38 



POPULAR GARDENING. 



November, 



A Welcome Accident. It seems that the Bor- 

 deaux mixture, which is coming to the rescue of 

 (fardeuers as a destroyer of rot, mildew and 

 blight, was first used in the vineyards near Bor- 

 deaux to Iseep off thieves. The outer rows of 

 some vineyards were sprayed in order to render 

 the berries distasteful to marauders. After a 

 while it was noticed that these sprayed rows did 

 not suffer from mildew, while the inner, un- 

 sprayed rows suffered badly. While the Bordeaux 

 mixture will be the basis of the cheap funjricides, 

 it is probable, however, that it is gradually being 

 modified into simpler and moi-e convenient for- 

 mulas of copper solutions. 



Swini^inf; Around the £zhibiton Circle. An 

 English contemporary comes out against the 

 " pot-hunter " or professional exhibitor " for 

 money only," who takes some fine plants from 

 one exhibit to another, and carries off all the best 

 of the prizes. This may be a good speculation 

 on the part of the individual in question, but it 

 is not horticulture. To assume that local horti- 

 culture is benefited when a peripatetic exhibitor 

 comes with his well-hawked products and carries 

 off the lion's share of the prize money Is too 

 utterly absurd to warrant a single moment's 

 consideration. 



The Pomelo in Tlorida. Floridians believe 

 that there is a prosperous future for the Pomelo 

 as a summer fruit. It varies in acidity. In most 

 varieties the acid becomes agreeably mild in 

 May, but in many instances it remains strong 

 until midsummer, so that by proper selection 

 and management good fruit can undoubtedly 

 be had all through the hot season. In the^middle 

 of July some fine fruit appeared in the Jackson- 

 ville market and sold there at ten cents apiece — 

 Garden and Forest. 



Camphor for Destroying Slugs. For about 

 three years I have been trying various things to 

 destroy the slugs: lime, wood ashes, alum, etc., 

 but I have found nothing equal to camphor 

 broken into the size of a Pea, and thrown among 

 the plants. The next day the slugs will be 

 found dead. I have been using it for Adiantums 

 and Dracfpnas, and it has not destroyed a single 

 leaf, but before using it among other plants a 

 trial ought to be made with a few first.— G.A.L., 

 in London Garden. 



Making the Artillery Plant Shoot. I have 

 been producing the discharge by syringing 

 plants when the sun is shining on them brightly. 

 The plants are well budded, and this slight 

 showering causes the flowers to burst open, and 

 the anthers shoot their pollen in every direction 

 in the most interesting manner. Our common 

 wild Nettle (Uiiica praci!!?!, with which the Ar- 

 tillery plant is closely allied, often behaves in the 

 some manner.— L. H. Bailey, in Am. Garden. 



Staking Trees. No trees should be set out that 

 require staking. If the roots are cut short and 

 the tree has a heavy top, it will require a stake, 

 and it will meet with such a cheek in digging as 

 to need years to recover its full vigor. But a 

 tree of moderate size, with long ample spreading 

 roots, which will hold it firmly without staking, 

 will receive but a slight check, and will outgrow 

 a larger tree which may much exceed it in size. 

 Country Gentleman. 



Profitable Gardening. H. E. Lyon of Vermont 

 is making a specialty of market gardening on 

 the shores of Lake Willoughby. His three to 

 five acres of truck yearly pay him on an aver- 

 age $100 per acre. This is much better than 

 common farming. He now has 3000 Cabbages, 

 214 tons of Squash, besides large quantities of 

 Turnips, C^arrots, Beets, Tomatoes, etc.— N.E.F'r. 



Good Examples Infections. In recent years, 

 Boston has been extremely liberal in the decora- 

 tion of its public grounds and parks, and the 

 example thus set has led private citizens to de- 

 vote more time and money to the cultivation of 

 rare and beautiful plants than ever before. The 

 display that they made this year was exception- 

 ally fine.- Phila. Ledger. 



Plant Peach Trees. Save the pits of the best 

 Peaches and plant them this fall a couple of 

 inches deep. You will have little trees next 

 year— and these little trees will, many of them, 

 bear in three years. Generally, too, they will be 

 strongerand healthier than nursery stock. R.N. Y. 

 Celery for Florida. The Golden Self Blanching 

 and the Whit« Plume have never given satisfac- 

 tion in Florida. Crawford's Half-Dwarf and 

 Wilson's Kalamazoo are good.— Florida Farmer 

 and Fruit Grower. 



