58 



POPULAR GARDENING, 



December. 



be done with a plow or harrow. The manure 

 should be fine and spread evenly over the ground, 

 fnder these conditions it is worth twice as much 

 for a Corn crop as when spread in the spring. It 

 is permissable to spread coarser manure in the 

 fall than in the spring, and this is a point in favor 

 of fall manuring. Every careful test has shown 

 that the soil is capable of absorbing the liquid 

 portions of the manure as fast as they are re- 

 leased by thawing snow or washing rain. It is 

 undoubtedly the best plan to apply maniire to 

 land as it is made during the autumn and winter. 

 —The Farmer's Call. 



Jeanette Park, New Tork. This beautiful plat 

 occupies the filled up Coenties Slip. There are 

 only two entrances, one on the side fronting the 

 river and the other opposite to it. The park 

 occupies about two-thirds of an acre, and the 

 plan is simply an exterior border of shrubs, with 

 occasional loose groups and masses of shrubs 

 and herbaceous plants within the path, while at 

 considerable distances apart are planted Ameri- 

 can Lindens, Elms, some Lombardy Poplars and 

 occasional specimens of Purple-leaved Plum. 

 The only way to obtain thrifty masses of shrubs 

 among trees is to plant them together, so that 

 they can adjust themselves to each other's com- 

 pany as they gi'ow. After the trees are once 

 established it is almost impossible to induce 

 shrubs to grow in the shade of their branches. 

 The shrubs used here are mainly Bush Honey- 

 suckles, Thunberg's Barberry, Philadelphus, 

 Japanese Snowball, Japan Quince, Coral Berry. 

 Weigelia and Japanese Privet. This last plant, 

 although it grows in rather a whippy form, can 

 be kept in good shape by hard pruning, and it 

 endures the trials of city life as well as almost 

 any other. Besides these, there are some Golden 

 Elders, which have been carefully pruned, and 

 have this year been unusually rich in color.— 

 (xarden and Forest. 



Boston's Greenhouses. City Forester Doogue 

 is getting the hothouses at the nursuries on East 

 ChestarPark in shape to propagate the thousands 

 of plants and flowers which are being taken from 

 the Public Garden and the public squares. Two 

 long beds are at present given over to the keep- 

 ing of thousands of Geraniums. These plants and 

 others are to be given away to the public on a 

 day which will be announced. Mr. Doogue has 

 received a fine lot of Tulip bulbs, and promises 

 an unusually fine display next year.— Boston 

 Transcript. 



Cut the Cottonwood Roots. If it is desired to 

 grow grass or anything else around Cottonwood 

 trees, cut the roots. It does not hurt the tree, as 

 it has a long tap root running deep into the 

 ground. It is well known that vegetation does 

 not do well under the Cottonwood or very near 

 it. If you will take the trouble to cut the roots 

 of a large Cottonwood tree, you will not wonder. 

 We have just had some of these roots cut oflF, 

 and they were as large as a good sized tree — 

 Western Rural. 



Potato Crop. The Farmers' Review of Chicago 

 has i-eturns indicating that the crop of Potatoes 

 harvested in the twelve states covered will be 

 about one-third of the product harvested in 

 those states last year. The total yield for the 

 twelve states is 4R,s:m,000 bushels. The crop in 

 the other states and territories will not probably 

 exceed 73,7i»6,000, making a grand total for IHttn of 

 122,731.000, against an estimate f<jr 1H89 of 3:J8,701,- 

 000, and for 1888 of 21(i,64ti,000. 



Where to Plant Plumt. A Plum orchard on 

 the east shore of Senece Lake, is situated on a 

 sunny slope descending toward the lake with a 

 vineyard both north and south. It bloomed 

 ahead of the frosts that killed nearly all the 

 Plums in this part of the state last spring. It 

 would seem that blooming a little before or after 

 spring frosts, ensures the safety of fruit crops. 

 This may be a valuable bint to be considered in 

 selecting locations.— The Vineyardiat. 



Pampas Graes- A garden of Pampas Grass, lu 

 acres in extent, is one of the objects of interest 

 to tourists who visit Anaheim, California. The 

 plants when fully established will average 100,000 

 plumes, which bring about five cents apiece.— 

 Garden and Forest. 



Florida's Opportunity. All early vegetables 

 and fruit can hardly be otherwise than profitable 

 next spring in the north's bare markets. Instead 

 of planting twice as many acres, raise twice as 

 much per acre.— Florida Dispatch. 



Different Soils, Different Grapes. Grapes on clayey 

 soil are darker, more Rlossy than those on priivetly 

 soil; but the taste reverses the conclusions of the eye, 

 and s'lows that the sweetest and richest Grapes are 

 produced on gravelly and semi-gravelly soil.— The 

 Vtneyardlst. 



