mignonette for early spring to be sown In pots of 

 light, rich soil. Keep In a warm place. 



Orchids. Where growth Is fl^nished give less water 

 and a cooler and dryer temperature, as also more ven- 

 tilation. Orchids still growing should not be checked, 

 or spot will result. Syringe and water as required for 

 each individual. 



Petnnias. Shift as needed; water carefully and 

 keep near glass, 



Poinsettias to be kept In a temperature of 60* F. or 

 more. Give liquid manure twice a week. 



Roses for cut flowers to be syringed twice a day. 

 Keep lu a temperature of SS** to 65" F. at night. 



Spireas and other shrubs for forcing, such as Lilacs, 

 Daphnes, Welgelias. Deutzias, Flowering Plimi. Kal- 

 mias, etc., to be potted by end of month. 



Violets, Keep runners and weak shoots closely 

 pinched off. Lift and pot plants for forcing about the 

 end of the month, and place in an airy place for a 

 month or more. All the air possible should be given 

 during the winter, and decaying leaves be picked off. 



FRUIT GARDEN AND ORCHARD. 



Apples for winter, to keep well, should be picked 

 just as soon as they have reached their full maturity. 

 Handle carefully and pack Into clean barrels. Store 

 in a cool place. Don't put them Into a warm cellar. 



Bndded trees should be examined, and proper at- 

 tention be given to the removal of the bandages before 

 they can do injury. 



Cider for vinegar to be made at any time when con- 

 venient, and when you have the Apples. If Intended 

 for keeping sweet, the Apples should not be gathered 

 and worked up until November. Remove all rotten 

 specimens and wash the Apples to be used for cider. 



Currant cuttings may now be made, say six or eight 

 Inches in length, and planted out in rows three feet 

 apart and two inches apart in the row. Set firmly, top 

 eye just even with surface. Later mulch with leaves 

 or litter. 



Drying fruit should be done with ail care where 

 Apples, Peaches, riums, etc., can be had for the pur- 

 pose. Such products will be In ready demand at good 

 prices. Let no fruit go to waste. 



Gooseberries, Cuttings may be made and treated 

 as directed for Currants. 



Grapes. Market the Concords and other thin-skinned 

 sorts as soon as ripe, using neat packages, and packing 

 In best shape. Thick-skinned sorts will keep for a 

 long time, and may be marketed at leisure or when 

 prices suit. Pick them carefully, leave Inacool room 

 for several days, then wrap the clusters separately In 

 paper, and pack In small boxes and store in a dry and 

 cool place. 



General Directions. Procure the fertilizer needed 

 to keep up the productiveness of the trees and small 

 fruit plantations. Muriate of potash, or kalnit, and 

 bone-dust may now be applied with benefit. Rasp, 

 berries. Blackberries, Currants and Gooseberries may 

 now be planted, also Apple trees. Young Peach trees 

 should now have one-third of the new growth cut back. 

 Remove all dead or diseased branches from all trees. 



Pears. Winter sorts should be picked just before 

 there Is danger from freezing. A cool cellar Is a good 

 place for them, but it should not be so dry that the 

 fruit will shrivel, nor so moist that it will mold or rot. 



Strawberries. Planting may yet be done, and may 

 be advisable for southern latitudes . At the north It Is 

 always better to wait until spring. Wherever done, It 

 should be hurried up rapidly. 



Tools should be gathered up, painted and oiled where 

 needed, and stored under shelter where safe from rain 

 and snow. 



VEGETABLE GARDEN. 



Asparagus. The stalks from old beds should be 

 burned, and a good dressing of manure spread over 

 the ground. Young plants may be set out now as well 

 as at any season, when the ground is In good condi- 

 tion. In heavy, wet soil It Is best to plant In spring. 

 Any good, rich garden soil Is suitable- cover newly-set 

 plants lightly. 



Beets to be taken up before severe frost. Top by 

 cutting off leaves one Inch above the crown; store in 

 dry sand or earth In the cellar. 



Cauliflowers. Young plants to be treated In same 

 way as Cabbage plants. 



Celery for early use should now be fully earthed up; 

 the main crop for winter needs but light hilling at this 

 season. Storing for winter may be begun toward end 

 of the month. For home use pack plants upright in 

 boxes or barrels, upon a layer of moist soil; keeping in 

 cool cellar. Keep roots moLst and tops dry. 



Cabbage plants, sowed last month, to be pricked into 

 cold frames, putting about 600 to a common sash and 

 setting the plants deeply. Cabbages that fail to com- 

 plete hard heads this fall may be lifted carefully and 

 set close as they will stand in trenches just deep 

 enough to hide them; cover trenches with rails and 

 litter to keep oat part of the cold. By spring these 

 will be found to have grown solid. 



Chicory to be used for salad should be dug and stored 

 In sand In a dry cool cellar. 



Endive to be blanched by gathering up the leaves 

 and tying at the top. 



Lettuce plants may be set In frame to be wintered 

 over like Cabbage plants. 



Potatoes to be dug and at once put Into blus not over 

 three feet deep In a dark cellar. 



Rhnbarb may be planted now. Give not less than 

 three feet space each way. Old plants should be taken 

 up. divided and reset once every three years. Make 

 ground very rich. In order to have fresh Pie plant 

 during winter dig up a quantity of roots with plenty 

 of soil, pack in half barrels and set In the cellar. They 

 will soon sprout and make large shoots. 