Oaltivation vs. Suckers. Plants that propagat* 

 from suckers should always be planted where the 

 grower can cultivate all around them, never against a 



fence or in a corner. Otherwise you will have a be- 

 wildering thicket and a poor crop of fruit.— California 

 Fruit Grower. 



Effects of Salt. In some ninety species of plants 

 growing both on the coast and In the Interior of France 

 M. Pierre Lesafie has found that proximity to the sea 

 causes a thickening of the leaves. Artificially salted 

 soil produces the same result Am. Cultivator. 



California Fruit Trade. There are over 1.300 cars 

 built expressly for the fruit trade engaged in carrying 

 California fruits to the east, besides many others 

 which have been pressed Into the service.- Mlcb.Far'r. 



Silent Endorsement. There is altogether too much 

 reverence for rascals and for rascally methods, on the 

 part of tolerably decent people.— Century Magazine. 



The decline of Agricultnre— a boy's refusal to re- 

 main on his father's farm.— Texas Sittings. 



Put an nmbrella over your barn-yard. -R. N. Y. 



Vegetable Products on the Table. 



Barberry Jelly. Barberries make an excellent 

 jelly of a peculiar, appetizing flavor. The juice, 

 after measuring, should be cooked a half hour 

 at least, and care should be taken that it is cooked 

 long enough to make a firm jelly before the 

 sugar is added. Use a pint of sugar to a pint of 

 juice.— Mrs. Green. 



Freserving Eggs. A simple packing in dry 

 salt or immersion in lime water has proved more 

 successful than the more elaborate ways or com- 

 pound mixtures. A good method is as follows: 

 For thirty dozen of eggs or less dissolve a coffee- 

 cupful of quicklime in hot water, and add a 

 handful of salt, with water enough to cover. 



Citron Preserves. Pare off the outer skin, cut 

 in halves, remove the seeds, and cut each half 

 into small pieces. Put in a large jar and cover 

 with salt and water, and let stand six or eight 

 hours. Drain and cover with fresh, cold water; 

 change every two hours until the Citron is fresh- 

 ened. Make a syrup of a pound of sugar, and 

 a teacup of water for each pound of fruit; boil 

 and skim; when clear, put in Citron, and simmer 

 gently until tender; then lift from the syrup on 

 a perforated spoon, lay on large dishes and set in 

 the sun to harden. Add the juice of two or three 

 Lemons and the rind of one to the syrup and 

 boil. When the Citron is dry, put in jars, bring 

 the syrup to a boil again, and pour over the 

 Citron. Watermelon rinds may be preserved in 

 the same way, and are equally as good. 



Quince Preserves. Select large ripe Quinces 

 Wash and wipe thera. Pare, core and cut into 

 slices, or quarters. Throw each piece as finished 

 in water to prevent discoloration. When you 

 have enough, put them in and cover with boiling 

 water. Simmer gently until tender. When ten- 

 der, lift carefully with a skimmer and slide on 

 flat dishes. Continue boiling the Quinces in the 

 same water until all are cooked. Put the parings 

 and rough pieces into the same water after the 

 Quinces are cooked, and simmer icently one hour, 

 keeping closely covered all the time; then strain 

 and measure, and to every pint of this liquid 

 allow one pound of sugar. Stir over the fire 

 until the sugar is dissolved, bring quickly to a 

 boil, boil rapidly ten minutes, skimming as the 

 scum comes to the surface. Now put in the 

 Quinces, and boil until they are clear, tender and 

 red. If you wish them bright colored, keep the 

 kettle closely covered while the Quinces are in. 

 When done lift gently into glasses or jars, gi^e 

 the syrup another boil until it jellies, pour it 

 over the Quinces, and stand aside to cool. When 

 cold tie up.— Canning and Preserving. 



Crab Apple Jelly. Cook the Crab Apples in a 

 porcelain or granite kettle, never in iron or tin. 

 Add just water enough to show through them 

 but not enough to cover thera. Cover the pre- 

 serving kettle closely. Cook slowly just below 

 the boiling point for several hours, or until upon 

 tasting you find that all the flavor has left the 

 Apple; the color should also be all extracted, 

 but the tiny quarters should not be broken. This 

 careful cooking prevents the jelly from becom- 

 ing cloudy. A jelly bag may be made from 

 flannel, coarse crash or cheese cloth, but the 

 latter is best. Tie the bag and let the contents 

 drip, but never be tempted to squeeze it; nor is 

 it economy to make a second rate jelly of what 

 may be squeezed out of the bag after the first 

 dripping of clear juice. Strain the juice care- 

 fully, measure it and put on to boil, allowing it 

 to cook until little wrinkles come upon the sur- 

 face, which has, of course, been carefully and 

 repeatedly skimmed. The time for boiling varies 

 with the kind and quality of fruit used. Crab 

 Apple juice might need twenty minutes or a 

 little more. 