Fruit by Weight. Eastern cities are vigorously 

 agitating the selliugof fruits and vegetables by weight. 

 This is the only reasonable and honest way —California 

 Fruit Grower. 



"Depressed agriculture " stalks in vengence over 

 land that is deficient in phosphoric acid, nitrogen or 

 potash.— Hoard's Dairyman. 



Spare the Wasp Nests. Wasps are to a largeextent 

 Insectivorous, hence, don't destroy the nests.— London 

 Standard . 



One million dollars' worth of Peanuts were han- 

 dled at Norfolk. Va., last year.— Ohio Parmer. 



Dark Grapes are in greater demand than light ones. 

 —Orange Co. Farmer. 



Diseased trees do not imply old age.— Country Gen- 

 tleman. 



Vegetable Products on the Table. 

 Huckleberry pie is much improved by the ad- 

 dition of half a Melon or a tablespoonful of 

 vine^ir — Cal. Fruit Grower. 



Onions Boiled. Peel and cook 15 minutes, 

 drain off water and put on fresh hot water, 

 season with salt and cook until tender; drain off 

 water ag'ain and season with pepper and butter, 

 add a little sweet milk or cream, as preferred.— 

 Cal. Fruit Grower. 



Baked Potatoes in Cases make a pretty dish. 

 Bake Potatoes of an equal size until done; cut 

 a small piece from the side of each Potato, scoop 

 out the inside with a small spoon, mash well 

 with butter, pepper and salt and a little cream; 

 beat until very lig-ht and fill the Potato skins 

 with the mixture, heapinf? it irregularly at the 

 top. Set in the oven to color slightly.— Am. Ag. 

 Parsnip Balls. Parboil six Parsnips, and let 

 them get cold; then peel them and grate them. 

 Beat two eggs till very light, and mix with the 

 grated Parsnip, adding enough flour to bind the 

 mixture. Make into small, flat balls, and drop 

 them gently into boiling lard or clarified drip- 

 pings. Fry them till a golden brown on both 

 sides. Send to table garnished with fried Parsley- 

 Squash Pie. Five cups of stewed and strained 

 Squash, five cups of milk, one tablespoonful of 

 butter, one heaping cup of sugar, two tablespoon- 

 fuls of salt, the grated rind of a Lemon, a piece 

 of stick rinnamon, four eggs, and one-fourth of 

 Nutmeg grated. Boil the rinnamon, Lemon rind 

 and milk together, add the butter and then pour 

 upon the Squash; now add the sugar, salt and 

 Nutmeg, and when it is cold the eggs well beaten. 

 This will make three pies. 



Cranberry Rolly-Pollv. For the crust mix 

 together one quart of flour, two tablespoonfuls 

 of butter or drippings, and sweet milk enough 

 to make biscuit dough with two dessertspoonfuls 

 of baking powder. Roll out a quarter of an inch 

 thick, and in the center pile up Cranberry jelly 

 or jam. Wet the edges and pinch together, then 

 bake in a moderate oven three-quarters of an 

 hour, or tie in a thin cloth and steam an hour. 

 Serve with liquid sauce.- From Fruits and How 

 to Use Them. 



Orange Syrup. Take twelve Havana or five 

 FL>rida Oranges of the large yellow variety with 

 highly-scented rind; soak the peel of six in cold 

 water for two hours; press and strain the juice 

 of the twelve, boil three pounds of sugar to a 

 thick syrup, add the Orange juice and peel and 

 t>oil tor twenty minutes; strain the syrup, bottle 

 when cool, and cover the corks with wax. 

 Another boiling may have the juice of three 

 Lemons added, giving a more refreshing acid. 

 Lemon syrup may be made in the same way. 



Chestnut Sauce. This is excellent with boiled 

 fowl, and would form a pleasant change from 

 Parsley sauce. Boil or bake a score of Chestnuts 

 until tender, then pound the white part in a mor- 

 tar to a smooth paste, with a couple of ounces of 

 butter, a pinch of white sugar, and half a tea- 

 spoonful of salt. Mix slowly with it half a pint 

 of cream and milk mixed; stir the liquid over the 

 firf until it boils. Brown Chestnut sauce is made 

 in the same way, but brown gravy is used instead 

 of milk; this is usually served with roast fowl, 

 and seasoned more than the white sauce.— Good 

 Housekeeping. 



