76 



POPULAR GARDENING. 



January, 



The use of perennials is not conflnsd to the 

 flower garden alone, for many valuable kinds 

 are finely adapted and actually used in connec- 

 tion Tvith shrubbery, both among the plants and 

 about the edges, adding beauty that is at once 

 appreciated by the public. Again, many beau- 

 tiful plants are being used to beautify serai-wild 

 situations, known as wild gardens, while parks, 

 public gardens, etc., are now being largely 

 planted with this stock, and the fact that our 

 best landscape gardeners are using the plants in 

 iiuantity is of itself a sufficient guarantee of 

 their value; 



A good sample of such use can be seen in 

 Central Park, while other and more striking 

 examples are to be seen in Newport, R. 1., where 

 the use of these plants is becoming general. 



We now have plants for beautifying rocky 

 places, ledges and dry banks; Jiowers which will 

 flower and thrive to perfection in partial to deep 

 shade; bog plants for reclaiming spots hitherto 

 considered detrimental to any fine flower effects, 

 while ponds, brooks and streams are the best 

 situations tor some beautiful plants which can 

 not well be dispensed with when known. 



The garden proper is enriched by an immense 

 list of kinds, presenting greater variety of form, 

 foliage and flower than ever before known. I 

 have shown thei'e is no dearth of material in this 

 class of plants, and that they are already used 

 to a considerable and increasing extent, the 

 question as to whether all nurserymen should 

 catalogue these plants is one that requires a 

 careful answer. 



To mention a list of the more commonly known 

 and best kinds for general use, we would quote 

 the following among the best: Achilleas, in 

 variety, Aconitums adonis, Vernalis, Alyssums, 

 Anchusa Italica, Anemones in variety, Anthemis 

 tinctoria, Anthericums in variety, Aquilegias 

 in variety, Arabis Alpina, Amerias in variety. 

 Asters of the dwarf kinds. Campanulas in variety 

 of strong growth, Centaureas,Clematis in variety. 

 Coreopsis, especially lanceolata. Delphiniums or 

 Larkspurs, Dianthus in variety, Dicentra spec- 

 tabilis and exima Pentstemons in variety, Dic- 

 tamnus, Erigerons in variety, Funkias or Day 

 Lilies, Gaillardias, Spireas in variety. Silene 

 Pennsylvanica. Silene Virginica, Violets in var- 

 iety. Yuccas, Geraniums or Cranes Bills in var- 

 iety, Gypsophila paniculata, Heleniums, Helian- 

 thus of the least weedy sorts, Hemerocalis in 

 variety. Hollyhocks, Iberis or Hardy Candytufts, 

 Iris, both German and Japanese, Liatris, Lilies 

 of the thriftiest kinds. Lychnis in variety, Mar- 

 tensias, Monarda, Myosotis or Forget-me-nots, 

 CEnotheras or Evening Primroses, Paeonies in 

 variety, Papavers or hardy Poppies in variety. 

 Phlox in variety, Platycodons, Polemoniums, 

 Pyrethrums, Kudbeckias, the less weedy kinds, 

 Sedums of the shrubby sorts, Tradescaotias, 

 Trilliums, Veronicas in variety, Vincas or Peri- 

 winkles. 



How 1 736 Bushels of Potatoes 



were Raised on Four Acres. 



Profit, $355. 



J. M. SMITU, PRES. WISCONSIN STATE HORT. SOCIETY. 



For a number of years I have been anxious 

 to test the different kinds of Potato ferti- 

 lizers that have been advertised and see 

 how they compared with those I have used 

 for many years. This year I concluded to 

 make the long desired trial. Selecting four 

 acres of land suitable for the purpose, I 

 designated them plats No. 1, No. 2, No. 3 

 and No. 4. The soil was a dark, sandy 

 subsoil. Heavily manured every year. 



Syttematic Work. A strict account was kept 

 on the different dates at which the work was 

 done, and of the expenses. April S— the land 

 was in Brst-rate condition, we commenced plow- 

 ing about eight inches deep. The land was all 

 thoroughly surface-drained and most of it thor- 

 oughly under-drained. Commenced harrowing 

 April 28. After the land was plowed, and be- 

 fore harrowing it was manured as follows : Plat 

 No. 1 had ten cords of composted manure 

 spread upon it. No. 2 had eighty bushels, heap- 

 ■ ing measure, of unleached wood ashes. No. 3, 

 1,.')00 pounds of Bowker perfect Potato fertilizer. 