HOUSE PLANTS. 



Ardisia Is a good house plant. Kept In a cool tem- 

 perature of from 45 to 55 degrees, the showy red berries 

 remain from one fruiting season to another. Guard 

 against freezing. 



Begonias for winter bloom should have plenty of 

 water and light. 



Box. If divided and reset before winter, the plants 

 should be planted deeply and well firmed. 



Cactuses to be allowed to rest until February or 

 March. Little water is required, Keep on window 

 shelves or tables. A glass case may be covered over 

 delicate specimens. 



Callas now well started toward the blooming period 

 should have plenty of light, room and water. Manure 

 water may also be given in liberal doses. Such treat- 

 ment will induce stocky growth and fine flowers later. 



Carnations. Keep near the glass In a cool and airy 

 place. Soil should be moist, not wet. 



Cultines as soon as they show roots should be potted. 



Ferneries. Soil should be light and well drained. 

 Ferns, Lycopodlujus and all molsture-loving plants 

 may be selected for the Fernery, with a few flowering 

 bulbs to add brightness and color. Guard against 

 crowding. Give air, and do not fear iU-efCects from a 

 little sunshine. 



Freesias should be started at Intervals for succes- 

 sion. Give more water as growth advances. 



Forget-me-nots. Lift good clumps and put In six 

 inch pots; then store in cold pit until the holidays, 

 when they may be brought into heat. This treatment 

 will insure good flowers. 



General Management. The entire stock should be 

 given an occasional cleaning. Dust and impurities on 

 leaves and stems may be sponged oft daily. Avoid 

 extremes of temperature, 45 to GO degrees zt night being 

 about light. Prune freely all soft-wooded plants that 

 were lifted, to promote health and beauty. Remove 

 yellow leaves and old flower stems. 

 Bulbs of all kinds for the window may still be planted. 



Habrolhamnus elegans makes a fine free-flowering 

 window plant if kept down by judicious pinching. 



Hydrangeas (o be kept dormant in the cellar. Give 

 but little water. 



Mignonette. Ten-Week-Stock, eto., to be sown at 

 once if desired for winter and spring decoration. 



Mirahilis. Store some of the roots in dry sand out 

 of reach of frost for use another season. 



Oleanders to be stored in cellar. 



Water is often given too often and In too small doses. 

 The soil should not be kept soaking all the time, nor 

 dust dry. We must try to find the happy medium. 

 When you water, water thoroughly, so to reach every 

 particle of soil in the pot ; then not water again, until 

 the moisture is nearly all gone. Sprinkling the plant 

 and surface of the soil every day, without letting the 

 moisture reach down to the roots, where the soil may 

 be quite dry right along, is not the proper thing. 



LAWN AND FLOWER GARDEN. 



Bulbs may still be planted, and until the ground 

 freezes solid ; but the beds should be given winter 

 protection by a good coat of litter. 



Cleaning the grounds generally Is now In order. 

 Remove rubbish and dead plants; apply manure, work 

 over the beds. 



Grading, making drives and walks, laying drains. 

 etc., is also in order. If done now, the groimd will 

 have a chance to settle during winter. 



Lawn. No further mowing is needed or advisable. 

 Where land and grass is thin, a good top dressing of fine 

 compost will make considerable improvement. New 

 rank manure has no place on the lawn In any case. 

 Under ordinary circumstances, a light dressing of 

 boue dust, and guano, perhaps of wood ashes also, will 

 be the cheapest and best. 



Leaves should be raked together, best In some de- 

 pression, covered with brush or other material to keep 

 them from being blown away, and left there to rot. 

 Or they may be gathered, and taken to the bam, 

 stables, henhouse, etc., and used as bedding. At any 

 rate they will make a good mulch and manure. 



Mahonia and other large-leaved Evergreen shrubs 

 are liable to sun scald and Injury by wind. A screen 

 made of evergreen boughs set up on the windward 

 and sunny sides, and secured by strings, etc., will be a 

 good protection. 



Mulching. The best thing to be done for shrubbery 

 beds at this time Is to cover them with a mulch of 

 leaves, kept down by coarser material If necessary 

 such as evergreen boughs. The leaves may be left on 

 to be turned under and furnish welcome plant food. 