Cranherry Becipes, For sauce pick over and 

 wash the berries, and cook with half as much 

 water by measure as there are berries. In fifteen 

 minutes add the same quantity of sugar as of 

 water, and let them steep, not boil, until they 

 are done. Cool in a porcelain dish. For Cran- 

 berry pie scald the berries, sprinkle sugar on the 

 lower crust, then put in a layer of berries, 

 sprinkle with sugar, dot with small pieces of 

 butter, pour in two tablespoonfuls of water and 

 dredge lightly with flour. Twist nari'ow strips 

 of paste and cross the tops diamond wise. Bake 

 in a moderate oven. 



HOUSE PLANTS. 



Annuals. A good show may be made by sowing a 

 few pots of Mignonette, Candytuft. Sweet AJyssum, 

 Ten-week-Stock, or other favorites of this class. Sow 

 some pots now, and others a month later. 



Azaleas and Aspidistras. Give water freely, and 

 sponge off the foliage frequently. 



Beeonias. Put those now In flower Into a sunny 

 window, and in a temperature of about 55 to 60** F. 



Bulbs. A succession of flowers may be kept up by 

 bringing the pots from the cellar. 



Century Plants. Keep rather dry, and the leaves 

 free from dust. 



Chrysanthemums after flowering should be cut 

 down and moved to the cellar, under conservatory 

 staging, or some other similar place. Give but little 

 water until cuttings are wanted. 



Cobsa scandens, to be tied as needed, and leaves 

 sponged for greenfly. 



Fernery. See Plant culture under glass. 



G-eneral Management. Give air when opportunity 

 offers ; try to secure a uniform temperature without 

 draughts. The only thing that can be done for frosted 

 plants is to remove them to a cool place where they 

 may thaw out gradually, carefully wet them with 

 cold water, but avoid handling the leaves. All the 

 light obtainable at this dark season is needed. Roll 

 up the curtains clear to the top during the day. Give 

 extra protection to plants during severe cold nights. 



Hyacinths to be brought in from the cellar for sue- 

 cessional flowering. 



Insects should not be allowed to get a foothold thus 

 early In the season. If plants were not properly 

 cleaned before, do this at once. Wash smooth-leaved 

 plants, like Iv>-. weekly with soap and water, by means 

 of a soft cloth, following with a clear water wash. 



Ivies to be kept free from dust and Insects. 



Lantanas to be sprinkled often for red spider. 



Lily of the Valley. Bloom may be obtained by 

 taking up clumps of strong plants from the garden 

 and bringing Into a warm light window. 



Mienonette in pots or boxes should be given as 

 much light as possible. Loosen the soil occasionally. 



Oleander and other plants in the cellar should be 

 examined from time to time. Do not keep too damp, 

 nor allow them to dry out or slirlvel up. 



Primroses do not like too much dampness, nor 

 draught. A warm place suits them. 



Solanums, like Jerusalem Cherry, to have fruit and 

 foliage kept free from dust. Wash them occasionally 

 and keep covered when sweeping, etc. 



LAWN AND FLOWER GARDEN. 



Clematis to be cut back, laid upon the ground and 

 protected with some coarse manure. 



Bulbs. As soon as the ground Is frozen, give to all 

 fall-planted hardy bulbs a covering of hay or straw. 



Drainage. Examine the old drains to see whether 

 they are In working order, repair where needed. In 

 fair weather ditches may be dug and tiles laid. The 

 mouth of every drain should be secured by screens 

 against the entrance of rats or moles, which might 

 obstruct the free passage of the water. If a drain Is 

 not In working order, the first thing to be done Is to 

 locate the trouble by digging down at various points 

 along the line of the drain, and keep digging until the 

 obstructed tiles are found. Take them up. clear, and 

 replace. 



Evergreens to be examined after every heavy fall 

 of snow. The latter Is apt to lodge In the branches and 

 do much injury, unless promptly shaken off before It 

 hardens. 



General Mnnagenient. Where the wlnt-ers are 

 usually not very severe, some of the more hardy 

 plants, like Chrysanthemums, Roses, Pampas Qrass> 

 etc.. may be wintered outdoors, by drawing earth up In 

 a ring around the plant, tilling the hollow with leaves 

 packed down and rounded up, and covered with earth. 

 Hardy herbaceous plants may be given a covering of 

 strong manure. A covering of earth will be sufDcient 

 for the delicate Lily sorts. 



Lawn. Where soil has become impoverished, and 

 grass thin, give a good top dressing of well-rotted com- 

 post. Where thoughtless persons take the liberty of 

 crossing the lawn, and Injury to shrubs or trees Is 

 feared, a few temporary stakes and a strand or two 

 of barbed wire will at once put a stop to the nuisance. 



Rockeries. A little strawy manure put into the ex- 

 posed places, with some brush to keep it In place, will 

 serve as a good protection. 



Roses. Give all the beds a good dressing of half 

 decayed manure. The Hybrid Perpetuals, especially 

 of the delicate kinds, to be protected by winding 