 Plat No. 4 had 1,500 iiounds of the Mapes Potato 

 fertilizer, All was thoroughly harrowed in. 



Planting. I planted the tour acres with the 

 Early Ohio. The land was marked off in rows 

 thirty inches apart, and the Potatoes were 

 planted in drilLs, one piece in a place, about 

 twelve inches apart. The seed had been cut to 

 from one to two eyes. Commenced planting 



Mayl. The Potatoes were weighed after being 

 cut, and the average was ten bushels one pound 

 per acre. About the same amount of seed was 

 used upon each acre, and was planted about 

 three inches deep. 



Cultivation. May 27, the Potatoes showed 

 sprouts through the ground, and they were well 

 harrowed. June 15 the Potatoes were cultivated 

 and hoed, the hoeing consisted in merely de- 

 stroying the weeds that could not be killed with 

 the cultivator- The above is all the cultivation 

 they received. The last time they were culti- 

 vated, the shovel was put on the cultivator, and 

 a very slight furrow, possibly two inches deep, 

 was made between the rows. Except that, there 

 was no hilling done, and in this case no earth was 

 thrown against the plants. June 25 poisoned 

 the Colorado beetles with Paris green and water, 

 using but a teaspoonful of the poison to one 

 ten-quart pail of water. July S to 12 poisoned 

 them again. Jul.y25 found a few more beetles 

 and poisoned them. The above concludes the 

 labor of growing the crop. We commenced 

 digging the Potatoes September 9 and flnished 

 September 16. 

 Cost of Crop, forty bushels Early Ohio 



Potatoes $ 20.00 



Planting 10.00 



Cultivating and hoeing 13.25 



Digging, picking up, heaping and cover- 

 ing up the Potatoes 60 00 



Poison, plowing and sundries 24.67 



Total $ 



Fertilizers, plat No. 1, 20 loads of compost 

 manure at 81.25 per load $ 



No. 2, 80 bushels of unleached ashes 



No. 3, 1,500 pounds of Bowker Potato fer- 

 tilizer 



No. 4, 1,500 pounds of the Mapes's Potato 

 fertilizer 



Cost of the complete crop 



Receipts of crop, plat No. 1, 384 bushels 

 of merchantable Potatoes, worth 35 cts. 

 per bushel, and 21 bushels small ones, 

 worth 10 cts, per bushel $ 



No. 2, 434 bushels merchantable and 21 

 bushels small Potatoes, total, 4.55 bu- 

 shels (same price) 



No. 3, 4.32 bushel merchantable and 32 bu- 

 shels small ones, total 454 bushels (same 

 price) 



No. 4 yielded 402 bushels merchantable 

 Potatoes and 20 small ones, total 422 bu- 

 shels (same price) 



Total yield, 1,736 bushels. 



Cost $ 



Selling price 



138.92 



25.00 

 7.00 



30.00 



30.00 

 230.92 



136.50 



154.00 



153 30 



142.70 



230.92 

 586.69 



Profit $35.5.77 



The Best Will Pay. The average yield of 

 Potatoes in the Northwestern states does not ex- 

 ceed 100 bushels per acre, and in the Southern 

 states is much less than that; if I had received 

 only 100 bushels per acre I should have run 

 heavily in debt. Two hundred bushels per acre 

 would have paid expenses. But with over 400 

 bushels of beautiful Potatoes that would bring 

 more than the mai'ket price, the balance upon 

 the right side is certainly a nice one. The season 

 was very wet, the latter part of May and early 

 in June, and after that It was very dry. Some 

 Potatoes were injured by the dry weather. 

 Those fertilized with ashes stood the dry weather 

 best, and as it has been seen, yielded a little the 

 most of any, and gave by far the largest profit 

 of any of the fertilizers used. 



At least one of the lessons should be to save 

 every bushel of ashes that can be made, and 

 then buy all that are to be had at a reasonable 

 price. 



Michigan Fruit Growers Ask and 

 Answer Some Questions. 



[From proceedings of September meeting of the Len- 

 awee Co., Mich. Horticultural Society.) 



Q Should canes be cut from Grapes 

 during growing season? 



A. Yes and no. With a slow-growing vine, as 

 Delaware, do not cut back, but rub off some of 

 the buds while starting. The end of rampant- 

 growing vines, as Clinton, Agawam, etc., may 

 be pinched off when several feet long. Bag 

 Grapes early to protect from rot, cracking, or 

 birds. 