Sqaushes and Pumpkins for winter keep best lu a 

 cool, dry place secure from frost. 



Spinach to be cultivated and hoed as needed. 



Sweet Potatoes to be taken outof the ground as soon 

 as ripe, or when the Potato breaks dry, and keeps its 

 light color when broken. If It exudes a gummy juice 

 and turns dark it Is not yet ripe. At all events they 

 must be taken out before it becomes cold enough to 

 freeze the ground, and they are better If lifted out be- 

 fore the vines are killed with frost. The best way to 

 harvest them is to cut vines loose away from the rows 

 and turn them out with a two-horse plow . 



Storing Roots. For large quantities, and in the ab- 

 sence of a root cellar, the best method Is storing in pits. 

 These are dug three or four feet deep In a well-drained 

 spot, six feet wide and as long as needed. Cover llghty 

 at first, and when cold weather comes put on about 

 two feet of soli, rounded and smoothened to carry oflf 

 water. 



Turnips to be kept hoed. Uather before heavy frost. 



FRUITS AND VEGETABLES UNDER 

 GLASS. 



Grapes. When the fruit Is ripe, water should not 

 be given for a while. The borders later on should be 

 giveu a dressing of bone and some potash, muriate or 

 kalnit. Houses where Hamburghs and other sorts 

 with thin skin are hanging, to be kept rather dry and 

 cool. Pick out Imperfect berries. Prune the vines 

 after the crop Is taken ofit. 



Lettuce. Set out August-sown plants for the early 

 crop under glass. Give six or seven inch space each 

 way to each plant. Leave sash off the house for some 

 time yet, except m roughest weather. The aphis or 

 g.'-eenfly can be kept off with least trouble by strewing 

 Tobacco stems between the plants. 



Lemons and OranKes. Trees to be kept thoroughly 

 clean hy the use of soapsuds. Thin fruit where needed. 

 Water occasionally with manure water. 



Farsely comes handy for winter. Carefully Ilftsome 

 of the plants and place them Into a cold frame, say 

 four or five Inches apart each way. 



Rhubarb to be dug and stored in a convenient place 

 to be at hand when wanted. 



Straw^berries- When the pots containing young 

 plants become well filled with roots, shift into six luch 

 pots, and plunge In saw-dust or coal ashes outside in 

 some airy place until November. 



THE POULTRY YARD. 

 Sunflower seedB, if occasionally given to the 

 fowls, will add lustre to the plumage, and in- 

 crease the egg yield. 



Fattening Fowls. Two weeks' feeding of all 

 the Corn or Corn meal the fowls can eat in clean, 

 close quarters, with only light enough to see the 

 feed, will generally fatten sufficiently to market. 



Shipping coops made ot light Pine and covered 

 with muslin or ducking should be constructed 

 in spare moments. A man judges your ways by 

 your manner of shipping. Be neat and cleanly. 

 It pays. 



Boad Dust. By all means collect and store 

 a good supply. It will come handy during the 

 winter. Store it in boxes or barrel?, and keep a 

 large flat box full in the hen house or under a 

 shed all winter. 



White Combs. Whiteness or scurvy combs is 

 a disease which does not seem to impair the health 

 of the bird, yet which is against its appearance. 

 The natives of India, years ago, are said to have 

 applied Cocoanut oil and Tumeric with success. 



Oats is about the best feed for moulting fowls 

 or chicks. It will form muscle, something 

 needed during the weakening process. Sulphur 

 should be mixed with the soft food in the morn- 

 ing. Ground Oats, meal or brand is the proper 

 food at this season. 



Nest eggs should never be left out and 

 allowed to freeze. When thawing out under the 

 laying hens part of the egj? will stick to the 

 feathers, and the hens begin to pick at it thus 

 learning to eat eggs. Use wooden nest eggs, or 

 nest egg gourds. They answer every purpose. 



Sick fowls should never be allowed to remain 

 with the flock. Keep them by themselves in 

 close and dry quarters, where they can be easily 

 attended to. If the trouble is serious, it will 

 usually be the cheapest in the end to chop the 

 patient's head off, and bury the carcass in the 

 manure heap. 



A flock of geese will pay well. Their feathers 

 are quite an item of profit. They can be picked 

 once in 6 weeks beginning in May and continuing 

 later than October. Goslings usually command 

 pleach in market and the feathers sell at 45c 

 per lb. often. If the farmer cannot give his 

 time to geese the women may make them pay. 



Good males are the most important part of the 

 flock, so far as the raising of chicks is concerned. 

 Dispose of the old and imperfect, and secure the 

 best blood now. A few dollars expended for 

 good males, occasionally, will prove a good in- 

 vestment. If eggs are intended for eating pur- 

 poses, and none for setting, however, the males 

 had better be removed from the flock, and kept 

 by themselves. 



Poultry Pickings. Grapevines planted in the 

 chicken runs and trained to the fence afford 

 shade to poultry; and also fruit to the farmer in 

 autumn. The vmes should be trained high up. 

 Eggs should be gathered daily and stored in a 

 dry place, not a cellar. Fifty degrees is a safe 

 temperature. It repays the farmer to properly 

 care for the eggs and not permit them to remain 

 longer than a day in the nest. Never use ashrs 

 or lime to mix with hen manure. If either is 

 used— away goes the ammonia. It will pay to 

 shelter the manure. There are people who make 

 poultry pay largely and others who do not. The 

 Langshau is in every way useful. It is my pre- 

 ference for utility.— Am. Agriculturist. 