Q. How far apart should Grapevines be 

 planted? 



A. Where land is cheap place the rows eight 

 feet apart by twelve feet in the row. 



Q. Is the Clinton profitable? 



A. It is said to be the best Grape raised for 

 jelly. That is about all that it is good for. 



Q. Is white hellebore sure death to the Cur- 

 rant worm? 



A. Several members: " Yes." " I applied 

 with water; results not satisfactory." "Or with 

 a tin pepperbox while the dew is on." 



Q. What about spraying for insects? 



A. Last year, from two orchards, the one 

 sprayed gave one third seconds, the one not 

 sprayed gave two thirds seconds. 



Q. Can the (Quince be raised from cuttings? 

 When should they be cut? 



A. Yes. Cut either in the fall or spring. In 

 fall lay them on the grass and cover with leaves, 

 and throw on boards to keep the chickens from 

 scratching the leaves off. If not winter-killed 

 the young shoots maybe cut in the spring. 



Q. When is the season for rooting cuttings? 



A. Whether cut in the fall or spring, set in 

 spring. Roots may be hastened by tying in bun- 

 dles and setting bottom upward, and covering 

 entirely with dirt for a few weeks before time to 

 put out, to expose the bottoms to the heat, and 

 start the roots in advan<e of the buds. 



Q. How may Grapes be used? 



A, By making green Grape jelly, spiced 

 Grapes, and Grape butter. Canned Grape juice 

 makes a fine summer drink. Mrs. Allis uses one 

 third sweet Apples and two thirds Grapes, cook- 

 ed, and worked through a sieve. Use ten pounds 

 of fruit to six pounds of sugar. She also cans 

 Elderberries and Grapes for making " Huckle- 

 berry pies," during a scarcity of the real article. 

 Mrs. Bradish puts Grapes and sugar down in 

 alternate layers. 



Q. What shall we do with Grapes when they 

 sell at two cents per pound ? 



A. Plant and raise better varieties. Dela- 

 ware and many others yield well, and always 

 bring a good price. 



Q. How can Grapes be kept after being ma- 

 tured ? 



A. Some varieties are good keepers, others 

 are not. Niagara, Salem, Isabella, and Agawam 

 are fair keepers : Concord is not. If kept too 

 dry, they wiU shrivel ; if too damp they will 

 hurt. My cellar keeps them well ; many do not. 

 By opening the room nights, and closing it days, 

 the temperature may be kept reduced. 



Mr. William Gladstone, The "Grand 



Old Man" Talks on Cottaste 



Gardening. 



[Abstract of Paper read at annual Show of the Hawar- 

 den and Buckley Horticultural Society.} 



The main question of the day? whether 

 we are gaining ground or losing groimd. 

 You are aware that this institution, was 

 founded for one single purpose in the main, 

 namely — the promotion of cottage garden- 

 ing. That was the main ob.iect, and if we 

 failed in that, or if we are going backward 

 in that respect, it would be a very poor 

 consolation to think that we are making 

 ground in any other directions; and the 

 first thing therefore, is to consider how we 

 stand with regard to cottage gardening. 



Well, I am rejoiced to be able to say that this 

 year again has been a year of decided progress, 

 and that the exhibits which have been sent in 

 are considerably more numerous and more im- 

 portant than on any former occasion. I hope, 

 therefore, that you will consider that this is a 

 very great encouragement. We are now speak- 

 ing of the extension both of a sentiment and of 

 a practice which tells in the most direct manner 

 upon the comforts of the people and upon 

 enabling them to Uve in tolerable abundance as 

 regards the necessaries and some of the con- 

 veniences of Ufe. However, the plan when it 

 was founded did not exclude what lies beyond 

 cottage gardening— namely what is commonly 

 called fruit-farming at large. Nay, it even goes 

 beyond fruit-farming. But the great distinction 

 which marks this extension of the original plan 

 is that it brings in another and a very different 

 class— namely, the farmers of the country; and 

 I respectfully venture to say again to the farm- 

 ers that, although I know it is a very difficult 

 thing to modify traditional practices, and al- 

 though the preparatory measures in a new 

 course, are attended with much difficulty, and 

 often with but comparatively moderate results, 

 yet I do venture to say with regard to fruit- 

 farming and with regard to all the minor 

 branches, I do believe it will be immensely for 

 the benefit of this country, and especially for 



